Dr. John Reddy

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD!

BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD!

YOU ALL KNOW the old, old story. The world was lost; God must punish sin; He sent His son to take our sin upon Him that He might honor the law of God, and establish God's government by being obedient to the law, and yielding Himself up to the death-penalty.He became a man, and, as a man, was obedient unto death of the cross. It is He who is called "the Lamb of God," the one Sacrifice for man's sin.

There is no putting away of sin without sacrifice; there is only one Sacrifice that can put away sin, and that is, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is divine, yet human; Son of God, yet son of Mary. He yielded up His life, "the Just for the unjust," the Sinless for the sinful, "that He might bring us to God," and reconcile us to the great Father. That is the story, and whosoever believes in Him shall live. Any man, the world over, who will trust himself to Christ, God's great Sacrifice, shall be saved, for this is our continual witness, "He that believes on the Son hath everlasting life." "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life."

I want to entreat men, who have looked elsewhere, now to turn their eyes away from the fruitless search after peace and life, and to come and "Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world." May the Spirit of God open their eyes, and incline their hearts, that tonight, even tonight, they may look unto Him and live!

When John saw Jesus on that memorable day, he, first of all, beheld Him himself and then he said to others, "Behold the Lamb of God." "Looking upon Jesus as He walked," steadfastly beholding Him, watching Him, gazing with humble admiration at Him, he said, "behold the Lamb of God!"

"Behold the Lamb of God?" Oh, that each one of you might believe our testimony concerning Jesus and look to Him and live!

The Lamb is always conspicuous; He may be neglected, rejected, refused today, but He will be beheld in eternity, and beheld to your everlasting confusion and unutterable dismay if you refuse to behold Him now. Let it not be so with any of you.

[Delivered By C. H. SPURGEON]

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

MARY HAS CHOSEN WHAT IS BETTER

MARY HAS CHOSEN WHAT IS BETTER

The Lord centers His attention on the word of God and prayer as the two great means of blessing. Mary sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word, while Martha was distracted by her preparations for the Royal Guest.

Martha wanted the Lord to rebuke her sister for failing to help, but Jesus tenderly rebuked Martha for her fretfulness! Our Lord prizes our affection above our service. Service may be tainted with pride and self-importance.

Occupation with the Lord is the one thing needful, that good part which will not be taken away.

The Lord wants to convert us from Marthas into Marys.
While the Master does appreciate all that we undertake for Him, He knows that our first need is to sit at His feet and learn His will, then in our tasks we shall be calm and peaceful and kindly, and at last our service may attain the perfectness.

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us--yes, establish the work of our hands.
"May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts." [Psalm 119:173]

Are we willing to sit at His feet like Mary did? or Are we busy with lot of other things like Martha? Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.

Monday, March 5, 2012

New Jerusalem

New Jerusalem

John sees the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. The fact that it is never said to land on the earth leads some to see it as hovering over the new earth. The fact that the names of the tribes of Israel are on the gates indicates that redeemed Israel will have access to the city, even if they are not part of the church itself. The distinction between the church (the Bride, the Lamb’s wife, v.9), Israel (v.12), and the Gentile nations(v.24) is maintained throughout.

John hears an announcement from heaven that the tabernacle of God is with men and that He will dwell with them. As His people they will enjoy communion with Him closer than ever dreamed of. God Himself will be with them and be their God in a nearer and dearer relationship.

The expression “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” does not mean that there will be tears in heaven. It is a poetic way of saying that there will not be! Neither will there be death, nor sorrow, nor crying. For God’s people, these will be forever ended.
The One who sits on the throne will make all things new. His words are true and faithful, and will surely come to pass. The ushering in of the Eternal State marks the conclusion of God’s purposes for the earth on which we live.

It is He who blesses the overcomer with total inheritance and a new intimacy as between Father and son. As mentioned previously, an overcomer is one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God(1 Jn. 5:5). By faith he overcomes the world(1 Jn. 5:4).

Every redeemed person responds to the blessed hope, “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”

Sunday, March 4, 2012

"How long will you waver between two opinions?"

"How long will you waver between two opinions?"

King Ahab went to meet Elijah and accused him of being a trouble-maker for Israel, not realizing that the man of God was one of the best friends Israel ever had. Not fearing for his own life, Elijah answered Ahab fearlessly and accusingly. He blamed the king for mixing the worship of Jehovah with Baal-worship and challenged him to assemble his idolatrous prophets for a contest on Mount Carmel to determine who was the true God.

Addressing the assembled representative of Israel, Elijah accused them of wavering between two opinions; they should choose either the Lord or Baal. Then the contest began. Two bulls were to be killed and laid on kindling wood. Elijah would represent the Lord, whereas four hundred and fifty of Ahab’s prophets would represent Baal. The God who answered by fire would be acknowledged as the true God.
The prophets of Baal cried out to their god and hopped around the altar from morning till noon. Elijah mocked them with helpful excuses for Baal’s failure to answer. In desperation they cut themselves with knives and lances and raved on until the time of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.

Then Elijah built an altar of twelve stone in the name of the Lord, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. Then to eliminate any possibility that the altar might be ignited in any way other than by a miracle, he saturated the oxen and the wood with twelve barrels of water.

At the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah prayed that God would reveal himself by sending fire from heaven. Immediately the fire of the Lord fell from heaven, consuming not only the sacrifice but also the wood and the stones and the dust, and the water in the trench around the altar. The people were thus compelled to acknowledge the Lord as the real God.

Only after the people acknowledged that Jehovah was God and executed the prophets of Baal could the rain come. Confession of sin and obedience to the Word of God are the steps to blessing.

The God who answers by Fire

Elijah on Mount Carmel

“At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command...Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The LORD—he is God! The LORD—he is God!” [1 Kings 18:36-39]

Saturday, March 3, 2012

The Day and Hour Unknown

The Day and Hour Unknown

Jesus said, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.” It is well known that this verse has been used by enemies of the gospel to prove that Jesus was nothing more than a man with limited knowledge like ourselves. It has also been used by sincere but misguided believers to demonstrate that Jesus emptied Himself of the attributes of deity when He came into the World as a man.

Neither of these interpretations is true. Jesus was and is both God and Man. He had all the attributes of deity and all the characteristics of perfect manhood. It is true that His deity was veiled in a body of flesh, but it was there nonetheless. There was never a time when He was not fully God. As a perfect Servant, it was not given to the Lord Jesus to know the time of His Coming. As God, of course, He does know it. But as Servant, it was not given to Him to know it for the purpose of revealing to others.

The fact that we do not know the appointed time should keep us on the alert. A similar situation is common in everyday life. A man goes away from home on a long trip. He leaves instructions with his servant and tells the watchman also to be on the lookout for his return. Jesus likened Himself to the travelling man. He may come back at any hour of the night. His people, serving as night watchmen, should not be found sleeping. So He left this word for all His people:”Watch!”