Jesus is “Matchless” by Billy Graham

1Corinthians 1:30 NKJV

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—

Jesus is Matchless

More and more I am becoming aware of the truth that people change people as much as ideas change people. The power of personality is strong. One could find many illustrations to prove that often personality is greater than the idea. Such is the case with Christianity. The secret of the power of Christianity is not in its ethics. It is not in Christian ideas or philosophy, although Christianity has a philosophical set of ideas. The secret of Christianity is found in a Person, and that Person is the Lord Jesus Christ. Men have discovered other philosophical and ethical systems, but they have not found another Jesus Christ. No one in history can match Him.

Daily Prayer

When I tell others of Your love, help me to hide my personality in Yours, Lord Jesus.

Posted from WordPress for Android. The advertising which may appear below is not placed by the author and is not to be considered as a part of this post or an expression of my views.

Sunday School Thoughts for September 15th

Continuing a mini-series on discernible wisdom (we will run this series through September 22)

Grounding Text: Colossians 1.9,28

These verses carry the idea of growing by obeying/walking with Jesus is His way of wisdom.

Colossians 1:9 (NKJV)
⁹  For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

Colossians 1:28 (NKJV)
²⁸  Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

Main Text: Romans 8.28

Romans 8:28 (NKJV)
²⁸  And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Focus on God’s sovereignty purposes or way.

Outline:

• Our grounding text (Colossians 1) & connection with the Sermon on the Mount.
• Jesus’ “Knowledge, wisdom and understanding” coming to by the Holy Spirit.
• Because of our desire to please and obey God in all areas of our life we live in wisdom (the point is made with an allusion to Job 28.12-28).
• This wisdom of God, which is an act of grace, empowers our faith to be firm in who Jesus is!

• The situation/contextual background of Romans: No condemnation, living in the Spirit, adoption by our abba, help in our sufferings and weakness…
• Reminder of our definition of discernible wisdom. To discern is to perceive or recognize; wisdom is to be marked by a deep understanding, or showing sound judgment (Webster’s). In Butler’s layman’s terms: being thoughtfully considerate of others.

• Looking at being “called according to His purpose”: “Called” out of ourselves and into His way.

• Practical applications of listening (so we can hear His calling and when He opens His way for us).
• (More on the “way” of God being opened up to us next week…)

Sunday School Thoughts for September 8th

Continuing a mini-series on discernible wisdom (two weeks possible three)

Grounding Text: Colossians 1.9,28

These verses carry the idea of growing by obeying/walking with Jesus is His way of wisdom.

    Colossians 1:9 (NKJV)
⁹  For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

    Colossians 1:28 (NKJV)
²⁸  Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

Main Text: Philippians 4.8

    Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)
⁸  Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things.

Discerning between what is OK/good and what is God‘s best/excellence.

Outline:

• Our grounding text (Colossians 1) & connection with the Sermon on the Mount.
  
• The idea that the human mind will always set itself on something, will we focus on
  

Jesus to be our wisdom.

• The situation/contextual background of Philippians 4
  
• Looking at the virtues of vs. 8.
  

• Discerning between what is OK/good and what is God’s best/excellence (with examples and practical application).
  
• Emphasizing the difference between the worlds success vs. living faithfully to His calling on our lives.
  

Sons & Heirs

Galatians 3:26-29 NKJV

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

There is no room in Church doctrine for self assertion.  We all have equal status.  E. Stanley Jones, the great missionary to India once said that in every case where he found trouble in a church, it was a problem of self assertion.  It was a group asserting themselves against a person, or another group. Sometimes it was a person asserting themselves over another person, etc.  This prideful practice is a form of “who shall be the greatest.”
This attitude cannot be reconciled to the Gospel of Christ.  It is contrary to “whoever will seek to be first, shall be last.”

What part of “We are all one in Christ” do these people not understand?  I want to say that I do not consider myself to be superior to anyone else in the Kingdom of God.

My prayer for you today is that you will put behind all prideful aspirations and become least in His kingdom.  The last thing the Kingdom needs is another Master!  That position is taken.  But the Kingdom of God is in dire need of servants.  May God bless us with the heart of a servant!