Th Sea of Change

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.
- Revelation 21:1 -

In the new dispensation, there will be no division.

The sea separates nations and sunders peoples from each other.

To John in Patmos, the deep waters were like prison walls, shutting him out from his brethren and his work.

But there shall be no such barriers in the world to come.

In the bright world to which we go, there shall be unbroken fellowship for all the redeemed family.

There shall be no more sea.

The sea is the emblem of change. It is never long the same.

In this mortal state, we have too much of this.

But in the heavenly state, all mournful change shall be unknown.

Soon we shall reach that happy land where partings, and changes, and storms shall be ended!

And the Lord Jesus will waft us there.

Lay Your Foundation With Sapphires

“O you afflicted one,
Tossed with tempest, and not comforted,
Behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems,
And lay your foundations with sapphires."
- Isaiah 54:11

Everything of the Church, seen and unseen, is precious to God.

The foundations of the Church are out of sight.

But in God's work, everything is valuable.

The deep foundations of the work of grace are as precious as sapphires.

No human mind can measure their glory.

(1) We build upon the strong foundations of the covenant of grace.

Sapphire foundations are eternal.

The covenant abides forever.

(2) Another foundation is the person of the Lord Jesus, which is clear and spotless, everlasting and beautiful as the sapphire.

We see Him radiant with the soft blue of love, love abounding, deep, eternal.

(3) Our eternal hopes are built upon the justice and the faithfulness of God, which are clear and cloudless as the sapphire.

We are saved by mercy defeating justice.

The Lord Himself has laid the foundation of His people's hopes.

Our hopes are built upon what God had done for us.

Good works and ceremonies are not a foundation of sapphires.

They are not laid by God, but by our own conceit.

All foundations will be tried before long.

Woe to him whose foundations shall come down with a crash.

He whose foundation is built on sapphires may await trials with confidence, for he shall abide the test.

Lydia: A Conversion Experience

Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.
- Acts 16:14 -

Lydia's conversion was brought about by providential circumstances.

She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira. 

 

But providence had led her to the right spot at the right time to hear Paul preaching at Philippi.

Grace was preparing her soul for the blessing.

She did not know the Savior. 

 

But as a Jewess, she knew many truths about Jesus.

Her conversion was through the means of grace.

On a Sabbath, she was at a prayer meeting.

The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.

She did not open her own heart. 

 

Paul did not do it for her.

The Lord Himself opened her heart to receive His words.

The first outward evidence of the opened heart was obedience.

As soon as Lydia had believed in Jesus, she was baptized.

The next evidence was love.

 

It was manifested in Lydia's acts of grateful kindness to the apostles.

The Lord had opened Lydia's heart. 

 

Lydia immediately served Christ and she helped His people.

There's Hope For Sinners

"...and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,..."
- 1 Corinthians 1:28 -

Sinners are everywhere.
 

We may find them in every lane and street of every city, town, and village.
 

It is for sinners that the Lord Jesus Christ died.
 

There are hope for sinners; the Lord Jesus Christ comes to seek and save them.
 

Electing love has selected some of the worst sinners to be made the best of men.
 

Redeeming love has set apart many of the worst sinners to be the reward of the Savior's passion.
 

Effectual grace has called forth many of the vilest of the vile to sit at the table of mercy.
 

Let none of us despair and give up hope.
 

Let none of us turn away from our Redeemer. Let us believe in Him and be saved.  

 

Let us trust our soul with Him.  He will bring us to His Father's right hand in everlasting glory.

 

Without Blemish

You are all fair, my love,
And there is no spot in you.
- Song of Solomon 4:7 -

The Lord pronounced His Church positively full of beauty.

He confirms His praise by a precious negative: "And there is no spot in you."

The Church is universally and entirely fair.

She is utterly devoid of stain. She is free from the slightest spot. All forms of defilement have been removed from her.

There is eternal reason for joy.

Christ Jesus has no quarrel with His spouse.

She may wander from Him.

She may grieve His Holy Spirit.

But He does not allow her faults to affect His love.

He sometimes chides, but it is always in the tenderest manner, and with the kindest intentions.

The Lord has no remembrance of our follies. 

He does not cherish ill thoughts of us.

The Lord always loves and pardons us.

He knows our silly hearts too well to take offence at our ill manners.

The Church is spotless and without blemish in His sight.

When It Involves Money

Then Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do about the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?” And the man of God answered, “The Lord is able to give you much more than this.” (2 Chronicles 25:9)

To lose money is never pleasant. Not many are ready to make the sacrifice.
 

When it involves serious money, many Christians are unwilling to come forward or get involved.
 

We must view this matter of money in the light of faith.
 

We must seek to do what God commands us.
 

Let us remember that the Lord is able to give us much more than what we lose.
 

Our Father holds the money bag.
 

What we lose for His sake, He can repay a thousandfold.
 

Let us obey His will and rest assured that He will provide for us. 

 

The Lord is no man's debtor.

 

He will provide for us.

 

Besides, He will give us treasure in Heaven.
 

The Lord makes the meek to inherit the earth.

 

No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

Ministers Of Christ

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. (Zechariah 3:1)

In Joshua the high priest we see a picture of Christian believer, bought by the blood of Christ, and taught to minister in holy things.

Joshua the high priest stood to minister.

This should be the perpetual position of every true believer.

We are to be always ministering, offering the spiritual sacrifice of prayer and praise, and presenting ourselves a living sacrifice.

Joshua the high priest stood before the Angel of the Lord.

It is only through the Lord Jesus Christ our Mediator that we become priests of God.

Let us remember our perpetual position as minister of Christ: a priest standing before the Angel of the Lord.

