Did You Remember?

Did you remember in the beginning God spoke everything into existence, and it was good? Did you remember God created Adam and Eve from the dust of the ground and gave them the responsibilities to till the Garden of Eden and to keep it? After creating them in the image of God, He blessed them and told them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.”

Did you remember God also commanded the man, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die?” The crafty serpent talked to Eve, twisted God’s Word and caused her to doubt God’s specific command not to eat the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden... She saw that the tree was good for food, a delight to the eyes, and it made one wise. She listened to the devil, ate it and gave it to her husband.

Adam listened to his wife Eve, ate the forbidden fruit, and realized that they are naked. They have sinned against God by disobeying God’s specific command not to eat it. The dominion to rule the earth has been tricked out of the hands of Adam by the devil. The rest is history. Man has sinned; the devil has ruled the world. Yet, God has a plan!

When God’s appointed time came, Jesus came to the world he loves as Son of man and Son of God to destroy the works of the devil (I John 3:8). He grew up in his hometown in Nazareth, increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.

When he began his public ministry, Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist; when he came up from the water the Holy Spirit came upon Him, and the voice said “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”; and Scripture also said that He was anointed by God with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil for God was with him (Acts 10:38). “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)

Did you remember the Father’s love for us all? That’s why He sent Jesus to us. Jesus indeed obeyed His Father, came in the power of the Holy Spirit to save us from sin. He came to seek and to save the lost sinners, you and me. He ate with them. He cried with and for them. He touched them. He walked and talked with them. People saw him, touched him and experienced him. He’s real.

Truly, He came to heal the sick, to cast out demons, to cleanse the lepers, to raise the dead and many other wonderful things that Scripture said “If every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” (John 21:25).

John the Baptist said “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire (Luke 3:16). Jesus came, died, was buried, rose again and appeared to his disciples.

Did you remember the Great Commission? Jesus said: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20) He calls you to declare the Kingdom of God is at hand. He calls you to take care of his sheep.

Did you remember in Mark, Jesus said to the 11 disciples: “Go in to all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned.

And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:15-18)

Did you also remember this verse: “Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.” (John 14:12-14)

As the Holy Spirit bringing God’s Word to your remembrance, simply obey His Word today. Be filled with the Holy Spirit. Live by the Spirit and walk by the Spirit.

Pastor Linh