The fall of man

"The Fall of Man" Last week I sent out illustrations of spirit, soul, and body of man in four different conditions. Perfect, fallen, redeemed, and apostate. Today I felt compelled to share on the fall of man and the remedy found exclusively in Jesus.

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“The Fall of Man” --- Sermon notes 3-28-2010

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Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. 8 The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden , and there He put the man whom He had formed. 9 And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
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Perfect creation, perfect provision, God created man - with man in union with God spirit, soul, and body. The two most important trees in the garden are mentioned, one the tree of life and the second the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
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Genesis 2:15 Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 "but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
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Man had perfect provision perfect innocence before God. There was but one command to Adam “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
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Genesis 2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. 23 And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man. " 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
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God’s eternal definition of marriage is found here. While man was innocent God made it clear God’s perfect will is the union between one man with one woman for a life time; the two becoming one flesh. Man down through the ages have tried changing God’s formula for marriage; however God has not been moved and has never changed His mind!
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Matthew 19:4 And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,' 5 "and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? 6 "So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."
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Jesus in His ministry spoke how the will of God never wavered. They were made male and female and they are no longer two but one flesh.

Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

Let’s go back to the Genesis account of Adam and Eve. Think of it sinless man in union with God! They walked in the cool of the evening with God. How awesome it must have been to walk in perfect union spirit, soul, and body. Notice Genesis 2:25 They were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
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Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" 2 And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 "but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'"
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The serpent here is of course the devil. One constant when the enemy of your soul speaks he will question what God has spoken. With Adam and Eve he questioned the word of God. If fact when satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness he was questioning of the word of God. Saint of God, when the Redeemer has spoken we should hold tight to His Word for it is our salvation.
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Has God indeed said…?
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Genesis 3:4 Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. 5 "For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
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The devil always questions the Word of God and wants to put you in doubt of the truth. The enemy takes a little truth and wraps it up in a lie to seduce us into disobedience. The tree was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam and Eve had a mind of innocence and now were being seduced to the knowledge of good and evil. Yes indeed they were about to gain a sin consciousness.
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Genesis 3:6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.
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Adam and Eve partook of the tree of knowledge and as satan has promised their eyes were opened; however, the lie that they would not surely die came to pass at the same moment their eyes were opened. Remember they were naked and not ashamed. The first reaction to their eyes opening was to make a covering for themselves. God’s word was very clear the day that you eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil you shall surely die. Indeed they did die. The death was spiritual. They now gained a sin nature if you will which is the sin consciousness! The perfect union between God and man had been broken no longer joined spirit to Spirit
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Genesis 3:8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
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The sin nature causes one to hide from God. Darkness does not feel comfort with the light. God came to walk with them in the cool of the day and for the first time since creation they hid! Sin consciousness separates one from God.

Colossians 1:21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, …
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Genesis 3:9 Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?"
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God reaching out to fallen man. What a picture! “Where are you?”
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Genesis 3:10 So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself."
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The knowledge of good and evil (sin awareness) brought to Adam fear for the first time in his life. The devil did not mention to Adam and Eve the fact of fear and shame and guilt came with their eyes being opened.
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Genesis 3:11 And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?"
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Adam how did you find out you were naked? Who told you… When Christ came, He provided the answer from the fear, guilt and shame because like the first Adam, He was the next man to be brought into the earth minus the sin nature. I get ahead of myself, don’t I? I can’t help it. Let’s spring forward to the strength of redemption in Romans.
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Romans 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
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Genesis 3:12 Then the man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate."
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Adam answered: It’s your fault God you gave me this woman! Hmm.. Wrong answer!
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Genesis 3:13 And the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
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Eve answered: The devil made me do it! Hmm… Wrong answer!
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Genesis 3:14 So the LORD God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
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Adam and Eve gave up dominion of the earth. Why does evil happen on earth? Here in is the answer; satan gained dominion over the earth. Adam and Eve yielded it to him, thus he became the prince and the power of the air.
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Ephesians 2:1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
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In spite of Adam and Eve’s sin and their pending judgment God made a promise that the Seed of the woman would crush satan’s head after satan had bruised His heel.
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Before God pronounced judgment to Adam and Eve, He promised deliverance from their sin.
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1 John 3:8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
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There I go jumping ahead again! I can’t help it the news is so great! The works of the devil have been destroyed by Jesus. Those born of God get joined back to God spirit to Spirit by the “His seed” (Jesus).
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Genesis 3:16 To the woman He said: "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you." 17 Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it': "Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. 18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. 19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return." 20 And Adam called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.
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The human condition -it's woes and evils can be brought back to man’s disobedience to God and their yielding their rightful dominion to the enemy of their soul. The devil is still lying. Why does God allow this evil in the earth if He is such a good God? It is the # 1 question people ask me. The devil is still trying to cast God is evil and untrustworthy. It is time for the lies of the devil to be brought low and the goodness of God exposed so we can walk free from the sin nature gained all those thousands of years ago when the serpent, the devil, lied to Adam and Eve.

