Introduction: This may be one of the shortest honeymoons on record: A couple got married on March 6, 2007, in Las Vegas, Nevada, and it took less than 24 hours for the bride to decide to leave the love of her life. They married on a Sunday; but by Monday as a result of an energetic heated argument, she was in the hospital with a broken leg and the groom was in handcuffs headed for jail.

 

While it took the unfortunate couple I just described less than a day to lose one another, for most people it happens over time. One day, excitement and passion about life are in full bloom; and a year later, it's as if the candle had never been lit at all.

 

It happens not just in marriage or in personal relationships. The love that once fueled a hobby, a career, a ministry, or a dream for the future can fade like a dying ember. Something to which we were once committed is no longer a priority in our life.

 

While the loss of love is a disheartening experience in any area of life, there is one area in which the consequences are most serious: when we lose our spiritual love for the things of God. I have seen this happen to many Christians in my years as a pastor. Without diligence, the fire of love that burned brightly when we first met Jesus Christ can begin to fade and provide lesser and lesser amounts of light in this world.

 

I. Love was lost in Ephesus: In the revelation of Jesus Christ given to the apostle John, we find the record of a church that had started strong in the faith. I am talking about the church at Ephesus. To get an overview, we need to read the text in Revelation 2:1-7,

“Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; (2) I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: (3) And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. (4) Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. (5) Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. (6) But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. (7) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”
 

First-time readers of Revelation with some knowledge of the New Testament are often surprised when they discover that the Ephesian church is the one called to account for having lost its love for God. In fact according to verse 4, they hadn't lost their love – they had left their love.

 

Ephesus? Wasn't this the church to whom Paul wrote one of the deepest theological letters in the New Testament? Indeed, it was.

 

 

 

 

 

Ephesus? Wasn't this the church with whose elders Paul knelt and prayed and wept as he left them after three years in their midst? His words are recorded for us in Acts 20:17-38. Paul had taught them everything he knew to help them grow, going from "house to house," investing himself in their lives. The effectiveness of this church’s ministry is found in Acts 19:10 where we read "All they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord both Jews and Gentile."

 

Returning to our text in Relation 2, it would be a flawless church, in the eyes of many. In verses 2-3 our Lord paid a five-fold compliment to them, with a lot of positive pluses. He tells them what is right in the church.

 

First: They were a SERVING church, busy doing the work of the Lord, verse 2, "I know thy works, and thy labor." By using the word "labor" it means this church was "serving to the point of exhaustion." No doubt their schedule was filled with activities.

 

Second: They were a SEPARATED church in that they were “careful in their holiness” verse 2, "…could not bear them who were evil." They could not nor would not tolerate immorality and sin within their midst. Here was a church in the world, but the world was not in the church.

 

Third: They were WATCHFUL in their doctrine. "Ministerial courtesy" had no place in Ephesus, verse 2, "They had tried the false apostles and found them to be liars."This church was concerned that Christ centered, responsible men were getting the Word of God out. Paul warned them in Acts 20 they were as sheep among wolves, and they were to be on guard against wolves among the sheep.

 

Fourth: They were a STEADFAST church, verse 3. They were faithful in the midst of opposition. The word "patience" carries the meaning of "endurance under trial." They kept going when the going was tough. This tells me they had their problems but they were not quitters.

 

Fifth: They were a SUFFERING church, verse 3, "and has not fainted." Here was a church that had not lost heart or their spirit. They weren't easily discouraged, dismayed or depressed by the obstacles.

 

Here was a church with a lot of positive pluses. No matter how you would examine this congregation, you could conclude that it is just about as perfect as a church could become. However, I am not the one who draws the line. The Lord Jesus Christ is the evaluator and in spite of everything this church appears to be, it's on the verge of FAILURE. They were barely getting a passing grade.

 

Please notice in verse 4 the Lord tells them what is wrong. “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” Jesus had told His disciples, concerning the last days before His return in Matthew 24:12, "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." The church at Ephesus, for all her works, and toil, and orthodoxy, and perseverance, had abandoned their first love.

 

Please notice several things about this astonishing verse.

 

First: Please notice they did not lose their first love. They “LEFT” their first love.

 

Second: You will notice in this verse there is an italicized word -"Somewhat."It ought not to be there, as italicized words indicate a word added by the translator. The Lord is not saying I have somewhat against you. Literally it reads, "I have against thee."

Third: The order of the words in the Greek is emphatic; "Your first love you have left."This rebuke contrasts what Paul had written to these Ephesians 35 years earlier, that he never stopped giving thanks for them because of their faith in Christ and their Love.

 

 

Yet their inward problem was the heart. Someone said this, "To be aware of a time when Jesus meant more; or your DEVOTION to Jesus Christ was of a greater degree or your DEDICATION involved a greater commitment, to say it WAS and NOW is NOT is to SAY you have changed."

 

The story is told of a father and daughter whose custom it was for a number of years to take a walk every evening after supper. But for a period of 3 months, there came a time where she was reluctant to go. She would always try to find an excuse to leave her father and go back to the house and shut herself up in her room. This grieved the heart of the father and he was distressed about it, but said nothing.

 

Finally on the occasion of his birthday, this little girl with a joyful smile handed her father a birthday present. When the father opened the package, to his astonishment there was a pair of home–made bedroom slippers.

