A MESSAGE FOR SUNDAY.

LIFE.

When a man first came to the United States from Russia he was not prepared for the variety of instant products available in USA stores. He said, “On my first shopping trip, I saw powdered milk, where you just add water, and you get milk. Then I saw powdered orange juice, where you just add water, and you get orange juice. And then I saw baby powder, and I thought to myself, “What a country!”

But what about Christian Transformation, that people can change at salvation. Called repentance and renewal? When someone gives his or her life to Christ Jesus, there is an immediate, miraculous change in habits, attitudes, and character. A new birth, becoming a new creation!

There is no such instant powder that followers of Jesus Christ are instant perfect, but they are slowly change through many trials, suffering, and temptations. Why? Because true life change only begins at salvation, takes more than just time, is about training, trying. It is a new birth, a new start, new ways of living.

Salvation comes by this “new birth.” Jesus said “you must be born again.” I have 25 years experience of bring up three children. Each of our children had to learn, how to sit up, how to crawl, how to walk, and how to talk. Each had its ups and downs (more downs then up when learning to walk). Yet through the effect, sometimes pain each learnt to become adults.

It is the same through a “new birth” in Jesus Christ. We need again to learn to sit up, walk and talk again. I have seen drunken men walk straight and upright again after Jesus and salvation has changed their lives. Foul speaking fools; speak the wisdom of God, when their lives have been changed by Christ Jesus in His salvation.

Lives are changed, when salvation is accepted in the person of Jesus Christ. Some lives take on a new change overnight, others take a little longer. Yet when Jesus enters into the lives of men and women, EVERY life is changed! No other faith or religion in the world can truly change a man or woman for good so quickly.

Many, many men and women cry out “If only I could have a new start in my life.” Sadly many are just escapists in thinking a new life, a new marriage, new house, new car, new children or a new job will change life from bad to good. But the very habits that made that life unbearable will bring a new life into the same pit.

What we truly need in a new life is new habits, a new character change! Do you agree? Those habits are called “sin” in the bible, sadly there is NO POWER ON EARTH that can break those habits, wrong doing in word, thought or deed in your life or mine. So we are a people without hope! The bible says “ALL have sinned and fallen short.”

But, here is the “good news” called the “Gospel.” When you see a Christian church speaking about a “gospel meeting,” it is speaking about good news to those that will listen. There is no power on earth to change a man’s life. But, there is a POWER FROM ABOVE that can change the live of any and every man and woman who will accept it!

Here is the catch, for your life and my life to change. We must be “born again.” I MUST accept Jesus Christ as my help mate. I must follow Him, I must learn from Him, and He in turn will change my life around! Not only a new birth, a new start, but a new slate to write on. All out past wrongs (sins) are wiped away, because His love, grace and mercy has forgiven we from all my wrongs. I have a new start, a new life and a new heart, giving me a new character!

Now what must I do to know this “new birth”? It is nothing that you can do! No good works will be good enough, for you to earn this new birth, called salvation in the bible. No! Dear friend, God has done it all for you. God the Father sent His only Son to die the death of ALL sinners (those that have done wrong in word, deed or thought).

So what part do I have in this new birth? Only to believe that Jesus Christ bore away your sin (wrong choices) and then He will give you a new start, a new life! I come from a coastal area where I would expect to see life guards in the summer months to rescue those in danger of death, a cry for help was often acted upon and that person in danger was SAVED! A word often used in the bible. We are SAVED from our sins by Jesus Christ! He rescued me from my sin that leads to death and has given me a new life!

I will end now with a few bible verses that you can read. This is a simple message shared that all should understand. Yet only God Himself can give you true understanding. May H e open your eyes, heart and life to receive this new life? If we can help you e-mail Internetpreachersforchrist@gmail.com

John 3:1-18; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; Romans 10:9; 1 John 4:10.

ANSWERS TO LIFE

ANSWERS TO LIFE

QUESTION 1. WHAT IS MY PURPOSE IN LIFE?
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” Matthew 6:25.

Jesus came to make clear our purpose in life, and He summed up our purpose in life in John 17:3, “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” In other words, the purpose of life is to grow in the personal knowledge of God and Jesus Christ.
To achieve a good education so we can get a good job, so we can have enough to eat, so we can find love and a partner, and buy a big house so we can live comfortably until we die.
We can do all this without ever achieving the purpose for which we were created. That is to live a right and healthy relationship with God through Jesus Christ! It is like pushing a heavy load up a steep hill, only to see it roll freely down on the other side of the hill! Life can be unfair at times, more so when our dreams, loves, jobs, health, and future is lost!
If we have found Christ Jesus, we have truly found our PURPOSE for LIFE and eternity!

QUESTION 2. DO I HAVE A VALUE?
“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” Matthew 6:26-27.

Our society has destroyed the value of human life by incorrectly defining the origin of life. Our schools are trying to build self-esteem into the national curriculum because they recognize that our children are suffering from the lack of self-worth. What our schools do not recognize is that they have cut the legs off of self-worth by teaching evolution. Children are told that human beings, like viruses evolved out of chance happening.
The Bible on the other hand tells us we are made in the image of God, more valuable than the rest of His creation. Furthermore, the Bible tells us that while we were ignoring God, He was willing to pay a high price, the death of His Son, Jesus Christ, to win us back. He made human being in His image, and He shed the blood of His only Son to pay for mankind’s penalty for sins.
If we have found Christ Jesus, we have truly found our VALUE for LIFE and eternity!

QUESTION 3. WHO IS MY PROVIDER?
“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” Matthew 6:28-30.

Your company or boss is not your provider. Your government is not your provider. Your parents are not your provider. Your partner is not your provider. They are simply managers of God’s provision. The God who gave us life, purpose and value, also gave us what we need to stay alive.
From the beginning of Creation, God has taken care of us, even after Adam and Eve fell into sin, God meet their need of sacrifice and clothing! As a good father provides for his children, how much more will our heavenly Father provide for us!
If we have found Christ Jesus, we have truly found our PROVIDER for LIFE and eternity!

QUESTION 4. WHO GUIDES MY DESTINY?
“Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:31-33.

Who controls your destiny? People who do not know God as Father do not have any other choice than to be the master of their own destiny. Their philosophy for life is “To eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die.” Being in charge of our own destiny without God as compass in our lives is like crossing a busy motorway blindfolded. We MIGHT get across to the other side without being hit.
BUT we will find that we have arrived at the wrong side in eternity. Heaven is for God and His heritance, His children. When we turn our backs on God, how can we expect Him to forgive us and to welcome us into His presence in heavenly places? Let us not embarrass the leader of our funeral service by making him lie that we are “in the arms of Jesus” when we are not expected there!
If we have found Christ Jesus, we have truly found our DESTINY for LIFE and eternity!

QUESTION 5. WHAT AM I RESPONSIBLE FOR?
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:34.

The Bible teaches that God is in control of every event, but He gives freedom with responsibility to mankind. This means we have the freedom and responsibility to act and to prepare for a better tomorrow.
We are responsible for what we think. “Sow a thought, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. So a character, reap a destiny.”
We are responsible for what we say. Psalm 34:12-13 “Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.”
We are responsible for what we do. Galatians 6:7-8 “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
Finally, we are responsible for choosing a right and healthy relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Everyone who hears or reads God’s offer of peace through Jesus Christ and chooses not to trust in Jesus Christ stands condemned by God (John 3:16-18).
If we have found Christ Jesus, we have truly found our RESPONSIBLE for LIFE and eternity!

CONCLUSION:

Jesus has answered these questions asked. We have the freedom to choose what we will do with these answers, but God will hold us responsible for our choices.