The God of Hope Today

"The God of Hope"

This expression "the God of [that] hope" had special pertinency and peculiar suitability to the Gentiles—who are mentioned by name no less than four times in the verses immediately preceding. Its force is the more apparent if we consider it in the light of Ephesians 2:11-12, where Gentile believers are reminded that in time past they "were without Christ [devoid of any claim upon Him], being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world"—without any knowledge of Him, without a written revelation from Him. But the incarnation of Christ had radically altered this. The grand design of His mission was not restricted to Palestine but was worldwide, for He shed His atoning blood for sinners out of all peoples and tribes and, upon the triumphant conclusion of His mission, commissioned His servants to preach the gospel to all nations. Hence the apostle had reminded the Roman saints that God said, "Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people" (Rom. 15:10). He had now become to them "the God of hope."

A Hope that Will Bless You

1 Peter 1

1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

2Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.As we examine together the prayer contained in 1 Peter 1:3-5, let us consider eight things: (1) its connection—that we may perceive who all are included by the words "begotten us again"; (2) its nature—a doxology ("Blessed be"); (3) its Object—"the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ"; (4) its ascription—"His abundant mercy"; (5) its incitement—"hath begotten us again unto a lively hope"; (6) its acknowledgment—"by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead"; (7) its substance—"to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you"; and (8) its guaranty—"who are kept by the power of God through faith." There is much here of interest and deep importance. Therefore, it would be wrong for us to hurriedly dismiss such a passage with a few generalizations, especially since it contains such a wealth of spiritual, joyful reflection that cannot but edify the mind and stir up the will and affections of every saint who rightly meditates upon it. May we be duly affected by its contents and truly enter into its elevated spirit.
First, we consider its connection. Those on whose behalf the apostle offered this doxology are spoken of according to their literal and figurative circumstances in verse 1, and then described by their spiritual characters: "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ" (v. 2). That description pertains equally to all the regenerate in every age. When connected with election, the "foreknowledge of God" refers not to His eternal and universal prescience, for that embraces all beings and events, past, present and future; and, therefore, it has for its objects the non-elect as well as the elect. Consequently, there is no allusion whatever to God’s preview of our believing or any other virtue in the objects of His choice. Rather, the term foreknowledge has respect to the spring or source of election, namely, God’s unmerited good will and approbation. For this sense of the word know see the following: Psalm 1:6; Amos 3:2; 2 Timothy 2:19. For a like sense of the word foreknow see Romans 11:2. Therefore, the phrase "elect according to the foreknowledge of God" signifies that the favored persons thus described were fore-loved by Him, that they were the objects of His eternal favor, unalterably delighted in by Him as He foreviewed them in Christ— "wherein he hath made us accepted [or "objects of grace"] in the beloved" (Eph. 1:4-6, brackets mine).

A Gift for You

Amazing Grace Lyrics

John Newton (1725-1807)
Stanza 6 anon.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

Let Love Rule

Love

13Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth [1] not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; [2] 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; [3] whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. [4] 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought [5] as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; [6] but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

<< 1 Corinthians 12 | 1 Corinthians 13 | 1 Corinthians 14 >>
Footnotes
[1] 13:4 vaunteth...: or, is not rash

[2] 13:6 in the truth: or, with the truth

[3] 13:8 fail: Gr. vanish away

[4] 13:10 done away: Gr. vanish away

[5] 13:11 thought: or, reasoned

[6] 13:12 darkly: Gr. in a riddle




The necessity and advantage of the grace of love. (1-3) Its excellency represented by its properties and effects; (4-7) and by its abiding, and its superiority. (8-13)

Commentary on 1 Corinthians 13:1-3



(Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-3)
The excellent way had in view in the close of the former chapter, is not what is meant by charity in our common use of the word, almsgiving, but love in its fullest meaning; true love to God and man. Without this, the most glorious gifts are of no account to us, of no esteem in the sight of God. A clear head and a deep understanding, are of no value without a benevolent and charitable heart. There may be an open and lavish hand, where there is not a liberal and charitable heart. Doing good to others will do none to us, if it be not done from love to God, and good-will to men. If we give away all we have, while we withhold the heart from God, it will not profit. Nor even the most painful sufferings. How are those deluded who look for acceptance and reward for their good works, which are as scanty and defective as they are corrupt and selfish!

Commentary on 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

(Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
Some of the effects of charity are stated, that we may know whether we have this grace; and that if we have not, we may not rest till we have it. This love is a clear proof of regeneration, and is a touchstone of our professed faith in Christ. In this beautiful description of the nature and effects of love, it is meant to show the Corinthians that their conduct had, in many respects, been a contrast to it. Charity is an utter enemy to selfishness; it does not desire or seek its own praise, or honour, or profit, or pleasure. Not that charity destroys all regard to ourselves, or that the charitable man should neglect himself and all his interests. But charity never seeks its own to the hurt of others, or to neglect others. It ever prefers the welfare of others to its private advantage. How good-natured and amiable is Christian charity! How excellent would Christianity appear to the world, if those who profess it were more under this Divine principle, and paid due regard to the command on which its blessed Author laid the chief stress! Let us ask whether this Divine love dwells in our hearts. Has this principle guided us into becoming behaviour to all men? Are we willing to lay aside selfish objects and aims? Here is a call to watchfulness, diligence, and prayer.

Commentary on 1 Corinthians 13:8-13

(Read 1 Corinthians 13:8-13)
Charity is much to be preferred to the gifts on which the Corinthians prided themselves. From its longer continuance. It is a grace, lasting as eternity. The present state is a state of childhood, the future that of manhood. Such is the difference between earth and heaven. What narrow views, what confused notions of things, have children when compared with grown men! Thus shall we think of our most valued gifts of this world, when we come to heaven. All things are dark and confused now, compared with what they will be hereafter. They can only be seen as by the reflection in a mirror, or in the description of a riddle; but hereafter our knowledge will be free from all obscurity and error. It is the light of heaven only, that will remove all clouds and darkness that hide the face of God from us. To sum up the excellences of charity, it is preferred not only to gifts, but to other graces, to faith and hope. Faith fixes on the Divine revelation, and assents thereto, relying on the Divine Redeemer. Hope fastens on future happiness, and waits for that; but in heaven, faith will be swallowed up in actual sight, and hope in enjoyment. There is no room to believe and hope, when we see and enjoy. But there, love will be made perfect. There we shall perfectly love God. And there we shall perfectly love one another. Blessed state! how much surpassing the best below! God is love, 1 John 4:8,16. Where God is to be seen as he is, and face to face, there charity is in its greatest height; there only will it be perfected.

Pray for Healing Today

Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret: Matthew 14:34-36

34 And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; 36 And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.

Commentary
Whithersoever Christ went, he was doing good. They brought unto him all that were diseased. They came humbly beseeching him to help them. The experiences of others may direct and encourage us in seeking for Christ. As many as touched, were made perfectly whole. Those whom Christ heals, he heals perfectly. Were men more acquainted with Christ, and with the diseased state of their souls, they would flock to receive his healing influences. The healing virtue was not in the finger, but in their faith; or rather, it was in Christ, whom their faith took hold upon.

