Jesus Is Mine

Text:

John 20:26-28:

28 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

 

Theme:

Jesus Is Mine

 

Introduction:

• The Gospel of John is the fourth gospel written by the Apostle John. Some believed that it was to fill the gaps left by the first three gospels, but no concrete evidence makes this universally true.  However, it does in a unique and genuine way divulge the depth of the relationship between God and the Son AND the relationship between the believer and the Godhead.
• The Gospel of John, which houses our text, serves as a special closing to the set of Gospels that tell the good news of Jesus Christ.
  • Matthew gives a detailed depiction of the history of Jesus’ life
  • Mark gives Jesus’ life as depicted by Peter’s accounts
  • Luke gives the perspective of Jesus’ life as God’s Son who was a man – the humanity of Jesus
  • However, John gives the perspective of Jesus’ life as the man who was God’s Son – the Divinity of Jesus
    • John sums up his intent in writing the Gospel in John 20:31 when he says, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”
• Specifically in the text we find the disciple Thomas standing before Jesus after Jesus had been resurrected from the dead.
  • Thomas had been told that Jesus was alive but Thomas, called Didimus, or Doubting Thomas, did not believe the report.
    • Why did Thomas doubt? à the messengers
      • Thomas knew the Man but also knew the MEN called Jesus’ disciples. è Thomas did not doubt the fact that Jesus COULD be raised from the dead. Thomas doubted the people who were telling him…the other disciples
  • When Jesus appeared to Thomas, had Thomas touch Him and His wounds, and told Thomas to believe, THOMAS BELIEVED.
    • Thomas could have believed just by SEEING JESUS…but Jesus did not stop there!
    • Thomas could have believed just by TOUCHING JESUS…but Jesus did not stop there!
    • Jesus SPOKE TO THOMAS the WORD OF BELIEF!
      • Romans 10:14, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”
  • After hearing the Word of God, Thomas proclaimed, “My Lord and My God”!!
    • Thomas’ conviction pricked his spirit cause him to both
      • 1)WITNESS to who Jesus was (Lord and God), and ALSO
      • 2)PROCLAIM ownership of Jesus in his life!!! è Thomas in essence said…JESUS IS MINE!!

Body:

• Thomas was brought to experience and express an ownership of God in his life through…
  • Knowledge of God
    • The Knowledge of God is the conscientious awareness of His Prominence in this world and our lives
      • Hosea 6:6, “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”
      • Philippians 3:8, “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ”
  • Experience of God
    • The Experience of God is the metaphysical encountering of God’s Power and the physical impact of His Presence
      • The apostle got first hand experience
        • 2Peter 1:16, “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.”
      • We experience Him by our willingness and through His Word and His Spirit à He won’t force usJ
        • James 4:8, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you….”
  • Profession of God
    • We are to TELL others of God’s goodness
      • Matthew 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”
      • 1Peter 3:15, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”
    • Testifying of God’s goodness shown towards us SEALS our relationship with Him and salvation from Him
      • Romans 10:10, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
• Our Ownership of God in our lives is
  • In His Plan
    • God desires for us to His and for Him to be OURS!!
      • Ezekiel 36:28, “And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.”
  • In Our Makeup
    • God made us to be His and Him to be OURS!!
      • Psalms 100:3, “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”

Conclusion:

• and must be …In Our Praise
  • I praise Him for His love shown TOWARD ME
    • Psalms 86:13, “For great is thy mercy toward me….”
    • Song of Solomon 7:10, “I am my beloved’s, and his desire is toward me.”
    • Daniel 4:2, “I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.”
• However, I do have to share…
  • That is why I recite as the Model Prayer guides..
    • Matthew 6:9, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”
  • I ain’t selfish!! But, I don’t have to worry..
    • He’s BIG enough to be MINE
    • He’s POWERFUL enough to be MINE
    • He’s WISE enough to be MINE
    • He’s EVERYWHERE enough to be MINE
    • He’s GOD enough to be MINE
      • That’s why I can say…

Jesus is mine, Jesus is mine

Everywhere I go, Everywhere I be, O,

Jesus is MINE!!

Mine in the morning, Mine in the noonday

All the day long, Singing my song!

Jesus is mine!

 

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