Broad Rivers and Streams

But there the majestic Lord will be for us
A place of broad rivers and streams,
In which no galley with oars will sail,
Nor majestic ships pass by
(Isaiah 33:21)

Broad rivers and streams produce fertility and abundance for the land.

Places near broad rivers are remarkable for the variety of plants and plentiful harvests.

God is all this to His Church.

With God, the Church has abundance.

Broad rivers and streams produce commerce.

We grow and prosper in the Lord.

We have fellowship with God and His people.

We enjoy God's blessings and mercy.

Broad rivers and streams produce security.

What a defense is God to His Church!

Satan cannot destroy us.

We shall be safe and secure under the protection of the Almighty.

Sitting With Jesus

There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. (John 12:2)

Lazarus is to be envied.

It was well to be Martha and serve, but better to be Lazarus and commune.

To sit with Jesus, to hear His words, to mark His acts, and to receive His smiles was a great favor to Lazarus. It made him very happy.

Lazarus is to be imitated.

It would have been a strange thing if Lazarus had not been at the table where Jesus was, for he had been dead, and Jesus had raised him.

For the risen one to be absent when the Lord who gave him life was at his house, would have been ungrateful indeed.

We too were once dead. Jesus raised us, and by His life we live. Can we be content to live at a distance from him?

Let us draw near to Him. Let us have close fellowship with Him. Jesus has loved us with an everlasting love. Let us sit at the table with Him and commune with Him.

Avoid Foolish Disputes

But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. (Titus 3:9)

Our days are few. It is far better to spend in doing good, than in disputing over matters of minor importance.

Questions upon points wherein Scripture is silent; upon mysteries which belong to God alone; upon prophecies of doubtful interpretation; and upon modes of observing human ceremonials, are all foolish. It is wise to avoid them. We are not to ask or answer such foolish questions. We are to avoid them altogether.

There are, however, some questions we must not avoid, such as:

Do I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?

Am I renewed in the spirit of my mind?

Am I walking after the Spirit?

Am I growing in grace?

Does my conversation adorn the doctrine of God my Savior?

Am I looking for the coming of the Lord?

What more can I do for Jesus?

Such enquiries demand our attention.

Let us be peace-makers.

Let us endeavor to lead others by our precept and example.

Let us avoid foolish disputes.

The Lord Is My Portion

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” 

- Lamentation 3: 24 -

The Lord is my portion.

The Lord Himself makes up the sum total of my soul's inheritance. Within the circumference of that circle lies all that we possess or desire.

The Lord Himself has chosen us for His portion, and we have chosen Him for ours.

The Lord is our all-sufficient portion.

God is all-sufficient in Himself.

He must be all-sufficient for us.

All that we can wish for is to be found in our divine portion.

Let us rejoice in the Lord always.

Let us show to the world that we are a happy and blessed people.

In Christ Only

"I will stretch out My hand against Judah, And against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. I will cut off every trace of Baal from this place, The names of the idolatrous priests with the pagan priests-- Those who worship the host of heaven on the housetops; Those who worship and swear oaths by the LORD, But who also swear by Milcom; (Zephaniah 1:4-5)

There are believers who think they are safe because they are with both parties: they are followers of Christ, and bow at the same time to other gods.

But duplicity is abominable with God, and God hates hypocrisy.

The penalty pronounced here is terrible, but it is well deserved.

How can divine justice spare the sinner, who knows the right, approves it, and professes to follow it, and all the while loves the evil, and gives it dominion in his heart?

Let us search ourselves today, and see whether we are guilty of double-dealing.

Do we truly love Jesus? Is our heart right with God? 

Christ will be all or nothing.

God fills the whole universe.

There is no room for another god.

There is no space for another reigning power.

Let us rest alone on Jesus crucified, and live alone for Him.

Handle With Care

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, 

a worker who does not need to be ashamed, 

rightly dividing the Word of truth. 

- 2 Timothy 2:15 - 

Many have tried to mishandle the message of the Bible. They make it support what they believe is true instead of allowing God to speak His true message to them.

Some have used the Bible to defend one side of an issue. Others have used it to attack the same issue. They both quote from the Scriptures to support their views. They cannot both be right.

It is important for us to say exactly what the Scriptures say. We are not to mishandle the Word, nor are we to misrepresent it.

Paul challenged Timothy, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).

Let us accurately interpret God’s Word.

Let us represent God’s Word in ways that genuinely reflect God’s heart.

Handle the Word with care.

Our Heavenly Father

This, then, is how you should pray: "Our Father in heaven..."
- Matthew 6:9 -

This is how we must pray: we are to direct our prayer to God the Father.

Since He is our God, we are to worship Him, and Him alone. We are to submit to all His teachings. We are to serve Him all our lives. And we are to hallow His Name. We are to seek His Kingdom and build His Church. We are to wait patiently for the Coming of His beloved Son while doing all His bidding.

Since God is our Father, we are to honor Him and and respect Him. We are to hold Him in the highest esteem. We are to fear Him. We are to bring glory to Him. We are to call on Him and be intimate with Him to hear and listen what He is saying and be obedient to it. 

Since God is in Heaven, He is all powerful. He is all seeing. He is all knowing. He is sovereign and in full control over everything that happens. His will will be done. His Kingdom will be established in its fullness.

Thank God for being our Heavenly Father.

Contentment

I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. 
- Philippians 4:11 - 

At the time of this writing, Paul was in jail in Rome. 

Charged with sedition, treason, and other crimes, he had appealed to the highest court: Caesar himself. 

He had to wait for his case to be heard. 

Paul had the right to be impatient and unhappy. 

But he told the Philippians that he had learned to be content. 

He had learned to accept whatever came his way. 

