His Love Ministries

JOHN 15:18-25 JESUS SAID "HE WHO HATES ME HATES MY FATHER ALSO

John 5:18 "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 "If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 "But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. 22 "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 "He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24 "If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 25 "But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, 'They hated Me without a cause.'
In this section Jesus makes it very clear that if you have trusted Him as your Lord and Savior that the world will hate us because it hated and still hates Him. The people of the world love us if we live like they do in sin, but when we live for God they hate us because we make them feel guilty and look bad. Jesus reminds them that they are His because He first loved them and chose them. He says that we will be persecuted because they even did it to Him and He is both Lord and Creator of everything. Then He says that the Pharisees and those who have heard His word would not be guilty of willfully rejecting Him if He had not come and revealed Himself. The principle of the Bible is that we are all guilty and deserving of hell according to Romans Chapters 1:16-3:31, but the more we know about God, the guiltier we become. If we respond to the light or revelation of Christ we have been given, God will show us more about Him (John 7:17). Lastly, He says that you cannot know God and do not love Him if you hate the Son Jesus. Anyone who claims to love God and hates Jesus is a liar. He finishes by saying that people hate Jesus for no reason other than He condemns their sin. He never did anything wrong that would make them hate Him. 2Ti 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

John 15:11-17 "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you

John 15:11 "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. 14 "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.15 "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 "These things I command you, that you love one another.
Jesus begins by telling them that He has spoken all these things that we might be full of joy in our lives. Jesus did not come so that we would be miserable, but joyful. Then He commands us to love one another as He has loved us by being willing to lay down our life if necessary. He gave Himself totally and completely because of His great love with which He loved us (Eph 2:4). This is the greatest kind of love that gives everything including our lives. Then He tells us that we are saved (His Friends) if we love like this and whatever else He asks us to do. He also says He will show us what He is doing and we will know the will of the Father and all He the Father has told Him. Lastly, He tells us that He is the one who chose us and did it so that we would bear fruit. Then He repeats the command that we love one another. This is very important that we love one another because we are all a part of each other and God and the Bible says that God is love.

JOHN 15:4-8 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit

John 15:4 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
In this wonderful section of Scripture we will see that unless we abide we can nothing that God has ordained for us to do. I believe abide first of all means we are saved if we abide in Him and He abides in us, Romans 8:9, John 14:20, 17:23. Then, when we are filled with the Spirit we bear much fruit. Being filled with the Spirit is talked about in Eph 5:9, 5:18-21, and Col 3:16-23. If we are not saved we are unable to do anything that is a supernatural God work. In other words, if you are saved you know that before you were that you were unable to change and get rid of those sin areas in your life that plagued you. You also now have an ability to live for God and also do great works in His name (see Mt 5:16, Eph 3:20). The Fruit of the Spirit is spoken of in Gal 5:22, but it also is shown in the passages above where Paul says it will be shown by;
1. Speaking about the Word of God (What dominates your thought life)
2. Singing and Making Melody in your Heart (Joy)
3. Thankfulness
4. Being Submissive to God and Others in your household and your workplace and treating others like they should be treated.
5. It also will glorify God

JOHN 15:2-4 Jesus said You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

John 15:2 "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
In today’s lesson we will see that Jesus tells us that the people who do not bear fruit are not really saved and He takes them away. We will see later they are burned in the fire (sent to hell). He tells us that the true disciples are the ones the Father prunes; they are the ones that bear fruit. This chapter says very clearly that if you are saved your life will show it by the fruit you bear because you are connected to the True Vine (Jesus). He also says that they have been washed clean from their sins by the Word of God. (Titus 3:5, Ephesians 5:26-27). He lastly tells us the only way we can produce fruit is if we are connected to the vine and live in a close intimate relationship with him. To say it another way is that we are filled with the Holy Spirit. No one can do anything unless God empowers us to do it.

