WHO DID JESUS COME FOR? PART 4

Advent

Thank you joining us on this advent journey. The final part of the four-week series, “Who Jesus Came For,” is about you. Again, at the end of this blog post, there will be a challenge for you to share God’s love.

Scripture: Matthew2:21 and 23.

Throughout this series, we’ve learned that the King of Kings came to earth as a little child for those in the greatest of need… the oppressed (women), the downtrodden (shepherds) and the least (children). He came for all of us.

Matthew 1:21, says: “And she shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for he shall save His people from their sins.”

We all make mistakes and have done wrong. We all need Jesus.

This month, we’ve challenged you to share God’s love by taking part in the many volunteer and giving opportunities available through Lord’s Gym Ministires – STORM (helping women on the street); The Lord’s Gym (for men in all walks of life); and the Family Activity Center (for children and their families). Visit Get Involved or http://bit.ly/FOCASgiving, to learn more.

This week, the week of the holy birth, we want you to take time to think about you.

Ponder this statement: “Jesus came for me.” Say it out loud: “Jesus came for me.”

If you had been the only one in need, He still would have came. Jesus makes this perfectly clear when teaching in Luke chapter 15. He tells the crowd: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?

“And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’”

He continued, telling the crowed, that it is the same “in heaven over one sinner who repents.”

He shared another parable too about a woman who lost a coin, turned her house upside down for that coin and rejoiced when it was found.

You see, you either are lost or you were once lost. God turned His kingdom upside down to find you. Jesus, His Son, the King of Kings; came to earth as a little child. He grew up serving those in need through healing, teaching, and loving. Then, He died. Taking on your sin, He died on the cross, so that you could be made blameless. Most importantly, He arose from the dead – fully defeating sin and death – just so that you might live forever in heaven.

This is your challenge this week. Take a break from the festivities to think over the reason for the season. Have you accepted His greatest of gifts? If you haven’t and you want to, simply pray to God: “Heavenly Father, please forgive me of all my sins. Thank you so much for Jesus. I am a sinner. I need Jesus. I accept Him as my Lord and Savior. Amen.”

If you have already prayed this prayer, rejoice!. Rejoice in God’s great gift to you. Simply love Him in return by building your relationship with Him and telling others about His love.

WHO DID JESUS COME FOR? PART 3

Advent

Thank you for reading our blog. Welcome to our advent series, “Who Jesus Came For.” Part three is about children and their importance to the kingdom of heave. Note: Jesus came into this world as a little child. Again, at the end of this blog post, there will be a challenge for you to share God’s love.

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

“So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:6-7

At last, the greatest of gifts, is offered to mankind. Jesus. Simply, swaddled in cloths lying in a manger.A humble beginning to an extraordinary life a life that did not end with death on this earth, but resurrection power. In His death He saved us from sin and in His resurrection He brought us eternal life. It all began with Jesus coming as a little child.

In Jesus’ time children, according to Christianity.com, were considered to be of little value to the wider life of the community. In Greece and Rome, it was an accepted practice to abandon unwanted children along the roadsides to die.

The Bible is explicit, however, when it comes to children. They are declared a blessing from God. Jesus, as an adult, had a real heart for young ones.

According to Matthew 19:13, little children were brought to Jesus so that He could put His hands on them and pray. The disciples, however, rebuked them. Jesus responded without hesitation: “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

In Luke 9:46-47, the disciples were grumbling over which of them would be the greatest.

Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside Him. He said to His disciples, “Whoeverwelcomes this little child in My name welcomes Me; and whoever welcomes Me welcomes the One who sent Me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”

What a concept Jesus is sharing. The least… the smallest… the weakest.. is actually the greatest. That’s what Jesus entire ministry was about. Here He is, the King of Kings and He came to Earth borne in a stable and lived a life of servant hood.

In a previous story in Matthew, chapter 18, Jesus explains that greatest in the kingdom of heaven is like a little child.

Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3.

Think about a child. They love unconditionally and they believe faithfully. These are things we all need to practice as adults. Jesus says: “… whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

He goes on to say, in verse 5: “Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.” Matthew 18:3-5.

So, here’s your challenge…

At Lord’s Gym Ministries we have the Family Activity Center (FAC) in Price Hill where you can serve at-risk youth and their parents. can serve at-risk youth, and their parents. At the FAC, you can provide encouragement to these children to become involved in healthy activities that promote positive life skills at school and at home, while nurturing their relationship with God if they so choose.

Visit us today at Get Involved or http://bit.ly/FOCASgiving.

WHO DID JESUS COME FOR? PART 2

Advent

Thank you for reading our blog. Welcome to our advent series, “Who Jesus Came For.” Part two is about the Shepherds. Again, at the end of this blog post, there will be a challenge for you to share God’s love.

