Showing posts with label bible. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bible. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Bible Study with The Joy of Jesus

Our Eternal Salvation
Are you really sure of your eternal salvation? This is a very important question, and one that will have lasting eternal consequences. If you were to die today, do you know for certain that you would go to heaven? This is a question about which we cannot afford to be wrong, because eternity is very permanent. One day each of us will know the true answer to this question, "For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ", Romans 14:10. Every one of us have two appointments that have already been made for us and that we will definitely keep, whether we want to or not. They are, "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment", Hebrews 9:27. These two appointments, death and the judgment, cannot be cancelled.

The tragedy of what happened in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. on September 11, 2001 shows the uncertainty and brevity of life. God tells us in James 4:14, "Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even as a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away."

We must not make an error concerning our salvation in following what "seems right" to us, or that we "feel in our heart that we are saved". The Bible says in Proverbs 14:12, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death". Our feelings are not a safe guide, but only the Bible is.

What prior assumptions have we already made about our salvation? Many of these assumptions, that people make, contradict what God says in his word to us. All we have to do is to look around at all of the many differing doctrines that are being taught, and then compare them to what God says in the Bible, and we can see a great difference. Our Lord says in Mark 7:7, "And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men". Our worship is vain if it comes from the doctrines of men and not from God. Can we say that all these many differing doctrines have come from God? I think not. I Corinthians 14:33 says that, "God is not the author of confusion." Or are they from men? Where else could they have come from, if they did not come from God? This becomes a very serious question. Our worship becomes vain and useless, if our doctrines come from men when they meet in their conventions and conferences to decide what they are to believe and do.

As the apostle Peter told the Jewish council in Acts 5:29, "We ought to obey God rather than men". Do not believe anything that I tell you, because we are not going to be judged by what I say. Do not believe anything any other person tells you, because we are not going to be judged by what some other person says. In fact, we are not going to be judged by what we personally believe. On the Day of Judgment we are going to be judged only by what the Lord says in the Bible. That is going to be the only standard for judgment, for our Lord says in John 12:48, "The word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day". So, if I or any other person cannot point to it in the Word of God, then please do not believe it, because there is too much at stake – your soul!

Our soul is worth more than the whole world and everything in it. Jesus says in Matthew 16:26, "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" Our soul is the part of us that is going to continue to live on forever throughout all eternity. We cannot afford to lose our soul and be eternally punished.


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Questions Lesson 1

Our Eternal Salvation
(click on the button of the answer of your choice)

1) (Romans 14:10) Who will appear before the judgment seat of Christ?

Only the lost.

Only the saved.

All people.


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2) If we are wrong about our salvation we will be lost.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3) (Proverbs 14:12) The way that seems right unto man leads to

Eternal life.
Spiritual death.

Success.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4) Our feelings are a safe guide when it comes to our eternal salvation.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5) (Mark 7:7) If we follow the doctrines of men

It is vain.
It doesn’t matter.

God is still well pleased.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6) It is pleasing to God if we follow the doctrines of men in our worship.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7) (John 12:48) What will be the standard of judgment on judgment day?

What we think.
The words of Christ.

What my preacher says.


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8) Just because we feel in our heart we are saved does not mean we are saved.


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9) (Hebrews 9:27) What two appointments have already been made for us?

Doctor.
Dental.

Death and Judgment


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10) We can cancel our appointments with death and judgment.

Friday, April 23, 2010

The Joy of Jesus is all about Hope, Faith & Love


Corinthians 13 >>
New Living Translation

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Love Is the Greatest

1If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it;a but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

4Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

8Prophecy and speaking in unknown languagesb and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! 9Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! 10But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless.

11When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 12Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.c All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

13Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.


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Footnotes:
a 13:3 Some manuscripts read sacrificed my body to be

Thursday, April 22, 2010

The Joy of Jesus is to Wait on The Lord


Wait on the LORD

Wait on the Lord. This idea consists of three things:
1. We are to WAIT
2. He is LORD
3. He forms, builds, causes, works, does, teaches, leads.

Psalms 25:3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.

(Those who do not wait are transgressing without cause. We run out of patience, and therefore lose trust in Him. Anything that is not of faith is sin.)


