This morning the Lord woke me up at 5:37 with these two scriptures:
John 8:36
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
1 Corinthians 15:49
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
***I would begin the message today with the 1st scripture the Lord put in my spirit: from John 8:36- If the son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. To see this in context you need to go back to the beginning of Chapter 8. Jesus is teaching at the temple. The religious leaders bring him a woman caught in the act of adultery. They set here in the middle of the scene with all the people looking at her and at Jesus. They came with accusers, they came with witnesses. This was going to be a open and shut case in their minds. Guilty women, lots of witnesses but the bible specifically tells us they were doing this to temp Jesus. Look at John 8 verse 4-6
John 8:4-6
4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
***But let me tell you something Jesus had already prepared to be temped. Jesus had already fasted and prayed 40 days in the wilderness being temped of The Accuser himself, Satan. Jesus probably chuckled within himself when they came to temp him and said, lightweights…..
Jesus does not even respond directly to this foolishness by the religious leaders. Instead he acts like he did not even hear them and begins to take his finger and write on the ground.
7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
*** I do not know what he wrote but we know what he said. He said whichever one of you is not guilty of something that can stand here in your own righteousness and stone this women then go for it……..
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
***The first point of the Message today: Jesus is not your accuser, he is your Advocate.
1 John 1:8-2:2
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
***After Jesus finishes dealing with the foolishness of the religious leaders tempting him about the law of Moses, trying to hurt this woman’s life and reputation to advance their agenda to try and destroy Jesus ministry. You would think they would walk away but it appears they stayed and continued to listen to Jesus and began to argue with him. Lets keep reading John 8:12-20
John 8:12-20
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
***Point #2 of the Message today: When we follow Jesus, we have the light of life.
1 John 1:7
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Lets keep reading John 8:13
13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.
14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.
15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.
16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.
18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.
20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.
***Point #3 of the Message today: Jesus always works in unity with his Father. God never calls his people to work alone.
John 5:19-20
19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
*** It is at this point in my message preparation that I begin to see how God is weaving together the two passages of scripture that he gave me this morning. We begin to see this picture of Jesus here on earth bearing the image of the earthly man Adam. Jesus even called himself The Son of Man.
Colossians 1:13-15
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Let’s go back to John 8:21-28 We see Jesus confronts the religious leaders with their future eternity lost and separated from relationship with God. Lost in their sin. The religious leaders are head strong looking for their salvation and justification in their ability to follow the law of Moses. Jesus continues to explain to them that all their human efforts will only keep them as slaves to sin.
John 8:28-36
28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
***Point #4 of the Message today: The freedom that Jesus brings you is complete and cannot be taken away.
*** I want you to read verse 35 and 36 again
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Romans 8:14-18
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Ephesians 2:1-10
King James Version
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
***The first point of the Message today: Jesus is not your accuser, he is your Advocate.
***Point #2 of the Message today: When we follow Jesus, we have the light of life.
***Point #3 of the Message today: Jesus always works in unity with his Father. God never calls his people to work alone.
***Point #4 of the Message today: The freedom that Jesus brings you is complete and cannot be taken away.
**For the next part of the message we are going to pivot to the 2nd scripture that the Lord put in my heart this morning:
1 Corinthians 15:49
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
This passage of scripture comes from a teaching that Paul is giving to the Church at Corinth to help the believers there to understand the physical resurrection of the dead at the time of the rapture. Lets start with the question his is answering in verse 35
1 Corinthians 15:35-57
King James Version
35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
Romans 6:3-5
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
***We will have baptism on 4/20 Easter Sunday.
***Point #5 of the Message today: We must lay down our life of sin and death in order to be raised to new life in Jesus Christ
37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 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.
10 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.
***Point #6: It is in our weakness that the power and image of Christ is reveled through us to the world.
Back to 1 Corinthians 15:44
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
****In Closing I want to talk a little bit more about this Image of the Earthly and the Image of the Heavenly:
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image G1504 of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image G1504 from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Who is the image G1504 of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Colossians 3:1-10
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image G1504 of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
*** The 7th and Final point of the message today: Our transformation into the image of Jesus will be complete upon Christ return
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
***The first point of the Message today: Jesus is not your accuser, he is your Advocate.
***Point #2 of the Message today: When we follow Jesus, we have the light of life.
***Point #3 of the Message today: Jesus always works in unity with his Father. God never calls his people to work alone.
***Point #4 of the Message today: The freedom that Jesus brings you is complete and cannot be taken away.
***Point #5 of the Message today: We must lay down our life of sin and death in order to be raised to new life in Jesus Christ
***Point #6: It is in our weakness that the power and image of Christ is reveled through us to the world.
*** The 7th and Final point of the message today: Our transformation into the image of Jesus will be complete upon Christ return
Matthew 22
1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.