Scripture: Luke 2:820

“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.” Luke 2:8-9

According to Randy Alcorn, author of “Shepherd Status,” at the time of Christ’s birth, “shepherds stood on the bottom rung of the Palestinian social ladder… The same status as tax collectors and dung sweepers.”

Shepherding was once a noble occupation, however, during the time of the Patriarchs. The wealthy sons of Isaac and Jacob, for example, tended flocks, as revealed in Genesis 30:29; 37:10.

When the Israelites came to Egypt, they discovered a different way of life. Egyptians were agriculturalists, Alcorn explains. “As farmers, they despised shepherding because sheep and goats meant death to crops. Battles between farmers and shepherds are as old as they are fierce.”

Egyptians considered sheep worthless, their art and historical records portray shepherds negatively.

In the course of 400 years, living among the the Egyptians the Israelites’ attitude toward shepherding was prejudiced. “Shepherding became a menial vocation for the laboring class,” Acorn says. “These men could not fulfill judicial offices or be admitted in court as witnesses.” Some shepherds of course earned their poor reputations, while others fell victim to stereotyping. Self-righteousness religious leaders labeled shepherds as “sinners.”

Yet, these lowly souls were the first to hear the Good News: “Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.’” Luke 2:10-12.

Suddenly, there came a multitude of the heavenly host praising God: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Ah what a sight that must have been. What a grand gesture, as well to these lowest of the low. During the Christmas story, God once again surprises us. He didn’t choose the supreme religious leaders or the elite class to be the first to know of the Savior’s birth. Instead, He announced the coming of His Son to the simple shepherds. Again, this was counter culture; a bold move. Makes you think.

Who are the “shepherds” of our time? Those in poverty? What about those with little social status but all the judgment – addicts, drug dealers, prisoners? Yeah, those people who are “sinners,” who we often don’t associate with.

Lord’s Gym Ministries has a mission to serve those lowly lost souls. Because, in fact, the “sinners” are why Jesus came, as He states Himself in Mark 2:17. We operate The Lord’s Gym at various times during the week at three locations, Covington, Queensgate and Price Hill. The gym is a weight-lifting, work out, and long-term discipleship program designed to teach at risk men principles to avoid destructive lifestyles while nurturing their relationship with God.

Your challenge: Come. Meet these men. Offer them hope by sharing Jesus with them. Visit us today at Get Involved or http://bit.ly/FOCASgiving. The results, you may find surprising. So many men have come through our doors broken and utterly lost. Yet, so many leave with Jesus – Who fixes their brokenness and offers them a safe forever home. These men are now spreading the Good News with others, just like the shepherds God sent His angel to.

“Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.” Luke 2:17-18.

WHO DID JESUS COME FOR? PART 1

Advent

Thank you for reading our blog. In the coming weeks leading up to Christmas you will be reading our advent series, Who Jesus Came For. At the end of each blog post, we will present you with a challenge to share God’s love. The first in this four-part series is about Mary.

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

“Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, ‘Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!’” Luke 1:26-28

Can you imagine what this must have been like? It was shocking to say the least. Mary was troubled by it herself; she wondered what this could mean.

The angel assured: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

What?! Not only was she going to be pregnant without “knowing a man,” but the Baby – God’s Son – would be the ruler of the world? For Mary this was surprising for she was just a young woman in a time where women were not considered to be of high importance.

To really put yourself in Mary’s sandles, take a moment to travel back to her time. According to www.bbc.co.uk, Jewish women in first century Palestine had “very limited legal and economic rights.”

  • A woman’s earned wages would go to the man of the household.
  • Women didn’t have the right to divorce, but the husband could. In fact, most inheritances that she received would go to her husbandand he’d keep the children.
  • Women were betrothed to marry – the choice of husband was made by the family, not by the girls themselves.

In this society, women were the lowest in their household. Yet, God chose to bring the good news of Jesus’ coming first to a woman.

It was unexpected. It was counter culture. And it was done in great love and power. God certainly cared for the women in Mary’s time period.

Centuries later, in America – the land of the free – women are considered to be equal among their male counterparts. Still, there are struggles. Women are sometimes treated as if they’re at the bottom of the totem pole. Some deal with mistreatment by turning to drugs and living on the streets. Some even fall victim to human trafficking – their bodies sold for another’s profit.

They may seem to be the lowest of the low. But just as the Lord loved women in the times before Jesus’ birth, He loves these women even more dearly.

Today He reaches out to these women… through you… to show them love in practical ways and to offer them hope for a new life in Christ Jesus. Our STORM bus ministry operates Tuesdays and Fridays, to help and care for women living on the streets in Price Hill. Visit Get Involved for more information on volunteering.

Follow Gabriel’s lead this Christmas season, bless these women with the good news of Jesus. After all, they are indeed the one’s for whom Christ came.