Do we recognize Christ?

Too many people today talk about everything and everyone that is unimportant.

The nfl, the college game, who won what in hollywood, what the President said, what the has been actor, singer, or former leader said. 

Who cares, really? How are any of these people or things important in our lives?

All these things, all these people will soon be forgotten, how shallow our lives are when we have to live through the eyes of the media and what they tell us and put in front of us to watch day after day, and to top it off that is all we have to talk about. 

Really?

Time has come for people to get off babies milk and move on. 

Stop caring more about what was worn on the red carpet or said somewhere by so and so ,than the souls of those around you!

God’s word says this: “Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer live as the Gentiles live, in the futility of their thoughts. They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts. They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity with a desire for more and more. But that is not how you came to know Christ, assuming you heard about him and were taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus, to take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires, to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth. Therefore, putting away lying, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, because we are members of one another. Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, and don’t give the devil an opportunity. Let the thief no longer steal. Instead, he is to do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need. No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear. And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by him for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.”

Ephesians 4:17-32 CSB

“Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children, and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But sexual immorality and any impurity or greed should not even be heard of among you, as is proper for saints. Obscene and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks. For know and recognize this: Every sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, who is an idolater, does not have an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath is coming on the disobedient because of these things. Therefore, do not become their partners. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light — for the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth — testing what is pleasing to the Lord. Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them.” Ephesians 5:1-11 CSB

We cannot partner with darkness and claim to walk in the light of Christ, Jesus could walk into our homes, our houses of worship and our work places and we would miss Him, just as when He walked the earth over 2000 years ago we are so caught up in ourselves and the way we think it should be. We are no different than what John tells us about the Jewish nation and  how they rejected Jesus.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it....He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.” John 1:1-5, 10-11 CSB

If we who say we believe in Christ, don’t recognize Christ, His authority, His holiness, His grace, and live by what we say we believe, then how can we put expectations on the world to live that way either!

Ask God to break our hearts with what breaks His, to reveal to us areas we need too surrender to Him and for Him to work in us and around us , may we be broken of our ways and follow Him.

Who is Jesus? 1

When you think of Jesus who comes to mind?

Who He was or who He is? Was He just a man? Or is He GOD?

Do you know Him, personally, intimately, spiritually?

Do you count on Him, trust in Him, seek Him, talk with Him, walk with Him?

Do you call on His name for everything?

How you answer with your life is how important is He to you?

If Jesus to you is just a man, then he is not of importance, if Jesus to you is just a teacher then he is of no importance in eternity.

C.S. Lewis in his book Mere Christianity writes the following: “I am trying here to prevent anyone from saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him [Jesus Christ]: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God.' That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on a level with a man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon; or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that option open to us. He did not intend to.”

Jesus undeniably claimed to be God. If He is not God, then He is a liar, and that would disqualify him from being a prophet, a godly man, or a good teacher.

There are many attempts to explain away the words of Jesus, so called “scholars” claim that the “true historical Jesus” did not say what the Bible attributes to Him. As if they were there listening to Him teach. While those who wrote the gospels had firsthand knowledge, or the accounts of Jesus Life were spoken to them by those who did have firsthand knowledge.

Man’s problem is we think we are smarter than God, that we do not need God, and that Jesus is just someone who if He did exist, (and there is more proof that He did, than most historical figures) was nothing more than a good man.

The real question is who are we a created being, to challenge the authority of God’s word, spoken by the prophets long ago, fulfilled by the power of God alone, who are we to be questioning what Jesus did or did not say?

How can a so-called scholar who did not have any experience with Jesus have greater insight into what Jesus said or did as He lived among men, taught them, healed them, died for them and then resurrected from the grave and walked with them again?

The short answer is they can’t.

Jesus is more than we know, but He is all we need to know.

Jesus is:

God John 10:30, John 8:58

My LORD & GOD John 20:28

My Maker, Isaiah 54:5

My God & Savior 2 Peter 1:1

My Hope 1Timothy 1:1

My Brother Mark 3:35

My Portion Jeremiah 10:16

My Helper Hebrews 13:6

My Physician Jeremiah 8:22

My Healer Luke 9:11

My Refiner Malachi 3:3

My Purifier Malachi 3:3

My Lord, Master John 13:13

My Servant Luke 12:37

My Example John 13:15

My Teacher John 3:2

My Shepherd Psalms 23:1

My Keeper John 17:12

My Freedom Ezekiel 34:23

My Leader Isaiah 40:11

My Restorer Psalms 23:3

My Resting-place Jeremiah 50:6

My Passover 1Corinthinas 5:7

My Peace Ephesians 2:14

My Wisdom, My Righteousness

My Sanctification, My Redemption

My All in All 1Corinthians 1:30

God’s word says:

1 Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. 2 In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him. 3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. 4 So he became superior to the angels, just as the name he inherited is more excellent than theirs.  5 For to which of the angels did he ever say, You are my Son; today I have become your Father, or again, I will be his Father, and he will be my Son?  6 Again, when he brings his firstborn into the world, he says, And let all God's angels worship him.  7 And about the angels he says: He makes his angels winds, and his servants a fiery flame, 8 but to the Son: Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of justice.  9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; this is why God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy beyond your companions.  10 And: In the beginning, Lord, you established the earth, and the heavens are the works of your hands; 11 they will perish, but you remain. They will all wear out like clothing; 12 you will roll them up like a cloak, and they will be changed like clothing. But you are the same, and your years will never end.  13 Now to which of the angels has he ever said: Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool?  Hebrews 1:1-13 CSB

1 Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you received, on which you have taken your stand 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message I preached to you unless you believed in vain. 3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. 6 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time, he also appeared to me.  9 For I am the least of the apostles, not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 11 Whether, then, it is I or they, so we proclaim and so you have believed.  12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say, "There is no resurrection of the dead"? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain, and so is your faith. 15 Moreover, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified wrongly about God that he raised up Christ; whom he did not raise up, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Those, then, who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. 19 If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone.  20 But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. 22 For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.  23 But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at his coming, those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he abolishes all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he puts all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be abolished is death. 27 For God has put everything under his feet. Now when it says "everything" is put under him, it is obvious that he who puts everything under him is the exception. 28 When everything is subject to Christ, then the Son himself will also be subject to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all.  1Corinthians 15:1-28 CSB

Will you let Him in?

