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A Spiritual Lesson In Toon Language: Lesson 26g(b)

Topic: Responsibilities VIIb - Remember You're Saved - If You Aren't, What Are You Wating For?

Series: Power Rangers Lost Galaxy

Episode: Facing The Past (Power Rangers Lost Galaxy)

Lesson PDF link: 26g2.pdf

Introduction

For The Christian, this session is for remembering that you are saved and that you are under God's grace through Jesus Christ. For the unbeliever, this session is a needed message to urge you to receive your salvation in Jesus Christ. I use the Power Rangers Lost Galaxy episode called "Facing The Past". With this episode we discuss sinful pasts and the burdens that they are. We discuss the well-spring of forgiveness that is in Christ Jesus Our Lord. We discuss the faith needed to maintain an intimate relationship with God Almighty through a believing heart, trust, prayer and love. We discuss the end result of said faith which is inheriting the Kingdom of God to which we are all called.

Scriptures Used Include: Psalms 130; John 15: 1-17; Psalms 103; Galatians 3: 26--4: 7; Romans 10: 4-13

What did we learn last time?

To recap, we were discussing how God redeemed in the old Leviticus based/Mosaic Law. We contrasted this with the blood of the new covenant that's forever in the Lord Jesus Christ. We were discussing the complexities of the old Leviticus based/Mosaic order and the sheer simplicity of faith in the sacrifice of our Lord. This lesson session is different in the fact that we will be discussing remembering our redemption when we get it and not looking back to our pasts to be enslaved again.

I will now show the Power Rangers Lost Galaxy episode "Facing The Past".

Cartoon Clip Show: Power Rangers Lost Galaxy: "Facing The Past":

Power Rangers Lost Galaxy: "Facing The Past": Direct link for video/webm

What is your past like? If it is like mine it is full of sins and mistakes. We see that our friend Karone (formerly Astronema) is now the Pink Ranger. She is enjoying a new life of redemption. However she gets a major test because she is forced to endure being attacked by her past. Karone is now a symbol of a born again Christian. We are going to say for this lesson that Karone (formerly Astronema), said a variation of Psalms 130.

The Bible States:

Ps 130:1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD?

Ps 130:2 O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.

Ps 130:3 If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?

Ps 130:4 But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.

Ps 130:5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.

Ps 130:6 My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Ps 130:7 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.

Ps 130:8 He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.

We are especially looking at the personal implications of salvation in this passage. We have to understand also that the mention of Israel actually is relevant to all nations because all nations need the salvation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as well. How was Karone's past defeated?

The Bible States In John 15: 1-17:

Jn 15:1 'I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.

Jn 15:2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

Jn 15:3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

Jn 15:4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

Jn 15:5 'I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Jn 15:6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

Jn 15:7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.

Jn 15:8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Jn 15:9 'As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.

Jn 15:10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.

Jn 15:11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Jn 15:12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

Jn 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

Jn 15:14 You are my friends if you do what I command.

Jn 15:15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

Jn 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.

Jn 15:17 This is my command: Love each other.

For this lesson, we will say that Karone read this passage of scripture. As Christians we would all do well to remember who we are in Jesus Christ. Karone was willing to give herself up so the evil Astronema wouldn't kill Leo (Red Ranger). Karone in this show needed to also remember what side she is on. We as Christians need to remember that we are the branches and Jesus is our vine. We need to remember Jesus feeds us and maintains us. We also need to remember what side we are on as well.

Now relating to scripture, Christians need to remember Jesus died at Calvary for us. This is the source of our salvation and the only source for anyone. The comparison comes only in the fact that Jesus showed us that he is our true friend with this sacrifice as Karone showed Leo that she is his (not comparing the magnitude of said sacrifice in any way at all).

Although Karone's willingness to die for her friend pales in comparison to Jesus's sacrifice, it brings up this point; that we need to be more selfless like our friend Karone. If need be, we may need to sacrifice our life literally someday for our friends or maybe our country as our soldiers do sometimes.