We Pray for Healing Today in Jesus Name...

Words to Seek Hope

The verse that we're going to look at is 2 Corinthians 5:21, 2 Corinthians 5:21. It says this, "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

The Bible makes it clear, first of all, that all people are sinners by nature and by action. In fact, all people are sinners from birth. And thus all people are born alienated from God who is holy, cannot look upon sin, cannot fellowship with sinners. That alienation because of sin prevents us from knowing God. He is too perfectly holy to have anything to do with sinners, except to reject them.

Now the result of that rejection, the result of that alienation in time is Godlessness. The result of it in eternity is hell. So this alienation in to which every human being is born is indeed a serious issue. It means that everybody lives their life without God and if they die in that condition, will spend their eternity without God in torment.

Now that kind of reality proves that the most deadly virus in the world is not the HIV virus, it is the SIN virus. Like the HIV virus, it kills everyone it infects, only unlike the HIV virus it infects everyone. It kills not just in time but in eternity, it kills not just physically but spiritually. There is no cure for the HIV virus, but thankfully there is a cure for the SIN virus. In fact, God has made it possible for sinners to be cured so thoroughly and completely that they can be reconciled to God and have eternal fellowship in His presence.

And that is the good news, that is what Christianity preaches, that's the gospel. There is a cure for the SIN virus so that the hostility between people and God can end now and forever and sinners can be reconciled to holy God. In fact, if you look back at verses 18, 19 and 20 you see several times the word "reconciled" in one form or another. Verse 18 says, "God who reconciled us to Himself." Verse 19, "That God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself." And at the end of verse 20 we call on sinners to be reconciled to God.

This is the good news, friends. This is the great news that you don't have to live godlessly in time and you don't have to live godlessly in eternity. You don't need to suffer through this life without God and to suffer eternal torment without God in the life to come. Reconciliation is possible.

But that brings up the question...How? The Apostle Paul has been talking about the ministry of reconciliation. We have been reconciled to God and now we preach reconciliation. He mentions the ministry or reconciliation in verses 18 and 19 and then in verse 20 he mentions it by saying, "We are ambassadors for Christ, we go out and we preach to sinners that they can be reconciled to God." That's our ministry. That is the good news.

But the question then comes up...how can that be? How can such a reconciliation take place? How can an absolutely and utterly holy God who is infinitely pure and perfect ever be reconciled to sinners? How can He do that who is too pure to look on sin or to fellowship with transgressors? How can God satisfy His just and holy law with a condemnation of sinners by full and deserved punishment and still show them mercy who deserve no mercy? How can God end the hostility and how can He take sinners into His holy heaven to live with Him forever in intimate communion? How? How can both justice and grace be satisfied? How can love toward sinners and righteousness come together? To put it in Paul's words, how can God be just and a justifier of sinners?

The one verse I just read you explains how. Fifteen Greek words and these 15 Greek words translated into English carefully define and perfectly balance the mystery of reconciliation. They show us the essence of the atonement. In fact, in the one verse that I read you is the heart of the good news. In that one verse is the most powerful truth in Scripture because it embraces and explains how sinners can be reconciled to God. Here is where the paradox of redemption is resolved. Here is where the mystery is solved. Here is where the riddle is answered. Here is where we find how holy justice and perfect love can both be satisfied, how righteousness and mercy can embrace each other. And the truth of this one brief sentence solves the most profound dilemma of how God can reconcile with sinners.

Well needless to say, having said that you are aware that there's a lot in this verse. We have to search carefully through this cache of rare jewels and stop to examine each one of them with a magnifying glass in order to understand the richness.

Now as we look at this verse together I want to point your attention to four elements, four features of the text that unfolded significance...the benefactor, the substitute, the beneficiaries and the benefits. That really sums up how God can reconcile sinners.

Let's start at the beginning, the benefactor. The verse begins, "He made..." stop there. Now if you're a Bible student the first question you're going to ask is to whom does "He" refer? The answer comes quickly, look one word back at the end of verse 20...God. God is the antecedent. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf. The point is it's God's plan, He's the benefactor. God is behind the whole reconciliation plan. He designed it. He worked it out. He brings it to fruition. It is His plan. This is a very crucial perspective and you'll see why as I comment on it. There could be no reconciliation unless God initiated it. There could be no reconciliation unless God activated it. There could be no reconciliation unless God applied it. He had to design it and He has to execute it. It cannot come from any human source. Nothing man could do, nothing man could not do could produce reconciliation with God. It isn't anything we do or don't do. In fact all of our efforts in the religious realm amount to filthy rags, the Bible says. The world is literally filled with religion and all of that religion apart from Christianity is man producing a plan with the aid of Satan in which he can initiate reconciliation with God. That is the fatal flaw of all world religions no matter what name they come under.

Romans chapter 3 says, verse 10, "There is none that does good, there is none righteous, no not one, there is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God." Nobody, absolutely nobody. Now you would think if there was anyone who could have devised the plan most aptly and pull it off it would have been the Jews, since after all, the Jews were the people of the true God, Yahweh, Jehovah. And God gave to them the law and the prophets and the covenants and the adoption and all of the things that Romans 9 mention. They had the revelation. They had the Old Testament and to them even salvation was given...salvation is of the Jews, of them and to them came the Messiah. If anyone could have devised a system by which they could have achieved reconciliation, it would have been the Jews. But they failed. And in Romans chapter 10 Paul comments on the failure by saying, "My heart's desire and prayer to God is for Israel for their salvation," they have not achieved it, they haven't achieved reconciliation with all their religiosity, with all that they received by way of divine revelation from God because they believed that somehow this reconciliation depended on them and therefore they're not saved, I bear them witness Paul says in verse 2, they have a zeal for God but not according to knowledge so not knowing about God's righteousness they seek to establish their own. That's what false religion is, in a word, it's the religion of human achievement.

But they never can accomplish it because the only way that reconciliation could ever occur is if God reached out to sinners. And He did. It was God who made Him who knew no sin to be sin. It was God's plan. He designed it. He initiated it. And He executed it. So that Jesus went to the cross not because men turned on Him, though they did, Jesus went to the cross not because seducing spirits orchestrated the minds of the religious leaders of Judaism to plot His death, though they did. Jesus went to the cross not because an angry mob screamed for His blood, though they did. Jesus went to the cross because God planned it. God purposed it. And God designed it as the absolutely necessary means by which and by which alone reconciliation could take place. That's why Jesus said, "I came into the world to do the Father's will." That's why in John 18:11 He said, "Shall I not drink the cup which the Father has given Me?" meaning the cup of wrath. That's why in Hebrews chapter 10 the Lord Jesus is quoted as saying, "A body Thou hast prepared Me and I have come to do Thy will, O God." That's why in Acts chapter 2 when Peter stood up on the day of Pentecost and preached to the population of Jerusalem, many of whom had been screaming for the blood of Jesus and been guilty of calling for His execution, Peter says to that crowd, "You have killed the Son of God by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God." In other words, you did your evil deed but it was all in the plan of the Father.

