On a certain occasion, Jesus was accused by some of the religious leaders in Israel of accepting sinners into his company and even eating with them. Here is how Jesus replied (Luke 15:4-7):
4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentence.
The men of Israel understood sheep herding, because it had been a fundamental occupation in Israel from the time of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, hundreds of years earlier. Jesus knew that they understood the strong love of a shepherd for each of his sheep. And based on that kind of love, they all knew that it was not uncommon for a shepherd to leave 99 sheep in the wilderness under the care of another and go after the one that was lost, until it was found. And when it was found, the shepherd would carry it home on his shoulders and celebrate its return with friends and neighbors!
By this example, Jesus expressed why he kept company with sinful people. Because he sees us as precious lost sheep that only He can save!
In John 10:11 Jesus says of himself, "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth this life for the sheep." And in vs. 27-28, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."
Are you a lost sheep belonging to Jesus? If you are, then you will hear his voice calling you through this message. And if you hear his voice, repent and turn from your sins and follow him! He is ready to receive you now! Just tell him you are sorry for your sin, and ask him to forgive you and to come into your heart and to change your life. He will, just as he has done for me and many others! Only don't put it off. You need to do it now. Go ahead and pray. Then let me know by e-mail!
And Heaven will rejoice!
Repent: For the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand! Matthew 4:17
When Jesus Christ, the Son of God began to proclaim the good news to all earthlings, his message was this: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand! (Matthew 4:17)
Do you know how important this message was and still is? What was Jesus saying? What does this strange message mean?
First of all, it is an invitation to all the people of the earth, to become citizens of Heaven! Wow! What an invitation!
And the reason he was able to extend such an invitation is because he was sent from Heaven with the authority to do so by his Father.
There is only one prerequisite to accepting the invitation to become a citizen of Heaven ---Repent!
The word repent means to change directions. To turn around. To regret one's sins.
Do you regret your sins? Do you want to be rid of your lifestyle? Have you realized that you are headed in the wrong direction in life? Are you going away from God instead of toward him?
If these words find place in your heart, then Jesus has good news for you!
Jesus says, I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me. I am the light of the world. Whoever calls upon me shall be saved. I am the water of life. I am the bread of life. I give my life for the life of the world. My sheep hear my voice and follow me. I have come that they might have life and that they may have it more abundantly.
John, the apostle says of him, He that has the Son has life. He that does not have the Son does not have life.
Jesus gave his life for you, not only that you would not experience the condemnation and judgement in hell and the lake of fire for your own sins, but that you would experience life as a citizen of Heaven! That offer is extended to you today. For whoever shall repent of their sins and call upon the Lord Jesus Christ shall be saved!
Ask God the Father to forgive you of your lifetime of sins in the name of Jesus. Mean it with all your heart, and he will! And your name will be written in the Lamb's Book of Life, thus giving you citizenship in Heaven!
E-mail me and I will help you with the next step!
Do you know how important this message was and still is? What was Jesus saying? What does this strange message mean?
First of all, it is an invitation to all the people of the earth, to become citizens of Heaven! Wow! What an invitation!
And the reason he was able to extend such an invitation is because he was sent from Heaven with the authority to do so by his Father.
There is only one prerequisite to accepting the invitation to become a citizen of Heaven ---Repent!
The word repent means to change directions. To turn around. To regret one's sins.
Do you regret your sins? Do you want to be rid of your lifestyle? Have you realized that you are headed in the wrong direction in life? Are you going away from God instead of toward him?
If these words find place in your heart, then Jesus has good news for you!
Jesus says, I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me. I am the light of the world. Whoever calls upon me shall be saved. I am the water of life. I am the bread of life. I give my life for the life of the world. My sheep hear my voice and follow me. I have come that they might have life and that they may have it more abundantly.
John, the apostle says of him, He that has the Son has life. He that does not have the Son does not have life.
Jesus gave his life for you, not only that you would not experience the condemnation and judgement in hell and the lake of fire for your own sins, but that you would experience life as a citizen of Heaven! That offer is extended to you today. For whoever shall repent of their sins and call upon the Lord Jesus Christ shall be saved!
Ask God the Father to forgive you of your lifetime of sins in the name of Jesus. Mean it with all your heart, and he will! And your name will be written in the Lamb's Book of Life, thus giving you citizenship in Heaven!
E-mail me and I will help you with the next step!
