I am pleased to be able to be here again with a new message to bring to you. I am also grateful to know that there is become a large number returning here each week to read these messages of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the opportunity to take the Gospel through out the world, that I feel blessed in doing so. I would like to have feedback from all, so I would be able to tell others of how God is working in your life.
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
For those who have been here for the duration of this study, you should know this by now. But for first timers I must say that this is the base scripture reference I am using for this ongoing study. In the first part of this verse, conformation to the world is a problem we as individuals and the organized churches of not just today but in the beginnings of Christianity. In previous issues of these messages I addressed just a few of ways we fall into a world view of life instead of a Godly view. Here lately I have covering some of the aspects of the character of Jesus in order to see what we need to do within ourselves to be transformed into the renewed mind of Christ.
Jesus has been called “the author of our souls”. Physical and spiritually we are and carry the characteristics carried to all from Adam. Jesus had came and rewrote the way for us to changed, reborn and renewed into becoming children God would love. The life Jesus lived was documented through the Gospels of the apostles who walked spent their every available moment become His disciples. Jesus lived His life in a way to show us how to become holy and pleasing to God. but more than showing us He opened the door in which we could enter into the throne room in which God sets in His Heavenly kingdom.
Through the sacrifice Jesus paid for us with His Life, He became the High Priest through His life of holiness.
Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
In different ones of theses studies I have already discussed how the religious elite or priest before and during the time of Jesus’ life here on earth placed laws and standards upon Gods people that were so far out of reach that they were the only ones who could live up to their standards. As a matter of fact the man Jesus was beneath them. But they had angered God in such away that He knew He had to show a better way. The better way came through the life of His one and only Son, Jesus Christ. the life Jesus lived was no different from the life we all live today. He faced all the same temptations and fears, and He even faced scorn and ridicule from the high and mighty preachers and teachers of Gods word. But God had a plan in action through the life of Jesus.
According to the book of Hebrews Jesus fulfilled the plan and enabled for us the way to God without the need of an earthly priest.
Hebrews 5:1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. 3 Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins.
The trouble with men of human nature as priest is that they too are susceptible to temptation and sin as well.
1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
No matter how good or some kind of super Christian you may think you are, you are at risk. This is also one of the reasons why Christ had to do what He did for us. We were in need of a High Priest, a high priest above reproach. Jesus faced everything we do and He arose to defeat all that Satan could deliver against Him. Jesus became a high priest in which He had no need for further sacrifices. The sacrifice He paid for not only covered Himself as priest but covered us as our sin offerings.
In the world today we are facing the same issues God had disliked. men are making themselves priest over what is supposed to be body of Christ. There are divisions in what is to be one temple. There are divisions in what is to be one sacrifice for all who will come. Mankind has taken over what God has given freely as Grace.
A problem I thought was only taking place here in the United States is really a world wide event. Born again Christians are leaving the churches. Born again Christians are finding ways to connect to the body of Christ without having to deal with the back biting hypocrisy that has filled organized churches. There are mission fields everyday that fall prey to the enemy we have allowed within the church. People see what is visible. People see the hypocrisy, the judgment cast upon them from other members who believe they are some kind of super christian.
The enemy the devil has put forth a campaign to bring the body of Christ to its knees. Through out the church today mankind has been searching for ways to defeat the enemy, all the while having the weapons we need at our disposal. We have let the enemy in and are defeating ourselves through selfish and judgmental intentions.
We need to fall on our knees and pray to the High Priest who was placed by God. We need to remove the veil and let the masses into Christ. We need to obey the commands Christ had given us and love the Lord God with all our hearts and souls, and love our brothers as ourselves. Christ has forgiven and placed our sins as far as the east is from the west. What He has done for you and me is a miracle within its self, and we should offer the same life-giving miracle to all who come not just whom we please.
Before I close here today I want to offer a prayer to our High Priest :
Our most High Priest,
We bring unto your presence a prayer of sacrifice. We ask that we may enter within your holy presence. We bring to you today a prayer of repentance. We ask that your grace forgive us of our sins. We ask here Lord that your holy body come together as a functioning part of life as we see it. Together we can withstand all the attacks the enemy can throw our way. For it was written that “a house divided can not stand”. Our bodies a re the temple we use to worship and honor you. But you have made the way for us to bring our bodies together and become one body with you as the head over all. Jesus you opened doors that could never be opened except by acceptable sacrifice. You have offered your body as the sacrifice to once and for all. Please Lord allow us to be able to extend your sacrifice to all of whom you call and whom you welcome in. It is not our place to choose who should come, the choice is yours. Yours alone.
The love you have extended unto each of us, let us extend to all. Teach us not to be choosy as to who is chosen. Teach us to not hold some ones past as a way of showing favoritism. We are all created equal in the image of God we were created, we all have a past life of sin and we have all as Christians have received a new birth through Jesus. Teach us to see past the external and seethe heart of those who come.
Lord we ask these things in the Name of Jesus.
Thank you and God Bless,
Tommy Harmon
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*All scripture quotes are from the The New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible unless otherwise noted
*All scripture quotes are from the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible unless otherwise noted
© 2006, 2007 Tommy Harmon www.thepathseeker.com