If you have made Jesus your Savior and Lord, then, as a child of God, you can make the title, above, your confession of faith over your daily life. I like to emphasize that He is my Good Shepherd… “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” John 10:11 (and John, chapter 10, 1-30)
And speaking of God’s mercy, the following is from Faith to Faith, the devotional book by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland and is…
Reprinted with permission from Kenneth Copeland Ministries
“I beseech thee, show me thy glory.” Exodus 33:18
What would you say is the single, most outstanding thing about God? What’s His most important characteristic? Some people would say it’s His power. Others, His holiness. But God Himself would give a different answer.
You can find that answer in Exodus 33. There Moses is asking God to show him His glory.
Now the word glory could literally be translated “heavy weight.” It refers to the heaviest, biggest, grandest thing about someone. It’s the sum total of their worth.
So what Moses was actually saying was, “Lord, I want to see the weightiest thing about You. I want to know Your grandest attributes.” What did God say to him in response?
Chapter 34:6-7 tells us, “The Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.”
Just think about that! When Moses asked God to show him the most important thing about Himself, God showed him His mercy.
That means if you and I are to imitate God (Ephesians 5:1) we must major in mercy too. Mercy, goodness, forgiveness and compassion must mark our behavior above all else.
Major on mercy and others will see the glory of God in you.
Kenneth Copeland
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“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” Psalm 23 KJV
…free to be shared…written by Kim Potter, A New Thing Ministries…
No Harvest
In these days of tough economic times, many people are wondering how they are going to make it through. Grocery prices are crazy and gas prices are even worse, in some states they are approaching critical levels. People are concerned about their finances and I can understand that.
As Christians, we must remember, regardless of what is going on in the world, we serve a God that has no lack. The word of God teaches us that there is a separate economy based on faith and obedience that never fears a recession.
We are in a different kingdom; we live in the Kingdom of God and His ways are not our ways. His ways are higher than ours. He shows us through His word how to live in an economy that will remain stable as long as we are obeying the word of God.
Sowing and reaping are the supernatural ways the Kingdom of God works. Most of the time it makes no sense, but I can say from experience, it is the only way to live, especially in times like this.
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. (2 Cor 9:6-11)
God makes it clear that the cycle of seedtime and harvest is how His kingdom works. It also makes it clear that there is no harvest without first planting seed.
We can pray, dance, sing and shout for a harvest but it will not come until we first plant seed. Luke 6:38 says;Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.
As I was writing this today, I felt the Lord dropped something in my heart and said, “Tell them to try Me.” I laughed out loud.
This takes me to Malachi 3:10.
Now, I know many people do not believe tithing is for today. I have listened to those teachings, and I can see how you feel that way – however, I can only say how I have lived my life and giving is how I have lived my Christian life. Whether you call it tithing or giving, I think we need to obey God and what HE tells each of us to do. And the truth will always remain; there is NO harvest if there is NO seed. That is just a simple truth.
So, the only time in the Bible I can find where God says test me or try me in this is in Malachi 3:10.
Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
I am not saying you must tithe – that is between you and God, but I am saying, if you want to see a harvest, you must first sow. If you want to see the windows of heaven open over you, you must give God something to work with.
My heart is to see the church thrive. In their health, finances and family.
That is what I cry out for. That is my prayer for each one of you.
I don’t want to see anyone lack or struggle to make ends meet and God has provided a way for us to thrive. Today, I encourage you to search through the Bible and find out what God says about prospering and then obey His word. May you be blessed beyond measure as you do.
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Ministries to consider: your local church http://www.anewthingministries.com http://www.ctvn.org (funds needed to continue broadcasting) ministries previously mentioned on this blog… or other “good ground” ministries you know of and are blessed by
Colorado wonderfully displays its yearly golden glow, which is grandly reflected in the aspens before the coming winter’s snow.
Backed by the beauty of mountains, seen most everywhere, our thoughts turn to the Creator amidst the fresh but chilly air.
There’s nothing like going on a hike when golden leaves start falling down–it gives a great refreshing from the busyness of town.
To join up with a friend, as leaves on a trail crunch under our feet, is the perfect combination to make for a day that is complete.
Creating the image of a snow shower, the wind in the trees takes leaves of gold, and shakes them loose in a golden “rain”–they’re unable to keep their hold.
We’re blessed to suddenly hear the sound of a nearby flowing brook, which reminds of our thirst for the living God, as shared in His holy book.
