Isaiah 53: ³ He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

⁴ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

⁵ But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

⁷ He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

⁸ He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

⁹ And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

¹⁰ Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

¹¹ He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

The old Testament Prophet Isaiah foretold of the coming Messiah who would be rejected by His own.  He would come to suffer and to die so that the penalty for the transgressions of man might be paid so that a Righteous and Just God might commune with mankind.  God had created mankind so that he might share his overflowing love, joy, and glory with them; but man preferred the creation over the creator and broke that bond.  God hates sin.  He knows that it only causes destruction, anger, bitterness, sorrow, and separation.  He knows that the only way for man to fully experience the love and joy he was intended for is to have a close relationship with his Creator.  God is perfect Righteousness, Perfect Peace, Perfect Love, Perfect Joy and Perfect Glory.  Christ came and took upon himself human flesh so that he might experience all the temptations, sorrows, hunger, thirst, and pains; yet, without sin. He was accused by the very ones He had come to save.  He was beaten and mocked.  He then willingly hung upon a cross, high upon a hill where all who passed by would see him hanging there in nakedness, shame, and pain bearing upon His shoulders the sin and guilt of all of mankind.  He will return one day to destroy all the remnants of sin.  He waits patiently so that all who are willing to accept the gift of reconciliation that He offers.  He is wanting to give you His righteousness in exchange for your trangression, if you are willing to believe that He is the Son of God who was slain in your place. 

Revelation 5: And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

² And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

³ And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

⁴ And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

⁵ And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

⁶ And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

⁷ And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

⁸ And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

⁹ And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

¹⁰ And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

¹¹ And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

¹² Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

¹³ And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQh1cjZLmUo

John 3: There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

² The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

^{3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God….16} For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

¹⁸ He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light,

Romans 3:

¹⁹ Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

²⁰ Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

²¹ But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

²² Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

²³ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

²⁴ Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

²⁵ Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

²⁶ To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Nicodemus was one of the Pharisees (a leader among the Jewish Sanhedrin).  He knew the law and had spent a lifetime trying to keep the law to the best of his ability; yet, he came to Jesus in the dark of the night seeking to know if this was the Messiah. Jesus did not tell him to go out and continue to keep the law and he would gain God’s favor.  Jesus instead tells him that the only way to salvation is to believe in the only begotten Son of God who came to die so that the penalty for all of mankind’s sin might be covered once and for all.  Condemnation is to them who do not believe that Christ is the Son of God, the only way of salvation.  Let’s say that you were in debt to someone for $1,000,000.00 and you could never pay that debt.  They send their son to you who says "I will sacrifice all that I have and pay your debt in full, the only thing I want in return is that you believe in who I am and that you accept my gift"    The choice is yours.  We can never be righteous enough to present ourselves to a Holy and Righteous God.  The more we know of His Righteousness, the more we see how depraved we really are. The law could never justify us before God, it can only reveal the truth of our guilt.  So for those who think themselves righteous, I pray that the light of God’s Glorious Righteousness so shine into your heart that you see the truth that you need a Savior to stand before God.

And what about you who know all too well how unworthy you are?  You hope to "clean up your life" to make yourself worthy to come to the altar of God and ask God’s forgiveness.  The truth is, come as you are and lay all your sin at the cross of Jesus; believing and knowing that He has paid the price.  He will save you and He will begin the work of "cleaning you up" and grooming you by the work of the Holy Spirit so that you will one day look like the Prince or Princess you were meant to be. 

 

John 11: ³² Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

³³ When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.

³⁴ And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.

³⁵ Jesus wept.

³⁶ Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

³⁷ And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?

³⁸ Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.