Only God could call the second member of the trinity to become incarnate and come into the world and humble Himself and take on the form of a man and be obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, only God could ask that of Him. Only God could design an atonement for sin that would satisfy His justice because only God knows what it takes to satisfy His justice. Only God knows what propitiates His wrath. We don't know. Only God could decide how His own infinite holiness, intense hatred of sin and inflexible justice could be perfectly satisfied without destroying the sinner in that satisfaction. Only God could know what it would take to make a sinner acceptable to Him so that that sinner could escape eternal hell and live in the very presence of God in His own house. Only God could determine how the spiritual nature and the supreme authority and the unchangeable perfection of His law which is holy, just and good could be completely satisfied and the lawbreaker completely justified and rightly and purely forgiven and accepted, though fallen, guilty and depraved.

Only God could bring all of those components to reconciliation. Only God knew what it would take. Only God knew how to solve the dilemma. Only He knew what would satisfy His righteous requirement. Only He knew how He could spend His wrath so that wrath was consummated. Only He knew what it took to bear the burden of sin, to endure the punishment of His fury, only He knew. And so while the world may call the gospel and the work of Jesus Christ foolish, foolishness, it is to those who believe the wisdom of God, is it not? It may seem foolish to the world but it is the purest and profoundest wisdom that the infinitely holy God could devise a plan consistent with His infinite holiness to reconcile utterly wicked sinners...only God. So God is the benefactor. God is the benefactor. He is the one who made the plan, He is the one who must execute the plan.

That is so important, beloved, absolutely important. It all flows out of this great reality...God so loved the world...right? That He gave. And that is exactly what Paul says in different terms in Romans chapter 5 verse 8, "God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died in our place." It all came out of God's love. While we were enemies, verse 10 says, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son. And God initiated it because He loved us. God, Ephesians 2:4 says, who is rich in mercy for the great love wherewith He had loved us has granted us salvation. God loves sinners. That's why in Colossians chapter1 the Apostle Paul says, "Thanks to the Father who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light." Only God knew what the qualifications were. Only God could qualify us. He was the only one who could know the standard. And thanks to Him, for He delivered us from the domain of darkness. He transferred us to the Kingdom of His beloved Son in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

That is exactly why the Apostle Paul in Ephesians chapter 1 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ." It was the Father who chose us in Him before the foundation of the world. It was the Father who predestined us to the adoption as sons through Jesus Christ. Everything is through the praise of His glory. It is He who freely bestowed on us salvation in the beloved, who gave us redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, etc., etc. It was the Father who designed to lavish on us all wisdom and insight and all riches of grace.

Listen, this is very different in the religions of the world. The religions of the world basically operate on a premise of fear that God is an angry, hateful, or indifferent God who could really care less about the prosperity of beings who grubble around underneath Him in this world. And so the goal of most all religions is to somehow to appease an otherwise hostile and angry God. Somehow they have to devise a system if they're going to be reconciled to God so that He doesn't crush out their life and punish them eternally. They're going to have to appease this God. And so they are busily inventing systems of appeasement by which through certain religious ceremonies or through certain religious duties and actions, or certain good works they can somehow appease this deity and somehow hold back His deadly fury.

On the other hand, Christianity proclaims a God who loves, who loves so much He is a Savior, God our Savior who will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. We have a God who doesn't hate but a God who loves sinners and has Himself designed a way for them to have fellowship with Him forever and ever. We don't have to appease God. God loves the sinner and God in His love provides the sacrifice and wonderfully and graciously and freely and magnanimously and eagerly offers the gift of forgiveness. This is the good news. The good news is you don't have to appease God. The good news is you don't have to figure out a plan of reconciliation. The good news is you don't have to somehow work out your own righteousness. The good news is God is the benefactor. He knows what satisfies His righteousness and His holiness. He has effected that satisfaction. The price of sin has been paid and He now offers you forgiveness and reconciliation, that's the gospel.

Now what did it take? It took death because as it says in the Old Testament in Ezekiel 18:20, the person who sins will die. As it says in Romans 6:23 in the New Testament, "The wages of sin is death." God knew what the requirement was...the requirement is death. And God may that abundantly clear throughout the whole Old Testament economy because the Jews spent most of their lives, of course, either coming from or going to a sacrifice. They had to continually massacre animals, millions and millions and millions of them to deal with sin, to show the people how wicked they were and how sin required death. It wasn't that those animals took away their sin, they didn't, they couldn't. But what they demonstrated to the people repeatedly was that the wages of sin is...what?...is death...death, death, death, death, death, death. And every time they would sin it was back to another death, back to killing another animal. And they were wearied of that and longing for the ultimate Lamb who once and for all would take away the sin of the world and end this carnage. The animals were symbols that God's law can only be satisfied through death and made the people long with all their hearts for a final substitute, a final substitute.

Well the Father sent one and He didn't come reluctantly, not at all. He said, "No man takes My life from Me," in John 10, "I lay it down of Myself, I have authority to lay it down and I have authority to take it up again." He willingly did not hold on to what He had a right to grasp, but let go of it and condescended to die.

So if there was to be reconciliation, the plan had to come from God, He had to initiate it. He had to design it. He had to execute it.

Second thing you see in this text, first the benefactor who is God, second the substitute. And the substitute is identified. "He made Him who knew no sin." That's the identification of the substitute. Who is it? Him who knew no sin. Let me tell you something, folks, that narrows the field to one. Him who knew no sin, who is that? It's not a human being for there is none of them who is righteous, no not one. They've all sinned and come short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23. There's no human being who qualifies. Who is the one who knew no sin? Who is this one? Who is the one who can bear the full wrath of God against sin for somebody else because He doesn't have to bear it for Himself? See, no sinful person could be a substitute, no sinner could die for another sinner because he would have to pay the penalty for his own sin. There had to be a sinless offering. And it had to be a human being because it had to be man who dies for man, but he couldn't be a sinful human being or he would have to die for his own sin and couldn't provide atonement for somebody else's. So it had to be a sinless man.

Well the only way to have a sinless man was to have a man who was God because God alone is sinless. So if you're going to have a sinless man you have to have a man who is God. And that's exactly what God designed...that the second member of the trinity, sinless and perfect, equally holy with the other two members of the trinity would come into the world in the form of a man. He was not to have a human father, Joseph was not the father of Jesus and Joseph knew it. Joseph had never known his wife in a conjugal way. He found out that she was with child, he couldn't believe it. And then the angel said, "That which was conceived in her was of the Holy Spirit." So that Jesus had a human mother that He might be a human, but God was His Father so that He was the God/Man, the sinless human being.

The Old Testament pictured that because when the lamb was selected it had to be a lamb without...what?...spot and without blemish. It had to be a perfect animal without a mark, picturing the real substitute who would be perfect. A man to die for men. God to be sinless so that indeed He could be a substitute.

