Scriptures: John 14:12-14, John 7:32-45, John 15:7, John 16:24
John 15:11 & 12, John 3:16, John 3:3
This blog entry is about a week late getting posted but because it’s a continuation of Pastor Lorne’s Life of Christ series, I figured it was worth the effort.
You see, the kids and I couldn’t make it to church last week, so I gave my digital recording device to my hubby to tape the service for me. Due to prior commitments, I’ve been unable to transcribe the recording until today, (Sat). Now, I’m finally back to blogging.
So last Sunday, Pastor Lorne spoke for the second week on the words of Jesus.
Pastor Lorne said he could make it sound like he knows a lot intellectually and it sounds great but when we go home, it wouldn’t help us. So he’s going to tell us things that we can take home with us and tomorrow at work or sitting at the breakfast table or whenever you have to make a decision, you’ll have the word of God to help you.
Pastor Lorne said he finds that Jesus spoke on the things that can really help us in our daily life. Words that are more than promises of what can happen when we trust and seek His word.
In John 14:12, Jesus says, ‘I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.’ Now this is Jesus speaking to us not one of the prophets or apostles or disciples. Listen to the words and take them to your hearts literally.
John 14:13 says, ‘And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.’ Pastor Lorne said already twice, Jesus mentioned if you believe in Him and have faith in Him you can do what He’s been doing. Now for the 3rd time, Jesus says, in v 14 ‘You may ask me for anything in my name and I will do it’. Pastor Lorne said he thought, “Well what would I want? I’d like to live somewhere in a nice house overlooking the ocean or beach...somewhere warm where the wind never gets strong and just be waited on and lay there for the rest of my life and be a burden to everyone around me...”
He said it sounds nice but he knows that some things are clos
e to the heart of God but if he asks God for the things he’s just mentioned, he feels sure that God would provide those things for him. However, one of the things that Jesus talked about was His will that everyone comes to the knowledge of salvation...that not one soul would perish. Pastor Lorne said he’d ask for salvation for his neighbors, his friends, and his family. He said he believes that he could take the scriptures that say we could ask for anything in His name and He will do it. These are the words of Jesus.
Scripture tells us that it’s the will of God, His desire for us that we live in health, and so Pastor Lorne believes that we could pray for those people who need a physical touch in their bodies and we’ll be praying God’s will. He said take your finances...Pastor Lorne believes it’s God’s will that we have enough to live on, pay our bills and have a little left over to give to people in need. He said he could pray for that...because these are the words of Jesus.
In John 7:32-45, the Pharisees and chief priests sent temple guards to arrest Jesus and interrogate Him but they came back empty-handed. ‘Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, "Why didn't you bring him in?" "No one ever spoke the way this man does," the guards declared.’ They were so taken with the words of Jesus that they forgot that they were supposed to arrest Him and bring Him before the chief priests for interrogation.
The words of Jesus can change lives. The people in Jesus’ life had never heard anything like it before. Pastor Lorne said he mentioned last Sunday that the words that Jesus spoke were totally radical because they went against human nature...against the way we’re taught...against the direction today’s world takes. Pastor Lorne reminded us that Jesus said to let them slap your other cheek. And if someone wants your jacket, give them your coat too. These are totally opposite views of what we’re taught now. Retaliation and all those things are so much a part of life today. Nobody has ever spoken like Jesus did.
V 40 and 41 records, "On hearing His words, some of the people said, "Surely this man is the Prophet." Others said, "He is the Christ." Pastor Lorne said they realized just by the way Jesus spoke and the things He said that He was someone special...that He was sent from God and that He actually was who He said He was...because of the words He spoke.
Pastor Lorne referred us to John 15:7 which says, ‘If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.’ Pastor Lorne said, “there’s a little condition here...did you notice it? ‘If you remain in me and my words remain in you...’ And so it seems that if we have a relationship with Christ and if we’re walking with Him and following Him...I’ve been kind of going through when I’m talking about the life of Christ and the fact of staying close to Jesus. Staying close to Him...remember, ‘if you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. You can ask anything.’
