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.

Sermon: Blessed is The Name of The Lord

Scripture: Psalm 100 (New International Version)

Psalm 100
A psalm. For giving thanks.
1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.

3 Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his [a] ;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.

5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Sermon: The questions surrounding a new decade are so open that the excitement is overwhelming. New plans and great opportunities are endless. We pray for you and thank God for all that you do. The real question today is what do we do first?

Sure money is important, but is that first?

Career? How does that fit into ones plan? I wonder? The Bible says seek the Lord first and all these things will be added unto to you.

Yes my friend. Seek God first. We bless His name, be thankful and praise God while it is day. Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood for all sin, on the third day God lifted Him up to His full Glory and He shall return for His own.

The streets of gold, the pearly gates the diamonds for ever, the flowing waters are all beyond our comprehension. No tears, no pain: Just Peace, Love and Joy of the Lord. There are mansions for us all. When we all get to Heaven, what a glorious day this will be; when we all see Jesus, we will jump and shout for victory.

We pray for all people this new year, 2010 in Jesus name. A-men.

Walk in the Light of the Lord

Psalms 89:15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.

Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

Isaiah 2:5 O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.

Isaiah 59:8 The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.
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.

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

John 11:9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

John 12:35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Revelation 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

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.

Joy to the World

Joy to the World Lyrics
The words and lyrics of the old Christmas carol 'Joy to the World' were written in 1719 by Isaac Watts (1674-1748). The father of John Watts was a Non-conformist and so extreme were his views that he was imprisoned twice. His father's influence over Isaac was demonstrated when he choose to attend Non­conformist Academy at Stoke Newington in preference to a University. Watts was ordained as a Pastor of an Independent congregation. He wrote many hymns and Carols and was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree by the the University of Edinburgh in 1728. The music to the carol is by George Frederick Handel (1685-1759).
Our grateful thanks goes to Eric Halstead for giving his kind permission to play his self sequenced midi file of this superb piano rendition of this Christmas Carol.







Joy to the World Lyrics
Christmas Carol Lyrics
Pause Music!

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Joy to the World Lyrics
Christmas Carol Lyrics








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A Night to Remeber

Silent Night : Lyrics
Play Music !

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth "


Silent Night – Christmas Carol Music and lyrics

What is The True Spirit of Christmas?

Luke 1:35 (New International Version)

35The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[a] the Son of God.


Footnotes:
a.Luke 1:35 Or So the child to be born will be called holy


Sermon: Glory to God in The Highest as we embark upon Holy Week, celebrating the day of The Lord, in Christ Jesus, it is a time to reflect on what God means to us today? This is a time of year that brings tremendous joy to the life of the believer. Our scripture tell us that The Holy Spirit will come upon you..the one to be born ...will be called holy


The angel of The Lord revealed to Mary, Gods plan and grace. Do you ever wished that you were Mary?

The Holy Spirit is the third component of The Trinity. God The Father of The Lord Jesus, Christ The Son of God, and The Holy Spirit. Mary was filled with all three, the week before Christmas. We too can be like Mary. Just filled with all whom God is, and can offer.

Christmas is perhaps the most miss-understood day of all. People are out trying to find the right gift; money is as tight as ever, and confusion, as to the future seems as murky as a fog filled day. Yet, we of the faith have seen a great light. We of the faith, are to be that great light.

Mary was only 13 years old on the first Christmas Day. She was meek and pure. Yet, she was filled with the hope of the world. Her heart must have had the most powerful love in the universe.

The Gospel is such a powerful testimony for the life of the believer. To understand what Mary experienced in her heart, is a gift of God. We pray for her gift today. To be filled with The Love of God; in Christ Jesus, by the power of The Holy Spirit is a good thing today. This is the light my friend, that moves the universe.

In closing, Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding. The people shouted, "you have saved the best for last." Jesus was born out of pure love. The Holy Spirit moved to make everything fall in to Gods plan. Jesus took this all to the cross; shed His blood, and on the third day, rose with all power and glory. Jesus died for our sins. For this purpose I was born. Now Jesus will return to set all things right.

Let us pray: Dear God, father of the Lord Jesus Christ, and The Gift of The Holy Spirit, fill us with Thy love O' Lord. Let us walk in the light. Let us be this light unto the world. The Holy Spirit built the universe by Your powerful hand. Keep us in the light. The light is good in Thy sight Lord our Strength and Redeemer. Let The Holy Spirit teach us what Christmas truly means. Bless us Lord, in all that we do. Let this ministry do Thy work; on Earth, as it is in Heaven. In Jesus Name: We Pray. A-men,,,,
















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