IS PEACE FLOWING LIKE A RIVER IN YOUR LIFE?

IS PEACE FLOWING LIKE A RIVER IN YOUR LIFE?

 Isaiah 26:3

You will keep him in perfect peace,

Whose mind is stayed on You,

Because he trusts in You.

You will keep him in perfect peace

God will hold you close, guard you and watch over you.

God will keep you in completeness, soundness and peace from war for that which fits the need for certain situations or for a certain purpose .

Whose mind is stayed on You

That is if your purpose and imagination leans upon and is upheld, supported and sustained by God Himself.

Because he trusts in You.

And the reason that you would do this is because having likeness of mind with God you feel safe, have confidence in and rely upon Gods abilities, faithfulness and promises.

Did you get that from the above passage?

I know that when I read the first line You will keep him in perfect peace,

That I immediately claimed that promise!

Now what if I just stopped there? What if I said that I didn’t need to read the rest of the passage because I want and need Gods peace in my life so I have to work on that first.

By not reading the rest of the passage, I would be setting myself up for a constant falling short of Gods perfect peace. I would have had no idea why I had no lasting peace in my life even when I had been claiming it as one of Gods promises!

By reading further I would see that for God to keep me in perfect peace, it is my purpose and imagination that needs to be stayed, I need to lean upon God to be upheld by God!

Why is that so important? Why is leaning upon God necessary for me to have Gods perfect peace?

Because it demonstrates that I trust in Him!

Think about walking with crutches.

Your foot is in a cast so you need something that will not only heal your bones, but something that will give you support but and balance so that you can not only stand, but you can also walk.

Your other option would be to ignore the crutches and just sit there.

When you walk with crutches, people know it.

It’s obvious.

How about your walk with Jesus?

Is it obvious to people that you walk with Jesus?

Are you willing to make it known that you desperately need Jesus?

By definition, Isaiah 26:3 could be read like this…

If you will rely upon God and demonstrate it by your confident, care free attitude, and keep your imagination and inner person leaning on and supported by God, God will see to it Himself that you have everything you could possible need to have completeness and soundness of mind for that exact situation that you are experiencing.

4 Simple Truths

God is a responsive God.

You act in faith, God will act in response.

You step towards God, God steps towards you.

You trust in God, God will show Himself worthy of your trust.

Check out 2 Chronicles 16:9. This is truly a wonderful verse but it also reveals an important truth about God and us.

2 Chronicles 16:9 "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars."

This verse should give you the image that God is searching all over the earth to give help and assistance to the one who deep down in their heart wants a real, active, life long relationship with Him.

BUT Show Himself strong doesn’t mean what we think it means.

Show Himself strong means to grow firm, to strengthen, to become strong, to be courageous.

It is GOD who is increasing in firmness, strength and courage!

“Show Himself strong” implies growth takes place in the relationship.

It means that YOU will experience a growing, constantly increasing loyalty from God.

It means that the more loyal you are to God, the stronger God reacts on your behalf.

Its cause and effect.

You cause God to be effective in your life by demonstrating loyalty.

I really hate this kind of talk because faith has been so corrupted wrongly taught by the word of faith movement and those pagan preachers that you see on television.

God gives each of us a measure of faith.

God is always the one who reaches out first.

God responds to our faith whenever it is seeking after, placed in and on Him.

It says in 2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.

We need to understand what heart is completely His means.

The New King James says, “whose heart is loyal to Him”

The King James says, “whose heart is perfect towards Him”

The New American Standard says, “whose heart is completely His”

The New International says, “whose hearts are fully committed to Him”

Loyal, perfect, completely, fully committed…

They all mean, “at peace”.

So who gets to experience Gods growing strength in their life?

The heart that is at peace with God.

Is there a place in your relationship where you find yourself struggling with God?

Are there moments of hesitation and doubt because all that faith that you used to think you had has just skedaddled right out the door?

Can you honestly say that YOUR heart is at peace with God?

Maybe you need a fresh perspective?

I would certainly admit that I frequently need a fresh perspective.

Take a look at the following passage and lets see things from God’s perspective.

Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

God acts first by offering a sacrificem His Son, Jesus Christ.

