Uplifting Insights

Friday, March 27, 2015

Sanctified Through Christ's Blood

1 Corinthians 1:30

But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.

Believers' righteousness is made possible through the shed blood of Christ Jesus, which includes godly wisdom, sanctification, redemption and the righteousness of Christ. For this we as believers owe a debt of gratitude to Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior for taking our sin stained souls and washing them whiter than snow. In doing so believers become a set aside people for God the Father's purpose which is to serve Him through holy living. Being a set aside people believers become members of God holy nation of royal priests (1 Peter 2:9). God's sanctified people see things from God's point of view as well as living holy lives before Him.

Therefore, when God the Father looks at man He sees the righteousness of His Son Jesus Christ as Christ took on our sins at the cross of Calvary. Being a sanctified people, we can now boldly witness Christ the world over as all believers have been empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).

Being sanctified by Christ our Lord and Savior, believers will spend eternity with God and will reign with Him in the New Jerusalem. Being sanctified by Christ we as believers will have Christ-like bodies that have been washed in His blood. Being sanctified through Christ's blood all believers wear the righteous garment of God's salvation.

Believers, we are a sanctified people through the shed blood of Christ Jesus.

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Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Heavenly Manna

Exodus 16:4-32

....Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no. And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.

The setting for today's message is the children of Israel wondering in the desert with no food; they cried out to the Lord. God spoke to Moses telling him what He would do for the children of Israel. God rained bread from heaven; the people were to go out and gather enough for each day's meal; then on the sixth day would be more to gather to accommodate the weekend as the Sabbath was and is set aside for rest and worshiping God.

God was testing the nation of Israel's loyalty to Him and His laws. If they failed to obey His instructions, then their actions would tell God where their hearts, loyalty and obedience to Him were. Obedience is trusting God to keep His word, which He has done. Disobedience caused sin to enter the world and man has been in a fallen state ever since.

Just as God rained down manna from heaven to feed the nation of Israel He rains His spiritual manna on all believers then, now and for generations to come, which is provided fresh daily.

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Friday, March 20, 2015

A Cloud Covering

Exodus 13:21-22

And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them the way, and by night in a pillar of fire; to give them light; to go by day and night. He took not away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

Today we begin a two day message series of looking at God's provisional care as He used pillars of cloud and fire, fed them with manna from heaven and provided water from a rock. The goodness of God!

The setting for today's topical discussion is the young nation of Israel's wilderness journey where the pillar of cloud and fire were God's protective covering, which is a testimony of His love, care and protection as well as His mercy. God's provisional care is evidence through His acts of kindness shown to Israel during their journey as well as His sustaining power long after. He fed them manna from heaven and water from a rock, neither of which they had to work for; only gather. Their shoes lasted the entire journey; nobody but God. God was present throughout Israel's journey as He is with all believers today and for generations to come.

God's provisional care is evidenced today in Him providing for all our needs, both spiritual and physical. God is true to His Word because all we need and or accomplish comes from God. He is the true source as He works through people and things.

God used Israel to demonstrate His goodness so that other nations will see, believe and become members of His royal family.

God's covering of pillars of cloud and fire are symbols of His Spirit watching over His people.

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Monday, March 16, 2015

God's Mighty Arms

Psalm 91:1

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

This is the third series in our discussions of looking at God's protection; today's lesson text gives all believers and any who doubt the protective ability of God Almighty to protect His own. What this psalm provides to all believers is that by committing one self to the Lord is having the assurances of abiding under His mighty arms of protection. This means believers are never out of reach of God's protection as His arms is wide enough to hold us all at once, long enough to reach the depths of hells if need be.

Consider the eagle and her mighty wings and how they cover her young and when flying she can sore to heights unknown. God is everywhere even heights unknown. Be like King David in knowing there is no escaping the presence of God; therefore, David wanted to remain the apple of God's eye and so should every believer knowing the protection God provides.

That said, abiding under the mighty arms of God Almighty there is peace, love, joy, shelter in the time of a storm. He can and will command peace to be still and calm the trouble waters of our lives. He is a presence help in the time of need. There is no protection like God's protection.

He has His angels watching over you and me; Abide in Him.

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Friday, March 13, 2015

The Lord My Shepherd

Psalm 23:1-6

The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in the green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the path of righteousness for His name sake.

This is the second in a series of looking at God's protection. In yesterday's discussion our focus was the good shepherd; today's focus is more personal by focusing on the Lord as each person's personal shepherd as He cares and provides for each person's needs regardless of the need. Each verse in this psalm makes the point of the Lord being every person's shepherd. All humanity can call God at the same time and never get a busy signal. What a mighty God!

If comfort is needed, the Lord provides, if shelter is needed, the Lord provides if food is needed, the Lord provides even if we are traveling through what the psalmist call dark valley days, the Lord is there with His Spirit carrying us out of the valley where joy, peace and love abounds.

The Lord's goodness and mercy is with every believer forever. His goodness and mercy is shown to non-believers as He wakes each person each day of their lives. The sun shines on non-believers and believers alike so does the air all humanity breathe.

When we say the Lord is means ever present in every situation. It also says the Lord is with us every minute of the day for all the days of our lives.

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Tuesday, March 10, 2015

The Good Shepherd

John 10:11

I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.

Today's message is the first in a series of discussions depicting God's protection; therefore, we begin with Jesus as the good shepherd.

Jesus is telling His audience that yes He is the good shepherd who gave His life for the sheep which is all humanity. To accept Christ's saving grace one must accept Him as Lord and Savior.

Jesus being the good shepherd, He provides all the sheep's needs both spiritual and physical. Jesus is our good shepherd because He willingly gave His life to atone the sins of the world. This shows the depth of God's love, grace and mercy. His agape love would not allow Him to forsake His prize creation-man so He gave His best-His only begotten Son. Christ being the good shepherd left His Spirit the Holy Spirit who resides in every believer as our heavenly compass as we make the journey to heaven.

Being that Christ's Spirit lives in us and all humanity was created in the image and likeness of God is only fitting that Christ our propitiator is our shepherd. It is noteworthy to say, Christ is our good shepherd being that He died for us providing eternal life to all who believe in Him and His atoning work on Calvary's cross.

Jesus Christ our good shepherd who provides all, knows all and can do all. Accept the good shepherd's provision and live for ever.

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Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Christ Our Savior

Titus 2: 11-14

Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Our scripture text answers the implied question of how Christ became our Savior. Let us look at some things about Christ; first He is God's Son who was slain from the foundation of the world to redeem man from sin and forgive us of our sins. Christ was in the beginning with God the Father and created all things that were made. He is the final revelation of God the Father (John 1-14).

Second, it is in Christ that deity and humanity met as Christ met all God the Father's requirements to make a one-time sin atonement reconciling man back to the Father.

Third, Christ's blood did what animal blood could not do; His blood forgave sin. Christ's blood purified all believers and now all believers have been washed whiter than snow. It was Christ who pardoned all believers and we now have been found not guilty before God the Father.

Fourth, it was Christ's atoning work that have sanctified all believers who have been set apart from this sinful world while we remain in the world manifesting the glory of Christ our Lord and Savior.

Fifth, it was Christ's atoning work that all who believe have been redeemed from sin and Satan to a life in Christ.

Christ our Lord and Savior worthy to be praised. It is in Him we have eternal life.

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