We are righteous!

I don't know about you but most of the time I don't feel very righteous. The problem with that is I am denying what scripture tells me here in this verse below:



2 Corinthians 5:21



21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.



You see if I accept the fact that Jesus died for my sin to forgive me of sin then I must also believe that He also made me righteous because of that shame shed blood. It is not a feeling that I can have or not have it is a fact no matter how I feel! The devil likes to steal our joy! I am righteous because of Jesus before my Father in heaven! That should bring a smile to the face to any follower of Jesus!



Don't miss this little fact too: Why did Jesus die? "For our sake"! That's right for you and for me! I am so thankful for Jesus! He loves us so much!



Tom

Are you an Ambassador for Christ?

What is an Ambassador? This is what the dictionary says:



a diplomatic official of the highest rank, sent by one sovereign or state to another as its resident representative.



Now read this verse:



2 Corinthians 5:20



20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.



When you become a follower of Jesus you immediately become an ambassador. Now from what I read in this verse it does NOT say you may become, or if you want, or when you feel like it! It says WE ARE ambassadors for Christ!!

So we are officials of the highest rank, sent by Jesus, as a representative to tell live our lives like Jesus and to tell others about our great King!



What is our main job? To implore or beg or plead with others to be reconciled to God because sin has separated them from Him. We must tell them about Jesus and His shed blood for their sin so their relationship with God can be restored.



So here is the question for each of us....have we been the ambassador God wants us to be? It is a very important job given by God to each of us!



Tom

The old has passed away.

This is a key scripture in the Christian faith, check it out:



2 Corinthians 5:17



17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.



Thank God I am not who I used to be!!! Amen? When we we receive Jesus we become brand new and our old lifestyle is to be put to rest. Now it may take some time to get everything in line but with the power of the Holy Spirit our lives will change dramatically with our conversions.



I want you to catch a key part of this verse "if anyone is in Christ". This is important because if we are "in" Jesus than we are new and the old passes away. On the other had if you can look at your life and say well I am the same, nothing new about me in Christ then it is safe to say you are not "in" Christ. You have not surrendered you life to Jesus as there is an obvious change that takes place in a sinners life when the surrender their life to Jesus!



The good news is you can surrender right now! Give your life to Jesus and call on Him to be Lord and Savior of your life! If you need help I would be glad to help you just message me!!!



The newness of life in Jesus, there is NOTHING better!



Tom

It is all about your attitude!

How did you wake up this morning? Good mood or bad mood? You have a choice ya know! Read this psalm and take some pointers:



Psalm 118



His Steadfast Love Endures Forever

118 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

2 Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”

3 Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”

4 Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”

5 Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.

6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

7 The Lord is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.

9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.

10 All nations surrounded me; in the name of the Lord I cut them off!

11 They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side; in the name of the Lord I cut them off!

12 They surrounded me like bees; they went out like a fire among thorns; in the name of the Lord I cut them off!

13 I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the Lord helped me.

14 The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.

15 Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous:“The right hand of the Lord does valiantly,

16 the right hand of the Lord exalts, the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!”

17 I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord.

18 The Lord has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death.

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.

20 This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it.

21 I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.

22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

23 This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

25 Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success!

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless you from the house of the Lord.

27 The Lord is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us.Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar!

28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you.

29 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!



Here are some keys to your keeping a good attitude in the Lord:



1. Praise God when you get up! Thank Him because He loves you and He is good! Verse 1

2. Know God is on your side no matter what happens today! Verse 7

3. Hard times will come! Verses 10-13

4. If we get out of line from sin God will discipline you like any good Father would! Verse 18

5. Remember God is your Salvation! verse 21

6. This is the day God has given you! rejoice...use it for his Glory. Have a good attitude! Verse 24

7. When the day is done give thanks for God is good and He loves you! Verse 29



Attitude is very important, there is no reason why the redeemed should have a bad attitude for our blessings are many and we have the promise of an even better future!



So again I ask what is your attitude this morning????





Tom

The love of Christ controls us.

If you are a follower of Christ, can you honestly say this morning that Jesus controls you? Think about it for a moment and then read these verses:



2 Corinthians 5:14-15



14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.



When we submit to Jesus, He then has control over everything in our lives. So does He? The places you go, the words that come out of your mouth, the love you show others, the food you put in your body (you body is the temple of the Holy Spirit), how you spend your time, what you watch on TV, your prayer life, your bible study time, sharing the gospel, and the list goes on and on. To be honest here I do well in some areas and not so well in others. The key is to be striving to be more and more in the control of Jesus everyday!



Jesus died for us and was raised from the dead so that we who have called upon the name of Jesus as Lord no longer live for ourselves but for Jesus. Don't give Jesus a little of you, He wants it all!!!!



Tom

All believers will appear before the judgement seat of Christ!

This verse should make a believer do some very serious thinking about how they are living their lives:



2 Corinthians 5:10



10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.



Now the way I interpret this scripture from my studies this verse is talking to believers. If you look at the verses before this verse it is referring to believers. So this verse is telling us all believers will appear before Jesus for judgement. Now this judgement will not be for heaven or hell because if you are a follower of Christ you have already settled that when you made Jesus Lord and Savior of your life. This judgement will be for rewards when you enter the kingdom of heaven. Some will receive much and more responsibility in heaven because of their faithfulness and service here on earth. Others will be in the middle and then others will receive little and have little responsibility in heaven because they were not very faithful and did little to serve Jesus here on the earth. Wow think about that!



We should want to be a faithful servant because Christ says so but when we realize there is more on the line maybe it will wake us up to know we need to be busy about the Lord's work NOW!



Just for information sake here is the verse that tells us all will appear before God for judgement to give account of ourselves and the main issue here will be did you call upon Jesus to be your Savior!



Romans 14:10-12



10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written,

“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”

12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.



Many refer to judgment of saints as "bema seat of Christ judgement" and the judgement of man as "the white throne judgement".



So are you ready to be judged?



Tom

Renewed day by day.

I have said this before and I will say it again, I don't know how anybody makes it through a day with out Jesus. Everyday the good and the bad comes and I need Jesus to get through the day. I am so thankful I have a God who loves me enough to be with me every second of everyday! The scripture below is just a reminder of how good God is and of things to come!



2 Corinthians 4:16-17



16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,



First, we see don't lose heart! Keep fighting the battle for God. Share Jesus and love others! We are here to worship God and serve others, are you doing that?



Second, we are told we are dying. I hope that is not new information to you. This old body of ours is being taken down by sin.



Third, but we have good news! While the body might be falling away, nothing can touch our Spirits that are in Christ as we are renewed day by day! This also should remind us of the importance of being in God's Word daily and spending time in prayer along with being in fellowship with other believers. You can't have total renewedness with out these things!



Fourth, we are reminded that what we face on this side of eternity is just a short time and what we have ahead of us for eternity in heaven has no comparison here on earth! That should get you excited if you are a follower of Jesus!!!



Are you renewed by the shed blood of Christ? Are you struggling to get through life day to day? Give it to Jesus. We got a fight on our hands on this side of heaven, but greater days are ahead! Thank you Jesus!



Tom