Pastor Lorne said we’ve heard it over and over again but I’m sure that the way that the Lord’s been working in some of your lives that it’s starting to come true for some of us and for the rest of us who’s standing their watching, it’s also becoming real. And that’s just what we’re talking about here.
This is Jesus speaking. It’s His words. Pastor Lorne said, “I don’t know how far you can go with this. It depends on your state I guess, but just believe God. I guess that’s all I can say...believe and trust Him and He will bring these things to pass.”
In John 16:24, Jesus says, ‘Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.’ Pastor Lorne says we find that not only will we receive what we ask but we will receive with joy knowing that God loves us and cares enough about us to meet our needs. And He answers when we ask him for something.
Pastor Lorne said he really encourages you in your life to take these steps of faith to ask God or begin to ask God. And if you think the faith is way too big for you, take baby steps...ask for little things and as He answers those, ask for something bigger. Because He says we can ask for anything in His name. Pastor Lorne said it was like he mentioned before...if you’re wondering what to ask for, be sure to ask for things that He talked about in His word...about people coming to the Lord, people being healed, delivered, needs being met in their life. You’re on safe ground asking for those kinds of things because they’re in the Word of God. When we go on, we can ask for other things needed in our lives. The Bible says God hears us and He comes to give joy, happiness and contentment, and it comes by simply asking Him and trusting Him.
Look at John 15:11 – ‘I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.’ Pastor Lorne said this is not a theologian writing this but the actual word of Jesus recorded in the Word of God. Jesus goes on in v12: ‘My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.’ Pastor Lorne said God loves us...that’s sometimes hard for some people to understand...they say why does God love me? I’m such a sinner...I haven’t done anything for anyone...why does God love me?
But John 3:16 says, ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ How much would you give for one of your children? If you had to buy back one of your children, would you give up your car? Your furniture? Maybe your house? Maybe your whole farm for one of your children? Pastor Lorne says he knows for each parent, that for the sake of your children, you’d surely give up everything that you have.
Did you know that God’s love and the words of Jesus are so great and that God loves us so much that He gave His only son, Jesus to the world so that you and I can be set free from the guilt of sin and the sentence of sin?
And He loves us. That’s the word of Jesus. God loves you and me. J
esus said that just as His father loves Him. We know how much a parent loves their children and it doesn’t matter what they’ve gone and done or what kinds of problems they have. Pastor Lorne said sometimes he thinks the love is almost greater for that type of child and that shows what Gods love is for us...for you and me. Jesus talks about that love...of how God was willing to give up his Son because He loved us and that’s what Jesus was trying to teach.
Pastor Lorne reminded us of Nicodemus who asked how to be right with God. Johns 3:3 says, ‘...Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again”.’ Again, the words of Jesus. He talks about love, he talks about asking for anything we want in His name and here He tells us that every man, woman, boy and girl must be born again...that you can’t see the kingdom of God unless you’re born again.
So here are the words of Jesus and He’s giving people the formula of having a right relationship with God and being born again, about receiving Christ...about asking Him to become Lord and Saviour of our lives. And all these words are words that Jesus spoke...they’re words of hope and words of joy. They bring joy to our heart and Pastor Lorne says he’s sure that we’ve had people who’ve been healed from diseases that just strike terror in your hearts and we’ve heard the Word. We’ve asked Jesus and believed Him and we’ve heard reports of God ‘s healing touches.
Pastor Lorne says he encourages you today to take into your life the words of Jesus...to allow them to become a part of your life. And when you think, how am I going to get around this, or how am I going to deal with that, remember that Jesus said, if you ask, you will receive. He wants you to take His word and believe it...to trust it...to rest upon it and know that He will answer because He has already and He’s going to continue to do so.
If you would like to speak to Pastor Lorne about this, please email him.
Comments are appreciated. If you’re not sure how, please click on ‘comments’ under 'Labels' in the right column.
