FAITH AND FEELINGS
What Christ promises to a person who receives Him as Lord of his life. (1) That he has become a child of God. (John 1:12), Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. (2) That he will begin to enjoy real life. (John 10 : 10, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy ; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.) He will live the full life God has planned for him. (3) That He will never be left alone. (Hebrews 13:5, Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.) (4) That he has been forgiven. (Colossians 1 : 14, In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.) (5) That he will enjoy a sure place in heaven. (Ephesians 2:6, And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.) (6) That he can count on God’s presence now and forever. (Matthew 28:20, And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.) (7) Jesus has entered into your life and now wants to own the whole of your life. (Revelation 3:20, Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.)
Jesus knew what was in a man. See John 2:25, He did not need man’s testimony about man, for He knew what was in a man. Brothers and sisters, we must learn from Jesus about our human “goodness.” We hear many people say, “God accepts me because I (did this or that) obey the rules. I help others. I’m not perfect; but I’m not bad either.” All these are your feelings. Jesus draws an opposite picture for Bible Nicodemus. Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. See John 3:19, This is the verdict : Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. See also Mark 10:17–21, As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up to Him and fell on his knees before Him. Good teacher, he asked, what must I do to inherit eternal life? Why do you call me good? Jesus answered. No one is good–except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother. Teacher, he declared, all these I have kept since I was a boy. Jesus looked at him and loved him. One thing you lack, He said. Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. This man thinks he keeps every commandment but Jesus proves he breaks the first command, for he has an idol. He loves money more than God and the poor. See verse 22, At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Do you ever walk away from God or poor?
The whole of a person’s life takes on real meaning and purpose when that person receives Christ and enters into a relationship with the living God.
If you wish to invite Christ to take control of your life, you can do it. God awaits your decision.
And if you don’t feel different?
Does that mean that Christ has not really entered your life? The truth is that many who receive Christ do not feel any great emotions at first. The Bible never leads us to trust our feelings. Rather, it teaches us to place our FAITH in what God says in His Word, the Scripture.
The important question is not so much “what do I feel?” but “ who have I placed my trust in?” “Have I trusted in Christ and what He did for me?” If so, it matters little what someone or your feelings say.
Christ has entered your life, my brothers and sisters, notice, first the Word of God, followed by Faith, and then come feelings.
1. What you need to do now, talk to God daily. See Luke 18:1, Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.
2. The Bible is the word of God and our spiritual food. Feed on it daily. Read Matthew 4:4, Jesus answered, It is written: Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
3. Being filled with God’s Holy Spirit is as important as breathing. See Ephesians 5:18, Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
4. Share with Christians–Hebrews 10:24–25, And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
5. And Christ said, “You are my witness” See Acts 1:8, But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you ; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
What Christ promises to a person who receives Him as Lord of his life. (1) That he has become a child of God. (John 1:12), Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. (2) That he will begin to enjoy real life. (John 10 : 10, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy ; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.) He will live the full life God has planned for him. (3) That He will never be left alone. (Hebrews 13:5, Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.) (4) That he has been forgiven. (Colossians 1 : 14, In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.) (5) That he will enjoy a sure place in heaven. (Ephesians 2:6, And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.) (6) That he can count on God’s presence now and forever. (Matthew 28:20, And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.) (7) Jesus has entered into your life and now wants to own the whole of your life. (Revelation 3:20, Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.)
Jesus knew what was in a man. See John 2:25, He did not need man’s testimony about man, for He knew what was in a man. Brothers and sisters, we must learn from Jesus about our human “goodness.” We hear many people say, “God accepts me because I (did this or that) obey the rules. I help others. I’m not perfect; but I’m not bad either.” All these are your feelings. Jesus draws an opposite picture for Bible Nicodemus. Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. See John 3:19, This is the verdict : Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. See also Mark 10:17–21, As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up to Him and fell on his knees before Him. Good teacher, he asked, what must I do to inherit eternal life? Why do you call me good? Jesus answered. No one is good–except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother. Teacher, he declared, all these I have kept since I was a boy. Jesus looked at him and loved him. One thing you lack, He said. Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. This man thinks he keeps every commandment but Jesus proves he breaks the first command, for he has an idol. He loves money more than God and the poor. See verse 22, At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Do you ever walk away from God or poor?
The whole of a person’s life takes on real meaning and purpose when that person receives Christ and enters into a relationship with the living God.
If you wish to invite Christ to take control of your life, you can do it. God awaits your decision.
And if you don’t feel different?
Does that mean that Christ has not really entered your life? The truth is that many who receive Christ do not feel any great emotions at first. The Bible never leads us to trust our feelings. Rather, it teaches us to place our FAITH in what God says in His Word, the Scripture.
The important question is not so much “what do I feel?” but “ who have I placed my trust in?” “Have I trusted in Christ and what He did for me?” If so, it matters little what someone or your feelings say.
Christ has entered your life, my brothers and sisters, notice, first the Word of God, followed by Faith, and then come feelings.
1. What you need to do now, talk to God daily. See Luke 18:1, Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.
2. The Bible is the word of God and our spiritual food. Feed on it daily. Read Matthew 4:4, Jesus answered, It is written: Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
3. Being filled with God’s Holy Spirit is as important as breathing. See Ephesians 5:18, Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
4. Share with Christians–Hebrews 10:24–25, And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
5. And Christ said, “You are my witness” See Acts 1:8, But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you ; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
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