“Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about His Son. 11. And this is the testimony, God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12.He who has the Son has life, he who does not have the Son does not have life.”
One of John’s purposes for writing 1John was to warn people about false teachers who were going from church to church trying to convince people that Jesus is not the way to salvation. When we say this, an incredulous world accuses us of religious bigotry. We just have to decide whether we are going to believe the world or the New Testament. We can disagree with each other about a lot of things, and we probably will, but we are not to disagree with God. God has sent the message to the world that He sent His Son into the world to save the world. To disagree at this point is to call God a liar.(That is what John plainly wrote.) We have ample evidence through all of the books of the New Testament that Jesus came to save sinners, and that after He died on the cross,and rose from the grave He ascended to the Father and intercedes for us even today. The message of Jesus is an affront to the world system, which is under the control of Satan. If there is any name that Satan hates, it is the name of Jesus. We are told that Jesus “was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin.” The message of the Bible is that Jesus defeated Satan for us and that when we put our faith and trust in Him, we are saved and have overcome the world through that faith. To those of us who believe, the name of Jesus is the most precious name in the world. We believe that Philippians 2:8-11 is eternally true: “And being found in fashion as a man, (Jesus) humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9. Wherefore God also has highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name. 10. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. 11. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” The world can deny that this is true, but that does not make it untrue. It is my prayer that you will not deny the name of Jesus, because to do so is to is to refuse God's word about His Son. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to stand in judgment having accused God of lying. Bro. Joe
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“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day.”
My Granddaddy Cooper had a saying when someone disagreed with something that he said: “By jingoes, I know what I know.” This is kind of like what Paul was relating to Timothy and through the scriptures to us. Paul had suffered a great deal, and at the time of this writing was in prison and was about to be beheaded for his faith, and he wanted Timothy to know that he was not ashamed of what he had suffered, and was still suffering, for the sake of Jesus. This was to encourage Timothy in his own suffering and to encourage us in our suffering. Paul could suffer graciously because of what, or whom, he knew – Jesus Christ. There are people who say that one can’t really know whether or not they are Christians. I think Paul would really disagree with that. He wrote: “I know whom I have believed…” This was serious business because Paul was about to die for this belief in Christ. One does not quibble when one is about to die for belief in Christ, because it would be too easy to recant and disavow one’s belief in Him. Paul was willing to die because he knew what he knew. He knew that on the road to Damascus many years ago, he had encountered the living Christ, who turned his life around. Paul didn’t just know about Jesus; he personally knew Jesus. This is the problem that a lot of people have. They know about Jesus and think of Him in a positive light, but they do not know Him personally. They have not surrendered their lives to Him. There is a great deal of difference between knowing about Jesus and personally knowing Him. How could Paul write with such certainty about his security in Jesus Christ? I have already alluded to Paul’s experience with Jesus on the Damascus Road. He was going to Damascus to further persecute Christians. He was absolutely opposed to Jesus and to His church. He wanted to stamp it out, but when Paul got up from the ground on the Damascus Road and went into the city, he met Ananias who further taught him about Jesus. From that day on, Paul’s whole life changed. He gave up all of his education as a Jewish lawyer. He gave up all of his Jewish pedigree of which he had been so proud. He wrote about this pedigree and all of his accomplishments before becoming a Christian and concluded: “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.” He didn’t just believe about Jesus; he believed in Jesus. What do you “know that you know” about Jesus? Have you sought Jesus’ forgiveness and sincerely asked Him, by faith, to come into your life? You can know that you know Him in a personal relationship. Bro. Joe “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation/trouble: but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world.”
