The Powerful and Precious Blood of Jesus

Listening to Dr Charles Stanley this morning on his message about the blood of Jesus. I jotted down a few notes...

Why is the blood of Jesus Precious?
            
He was the Son of God. The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. He was sinless, perfect and therefore His blood can atone for sin. His blood was shed on our behalf. Jesus was God in human flesh, therefore His blood was divine. Our eternal destination depends on what we do with His blood.

The blood of Jesus speaks to Redemption: 1 Peter 1: 18-19

We were purchased or redeemed with the blood of Jesus Christ. Not with perisable things such as silver or gold. Jesus was our perfect and sinless substitute. He liberates us from the power of sin.

The blood of Jesus speaks to Forgiveness:  Ephesians 1: 7-8,  1 John 1: 7-9, 1 John 2:1-2

We have initial redemption and forgiveness from sin through the blood of Jesus. Also, daily forgiveness through confession. Jesus is our advocate to God the Father. Working on our behalf.

The blood of Jesus speaks to Justification:   Romans 5: 8-10

God is Holy and must punish sin. God accepts Jesus' sacrifice as payment, and we are justified through His blood. God is just in forgiving us because Jesus' blood covers our sin debt payment in full. That payment releases God from instituting His own law which says, the soul that sins shall surely die.

The blood of Jesus speaks to Reconciliation:  Colossians 1:19-22

God does the reconciling and always takes the first step. We respond to His callings and promptings through the Holy Spirit. Jesus' blood reconciles us to God by covering our sin with His righteousness if we accept His sacrifice on our behalf.

 The blood of Jesus speaks to Sanctification:  Hebrews 13:12

The shedding of Jesus' blood makes us Holy in God's eyes if we accept His sacrifice. Sanctification is a continual growing and cleansing process in the christian's life. Through Jesus' shed blood we have forgiveness of sin through daily confession.

 The blood of Jesus gives us access to God the Father:  Hebrews 10: 19-20

We have access to the throne of God ONLY through the blood of Jesus. God is Holy, we need the blood of Jesus to cover us when we come before Him. To think that we can access God just on our own goodness is ultimate pride. God hates pride.

The blood of Jesus is powerful and precious. Our only hope for eternity. Thanks be to God for His most precious gift. It is put aside, or forgotton, at our own peril ...

Do I have a critical spirit?

Our small group session was about criticism last night. I found it quite convicting. Some notes I took from the series, "Lord change my attitude".... by James MacDonald.

Criticism:  To dwell upon the perceived faults of others, with no view to their good.

Criticism:
             - by the above definition is sinful
             - ruins our fellowship with God
             - ruins fellowship with others
             - is personally destructive
             - is often petty

What's really bothering me?
                                         - unforgiveness?
                                         - envy or jealousy?
                                         - personal failure?
Criticism is self exalting:
                                   - is painful
                                   - is often inadvertent... a reflex statement
                                   - plugs the flow of God's blessing in our lives
                                   - life becomes a wilderness
Up close and personal:
                                  - am I a critical person?
                                  - am I reaping the consequences?
                                  - am I willing to repent?

Honestly, I would have to say that yes I can have a critical spirit. It's very easy for me sometimes to find fault in others with no view to their good. One quote that stuck with me from last night was " criticism tears down what God is attempting to build up". I need to be very careful what I say about others. God may be at work. He sees and hears everything. He's not pleased when we're critical of others.

The Bible says in Isaiah 59:2, " But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear."
I've had some spiritual wilderness experiences. Some very dry seasons. Times when my prayers didn't seem to rise above my eyebrows. Criticism may well have been the reason.

Another quote from last night, "everytime I throw dirt I lose ground". Criticism is self exalting and the Bible says: " Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil." Provs 3:7

Am I willing to confess my critical spirit and repent? Yes, I don't want anything to interfere with God's blessing in my life. The Bible says in 1 John 1: 9 " If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
LORD, please forgive my critical spirit. Help me to remember that You may be at work in people's lives. Help me to remember that I have faults of my own to be concerned with. It's not my place to criticise others, but to pray for them, and let You work in and through them.

" May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14

LORD, change my critical attitude...

Florida trip

From Peterborough to Whythville Virginia for the first night. Then on to Casey Key Florida for 4 nights. Lots of beach time on a great sandy beach where seashells and shark teeth are in abundance. Truly a seashell enthusiast's dream. Then on to Key Largo via the Everglades, where there were alligators galore! Two nights in Key Largo and snokeling on the coral reef at the local state park.Then on to Cocoa Beach via Miami and Fort Lauderdale (where it was raining)  :( Two nights in Cocoa Beach where we went to the Nasa Space Center (almost froze that day) :( From Cocoa Beach to Atlanta Georgia for one night. Next day we toured the Atlanta First Baptist Church complex where Dr Charles Stanley pastors. Definately a trip highlight for me, and an amazing place!
Then on to Scottsburg Indiana where we spent two very enjoyable nights with family. The best accomodations along the trip by far! From Scottsburg we headed home...
All in all a great trip but a little too much driving.... over 6300 Kilometers and aprox 60 hours behind the wheel.
We thank the LORD for safe and trouble free traveling...

"Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done" 1 Chronicles 16:8

Pay Jesus now or pay Him later

Watching Dr David Jeremiah this morning he mentioned that Jesus has a sort of "Pay me now or pay me later" plan for His creation. I thought it was well worth passing on...
"that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."  Philippians 2: 10-11

His point being, we can humble ourselves now and bow our knees and accept Jesus for who He is as our Savior and LORD. Or, we can reject Him now and go about life in our own way and bow our knees before Him on judgement day with Him as our Judge and not our Savior.

If we wait until judgement day it'll be too late for salvation. The time for salvation is now. The Bible says:

"As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. For He says,
"In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you."
I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation".......... 2 Corinthians 6:1-2

The time is now to receive Jesus as your Savior. Don't wait too long or you'll have to accept Him as your Judge. But...you will bow before Him.... one way or another.

Pay honor and respect to Him now.... don't wait until later.

Where's your mansion?

Walking the beach here at Casey Key Florida this morning, and looking at some of the mansions along the shore reminded me of the mansion I will have one day too. Notice the "welcome" sign on the steps. Mine won't be here though, it'll be in  heaven. And, I'm sure it'll have a lot more welcoming sign too! Man has made some very beautiful places but they won't compare to what God has prepared for His children.

"In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."   John 14: 2-3

However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him"... 1 Corinthians 2 : 9

These places are beautiful here at the beach, but they won't last. In a few years they'll be weather beaten and if not kept up at much expense, they'll be run down shacks eventually.

Mansions in heaven will never deteriorate. They will last for eternity. Without end and without upkeep. They've been built by the Master Builder Himself, with Divine plans that never falter or fail. Can't wait! Not just to see my mansion... but to see the Master Builder Jesus Himself. The One who's made it all possible with His sacrifice...... Until then though, I'll be happy praising & thanking Him for the many gifts He's already provided, in my humble little abode here  :)