John 15:1-2 Jesus said I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser

John 15:1 ¶ "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
In this very controversial passage of Scripture we will see that Jesus is telling us that He is the true source of our spiritual and physical life. Ac 17:28 "for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.' 2Peter 1:3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue. Jesus is the source of it all and the Father is the one who will do the cutting (chastising in our life) when it is needed. The way a vine produces fruit is by cutting it back and it will produce more. God does the same thing in our life when He cuts away those unnecessary things out of our life so we can continue to grow in the grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is talking about two groups of people here. One is the true Christians who when they are cut on bear more fruit and the false Christians who never bear any fruit. Mt 7:16 "You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? 17 "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 21"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

John 14:15–24 Jesus Said If you love Me, keep My commandments

John 14:15 ¶ "If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- 17 "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 ¶ "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. 19 "A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 "At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?"23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.
In this section of Scripture Jesus defines a true Christian as one who keeps His commandments. He is very clear; those who do not obey Jesus are not really saved no matter how much they go to church or know their Bible, or how many good deeds they do. This cannot be any more clear. How many today will say they are going to Heaven but do not live in any way that looks like what a Christian is supposed to be according to the Bible? Jesus does not say we get to Heaven by doing good works, but that if we are saved we will do them. Look at James 2:14-17 and Ephesians 2:8-10. They both say we are saved by faith, but the faith that saves is never alone, it is always accompanied by good works which are the evidence of salvation. Jesus says this four different times in this passage. I think he wants us to know that the way we know someone is saved is if they keep His word which is His commandments. He also tells us that He will send the Holy Spirit to be in us and with us forever. He will take Jesus place as our encourager and helper in this world. He also tells us that if we keep His commandments the Father will love us too and He and the Father will come to us and live with us forever since they are coming to make their home with us.

JOHN 14:5-14 JESUS SAID TO HIM, "I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." 8 Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." 9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10 "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. 12 ¶ "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
Jesus is the way to God because He is the truth from God and the life from God. He is the truth because He embodies God's supreme revelation (1:18; 5:19; 8:29).John 1:18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. He is the life because He contains and imparts divine life. Jesus is not merely One who has shown men the way; He is the way. It is His death, resurrection, and ascension that has made a way for men to spend eternity with God in heaven. He is not merely a way; He is the way. He is the one and only way that God has provided for men to obtain the forgiveness of their sins and the gift of eternal life. Lest anyone miss this point, Jesus says it again, in the plainest of words: “No one comes to the Father except through Me.” To know Jesus is to know the way to the Father, for He is the way. This was an exclusive claim to being the only way to heaven. John 10:9 "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
Ac 4:12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
1Ti 2:5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
It is only because of Jesus Christ's work on the cross that anyone can enter heaven. Since He has come it is only through faith in the promise of God that His cross work satisfied the Father that anyone experiences regeneration John 1:12; 3:16;
1Jo 2:2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

John 13:36-14.2 jesus said Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.

John 13:36 Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, where are You going?" Jesus answered him, "Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward." 37 Peter said to Him, "Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake." 38 Jesus answered him, "Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times. 14:1"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Today’s Scripture deals with the time in the upper room where Jesus and the disciples are having the last supper. Jesus is giving final instructions to them before He leaves earth so they can deal with all that life will throw at them. Peter does not understand why he cannot go with Jesus; he has gone with Him everywhere for 3 years and does not want Jesus to leave him and the disciples. Peter goes so far as to say he will die for Jesus. Jesus then tells Peter that he will deny Him three times before the rooster crows. He then begins to tell them it is going to be alright and they need not be troubled. He tells them to trust in Him and believe in Him as they already do in God the Father, because He is God and is equal with the Father. Jesus knows they are in a really bad place and He wants to assure them that it will be okay and that He is going to prepare a place for them so they can be with Him forever.

