Showing posts with label The cross. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The cross. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Hope
There is hope at the end of this crisis. And not only, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope. (Romans 5:3-4).
Monday, February 24, 2020
Being accountable for Your Actions: Romans 14:12; Amos 5:24
..Then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a
mighty stream. But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a
mighty stream.
In today’s
society, there are many who commit wrongs but refuse to take accountability for
his/her actions. Our scripture texts make it plan that everyone will be held
accountable for his/her actions to God, and His justice will rain down like
water and His righteousness as a mighty stream. What does this mean? It means
that the wrongdoer can either take responsibility here on earth and if not,
there will come a day when the person will have to stand before the righteous
judge God Almighty.
Standing before the Almighty God, there will
be no excuse of saying I didn’t know, because everyone has the Holy Bible that
says what is right and what is wrong, and they all have been taught right from
wrong. The person chooses to either do right or wrong.
It is noteworthy
to say, the wrongdoer can refuse to admit his/her wrongdoings and can even
justify the wrong and can even expect the righteous to understand the wrong
that has been done. The wrongdoer will even expect the righteous to go along
with the wrong. Let me say this, wrong is wrong and will never be converted to
right. We who are righteous must stand firm on the wrong and call it for what
it is.
Allow me to
close with my mother’s saying, “every tub has to sit on its own bottom.” This
means that everyone will have to give an account for his/her actions.
Take responsibility for your
actions; if they are wrong, then confess, ask for forgiveness and then move on.
If your actions are righteous, then thanks for His Holy Spirit and your
commitment to doing what is right.
Tuesday, September 3, 2019
What is your Favorite Season of the Year? Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
To every thing there is a season,
and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a
time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that
which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time
to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a
time to mourn, and a time to dance.
The above question is based on
the book titled, Seasons of Inspiration for Spiritual Growth
In preparing a child for a
lifetime of commitment to Christ, which begins at birth and continues to death
as the believer never stop growing in Christ. A person's spiritual growth is
broken down as such, from birth to 18 years of age is known as the years of
preparation (YOP), and from 19-30 years old is known as the maturation years
(YOM), and from 31 to death is known as the preservation and perpetuation years
(YOPP) (Manual for Nurture for Baptist Churches). However, I prefer to break
out the preservation and perpetuation years into two groups to include the
winter season of one's life. This incorporates Titus 2 men and women as men are
to "be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, charity, in patience"
(v 2). While verses 3-4 talks about aged women having the same type of behavior
so that they can teach the younger women to be sober and love their husbands.
With that being said, life's
seasons parallel that of one's physical life growth. Spring represents new
babes in Christ; spring planting occurs in the spring, therefore to make new
disciples for Christ matured and seasoned Christians (summer and fall seasons)
are to teach and train the new babes as we train our children according to
Deuteronomy 6:7 during their preparatory years (YOP). When do we begin teaching
our children? We begin at age one, which includes godly teachings as well as
secular life lessons. Summer is the growing season in the child life where
there is evidence of training in his or her preparatory years. During the
summer growth children become strong and healthy in the Lord as well in their
earthly lives as they have been prepared to take on adult roles and assume
leadership positions. Also, during summer growth watering, feeding and
nurturing continues as God's Word is designed continuous feeding and watering.
John 6:35 speaks of Him being "the bread of life" and all who eat of
Him shall hunger no more, and neither shall the person thirst ever again. While
John 7:38 speaks of the ever-flowing river of water that God provides through
the Holy Spirit. Eat and drink God's holy word and Grow.
What is the purpose of
the fall season? The fall
season is for harvesting the crops that have grown and produced the desired
fruits--other Christians for God's kingdom. Fall is making ready for the winter
season when no physical food can be gathered. In our spiritual lives, mature
Christians are to be well indoctrinated in God's Word and His righteousness. As
mature Christians we are to represent Christ daily and obey the Great
Commission given by Christ Himself (Matthew 28:19-20). Fruit of the spirit
(Galatians 5:22-23) are manifested during the fall season because there will be
a spiritual harvest and our service record will indicate who we as mature
Christians brought to Christ. The winter season is known as a period of rest as
the long snowy days have taken hold from the laborious days of spring, summer
and fall where rewards of our labor in witnessing Christ and winter Christians
enjoy the bountiful harvest crops (fruitful believers). The
manifestation of Christ is true Christian growth.
Who is the winter
Christians? They are those
believers spoken of in Titus 2, who remained faithful to the Lord. Do these
servants stop serving God? No, they are looked upon as the age of wisdom as
they walk and talk with the grace of God. These Christians/believers have a
plethora of life experiences to share with the younger generation on life's
journey. The Titus 2 men and women (winter) has lived a lifetime for Christ who
can and does speak with a voice of authority as they have first-hand knowledge
of God and His righteousness and have witnessed His awesome powers.
