Friday

Jesus is OUR Lord !


Recently a woman in the news was shocked, surprised and completely bewildered at the fact that someone had stolen her identity and began to misrepresent who she really was.  She was an upright citizen, never having a criminal record but yet this imposter was a criminal and they did have a record. Many lies, rumors, false information was spread about her and the most difficult and damaging thing of the whole situation was the fact that people actually believed the lies. Even though she had clear evidence proving who she was, people, even those as eye witnesses of her personally, made a decision to trust in lies rather than the truth of who she really is.  Needless to say, this whole situation, even though it happened years ago, still affects her to this day.

Have you ever had an experience like this?  Have you ever had someone completely misrepresent who you are?  Have you ever been misquoted, misunderstood, lied about or even slandered against?  It doesn’t feel good does it? It is awful!  It is a breaking and heart wrenching to your soul.  Not only is it a miserable place to be, but there is an ongoing nagging quest of pursuing proper justice to get the correct information in the hands of those who believe the lies... for them to understand the truth once and for all to get the story straight to bring out what is right … to defend the innocent and clarify the questions of doubt.

The same is so with Jesus

Who is Jesus someone might ask?  This is an age old question that many have tried to figure out, investigate, research and still debate about to this day.  For centuries this topic has caused people to reason, stumped the blind, fooled the foolish and solidified the truth.  Many have claimed and ascribed various identities, definitions and character develop thesis of just who Jesus is.  The many claims and arguments that try to identify who Jesus is, start from the beginning of time. Some of the claims include; that Jesus was a crazy man with mental issues, others say that Jesus was just a teacher; still others believe that Jesus was just a good man, a good son... or that Jesus was not fully God. The wide spectrum include everything  from being just a human son all the way to being a devil (Matthew 12)  and so goes all the many claims of Jesus.

So Who Is This Jesus?

Much like the example of the women with the stolen identity above…who would you believe?  Which claim and which information is accurate?  Which one is true?

The evidence is found in the witness (es) of the one who knows the truth.

Wouldn’t you want to go to this woman directly and find out the truth from her? Wouldn’t you seek out documents, verification and truth to confirm what she says?  Yes, that would be the correct format for seeking justice and truth…research and reason.

The same in the case with Jesus…you would go to the source, HIM, and find out what He has to say regarding who He is.

So, let us go to the source of Jesus and find out.  We find His truth in the pages of the Bible giving us a firsthand picture and acknowledgement of His identity and work on earth.

What does Jesus say about Himself?

JESUS IS HOLY:

God is absolutely and perfectly holy. As God, Jesus embodied every element of God's character. Paul writes to those in the town of Colossi who Christ is “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.” In Hebrews, the author also speaks of Jesus,

“ For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” Peter tells us "You shall be holy, for I am holy."

JESUS IS OUR SAVIOR:  

Which asks the question “What do one need saving from?”  That is a valid question to ask and the author of Romans tells us as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one.”   Luke tells us that And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

JESUS IS OUR LORD!:
Most importantly, Jesus is OUR Lord.  The Bible clearly reveals that Jesus has complete supreme authority over all and we owe Him absolute allegiance, obedience, and worship. John tells us that All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.”  Paul tells us in Colossians that “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.”

If you have yet to follow Christ as your Lord, I invite you, Jesus’ invites you…would you please stop and make the time, take the time right now to ask Jesus OUR Lord into your life to become YOUR Lord?

PRAYER:
Dear Lord,
By reading this, I have learned that not only are You OUR Lord but I am asking you to come into my heart and be MY personal Lord.   I admit that I need to turn away from actions, deeds, doings that offend your throne and your word yet I also confess that I cannot do that unless you take the lead and guide me by changing my heart, mind and soul.  I seek to follow you and your word fully, completely and faithfully leading others to do the same. Thank you Lord for being MY Lord as well as OUR Lord and Thank You Jesus for spilling your blood as sacrifice for me on the cross- AMEN

Scripture References:
Romans 3:23
Romans 3:10-12
Acts 4:12
Colossians 2:9
Hebrews 4:15
I Peter 1:16


About the author:
Simone Lake is a Christ follower, bride of Pastor Dr. John Lake, Bible teacher and a passionate pray-er. Visit her: www.deeprootsinchrist.com,  www.simonelake.com, http://deeprootsinchrist.sermon.net, FaceBook, Twitter and LinkedIn
Simone is currently completing her studies in Apologetics at Biola University and is a member and speaker of the International Society of Women in Apologetics (ISWA)

 



 

Sunday

A Mission to Ecuador: A Prayer for All

Just this week, I came back from a week long mission trip to Quito, Ecuador. My husband Pastor Dr. John Lake and other members of my church were included in this eight member team. This was my third trip to Ecuador with my first two mission trips being in Santo Domingo and this one being my first trip to Quito on mission.
 
Our eight member team was invited to encourage, teach, train and equip the saints of God from churches, ministries and Christian organizations within the city of Quito all the way to ingenious people on the gorgeous mountainside outskirts of the city.  My greatest joy is sharing and teaching about Christ, who He is and welcoming others to get to know him better and deeper in a one on one relationship with Christ Himself.  My joy was fulfilled as I was able to teach train and equip others in the topics and curriculum of Apologetics, Spiritual Disciplines, Fasting, Prayer as well as Scriptural texts and messages in Colossians, Psalms, Jeremiah and more.  The audience who participated included Ecuadorian church leaders, church members, Christians, teachers and non believers…all thirsty and hungry to know and understand Christ in a deeper way through sound Biblical teachings of the Bible and theologically sound views that are in line with the Biblical Christian Worldview.
 
One of my teachings to the women church leaders was an actual prayer for all those in Ecuador. So as Paul wrote a prayer to the people in the church of Colossi. I used his teachings to echo the same heart cry and my burning desire for hearts to turn to Christ for the Ecuadorians.
 
Much like Paul, my prayer is the same for myself and for you in Colossians 2:9-14:
1.  I do not cease to pray for you
2.  I ask in prayer that we will be filled with the knowledge of God’s will
3.  I ask that this will shall be done with all wisdom and spiritual understanding
4.  I ask that our walk in Christ is fully pleasing Him
5.  I ask that we will be fruitful in every good work
6.  I ask that we will be increasing in the knowledge of God
7.  I ask that we will be strengthened with all might according to His glorious power for His glory alone
8.  I ask that we can do this with all patience and longsuffering with joy
9.  I ask that we can do this giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light
10.  Thanking God for delivering us from the power of darkness and translating us into the kingdom of the Son of His love in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our sins
 
 
My dear friends…this is my prayer for all those in my home town here and in the surrounding communities I live, serve and also teach. 
My desire is that we can keep our self unspotted from this world ( James 1:27) and sanctify to Christ and Him alone.  So regardless of me teaching this message around the world to various people groups, this is something I pray for those in my own communities,  myself and loved ones. 
 
SEEK CHRIST! Cling to Him and Him alone.  He CAN be found!  But rather He has found  you!