.........UNITY........
HOW DO WE ACT TOWARDS OTHER THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM US? DO WE SEE HOW THEY FIT AND COMPLEMENT US AND MAKE US MORE COMPETE, OR DO WE SAY THEY NEED TO GO BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT JUST LIKE US?
EPHESIANS 4:11-16
11. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16. From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

JESUS IS THE HEAD AND WE ARE THE BODY. WE ALL ARE DIFFERENT BUT MAKE UP THE COMPLETE BODY. ON A BODY THE NOSE IS DIFFERENT FROM THE MOUTH, HOWEVER THEY BOTH ARE NEEDED. THEY ARE DIFFERENT IN LOOKS AND FUNCTION. PEOPLE ARE THAT WAY ALSO. EACH OF US IS GIFTED FOR A CERTAIN TASK. NOT EVERYONE HAS TO BE JUST LIKE YOU OR ME. WE MUST HELP SUPPLY EACH OTHER IN THE BODY JUST AS THE ARTERY SYSTEM IN OUR PHYSICAL BODY MOVES NUTRIENTS AND OXYGEN AND FUEL TO ALL THE PARTS OF OUR BODY. ALL THE MUSCLES, BONES, TENDONS, AND JOINTS WORK TO THE BENEFIT OF THE WHOLE BODY. WHEN WE REJECT OTHER FOR WHAT EVER REASON WE ISOLATE OURSELVES FROM THE MINISTRY AND GIFT THAT THEY BRING TO THE BODY. WE THEN CAN NOT FUNCTION AS WE SHOULD, AND BECOME A USELESS JOINT. WE BECOME LIKE AN ARTHRITIC JOINT ALL BENT AND TWISTED AND UNABLE TO DO AND FUNCTION AS WE SHOULD.

ARNOLD PRATER HAS SOME GREAT BOOKS OUT THERE. IN ONE OF HIS BOOKS HE MAKES PARABLES OUT OF BIBLE TEACHINGS. HE TOOK THIS SET OF SCRIPTURES AND CAME UP WITH THIS PARABLE.
ONCE UPON A TIME, HE SAYS ALMOST EVERYBODY WAS AN EAR. ALL THE EARS HAD A CONVENTION AND WERE HAVING A WONDERFUL TIME WHEN A NOSE AND A MOUTH WALKED IN, SAT DOWN ON THE BACK ROW, AND WERE VERY QUIET. BUT SOON THE SARGENT-AT-ARMS WALKED OVER AND TOSSED THEM OUT BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT EARS. BUT AFTER A WHILE THE CONVENTION HALL CAUGHT FIRE AND DESTROYED ALL THE EARS BECAUSE NO NOSES WERE THERE TO SMELL THE SMOKE AND NO MOUTHS WERE THERE TO WARN THEM THE PLACE WAS ON FIRE.

A PERSON THAT LOSES THE SENSE OF SMELL SUFFERS. A PERSON THAT LOSES HIS OR HER SIGHT HAS A MUCH DIFFERENT VIEW POINT. THE SAME IS TRUE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BODY OF CHRIST, THE CHURCH. EVERYONE OF US IS ESSENTIAL. EVERYONE IS INDISPENSABLE.

part 2. OUR GREAT SUBSTITUTIONARY SACRIFICE AND THE PRESENT DAY MINISTRY OF JESUS
Passage Acts 4:12:
12. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
JESUS CAME AND FULL FILLED HIS MINISTRY TO BECOME THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD, AND BRING LOST MANKIND BACK INTO FELLOWSHIP WITH THE FATHER.

HE IS NOT SITTING AND WAITING TO COME BACK, BUT HE HAS A PRESENT DAY MINISTRY THAT IS NEEDED IN ORDER TO RECEIVE HIM AS SAVIOR AND MAKE HIM LORD AND LIVE IN THIS WORLD AS KINGS AND PRIESTS TO GOD.

JESUS HAS MINISTRIES THAT HE IS DOING TODAY. HE IS NOT JUST SITTING AND WAITING. HE HAS A PRESENT DAY MINISTRY.
HE IS OUR MEDIATOR.. A GO BETWEEN FOR MAN AND GOD.