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Genesis 3:21 Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin, and clothed them. 22 Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever"; 23 therefore the LORD God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken.
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God made a blood sacrifice for atonement for Adam and eve and clothed them with coats of animal skin. It was the first pointing to one day there would be a perfect sacrifice that would take sin away.
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John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
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Remember there were two trees one the knowledge of good and evil and the other was the tree of life. God, in His great mercy, took Adam and Eve out of the perfect garden for their own good so they would not eat of the tree of life while in this fallen nature. It was the mercy of God to send them out; however redemption was promised and on its way. This redemption is found exclusively in Jesus Christ.
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Hebrews 9:24 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another; 26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

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Spirit Soul Body

2010-3-21 sermon notes Spirit Soul Body

Man is made of spirit, soul and body. At creation God created man perfect and whole the first Adam sinned and that leaves every man born in sin and shaped in iniquity. Jesus came as the next man being created in perfection becuase God was His Father and He lived a sinless life.; then Christ took on the punishment of sin for the fallen man. Jesus brings redemption, restoration, and reconcliation between God and man. thus we have the born again man. Then finally illistrated is the apstate man which is why God calls us to hold on to our confession of faith!

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From Which Alter Do you Eat

God has established and order and way for His children to be established and it is found in the word of His grace. From which alter do you eat?

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3-14-2010

“From Which Alter Do You Eat”

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them. 10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.

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Which alter do we eat from? If our heart is established by grace we eat from the alter that Jesus prepared.

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Acts 20:32 "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

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It is God’s word of grace that builds you up and make you a partaker of His inheritance! To eat from the alter is to be a partaker of the inheritance.

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Luke 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea , a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth . 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years. 8 So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

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Here is the story of John the Baptist father Zacharias! John being the forerunner of Jesus Christ. This was a time in Jewish history that was not so good. For hundreds of years the Jews had been ruled by one power or another. In this day they were under the government of Rome . The Jews were looking for a Messiah to come and set them free. Here in this passage a band of believers had come together. The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. God speaks to Zacharias at the alter of incense. I find ironic, God speaks to Zacharias at the time when a multitude were praying! The times were about to change Jesus Christ was about to make a time of visitation for His people. The time of reformation had come and it was started when a multitude were praying and Zacharias was at the alter!

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Hebrews 9:8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience; 10 concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation. 11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

On the alter in heaven Jesus came with His own precious blood and obtained eternal redemption. The alter we eat from is an eternal alter based on the once and for all sacrifice Jesus offered in heaven on our behalf.

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Those who serve in the tabernacle have no right to eat from the tabernacle we as believers eat from! It is because the alter we eat from is superior to the earthly alter!

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Hebrews 10:3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

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The old covenant alter could not take away sins! That is why the servants of the earthly tabernacle have no right to eat from the alter God has called us to eat from.

