WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH JESUS?
By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.
Three times PONTIUS PILATE tried to save Jesus of Nazareth from the cross and three times the Jewish religious leaders rebuffed him, demanding that the world's Saviour be crucified.
"Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! When the chief priests therefore and officers saw Him, they cried CRUCIFY Him, CRUCIFY Him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye Him and crucify Him: for I find no fault in Him. (John 19: 5,6)
After having Jesus scourged, Pilate presented Him to the mob thinking that they would have compassion on Him: "But the Chief Priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The Governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. (Matt. 27: 20-22)
The ironic truth is that Jesus of Nazareth died on the cross that was made for Barabbas, and that while Jesus took Barabbas' place on Golgotha, His death purchased Eternal Life for everyone who will receive Him as their personal Lord and Saviour!
WHAT THEN, SHALL I DO WITH JESUS?
Pilate gave them a choice and they chose a murderer. They rejected their own Messiah the King of kings and Lord and Lord of lords, for a murderer. They rejected the Saviour of the world for Barabbas. And today, many reject God the Son for the Terrorist of terrorists, Satan the Liar! Each one must make a personal Choice for Christ or against Him. There is No middle ground!
After the Holy Spirit had been poured upon the 120 in the Upper Room on the day of Pentecost, St. Peter stated: "Therefore let all the House of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, Whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." (Acts 2: 36)
The multitudes hearing his message were deeply convicted and cried out: "Men and brethren, What shall we do?" Peter answered: "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission for sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you and to your children, and to all that are far off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." (Acts 2: 38, 39)
John the Baptist - the fore runner of Jesus – preached Repentance and Holy living and baptized those who repented as a testimony of their belief. When they heard his stirring messages, they cried out: "What shall we do then?" (Luke 3: 9-18).
ISAIAH stated: “Seek ye the Lord while He may
be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: Let the Wicked forsake his way and
the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord, and He will
have MERCY upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. So shall My Words be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto sent it.” (Is. 55:6-11)
Sinners under conviction of their wicked lifestyle should cry out like the Philippian Jailor, "What must I do to be saved?" The answer was given by Paul and Silas: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ thou shalt be saved and thy house." (Acts 16: 31).
As Saul of Tarsus and his kidnappers travelled to Damascus to apprehend believers in Jesus the Christ, suddenly a bright light knocked him to the ground. He heard a voice saying: "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?"
Saul cried out: "Who art Thou, Lord?" Our Saviour answered: "I am Jesus of Nazareth Whom thou persecutest." Shaken up and trembling Saul of Tarsus asked: "What do you want me do, Lord?" (Acts 22: 6-10) Here are the two questions every believer should ask: "Who are You, Lord?" and "What do you want me to do?"
We NEED to know who He really is and what He expects of us! When the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts in convicting power, we immediately KNOW who He is, the Eternal Son of the Living God! His Word will teach us what He expects of us! The Holy Spirit is “the One sent along side” to help us!
JESUS is our Saviour, and we desperately need what He gives freely to spiritually hungry souls. No once else can give us what Jesus can give and delights in giving us. We immediately receive His forgiveness and peace! His divine healing and miracle power is included in His Promises to all who receive Jesus Christ as Lord of our lives! The Gift of the blessed Holy Spirit gives us the power to witness effectively for Him!
Saul’s encounter with Jesus gives us the KEY to change! We must have a personal experience with Jesus Christ! How is that possible? Through the daily study of His Word and communing with the Holy Spirit! We begin by giving Him our hearts in love, adoration, and praise. We practice living in his presence each day by thanking Him and seeking to share the Gospel in our every day lives! He is within us and has promised never to leave us. Hallelujah!
The Bible says: “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, Son and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” (Matt. 28:18-20):
“But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteous; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matt. 6:33); “For the Lord is a sun and a shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.” (Ps.84:11)
Let us give unto Him praise, honour and glory Magnify Him. God has never broken His promises to us. The Devil has broken every promise he has made! Jesus stated that the Devil is a murderer and the father of Lies! You cannot trust a Liar!
God cannot lie. He cannot steal. He cannot change. He cannot fail. God is our Friend, and He is no respecter of persons! God forgives our sins, heals our sick bodies, gives us peace and joy in all situations!
YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN!
"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. Nicodemus saith unto Him, How can a man be born when h ids old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto Thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. Marvel that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
"That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again." (John 3: 3-7). Amen.