 

 

I believe that's the way the Lord Jesus feels about us. IT'S NOT WHAT WE ARE DOING FOR THE LORD THAT IS OF INTEREST TO THE HEART OF JESUS. Rather it's the fact that Jesus wants us to be in love with Him.

 

II. What causes this COLDNESS to come into our lives, that leaves the LOVE for Christ out? There is no greater love than the love we have for Christ. But, regardless of the object, love is love. The way we leave our love – whether love for Christ, the Scriptures, prayer, our family, or our ministry – is the same in every case.

 

First: We leave by lusting. If we do not guard against “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life” as we read in I John 2:16, we can leave the things of Christ in pursuit of the things of this world. Money, position, power, influence, possessions – these are powerful enticements for the one who has not maintained a close walk with Jesus.

 

Second: We leave by lack of attention. It stands to reason that what we ignore, we will eventually care little about. If we ignore the Bible, our spouse, our responsibilities as a parent, our life in the church – it will only be a matter of time before we find little or no love for those parts of our life. It takes years to develop the ability to play an instrument. But it only takes a few weeks of inattention to the instrument for that ability to be lost.

 

Third: We leave by lack of perseverance. The greatest myth about sacrificial love is that it is easy. The truth is, nothing could be harder, because true love is the opposite of human nature. Love takes work, diligence, and perseverance. It's easy to sleep in instead of rising to pray and read the Bible, and easier still to take a spouse for granted than to practice acts of kindness. It is definitely easier, when the way gets hard, not to take up our cross and follow Jesus as His disciple.

 

Fourth: We leave by laziness. Sometimes it's not temptation or time or the world – it's just us! It’s easy to go through life as a couch potato, surfing the channels on TV or the Web on our computer. We can while away a half day, a weekend … we can while away a lifetime by living an unfocused, self-centered, lazy life. It's human nature to do so, and the quicker we recognize that pattern and correct it, the sooner we'll find love returning.

 

Fifth: We leave by lapsing. Finally, we can leave our love by lapsing into sin, and staying there. We're going to sin in this life. But if we don't confess and repent of our sin when it happens, we are opening up the door for that sin to become a lifestyle.

 

III. How to Find and Keep our Love. Jesus told the church at Ephesus that unless they repented, He would remove the lampstand – the light of His presence – from their midst. Notice again the words in verse 5, “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.  Jesus stood before the church at Ephesus and told them in verse 5 to REMEMBER, REPENT, REPEAT, or be REMOVED.

 

Let us REMEMBER how we loved Christ as young Christians when we were the happiest people in the world. Literally the text says "keep on remembering."

 

 

Let us REPENT, turn, confess, go back and ask God to fill our hearts with the love of God shed abroad by the Holy Spirit. Is the furnace in your heart still there, or has the fire gone out?

 

Let us REPEAT, do again the first works as we used to do when our faith was aglow with a loving heart, and our church work was a labor of love and not just labor. Have you gotten so involved in the work of the Lord that you have forgotten the Lord of the work?

 

If we don’t "Remember, Repent and Repeat," there is one more "R" with which to contend. "Or else I will REMOVE thy lampstand out of his place, except thou repent." It is either Revival or Removal!

 

God calls us to love Him, our spouse, our children, the church, the lost – there are many objects worthy of our sacrificial love. But if we ever leave our first love – our love for Jesus Christ – we will not be able to love anyone or anything else as we should.

 

The way we rekindle and keep our love for Jesus and others is by reversing what we did to lose it. In short, stay close to and focused on serving those you should love. Rekindling the flame of love for Jesus will cause that flame to spread and burn brightly for everyone and everything in your life.

 

In closing let me quote three of the greatest verses in the Bible on Love and three hymns that tell us of the love of God.

 

In Jeremiah 31:3 we read, “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

 

In Romans 5:8 we read, “But God commendeth his LOVE toward us, in that, while we were yet SINNERS, Christ died for us.” 

In John 3:16-17 we read, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life…”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let’s face it! We live in an enemy infested world. Nationally and internationally, we are fighting the enemies of our freedoms. Spiritually, we are fighting the enemies of our soul. All believers in Christ face three great enemies, the WORLD, the FLESH (our old human nature) and the DEVIL. The fundamental church has its enemies on the outside in the form of liberalism, modernism, socialism, secularism and compromising neo-evangelism. Also today the fundamental New Testament Church cannot escape the distasteful position of having ENEMIES from within. As we continue our study on how to treat one another in the family of God, let us examine from the Word of God "How to Treat Our ENEMIES.” Just how are you and I to TREAT those who oppose us, or who are unkind to us?

 

In the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5:43-48, our Lord spells out for us how we are to respond to our enemies:

 

 

Over the years, strained relationships have developed in Bible believing churches, including ours. They have developed among pastors, deacons, individual members and between groups within the ministry.

 

Because of strained relationships that can and do develop within the church, I believe this message may help us gain a new perspective and therefore begin to resolve some long-held grievances or issues.

 

I have to be honest with you, over my 43 years in the ministry there have been some people who could be called my enemies.

 

 

The ones over which I grieve the most are those I had the privilege to lead to Christ, to baptize and watch grow in the faith. Then through some bitterness or anger, or simply because they were caught in a web of someone else's attitude, they became an ENEMY of mine. Oh, how I long to see those who are estranged walk through the door of the church, so I can once again wrap my arms around them and love them as their pastor and preacher.

 

By nature, I am an easygoing person.