When we are faced with pains and difficulties, let us learn to trust God and be content. 

Whatever comes our way is God’s choice! 

Let us accept and rejoice in all He send. 

Capture The Time

See then that you walk circumspectly, 
not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time. 
 - Ephesians 5:15-16 -

We don’t know when our heart will expire.

We don't know when we will take our last breath...

We must capture the moments we have been given.

We must love more deeply, forgive more quickly, listen more carefully, and speak more correctly, clearly and confidently.

We must redeem the time we have left.

We must please God, share the love of Christ, and do whatever is good, perfect, just, and right.

Let us live each day as if it’s our last.

Stand In The Fire

Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace. 

- Daniel 3:17 - 

A fire was burning.

The heat was intense and the fire was mesmerizing.

Fear was on the faces of everyone, checking and re-checking to see if loved ones were safe.

In the chaos, some raced into the fire to look for others...

*******

Fire reminds us of the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

When challenged with the decree to bow to the king or face execution, these three bravely faced the fire for the One they loved.

And the Lord stood with them in the flames.

*******

When life’s flames test us, let us recognize our love for each other and for our God.

Let us be encouraged to stand firm for God.

Trials are the soil in which faith grows.

When Trouble Comes

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.
- 2 Corinthians 1:3 -

Where do we go when struggles and pain threaten to shake our faith?

2 Corinthians 1:3 has the answer.

Here, Paul praised God on two levels.

First, he praised God, who is not only our God, but also the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

Then he told us that our heavenly Father is the God of all mercy and comfort.

Let us go to God the Father in times of troubles.

He has an endless supply and is ready to pour it out on us in abundance.

He is all we need in times of trouble!

Who is Jesus?

Matthew 16:15-17 gives us the best starting point, confirmed by Christ Himself, in answering the question, "Who is Jesus?"

Jesus said to His disciples:
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.

The God-revealed answer is that Jesus is the promised Messiah, the literal Son of the Supreme Being of the entire universe.

Of course, He is a great deal more than this.

But these two facts are the most foundational to our spiritual understanding of this wonderful Being.

They give us the basis of His relationship to us and our future, as well as His relationship to Deity, fixing Him as the bridge between man and God.

From this foundation, we can begin a deeper consideration of the biblical Jesus.

Why Do Clouds Float?

Clouds float because condensed moisture, descending by gravity, meets warmer temperatures rising from the land. That moisture then changes into vapor and ascends back into the air.

But natural explanations are not the final answers.

Clouds float because God in His wisdom reveal “the wondrous works of Him who is perfect in knowledge” (Job 37:16).

God makes the clouds float through the air.

He does so to call us to wonder and adoration.

Devotion To God

Why we do what we do in our lives is extremely important.

Our goal is to work for the glory of God.

Let us do our best as evidence of our devotion to God.

Until You Are Full

I am the bread of life.

He who comes to Me shall never hunger,
and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
- John 6:35 -

The good news can satisfy our hunger for inner peace, forgiveness, hope, love, joy, faith etc.

Jesus Christ, the bread of life, invites us to come to Him for His feast for the soul, urging us to eat until we are full.

Have we eaten until we are full?

There is a longing in every heart that only Jesus can satisfy.

Let's feed until we are full.

God Never Sleeps

He who keeps you will not slumber. (Psalm 121:3)

God neither slumbers nor sleeps.

He knows all that is going on in and around our lives.

We can count on Him.

God knows the impending dangers. He will tirelessly direct the traffic of our lives for our good and His glory (Rom. 8:28).

Because God never sleeps, we can be at peace.

Living A Life Of Joy

Consider him [Jesus] who endured such opposition from sinful men,

so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

(Hebrews 12:3)

Jesus repeatedly warned his followers that if the world hated Him, it would hate them also (John 15:18).

As a follower of Jesus, we can expect opposition. It will come from the world, and possibly from our own family and friends.

But we can live a life of joy in the midst of these troubles because He has overcome the world and so can we (John 16:33).

The Freeing Beauty Of Forgiveness

Matthew 18:35

This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you
unless you forgive your brother from your heart.

As Christians, we are called to forgive those who have wronged us. But “Why?”

Through the process of forgiveness, we realize we are not as different from the wrongdoer as we would like to think. And we end up linked on the same side.

God had linked Himself with us humans in the incarnation. He had to come to terms with us He desperately wanted to love. On earth, living among us, he learned what it was like to be human, yet without sin. But He put Himself on our side. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us.

Forgiveness is a key component of the victorious overcomer.

This is the way of the cross to becoming “more than conquerors.”

Forgiveness is a must for us as followers of Jesus.

Thank you, Lord,
for the freeing beauty of forgiveness.

God's Love and Care

1 Peter 5:7

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

We often have doubts about God
when we see the suffering and pain in our world.

But our doubts end up in bringing God close.

We will gradually come to see that
God’s care is everywhere to be seen,
if we can look beyond our own suffering.

Let us look beyond the suffering we see around us,
and see God’s love and care.

Thank You Lord that You do care for Your creation
and that in our moments of doubt,
You draw close and reveal the truth of Your love and care.

Comfort My People

Isaiah 40:1

Comfort, comfort my people,
says your God.

Bomb and suicide attacks are common these days. Many have lost their families and relatives. Many have offered words of comfort, support, and prayers to the grieving families.

It would be difficult for the grieving families to forget and forgive.

But as Christian, we are called to forgive and love.
We are not to let revenge or hatred rule our hearts.

Of course, there would always be pains and sadness. It is just impossible to find words to express our feelings after such cruel deeds.

But we continue to come to church in a very humble way. It is our place for prayers, lamentations, hope, comfort and love. Here we meet our Comforter and Saviour.

