6 Things Jesus Did Before He Was Crucified.

John 13:1-38 covers this message.  Please read!

The word of God was written for us to learn, not to just hear.

 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

 

It is important for us to understand what Jesus was doing and why! What Jesus did over 2000 years ago is relevant to believers right now! If you are serious about your walk with God, you will hear this.

#1. (1-3) Jesus established the Lords Supper.

Remembering Jesus sacrificial flesh and blood.  It's not about you or I!

#2. (4-14) Jesus washed His disciple feet.

Jesus washing His disciples feet was about humbling ourselves before each other.

  

#3. (15-17) Jesus led and left us an example of our humble relationship with each other. 

Regardless of our titles or gifts, we should follow His example of humility.  Sure, people will try to take advantage of your humility because they think you are naive.  Just distance yourself from them for peace sake.

#4. (18-33) Jesus predicted His betrayal.

Jesus knew Judas would betray Him, but he allowed him to remain with Him.  Don't fuss and fight with people, just love them.  If they don't change, they will eventually hang themselves!

John 13:1 - 33 prepared them for verse 34 and 35, the real deal!

#5. (34) a new commandment: love each other!  He commanded them to love each other, as He Loved them.  Do we really love each other?  Think; what does love do?  How does love act? 

Check out 1 Corinthians chapter 13!  That's God's kind of love!

Suppose I told you that I am a conservative, a Republican.  Would you still be kind to me?  Would you still speak to me?  Would you still accept me as your leader?  Would you still love me?  Ok, I am a conservative. Are you in a conflict with another believer because they vote differently?  We can have different political views and still be friends.  Remember, be a Christian first!  This world is going to pass away!

#6. (35) Their love for each other was a witness to the world that they were His disciples (trainees).  Un-believers are suppose to see our kindness, mercy and acceptance of each other regardless of our political views or Christian church affiliation.  Let's win the world!

Our gifts, our boldness, our loudness doesn't make us spiritual, they just make us visible.  Our gifts attract people, but does not save anyone!  We should be known by our love; love is the greatest! 

Cain would not have killed his brother if he loved him!

1 John 3:11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. 13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

If we love each other, we will not crucify each other over politics or different church affiliations.

Politics are not greater than the gospel!

A politician is not greater than Jesus!

Be influenced by Jesus Christ and the gospel more than anything else!

The Believer's Debt To Society - Facebook Live - 5.31.20

The Believer's Debt To Society Is Love And Mercy!

#1. Love God and neighbor

Matthew 22:36Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”³⁷ Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

These two commands are needed to properly govern our every day lives.  Love for God, self and neighbor. If such love is demonstrated, all the law and prophets are fulfilled.  If we are governed by love, there is no room for hate.  If we are governed by love, we will demand justice for ourselves and others.  

 These two commandments define God, our walk with Him and our relationship with each other. 

#2. He loved us first

1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.

John 14:15 If you love me, obey my commandments.

Loving God and people is not convenient, it is sacrificial! 

Loving God and people requires obedience!  We can love God, because He first loved us.  The ability to love is available to every person.  

Loving is not a feeling or an emotion.  Love is an attribute of God's mercy!  If love is determined by a feeling or an emotional, it is conditional.  God's love is unconditional!

To receive love requires submission and obedience to the author of love.  Loving is a choice we make. Once we submit and obey the author of love, all of the attributes of love are available to us. 

Love changes us from the inside to the outside. 

We are not good enough to remain the same!  

We must pay our debt to society - LOVE THEM!

#3. Romans 13:8 Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

Once we have been influenced and changed by the love of God, it is our responsibility to share the love experience with others.  Jesus Christ is the love experience! The world is hungry for love!  

 A lack of love is space for hate! We are told: owe no man anything! Fill the void in another person's life!

We don't know how to love each other until we have experienced the love of Jesus Christ!  He loved us first and then gave us the ability to love Him, ourselves and others.

The world is in chaos because we have failed to pay our debt to society. The love of Christ is the debt we owe to society.  Until this debt is paid there will always be chaos!   

We must pay this debt of love to everyone in our circle of influence.  That is when change will come, one by one!

The proof of love is not feelings or emotions, it's mercy toward our neighbors.  Our neighbor may live in another state or country!  Pray for them, speak up for them, demand justice for them!

#4. Luke 10:29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? ³⁰ And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. ³¹ And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. ³² And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. ³³ But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, ³⁴ and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. ³⁵ And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. ³⁶ Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? ³⁷ And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

The God kind of love lifts up, binds wounds, makes sacrificie and demand justice and is neighborly!  

Witness Christ to someone.  Demand justice for yourself and others!  Speak up on behalf of someone else.  Go, be merciful toward someone! Love is not something you just talk about.  Love demands to be demonstrated!  