 

 

I hope you will not become my enemy. However, if you do, I will still be your friend. No, I do not enjoy having enemies. I know it is easier to thank God for my friends. Yet there is a treatment I must exercise toward my enemies. In this message let me share with youSeven principles on "How we ought to TREAT OUR ENEMIES within the family of God."

 

First: We are to LOVE those that hate us. Again in Matthew 5:43-44 we read, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies…” Our Lord certainly electrified the crowd standing around when He said, “Love your enemies.” Here He conveyed an unheard of concept to those who followed the Pharisees. They taught that it was the responsibility of a righteous man to love his neighbor.

 

In Leviticus 19:17-18 we read, “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart; thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.” But the law said nothing about their responsibility to those who were outside the commonwealth of Israel. It appears they taught that godliness required one to love those who are loveable and near and dear to you, but one is justified in hating everyone else.

 

Now our Lord says, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor and love thy enemy also.”

 

 

Here Jesus defines our ENEMIES as those who curse us, hate us and exploit us selfishly. Remember at our Lord’s crucifixion, he left us a perfect example when He said "to love our enemies."

 

So what did our Lord do with all this hatful malice heaped against Him? Did He open His mouth from the cross and issue a curse against His enemies? Do you remember His first words? They were "FATHER, FORGIVE THEM; for they know not what they do." What a tremendous example of loving those who hated Him. In Ephesians 4:31-32 we read, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

 

Now since Christ’s love is an act of the will, and not simply an emotion, Jesus has the right to command us to LOVE OUR ENEMIES. Is there a way this is possible? YES, remember, God loves the wicked, but he does not love the wickedness of the wicked. Therefore,

 

Can we do good to our enemy even though he many have done evil to us? Yes, by rendering good for evil we might have an opportunity to win that man to Christ. Though we cannot avoid having enemies, we are to be no man's enemy.

 

To love a person who has abused, misused, and ill-treated us is the HIGHEST TEST OF TRUE CHRISTIANITY. It is not EASY, but by the grace of God it is POSSIBLE. Jesus said to the disciples in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one for another.” I believe this command is also for those in the family of God who in some way abused, misused, and ill-treated us.

 

Second: We are to BLESS those that curse us and do GOOD to those who do evil to us,Again in Matthew 5:44 we read, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you,” In other words, DEEDS, and ACTS of kindness should be showered upon those who hate us, abused us, misused us, and ill-treated us. It may be that such deeds and acts will have to be done anonymously. But we should never fight malice with malice. OUR WEAPONS ARE SPIRITUAL. We are to fight:

 

 

We are to BLESS those that curse us and do GOOD to those who do evil to us, in words, deeds and actions. The Apostle Paul amplifies this for us in Romans 12:14-21 where we read,

 

“Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. (15) Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. (16) Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. (17) Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. (18) If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. (19) Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. (20) Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. (21) Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

 

Verse 14 “Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not” is simply a re-statement of Matthew 5:44. The key idea in this passage is found in verse 19, Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” WE ARE TO LEAVE VENGEANCE IN THE HANDS OF GOD. Revenge is not sweet, yet you have either said it or thought it as I have,

 

 

My friend, it is NOT my job to seek to get even or to seek vengeance. And it is not your job either."VENGEANCE IS MINE, saith the Lord." It is God's business to see:

 

 

It is not my job to fight the battles against those who fight me. Never is one more like the Lord Jesus Christ than when he takes an attack WITHOUT RISING TO DEFEND OR AVENGE HIMSELF.

“Stop right there, preacher. Are you saying that we are to act and react against our HUMAN NATURE AND NEVER AVENGE OURSELVES?" According to verse 19, there is no way around it.

 

Pastor,

 

Someone said, "By now you should know that oftentimes common sense is not spiritual sense. That is our problem. We put our common sense to work where we ought to apply our heart to God's supernatural way, which makes perfect common sense because it is His way. He wants us to learn the value of substituting His way for our way."

 

In verse 19, notice the phrase, "give place unto wrath." The idea here is to "STAND BACK AND LET MAN'S WRATH WORK." If evil rushes towards us, we are TO LOVE THE EVILDOER AND STAND BACK WHILE HE STRIKES OUT IN BLIND SELFISHNESS.

 

Remember the little chant you said as a child, "Sticks and stones may break my _______ (bones), but _____ (names) will never hurt me.” Listen, our enemy make hurt us outwardly, but he cannot hurt us in the CITADEL of the heart where Jesus Christ holds us.

 

Vindication may not come until the Judgment seat of Christ for a Christian who has become my enemy, but it will be made manifest in the present of the universe.

 

Now in verse 20-21 we are instructed on how to act, “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” The principle by which a Christian is to love is that of OVERFLOWING LOVE which will ultimately be OVERCOMING LOVE. We are to return kindness for unkindness. IF YOU ARE THE VICTIM OF SELFISHNESS OR UNKINDNESS, YOU MUST STAND IN CHRIST AND LOVE THE EVILDOERS IN RETURN.

 

Third: We are to PRAY for those who despitefully use us. Once again, returning to Matthew 5:43-44 we read, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. (44) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you…” Now the word "despiteful" means to unintentionally harm someone. So what are we to do about being used or harmed by accident? PRAY FOR THEM.

 

Someone said, "When we pray for our enemies, we find it easier to love them. It takes the POISON out of our attitude." Oh, how I have had to do this over the years with those who have called themselves my enemies.

 

 

So what are we to do to our enemy? We are to LOVE those that hate us. We are to BLESS those that curse us. We are to do GOOD to those who do evil to us. We are to PRAY for those who despitefully use us.