14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,

God reestablishes communication and fellowship.

15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,

God clears the way for a relationship and wipes the slate clean.

16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

God is the one who makes it all possible not by overlooking or compromising, but by upholding righteousness and justice.

17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.

Far or near, God is preaching to you.

18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

Jesus is the door, the Spirit is the guide.

19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

More than just adopted, joint heirs with Christ.

20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,

Is sound biblical teaching important? Does your life and walk demonstrate that you are built on a strong foundation? Well, is Jesus the cornerstone of your foundation?

21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,

Again, are you getting sound biblical teaching? Is your walk with Christ meshing and growing? Do you think, act, live and talk like you are continually growing into a proper dwelling place for Jesus?

22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Do you desire the same for other believers?

Are you helping, encouraging and praying for other believers walk and growth in the Lord?

Lets face it, we will all struggle with our faith from time to time.

Some seasons of dryness and testing will leave us wondering;

Where are you God?

Why are you allowing this to happen to me God?

God, have you forgotten the promises you made to me?

God, I never thought your plan would include this…

God, this hurts.

God, I don’t understand.

God, are you there?

Let’s admit that the majority of these questions are brought on by fear which produces doubt.

These are the complete opposite of the peace that God promises us.

These are two things that you will never find in God.

Gods love is perfect and it casts out all fear.

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

Fear does not come from God.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

When that old man or woman starts to rise up in rebellion within you and to challenge what God has given, gifted and granted you, turn to

Colossians 3:3 and say to yourself.

For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Do you believe that?

Do you believe that your life is hidden with Christ in God?

How do you know? Well, what does “hidden” mean?

HIDDEN-to hide, conceal, to escape notice. To conceal (that it may not become known)

Now that’s what I call protection. That’s what I call security.

So, do you believe it?

Do you really, really, really believe you are safe and secure in Christ?

Well, do you live like you are hidden with Christ in God?

If you don’t live your life that way then you not only believe a lie, you are actually refusing to acknowledge, believe and adhere to the truth.

Is truth important?

Psalm 51:6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

This is so simple people.

God wants you to know the truth.

God wants the truth to be deep within you.

God wants to teach you the truth so that you will be wise.

That word wisdom in Psalm 51:6 is not really wisdom to avoid trials, tribulations or temptations; it means “skill at war”.

A God given skill that comes from your inward parts.

That is the part of you that is closed, concealed and cut off from the enemy.

Apparently the writer of Psalm 57 has had some experience with some life threatening battles and full scale wars because he writes,

Psalm 57:1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by.

2 I will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me.

3 He shall send from heaven and save me; He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. Selah God shall send forth His mercy and His truth.

When was the last time you cried out for mercy?

When was the last time you proclaimed your trust in God?

When was the last time that you ran to God and sought refuge in Him?

When was the last time that you watched calamity pass you by because you were safely tucked under His wing?

When was the last time you recognized God moving in your life?

Was the last time that God saved you when you were born again?

Did Jesus win your salvation and then leave all the rest of the battles up to you?

Are Gods mercy and truth new every morning, just like his faithfulness and loving kindness?

Yes, there will be some life threatening conflicts in your life, and

for trusting in Him,

running the race to win,

enduring to the end,

God will give you crowns of glory

that you will one day be able to cast at His feet.

If there is anything to remember,

anything to know way down deep in your heart,

its that God is sovereign.

It is God who has supreme rank, power and authority.

It is God who is above all.

Question is, is God above all in your life?

Let me share one major truth about God with you.

Daniel 4:35 All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,

But He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, "What have You done?”

This is God my friend.

Knowing this verse, can you honestly say from your heart,

God, thy will be done.

All you need to do is exercise the faith that God has already given you and just believe.

How do I know?

Genesis 15:6 says,

 And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

IN THE BEGINNING, GOD?

In the Beginning, God?

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living/quick (KJV)

What exactly is the word of God?

To be among the living,

To enjoy real life,

Fresh, strong, efficient, powerful,

Blessed and endless in the kingdom of God.

If there were a pill that you could take that would provide all of the above, would you take it, and why would you take it?

I believe your answer would be a simple yet adamant yes.

