Jesus – Page 25 – Praying Pint

Lamb of God

“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.”

“even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

“who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”

John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.”

Hebrews 1:3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Revelation 21:22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.

The Lamb of God. We hear this but to understand it we first must understand what “Lamb” meant to the Jewish people. In the Old Testament an animal blood sacrifice was required at the altar of God for the redemption of sins (forgiveness). … We also see the symbolism when the Israelites were freed from Egypt. . For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you…. The lamb became the symbol of prime sacrifice. Jesus, by his death on the cross, became the sacrifice for all man’s sins.

This little light of mine

“And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.”

John 1:9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 6:32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Isaiah 49:6 he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

John 12:46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

1 Thessalonians 5:4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.

The true light is given to everyone – Jesus said “I am the way the truth and life. No one comes to the father except through me.” “For God so loved the word that He gave His only Son, who so ever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life”. This light is given by and through the love of God. The world/culture and satan will say things to diminish this light. Remember the song – “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine” – “Not gonna let satan blue it out, I’m gonna let it shine.” Each day we have opportunity to live in this light, reflect this light, and point people to this light.

Fountain Opened

Zechariah 13:1 “On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.

Psalms 51:2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!

Psalms 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Isaiah 1:16 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

Ezekiel 36:25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.

John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Titus 3:5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Our hope is built on promises from God. The hope of forgiveness, complete cleansing from sin, salvation, and eternal life. This is offered to all and God, not wishing any to perish, gave the promise of eternal life to all who would believe in the complete cleansing through the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Peter in light of the grace and mercy from God through Christ, and seeing that all of this world will pass away, asked a question “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness” How should our lives be lived out this side of eternity? Are we to be complacent and lukewarm in our commitment to this great act of Love? Being lukewarm and complacent manifests in a life that seldom speaks of Christ, lacks confidence in being cleansed, thinks about performing acts of goodness to overshadow the sin in their life, loses sight of promises of God, does not have contentment/peace, seldom sees God’s hand at work in their life, rarely hears the whispers of God, lacks confidence in God’s purpose and plan for their life. This all can hit home to anyone but the good thing is, if God is convicting your heart there is the promise “if we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive us” This means it is gone forever to never be remembered again. Believing and knowing without doubt is hard if the promises of God are not in your life. Satan is a liar and will speak lies into our lives. You’re not good enough, you’re to far gone, there is no hope for you, or on the other hand you are good enough, you are to busy, you are doing enough, compare yourself with others, blah, blah, blah. These struggles are common when our lives are more committed to this world, what it has to offer, and the cares surrounded by it. Know that your sin is forgiven by the work of Christ, repent from whatever it is that is holding you back from committing to humbly serving, honoring, following, and obeying Him. Make time to spend in His word with the purpose of knowing Him. Listen for His whispers of leading. Today is the day you can commit to Him and ask Him to open His word to your heart and mind.

Salvation

” On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.”

“But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.”

Psalms 21:1 O LORD, in your strength the king rejoices, and in your salvation how greatly he exults! You have given him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. For you meet him with rich blessings; you set a crown of fine gold upon his head. He asked life of you; you gave it to him, length of days forever and ever. His glory is great through your salvation; splendor and majesty you bestow on him. For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence. For the king trusts in the LORD, and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.

Hebrews 12:2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Psalms 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

Psalms 62:7 On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

Psalms 20:4-5 May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans!

Psalms 3:3 But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.

We often are confident in the fact that our salvation is anchored in and on God. Him alone through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. David speaks of blessings and security in knowing this and rejoices that God has allowed/directed all of it and made it known to him. Do we lose sight of this sometime? Do we forget the great cost of our salvation at the expense of Christ on the cross? If there is thanksgiving in our heart for this everyday wouldn’t our lives be lived out differently? Do we realize that for the “JOY” set before Him Jesus endured the cross? Look at what is says in Isaiah: “Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.” Salvation of mankind has been God’s plan since the fall of Adam and Eve. Yet in this salvation is a qualifier – You must believe. Therefore if we believe, there should be both an outward and inward difference in our lives. There should be a desire to honor and glorify and humbly serve and worship and praise and thank God our rock, refuge and author of our salvation.

Why Forgive Others?

Every last one of us, or someone close to us has been wronged by someone. It will have happened from a stranger, wife, husband, mom, dad, brother, sister, extended family member, colleague, boss. and even us to others, etc…. No matter where it comes from it hurts and I think it hurts most when it comes from those closest to us. Yet scripture is very clear isn’t it – there is no limit on how many times we are to forgive. Our example on forgiveness is to be looked at from the side of understanding what God has done with us who have received His forgiveness. Our Holy God not only forgave us, but also the debt of sin was paid in full by His son. The act of Forgiveness only takes the action of one person. It is up to the individual alone to forgive even if the other person has no desire to reconcile. What would life be like if we were to forgive, forget, and show mercy and love to those who wrong us. Do you want to be a light to the world that sees no hope? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of those around you? Do you want to honor and glorify God? – Forgive those who have wronged you – Show the same grace, mercy and love God has given you!

Matthew 18:21
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy- seven times “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything. ’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe. ’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you. ’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you? ’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart

Probers 21:12
Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor
will himself call out and not be answered

James 2:13
For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy

Matthew 6:15
but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses

Choosing Knowledge of God

Jesus had just healed two men, delivering them from demon possession and after this people of the region begged Him to leave. Others, in scripture, reject knowledge of God and still others hold to evil and reject good. Why do people reject Him? How many times do we reject His leading and purpose throughout the day? Rejecting God and His purpose for our lives comes with many consequences, all of them bad. However, for those who chose to humbly serve Him – they will find peace, love, joy, blessing, hope, and security.

Matthew 8:34
And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region

Psalms 36:2
For he flatters himself in his own eyes
that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit;
he has ceased to act wisely and do good.
He plots trouble while on his bed;
he sets himself in a way that is not good;
he does not reject evil

Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;
because you have rejected knowledge,
I reject you from being a priest to me.
And since you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children

Proverbs 1:29
Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
would have none of my counsel
and despised all my reproof,
therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,
and have their fill of their own devices.
For the simple are killed by their turning away,
and the complacency of fools destroys them;
but whoever listens to me will dwell secure
and will be at ease, without dread of disaster