WHO IS JESUS TO YOU

Proclamation:

“Jesus and His disciples went on to the villages around Cesarea Philippi.  On the way He asked them, ‘Who do people say I am?’  They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’  ‘But what about you?’ He asked.  ‘Who do you say I am?’  Peter answered, ‘You are The Messiah.’”  Mark 8:27-29 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Mark.  This is part of the gospel as he received it from the apostle Peter.  Mark begins this chapter by recounting the events related to Jesus, The Christ, and His feeding of the four thousand people. (Mark 8:1-13)  Afterwards, Jesus questioned His disciples regarding what they had just witnessed, and what they had previously witnessed. (Mark 8:14-21)  After He healed the blind man in Bethsaida (Mark 8:22-26) Jesus asked His disciples who do the people say that He is, and who do they say that He is.  Peter said, “Thou art The Christ, The Son of the living God.”  Jesus responded to Peter by saying that flesh and blood did not reveal that to him.  His answer was revealed to him from heaven by God, The Father. (Matthew 16:16-17) 

Application:

People have said all kinds of things about Jesus, The Christ, and who He is, and how He does the things that He did.  There are those people who deny His very existence.  Even today, some people have said that He was just a man; others have said that He was a good man; and still others have said that He was a prophet.  However, who the people say that He is does not change who He really is.  The most important question is: “Who is Jesus to you?”  Your answer to that question will speak volumes regarding your relationship with Him, and will identify where you will spend eternity.

SOME PEOPLE WILL NOT LIKE YOU IF YOU BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION

Proclamation:

“Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, ‘My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees.  I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.’”  Acts 23:6 (NIV) 

Explanation:

These words were written by Luke, the physician and traveling companion of the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Luke recorded that when Paul addressed the Sanhedrin council he knew that some of them were Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection, angels, or spirits, and some of them were Pharisees, who believed in all these things. (Acts 23:7-8)  This created a great disturbance among the Sanhedrin which spilled over into the city.  Some of the Jews took an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. (Acts 23:9-15)  But the commander of the Roman army found out about the plot and had Paul taken out of town at night under heavy guard. (Acts 23:16-24)

Application:

The Christian faith is based upon belief in the birth, life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, The Christ.  There are many people in this world who hate believers.  Some of those people even want to kill all Christian believers because of their religious beliefs.  Jesus said that the world would hate believers because they hated Him. (John 15:18)  Not everybody believes that Jesus is The Christ and the promised Messiah.  However unpopular it may be, as believers we need to stand by our beliefs.  Jesus said if we deny Him before men, He will deny us before His Heavenly Father. (Matthew 10:33)  The Lord God is all powerful and all knowing.  He was raised from the dead with all power of heaven and earth in His hands. (Matthew 28:18)  To God be the glory!

THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES WITH THE CHOICES THAT WE MAKE

Proclamation:

“There was a rich man … At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus … The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side.  The rich man also died and was buried.  In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  So he called to him … ‘send Lazarus … because I am in agony’ … ‘Then I beg you … send Lazarus to my family … let him warn them’ … He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”  Luke 16:19-31 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, as recorded by Luke, the physician, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In this chapter Luke records the parable of the shrewd manager (Luke 16:1-13) which Jesus told His disciples, in addition to His words to the covetous Pharisees (Luke 16:14-17) and His words on divorce. (Luke 16:18)  Then Jesus presents the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. (Luke 16:19-31)  Both of the parables deal with the unwise choices that men make.  The shrewd manager was dishonest and then made “self-preservation” deals with his master’s debtors and proved that he was not trustworthy.  The rich man had plenty of everything, during his life, but did not share any with the poor man outside of his gate.  In death the rich man suffered and became a beggar, begging for water and then begging to help his five brothers.

Application:

There are two very important lessons here.  The first is that we cannot serve The Lord God and love Him, and also serve and love money at the same time. (Luke 16:13)  If we follow the first rule of the world, self-preservation, and let the love of money rule us, then we will find ourselves wrapped up in evil. (1 Timothy 6:10)  The second point is that if we are too hard-hearted to share with the less fortunate, The Lord God will not be pleased.   Christ said that as we did, or did not do, to the less fortunate people, we did it, or did not do it, to Him. (Matthew 25:35-45)  We are blessed in order to be a blessing to others, and we will be blessed for being a blessing to others. (Proverbs 11:25)  We are also to share The Word of God with others.  However, not all of the people will believe The Bible or that Jesus, The Christ, was raised from the dead; but some will believe and confess. (Romans 10:9)