Who doesn’t want to feel and be really alive?

Who doesn’t want to enjoy real life? I mean just look at all the self help seminars and books out there. Gosh, you can’t even go into a Christian book store without being overwhelmed by all the self help books and tapes and videos.

And how about fresh? Ahhhhh.

Strong? Efficient? Powerful? Are you kidding me?

Blessed and endless in the kingdom of God? Well, DUH!

And then we come back to reality and reconsider the source.

Oh. The Bible we think to ourselves…

I can’t get all of that out of the bible.

Geez, I can barely find time to read it, how could I possibly expect to understand it?

You know, at one time in my walk I was there with you.

I didn’t understand the bible, I couldn’t grasp it, I found it tiresome and sometimes, ok, often boring.

Honestly, sometimes I would read the bible and then find myself in a wrestling match, just trying to glean something, anything that I could walk away with that would convict, uplift or inspire me. After a while I realize that not only is that what relationships are all about, I also realized that I had dared to enter into a wrestling match with the Holy Spirit of God!

And guess what?

He didn’t kill me!

Why?

Because I think that He actually enjoyed it!

Come on, give me a little liberty here.

Who doesn’t enjoy a wrestling match that you know you can’t lose?

Remember Jacob? He wrestled with God and he got blessed!

Maybe you might want to give it a try sometime.

Anyway, can I share a short bible passage with you?

It was told to the Jewish people by God through Moses.

It was a warning to them of coming testing, trials and tribulations.

It was also a promise, a promise of forgiveness, restoration and peace.

Deuteronomy 4:28 There you will serve gods, the work of man's hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell.

29 But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul.

30 When you are in distress and all these things have come upon you, in the latter days you will return to the LORD your God and listen to His voice.

31 For the LORD your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them.

Isn’t that great?

Doesn’t that sound like something that we all have done and maybe even still struggle with?

But even in the depths of our despair and loneliness God is willing to hear us, and to answer us.

With that said, let me share something that the bible tells us about life.

It’s found in Romans 8.

 Romans 8:13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

The bible speaks of two basic ways a person will live their life.

You either live a fleshly carnal life or a spirit led abundant life.

The fleshly carnal life is described in Galatians 5:19-21

 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, (plain and clear to the sight and understanding) which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,

20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,

21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things (to be busy with, to undertake, to perpetrate meaning to “bring into existence”) will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Can I point out something here?

Don’t you find it odd that a definition for “practice such things” is to bring into existence?

It’s almost like it refers to giving birth to a baby.

Its something that not only did you help create, but that it eventually will come out of you.

Like an extension of yourself.

Like bearing fruit.

And in this case its bad fruit.

Makes me shiver…

Let me ask you,

If I purposely get you upset and angry and you go out and get drunk who is responsible for you getting drunk?

If we are married and I shut you off from sex and you go on the internet, look at pornography and then physically satisfy yourself, who is responsible for you doing that?

If we are married and I never listen to you or try to meet your needs and you go out and find someone of the opposite sex who will listen to you and meet your needs then you end up having an affair, who is at fault for that?

The answer to all three questions is YOU ARE.

You got yourself drunk.

You satisfied yourself physically.

You committed adultery.

It was YOU who brought all those results into existence.

All three events are the offspring of your flesh.

The serpent did not make Adam and Eve eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Adam and Eve chose to do it themselves.

The fruit of my flesh is that …

My flesh was argumentative and unreasonable.

My flesh was defiant and un-submissive.

My flesh was selfish, self serving and causing strife.

Let me read Galatians 5:19-21 again…

 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,

20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,

21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things (to be busy with, to undertake, to perpetrate meaning to “bring into existence”) will not inherit the kingdom of God.

If you are still confused as to what will happen to those who continue to live according to the flesh, let me re-read the first half of  Romans 8:13 to you.

Romans 8:13a for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die;

There, you go. Right there in black and white.

Now you have no excuse if you continue to live according to your flesh.

NOW, what about the SPIRITUALLY ABUNDANT life that the bible talks about?

Jesus says in John 10:9-11 that…

9 I am the door;

 if anyone enters through Me,

he will be saved,

and will go in and out and find pasture.