Psalms 25:5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

(Our waiting starts when we arise and ends when we go to sleep. We are waiting to be lead and taught. Instruction means correction. When we encounter attributes in others that we do not like, it is to show us what we are like. Not waiting results in not seeing.)


Psalms 25:21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.

(Integrity is a "united heart," a heart with one Lord.)


Psalms 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

(Wherever we are in the process of our salvation, waiting is our task. He will not fail to teach us.)


Psalms 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

If ones we know seem to prosper in their own way, do not be concerned. The end of each matter takes time. The fool is "prosperous." Prosperity does not refer merely to money, but to "happiness," an elusive thing which is lost when sought. We do not "try Jesus" to be happy. Jesus is our Lord, not our hobby. He changes us radically. Radical change does not make one "happy." Radical change causes you to reject YOUR OWN WAY.

We must cease performing and start RESTING. Resting and waiting go together. If we are not resting, we can not wait. The Lord provided a remedy for the sins of man BEFORE he created man. This should make us to rest in Him. He provides before the need exists.


Psalms 37:9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

Psalms 37:34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

Psalms 52:9 I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.

Psalms 62:5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

Psalms 69:3 I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.

Psalms 104:27 These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.

Psalms 106:13 They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:

Psalms 130:5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

Psalms 130:6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

Proverbs 20:22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

Isaiah 8:17 And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.

Isaiah 25:9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

Isaiah 26:8 Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.

Isaiah 30:18 And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

Isaiah 33:2 O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isaiah 59:9 Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.

Isaiah 64:4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.

Jeremiah 14:22 Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things.

Lamentations 3:25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

Lamentations 3:26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Hosea 12:6 Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.

Micah 7:7 Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.

Zephaniah 3:8 Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.

Zechariah 11:11 And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD.

Romans 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Romans 12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

2 Thessalonians 3:5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.

Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Those that are busy never truly KNOW God.



By the way, the LORD picked this very chapter to say BE STILL and KNOW that HE is GOD.

In the King James Bible, the 46th word from the top of chapter 46 is shake and the 46th word from the bottom of the 46th chapter is spear . Now in 1611, Shakespeare was 46 years old.

He truly IS God and therefore we ought to wait on Him.


How is a Man Saved?




Jesus-is-the-Way John 14:6

"I am the way, the truth, and the life" - Jesus Christ

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Bible Study from The Joy of Jesus

Our Eternal Salvation
Are you really sure of your eternal salvation? This is a very important question, and one that will have lasting eternal consequences. If you were to die today, do you know for certain that you would go to heaven? This is a question about which we cannot afford to be wrong, because eternity is very permanent. One day each of us will know the true answer to this question, "For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ", Romans 14:10. Every one of us have two appointments that have already been made for us and that we will definitely keep, whether we want to or not. They are, "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment", Hebrews 9:27. These two appointments, death and the judgment, cannot be cancelled.

The tragedy of what happened in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. on September 11, 2001 shows the uncertainty and brevity of life. God tells us in James 4:14, "Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even as a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away."

We must not make an error concerning our salvation in following what "seems right" to us, or that we "feel in our heart that we are saved". The Bible says in Proverbs 14:12, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death". Our feelings are not a safe guide, but only the Bible is.

What prior assumptions have we already made about our salvation? Many of these assumptions, that people make, contradict what God says in his word to us. All we have to do is to look around at all of the many differing doctrines that are being taught, and then compare them to what God says in the Bible, and we can see a great difference. Our Lord says in Mark 7:7, "And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men". Our worship is vain if it comes from the doctrines of men and not from God. Can we say that all these many differing doctrines have come from God? I think not. I Corinthians 14:33 says that, "God is not the author of confusion." Or are they from men? Where else could they have come from, if they did not come from God? This becomes a very serious question. Our worship becomes vain and useless, if our doctrines come from men when they meet in their conventions and conferences to decide what they are to believe and do.

