Personal Thoughts and Ministry

Jesus, Lord of All

2/28/2013

That the GOD of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:17-23)

Oh that we would truly know and understand who Jesus really is and all of what He has done; and is doing for His Creation, and His own; and what He is going to do, for those that believe and those that don't. This wonderful doxology and praise of our Lord describes not only who Jesus is, GOD in the flesh; but also describes what the Father is doing, and what is to come. It also includes our position in Him, for we who are justified before GOD because of the blood of Jesus Christ, are now being sanctified through the Spirit, and one day will be glorified and forever in His presence. What an inheritance that truly is; that while our eternal life began the moment GOD saved us from our sIn, its final fulfillment will be in Glory. What a song we have to sing; of our Creator, our Redeemer, our Saviour, and our King. Jesus is Lord and we worship Him; not an invisible pie-in-the-sky make-believe god of our own design, but the GOD of the universe who revealed Himself through His Word and stepped out of Heaven and became a man and died on a cruel Roman Cross for our sakes and is now at the right hand of the Father until He comes again for His own and to judge this world.

Those that don't have a personal covenant relationship with the GOD of the Universe through Faith in Him, the Bible says you are lost and dead in your sins and are judged already guilty before the Holy and Righteous Eternal GOD. Without a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ following repentance, that is surrendering to GOD on His terms, who will be cast out, and separated forever from everything and everyone including GOD Himself for all eternity. GOD is not willing that any should perish, so He wants you to believe and be born again.

He calls us all to praise Him and bow before Him as Lord. All will do it someday, whatever your need He is the answer.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

Jesus is our Hope

2/27/2013

Now the GOD of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. (Romans 15:13)

Our Hope, our Joy, our Peace is in Jesus Christ who is the Blessed Hope, who gives us the Joy of our Salvation and is the Prince of Peace. We who have believed in Him abound in hope, grace, and mercy because of the power and presence of the Holy Spirit within us. It is not a wishful hope, a maybe hope, but an absolute hope built on Faith and based on GOD's Word that because Jesus lives so shall we. That is not just a future promise, but a now certainty of faith in Christ finished work on the Cross of Calvary for our redemption that gives us an abundant and eternal life now and forever. And that gives us real and lasting Joy that is borne out in praise, real peace because we are at peace with GOD, and power to love the unlovable and reach the Lost through the Spirit who gives us life and direction through His Word.

But the Lost are not so, for you do not know Him nor His power or presence. The condemnation of sIn is still upon you and you are still at war with GOD. He calls you to repent, to surrender to Him on His terms unconditionally and receive His free gift of love and mercy for your sIns and make you a new creature in Christ. Then you too, will have real joy in your heart, real peace in your life, and real hope in this dark, dying world. Without Him you are lost and destined for a devil's Hell. Don't let fear, deception, or anger towards GOD rob you of the greatest gift ever given; be born again today.

For the Christian, celebrate the joy, peace, and hope you have in Him with those you meet.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

Living as Jesus would.

2/26/2013

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. (Luke 6:35-38)

More good Kingdom living, that for the Christian are good principles of the manner in which we are to deal with those outside the Church and within. As children of the King, we are to do that which honors Him; as ambassadors of the Kingdom we represent Heaven while we remain here on earth. As messengers of the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ we are to live out what we profess to believe. The rewards, while not measured in dollars or possessions are out of this world. GOD will keep His promises, even to using the ungodly around us to enrich us according to His will and plan; especially when our witness and His Word brings them to Christ. That is the ultimate blessing for a Christian on this side of the grave.

But for the lost person, who does not know GOD as your heavenly Father, you are still at war with GOD. He calls you to surrender to Him on His terms because He is not willing that any should perish. He wants you to come to the knowledge of the Truth. The truth about Himself, who He is, and what He did for you when He took your place on the Cross of Calvary. Trust Jesus Christ for your salvation today.