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;

I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd;

the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

What does Jesus say about abundant life?

And by the way, I want to make a point here…

IF THERE WERE NO BIBLES, NONE OF US WOULD KNOW THIS…

Ok, so what is Jesus saying in John 10:9-11?

Let me put things into a different perspective.

You have always considered yourself a good person, but your life has become difficult and unfulfilling.

You find yourself jobless, hopeless, poor and without security so in desperation you break into the home of an elderly couple to steal a few thing so that you can pawn the stuff to get some money for a bottle of whiskey to drown your trouble in.

But the old man is home and catches you, you struggle with him, you throw him down to the floor and he hits his head against the stone threshold and he lays there, motionless.

You are confused, there is no blood so you check his breathing and find that there is none.

You try desperately to revive him, but there is no response.

The old man dies in your arms.

In a panic you rush out of the house with nothing.

The very next day as you’re watching the news, you see the story of your crime and you then discover that in the rush to get out of the house, you had dropped your old wedding ring out of that darn hole in your front left pocket. Darn it! What ever possessed your ex-wife to send it back to you?

And then a wave of panic flows through your body as the realization hits you. That ring was engraved!

To Adam, From Lucy. Fur’s Jewelry Shop…

It doesn’t take much time for the police to go to Fur’s Jewelry Shop, obtaining the receipt placing you at the scene of the crime.

The next day you are arrested and charged with attempted robbery and murder.

The trial is swift, and due to the overwhelming evidence against you, you are unanimously found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.

It all seems like a dream, but everyday upon waking up, you find yourself locked away in a prison cell where you will spend the rest of your life.

The walls and floor and ceiling are thick, steel reinforced concrete and the windows have indestructible metal bars with a criss-cross tic tac toe pattern. Stupid game.

You feel doomed and to your knowledge there is no way of escape.

A few days pass and unknown to you, the widow of the man you murdered had asked the jailer to give you her husband’s bible, so after a few days in jail, the jailer puts the book in your hands and tells you that it is from someone who cares about you.

You instantly become enraged that someone would be so shallow and self serving that they would bring you a stupid bible and not food or cigarettes or pornography, so you yell at the jailer and toss the bible at him as he leaves and the bible bounces off the wall onto the cell room floor.

For days you pace back and forth, muttering words of anger and hatred about a man and woman you know nothing about. Not only that, but you begin to mock the God of that persons bible.

You say to yourself. They call themselves a Christian.

If they were a Christian they would at least care about my physical health and welfare by bringing something to make my body comfortable.

Don’t they know how hard this steel framed bed is?

Don’t they know how cold this concrete floor is?

Don’t they know I could use some good hot food or warm clothes?

And all the while, that useless gift, that stupid bible lays there on the floor, kicked into the corner of the room.

You don’t know why, maybe it’s because of the boredom, you figure you could use a good laugh and walk over and pick the bible up. You open it to the very first page and for the first time in your life you read from Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God”. Suddenly you become filled with rage and once again you throw the book across the room, jump to your feet and with both arms raised up, you shake your fists into the air screaming, in the beginning?

In the beginning? what about now! What about right now God! Now is the time I could use some help. Now is the time I need a miracle and all you send me is a book from a stupid Christian who has no idea what life is really about.

 In the beginning?

Where were you God when my father left us when I was 5 years old?

Where were you God when my brother was killed by that drunk driver?

Where were you God when I lost my job and my wife left me?

Where were you God when that jerk of a friend offered me my first joint?

God if you were there in the beginning then why did you let me end up this way?

Falling down on your knees, you begin to weep and finally you ask, somewhat under your breath,

Why is my life like this God?

After kneeling there for what seems like an eternity, you slowly and painfully lift your head and you see that stupid bible laying on the floor against the wall. You notice that it is open, and on your hands and knees you crawl over to where the bible is and you look at the words on the page and you begin to read a passage from John 10 out loud to yourself…

9 I am the door;

 if anyone enters through Me,

he will be saved,

and will go in and out and find pasture.

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;

I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd;

the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

You once again begin to weep.

And in the midst of the flood of tears flowing down your face, thoughts of the old mans face begin to flood into your mind.

