REE
DEEMED: LOST AND FOUND, Part 3
The
RESURRECTION of the DEEMD’S family
EPILOGUE
“Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head,
and they put on him a purple robe. And
said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him
with their hands….Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of
thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! When
the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them,
Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate
saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have
no king but Caesar. Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified.
And they took Jesus, and led him away…” (John 19:1-16 KJV). “..After
this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture
might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of
vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put
it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It
is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up
the ghost” (John 19:28-30 KJV).
“…For I have come down
from heaven ... TO DO ...THE WILL
of him who sent me…” (John 6:38 NIV).
“…The Son of man (God’s PLAN of SALVATION) came to seek
and to save THAT WHICH WAS LOST…”
(Luke 19:10 KJV).
*
It was Easter Sunday. Sarah sat, in
church, between Ree, Reginald, and her grandparents. God had bought her from a
mighty long way and she knew it better than anyone.
Apart from Jesus, who’d redeemed her from
her sin nature, she would have never been able to make things better in her
life. “... the sinful nature is
always hostile to God. It never did obey ... and it never will...” (Romans 8:5-7 NLT). “...I want
to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do
what is good, but I don’t…” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT). “…Apart from [the indwelling Holy Spirit]… [the
redeemed can]... do nothing…” (John
15:5 NIV).
Sarah was stronger, different,
and healthier because of Jesus, the indwelling
Holy Spirit. “ …The Spirit of God
dwelleth in [the REDEEMED]…” (1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV). “…Therefore if any man (woman)
be in Christ, he
(she) is a NEW creature …” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV).
He made her a different
person. She trusted and depended upon him. He made what was difficult and
impossible happen. “… All things are … [MADE] … NEW…”
(2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV). “…I am
the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there anything
too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27 KJV). “…The
things which are impossible with men are possible with God…” (Luke 18:27 KJV).
Sarah was 50+ years old and she never had
the strength to do the things she needed to do to recover from her past life. “…I can do all things through
Christ which strengtheneth
me…” (Philippians 4:13 KJV). “... For it is God who worketh in you..” (Philippians 2:13 KJV).
She
couldn’t love herself or anyone else until Jesus empowered her to do it. “…Apart from [the Holy Spirit]… [Sarah could not]... do nothing
[she could “not” even LOVE]…” (John
15:5 NIV). One of “…The fruit of the Spirit is ... love …”
(Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). "....The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives …” (Galatians 5 NLT). “…I can do all things (love) through Christ which strengtheneth me…” (Philippians
4:13 KJV).
Even with all her meanness, nastiness, and
hatefulness, Jesus thought she was worth dying for and saving. His love made
her feel valuable again.“…There is no greater
LOVE than to lay down one’s life…” (John 15:13 NLT). “Herein is LOVE, not that we loved God, but that HE LOVED US
and sent His Son...”
(1 John 4:10 KJV). “…Christ
came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would
not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be
willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his
great LOVE FOR US by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners”
(Romans 5:6-8 NLT).
Sarah wasn’t a “good” person. She had no
illusions and knew, without a doubt, she didn’t deserve God’s grace or his
mercy. Plus, the bible says there is NONE good, but God, which means there is
NONE good without God. “… [ALL have become]…..unclean and [their] righteousnesses
(good) are as filthy rags….” (Isaiah 64:6 KJV). “And
Jesus said.. there is NONE good but one, that is, God” (Mark
10:18 KJV). “…Apart
from [the indwelling Holy Spirit]… [the redeemed can]... do nothing (they can’t
even be good)…” (John 15:5 NIV). One
of “…The fruit of the
Spirit is ... goodness...” (Galatians 5:22-23
KJV). "....The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives …” (Galatians 5 NLT).
Her
therapist tried to tell her she was a “good” person, inside, but she knew the
truth now. Before Jesus, she was basically a SIN NATURE. There is and was
NOTHING good about her. SINFUL
BEHAVIOR is a symptom of “what” YOU ARE. “….I was
born a sinner ….” (Psalms 51:5 NLT). “…The
...[flesh]... nature
...never
did obey God’s laws, and it never
will.…” (Romans
8:1-14 NLT).
