Moments With God

It Is Finished!

General — Posted by sharaug @ June 27, 2006 05:07
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John 18-19, Isaiah 53

Jesus said, 'It is finished.' With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit."

"But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed."

"It is finished." (John 19:30) Jesus has completed your and my redemption! Your and my sins are so horrendous in God's sight that they deserve the punishment of God's eternal wrath. Instead Jesus Christ willingly suffered the consequences of our sins on the cross! Jesus Christ suffered the horrors of hell on the cross for us!

Jesus Christ voluntarily left the glories and perfection of heaven and the presence of God, the Father. Jesus voluntarily came to this world of sin and trouble. He did this willingly for us, His chosen children! Jesus Christ then voluntarily lived a perfect life for us which we were unable to live. Jesus Christ also voluntarily accepted the rejection of others. "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering." (Isaiah 53:3a) Jesus Christ accepted and experienced betrayal and denial from His own disciples. He was beaten unmercifully by the soldiers. Isaiah 52:14b tells us, "His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and His form marred beyond human likeness." Finally, Jesus Christ voluntarily laid down His life for our sins. John 19:30b tells us, "Jesus said, 'It is finished.' With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit." Death did not conquer our Lord Jesus Christ, but Christ voluntarily "gave up His spirit!"

It was necessary for Christ to die on the cross for His children. Without Christ's death on the cross we have no joy, no peace, and no comfort. Without Christ's blood being shed we have no pardon from sin, no purposeful life, and no hope. It was OUR sins that put our Lord Jesus on the cross. "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:6) So often we like to rationalize our sins or compare ourselves with others, but OUR sins were so abominable in the sight of God that they could only be atoned for by Jesus Christ's precious blood on the cross. "But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)

Praise God for His great gift of salvation! Praise God that Christ's work on the cross is accomplished. Praise God that His children are now in right standing before Him! We are sinners, but the Lord Jesus saved us and made us children of God! The Lord saved us for a purpose, however. That purpose was to bring glory and honor to the Lord. He saved and made us His children "in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory." (Ephesians 1:12) May our hearts be filled with thanks for Jesus Christ's salvation. May that thankfulness to our Lord be shown in our lives and actions. May it be our consuming passion to live our lives in gratitude "as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God." (Romans 12:1)

 Isaiah 53:5John 19:30b

Jesus' Prayer

General — Posted by sharaug @ June 22, 2006 04:32
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John 17

Prayer is as essential to our spiritual lives as breathing is to our physical lives. Jesus, the Son of God, felt the need to spend time with His Heavenly father in prayer. If Jesus Christ felt the need for prayer in His life here on earth, we certainly need prayer in our lives. In John chapter seventeen Jesus was about to suffer the horrors of hell on the cross, and so Jesus prayed. Jesus prayed for Himself. He also prayed for His disciples and for you and me. Two thousand years before we were even born Jesus prayed for us! Isn't that an awesome thought?

In verses one through five Jesus prayed for Himself. Jesus recognized that the time for His crucifixion had come. Jesus asked the Father to glorify the Son of God through this process. Jesus said, "Father, the time has come. Glorify Your son, that Your Son may glorify You." (John 17:1) Jesus' humiliating death on the cross would bring glory to Himself. This was because Christ's death on the cross was the Father's will and would bring glory to the Father. Because God the Father, and God, the Son, are one; it would also bring glory to God, the Son. Furthermore, it would bring about the glorious redemption of God's chosen people. Jesus recognized that the glorious redemption of His people could only come about by His atoning sacrifice. We can be fully confident in the sufficiency of Christ's atonement for our sins, because we were given to Jesus Christ by the Father. Also we can be confident in our salvation, because Jesus completed the work on the cross that God gave Him to do.