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Hebrews 9:24 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another; 26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

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This is the alter that we have been brought to!

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Psalm 118:20 This is the gate of the LORD, Through which the righteous shall enter. 21 I will praise You, For You have answered me, And have become my salvation. 22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. 23 This was the Lord's doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. 25 Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity. 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We have blessed you from the house of the LORD. 27 God is the LORD, And He has given us light; Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.

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The mystery sacrifice of Psalm 118:27 has now been revealed. The light has come through Jesus Christ. There was a binding of the sacrifice to the alter; it was the cross and He was bound by nail pierced hands and feet!

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This sacrifice is the gate through which righteousness entered. This is the stone that the builders rejected and alter to which God has called us to serve Him by!

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Hebrews 13:12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. 14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. 15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name..

Roman 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

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In view of the mercy of God and the eternal work that Jesus Christ has done, I beg you, present your bodies a living sacrifice! In view of the greatness of the sacrifice of Jesus come and worship at this alter as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. This is your reasonable worship. Come and eat at the alter be transformed by the renewing of your mind! Like Jesus died to sin once and for all; reckon yourself dead unto sin and alive unto God!

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Hebrews 13:20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

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Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever!

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Jesus brings restoration to prepare for empowerment. Do you need restored; He is a God of restoration!

Sermon notes 2010-3-7

Jesus brings restoration to prepare for empowerment

John 21:1 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We are going with you also." They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any food?" They answered Him, "No." 6 And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.

For three and a half years the disciples had been by the side of Jesus. Jesus spoke and those who would hear and respond, their lives were changed. Here some of the disciples went fishing all night with no results. Jesus speaks, they respond and the have a catch of a life time. If we will respond to the voice of Jesus we can live and be blessed. If we will respond to the voice of Jesus we can walk in the abundant life.

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John 21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. 9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have just caught." 11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. 12 Jesus said to them, "Come and eat breakfast." Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are You?"; knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. 14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.

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This is the 3^rd time Jesus showed Himself to His discilples. Jesus is still ministering to them. Yet once again the disciples find Jesus serving them. Jesus was fulfilling His own word that He did not come to be served but to serve. Indeed Jesus came and served and gave His life a ransom.

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John 21:15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love (agapao) Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love (phileo) You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs."

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Jesus asked Peter do you love me. This love is the love described in John 3:16. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Jesus asked Peter do you agapao me! Peter answered Yes, Lord I phileo you. Jesus is asking Peter do you love me the way God the Father loved the world so much to give his only Son. Peter could only answer I love you with a brotherly love Lord and you know I do.

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John 21:16 He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep."

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Again Jesus ask Peter do you agapao love me. Peter say yes I phileo love you!

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John 21:17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep".

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Now Jesus changes the question. Peter could not come up to agapao love so Jesus now ask him. Peter do you phileo love me! Now Peter is grieved. Yes it was the third time Jesus asked but the first time Jesus asked Peter on Peter’s level. Peter said Jesus you know I phileo love you.

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As stated Agapao love is intense the love that the Father used to give us His Son so that we might live. Love demonstrated completely and fully. Phileo love being extremely fond of something or someone. This was a moment that Jesus accepted Peter’s love. It was a time of restoration. Jesus had restoration in mind for Peter all along. Feed my sheep!!

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Mark 16:6 But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7 "But go, tell His disciples; and Peter; that He is going before you into Galilee ; there you will see Him, as He said to you."

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One of the first words on the mind of God was calling Peter out by name. Peter, Jesus expects to see you in Galilee . Not only was Jesus reaffirming Peter but was assuring him that failure did not mean the end of ministry. In fact, Peter's ministry was just about to get started. Peter feed my sheep! Jesus is interested in restoration for every believer. Yes, He calls you by name.

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John 21:18 "Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish." 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."

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How many times had Jesus spoke those blessed words? “Follow Me”! Jesus speaks those words to us all. Follow Me! Will we heed the call?