³⁹ Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

⁴⁰ Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

⁴¹ Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

⁴² And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

⁴³ And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

⁴⁴ And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

So many who read this verse are like the crowd standing there that day.  They saw that Christ cried and moaned with great sorrow and thought his tears came from mourning the death of his dear friend.  Yet, Christ knew before He ever arrived that He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead and that this had been perfectly orchestrated and planned down to the moment so that the Glory of God might be manifested.  So, He could not have been mourning for Lazarus.  He didn’t change His mind because of sorrow and the sorrow of the people He loved.  He came there to raise Lazarus,  He had already said so many times John 11: ⁴ When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.⁵ Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

⁶ When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.  Because He loved them, He had waited. The custom was that after 3 days it was certain beyond recovery that a person was really dead.  There would be no question of the reality of the miracle or the gift He was bringing.  I daresay, Christ wept because He was standing there, bringing the greatest gift of all and no one trusted Him or believed Him; though He had tried to tell them.  How often when I have laid before Him with tears pouring down my face because I could not believe that He was enough to fill my heart; has He wept for me?  How often He has reached out to comfort me with His heart aching; because my faith was too little to trust Him? He so wants me to understand that His love is so overwhelming for me that I can trust that whatever comes into my life is what is the very best for me.  No matter what the circumstances, I will trust His heart and if I trust His heart; then I will have peace and joy in the darkest valleys of my life.  Do you trust Him?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmaBhMOXXHg

 

Jeremiah 18: 1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,

² Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.

³ Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.

⁴ And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

⁵ Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

⁶ O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

Romans 9:

¹⁵ For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

¹⁶ So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

¹⁷ For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

¹⁸ Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

¹⁹ Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

²⁰ Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

²¹ Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

²² What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

²³ And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

²⁴ Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

Romans 8: ²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

²⁹ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

³⁰ Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Before I begin, I understand those of you who may wish to rebel against these verses.  When I went to these verses I had a completely different message that I had planned; but, then I read these verses in context instead of taking them out of context which is what I have always heard them preached.  After reading, re-reading and much prayer, I with some trepidation will proceed to explain these as best as I can.   Perhaps my trepidation comes from the fact that most churches run quickly from stating that God is 100% Sovereign and there is nothing that happens within the earth or my life that was not allowed or ordained by God.  So what about my free will–what happens to it?  Oh, yes, I have a free will; but that free will is and will always be contrary to God because this covetous heart would always be at enmity toward God were it not that a Sovereign God would have chosen to show me grace. It is by His Will that I be chosen and if chosen I will be transformed into Christ’s likeness; though, the free will often wants to believe that maybe I have something good that caused Him to choose me.   We live in this society which so desires to believe in self will, self determination, self exalting, and self esteem which is destroyed if you grasp this truth of God’s Sovereignty.  Only He knows how many fires it will take to mold this lump of clay into Christ likeness.  Only He knows how many times He will need to break me to reshape this lump of clay that is I until my will is consumed by His Will.  So, some would say, then why pray, why study, why teach, why preach; if God is so Sovereign, then what difference does it make.  But, I say how can I do any less?  His Sovereign Hand has so drawn this unfaithful heart to fall so madly in love with Him, how can I do anything else?  Then why would a loving and merciful God choose one and not another, if indeed He is Sovereign?  Look very closely at verses 22 and 23.  Would I understand the magnitude of His Righteousness; had I not understood the depravity of Evil?  Adam had eaten of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; before that, Adam did not realize the brilliance of God’s Glory and Righteousness, nor Adam’s own lack thereof.  So, what if God is willing to show His wrath against Sin and to fully let His power be known; He waits patiently, not calling down immediate judgement so that those whom He has chosen can fully understand the depth of His Glory and the magnitude of His Mercy toward us.  After all, did Adam recognize the love and the privilege he had walking in the Garden with God; until it was gone.  Can I understand the depth of His Love for me, unless I truly see His Mercy and Grace toward me as so amazing?  Can I bow in adoration of Him, willing to let Him transform me throughout whatever trial He desires; if I did not understand His Sovereignty?  Can I trust in all the promises set forth in Romans 8 of future, sustaining grace; if, I did not recognize His Sovereignty?  Could I understand the fullness of Joy found in Him if I had not had my heart broken so many times by counterfeit Joy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNClAJO2tnQ

Galatians 6 (AMP)  Brethren, if any person is overtaken in misconduct or sin of any sort, you who are spiritual [who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit] should set him right and restore and reinstate him, without any sense of superiority and with all gentleness, keeping an attentive eye on yourself, lest you should be tempted also.

² Bear (endure, carry) one another’s burdens and ^[a]troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete ^[b]what is lacking [in your obedience to it].