NARROW IS THE WAY THAT LEADS TO ETERNAL LIFE

Proclamation:

“Someone asked Him, ‘Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?’  He said to them, ‘Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and not be able to.  Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading,’ ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ But He will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’  Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with You, and You taught in our streets.’  But He will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.  Away from Me, all you evildoers!’  …”  Luke 13:23-30 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, as recorded by Luke, the physician, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Luke began this chapter by quoting the warning which Jesus gave to the people to repent or parish. (Luke 13:1-5)  Then Jesus told them the parable of the fig tree. (Luke 13:6-9)  Afterwards, Jesus healed a crippled woman on the Sabbath in the synagogue and again angered the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. (Luke 13:10-17)  Later, in response to the question asked by someone in the crowd that was following Him as He headed towards Jerusalem, Jesus replied, make sure that you enter through the narrow door.  He said, wide is the gate and broad is the well-travelled road that leads to destruction.  But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)  Everyone in the crowd following Jesus was not a believer.

Application:

Unfortunately, not everyone who attends church worship services are saved believers.  Some people are in the crowd for other reasons.  When the time comes, they will be told to depart from Him because He does not know them.  Actually, He knows their hearts and knows that they are evil doers and workers of iniquity. (Luke 13:27)  There will be some people in heaven who we will be surprised to see, and there will be others who we expected to see who will not be there. (Luke 13:28)  Let us repent, confess, and believe, (Romans 10:9) and make sure that our names are written in the book of life. (Revelation 20:15)

IS THERE ROOM IN YOUR LIFE FOR CHRIST

Proclamation:

“So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth … He went to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child … While she was there … she gave birth … She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”  Luke 2:4-7 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Luke, the physician and frequent travelling companion of the Apostle Paul.  In this chapter Luke presents the events surrounding the birth of Jesus, The Christ, and his early childhood years.  Luke reveals the reason that caused Joseph and Mary to leave Nazareth and go to Bethlehem. (Luke 2:1-5)  While they were there, she gave birth, wrapped Him in cloths, and placed Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:6-7)  Luke then goes on to discuss the shepherds who were told of His birth by the angel. (Luke 2:8-20) He ends the chapter by describing several events which occurred during the childhood life of Jesus.

Application:

Jesus was born in a place where the animals were kept and placed in a feeding trough.  The guest rooms were all filled and there was no room for Him in the inn.  Today, Christ stands at the door to our hearts and knocks. (Revelation 3:20)  I wonder how many of us will open the door and invite Him to come in.  Is there room in your life for Him?  Some of us are too busy with earthly concerns to go to church or to read The Word of God.  Our behavior suggests that we don’t have room or time for Him.  We need to adjust our priorities and make room for Him in our lives.

WE ARE GOD'S POSSESSION BECAUSE WE HEARD THE GOSPEL AND BELIEVED

Proclamation:

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation.  When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.”  Ephesians 1:13-14 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the Apostle Paul under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God to the believers in Ephesus. (Ephesians 1:1-2)  After greeting them, Paul began praising God for the blessings which He had bestowed upon him and them. (Ephesians 1:3-10)  Then he stated that they were chosen and predestined according to God’s plan. (Ephesians 1:11-12)  He made it clear that they were God’s possession from the moment that they heard the gospel and believed. (Ephesians 1:13-14)  The Holy Spirit which they had received was like a down payment which secured them for The Lord God until the day of redemption.  He ends this first chapter stating that he prays and gives thanks for them.

Application:

While this letter was written to the believers in Ephesus, it also applies to us today.  The moment that we heard The Word of God preached and believed it, we also became God’s possessions.  We have been chosen and we each have work to do which will give God glory. (Ephesians 1:11-12)  We have been signed for, our names have been written in The Lamb’s book of life. (Revelation 21:27)  We have been sealed by The Holy Spirit.  Now we are signed, sealed, and awaiting delivery when we meet Him in the air. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

IF YOU TRULY BELIEVE IN CHRIST YOU WILL BE SAVED

Proclamation:

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”  Romans 10:9-10 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the believers in Rome.  Here Paul said that the essence of the gospel is that whoever believes in Christ and confesses Him will be saved.

