HOW DO WE VIEW JESUS ?

According to a Barna Group survey, two out of every three adults (67%) claim to have an active “personal relationship” with Jesus.

This same survey found that one out of every six Americans (17%) claim that Jesus speaks to them in multi-faceted ways. At least one out of every six adults contends that He communicates with them in the following manner:

• 52%: by influencing or connecting directly with their mind, emotions or feelings

• 41%: through the content of a Bible passage they read or which was read to them

• 36%: by providing a sign

• 34%: through sermon or teaching content concerning their immediate situation or need

• 31%: through miraculous or inexplicable circumstances or outcomes

• 31%: through words spoken to them by someone else who was speaking for God

• 18%: through a passage they read in a book other than the Bible

• 16%: through an audible voice or whisper that they could hear

In another Barna Group survey, the researchers found that Americans Continue to Wrestle with Truth (Biblical Truth).

The survey findings suggest that Americans are continuing to wrestle with the concept of truth, the nature of God, and the value of the Bible in personal decision-making.

Many people who do not embrace a literal interpretation of the scriptures nevertheless accept some of the Bible’s more sensational stories. "Not only do most Americans believe in the existence of God, but they believe in His power and in the miracles He performs," commented researcher George Barna, who directed the study. "Holding back the seas, walking on water, rising from the dead, surviving in a lion cage, and killing a skilled and armed warrior with a sling shot are examples of God doing extraordinary things in the lives of ordinary people.
Millions of Americans believe the Bible content is true, but are not willing to apply the truths of the Bible to their daily life. Sadly, for many people, the Bible has become a respected but impersonal religious history lesson that stays removed from their life."

Views on Spiritual Beings

The Barna survey asked questions about God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Satan, and demons.
All 1,871 self-described Christians were asked about their perception of God. In total, three-quarters (78%) said he is the “all-powerful, all-knowing Creator of the universe who rules the world today.” The remaining one-quarter chose other descriptions of God – depictions that are not consistent with biblical teaching (e.g., everyone is god, god refers to the realization of human potential, etc.).

SATAN: Four out of ten Christians (40%) strongly agreed that Satan “is not a living being but is a symbol of evil.” An additional two out of ten Christians (19%) said they “agree somewhat” with that perspective. A minority of Christians indicated that they believe Satan is real by disagreeing with the statement: one-quarter (26%) disagreed strongly and about one-tenth (9%) disagreed somewhat. The remaining 8% were not sure what they believe about the existence of Satan.

JESUS: Although a core teaching of the Christian faith is the divinity and perfection of Jesus Christ, tens of millions of Christians do not accept that teaching. More than one-fifth (22%) strongly agreed that Jesus Christ sinned when He lived on earth, with an additional 17% agreeing somewhat. Holding the opposing view were 9% who disagreed somewhat and 46% who disagreed strongly. Six percent did not have an opinion on this matter.

HOLY SPIRIT: Much like their perceptions of Satan, most Christians do not believe that the Holy Spirit is a living force, either. Overall, 38% strongly agreed and 20% agreed somewhat that the Holy Spirit is “a symbol of God’s power or presence but is not a living entity.” Just one-third of Christians disagreed that the Holy Spirit is not a living force (9% disagreed somewhat, 25% disagreed strongly) while 9% were not sure.

Demons/Evil Spirits: A majority of Christians believe that a person can be under the influence of spiritual forces, such as demons or evil spirits. Two out of three Christians agreed that such influence is real (39% agreed strongly, 25% agreed somewhat), while just three out of ten rejected the influence of supernatural forces (18% disagreed strongly, 10% disagreed somewhat). The remaining 8% were undecided on this matter.

Another study examined how one segment of the Christian population – those whose beliefs about salvation categorize them as “born again” – differ from the beliefs of people who describe themselves as Christian but do not base their view of salvation solely on confession of sin and God’s grace received through Jesus Christ. (The Barna Group has labeled the latter group “notional Christians.”) For each of the 13 questions examined in the study, there were statistically significant differences between these two segments of the Christian population. Among the most significant gaps in belief were the following:

 Born again adults are at least twice as likely as notionals to strongly agree that the Bible is accurate in all the principles it teaches; that their life has been greatly transformed by their faith; that a person can be under the influence of spiritual forces such as demons; and to hold an unfavorable opinion of Wicca.