Fourth: We are not to go to court with a Christian Brother or Sister.This was obviously a problem in the church at Corinth, for in I Corinthians 6:1-8 we read,

 

 

Our churches and Christian schools are plagued by people who at the drop of a hat are easily offended and will think nothing of going to court against another Christian. Yet the text tells us:

 

 

Fifth: When our enemy strikes out, do not look at the criticism as being personal. Turning to Psalms 119:165 we read, “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” Here is a verse I would encourage you to underline in your Bible, to memorize, and certainly to practice. O' I am sure you have heard it said:

 

 

This reference is saying "Don't have a wounded spirit." If you love the Word of God how much is there that will offend you? NOTHING SHOULD OFFEND YOU. This verse teaches us the more time you spend in the Word of God the more you take from the Word of God. The more you take and apply to your life, THE MORE YOU CAN HAVE VICTORY OVER ANY ENEMY.

 

Here is a little exercise that will help you as it has me over the years. Look at your enemy as BROKEN RATHER THAN BAD.

 

 

It has been said, “Behind every smile there is a broken heart. Behind the hardness of a heart there is a broken heart which made it hard.” People with hard, broken hearts are not bad; they are just broken. We must stop to ask ourselves: “If that person hurts, and they have hurt me, then why would I turn around and hurt them some more?"

Perhaps the most difficult step towards Christian maturity occurs when the Christian learns to LOVE those who HATE him, PRAY for those who despitefully use him, BLESS those who curse him and do GOOD to those who do evil to him.

 

Sixth: If our critics have not been privileged to learn what we know, don’t hold that against them. We are so constructed that:

 

 

Not everyone is at the same level as you or I in our knowledge of life or the circumstances of life. Not everyone is at the same level as you or I in our knowledge of Biblical truth or Biblical practice. No one criticizes a baby because he cannot ride a bike or a child because he does not know trigonometry. THEN WHY SHOULD WE HAVE OUR FEELINGS HURT BY THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN PRIVILEGED TO LEARN WHAT YOU AND I ARE PRIVILEGED TO KNOW.

 

I must give leeway to those who are my critics, lest I become like them. Nobody needs my wounded spirit to turn into vengeance against them. I know from experience that God can give victory over a wounded spirit, or hurt feelings.

 

 

 

Seventh: As we go through life, we would do well to practice saying these words over and over again: "I am sorry, please forgive me. I am sorry, please forgive me." Then just as often, learn to say these words: “No problem, I forgive you, I forgive you."

 

 

Through this message, may God encourage you to avoid retaliation against those who offend you, or those who are unkind to you? Isn’t it time that we stop tearing down the positions of others in order to elevate our own positions within this ministry? Isn’t it time for us to take responsibility for our attitudes and reactions towards all of God’s people?

 

Let me close with a poem entitled "Could we not love Each Other?"

 

 

Are you thinking of someone who perhaps is your enemy or maybe your worse critic? Do not seek retaliation. Don't become offended. May you be challenged and encouraged to apply Matthew 5:44 to LOVE them, BLESS them, DO GOOD to them, and PRAY for them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Romans 16:17, we read,"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause DIVISIONS and OFFENSES contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and AVOID them."Today, the fundamental church has become its own little community. We operate in a family-like atmosphere in many different programs and activities. Therefore, being closely associated we will have more opportunity to IRRITATE each other.

 

This means that there are more chances for DISAGREEMENTS, IRRITATIONS and even STRIFE. Because the responsibilities of our church members and workers are interwoven, we are going to find HABITS and QUALITIES in other people that are IRRITATING.

 

Now, in order to keep the PEACE we must find ways to prevent these IRRITATIONS.

In our last message on “Treating One Another in the Family of God,” we looked at the Apostle Paul’s admonition found in Galatians 6:1-5, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. (2) Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. (3) For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. (4) But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. (5) For every man shall bear his own burden.  We studied the phrase that instructed us to"BEAR ONE ANOTHERS BURDENS."

In this message we turn to Ephesians 4:1-3 where we read, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, (2) With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering forbearing one another in love; (3) Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Here we discover an instruction that sounds very similar to the one from our last message but the meaning is quite different. Paul in this passage instructs us to"BEAR WITH ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE."

 

 

Now go with me to one more passage found in Colossians 3:12-13 where we read,“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”Again please notice in verse 12 the phrase "forbearing one another."

 

If we as a church family are going to "endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,”as we read in Ephesians 4:3, WE MUST POSESS THE NECESSARY CHRISTIAN GRACES. In this message from Colossians 3:12-13 and Ephesians 4:2-3 let me call your attention to Six Graces that will help minimize friction within the family of God.

 

First: The Grace of Lowliness: This unique Greek word for “lowliness”is found in Ephesians 4:2 and in Philippians 2:3 where we read, "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in LOWLINESS of mind let each esteem others better than themselves." The word “LOWLINESS” conveys the act of “HUMILITY.”

 

HUMILITY makes us conscious of our true position before the Lord and enables us to esteem others BETTER than ourselves. It is the opposite of arrogance and conceit. It is a picture of the “GRACE OF LOWLINESS.”

