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Lean Your Whole Weight On Jesus

Believe Faith Gospel

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Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2021-10-19

Scripture: Romans 10:9

Author: Illustration Exchange
18

ILLUSTRATION

John Paton, a missionary to a remote group of natives, was having a difficult time translating certain passages of the Bible into their language.  It seemed that this particular group had no word for "believe."  Then one day, one of the natives flopped into a chair, stretched out and propped his legs up on another chair.

He then expressed how good it felt to "lean his whole weight on" those chairs. The missionary quickly wrote the expression down.  

APPLICATION

When we believe in the promise of eternal life, we "lean our whole weight on" Jesus.  To believe in the Gospel message is to transfer the full weight of our confidence and concerns to the finished work of Christ--to rest completely in the substitutionary work of Christ.  

"If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9).

Of Morse Code and Easter Messages

Easter Communication Believe

Source: THE AMERICAN PATRIOT'S ALMANAC: Daily Readings on America, by William Bennett, "JANUARY 6 Samuel Morse Starts a Communications Revolution"

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Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2014-03-31

Scripture: Mattew 28:6

Author: William Bennett / Illustration Exchange
7

ILLUSTRATION

Daily Readings on America, January 6th:

As a young man, Samuel Morse set out to become a famous painter. His ambition was "to rival the genius of a Raphael, a Michelangelo, or a Titian." He studied at the Royal Academy in London and won acclaim by painting portraits of men such as President James Monroe and the Marquis de Lafayette.

In 1832, onboard a ship crossing the ocean, Morse heard another passenger describe how electricity could pass instantly over any length of wire. He began to wonder: Could messages be sent over wires with electricity? He rushed back to his cabin, took out his drawing book, and began to sketch out his idea for a telegraph.

He knew little about electricity, but he learned as he went. He used a homemade battery and parts from an old clock to build his first models. He developed a code of long and short electrical impulses-"dots" and "dashes"-to represent letters. His invention raised the interest of Alfred Vail, a machinist who became his partner.

On January 6, 1838, the inventors were ready to test their device over two miles of wire at the Vail family ironworks in New Jersey. Vail's father scribbled "A patient waiter is no loser" on a piece of paper and handed it to his son. "If you can send this and Mr. Morse can read it at the other end, I shall be convinced," he said. A short time later, his words came out on the receiving end.

On May 24, 1844, an amazed crowd in the Supreme Court chambers in Washington, D.C., watched Samuel Morse demonstrate his telegraph by sending a message over a wire to Baltimore, 35 miles away. In Morse code, he tapped out a quote from the Bible: What hath God wrought!

Soon telegraph lines linked countries and continents, and the world entered the age of modern communication.

APPLICATION

The diehard skeptic Mr. Vail, who penned his message saying, "If you can send this and Mr. Morse can read it, I shall be convinced" was indeed convinced. At the time, it was the greatest communication either sent or received.

On Easter morning, an infinitely more powerful message was sent and has since been received by millions upon millions. "He is not here; He is risen!" (Matthew 28:6). "Look what God has wrought!"

Won't you allow yourself to be convinced? Place your faith and trust in God's message of redemption communicated so clearly through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ!

A Being By Himself

Jesus' Preeminence Apologetics Believe

Source: As quoted in THE NEW EVIDENCE THAT DEMANS A VERDICT by Josh McDowell, p. 161 (source: Grounds, ROH, 37).

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Contributed By: Larry Lewis | Date Posted: 2012-09-25

Scripture: Ephesians 1:21 ; Philippians 2:9

Author: Napoleon Bonaparte
2

ILLUSTRATION

While at varying times both decrying Jesus and praising Him, Napoleon Bonaparte may never have given his heart to Christ (that remains for God to judge), but he certainly gave great thought to Him:

I know men; and I tell you that Jesus Christ is not a man. Superficial minds see a resemblance between Christ and the founders of empires, and the gods of other religions. That resemblance does not exist. There is between Christianity and whatever other religions the distance of infinity … Everything in Christ astonishes me. His spirit overawes me, and His will confounds me. Between Him and whoever else in the world, there is no possible term of comparison. He is truly a being by Himself. His ideas and sentiments, the truth which He announces, His manner of convincing, are not explained either by human organization or by the nature of things … The nearer I approach, the more carefully I examine, everything is above me—everything remains grand, of a grandeur which overpowers. His religion is a revelation from an intelligence which certainly is not that of man. … One can absolutely find nowhere, but in Him alone, the imitation or the example of His life. … I search in vain in history to find the similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel. Neither history, nor humanity, nor the ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.
 
Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) was a military general and first Emperor of France. One of the most celebrated personages in the history of the West, he revolutionized military organization and training; sponsored the Napoleonic Code; reorganized education; and established the long-lived Concordat with the papacy.

APPLICATION

 Christ is superior, in every way, to every person and every thing:

"Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else--not only in this world but also in the world to come" (Ephesians 1:21). ..."Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name" (Philippians 2:9). ..."For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:16-17).

Bonaparte understood that. So do even the demons. Yet it is not enough to understand--one must believe and receive.

"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31).

Reason to Believe?

Believe Doubt Apologetics

Contributed By: Fred Gates | Date Posted: 2012-08-18

Author: Philip Yancey
5

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Anything But Truth

Truth Relativism Believe

Contributed By: Pat Sage | Date Posted: 2012-07-15

Author: Ravi Zacharias
5

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CNN's "Belief Blog" Celebrates One Year Birthday

Believe Cultural Trends God's Image

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2012-06-09

Scripture: Acts 17:28

Author: Illustration Exchange
3

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Second-Hand Foolishness

Truth Relativism Believe

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2012-01-07

Scripture: Matthew 7:24

Author: Illustration Exchange
2

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You're Too Late

Salvation Good Works Believe

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2011-12-23

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8

Author: Illustration Exchange
9

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Completing Christmas

Christmas Believe Salvation

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2011-12-03

Scripture: John 1:1 ; John 1:10

Author: Unknown
2

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Is Seeing Believing?

Doubt Believe Resurrection

Contributed By: Wes Golden | Date Posted: 2011-06-06

Scripture: John 20:25 ; Psalms 34:8

Author: Wes Golden
4

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