Show Me This Man Called Jesus E-Book

Jean Preston

• Herausgeber: Revival Waves of Glory Books & Publishing
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

This book will kick up a lot of "religious" dust in all of us. It's what we do when the dust settles and our eyes are opened that will determine where we go from here. It is only when we see Him, that we see our destiny. We must not get offended with the truth. The truth is the only thing that will set us free.
The enemy is behind offenses, as he does not want us to reach our destiny. Each one of us has a marvelous, unique destiny marked out by the price Christ paid for it. Hebrews 12:1b puts it simply, "Let us lay aside every weight and sin which does so easily beset us and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."
We would all agree that the church has a message for the world, but would we all agree that the world has a message for the church? They, most assuredly, do. Their cries identify the reason Christ came to earth as a man and became the sacrifice for those cries.
For every cry, there is a provision in His sacrifice. Has the church in general disclosed the real Christ and His sacrifice that brings wholeness and purpose for all people; regardless of denomination, race and background? The world is crying out to the church, "Show Me This Man Called Jesus"! This book reveals truths to the world and the church that will awaken "hope" in both. Hope awakened in the church will bring her out of law into grace. Hope awakened in the world will bring the world to Christ!
 

Leseprobe

Show Me This Man Called Jesus: The Message From the World to the Church

Jean Preston

Published by Revival Waves of Glory, 2015.

Show Me This Man Called Jesus

(The message from the World to the CHURCH)

By Jean Preston

SHOW ME THIS

M

A

N

JESUS

C

A

L

L

E

D

(The message from the World to the CHURCH)

By Jean Preston

Show Me This Man Called JesusCopyright © 2015 by Jean Preston. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the author except as provided by USA copyright law.

All quotes of scripture are KJV unless otherwise indicated.

The opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily those of Revival Waves of Glory Books & Publishing.

Published by Revival Waves of Glory Books & Publishing

PO Box 596| Litchfield, Illinois 62056 USA

www.revivalwavesofgloryministries.com

Revival Waves of Glory Books & Publishing is committed to excellence in the publishing industry.

Book design copyright © 2015 by Revival Waves of Glory Books & Publishing. All rights reserved.

Paperback: 978-0692526033

ISBN: 978-3-95926-862-2 Verlag GD Publishing Ltd. & Co KG, Berlin E-Book Distribution: XinXii www.xinxii.com

Published in the United States of America

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

INTRODUCTION

Chapter 1Show Me This Man Called JesusI Heard He Lives Today

Chapter 2I Heard He Loves All Men the SameAnd Heals the Sick, the Blind and Lame

Chapter 3A Savior Who Died to Set Man FreeAnd Rose So All the World Could See

Chapter 4The Hope God has for Man to beThis Jesus I must know before I go

Chapter 5I'm the World OutsideAnd I Long to Know

Chapter 6Is There Any Hope for MeI'm a Sinner Despised?

Chapter 7A Hope Never RealizedI'm the Voice of the World Crying

Chapter 8Show me this Man called JesusShow me in the way you live

Chapter 9Show me this Man called JesusShow me His tender eyes

Chapter 10Show Me the Love that has no EndTo lift me from this life of Sin

Chapter 11Oh Let Me See Jesus in your LifeFor it's in you that I must see

Chapter 12The Hope God has for Man to beThis Jesus I must know before I go

Chapter 13SONGS AND POEMS TO INSPIRE

ENDNOTES

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Special thanks to Scott Preston and family, Mark Preston, Sue and Eric Holman, and Sandra Burch.

INTRODUCTION

If you will read the poem/song below, you will see the message from the world to the Body of Christ - the church. The church, of course, has a message to the world but, most assuredly, the world has a message for all of us Christians. If we will listen, we will hear it.

SHOW ME THIS MAN CALLED JESUS

Show me this man called Jesus,

I heard He lives today.