I want to share with you what I found in this text that I have read many times, and quoted on several occasions, but, until now, has escaped my notice. I found three promises that Jesus made to those who would serve Him. Jesus gave a promise of tribulation/trouble. Jesus did not want his disciples to think that by serving Him they would escape trouble. Actually, this is a promise for the ages: “In the world…. you shall have trouble." This is a result of what we call “the fall of man (and woman).” No one escapes troubles of some kind. This is especially true of followers of Jesus. Anyone who enters into the Christian life and has to serve in this fallen world should not expect that all problems have been solved. We encounter troubles in the church, which has to serve in the fallen world. In fact, we create our own problems. Jesus promised peace, but not without trouble. He gives us peace in the midst of trouble. Jesus gave a promise of cheer, or courage. When we encounter life’s inevitable troubles, we should not meet them with a spirit of fear, but in a spirit of cheer or courage. (The Greek word can be translated both ways.) When I have encountered troubles, I have found that my innate sense of humor has come to my rescue. (I think I laugh a lot of times when I should cry.) Let me share a secret that is difficult to do, but will help us to meet trouble with cheer or courage: Are you ready for it? Here it is: We should love the people who cause us trouble. Wow! What a Christian concept. Another thing that I have learned is to realize that troubles come and go. One of my favorite sayings is: “This too shall pass.” And it will. Our faith in Christ will help us to encounter troubles with cheer and courage. Jesus gave a promise of victory: “I have overcome the world.” In Jesus, we can be victorious when we put our faith in Him in any and all circumstances. 1 John 5:5 reminds us of this promise: “Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” Our victory is not in our own tact, but it is in the one who has overcome the world on our behalf. We sing a song called “Victory in Jesus.” Do we really believe it, or do we just sing it? (I imagine that you are humming that tune. I know that I am.) When you encounter trouble of any kind, look to Jesus in faith and courage and claim victory in Him. Bro. Joe “If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10.Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me."
Psalm 139 is filled with praise for God. The psalm begins: “O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 3. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.” There is no good or bad thing that we have done that God does not know. God is omniscient – all-knowing. We can take that as a warning, but more than that we can take it as a blessing. Thank God that He is omniscient and sovereign. The two verses under consideration here are a case in point. David rejoices in the fact that God is always present with him: “If I take the wing of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me….” If David goes to the most remote parts of the earth, God is there. We should take comfort in God’s presence in our lives, and we should be grateful to Him for it. Realizing the presence of God in my life is both a joy and a challenge. It is a joy because I know that He is always with me and a challenge because I know that God knows everything that I do. He gives two promises based on the presence of God: “Even there thy hand shall lead me, and thy right hand shall hold thee.” We can depend on the hand of God to lead us. In fact, when we forget about this leadership, we go astray. I think that Abraham could go to Egypt during a famine out of the will of God because he neglected the leading hand of God. I think that Moses disobeyed God when he struck the rock that produced water instead of speaking to it as God told him to do because he neglected the leading hand of God. I think that Peter denied the Lord Jesus Christ because He neglected the leading hand of God. It is important that we remember God’s leadership when we make decisions in life. Please don’t imagine that I am telling you that I have always followed God’s leadership in my life. I know how wrong we can go when we neglect His leadership. Thank God for His discipline that reminds us of His leadership. We can depend on God’s right hand to hold us. This is illustrated for us in the New Testament when Peter asked Jesus to let him walk on the water to Him. Jesus told Peter to come on to Him. Peter began to walk on water, but when he noticed the wind and waves, and thought about what he was doing, Peter’s faith faltered and he began to sink. The beautiful picture here is that when Peter called out, “Lord save me,” Jesus reached out His hand and held Peter up. What a picture that is of us as we go through all of the problems and foibles of life, when we look at the wind and waves instead of to Jesus. Isn’t it amazing that He keeps holding us through it all? God will lead and hold you. Let Him do it!. Bro. Joe
“…And His name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” The name of Jesus has always been associated with peace. He came to give peace to those who would give Him their lives by putting their faith in Him. Those of us who have trusted Jesus as Savior know Him as The Prince of Peace. The peace of Jesus is “peace in spite of…” What this means is that we have the peace of Jesus in our lives in spite of all that is going on around us. In John 16:33, Jesus said: “These things have I spoken unto you, that in me you shall have peace. In the world you will have tribulation (trouble) but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Jesus did not promise a trouble-free life, but He did offer His peace. We have His peace no matter what is happening in the world. Whatever troubles you are encountering at this moment, Jesus has promised that you can have peace in spite of it. I have had to claim this promise many times in my life, and it always brings a sense of peace to my mind and heart. This brings me to: The peace of Jesus is peace in our hearts and minds. Paul illustrated this for us in Philippians 4:6-7: “Be careful (anxious) about nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. 