“...I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good,
but I don’t. …I [am] …a slave to the sin
(the symptoms of the flesh nature) …” (Romans
7:14-25 NLT). “…For all have sinned
(all have the flesh nature)…” (Romans 3:23 KJV). “…all have ... come short of the glory of God (all are born
WITHOUT the indwelling Holy Spirit)…” (Romans 3:23 KJV).
Without Jesus, she had
treated her daughter horribly and followed the direction of her sin nature. “
… the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity,
sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions,
factions, envying,
drunkenness, carousing, and things like these …”
(Galatians 5:20-22 NASB).
Kind-hearted people and
so-called “good” people DON’T abuse their children or go around treating people
bad. When you have inside revelation, people may know what is in your heart,
but they will know who is or isn’t in your heart. Jesus was definitely NOT in
her heart. However, Sarah repented. God converted her, which redeemed her from
her evil, sinful nature. “…Who will free me from this life that is dominated by SIN
(through the SINFUL NATURE)?
Thank God! The answer
is in Jesus Christ our Lord (the SAVIOR of the
WORLD)…” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT).
“…REPENT ye therefore, and BE CONVERTED, that your sins may be blotted out …”
(Acts 3:19 KJV).
“…
the Son (Jesus Christ, the indwelling Holy Spirit)…shall make you FREE...”
(John 8:36 KJV). “Therefore if any man (woman) be in Christ, he (she) is a new
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2
Corinthians 5:17 KJV).
“…you are not (no longer) controlled by your sinful nature. …” (Romans
8:1-14 NLT). “...you have no obligation (anymore) to do what your sinful nature urges you to do…” (Romans
8:1-14 NLT). “... ye ...[are]... FREE
indeed.” (John 8:36 KJV).
“…Because
you belong to him,
the power of the life-giving
Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death (spiritual death) …” (Romans
8:1-14 NLT). “…God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the
just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer
follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit....” (Romans
8:1-14 NLT).
Sarah and Ree, both,
wanted a loving, healthy, and respectful mother/daughter relationship now. She
never wanted anything to do with her daughter before her conversion.
Jesus made it possible.
He first bonded them, to himself, with his kind of love. Next, he restored them,
to himself, through his indwelling Holy
Spirit. “…He that is JOINED unto the Lord
(Jesus) is ONE
Spirit…” (1 Corinthians 6:17 KJV). “… [God’s] Love
… is the perfect BOND of unity...” (Colossians 3:14 NASB). “…that they
may ALL be
one (bonded by love and his Spirit); even as You, Father, are in Me
and I in You, that they also may be in Us…” (John 17:21-23 NASB).
Now Sarah was sharing an loving attachment
with her family. She was receiving, giving, feeling, and experiencing “real”
love.
Before Jesus, Sarah’s whole life was full
of spiritual death. It was all around her. There is really no escape from
spiritual death. “…through [the behavior of one man]... sin
(transgression) entered into the world, and [spiritual] ...death
through sin, and so death (through the sin nature) passed to all men (women)—“(Romans
5:12 KJV). “… One sinner
destroy[ed]… MUCH good…”
(Ecclesiastes 9:18 NASB). “…[Now]... all have
sinned (all have been born with a sin nature)…” (Romans 3:23
KJV).
All of mankind is born
into the world without the indwelling
Holy Spirit. They are born, in the world,
SEPARATED from the HOLY SPIRIT. All mankind possesses, when he or she is born,
into the world, is a soul and the body of flesh.
Thus, mankind is born, into
the world, missing (falling short of) the glory of God (his presence) or is
separated from the indwelling Holy
Spirit. NOW all humanity is born with the same problem. “…the wages of sin (the payment for having a sin nature) is
death…” (Romans 6:23 KJV). “…[Now]...
all have sinned (all have been born with a sin nature)…” (Romans
3:23 KJV). “…all have ... come short of the glory of God
(all are born missing or WITHOUT the indwelling Holy Spirit)…”
(Romans 3:23 KJV).