Let us thank God for His comfort.
Let us use His comfort to comfort others.

And let us pray for brothers and sisters
who are still experiencing
the fear and pain of terror and loss.

Training in Righteousness

1 Corinthians 9:25

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.
They do it to get a crown that will not last;
but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

To maintain biblical integrity, we must be trained in righteousness.

We must be disciplined through practice to be obedient to God.

We must be constantly trained to withstand the schemes of the devil.

Discipleship is often bypassed in modern day because of the pressures of time, need and a low value placed upon the office to be filled.

But this was not the case with Jesus in His selection and training of His disciples.

After calling them to be with Him, he challenged them to commit themselves to following after Him — to be “fishers of men.”

Jesus then began to train them to become His kind of “fishers of men.”

Let us be trained disciples of Jesus Christ.
Let us submit to His guidance and discipline.

Lord, help me to realize and accept
Your training process as I follow You today.

Preach Boldly

Acts 4:29

Now, Lord, consider their threats and
enable your servants to speak your word
with great boldness.

Peter and John have been released from prison after many threats from the authorities.

They return to the church and report.

The church goes to prayer.

But the remarkable thing is that they do not pray for protection but for boldness.

We know God was pleased with their request because after their prayer the place in which they were meeting was shaken.

Filled with God’s Spirit they spoke the word of God boldly.

*******

Let us focus on God.

Let us focus on His kingdom and God will do the rest.

Ask for the impossible and it will happen.

*******

Let us pray for God’s desire.

Look what happened in Acts when the church had a hard time.

They did not ask for their own protection.

They asked to glorify God’s name.

May our circumstances and challenges
ultimately glorify God’s name.

Thank You Lord for the boldness
You give Your church
in the midst of threats and violence.

Pray For Me

Acts 12:5

So Peter was kept in prison,
but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

Let us remember that God’s promises are true
and He still performs miracles.

Let us pray earnestly for Christians
around the world in prison for their faith.

Keep In Step With The Spirit

Galatians 5: 25

Since we live by the Spirit,
let us keep in step with the Spirit.

The Lord Jesus said He would not leave us alone but would give us a Helper to be with us forever (John 14: 16-18).

He taught us that the Holy Spirit would be our Counselor (John 14: 26).

He also called the Holy Spirit the Spirit of Truth (John 14:17).

We pray.

After we pray, the Holy Spirit will tell us what to do!

We must be obedient to the Holy Spirit’s direction.

We are to live so completely under the control of the Holy Spirit that it can be said we are walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:25).

The Holy Spirit wants to be our guide and counselor.

Let us be obedient to His leading.

Lord, help me to walk in the power of Your Holy Spirit.
Help me also to keep in step with Him!

Living By Example

Deuteronomy 6:6-7

These commandments that I give you today
are to be on your hearts.
Impress them on your children.
Talk about them when you sit at home
and when you walk along the road,
when you lie down and when you get up.

Christian life does not just depend on teachings, circumstances or comfort.

In many countries, there are severe restrictions and obstacles facing parents in instructing their children in the ways of the Lord.

Yet, it seems that Christian families in restricted areas are more godly and committed to the Lord than their counterparts in the west, where opportunities abound and Christians live in abundance.

The lessons we learn from persecuted churches are of far more value than seminars or devotionals can ever be—the lessons of true discipleship and wholesome living. Lessons that are neither theology nor speculation but teachings of life, reality and practice.

Let us take seriously the challenge of teaching, training and disciplining our children or young people with whom we have close relationship.

Oh God, help me to live a life of self-sacrifice
so young people will see You and want to follow You.

Memorizing God's Word

Joshua 1:8

Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth;
meditate on it day and night,
so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.
Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Let’s begin a program to internalize God’s Word and hide it in our hearts.

Oh God! give me a passion for Your Word.

Strict Obedience To God

Deuteronomy 27:9-28:14

Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal were located in Samaria, about 40 miles north of Jerusalem.

Between the mountains, which rise about 3000 feet above sea level, lies a narrow pass.

Moses commanded that when the Israelites came into the Promised Land, the blessings for keeping the law (Deuteronomy 28 : 1–14) should be spoken by half the tribes from Mount Gerizim, and the curses for not obeying the law (Deuteronomy 27 : 15–26 ) should be spoken by the other tribes from Mount Ebal.

This dramatic scene would emphasize the importance of obedience and the consequences of disobedience, even down to a curse on anyone leading the blind astray (Deuteronomy 27:18).

God is concerned about all of life and how we live it.

Consider The Two Mountains
As We Walk The Narrow Way!

Where is your house?

Matthew 6:19-21

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

Where is your house?

If we cannot afford to sleep in a building, we will go and sleep under a tree.

Over the past years, God had taken good care of us, helping us not only to survive, but also to be productive and render services to our community.

If, by faith we are God’s child, according to His promises in the Bible, He will continue to take care of us.

God is our hiding place.

God always fills our hearts with songs of deliverance.

Whenever we are afraid, we will trust in Him!

The best thing to do is not to get attached to material things or even people, because they will be there for some time and will be gone soon.

The best thing is to get our hearts attached to God, because He will go with us everywhere, will provide for us what we need, and in the end take us to live in the heavenly city where our eternal house is!

Let us seriously evaluate where our treasure and house are because that’s where Jesus says our hearts will also be.

Help me Father to accumulate treasures in heaven and not on earth.

The Atonement For Sin

Leviticus 16:1–34

In spite of God’s desire that we be holy, He is fully aware that we will not remain free from sin.

But because He loves us and is gracious to us, He provides a way for our sins to be forgiven.

In the Old Testament, the Israelites were cleansed from sin annually on the Day of Atonement.