 Born again adults are more than twice as likely as notionals to strongly disagree that Satan is just a symbol of evil, and that Jesus sinned while He lived on earth.

 Born again adults are more than three times as likely as notionals to strongly disagree that the Holy Spirit is merely a symbol of God’s power or presence; that Mormons are Christians; and that the Bible, Koran and Book of Mormon teach the same truths.

 Born again adults are one-third more likely than notionals to possess a definition of God as the omniscient, omnipotent creator and ruler of the world; nearly 60% more likely to believe that you either side with God or Satan because there is no in-between position; and slightly more than 50% more likely to say their chief purpose in life is to love God with all their heart, mind, strength and soul.

During the time that Jesus walked the earth, there were also people who believed in the Word of God and the Power of God, but didn’t live it.

The Bible gives us an interesting glimpse into how people viewed the Lord Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry. Matthew chapter 8 offers the following accounts:

1 When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him.
2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
3 Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
4 And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
5 Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him,
6 saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”
7 And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”

23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.
24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep.
25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
27 So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” (NKJV)

In the accounts listed above, Jesus is acknowledged as LORD & HEALER. The term Lord (Strong's # G2962 kyrios (kü'-rē-os)) means "A Man of Distinction". The term Lord was a title of honor expressive of respect and reverence, with which servants greeted their master. The leper, the Roman centurion/soldier, and the disciples all referred to Jesus as "Lord," but not God.

 in verse 2, the Leper says: LORD, You Are Greater Than Myself
 in verse 6, the Roman Centurion says: LORD, You Are Much Greater than Myself
 in verse 25, the Disciples say: LORD, You Are Greater Than Myself, but You are not God.

 The Leper who needs healing comes to Jesus as "a" Lord.
 The Roman Centurion who seeks healing for someone else comes to Jesus as a Lord
 The 12 Disciples who need saving from death (drowning) come to Jesus as a Lord.

However, there’s another group.

The leper, the Roman centurion, and the disciples ALL had a voice to say to Jesus who they believed He was and what they wanted from Him. They said in essence, Jesus is a Great Man and a Healer.

– BUT, there’s another group in whose voice appears to be silenced.

Matthew chapter 8 also states:

16 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick,
17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:
​​​“He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.” (NKJV)

28 When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way.
29 And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” (NKJV)

In verse 16, the demon-possessed are mentioned. In verse 28, the Gadarene Demoniacs are mentioned. What do the spirits have to say about who Jesus is? Unlike the leper, the Roman soldier, and the 12 disciples, the spirits IN VERSE 29 identify Jesus Christ as "Jesus, Son of God", a name reflecting His Divinity and His identity as the Messiah.

Fortunately, the those same disciples would finally BELIEVE that Jesus was both LORD and GOD.

After the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, according to Scripture, Jesus appears to His disciples. John chapter 20 verses 27 and 28 affirm:

27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. (NIV)

It is not sufficient enough to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord only.
 Is Jesus the Son of God to you?
 Is Jesus the Messiah to you?
 Is Jesus the Master of your life?
 Is Jesus YOUR Lord and Savior?
 Is Jesus YOUR God?

Jesus, in his instruction to the former Gadarene demoniac whom He had supernaturally delivered, refers to Himself as "the Lord" (kyrios).
Jesus speaks in Mark chapter 5:
19 But Jesus said, "No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been."
20 So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them. (NLT)

JESUS IS BOTH LORD AND GOD.

Courage is defined as "the mental and spiritual fortitude that enables a person to address difficulty, opposition, danger, pain, and grief without fear." As humans, we have a natural inclination to fear or to avoid difficulty, opposition, danger, pain, and grief. This avoidance will not eliminate the occurence of hardship and unpleasant situations. Life is guaranteed to present each of us with challenges that include difficulty, opposition, danger, pain, and grief. To manage and/or rise above these challenges, we need courage.