The Titus 2 men and women have
come to know and accept God's wisdom over that of the world as God's wisdom to
the world appears foolish. Accept the foolish wisdom of God over the
wise wisdom of the world because God's wisdom is far superior.
Our lives are in four seasons of
growth, and our spiritual lives mirror our physical being, and in doing so,
God's mighty hand is ever-present.
We are to reverence God for who
He is and what He has and continues to do in the lives of all humanity.
All seasons are one continuous growth cycle.
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comments.
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Thursday, March 15, 2018
Resurrection Sunday
John 11:25
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that
believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
What does Resurrection Sunday mean to you? Does it mean a day of
celebration with family, friends and enjoying an Easter parade or a day at
Church? The answer you provide depends on your belief that yes Jesus Christ is
the only begotten Son of God who came to earth to die for the sins of the
world. It also depends whether or not you have accepted Jesus as your Savior
who died and rose as promised that Sunday Morning commonly known as
Resurrection Sunday.
Resurrection Sunday also means that all who believe died with Christ to
sin and rose with Him to a life of righteousness. Resurrection Sunday also means
that we who are in Christ are alive with Him and will live forever with Him.
Resurrection Sunday means that we serve a risen Savior who is now seated at the
right hand of the Father making intercessions for you and me.
Being alive with and in Christ is that all believers are now adopted sons
of God the Father as members of His holy nation of priests who have been called
out of darkness and are now wearing His righteous garment of salvation.
On a personal note, Resurrection Sunday means that I am now alive in
Christ and have an assured hope of an everlasting home in glory and one day I
will reign with Him in the New Jerusalem. Easter/Resurrection Sunday isn't
about having a new outfit or participating in or watching an Easter parade it
is honoring God for the risen Savior.
Lastly, Resurrection Sunday is a day to be celebrated in reverence to God
for His love, grace and mercy for sending His Son Jesus Christ to atone sin when
justice was demanded; mercy took its place.
Resurrection Sunday a day of true worship and singing praises to our
risen Savior.
Comments are welcomed.
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Tuesday, April 11, 2017
Jesus’ seven last words
Jesus’ seven last
words
Luke 23:34; John
19:26-30, Mark 15:34
Friday being what
is commonly referred to as Good Friday; however, I prefer to refer to this day
as the day my Lord was crucified fulfilling prophecy. Reflect with me if you
will on the last seven words Jesus spoke and consider what they mean to each of
us.
Let’s begin with
the phrase “Father, forgive
them”, Jesus is asking
His father to forgive the persons carrying out this treacherous act. Consider
this thought for a moment, Jesus asking the Father to forgive all humanity for
our sins. What love! Jesus was nailed
to the cross from 9AM to noon suffering excruciating pain while bearing the
sins of the world expresses pure love. His second words “To day shalt thou be with me in
paradise” (v 43) speaks of
salvation to all who trust Him as Lord and Savior. This peak to the issue of
some will recognize Jesus for who He really is and accept Him while desiring to
spend eternity with Him while others will not make the connection or refuse to
accept Him as Lord and Savior. Jesus’ third words speak of love when He utters
“Woman, behold thy son…Behold thy
mother” (John 19:26-27).
What is being displayed during His dying hours is Jesus expressing concerns for
the welfare of His mother while leaving her in the trusted hands of someone who
would care for her every need. Also, these words give children the
responsibility caring for their dependent parents.
According to
scripture during the three hours of darkness from noon until 3 PM Jesus spoke
no words. During those hours of darkness history records that all of the
elements of nature went out of control as we know them to operate. The earth
acted as if it was drunk, the sun refused to shine; you could say it turned its
face toward heaven and looked at the Father, saying “I cannot watch Your Son
die.” The moon hid itself. About 3 o’clock Jesus began to speak what is
considered spiritual words on this order, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Mark 15:34; Matthew 27:46). This
phrase depicts the separation Jesus experienced from His father as the sinner’s
substitute. These words can be looked upon as the apex of Christ’s suffering
for a lost world and the Father could not look on His Son dying for all
humanity’s sins. The thought of Christ dying forsaken so mankind would never be
forsaken should make us all shout Hallelujah! Thank God for Jesus! Next Christ
addresses His physical need, again fulfilling scripture by saying “I thirst” (John 19:28);
they gave Jesus vinegar to quench His thirst. From this we see again prophecy
being fulfilled according to Psalm 69:21. Christ’s victory/triumph over death
and sin states “It is
finished”
(John19:30). This phrase states that Christ’s earthly mission was complete. He
had fulfilled all prophecies. He had completed the redemptive work as the
sacrificial Lamb of God by shedding His blood as atonement for sin. He had won
a decisive victory over Satan. He had reconciled man back to God bridging the
spiritual divide that once existed between humanity and God. Finally, when Christ
stated “It is finished”, He committed
Himself to the Father when He stated “Father, into thy hands I commend
my spirit”
(Luke 23:46). At this point Jesus gave His life over to death and His spirit
went home to the Father (Psalm 31:5). Therefore, no one can say that they took
Jesus’ life because He came to earth to give His life as a ransom for humanity
and through all the physical agony He experienced Christ remained on the cross
until the end. Jesus may have died on Friday, but the Savior Jesus Christ rose on Sunday
(Resurrection) morning with all power.
