JESUS GIVES YOU ‘THREE CHEERS'
- March 2005
We live in the
midst of a troubled, depressed and downcast world and, unfortunately, this same
attitude has crept into the church. When I see some saints, I honestly wonder if
they can remember the last good day they ever had and if they can remember it,
their face certainly does not show it.
One of the
recurring commands of Christ that I find in God's Word is the command "be of
good cheer." I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST WAS A GLOOMY,
DEPRESSED, ALWAYS SERIOUS PERSON, BUT I BELIEVE HE HAD A SMILE ON HIS FACE AND
"GOOD CHEER" IN HIS HEART!
Further, I
Believe it is God's will for His people, yes that includes you, to have a smile
on our face and "good cheer" in our hearts. Let's look at Jesus ‘three cheers’
to you. Those cheers from Jesus will not only encourage you but will cause
you to be an overcomer. I remember when I was in high school sports
sometimes our team would be down in score and in spirit, but we would hear the
cheerleaders leading the fans in different cheers for us and it would give us a
lift to play with all our hearts.
Jesus is leading
the hosts of heaven in cheers for us. Romans 8:31 - if God be for us who then
can be against us?
Mat 9:2 - and, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a
bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of
good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
WHAT A GLORIOUS
FACT, OUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN!
I. Cheer Number One: The greatest
happiness a person can experience is the joy of salvation!
A. The second greatest happiness we will mention later in
this message.
1. I remember the day I was saved.
The joy to growing as I realized what happened
2. The devil would like to take this
joy away from us.
B. It is the greatest miracle that can happen to a person. This is why Jesus
said be a good cheer. It is greater than any miracle of healing
Jesus taught a Kingdom principal here. To receive the blessings of the Lord and
we must first be willing to receive the giver of blessings.
A. The old song says, "I once was lost in sin but Jesus took
me in..."
1. What a grand and glorious day that
was in my life.
2. I can take you to the place and
name the exact moment it occurred.
B. I was in bondage to the devil and the flesh and the world
but today, thank God, I am gloriously free.
1. Jesus shed His precious blood on
the cross of Calvary so that I could be free; and He died there for your freedom
also.
2. The day I bowed my knee to Jesus
and accepted His free offer of salvation I was forgiven of EVERY SIN!!!
C. Every person is born into sin, we have no choice in the
matter.
1. When Adam sinned, every member of
Adam's race fell that same day.
2. If it could be possibly for you to
live your entire life without ever committing a personal sin (by the way, that
is not possible), you would still have to be lost and go to hell when you die
because you inherited a "sinful nature" from your father, and mine, Adam.
D. There is only one "cure" for sin, the applied blood of
Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son.
1. Good works won't be good enough;
charity won't suffice, morality will fall far short, good intentions won't get
you to heaven.
2. The old song says, "What can wash
away my sin, nothing but the blood of Jesus." Mat 6:33 (KJV) But seek ye first
the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added
unto you.
II. Cheer Number Two: Jesus is
always there it even in the midst of a storm!
Mat 14:27 - But
straightway Jesus spoke unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not
afraid.
1. Peter walking on the water. Jesus long way off.
When Peter’s faith failed, Jesus was there to lift them out. He will never leave
us nor forsake us.
WHAT A GLORIOUS REALITY; AS LONG AS JESUS CHRIST LIVES WITHIN US, WE HAVE
NOTHING, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, TO BE AFRAID OF!!!
A. The background of this statement is that the disciples
were out on a storm tossed sea.
1. It was the "fourth watch of the
night," the darkest and most depressing period of the night.
2. They were in the boat, rowing and
fighting for their very lives.
3. It is important for us to realize
this fact; they had embarked upon this journey at Jesus' command.
a. AS LONG AS
JESUS HAS SENT ME SOMEPLACE, I AM NOT AFRAID TO GO, REGARDLESS OF WHAT
OPPOSITION MAY COME MY WAY. John 14:27 - "Peace I leave with you; my
peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your
hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
b. To go
without hearing His command, however, is a sure formula for disaster.
B. As things looked the darkest, Jesus came walking to them
on the storm tossed sea and said, "be of good cheer, it is I; be not afraid."
1. Can you imagine the relief that
must have come upon the twelve that night?
2. They knew that everything would be
all right; Jesus was there with them.
3. They knew this storm was no match
for Jesus and His power.
C. You may be in the midst of the worst storm of your life
this very day.
1. You may be fighting for your very
life and it seems like there is no way that you are going to make it.
2. You need to listen very carefully
this morning and you will hear the voice of this same Jesus say to you,” be of
good cheer, it is I; be not afraid."
3. Demons have to flee from His
presence; diseases must be healed in His name; depression must depart when His
power and anointing comes to you!!!
D. Jesus would say to you, this very morning, "BE NOT
AFRAID!!!"
III. Cheer Number Three: We cannot
lose for winning, for when the battles over we rule with him.
John 16:33 - These things
I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall
have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
A. We can do it because he did it! He paid the price! He
overcame the world, we can overcome the world.
John 14:12 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that
believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than
these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Josh 1:8 - This book of the law shall not depart out of thy
mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe
to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way
prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Josh 1:9 - Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good
courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with
thee whithersoever thou goest.
IV. Cheer Number Four: He still
speaks to his children! Paul aboard ship hears from God!
Acts 23:11 - And the
night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as
thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
V. Cheer Number Five: Paul
shares the message!
Acts 27:22 - And now I
exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life
among you, but of the ship.
Acts 27:25 - Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall
be even as it was told me.
VI. Cheer Number Six: They
were all filled with good cheer!
Acts 27:36 - Then were
they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.
I’ve never met
anyone who was sorry they became a Christian!
WHAT A GLORIOUS
REALITY; JESUS HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD AND WE CAN WALK IN THAT FREEDOM AND POWER!
A. We have been victims of the devil long enough, it is time
to "rise up" and be the children of the most High God!!!
1. Some Christians feel that it is
their constant duty to "fight the devil."
2. There is not one instance in the
Word of God where God's people were instructed or ordered to "fight the devil."
3. We are supposed to "fight the good
fight" but we are not told to "fight the devil."
B. You need to begin to realize that the victory is already
won for the child of God at Calvary.
1. Satan cannot defeat the child of
God unless we allow him to defeat us.
2. We are the over comers, we are the
victors; we are told to cast out demons, not run from them.
3. "Greater is He that is in you than
he that is in the world." "No weapon that is formed against us can prosper."
"When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will raise up a
standard against him."
C. Be of good cheer, the world has already been overcome for
you and you just need to begin to walk in your God-given power, anointing and
authority.
1. RISE UP AND BE WHAT GOD CALLED YOU
TO BE; WALK IN THE AUTHORITY THAT BELONGS TO YOU, IN JESUS' NAME!!!
2. You are not the tail, you are the
head; you are not to be beneath, you are to be above; you are not to run from
the devil and demons, you are supposed to cast them out; you are not to live in
dread of disease and affliction, you are to be healed and be an instrument of
God's healing power to others.
Neh 8:10 KJV - Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the
fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is
prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy
of the LORD is your strength.
BE OF GOOD CHEER!