I heard He loves all men the same

And heals the sick, the blind and lame –

A Savior who died to set man free,

And rose so all the world could see

The hope God has for man to be,

This Jesus I must know before I go.

I'm the world outside

And I long to know -

Is there any hope for me?

I'm a sinner despised,

A hope never realized.

I'm the voice of the world crying,

Show me this man called Jesus,

Show me in the way you live.

Show me this man called Jesus,

Show me His tender eyes.

Show me the love that has no end,

To lift me from this life of sin –

Oh let me, see Jesus in your life;

For it's in you that I must see

The hope God has for man to be

This Jesus I must know before I go.

The following quote is from the late John Osteen1: The world is hungry to hear the Good news, but we have preached hell hot, sin black and judgment sure. Sinners already have enough of that inside them. We are not to preach the problem: we are to preach the solution. Nobody wants to go to church and let you beat them over the head and grind them down to the ground about their problems. They go to church with a desire to hear a solution - His Name is Jesus.

John Osteen's son, Joel Osteen, is spreading this same message (in the quote) as his Father and sweeping multitudes into the kingdom of God. To God be the Glory!

My desire is that the truths in this book will encourage us to think and rethink as Christians; in other words, to meditate more on the scriptures for ourselves. This is a way of stirring our minds up and arousing the mind. We want to be guided by the Holy Spirit, of course. This book is also written to the world because it is "from the world".

The enemy does not want us to think. He wants us to let others do our thinking for us - those that are thinking incorrectly. The Holy Spirit is the Teacher. Pastors, teachers and others certainly help us, but we don't need to lock in to what others are saying until we ourselves have that witness (click) in our hearts.

I am at the head of any line that needs to mature more as a Christian. May we grow together. The world is crying out to the church with a thundering message, "Show Me This Man Called Jesus".

This age is coming to an end. Many of our churches are making a difference in the world. Joseph Prince out of Singapore is being used of the Lord to usher in a mighty revival on the grace of God! This will move the church out of the "law mentality". There are many others that are carrying this message besides Joseph Prince, but there has definitely been an acceleration of the kingdom of God that is sweeping the nations because of his message. Great things the Lord has done and is doing!

I believe there are other churches that are enlarging the truths they are living in and seeing their people mature more in the grace of God. There will always be some that will not be teachable and miss out on the end-time revival of the church.

I am addressing subjects in this book for the purposes of edification, not condemnation. The Lord does not condemn his people in teaching them, but He does want our minds renewed if we are going to embrace His mindset. The church must move from a "works of the law mentality" to a "grace mentality" which will free her from the curse of the law (Gal. 3:10).

If a Christian is resisting fundamental and foundational truths, they won't be able to build their lives up in Christ and be transformed. It is only in the process of being transformed that we find out destiny. That is our destiny - to be transformed into the image of Christ. Only in being transformed do we finish our particular, distinctive destiny. We are to help each other in finishing this race that we are all in as Christians.

Storms come to all of us because we live in a fallen world. If our house is built on the rock (Christ), we will stand; if built on sand, we will fall - but not because of the storm. We fall if our house is built on sand. Many Christians are blaming God for these storms. This is not fair to God or to them, because it is not truth. Whatever is not truth is sand.

A wrong mindset toward God will hurt us. God does not hurt us, we hurt ourselves with wrong thinking. With wrong believing. Right now, as a Christian, we are either being conformed to the world's thinking or being transformed into the image of Christ. The WORLD needs for the church to be transformed, and not conformed to their thinking. This is how Christ is glorified!

What is the message from the WORLD to the CHURCH? It is all in the song!

Chapter 1Show Me This Man Called JesusI Heard He Lives Today

Have you ever heard the sound of a horse when he has been hurt? How about a dog that is still alive after being hit by a car or a frightened elephant in search of her calf? What about an almost frozen bird lying on its back in the cold of winter? My dear mother picked up one, took him in her kitchen and turned the oven on low and "in he went" - guts, feathers and all! He survived (the cold and the oven)!!