Jesus also prayed for His disciples. Jesus again said that they were given to Him by the Father. Jesus' disciples had shown that they belonged to the Lord by their obedience and acceptance of God's Word. They had shown that they belonged to the Lord by their acceptance of Jesus as the Son of God. They had shown they belonged to the Lord because glory had come to the Lord through them. So also our lives must show these same fruits of being disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our passion and desire should be to bring glory to His name by our lives. Jesus went on in His prayer to ask the Father to protect His disciples, because they were still in the world. He also prayed that they would be united in Him. The Lord of the universe continues to protect His disciples today also! He also desires our unity as believers. Jesus went on to pray for the disciples' joy. This is a joy which we also can have. It is a joy that we can experience in the Lord and is not based on our outward circumstances. It is a joy which comes from abiding in Christ Jesus and in His promises in His Word. Finally, Jesus prayed for the sanctification of His disciples. He prayed that His disciples would grow in their faith. He prayed that through the truth of God's Word they would grow in practical holiness and righteousness in their lives.

Jesus Christ's prayer was not just for the disciples of that day. It was also for us, His disciples today! Jesus said in John 17:20, "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message." It is also His desire for us His disciples today that we become more like Him. It is His desire that our lives more and more reflect His holiness. Jesus also prayed that we may be one in unity as believers in Him. This is so the world will take note of our lives and believe in Jesus Christ. Christ's prayer was that He will live in us, as He lives in the Father. Jesus Christ's prayer also was that we would be with Him eternally to be able to see Him in all His glory. Jesus Christ's prayer was that He and His love would be in us. Are we living our lives according to Christ's desires and prayers for us? Is living for the Lord our consuming passion? May we be increasingly reflecting Him in our lives!

Grief Turned to Joy

General — Posted by sharaug @ June 17, 2006 15:52
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John15:18-John16:33

The night before Jesus went on the cross He told His disciples to expect persecution on this earth. Jesus says in John 15:19b, "I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." In the free world we enjoy much freedom and do not experience a lot of the blatant outward persecution which is found in some parts of the world. There is subtle persecution in the free world also, however. Also as the free world moves ever increasingly towards the acceptance of all kinds of immoral behavior, we will also increasingly see more open persecution of believers. Already we as followers of Jesus Christ are considered narrow or judgmental, if we do not follow or accept the life styles and philosophies of the world around us. The world does not understand the wisdom of God and of His Holy Word. They do not understand our love for the Lord and our desire to serve Him. It is difficult sometimes to live for the Lord in this world. The Lord Jesus promised His disciples to send the Holy Spirit, however, to help them. The Holy Spirit is our helper also today. The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins and leads us to Christ. The Holy Spirit guides us into all of God's truth and speaks God's truth to our hearts. He does this through God's Holy Word. He gives us the guidance we need when we need it. He makes known to us what God, the Father, and God, the Son, wants us to know and understand.

The night before Jesus died on the cross Jesus tried to explain to His disciples that He would soon be dying on the cross for their sins. Jesus further tried to explain to the disciples that He would be leaving this world to return to the Father. This was necessary so that He could pay for our sins, and then go to prepare an eternal home for His people. Jesus said to His disciples in John 16:16, "In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me." Jesus' words must have been confusing and a cause for grief to the disciples. Sometimes we don't see Jesus in the difficult circumstances of our lives either. Sometimes it is difficult to hang on to our faith during these times in our lives. Jesus told His disciples that they would grieve temporarily, but He said their grief would turn to joy. This would happen when Jesus arose from the grave victorious over sin, Satan, and death! Jesus told His disciples that when this happened "no one will take away your joy." (John 16:22b) We too may have suffering or difficulties in this life. Our final victory, however, has been won through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ! Because of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection even the trials of life can not rob us of our joy. Nothing or no one can rob us of our joy in the Lord! Also someday Jesus will return for us. What joy! What glorious expectation we have in Christ Jesus!

While we are still on this earth we need to abide in Christ. John 16:24 tells us that if we abide and remain in Christ, we can ask for anything from the Father in Jesus Christ's name. We can go directly to the Father in prayer. Jesus says this is true because "the Father Himself loves you because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from God." (John 16:27)

If we abide in Christ, we experience His peace. It is a peace which the world can not understand or take away from us. We should not be shocked, if we often face difficult obstacles in this world. Jesus says in John 16:33b, "In this world you will have trouble." Trials of various kinds are inevitable in this world. Jesus goes on to say in that same verse, however, that we should not become discouraged. Jesus says, "But take heart! I have overcome the world." Jesus has won the final victory! Everything is under His control, even the smallest details of our lives. He gives us grace to meet each and every trial that He allows in our lives. Hence, in Jesus Christ we have His joy and His peace in our lives!


