Why is Jesus called the lamb of God?
Why is Jesus called the lamb of God?
Listen
In many religions sacrifices are common practices. The prophet Moses was told by God that animals needed to be sacrificed in order to remove the sins of the people. A lamb, without defect, was often sacrificed in the time of Moses. God was showing that for our sins to be forgiven, a price has to be paid. An innocent life has to be killed, instead of our lives.
When the prophet John came , he pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God, saying that he would take away the sins of the world. Look at this video clip of when John first pointed out Jesus to the crowds.
Read about how the prophet John talks about Jesus as the Lamb of God
John 1:29-34 (NIV)
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be
revealed to Israel.”
32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the
Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.
How can a sacrifice take away sin? Is it fair?
Please contact us to discuss this point.
Can my good deeds cancel out my bad deeds?
Can my good deeds cancel out my bad deeds?
Listen
In some ways it seems fair for our good and our bad deeds to be recorded and put in weighing scales. However, in the Holy Bible God is often talked about as a father. It is unusual for a father to constantly weigh up the good and bad deeds in his children.
For example, one time when Jesus was teaching, he told an interesting story. The story was about a father who had two sons. One of the sons took his father’s money, left home and wasted it all, and lived a bad life. However, eventually, he returns home and says sorry to his father.
Without hesitation the father welcomes his son back home. On his return, the father doesn’t weigh up the good and bad deeds done by his son. No, instead, he welcomes the son back, simply because he is his child. He is accepted because the father, who represents God, longs for his people to return to him. Watch or read the story and ask yourself- in this story which son am I like?
What is God saying to you through this wonderful story?
Watch the story of the LOST SON as told by Jesus
The video clip comes from the Lumo Project (www.lumoproject.com)
Luke 15 11-24
Read the story of the LOST SON
Luke 15 11-24 (NIV) The ‘lost Son
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
To read the end of the story
Luke 15 25-32 (NIV)
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
The story answers some questions but raises others. How can God (as our Father) accept us back if we have done wrong things? Is that right? Is it fair? Please contact us to discuss further or ask us questions.
Will God answer my prayers?
Will God answer my prayers?
Listen
Many of us carry burdens in life. Sometimes we tell God about them. We wonder, will God answer our prayers. The prophets, Moses and Abraham often prayed to God and He spoke back to them. Once Abraham pleaded with God to rescue his nephew who was in danger. God answered and saved his nephew’s life?
So, will God answer our prayers, like he did for Abraham ? Jesus tells a story to show us what matters to God when we pray. It is our heart . Is our heart clean ? He points out to his listeners that it is easy to think we are good people and have no faults. However the one who recognises his faults and tells God about them is the person who God listens to. If we are hoping for God to answer our prayer- this is the starting point. Watch this story (on video) and see what you think.
Watch how Jesus taught them a parable about prayer
The video clip comes from the Lumo Project (www.lumoproject.com)
Luke 18: 9-14
Read Jesus' parable about prayer
Luke 18: 9-14 (NIV)
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Would you like prayer for healing? Please contact us if you want us to pray for you (without any fee!) in Jesus' name and with his power and authority.
Is it possible to live in good relationships with everyone?
Is it possible to live in good relationships with everyone?
Listen
In life it is easy to fall out with people, even because of small problems. Sometimes we only want to help people who help us.The question we have is: Is it possible to be different and to love everyone?
In a story Jesus told, he shows that it is not only possible, but people who truly want to find eternal life, need to be willing to change and be like the hero in this story. What makes the story so powerful is that the hero, a Samaritan by race, was someone Jesus’ own people despised. So the Samaritan’s compassion speaks more strongly to challenge our natural human tendency – that is to only love those who might show love towards us. Please watch and listen and think carefully about how God could change your life to become like this hero?
Watch how Jesus teaches us to serve everyone around us, even those who might dislike or hate us!
The video clip comes from the Lumo Project (www.lumoproject.com)
Luke 10:25-37
Read the story Jesus told about a man loving his enemy
Luke 10:25-37 (NIV)
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ ; and, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?”
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Watch a modern day story of how people will ignore people in need, unless they are respectable people. The challenge to us from Jesus is: Are we willing to show compassion to everyone around us?
Does Jesus' teaching challenge your life? Is it really possible to love all people ? Let us know what you think?
How can I be free from evil spirits?
How can I be free from evil spirits?
Listen
How can we be free from evil spirits? This is a really important question. In our lives we can be troubled by an evil presence. Maybe we experience it in our house or in a certain place that we visit. This evil deeply concerns us and we wonder if we can get rid of it. Maybe we are having bad dreams that disturb us and we think ‘why are we having those dreams?’ Or perhaps someone has put a curse on our lives and we sense that it has a very negative affect on us. When Jesus encounters evil he commands it to leave that person. Jesus has authority over it. Watch this video and see how Jesus commands the evil to come out of somebody. Today, the name of Jesus still has power and authority. Today, we too can be delivered and set free.
Watch how Jesus delivers a man from evil
The video clip comes from the Lumo Project (www.lumoproject.com)
Luke 4: 31-37
Read how Jesus delivers a man influenced by evil spirits
Luke 4: 31-37 (NIV)
31 Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people.
32 They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority.
33 In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, 34 “Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to
destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
35 “Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.
36 All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!” 37 And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.
Would you like to find out more about how you can be free from the influence of evil beings or you would like someone to pray about a situation?