What Good Thing?

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believe, faith, Good, law, Receive, Rich Young Ruler, Righteous, works

Matt. 19:16

“And, behold, one came and said unto Him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”

If it were possible for us to do one good thing to have eternal life we would never have it.  That is the point that Jesus was making to the rich young ruler.   All of our doing will never give us life because we could never do it all.  We would miss it in some point or other and if we offend in one point we are guilty of breaking the whole law.

If you’re trying to do good to get eternal life you’ll never obtain it but if you receive it as a gift you’ll have it.  Galatians 3:9 says, “So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.”  It is to those that believe that they have been justified by the works of Christ that receive the blessings of Abraham.  Notice verse 10 “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.”  In other words, as long as you are trying to obtain the blessings of God through your works or through your efforts of attempting to do some good thing you are still under the curse.  It it to those that believe that they have been made righteous by the works of Christ that receive the blessings.

The only good thing you can do is receive what Jesus Christ has done for you.  When you do He comes in unto you and then and only then will all of the blessings of God be made manifest in your life.

If you are not seeing the blessings of God manifested in your life ask yourself am I receiving what Jesus has done or am I still trying to do some good thing?  Galatians 3:11 says “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident; for, The just shall live by faith.”

Time To Party!

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law, Party, praise, righteousness, Thanks, thanksgivng

Esther 9:22

“As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.”

After God had given Israel victory over their enemies, they threw a party.  God had turned their sorrow into joy their mourning into a good day He had given them a divine turnaround.

Esther 9:19 says “…they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.” The key word is they rested.  They rested in the victory that was given to them by rejoicing and having a good time.

Jesus has given us the victory over all our enemies, He has given us a divine turnaround.  He has given us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness that we might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord that He might be glorified (Isa. 61:3). 

Looking back on the things that held you captive will only rob you of your joy.  It was the law that held us captive and whenever we look back to the law for our righteousness it robs us of our joy.  In the days of Nehemiah the people were rejoicing until the law was read then they began to weep and mourn (Neh. 8:9).

Don’t let the enemy stop you from throwing a praise party by reminding you of what you’ve done or haven’t done.  We’re not blessed because of what we’ve done, we’re blessed because of what Jesus has done for us.  So come on let’s party!

Only Believe!

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dead, death, faith, Jesus, law, life, stone, walk

John 11:25-26

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.  Believeth thou this?”

Lazarus had been dead four days and to Martha and Mary and everyone standing around them it was completely over.  After all Lazarus had been embalmed and buried and the stone was place upon the cave where they laid him.  Martha says to Jesus “Lord if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.”  In other words, Martha believed that if Jesus was there He would have healed her brother.  She also believed that anything that Jesus asked of God, God would give it to Him.  That’s anything but the life of her brother.  To live again after four days in the grave was too much of a stretch for Martha to believe.   Still, Jesus says to her “thy brother shall rise again.”  Martha thought Jesus was referring to the resurrection at the last day.  Jesus said to her “I AM the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”

There was only one thing that Martha had to do and that was believe.  Believe what?  Believe in Jesus.    When Moses asked, who shall I say sent me, God said to Moses, “I AM THAT I AM” God wanted the children of Israel to believe in the I AM.  Jesus wanted Martha to believe in the I AM for He said “I AM the resurrection and the life.”  Jesus Christ is the I AM. 

At the grave of Lazarus Jesus sees the stone upon the mouth of the grave and tells them to take away the stone.”  Martha says “Lord, by this time he stinketh; for he hath been dead four days.”  Jesus says to her “said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?  What was Jesus saying to Martha?  He was saying “The just shall live by faith” and that faith is Jesus Christ (Romans 1:17).  The stone upon the mouth of the grave represented the law which could never give us life.  But Jesus said “…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).  Jesus the life-giver caused Lazarus to rise up from the grave and live. 

Now if believing in Jesus Christ can cause a dead man who had been dead four days to live again, what will happen in your life if you only believe in Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God?