Application:

We are saved by our faith by what we believe and not by what we do. (Ephesians 2:8-9)  Salvation is not something that we work for or earn, it is a gift from The Lord God to those who believe.  It is not for those who give Him lip service, it is for those who sincerely and truly believe.  God can see our heart. (Luke 16:15)

MAY THOSE WHO FEAR YOU REJOICE WHEN THEY SEE ME

Proclamation:

“May those who fear You rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in Your word.”  Psalm 119:74 (NIV)

Explanation:

The words of this psalm were written by King David under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  This is the tenth part, Yodh, of this twenty-two part psalm.  After acknowledging his creator, (Psalm 119:73) David asks The Lord God to let the believers be truly happy to see him when they meet.  He wants to be, and to be seen as, one who believes in and trusts in The Lord.  He knows that God’s punishment of him was just.  He asks for The Lord’s tender mercies and His loving kindness in the forgiveness of his sins. (Psalm 119:76-77)  There were some good men who turned away from him because of his sinful affair with Bathsheba and he wants them to return to him again that he may enjoy the favor of their company. (Psalm 119:79)

Application:

There is value in the good will of the saints and it is good to maintain fellowship with them. (Psalm 133:1)  But we must first get right with God before we can get right with each other.  If we have a problem with one of our brothers, we ought to resolve it and restore the fellowship with them. (Matthew 5:23-24)  The saints should be able to come together in Christian love and truly enjoy one another’s company.  Before that can happen, we must be in Him and He must be in us. (John 6:56 and 15:5)  Believers should be glad when they see us coming.

WHO WILL SPEND ETERNITY WITH THE LORD GOD

Proclamation:

“Who may ascend the mountain of The Lord?  Who may stand in His holy place?  The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.  They will receive blessing from The Lord and vindication from God their Savior.”  Psalm 24:3-5 (NIV)

Explanation:

The words of this psalm were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by King David.  Here David begins by stating that earth and everything in it belongs to The Lord.  He created it and it is His. (Psalm 24:1-2)  After stating that he asks the rhetorical question, who is the proper person to be an inhabitant of Zion, the dwelling place of The Lord God?  Then he goes on to answer the question by describing such a person.  One who has “clean hands” and “a pure heart” and has not worshiped idol gods or provided false witness against his fellow man.  This is the person who will receive this special blessing from The Lord.

Application:

The only people who are “worthy” of spending eternity with The Lord are those who are holy in their thoughts, motives, words, and deeds. (Psalm 26:6, Psalm 51:10, and Matthew 5:8)  Those who have been washed in the blood of Jesus, The Christ, believed in Him and accepted Him as their personal savior. (John 3:16 and Revelation 1:5)  This special blessing of eternal life with The Lord is not something that is earned or worked for, it is a gift from God. (Ephesians 1:4-6 and 2:8-9)  For this we should thank and praise God.

GOD KNOWS ALL ABOUT US AND STILL LOVES US

Proclamation:

"Jesus answered, 'Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'  The woman said to him, 'Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.'  He told her, 'Go, call your husband and come back.'  'I have no husband,' she replied.  Jesus said to her, 'You are right when you say you have no husband.  The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband.  What you have just said is quite true.'  'Sir,' the woman said, 'I can see that you are a prophet.' … The woman said, ‘I know that The Messiah is coming.  When He comes, He will explain everything to us.’  Then Jesus declared, ‘I, the one speaking to you, I am He.’"  John 4:10-26 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words spoken by Jesus, The Christ, as recorded by the Apostle John under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  When Jesus left Judea heading to Galilee, He went through Samaria.  There He met the Samaritan woman by a well and asked her for a drink of water.  She questioned Him because she knew that the Jews and the Samaritans did not get along.  During their conversation Jesus told her that if she knew who He was, she would have asked Him for the living water that He could give her.  Even though she did not fully understand she asked for that water.  Jesus told her to go and get her husband and return.  When she said I have no husband, Jesus told her about her past five husbands and her current living situation.  She thought that Jesus was a prophet but He told her that He was The Messiah.

Application:

All of us are sinners. (Romans 3:23)  None of us are righteous on our own. (Romans 3:10)  God demonstrated His love for us in that, while we were lost in our sins, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)  The Lord knows us and all about our past, including all of our sins, shortcomings, failures, iniquities, and our indiscretions, and yet He still loves us enough to offer us salvation and eternal life.  Jesus had to tell the Samaritan woman about herself before she believed.  Sometimes The Lord God allows things to happen to us so that He can show us who He is and what He can do for us.  He loves us and He wants us to be with Him throughout eternity, but we must first accept Him. (John 3:16)  It is only by the love and grace of God that we have been saved and not by anything that we have done. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

PUT NOTHING IN LIFE BEFORE GOD

Proclamation:

“Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, 'Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?' ... Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, follow Me."  When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.  Then Jesus said to His disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven ... it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”  Matthew 19:16-26 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, as recorded by the Apostle Matthew under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Here Jesus answered the questions of a self-declared righteous young man who had asked Him what he must do to inherit eternal life.  When Jesus told him to keep the commandments, his reply was that he had kept the commandments since the days of his youth. (Matthew 19:20)  Then he asked what else he should do.  That was when Jesus told him to sell all that he had, give the proceeds to the poor, and follow Him.  He left Jesus sad because he valued his money and possession more than he valued Jesus.