If you are a child of GOD live as He would have you to, and bless others with your testimony and His Word.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

He is our Life

2/25/2013

I AM the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I AM the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep. (Joh 10:9-11)

The only door to eternal and abundant life is Jesus Christ. He willingly and humbly laid down His life for our sIns. And we who have believed He is everything He says He is, and have received this 'free' gift, that is free to us because He paid it all; now have not just a future promise of life, but a new life in Christ which is eternal and abundant now. We can either surrender to GOD on His terms and be free, with abundant joy; or we can allow the devil to steal our joy, kill our ministry, and destroy our relationships (especially the family.) This is not what GOD wants for any of us. Those of us who are in Christ must live, through the power of the Holy Spirit, lives that reflect His guidance, His love, and His life present in us.

And those without, who cannot understand or live the Christian life (for you do not have the Holy Spirit and the power of GOD within to do so) are urgently told that you must be born again. In order for you to have an eternal and abundant life you must receive Jesus Christ by Faith. Faith in Him and Faith in what He has said and done. Not just 'fire insurance' for the afterlife, but a real and lasting relationship with GOD Himself.

I pray that you will respond to GOD and His Word today,

In Christ
Jefferson Sweet

The Word made flesh

2/22/2013

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bare witness of Him, and cried, saying, This was He of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for He was before me. And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:14-17)

Our Saviour, Jesus Christ is GOD in the flesh. He existed from the beginning, created all things, stepped out of Heaven, humbled Himself and became a man subject to like passions as we are and tempted in all things but without sIn. He went willingly to die in our place to pay the penalty for sIn we could not pay. And when we believe He is everything He says He is, and that His sacrifice is sufficient for all our sIn, we receive His grace and righteousness for our own. We are born again, not by our efforts but by His grace. We praise Him for being who He is, and for what He has done for us. He is glorious, equal with the Father, GOD in every respect. He is the only Saviour, all Scripture speaks of Him, and one day He is coming back for His own and to judge this sinful broken world leading to the final Judgment on all sIn.

If you don't know Him because you have never trusted Him and been born again; repent, that is turn away from your sIn and surrender to GOD on His terms. He will make you a brand new creature in Christ and when He returns you will join Him forever.

Give Him the Honour due His Name today.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

Escaped!

2/21/2013

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of GOD, and of Jesus our Lord, According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2 Peter 1:2-4)

When we truly know the mind of Christ through His Word, and because of His grace we have peace. We have power, the power to truly live a godly life in this world. We then truly are in Christ free from the corruption that once ruled over us. What joy we have in knowing that our eternal life began the moment we were saved. Being a new creature in Christ and born again, with the former things passed away means we have the promise that He will always be with us, and He will never forsake us. We are now fully and completely His. By adoption, which is more binding (legally speaking) than our first birth. We can not be unborn again, any more than we can be unborn. What a testimony.

Now that we have this power, position and promise: we are to live it, and carry His message of love and mercy to a lost and dying world. We are to warn them of the destruction to come. We are to tell them of the corruption and bondage that has them under condemnation. But, also tell them of the good news of Jesus Christ so that they might be saved. We are compelled to share this message of Hope to those that have no hope, and give an answer to every man of the Hope that is within us. Our Blessed Hope, Jesus Christ who loves everyone enough to become a man and die on a cruel Roman cross. And our now living Lord will come again to take His own with Him some day soon.

If your not secure in Jesus repent and believe today, and if you are, share Him with those you meet.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

The Love of GOD

2/20/2013

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of GOD. Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.
Amen. (Ephesians 3:17-21)

The four dimensional aspect of the love of GOD who is love. Paul ends his prayer for the Ephesian church (and us) with this wonderful supplication and doxology that we might know the fullness of the love of GOD and glorify Him through our love. When that happens, His power working in us and through us will accomplish more that we can ever think of, and more than we could ever do working on our own. That is what GOD so earnestly wants for His Church; to let His glory shine through us as we love others in His power and do His will and work.

