SCALE OF JUSTICE

Romans5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.

The Scene: A scale of justice with the symbolic figures of Jesus on the left scale and Adam, the first man, on the right scale.

Adam’s sin in the garden of Eden weighed down the scale of all mankind in the wrong direction.

Romans 5:18  Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.

• Justification: Being saved from the power of sin–just as if man had never sinned.

God sent His only Son, Jesus, to offset Adam’s sin. Through Jesus’ coming and through His death Father God’s scale of justice was brought back into balance for all who choose to believe in the only Son of God.

Romans 3:22-26  This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished– he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

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Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small  is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

The Scene: A maze representing the Christian’s life journey.

Llife  has many twists and turns and sometimes dead-ends. The narrow maze for our lives is designed so true believers in Jesus Christ can only go one way– forward.

Isaiah 30:21 Whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it.”

God assures us that He is with those who have decided to go on with Him.

Copyright 2016 Larry and Kathy Helms hsvisions.wordpress.com

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                                                                 DOMINION

Genesis 1:26  Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

God gave man dominion* over the earth and all that is in it, for a time. Feed the birds, water the grass, feed the pets…

*dominion: Greek word kurieuo meaning not strong  handed, but to rule, have dominion, like divine authority over men. (Vine’s Dictionary).

God gave an honor to man to have lordship over all the inferior living things. Therefore, man has a responsibility (fiduciary duty) to rule in a way pleasing to our Creator.

Genesis 1:29 Then God said,”I give you every seed bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.”

Psalm 8:6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks, herds, and beasts of the fields.

Copyright 2016 Larry and Kathy Helms hsvisions.wordpress.com

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                                                               DEEP TRUTHS OF GOD

John 4:12-14  Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and flocks and herds?  Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

The scene: A well with a bucket for bringing up water from the cistern below, representing Jacob’s well.  Note: Archaeologists excavated Jacob’s well in 1881. Later archaeologists dredged  the well and found it was 105 ft deep and was 7′-6″ in diameter. Jacob’s well was found to be both a fresh water spring and a cistern. God will provide!

Jacob’s well is used by Jesus to contrast and illustrate the difference between ordinary water and the water Jesus offered the Samaritan woman.  Jesus said to her, ” But whoever drinks the water I give will never thirst,” meaning His Word.

Jacob’s well is very deep, but the truths of God are much deeper and last forever.  Also, God’s Word needs no reservoir/cistern for it springs forth.

As a side note, Jesus had sent His disciples away, thus allowing for this one-on-one meeting with the woman at the well. Jesus showed His concern for the salvation of one person. He was accustomed to ministering to multitudes, but here He showed that He cares for everyone of us as individuals:  the lowly, the ignorant, the poor, all that have an interest in Him.  He will come to them as Savior and Lord if they ask Him for forgiveness and ask Him to come into their hearts.

John 4:23-24 “Yet a time is coming when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”

John 3:16  “ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Copyright 2016 Larry and Kathy Helms hsvisions.wordpress.com

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                                                                     BE STEADFAST IN THE LORD

Isaiah 61:3 ….”He has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners…to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”

The scene:  An oak tree, standing mightily  in front of a great stone wall– a symbol of God’s people, true believers in Jesus the Christ, the Son of God. These  not only believe, but have put their full trust in the Lord. The oak represents mature Christians; the stone wall behind the oak tree is a symbol that God stands behind them as divine protector and  refuge.

Psalm 112:6-7  Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. The word steadfast means “fixed”  like a mighty oak tree.

Hold fast to God’s truths, believe that whatever God has revealed is infallible and true.  Like soldiers in combat, when the command comes to “fix bayonets” the soldier knows he must stand against the enemy, be courageous, because he knows the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy (see John 10:10) but God assures us the enemy is already defeated. It was through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that  victory over sin and death has been won for all time.

1 Peter 5:8-9  Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of suffering.

Remember the suffering Church in your daily prayers that they, too, will stand and be courageous, without fear before their enemies and will receive mercy.

Copyright 2016 Larry and Kathy Helms hsvisions.wordpress.com

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                                                                                  TREE OF LIFE

John 15:16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”

The Scene: Jesus seen as the Tree of Life, with a branch in the shape of His hand, holding a piece of fruit. The fruit is connected to a small branch.

Psalm 92:14-15 They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”

Christian people can only grow into productive fruit of the Spirit by staying connected to the Tree of Life, Jesus, and seeking God’s wisdom through His Word which brings forth good fruit of the Spirit.

James 3:17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is is love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law.

Copyright 2016 Larry and Kathy Helms hsvisions.wordpress.com

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