Preaching Jesus

I bowed my head in prayer, asking the Lord for a word this week and I heard the words “Preaching Jesus” loud and clear in my spirit. I immediately realized that the Lord was impressing upon my heart, the urgency to call all believers back to the truth of their calling …preaching Jesus. The Word of God states "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16). This is the sum total of the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ – His sacrifice for the sins of man and the gift of salvation He now offers to everyone.

Jesus Christ came to earth and laid down His life in payment for the sins of the world. It is not about how good or sinful we are, but about what He did. It is not about how well we can preach, how many gifts of the Spirit we operate in, how often we fast and pray, or how holy of a life we live, but it is about what He did. He gave His life as a ransom for sinners.

I watched a broadcast by Ravi Zacharias last week where he told a story that illustrates the message of the Gospel in both its totality and its simplicity. It is the story of a shepherd who has two female sheep, both about to give birth. The first one gives birth to a baby lamb but she develops complications and dies. The second female sheep then gives birth, but the baby lamb develops complications and it dies. The shepherd was faced with a dilemma. He somehow had to get the now childless mother to nurse the motherless child. He brings the surviving baby lamb to the childless mother, but the scent of the baby lamb is not familiar to the mother and the mother rejects the lamb. The shepherd pondered for a while and then went back and retrieved the dead lamb, took off its skin, and placed it over the body of the surviving lamb. He then takes the surviving lamb to the childless mother sheep. At first the mother sheep starts to turn away, but then she smells the familiar scent of her own, and she receives and nurses the baby lamb.

Such is the simplicity and power of the gospel. We are separated from God because of our sins, and cannot be reconciled to God the Father, unless we are forgiven and clothed with the righteousness of Christ. We need a Savior. God provided a Savior out of His perfect love for us, at the same time satisfying His perfect justice concerning sin. This was accomplished when His son Jesus Christ took our sins upon Himself and was crucified on Calvary’s Cross. He died so we may live. The enormity of His sacrifice we cannot comprehend since His torture and death is only a small part of it. It was His separation from God the Father when He took our sins upon Himself which was unbearable. This cost Him everything. Because He was willing to pay this price, we can now be clothed with His righteousness and reconciled unto our Heavenly Father by simply repenting of our sins and receiving Jesus Christ as both Savior and Lord into our hearts. All who are lost need to hear this message, and they need to hear it now.

Is our Commission…

We who are saved are not saved just to worship. We can do that in Heaven. We are not saved just to minister to those who are sick physically, demon-possessed, or poverty stricken; for what good is it if someone is in great health and prospering physically but their souls are hell-bound. No we who are saved to seek and save the Lost. We are saved to preach Jesus who is the only door through which the Lost must enter to be saved. The Lord Himself has commissioned us in (Mark 16:15). “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Preaching Jesus is not the task for the Pastor only, but for every believer; for we are not called to be just believers… but to be Disciples. Being Disciples of Christ mean to “deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him.” It means to obey His every command to go out, preach the Gospel to every creature, and make “Disciples” of everyone, not just believers. The Word of God says even the devil is a believer. He believes the Lord and the message, but He does not obey the Lord or His word. Surely we are called to be more than the devil is? We are called to be Disciples, ambassadors of Christ, sharing the message of the Gospel - the Good News - with everyone daily wherever we are and in whatever situation we find ourselves and to win the Lost to Christ that they may have life.

The power is in the Cross…

To many, preaching Jesus may seem foolish or inadequate. This is why we often do not do it. Sometimes we do not preach for fear of retaliation and ridicule. Oftentimes we feel the Word is not enough, we must add to it by superb revelations, visions and dreams, eloquence of words, and emotions. But the word of God says that the Gospel of Christ, His birth, death & resurrection, and the purpose which He fulfilled on earth is all we need to preach, even if it is foolishness to many. The power is in the Cross, not in our words. We do not have to see it or feel it. It does not have to be outwardly evident to anyone initially. But we who have experienced its life-changing, heart transforming power know it is the only power by which the greatest miracle on earth can be performed; to transform a sinner into a saint. Because we cannot immediately see the results, we sometimes do not have enough faith to just speak the word and wait for the Lord to perform it. We allow the actions and reactions of our audience to hinder or prevent us from preaching altogether, when we should have faith that the word is working at a level much deeper than the initial emotional reactions of people. It may seem foolish to tell someone about a God who was crucified for their sins when they do not even believe they have sins or that they need a Savior. It may seem difficult or even impossible to preach a loving God to someone who has been abused all their life. It may seem inadequate to tell someone sentenced to death about eternal life through Jesus Christ -- but the Word is Spirit and it is life to those who are spiritually dead. It is very much understood by the spirit, even if it seems like foolishness to the flesh. The Word of God says it pleased God to use this foolishness to save all who choose to believe. Paul said “It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, Unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”(1 Cor. 21-24). It is not for us to decide when, where, and how to preach or not preach the Gospel, but to just do it as the Holy Spirit leads.

