Back To Basics (Fourth In A Series)

Weekend Message/Devotion

July 7, 2019

Back to Basics

(fourth in a series)

Sermon Prayer: “Heavenly Father, I stand before Your people, to deliver Your message. Though the words are mine and I prepared this message, I pray that this message is Your message in its entirety. I pray your blessing and anointing on the message, its delivery, its reception - and most of all, its application in our lives.” Amen

Today, we are continuing a series of messages entitled “Back to Basics”. The series will be to review basic biblical doctrines. In other words, reviewing what our beliefs and practices are based upon. We are utilizing Bible Doctrines (A Pentecostal Perspective) authored by William Menzies, Logion Press 2001; The Great Doctrines of the Bible by William Evans, Moody Press 1974; and of course, God’s Holy Word.

The Doctrine of Jesus Christ

Last week, I asked: “Who is Jesus the Christ to you?” I believe that if you do not have a relationship with Jesus; if you don’t have a regular worship time and prayer time with Jesus; if Jesus is not central in your life then you are lost and drifting through this life.

“I have come that they might have life and have it in abundance,” (John 10:10)

That abundance that He speaks is the abundance of FAITH, PEACE and LOVE in our lives. Many have abundance of things and are miserable without faith, hope and peace that can only come from a relationship with our Lord.

Without relationship and without fellowship, how else are we to acknowledge the existence of Jesus Christ? How can we see Jesus in others or how can others see Jesus in us, if we don’t acknowledge his existence in prayer and worship? He is a being, albeit a Spiritual Being! Others learn of His existence though us. Sure, we can talk about Jesus and quote Scripture about Jesus and hopefully that will lead others in the direction to find the Person of Christ. But can you understand that others, cannot know Jesus until they have established that relationship with HIM, nor can we. Folks it is not a matter of words (talking about it) it is a matter of living it out.

We talk about confessing our sins and asking not only forgiveness but also for redemption (return to the relationship with Christ as if the confessed sins never existed).

“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” Hebrews 8:12

It has been said: “If you could have it and not know it, you could lose it and not miss it.” But the truth is, if you have salvation, you know it; and if you have it and know it, you can never lose it. (I found this on the web and it just fits this message so well).

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10

“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Matthew 26:26-28

Right here beloved is the heart of the gospel. Jesus came to save the lost. Lost to sin! How? He paid a ransom for our sins – yours and mine and all mankind for all time.

“Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28

Finally, we also must understand that Jesus the Christ is the HEAD of the church. Some denominations and followings put greater emphasis on God the Father and God the Holy Spirit when it comes to “church”. Rest assured from the words of God the Father Himself: “And He put all things in subjection under His feet and gave Him to be HEAD over ALL things to the church.” Ephesians 1:22

That just tells me if we go to church, we must acknowledge the HEAD of the church. THE CHURCH – NOT the denomination – NOT the pastor- NOT the church board but Jesus is head of the church. EVERY Christian church!

Can you think of a better reason to go to church? Can you think of a better reason to develop and cultivate a relationship with God the Son?

God Bless you one and all.

Next week, we will continue this overview of Biblical Doctrines.

Let us pray.

I humbly and sincerely ask for your prayers!

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Note: It is the practice of this church to preach straight from the bible. We follow the lectionary assigned readings from which the sermon/messages are derived.

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