"GOOD CHEERS COMING TO US FROM THE WORD"
I remember when I was in high school sports; sometimes our team would be down in the score and in spirit. Then we would hear the cheerleaders leading the fans in different cheers for us. It would give us a lift to play with all our hearts. Jesus TODAY is leading the hosts of heaven in cheers for us. Romans 8:31. If God be for us who then can be against us!
I. Cheer number one and most important is Jesus telling us: Son, daughter, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
Mat 9:2 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.
A. WHAT A GLORIOUS CHEER, OUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN!
B. The greatest happiness a person can experience in life is the joy of his salvation!
1. I remember the day I was saved. The joy growing as I realized what happened to me. MY SINS WERE WASHED AWAY IN HIS BLOOD!
2. The devil tries take this joy away from us. This is why we need to resist him. (James 4:7 KJV) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
C. Salvation is the greatest miracle that can happen to a person. This is why Jesus said be a good cheer. It is greater than any miracle of healing.
Mark 2: 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
1. Jesus taught a Kingdom principal here. To receive the blessings of the Lord and we must first be willing to receive the giver of blessings.
a. What a grand and glorious day that was in my life. b. I can take you to the place and name the exact moment it occurred.
c. I was in bondage to the devil and the flesh and the world but today, thank God, I am gloriously free.
d. Jesus shed His precious blood on the cross of Calvary so that I could be free; and He died there for your freedom also.
e. The day I bowed my knee to Jesus and accepted His free offer of salvation I was forgiven of EVERY SIN!!!
C. Every person is born into sin; we have no choice in the matter.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
1. When Adam sinned, every member of Adam’s race fell that same day.
(Rom 5:12 KJV) Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
a. If it could be possibly for you to live your entire life without ever committing a personal sin, (by the way, that is not possible) you would still would be lost and go to hell when you die because you inherited a "sinful nature" from your father, and mine, Adam.
b. There is only one "cure" for sin, the applied blood of Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son.
II. Cheer number two: Jesus is always there it even in the midst of a storm!
Mat 14:27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
2 Tim. 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. FEAR IS THE OPPOSITE OF FAITH!
A. Jesus was walking on the water coming to the boat where his disciples were.
B. Peter was called and he walked on the water.
C. Much emphasis that Peter sank in the water but he walked quite a way as Jesus long way off, He was so far that they did not recognize Him.
1. Peter sank when Peter’s faith failed, However, Jesus was there to lift them out. He will never leave us nor forsake us.
D. This statement not to fear was out on a storm tossed sea.
E. It was the "fourth watch of the night," the darkest and most depressing period of the night. They were in the boat, rowing and fighting for their very lives.
(John 14:27) "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
G. Sometimes as things look the darkest, Jesus in the storm of life will tell us if we listen. Be of good cheer, it is I; be not afraid.
H. You may be in the midst of the worst storm of your life and you need to listen and you will hear the voice of this same Jesus say to you," be of good cheer, it is I; be not afraid."
III. Cheer number three from Jesus:
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
A. We can do it because he did it! He paid the price! He overcame the world, we can overcome the world. We cannot lose for winning, for when the battles over we rule with him.
B. We do it through His Word!
(Josh 1:8 KJV) This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
(Josh 1:9 KJV) Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
IV. God still speaks to his children! Remember Paul aboard ship, he hears from God!
Acts 23:11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
V. Paul shares the message of being of Good Cheer!
Acts 27:22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship.
Acts 27:25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
A. God’s Cheer is contagious. They were all filled with good cheer!
Acts 27:36 Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.
1. Ihave never met anyone who was sorry they became a Christian!
WHAT A GLORIOUS REALITY; JESUS HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD AND WE CAN WALK IN THAT FREEDOM AND POWER!
Conclusion:
We have been victims of the devil long enough; it is time act like the children of the most High God!!! Some Christians feel that it is their constant duty to "fight the devil." There is not one instance in the Word of God where God’s people were instructed or ordered to "fight the devil." We are supposed to "fight the good fight" but we are not told to "fight the devil." We need to begin to realize that the victory is already won for the child of God at Calvary. Satan cannot defeat the child of God unless we allow him to defeat us. We are the over comers, we are the victors; we are told to cast out demons, not run from them. "Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world." "No weapon that is formed against us can prosper." "When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will raise up a standard against him." Be of good cheer, the world has already been overcome for you and you just need to begin to walk in your God-given power, anointing and authority.
RISE UP AND BE WHAT GOD CALLED YOU TO BE; WALK IN THE AUTHORITY THAT BELONGS TO YOU, IN JESUSENAME!!!
You are not the tail, you are the head; you are not to be beneath, you are to be above; you are not to run from the devil and demons, you are supposed to cast them out; you are not to live in dread of disease and affliction, you are to be healed and be an instrument of God’s healing power to others.
(Neh 8:10 KJV) Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.E
BE OF GOOD CHEERE
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