Jesus, Helper and Healer of People! Matthew 8-9
In the 8th Chapter of Matthew, Jesus had done some extraordinary things to help and heal people. In verses 1-4 he had touched a person with leprosy and healed them. (Note to the reader: I have paraphrased scripture from the King James Version of the Bible for clearer understanding of the text)
In verses 5-13 he had healed a Roman military commander's servant without even seeing him, just by speaking a word only!
In verses 14-17 Jesus touched and healed Peter's mother-in-law who was sick with a fever. Miraculously she got up and cooked for Jesus immediately afterwards! That same day the news traveled about her healing and many were brought to Peter's house who were under the influence of demon spirits. Jesus cast out the demons and healed all who were ailing with any kind of symptom of sickness or disease!
Later he boarded a ship (verses 23-27) to travel to the country of the Gergesenes. But on the way, a storm blew up while he was taking a nap. The ship took on a loads of water and the frantic crew awakened Jesus demanding that he do something. Once awake, Jesus asked the crew why was their faith so little, then spoke to the wind and the waves to be quiet. They obeyed -- and there was a great calm! Wow, what a Savior --but he's not done yet!
When he and the crew finally reached their destination (verses 28-34), Jesus demanded the devils to leave two wild men who lived in tombs (the graveyard). He then permitted the devils to go into a herd of swine which ran off a cliff and drowned. This was too much for the locals so they all came down to the tombs and requested Jesus to leave their country immediately; a request he politely granted! (He's such a gentleman!)
Afterwards (Matthew 9:1-8), Jesus got back into the ship and went to the other side of the sea, arriving in his own hometown. Immediately, someone brought to him a paralyzed person. Jesus looked at the person and and simply said, Cheer up, your sins are forgiven! Of course the local religious leaders challenged his authority to forgive sins (seeing as only God can forgive). But just to prove that it's as easy for him to forgive as it is to heal, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, Get up, take up your bed and go home! You guessed it, the man got up picked up his bed and went home healed!
Wow, all in a days work for Jesus!
In closing, Jesus is alive today and able to do the same for you as he did for those mentioned above. He has the same love and ability to help and heal people today as he did then. Whatever your situation, Jesus wants to change your life for the better. And if it takes a miracle to do it, he's got the power, if you've got the faith!
Read these scriptures for yourself and then ask Jesus to help you solve your greatest problems and fill your greatest needs ---and He will!
In verses 5-13 he had healed a Roman military commander's servant without even seeing him, just by speaking a word only!
In verses 14-17 Jesus touched and healed Peter's mother-in-law who was sick with a fever. Miraculously she got up and cooked for Jesus immediately afterwards! That same day the news traveled about her healing and many were brought to Peter's house who were under the influence of demon spirits. Jesus cast out the demons and healed all who were ailing with any kind of symptom of sickness or disease!
Later he boarded a ship (verses 23-27) to travel to the country of the Gergesenes. But on the way, a storm blew up while he was taking a nap. The ship took on a loads of water and the frantic crew awakened Jesus demanding that he do something. Once awake, Jesus asked the crew why was their faith so little, then spoke to the wind and the waves to be quiet. They obeyed -- and there was a great calm! Wow, what a Savior --but he's not done yet!
When he and the crew finally reached their destination (verses 28-34), Jesus demanded the devils to leave two wild men who lived in tombs (the graveyard). He then permitted the devils to go into a herd of swine which ran off a cliff and drowned. This was too much for the locals so they all came down to the tombs and requested Jesus to leave their country immediately; a request he politely granted! (He's such a gentleman!)
Afterwards (Matthew 9:1-8), Jesus got back into the ship and went to the other side of the sea, arriving in his own hometown. Immediately, someone brought to him a paralyzed person. Jesus looked at the person and and simply said, Cheer up, your sins are forgiven! Of course the local religious leaders challenged his authority to forgive sins (seeing as only God can forgive). But just to prove that it's as easy for him to forgive as it is to heal, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, Get up, take up your bed and go home! You guessed it, the man got up picked up his bed and went home healed!
Wow, all in a days work for Jesus!
In closing, Jesus is alive today and able to do the same for you as he did for those mentioned above. He has the same love and ability to help and heal people today as he did then. Whatever your situation, Jesus wants to change your life for the better. And if it takes a miracle to do it, he's got the power, if you've got the faith!
Read these scriptures for yourself and then ask Jesus to help you solve your greatest problems and fill your greatest needs ---and He will!
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