MFM Mountain Top Life Devotional 12 December 2019 By Dr. D.K Olukoya – Jesus, Friend Of Sinners (II)
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TOPIC: Jesus, Friend Of Sinners (II)
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Hosea 9-11; Revelation 3
FIRE SCRIPTURE: Luke 19:1-10
MEMORY VERSE: “She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” – John 8:11
MESSAGE: Yesterday, we established the truth that Jesus was a friend of sinners and that we should emulate our Royal Master: His friendship with sinners (not their sins) made it possible for Him to win the souls of the likes of Mary Magdalene, Apostle Paul, Zacchaeus and so on. Each of these Bible characters turned out to be value-adding members of God’s kingdom after they had enjoyed Christ’s love, friendship and salvation.
Today, we shall examine two classic examples of sinners who experienced the friendship and unconditional love of Christ. The first is Zacchaeus, a rich publican. He desired to see Jesus who was going to pass through Jericho. However, because he was a man of small stature, Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree so that he would see Jesus when he passed the road. When Jesus got to the place, though there was a crowd around Him, Jesus spotted Zacchaeus and told him to come down for He must abide in Zacchaeus’ house that day.
What lessons do we need to learn from Zacchaeus’ story? First, Zacchaeus had a genuine desire to see Jesus. He defiled the disadvantage and limitation that his stature constituted among the crowd. He devised a means by which he would see Jesus (climbing the sycamore tree). He matched his desire with faith and his faith with action. Remember that the Bible says that faith without work is useless.
Second, to Zacchaeus’ surprise, Jesus spotted him, knew and rewarded his faith and effort. How? He offered to be Zacchaeus’ guest and later assured Zacchaeus that salvation had come to his house. Jesus Christ still honours and rewards faith today; even the faith of a sinner. Faith saves sinners and turns unpleasant situations around for believers. As the friend of sinners that He was, Jesus’ answer to those who murmured about His going to be guest to Zacchaeus was, “The Son of man come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). This is a food for thought for us all.
The second classic example is about the woman caught in adultery. Her accusers told Jesus that the Law of Moses mandated them to stone the woman to death. Yet they wanted Jesus’ view on the judgement. The woman was at the mercy of her accusers. She needed a friend to bail her out in that hour of need and condemnation. Jesus chose to be a friend and offered her hope and help. He wrote on the ground and said to them, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”
MFM Mountain Top Life Devotional 12 December 2019 – Jesus, Friend Of Sinners (II)
The Bible says that the woman’s accusers were convicted by their own conscience and went away, leaving her with Jesus. When Jesus rose to His feet, He told the woman that since no man had condemned her, He too had not and that she should go and sin no more. Have you sinned and the enemy is accusing you day and night before God’s throne?
Are your human accusers making life unbearable for you? I encourage you to turn to Jesus, the friend of sinners and Saviour of the whole world. He will come to your rescue and save you. He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to the Father through Him because He daily makes intercession for them.
MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE:
In prosperity, our friends know us; in adversity, we know our friends.
PROPHETIC WORD:
I PRAY THAT THE BLESSED TRINITY WILL MAKE YOU A FRIEND.
PRAYER POINTS:
MORNING
1 Jesus, the friend of sinners, have mercy on me, in the name of Jesus.
2 Let the power of salvation appear in my household, in the name of Jesus.
3 Father, You are mighty to save, save (insert the name), in the name of Jesus.
EVENING
4 O Lord, convert sinners to saints today, in the name of Jesus.
5 By the fire of Pentecost, I destroy every veil hindering anyone from seeing Jesus, in the name of Jesus.
6 Holy Spirit, bring all sinners out of the captivity of sin and satan, in the name of Jesus.
7 O Lord, let Your love continually increase in my heart, in the name of Jesus.
MFM Mountain Top Life Devotional 12 December 2019 was written By Dr. D.K Olukoya (General Overseer, Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, Worldwide)