This is one of the things we have in common with anything living - including animals and even warm-blooded (after the oven), egg - laying vertebrates. We all have our cries for help, don't we? Christians and non-Christians.

The cry of the world (non-Christians in this context) is their message to the Body of Christ. Is this a sound statement? I believe it is. You decide for yourself. Their message in those cries is that we, the Church, demonstrate our message. Paul states this in 1 Cor. 2:4: And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.

Their cries identify the reason Christ came to earth as a man and became the sacrifice for those cries. For every cry, there is a provision in His sacrifice. The Christ that is in all Christians is their answer. I am not their answer and neither are you, but Christ within us is! Is not the Church the Body of Christ?

Jesus explains His mission on earth in Luke 4:17: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

When Christ ascended to heaven, He came back in the power of the Holy Spirit and transferred His power and authority to the Church. This was originally given to Adam in Genesis 1:26. Adam lost that dominion by sinning in the garden. Christ got this back for us. Christ's mandate is now our mandate. So many Christians do not know this.

HE DIDN'T LEAVE US THE WAY HE FOUND US

He really didn't. Someone else might have left us the way they found us, but Jesus Christ did not. The Lord uses many things in our lives to get us to begin to think and ask questions. My two boys were the pivotal points in my life. I really started asking serious questions about life because of them.

At the time of each one of their births, I was not a Christian. I thought I was, but I was not. It wasn't until I was 33 years old and living in Okinawa that I became a Christian. Maybe you can identify with this poem I wrote years ago.

YOU DIDN'T LEAVE ME

A certain man fell among thieves

Was stripped and was wounded and left to die;

A Priest and a Levite soon came

But stripped him of mercy and then they passed by.

A certain Samaritan came

And wrapped him in love and his wounds he bound,

The mercy of Jesus was shown

For he was not left in the way he was found!

You didn't leave me the way you found me

When I was lost and deep in sin;

My soul you forever set free

You didn't leave me the way you found me!

Luke 10:30-37

He will not leave us the way He found us, and He will not forsake us after we are “found”. Let us make no mistake about it; God always knew where we were. The moment we “were found” was when we recognized who He was. Yes, He was there all the time.

A remarkable verse in Romans 5:20b says it all:“But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.”

Are we responding to the world's needs or have we buried our treasure (Christ in us) in our worries, traditional thinking, religion, lack of knowledge, fear of man, offenses, confusion, unsound doctrine and a myriad of other reasons and have "passed by on the other side?" We see this vividly in these verses in Luke 10:30-37, as mentioned above: And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence and gave them to the host, and said unto him. Take care of him; and whatsoever you spend more, when I come again, I will repay you.

We can truly bury our treasure (Christ in us). We can allow our own reasoning to become our "god". We can also let our emotions become our "god". We are admonished not to walk in the flesh. That is the origin of the original sin - partaking of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (Gen 2:17.) We walk in the flesh when we allow our soul and body to control us apart from the Holy Spirit.

We can even let offenses become our "god". Let's address offenses. Jesus warns us about being offended with the Word of God. In Matthew 11:6, Jesus states: And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

The Lord said we are blessed when we are not offended with the Word of God. The opposite is true if we are offended with the Word of God. We need to take a closer look at the word offended. Do we really know the meaning?

Offended1 – To cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey; to see in another what I disapprove of and what hinders me from acknowledging his authority. To cause one to judge unfavorably or unjustly of another; to be displeased, indignant. To cause persons to be drawn away from the true doctrine into error and sin.

Paul states in Galatians 5:11: And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then is the offense of the cross ceased.

Let's take a look at Mark 6:3: Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

Offenses exist inside Christian circles. I, myself, have certainly been offended with people and even with the Word of God. People have been offended with me. We can disagree with people but that doesn't mean we get offended with them. Sometimes we disagree because they are wrong, and sometimes it is us. Either way, we must not get offended. The Lord will take care of it.