Something deep inside you breaks and knowing that you have no hope left, you begin to beg God for forgiveness.

Words of repentance and sorrow flow out of you, your heart is broken, your life is shattered and for the first time ever in your life, you realize that you truly deserve to die.

In the midst of your turmoil you never hear the cell door open and suddenly you feel a hand gently touch your shoulder and turning your head you see an old woman standing there.

Your mind racing, you suddenly remember a picture on the fireplace mantle of the old man with a woman. Looking into her face, you realize that standing before you is the same woman, quickly the shock wears off and you see that she too is weeping.

Her face full of compassion and she begins to speak to you.

Adam, I want you to know that I forgive you.

And Adam, Jesus will forgive you too if you will just ask Him.

Together with the old woman, the both of you on your knees, in middle of that concrete and steel prison cell, you begin to pray, and with tears of repentance you confess those sins that have haunted you all your life and finally, finally you ask God to forgive you.

The old woman turns to you and softly says, Adam, it is not enough for you to ask for forgiveness, you need to ask God for a Savior.

And you say to her, “who is He that I may believe in Him?”

She looks at the broken man and says, John 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Adam responds, but why does it have to be Jesus?

She responds, John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

And together, for the first time in his long life, Adam asks Jesus the Christ to come into his heart to be his Lord and Savior for all of eternity.

Adam then turns to the old woman and asks her, why did God take so long to reveal Himself to me? Why did I have to end up in this prison cell to come to Him?

The woman, wise from walking many years with God replies,

It is because just like you tossed this bible aside when you first received it, you have never been willing to listen to its words which are the words of Gods voice that has been calling you from the days of your youth.

With tenderness and love beaming from her face she says, Adam, God is the God of the second chance for Hebrews 4:6 and 7 says…

Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, (that is His rest) and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience,

7 He again fixes a certain day, TODAY, saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS.

THE LOVE OF GOD IS NOT ALWAYS NICE.

Excuse me while I do a little venting…

IF YOU DON’T GET ANYTHING OUT OF READING THE BIBLE, THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE BIBLE.

THE PROBLEM IS YOU.

IF YOU DON’T LISTEN TO GOOD, ACCURATE, BIBLICALLY SOUND, SPIRIT LEAD BIBLE TEACHING, THE PROBLEM IS NOT WITH A LACK OF GOOD, ACCURATE, BIBLICALLY SOUND, SPIRIT LEAD TEACHERS. THE PROBLEM IS THAT YOU ARE SPIRITUALLY LAZY AND INDIFFERENT TO WHAT GOD HAS TO SAY ABOUT HIMSELF.

MODERN DAY (SUPPOSED) CHRISTIANS PURPOSELY IGNORE AND AVOID READING, STUDYING, PRAYING ABOUT OR INTELLIGENTLY DISCUSSING THE WORD OF GOD.

CHRISTIANS USED TO BELIEVE THAT READING THE BIBLE WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THEIR DAILY CHRISTIAN WALK. APPARENTLY THIS IS NOT TRUE ANYMORE BECAUSE ALMOST NO ONE BRINGS A BIBLE TO CHURCH.

PASTORS USED TO KNOW THAT THEY SHOULD PREACH AND TEACH THE WORD OF GOD FROM THE PULPIT AND YET THEY DON’T BECAUSE PASTORS ARE MORE AFRAID OF OFFENDING PEOPLE THAN THEY ARE OF OFFENDING GOD.

MANY PASTORS HAVE NO CLUE HOW TO PREACH AND TEACH THE WORD OF GOD EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE WELL ACQUAINTED WITH CHURCH GROWTH PROGRAMS AND HOW TO PRESENT SUPPOSEDLY EXCITING, THIS IS THE LATEST FAD THAT WORKED IN THIS OTHER CHURCH, LET ME ENTERTAIN YOU AND GIVE YOU LIFE LESSON #1, 2, 3 GARBAGE.

THROUGHOUT CHRISTIAN HISTORY, MEN AND WOMEN HAVE ENDURED TORTURE AND HAVE GIVEN UP THEIR LIVES TO POSSESS AND READ AND MAKE COPIES OF THE BIBLE. WEREN’T THOSE PAST GENERATIONS REALLY STUPID?