Courage begins with God. God provides all that we need to obtain courage. Courage is found in His Word. God has designed life in such a way that the human experience can be fulfilled within the paradigm of His Word. King David speaks to us from the Word of God in Psalm 23. David, a man of war and courage, said, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You [are] with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4 NKJV) David's life is threatened; yet he finds courage in the divine counsel of the Great Shepherd. God's guidance (His staff) and God's loving protection (His rod) give David the assurance that He needs to be courageous while facing danger and opposition.

Godly courage is cultivated in us each time we exhibit belief and trust in God's Word in our response to hardship and unpleasant situations. The Word of God empowers us to confront and process the realities of life with real courage and godly assurance. We should continue to return to the place where courage begins - the Word of God.

The term BLESSED is often misinterpreted. The definition of the term BLESSED in the Bible is "Happy". The Blessed Person is HAPPY: “Glad About Everything” and “Pleased With God”.

It is God's desire that everyone be blessed. Being blessed is so important to God that He specifically gave instructions to His Prophet Moses on how to bless His People, the Israelites. God's instructions to Moses are found in Numbers chapter 6:

22 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:
​24 ​​“The LORD bless you and keep you;
25 ​​The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
26 ​​The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” ’
​ 27 “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.” (NKJV)

It is God who blesses people. It is God who makes us blessed. We are the recipients of His blessings. His blessings include His protection, His grace, His love, His instruction, His peace, and His presence.

The Word of God reveals to us that when we acknowledge and accept the Lordship of Jesus Christ (i.e. when we are not "offended" because of Him), we are blessed. Jesus speaks to us in Matthew chapter 11:

1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.
2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of [fn1] his disciples
3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:
5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” (NKJV)

The Word of God also gives us a complete description of the blessed person.

1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper. (NKJV)

The Blessed person seeks to practice right living (righteousness) according to the Bible.
The Blessed person chooses to accept God's Word as his standard for everyday living.
The Blessed person is connected - connected in a thriving relationship with God.
As a result, the Blessed person is stable in every situation and prospers in every season of life.

Who deserves our trust?
It is the person that has consistently displayed an unwavering commitment to us.
It is the person that has consistently sought to "protect" us and to warn us concerning situations and people that are unhealthy for us.
It is the person that has sacrificed themselves (out of love) for us.

God has never "forsaken" us. He has never withheld His Love from us.
God provides a way of escape for all believers in every crisis of temptation.
God sacrificed His Son Jesus Christ to rescue humanity from a destiny separated from His Love.

The Bible declares,

38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. << Romans 8:38-39 NKJV >>

13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God [is] faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear [it]. << 1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV >>

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. << John 3:16 NKJV >>

We should trust God.

God's Word speaks to us about putting our trust in Him.
Psalm 9:10 says, "And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You."

Those who trust in God should always praise/testify of Him.

Psalm 118 : 1 - 4 says,
1 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! ​For His mercy endures forever.
​2 ​​Let Israel now say, “His mercy endures forever.”
3 ​​Let the house of Aaron now say, ​“His mercy endures forever.”
4 ​​Let those who fear the LORD now say, ​“His mercy endures forever.”

God's Children should trust God.
1st - His Chosen People (Psalm 118:2)
2nd - His Priests (a subsection of his chosen people) (Psalm 118:3)
3rd - Everyone who believes in (fears / reverences) God (including the foreigner/non-Jew) (Psalm 118:4)

Believers in Jesus Christ are able to say by faith, "God has become my salvation," just like the Israelites sang when they were delivered from slavery and Pharoah's Army. (Exodus 15).
The Believer's relationship with God our Savior (Jesus Christ) is primarily based upon His activity and Person, not ours. (Psalm 118:21)

God's salvation and deliverance should lead to greater trust in Him.

Psalm 118:8-9 gives us timeless WISDOM:
8 It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in princes.

Those who receive God's salvation can confidently declare that God has not abandoned them to fate, which includes death.
Psalm 118:17-18 declares,
17 ​​I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.
18 ​​The LORD has chastened me severely, but He has not given me over to death.