If you were Karone, would you feel scared about the old warrior guy (who has been frozen in stone for a long time)? What do you think about the old warrior's reaction when Karone's past was defeated and Karone's sincerity brought him back to life?

Because of her sincerity, God's work in Karone is not restricted. When the stone warrior became normal again, he did what God does with us if we are sincerely in Jesus Christ. The old warrior forgave Karone and said for her to forgive herself. The warrior then gave away the key to victory over Magnetox. For us, the victory is over sin, death, and Hell and the key to this victory is Jesus Christ. Presumably, the old warrior knew that these people were Power Rangers without being told and he knew that the keys he had were what they were seeking. So, in a lot of ways I see God portrayed in this warrior. Even the fact that he was turned to stone is a God symbol because we all do this to our Lord because when we sin against Him (especially unrepentantly) we restrict God and even put him out of our lives if we are not careful. Only sincere repentance in Jesus Christ saves us from not having God in control. Only sincere repentance in Jesus Christ keeps God in our lives and hearts. Of course, if we have Jesus in our hearts, He will be listening to our prayers and will bring us through our trials even if we have to physically die in doing so. We would be home in Heaven at that point. If Karone was not sincere, then the warrior wouldn't have been able to neither forgive nor give the keys to victory that were sorely needed.

When we have Jesus in us and working through us, we can clearly remember that redemption is ours.

The Bible States in Psalms 103:

Ps 103:1 Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Ps 103:2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits'

Ps 103:3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,

Ps 103:4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,

Ps 103:5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Ps 103:6 The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

Ps 103:7 He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:

Ps 103:8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

Ps 103:9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;

Ps 103:10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

Ps 103:11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;

Ps 103:12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Ps 103:13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

Ps 103:14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

Ps 103:15 As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field;

Ps 103:16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.

Ps 103:17 But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD'S love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children'

Ps 103:18 with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

Ps 103:19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.

Ps 103:20 Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.

Ps 103:21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will.

Ps 103:22 Praise the LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the LORD, O my soul.

To bring this home we need to realize the nature of the redemptive work God does. It is a personal and intimate redemption. Our cartoon show symbolically shows a former villain who now portrays a redeemed soul in Christ. If you are a Christian, you are a sinner saved by grace. God literally lives in His servants and rules them.

The Bible States:

Gal 3:26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,

Gal 3:27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Gal 3:29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Gal 4:1 What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate.

Gal 4:2 He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father.

Gal 4:3 So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world.

Gal 4:4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law,

Gal 4:5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.

Gal 4:6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, 'Abba, Father.'

Gal 4:7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

When you think of the words 'sons of God' and 'heirs according to the Promise', what does this mean?

Biblically speaking if we are in Jesus Christ, we inherit not only salvation, but we inherit what God has promised even after this rich gift. We will inherit what God has - His kingdom. This means everything that is God's will be ours to enjoy.

What have we learned?

If you haven't accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, I urge you to do so. I want everyone to inherit this promise. It is open to all who believe.

The Bible States:

Ro 10:4 Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

Ro 10:5 Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: 'The man who does these things will live by them.'

Ro 10:6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: 'Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?''' (that is, to bring Christ down)

Ro 10:7 'or 'Who will descend into the deep?''' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).

Ro 10:8 But what does it say? 'The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,' that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:

Ro 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Ro 10:10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Ro 10:11 As the Scripture says, 'Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.'

Ro 10:12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile'the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,

Ro 10:13 for, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'

Does anyone wish to take this step?

I promise you that if you do, it would be the best decision in your life. Even if the devil tries anything, he is sure to fail. This is so, even if your life gets harder (it probably would). Asking Jesus into your heart assures us of salvation and God's protection from the evil one who is the devil. The Christian can only die physically; he/she will never die spiritually if Jesus is in control truly and stays that way. Let Jesus control you today.