"…That which is born of the flesh is flesh…” (John 3:6
KJV). “….I was born a sinner
(I was born without the indwelling Holy Spirit)—yes,
from the moment my mother conceived me….”
(Psalms 51:5 NLT).
Adam and Eve had
NOTHING to pass down to their descendants, but the flesh nature. They became
SEPARATED from the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Every soul is a spiritually dead soul,
from BIRTH. Every SOUL born into the world, without spiritual life, is enslaved and trapped within the prison of the
body of flesh, which is NOW a totally SINFUL NATURE.
The BODY of FLESH, without the indwelling Holy Spirit, can ONLY be
a SINFUL NATURE, which was NOT created to OBEY God. “…The
...[flesh]... nature
...never did
obey God’s laws, and it
never will.…” (Romans
8:1-14 NLT). Thus, all of mankind
is “…DEAD “IN”
trespasses and sin (within the body of flesh or sin nature)...” (Ephesians 2:1 KJV).
No matter how many good or ethical deeds a
person does they WILL NOT escape spiritual death without God and Jesus (HIS
PLAN OF SALVATION). Ethical behavior is NOT righteous behavior. “…The flesh (ethical behavior) profiteth nothing…”
(John 6:63 KJV).
“…Human effort (ethical behavior) accomplishes
nothing….” (John 6:63 NLT). “…If I bestow all my goods to feed the poor (ethical behavior), and if
I give my body to be burned (ethical behavior), but
have not love (God is LOVE and SPIRIT), IT PROFITETH ME NOTHING…” (1
Corinthians 13:2-3 ASV)."… if
the salt has become tasteless … It is no longer good for anything, except to be
thrown out…” (Matthew 5:13 NASB).
SALVATION
is not EARNED through ethical behavior, but it is RECEIVED like the GIFT it is.
“…EXCEPT YE REPENT, ye shall all likewise PERISH…”
(Luke 13:3 KJV).
Sarah didn’t simply turned her life around
and choose to recover, but she had become RESURRECTED to spiritual LIFE and was
a NEW CREATION!
“…If
any man(woman) be in Christ, he(she) is a NEW creature …” (2
Corinthians 5:17 KJV). “…[The new creations]... were [once]...
dead
in [their] sins and
... [NOW]…God made [them]... ALIVE with Christ. He forgave [them]… all [their]…
sins…”
(Colossians 2:13 NIV). God “….made
[new creations]… ALIVE with Christ …” (Ephesians 2:5 NIV).
She wasn’t just physically alive, anymore,
but more importantly she was spiritually alive! Like the prodigal son, “… [Sarah was]…. DEAD and [have been made]… ALIVE
AGAIN; [she was]… lost and [have been]… found…” (Luke 15:24 NIV).
Because of Jesus’ resurrection, Sarah had
not only escaped her past, but she had also escaped eternal damnation. She couldn’t even put it into words. It was an
unspeakable GIFT to her. “…Thanks be unto
God for his unspeakable GIFT…” (2 Corinthians 9:16 KJV).
“…The
GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus
Christ ….”
(Romans 6:23 KJV).
“... there
is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought [spiritual] death to many. But even greater
is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of
forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. And the
result of God’s gracious gift is
very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being
made right with God (being restored,
reunited with the Holy Spirit again), even
though we are guilty of many sins..[through the sin nature]. For the sin (transgression of God’s holy law) of this one man, Adam, caused [spiritual]...death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will
live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ...” (Romans 5:10-16 NLT).
“… my righteous servant (Jesus) ... [made]...
it possible for
many to be
counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins…”
(Isaiah 53:11 NLT). “…
[He sent the ] …one … who can reconcile
God and humanity—the
man Christ Jesus…” (1
Timothy 2:5 NLT). “…Thanks
be unto God for his unspeakable GIFT... [Jesus Christ]…” (2
Corinthians 9:16 KJV).
“…The
GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus
Christ ….” (Romans 6:23 KJV).
Sarah heard about “opportunities of a lifetime” and someone, as unworthy as she, had
obtained it and it was FREE!