Being offended with the Word of God is quite different. We need to quickly get back into agreement with the Word of God. If we aren't agreeing with the Word of God, we are agreeing with the enemy. We don't want the fruit from that union. We must change our thinking - repent and that means to return to the grace of God.

The prophet Jeremiah gives us some insight as to where offenses can lead us. Jeremiah 6:10b states, “…the word of the Lord is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.” Reproach simply means mocking.

Thank God for his forgiveness. I certainly don't want to "stay" offended. It can cause us to stumble, to get out of alignment with the Word of God. It is much like a tire that is out of alignment. We know what the possibilities are there. We might not even realize it at the time, but sooner or later we realize the enemy "is at the wheel".

In being offended with the Word of God or people that are sharing the Word of God, we exclude ourselves from the revelation (understanding) of the Word that produces faith. True understanding of the Word of God – that is what revelation is - builds faith in a Christian. I am not talking about mental assent.

Just where is the origin of the first offense? In the garden, Eve was offended with the Word of God that was given to her and Adam. Let's take another look at the scripture: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die. (Genesis 2:17)

If you will read in Genesis 3, you will note that the serpent appeared to Eve and refuted what God had commanded them in telling them they will surely die if they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The serpent said they would not die.

And the serpent said unto the woman, you shall not surely die; For God does know that in the day you eat thereof then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. (Genesis 3:4-6)

Eve doubted God's love for her. She and Adam already had all of God's love and wisdom inside them. The enemy was calling God a liar and saying that God was "holding out" on them. Adam was not deceived, but he sinned also in following Eve. Eve was deceived because she was offended. Wow! See how dangerous it is to be offended with the Word of God. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil is living by the flesh and not depending on the Holy Spirit. The tree of Life is living by His Life - not independently of Him.

Offended. That is what brought about the crucifixion of Jesus. The religious leaders were highly insulted when Jesus exhibited not only authority but power. They did not like his healing. They did not like anything supernatural.

Renewing a Christian's mind is vital to our lives and the lives of others. If we, as Christians, are thinking carnally, we are hostile to God in these areas. We are blocking the mind of Christ. The word harden comes to my mind. One meaning is to refuse to make the proper decision (I don’t recall this reference); another meaning (from Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon) of harden2 is “callous, to lose the power of understanding”.

I do want to make this clear. Christians are not responsible for the world's choices. We are only responsible for our own choices we make. We are certainly not condoning wrong choices from both sides. We, as Christians, are simply to be a witness to the world of the love of Christ, which has transforming powers. It's only His love that has the power to change a person's destiny. Sin has a destiny. It is death. We desire to prevent that happening to the world as we give them a reason to change. Our message is the only hope they have. Hope is a faith connector, which leads to salvation.

Painful, wounded and unhealed emotions can override the truths we know. Sometimes our emotions are like scrambled eggs and we try to unscramble our emotions. We can't do that. We have to change our thinking (we must change our belief system many times) then our emotions will follow.

Our flesh (our five senses) is certainly necessary to contact this outside world we live in, but we don't want to be led by our flesh. See Romans 8:6- 9:For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded if life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none-of his.

Christians are not in the flesh, but in Christ, but we can think "in the flesh" if our minds are not renewed to the Word of God. This is thinking just like the world. An un-renewed mind keeps Christ from radiating through our lives. THE WORLD CANNOT SEE JESUS IN US if our minds remain un-renewed. Let's "stir" ourselves up to the TRUTH!

Chapter 2I Heard He Loves All Men the SameAnd Heals the Sick, the Blind and Lame

I know you remember the old favorite TV series, Gunsmokethat we watched so many, many years ago. Now, in my twilight years, I find there is still something so nostalgic about all of the re-runs. It was not the "shoot-outs, shoot-ins, showdowns and bar brawls" but the camaraderie of Matt Dillon and his friends, and his willingness to die for what he believed in that carried significant weight in the show. All of this while doing the right thing without compromising his beliefs. He was a focused Marshall taking care of Dodge City, wasn't he?'

