Personal Thoughts and Ministry

If this man were not of GOD, He could do nothing

7/1/2015

I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of GOD? He answered and said, Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on Him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen Him, and it is He that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped Him. And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. (Joh 9:4-5, 35-39)

    Jesus came to do the will and work of the Father, always in obedience, even to the Cross. He shewed Himself as GOD in the flesh, to glorify the Father, and to witness His deity to those who saw and heard as a testimony of who He was: Prophet, Priest, and King. The miracles recorded for us by the Spirit led authors of the inspired Scriptures are there so that we might know Him and believe on Him as this man did because He is the light of the world, the Lord of the Sabbath, and our Saviour.

    The greater works that GOD has called His people to, are not because we are greater, but because it is the Spirit working in us both to do and to will of His good pleasure. Christ has ascended and is on His Throne, and while we are here we are to do His will and work, just as He did the will and work of His Father while He was here. This glorifies not only the Son who is our Lord, but also the Spirit that guides and directs, and accomplishes the work in us, and the Father who is over all.

    He is worthy of worship, not only because He is GOD the Son who is the Son of GOD, but because of His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary in our place. He took our sIn debt, and put to death the flesh, that we might have life, and His righteousness. If we believe, repent of our sIn, and receive Him by faith in what He has already done, and who He is, we are born again and translated from the kingdom of darkness into His Kingdom of light, the Kingdom of His dear Son.

    As ambassadors of that Kingdom, we are called to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need, that they might see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. As His disciples, we are commanded to love one another as He has loved us, and to grow in Him through His Word, that all may know we are His disciples. As ministers of reconciliation, we are commissioned to go and tell the Good News of Jesus Christ, that those who hear the Gospel and believe in faith and repentance might have life in His Name.

    For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

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I shall yet praise Him who is the health of my countenance and my GOD

12/2/2014

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And, behold, they brought to Him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith He to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And he arose, and departed to his house. But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified GOD, which had given such power unto men. (Mat 9:2-8)

    Our GOD heals and forgives. He heals the body, and the soul. He forgives sin, because of our faith in Him. When Jesus walked on this earth, those that thought they had all the power, and made the 'rules', were incensed by such a usurpation of their power and authority. Nothing has changed, there are those today, who seek to keep others from the Kingdom, simply to maintain their power and authority over their 'subjects', both in the religious and political realms.

    But, our GOD is King, and is in control. Just as He had power to heal this man's body, and forgive his sins, so He can do both for us. He is the Great Physician, He can and does heal all manner of illnesses and diseases, according to His will, and for His purpose. He also forgives sinners, who come to Him in faith, believing that He is, and He is a rewarder of them who diligently seek Him. He will reward and restore those who come to Him, trusting in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary for forgiveness and reconciliation, with a right relationship with Him.

    Just as Jesus did, we are to minister to those around us who are hurting, as GOD gives the increase. We are to take His message of love, mercy, and grace to this lost and dying world that is broken by sin and under the judgment and condemnation of GOD that they might be healed of their real problem. As we go, we are to be discipled and to disciple one another in love, and in His Word that we might grow thereby. We are to love one another as Christ loved us, that all may know that we are His disciples. We are to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to all who will hear, that in hearing the Gospel and believing they might have life in His Name.

    For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

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The just shall live by faith

12/1/2014

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And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto Him a centurion, beseeching Him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of Heaven. But the children of the Kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour. (Mat 8:5-13)

    During several instances of healing and ministry Jesus was asked to heal simply by speaking the command. So great was the faith of this centurion, who commanded many with his word, that he understood the power of the Word of GOD. He believed that the Messiah could and would simply speak healing and it would be done, and so Jesus accomplished it, just at the centurion had believed. His faith is lauded as commendable.

    Those who do not believe, but are trusting in themselves or in their heritage, or nationality, or trusting in their religion or works, will not be received. Nothing or no one else can save you, Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father, and we must come to Him in faith.

    Our faith is not a blind faith, for it is grounded and built up in the Scriptures. It is in Christ, who He is and what He has done. We believe He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him, GOD. Our faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of GOD. It is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. We know GOD by our faith, and His Word, and we know Jesus Christ is GOD in the flesh, and that He has paid our sIn debt with His own blood on the Cross of Calvary. We are saved because of our faith in His finished and perfect work on that cruel Roman cross.

    By faith then, we go and minister to those that are hurting, knowing that GOD will provide. By faith, we disciple one another and build each other up in the faith. By faith, we love as He loves us, and are known as His disciples. By faith we share His grace and the Good News of Jesus Christ, so that others may know Him and forgiveness of sIn in repentance and faith. As we go, we proclaim the Gospel of Salvation that we are saved by grace through faith, and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of GOD, not of works lest any one should boast, that those who hear may believe, and in believing have life in His Name.