This Messianic Psalm (Psalm 118) declares in verse 22:
22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.
The Stone which the builders rejected (rejected by religion), has become the Chief Cornerstone (Jesus Christ).

The Religious Establishment of Jesus' day REJECTED Him
- RELIGION REJECTED WHAT WAS REAL - Emmanuel (God With Us/Jesus Christ) BUT
That Rejected Stone became the One they could not exist without
- IT ALL BEGINS WITH JESUS

The world will not be moved by religion: They will only RESPOND to that which is REAL.
We tend to trust that which is real.

What is REAL? It is the Word of God - Jesus Christ. We can trust Him!

A life that is sustainable is a life committed to the Biblical paradigm of submission to the liberating nature and eternality of Jesus Christ.

The earthly ministry of Jesus Christ sought to reintroduce and reveal God's love to all humanity.
It has always been God's desire since the beginning of time to establish and sustain a thriving relationship with His greatest creation, human beings.

There are certain characteristics that must be incorporated into our daily living in order to "Live A Sustainable Life." These characteristics include:
Love
Teachability
Loyalty/Faithfulness
Equitability (Being Just / Being Principled)

The Sustainable Life is a life that glorifies God and positions future generations to be their best in God.

Who I Am and What I Do – can that be sustained BY GOD throughout the rest of my life and in the lives of those coming after me?

Who I Am and What I Do – can that be sustained BY ME throughout the rest of my life and in the lives of those coming after me?

Everyone, whether by accident or intentionally, is building a legacy. Our legacy is molded and shaped by "who we are" and "what we do". WE CAN CONTROL OUR LEGACY.

To build a life and a legacy that God can and will sustain, study the ANT – The Ant Leads A Life That is Sustainable Throughout His Generation/Season.

Proverbs 6 (NIV)
6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!
7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,
8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—
11 and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man. [fn1]

“Living An Unsustainable Life WILL LEAD TO POVERTY in our lives and in the lives of those generations that follow us.”
– Why is an impoverished life unsustainable?
answer: The impoverished have decereased control over their daily living or their destiny.

The Word of God instructs us to be INDUSTRIOUS. The resources needed to be industrious are granted to us by God. The ability to posses these resources (health, financial means, advanced education, ideas) are often granted us to in the form of opportunities that we must choose to accept or reject. We are encouraged and even commanded by God to share our resources/abundance with others. Our sharing with the impoverished will help them overcome their decreased ability to live sustainable lives. <end>

The Life that is sustainableresults in personal and national freedom spiritually, emotionally, behaviorally, economically, financially, socially, and relationally. This continued freedom is sustained by the natural results of consistent and mass application of the Scriptures to daily living.

The life that is not sustainable leads to personal and national enslavement spiritually,
emotionally, behaviorally, economically, financially, socially, and relationally.

In simple terms, The Sustainable Life is a life that glorifies God and positions future generations to be their best in God.

Who I Am and What I Do – can that be sustained throughout the rest of my life and in the lives of those coming after me?

The idea of Sustainability within the context of human life requires a discourse about ourselves as human beings – who we are – more so than about life itself. The lives we live are the sum total of our decisions – how we act towards and respond to God, ourselves, others, and our environment.

The Life of Jesus Christ is our Example for Living “A Sustainable Life”

Jesus Christ, the God-Man, exemplified GOD'S LOVE, AGAPE, during His earthly ministry. The Scriptures recount His many acts of uncoditional, unselfish love towards humanity.

The Life of Jesus Christ revealed the following:

WE MUST POSSESS AND EXPRESS THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST

= "A Life Without the Revelation of God’s Relationship to Humanity is not Sustainable” (God’s Relationship with Humanity)

= “A Life Without the Acceptance of God’s Love is not Sustainable” (Our Relationship with God
)

= “A Life Without a Committed Relationship to another person is not Sustainable” (Our Relationship with Each Other)

WE MUST BE TEACHABLE

= Our lives are sustainable when we allow God and God-given persons to GUIDE the discovery process of our UNIQUE IDENTITY – “teachable “

= Jesus, through the Word of God, desires to teach us HOW to live and be sustained in Him ( Jesus Christ to humanity -> "Imitate my life style" )

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