PHILIPPIANS 3:12-17 KEEP PRESSING ON

Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 ¶ Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. 17 ¶ Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.
In this great section of Scripture Paul is exhorting the Philippians to keep at it and not to quit. He lets them know that even though he had all of these great human accomplishments they meant nothing to him now that He knows Christ. That they are actually something that hold him down in life and are excess baggage and even as worthless as dung. He tells them that even though he was all these things in the world’s eyes, that he is still not perfect, that he has not attained the pinnacle of Christ likeness, he still has work to do. He does this so they won’t get discouraged and give up since none of us will ever achieve perfection in this life and we will still mess up and sin. Finally he says we are to keep our eyes fixed on the goal of being like Christ and our prize is that one day when we get to heaven we get to finally be like Him

John 13:27-35 So, when he had gone out, Jesus said,

John 13:27 Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, "What you do, do quickly."28 But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. 29 For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, "Buy those things we need for the feast," or that he should give something to the poor. 30 Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night. 31 So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. 32 "If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately. 33 "Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, 'Where I am going, you cannot come,' so now I say to you. 34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
In this section of Scripture we see that Jesus has given Judas the bread and at that point, the devil enters Judas. Judas willingly invited the devil into his life and it cost him all of eternity in hell. Jesus tells him to go ahead and betray Him since that is what Judas intended to do. When Judas has left Jesus states that now He (the Son of Man) is glorified. What Jesus means is the way He is going to be glorified is by dying on the cross for our sins. Jesus speaks of it as if it had already happened, since it was going to and He knew it would. Judas goes out and it is night, there is a double meaning here since John always speaks of darkness as error, lies, and sin. Then Jesus proceeds to tell them He is going to heaven even though He says it in terms they don’t understand. Lastly, Jesus gives us that famous statement a new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." We are to love one another no matter what happens is what He is saying. He then says it will be known that we belong to Jesus is by the way we show our love to each other.

John 13:26 Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I

John 13:26 Jesus answered, "It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it." And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
In this section of Scripture we see Jesus pointing out that Judas is the one who will betray Him and that He is telling this so they will believe He is the I AM God of the Old Testament who has come in the flesh. He also tells them that it will fulfill the Scriptures to show how accurate they are and that all that is said in them is true and will come true if it is a future prediction. Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies when He came the first time and will fulfill at least that many when He comes again. If you haven’t believed on Him, the question is why not? Who fulfilled prophecies and done as many great signs that show He is God? No one, so believe on Him today and be saved. Sorry this message got messed up and only part of it is here from verses 18-19 and then part of verse 26. I will try to replace it with a full message when I preach it again.

John 13.18-19 Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I

John 13:18 "I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.' 19 "Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He. 20 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me."

In this section of Scripture we see Jesus pointing out that Judas is the one who will betray Him and that He is telling this so they will believe He is the I AM God of the Old Testament who has come in the flesh. He also tells them that it will fulfill the Scriptures to show how accurate they are and that all that is said in them is true and will come true if it is a future prediction. Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies when He came the first time and will fulfill at least that many when He comes again. If you haven’t believed on Him, the question is why not? Who fulfilled prophecies and done as many great signs that show He is God? No one, so believe on Him today and be saved. Sorry this message got messed up and only part of it is here from verses 18-19 and then part of verse 26. I will try to replace it with a full message when I preach it again.

JOHN 13:12-18 MOST ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, A SERVANT IS NOT GREATER THAN HIS MASTER; NOR IS HE WHO

John 13:12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? 13 "You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 "For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 "Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 18 "I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.'
In this very familiar passage of Scripture, we see Jesus having set the example for Servant Leadership in the first eleven verses asking them if they know what He has done. Then He explains what He has done and why He did it. Jesus says Most Assuredly (i.e.; Listen Up What I am about to say is very Important). He says that if He the Lord and God who created everything washed their dirty nasty feet, then what ought they to do? Jesus is saying that we ought to do whatever it takes to help others become who they ought to be in Christ. That we are to help everyone in spite of what they look like, smell like, talk like, act like, or anything else that we may not like about them. Jesus says a blessing comes not by knowing what you ought to do, but by doing the very thing we most dislike doing sometimes, helping others who are not like us. Mt 25:40 "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' He also tells them about Judas who has betrayed Him even after having fellowship with Him.