As the apostle Peter told the Jewish council in Acts 5:29, "We ought to obey God rather than men". Do not believe anything that I tell you, because we are not going to be judged by what I say. Do not believe anything any other person tells you, because we are not going to be judged by what some other person says. In fact, we are not going to be judged by what we personally believe. On the Day of Judgment we are going to be judged only by what the Lord says in the Bible. That is going to be the only standard for judgment, for our Lord says in John 12:48, "The word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day". So, if I or any other person cannot point to it in the Word of God, then please do not believe it, because there is too much at stake – your soul!

Our soul is worth more than the whole world and everything in it. Jesus says in Matthew 16:26, "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" Our soul is the part of us that is going to continue to live on forever throughout all eternity. We cannot afford to lose our soul and be eternally punished.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Questions Lesson 1

Our Eternal Salvation
(click on the button of the answer of your choice)

1) (Romans 14:10) Who will appear before the judgment seat of Christ?

Only the lost.

Only the saved.

All people.


2) If we are wrong about our salvation we will be los

3) (Proverbs 14:12) The way that seems right unto man leads to

Eternal life.
Spiritual death.

Success

4) Our feelings are a safe guide when it comes to our eternal salvation.


5) (Mark 7:7) If we follow the doctrines of men

It is vain.
It doesn’t matter.

God is still well pleased.


6) It is pleasing to God if we follow the doctrines of men in our wors

7) (John 12:48) What will be the standard of judgment on judgment day?

What we think.
The words of Christ.

What my preacher say

8) Just because we feel in our heart we are saved does not mean we are s

9) (Hebrews 9:27) What two appointments have already been made for us?

Doctor.
Dental.

Death and Judgment



10) We can cancel our appointments with death and judgment.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Biible Study The Joy of Confessing Jesus online

Confessing Christ

Jesus wants us to confess Him before men. In Matthew 10:32-33 He says, "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in Heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before my Father who is in Heaven." If we deny Christ we are going to be lost. We must not be ashamed to confess to other people that we believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Jesus says in Mark 8:38, "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when he comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." If He is ashamed of us, this means we are going to be lost.

There are several examples of people confessing their faith in Christ in the Bible. One is found in Matthew 16:16-17, "Simon Peter answered and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God Jesus answered and said to him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in Heaven.'" Christ was well pleased with Peter's confession and He will be with ours also.

In Acts 8:36-37 a man asked the question, "'See here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?' Then Philip said, 'If you believe with all your heart you may'. And he answered and said, 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.'" Here we see we must believe with all our heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and not be ashamed to make that confession to others before we are baptized. Would you be willing to confess to others that you believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God?


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Questions Lesson 12

Confessing Christ
(click on the button of the answer of your choice)
1) (Matthew 10:32) If we want Christ to confess us before God the Father
We must confess Him before men.

We should deny Him before men.

It is not necessary to confess Him before men.


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2) If we deny Christ before men He will confess us before the Father.


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3) (Mark 8:38) If we are ashamed of Christ

He will not be ashamed of us on Judgment Day.

We will not be lost.

He will be ashamed of us on Judgment Day.


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4) If Christ is ashamed of us, that means we are going to be lost.


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5) (Matthew 16:16-17) When Peter said "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God"
Christ was embarrassed.

Christ was well pleased.

Christ didn't care.


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6) We must be willing to confess that we believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God.


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7) (Acts 8:36-37) Before we are baptized we

Do not need to confess that we believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Are to confess that we believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Are to confess our sins to a priest.


8) When we are baptized we must believe in God and Jesus with all of our heart.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

The Joy of Jesus Church. Holy Week/The Arrest

John 18
Jesus Arrested
1When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it.
2Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

4Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, "Who is it you want?"

5"Jesus of Nazareth," they replied.

"I am he," Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6When Jesus said, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground.

7Again he asked them, "Who is it you want?"
And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."

8"I told you that I am he," Jesus answered. "If you are looking for me, then let these men go." 9This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: "I have not lost one of those you gave me."[a]

10Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.)

11Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"

Jesus Taken to Annas
12Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him 13and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be good if one man died for the people.
Peter's First Denial
15Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard, 16but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in.
17"You are not one of his disciples, are you?" the girl at the door asked Peter.
He replied, "I am not."

18It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.

The High Priest Questions Jesus
19Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.
20"I have spoken openly to the world," Jesus replied. "I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. 21Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said."

22When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck him in the face. "Is this the way you answer the high priest?" he demanded.

