JESUS IS MIGHTY TO SAVE
“MIGHTY TO SAVE”
January 24, 2016, the Year of Our Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
The power of Jesus Christ is a boundless and almighty power. He can do whatever he pleases; by his own words, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”
“I that speak in righteousness mighty to save.” (Isa. 63:1)
If some persons could do as they pleased, how terrible the consequences would be! The earth would soon become one vast field of blood, and nothing but cruelty, famine, disease and oppression would prevail.
There are those in the United States of America who are not patriots, but are ambitious for power. If they could carry out their wishes uncontrolled, these will deprive us of all our rights and privileges, both civil and religious that cost our founders’ blood, struggles and treasure.
In February 2014, Obama was in France. It was reported by the French president, Hollande that Obama said to him, “The good thing about being President is I can do anything I want.”
I have no doubt it was a frivolous quip. Yet the spirit behind the words speaks volumes of his attitude toward the use of power for good or for evil.
Yesterday, Donald J. Trump made a frivolous quip that I saw as a red flag. He said if he shot someone on Fifth Avenue, his supporters would still be loyal to him. Up until now, all of his strong statements have been directed at busting the elite political and media cartels. The main weakness I have been concerned about Donald J. Trump is that because he is so strong that he would abuse the powerful office of the President of the United States.
I truly believe he is a patriot, but power is a strange bed partner to those who lust after it.
As we see with Hillary Clinton that she perceives herself as royalty and above the law.
However, the power of the enemies of truth and righteousness are happily restrained. “Hitherto shall you go, but no further, and here shall your proud waves be stayed.” This mandate not only embraces the raging of the sea, but the pride, tumult and tyranny of the people.
“In the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, without self control, fierce, despisers of those who are good, traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts. Now as Jannes and Jambres with-stood Moses, so do these also resist the truth; men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. BUT THEY SHALL PROCEED NO FURTHER; for their folly shall be manifest to all men, as theirs also was.” (2 Tim. 3:1-9)
We know the power of the Lord’s mandate over creation. The power over men and nations is no less.
He is “mighty to save.” None are placed beyond the reach of his omnipotent arm. None are dyed with such crimson hues of iniquity that His blood cannot cleanse. None are plunged into such awful depths that he cannot raise them up. That includes the soul of the American Church and this backslidden nation. “He is able to save to the uttermost.” (Heb. 7:25)
The nations of the world are engulfed in wars and rumors of wars. There is great tribulation in the midst of the refugees coming out of the Middle East. China holds financial power to affect stock markets world wide. The Petrodollar is backed by weapon sales to the Middle East. We will see Iran cut their oil deals and devalue the Petrodollar unless the Hand of the Lord stays their hand.
When the Republican congress made a deal with the Democrats to export oil in return for not defunding Planned Parenthood, judgment fell on the American Oil Industry.
Christian we have an antidote to despondency and despair. We have this blessed assurance! We will be saved to the uttermost. What does being saved mean?
Sozo: - Strong’s 4982: to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction
1. one (from injury or peril)
1. to save a suffering one (from perishing), i.e. one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health
2. to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue
2. to save in the technical biblical sense
1. negatively
1. to deliver from the penalties of the Messianic judgment
2. to save from the evils which obstruct the reception of the Messianic deliverance
Rom. 5:9-10: “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from the wrath through him. For if when were sere enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”
We have been saved. We are being justified and we shall be saved.
Oh what a source of joy! What a ground for confidence! We are saved to the uttermost! We are saved from depravity, misery, sin, death and into the ages of time.
Who but God can tell how far the uttermost of our God can go?
Let us not have any doubt or misgivings concerning His willingness to save us to the uttermost. When did he show any backwardness in bestowing his love and power?
Not to the leper who cried out to him, “Lord if you will, you can make me clean.” Jesus put forth his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. No hesitation to blind Bartimeus; for his petition to receive his sight met with the instant response, “Receive you sight; your faith has saved you.” Not to the Centurion, who came to him concerning his servant; the words that greeted his ears were, “I will come and heal him.” Not to the woman of Canaan, although she was severely tested; for the trial ended with the assurance, “Oh woman, great is your faith; be it unto you even as you will.”
Not a single request did he deny. Some would say that Jesus didn’t heal everyone. I have total assurance that He healed everyone who came to Him and asked to be healed. The Word of God says that all that He did could not be written in a book.
Christians as we watch God’s judgments on the earth, let us not doubt that all the established principles by which the universe is sustained and governed is totally within the Hand of the Creator. He who commanded the morning and caused the sun to know its place will continue to chase the darkness of night away by the rising of tomorrow’s sun. We do not doubt that winter whether of the soul or the earth will be followed by the fertility of spring. Let us not doubt for a single moment either of the power or the might of Christ to save to the uttermost.
Isaiah 44:22: “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins.”
Nothing can be more comforting that the blessed assurance, that our God is “merciful and gracious, long-suffering, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin.”
All of the works of God are perfect. He forgives fully and for ever, saving us to the uttermost.
“I, even I, am He that blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and will not remember your sins.” (Isa. 43:25)
When the debt is discharged, it is crossed out of the book in which it was recorded. God has his book in which our debts are all recorded. On the great day, the books will be opened, and the dead are judged out of those things which are written in the books, according to their works.
How cheering it is to know God made a way whereby the heavy score of our sins are cancelled, and that in consequence, no payment will be demanded, nor punishment inflicted.
God’s pardon is complete and to the uttermost. The debt is crossed out entirely. One stroke of the pen secures full payment.
When the thick cloud passes by, not the slightest trace of our sin appears. It has vanished as completely as if it had never been. The blood of Jesus wiped us clean.
While God fully forgives, we should rejoice that He forgives freely and saves to the uttermost. It is not his strange work, like that of judgment, but His nature of mercy and compassion. Every obstacle was removed by the obedience and sacrifice of Jesus. When the vilest offender comes to Him, He restores them to his favor and blesses us with the richest blessing of his love.
Ps. 90:14: “O satisfy us early with your mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.”
All that we have, and in all that we hope is in His glorious mercy.
Are we saved? It is according to his mercy.
Are we filled with the Holy Spirit? It is according to his mercy.
Our calling, acceptance, perseverance, graces, gifts, and breathe are “not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that shows mercy.”
This is our Blessed Assurance. Never was there a truth more abundantly established. It is confirmed by Hi gracious titles, by the sweet promises he has given, and by the wondrous dealings with his people in every age.
All the prayers he has answered, all the blessings he has bestowed, all the sins he has forgiven; our proclamation is in Him there is mercy.
The carnal soul cries that the cravings of the soul be satisfied. The constant cry of the children of men is, “satisfy us”. The appeal is made to objects which never have and never can bestow favor. Where the search has been made, a voice is heard, saying, “It is not in me.” Wealth, power, learning, ambition, friendship, solitude, revelry, the language of each and all is “It is not in me.”
Those who are truly wise turn from the broken cisterns of earth, lift up their souls to Him, who is the fountain of living waters, might to save, and pray:
“O satisfy us early with your mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.”
Christian we have obtained this mercy. Our sins are forgiven. We have been accepted in the Beloved. Our abode is in New Jerusalem in those sinless and sorrow-less regions reserved for what eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor mind ever imagined.
We who are partakers of saving, pardoning, satisfying mercy, rejoice and be glad all our days. We have been saved. We are being justified. We shall be saved and we are saved to the uttermost.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries Church
Scripture from K.J.V. – I entered into the labors of John Ross MacDuff, Heavenly Aspirations. Comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of Brother Macduff.