Thursday, June 19, 2014

The Resurrection Of The Dead

(John 11:25) "… I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:" Many verses in the Bible speak of the resurrection of the dead, but not one is more important than this one. Jesus said "he is the" resurrection and the life, for there is no other. The resurrection is a promise made by God to man that though a man's body dies yet shall "he live," and not just his soul and spirit but also the body that he was born with. This might seem strange but God is interested not just in the redemption of the soul and spirit of man but also in resurrecting and redeeming his flesh. "even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body" (Rom. 8:23).  "Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself" (Phil 3:21). When a man dies his flesh sleeps waiting for the glorious day when God shall resurrect and refashion that which was corrupted by sin. The resurrection will be a glorious day for God's redemption will then be complete, and all of death "shall be swallowed up in victory." For our victory is found only in Christ.

Which Father Is Your Father

(John 8:38) " I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father." In the above verse Jesus made it clear to the Pharisees that the reason they didn't hear or believe in him was because they were of the offspring of Satan. (44) "Ye are of your father the devil." When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they lost the goodness and perfection of creation, and because they lost it ever since man has been deceived by Satan. Ever since, man's ears and eyes have been blinded, but if a man will repent of his sin, his spiritual sight and hearing can be restored again. Once saved the curse and wrath of God is removed, and the adoption process of God makes him once again a child of God, but be careful the teachings of this world's father are very different from the teachings of our Heavenly Father. We therefore must study and learn the Word of God for ourselves least we continue to be deceived and blinded by Satan. The family today is very messed up, and it's messed up because the philosophy and ways of the world are patterned after the teachings of Satan our sinful father and not God our Heavenly Father.

Brethren,  Jesus ought to be our example of Fatherhood, he was a perfect reflection of his Father. Follow him and your home and life will be blessed.

Sunday, June 8, 2014

The Good Shepherd

(John 10:11) "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." As we look at this text we see that Jesus was again preaching specifically to the Pharisees about what a proper shepherd should be. Jesus related the job of a good shepherd to that of a "porter" or watcher who is left in charge of feeding the shepherd's sheep in his absence. A good shepherd ought to be faithful and willing to protect and even die for the sheep that have been placed into his trust. Jesus wanted the Pharisees to understand that they had lost their purpose and had become "hirelings" rather than shepherds. (13) "The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep." Brethren we have a great shepherd whose name is Jesus Christ. He has promised us in his Word that he will "never leave us nor forsake us." He is a good shepherd because he was willing to lay down his life for us on the cross. (18) "No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. Jesus came to save and keep God's sheep till He returns. That’s why true sheep here his voice and follow. The sheepfold is the Church, and Jesus Christ the door into it.  "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."