We are living in a world that rejects Jesus Christ, we are seeing the result of this in our community's. We have gender confusion, good is now evil, truth is hate speech, and the government fears the influence of Christ in our culture.

While this can be upsetting God's word says that it must happen, and it is.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 HCSB 1 About the times and the seasons: Brothers, you do not need anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 3 When they say, "Peace and security," then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains come on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers, are not in the dark, for this day to overtake you like a thief. 5 For you are all sons of light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness. 6 So then, we must not sleep, like the rest, but we must stay awake and be serious. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, we must be serious and put the armor of faith and love on our chests, and put on a helmet of the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing. 

2 Thessalonians  2:1-4 HCSB 1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him: We ask you, brothers, 2 not to be easily upset in mind or troubled, either by a spirit or by a message or by a letter as if from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord has come. 3 Don't let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction. 4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in God's sanctuary, publicizing that he himself is God. 

Even in the Church they reject the one they say they love, Jesus Christ.

When Jesus spoke to John in revelation 3, He was not standing outside the capital building knocking to allow Him in, He was standing outside the Church to let Him in because they practiced Christless Christianity.

Rev 3:14-22 HCSB 14 "Write to the angel of the church in Laodicea: "The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Originator of God's creation says: 15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, 'I'm rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,' and you don't know that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich, white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed, and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be committed and repent. 20 Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and have dinner with him, and he with Me. 21 The victor: I will give him the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I also won the victory and sat down with My Father on His throne.  22 "Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches." 

But what is truly fearful is this, that one day soon God will pour out His wrath on those who reject Him, and when that day comes there will be no turning back for in that moment when God says enough, the end has come and there will be no more hope.

Romans 2:4-9 HCSB 4 Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hardness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath, when God's righteous judgment is revealed. 6 He will repay each one according to his works: 7 eternal life to those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but wrath and indignation to those who are self-seeking and disobey the truth but are obeying unrighteousness; 9 affliction and distress for every human being who does evil, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek;

When we read God's word, let us take serious the end times, let us remember that Christ died for all, that Christ love is given to all, and let us share the hope we have in Christ that those around us may not perish.

Romans 12:9-18 HCSB 9 Love must be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. 10 Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. 13 Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Be in agreement with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Try to do what is honorable in everyone's eyes. 18 If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone.

Time is short the days are growing shorter, if you do not know what it means to have a relationship with Jesus Christ, He is knocking at the door now wanting to start the relationship with Him. 

Will you let Him in?

Be free from the curse of sin and death

Sin, like aging we get used to we do not even acknowledge it in our day to day lives. But God in His holiness and righteousness sees it and hates it.

It is time we take serious the cost of sin, because of sin we have sickness, death, poverty, slavery, hate, brokenness loneliness, despair, terrorism, war, droughts, famine, earthquakes and other natural disasters, murder, adultery, fornication, drunkenness, abortions,rape, anger, liars, lust, gossip, bigotry,the list goes on.

These things entered the world because Adam sinned against God, and we continue in his foot steps.

But the good news is we do not need to be held in the grasp of sin and death because of Jesus Christ, and His work on the cross. Come be free today, repent of your sin, and be washed in the blood of the lamb for He alone has bore the wrath of God for you and I.

Titus 3:1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people. 3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us -- not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy -- through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6 He poured out this Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior 7 so that, having been justified by His grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life. 8 This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone. 9 But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning, 11 knowing that such a person is perverted and sins, being self-condemned.

Worship the King

When Jesus Christ was born angelic host filled the sky, they appeared to the shepherds who were watching their flock.

The shepherds were in awe of the angels and they went to where the angels told them Jesus lay, and they were more  in awe of God giving us His Son and Him being born into this world, and they worshipped him.

We have lost this awe why don't we worship the King Jesus as the shepherds did the night he was born ? Do we need signs and wonders or can we just look back at all that God has done for us through Jesus Christ His Son.

God gave us His all, we have lost our love of God ,we no longer worship Him but we worship what He's created.

God forgive us,  as Christmas season starts let us focus on Jesus Christ the Son ,God's gift to mankind who brought us  salvation.  He brought us hope He brought us peace He brought us love without Jesus Christ we would be lost: lost to an eternity of darkness oh people of the world my plea is turn to Him today. Stop looking for signs and wonders for they are happening before your very eyes. I pray we worship Him not as a baby but as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

LUK 2:4-20 HCSB

And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth  in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem,  because he was of the house and family line of David,   to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him  and was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough — because there was no room for them at the lodging place. In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord  stood before  them,  and the glory of the Lord  shone around them, and they were terrified.   But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid,  for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:   Today a Savior,  who is Messiah  the Lord,  was born for you in the city of David. This will be the sign for you:  You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.” Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth  to people He favors!    When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough. After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed  at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary was treasuring up all these things  in her heart  and meditating on them. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God  for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.