HEB. 8:6
But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

1 TIM 2:5
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

JOB 9:33
Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
JOB SAW THE NEED FOR A MEDIATOR TO GO BETWEEN GOD AND MAN

JOHN 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY WE ARE ALL HEADED TO THE SAME PLACE, JUST TAKING A DIFFERENT WAY. THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY, ONLY ONE MEDIATOR, ONLY ONE TRUTH, AND THAT IS JESUS

AN OTHER MINISTRY OF JESUS TODAY IS THAT HE IS OUR INTERCESSOR
HEB. 7:24-25
24. But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
INTERCESSION:prayer, petition, or entreaty in favor of another
JESUS IS INTERCEDING FOR US TO OUR BENEFIT.
JUST AS HE INTERCEDE OR PRAYED FOR PETER, HE DOES THE SAME FOR US.
LUKE 22:31-32
31And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
32But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
HE IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS, AND IS INTERCEDING ON BEHALF OF US ALL.

HE IS OUR ADVOCATE- LAWYER THIS IS AN AWESOME PART OF HIS MINISTRY TODAY.
1 JOHN 2:1
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
EVER SEE A MOVIE WHERE A RICH KID GETS IN TROUBLE AND THE Family lawyer shows up. JESUS IS OUR LAWYER. SATAN IS THE ACCUSER. IF WE DO SIN AND WE REPENT THEN IT IS ERASED AND OUR LAWYER JESUS IS THERE TO BACK UP THE WORD AND SEND THE DEVIL PACKING. JESUS PLEADS OUR CASE.
Heb. 9:24 he loves us.
For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.
HE DID IT ALL FOR US.
Heb 4:14-16
Passage Hebrews 4:14-16 HE IS OUR HIGH PRIEST
14. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

We have a high priest, a mediator, an intercessor, an advocate, a lover of our souls. He is sitting in the highest seat of authority in the universe. His father that loved and sent him to take our place sits on the throne of grace. Jesus who loves you is seated at is right hand. They bid you to come boldly to the throne of grace.
Romans 8:31
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Heb. 7:22
By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
GOD IS FOR US, AND JESUS IS OUR SURETY.
HEBREWS 9:16-17
16For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
17For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
JESUS CAME AND BROUGHT US A NEW AND BETTER TESTAMENT AND THEN DIED SO IT COULD GO INTO FORCE AND THEN RAISED FROM THE DEAD TO MAKE SURE IT WAS IN FORCED.
JESUS IS THE SURETY OF EVERY WORD FROM MATT. 1:1 T0 REV. 22:21
Surety: Personal Guarantee

part 1. OUR GREAT SUBSTITUTIONARY SACRIFICE AND THE PRESENT DAY MINISTRY OF JESUS
The Lord of Glory Himself came and redeemed us. He took my place, he took our place, he took your place, and all our punishment was put upon Him.
The Great Subsitutionary Work, and His work in the new creation would be of no value if He did not take care of and protect this new creation.
The church celebrates the birth of Jesus every Dec. 25th . They celebrate His death, burial, and resurrection every Easter. Way to many think that was it, and Jesus retired to sit at God’s right hand and wait for the word to go get the family. His death and burial and resurrection was the physical thing His body went through, however that was not all He was doing in those 3 days and nights. His spirit went and paid the claims of justice in the spirit. The sacrifice was not yet completed. More was to be done even after the resurrection.
Passage John 19:30:
30. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Finished: to accomplish to a point, not necessarily finished
What was finished? Most preachers I've heard say it was the Old Covenant and redemption was now here. Well redeemption wasn't here yet more had to be done. The word use and translated finished did not mean totally finished. It meant finished up to a point and not necessarily finished. Jesus still had to go satisfy the claims of justice in the spirit. He went to sheol or hell and took our punishment. Some say Jesus never went to hell , however if he didn't then you still have to go. He took my place in all things and that means all.
Luke 16:19-26
19. There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21. And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23. And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

Abraham's bosom was a place that had two compartments divided by a huge gulf. The upper was the place of comfort where the old testament saints went to await the promise of the messiah. The other was a flame of fire and torment or hell. Lazarus was in the comfort side and the selfish rich man was in the torment side.
Ephesians 4:8-9 KJV
8Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
After he paid the price in hell he bridged the gap and preached to the spirits in Abraham's Bosom and lead the out and right in to heaven.