Not in Signs and Wonders…

Many believers concentrate on the gifts of the Spirit and the miracles of God in their lives and in their ministering to others. Yes miracles are also a testimony of our supernatural and all-powerful God, but by themselves they have no power to save. Sign and Wonders – supernatural blessings -- will draw unbelievers, but it will not transform their lives and change their hearts. Only the Word will. (Hebrews 4:12) says “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” The word alone is what has the life-giving, heart transforming power. Yes the Lord promises that as we preach the Gospel, He will perform signs and wonders to confirm His word. “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” (Mark 16:20) -- But His Word must go forth first. Jonah did not perform any miracle as far as we know, yet he brought an entire city to repentance simply by speaking the Word. John the Baptist did not perform any sign and wonder according to what was recorded in the Bible, yet he brought multitudes to repentance. We, however, are given the Word and the Holy Ghost (power from on high) to minister. Our ministry, the ministry of Jesus Christ is of the Word and of Power. If the Word is being preached and miracles, signs, and wonders are not following the Word, it is not the true ministry of Christ. If the Word is being preached and the Power does not manifest, the Lord is not in that ministry. The Power must follow the word to confirm it. However, it is the Word alone which will save and Jesus is the Word; the communication and full revelation of God the Father.

Not in human wisdom…….

Many think that preaching with worldly wisdom and knowledge will be more effective. Beloved this is self-serving and saves no one. Paul says we must preach the gospel “not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. (1 Cor 1:17). We can actually empty the power of the Cross by adding or embellishing the message. This is a very sobering and frightening revelation. We need to be very precise in preaching exactly what is written, lest the work that our Lord has done on the Cross be nullified. It’s only the pure unadulterated Gospel of Jesus Christ that has the power to redeem the Lost. It alone is all that is needed to bring hearts to repentance and acceptance of Christ as Lord and Savior. All who are His, will hear the pure message and believe for Jesus Christ said in (John 10:27) ”My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” We cannot make the Word better heard or more effective by adding to it. The power is in the Word just as “it is written”

But in the simple Gospel message…

There is no other way to save sinners. The power is not in the preaching, but in the message. We do not need to get deep revelations to get the Lost saved. This can be reserved for teaching the Saved and bringing them into the fullness of Christ. After a person comes to the Lord, then the Holy Spirit can personally or through Pastors and Teachers teach the full doctrine of Christ and Christianity so that he or she can grow and mature in the Spirit. But in order to win the Lost, we need only preach Jesus. In fact Paul cautions against preaching anything but the simple Gospel since it causes contention, competition and strife in the Church. He warns "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” (1 Cor. 4:6,7) For Paul knows that every gift, talent, knowledge, and wisdom we obtained when we were saved, were obtained from God and they are to be used solely for the purposes of winning others to Christ, and not to draw attention or approval to ourselves. Most of us like the Disciples of those times were nothing before we were chosen, appointed, and equipped by God. The Lord chose lowly fishermen who knew nothing else and sent them forth with just the Good News and the Holy Ghost to turn the world upside down – and they did. They who were nobodies preached and taught amongst the Sophisticated, the Learned, the Philosophers of the times, and the Great rulers and authorities of many nations – and changed the world forever. Such is the power of the Word confirmed with signs and wonders. Paul cautions, “Brothers 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. He 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” (1 Cor 1:26-29). Even if we had some standing according to worldly measures, they were totally useless in God’s kingdom for their power was to bring death not life. The Lord has to purge us of all our worldly desires, talents, and knowledge before He can use us or while using us; just as He did with Moses for 40 years in the desert. Just as He did with Joseph in prison for many years; and just as He did with Paul throughout His many trials and tribulations while serving God. Until Paul conceded, “and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ” (Phillipians 3:8), and now says "For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:6-8). This is the place we must all come to so that the message of the Gospel can go forth pure and powerful into all the world.

