Foundation scripture
”But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.“
Hebrews 11:6 NKJV
To come to God requires believing that has a foundation of knowing that God is;
Sovereign
All knowing
All powerful
All present
”He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”“
Psalms 91:1-2 NKJV
the psalmist introduces God to us as
The Most high and Almighty indicating His placement above all things
He then goes on to personalize The Most high and Almighty God as
The Lord
He is my Refuge and my fortress
my God, in Him I will trust
Many Christians today do not know God on a personal level, there is only the general knowledge about God and His son Jesus.
Many Christians today if they are confronted to give information about Jesus will have very little to say about him.
Jesus asked his disciples one time “whom do men say that I am? –
Jesus was interested in finding out what He was known for
For many in his day and now
Jesus is still hanging on the cross depicted by the images around us.
For many he is Joseph and Mary’s son
For some he is the wine maker who turned water into wine.
For many Christian’s now he is the answer to their problems
He is a sure banker to breakthroughs
Jesus died, he was buried but He rose again to bring us victory:
The Bible speaks of 8 different occasions where Jesus revealed himself to his disciples at various times over a forty day period before He ascended into heaven.
Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene. (Mark 16:9, John 20:1) which brought victory over despair.
Second, Jesus appeared to other women as they were leaving the tomb (Matthew 28:9-10). They thought he was dead, but he appeared to them, and they worshipped Him there. Jesus brought victory over death.
Third, Jesus met up with two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32). These men were talking about all the week’s events surrounding Jesus. They didn’t understand what had happened. Jesus talked with them and stayed with them until they understood. Jesus brought victory over confusion.
Fourth, Jesus appeared to 10 disciples who were hiding together (Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-25). These disciples were afraid of what might happen to them since Jesus had been killed. Jesus brought victory over fear.
Fifth, Jesus appeared to all 11 remaining disciples (Mark 16:14; John 20:26-31). Thomas, who had doubted Jesus’ resurrection, was with them this time. Jesus brought victory over doubt.
Sixth, Jesus appeared to seven disciples, including Peter, who had denied Jesus three times (John 21). At this appearance, Jesus puts Peter back into ministry. Jesus brought victory over failure.
Seventh, Jesus appeared to the 11 disciples at a pre-arranged location on a mountain in Galilee (Matthew 28:16-20). There Jesus told them He had been given all power and authority. He gave His followers the great commission to make disciples. Jesus brought victory over any other power.
Eighth, Jesus finally appeared to as many as 500 of His followers at one time. He confirmed the completion of His mission and the promise of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:1-8). Jesus had victory over all things.
Jesus had shown himself alive by many proofs, speaking the things concerning the God and charging them to wait for the promise of the father.
Who is Jesus to you?
Apostle Paul writes:
”Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,“
Philippians 3:8-10 NKJV
The risen Christ
”God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.“
Hebrews 1:1-4 NKJV
The Jesus of the Bible is not a character or a figment of someone’s imagination. Jesus the son of the Living God is real. In order to have fellowship with Him we have to know Him to relate with him.
To know Him requires you to believe in His person as the Son of God.
John 3:16-21 Clearly shows God’s plan for humanity by sending His Son:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
Romans 10:1-4 expands on the pathway to believing.
Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Romans 10:5-11 pretty much sums up the process for believing for anyone who wants to have a relationship with Christ Jesus.
For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
If you have not really believed on Him then I highly recommend Jesus the Messiah to you. Anyone who has met Jesus has never remained the same.
Say this simple prayer if you want to be born again and be citizen of the Kingdom of God.
Say Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son JESUS to the earth for me. I believe Jesus is the Son of God and I confess Him as my Lord and personal Saviour. Thank you for saving me and writing my name in your book of life in Jesus’ name Amen.
Shalom!
Rev. Ron
Virtuous Living 