Let us Rejoice in The Lord The Rev. Dr. James A. Lee

Sermon: To rejoice in The Lord is What we must do. The Goodness of God is worthy of our praise. We thank God and Praise God for all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus. There are many problems we face today that are too overwhelming for man to resolve. God gave us Jesus to save us from sin. Jesus died on the cross, and was raised from the grave so that we who believe in Him shall have everlasting life. This is the reason for our joy. Let us rejoice in The Lord of our salvation. We Praise God today for all of the joy that is found in Christ Jesus we pray. A-men...

Scripture:
1 Peter 1
1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood:
Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

Praise to God for a Living Hope
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
10Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

Be Holy
13Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."[a]
17Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

22Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.[b] 23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24For,
"All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25but the word of the Lord stands forever."[c] And this is the word that was preached to you.


Footnotes:
a.1 Peter 1:16 Lev. 11:44,45; 19:2; 20:7
b.1 Peter 1:22 Some early manuscripts from a pure heart
c.1 Peter 1:25 Isaiah 40:6-8
New International Version (NIV)

Bless The Lord Today and be Blessed

Psalm 103
1Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

2Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


King James Version (KJV)
Public Domain

Scripture for Life/The Joy of Joy of Jesus Today

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

International Standard Version (©2008)
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah. Although he was rich, for your sakes he became poor, so that you, through his poverty, might become rich.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)

Bible Study with The Joy of Jesus for Life

The Cleansing Blood of Christ
Hebrews 9:22 says, "Without shedding of blood there is no remission." I John 1:7 tells us that "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin." God, in choosing the cleansing agent for our sins, chose the very best that He had, the blood of His own Son. It is by the precious blood of our Lord, that we are cleansed from all of our sins. Revelation 1:5 says, "To Him who loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood." Yes, it is only by the blood of our Lord, that we get our sins washed away. John 19:34 says, "But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out." Jesus shed His blood for us, in His death, when He died on the cruel cross of Calvary.

How do we come into contact with that cleansing blood, which our Lord shed in his death, in order to have our sins washed away? Romans 6:3 tells us how. "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?" Since Christ shed His blood in His death, when a person is baptized into our Lord's death, it is there that he spiritually comes into contact with the blood of Christ and his sins are then washed away. Baptism is the only means of reaching His death by being "baptized into His death", where His blood was shed, so we can have forgiveness of our sins. So, when Ananias told Paul in Acts 22:16, "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins," it was the blood of Christ that washed away Paul's sins when he was baptized.

There are many differing humanly devised plans of salvation with their flowery theological phrases. One of these says all you have to do is "accept Jesus as your personal saviour" and then "say the sinner's prayer" to be saved. Others say you must be sprinkled, or touch the radio, or speak in an unknown tongue in order to be saved. There is not a verse in the Bible that teaches any of this. All of these are false and become a mockery of God and what He says in the Bible. But as we are told in Galatians 1:7, "But there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ." These perverted humanly invented plans of salvation will result in many good people being lost. If people would only read the Bible for themselves to see what God requires to be saved so they can go to Heaven.

Salvation does not originate with men but with God. The Lord's salvation is offered on His terms, not ours. To refuse the Lord's terms of salvation and pardon is to forfeit eternal life in Heaven.

Have you been baptized to have your sins washed away by the blood of Christ? If you haven't, then you still have every sin that you have ever committed. Your sins have separated you from God. With your sins you can't go to Heaven to be with God when you die, but you will have to go to the eternal punishment of Hell where there will be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth forever and ever. You may have been baptized into a denominational church, but not for remission of your sins so you can be saved. If you have not been baptized for the remission of your sins, so that you can be saved, then the blood of Christ will be of no benefit to you, and Christ’s death for you was in vain. But please take advantage of Christ having died for you. Only you can do this for yourself.


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

Questions Lesson 15

The Cleansing Blood Of Christ
(click on the button of the answer of your choice)
1) (1 John 1:7 & Revelation 1:5) What cleanses us from all sin?
We have no sin to be cleansed.

Nothing can.

The blood of Christ.


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

2) We are cleansed from our sins when we are washed in the blood of Christ.


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

3) (John 19:34) Where did Christ shed His blood for us.