Passage Acts 2:24 KJV
24Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
This shows us where Jesus went because death had no pain except in the lower part or hell.

John 20
1. The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
2. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the LORD out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
3. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
4. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
5. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
6. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
7. And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
[ THE NAPKINS IS VERY IMPORTANT. YOU MUST UNDERSTAND JEWISH CUSTOMS TO UNDERSTAND THIS. IT WAS NOT WITH THE GRAVE CLOTHES, BUT WRAPPED OR FOLDED TOGETHER IN A PLACE BY ITSELF. IN JEWISH CUSTOM WHEN YOU WENT INTO AN OTHERS HOUSE AND THEY FEED YOU AND FELLOW SHIPPED WITH YOU AND YOU WERE DONE. IF YOU ENJOYED THE VISIT AND PLANNED ON COMING BACK YOU FOLDED YOUR NAPKIN AND PLACED IT AWAY FROM EVERYTHING ELSE IN A SEPARATE PLACE ON THE TABLE. THIS SIGNIFIED THAT YOU ENJOYED THE VISIT AND WOULD RETURN.]
8. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
9. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
10. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
11. But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
12. And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my LORD, and I know not where they have laid him.
14. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
15. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
16. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
17. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
JESUS HAD MORE TO DO AFTER HIS RESURRECTION. THE REDEMPTIVE PLAN WASN'T COMPLETED YET. HE TOLD MARY TO TOUCH HIM NOT FOR HE NOT YET ASCENDED TO HIS FATHER.
JOHN 20: 26-31
26. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.
29Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
30. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31. But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
SOMETHING HAPPEN BETWEEN WHEN HE SAW MARY AND THIS MEETING FOR HE NOW SAID TO THOMAS THRUST YOUR HAND INTO MY SIDE. HE COULD NOW BE TOUCHED SO HE HAD GONE TO THE FATHER AND BACK. HE HAD TO FINISH THE REDEMPTIVE WORK BY GOING TO HEAVEN AND PRESENTING HIMSELF AND HIS BLOOD AS THE SUPREME SACRIFICE IN HEAVEN, AND CLEANSE THE HEAVENLY HOLY OF HOLIES AND SPRINKLE HIS BLOOD ON THE HEAVENLY MERCY SEAT. HE COULD NOT LET MARY TOUCH HIM FOR IT WOULD HAVE TAINTED THE PURE SACRIFICE HE HAD TO YET DELIVER TO HEAVEN BEFORE GOD.

Passage Hebrews 9:12-26:
12. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
13. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
14. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
15. And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
16. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
17. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
18. Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
19. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
20. Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
21. Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
22. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

[23. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
24. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
25. Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
26. For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.]
THE TABERNACLE ON EARTH WAS ONLY A COPY OF THE TRUE ONE IN HEAVEN. JESUS ENTERED IN AND CLEANSED THE TRUE TABERNACLE WITH HIS OWN BLOOD THUS COMPLETING REDEMPTION. HE COULD NOW GO BACK AND BE SEEN AND TOUCHED ON EARTH. THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN WHEN MARY SAW HIM AND WHEN HE TOLD THOMAS TO THRUST HIS HAND INTO HIS SIDE.
IN PART 2 WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE PRESENT DAY MINISTRY OF JESUS. HE IS NOT SITTING AT GOD'S RIGHT HAND JUST WAITING FOR THE WORD TO GO AND GET THE FAMILY. HE HAS MINISTRIES THAT HE IS DOING FOR US.

I was tagged to a music meme. Asked to give a list of seven of my favorite songs. I don't know a anyone to tag but I'll give my list.

My list may change from day to day but right now this is it.

1. Before the next Teardrop falls... Freddy Fender. shows a very caring heart full of compassion.

2. He stopped Loving Her Today.. George Jones.. Awesome words can't explain.

3. Imagine... John Lennon..

4. Country Bumpkin.. Cal Smith...... this song touched my heart

5. Solitare... Neil Sedaka

6. Without You.. Harry Nilsson

7. Maggie May ... Rod Stewart

I have some that I hold higher than these but no one out there would know them, because my wife wrote them so I'll leave you with these.