This yearly event was a picture of the atonement that would be accomplished through Jesus’ sacrifice.

Since Jesus died and rose from the dead, and offered Himself to pay for our sins once and for all, we are cleansed through His work.

We can rely on His forgiveness moment by moment.

God's Names

God also said to Moses, “I am the Lord.
I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob
as God Almighty,
but by my name the Lord
I did not make myself fully known to them.
(Exodus 6:2–3)

As God revealed His plans to the patriarchs and matriarchs in the Bible, He became more intimate with His people.

For example, God made Himself known as El-Shaddai—“God Almighty”, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Genesis 17:1; 28:3; 35:11).

Later He told Moses His covenant name: Yahweh—“The LORD” (Exodus 3:15 ).

In the Gospels, God becomes even more personal when the Son of God becomes incarnate in Jesus.

And in Acts and the epistles, we discover that God comes to live in our hearts through the Holy Spirit.

Throughout history, God has revealed more of Himself to His people.

The final act of intimacy will be when He brings us home.

Then we can fellowship with Him face to face forever.

Oh Almighty Father, God the Most High!

Suffer For Christ

I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one. (1 John 2:14b)

What are your wounds for Christ this week?

In the Bible, to be persecuted means to be pursued by the enemies of Christ.

When we become a Christian, Christ’s enemies become our enemies, and we are pitched into a battle with the world and the devil, and this fight will draw wounds.

So it doesn’t matter where we are. The fight is the same, only the degree and type of suffering may differ. We are going to get pursued. That is persecution.

Persecution is not just legal discrimination or being put into jail for one’s faith.

Our wounds for Christ let us know that we are alive in Christ.

And wounds bring joy, because we know we are making a difference.

Persecuted churches are growing churches. They are alive in Christ. They know it because they have wounds!

Let us find the source of resistance to the gospel in our local area. Let us apply the gospel and watch the fight begins.

Let us accept negative reactions as a sign that we are making a difference in our community.

Oh Lord, let me experience the joy resulting from doing right and opposing evil in my sphere of influence.

Serving Two Masters

“No one can serve two masters.
Either he will hate the one and love the other,
or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
You cannot serve both God and Money.”
(Matthew 6:24)

Riches are dangerous because their seductive power often causes people to reject Christ and His kingdom. The rich young ruler turned away sadly after being told that he had to part with his riches to inherit salvation.

A desire for riches can cause people to do almost anything, even to the extent of selling their souls.

An abundance of possessions can lead us to forget that God is the Source of all good.

The pursuit of wealth often results in wars.

Money is a power that is demonic in character. It can become a rival god. It seeks to dominate us. It is capable of inspiring devotion.

It is instructive to stand back and observe the frantic scramble of people for money.

Be very careful! we can be complete materialists in our hearts.

Let us choose rather to serve God, so we will not give money any place of prominence in our life or in our heart.

Oh Lord, I need Your help today to stay focused on You and not on all the things around me.

Jacob’s Dream

Genesis 28:10–22

Jacob’s dream, in which he saw God’s angels ascending and descending a stairway to heaven, was a turning point in his life. It was the moment when God became personal to him.

We too must have a personal encounter and a relationship with God before we can experience His work in us and through us. And our encounter with Him centers on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Our relationship with God
depends on how well we know His Son.

How intimately do we experience His presence?

How clearly do we hear His voice?

Baby In Old Age

Without Women There Would Be No Church

Many women were among the larger body of disciples that followed and served Jesus Christ. They were more loyal to Jesus at the time of His crucifixion than His male disciples. Throughout the Bible, women filled significant roles in the Church. Without women there would be no church!

Fellowship With God

We are special.
We are made in God's image.
God created us to have fellowship with Him.

Do Not Worry About Your Life

Rahab Was Concerned About Her Family

Joshua 2: 12-13

Passage

When Rahab came to faith in God, her life was forever changed!

Rahab was concerned about her family who were in danger as well.

She knew that God would take care of her.

She wanted the same assurance for her family.

Her heart was moved to reach out for the help for them.

Response

One of the surest signs of salvation is a desire to tell others about the Savior.

Rahab proved she was saved!

Prayer

Lord, save my family, and my loved ones. Amen

Prove Your Faith By Work

Joshua 2: 1-7

Rahab proved her faith by doing God's Work!

Rahab was genuinely converted. She proved it by her involvement in the work of the Lord; she hid the spies and covered up for them.

Rahab told a lie. The Bible didn't condone her lie; it merely recorded it.

Rahab wasn't the only person in the Bible who lied. Abraham lied (Gen. 12:10-20); Isaac lied (Gen. 26:6-11); David lied (1 Sam. 21:2; 2 Sam. 12); Elisha lied (2 Kings 6:18-23).

We cannot condone her lie. But it was a case of "the lesser evil for the greater good." Given the right circumstances, most people would have done the same thing. we would lie to protect a loved one, or ourselves. Like Rahab, we might choose to commit "the lesser evil for the greater good."

Rahab was a pagan. She was raised in a culture of corruption, where lies were as common as dirt. Rahab was a believer. But she had never been taught or read a Bible. Rahab wasn't perfect. She lied. But God was able to use her sin for His glory!

James used Rahab as an example of the believer who proves their salvation by the works of their life (James 2:25).

The truth of our profession is proven by the way we live our lives (James 2:18)! We can say anything we like, but what we really are is revealed in what we do! A life that belongs to the Lord Jesus will be a life that wants to be involved in the things of God! The fruit of our lives proves the root of our lives (Matt. 7:20)! Jesus told us that we have been "created in Christ Jesus to do good works" (Eph. 2:10). Works don't save, but they sure point out those who are!

