5.The Secret of Personal Power
Who is Jesus Christ? Was He just a good man-wise teacher, great
philosopher, and a kind humanitarian? Or was Jesus the divine sun of God.
He made some stupendous claims about Himself. So He is either a deranged
Madman, a phony Badman, or the promised God-Man. Sooner or later each one
must decide-is Jesus a lunatic, liar or Lord?
Let's examine the claims of Jesus and then
decide if He is relevant and essential for your life today.
1. He claimed He has a kingdom-"My kingdom is not of this world. "John
18:36. So He claimed to have come down from the heaven.
2. He claimed eternal existence-"Before Abraham as, I am." John
8:58. He lived with God the Father from eternity. He claimed to be
the divine Son of God.
3. He claimed to be the Saviour of the world-"For the Son of Man has
come to seek and save that which was lost." Luke
19:10.
Adam and Eve sinned. They passed on their legacy of sin to the entire
human race-even to you.
4. He claimed power to free people from the slavery of sin-"If the
Son gets you free, you'll be free indeed." John
8:36.
5. He claimed the ability to forgive sins-"But that you may know that
the Son of Man has the power on earth to forgive sins ... arise, take up
your bed, and go..." Matthew
9:6.
6. He claimed that He can give peace though we live in a troubled
world
- "My peace I give to you; not as the world gives ... Let not your
heart be troubled."
John 14:27.
7. He claimed equality with God the Father-"Who, being in the form
of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God." Philippians
2:6.
8. He claimed that He is God-"In the beginning was the Word, and the
Word was with God, And The Word was God. "
John 1:1.
Scripture teaches there are equal members of ONE eternal Godhead-Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit.
9. He claimed power to raise the dead-"I am the resurrection and the
life." John
11:25.
10. He claimed He is The Redeemer-" If I go ... I'll come again ...
That where I am there you may be also." John
14:3.
Other significant things about Jesus revealed in the Bible:
1. The Old Testament is a biography of Jesus. "Search the Scriptures(Old
Testament in Jesus' day), for ... these are they which testify of
Me."
John 5:39.
2. Bethlehem named as the birthplace 700 years before the event. Micah
5:2.
3. He would be born of a virgin.
Isaiah 7:14.
4. Wise men would be led by a star to Christ's birthplace. Numbers
41:9.
5. He would preach good tidings-forgiveness, grace, and mercy. Isaiah
61:1-3.
6. His betrayal was detailed 1000 years before Gethsemane.
Psalm 41:9.
7. His death by crucifixion predicted centuries before it happened.
Psalm
22:16.
The Bible record is accurate. It's prophecies pointing
to Jesus have been fulfilled. The Christ who hung on the cruel cross is
the same Christ who reaches out to you with His nail-pierced hands. He
wants to live in your heart. He wants to change your life. The secret of
personal power is to surrender all to Jesus. I invite you to do that right
now and find place in your heart.