Chosen to Bear Fruit

General — Posted by sharaug @ June 13, 2006 06:53
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John 15:9-17

"I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."

John 15:11

"You did not choose Me, but I choose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name."

Jesus tells us in John fifteen that the only way we can expect to live spiritually fruitful lives is by remaining in Him. Jesus is like the vine. We are like the branches. A branch can only survive when it is attached to the vine. We can only live our lives in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord when we are doing it in the Lord's strength. Our strength alone will fail every time. God's strength in our lives is all-sufficient.

One way we show that we are remaining in Jesus Christ's love is by obeying His commands. We can not just have a lukewarm affection for the Lord. Our love for the Lord must be a passionate love. Our love for Him must be demonstrated in a love for His Holy Word and in a desire to obey the Lord in all areas of our lives. Christ demonstrated this kind of obedient love for the Father. Christ was willing to endure the horrors of hell on the cross, so that He could be obedient to the Father's will.

Another way we can show that we are remaining in the Lord's love is by loving our fellow Christians. We need to love each other, as the Lord has loved us. Jesus Christ was willing to go to the cross because of His great love for us! This was sacrificial love beyond our human comprehension! We need to show sacrificial love for each other. "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) In verse fourteen of John chapter fifteen Jesus says to us, "You are My friends if you do what I command." Proof that we are remaining in the Lord's love is obeying His commands, and one of the Lord's commands is to love each other.

When we abide in the Lord it brings joy to His heart. When we show spiritual fruit in our lives and a passion and love for the Lord it also brings joy and delight to the Lord's heart. If we are abiding and remaining in the Lord it further brings joy to our own lives. Jesus says in John 15:11, "I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." Joy in the Lord is much deeper than the joy and happiness found in pleasant and peaceful circumstances. The Lord's joy is found in our lives, because we delight in the Lord. The Lord's joy is found in our lives because of our love for Him, and this joy is present even in the midst of very difficult trials in our lives. The Lord's joy is constant and enduring in spite of outward circumstances. The Lord's joy in our lives is abundant and overflowing. We must learn to draw daily from the Lord for our joy and strength. That joy will then overflow to others. The Lord's joy is found in obedience to Him and in our love for others. The Lord's joy is found in fulfilling the purpose for which we were put on this earth, and that purpose is to bring glory and honor to God. Jesus says in John 15:16, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name." God chose you and me to bring glory to Him and to bear spiritual fruit. We must be willing to serve Him in this world in the place where He has placed us. We must bear spiritual fruit for Him and continue to grow in our love and obedience of Him. May this be our passion and desire!

John 15:16

Spiritually Fruitful

General — Posted by sharaug @ June 08, 2006 04:46
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John 15:1-8

"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."

When we know someone we love is about to die we tend to cling to their every last word. John chapters thirteen through seventeen reveal Jesus' last words and prayers for His disciples. Jesus spoke these words the night before He went on the cross. These were truths that were very important to the Lord. Jesus wanted His disciples to really grasp these important truths. The Lord wanted the disciples to apply these very important truths to their lives. We need to pay attention to what the Lord said to His disciples then and says to us today also.

In John chapter thirteen Jesus speaks of the importance of servanthood in our lives. In John fourteen Jesus comforts the disciples and speaks of His preparing a place for us in heaven. In John chapter fourteen Jesus also tells us that He is the only way to the Father. Then in chapter fifteen Jesus speaks of the need for fruitful service in our lives. Jesus says that He is like the vine, and we are like the branches. Jesus goes on to say that God, the Father, is like the gardener. In judgment God, the Father, will cut off branches that bear no spiritual fruit at all in their lives. These are people who profess to be Christians but really are not true believers. God, the Father, who is like the gardener, also prunes all the branches that do bear fruit. This represents true believers who show spiritual fruit or evidence of faith in their lives. Pruning of plants involves cutting away unwanted parts on a plant. This pruning process produces more fruit from plants. God, the Father, also does pruning in our lives. He seeks to prune the undesirable things out of our lives, so that we can grow spiritually and bear even more spiritual fruit in our lives. God often uses trials and difficulties in our lives to rid our lives of undesirable things and to help us to become more like Jesus in our thoughts, motives, and actions. This pruning process in our lives can be painful sometimes. It is necessary, however, if we are going to grow spiritually.

