The Love of Jesus and Spiritual Gifts

We went to see the Jesus Revolution movie. It hit number three at the box office this weekend.

 
Afterwards we watched a documentary on Chuck Smith. I liked that Chuck Smith held to the Biblical perspective that LOVE is the greatest spiritual gift, or fruit of the Spirit. 

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.” [1]

 
Last Sunday, I shared with our congregation an illustration that Pastor Hong Sit shared with me years ago. It shows love being poured into the locomotive by the Holy Spirit. The love of Jesus for the lost, the last and the least keeps the gifts of the Spirit moving forward on the right track, and at the right speed so the train is not derailed.

 
Attached is the link to the Chuck Smith documentary.

https://youtu.be/lrxsFErLcHY

[1] Galatians 5:22

Good Convictions of Unbelief, Righteousness and Judgment

“When He [the Holy Spirit] has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” [1]

Convictions of unbelief, righteousness, and judgment are from God. Without such convictions, we won’t repent and receive Jesus Christ as our Savior.

People once asked Jesus, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” [2]

God’s righteousness comes to us through FAITH in Christ. “…The righteousness of God… is revealed… by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.” [3] God’s righteous stamp is given to all who believe in Christ.

“For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” [4] Did you catch that? There is no difference. All have sinned. All of us fall short of God’s glory. All saved people are saved by God’s grace through faith in Christ.

“God set forth Him [Christ] as a propitiation by His blood…” [5] To propitiate is to atone for or to cover one’s sin by a perfect blood sacrifice. When we believe in Christ, God forgives our sin.

“God is just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” [6]

Praise to be God that His Holy Spirit convicts us that we are sinners in need of a Savior, and that He helps us to believe in Jesus Christ.

[1] John 16:8-11
[2] John 6:28-29
[3] Romans 3:21-22
[4] Romans 3:22-24
[5] Romans 3:25
[6] Romans 3:26

In a Relationship with GOD

That you may know that JESUS CHRIST has the power to forgive sins... He instantly healed a man who was paralyzed and unable to walk. The man glorified God!

“Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins’—He said to the man who was paralyzed, ‘I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.’ 

Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.” [1]

People could not SEE that the man’s sins were forgiven, but they could SEE that his body was healed. JESUS said that his physical healing was a sign that GOD had forgiven his sin as well.

When some complained to JESUS that they saw Him eating with “sinners” (which of course everyone has sinned), JESUS said to them... “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” [2]

I am so glad that the JESUS CHRIST forgives sin when we believe in HIM and ask Him to forgive us.

The LORD speaks to us at the place of forgiveness of sin. This can be SEEN in the Old Testament...

“Now when Moses went into the tabernacle of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice of One speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the Testimony, from between the two cherubim; thus He spoke to him.” [3]

The mercy seat was where the high priest poured the blood of sacrificed animals for the forgiveness of the people's sin. And from this place, Moses heard God's voice.

“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” [4]

God explains to us in the Book of Hebrews that His SON JESUS CHRIST has replaced the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament. He is now the One who takes away our sin and give us a clean conscious. He gives us peace with God!

“Therefore, having been justified [before God] by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” [5]

Instant healing from illness is a miracle. But an even greater miracle is God’s forgiveness of our sins. It is through our repentance of sin and His forgiveness of our sin that we enjoy a relationship with GOD!

[1] Luke 5:23-25

[2] Luke 5:32
[3] Numbers 7:89
[4] Hebrews 9:14
[5] Romans 5:1

Take Heed, Watch and Pray

“Tell us, when will these things be? What will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?” These are the questions Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Jesus to explain. They wanted to know signs of the end of the age. [1]

The first sign Jesus gave them to beware of was deception. Many will claim to be Jesus. They will create a Jesus of their own imagination. One that allows for all that is accepted by the sinful world but that is condemned by God. A Jesus that does not talk about sin and the need to repent of sin, and the need for forgiveness of sin! Many will be deceived. [2]

News of wars and rumors of wars will be rampant. Nation will rise against nation. There will be earthquakes, famines, and troubles. “These are the beginnings of sorrows.” [3]

Genuine followers of Christ will be beaten in religious gathering places. Governing authorities will try them. They are to be witnesses of Christ to them. The Holy Spirit will give them the words to say. The Gospel will be spreading to the nations. Family members will betray one another’s trust resulting in the betrayed member’s execution. Everyone will hate genuine followers of Jesus Christ. “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” “Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.”

“False christ and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” [5]

“After that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light; the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then, they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. Then, He will send His angels, and gather His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.” [6]

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch, and pray; for you do not know when the time is.” [7]

So, let us learn to lean. Lean on God our Savior in the Name of His Son Jesus Christ! Think about HIs love! Think about His grace! Think about His death on the cross for our sins, and about His resurrection which guarantees to us that He will indeed resurrect us from the dead.

Be filled with the Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit is the promise of the Father. The Holy Spirit is our helper, our advocate, our comforter, and our navigator! He is the One who is greater in us than he (the enemy of our souls) who is in the world. God's love for us helps us to be more than conquerors.

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” [8]

[1] Mark 13:1-4
[2] Mark 13:5-6
[3] Mark 13:7-8
[4] Mark 13:9-13, 20
[5] Mark 13:22
[6] Mark 13:24-27
[7] Mark 13:32-33
[8] Romans 8:37

Eyes Fixed Forward on the Heavenly Father

To plow straight rows, keep your eyes fixed on a focal point and plow towards that point. Our Heavenly Father is our focal point. Jesus revealed the Father to us - with His Holy Spirit’s empowering presence we can keep our eyes fixed on Him.

