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“...In the world you will have tribulation; but be
of good cheer, I have overcome the world."—John 16:33
I wonder how Jesus feels
listening to some of the messages taught in our American churches. I wonder if He’s noticed the same thing I
have? I’ve noticed that most of the
messages in our “me centered” culture come from one of two angles:
Either they are nice
messages that tell people how to be a better person, how to get their prayers
answered, or “how to…”. This type of
message is usually a very well organized three to seven point message that
leaves the listener feeling encouraged and ready to go. (all to often just to a
big lunch.)
OR
Focus on the fact that
Jesus said in John 16:33, “…In the world you will have tribulation; but be
of good cheer, I have overcome the world." This makes us feel good if we’re going
through life’s trials, because they can truly be very tiresome (it’s also a
great way to get people to read articles-- that’s why I put that scripture on
the top of this message, I knew this piece would be a bit challenging: and
having it there might get you to read this article.)
I said it a few months ago,
but I can’t help notice that we as ministers spend more time preaching to make
people feel good, than drawing the body of Christ into a deeper relationship
with Christ. I know that people need to
be encouraged (myself included), but isn’t the emphasis supposed to be on
Jesus? It may seem a bit “simple” to
some, but in Hebrews 11:6 Paul told us that it is impossible to please God
without faith. So shouldn’t the focus of
our faith in any situation be Him? If
the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, then the shortest
way to answered prayer might be faith in God and the finished work of Jesus His
son. Lately the old hymn “Jesus paid it
all” keeps resurfacing in my life, so I thought I would share the words of that
incredible work of art with you as a focus point:
Jesus Paid It All
I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”
Refrain
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
For
nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim,
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
And
now complete in Him
My robe His righteousness,
Close sheltered ’neath His side,
I am divinely blest.
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
Lord,
now indeed I find
Thy power and Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots
And melt the heart of stone.
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
When
from my dying bed
My ransomed soul shall rise,
“Jesus died my soul to save,”
Shall rend the vaulted skies.
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
And
when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down
All down at Jesus’ feet.
WOW! It is
finished! Jesus Paid It All! Isn’t it
about time we turn to Him for our answers? After all, he truly paid the price
for our sins, sickness, weakness, etc,…
When do we realize that our methods of working the five point sermon
becomes leaning to our own understanding?
Which it seems as though the word tells us not to lean to our own
understanding. I don’t mean to be
critical of these types of messages, I too have preached them and been lifted
by them. I think that the reason many
folks are going through intense tribulation might just be because it took that
for them to look at Jesus’ work and throw themselves on the mercy of God
through the finished work of redemption.
Just a few days ago I was
in the woods where I often go to pray and had a very unique encounter with
God. I began my prayer time by reading
Galatians 2:20:
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer
I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh
I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
I prayed this as a reminder
that I needed to get out of the way and let God be God. As I prayed my eyes
fell on the phrase, “…I live by the faith of the Son of God…” I was somewhat taken back. I asked God to please give me a glimpse of
what Jesus’ faith looked like. Very
quickly within myself I heard “It’s too big for you to grasp.” I replied, “I know God, but could you just
show me one element of it”? Almost
instantly these words flooded my heart: “That you would complete what I have
called you to do”. I was (and still am)
dumbfounded. For the last couple of week
He has been making elements of this statement plain to me and He’ll do the same
for you. As we press into Him and focus
on what Jesus’ faith looked/looks like then we begin to see that “Jesus Paid It
All” for us. We’re the head and not the
tail. We are above only and not beneath,
the victors and not the victims. All of
our needs are met according to His riches in glory. We are healed by the stripes of Jesus. All my sins have been washed away, not just
coved as with the blood of a lamb in the old testament, but WASHED AWAY! I could go on and on for hours, but the bottom
line is Jesus Paid It All.
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