³ For if any person thinks himself to be somebody [too important to condescend to shoulder another’s load] when he is nobody [of superiority except in his own estimation], he deceives and deludes and cheats himself.

⁴ But let every person carefully scrutinize and examine and test his own conduct and his own work. He can then have the personal satisfaction and joy of doing something commendable [^[c]in itself alone] without [resorting to] boastful comparison with his neighbor.

⁵ For every person will have to bear (^[d]be equal to understanding and calmly receive) his own [^[e]little] load ^[f][of oppressive faults].

Pride is a huge problem and Paul the apostle (recognizing that fact) warned the Christian over and over again.  So often within our hearts there is the tendency to compare ourselves with others.  We tend to look upon someone else’s failures with a self pride and in that frame of mind we say that "I would never do that"  Beware, Caution; you are most likely about to fall into that same sin.  The only way that we can help another person who is struggling with a particular sin is to forever remember our own vulnerability to sin.  We need to lovingly, gently point them toward the joy that they can find in Christ.  Experience tells me that there is no joy when sin is reigning in my life; and, that is true of any Christian.  Pride would stand in the way of helping the other because we find ourselves secretly enjoying their failure because it makes us look better.  As Christians we must reach out to guide others when they are slipping away.  We should teach them gently, remembering our own frailty.  That does not mean that we are not to meekly confront them in a heart of love that truly wants to help them.  We are not to just look the other way either; because that is saying "I don’t care".  Remember that any maturity or level of spirituality that you may have attained has come to you by grace alone and not of your own doing.  Remember Peter?  He had been privy to many miracles and even was there at the mount of transfiguration.  He had walked with Christ and was the first to declare with great revelation that "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God"  Yet, pride entered in and he even declared that Christ would not be killed–he, Peter would not allow it.  He declared with all of his heart, "Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee." (Matthew 26: 35)   Still it was Peter who denied Christ three times.  God knew that if Peter were to become the preacher that he needed to be to lead the early church, pride would have to be destroyed.  It was a broken, contrite hearted Peter who then stood on the shore with the resurrected Christ as Peter was given his commission to teach and spread the gospel of Christ.  I must never forget the fact that without Christ, I am nothing.  If by some chance of Grace I have ever done something good or have helped someone; I know that it Christ in me and not me.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1R5c3d7KPQ

Below is an excerpt from the Chapter "Peter’s Restoration" from my book A Broken and Contrite Heart  for those who want to read further. 

"Peter had seen the resurrection of Christ and was thrilled with the truth of Christ’s death and resurrection; yet, as you note—He returned to fishing.  “After all, Christ has said nothing about the denial; perhaps, I cannot be used in His service”, thought Peter.  “I blew it!! What can I do?  I witnessed a miracle beyond any miracle and I met the Savior, the Messiah.  What an honor I have been blessed with.”   So with that mentality, Peter went back to the fishing.  That was the only occupation he knew and certainly he did not believe he would ever be good enough to return to Christ’s service.   He had failed Christ at a crucial moment, all his bragging about love and devotion had been nothing more than a lot of worthless hot air.

            Peter had fished all night and even then failed to catch any fish; perhaps, even in this he felt a failure.  As the morning dawned there was Christ standing on the shore.  In fact, the disciples did not recognize Him; perhaps, they weren’t looking for Him at that moment—they were not certain what role they now played in the Kingdom of God.  In fact, for Peter, he had gone back to his former life, why would Christ appear now? Peter, I daresay, doesn’t recall the prayer and promise of Christ that when he was restored to strengthen the brethren.  Instead, Peter took them fishing.  In fact, Peter was fishing in the nude as he had formerly done.  Then Peter realized that this was Jesus Christ as He had commanded them to throw the nets in and pull up an overflowing catch of fish; just like in the beginning.  Peter grabbed his coat and jumped into the water.  Oddly, that he would throw on a coat to swim when swimming is much simpler in the nude.  Yet, Peter wanted to try to cover his own shame for his lack of faith in Christ’s ability to use him and for his denial a few days, weeks prior.  When Peter and the disciples reached the shore Christ was already cooking fish so as to provide a meal to His disciples.  He attended first to their physical need of hunger before stepping into the important work of restoration.  That would be just like Jesus; he would attend to the physical needs so that there would be abundant energy to go about the task at hand.  Sometimes in the Christian walk when we awaken in that same position as Peter in which we feel we have failed so severely that we could not be used ever again.  At that moment, many times God sends forth just the right song or sermon or person to fill our hungry heart before He begins that work of restoration.  Once his hunger had been met, Christ invited Peter for a private walk along the beach.  We know this private because while they are talking, it is noted in verse 20 “Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following”  They had to be walking a few steps ahead and speaking softly.

