Get closer to Jesus, He is right here with you!

TEN REASONS WHY I LOVE JESUS

1.JESUS IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD

"A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came so that my sheep will have life and so that they will have everything they need. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep." (John 10:10,11)

The only Jesus I know is the caring merciful man with open arms – someone who loves and accepts all of us. We all make mistakes, but the good news of redemption is about how good God is, not how good we are. There is a place of honor in God's Kingdom for you and I. This honor is ours, not because of our conduct, but because of God's compassion. It's a great life knowing that at all times and in all circumstances I am loved. God is love. God is good – all the time!

2.JESUS CAME TO TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF

"Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28,29)

Christianity is not about do, do, do. It's about done, done, done. We can rest in the finished work of the cross. The war is over. The victory has already been won. It's the good news of grace – undeserved, unearned, unmerited favor with God. The welcome mat is out. We are now loved, valued, accepted, and forgiven forever. On what basis? On the basis of the blood of Jesus. On the basis of the blood alone. It's not about the religious works. It's about a warm, rich, wonderful, relationship with the living Jesus.

3.JESUS IS FORGIVENESS

"Let all that I am praise the Lord, may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases." (Psalms 103:2,3)

To know Jesus, is to know real forgiveness. I can't change the mistakes of my past, but they don't have to hold me in bondage and sabotage my entire life. My Heavenly Father is the God of the fresh start. He is good, for His mercy endures forever! I am not perfect, but I am forgiven. And there's the real good part; you don't have to be perfect. God loves me on my good days and loves me through all my bad days. Real peace comes into my life when I learn to receive God's forgiveness, when I learn to forgive others, and when I learn to forgive myself.

4.JESUS IS FREEDOM

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the spirit in life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:1,2)

There is a great freedom that comes into my life when I don't have to be my own God. In God's kingdom I am now free from all condemnation. Not just some condemnation, but all condemnation. When am I free from all condemnation? Now! The prison door is open. I don't have to live in defeat. God is not mad at me. God is not holding my sins against me. (2 Corinthians 5:19) Sin has no dominion over me because I am now living under grace. (Romans 6:14) Grace is my foundation and liberation in Christ. God's grace is not a license to sin, it's an opportunity to succeed.

5.JESUS IS MY RIGHTEOUSNESS

"Therefore, being declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1)

Salvation is the gift of righteousness. (Romans 5:17) In God's Kingdom we don't have to earn our righteousness. It is a gift from God. New Testament righteousness means we have right standing with God. We can now stand in His holy presence with no sense of shame or unworthiness. Righteousness gives us an exalted position in God's Kingdom. When we enter His Kingdom we start out on top. We don't have to work our way up, and there are no second class Christians. God's gift of righteousness puts us on top, and God's abundant overflowing grace keeps us on top. When life puts us down, we can stand tall with these words: I am the righteousness of God in Christ.

6.JESUS IS MY JOY

"These things I have spoken to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full." (John 5:11)

Joy is an inside job. The Jesus who dwells in me is a joy giver., He is the light of my life. The one who knows me best, loves me most. He pours his life into me and makes my life beautiful. The joy of the Lord is my strength. (Nehemiah 8:9) When I'm down and out, Jesus is the one who picks me up. Jesus is the one who loves and comforts me. There is no greater love. I rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. (1 Peter 1:8)

7.JESUS IS THE RESURRECTION

"I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live." (John 11:25)

Jesus offers new life, abundant life, and eternal life. Some people refer to God as our higher power. I know one thing for sure, I have a real good higher power. My high power has all power!!! Jesus has transformed universal sorrow into eternal victory. He changes lives. He resurrects lives. He gives victory in life and life in death. There is no need to live in fear, and there is no need to fear death. In the Kingdom of God it is never the end, it is always the beginning. Jesus says, "Because I live, you shall live also." (John 14:19) He also proclaims, "I have overcome the world." (John 16:13)

8.JESUS MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN IN A REAL WAY

"...I know whom I have believed.." (2 Corinthians, 1:12)

The Christian life is not a desperate shot in the dark, it's the glorious entrance into the light, it's not a guessing game, it's about knowing God. We know God through His Word. His Word speaks to our heart. His word enlightens our heart. His Word heals our heart. If you want to know who God is, look at Jesus. If you want to know who Jesus is, study His Word. The Word reveals who God is and what God has done for us. The word also reveals who we are in Christ and what we possess in Him.

9.JESUS KEEPS ME FOCUSED ON WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT IN LIFE

"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul." (Mark 8:36)

The most important thing we can do in this life is to prepare for the next life. The road that leads to life is a narrow road. It is narrow, but profitable. Godliness is never a loss, it is always a gain. (1 Timothy 3:8) Jesus is the door. We walk through Jesus into the fullness of God. God wants us to be so content and blessed living the spirit-filled life, that we would simply not want to live any other way.

