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Volume. XXV, No. 36 The Lord Is G-R-E-A-T (Part 4)Last week, we discussed the letters “R” and “E” in “G-R-E-A-T”. Today, we will continue with “A” and “T”. G-od R-edeemer E-mancipator A-dvocate T-ransformer Great A-DVOCATE 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: and he is propitiation for our sins: and not for our’s only, but also for the sins of the whole world”. a. The Lord Jesus Christ is our Advocate. What is the meaning of an advocate? An advocate is one who pleads the cause of another. An advocate is an intercessor, one who speaks or writes in favour of a cause or someone. b. In our situation, when one gets into trouble with the law, or when one has serious problems with business or relationships, the help of a lawyer is sought after. Lawyers often help victims of crime and circumstance by pleading their cause in court. They also assist people to obtain fair compensation, especially those who have suffered injuries in an accident or at work. c. The Lord Jesus Christ is our great Advocate. He pleads the cause of believers before God the Father, whose mercy endures forever. He will forgive and cleanse those who believe, repent, and surrender to Jesus, our great advocate. The Word of God says “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is the only ONE whom God the Father will listen to. “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time” (1 Tim 2:5). There is only One mediator, One Advocate and One intercessor between God and us. There is no other. Let us be careful when we pray that we direct our prayers to God the Father through His Son, Jesus Christ, and not to some other persons. Great T-RANSFORMER 1 Cor 15:51-52 “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed”. God is The Great Transformer. God transforms people. He has the power to change people. What is the meaning of “transform”? To Transform means “to change the nature, character, disposition, heart; or convert”. When we receive Christ, the Holy Spirit comes and lives within us. Eph 1:13 “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise”. We were transformed the very instant we received Jesus Christ. We were changed. We become a new creature. Our old ways are passed away. Our insensitivity to sin is gone. We become more aware of the things of God. 2 Cor 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new”. Believers are transformed now. We have the Holy Spirit residing within us. Old values are passed away and all things become new as we approach life with the mind of Christ. We have the peace of Christ in our hearts, and we become sensitive to sin. Before this, we were against God, and all things of God. But now we are for God and become His children. Before, we only look to things that are temporal, but now we look at things that are spiritual. Before, we had no hope, but now we have hope, and eternity with Christ in our sights. 2 Cor 4:18 “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal”. As believers, we have been changed to look at our lives from a different perspective. We have this affinity and empathy with other believers. We are comfortable with fellow believers. We are looking to Christ and to eternity. Phil 3:20 “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ”. Our conversation, that is our citizenship, is in heaven. We are citizens of God’s Kingdom, and more. 1 Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light”. We are a separated people – for God’s purpose. As believers we must look forward to that day when we will be with our Lord Jesus in heaven, and we also look forward to that day when He will come again. The best is yet to come! However, the best is yet to come. When the Lord Jesus comes again we shall be changed or transformed into Christ’s likeness and be with Him in a land that is fairer than day. We will have glorified bodies, just like our Lord Jesus. 1 Cor 15:51-52 “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed”. There will be no more sin, sorrow, suffering, separation or death. We are immune to them. 1 Cor 15:53-58 “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord”. We shall reign with Christ in heaven for ever. Death has no power over us anymore. We shall be like what Adam and Eve were before the fall from grace. Conclusion. Our Lord God is indeed Great. By using mnemonics, we can derive meanings from each letter for the word “Great”. By the letter “G”, we know that He is our Great and Almighty God, by the letter “R” we learn that He is our Great Redeemer, by the letter “E” He declares that He is our Great Emancipator, by the letter “A” He is our Great and only Advocate, and finally the letter “T”, He is revealed as our Great Transformer who changes lives. By this, let us know and understand that our God is truly Great and that there is no other god greater than Him. If He is our Great God and we confess that we believe in Him let us make the extra effort to acknowledge that, and to live a life fitting to be His child. Let us make every effort to serve Him and to obey His commands. Let us make greater effort to love and serve one another, refrain from picking at each other’s faults and weaknesses and look always at the good points of others. Let us be united in doctrine of our Great God and in fellowship. If we are true believers let us humble ourselves and consider with greater seriousness the plight of those who need our help, especially those suffering persecutions in Islamic and Communist Countries. For unbelievers amongst us, our God is real, true, and Great. We invite you to come and receive His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, that you may share His inheritance and eternity with Him. Come and become a member of His Great Kingdom, and be part of His royal priesthood. Amen. Elder Michael D Lee |
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