weekly sermon

2-17-08

The Blood Of The Lamb

Last week we talked about many sins, some that we knew about and some that maybe we did not know about. We now need to look at what we can do to avoid or cure ourselves of these sins.

Are you seriously wanting to overcome your sin? If so then keep reading. There will be two items we will discuss here, with Biblical verses to back up each item. The items up for discussion will be mastering or overcoming sin, and the reward of overcoming sin.

We will be looking at a couple of passages that tells us how to overcome sin. I want you to keep in mind the title of this message as we read through these next few passages.

First turn with me to 1 Peter 4:1, "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;" Now hold your finger there and turn with with me to Philippians 2:5, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:"

As you can see from these two verses, the best way to start your road to recovery in your cure for sin is to put on the mind of Christ, keep that same mind, just as Christ did, the One that never sinned. We can see in the first verse that if we arm ourselves with the same mind as Christ the same will suffer in the flesh, but the sins will cease. How do we keep our minds on Christ so that our sins may cease?

Turn with me, for the answer, to Psalms 119:133, "Order my steps in thy word: and let not any sin have dominion over me." and also Psalms 119:11, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." There truly is only one way to have a mind that is like Christ. If we keep constant in the word of God, the Bible, and if we keep true to that word, then, and only then, will we have the mind of Christ. If you follow these messages from week to week then you will have read the one from two weeks ago. In that message we talked about how God was already in you. You do not have to go look for God because He is already there. Keeping this in mind, then we know that we can overcome sin with the help of Christ that is in us. Once we get that mind, then we can begin our fight against that deadly disease called sin.

I stated that we could begin our fight again this deadly disease. Why did I say it that way?  Sin is a disease as we have discussed that we had to find a cure for in order to overcome. But not only is the disease the part that I was talking about, but so is the word deadly. I can not mention sin and how to cure it without telling you what the consequences are if you do not find your cure. Look in Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." This tells us that if we sin then we will die. This does not mean that we physically die, this means that we spiritually die. We all know that we will eventually die in this life. When we die, we will either go to Heaven or to hell. If we sin then our spiritual death will keep us from Heaven. This is a simple fact that most do not want to hear. Whether or not we want to hear this, it is still fact. I would like to tell you that all is roses, and it can be if we keep our minds where they should be, and keep ourselves sin free. If we stay sin free then we will receive the prize that is the second part of our message.

Look in Psalms 128:1, "Blessed [is] every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. (2) For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy [shalt] thou [be], and [it shall be] well with thee. (3) Thy wife [shall be] as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. (4) Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD. (5) The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. (6) Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, [and] peace upon Israel." We can see by reading this chapter in Psalms that there is much reward for those who will resist sin and keep the mind of Christ. It states that if we fear the Lord, which is keeping free from sin, then we will be rewarded as it states in this Psalms.

We discussed the disease and then we discussed a cure. Now there should be one more thing that happens. Remember I told you that I wanted you to keep in mind the title of this message? You need to have a blood transfusion. This will be a spiritual blood transfusion. I heard a story that I thought would be appropriate to this message. 'Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes I'll do it if it will save her." As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away". Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.' This little boy already had the transfusion that I am talking about. He was more than willing to give his life to save the life of another. The blood that I am talking about is the blood of Christ. We need to have His blood transfused through us to make us whole and free from sin.

Revelations 12:11, "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." The "they" that is mentioned here is those of us that have had the transfusion and have conquered sin. The Lamb that is mentioned here is Jesus Christ. If you take the blood of this Lamb, who by the way was also willing to give His life to save another, then you will see the report that not only was the disease cured, but was washed completely away.

To receive this blood transfusion and be completely cured you MUST say and mean a simple prayer with me.

Dear Lord, take over my life and forgive me of my sins, and give me the gift of everlasting life. Amen.

If you have said this simple prayer, then we believe that you have received salvation. We would love to rejoice with you, so please drop us a note, in our link, to let us know and confess Jesus before man, so that we may send you a few things that we hope will help you in your new Christian walk.

With Love in Christ,

Pastor Stone