Sunday Words of Encouragement May 3, 2015

We were short in the choir this morning but that didn’t stop us from praising!
Our substitute Sunday School teacher shared parts of a CD from Jonathan Cahn. It is called The Mystery of the Shemita Unlocked. It is very exciting and my husband will probably order a copy for us.

Our Pastor's Sermon was entitled “There is Joy in Knowing Jesus.” He noted how important relationships are with our pets, cats, dog, birds and other animals. Even more important are our relationships with people. But most important is our relationship with God and Jesus. Jesus died on the cross and his blood covers our sins. Salvation is a free gift through God’s grace. We don't have to work, in fact cannot work, for salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9. We cannot save ourselves but it is our choice to receive the gift by faith. Romans 10:9. Our faith is not a matter of just fire insurance. Once we believe and accept the gift, it is our responsibility to stand on faith, walk by faith and seek righteousness, through His power.

The nature of fallen man is sin. Anyone who knows what is right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin. James 4:17; James 2:10. Men are full of excuses that keep us in our sin. God can’t heal us or change us if we don’t acknowledge our faults and recognize our need for Him.

There is good news-- people do not go to hell for sin, but because they reject Jesus (God’s grace given in place of God’s law). When we are reborn through faith in Christ Jesus, we get a new nature - a nature of love, holiness and righteousness. We are no longer slaves to our sins. Satan wants us to live under guilt but God/Jesus does not condemn us. If we truly repent, we turn from our sinful ways and seek to live in God’s Will. When we abide in our relationship with Jesus then we can have joy in freedom from guilt and joy in the abundant blessings of assurance and peace that God bestows on His children.

Pastor ended the message with the well known hymn: What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

This is not the hymn version but I found it and liked it.
Nothing But the Blood by Matt Redman

Verse for Today:
Romans 6:6 New International Version (NIV)
6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin,

Lord, I give thanks that we live under grace and not law. I give thanks that I am not a slave to sin. Even more I give thanks for faith and relationship.