Sunday 29 November 2015
Speaker: Evangelist Azuka Ogo
Our Lord Jesus
Our Lord Jesus Christ in John 10:10 declares his offer to give life and give same abundantly, in contrast to the thief who kills, steals and destroys: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full”. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). Jesus is the door, and He is the Good Shepherd: “I am the gate, whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture” (John 10:9).
In Jeremiah 29:11, we discover that God’s thoughts or plans for us are those of peace to bring us to an expected end, or in some versions, plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us a hope and a future. Ephesians 1:3 says; “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ”
Ephesians 1 speaks of what we have gained through Christ;
· We have become blessed (v3)
· He chose us before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless (v4)
· He predestined us to be adopted as his sons (v5)
· We have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins (v7)
· He revealed to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure (v9)
· He marked us with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit as a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance (v13)
What should we do? We should set our hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1-4). Philippians 3:18-20 warns against living as an enemy of the cross of Christ. Our knowledge of God’s intention, plan and purpose will help to focus on Jesus in our pursuits so we can please the living God (Ephesians 5:10NIV, Colossians 3:23}
Let us consider some practical examples of God’s spiritual blessings;
· Peace: He has given us the peace that passes al understanding (John 14:27). His peace overthrows the anxiety, fear, doubt, confusion we often experience without Christ.
· Divine Guidance: He has given us the Holy Spirit to comfort, teach, and help us, to be our friend and help our infirmities (John 14:25, Psalm 23:1-4). Without God’s guidance, the fears of Proverbs 14:12 are likely to happen. Jesus declares that his sheep shall hear his voice and they shall follow him (John 10)
· Divine Wisdom. See James 1:5, Proverbs 4:7-9, and the examples of Joseph (Genesis 41:38), as well as Daniel and his friends (Daniel 1:7)
In offering our thanks and appreciation to God, we should consider our state or condition before we received Christ and truly reflect on his wonderful miracles.