In Revelation chapter 5 there is a marvelous picture and it points up the fact that no one is qualified except Christ. In Revelation chapter 5 we go to heaven and we're in the throne room of God and God is on the throne and in His hand He has a scroll, sealed with seven seals. This is a title deed to the universe, this is looking at the future when God gets ready to take His universe back from Satan and sin, from the one, Lucifer, who fell and usurped the rulership of this universe.

And so God is holding in His hand, as it were, in this vision the title deed to the universe. Verse 2, John is watching in his vision, he sees a strong angel proclaiming with a loud verse and the angel says this, "Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?" And verse 3 says, "No one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it. And I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it." There wasn't anybody. There was not one individual in the created universe, man or angel, who could step forward and execute the contents of this book. No one. And John began to weep. No one to take back the universe from Satan.

Verse 5, "One of the elders said to me, `Stop weeping, behold the lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the root of David has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.'" Somebody is worthy. Who is it? "The lion from the tribe of Judah." That's a man, out of the tribe of Judah, that's a Jew, from the tribe of Judah. But He's also the root of David...not the branch, not something that came out of David but what produced David. That's God. And in what form is He? Verse 6, "A lamb slain." There's only one who is worthy to take back the universe and that is the one who was born a Jew in every way human but the one who was God the very source from which David came...the one who was the slain lamb. God then had to create a unique virgin-born God/Man in order to be the substitute because the plan demanded a substitute. Justice had to be satisfied. The law had to be vindicated. Wrath had to consume.

So Paul says to the Galatians, "When the fullness of time came God sent forth His Son born of a woman." Wow...why? "In order that He might redeem those who were under the law." Galatians 4:4 and 5. Jesus Christ then is the one who knew no sin, Him who knew no sin is Christ. And the testimony of every one historically affirms that. You can go to the pagan world, start there. Jesus says in John 8:46, "Which of you convicts Me of sin?" Silence and there is still silence. Hear Pilate in Luke 23, Pilate, cynical, vicious, cruel, ungodly, pagan, idolatrous. Pilate said in verse 4 of Luke 23 to the chief priests and the multitudes, "I find no guilt in this man." Verse 14, again he said it, "I have found no guilt in this man." Verse 22 and again the third time, he said to them, "Why? What evil has this man done, I have found in Him no guilt."

Listen to the thief on the cross, "We indeed suffer justly," he says to the other thief, "We're receiving what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." Listen to the testimony of the centurion who watched it all in verse 47, "Certainly this man was innocent."

It wasn't just unbelieving people who saw His perfection. How about the Apostles? John who was with Him day and night for three years, John who followed His every footstep and heard His every word and saw His every act and maybe felt His every breath as he leaned on His breast as often as he could, it was John who said in His epistle, 1 John 3 verse 5, "In Him there is no sin." And John said we were eyewitnesses of it. And then there was the writer of Hebrews who affirms the very same reality when he says in chapter 4 of verse 15, "We do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses but one who has been tempted in all things as we are tempted, yet without sin." And in chapter 7 the writer of Hebrews says, "He was holy, innocent, undefiled and separate from sinners." And then there was Peter who preached in Acts 3 and he says of Christ, "You have killed the prince of life," and he calls Him a holy and just one. And then you remember it was Peter, specially Peter, who said of Christ that He was a lamb, 1 Peter 1:19, unblemished and spotless, who said of Him in chapter 2 of that same epistle and verse 24, "He bore our sins in His own body on the cross that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. But He...verse 22...committed no sin." And then in chapter 3 and verse 18 of that same epistle, "God died for sins, the just for the unjust."

Now the testimony of unbelieving men was of his sinlessness. The testimony of those who knew Him best was of His sinlessness. But there's another who gave testimony and that testimony is indeed powerful. It was none other than God the Father Himself. At His baptism recorded in Matthew 3:17 the Father said, "This is My beloved Son in whom I am completely pleased." And at His transfiguration in Matthew 17 verse 5, "This is My beloved Son in whom I am completely pleased." You see, the Father was totally satisfied with the Son. There was nothing in the Son that dissatisfied the Father, He was perfect, sinless.

And maybe the greatest testimony of His sinlessness was the unbroken fellowship He had with God. "I and the Father are one. I and the Father are one." He said that many times. He says that in John 10 verse 30. He says it in John 14 verses 30 and 31. He says it repeatedly in John 17, He says it in verse 11, He says it in verse 21, 22, 23, we're one, we're one, we're one, we're one, we're united, we're united. That was the greatest testimony of His sinlessness was that He had absolutely unbroken communion with God.

Now had He not been man He couldn't be the substitute. Had He not been sinless He couldn't be the substitute. So He had to be man and He had to be God.

Notice our text again, "God made Him who knew no sin," here is the remarkable statement, "to be sin." You see, He had to punish sin but if He punished the sinner the sinner would be destroyed in hell eternally. So He had to take the substitute and put Him in the place of the sinner and punish the substitute instead. He had to be sin. That phrase is very important and I want you to grasp it.

What does it mean that He was made sin? That's an astounding statement. What does it mean? Well, first of all, let me tell you what it doesn't mean and you need to understand this clearly. It does not mean that Christ became a sinner. It does not mean that He committed a sin. It does not mean that He broke God's law. He did not do that. The Scriptures I've just read to you indicate that He had no capacity to sin, that's what theologians call the impeccability of Christ. He had no possibility to sin. He could not sin. He was sinless God while fully man. And certainly it is unthinkable that God would turn Him into a sinner. The idea of God making anybody a sinner is unthinkable, to say nothing of making His holy Son into a sinner.

Well you say, "Well what does it mean then that He was made sin?" Isaiah 53 introduces it to us, "Surely our griefs He Himself bore, our sorrows He carried." Verse 5, "He was pierced through for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. And the chastening that fell on Him was because of us." Verse 6, "All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him." He didn't die for His own sins, He died for...what?...for our sins.

What it means is the Lord took all of the iniquity of all of us and it fell on Christ. What do you mean? It wasn't His sin? No, it was our sin. What is it saying? Simply this, God treated Christ as if He were a sinner. How? By making Him pay the penalty for sin though He was innocent. He paid the penalty. God treated Him as if He was the sinner. More than that, God treated Him as if He sinned all the sins of all who would ever believe. Is that incredible? Sin, not His at all, was credited to Him as if He had committed it and paid the price. And He didn't...but it was credited to Him as if He did. That, listen, is the only sense in which Christ was made sin, and the word is He was made sin by imputation. Sin was imputed to Him, it wasn't His, He never sinned. But God put it to His account, charged it to Him and making Him pay the penalty. It would be like some...it would be like all the sinners in all the world charging all their sin to your credit card and you having to pay the bill. Imputation...listen, the guilt of the sins of all who would ever believe God, all who would ever be saved was imputed to Jesus Christ, credited to Him as if He were guilty of all of it. And then just...as soon as God had credited it to Him, God poured out the full fury of all His wrath against all that sin and all those sinners and Jesus experienced all of that. Is it any wonder at that moment He was alienated from God and said, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" He was treated as a sinner. He was treated as a sinner deserves to be treated, with all the fury of just punishment.