23"If I said something wrong," Jesus replied, "testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?" 24Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.[b]

Peter's Second and Third Denials
25As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, "You are not one of his disciples, are you?"
He denied it, saying, "I am not."
26One of the high priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, "Didn't I see you with him in the olive grove?" 27Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.

Jesus Before Pilate
28Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. 29So Pilate came out to them and asked, "What charges are you bringing against this man?"
30"If he were not a criminal," they replied, "we would not have handed him over to you."

31Pilate said, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law."

"But we have no right to execute anyone," the Jews objected. 32This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled.

33Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"

34"Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?"

35"Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?"

36Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."

37"You are a king, then!" said Pilate.
Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

38"What is truth?" Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him. 39But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release 'the king of the Jews'?"

40They shouted back, "No, not him! Give us Barabbas!" Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion.


Footnotes:
a.John 18:9 John 6:39
b.John 18:24 Or (Now Annas had sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.)

Saturday, March 27, 2010

The Joy of Jesus is The Lord's Prayer


The Lord's Prayer Words

(traditional)



Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever.

Amen
Commentary: We pray that you will be blessed by this prayer and ministry. Please share The Joy of Jesus with anyone that may need hope and opportunity. We love to share love. This is indeed a blessing for all in Christ Jesus.

The Joy of Jesus Scripture for Living Today


Acts 4
Peter and John Before the Council
1And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

5On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11This Jesusa is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.b 12And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

13Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, 16saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” 21And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. 22For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

The Believers Pray for Boldness
23When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25who through the mouth of our father David, your servant,c said by the Holy Spirit,

“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers were gathered together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed’d—

27for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servantse to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

They Had Everything in Common
32Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.


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Footnotes:
a 11 Greek This one
b 11 Greek the head of the corner

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Prayer for Peace The Rev. Dr. James A. Lee


We pray for peace Dear God. People are suffering and need hope and love all in Christ Jesus. We ask in the name of Jesus that violence is ended. we pray for peace, hope and love. We ask for forgiveness of all sin, we forgive all enemies in the blood of Jesus.

Lord we thank you for this opportunity to pray unto you. Lord help us all.

We Praise your Holy name.

God save us all in Jesus name we pray.....

The Joy of Jesus Church position on Violence

The recent reports of violence and threats of violence needs to be addressed publicly. The Joy of Jesus Church calls on all responsible pillars of society to speak out against violence. This does not resolve any problem we may face as a society. The Joy of Jesus Church is rooted on peace,hope and love for all people http://thejoyofjesuschurchonline.blogspot.com/

We are now on a peace and prosperity campaign to help people in need to become empowered to help others, and that violence is not the answer to problems. Children are the most adversely impacted by such hate and ignorance. Education and values which promote civility are in order.

The Rev. Dr. James A. Lee, Pastor of the Joy of Jesus Church http://thejoyofjesuschurchonline.blogspot.com/ will develop a Center for Peace to help resolve some of the frustration people may experience with t5he political and economic issues that may result in violence. Please donate to The Joy of Jesus to Uplift Humanity http://thejoyofjesuschurchonline.blogspot.com/

Pray for Peace!

The Power of God by The Rev. Dr. James A. Lee

Do you often feel weak and powerless against the forces of life sometimes? There are so many events and changes occurring that one can easily get lost in the utter confusion of it all. What can the average person do?

The Joy of Jesus is idea that no matter how weak one may be; there is a great power. Faith is vital to ones belief system. Faith is the shield of God in a Godless world. We must place all of our trust in The Power of God to The Joy of Jesus.

The real question today is how does one access The Power of God? The answer my friend is written. The meek shall inherit the earth. In other words one must submit to the absolute authority of God through Christ Jesus.

In closing, Jesus gave His life on the cross for all of the sins of world, and The Power of God raised Jesus with all power and glory. Jesus will return to wipe away all tears and evil will never be remembered. Weeping may endure for a night, but The Joy of Jesus will come in the morning.

The Joy of Jesus International Sunday School Lesson

Acceptance in the Community (Ruth 2:5-12; 3:9-11)



The coach of the local football team began his season opening address by saying he wanted his team to be relevant when the league’s playoff picture began taking shape in the last few weeks of the season. I don’t ever remember hearing a coach use the term relevant to measure the success or failure of his team.

