Why Sorrow Like The Unbeliever?

(John 20:15) "Woman, why weepest thou?" Mary Magdalene was asked this question by Jesus immediately after the resurrection because he wanted her not sorrow as those who have no hope. The Resurrection ought to bring much comfort to those who are saved. Why? 1) It Relieves the pain of mourning. (John 11:25) "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:" The saved know what God promises concerning the dead in Christ.  2) It Restores our fellowship with God. (1 John 2:1) "…And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:" No matter what the sin is that we have committed after salvation, Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father interceding on our behalf and forgiving our trespasses. 3) It Reconciles us to God forever. (Heb 10:14) "For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified." In other words, forever we cannot lose our salvation once we are saved or sanctified. We who are saved have no reason to react or sorrow in life as those that believe not. For we trust in a living Savior, and not some dead religious prophet that still lies in the grave. Our Savior lives, therefore we know that Jesus is the way, the truth, and life.

Jesus, The Lamb Of God

Nearly 2000 years ago Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, commemorating what we call his “Triumphal Entry.” Crowds of Jews cheered and laid palm leaves in his way as they gave glory to God for this mighty man that was able to do many miracles among them. As he rode into Jerusalem they cried, “Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest,” but little did they realize the great significance of his coming. On that same day nearly 1500 years earlier, Moses instructed Israel to choose out a lamb on the 10th day of April, to be slaughtered on the 14th day. It was a Passover lamb who's blood was to be spread upon the door posts & lintels to protect the first born of Israel from the angel of death in Egypt.  1500 years later on the Sunday we call "Palm Sunday," God’s chosen lamb (Jesus) entered Jerusalem to lay down his life for us. He entered Jerusalem on the 10th and was killed on the 14th which was Thursday. Brethren, God was the one who gave Jesus to us as the final sacrifice for sin, so that whosoever after will put their faith and trust in him could be saved.

 

Is God Your Father ?

(John 5:17) "But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." One of the greatest truths that is taught in the New Testament is the truth that God can be "our Father." The world thinks that God is our Father from birth, but that is not taught in scripture. The only way that one can become a child of God is to be "born again" into the family of God. Until then, one is still guilty of his/her sin and therefore not in the family of God. (Rom. 9:8) "That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed." Jesus called God "My Father," and by doing so he made himself equal with God, for he is the "only begotten of the Father," (John 1: 14), (meaning that he is the only Son of God's loins), but everyone that is born again by the Holy Spirit (Jn. 3:6), can be "adopted" into the family of Jesus Christ and The Father. (Rom. 8:15) "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." Thank God that we who are saved can now through Jesus Christ go directly into The Father's presence because we are now "sons of God" (Rom. 8:14). Oh that we would truly realize both the power and the privilege of this great relationship with God.
 

God’s Lessons Always Teach Us Faith

God has a purpose for every trial and situation that you find yourself in, in life. Sometimes we as believers think that because we're saved we shouldn't have to go through some of the hard things that happen to others in life, but this isn't true. (Lam. 3:27) says that, "It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth." It's good, to go through hard times early in life, so that when we're older we will be stronger, more mature, and more able to handle trials. Peter also taught us that the lessons of sufferings and trials in life are needed for God to do His perfecting work in us. (1 Peter 5:10) says, "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." God's lessons are not fun, but they teach us by personal experience that in times where we can't, He can. The feeding of the 5,000 was a lesson of divine provision, where God simply spread the little that they had to supply the impossible. The lesson of the storm on the Sea of Galilee was a lesson on the ability of Christ to comfort us when in fear and in distress. They all teach us that God is close at hand and able to handle every trial that we may find ourselves in.
 

Worshipping In Spirit And In Truth

(John 4:23) "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him." The above verse speaks of a worship that is in obedience to God's Spirit and His truth. It was spoken to the Samaritan woman at the well by Jesus as he shared with her, her need to drink of the "living water" of Christ. All who believe in Jesus receive this gift (or living water) when they receive the Holy Spirit's power. This power is a fathomless spring of water to those who surrender in obedience to the will and truth of God. Jesus said, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:37-39).  Brethren, this power within us is able to accomplish all that the Word of God promises, but we must first learn to surrender to God's Spirit and then abide in his truth. Jesus said, "without me you can do nothing," and that's exactly why nothing happens. Staying connected to the vine is our responsibility, for when we are connected the rivers of living water will flow !
 

“The Son Of Man”

(John 3:13) "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven." Just what does Jesus mean by the description "Son of Man." When it comes to the Son of Man, Jesus refers to himself because he is indeed the Son of God that is now born of man. Daniel used this description in (Dan. 7:13) when he spoke of the "Son of Man coming in the clouds" and being given dominion by the "Ancient of Days" to set up his kingdom on earth. The Bible teaches us in John's gospel that, 1) The Son of Man came down from heaven, for he "is in heaven" meaning he was and is from heaven. 2) The Son of Man came to be lifted up, referring to his death on the cross. 3) The Son of Man came to save. God's Son  came to this earth embodied in flesh, determined to pay for the sins of man, but also to give us the truth of his Father. And all God asks of us is to listen, obey, and trust in Jesus Christ as the Son Of God from heaven. Oh, that men would repent of their wickedness and come to the light of this truth. When God says, "whosoever believeth in him should not perish," He means that anyone can believe in Jesus, but they must believe also in his words, just as much as they believe in Jesus as their Savior.

“Ye Must Be Born Again”

(John 3:3) "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." The above verse is probably the most important verse in all the Bible, because it deals with the fact that unless we come to God His way, we cannot be saved. The word, "Except" means "unless."  Unless a man has been born again by the Spirit of God (v. 5) he is not saved. I find it ironic that so many religions today refuse to accept this truth, or they twist it to include such false teachings as infant baptism, doing good works, or confirmation, etc. If Jesus is the living Word of God (John 1:1-3) should not his words be taken literally. Jesus said in (John 3:6-7) "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." In other words he was talking about a second birth by the Holy Spirit and nothing else. According to Jesus, Man is born once in the flesh, but he needs a second birth by the Spirit, to be saved. The Bible is clear that in order to be born again one must see himself a sinner, repent, and then call upon Jesus to save him (Romans 10:9-13). Unless he does that, "he cannot see God's kingdom."