JOHN 13:1-11 JESUS SAID TO HIM, "HE WHO IS BATHED NEEDS ONLY TO WASH HIS FEET

John 13:1 Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, "Lord, are You washing my feet?" 7 Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this." 8 Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." 9 Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!" 10 Jesus said to him, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you." 11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, "You are not all clean."
In today’s message we will see Jesus humbling Himself and showing us the attitude of Servant Leadership. This is a concept that is shown by Jesus the whole time He is here on earth. He was humble in the fact that the God who created everything came to earth to die on the cross for our sins (Philippians 2:5-11). Jesus said in Mark 9:35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." Peter gets proud and doesn’t want Jesus to wash his feet so He tells Jesus "Lord, are You washing my feet? So, Jesus begins to say that Peter doesn’t understand all this right now, but will later on. Peter strongly protests again. So, Jesus tells Peter that if He is not allowed to wash his feet that He cannot have anything to do with Jesus. So Peter replies wash all of me then. Jesus lets Peter know that a saved person (those that are completely clean) only needs to clean their feet. In other words a saved person has been completely washed clean by the Blood of Jesus and only needs to daily ask for forgiveness(wash their feet) to maintain fellowship with God. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. As we walk through this world we get dirty from being exposed to the sin around us that contaminates us. He then tells Peter that Judas is not saved by saying all of you are not clean.

John 12:44-50 Then Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him w

John 12:44 Then Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. 45 "And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. 46 "I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. 47 "And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him--the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. 49 "For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. 50 "And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak."
Jesus really wants people to be saved. In Luke 19:10 it says "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. “The consequence of rejection is going to bring ultimate condemnation.  John 3:17-19 emphasizes the same thing.  Jesus the Word comes and people are condemned because they don’t believe it.
The purpose of God’s revelation in Jesus Christ is a positive offer, verse forty-seven.  “To save the world.” You may not like the law of gravity. Gravity has no respect for persons and if you step off the top a building, the gravity will not even care or shed a tear as you hit the pavement.  It won’t care. Over and over again Jesus has told them who He is and they need to be saved, the truth has been revealed and they will not embrace it.
Whether or not people embrace it or reject it is their responsibility.  Do not blame the medical community if you have lung cancer.  Do not blame the medical community if you have diabetes.  Do not blame the physicist and the guy who figured out the laws of gravity.  You and I make a choice to go against what we know.  And that’s exactly what God saying to us here.
Put it another way, no one will be in hell who did not have ample opportunity to know how to be saved.  There is not a person who will go to hell who did not have ample opportunity to come to trust in Jesus Christ.  I believe Scripture teaches it throughout.  Jesus is speaking to His Father and He is speaking loud and the religious leaders are quiet because they’re afraid. How about you, what will you believe?

JOHN 12:37-43 FOR THEY LOVED THE PRAISE OF MEN MORE THAN THE PRAISE OF GOD

John 12:37 But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, 38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?" 39 Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: 40 "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them." 41 These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him. 42 ¶ Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

We will hear in this message that Jesus had done many signs (miracles with a message) yet they would not believe in Him. The theme of the whole book John 20:30-31 is that Jesus is God in human flesh because He is God over time, over death, over distance, over nature, over demons, over all creation. It also says all this was done that it might fulfill the prophecies of Isaiah, who said they would hear, but not believe, so God hardens their heart to the point that they cannot believe. This prophecy was given when He saw Jesus (God) high and lifted up on the throne in chapter 6. Many believe in Jesus, but are not truly saved because they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Who are you seeking to please? Jesus said in Mt 10:32 "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. Mt 10:33 "But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. So whose praise are you looking for; Men’s or God’s?