At times, along the trail, various kinds of wildlife do cross by us. Such scenes foster the serenity which brings relief from things that try us.
All the surrounding beauty remains in our hearts when we depart–to return again to home, while we say, “My God, how great Thou art!”
P. A. Oltrogge
“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” Psalm 42:1-2 NIV
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.” Acts 17:24-27 NIV
“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, (Jesus Christ) whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” Hebrews 1:1-4 NKJV
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…Let’s continue to join in praying today and every day for our wonderful country, the USA. Father, deliver us from evil…as said in Your beautiful prayer. Thank You for strengthening all those who work with You to right wrongs...
“For the word of the Lord is right, and all His work is done in truth. He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
“The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations.
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance.
“Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, just as we hope in You.” …verses from Psalm 33
Evidence of a creative Master is seen throughout the earth;
Jesus, who was called, the Master, came to teach us of the new birth.
Unless you are born again, He said, you can’t see the kingdom of God.
His heart is that of a caring shepherd, who guides with staff and rod.
The beauties and wonders of creation amaze, seeming never to cease;
such things are divine reflections, which point to the Prince of Peace.
Jesus told us to consider the lilies and also the birds of the air—
that they could show us how to serenely rest within His Father’s care.
What a wonderful God we have; He taught us the blessing of serving—
Jesus was our example, sharing God’s love, though we were undeserving.
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men—God’s very glory revealed.
We do have a beautiful Savior, who gave us the beauty of the lilies of the field.
P. A. Oltrogge
“All things were made through Him, and without Him, nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” John 1:3-4
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14
“Jesus answered and said to him, (Nicodemus) ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’” John 3:3
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17
“…that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” Acts 10:37-38
“Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.” Hebrews 1:1-4 NLT
“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6
Remembering the Hymn, Beautiful Savior
Beautiful Savior, King of Creation, Son of God and Son of Man! Truly I’d love Thee, Truly I’d serve Thee, Light of my soul, my Joy, my Crown.
Fair are the meadows, Fair are the woodlands, Robed in flowers of blooming spring; Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer; He makes our sorrowing spirit sing.
Fair is the sunshine, Fair is the moonlight, Bright the sparkling stars on high; Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer, Than all the angels in the sky.
Beautiful Savior, Lord of the nations, Son of God and Son of Man! Glory and honor, Praise, adoration, Now and forevermore be Thine!
Author Unknown, 1677 Translated by Joseph A. Seiss, 1873
“The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.” Psalm 103:13 NLT
Three years ago, Israel was attacked in a terrible act of hate,
causing us to remember this particular date,
The Bible prophesies that God will determine Israel’s fate
despite the world’s debate…
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Now the Lord had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. II will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Genesis 12:1-3 NKJV
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Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem A Song of Ascents, of David
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” Our feet are standing Within your gates, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that is built As a city that is compact together; To which the tribes go up, even the tribes of the Lord– An ordinance for Israel– To give thanks to the name of the Lord. For there thrones were set for judgment,… The thrones of the house of David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. “May peace be within your walls, And prosperity within your palaces.” For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say, “May peace be within you.” For the sake of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good.
Psalm 122 NASB
Blessed be the Lord from Zion, Who dwells in Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!
God chooses the foolish things to confound or shame the wise…yet some “wise men” had the wisdom to follow the Messiah’s star which was seen in the skies.
The ultimate in foolishness came through Adam and Eve’s failure to realize…that they had heaven on earth–but yielded to temptation, which proved to be terribly unwise.
Yet God isn’t any loser and had plans to redeem mankind. The first Adam would be surpassed by Jesus, the last Adam–the great Redeemer God had in mind.
We see in Genesis, God took a foolish act done by Joseph’s brothers…to fulfill Joseph’s great destiny. Through him, God saved the lives of so many others.
David committed adultery and devised other foolish plots regarding another man’s wife; but he repented thoroughly to God for having caused such strife.
It may seem foolish to some, that God’s Son was born and laid in a manger so low…but God knew He would be exalting Jesus as King since He would defeat every foe.
Such a lowly place to be born, for Jesus, was only the humble way that He would begin. One day, He would walk in even further humility to the cross, to redeem and free men from the death penalty for sin.
For Jesus to eat with sinners and tax collectors seemed foolish to some. The pharisees and sadducees didn’t understand His invitation for all to “Come!”
Foolishly, the disciples were concerned a second time when thousands needed to be fed. They’d forgotten the previous miraculous feeding of a multitude with so few fish and loaves of bread.