Brought by the greatest Sign and Wonder…YOU

The most amazing sign and wonder of God’s amazing grace and transforming power is YOU. Many of your friends, acquaintances, co-workers, and family know the life you have lived and who you were before you met the Lord. They now look to see the evidence of the God you are preaching in your life. You can draw unbelievers simply by living the full Christian life; walking after the Spirit and not after the flesh. You can break through the strongholds in their minds simply by presenting Him as the answer to every question or discussion that you are involved in and showing them how He was the answer to all those questions and issues in your life. You make them jealous by living the Word of God and having them witness the peace, love and joy you have regardless of the situations and circumstances around you. You can demonstrate the God in you in your daily life. Demonstrate the God in you who is a Giver by giving where there is a need. Demonstrate the God in you who is Healer by laying hands on the sick and allowing God to heal them through you. Demonstrate the God in you who is sinless by living a Holy life. Demonstrate the God in you who is loving and full of mercy and compassion by reaching out to comfort and love others in their hour of suffering. Demonstrate the God in you who is your peace by speaking words of grace and truth in every situation -- Be Christ-like. This is the miracle that will draw those who are yet to believe more than any other – then tell them about the God who performed this miracle in you. Tell them about this sinless God who died on a Cross, suffered torture and death, and separation from God, the Father so you could be forgiven, transformed and given eternal life. Then tell them how He did the same for them. All they need to do is receive it.

If you have read this word and you have not met Jesus Christ, I invite you to receive Him today into your hearts. Pray with me. ‘Lord Jesus, I believe you died and rose again. I repent of my sins and I ask you to wash me clean. I invite you into my heart to be my Lord and Savior. Lord, transform my heart and my life. Thank you Jesus, Amen.”

He will never leave or forsake you

For those who do not believe….

I have learned over the course of my life, this amazing fact of God’s love. He will never leave or forsake us. I pondered on this great promise and realized that God loves us so much, that He simply does not want to be apart from us. He hungers for our love with a holy hunger. Our human minds are limited and our love is conditional. As such, we cannot comprehend the limitless, unconditional nature of God’s love. Because we cannot understand it, we often do not expect it. Because we do not know it exists for us, we do not seek it and often settle for human love or idolatry – a poor substitute. But God promises if we seek Him with all our hearts, we shall find Him.

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

Most of us do not seek God because we think we have no need of Him. We think we are in good health, have good jobs, and a fairly, if not very happy life. Yes, we have problems here and there, sickness now and again, sadness and despair some more than others. But, we figure we can deal with it. We have family. We have friends. We have doctors. We will be ok. It’s all a part of life we say. We do not realize that we need God to even breathe.

If it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath, all mankind would perish together and man would return to the dust. Job 34:14

Without Him, we can have no life, be it good or bad. We need God everyday to survive the trials and tribulations of the day. We need His provision and His protection. We need His comfort and care. We need His restoration and His love. The truth is, God wants to give us so much more than what we think we need to just get by, or to have what we think is a fairly decent life. God wants to give us love, joy, and peace that are beyond understanding and life that is abundant in everyway, here on earth and in eternity. Do you want this life on earth? Do you want to spend eternity in Heaven with Him after earth? Know that we can only obtain this when we know Him and receive Him as God. To know Him is to know His all-consuming love for us, regardless of who we are, how righteous we think we have been, or how deeply we have sinned. It is a love that is not dependant on whether we love Him in return or not. He does not shower his love only on those who know Him, love Him, and want to please him. No, God loves everyone. He is a God who belongs to every nation, every country, every race, and every person. There is no sin too great for God to forgive. Nothing we do will cause Him to withdraw His love from us. In fact, He loves us so much, that He, who is pure and without sin, offered up Himself and died willingly for us.