Application:

Most rich people have more faith in their money than in God, and they value their possessions more than the things of God.  Nothing should be more important to us than God.  We should not put anything ahead of God. (Matthew 8:22 and Luke 9:60)  There is nothing wrong with have lots of money and possessions as long as the money and things are not more important to us than God is.  "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33)  Jesus also said that everyone who gave up their worldly possessions to follow Him would receive a hundred times as much and they will inherit eternal life. (Matthew 19:29)  Before we start asking God for more blessings, we should make sure that He is first, and the most important thing in our life.

GOOD HEALTH A LONG LIFE AND HAPPINESS

Proclamation:

"So be careful to do what The Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left.  Walk in all the way that The Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess." Deuteronomy 5:32-33 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the Prophet Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  After Moses had given the Ten Commandments to the people, he told them to be careful and to do as The Lord had commanded them.  Walking in the way of The Lord was likened to following a straight path which they were not to deviate from.  Following God would bring them a long life and prosperity.

Application:

The same thing applies to us as believers today as it did to the believers in the days of Moses.  We need to understand that keeping the Ten Commandments will not save anyone who does not believe in Jesus, The Christ, The Son of God.  However, if we believe and if we endeavor to keep The Commandments and behave in a Christ-like way, we will be blessed with a long life and prosperity.  How we live our lives will determine how long we will live.

Love One Another

"Through Him you believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him, and so your faith and hope are in God.  Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart."  1 Peter 1:21-22 (NIV)

Under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, the Apostle Peter wrote to the believers and told them now that they were followers of Christ, and have their faith and hope in God, they should sincerely love one another.

Today, believers in Jesus, The Christ, know that we must obey The Word of God. (John 14:15)  Jesus said that we must love one another as He loved us. (John 15:12)  In fact, the only way that we know that we are saved, is by the fact that we love our fellow believers. (1 John 3:14)  The world will know that we are believers in Christ by the way in which we show love to one another. (John 13:35)  Jesus said, how can we love one whom we have not seen if we cannot love our brothers whom we see daily. (1 John 4:20)  If we truly believe, then we must love one another.

Believe In Christ And Have Eternal Life

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."  John 3:16 (NIV)

These words were recorded by the Apostle John, as part of The Gospel according to John, which was written so that all people would believe. (John 1:7)  Jesus, The Christ, left the splendor of heaven, wrapped Himself in human flesh, and dwelt among us. (John 1:14)  Because mankind was lost in sin, He who was without sin, came to earth to die in our place for our sins. (Romans 5:8)  The price to be paid for sin was death, and He paid the price for all of us so that we might have a chance at salvation and eternal life. (Romans 6:23)

The Lord God loves us, and it would please Him if all mankind would be saved and that none would be lost.  However, man was given the free will to choose to believe as he wants.  Only those who choose to believe in Christ will be given the gift of eternal life.  Those who choose not to believe have condemned themselves. (John 3:18)

Don't Be Afraid

"While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. 'Your daughter is dead,' they said.  "Why bother The Teacher any more?'  Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, 'Don't be afraid; just believe.' "  Mark 5:35-36 (NIV)

These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, spoken just after the woman with the twelve year long bleeding problem had touched the hem if His garment.  Jairus, the synagogue ruler had asked Jesus to come and heal his daughter who was sick and dying. (Mark 5:23)  Some of the men from his household came and told him that his daughter was dead.  Jesus told him "Don't be afraid, just believe."  The Jesus went with him to his home and He brought the dead girl back to life. (Mark 5:41-42)  

Here, Jesus said "Don't be afraid."  That phrase is stated in The Bible twenty-six times.  The phrase "be not afraid" is written twenty-six times, and the phrase "fear not" occurs sixty-three times.  God did not give us the spirit of fear. (2 Timothy 1:7)  Fear is an emotional response to a situation, or to an anticipated situation.  Danger is real, but fear is a choice.  The Lord God said that He will always be with us, He will never leave us or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5)  Since God is with us, who or what do we have to be afraid of, or to fear? (Psalms 27:1)  Even death is nothing to fear, for He has conquered death.  "Don't be afraid, just believe."