WHY WAS THE BIBLE IMPORTANT AT ONE TIME IN HISTORY, BUT IT ISNT NOW?

HOW HAS THE WORD OF GOD GONE FROM BEING TO DIE FOR, TO BEING SUGAR COATED, FABLE FILLED, DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND, NON REVELANT, NOT FOR TODAYS SOCIETY, SUPPOSED WORD OF GOD?

WHEN DID CHRISTIANS BECOME SO LAZY ABOUT AND IGNORANT OF GODS WORD?

HAVE YOU BEEN SPOON FED A CONSTANT DIET OF   “JESUS LOVES YOU”, “YOU’RE SPECIAL TO GOD”, “GOD WILL FORGIVE YOU BECAUSE GOD LOVES EVERYBODY”, THAT YOU FORGOT THAT THE ONLY REASON THAT GOD LOVES YOU IN THE FIRST PLACE IS BECAUSE JESUS TOOK  A PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL WHIPPING THAT YOU COULD NOT POSSIBLY HAVE SURVIVED?

DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT JESUS ACTUALLY TOOK YOUR SINS FROM YOU, PLACED THEM UPON HIMSELF AND THEN BORE GODS WRATH JUST SO YOU COULD FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF AND THEN MAYBE “MAKE A DECISION” FOR JESUS, BUT ITS NOT REALLY THAT IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO GET TO HEAVEN?

HAS IT EVER OCCURRED TO YOU THAT IT WAS YOUR SELFISHNESS, YOUR EVIL, YOUR GREED, YOUR PRIDE, YOUR SIN, THAT KILLED A PERFECT, LOVING, JUST, GOOD, MERCIFUL AN INNOCENT MAN?

HAS IT EVER OCCURRED TO YOU THAT IT WAS YOU WHO RIPPED HIS BACK OPEN BECAUSE OF YOUR SIN?

THAT IT WAS YOU WHO SMASHED THAT CROWN OF THORNS ON HIS HEAD BECAUSE OF YOUR SIN?

THAT IT WAS YOU WHO DROVE THE SPIKES THROUGH HIS HANDS AND FEET BECAUSE OF YOUR SIN?

THAT IT WAS YOU WHO MOCKED HIM?

THAT IT WAS YOU WHO SPIT ON HIM?

THAT IT WAS YOU WHO SLAPPED HIM?

HAS IT EVER OCCURRED TO YOU THAT IT WAS YOU?

HAS IT EVER OCCURRED TO YOU THAT GOD SHOULD HAVE CRUSHED YOU?

THAT GOD SHOULD HAVE PUNISHED YOU?

THAT GOD SHOULD HAVE KILLED YOU?

THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN YOU WHO WAS MOCKED, SLAPPED, SPIT AT, WHIPPED, HAIR PULLED OUT?

HAS IT EVER OCCURRED TO YOU THAT GOD SHOULD HAVE TURNED HIS BACK ON YOU?

I WOULD BET YOU WON’T HEAR THAT KIND OF PREACHING IN YOUR POSTMODERN, SEEKER SENSITIVE, EMERGENT, EMERGING, SOCIAL GOSPEL, CHURCH IS FOR THE UNBELIEVERS, LETS PLAY CHURCH ON SUNDAY MORNING, MAKE BELIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD IS HERE BECAUSE WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT OURSELVES CHURCH?

IF YOU ARE STILL HANGING IN THERE WITH ME AND YOU HAVENT BEEN INSULTED BY MY IN YOUR FACE, THAT WON’T KEEP PEOPLE COMING BACK FOR MORE PRESENTATION OF THE GOSPEL, LET ME READ SOMETHING TO YOU.

