We know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. We know of His birth, life, death and resurrection. We know that He sits at the right hand of God. We are also told that He has authority over all things in heaven and earth. We can also be confident that He intercedes for us with God the Father. We know that He has washed us clean by His blood our sins are forgiven. We are aware of the salvation we have by our belief in Him and our acceptance of Him. All because of the love and grace of God Almighty. Our faith allows for this conviction. It is the cornerstone of our belief.
All of this is basic bible knowledge. What is still difficult for some to realize is what all of this really means. How it affects their lives and choices. This belief and faith in Him is rewarded in this life and the next. What all of this knowledge we have is the basis of our faith. This faith and belief is key to our salvation. Throughout the whole Old Testament God was commanding that we believe and have faith in Him. His blessings always followed those who believed and had faith in Him. Through this faith came obedience.
So in our obedience, faith, and belief, we follow the commands of Jesus Christ our savior.
Luke 6:46 But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?
We must live our lives according to what we profess is our belief. These same words Jesus said then are still relevant today.
First, in this life, we are guaranteed that God will hear your prayers through your Christian faith. We are told to that no one comes to the Father except through Jesus. We are also told that there is no other name we can be saved by.
But there is something else. We have to not only believe, but obey and live this faith. Just as when we confess our sins to God and are forgiven, we are expected to be in full repentance of those sins. Which means that we are to not accept forgiveness and then go ahead and sin again. To be repentant, we must realize what sin is. We must understand that it is something that places a wall between us and our God. We must endeavor to stay from sin, to become accustomed to recognizing it in ourselves and then to try our best to no longer commit those sins. This can be accomplished through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will convict us of sin allowing a realization and then we confess and ask forgiveness. God is true and sure to forgive immediately.
To be forgiven of our sins by God is a true blessing that all can easily realize. Although we have the ear of our Lord, he will not listen if we stay in sin. If our choice is to live in and carelessly commit sin to ourselves, He will no longer hear our prayers. Our God has invited us to bring all of our concerns and problems to Him. To let Him handle our issues. This brings complete peace to the believer. But if we continue to sin without care, then have we really repented? The Holy Spirit will always remind us of our sins. The Holy Spirit continually prods us and guides us if only we would listen. Through listening, we can identify sin, sometimes before we act on it and can avoid it altogether. Other times The Holy Spirit will convict us of our sin and lead us to repentance. This is another blessing.
All who come to Christ are accepted if we come with a true heart. The Lord knows what our heart says, and what we think. He knows who we are inside and we cannot hide anything from Him. Jesus has open arms for all who will believe and accept that He is the Son of God. That through Him we are forgiven of our sins and made new. Through His sacrifice and that alone, we have eternal life in the presence of our Lord. That resurrection is a fact as proofed by His resurrection. That same resurrection was witnessed by not only His disciples, but by many others. They were afraid after His death and they hid themselves. But after His reappearance, there was no more fear in them. They spoke loudly and often. No more hiding but walking in their faith. We can do the same in our lives.
John16:1616 "A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father."
Matthew 28:11 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
5 But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified
6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Matthew28:16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.
17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
The Lord has given each of us so many blessings that we truly can’t count them. I know because I have tried. And each time I do, I realize there are more to count. Each day in our lives offer more blessings to count. Just try it yourselves and see. Blessings come in so many forms that I believe they can never all be accounted for. As Thanksgiving approaches, we do our best to give thanks to the Lord for all we have received. We try to give thanks for all the love He has given. We have some very good sermons in our churches, but there is still more we can say. I do thank God that He understands and has such a love that He offers His grace freely. This is another blessing.
We are told that all are given a certain amount of faith. Jesus said if we only had the faith as the size of a mustard seed, we can move a mountain by just commanding it. What we are actually being told is to live our faith. Trust in God and believe. Whatever amount of faith we have, use it. Rely on your faith in God’s word. Our faith will be rewarded.
When I consider His word, in the Holy Bible, available to all to read for themselves. That in itself is a great blessing. We can all read His Holy Word, and know that the Lord is speaking to us. Each person, no matter who they are, cam open that book and hear the Word of God. He has made Himself available to anyone who wants to know Him. He has offered a complete forgiveness of sin, no matter what you may have done in the past. God is certain to forgive it as is His promise. Just come to the Lord God through is Son Jesus Christ and be forgiven. Be accepted and saved. Come to Christ and receive a clean heart. Enjoy the peace that God has offered and release the burdens of guilt placed on you by sin.
The bible says, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God”. But it also says that “you can be forgiven of sin, and it is remembered no more”.
Trust in the Lord, believe and love as the Lord does. Accept His gift and live forever in His glory. Learn what it is like to have a peaceful heart through the grace of God. The bible further states,” knock and the door will be opened, seek and you will find, ask and you will be given”. So if anyone reading this has never approached Jesus, do it now. Go to Him and confess your sins to Him. After all it is between you and God. Let Him forgive you and let Him show you what it is like to live Christ like. Christ showed us who God is by His actions and words. He only spoke what the Lord God told Him. He only acted in the way He knew was of God the Father. So, we can do as He, live in love. Live without condemning anyone. Live with patience and understanding in our thoughts and actions.
To be Christ like, we only have to read and understand. Knowledge is given freely if we ask for it. The Holy Spirit will help each of us to pray for knowledge. He will guide our thoughts if we will only allow it. God has given us all a life of choices. We do have free will. God does have a plan for everyone’s life but, it is our choice to follow that plan. With great love, God has given us free will. We can choose His way or our own. Find a bible teaching church if you don’t already have one, then learn His Word and obey Him. Learn as a child, take Him at His Word without trying to make it fit this world. Trust in the Lord will come more easily as you practice daily.
Remember, when you have been saved, you died to this world just as Christ did on the cross. Live the new reborn life of Christ in you. Let the Holy Spirit come alive in you and you will not believe the way life will appear to you. It is new, exciting and colorful. It is difficult to explain because it is a newness that comes from God. Remember also that He will never leave you. The Lord will be with you always. You will never be alone in any situation. The Lord God will be with you whether you are in a group or in a room all alone. There also will the Lord be. He lives in the believer through the Holy Spirit.
All of this in this sermon are blessings from the Lord. Every word from Him and of Him is a blessing. Salvation is a blessing. Tell someone you know or love about Christ, even if they already believe, it allows for fellowship. Most may not know what is missing in their life by not knowing Him. If they want to hear more, then that is good. If not, then you have done all you need to do. If people were meant to be forced to believe, then God can do that much better than any of us. We all know that there are many who do not wish to hear the Word. That would amount to casting your pearls before swine to try and convince them. They have already made their choice, but we can still pray for a change of heart.
Let the Lord God be your guide through His Holy Word. Let peace be in your thoughts and love in your actions.
Remember, that Jesus said the kingdom of heaven has come. That we should all be ready for His return continually, as we do not know the day or time. He gave examples of this in His parables. Always be ready, means to live the commandments, knowing that they are from God. Living Christ like in love and not being led astray by the evil one.
Matthew 25:11 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,
4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!'
7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
9 But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.'
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!'
12 But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.'
13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
The Lord God is all forgiving, all loving and very patient. He wants all who will come to Him to be saved. He invites all to repent of sin and be cleansed, with no more guilt from the past. His desire is for us to be made righteous in His sight by the blood of Christ our Lord. This door is open for anyone, no matter the past of that person. All can be saved through Christ our Lord. All can become the children of the living God.
May the Glory of God be upon you and may He richly bless you, Amen.