John 15:11 & 12, John 3:16, John 3:3
This blog entry is about a week late getting posted but because it’s a continuation of Pastor Lorne’s Life of Christ series, I figured it was worth the effort.
You see, the kids and I couldn’t make it to church last week, so I gave my digital recording device to my hubby to tape the service for me. Due to prior commitments, I’ve been unable to transcribe the recording until today, (Sat). Now, I’m finally back to blogging.
So last Sunday, Pastor Lorne spoke for the second week on the words of Jesus.
Pastor Lorne said he could make it sound like he knows a lot intellectually and it sounds great but when we go home, it wouldn’t help us. So he’s going to tell us things that we can take home with us and tomorrow at work or sitting at the breakfast table or whenever you have to make a decision, you’ll have the word of God to help you.
Pastor Lorne said he finds that Jesus spoke on the things that can really help us in our daily life. Words that are more than promises of what can happen when we trust and seek His word.
In John 14:12, Jesus says, ‘I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.’ Now this is Jesus speaking to us not one of the prophets or apostles or disciples. Listen to the words and take them to your hearts literally.
John 14:13 says, ‘And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.’ Pastor Lorne said already twice, Jesus mentioned if you believe in Him and have faith in Him you can do what He’s been doing. Now for the 3rd time, Jesus says, in v 14 ‘You may ask me for anything in my name and I will do it’. Pastor Lorne said he thought, “Well what would I want? I’d like to live somewhere in a nice house overlooking the ocean or beach...somewhere warm where the wind never gets strong and just be waited on and lay there for the rest of my life and be a burden to everyone around me...”
He said it sounds nice but he knows that some things are clos
e to the heart of God but if he asks God for the things he’s just mentioned, he feels sure that God would provide those things for him. However, one of the things that Jesus talked about was His will that everyone comes to the knowledge of salvation...that not one soul would perish. Pastor Lorne said he’d ask for salvation for his neighbors, his friends, and his family. He said he believes that he could take the scriptures that say we could ask for anything in His name and He will do it. These are the words of Jesus.Scripture tells us that it’s the will of God, His desire for us that we live in health, and so Pastor Lorne believes that we could pray for those people who need a physical touch in their bodies and we’ll be praying God’s will. He said take your finances...Pastor Lorne believes it’s God’s will that we have enough to live on, pay our bills and have a little left over to give to people in need. He said he could pray for that...because these are the words of Jesus.
In John 7:32-45, the Pharisees and chief priests sent temple guards to arrest Jesus and interrogate Him but they came back empty-handed. ‘Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, "Why didn't you bring him in?" "No one ever spoke the way this man does," the guards declared.’ They were so taken with the words of Jesus that they forgot that they were supposed to arrest Him and bring Him before the chief priests for interrogation.
The words of Jesus can change lives. The people in Jesus’ life had never heard anything like it before. Pastor Lorne said he mentioned last Sunday that the words that Jesus spoke were totally radical because they went against human nature...against the way we’re taught...against the direction today’s world takes. Pastor Lorne reminded us that Jesus said to let them slap your other cheek. And if someone wants your jacket, give them your coat too. These are totally opposite views of what we’re taught now. Retaliation and all those things are so much a part of life today. Nobody has ever spoken like Jesus did.
V 40 and 41 records, "On hearing His words, some of the people said, "Surely this man is the Prophet." Others said, "He is the Christ." Pastor Lorne said they realized just by the way Jesus spoke and the things He said that He was someone special...that He was sent from God and that He actually was who He said He was...because of the words He spoke.
Pastor Lorne referred us to John 15:7 which says, ‘If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.’ Pastor Lorne said, “there’s a little condition here...did you notice it? ‘If you remain in me and my words remain in you...’ And so it seems that if we have a relationship with Christ and if we’re walking with Him and following Him...I’ve been kind of going through when I’m talking about the life of Christ and the fact of staying close to Jesus. Staying close to Him...remember, ‘if you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. You can ask anything.’