This was the importance of EASTER SUNDAY or
RESURRECTION DAY that... “…
Christ died for OUR SINS according to
the scriptures; And ...he was buried, and …he rose again the third day
according to the scriptures…” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV).
“Herein
is love,
not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent His Son...”
(1 John 4:10 KJV).
“For
Christ …. died
for sins ONCE for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death
in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;” (1 Peter 3:18
NASB).
“…
[He sent the ] …one … who can reconcile
God and humanity—the
man Christ Jesus…” (1
Timothy 2:5 NLT). “…Thanks
be unto God for his unspeakable GIFT... [Jesus Christ]…” (2
Corinthians 9:16 KJV).
“…The
GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus
Christ ….” (Romans 6:23 KJV).
Jesus made a profound
statement when he said, “… I am the resurrection, and the life...”
(John 11:25 KJV). Jesus is the “resurrection”
for the future and the present. Jesus is the “life” for the future and the present too.
Resurrection “IS” the RAISING
from the DEAD. RAISING from the DEAD is
also a RESTORAL to SPIRITUAL LIFE.
How is something or someone
raised from the DEAD and RESTORED to LIFE? “...The (SAME) Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.
And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your
mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you...” (Romans 8:11
NLT).
“...Christ
lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the (Holy) Spirit
gives you (spiritual) life because you have been made right with God. ...Therefore,
dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature
urges you to do...” (Romans 8:10, 12 NLT).
Sarah looked up when
the Pastor called their names. The Deemd’s family were on the program to share
their testimony on how their family was LOST in many different directions, but
Jesus FOUND them.
He RESURRECTED their
family through the SAME HOLY SPIRIT that raised Jesus from the DEAD. “.. if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from
the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give
life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you...” (Romans
8:11 NASB).
“…God
is not human (he is not a body or flesh)…”
(Numbers 23:19 NIV). “…GOD IS
SPIRIT…” (John 4:24 KJV). “…the
Spirit of God dwell in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV).
The
Deemd relationships with one another were literally dead. They were separated
by years of silence and darkness. They were detached, separated, disconnected, and
totally alienated from one another.
Situations
in life had destroyed any hope for them
becoming a family again. Wasted years stood between them. A multitude of wrongs,
sins, misunderstandings, and darkness cut them off and shut out of each other’s
life, but JESUS.
The
Deemd’s were ALL spiritually alive again and had the SAME indwelling Holy Spirit. God RESURRECTED the relationships between mother,
daughter, son, grandparents, and they were miraculously a family again.
The
Deemd family had ROSE from the dead, which demonstrated the POWER of God over
SIN and DEATH.
The
RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ is the foundation of the Christian Faith, proving
he is the WAY, God’s POWER, and SAVIOR of the WORLD. “….the gospel of Christ …. is the power of
God unto SALVATION
TO EVERY ONE THAT BELIEVETH…” (Romans 1:16 KJV). Yet
Christianity is exclusive. “…There is SALVATION IN
NO ONE ELSE…”
(Acts 4:12a NLT). “Jesus
saith…I am THE
WAY, the truth, and the life…” (John 14:6 KJV).
His victory and POWER over SIN and DEATH sets
him apart from any other and his empty tomb, confirmed he was(is) who he said
he was (is).
“Jesus saith…I am THE WAY, the truth, and the
life…” (John 14:6 KJV). “… I am the resurrection, and the
life...”
(John 11:25 KJV).
The
REDEEMED trust in and depend upon the truth of his death, burial, and
resurrected of Jesus Christ. “… Christ
died for OUR SINS according to the scriptures; And ...he was buried,
and …he rose again the third day according to the scriptures…” (1
Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV).
His
RISING from the death gives the REDEEMED “hope.” HOPE that he has the POWER to give
them VICTORY over SIN and SPIRITUAL DEATH too. “…O death, where is thy sting? O
grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55 KJV). “...Whosoever liveth and
believeth in me (Jesus) shall never die…” (John 8:51 KJV). “…[they]… will be at home
with the Lord…” (2 Corinthians 5:8 NLT). “…Believest thou this?” (John 8:51 KJV).