    For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

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Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst

9/16/2014

So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy GOD, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to His Commandments, and keep all His Statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I AM the LORD that healeth thee. (Exo 15:22-26)

    The song of Moses was barely over, and three days further journey the people of Israel forgot the power of GOD. They ran into no water, then bad water, and murmured and complained, even blaming Moses for their temporary discomfort. GOD knows His people, and their needs, and is never late. He provided for them in His time, and gave them water to drink. Moses cautioned them to obey and remember. Obey His commands because He is GOD and is Creator and Redeemer, who brought them out of Egypt with a mighty hand and with all the plagues that could have been put on them as well. It was a good history lesson, as well as a warning to be mindful of GOD's justice as well as His mercy when remembering the mighty works of the Lord.

    We do well to remember as well. Remember the Lord is Creator of all things, and He has made us and not we ourselves. Remember that He has redeemed us from sIn and the kingdom of darkness, translating us into the Kingdom of light. Remember that He is sanctifying us and making us holy, conformed to the image of His dear Son, and we are to keep His commands for He is our GOD. We don't keep them to gain Salvation, for He has already purchased that for us, when He went humbly and willingly to the Cross of Calvary. We keep them for they are precious to us, and not burdensome, the whole Bible pointing us to our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

    We are His workmanship, created unto Him for good works because of His redeeming love for us. We are called to minister to others, that they might see Jesus in us, the hope of Glory. We are commanded to disciple one another in His Word, and in love, that the world will know we are His disciples. We are commissioned to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and as we go, tell all of Salvation through faith in His finished and perfect work on that cruel Roman cross, which is now empty along with His tomb. Those that believe and trust what He has already done for them, receive forgiveness and are reconciled to our Holy GOD and have life in His Name.

    For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. Just as He provided water to His people, He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

Sing praises to our GOD and King

11/7/2013

GOD be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause His face to shine upon us; Selah.
That Thy way may be known upon earth, Thy saving health among all nations. Let the people praise Thee, O GOD; let all the people praise Thee. O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for Thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.
Let the people praise Thee, O GOD; let all the people praise Thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and GOD, even our own GOD, shall bless us. GOD shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him. (Psalms 67:1-7)

We rejoice in the GOD of our Salvation. He has blessed us with mercy and grace. He has provided both physical and spiritual needs for all those that place their faith and trust in Him. Though He has judged us all guilty of sIn before Him, He has taken our place and paid our sIn debt when we could not. We praise the GOD of Heaven who has loved us and died that we might live in Him.

When GOD's people return to Him and repent of their unrighteousness GOD will bless us. But, there is no crown without a cross, there is no Salvation without His suffering and sacrifice in our place, there is no reconciliation with GOD without the righteousness that only He can give us. There is no blessing without obedience to His Word. There is no restoration without repentance toward GOD and right relationships within the Church.

One day, GOD will come back for His own and receive us up to Himself. Then His attention will turn more fully to the nation of Israel and those nations that oppress His people and oppose Him. He will destroy His enemies and set up His earthly Kingdom and rule from Jerusalem. He will test the nations and purge the people until all things are accomplished in His time.

Those that are at war with GOD, or never choose to surrender to Him on His terms, will be cast aside in eternal punishment. Not just because of their sIn, or because of their actions or failures, for we are all guilty sinners before GOD, but because they rejected Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord and remained condemned, despite His mercy and grace.

GOD is not willing that any should perish. He wants you to come to Him and be saved. Jesus loves you and desires to establish a love relationship with you that is real and personal. Trust Him for forgiveness and salvation and be born again by faith in His finished work on the Cross of Calvary. Jesus wants to forgive you and give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. Believe His Word and receive His Salvation today.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

Into the Land in which I will show thee

8/28/2013

Thus saith the Lord GOD; This shall be the border, whereby ye shall inherit the land according to the twelve tribes of Israel: Joseph shall have two portions. And ye shall inherit it, one as well as another: concerning the which I lifted up mine hand to give it unto your fathers: and this land shall fall unto you for inheritance.
So shall ye divide this land unto you according to the tribes of Israel. And it shall come to pass, that ye shall divide it by lot for an inheritance unto you, and to the strangers that sojourn among you, which shall beget children among you: and they shall be unto you as born in the country among the children of Israel; they shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel. And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourneth, there shall ye give him his inheritance, saith the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 47:13-14, 21-23)

GOD sets forth the boundaries and divisions of the nation of Israel when they come into the land for the last time. The descendants of Joseph's sons Ephraim and Manasseh have a portion each, and the tribe of Levi serve and work in the Temple. And because this Israel is at peace, even her neighbors are invited and welcomed to stay. Our Lord will be on the throne of His Kingdom for a 1000 years and all GOD's people will know His blessings. The desert will blossom as a rose, the rivers will be healed, the trees will bloom with fruit all year. All the peoples of the nations will come to Jerusalem to see the great King and worship Immanuel, GOD with us.

GOD has not forgotten His people. He still cares for, and directs the events of this world concerning Israel. All He has said, will come to pass, and in the end Israel will be lifted up, and she will shine greater than all the other nations that opposed her.