Pastor Lorne said we’ve heard it over and over again but I’m sure that the way that the Lord’s been working in some of your lives that it’s starting to come true for some of us and for the rest of us who’s standing their watching, it’s also becoming real. And that’s just what we’re talking about here.
This is Jesus speaking. It’s His words. Pastor Lorne said, “I don’t know how far you can go with this. It depends on your state I guess, but just believe God. I guess that’s all I can say...believe and trust Him and He will bring these things to pass.”
In John 16:24, Jesus says, ‘Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.’ Pastor Lorne says we find that not only will we receive what we ask but we will receive with joy knowing that God loves us and cares enough about us to meet our needs. And He answers when we ask him for something.
Pastor Lorne said he really encourages you in your life to take these steps of faith to ask God or begin to ask God. And if you think the faith is way too big for you, take baby steps...ask for little things and as He answers those, ask for something bigger. Because He says we can ask for anything in His name. Pastor Lorne said it was like he mentioned before...if you’re wondering what to ask for, be sure to ask for things that He talked about in His word...about people coming to the Lord, people being healed, delivered, needs being met in their life. You’re on safe ground asking for those kinds of things because they’re in the Word of God. When we go on, we can ask for other things needed in our lives. The Bible says God hears us and He comes to give joy, happiness and contentment, and it comes by simply asking Him and trusting Him.
Look at John 15:11 – ‘I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.’ Pastor Lorne said this is not a theologian writing this but the actual word of Jesus recorded in the Word of God. Jesus goes on in v12: ‘My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.’ Pastor Lorne said God loves us...that’s sometimes hard for some people to understand...they say why does God love me? I’m such a sinner...I haven’t done anything for anyone...why does God love me?
But John 3:16 says, ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ How much would you give for one of your children? If you had to buy back one of your children, would you give up your car? Your furniture? Maybe your house? Maybe your whole farm for one of your children? Pastor Lorne says he knows for each parent, that for the sake of your children, you’d surely give up everything that you have.
Did you know that God’s love and the words of Jesus are so great and that God loves us so much that He gave His only son, Jesus to the world so that you and I can be set free from the guilt of sin and the sentence of sin?
And He loves us. That’s the word of Jesus. God loves you and me. J
esus said that just as His father loves Him. We know how much a parent loves their children and it doesn’t matter what they’ve gone and done or what kinds of problems they have. Pastor Lorne said sometimes he thinks the love is almost greater for that type of child and that shows what Gods love is for us...for you and me. Jesus talks about that love...of how God was willing to give up his Son because He loved us and that’s what Jesus was trying to teach.Pastor Lorne reminded us of Nicodemus who asked how to be right with God. Johns 3:3 says, ‘...Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again”.’ Again, the words of Jesus. He talks about love, he talks about asking for anything we want in His name and here He tells us that every man, woman, boy and girl must be born again...that you can’t see the kingdom of God unless you’re born again.
So here are the words of Jesus and He’s giving people the formula of having a right relationship with God and being born again, about receiving Christ...about asking Him to become Lord and Saviour of our lives. And all these words are words that Jesus spoke...they’re words of hope and words of joy. They bring joy to our heart and Pastor Lorne says he’s sure that we’ve had people who’ve been healed from diseases that just strike terror in your hearts and we’ve heard the Word. We’ve asked Jesus and believed Him and we’ve heard reports of God ‘s healing touches.
Pastor Lorne says he encourages you today to take into your life the words of Jesus...to allow them to become a part of your life. And when you think, how am I going to get around this, or how am I going to deal with that, remember that Jesus said, if you ask, you will receive. He wants you to take His word and believe it...to trust it...to rest upon it and know that He will answer because He has already and He’s going to continue to do so.
If you would like to speak to Pastor Lorne about this, please email him.
Comments are appreciated. If you’re not sure how, please click on ‘comments’ under 'Labels' in the right column.
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