Rahab And Her Spiritual Fulfillment

Joshua 2: 12-22

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When Rahab came to faith in God, her life was forever transformed!

She was a changed woman!

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What God did in Rahab is a miracle of His love and grace.

God love her.

God saved her because of His grace upon her!

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What God did for Rahab, He can do for us too.

God can save us by His love and grace.

God can make us into a new creation!

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God made a few changes in the life of Rahab.

These changes in her life brought her fulfillment as she walked with the Lord.

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Let us study the few changes God did on Rahab.

Rahab Accepted God

Joshua 2:9-11

Not only did Rahab hear the message of Israel's God, she heeded that message as well.

This message produced a response of faith in Rahab's heart.

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The fact that Rahab believed the message was proven by what she said about God.

In verse 9, she called Him "the LORD", using His covenant name "Jehovah."

In verse 11, she expressed her faith in Him as the "God in heaven above and on the earth below."

In verse 12, she again expressed her faith in God as she called Him to witness the pact she was about to make with the spies.

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Rahab heard the message and she acted on it in belief.

She put her faith in the God of Israel!

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This is exactly what must happen in the life of the lost person who comes to Jesus.

He must hear the message and then act on it by accepting Jesus as his Savior by faith.

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The message of salvation is preached to the sinner.

They hear the Gospel and are convicted of the truth of the Gospel by the Holy Spirit (John 6:44).

When they believe the Gospel, they are saved by the grace of God.

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Salvation cannot be ours if our faith is in anything else but Jesus Christ and His finished work.

Nothing else can save us!

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We must accept the Lord Jesus Christ.

We must have faith in Him and His finished work.

Nothing else can save us!

Rahab Acknowledged God

Joshua 2: 10-11

Rahab told the spies that she and the people in Jericho had heard of what happened in Egypt.

They had heard of the two kings they had defeated along the way.

They had heard that they were coming to Jericho.

They had heard that the God of Israel was alive and powerful.

And they were frightened.

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What the people of Jericho had heard had become a message of judgment to them.

But it introduced Rahab to the true and living God!

In the end, the message had become a message of life to Rahab!

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So is the Gospel message.

It is the only message that can take the vilest sinner and make him a new creation.

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The Gospel is a message about God who loved us so much that He sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins on a cross (John 3:16).

The Son of God suffered in terrible agony and shed His blood so that our sin debt might be paid.

Three days later he arose from the dead to bring eternal life to everyone who would call on His Name (1 Cor. 15:3-4).

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The Gospel is the only message that will bring eternal life to a person dead in sin (Romans :16)!

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Rahab acknowledged God!

So must we!

We must turn to God for Salvation!

Let us do it TODAY!

Rahab's Spiritual Failures

Joshua 2:1

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Rahab Was A Defiled Sinner

Rahab was a prostitute.

She was engaged in a wicked lifestyle, selling her body to men for money.

Her life was a life of deep depravity and wickedness.

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Rahab is a picture of every person who is lost in sin.

They are in a helpless and hopeless situation.

Their lifestyle is wicked in the eyes of the Lord.

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Rahab Was A Dead Sinner

Rahab was living her life, but spiritually she was dead in her sins.

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This is the condition of every person outside of a relationship with the Lord Jesus.

They are dead to God and to all He represents.

And they will face the Second Death (Rom. 6:23; Rev. 20:11-15).

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Rahab Was A Doomed Sinner

Rahab lived in a city that had already been selected for destruction.

God had already determined that Jericho would fall!

The people living there might felt confident and reasonably safe behind the walls of their city.

But God had already passed sentence upon them, and they were doomed to destruction!

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Every lost sinner is in the same situation!

They may feel secure and may not believe that there is any danger.

The Bible tells us that the lost are condemned already (John 3:18).

It tells us that they abide under the wrath of God (John 3:36).

It tells us that their ultimate destiny is eternity in Hell, to be forever separated from the presence of God (Psa. 9:17; 2 Thes. 1:8-9).

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In spite of her lifestyle, in spite of her pagan background, in spite of her lost condition, God had given Rahab forty years of grace, mercy and warning.

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Likewise, God has given us enough time to repent and to receive Him.

God had touched our heart many times before.

Oh! What a gracious God we serve!

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But there is a limit to patience in calling the lost to come to Him for salvation.

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It is a dangerous thing to delay coming to the Lord!

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We must wait no more!

We must come to Jesus now while He is calling us!

Introducing Rahab

Joshua 2:1-24

The Israelites were about to enter Canaan and claim their promised land.

The first city they would have to face was the great walled city of Jericho.

If they could take this city, they could easily split the country into two, and then move from there to conquer the north and the south.

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Before they attacked the city, Joshua sent two spies into the city to examine the mood of the people, and to determine whether or not they were ready for the war that was coming.

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When the two men arrived in Jericho, they went to the home of a harlot.

Their purpose in entering into a harlot’s home was not immoral.

Their reasons were practical.

The sight of men entering a harlot’s home would not attract too much attention.

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What they found when they entered the home of Rahab was a shock to them.

They found Rahab changed by the power of God!

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Rahab is a demonstration of the power of God to transform lives.

God can take sinners who will place their faith in Him and completely changes them by His power.

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Let us look at what the Lord did for Rahab.

Let us see how Rahab saved and changed by the power of God!

Israel’s Commitment

Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you as He was with Moses. Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!”

(Joshua 1:16-18)

They Committed Themselves To A Life Of Surrender

They made their stand with the Lord. They promised absolute obedience and surrender to the will of God.

This is the only way to spiritual victory. There must be total and absolute surrender of every area of life to the will of God and to His divine leadership. We need to make a complete surrender to God.