Relevant. Important. Impactful. Vital. Significant. A team could play well for a few games and still have no bearing on the championship. A team could be surrounded with enough drama to grab the headlines of the evening news and the daily paper and still have a stranglehold on last place. Its roster could be loaded with players capable of padding their individual stats, making all-star teams, and shattering performance records, and still be irrelevant in the hunt for the prize.

Relevant for Her Works
Ruth was relevant. By her good works, she caused people to notice her and she made a positive impact on those around her. Having turned down her mother-in-law’s “greener pastures” offer, this Moabite woman stood by Naomi. She unassumingly toiled behind the regular harvesters, content with the leftover grain rather than demanding the best the fields had to offer. She also expressed kindness and loyalty to Boaz. He noticed, and word spread to all of the people of the area who had taken notice of Ruth’s character (Ruth 3:11).

Motivated by His Love
There are plenty of people in our communities who pull on the jersey of faith and attempt to be players for Christ. Some on our team want to exercise their world-class criticism talent to point out the faults and sins of others. Many of us are more tactical. We boycott and denounce ideas and initiatives with which we disagree. A few of us even look to pad our stats of the faith by serving on every civic committee and community watch group we can find.

But if these things are not done in the name of the love that Christ demonstrated for each one of us, we risk becoming nothing more than the clanking, out-of-tune instruments Paul writes about (1 Corinthians 13:1).

We may show up for practice every Sunday. We may grab the attention of the local media with our marches and sit-ins. We may outwardly wear the uniform with pride. But without the sincerity, humility, and devotion that Ruth showed, we are unaccepted by our community. Then the message of Christ we try so desperately to deliver falls on deaf ears, and we are irrelevant to the cause for Christ.

I recently watched the local team play a game that had championship relevance. Late in the game, one of our players tackled an opposing player for a short loss. The tackler sprang from the turf, pointed at the downed player, and celebrated as if his team had just conquered the world.

In reality, his team faced a 30-point deficit and had not scored a single point. One great tackle, as flashy as it was, had no impact. No one cared. It was irrelevant to the outcome of the game.

Example to Our Neighbors
So, as we go through the seasons of our lives, let us do so with humility and motives like Ruth’s. If we’re in the game for fame and glory, self-promotion, or for reasons other than wanting to bring people closer to a relationship with Christ, then we run the risk of our actions having no relevance in the very community we are trying to serve. The people of Bethlehem noticed how Ruth went about her work as much as they did the deeds themselves. Likewise, we need our neighbors and coworkers to know we feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, and love the unlovable because Christ first loved us.

My playbook tells me that gentleness and meekness will inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5). My Coach also tells me that, after this season of life is over, his postseason definitely is worth the training!

________

*All Scripture references are from the New International Version, unless otherwise indicated.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

The Joy of Jesus by Rev. Dr. James A. Lee

What would life be without joy? When a child is born in the world it gives the parents and related families tremendous joy. We can find joy in all types of activities if one so desires. The real question is what gives Jesus Joy?

Many years ago a child was born under the most adverse circumstances. Born in a manger with all of the burdens of the world on his life. The governments rested on him.

Jesus was born to save the world from sin.The Joy of The Lord is doing the perfect will of God. Do you know of anyone who who die for your sins and was so perfect in doing the absolute will of his father?

The Joy of The Lord is our Salvation. This is the good news. Jesus died in the cross so that we who believe in Him shall have everlasting life. God raised Him with all power and glory. Jesus will return to set all things right. The Joy of The Lord is my salvation

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

The Joy of Jesus Church Scripture for Life


Psalm 103 >>
King James Bible

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1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

19 The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

20 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

21 Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

22 Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.

Prayer: Bless the reading of God's Holy Word. We pray for a speacial blessing for you in your life today and forever. In Jesus name A-men.
The Rev. Dr. James A. Lee

Friday, March 19, 2010

The Joy of Jesus is to Walk in Love

The Joy of Jesus is all about love. God is love. Please pray for us in Christ Jesus that you will join us in this movement that is trans-formative in multiple ways. Our hope is in the Lord. Visit our centers of ministries. We have many programs to promote the greater good for all people of all faiths.Do give to The Joy of Jesus by visiting our sponsors, getting a toolbar or you may wish to donate. God Bless you in all that you do. Meditate on our Scripture for a true blessing today. To Walk in love.


