Thank you for taking the time to read the sermon this week. I hope that all is going well for you. I thank the Lord for the opportunity to post the sermon this week.
Before I get into the sermon for this week, I just want to let you know again what we will be doing on the blog for the next few weeks. Beginning on October 1, I will be posting each day through the month. We will be going through 31 Days in Proverbs. This series will be similar to 30 Days 30 Psalms that we did last year. Each day we will look at what one or more of the Proverbs have to teach us. I will not post verses or sermons during October. We will resume the sermons, verses and other posts in November.
The verse that I want us to focus on today is I John 4:10 that tells us, "This is love: not that we loved God, but He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
This verse makes it clear that we did not decide to love God and come to Him on our own accord. In fact, the Bible is quite clear that before the Lord sought us out in His mercy and love, we were actually God's enemies. Romans 5:10 says it this way, "For while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life."
Most don't consider the fact that they are enemies of God. However, those who do not accept Jesus as Lord are living in rebellion against God and against the values of the Kingdom of Heaven as given to us by the Lord Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, and in other places throughout the Gospels. Those who have not come to Jesus for forgiveness of sins are part of the kingdom of darkness. They need to be transported from darkness to light by the saving power of the Lord Jesus.
The reason that I John 4:10 is so important to me is that it really shows me how much God loved us. Even when we were in rebellion against Him. Even when we were His enemies, He still loved us. He loved us so much that He was willing to send His Son to this earth to redeem us. He sent Jesus to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
John 3:16 expresses to us the love of God as well. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but will have everlasting life." God loves us with an everlasting love. Jesus loves us so much that He was willing to leave the glories of Heaven. He came and was born in a manager. He lived a holy and sinless life in order that He might be the spotless Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world. Jesus loved us so much that even while we were His enemies, He allowed Himself to be crucified and mocked. Praise God, Jesus did not stay in the grave. He rose bodily from the grave on the third day that we might have the victory over sin, death, hell and the grave.
You may have never given your life over to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. You may still be lost in the land of darkness. Jesus loves you, and He wants you to come to Him. His love is available to all who call upon Him. I urge you today to give your life to Jesus Christ. He has shown His love for you. You can come to Him today. Amen.
Prayer Requests
Please continue to pray for an end to the coronavirus pandemic. Where I live, fewer people are now getting sick, and I thank the Lord for that. Let us all continue to pray that vaccines will reach those who need them. Pray that the sick will recover.
Please pray for those who have been affected by storms and natural disasters around the world. Pray that people will receive the aid that they need.
Continue to pray for peace on earth. This week, let us really focus our prayers for peace on the nation of Yemen.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Mauritius and Nepal. Pray that many will come to know that Jesus loves them.
This Monday, I will post the verses. I will have a review on Wednesday. Beginning October 1, 31 Days in Proverbs begins. May God bless you all.
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