They Committed Themselves To A Life Of Submission

They promised to follow the leadership of Joshua.

We also need to submit to those in authority in the church.

They Committed Themselves To A Life Of Separation

They promised to separate themselves from those in their midst who refused to comply with the commandments of Joshua. They vowed to put to death anyone who rebelled against the leadership of Joshua.

If we want to walk in victory, we must practice separation in our lives as well. We must separate ourselves from anything that would prevent us from achieving victory in our lives. We may need to consider the way we dress, the way we talk, the things we watch and do, where we work, how we think or in any other area of life.

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The land of Canaan was in sight!

God had commanded Joshua to claim the land!

God had asked Joshua to trust in Him, to carry out His Law, and to be courageous!

Joshua had challenged the people of Israel to be ready and to be responsible people!

They were committed to march into the land of Canaan!

They were committed to live a life of surrender, a life of submission, and a life of separation to the will of God and the leadership of Joshua!

How about you?

Are you committed to march into your land of Canaan?

Will you commit yourselves to the will of God and the leadership of your Church?

Oh! It had been 40 years! Linger not in your spiritual wilderness!

Come out, cross the river Jordon, and march into your land of Canaan!

It is a land of spiritual conquests and victories.

It is a land flowing with milk and honey!

It is a land of abundant blessings in the very presence of God!

A Challenge To Responsibility

Joshua 1:12-15

Joshua addressed the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh.

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These tribes had sought, and got permission from Moses to remain east of the Jordan, just outside the Promised Land.

They had made this request because the land east of Jordan was a land that was good for raising cattle (Num. 32:1, 4, 16).

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Joshua reminded them that they had promised to fight alongside their brethren until the land of Canaan was conquered (Deut. 3:12-20).

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There are many Christians today who are just like these 2 ½ tribes.

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They are more concerned about making a living than about making a life!

They are materially minded, not spiritually minded!

They have trusted Jesus for salvation.

They attend church when they want.

They give and tithe when they feel like it.

But they seldom put God first in their lives.

And they refuse to go all the way in their commitment to the Lord.

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But they must be reminded to cross over to fight alongside their brethren!

A Challenge To Readiness

So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own.’”
(Joshua 1:10-11)

Joshua’s Challenge (Joshua 1:10-15)

After Joshua received his challenge from the Lord, without hesitation, he went to the people and told them that the time had come to take their land.

First, he told them to get ready. He told them to prepare some food.

The manna was about to stop.

God had told them that He would give them manna while they were in the desert.

But it would cease when they entered the Promised Land (Ex. 16:35).

The manna was desert diet.

Now they were about to move up to something a whole lot better.

They were going to a land flowing with milk and honey.

What had worked in the wilderness would not suffice in the land of blessing.

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Before we can enter our Canaan, we also have to make the proper preparations.

The way we live must change.

The things we feed on must change.

Our priorities and passions must be brought in line with the will of God.

The entire scope of our lives must be altered to adjust to living differently than the world around us!

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This is why some people never enjoy the victorious Christian life.

They refuse to make the necessary changes to adjust to living in spiritual victory.

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Are you ready for your Canaan?

A Call To Courage In Leadership

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

(Joshua 1:9)

Three times, The Lord God Himself encouraged Joshua to be strong and courageous (6a, 7a, 9a).

Joshua would need great courage to face the enemies of Israel and to lead the people to victory in the Promised Land.

He must learn to stand firm and strong in the face of opposition!

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We also need to stand strong and courageous for the Lord now!

All around us, Christians are falling by the wayside.

We need Christians who will take the lead in the churches and make their stand for the Lord.

We need to stand up, make our stand, and headed God’s call to be brave and strong in our days.

We need to be godly men and women of courage, conviction and integrity.

Let’s learn to be strong and courageous for the Lord as we move toward our Canaan.

A Call To Carry Out The Law

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
(Joshua 1:7-8)

Joshua was to lead the Israelites into Canaan. God told him to take heed of His Law. Remembering the Law is an essential step to entering Canaan.

• Joshua was to keep all the Law. He was to do everything the Law said to do.

• Joshua was to meditate on the Law. Day and night, his mind was to be occupied with the Law. He was to love it and let it fill his heart and mind. His life must be centered in the Law and in the will of God!

• Joshua was to prosper by honoring the Law. God promised Joshua that if he lived his life around His Law, He would prosper him in everything he did and make him very successful.

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We are to develop a love for the Word of God!

Joshua was commanded to honor the Law; we must honor the Book of God!

We are to feed on the Bible and live by it.
We will be blessed when these things are true in our lives.

Let’s set a proper time everyday for the Word of God and feed therein.

Then our spiritual life will be strong and effective.

And, we are well on our way to claiming our Canaan and entering into our spiritual victory.

A Call To Trust God

“No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.” (Joshua 1:5-6)

Joshua was reminded of the promises of God:

• The promise of victory over every enemy.
• The promise of the presence and power of God.
• The promise of the faithfulness of God.
• The promise of absolute victory.
• The promise of God to keep His promises.

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Joshua was called to trust God!

God was going to give Israel the victory.

Joshua was the instrument to do it.

Joshua was called to have faith in God!

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The same promises God made to Joshua are still valid today.

We can still count on God to do everything He promised Joshua He would do!

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We just have to trust God!

When we can place our faith in God at all times and in every situation, we will walk in victory in our lives.

Faith will ever stand the test (Heb. 11:1)!

We will fail the Lord, but God will never fail believers who have their faith in Him!

God Commanded Joshua to Claim The Land

“I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses" (Joshua 1:3)

God had already given the land of Canaan to the children of Israel.

Moses, the man of God was dead.

But the work of God must go on.