Those that are not apart of the true church, because you have not been born again are unable to accomplish this in your life. It is only when you repent and receive Him that He can work in you to create a new creature and then you will be one of the saints with us.

Whatever your need, respond to Jesus today.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

The Power of Christ

2/19/2013

And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.
Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Jesus tells us quite plainly that all we need is Him. We don't need to add our own works, our own efforts for they are insufficient and He is all sufficient. The child of GOD has only to continue to trust in Him as we did at our new birth, no matter what circumstances come our way as He already knows what we have need of and will provide for us. Our Heavenly Father cared enough to send His Son to die for us, He cares enough to watch over His own, and He will continue to provide His all sufficient grace on our behalf. Our weakness; being unable to save ourselves, being unable to direct many of the circumstances that affect us, and being unable to even stop the death of our physical bodies; all these weaknesses are strengths when Jesus pours out His mercy and grace on our behalf. In salvation, it is sufficient and complete at the cross. In events and happenings, it is sufficient for He is Sovereign. In death, it is sufficient for He has already promised a new body because of our new birth and position in Him.

And His grace is sufficient for anyone. Those who are not yet a part of the Kingdom of GOD by Faith, are so because they have not surrendered to GOD on His terms, and received that grace. The Bible says you are lost, you are dead in your sIns, and await the judgment. A just judgment and punishment for sIn before a righteous and Holy GOD who is right to punish those that have rebelled against Him. But, GOD is not willing that any should perish so He sent His Son, the GOD-Man Jesus Christ to pay for our sIn. Our weakness of sIn, His strength of Salvation.

Trust and Obey; for there's no other way: Believe it and live it, today.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

Our Daily Walk

2/18/2013

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. (Galatians 5:16-17)

For those of us who are in Christ, and have the Spirit of GOD within us, this is an imperative. Walking in our old ways, and following our own heart and thoughts without the guidance of the Holy Spirit is acting like a lost person who does not have the Spirit to teach and to direct. When we act according to our flesh, that is our own sinful nature, we act in opposition to GOD, just as we used to do when we were not His own. The sinful flesh is at war with the holiness of GOD. When we walk according to the old course, and not the Spirit of GOD, we cannot do the things that He would have us to do; and when we seem to do that which is good, just as when we were lost, it is unworthy because it is not accomplished at the direction and power of the Spirit of GOD.

For the lost person, who is not a child of GOD you cannot walk in the Spirit of GOD because you do not yet have the Spirit. You only exist in the flesh, and are still at war with GOD. He calls you to surrender to Him on His terms, and He as Creator has the right to do so. He loves you enough that He came as a man, and went to a cruel Roman cross to pay for your sins. Receive Him that you will have eternal life, not just fire insurance, but a relationship with a Holy and righteous GOD who loves you and wants you to be saved.

Respond in obedience to Him today.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

Christ is All, and in all

2/15/2013

Put on therefore, as the elect of GOD, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the Peace of GOD rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. (Colossians 3:12-15)

Because of Jesus Christ and His finished work on the Cross of Calvary, we who are His Children are to respect, care, and forgive one another as our brothers and sisters in Christ. And in all things we are to show and act with the Love of GOD (This love is a verb!) that is shed abroad in our hearts. And then we will have peace, and be truly grateful for all His blessings. And what peace is promised, the Peace of GOD, which then is lived out as peace with ourselves and peace with those around us because we are reconciled and forgiven by the manifold grace of GOD. We who are born again truly have much to be thankful for.

But those that are not truly born again, who are playing church or trying to get to 'god' some other way, are not of Christ and cannot, despite your vain attempts, truly live in Christ and fellowship with His Church. GOD calls you to surrender to Him on His terms, for you are at war with Him still, and will stand in your sIn at the judgment. Then you will be part of Him, and He in you making you a new creature in Christ that can truly experience the Peace of GOD.

Whatever your need, Christ is the Answer and He calls all to Himself. Come to our Creator, Redeemer and King in obedience today.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

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