Let me go further. He was treated as every sinner cumulatively deserve to be treated and all the fury was poured on Him. He was personally pure--He was officially guilty. He was personally holy--He was forensically guilty.

Look at Galatians chapter 3 verse 10...verse 10 says, "For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse." All right, you want to try to earn your way to heaven? You want to try to reconcile yourself? You want to keep certain works? Do certain religious duties? Ascribe to some moral law or ceremonial law? You want to achieve your own righteousness? You've got a problem. All of you who try to reconcile to God through works, through what you do are cursed. Why? Because it says in Deuteronomy, "Cursed is everyone who doesn't abide by all things written in the book of the law to perform them."

You know why that curses you, that approach curses you? Because the first time you violate one law you're damned. It just takes one. Cursed is everyone who doesn't keep all that is written in the book of the law. So if you're going to try to reconcile yourself to God through human effort, every time you try to do that you put yourself under a curse because it only takes one violation. So the whole human race is cursed. And everybody in every religion on the face of the earth trying to achieve reconciliation by their own efforts is cursed. All this curse of iniquity has to be paid for. There has to be a penalty for this curse. So verse 13 says, "Christ redeemed us from the curse by being made a curse for us." Wow! That's the point. He became a curse for us. He took the full fury of God's wrath on our behalf. God placed Christ in the path of the curse and trampled Him with exhausted judgment.

And again I remind you, that it is imputation that is crucial to understanding reconciliation. He became sin by imputation. Our sin was imputed to Him...follow this...just as believers become holy by imputation. You remember that? Being given His righteousness.

Let me say it another way. Christ dying on the cross did not become evil like we are, nor do we by virtue of the cross become as holy as He is. You say, "Well what happens?" It's imputation. God puts sin to Christ's credit, our sin and puts Christ's righteousness to our credit. It's not that we are so righteous God is satisfied. It's that because the penalty is paid and the guilt has been met that God can credit to us the righteousness of Christ. That's the gospel.

The only sense in which you are made righteous through justification is by imputation. And that's the same sense in which Christ was made sin. He is made sin because God credits our sin to Him. We're made righteous because God credits His righteousness to us.

Listen, I'm a Christian, you're a Christian, I am not so righteous that as I am I can stand before a holy God. Are you? I've got a lot of sin in my life and I would say if I got anywhere near God what Peter said, "Depart from Me, O Lord, for I am...what?...I'm still sinful." But God looks at me and does not consider me on the virtue of my human morality, He considers me on the virtue of the imputed righteousness of Christ which covers me. This is the point.

Well, the benefactor is God, the substitute is Christ and by imputation receives our sins and dies for them, taking our place. Thirdly, the beneficiaries and these last points are brief. Thirdly, the beneficiaries. "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin...here it is...on our behalf." On our behalf. Who you talking about, Paul? Who is "our"? Well it's the same as the "we" in verse 20. "We are ambassadors." It's the same as the "us" in verse 19, "He committed to us the reconciliation ministry." It's the same as the "us" in verse 18, "Us who have been given this ministry." Who is this "our, we, us" group.

Well they're in verse 17 described, "Any man who is...what?...in Christ who is a new creation, old things passed away and new things have come." There is a transformation. There is a new creation at salvation. There is. We are transformed. We are changed. But even with that change we wouldn't have sufficient righteousness to satisfy a holy God. And so He has to cover us in the righteousness of Christ to make us acceptable until He can get us to glory and we'll be made righteous. And it is for us, us who are in Christ then, us who have been reconciled that He died. He died in our place.

The actual substitution in its efficacy was for believers, those who would believe. He died for our sins. He died for us. He died in our place.

The final point, the benefit. And what did He provide us? "In order that," this is the purpose of it, "we might become the righteousness of God in Him." See, there's that imputation. What is the benefit? We become righteous before God. This is what justification does. And the righteousness that we are given is the very righteousness of Christ. Listen to what Paul said in Philippians 3:9, "We are now found in Christ not having a righteousness of my own," he says. Not some righteousness derived from keeping the law but a righteousness through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God. Wow! It's imputed to us. He's holy, God imputed sin to Him. We're sinful, God imputes holiness to us.

The very righteousness which God requires to accept the sinner is the very righteousness which God provides. When God looks at you He sees you covered by the righteousness of Jesus Christ. That's why all your sin is automatically forgiven in the eternal sense because Jesus already paid the penalty, right? God can't hold you responsible for your sin, Jesus paid the full penalty for it, took the full fury for it.

You say, "Well what about the sins I commit after I'm a Christian?" Well He died for those too because you weren't even born when He died. They were all future. In fact, He is the lamb slain from before...what?...the foundation of the world, before even the creation. The plan was for Him to die for all the sins of all who will ever believe.

This is the righteousness that Romans 3 talks about. It's the righteousness of God, verse 21, apart from the law. Verse 22, it's the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe. And that's the key. How do you get in on this? Believe. Believe what? Believe that you're a sinner, believe you're in a desperate situation, you're desperately alienated from God. Believe that you have no hope of reconciliation and you will in this life live godlessly and in the next life you will suffer eternal torment. And believe all of that. And then believe that God sent His Son into the world in the form of a man to die as your substitute and take your place and that He took the full fury of the wrath of God upon Him. And believe that the affirmation that God's justice was satisfied was the fact that God raised Jesus...what?..from the dead. And when God raised Him from the dead He was saying, "I am satisfied." And then God exalted Jesus to His right hand where He sits at the right hand of God on the throne and God says when that was done, when He offered Himself and satisfied My justice, I gave Him...Philippians 2...a name which is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee in the universe must bow and every tongue must confess that Jesus is Lord. That's what you believe. That's the gospel.

And when you believe that by faith, simply believing that, God in His mercy takes the righteousness of Jesus Christ and imputes it to you because your sins were imputed to Christ when He died on the cross. The Father knew you were there when the Son died. Your name was written in the Lamb's Book of Life before the foundation of the world and the atonement that Christ made was for you. And you come to believe and you receive the imputed righteousness. And then you live in this life with God in your life and in eternity in the presence of God in absolute perfection. That's the gospel. That's Christianity. That's it.

The benefactor is God, it's all His plan, it comes out of His love. The substitute is Jesus Christ who took your place, the perfect God/Man. The beneficiaries, all of us for whom He died, those who will believe. And the benefit, you receive the righteousness of God imputed to you as if you were equal to Jesus Christ in holiness. And some day you will be made holy. But until then you're covered with the righteousness of God in Christ. And it becomes yours through faith, believe, repent, put your faith in Jesus Christ. Let's bow in prayer.

