Today I want to tell you about three priceless things that can be yours completely free. Here is the true story of part of the battle that was fought to make this free offer possible.
For 40 days the Devil had tried to take control of Jesus' thoughts, His worship, and then His life; but without any success. Jesus had not for one moment given in to the temptations, the deceit or the lies of the Devil. Jesus could not be conquered or controlled by him! Jesus was the champion! "He returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit."
There was never anyone else whom the Devil could not get to sin. We are told in the Bible about Jesus that He was "tempted in every way just as we are - yet was without sin." 1*. But God says about everybody else, "All are under sin. There is none righteous, not even one." 2*.
The great champion Jesus went about preaching, "being glorified by all." He went into the synagogue in Nazareth and stood up to read to the people. He read words written about Himself by Isaiah the prophet about 700 years earlier: "The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor." Jesus had come with good news of "freedom for the prisoners". 3*.
You see, the Devil has made all people, all except One, to be "prisoners" held by his evil power. He could not conquer Jesus, so only Jesus can set you free from the power and control of sin. This is good news if you will believe and trust Jesus as your only hope.
Jesus alone can bring you freedom from the power of the Devil.
The Devil also uses his power to "blind the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ." 4*. But Jesus announced that he had come to bring "recovery of sight to the blind." 5*.
God wants to open your eyes to see that Jesus is the only Priest and Saviour. 6*. Only those who "see" and believe that Jesus is their Priest know the real joy of sins forgiven. 7*.
Others never have this joy of forgiveness nor have delight in God because they continue to be blinded by the Devil. They may try blindly to find help and safety by asking mere men to bless them, or think they can ask those who are already dead to pray for them now and in the hour of their death! 8*.
Another way the Devil uses to keep people in his control is the fear of death. But Jesus had good news about this too. He had come to "release the oppressed".
Those who "see" Jesus as their only Saviour and trust in him by faith are released from fears of death, and instead know the peace of God and are sure of Heaven. 9*.
Why can only Jesus bring us this freedom, joy and peace?
He not only was stronger than sin, but He took the punishment of death for our sins without being destroyed! He arose from the dead as the One who alone can save and keep us.
Read of the One who alone can give you freedom, joy and peace in Luke chapter 4, verses 14-21. I hope you will put your trust in Him.Bye for now, John Nixon, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
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Bible quotations from N.I.V.
There will be another message for you next week. 1 Hebrews 4:15.
2 Romans 3:9-23.
3 Luke 4:18..
4 2nd Corinthians 4:4.
5 Luke 4:18.
6 Acts 28:18.
7 Psalm 32:1-2.
8 see Isaiah 8:19.
9 Hebrews 2:14-18.