“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10
I could feel deaths arms around me
Lyrics for “He Rescued Me”
As I struggled for my life
And I could see deaths angels waiting there
Just to claim me for his bride
But in that hour of desperation
I almost lost my mind
But somehow I cried to Jesus
And he saved me just in time
Then He rescued me
I’m glad He rescued me
From the cold dark waters of sin’s troubled sea
Jesus rescued me
I have new life I am free
When he reached down in love
And He rescued me
I’m glad he reached down in love
My Jesus reached down in love
He rescued me
That is why David can say……
“I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord. Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols.” Psalm 40:1-4
David knew that there was no situation nor circumstance that it wasn’t possible for God to rescue him from.
From the deepest pit, the toughest, thickest, hard to get out of muddy conditions, you can sing with confidence, “He rescued me!”
We must understand that God’s rescue plan is first and foremost about redemption.
It is about saving our lives from a fallen sinful humanity. It is about rescuing you and me from an eternity spent in hell.
The lifeline that has been thrown to us is not so we can have a perfect life down here with everything we could ever want.
Can Jesus heal? YES!
Can Jesus bless us with material things on this earth? YES!
Can Jesus save relationships? YES!
Can Jesus help us with our finances? YES!
YES, YES, YES to many other things too!
But he is not a genie in a bottle.
It saddens me to see those that use God only when they need Him. When things get better, they move on until they need to be rescued again.
Many times, we are praying for God to rescue us, but in fact, we are asking for God to put a patch on our existing raft because we don’t want everything God is offering us.
In ordered to be rescued, you must give up your WAY.
“Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?” Luke 9:23-25 NLT
The answer to true life and being rescued is found in daily death.
Jesus was about abundant life, but abundant life is fueled by daily death
In other words, as Jesus said, “You have got to lose your life in order to save it.”
If you want to be rescued, CUT THE ROPE FROM THE SINKING SHIP. Die to yourself. Because death brings life.
Jesus talked about it in John.
“And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” John 12:23-25
Jesus speaks of being glorified and immediately shows us that glorification and honor are not possible without death.
Jesus was serious about death. It was recurring theme in His earthly ministry.
He not only talked of His own but also pushed people toward theirs.
“From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Matthew 16:21-24
Are you sick and tired of an endless cycle of feeling like “I am drowning” and then “I can breathe again” over and over?
Do you truly want to be rescued? If so, a spiritual death is necessary!
He died the physical death, now we must die out to our will, our wants, our desires, and take up our cross and follow Him.
When we repent, we are dying to ourselves. When we are baptized, our old nature is buried. When we receive the Holy Ghost, we receive new life, just like the resurrection.
If you want to be rescued today, take the first step. Give him your whole life, your way, your desires. He’s waiting to rescue you.