The only way we can expect to be fruitful in our service to the Lord is by remaining in Jesus. Jesus says in John 15:4, "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." We have no spiritual fruitfulness in our lives apart from fellowship and union with the Lord Jesus Christ. If we, the branches, are out of contact with Jesus, the vine; we are useless and lifeless. Jesus goes on to say in John 15:5b, "apart from Me you can do nothing." We may struggle and struggle on our own, but without Christ in our lives we can do nothing. We must give control of our lives completely over to the Lord. We must not seek to be self-reliant, but we must rely on God's all-sufficiency alone. This is the secret to a spiritually fruitful life which is lived for the Lord. It is the secret to a life which truly shows the evidence of faith in one's thoughts, motives, and actions.

Remaining and abiding in the Lord is the secret also to a fruitful prayer life. If we desire a fruitful prayer life, we must remain in Jesus and live in constant fellowship with Him. We also must be certain that we daily read His Holy Word with a passionate desire to seek His will for our lives. The Lord's words in the Bible will prune, control, and direct our desires in the right direction. If we do this, we are in a position for the Lord to hear and answer our prayers.

We bring glory to the Father by bearing spiritual fruit in our lives. This is the reason for which we were created. We can only bear spiritual fruit in our lives, if we are remaining in Jesus and finding our strength in Him alone. It must be our consuming passion to bear spiritual fruit for Him.

 John 15:4

Obedience

General — Posted by sharaug @ June 03, 2006 19:46
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John 14:15-31

"If you love Me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with You forever-the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you." John 14:15-17

"Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you."

Jesus gave His all for us on the cross. Jesus, the Son of God, paid the horrible penalty for our sins on the cross. We need to be filled with gratitude and love to the Lord for the awesome sacrifice He made for us. We show our love and gratitude to the Lord by our obedience to His Holy Word. Our salvation is all of grace through faith. We can do nothing to earn our salvation. Thankful obedience always accompanies true faith, however. Jesus says in John 14:15, "If you love Me, you will obey what I command." Jesus said these words to His disciples the night before He went on the cross, and He says these same words to His children today. Jesus promised His disciples to send the Holy Spirit as their helper in their life of obedience. The Holy Spirit today also helps us in our comprehension of God's Holy Word and in the comprehension of God's will. Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit will be with us forever and that He is "the Spirit of Truth." (John 14:17a) The Holy Spirit brings us to the truth of God. The Holy Spirit always stands by us who are God's children. The Holy Spirit is our comforter, encourager, counselor, advocate, and the One who strengthens us. The world doesn't understand this, but Jesus' promise to you and me is that the Holy Spirit "lives with you and will be in you." (John 14:17b)

As children of God we will live eternally! Jesus says to us, "Because I live, you also will live." (John 14:19b) Jesus goes on to say in John 14:20b, "I am in my Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you." Jesus, the Son of God, is in the Father. Furthermore, we are in Jesus Christ; and He is in us! Isn't that an exciting thought?

Jesus goes on to remind us again in verse twenty-one, however, that we need to show we are children of God by our lives. We show we are children of God and show our love for Him by our obedience. Then and only then will the Lord reveal Himself to us. Then the triune God will come and make His home in our lives and hearts! The Holy Spirit helps us in our compliance with the will of God. The Holy Spirit is our homemaker and lives in us to transform our lives and hearts into a fit dwelling place for the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit in our hearts teaches us and reminds us of God's commands and promises in His Holy Word. The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins, and He comforts us in our times of difficulty. He helps us to experience the peace of Christ in our lives even in the worst of times. The Holy Spirit also helps us in our obedience to the Lord. Jesus' life was a perfect example of obedience to the Father. Jesus said in John 14:31b, "I do exactly what my Father has commanded me." Jesus was speaking here of His death on the cross the very next day! Jesus paid the entire penalty for your and my sins! We owe Him our obedience. We owe Him our all!

John 14:19b-20

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