Father, we come to You at this time and ask that everyone of us might look into our hearts and be sure that we have been reconciled to God. Thank You for giving all of us the ministry of reconciliation. Thank You that You have not only reconciled us but called us to cry to others, "Be ye reconciled to God, it is available, it is possible, God has made a way." And we cry that to sinners here this morning who have not been reconciled and we ask, O God, that You would prompt their hearts to believe and to repent, turning from their sin and saying, "I want forgiveness for my sin, I want the hope of heaven, I want God in my life, I want to be reconciled." O Father, I just pray that Your Holy Spirit will work that marvelous miracle of reconciliation in hearts today. And we thank You for bearing our sin and for letting us bear Your righteousness. This is all overwhelming and we are unworthy, but grateful. Speak, Father, to those hearts who do not know the Savior, who have not been reconciled and draw them to Yourself. And may they have confidence in the words of Jesus who said, "Him that comes to Me I'll never turn aside." And we ask that sinners might come today and in faith embrace the righteousness provided for them by the one who bore their sin. We thank You in Christ's name. Amen.

The Joy of Jesus is a Reason for Hope

A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple.[b] Of David.
1 I will exalt you, LORD,
for you lifted me out of the depths
and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
2 LORD my God, I called to you for help,
and you healed me.
3 You, LORD, brought me up from the realm of the dead;
you spared me from going down to the pit.

4 Sing the praises of the LORD, you his faithful people;
praise his holy name.
5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.

6 When I felt secure, I said,
“I will never be shaken.”
7 LORD, when you favored me,
you made my royal mountain[c] stand firm;
but when you hid your face,
I was dismayed.

8 To you, LORD, I called;
to the Lord I cried for mercy:
9 “What is gained if I am silenced,
if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
10 Hear, LORD, and be merciful to me;
LORD, be my help.”

11 You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
LORD my God, I will praise you forever.

Why We Continue to Pray

The Joy of Jesus is in need of prayer. We pray in Jesus name for you and your family. We thank God for all things in Christ Jesus. Glory to God in The Highest.
Share love with all in need. Let peace rule in your heart. Hear our prayer O Lord. In Jesus name...A-men...

The Joy of Jesus is Unbelievable Love

Prayer: Dear God in Heaven;

We love you so much in Christ Jesus.
We confess all inequities in the blood of Jesus.
We also forgive all in Jesus name.

We pray for all people to know the perfect love of God in Christ Jesus.
Lord we thank you for the gift of love.
We praise you for all things in Christ Jesus with all thanksgiving.

Glory to God all in Christ Jesus for the Joy in our hearts,minds and souls.

Song Jesus Loves Me

Yes Jesus loves me for the Bible tells me so
Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to him belong
They are weak but he is strong

Yes Jesus loves me
Oh, yes Jesus loves me
Yes Jesus loves me for the Bible tells me so

Pressing on the up away
Always guide me Lord I pray
Undeserving, and stubbornly never fail to love me still

Yes Jesus loves me
Oh yes Jesus loves me
Oh yes Jesus loves me, for the Bible tells me so
Yes Jesus loves me, love
Oh yes Jesus loves me for the Bible tells me so
For the Bible tells me so

(Feels so good to know) that I'm never alone
See, sometimes I'm lonely but never alone
For the Bible tells, for the Bible tells
For the Bible tells me so

See I know that he loves me
Whether I'm right, whether I'm wrong

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Sermon: Prepare for The Lord

Sermon: We pray in The Name of Jesus for The coming of The Lords return. Life as we know it is in a state of tremendous challenge. The poor and needy are increasing in number and pain. We are in deep need of a savior. Governments have been unable to address the needs of the people. Our system are stretched beyond the limits. War and violence have no end. There is a need for perfect peace. Who can withstand the rigors of the world? Where is the peace , hope and love that we need today?

The word of God continues to speck to us today. Make ready the way of The Lord. The Joy of Jesus is alive in our hearts and souls today. We praise God and thank God for all things in Christ Jesus. God is Good. God is Love.

Praise God for Christ Jesus, all sin died when He took and paid the sin debt of the world. god raised Jesus from the grave with power, honor and glory. We pray for a;; people, we forgive all people and pray for people in Jesus name. Glory to God in The Joy of Jesus as we prepare for The Way of The Lord.

Scripture: Luke 3
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— 2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. 3He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:
"A voice of one calling in the desert,
'Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.
5Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
the rough ways smooth.
6And all mankind will see God's salvation.' "[a]

Footnotes:

1. Luke 3:6 Isaiah 40:3-5

New International Version (NIV)

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica
Isaiah 40:1-8

Listen to this passage

Isaiah 40
Comfort for God's People
1 Comfort, comfort my people,
says your God.

2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the LORD's hand
double for all her sins.

3 A voice of one calling:
"In the desert prepare
the way for the LORD [a] ;
make straight in the wilderness
a highway for our God. [b]

4 Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.

5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
and all mankind together will see it.
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

6 A voice says, "Cry out."
And I said, "What shall I cry?"
"All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.

7 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the LORD blows on them.
Surely the people are grass.

8 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God stands forever."

Footnotes:

1. Isaiah 40:3 Or A voice of one calling in the desert: / "Prepare the way for the LORD
2. Isaiah 40:3 Hebrew; Septuagint make straight the paths of our God

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Christian Education: Giving of Oneself

Giving of Oneself (Philippians 2:1-11)

The story of Dick and Rick Hoyt captured my heart. Rick has been a quadriplegic since birth. One day he asked his father, Dick, to help him participate in a 5-kilometer benefit race for an injured friend. Dick, a self-proclaimed “porker,” tried to put him off, but Rick was insistent. Finally, Dick relented.

They barely finished. Dick was exhausted from pushing his son in a wheelchair the whole distance. Rick, on the other hand, was elated. “When we were racing,” he said, “I felt normal. For the first time in my life, I didn’t feel disabled.”

That comment spurred Dick to participate with his son in more races of ever-increasing distance. They have now competed in dozens of marathons, even the Iron Man Triathlon in Hawaii. Whenever I see footage of Dick swimming while pulling his son through the water in a raft, I get choked up, moved by the sacrificial love of a father who would do anything to help his son experience wholeness.

I suppose it touches me so deeply because that’s my story too. I have a God in Heaven who loves me so much he was willing to do anything to restore my brokenness, even allow his own Son to suffer on my behalf. And to the Son’s credit, he did so willingly.

Jesus refused to hide behind his divinity, swapping the splendor of Heaven for a suit of flesh. He walked among us, not as a wealthy, privileged aristocrat, but as a servant of all. He offered himself, even to the point of dying on a cross, so we might have the opportunity to be whole.

Our Motivation (Philippians 2:1, 2)
This passage reminds us why we are to emulate Christ. There are so many things we have received in him.

We have received encouragement. We don’t have to walk around defeated and afraid; through Christ we can walk with confidence. When hard times come, we have his love to comfort us. We are free from constantly trying to prove ourselves. We can simply rest in his presence.

We also have fellowship with the Spirit. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead now lives in us (Romans 8:11), giving us the power to live a life beyond explanation.

Finally, we have been shown great tenderness and compassion. We were once abused by a wicked master, but Jesus came with tenderness, gently calling us to himself.