Joshua was commanded to lead the people into Canaan to claim the land.

The land was given to them back in Gen. 12:7.

The promises were reaffirmed to every succeeding generation of the nation of Israel.

The land of Canaan was their land! They didn’t have to go on wandering around in the wilderness.

The land of Canaan was their land! All they had to do was to claim it!

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Some Christians live a defeated life.

They continue to struggle with sins.

They continue to wander around their spiritual wilderness.

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God has a place of victory for Christians.

He has promised us that we can live in that place of peace and blessing.

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Most of the time, we are defeated because we refuse to walk in victory!

There is a place of conquest for us.

Let us set out to claim our land of Canaan.

Canaan Was In Sight

“Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.” (Joshua 1:2)

Moses, the great leader of Israel had died.

A new leader named Joshua had been appointed to lead the nation of Israel into Canaan.

After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, Israel was about to take possession of the land God promised Abraham many centuries earlier.

The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him. (Gen. 12:7)

The book of Joshua is about the battles Israel faced in order to claim that promise from God.

The book of Joshua is a book about Christian warfare, painful defeats, suffering and great victories.

The land of Canaan was in sight. It was the route to the heavenly Jerusalem. It was a place of the Christians' victory in the midst of many struggles.

The land of Canaan was at hand. The Lord God told Joshua and the people to get ready. They were to cross over the Jordan river and claim the Promised Land.

The land of Canaan is very near. Are we ready?

We Have Found The Messiah

John 1:41b

Successful soul winner has a proper view of Christ.

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He Knows Who Jesus Is. He knows Jesus is the Son of God. He is aware of who he is representing.

He Knows What Jesus Did. He is comfortable talking about:

• His virgin birth (Isa. 7:14).
• His sinless birth (1 Pet. 2:22).
• His sinless life (2 Cor. 5:21).
• His horrible death on the cross for sinners (Isa. 52:14; Rev. 5:9).
• His resurrection from the dead (Matt. 28:1-6).
• His ascension to Heaven (Acts 1:9-11).
• His intercession for His children (Heb. 7:25; Rom. 8:34).
• His return to receive His people unto Himself, (John 14:1-3; 1 Thes. 4:16-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-52).
  

He Knows Jesus Has The Power To Save All Who Will Call Upon Him By Faith! (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; John 1:12.) Jesus is able to save! (Heb. 7:25)

He Knows Jesus Is Willing To Save. Jesus is always ready to receive all who will come to Him by faith! (John 6:37; John 7:37; Rev. 22:17)

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We need to know our Savior before we can share Him with another.

This demands much prayer and study of His Word.

We Have Found The Messiah!

What Do You Want?

John 1: 37-39a

The Interest Of The Disciples. The two disciples had heard John give a public declaration of the identity of Jesus (19-34). Then, they were given some private direction concerning Him (35). John was saying to them, “Go follow Him, He is the One.” They heeded the call and they began to follow Jesus.

At this point, they were just two regular, religious men. Neither was saved by grace. Neither was a child of God. They were just curious about Jesus. The Word of God had pricked their hearts and they became interested in Him.

That’s how people come to know the Lord! The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to show the lost person their need of a Savior. He uses the Word to point them to Jesus (John 16:7-11). He uses the Word to create a hunger within them for something they do not have. He gives them the desire for more!

When the Spirit of God begins to create this hunger within a heart, it is called conviction. The sinner becomes convicted about his sinful condition; his condemnation in Hell; his need of a Savior; and his need to get to Jesus Christ!

The Investigation Of The Disciples. Jesus knew these men were behind Him and He turned to speak to them. He asked them a strange question, “What do you want?”

He asks this question for their benefit. These men were hungry for a relationship with God. They had been following John the Baptist. John had been teaching them that Messiah was coming and they were longing for a relationship with that Messiah. When Jesus asked them “What do you want?” He was asking them to examine their motives for wanting to follow Him.

If they were looking for a new life; for eternal life; for salvation and hope for the future, then they were following the right Man!

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What are you looking for? What do you want?

If you are looking for Someone Who will love you unconditionally, Jesus is for you!

If you are looking for Someone Who can save your soul, give you eternal life and provide you a home in Heaven, then Jesus is for you!

If you are looking for Someone Who can forgive your sins and change your life, then Jesus is just Who you are looking for!

What you get out of life depends on what you are looking for in life.

So, what do you want? What are you looking for?

Life And Light Into The World

Read John 1:4-5

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The Lord Jesus brought life and light into the World.

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He Brought Life Into Deadness. When Jesus came into this world, He entered a world filled with dead men, who don’t know that they are spiritually dead. Jesus came so that dead men could live! When a dead lost man meets Jesus, he crosses over from death to life (John 5:24). When that dead man becomes alive in Jesus, everything in his life changes (2 Cor. 5:17).

• Jesus is the Strength of Earthly Life. Jesus makes life possible! We are alive by God’s grace.

• Jesus is the Secret of Effective Life. – Jesus makes life worth living! He gives life abundantly! He gives life purpose!

• Jesus is the Source of Eternal Life. Jesus makes life permanent! Those who know Jesus by faith will live eternally (John 11:25-26; John 3:16).

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He Brought Light Into Darkness. Jesus came to deliver the lost from their spiritual darkness, and to bring them into His glorious light. He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

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What is sad is that the world stumbles blindly in the dark seeking light in all the wrong places.

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And the world reject the light! “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).

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And they do worse than that! The lost world is actively trying to quench the light to prevent it from shining anywhere.

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But the Light that has shone brightly from eternity past, will continue to light the pathway toward eternity for all those who desire to follow Him!

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Jesus brought life and light into the world...

To bring us home to our heavenly Father....