2. Jesus our Healer! (1Pet 2:21-24)

Jesus heals our mind, our will and our emotions. He also heals our bodies.

Introduction: What does it mean to be “chosen”? This devotion will explore the biblical treasures of being “chosen.” There are three main thoughts:

Paul’s letter to the Church of Ephesus identifies these jewels.

1. Picked Out by Jesus! (Eph 1:4)

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”

The word “chosen” is ἐκλέγομαι, which means to select, to pick out for myself, to choose, to elect, select. You get the picture:

Our Lord has picked us out before the foundation of the world. His purpose is to make us (in Christ) more like Him.

2. Predicted For Jesus! (Eph 1:5)

“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.”

The word “predestined” is προορίζω: It means to foreordain, or to predetermine, to mark out beforehand. Do you get it? Our great God has marked us out beforehand, even before the world was formed. After all, He is a God of for knowledge. That means we ought to trust Him!

3. Pardoned By Jesus! (Eph 1:6-7)

“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”

If you were to sign a check in your checkbook, it would probably be limited as dependent upon how much is in your account. With our Lord’s account, it is limitless! He has no restrictions. His heavenly bank account is inexhaustible. Therefore, we are rich in Jesus Christ! “According to the RICHES Of HIS GRACE”!

Conclusion: These nuggets of gold are worth more than money! If implemented by the Holy Spirit, this is guaranteed to bring New Life. That is what “Chosen” is all about!

Introduction: Did you know it’s our Lord’s desire to make His children more like Him. He accomplishes this thru a daily process. Technically speaking, it is called Sanctification. 

Please notice the totality of the transformation.

(1Thess 5.22)

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1. Sanctify!

The word “sanctify” is ἁγιάζω (hag-ee-ad’-zo), which means to make holy, treat as holy, set apart as holy, sanctify, hallow, purify.

By definition, the word purify means to clean or to make pure. Are we clean?

2. Wholly!

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Completely – The word “completely” is ὁλοτελής, (hol-ot-el-ace’), which means perfect, complete, all. 

Isn’t it interesting that our Lord is out do a complete work? Paul reminds us that He that began a good work will finish it. 

3. Soul! 

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The word “soul” is ψυχή, : (psoo-khay’), which means the vital breath, breath of life, the human soul, the soul as the seat of affections and will, the self, a human person, an individual.

To say we are being set apart in our spirit but our soul is not is a contradiction. Our Lord wants all of us!

4. Body

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Even our bodies are to be set apart. That includes a variety of disciplines. Are you disciplined?

5. Spirit

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Conclusion: There we have complete sanctification. One day we will not need to be sanctified because we will be glorified. Looking forward to that day.

Introduction: Make this your goal today.

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24

Wow! What a lifelong goal!! While others are getting spiritually lazy and more complacent, what about purposing in your heart today to FINISH FAITHFUL! 

But how? And what does that entail? 

1. Die to Self! (Acts 20:24)

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself,”

Remember Jesus said he that loves his life shall lose it…

2. God given goals! (Acts 20:24)

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy,”

Not only does Paul want to finish his race but he also wants to finish it well – with JOY!

How about you?

3. Called by Jesus! (Acts 20:24)

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”

This ministry is received from Jesus Christ. It is His ministry!

Conclusion: Finally, the finish line reveals it is all of His GRACE…..from root to fruit.

What do you mean by that? The apostle Paul wanted the believers in Ephesus to know and understand what they had in a relationship with Jesus Christ. He piles one benefit upon another one as he describes this New Life in Christ.

Keep in mind, those in Ephesus were opposing the great temple of Dianna and the popularity of that pagan idolatry.

Heavenly Benefits! (Eph 1:3)

“3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ”

The words “hath blessed” means already – past tense instead of future. 

What are spiritual blessings? Why not count them?

• How do you calculate the VALUE of the PEACE of God?(John 14:1-27; Phil 4:6,7; Col 3:15; Rom 5:1; Col 1:20)

• How can we measure a CLEAR CONSCIOUS? ( 1Tim 2:19)

“Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put a way concerning faith have made shipwreck:”

A good conscience is worth more than stocks and bonds!