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

God’s love flows freely to all, without question, without expectations, without conditions, and without limit. Isn’t that just wonderful? We can do nothing to earn His love, because it cannot be earned or bought. It is free. It is not only free, but it is freeing. No one can experience God’s love and be bound by the evils of the world. It is all powerful, overcoming, and it never fails. Knowing His love will free you to the very depths of your soul and the cares and the fears of the world will no longer adversely affect you. This is the power of His love.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

Many of us go through life with great fear. We fear the future and what it holds. We fear sickness, suffering, and death. We fear lack, rejection, loss, persecution, and so much more. We live in regret of past sins, guilt-ridden and depressed. Many of us are caught up in a life of continuous sin which we either feel helpless to stop or do not want to give up. Know that, although sin may be pleasurable and instantly gratifying, the pleasure is very temporary and deceiving as in the end it destroys us. It brings great suffering, death, and destruction -- and it robs us of eternal life in Heaven. God’s love frees us from all such guilt, fears and bondages, and ensures everlasting, abundant, victorious life in Him. He said many times in His word “Fear Not, I am with you.” When God is with you and His love is in you, all fear is cast out. For God is now in your life and He says “I am" whatever you need or desire…I can give you whatever you need or desire…I can be whatever you need or desire…if you abide in me and My words abide in you. I will be your everything and sin will no more have power over you. “Cast your cares on me”, He says, “for My yoke is easy and My burden is light”.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

“I AM who I AM. I AM your Father. I AM your Friend. I AM your healer. I AM your deliverer. I AM your provider. I AM your Freedom. I AM your Rest. I AM your Peace. I AM your Help. I AM your Counselor. I AM your Answer. I AM your Shield. I AM your Strength. I AM your Salvation. I AM with You until the end of time. I AM the Lord your God,” saith the Lord.

Nothing you will ever do can cause Him to stop loving you. Nothing can separate you from His love….if you believe in Him and receive Him as your Lord and Savior

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38,39

You see God loves us and wants to be with us. He wants us to love Him and enjoy eternal life with Him. He wants us to live victoriously in this world and overcome all evil. Only through Him can we do this. But sin separates us from Him. Sin causes us to be blind to the knowledge of God and His everlasting love and saving grace. Sin prevents us from receiving what God has always and will always freely provide…His glorious, all-powerful love which brings life to us… and we have all sinned.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God Romans 3:23

God is pure and without sin. God cannot be with us the way He longs to because He is a holy and righteous God who simply cannot abide with sin. To be reconciled with God and abide with Him, we must atone for our sins and be washed clean. By our own strength and desire to be good and do good, we simply cannot atone for our sins, so great are they and there is a penalty for sin.

For the wages of sin is death Romans 6:23

But, there is good news…. we do not have to pay these wages because Jesus Christ already paid them for us by dying on a wooden cross 2000 years ago and rising again on the 3rd day. Now it is only through Him that we can be forgiven of our sins and be reconciled to God.

Do you believe in His great love? Do you believe He died for you and rose again? Do you desire Him to wash your sins away and help you to overcome the evils of the world? Do you want everlasting, abundant life? Do you want to know Him who died and rose again to conquer hell, death, and the grave for you? Do you want to experience Him knowing that when you experience Him, you will not only know who He truly is, but you will know for the first time who you truly are and what your purpose is on earth?

Then come to Jesus Christ, the son of the living God and the savior of the world. Come to the one who loves you so much that He laid down His live so you may live and live eternally. Receive Him as your Lord and savior and experience Him and His amazing love. Repeat these words with all sincerity “Lord Jesus, forgive me, wash me, save me. I invite you into my heart” and become a child of God. Be reconciled to Him and abide with Him. He is asking...

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20

Come and enjoy life abundant and life eternal in Him. He will change your heart and your life forever

Just one Soul

For those who do not know the Lord..

JUST ONE SOUL…

…….MEANS EVERYTHING TO GOD

Luke 15:4

What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he finds it?

The bible tells us that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that those who believe in Him will be saved from Hell and have eternal life in Heaven. God Himself came in the flesh 2000 years ago and offered His life as a sacrifice to pay the penalty for our sins. His sacrifice was the only substitution deemed worthy for the multitudes of sins we committed, for He was pure and sinless. The word of God says He volunteered to be this sacrifice, paying for the sins of all sinners purely out of His unfailing love for us. He saw the extent of our sinfulness and knew we could never atone, so great was the cost.

Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God

We are all sinners, unworthy of God’s grace and mercy. Yet, in His great love, He has made us worthy.

Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

God places the highest value on us. We cannot understand why, only that He does. He desires not one soul to suffer and perish but that all come to know Him and inherit abundant life on earth and eternal life with Him in Heaven.

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

God created all of creation by speaking it into existence. He created Heaven and Earth, flung universes into space, and created all life forms without even a flick of his finger. He is all-powerful and does not have even blink to get anything done. Yet He chose to suffer and be mocked, spat on, beaten mercilessly, and nailed to a wooden cross, dying an agonizing death for us. He bore our shame, and took our pain and sicknesses to the cross. The bible says He loves you so much that even if there were only one on earth, only you, He would have done the same.