 

Second: The Grace of Meekness: Meekness is another unique Greek word used only twelve times in the New Testament. The word conveys the idea of having a spirit that never takes offense. Meekness is not weakness. It is power under control. We observed this word in our last message from Galatians 6:1, “Brethren, if any man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of MEEKNESS…” This characteristic is also one of the fruits of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, MEEKNESS, temperance…”

 

 

 

THE GRACE OF MEEKNESS is the ATTRIBUTE that submits to God's dealings without REBELLION and to man's unkindness without RETALIATION.

 

Third: The Grace of Long-suffering: Again in Ephesians 4:2 we have the word “Longsuffering.” This word can be translated by another word we may better understand, the word"Patience."In the original language of the New Testament there are two different words for"Patience."

 

The FIRST word means PATIENCE under circumstances. It is the Greek word "Hupomenomeaning "TO STAY UNDER." It is the ability to endure discomfort without fighting back. It conveys a picture of us getting under the pressure brought by circumstances and standing fast.

 

The text is saying, "BE PATIENT when people abuse you, DON'T RETALIATE." Begin to "LOOK UP” when everything seems to be dark and desperately hopeless.Why, because God is still in CONTROL.

 

Perhaps you are asking, “Pastor, don't you realize there are many circumstances and people that try our patience, and irritations that cause us to grit our teeth and lose our cool?” There are:

 

All of us experience frustrating moments when we find it difficult to cope with pressures and problems, the two "Ps" that cause us to "Pop Our Cork" and really explode. Now if you are a candidate for the "Panic Palace," this Greek word "Hupomeno" literally means "Endurance." Keep standing while everything else is falling.

 

The SECOND word for PATIENCE in the New Testament is the Greek word "Makrothumia." This is better translated by our English word "Long-suffering."This word means to"calm down, lengthen your temper, do not lose it, and don’t swear out in revenge." This word for patience has to do with PEOPLE.

 

 

This word for patience is telling us to develop long-suffering toward people in spite of what they may do to us. Paul emphasizes it this way in I Thessalonians 5:14"…encourage the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient (long-suffering) toward all men."

 

Oh, but Pastor, you do not know how ______ is getting to me, and I would love to_________. STOP! Patience here requires the act of endurance in spite of people.

 

And while you are thinking of your ability to endure, we had better take note that the Greek word "Makrothumia" is used as an attribute of God. The Bible tells us that God is Long-suffering.

 

Look, if God wanted to, He could easily destroy all resistance and immediately wipe out all SIN and EVIL. However, even though God hates SIN, He loves the SINNER. God hates the evil, but He still loves the evildoer for Christ's sake. So far, God is long-suffering toward the sinner. However, the Bible tells us that one day He is going to close up shop, pronounce judgment upon all the unrighteous and send them right into Hell.

 

Now, just as God has patience toward the unrighteous, so should we.

 

 

My friends, you know as well as I, that none of us is perfect. All of us have those little IRRITATING qualities that grind like sandpaper against one another. In the family setting where we live together day after day and week after week and year after year, we see one another at our best and one another at our worst. No doubt you can sit there and think of those IRRITATING qualities your husband has, or those your wife has, or those your children have, or even those your parents have. The same is true within the church, where we strive to operate as members of one body in a family setting.

 

As a result of this closeness and knowledge of others, what do we often do?

 

When these things happen, who is likely to be the LOSER? WE ARE! And who is the WINNER? You guessed it! It is the DEVIL, himself!

 

Stop for a moment and consider the next time you are TEMPTED to become IMPATIENT with someone. Then think about Jesus Christ and His attribute toward us. This was Paul’s secret. The Lord's long-suffering and patience toward him marked his life and gave him unusual tolerance toward others.

 

In I Timothy 1:15-16 we are given a part of the Apostle Paul’s testimony where he said, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtain mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all LONGSUFFERING, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.”Paul saw himself as the worst of sinners, and then experiencing God's love in LONG-SUFFERING PATIENCE in saving him. In turn, this caused Paul to respond to others with love and patience.

 

Fourth: The Grace of Forbearing: “Forbearing” is another Greek word used only two times in the New Testament, once in Colossians 3:13 and here in our text of Ephesians 4:2. The word means"to put up with."

 

 

“Pastor, this is a tough request.” Yes, it is. But it’s possible if we are under the control of the Holy Spirit, and we work at it. Let me call your attention to two enlightening discoveries:

 

 

 

 

 

Fifth: The Grace of a Forgiving Spirit: Please return to Colossians 3:13 where we read, “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”Now turn back to Ephesians 4:31-32 where we read, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, even as God for Christ’s sake hath FORGIVEN you.”

 

 

How tragic, and how out of character for us who have been forgiven by the Lord Jesus Christ after what we in our sin did to Him, not to go out of our way to forgive someone who has irritated us.

 

This lack of forgiveness is a sad commentary upon today’s Christianity, upon our fundamental churches and upon our Christian homes. Unfortunately, I have witnessed unforgiving spirits repeatedly, from the time I was a little boy all the way through my many years of ministry.

 

 

Brethren when this happens, it is a victory for the DEVIL. This kind of unforgiving attitude causes great harm, not only to Christian adults, but also to the children in the church as they watch the adults’ behavior. Without THE GRACE OF A FORGIVING SPIRIT, we lose our testimony before the unregenerate world who needs Christ.

 

Sixth: The Grace of Diligence: Please return to Ephesians 4:3 where we again read, “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”  Would you notice the word"Endeavoring." Literally it means: YOU HAVE GOT TO WORK AT IT! The word being in the present tense means IT'S A NEVER-ENDING JOB. Diligence means to work hard until completion. Since it’s “a never-ending job” we must continue to be diligent in “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

 

Christians who really CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER IN THE BODY OF CHRIST will"keep on making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."