7. And the peace of God shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” I pray that you have claimed this peace of heart and mind for your life. The peace that we have in Jesus should help us live in peace with each other. We need to invite The Prince of Peace into the fellowship of our churches. Before we break fellowship with each other over the little nit picking things that we fuss about, we need to claim the peace that we have in our hearts and minds for our church fellowship. When we do this, the world can see The Prince of Peace at work in our lives and see the need to claim Jesus as their Savior. Just saying….. Bro. Joe “His name will be called wonderful, counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
I want to emphasize the fact that Jesus was referred to as “The Everlasting Father.” This has also been interpreted as “Eternal Father.” What does this tell us about our Savior? It tells that Jesus has always been…period. As the psalmists wrote about Jehovah that He is from “everlasting to everlasting,” the same is said of Jesus. Here is what John wrote about Him in John 1:1-3: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2. The same was in the beginning with God. 3. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made.” John wanted us to know that the One who gave His life for our salvation, was the eternal Son of God. In John 8:58 Jesus said: “Before Abraham was I am.” This was another way of proclaiming that He has existed from “everlasting to everlasting.” It tells us that Jesus will always be…period. When they crucified Jesus, they thought that the world was through with Him. But Jesus arose three days after He was buried, proving that He was still alive and that the world would never be through with Him. Jesus is alive today and working in the world to bring people to Himself. We can sing with joy and inspiration: “He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today….You ask me how I know He lives…He lives within my heart.” Put leads me to: It tells us that Jesus wants to be alive in our lives. He wants to save people and take them into eternity with Him. Jesus made a great promise to those who trust in Him in John 14:2-3: “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” The wonderful thing is that Jesus loved us enough to come from eternity into the world to save us from our sins. For that reason, we need to give praise to “The Everlasting Father.” Pause and praise Him now! Bro. Joe ,“…His name shall be called wonderful, counselor, The Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of peace.”
Jesus is described as “The Mighty God.” I want to share some incidents from the New Testament that show that Jesus is indeed The Mighty God. In John 2, Jesus attended a wedding in Cana of Galilee. During the course of the wedding they ran out of wine. His mother, Mary, suggested that He supply the wine. They filled six water jars with water. (The jars held twenty to thirty gallons.) Jesus made an impossible transition by turning the water into wine. I don’t know a lot about wine, but I know that water cannot be turned into wine. This is something that only God can do. In Mark 4, Jesus was with His disciples on the Sea of Galilee when a ferocious storm came up and the small fisherman’s boat was about to sink. Jesus was asleep on the stern of the boat. The disciples woke Him up and said, “Don’t you care that we are about to perish.” Verse 39 tells us what Jesus did: “And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, peace be still.” Immediately the wind ceased and sea was calm. Afterward His disciples said, “What manner of man is this, that event the wind and the sea obey Him.” This was something that only The Mighty God, promised in Isaiah 9:6, could do. In Matthew 14, Jesus’ disciples were again encountering rough water on the Sea of Galilee. At about three o’clock in the morning Jesus came to them walking on the water. They were afraid so Jesus said to them: “Be of good cheer, it is I do not be afraid.” Simon Peter, ever to one to speak up, asked that Jesus let him walk on the water to Him. Jesus beckoned Peter to walk on the water toward Him. As he did, he noticed the winds and waves and began to sink. He asked Jesus to save Him. Jesus took Peter’s hand and lifted him out of the swirling sea. The point here is that only The Mighty God could walk on water and enable Peter to do the same. In Matthew 14, immediately before the incident mentioned above, Jesus did something that was humanly impossible. There were five-thousand, or more, people who had followed Jesus into the country to be taught by Him. There was no food feed this crowd, so Jesus took what food they had, five small barley loaves and two small fish, and fed the whole crowd. Only Thr Mighty God could multiply this small fare to feed so many people. I trust that these incidents have illustrated what Isaiah prophesied about the coming Messiah as The Mighty God. Bro. Joe “….His name shall be called wonderful, counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