Love is something we do!

It's Time To Fight Back! Facebook Live! 5.24.20.

Are you ready for this word?  It's a strong word!  Ok!

Be strong/tighten up those muscles, get rid of the flab!    

#1. Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Why be strong?  The devil is out there ready to kill, steal, and destroy!  He's bullying you!  What you gonna do?

 #2. 1 Peter 5:8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers^[a] all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.

Know what’s yours!  Fight for what what is yours!

#3. 1 Corinthians 2:9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him. 10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 12 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.

I've got faith fight in me!  Do you have faith fight in you?

#4. 2 Samuel 23:11Next in rank was Shammah son of Agee from Harar. One time the Philistines gathered at Lehi and attacked the Israelites in a field full of lentils. The Israelite army fled, ¹² but Shammah^[a] held his ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.

#5. Shammah!

I want to talk to you about a man who became a warrior by hanging out with a man who was a warrior!  The man's name was Shammah.  He had been trained by David.  David was a warrior!  Shammah was trained to be a fearless warrior.  He knew he was empowered by the Spirit of God to put His power on display!  

There was a plot of land with lentil on it that belonged to Israel.  Lentil is like small peas.  Lentil was food for the people of Israel.   The field was ripe for harvest. Problem was, the enemy wanted it!

The philistines gathered a troop and decided to take the land and the food that was on it.  The enemies seem to always want what’s ours. 

All of the people ran from the enemy.  An entire army ran, except 1 man!   Sometimes you may have to stand alone!  Stand!

  

Shammah couldn't run!!  He wasn't wired that way. He stood and fought! He was not giving up his stuff! 

Shammah took on up to 150 men!

Get off of that couch, get off of that bed, stop complaining and FIGHT BACK!  Take the sword of the spirit which is the word of God and quench every fiery dart of that wicked one! The word is your weapon!

He had his mind made up that he wanted to keep what was his!  The enemy positioned themselves for a battle, but Shammah positioned himself for a slaughter!  He stood right in the center of that pea patch and defended what was his!.  Everything that is mine I want!  The word of God lets me know what’s mine and I am willing to fight for it!     

He knew what had been freely given to them of God.  The scripture says: and the Lord wrought a great victory.  You've got power!

Quit just watching the battle! Fight!  If you fight, you will win! The prayer of faith, Your confession & intercession is your victory!  Fight!

When trouble comes, FIGHT the good fight of faith for your family, your marriage, your children, your health, your money, your business, your ministry, that house, that car, your jobs, and all that is yours!

It's time to fight back!  Pull out your sword and fight!

Fight for the anointing that's on your life.  It is the anointing that destroys the yoke.  Don't waste time on negative people!

Don't allow the devil to rob you of what is yours through Jesus Christ!  

 Stand your ground!  confess that word!  

FIGHT!

God's Amazing Plan For Your Life! 5.17.20

Introduction To The Plan

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Many people have no clue of plans and purpose in this life. They are just alive and existing.  Please understand that God has a plan & an expected end for our lives.  He wants to reveal to each of us His amazing plan.  

Aimless living is dangerous living.  Aimless living is dead end living!  Aimless living is stressful living! 

There is no better time than now to discover God's amazing plans for our lives.  I want to show you God's plan and way of living! God's way is through Jesus Christ!  You have to want His way!  Do you want it!   

#1. He saves us!  Fill us with His Spirit!  Reveals His Word In Us!  Make us His witness!

Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away —all who have been called by the Lord our God.” 40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.

#2. He restores us!  He blesses us!  He increases us!

 Jeremiah 30:17 'For I will restore you to health And I will heal you of your wounds,' declares the LORD, 'Because they have called you an outcast, saying: "It is Zion; no one cares for her."'

Psalm 115:14 The Lord shall increase you more and more, you and your children. 15Ye are blessed of the Lord which made heaven and earth.

#3. He wants us to be an example of generosity to the the Church, His Kingdom, the orphans & the poor!

Genesis 12:2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.

2 Corinthians 9:6 Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings.

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace [every favor and earthly blessing] come in abundance to you, so that you may always [under all circumstances, regardless of the need] have complete sufficiency in everything [being completely self-sufficient in Him], and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity.

When God blesses you financially, don’t just raise your standard of living. Raise your standard of giving.” Mark Batterson

#4. His plan for us is a healthy, long life! He wants us to be an example of His lovingkindness!

Proverbs 4:10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.

Proverbs 3:1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: 2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

Proverbs 4:20 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. 21Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; {22} For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.

Psalm 37:25 Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.

God didn’t add another day to your life because you needed it. He did it because someone else out there needs you!”

Do you want this plan for your life? Believe it!  Receive it!  Confess It!  Possess It! Study it and apply it!