 

Please turn again to our opening verse found in Romans 16:17,"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."This verse suggests the actions we should consider with those who cause irritations:

 

 

 

 

What we have just studied is an amplification of what our Lord taught us in Matthew 7:12 concerning "The GOLDEN RULE" which says,“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even to them…” Jesus is saying, "Put yourself in the place of another, and then treat him as you would like for him to treat you under the same circumstances."

 

The only possible way to live such a rule (and this should be the code of every believer) would be to love God with all our heart, and with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Woman, Behold thy Son! …Behold thy Mother!”

 

Introduction: At the Place of the Skull we call Golgotha, the Son of God endured six hours of pain before He died. Think of it, six excruciating hours of pain. During those hours when His body hung suspended on the cross, held in place by iron spikes through His hands and feet, Jesus never once lost control of His emotions, never showed signs of bitterness, never cursed. Furthermore, He thought not of Himself, but of others.

 

First, He thought of the very ones who were crucifying Him, saying over and over again, “Father, Forgive them; for they know not what they do.”

Then He looked across to the thief hanging beside Him and, responding to the man’s pleas for salvation, promised, "Today, shalt thou be with me in paradise."

 

These were the first two of the SEVEN statements made by our Lord at Calvary from 9:00 AM in the morning to 3:00 PM in the afternoon. In this sermon we focus our attention on the third statement made by Christ at Calvary found in the text of John 19:16-18, 23-30.

 

“Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. (17) And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of the skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: (18) Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.” (23) Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. (24) They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did. (25) Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. (26) When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! (27) Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. (28) After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. (29) Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. (30) When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

 

In verses 26-27 we observe the most touching and tender of all the scenes that took place at Calvary and hear the words of affection, “ Woman, behold thy son! …Behold thy mother!”

 

He looks down at the crowd, and seeing His mother says, “Mother, behold thy son John.”

He then spots John and as far as we know only John stood at the cross, because all the others had fled. He says, “John I have a mission, I have some unfinished business for you, I need for you to be a substitute for me, please take care of my mother.”

 

Now from this passage, let’s focus our attention on three truths that will be easy to remember because they each begin with the letter “C.”

 

The CONNECTION: Again in verses 23-24 we read,

 

“Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. (24) They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.”

Jesus is hanging naked on the cross. His clothing has been stripped from Him by the Roman soldiers. It was their right, legally, to take the garments. But since there were four soldiers and five garments, they faced a dilemma.

 

A Jewish man in Jesus’ day typically wore five pieces of clothing:

               

A head piece, some type of turban or cloth about the head

Sandals, a type of walking shoe

An undergarment

An outer robe hanging loosely usually all the way down to the ankles

A belt or sash called a girdle which held up the outer garment

 

Four articles of clothing the soldiers took and divided amongst themselves. There was a fifth piece of clothing, the outer garment called the “chiton” (ke-tone) that draped loosely over the shoulders and hung almost to the knees. Apparently the “chiton” Jesus wore had been woven in one piece; it was a seamless garment.

 

Usually the mother of a Jewish boy made the “chiton” for him before he stepped out into the real world on his own. When he reached manhood his mother presented him with the “chiton.” I strongly suspect, Mary gave Jesus His “chiton.”

 

Now the soldiers have to decide who gets this fifth piece of clothing. They did not want to tear it into four pieces, thus making it useless. So they cast lots. By throwing dice, they gambled for it. And as they did so, note the flow of the narrative. As the soldiers gambled for the “chiton,” Jesus looked down from the cross and saw His mother.

 

Why now? She’s been there all along, watching and weeping.

Why hasn’t he acknowledged her or spoken to her before now?

 

Could it be because of the seamless robe? His other garments were insignificant. These were just paraphernalia that had kept Him comfortable during His earthly ministry. But when they touched this garment, they touched something very near to His heart, the garment made for Him by His mother. So it stands to reason that, when they began talking and haggling over the robe, He would look at His mother.

 

Please notice again the opening words of verse 25, “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother…” What a courageous women was this beloved mother. When Jesus saw His mother, she was not a crumpled heap. She was “standing.” Imagine what it must have been like for His mother to watch her son brutalized and tortured and hung on a cross? Think of it, and try to reconstruct in your mind the remorse she must have had.

 

His disciples, all except one, had DESERTED Him.

His friends had FORSAKEN Him.

His nation had DESPISED him.

 

But there stands Mary at the foot of the cross. Someone said, “If Christ was the Man of Sorrows, was Mary not the Woman of Sorrows?” Jesus was dying the most awful death one could die. How grief-stricken Mary must have felt as she saw her own Son hanging on a cross with:

 

THORNS in His brow and

NAILS in His hands and

LACERATIONS in His back, and

 

she is not permitted to even take a cloth and wipe away the blood that runs down into His eyes!

 

She sees His lips swollen and parched with thirst.

She hears His cry for water.

She watches as the soldiers offer Him vinegar, but

 

she is not permitted to take a damp cloth and moisten His burning lips!

 

Can you imagine how her heart must have ached?

Can you imagine how she must have been torn to see her own Son dying on a cross?

 

Simeon had said to Mary when she had brought Jesus to the Temple as a baby, in Luke 2:34-35, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel… “Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also…” Could it be that Mary, given the greatest of all privileges, was also given the greatest of all sorrows? Now Mary recalls the words of Simeon, “Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also…” as she watches Him die on the cross.