10.JESUS IS MY PERSONAL PHYSICIAN

"Who is own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, what we, being dead to sins, should live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed." (1 Peter 2:24)

Jesus took my infirmities. Jesus bore my sicknesses. With His stripes I was healed. Divine healing is a simple and easy thing to believe, and divine healing is a simple and easy thing to receive. Here's why. The same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead and the same Holy Spirit that performed all the miracles in the Bible, is the same Holy Spirit that dwells in my body today. (Romans 8:11) God sent His Word to heal me. (Psalms 107:20) His Word is life and health for all my flesh. (Proverbs 4:20-22) The insulation of God's Word protects me from the infection of this world.

I Know Someone Who Will Always Love You And Never Leave You

We all have a desperate need for love. All of us want to be loved and accepted by people. When relationships go bad, it can tear at our gut, break our hearts, shatter our dreams, and devastate our life. We have all been hurt, because human love is a fickle and unpredictable thing. That's why all of us need to be rooted and grounded in the love of God. The love of God is unchanging and eternal. The Apostle Paul talked about knowing the love of God. It's a real thing. You can know it. You can experience it. You can enjoy it. The love of God can lift you up and keep you going when you are rejected and betrayed by people. The love of God will comfort you. The love of God will heal you. Jesus was - and is - the love of God in action. He is the re-builder of the broken down walls of human life. Jesus came to love you. Let Him. He will never stop loving you. There is no greater love.

Sitting At The Master's Feet

"Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus'[a] feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me."
And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."
(Luke 10:38-42)

The church world has many people like Martha, people who have a diffucult time hearing the voice of God, knowing the will of God, and experiencing the goodness of God. Martha and Mary had the great honor of sitting at the feet of Jesus, but only Mary took advantage of it. Mary sat and listened to Jesus speak. Today, you and I have that same opportunity.

Jesus speaks to us today. He speaks to us through His word. His word enlightens us. His word liberates us. His word heals us. It's a great life knowing Jesus - knowing that in God's kingdom we are loved, valued, accepted, and forgiven forever. Jesus is the door. We walk through Jesus into the fullness of God. Jesus is our peace. We can sit at His feet and rest. We can rest in the finished work of the cross. The war is over. The victory has already been won. The prison door is open. We are free!

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the church."
(Revelation 2:7)

Jesus

Whatever the question, He is the answer
Whatever the problem, He is the solution.
Whatever the hurt, He is the healer.
Whatever the burden, He is the over-comer.
Whatever the bondage, He is the liberator.
Whatever the need, He is the supplier.
Whatever the sin, He is the forgiver.

 Recommended Reading
GOD LOVES BROKEN PEOPLE
     (And Those Who Pretend They're Not)
                   by Sheila Walsh
 
HE LOVES ME!
     (Learning to Live in the Father's Affection)
                   by Wayne Jacobsen
 
GRACE PLUS NOTHING
     (Building Godly Character Through Grace Alone)
                   by Jeff Harkin
 
WHAT'S SO AMAZING ABOUT GRACE?
                   by Philip Yancey
 
THE MISUNDERSTOOD GOD
       (The Lies Religion Tells About God)
                   by Darin Hufford

YOU ARE LOVED!!

 GOD WILL
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER
STOP LOVING YOU!!

 LOVE IS WHY
GOD'S KINGDOM OPERATES IN OUR LIVES TODAY

 GRACE IS HOW
GOD'S KINGDOM OPERATES IN OUR LIVES TODAY

 
"If my relationship with God depended on my being
righteous and good,
I would never make it,
I have failed.
Grace is being accepted by God,
even though I don't deserve it,
even though I am not worthy of it."

WHY GRACE CHANGES EVERYTHING
Chuck Smith

THE FORCE OF GRACE

 "The law is holy, just, and good.

But it cannot make you holy, just, and good...

The law condemns the best of us.

Grace saves the worst of us."

 -- Joseph Prince--

 
"Receiving God's fullness gives us

grace upon grace.

The law was given through Moses.

Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."

   (John 1:16,17)

GOD'S GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
 
"...those who receive an abundance of grace
and
the gift of righteousness
shall reign as kings in life..."
(Romans 5:17)

 
"I do not set aside the grace of God.
For if righteousness came through the law
then Christ died in vain."
(Galatians 2:21)


"Our new testament righteousness comes to us by grace and grace alone.
Righteousness is a gift from God.  It gives all believers the status of
permanent right standing with God. All believers have received the
gift of righteousness because Jesus is our righteousness
(1 Corinthians 1:30).

We don't have to spend our entire Christian lives struggling to get right with God.

All believers are righteous in Christ. All believers have right standing with God.

Christianity is the gift of righteousness. We can never earn our righteousness.

We can never lose our righteousness."

Gary Marchinke

 

RECOMMENDED READING

Two Kinds of Righteousness

 (The Most Important Message Ever Offered to the Church)

E. W. Kenyon

 

Captured by Grace

No One is Beyond the Reach of a Loving God

David Jeremiah