Our Method (Philippians 2:3, 4)
Paul offers a series of if-then statements to help us understand how these blessings should change us. If you have received encouragement from being united with Christ, then be like-minded. If you have experienced the love of God, then share that love. If you have fellowship with the Spirit, then let the Spirit lead you into service. If you have been given tenderness and compassion, then be tender toward others. The way to do all these things is not by living according to our own selfish ambitions, but by looking out for the needs of others.

Our Model (Philippians 2:5-11)
After Hurricane Andrew, I twice took a group of students to Florida to rebuild houses. The first year we arrived to find only a slab of concrete and ended up building an entire house.

So the next year, I got the students all pumped up about building. In my enthusiasm, I even bought a shiny new hammer. I was raring to build. Upon arrival, we gathered for orientation, waiting eagerly as the jobs were assigned. I felt confident we would have a significant role.

Sure enough, the leader said he had a special job for us. Evidently the year before someone had applied paint lacking mildewcide, so all the houses were now covered in mold. Our job was to scrub mold from these houses so they could be repainted.

After three days of mold abatement, my attitude had gone from bad to worse. My new hammer, collecting dust in the van, had been replaced by a scrub brush. I had no calluses to show for my work, only bleached white hands. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the site leader approaching me and I was about to tell him what I thought of this assignment. But he spoke first, asking me to lead devotions the next morning. Fortunately, I didn’t say what I wanted to say.

That night God directed me to this passage in Philippians, and I began to read about our example in Christ. It wasn’t long before I was convicted of my negative, self-serving attitude. God showed me that serving was not about doing what I wanted to do, but about doing what needed to be done. If Jesus could be obedient unto death, even death on a cross, then I could scrub mold for a week. It ended up being one of the greatest spiritual experiences of my life.

Our Mission (Philippians 2:12-18)
God calls each of us to work out this teaching in our own lives. Healthy tension exists between our efforts to obey, and the power of God working within us enabling us to obey. As he seeks to change us from the inside, we are called to live for him on the outside; serving others without complaining or arguing, generously holding out the word of life, and resting in the confidence that our heavenly Father will one day carry us across the finish line.

________

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

HOME DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Aug. 2: Matthew 20:20-28
Aug. 3: Acts 23:12-24
Aug. 4: Hebrews 13:12-18
Aug. 5: Romans 12:1, 2
Aug. 6: Philippians 2:14-18
Aug. 7: Philippians 2:19-30
Aug. 8: Philippian

A Prayer for You

Dear God,

We pray for all people,
We lift up Holy Hands in Jesus name.

We humble ourselves unto Thee.
Lord we thank Thee for all that You have done.

We continue to pray for love, hope and peace,
In The name of Jesus.

Lord we give You all The Power, Honor, and Glory.
All in The name of Jesus.

Prayer for People in Poverty

Dear God, our Father of The Lord Jesus Christ, and The Holy Spirit.

We pray for all people lost in poverty. We pray that their is food to eat and water to drink. We pray for warmth at night. We pray for their needs to be met.

Lord we thank You for all that You do. We praise Thee all in Christ Jesus. Lord open our hearts and give us love and peace in Your name. The Joy of Jesus needs Your Power to touch those who can give to make this world a better place until Your return to set all things right. Glory to God all in Christ Jesus we pray. A-men..

Three Reasons for The Joy of Jesus Church

What are the three things in life that are important regarding your heart and soul? There are so many issues that tear at our attention. We are living in a world where the media bombards us with millions of messages that have nothing to do with ones soul. Jesus offers a new life. Faith, Hope and Love are three important steps toward heaven.

We are to wrap ourselves in Hope, Faith and Love of Jesus Christ. God so loved the world that he gave us Jesus, in him we find that our faith will result in eternal life.

The Bible is so rich in love. Jesus gave His life on the cross for our sins. God raised Him on the third day with all power, honor and glory. We thank God in Christ Jesus until his return.

Meanwhile, what are we to do until the return of Jesus? We are to wrap our ourselves in The joy of Jesus with Faith, hope and love, We are to love Jesus because He first loved us. Praise god for all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus and to His absolute Joy.

The Joy of Jesus Church of New Hope

The Joy of Jesus Church is Hope
by Dr.James A. Lee

Have you ever had something that was so precious to you, and lost it? What should one do under such circumstances? There many people today that have very little hope for the future. The Joy of Jesus Church has found the answer to such a dilemma.

The Bible tells a story about a woman who had a precious coin collection and lost one that she truly valued. What did she do? She cleaned up her house searching everywhere until she found it.

People are losing hope today due to the horrible economic conditions. We must look quickly to Scripture. The Bible states that when our dear woman found what she valued and lost she rejoiced with a celebration with her loved ones.

Where is our hope. All of our hope is in the Lord of all salvation. Jesus gave His life on the cross and was raise by God. The promise of all hope is that Jesus shall return and save all who believe in Him. This is the reason for all hope in The Joy of Jesus Church for you.

Pray for The World

Scripture:

John 17

Christ's prayer for himself. (1-5) His prayer for his disciples. (6-10) His prayer. (11-26)

Prayer: Our Father in Heaven and all the earth. We praise Thee with all power, glory and honor in the name of Jesus for world healing. Thank you Lord for all spiritual in Christ Jesus. We pray for all people to be blessed. Praise God in Christ Jesus and The Holy Spirit of God. In Jesus name we pray...

Sermon: Pray for the World.

Our message is so simple; it almost appears ridiculous. People around the world are concern on a number of fronts. Jobless, natural disasters, and poverty have eaten away all hope and joy for the average person. Yet our scripture paints and different story. Jesus prayed for all people.

We are so precious in the eyes of God. It is our job to do as Jesus did. Jesus prayed for all people. We too follow His Lead. We indeed pray for all people. We pray for peace, hope, love and joy for all people. We ask in the name of Jesus that all people be blessed. The real question is how and why?

In closing, our message is clear. We at The Joy of Jesus have ginuine concern and love for all people. Jesus is the answer to all questions.The question as to why, is equally clear. Jesus came so that we (the world) may be saved from sin. Jesus gave His life on the cross, shed His Blood, by His Stripes we are healed. God raised Jesus from the grave on the third day. Soon, Jesus will return with all power , honor and glory. This is our prayer.

Prayer: We love You Lord. We pray for Peace, Hope, and Love for all people in Christ Jesus name. Glory to Glory, to Glory... All to God and Christ Jesus we pray. A-men

Convocation: Prayer and The Cross

Prayer: Dear God in Heaven, Father of The Lord Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit of God in Christ Jesus: we pray for Peace, Hope and Love for all.

We pray for all those who are in need. We pray for those who are in trouble. We pray for the sick, the homeless, the jobless,and the elderly. We pray for all the saints of Jerusalem.

Thank You Lord for this ministry. People have been so blessed by it. We continue to ask that you bless our members and keep them well with Your words from the cross. Forgive them Lord.