In His death on the cross.

When He cut His finger.

He never shed any blood.


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

4) Our sins are washed away when we come into contact with the cleansing blood of Christ.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5) (Romans 6:3) How do we get into Christ's death to spiritually come into contact with His blood?
When we die physically.

When we are baptized into His death.

We can't spiritually come into contact with His blood.


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

6) We come into contact with the saving blood of Christ when we are baptized into His death.

The Key to Grace in The Joy of Jesus

Psalm 51
For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.

5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts [a] ;
you teach [b] me wisdom in the inmost place.

7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.

14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.

16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

17 The sacrifices of God are [c] a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.

18 In your good pleasure make Zion prosper;
build up the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then there will be righteous sacrifices,
whole burnt offerings to delight you;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.


Footnotes:
a.Psalm 51:6 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
b.Psalm 51:6 Or you desired?; / you taught
c.Psalm 51:17 Or My sacrifice, O God, is

The Joy of Motherhood in The Joy of Jesus

Praise God for all mothers around the world in Christ Jesus and His Joy of salvation. Motherhood is the gift of life and love. We celebrate all mothers of all time. Please leave a comment for your mother. God bless us all and all of the mothers who never been thanked enough for all of the unseen love. We ask this in Jesus name.

Proverbs 31 (New International Version)

Proverbs 31
Sayings of King Lemuel
1 The sayings of King Lemuel—an oracle [a] his mother taught him:
2 "O my son, O son of my womb,
O son of my vows, [b]

3 do not spend your strength on women,
your vigor on those who ruin kings.

4 "It is not for kings, O Lemuel—
not for kings to drink wine,
not for rulers to crave beer,

5 lest they drink and forget what the law decrees,
and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.

6 Give beer to those who are perishing,
wine to those who are in anguish;

7 let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.

8 "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.

9 Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy."
Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

10 [c] A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.

11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.

12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.

13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.

14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.

15 She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.

16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.

18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.

19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.

21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.

26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:

29 "Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

31 Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.


Footnotes:
a.Proverbs 31:1 Or of Lemuel king of Massa, which
b.Proverbs 31:2 Or / the answer to my prayers
c.Proverbs 31:10 Verses 10-31 are an acrostic, each verse beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet
New International

Fear not with The Joy of Jesus

The Psalms
37

The Insecurity of the Wicked
A Psalm of David.


1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers,
neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.


2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
and wither as the green herb.


3 Trust in the LORD, and do good;
so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.


4 Delight thyself also in the LORD;
and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.


5 Commit thy way unto the LORD;
trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.


6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light,
and thy judgment as the noonday.


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.


8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath:
fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.


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


10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be:
yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.


11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; Mt. 5.5
and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.


12 The wicked plotteth against the just,
and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.


13 The Lord shall laugh at him:
for he seeth that his day is coming.


14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow,
to cast down the poor and needy,
and to slay such as be of upright conversation.


15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart,
and their bows shall be broken.


16 A little that a righteous man hath
is better than the riches of many wicked.


17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken:
but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.


18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright:
and their inheritance shall be for ever.


19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time:
and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.


20 But the wicked shall perish,
and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs:
they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.


21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again:
but the righteous showeth mercy, and giveth.


22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth;
and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.


23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD:
and he delighteth in his way.


24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down:
for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.


25 I have been young, and now am old;
yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken,
nor his seed begging bread.


26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth;
and his seed is blessed.


27 Depart from evil, and do good;
and dwell for evermore.


28 For the LORD loveth judgment,
and forsaketh not his saints;
they are preserved for ever:
but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.


29 The righteous shall inherit the land,
and dwell therein for ever.


30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom,
and his tongue talketh of judgment.


31 The law of his God is in his heart;
none of his steps shall slide.


32 The wicked watcheth the righteous,
and seeketh to slay him.


33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand,
nor condemn him when he is judged.


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.


35 I have seen the wicked in great power,
and spreading himself like a green bay tree.


36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not:
yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.


37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright:
for the end of that man is peace.


38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together:
the end of the wicked shall be cut off.


39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD:
he is their strength in the time of trouble.


40 And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them:
he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them,
because they trust in him.




Published by The American Bible Society