Every Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus…Mary, Joseph, the stable, the angels and shepherds, the star over Bethlehem and the wise men.
At Easter, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and his ascension into Heaven.
We look forward to Jesus’ future return in the clouds…But what about Jesus now? We know He is seated on His throne at the right hand of God (Hebrews 12:2) – but what does He do today?
HE IS IN CONTROL…
“…the Lord surrounds His people both now and forevermore.” Psalm 125:2
HE UPHOLDS THE UNIVERSE AND SUSTAINS OUR EXISTENCE…
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:3
HE STANDS IN HEAVEN ON OUR BEHALF…
“Christ…entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.” Hebrews 9:24
HE KEEPS US SECURE…
” I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28
HE RULES OVER HEAVEN AND EARTH…
“All authority over heaven and earth has been given to Me.” Matthew 28:18
HE SENDS OUT THE GOSPEL (GOOD NEWS)…
“In my former book…I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.” Acts 1:1-2 (Luke)
HE OFFERS SINNERS SALVATION…
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.”
1 Timothy 1:15
HE INTERCEDES FOR US…
bridging the gap between us and God through his death and resurrection and sharing our needs with the Father as we pray in His name. He is praying for us!
“…because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” Hebrews 7:23-25
HE PRAYS FOR US:
“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
“I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
“Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” John 17
HE ADVOCATES FOR US…
defending us before God as our Savior.
“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:1-2
HE PROTECTS US…
“The Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3
HE PROVIDES FOR US…
supplying all our needs from His riches in glory.
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
HE IS AN EXAMPLE FOR US…
“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21
HE TEACHES US…
through the work of the Holy Spirit.
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
John 14:26
HE EQUIPS US…
“Christ himself gives the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:11-13
HE IS WITH US…
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go now and make disciples of every nation, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to do everything I’ve commanded you. And be sure of this: I am always with you.”
Matthew 28:18-20
HE REFRESHES US…
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
HE GIVES US PEACE…
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
HE RECEIVES OUR WORSHIP AND PRAISE…
our weekly corporate worship and our daily personal praise.
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:1-2
HE BUILDS, ADVANCES AND DEFENDS HIS CHURCH…
where all His glory is on display.
“His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Ephesians 3:10-11
HE PREPARES A PLACE FOR US…
“I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:3
What is your relationship with Jesus? Consider his life, death and resurrection. It’s not only Biblical but also historical. And consider your life with God and your life without him – as he continually blesses those who are committed to him through his atonement for their sins through his death on the cross and his resurrection to eternal life.
To begin a relationship with Jesus, to be a believer is wholeheartedly and exclusively trusting in the person and the claims of Jesus Christ activating a new birth that results in a lifestyle that mirrors His values, teachings and ways so that others may see and know Him. It all begins with a simple prayer to God confessing your need and committing your life.
IN THE WORKS 🙂
Proof… “In your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.” 1 Peter 3:15-17
Discipleship Today… “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 112:1-2