John 12:20-25 But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glor

John 12:20 Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. 21 Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." 22 Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus. 23 But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 "He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

In today’s teaching we will see that this is the turning point of Jesus away from the Jews. The reason for this turning is some Greeks coming to seek Jesus and this apparently is a signal from His Father that Jesus is to completely turn away from them. They do not realize it but it is over for them and there are no more chances for these Jews (religious people) to trust Christ from now on. Jesus tells them that the way the Son of Man is glorified is that He has to die. This is where the Jews have it all wrong, they think Jesus is to come and be a Magnificent Savior the first time, but He has come to die for the sins of the whole world. The way we are please the Father and become ultimately glorified is through our salvation and becoming like God as we die to ourselves and then we can live for Him. Isn’t it amazing that God has given us seeds as an example of this great truth of dying, so we can really become who we really are made to be in Christ?

JOHN 12.9-19 FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SITTING ON A DONKEYS COLT

John 12:9 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 10 But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.
12 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: "Hosanna! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' The King of Israel!" 14 Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: 15 "Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey's colt." 16 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him. 17 Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. 18 For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, "You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!"

In this section of Scripture we will see that many of the Jews came to see Him and also Lazarus because he was no longer dead, but alive and well. The chief priests not only want to kill him, but Lazarus also. When Jesus comes riding into town on a donkey’s colt as Zechariah 9:9 predicts. Also Daniel 9:25-27 predicts the exact day He will do this. The people do not understand, they are quoting the wrong verses, it says in verse 12 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: "Hosanna!’Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' The King of Israel!" They took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: "Hosanna! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' The King of Israel!" They are quoting Psalms 118:25-26 which is a verse that speaks of Jesus’s second coming, not His first coming. The first time Jesus comes it is to die on the cross, the second time He comes as a conquering King. They want a political Messiah, a conqueror who will deliver them from Roman rule, not save their souls. I think that is like us so many times, we want a Jesus who will deliver us from trouble, but not one who will deliver us from sin.

JOHN 12.4-10 THEN SAID JESUS, LET HER ALONE: AGAINST THE DAY OF MY BURYING HATH SHE KEPT THIS

John 12:4 Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, said, 5 "Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. 7 But Jesus said, "Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. 8 "For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always." 9 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 10 But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also.

In This message we will see Mary and Jesus rebuked by Judas and the disciples for her anointing the feet of Jesus for His burial. Judas speaks for the first time in the Scriptures and shows his true nature. He pretends to care for the poor, but God through the pen of John tells us this he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. Here we see Jesus tells them you need to get your priorities in order because I always come first in everything. Mark 12:30 'And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. Have you given Jesus first place in your life today? If not, why not?

JOHN 12:1-3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and

John 12:1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. 2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
We are looking at a passage today that is very familiar to us, but as always we need to make sure we don’t think that we know it all, none of us do. Jesus is down to the last week of His life and He is having supper with Lazarus and the sisters Mary and Martha. Martha is serving as usual and Lazarus is being honored by being at the table after having been raised from the dead. The keystone of this passage is Mary takes a very costly perfume, breaks the bottle and pours it all out on Jesus and wipes His feet with her hair. First of all, she gave her best and greatest gift when she poured out her costly perfume, probably worth $20,000 - $25,000 at our rate of exchange today. Also, this was her whole wealth and all her savings she had in this world. Then, she also used her hair which speaks of a woman’s glory. She humbled herself and anointed Jesus for His burial with her perfume and her hair. How about you, are you giving Jesus your best and your all?

JOHN 11:45-57 NOR DO YOU CONSIDER THAT IT IS EXPEDIENT FOR US THAT ONE MAN SHOULD DIE FOR THE PEOPLE

John 11:45 Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. 46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. 48 "If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation." 49 And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all, 50 "nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish." 51 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad. 53 Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. 54 Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples. 55 And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. 56 Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, "What do you think--that He will not come to the feast?" 57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him. (NKJV)

In this section of Scripture we see the result of the Pharisee’s hatred for Jesus. He has raised Lazarus from the dead and instead of them being happy for Lazarus and excited about what Jesus had done, they decide that this is the last straw and they want to kill him for all His miracles. It is amazing how people will react when their authority, prestige and power are threatened. These Pharisees cannot let Jesus take these away from them. They have to be the great and mighty Pharisees. We see some believe, but they are like those in Chapter 6 who after being fed with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread go looking for Jesus again the next day and Jesus says to them you are not looking for me for the right reason, you just want more food. They like Jesus as long as He heals them, or feeds them, or satisfies some need they have, just like most of us today. We like that Jesus, but we don’t like the Jesus of the Bible, Him you can keep. We like His miracles; we just don’t like His message. Just like they decide to kill Him, many today want to wipe out all remnants of Jesus in our society. They don’t want to hear that name or even the name of God which is who Jesus is.