We Thank God and Praise God for all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus. Let us walk in the light of The Lord of our Salvation. We give You all the power, Honor and glory in Jesus name. A-men.
Convocation:
What We Behold
On The Cross
by Augustine of Hippo (c. 354-430)
"As they were looking on, so we too gaze on his wounds as he hangs. We see his blood as he dies. We see the price offered by the redeemer, touch the scars of his resurrection. He bows his head, as if to kiss you. His heart is made bare open, as it were, in love to you. His arms are extended that he may embrace you. His whole body is displayed for your redemption. Ponder how great these things are. Let all this be rightly weighed in your mind: as he was once fixed to the cross in every part of his body for you, so he may now be fixed in every part of your soul." Please share your comments and concerns.

Do You Need Power?

Scripture: Acts 7:55-60 (New International Version)
55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56"Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."

57At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

59While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, Creator of The Universe and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit, we humble ourselves unto Thy will. In the name of Jesus.

Sermon: The Power of God. This is what is most needed today. As the new decade takes form, people are looking for hope, peace and love. Yet, these are in short supply as in everything else in the world. Our message today is to bring the issue of power front and center in the life of the believer through the word of God.

Our text addresses the Apostle Stephen. After Jesus was betrayed by Judas, arrested, crucified in the cross and resurrected by God: The disciples selected a replacement . Stephen was a person full of faith, hope, peace and love. In other words, The Holy Spirit was in his life. The Bible states that Stephen performed miracles and great wonders for the people. He had the face of an angel.


Stephen could be anyone who has faith. We must take on the role of Stephen today. If you need power and we all do. We too, must increase our faith in Christ Jesus. Stephen knew the word of God. We too, must know the word.

Stephen was stoned to death for devotion to The Christ. As the people murdered Stephen, the window of Heaven opened and he say The Glory of God and on His right hand Jesus Christ. Before Stephen died we forgave his killers. His face was like an angel.

If we need power my friend, we can find it in the word of God. Jesus died in the cross so that we may live. Peace, love and hope in the faith are so important today. We too can see the full power of God in His word. We can do miracles and wonderful acts through our faith in Christ Jesus.

Do you need more power to weather the storms of life? Call on Jesus. God can fix the broken heart, give you a job, and save your home. Yet, we must stay close to the most powerful thing in the universe: The Word of God.

Prayer: Lord we pray for power for our people to live each day in Thee. Help all people in need as we go through this red sea. We pray for peace, love and hope. We thank Thee and Praise Thee for all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus.A-men.

Turning Water into Wine

Why did Jesus turn water to wine?

Jesus turned water into wine to prove that He's the source of life. Changing the water to wine offered a symbol of the new spiritual life Jesus brings from the old mortal in conversion. As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" Many people make a mistake here; they want to improve themselves into being worthy of God before they accept Christ. In reality, it's in accepting Jesus as Savior that God counts us worthy of entering his presence (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Jesus turned water into wine because changing one element into another symbolized marriage. It brings new life out of old; first, as the distinctive relationship between two adults; then, eventually in the children who are at once like, yet different from the parents. The miracle particularly represented Israel's relationship with God. He betrothed her to Himself in Egypt, married her to Himself at Sinai and repeatedly called her to be a faithful spiritual spouse. When she proved endlessly faithless, He called her a spiritual harlot. Finally, God divorced His corrupt bride by sending her into exile. Ezekiel's brilliant allegory is but one of many references to that relationship 16:1-63.

Jesus turned water into wine to prove that the old covenant lacked the resources to meet Israel's spiritual needs. Jesus didn't have to reference the stone pots to perform the miracle. Since they were used for ceremonial washing of people and utensils, Jesus had them filled to prove that He fulfilled and overfilled ceremonial cleansing; then had the servants draw water turned into wine from the well to illustrate that God's new life came from a different source - Christ Himself. Wherever the Old Covenant failed to meet the spiritual needs of God's people, Christ's resources flourished energetically, dynamically, and satisfyingly.

Jesus turned water into wine to illustrate the inimitable nature of God's revelation through Christ. Everything God had said through Law, Prophets, and Psalmists proved magnificent. And all who studied regaled themselves with stories of God at Sinai and before Jericho and outside Jerusalem slaying Babylonian soldiers. But God saved the best for Israel till the last revelation of himself in Christ. Indeed, no one before or since Christ bettered Him in any way.

Jesus turned water into wine to prove His real nature to the disciples. The ultimate purpose of the miracle was to reveal His Glory, with the result being faith in Him.

It's interesting that Jesus had no interest in recruiting faith in the members of the wedding party, or the steward of the feast. Even though the servants knew the provenance of the wine, Jesus didn't perform the miracle to convince them. His only interest was to reveal his true, inner being to six men-a glory that would be uncovered completely only one time in His ministry - at His transfiguration. The sign achieved its purpose, for His disciples believed in Him.

Jesus distinguished between His Glory and His hour or time (John 2:4, Matthew 26:18). The glory His disciples saw wasn't the same as the hour His mother wanted Him to reveal. His glory was His inner being revealed in miracles, teachings, claims, and example. His hour or time was His death on Calvary, though it's true that in His hour at Calvary, He revealed His true glory as God in the flesh. Paul delineated that in Colossians 2:15.

No one but He knew what His hour was, but His disciples, and all who came to believe in Him while He preached, understood that glory meant in Christ God had become a mortal. In Christ God put on a human face - a reality His appearance to John in Revelation 1:12-18 verified. The eternal, invisible God will be visible to all the redeemed in the glorified God/Man Jesus Christ. In essence then, this miracle proved more about the Someone He was than the something He did.
Note: Jesus is the Lord of All. Our faith in Jesus can make all things happen for the good. Pray with us for all the people of the world for: Peace, Love and Joy with our hope in the Power of God in Christ Jesus.

What must we have to Live?

Faith, Hope, and Love
And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13

Sermon: Our question today is one for now and the future. The past is already clear and done. We must move forward to our higher calling. The scripture shows us the way, and is a lamp unto our feet. Faith, hope and love abide in us as it is in Christ Jesus.

The greatest of faith , hope and love is love. The real question is why? We are faced with a world for all practical purposes;that has lost all relevance. As we bare witness, the Pope was tackled right before Christmas Mass? People are sick and suffering as no one speaks out nor cares. Yet, our scriptures does ring out, as a bright light in a very dark place. That Love is Great!

Do you ever wonder about Love? Have you ever asked yourself what is love, do I have love or to fall in love? Love makes the world go round. Love is the power beyound power. God is Love.

The love that God has and is clearly is found in Christ Jesus. He was born to save us from sin. Jesus gave His life on a bloody cross for our sins. God raised Jesus from the grave and gave Him All Power, Honor and Glory. Jesus is coming back for a New Zion.

Love my friend is God. His grace is found in Christ Jesus: The answer to all of our questions. Our faith, love and hope is in the Christ. Sure these are the darkest day ever seen by man. However the greatest gift is found in Jesus. He is our hope. His peace passes all understanding. His grace is simply amazing.

We will will be changed in a twinkling of an eye. God love us. We will see Him as He is in perfect Love. Jesus said if you have seen me, you have seen the Father. How shall we live. We shall live in Christ Jesus where peace,and love, and hope abide by faith in Him. Let us pray...Praise god in His Full Glory A-men.