 

The CROWDS are mocking Him.

The THIEVES are taunting Him.

The PRIESTS are jeering Him.

The SOLIDERS are callous and indifferent to Him.

 

And there is His mother beholding the horrible mockery. She does not faint from the scene. She does not turn away from the spectacle. She does not run away from the sight. SHE STANDS. She stood by the cross of Jesus, with a marvelous fortitude of courage.

 

Now in this day and age, do you and I have the courage to take a stand for Christ? Remember Jesus is not popular even today. The crowds still mock Him. The crowds still curse Him, taking his name in vain. Christianity might seem to be popular, but remember when it is, it is not true Christianity. For those who express the name of Christ will face persecution. Do today’s Christians have the courage to stand and give testimony for Him?

 

Romans 1:16 tells us, "… I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth."

I Corinthians 16:13 reads, “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”

 

Can we sing with boldness that grand old hymn of the faith? Can we live by its message?

 

Stand up, stand up for Jesus,

Ye soldiers of the cross;

Lift high His royal banner,

It must not suffer loss.

From victory unto victory

His army shall He lead,

Till every foe is conquered

And Christ is Lord indeed.

 

Stand up, stand up for Jesus,

The trumpet call obey;

Forth to the mighty conflict,

In this His glorious day.

Ye that are men now serve Him,

Against unnumbered foes;

Let courage rise with danger

And strength to strength oppose.

 

The CHARGE: As Mary stood there, Jesus said to her, “Women, behold thy Son.” Then he turns to the disciple whom he loved and said, “Behold thy mother!” It was a firm and clear charge, yet full of tenderness.

 

What Jesus says, in effect, is, “John, I charge you to adopt this women as your mother. You are to take her into your home and into your life. That means you are to love her and care for her as I would, if I were to continue to live. She is to become as precious and dear to you as she has been to Me.”

 

I can understand Jesus’ first statement as He continually cries, “Father forgive them.” This is in harmony with what He is DOING. He is dying for sinners, dying to pay the sin debt. It seems right that He should pray, “Father, forgive them.”

 

I can understand His second statement at the cross when He says, “Today shalt thou be with me in Paradise.” The whole purpose of His death was to get sinners into Paradise.

 

But His third statement at the cross does not seem to harmonize with what He is doing. Why is He concerned with seeing that His mother is cared for as long as she lives on this earth? Two additional questions come to mind here. First, why didn’t Jesus ask His own brothers to take care of Mary, their mother? And second, where was Mary’s husband, Joseph?

 

In answer to the question “Where was Joseph?” there is every indication from the argument of silence, that Joseph (who is not mentioned after Luke 2:53) was not alive when Jesus was crucified.

 

As to the other members of Jesus family, the Gospel of Matthew verifies the fact that Mary had other children besides the Lord Jesus, and he even included some of their names in Matthew 13:53-56.

 

“And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence. (54) And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? (55) Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? (56) And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? (57) And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. (58) And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.”

 

The account mentions four brothers as well as His sisters. So obviously Mary had other children. Why didn’t He send Mary to His own brothers? I believe the indictment of the people in Jesus’ hometown found in verse 58 includes His own brothers and sisters, “And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” Even John 7:5 confirms they had rejected Him, “For neither did his brethren believe in him.”

 

Throughout His earthly ministry, right up to the point of His death, His brothers did not believe in or support Him. His mother did, but not His brothers. So it stands to reason, the whole responsibility of the family was then thrown on the shoulders of the oldest son, in this case, Jesus. He chooses to put her in the care of one who would not only love her and care for her, as his own mother, but also one who loved Him and believed in Him. In this case that would be John, one of His closest followers.

 

Now from the pulpit of the cross, Jesus was able to preach a sermon on the fifth commandment, “Honor thy father and thy mother…" Remember:

 

The first four commandments sum up man’s duty toward God.

The last six commandments sum up man’s duty toward man.

The first of the last six states, “Honor thy father and thy mother…”

 

At the cross, the Lord Jesus Christ honored the first commandment with promise.

 

It is sad when children fail to realize the responsibility God has put upon them to CARE for their parents. The responsibility for our parents, if they are living and need help, is OUR responsibility. Jesus was teaching this concept by exhibiting His CONCERN and AFFECTION for His mother.

 

Jesus was performing the mightiest work of history, providing for our eternal redemption. Yet He did not forget His earthly relationships. This is obviously a lesson for us, In the midst of all our hustle and bustle, and even while in the service of the Lord, we have a responsibility for our earthly relationships. At the closing moments of His life, in the midst of His indescribable suffering, Jesus took care of His mother. Through His own pain, He had her welfare and protection near to His heart to the very last.

 

The CHALLENGE: Out of these tender words of AFFECTION from the cross, two wonderful truths can be found.

 

First: I see these not only as words of AFFECTION but also as words of COMPASSION. Jesus was a man of sorrows, but he was also a compassionate Saviour. This was an attribute of His character,

 

Psalm 86:15 says, "But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion and grace, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth."

Matthew 9:36 we read of Jesus, "But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd."

 

Five times in the gospel we read that Jesus was moved with compassion. Truly, Jesus was full of compassion. What characterized the life of our Lord more than any other single thing was His focus on “OTHERS.”

 

He lived and died for OTHERS.

