The Gospel of Jesus Christ

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

Acts 2:14-40

1. Prophesied in the Old Testament.
2. Jesus Christ was attested to by miracles, signs and wonders.
3. Jesus Christ's death for the sins of the world was predetermined by God the Father.
4. Christ's death was carried out by wicked hands.
5. Christ was raised up from the dead.
6. Christ is exalted at the right hand of the Father.
7. Christ has sent His Spirit into the world.
8. Jesus has been made Lord and Christ.
9. Mankind must repent and receive forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ.
10. All who repent and believe will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
11. This promise is made to all who will respond to God's call.
12. The Lord Jesus Christ will return in power and judgment and will receive His people to Himself.

My Testimony

My Testimony Growing up in Mississippi, I always believed in God. My mother and grandmother were Christians, but for the most part, we weren't in church. I think there was always a desire to know God but I didn't really know what it was at the time. My older brother was killed in an accident on the job when I was almost 18. Just after that, we moved to Dallas, where one of my sisters was living. Eventually my mother remarried and we started attending a Baptist church in Dallas. It wasn't long before I began to see what God had done for me through Christ. That Christ had died for my sins on the cross. I realized I needed to be saved, but was very shy about talking to anyone about it or making a public profession of faith. Then in Jan. 1979, a brother-in-law was tragically killed which led one of my sisters to make a profession of faith and several of the brother-in-law's family as well. More and more, I knew I had to do something. One Sunday, out of the blue (it seemed), my sister asked me if I had been baptized. I said I hadn't. That evening, as the Pastor preached on "When the Lights Go Out on the Way to Hell", I was even more convicted. During the invitation, my sister turned to me and asked me if I wanted to go down to the altar. So I went and knelt with the Pastor to ask Jesus to save me. I have struggled with sin and not always walked close with the Lord but I believe He has always been there and has protected me, even from myself, at times. He has been very patient with me.

The Love of Christ

1 John 3:16-20

The ultimate act of love was Jesus Christ giving His life for us on the cross.
With Christ living in us, we should allow that love to be expressed through us. It should be expressed in tangible ways.
As we see the love of Christ expressed through us, we will have assurance that we belong to Christ.
My prayer is that the love of Christ will be seen in me.

Transformed!

As we spend time with the Lord, we will come to know and understand all that He has done for us. (Luke 10:38-42, Eph. 1:18-20)
As believers, we are to be transformed into the image of our Savior, changed from the earthly to the heavenly. (1 Cor. 15:45-49) We should be replacing the things in our lives that are earthly with those that are heavenly. (Eph. 4:31-32)
What Christ has done for us should make us want to be more like Him. (Phil. 2:6-8)
This transformation comes about by having our minds renewed, by thinking differently (with the mind of Christ). (Rom. 12:2)
There are three things we can do to facilitate this process of transformation:

1. Memorize scripture. This hides the word in our hearts and causes it to dwell in us richly. (Psalm 119:11, Col. 3:16)

2. Speak what you learn from the scripture out loud. This plants it deeper in us. (Psalm 119:13, 1 Chron. 16:8-13)

3. Practice it. This plants it even deeper than speaking it. (Psalm 119:56, James 1:22-25)

Abiding in Christ

	John 15 Abiding in Christ 1. Abiding in Christ is a life of total dependency. 2. Abiding in Christ is a life of fruitfulness. 3. Abiding in Christ is a life of usefulness. 4. Abiding in Christ is a life of answered prayer. 5. Abiding in Christ is a life of glorifying God. 6. Abiding in Christ is a life of discipleship. 7. Abiding in Christ is abiding in His love. 8. Abiding in Christ is a life of obedience. 9. Abiding in Christ is a life of joy. 10. Abiding in Christ is loving one another.

Trusting God in Impossible Situations

Trusting God in Impossible Situations

2 Chron. 20:1-25

When you are faced with a situation that puts fear in your heart, what do you do?
Well, in this passage, Jehoshaphat made up his mind to seek the Lord.
In prayer, he reminded God of who He is and of His great power and of what He had done for Israel in the past. And of His promise to hear their cries for deliverance.
He went over the situation and expressed their powerlessness and lack of knowledge in handling the situation. He then said "... but we look to You". Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel and gave him these words: "Don't fear or faint. This is not your battle to fight. Your God will fight for you. He told them to go to where the enemy was. He told them to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. See what your God will do! He then promised them His presence.
The King and the people responded in worship and praise.
When they went out to meet the enemy, all they had to do was praise the Lord and He gave the victory.

Some Thoughts on John 5

John 5:1-5

After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes.

3 In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, [waiting for the moving of the waters;

4 for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.]

5 A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.

NASU

Some problems (physical or spiritual) are deep-seated and lingering.  Vs. 5

John 5:6

6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, "Do you wish to get well?"

NASU

In that condition, we are helpless.

We must be sincere and serious about getting well.

John 5:7-9

7 The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me."

8 Jesus said to him, "Get up, pick up your pallet and walk." 

9 Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk.

NASU

It takes the command of the Lord and faith to do what He says to be free of our helpless condition.

John 5:9-11

Now it was the Sabbath on that day.

10 So the Jews were saying to the man who was cured, "It is the Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet."

11 But he answered them, "He who made me well was the one who said to me, "Pick up your pallet and walk.'" 

NASU

We must be free from the law so that we can live for God.