John 11.36-44 Jesus said to her, Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the gl

John 11:36 Then the Jews said, "See how He loved him!" 37 And some of them said, "Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?" 38 Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days." 40 Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 "And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me." 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go."

Today we will see Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead. Even though he has been dead four days, it is not too late. Did you know that it is never too late for Jesus to do His work, when we give up and give in we have missed God’s best, because He wants us to trust Him in Faith. Jesus tells them they will see God’s Glory, that was the message all along, but they missed it and many times so do we. We are looking for a way out and God wants to show us His Glory. Jesus allows them to participate by removing the stone and removing Lazarus’s grave clothes. God wants us to serve Him and gives us the privilege of helping Him if we will only be obedient. Jesus prays and calls forth Lazarus to come forth. Lazarus is a picture of us who are dead in our trespasses and sins and unless God calls us out of that life, we will continue to be spiritually dead forever. Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. That is what Jesus did for Lazarus and is what He will do for us if we will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. Have you done that? If not, why not do it today?

John 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he

John 11:17 So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. 19 And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. 20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. 21 Then Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 "But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You." 23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24 Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 "And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
In this section of Scripture we see the famous saying of Jesus, that He is the Resurrection and the Life. Mary says to Jesus, if only. This is one of the three if only’s in this section. We always think if only, but God can even take the bad and turn it to His good “if only” we will trust Him and let Him do His work His way. He lets Mary know that even though her brother had been dead for four days it was not too late. Are you facing a situation that seems hopeless, that time is running out and it is not going the way you want it to? Remember Jesus may be four days late in our way of thinking, but He is always right on time in working things out the right way, GOD’s WAY….. Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Philippians 4:6-9 Don't Worry, Trust Christ

1. The problem is worry …………v6
Most people have an inadequate knowledge of God and an inadequate trust in God...both are blasphemous.
Matthew 6:25-34 "For this reason I say to you, Do not be anxious for your life as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink, nor for your body as to what you shall put on."

2. The prescription is prayer…………v6
1 Peter 5:7, casting all your care on Him, because he cares for you
Psalms 55:22 Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

3. The promise is peace…………v7
John 16:33, "In this world you shall have tribulation but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
Isaiah 43:23 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.
Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

4. The principle is right thinking or the principle of displacement…………v8
2 Corinthians 10:5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
"Finally, brethren, whatever is true
John 17:17, "Thy Word is truth." Psalm 19:9, Psalm 119:15
Whatever is noble, means worthy of respect
"Whatever is right." And the word is righteous . Think on what is absolutely consistent with the holiness of God.
"Whatever is pure," meaning morally clean, undefiled.
"Whatever is lovely," that means pleasing, attractive, amiable.
Whatever is of good repute," which means well thought of, or highly regarded.
"If there's any excellence and anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things

Since there is excellence and since there are some things worthy of praise, please focus on them." Please. Your mind is the greatest treasure you have in terms of those gifts of human life.

Luke 11: 24 "When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 "And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. 26 "Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first."
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
Proverbs 23: 7 For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he
· Right thoughts lead to right attitudes which lead to right actions
5. The practice of Godly living…………v9
James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