Peter was willing to do a foolish thing, by man’s way of thinking. He stepped out of a boat to walk on the water to Jesus–perhaps, with certainty, that He would save him from sinking.
Of course, when Jesus had been arrested, Peter was foolish to deny three times the Master. But, when the Lord was resurrected, having forgiven him, He asked him three times to feed His sheep thereafter.
The Bible declares that the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing…but to us, who are being saved, it is the power of God and that which we’re cherishing.
Jesus warned us to be wise and not be foolish–to have our lamps lit for His return. That is certainly an up-to-date lesson…one He wants all of those who love Him–and those who don’t yet–to learn.
P. A. Oltrogge
“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.” …from the parable in Matthew 25:1-13
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us, who are being saved, it is the power of God. For it is written:
‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent, I will frustrate.’
“Where is the wise person? Where is the leader of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things–and the things that are not–to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God–that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’” 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 NIV
“But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:20-22
“And so it is written, ‘The first man Adam became a living being.’ The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.” 1 Corinthians 15:45
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous actthe free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:18-21
The historic country of Israel is where Jesus once walked and taught, as well as having been the place where His many miracles were wrought.
Today, His followers make pilgrimages there, believing that they will find, a sensing still of His presence and memories of a very special kind.
They want to walk where the Lord Jesus walked and sail on Galilee’s sea, visit Calvary’s site—then go to where His empty tomb is said to be.
They picture Jesus turning water into wine or observing the Passover feast, teaching the Beatitudes on the mountain, or causing fish and loaves to be increased.
This land is where the Lord healed lepers or those who were blind or lame; and Jerusalem is where He told His disciples to wait to receive of the Holy Spirit’s flame.
The city of Jerusalem, over which Jesus wept, was a prominent city of His day; and its importance to the heart of God has certainly not diminished today.
Jesus wept for those who didn’t recognize that, through Him, scripture was being fulfilled. God had sent Him to be the solid rock of one’s life, upon which every believer should build.
Today, many of Jewish descent are returning to make their home in this land, all of which has been foretold in prophecy, fulfilling what God has planned.
P. A. Oltrogge
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17 NKJV
“For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” Romans 1:16 NKJV
“Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and to great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come—that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.” Acts 26:22-23 NKJV
“But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.” Ephesians 2:13-16 NASB
…prophecies on the return of the Jewish people to Israel:
“Therefore, behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, ”when it will no longer be said, ‘As the Lord lives, who brought up the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ but ‘As the Lord lives, who brought up the sons of Israel from the land of the north and from all the countries where He had banished them.’ For I will restore them to their own land which I gave to their fathers.” Jeremiah 16:14-15 NASB
“Then it will happen on that day that the Lord will again recover the second time with His hand the remnant of His people, who will remain, from Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And He will lift up a standard for the nations, and will assemble the banished ones of Israel, and will gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” Isaiah 11:11-12 NASB
“And I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bring fruit: and I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better (unto you) than at your beginnings: and ye shall know that I (am) the Lord… For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you unto your own land.” Ezekiel 36:11; 24 KJV
…the land of Israel will bloom:
”In days to come, Jacob will take root; Israel will bud and blossom and fill all the world with fruit.” Isaiah 27:6 NIV
I just wanted to share a story about a man I had never seen before who was walking through the doors of Timothy’s Ministry last week. Because we have always had the goal of keeping Timothy’s Ministry a safe place like a family, I stopped him and asked “Hi, what is your name? Did someone invite you here?” (I immediately felt bad as I said those words but, we have always had a simple rule: anyone is welcome to invite someone new, but it needs to be someone they know and would feel comfortable bringing into their own home. Many of our friends are constantly in situations and in places (even soup kitchens and shelters in Chicago) where they have had to be on guard and have told me how stressful it is in other places because of unsafe people. When they walk through our doors, I want them to be able to fully rest in knowing that they are safe here and experience the peace of God, and throughout all these years, we have been incredibly blessed that we have never had a serious incident at Timothy’s Ministry and I know that is God protecting us.
So as I was outside and this man whom I didn’t recognize was walking through the door, I did what I have done before. I stopped him and asked his name and whether someone there knew him.
He looked at me and quietly said, “I’m a human being too.”
I have to tell you that unlike never before, those words just hit my heart. I just knew from the sadness in his voice that he probably experienced this before and it was heartbreaking to hear his voice. I explained that of course he was welcome but that I only needed to know that someone knew him for safety reasons. Almost immediately, one of our friends spoke up: “I know him. He’s a good guy.”