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John 21:20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?" 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man?" 22 Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me."

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Peter asked about John. What about him Lord? Jesus was straight forward. John is none of your business you follow Me! Oh what we could learn by these very words. It not about this ministry or that ministry or even minister.

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What Jesus calls us to do is follow Him!

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John 21:23 Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?" 24 This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true. 25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.

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This word was all written down that we would believe in Jesus! Jesus is the one yes the only one. Life is in Him and there is no other!

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1 John 5:11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

2010-2-28 My Lord And My God

Jesus is Lord! Live a surrendered a life for Him! "My Lord and my God"

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2010-2-28

“My Lord And My God”

John 20:24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord." So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."

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Jesus has risen from the dead. He has shown Himself to most of the disciples but Thomas was not with them when Jesus appeared. Thomas reaction was I will believe it when I see it. Because of this passage many have dubbed Thomas with the nickname “doubting Thomas”. I believe it to be a bit harsh because it is a snap shot of a moment of doubt but it is not the story!

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In much the same way there may be a snap shot or two of moments of unbelief. You don’t have to live with the name tag of “doubting Thomas” any more than Thomas should!

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John 20:26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!"

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In your moment of discouragement and uncertainty Jesus wants to speak peace to you! Remember Thomas has spent three years with Jesus; yet this encounter with Jesus was different than all the rest! Post resurrection Jesus speaking peace was an impartation, yes a supernatural encounter with Jesus. Think of it, Jesus appeared in the midst of them and the door was shut!

Even when the door is shut Jesus has the ability to appear in your presence in the very midst of your circumstances. Anybody hungry for an Jesus encounter? I know I am! Post resurrection whenever Jesus was there He spoke peace to the believer.

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John 20:27 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing."

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Post resurrection Jesus did not condemn Thomas for unbelief but moved him from his unbelief to believing! Jesus knew what Thomas was thinking and believing. The Priesthood of Jesus was already in play! Jesus showed up and gave Thomas a reason to hang on to the confession that Jesus was the resurrected Messiah!

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Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

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Post resurrection gives us an assurance that our High Priest Jesus Christ can sympathize with our weaknesses and infirmities. Post resurrection allows us to hear “peace be unto you”! Jesus our High Priest gives us the ability to come into the throne room of God in our weakness and in our greatest hour of need! However, it is not just the ability to come, it is the ability to come boldly! What Christ has done to gain us access into the presence of God is great grace abounding! Hold on to the object of your faith being in Jesus Christ and Him crucified. It has great reward!

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John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

Our High Priest, Jesus, moved Thomas from unbelieving to believing! We can call Him “believing Thomas”. What a statement of faith Thomas made! “My Lord and my God!” Never forget that consummation of salvation is when we receive Jesus as our Messiah and acknowledge Jesus as Lord and God!

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1 John 4:15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

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True salvation brings boldness to come into the throne room of God and boldness in the day of judgment! As Christ is, so are we in this world! Not just knowing the love of God but believing the love that God has for us! God is a covenant keeping God! Keeping our confession of faith in Jesus alone allows us to walk and experience all this covenant provides through Jesus Christ blood.

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John 20:30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

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There is an exclusiveness in salvation! It is all in Jesus Christ! Jesus is the exclusive life giver. There is no other way to eternal life. Those who leave this exclusiveness have left the way of Jesus Christ and Him crucified and are preaching a false gospel!

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1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

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Oh that the object of our faith is ever in believing that Jesus is the Son of God. What is the victory that overcomes the world?

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1 John 5:1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.

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May we never be removed from the truth of who Jesus is! Enduring faith is the faith that is in the exclusive work Jesus has done at the cross. Can we believe like believing Thomas? When you come into the presence of Jesus do you worship and say “My Lord and my God!”?

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1 John 5:11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. 14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

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John 20:30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

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When the object of your faith is in Jesus Christ the crucified one you too can declare to Jesus “My Lord and my God”.