6. The provision of God’s presence…………v9

Philippians 2:5-11 The Mind Of Christ

In verse 5, Paul continues to exhort them to have "this mind" (the attitudes of verses 3-4), pointing out that this is also the "mind of Christ"
In verses (6-11), Paul defines the "mind of Christ" (or the attitude of Christ
I. v6 Jesus did not have SELFISH AMBITION OR CONCEIT
1. Jesus was "in the form of God" The word form in Greek is morphe- the essence or literally the essential nature of something
a. In other words He has always existed as God – John 8:56 "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." 57 Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" 58 Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."
b. John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God
V6 YET CHRIST DID NOT CONSIDER SUCH EQUALITY "ROBBERY"...
1. Literally, "a thing to be grasped"; that is, something to be laid hold of, and retained jealously
2. The "glory" of equality with God which Christ enjoyed from eternity was not something He felt like He HAD to cling on to
3. A true demonstration of a lack of selfish ambition and conceit on the part of our Lord!
II. Jesus LOOKED OUT FOR THE INTERESTS OF OTHERS (7-8)
He took a servant’s place and approached a sinful people
A. WHEN CHRIST BECAME FLESH...
V7 1. He "made Himself of no reputation" John 4:24 "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
a. Some versions say "emptied Himself" this is the Kenosis or self-emptying
Jn 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
First of all, He gave up His heavenly glory.
Secondly, He emptied Himself of independent authority.
Thirdly, He set aside the prerogatives of His deity. Or He set aside the voluntary use of His attributes. You say, "Did He stop being omniscient?" No. "Did He stop being omnipresent?" No. "Did He stop being unchangeable God?" No. He didn't stop being anything, He just didn't use those attributes.
And then lastly, , He gave up a favorable relationship to God. "He who knew no sin was made sin for us...He who knew no sin was made sin for us." And as a result He says, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" He gave up a favorable relationship to God.
He never ceased to be God, never. He remained fully God. He remained fully God.
2. He took upon Himself "the form of a servant" – same word Morphe, literally became a servant. John 13:3
3. He came in the likeness of men He was the same as a man, but different in that He was sinless
Likeness means He was truly human, wept, got hungry, tired in all ways like us but without sin
a. He could experience their temptations and sufferings –
He 2:17-18
V8 And being found in appearance as a man – He looked like us because He was like us.
III. Jesus is HIGHLY EXALTED BY GOD (9-11) – He ascended as a Supreme Prince
V9 JESUS is a good example of Matthew 23:12: "He that humbles himself shall be exalted"
1Peter 5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
2. For God has highly exalted Jesus
by giving Him "the name LORD which is above every name"
Ac 4:12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
V10 that at His name "every knee should bow...that every tongue should confess" He is Lord! -
2Th 1:10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.
V11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

1. We have seen in this passage that "The Mind Of Christ" involves...
a. Humility
b. Obedience
c. Sacrifice
d. Great Reward

JOHN 11:5-15 JESUS ANSWERED, "ARE THERE NOT TWELVE HOURS IN THE DAY? IF ANYONE WALKS IN THE DAY, HE

John 11:5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. 7 Then after this He said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again." 8 The disciples said to Him, "Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?" 9 Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 "But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." 11 These things He said, and after that He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up." 12 Then His disciples said, "Lord, if he sleeps he will get well." 13 However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. 15 "And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him."


In this section of Scripture we see that Jesus has received the message that Lazarus is sick, but Jesus knows that he is dead at this point in time. So, Jesus waits two more days to test the sisters and the disciples. God loves to test us by making us wait on Him so our faith can grow and mature. Then He tells them lets go to Judea and scares the disciples because they know the Jews want to stone Him and they are in danger too if they go. Jesus tells us in the main point of the passage that there is only so much time for each of us to do what God has called us to do and so we better get busy while there is time to do His will. Then He tells them that Lazarus sleeps, they misunderstand, so He tells them plainly that he is dead. The last point of this section is Jesus testing them again because He says He is glad that He was not there when Lazarus died because He has something greater in mind. Did you know that God doesn’t always do what we think He ought to do because He has a greater plan and a greater purpose than any we can imagine? Faith means we trust God no matter what happens.