His motto was OTHERS.

His activities were built around OTHERS.

 

Others, Lord, Yes others. Let this my motto be.

Help me to live for others, That I may live like thee.

 

He raised the dead as with the widow's son and Lazarus.

He healed the sick, restored sight to the blind and made the lame to walk.

He saw the multitudes, without a shepherd, who needed a redemptive experience, and had compassion on them.

He saw the multitudes who were hungry, and He fed them.

He saw the sinner and reached out to him as He did with the woman at the well, the woman taken in adultery, and the little crooked tax collector, Zacheaeus.

 

All of those just mentioned found, in the Lord Jesus Christ, a compassionate Saviour. Yes, as we read in Jude 22 "Compassion makes a difference."

 

Compassion is the nurse given to mankind.

Compassion cares for the helpless.

Compassion mothers the orphan.

Compassion feeds the hungry, and clothes the cold.

Compassion helps the helpless and raises the fallen.

Compassion shines upon the suffering and relives it.

Compassion shines upon sorrow and shares it.

 

Ladies and gentlemen, if we should ever get to the place in our lives and in this church

 

Where we memorize the entire Bible;

Where we dot every fundamental "I" and cross every fundamental "T";

Where we find out exactly who the Antichrist is and know by heart the end time events;

Where we win all the battles we have to win against sin;

Where we just sound off in preaching Hell Fire and Brimstone;

 

But lose our tears for the lost and for the needs of others, we have totally lost our right to exist! Yes, "Compassion makes a difference!"

 

Look all around you, find someone in need, Help somebody today!

Though it be little, a neighborly deed, Help somebody today!

 

Many are waiting for a kind, loving word, Help somebody today!

Thou hast a message, O let it be heard, Help somebody today!

Many have burdens too heavy to bear, Help somebody today!

Grief is the portion of some everywhere, Help somebody today!

 

Some are discouraged and weary in heart, Help somebody today!

Someone the journey to Heaven should start, Help somebody today!

 

My friends, we can't die a death to save man from his sins. But we can reach out in compassion to become Christ-like by helping someone today.

 

Second: I see Jesus had some unfinished work yet that need to be done, a mission remaining. Jesus is on the cross held there by iron spikes through His hands and feet. Here on the cross Jesus dying for the sins of every man, looked down and saw those He loved and again with His great heart of compassion said

               

To His mother he said, “Mother, John will take care of you.”

And He looks at John and say, “John I have a mission, some unfinished business for you. I need for you to be a substitute for me, please take care of my mother.”

 

Jesus had some unfinished work for John to do, and my friends, God almighty has some unfinished work for all of us to do.

 

Jesus died on the cross to pay man’s sin debt.

Jesus suffered an eternity in Hell so that none of us would ever have to spend one moment, let alone an eternity, in Hell.

Jesus paid the price of redemption, with His own precious blood.

 

Now He says to us in Mark 16:15, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” There is one mission remaining, “Go into the entire world and preach the gospel to your generation, to everyone in your area. Don’t stop until everyone knows that I LOVE them, DIED for them, and PAID their sin debt at Calvary.”

 

Christ has no hands, but our hands, to do His work today;

He has no feet, but our feet, to lead men in His way.

He has no tongue, but our tongue, to tell them how He died;

He had no help, but our help, to bring men to His side.

 

Oh, what a challenge and a privilege we have to fulfill Christ’s remaining mission until He comes again. Amen!!

 

As we draw this message to a close, please notice Jesus said, “Woman, BEHOLD thy Son.” What a word, “BEHOLD.” In John 1:29 it was John the Baptist who said when he first saw Jesus, “BEHOLD, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” That Lamb of God hung on the cross to take away the sin of the world, your sin and my sin. O’ my friends, if you have yet to believe on the finished work of Christ for your sins at Calvary, why not in this very moment of time look unto Jesus and believe. “Behold” Him with a simple, “Lord Jesus I believe you died for my sins, and right here and now have mercy upon me and save me for thy sake.” The author of the hymn, “Beneath the Cross of Jesus” wrote:

 

Upon the Cross of Jesus, My eyes at times can see

The very dying form of One, Who suffered there for me;

And from my smitten heart, with tears, Two wonders I confess

The wonders of His glorious love, And my unworthiness.

*******************************************************************

If God has spoken to your heart after reading the sermon on the Third Words of Christ at Calvary, “Woman Behold Thy Son, Son Behold Thy Mother” then right now talk to God about what He has spoken to you.

 

Do you have the assurance that one day you will go to heaven? If you have no assurance that you know Jesus Christ, then I trust you will decide to accept Him as your personal Savior. The Bible tells us in

 

                Acts 16:31, “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…”

                Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

This prayer is here for those who need to ask Jesus to be their personal Savior: “I do want to go to Heaven. I know I am a sinner, and I do believe Jesus Christ died for me. I realize I cannot buy this great salvation, nor can I earn it. Knowing Jesus died on the cross and arose from the grave to pay my sin debt and to purchase my salvation, I do now trust Him as my Savior, and from this moment on I am completely depending on Him for my salvation.”

If you made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, would you please let me know? Please send me an e-mail to pdmikBBM@aol.com. and in return I will send you some literature that will help you in your Christian life.

The “Weekly SERMON” was sent as a ministry of Bible Baptist Ministry, 48 Alexie Rd., Hanover Township, PA 18706. Privacy policy: your e-mail address will not be sold, or shared with any third party.

 

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