God’s people’s HOPE is in Jesus, the resurrection and the life. Jesus is the “…blessed hope…” (Titus
2:13 KJV). “…
I am the resurrection, and the life...”
(John 11:25 KJV).
HOPE
that he has the POWER to keep them from spiritual death and EMPOWER them to
live FREE from sin while upon earth. “…WHOEVER BELIEVES (HOPES) IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED…"
(ROMANS 10:11 NASB).
THEREFORE, “…TRUST in the Lord with all thine heart...” (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV). “…The
GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ ….” (Romans 6:23
KJV). “…These things have I written unto
you that BELIEVE on the name of the Son
of God; that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life, and that ye may BELIEVE on the name of the Son of God...” (1 John 5:13 KJV).
“… [He will strengthen you]…according to the POWER that worketh IN
[YOU]…” (Ephesians
3:20 KJV). “… God … work[s] … in …
[you] … what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ…” (Hebrews
13:20-21 NIV). “…God
hath ... given us the spirit ... of power…”
(2 Timothy 1:7 KJV). “…I can do ALL THINGS through
Christ which strengtheneth
me…” (Philippians 4:13 KJV). .“…it is God which worketh
in [me]… both to will and to do...” (Philippians 2:13 KJV).
Since
Jesus CONQUERED sin and death, so can those who trust in HIM. They are MORE
than conquerors in THIS LIFE and the ETERNAL LIFE to come. “... we overwhelmingly conquer
through Him
who loved us…”(Romans 8:31-39 NASB).
“... None of their enemies could
stand against them, for the Lord helped them conquer
all their enemies…”
(Joshua 21:43-45 NLT).
“…I
assure you that everyone who
has given up...[anything]... for my
sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many..[in this world and]... in
the world to come that person will have eternal life...”
(Mark 10:28-31 NLT).
Before
they came back to their seats, the Deemd’s sung a hymn. Sarah sung the verses
to “Victory in Jesus”, with a voice
of conviction. She sang like an angel and the rest of the Deemd’s sung the
chorus.
“...I heard an old, old story,
how a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary,
to save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning,
of His precious blood's atoning,
Then I repented of my sins
and won the victory.
Oh victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever!
He sought me and bought me
with His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him,
and all my love is due Him-
He plunged me to victory
beneath the cleansing flood.
I heard about His healing,
of His cleansing pow'r revealing,
How He made the lame
to walk again and caused the blind to see;
And then I cried, "Dear Jesus,
come and heal my broken spirit,"
And somehow Jesus came
and brought to me the victory.
Oh victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever!
He sought me and bought me
with His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him,
and all my love is due Him-
He plunged me to victory
beneath the cleansing flood.
I heard about a mansion
He has built for me in glory,
And I heard about the streets of gold
beyond the crystal sea;
About the angels singing
and the old redemption story-
And some sweet day I'll sing up there
the song of victory.
Oh victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever!
He sought me and bought me
with His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him,
and all my love is due Him-
He plunged me to victory
beneath the cleansing flood...” (Eugene Monroe Barlett, 1939).
how a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary,
to save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning,
of His precious blood's atoning,
Then I repented of my sins
and won the victory.
Oh victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever!
He sought me and bought me
with His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him,
and all my love is due Him-
He plunged me to victory
beneath the cleansing flood.
I heard about His healing,
of His cleansing pow'r revealing,
How He made the lame
to walk again and caused the blind to see;
And then I cried, "Dear Jesus,
come and heal my broken spirit,"
And somehow Jesus came
and brought to me the victory.
Oh victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever!
He sought me and bought me
with His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him,
and all my love is due Him-
He plunged me to victory
beneath the cleansing flood.
I heard about a mansion
He has built for me in glory,
And I heard about the streets of gold
beyond the crystal sea;
About the angels singing
and the old redemption story-
And some sweet day I'll sing up there
the song of victory.
Oh victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever!
He sought me and bought me
with His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him,
and all my love is due Him-
He plunged me to victory
beneath the cleansing flood...” (Eugene Monroe Barlett, 1939).
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