Ephesians 5
Walk in Love
5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives and Husbands
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. [1] 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Footnotes
[1] 5:27 Or holy and blameless

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Scripture for Life

Please pray with us and for us as we stand strong in the Word of God;


New International Version (©1984)
Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid?
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread?

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
[By David.] The LORD is my light and my salvation. Who is there to fear? The LORD is my life's fortress. Who is there to be afraid of?

King James Bible
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

American King James Version
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

American Standard Version
Jehovah is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? Jehovah is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

Bible in Basic English
The Lord is my light and my salvation; who is then a cause of fear to me? the Lord is the strength of my life; who is a danger to me?

Douay-Rheims Bible
The psalm of David before he was anointed. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the protector of my life: of whom shall I be afraid?

Darby Bible Translation
{A Psalm of David.} Jehovah is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? Jehovah is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

English Revised Version
A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Webster's Bible Translation
A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

World English Bible
Yahweh is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Yahweh is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?

Young's Literal Translation
By David. Jehovah is my light and my salvation, Whom do I fear? Jehovah is the strength of my life, Of whom am I afraid?


Geneva Study Bible
<> The LORD is my {a} light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

(a) Because he was assured of good success in all his dangers and that his salvation was surely laid up in God, he did not fear the tyranny of his enemies.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

PSALM 27

Ps 27:1-14. With a general strain of confidence, hope, and joy, especially in God's worship, in the midst of dangers, the Psalmist introduces prayer for divine help and guidance.

1. light-is a common figure for comfort.

strength-or, "stronghold"-affording security against all violence. The interrogations give greater vividness to the negation implied.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

27:1-6 The Lord, who is the believer's light, is the strength of his life; not only by whom, but in whom he lives and moves. In God let us strengthen ourselves. The gracious presence of God, his power, his promise, his readiness to hear prayer, the witness of his Spirit in the hearts of his people; these are the secret of his tabernacle, and in these the saints find cause for that holy security and peace of mind in which they dwell at ease. The psalmist prays for constant communion with God in holy ordinances. All God's children desire to dwell in their Father's house. Not to sojourn there as a wayfaring man, to tarry but for a night; or to dwell there for a time only, as the servant that abides not in the house for ever; but to dwell there all the days of their life, as children with a father. Do we hope that the praising of God will be the blessedness of our eternity? Surely then we ought to make it the business of our time. This he had at heart more than any thing. Whatever the Christian is as to this life, he considers the favour and service of God as the one thing needful. This he desires, prays for and seeks after, and in it he rejoices.



Exodus 15:2 "The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father's God, and I will extol Him.
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Psalm 18:28 For You light my lamp; The LORD my God illumines my darkness.
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Psalm 28:8 The LORD is their strength, And He is a saving defense to His anointed.
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Psalm 62:7 On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.
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Psalm 118:6 The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me?
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Psalm 118:14 The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.
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Isaiah 33:2 O LORD, be gracious to us; we have waited for You. Be their strength every morning, Our salvation also in the time of distress.
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Isaiah 60:20 "Your sun will no longer set, Nor will your


Let us Praise God all in Christ Jesus and The Holy Spirit of God A-men

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Bible Study: At The Feet of Jesus

At the Feet of Jesus

Luke 10:38-42 Luke 10:38-42 (New American Standard Bible)

Martha and Mary
38Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named (A)Martha welcomed Him into her home.
39She had a sister called (B)Mary, who was (C)seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word.

40But (D)Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me."

41But the Lord answered and said to her, "(E)Martha, Martha, you are (F)worried and bothered about so many things;

42(G)but only one thing is necessary, for (H)Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."


Cross references:
A.Luke 10:38 : Luke 10:40; John 11:1, 5, 19-ff, 30, 39;

 The heart of worship is to find ourselves at the feet of Jesus in submission.
 How often do we find ourselves there?
o Do I really possess a strong desire for God and His presence in my life?
o Do I go through life largely consumed with secular pursuits and worldly entertainment, while the things of God have little place in my life?