            So they begin this walk, Peter hardly able to contain himself with the thoughts most likely running through his mind.  It was the first time they were alone and Christ wanted to talk to him.  Then came the piercing questions in a series of three; just like the denial had been a series of three so too the restoring questions are a series of three.  Peter prior to the incident was so confident that he loved Christ better than the other disciples and that he would go to prison or death because of his love for Christ.  Yet, Peter, came to realize that his own love was not perfect; instead he needed to rest on the assurance that Christ’s love was all sufficient.  So it is that Christ asked Peter “Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou me?”  Note that Christ once more is calling Peter by his human name and not the spiritual name he had been given.  Another point of great interest is the word “lovest”,  In the latin languages, there are various distinctly different words that refer to love.  One type of love is “agape” love.  This is an unconditional, never failing, God like love.   The other word for love that is used in these verses is phileo love (this refers to a general brother-like love) and would be considered a good type of love; but certainly, with limitations and flaws.  It is more like an affection rather than a steady burning, unconditional love.  Therefore, the conversation went something like this.  Christ said, “Simon, do you love me with a burning, unconditional agape love?”  Peter’s response is “yeah Lord, I love you with an affectionate, brother like Phileo love.” Christ commands Peter to feed his sheep.  Remember once more this is the same Peter who had previously swore his love to be greater than anyone’s and now he hesitates in his own description of his love for Christ, doubting the depth and sincerity of it.  . So, Christ again asks Peter, “Simon, do you love me with a burning, unconditional agape love?”  Peter’s response again is “yeah Lord, I love you with an affectionate, brother like Phileo love” Christ commands Peter once more to feed his sheep, as demonstration of that love and devotion—He is calling Peter into service again.  Then on the third question, Christ asks; “Simon, do you love with an affectionate, brother like love?”  What a grievous question.  Peter must have quickly thought as I have at times thought, “Lord is my ability to love you so flawed that I cannot even attempt to demonstrate it, does it not even show?”  Yet, very humbly, Peter now replies:  “Lord, you know all things, look into my heart Lord and You will not need to ask such a question.”   Once more the Lord calls Peter into service with “Feed my sheep” 

            Peter had come to realize that he, himself was nothing and had nothing to boast of except for Jesus Christ.  He came to realize that in the power of his own love, he would fail. His self-righteous spirit was broken completely.  His heart had been broken for Christ and now restored was a humble heart that recognized that unless it is Christ’s love and work through him, there was no work at all.  Now with all self pride stripped away, Peter was ready to become the preacher he needed to be.  He found his own central core of hope in future grace set firm in Jesus Christ and Christ Alone-“the hope for Glory”  As Peter writes in I Peter 1: “Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.” No longer could Peter’s hope and faith be in himself or even his ability to love Christ; rather, he depended and rested upon the love of God to sustain him and to work out this faith through him.  That is why Peter was able to preach at Pentecost where 3000 were saved.  It was no longer Peter’s boisterous voice; but Christ’s voice through Peter.   God did not cause Peter to fail; but God did allow Satan to sift Peter and God took Peter’s failure and used it for Peter’s growth, the increased intimacy with Christ for Peter, and for the good of the kingdom.  What an amazing God of Grace and Mercy and Love.  God knew that the only source of joy, hope, strength and peace for Peter was an intimate relationship with God.  Prior to Peter falling deeply with a broken spirit, broken heart and contrite heart; Peter’s pride stood in the way of this intimacy.  Peter sometimes had trouble hearing the truth as he was caught up in his own desires.  This was not the case with the restored Peter."