Parentheses are my emphasis…

Ephesians 2:1 AND YOU

(1) were dead in YOUR trespasses and sins,

2 in which

(2) YOU formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air,

of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

3 Among them

(3) WE TOO all formerly lived in the lusts of OUR FLESH,

indulging the desires of the FLESH AND OF THE MIND,

and (4) were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

4 But God,

(1) being rich in mercy,

(2) because of His great love with which He loved us,

5 (3) even when WE WERE DEAD in our transgressions,

(4) MADE US ALIVE together WITH Christ (by grace you have been saved),

6 and (5) RAISED US UP with Him,

and (6) SEATED US WITH Him

in the heavenly places IN Christ Jesus,

WHY WOULD GOD DO SUCH A THING?

7 so that in the ages to come

He might show

the surpassing riches of His grace

in kindness TOWARD US

in Christ Jesus.

GOD SNATCHED YOU OUT OF THE GRASP OF SATAN.

GOD REMOVED YOU FROM THE DARKNESS OF SIN.

GOD RESCUED YOU FROM ETERNAL SEPERATION.

WHY?

SO THAT FOR ALL ETERNITY

YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE

THAT JESUS CHRIST AND ONLY JESUS CHRIST

IS THE GRACE OF GOD.

Keep reading with me in Ephesians 2…

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith;

and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

Lets break this down…

What is Grace?

GRACE: The merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues.

What does it mean to be Saved?

SAVED: To keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction.

What Faith?

FAITH: The conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ.

What does yourself mean?

YOURSELF: what is already yours or of you.

What Gift of God?

GIFT: Gifts offered in expression of honor. Something that you do not, and can not earn by your own efforts.

So let’s try and read Ephesians 2:8 again…

For by the merciful kindness by which God exerted His holy influence on you, that you would not only turn to Christ, but that He would continually strengthen and increase your faith, knowledge and affection towards Him so that you could continue to live a virtuous life you have been rescued from danger and kept safe and sound through the conviction that God not only exists, but that He is the ruler, provider and bestower of your salvation; and that not which comes from or is earned by you, for it is the expression of unearned favor, merit and honor of God;

Now is that the Good News or what?

Would you get up in the morning and go to church for that kind of information and teaching?

DO YOU WANT SOME MORE GOOD NEWS?

Galatians 3:13 SAYS…

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law,

Now that is some more Good News isn’t it?

But wait, it gets better!

 having become a curse for us

Isn’t that absolutely wonderful!?!?

Jesus became a curse for special little you!

What exactly is a curse?

A curse is an execration, an imprecation.

It means that…

Jesus became the very thing that is held as an abomination before God.

Jesus became the very thing that God loathes and detests.

Jesus became the very thing that God would call down and invoke a curse upon.

And He did it all for you…

So are you feeling special yet?

Simply put,

JESUS CAME TO EARTH TO BE CURSED BY GOD.

PHILIPPIANS 2:6 WILL TELL US HOW JESUS BECAME CURSED FOR US…

Philippians 2:6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,

First and foremost,

JESUS HUMBLED HIMSELF BEFORE GOD by laying aside His equality with God.

What did Jesus lay aside?

His value, rank (position) and ability.

But that wasn’t enough, so Jesus…

7 emptied Himself,

What does that mean?

It means that Jesus gave up His reputation in exchange for no reputation at all!

But that wasn’t enough so Jesus took…

the form of a bond-servant,

What does that mean?

It means that Jesus was devoted to you to the disregard of His own interests.

But that wasn’t enough, so Jesus was made…

in the likeness of men.

So what does that mean?

It means that Jesus made you amount to His equal…

JESUS ACTUALLY HUMBLED HIMSELF BEFORE YOU by allowing Himself to be born into the same type of fleshly, human, physical body that YOU were born into.

8 Being found in appearance as a man,

He humbled Himself

by becoming obedient to the point of death,

even death on a cross.

Remember that old song by Foreigner, I want to know what Love is?

JESUS HUMBLED HIMSELF IN ORDER TO DISPLAY REAL, AUTHENTIC, SELF SACRIFICING, GENUINE LOVE.

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this that one lay down his life for his friends.

9 For this reason also,

God highly exalted Him,

and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,

10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW,

of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and that every tongue will confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

SO, WHY DID GOD HIGHLY EXALT JESUS?

WHY IS JESUS WORTHY OF ALL OUR PRAISE?

WHY SHOULD WE WORSHIP JESUS?

Luke 9:56 for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.