 Every time in the Word that we encounter Mary of Bethany (the sister of Lazarus) we find her at the feet of Jesus.

1. At His Feet to Listen to His Words.
a. While Martha was busy, Mary was at the feet of Jesus listening to Him.
b. She was open to what He had to say.
c. She was hungry to know Him and hear from Him.
d. Jesus declared that Mary had chosen the good part.
e. Sometimes we get so caught up like Martha in trying to do the work and service of Christianity that we forfeit what is really important.
f. We can get so busy in the doing that we forget the being.
g. The most important thing a Christian will ever do is worship Jesus, and the best place to do that is at His feet.

2. At His Feet to Bless and Anoint Him.
a. John 12:3 – Mary anoints the feet of Jesus and wipes them with her hair.
b. So often people are looking to receive an anointing or blessing from God rather than looking for opportunities to anoint and bless Him.
c. The highest degree or form of devotion is to give to someone without the motivation of getting anything in return.
d. Mary’s act was motivated purely by love.
e. A note in the Full Life Study Bible declares, “(Mary’s) faith in and devotion to the Lord is the highest example of what God desires in believers.”

3. At His Feet When He Didn’t Do Things they Way She Wanted or Expected.
a. John 11:32 – Lazarus was in a tomb. Surely Jesus could have prevented that.
b. Even though Jesus had not acted in the way Mary had desired, she still laid at His feet in devotion, submission and worship.
c. The true character of a person’s heart will be revealed when God acts differently from their desires or expectations.
d. Whenever God is doing things that are beneficial or going your way, it is real easy to worship Him and be at His feet.
e. True worship that is genuine and from the heart comes regardless of the circumstances in which we find ours at the feet of Jesus.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Scripture for Life

Psalm 41 (New International Version)

Psalm 41
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 Blessed is he who has regard for the weak;
the LORD delivers him in times of trouble.
2 The LORD will protect him and preserve his life;
he will bless him in the land
and not surrender him to the desire of his foes.

3 The LORD will sustain him on his sickbed
and restore him from his bed of illness.

4 I said, "O LORD, have mercy on me;
heal me, for I have sinned against you."

5 My enemies say of me in malice,
"When will he die and his name perish?"

6 Whenever one comes to see me,
he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander;
then he goes out and spreads it abroad.

7 All my enemies whisper together against me;
they imagine the worst for me, saying,

8 "A vile disease has beset him;
he will never get up from the place where he lies."

9 Even my close friend, whom I trusted,
he who shared my bread,
has lifted up his heel against me.

10 But you, O LORD, have mercy on me;
raise me up, that I may repay them.

11 I know that you are pleased with me,
for my enemy does not triumph over me.

12 In my integrity you uphold me
and set me in your presence forever.

13 Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and Amen.


New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Scripture for Life

The Scripture for Life series will help you in your walk of Faith. We encourage you to read, meditate and apply these golden words in your heart and soul. God Bless and share this with others in prayer.


Mark 10:23-27 (King James Version)

23And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

24And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!

25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

26And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?

27And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.


King James Version (KJV)

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Bible Study

Scripture:Mark 9:1-7 (New International Version)

Mark 9
1And he said to them, "I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."

The Transfiguration
2After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
5Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." 6(He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

7Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!"


New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

The lessens in this particular passage are important to understanding the actual personage of Jesus. We witness Jesus, Peter, James and John go to the mountain top. Then Jesus is transfigured in shinning white. Moses and Elias also appear. A voice state " This is my beloved Son:hear him."

The main points are as follows:

1. We must follow Jesus to meet with God in prayer.

2. The prophets of old recognized Jesus as the one whom was promised.

3. We must listen to the words that Jesus says because it is the word of God that gives eternal life.

We pray that Gods' words live richly in our hearts and souls. This is a blessing for us and all that hear the Lord. In the end of our lessen there is only Jesus. This is our only hope and sense of Joy. Let this be a blessing to you as we bless others all in Christ Jesus name we pray. A-men

Happy Mother's Day