Time to Join the Winning Team...

Which team is the winning team? Who are the teams?

The world vs. Jesus Christ

*Team JESUS will always be the winning team. *

In this world, we have many options. In our lifetime, we will make many choices.

The world is shiny and exciting, but it cannot and will never offer us love, peace, truth or joy. Let that sink in for a moment. Let it marinate a little more...

Love, Peace, Truth and Joy are attributes of Our Heavenly Father, Jesus (The Son), and The Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23) We are lost and in despair when we seek the world for answers it cannot give. We bang our heads against the proverbial wall when all we need is found in the Word of God.

There is a reason the world distracts us with doubt, fear, and spotlights our differences. We are reminded in God's Word that Satan is "the deceiver of the whole world." (Revelation 12:9). Satan is the enemy of all who seek to follow God. Our choice to follow Satan's lies allows him more opportunity to deceive. This world has become a dark and ugly place when because many chose to follow the world and forget about Jesus.

In 1 John 4, we learn God is Love.

In Ephesians 2:14 we learn Jesus is our Peace.

In Romans 12:2 we learn we are in the world, but should not behave like the world.

In 1 John 2:15-17 we learn Jesus is not in us if we desire what's in this world more than Him.

In John 14:27, Jesus leaves us His Peace (His Holy Spirit) so we won't have to live in trouble and fear.

In John 14:6 we learn Jesus is the Way, Truth and Life

In John 15:11 we learn Jesus wants us to experience His full Joy.

Do not be deceived. We need Jesus to get through life...period.

Jesus breaks it down so we can fully understand:

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5

We suffer when we only lean to our own understanding or trust the world for solutions to our problems.

The truth is, we have an enemy and he fights dirty. You've seen the movies where the villain battles the hero and almost always has a dirty trick to secure their win; well Satan is no different. He goes back and forth seeking who he can tempt and separate from God.

(1 Peter 5:8)

Here's The Good News...

God knew we would need a Savior. He loves us so much, He sent His Only Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from dying in our sin.

Despite what the enemy wants us to believe; there is no sin Jesus will not forgive.

There is no difficult process; ALL can be saved. The Bible tells us how:

"If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."

Romans 10:9-10

Now What?

Draw closer. Jesus is alive, and we can communicate to Him Anytime through prayer.

You can repeat the sinners prayer or sincerely confess everything on your heart to Jesus in prayer.

The outward expression of your confession is baptism.

Jesus was baptized; every Christian must be also.

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Matthew 3:13-17

Living for Christ

To be good Christians, we must be obedient to doing things Jesus' way vs. our own way.

Jesus also taught us to pray:

This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

Matthew 6:9-15

I pray we stop looking for perfection in leaders who are flawed.

I pray we stop following the crowds of this world and spend more time with Jesus.

I pray we follow Christ's example of how to Love, forgive, serve, pray, worship, listen, speak, teach, disciple others and live in this world with the Joy of His Spirit alive on the inside of us.

I pray we all join the winning team: Jesus!

Be Blessed

Sis Michelle