A friend of mine gave me an article from the Albany Herald (Albany, Georgia) newspaper about Matt Dillon. During his 20 years on Gunsmoke, he was: shot in the left arm 18 times, shot in the left shoulder 6 times, shot in the left side 4 times, shot in the left leg 1 time, shot in the right arm 5 times, shot in the right shoulder I time, shot in the right side 6 times, shot in the right chest 3 times, shot in the right leg 4 times, shot with head grazes 3 times - once causing a loss of memory and once temporary blindness, shot in the back 5 times, knocked out 29 times, stabbed 3 times and poisoned once. Whew!

I believe if we are walking with the Lord, He speaks to us in our everyday lives, even in fiction. I felt so compelled to keep that article and later on, I found out why. I was scheduled to share in some small groups on different occasions and the article came back to mind.

As I read the article again, I saw the connection. At the cross, the Lord took "all of our bullets" for us. We can receive what He has done for us, or take the bullets ourselves. I had a great time sharing the truths I gleaned from Gunsmoke! That’s a “wrap”!

THE HIGHEST REALITY

One of the foundational, fundamental truths that we must know is that Jesus loves us. That is certainly the highest reality there is. Our faith (which is really the faith of Christ) can't work unless we know that Jesus loves us (Gal. 5:6). The Word of God is the highest reality there is. If God said it, it is the truth. He is the truth. Truth trumps facts.

Reality is the cross. Reality is that Jesus rose. Reality is that Satan is defeated! God deals in reality! If we believe something that is contradictory to the Word of God, then what we believe has become our "god"! Christ has already declared our worth at the cross. We must not look to others to validate us. There is not anything wrong with encouragement. It is wonderful when it comes our way, but don't hold your breath for it. So many times, we will have to encourage ourselves when we find ourselves in a fox hole. Get out and finish the race.

Most of us Christians wouldn't dare bow down to a wooden idol. We are too dignified and smart for that, but do we bow down to emotional ones?

The Word of God states: For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whosoever believes on Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world: but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:16-17)

Verily, Verily, I say unto you. He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death to 1ife. (John 5:24)

If            If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. (John 8:36)

...I am the way, the truth and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

Yes, God loves the whole world. He died for everyone. We can't say that He died for some and did not die for all. This is incorrect. He would not be a righteous God if He did not die for everyone. Although He died for everyone, not everyone will be saved. Each individual has to personally accept Jesus Christ as their own Lord and Savior.

How could we really trust the Lord if we thought He died for us and did not die for everyone? You would know intuitively that something was not right. He is holy and just and not willing that any should perish.

If we are confused in this area, it will nullify our faith. Mixture is just like law and grace. You can't mix them (we'll say more on this subject later).

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

For the love of Christ constrains us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead. (2 Cor. 5:14)

The greatest demonstration of God's love is the cross. He didn't just talk about His love for us, He demonstrated it. This kind of love is what the world needs to see in the Church. It is unconditional. Remember, He took all of our bullets for us.

But commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. (Titus 2:11)

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter if persons. (Acts 10:34)

PROPITIATION

What does the word propitiation mean? How can we appreciate the marvelous sacrifice of Christ if we don't understand what He has done for us? This word must be understood.

Propitiation1 – “The benefit of Christ's death for man; reconciliation. He is both the sacrifice and the High Priest sacrificing Himself. To propitiate, appease because of Christ's sacrifice”.

God is satisfied with the sacrifice of His son. It is through His sacrifice alone that we are perfected; made whole. (See Hebrew 10:14)

The meaning that says it all to me is the price paid to avert judgment. Did you know that Jesus Christ took all of our judgment? Never do we have to face the wrath of God. My works here on this earth will be judged, as far as rewards are concerned, but no judgment as far as sin and hell are concerned.