• What does ASSURANCE of heaven mean to a Christian? (1John 5:11-13)

• How much would a soul PAY for FORGIVENESS of SIN? (1Pet 1:18,19)

• Can rubies or diamonds purchase being RECONCILED to our Creator God? (Col 1:20,21)

• What about the capacity to be FREE from Being Bitten with BITTERNESS? (Eph 4:31,32)

• How much does it mean to be able to give away the GREATEST GIFT of all – ETERNAL LIFE? (2Cor 9:15)

Eternal life means forever. That is a long time!

Conclusion: Now after listing just some of the benefits of being a CHRISTIAN, would you not agree that we as believers in Jesus Christ are wealthy?

Praise the Lord!

1. How God is calling His people to the OLD PATHS! (Jer 6:16)

“16Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.”

2. Sadly, some will not answer Jesus’s call! (Jer 6:16)

“16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein,….. But they said, We will not walk therein.”

.

1. David’s Dedication! (Psa 30:1)

“I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.”

Some suggest this was from the heart of David at the dedication of his house. Do we have a heart for God?

2. David’s Deliverance! (Psa 30:2-4)

“2 O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. 3 O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. 4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.”

God is in the healing business. He does deliver His servants.

3. David’s Delight! (Psa 30:5-12)

Although we face adversity, our Lord shows forth His victory….all for His glory!

Introduction: Seeing, hearing, and experiencing the glory of God is breathtaking. We read of personal testimonies in the Scriptures of those who encountered God’s glory.

1. Moses did! (Exo 3:2-6)

“And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. 4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. 5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. 6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.”

Imagine a burning bush that is not consumed. Moses was never the same after that experience. He became one of the greatest leaders of Israel.

2. Paul did! (2Cor 12:1-3)

“1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I can not tell: God knoweth; How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.”

It seems only fitting that Paul was caught up to the third heaven, especially since he denied the Lord Jesus for years. He became one of the greatest missionaries that ever lived, if not the greatest.

3. Ezekiel did! (Ezekiel 1:28)

“As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.”

4. John did! (Revelation 1:17,18)

“17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”

After attempts to martyr John failed, he ended up on the isle of Patmos where he encountered Jesus Christ.
Recognizing who He was, John fell as a dead man at His feet. Then he was ready to write concerning the things which will come hereafter.

1. Psalm 29:10 

“10 The LORD sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever.”

Isn’t it comforting to know that the God we serve is in control?

2. Matt 24:37

“37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”

Jesus Christ made reference in this END TIME Olivet discourse to the flood during Noah’s day. He likened the surprise to be similar to when He returns in His second coming. Does it seem like we are living in the days of Noah?

3. Nahum 1:7,8

“The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. 8 But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.”

After God sent the great revival in Nineveh during the days of Jonah, the city became very wicked. Nahum’s message is judgment. It was inevitable. However, like today, there is a way to escape this by running into the arms of Jesus! Will you do that today?

4. Gen 6:17

“17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. 18 But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee.”

Because of man’s wickedness, God sent a universal flood to destroy those on earth except Noah and his family. Next, our Lord made a covenant with him not to destroy the world again with a flood; however, the judgment of fire would be used.

Peter writes,
“And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly…” (2 Pet 2:5)

“10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the wo
rks that are therein shall be burned up.” (2 Pet 3:10)

How close are we to this happening? Speaking of Global warming!!

Introduction: I love what John was inspired to write to the seven Churches in the book of Revelation. This brief, but challenging message sandwiched in between some condemnation to the church of Thyatira is applicable for us today.

Notice:

1. What we as believers already POSSESS! (Rev 2:25)

“But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.”

Look at the words ” HAVE ALREADY”! That speaks of PAST TENSE. In other words what we already POSSESS- i.e. the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, etc. Use them. 

2. How we  need to PERSEVERE! (Rev 2:25)

“But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.”

Look at the words “HOLD FAST.” That speaks of PRESENT TENSE. This means Hold on- PERSEVERE. Stay strong!

3. How we need to PREPARE! (Rev 2:25)

“But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.”

Look at the words “till I come”! That speaks of FUTURE tense! Jesus is coming!!

Conclusion: Jesus Christ was instructing His Church to stay strong in these days. Why? Because He will return.

Let’s get ready.