GOD IS PLEASED WITH YOU

This week is a very special week in the lives of all believers, isn't it? This Sunday we celebrate the death, burial and most of all, the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Yes my friends, Jesus is alive and well – thank you very much.

What a great day to welcome everyone to your 24/7 week long, online church service. There is no one who is not eligible to attend this service. Why? Because when we lift up the name of Jesus, he will draw all men unto himself. Here, read it for yourself in John 12:32, Jesus speaking:

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”

Did you get that? Jesus will draw all men, and women by the way, to himself. That is the main purpose of the Spirit of Wisdom Ministries. In the past few weeks we have talked to all manner of men, haven't we? We have reached out to the unsaved. We have encouraged believers who have lost their way to return to their Heavenly Father. And what better time than the present to talk with the faithful believer? Yes my friends, there is such a thing. There are people who get up each morning with thanks in their heart and on their lips because they know and understand God has given them another day of life to serve him. They remember life before Jesus saved them. Some were in deep physical and moral sin, yet some did not partake of that form of sin, but they were bitter, unfulfilled, lonely, knowing something wasn't right in their life, but not knowing what it was. Am I striking a cord with anyone? Many thought surely this isn't all there is. And you know what? They were right. God was reaching out to you, wasn't he?

Moms, Dads, grandparents, friends, and friends of friends were praying for you. Pointing you to the cross. You had to choose for yourself, didn't you? Thank God you chose life and now, regardless of all that life throws at you, you have a peace that passes all understanding. You have a love for your fellow man you never had before. And, oh my – what a burden for souls!! Your cry to God is “Save them Lord, please save them.”

Men and women know something is different about you. Jesus said this would happen. In John 13:34-35 Jesus said:

“A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

That is you, my faithful believer. Finally, because of Jesus, you are able to separate sin from the sinner. Hate is no longer directed toward men, but toward the devil and his evil, demonic forces. I know!! Sometimes we have to work on these things, but you are getting there, aren't you? Your prayers for government leaders are not filled with hate for them, but love. Believing God can and will reveal himself to these leaders; praying God will give them eyes to see and ears to hear. Just as many believed you would never change from your past wicked ways, but God moved over you and now they see you in a different light. So it can be with others.

GOD IS PLEASED WITH YOU

I am preaching this to encourage you. God loves your faithfulness. He expects great things out of you. Jesus lays it out for you in John 14:12. He was soon to die on the cross, yet his thoughts were only of you. Let's see what he had to say.

“Verily, verily I say unto you. He that believeth on me the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do: Because I go unto my Father.”

What works would these be, church? Well, what did Jesus do while on this earth? He preached and revealed himself as the Son of God. He taught us about God, letting us know that our father loved us so much that he sent Jesus to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. He healed the sick. He cast the devil out of those who were in torment. Let's talk about these things for a minute. Following the instructions Jesus gave us in John 14:12 we can conclude as believers we are to share Jesus with others, explaining to them who Jesus is and what he will do for them if they accept his free gift of salvation. We are to tell others about God's love for them. A love that is so intense that he would let his son die a horrible death on a cross, be buried, but gloriously arise to return to the father, where he would sprinkle his blood on the mercy seat and by that action man could be redeemed from their sin.

We also, according to this scripture, can pray for the sick and see them recover. We can walk with no fear of Satan because in the name of Jesus we can cast him out. We now can discern the spirits as Jesus did. This is you I'm talking about!! No wonder God is pleased with you. We know we can open ourselves to God and he can perform wonders through us the world has never seen yet. Stay faithful church, stay faithful. No longer do you walk in darkness, but in the light of God. Jesus tells us about this in John 12:46.

“I am come a light unto the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.”

The Apostle Paul also addresses this in Ephesians 5:8.

“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: Walk as children of light.”

I thank God you are doing just that. One point I want to make: We are all growing and learning the ways of God. God is pleased with you. He knows you fail at times, but he sees how fast you recover. God can see you are not perfect in all you do, but he knows your heart and intention. God knows you are attaining to perfection. Paul talks about this in Philippians 3:12.

“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: But I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.”

What Paul is saying is – I'm working toward perfection (which is maturity in Christ). He says he is not there yet, but he just wants to complete what God has for him to do. Now let's continue. Turn with me to Philippians 3:13-14.

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

There you are, faithful believer. Keep on keeping on. Press toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Great advice from a man who made it.

God Bless You
Bro. Bob