Until that day, we in the Church are to bless and support Israel and the Jews without compromising what the Bible teaches about Him, ourselves, the affairs of men, and this world. Our primary mission, commanded by GOD, until He returns and takes us Home to Him, is to preach the Gospel. Tell everyone the Good News of the love and justice of our Almighty GOD, who created them and loves them, but will punish them for their sIn if they choose not to accept His finished work on the Cross of Calvary in their place. But, GOD is not willing that any should perish but wants all people everywhere to repent, that is, turn from their sIn and turn to Him for Salvation. (That Salvation and forgiveness is not a license to sIn, but Liberty to

Jesus loves you so much, that He willingly and humbly stepped out of Heaven, put aside some of His attributes and perogatives as GOD the Son who is the Son of GOD, and went obediently to that cross, that you might live and be made righteous before GOD. If you believe His Word, and receive Him by Faith, surrender to Him on His terms, unconditionally, He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. He desires that you choose to be born again, and let Him establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

Our Advocate prevails.

11/29/2012

And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at His right hand to resist him. And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the Angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before Him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the Angel of the LORD stood by. (Zechariah 3:1-5)

Here Zechariah sees a vision of a courtroom scene: with Joshua the High Priest representing Israel and Our Lord in His appearance as the Angel of the LORD defending him. We see Satan, the accuser of the brethren coming in to resist Joshua and our Lord and he is quickly challenged and put in his place. Our Lord Jesus, our advocate states the case of Joshua and Israel as delivered, Holy because of Him, chosen and cleansed; not because of any special righteousness or privilege on their part, but because of Jesus the Messiah who has called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light.

In Christ we are clean, in Christ we are holy, in Christ we are forgiven and are priests with GOD and with man. All saints, the members of His Church are a Holy people, a chosen generation and because of His Grace we can boldly approach the throne in Faith. Not because of us, but because of Him and in Him we have our being, our life, and our purpose.

Without His righteousness, all our righteousness is as filthy rags. All our self effort is for nought, and we are men most miserable. But thanks be to GOD for all His wondrous mercy and grace. At the Cross we receive forgiveness of sIn, resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. An abundant life that starts with the new birth the moment we surrender to GOD on His terms and are born again, and continues as He lives His life in us and through us to make us more like Him. That is good news, the greatest news mankind has ever heard. Don't reject GOD's free gift to you. Stop fighting Him and repent that you will be saved.

If you are already have the victory that comes in Christ Jesus, be faithful and obedient to His call, His commission and His commandments today.

In Christ,
Jefferson A. Sweet

The Provision of Peace

11/28/2012

I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof. And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him, And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein: (Zechariah 2:1-4)

Zechariah continues his prophecy concerning Jerusalem and Israel in this vision of a man outlying the future of the city of GOD as the capital of the whole world. In a future time of peace the city will be a haven of safety and security where Jesus Christ, The Son of GOD who is GOD the Son will rule for a thousand years. The city whose name means the provision of peace will once again be home to the Prince of Peace.

It also had a immediate prophecy that was closer to Zechariah's time in that this was the time of Nehemiah, the rebuilder of Jerusalem's walls in the return of the captives to Israel following GOD's judgment on the sIn of the nation. Just as this prophecy came true in that day, it is just as sure for the future day of peace with GOD that will follow GOD's judgment on the whole earth.

GOD hates sIn, He cannot allow it in His presence, nor can He let it go unpunished. However, just as the name Jerusalem implies for the world, GOD sent His Son, the Prince of Peace to be our provision for peace with GOD. Jesus Christ is our Jireh Shalom, our provision, our peace, and through Him and Him alone can we be reconciled with GOD. When we surrender completely to Him on His terms, He can work to break down the walls of sIn and rebellion and rebuild the walls of safety and security as we rest in Him.

Let Him have His perfect way in you. Let His will come to pass and His Word accomplish that which it went forth to do. Be born again by the Spirit of GOD today.

And if you are already a child of GOD, share His Word that they might live.

In Christ,
Jefferson A. Sweet

He restores all things.

10/19/2012

I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for Mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. (Hosea 14:4-7)

As GOD winds down His sentence against Israel for its sIn and rebellion, He gives this prophecy that can only happen when GOD restores all of Israel to its former glory and rules it when He is here once again. And just as the prophecies of His first coming have come to pass, so shall this (and others still to be fulfilled.) GOD will restore Israel as a nation and a people. He will heal and revive the Jewish people because they return unto Him. He still cares for His chosen people.

He chose them, not because they were the mightiest, or the biggest, or the greatest nation; but because of the opposite of all those, so that He would get the Glory in what He would do in and through them. Just as He wants to do with each of us. He loves us and wants what is best for us. He wants to restore the relationship we had with Him in Adam. But He can only do that if we repent and receive His Son, Jesus Christ by faith in His finished work on the Cross of Calvary.

Don't wait until tomorrow to believe Jesus Christ has paid the penalty for your sIns. He wants to give you an eternal and abundant life today.

If you know Him, share Him with those that don't that they might have life.

In Christ,
Jefferson A. Sweet

If this man were not of GOD, He could do nothing

I shall yet praise Him who is the health of my countenance and my GOD

The just shall live by faith

Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst

Sing praises to our GOD and King

Into the Land in which I will show thee

Our Advocate prevails.

The Provision of Peace

He restores all things.

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