Proverbs 8:34

“Yes, thank You Heavenly Father for Your Holy Word through which You speak to all who pause and listen.”

God's Presence in One's Life is Amazing Grace!

 

Not Ashamed of Jesus Amid an Adulterous Generation

“…The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He [Jesus] spoke this word openly.”

Previously, Peter professed that Jesus is the Son of God. Was Jesus undermining His own popularity purposefully? He spoke of His own demise openly, or did He? Six important words follow His message about being rejected and killed by the religious leaders of the people. They are, “And after three days rise again.” [1]

Peter was upset. He took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him. But Peter turned towards His disciples and looked at them. “He rebuked Peter, saying, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.’” [2]

Yes, the Son of God needed to be tortured by wicked people. He needed to be crucified. In so doing, He would expose the evil of false prophets; atone for the sins of the world; and resurrect from the dead for the resurrection of all who believe in Him.

Jesus said to His disciples, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the Gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” [3]

Jesus says that we must deny ourselves, take up the cross and follow Him. We need to lose our lives for the sake of Gospel to save them. Christ is everything! The Gospel is everything! Nothing is more important than safe-guarding and living for Jesus Messiah and His message.

Our Lord Jesus will be ashamed of whoever is ashamed of Him amidst an adulterous and sinful generation. There will not be glory for them. Jesus will descend to earth with the glory of the Father and His holy angels, but it will not be glorious for the one who has been ashamed of Jesus amidst those who are perishing in their sins.

“Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive us for all the times we have been ashamed of Your precious Son Jesus. Lord Jesus, please grant us the will-power and Holy Spirit anointing to speak up for You even when we are amidst adulterous and sin-loving people. Let us be willing to bear the cross for their sake that they might be saved. It is in Your Name Lord Jesus, that we pray. Amen.”

[1] Mark 8:31-32
[2] Mark 8:33
[3] Mark 8:34-37

The Fear of God as a Gift from God

Suddenly, it was done! As though an eagle had swept down from the sky, picked them up and carried them away to a better place. Their bondage to idolaters and slavers was over. They left Egypt with gold, silver, and precious jewels, but better yet, with a new opportunity to be close with God and to walk in His ways. The Lord brought them out of a land of idolatry and enslavement…

“‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.” [1]

They had the opportunity to hear God’s voice and be in a covenant relationship with Him. To be His special treasure above all other people groups! A light on a hill! The salt of the earth! A kingdom of priests! A holy nation!

When God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses, there was the sound of the trumpet, and other signs and wonders. The people trembled. They were afraid to be close to God at that point. It was a moment comparable to when Peter fell at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” [2]

God graciously granted unto the Israelites and unto Peter the fear of God to keep them from sinning against Him…

“Now all the people witnessed the thundering, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. Then they said to Moses, ‘You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.’ And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.’ So, the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was.” [3]

The fear of God is a gift of the Spirit of the Lord in one’s life and is a blessing…

“There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the SPIRIT of the FEAR of the LORD.” [4]

To be among a people who do not fear the Lord is a dangerous place to be…

“And Abraham said, ‘Because I thought, surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will kill me on account of my wife.’” [5]

“Thank You Heavenly Father for Your Holy Spirit who makes us aware of how precious You are to us and how wonderful Your ways are for us. We pray for more of the SPIRIT of the FEAR of the LORD to be upon us and upon all people. For we ask this in the Name of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”

[1] Exodus 19:4-6
[2] Luke 5:8
[3] Exodus 20:18-21
[4] Isaiah 11:1-2
[5] Genesis 20:11

The Healing Touch of Jesus Messiah

 

How Did Christ Convert Him?

The greatest event in all my life was coming into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior!

The Lord initiated my conversion.

The process was that He revealed Himself to me through the Bible. He called me to believe in Him. He gave me the grace to respond to His invitation. After I gave my life to Jesus, I experienced God’s forgiveness via the lifting off of my sense of being guilty before God. Christ gave me a wonderful peace that I never experienced before. He gave me a 100% assurance that the creation around me was created by Him. He gave to me a hunger and desire to read His Word the Bible. My delight in His Word has never left me since my conversion in August of 1979.

Below is a conversion story of a jailer to Christ from the Bible:

“At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, ‘Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.’” [1]

The jailer had a problem. The problem was that those in authority over him executed jailers who let prisoners escape. At first, he believed that suicide was his best alternative to being executed.

The jailer had a blessing. A prisoner assured him that no one escaped. The same prisoner pleaded for him not to harm himself.

Next, the jailer, with a light in hand, fell before God’s servants, and asked them, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” [2]

Their answer was simple, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” [3] He was to place his hope of being saved in Christ. He was not to look for another rescuer. Christ only transport souls from this life to the next one. No one else can do this miracle.

Believing in the merits of Christ for one’s salvation is the way to have blessed assurance. To know that you have eternal life because it is Christ doing the saving of you and not another.

The jailer dressed the wounds of God’s servants and fed them. They continued to speak God’s Word to him and to his family. He rejoiced in the Lord! His entire family believed in Christ. He and his entire family was baptized into Christ. [4]

Have you been saved from your sins? If not, why not? Accept the offer of the Lord Jesus Christ to save you from your sins today.

[1] Acts 16:25-28
[2] Acts 16:29-30
[3] Acts 16:31
[4] Acts 16:32-34

With God All Things Are Possible!