But something happened in my heart when he said those words, “I’m a human being, too”. I believe God allowed me, for just a moment, to see this man the way He sees him. God knew his name before I ever asked it. God knew his whole story. God had seen every night he had slept outside, every hurt, every regret and every lonely moment, and God loved him.
I noticed that he walked with a limp, and he was living outside, pushing a shopping cart containing his belongings, and his clothes were worn. I asked him his name again and asked if he was okay (because he had a bad limp) and he kind of hung his head and said that when he was 16, he had made a bad decision and joined a gang. He said that he had been shot in the leg and in the head. I encouraged him that he had been just a kid, and that I was so sorry for all that he had gone through and told him that I believed God brought you here. He looked tired and shared he has chronic pain.
I asked one of the men who also struggles with homelessness but has been a part of Tim’s House for years to help him find whatever he needs and he took him downstairs to our clothing room and found clothes that fit him perfectly, along with a warm brand new green raincoat with a hood. ‘Bernard’ expressed more gratitude that I don’t have words to describe. I just felt this love toward him (which has to be God) and instead of having him go get his own food, we asked him to sit down and brought him a plate of food and a cup of coffee. His whole face lit up. He just kept quietly saying, ‘thank you so much”.
But those words, “I’m a human being too” have stayed with me and I don’t think I will ever forget those words going forward.
He is a man created in the image of God. A man God sees and knows and loves and I believe God brought him to us.
That is what I pray Timothy’s Ministry will always be: a place where people who may feel invisible to the rest of the world discover that they are not invisible to God. A place where they can feel safe enough to put their guard down and know they are among family. God sees them (and each of us). God knows their story and God loves them. This man was wonderful and he also opened up during our Bible Study/sharing time and told everyone around the table, “I really feel love here and feel God”.
Blessings,
Marian
“When you put on a luncheon or a banquet, don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.” (Luke 14: 12-14)
..this has often been a repeated post, in the event it might benefit someone new from the many different religious persuasions…
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So many religions speak of various ways to address pleasing God all of your days.
Five times a day, you could be down on your knees, with prayers to the god you hope to please.
But, really, these things are ritual merely and can’t please Him, no matter if done so very sincerely.
But there is a way to come to God, and it’s by looking to the road that Jesus trod.
He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He paved the way for you through much strife…
released upon Him as He went to the cross, where He suffered in pain so you wouldn’t be lost
to the God who loves you and calls to you now to embrace His Son, Jesus, to Whom, one day, every knee will bow.
But only grace, through faith, is involved—all works are in vain. Through Jesus’ righteousness, our salvation is made plain.
You may want to fall to your knees when you recognize all that was done…by a God who loved so greatly, He gave His only Son.
P. A. Oltrogge
“So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” John 1:14 NLT
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The LambofGod who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” spoken by Jesus in John 3:16-17
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.’” John 14:6
“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” spoken by Jesus in John 17:3
“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. 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, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:21-26
“But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:22-23 NLT
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
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“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
“Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
“Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11 NLT
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“But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:4-7
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“In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.
“That is why the Tabernacle and everything in it, which were copies of things in heaven, had to be purified by the blood of animals. But the real things in heaven had to be purified with far better sacrifices than the blood of animals.
“For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf. And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice.
“And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.” Hebrews 9:22-28 NLT
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“In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:9-11
We read of Jesus, who was with His disciples in the garden of Gethsemane: “And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, ‘Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.’ Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke 22:41-44
1 Go to dark Gethsemane, all who feel the tempter’s power, your Redeemer’s conflict see. Watch with Him one bitter hour; turn not from His griefs away; learn of Jesus Christ to pray.
2 Follow to the judgment hall, view the Lord of life arraigned; oh, the wormwood and the gall! Oh, the pangs His soul sustained! Shun not suffering, shame, or loss; learn of Him to bear the cross.
3 Calvary’s mournful mountain climb; there, adoring at His feet, mark the miracle of time, God’s own sacrifice complete. “It is finished!” hear Him cry; learn of Jesus Christ to die.
4 Early hasten to the tomb where they laid His breathless clay: all is solitude and gloom. Who has taken Him away? Christ is risen! He meets our eyes. Savior, teach us so to rise.
Hymn author: James Montgomery
“From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.” Matthew 16:21
“But the angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.'” Matthew 28:5-7
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christlivesinme; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, in order that in the ages to come, He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:4-10 NASB
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” John 1:12 KJV