I mentioned in yesterday’s article that in some translations “wonderful” and “counselor” are translated as “wonderful counselor.” I chose to separate the two, but of course Jesus is a “wonderful counselor.” The Hebrew word that is translated “counselor” can also be translated “advisor.” However we might translate the word, it means that Jesus knows more than we do and can counsel, or advise us, about our lives. I want to show three ways that Christ’s counsel is not only good for us, but is necessary for us to live as we should. His counsel is always wise. I pointed out yesterday about Jesus’ perfection. His counsel is also perfect. It is so important that we follow His counsel that Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit to lead and guide our decisions. . We might say that Jesus has us covered with wise counsel if we will just pay attention to His leadership. All of us could give examples how we messed up when we failed to follow His counsel. Which leads me to: His counsel will make us better people. For example, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told us that we should love our enemies. I think that we can agree that to do this would make us better people. He told us that the world will know we belong to Him if we love one another. (John 13:35) Loving one another will make us better human beings. We should strive to be better human beings, not to make us self-righteous, but to make us better witnesses. The world needs for us to follow the counsel of Jesus…period. His counsel will lead us to righteousness. In Psalm 23:3b, David wrote: “He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” This is the path that Jesus wants us to take. The path of righteousness is not always easy, and sometimes we just plain fail, but it is a path that we need to follow.. Jesus is, or can be, your counselor. Surrender your life to His leadership. Bro. Joe “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called wonderful, counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6 is perhaps the most often quoted prophecy about the Messiah. I will share with you the description that the prophecy gives us of Jesus. The first description that we will consider is "Wonderful." (I am aware that other translations of this text translate this as "wonderful counselor." He is that, but the description of wonderful also stands alone in describing Jesus.) Jesus is wonderful in His person. In Luke 2:52 Luke described Jesus as He grew from childhood to adulthood: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” Jesus acquitted Himself well in his dealings with people. We do not know much about His childhood, but we can assume from Luke’s description that He was a winsome person. As to His wisdom, in Luke 2:41ff, we are told that He impressed learned Jewish scholars in the temple in Jerusalem. In verse 47, we are told that “they were amazed at His understanding and answers.” Jesus is wonderful in His perfection. We read about Him in Hebrews 4:15 that: “For we have not an high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (I added the italics.) Jesus did what no other human being has ever done; He lived without sinning. The Bible tells us that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) The amazing thing was that our wonderful Savior “was tempted in all points like as we are…” There is no temptation that we have not faced that Jesus did not face - “yet without sin…” Jesus is wonderful in His purpose. He came in the flesh and lived through the temptations and trials of life not just to prove that He could do it. He did it in order to save us. Here is what Paul wrote about Him in 2 Corinthians 5:21: “For (God) has made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” It is still His purpose to save all who come to Him in faith. All who have trusted Jesus as thier Savior over the last two thousand years have experienced Him as "Wonderful." It is my prayer that you know Him as your Wonderful Savior. Bro. Joe “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given…”
Here we are in the midst of another Christmas season. I remember that when I was a youngster it seemed like it took forever for Christmas to get here, but now it comes so quickly that I hardly have time to celebrate it before it is gone. But that is enough of my complaining. The purpose of this article is to share with you the meaning of Christmas. First, it means that the time was right on God’s timetable for the Messiah to come into the world. Galatians 4:4-5 reveals to us that “When the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Those two verses are loaded with meaning and to fully explain them would take more space than I can take just now. Suffice it to say that Jesus was born into this world at just the right time. Why? Because God said that the time was right. At that time all of the Old Testament prophecies about Christ and types of Christ were fulfilled. Our text from Isaiah 9 is a good example of what I mean. Second it means what I have alluded to above, that Christmas means that because Jesus came into the world, we can be saved from our sins. Romans 3:23 declares, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Sin is pervasive in this world, and we are defenseless against it except for Jesus. Romans 3:24 completes the thought that was begun in Romans 3:23: “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” “Redemption” is a word from ancient law courts that means that a slave had been bought out of slavery. Because of Jesus we no longer have to be slaves of sin. We can be forgiven because Jesus came into this world, lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, was resurrected and lives forever to intercede for us and to save us. Because of this we can come to Jesus for forgiveness of our sins and we will receive us. Third, Christmas means that we can live better lives. We do not have to wallow in sin. Look around you at the devastation that sin has caused in this world and be grateful that God provided the means for us to not be ruled by it. We will always have to deal with sin as long as we are on this earth, but we do not have to be ruled by it. Sin promises all kinds of pleasure, but it only ends up bringing destruction into people’s lives. Thank God that in His infinite wisdom, He has provided a way for us to escape the prison that sin creates. Christmas means more than this, but what I have written should be sufficient to help you have a merry Christmas. Bro. Joe |
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