One soul, your soul, is so precious to God. Regardless of color, creed, religion, background, nationality, or race, He died for all. Every soul is of utmost value to Him. You may be the CEO of a multi-million dollar corporation, or a homeless person in the street, God values both the same, paying the highest price for each. It does not matter what you have become or what you have accomplished in the world, God looks at your heart. He knows who He created you to be and the abundant life He desires you to have. He sees the outward success, and knows the deep, inner failures and losses inside. He knows that beneath your every smile, the hurt is excruciating and it almost costs you everything to smile. He knows that you had dreamed big and achieved your dreams only to find that there is no happiness in your successes, only emptiness. He knows of the guilt that tears you up inside from sins you have committed, or are in. He knows you who have seared your consciences and persuaded yourselves that you are happy and the only one that matters is you. He knows you who have hardened your hearts due to the pain and suffering you went through and now can no longer feel pain or joy. He knows you who have tried and tried to be someone in the world, but have failed each and every step of the way and have now resigned yourselves to a life of defeat. He knows the way the enemy deceives you with the pleasures of self and this temporary world, slowly destroying your souls while taking you on the path to Hell. He does not look on the outer man, but searches the heart and examines the mind of men.

Jeremiah 17:10
"I the LORD searches the heart and examines the mind.

God knows. He created you out of the dust of the earth. He knew you before you were formed in your mother’s womb. He numbered the hairs on your head and knows when even one falls to the ground. He collects your tears in a bottle. He knows every desire of your heart, every secret thought in your mind, every hurt that went deep inside, every problem in your life, every circumstance that surrounds you, and every situation you find yourself in, even before you do. You see beloved, God knows you better than you know yourself.

Psalm 139:13
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb

God knows and He cares deeply. You mean everything to Him. He wants to wipe every tear from your eye. He wants to restore your joy and peace. He wants to heal every hurt in your heart and your body. He wants to wrap His arms around you and comfort you in your times of need. He wants to give you victory over every situation in your life. He wants to bless you in abundance. Most importantly, He wants you to live eternally in Heaven with Him. Yes beloved, this is His desire. He wants to restore every person, by making them whole in body and soul, and give them abundant, everlasting life. The only way He can do this is if you come to Him. If you repent of your sins and believe that He paid the price for your sins on the cross by dying, and resurrected on the third day to give you life, then you will be forgiven, cleansed, made whole, reconciled with Him, and granted eternal life. Moreover the Lord promised in His word to come and dwell in your heart if you receive Him, empowering you to live a life free of sin, filled with love, joy, and peace here on earth, and to seal you by His Holy Spirit to spend eternity with Him in Heaven.

Won’t you ask Him to reveal Himself to you today? Our God is a living God, not an idol created by the hands of men, nor a myth invented by the minds of men. He is not an absent God, but is always present. He is not a powerful force, but a Person with eyes to see you, ears to hear you, and a mouth to speak with you, and He wants to speak with you today. He has a name and you can call on Him by name. The name given to us is Jesus (meaning “God who saves”) for the word of God says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12). Many of you think it’s too late. I have sinned so much, you say. How can I face a Holy and Righteous God? No one can help me now, I am in too deep. You are right, no person can, but God can. There is no pit too deep for God to reach down and rescue you. There is no sin too great for Him to forgive. There is nothing you can do to make Him stop loving you. Many of you choose to believe there is no God or prefer to leave Him as an abstract possibility simply because you do not want to face the fact that you are a sinner before God. You do not even want to think about the extent of your sins and the accountability you would have before a righteous God. But beloved, God does not condemn anyone. You condemn yourself to eternity in Hell if you do not accept His gift of salvation. Some of you think you live a decent life, do good, believe in what you choose to believe in, and do not intentionally hurt anyone, so will end up in Heaven, if you so believe. This is a lie of Satan beloved. There is no amount of good works, or decent living that can take you to Heaven or reconcile you with God, only the blood of His son Jesus that was shed for you 2000 years ago.

Salvation is free…receive it today and be saved. The Lord and indeed all of Heaven eagerly awaits your decision…..

Luke 15:10
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Pray with me: Lord Jesus, I believe you died and rose again. I repent of my sins. I ask you to wash me clean. I invite you Lord to come into my heart. Be my Lord and my God. Amen