Romans 5:9-11 Reasons We Can Be Thankful For Christ Part 3

Ro 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

In this final message on Romans 5:1-11 we will see the last three reasons why we should be thankful we know Christ, or three reasons why we should trust Christ as Lord and Savior. Paul finishes this section with the fact that we are saved from the wrath of God by Jesus’s shed blood. He tells us that we now have a relationship with God whereas it was not possible unless Christ’s blood was shed for our sins. And lastly we see that joy comes from a relationship with God. John 15:11 "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.


V-1 We have Peace with God:
V-2 We have Access to God: Or an introduction to Grace through Jesus Christ
V-2 We have Standing before God:
V-2 We can rejoice in the Hope of the Glory of God:
V-3 We are able to Glory or rejoice in Tribulations through the Strength of God:
V-3-4 We have Perseverance (patience or endurance), Character, and Hope from God:
V-5-8 We have the Love of God poured out in our hearts:
V-5 We have the Holy Spirit from God:
V-9 We have a pardon from wrath by God:
V-10 We have Reconciliation with God:
V-11 We have Joy in God and from God:

ROMANS 5:3-8 REASONS WE CAN BE THANKFUL FOR CHRIST PART 2

Romans 5:3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 ¶ For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Today we are covering points five through eight. These are the greatest things that God has done for us and Paul wants us to understand just how blessed we are by knowing Christ as our Lord and Savior. I hope you know that too. If not, trust Him today for your Salvation, because He is the only way to get to heaven. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Having been Justified: Justification is the pardoning of guilt and the penalty of sin (legally being declared righteous because Jesus paid the penalty for our sin)
1. V-1 We have Peace with God:
2. V-2 We have Access to God: Or an introduction to Grace through Jesus Christ
3. V-2 We have Standing before God:
4. V-2 We can rejoice in the Hope of the Glory of God:
5. V-3 We are able to Glory or rejoice in Tribulations through the Strength of God:
6. V-3-4 We have Perseverance (patience or endurance), Character, and Hope from God:
7. V-5-8 We have the Love of God poured out in our hearts:
8. V-5 We have the Holy Spirit from God:

Romans 5:1-2 Reasons We Can Be Thankful For Christ Part 1

Ro 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
As we approach Christmas Day, we want to see several reasons out of Romans Chapter 5 why we should be thankful for Christ or several reasons to trust Christ if we have not trusted Him as our Lord and Savior. This is a great passage of Scripture in which Paul tells us in the first 4 chapters that we could not make it to Heaven on our own and because of that we ought to be thankful for the many benefits of trusting Christ. He starts out with therefore, because we have been legally declared holy and righteous through the blood of Jesus Christ, we have peace with God. That is the first benefit and the greatest because without Christ we are His enemies as it says in Romans 5:10. He goes on to tell us we have access to God, we have a permanent secure position (a standing before God), and lastly we can rejoice in the fact that we have a hope that one day we will be in Heaven since Jesus said we would and paid the price so we can go. Have you thanked God today for all He has done for you, or if you have not trusted Him, the Bible says Today is the day to be saved, harden not your heart. Let’s be thankful for the greatest Gift of all, Jesus died so we could go to Heaven. Amen and Amen.

JOHN 11.1-4 JESUS SAID, "THIS SICKNESS IS NOT UNTO DEATH, BUT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

John 11:1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick." 4 When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it."
This is another section of Scripture which we find to be so familiar to us, but as in all Bible Study we need to look deeper than the surface of what is going on here. Lazarus is a man that Jesus loves, as He does all of His children, the ones who have trusted Him as Savior. But he also loves the sisters Mary and Martha, yet he allows them to go through trouble because ultimately He will be glorified in the end. That is why the Bible says we exist. Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. One man put it this way, we exist to glorify God and praise Him forever. How do we do this? By first of all reverencing God and keeping His commandments. Second we do this by becoming more like Him every day. Romans 8:28-29, And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. God is bringing us back to the place we were at in the Garden of Eden before man’s fall and our sinfulness dragged us down. The only way God can do this is by allowing us to go through trials that make us more like Him. So, have you looked at your situation and said that this is not something that is ultimately bad, but through it God is going to be glorified because I am trusting in Him and He will never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5)