I am glad He did what He did!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
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Tuesday, March 22, 2016
"Crucified With Christ"
Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ
liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and
gave Himself for me.
Our scripture text makes a powerful statement and revelation to all
believers; therefore, the question becomes, what does it mean to be crucified with Christ? It means that every
believer have died to sin and now live in the righteousness of Christ who paid
our sin-debt. Believers, we are no longer enemies of Christ, but instead are in
fellowship with Him and have accepted Him as Lord and Savior. All of our sins
were nailed to the cross with Christ to be forgiven and never remembered
anymore, and for this we say thank You Lord.
Being crucified with Christ means that we as believers die daily to sin
and temptations and the life we now live is by faith through our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ. As believers, we cannot walk this faith walk alone,
because Satan is busy trying to impede our heavenly journey. Being crucified
with Christ means that the things we normally would do we no longer do them
because we are new creatures in Christ and seek to live to please God.
Being crucified with Christ, all believers rose with Him on Resurrection
Sunday saying I walk in the newness of Christ as I am the righteousness of Him
and have dedicated my life to holy living so the world will see Him in me.
Lastly, being crucified with Christ means that all believers is saying
thank You God for giving You Son to die for me in love and thank You Jesus for
dying for my sins and in doing so I have a right standing with the Father.
Being crucified with Christ, His Spirit the Holy Spirit lives within.
Comments are welcomed.
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Friday, September 11, 2015
Payday Is Coming
Psalm 58:11
....A man shall say; verily there is a reward for the righteous; verily
He is a God that judgeth in the earth.
The setting for today's topical discussion is King David writing about
the wicked conditions during his day and reminding the righteous that God has a
reward for them laid up in heaven not to worry but hold fast to their faith.
Our scripture text makes a profound statement; when we are burden down
with the troubles of this world and it appears as though Satan and sin is
winning the war between good and evil fear not because our hope is in Jesus
Christ who defeated Satan at the cross.
God may be longsuffering but He will punish sin in His own time. What the
righteous must do is hold onto God's unchanging hand while staying focus on the
prize, which is our crown of righteous and spending eternity with Him. The
righteous must also hold onto the fact that God keeps His promises; He promised
to punish sin and He does. He promised a Savior, Jesus came and took the sins
of this world on His shoulders. The righteous have accepted Jesus' atoning work
while the wicked have not and continue to reject Jesus.
Have heart believers, our payday is coming; God will restore His
perfect peace and will banish sin from the earth. The righteous shall rejoice
when he seeth the vengeance of the Lord (v.10).
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Tuesday, April 21, 2015
God, My All 'N All
Psalm 18:2
The Lord is my rock, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I
will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
If the question was raised, what makes God our all 'n all? First, let us
look at who God is. He is the creator and sustainer of all creation. He has no
beginning nor ending. He changes not; because He is the same today, yesterday and
will be the same forever more. He is the one God who created something out of
nothing; just as He created man out of the dust of the earth and then breathed
the breath of life into man who became a living soul.
Second, let's look at what scripture has to say about God being our all
'n all; He supplies all our needs regardless of the need (Philippians 4:19),
which is supported by our study text by stating
that God is our rock, who is solid, trustworthy, and unmoveable. He is our
fortress, which is a form of protection, so is being our shield and buckler.
Being our deliverer means that God has the power to deliver us from any
situation. He made a highway out of the Red Sea.
He certainly can deliver you and me. If we need to be lifted up God is there to
lift us high above the danger that all believers are sure to encounter. He can
reach down into the pit of hell just as He can reach heights unknown; that's
God. Being the horn of our salvation, God gave His only Son Jesus
Christ our Lord and Savior who suffered, bled, died on the cross and then rose
that glorious Sunday morning with all power in His hands; our deliverer and Savior.
God, my all 'n all; the only One who can do anything but fail, What a
God!
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Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Heavenly Manna
Exodus 16:4-32
....Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall
go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they
will walk in my law, or no. And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day
they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as
they gather daily.
The setting for today's message is the children of Israel
wondering in the desert with no food; they cried out to the Lord. God spoke to
Moses telling him what He would do for the children of Israel. God
rained bread from heaven; the people were to go out and gather enough for each
day's meal; then on the sixth day would be more to gather to accommodate the
weekend as the Sabbath was and is set aside for rest and worshiping God.
God was testing the nation of Israel's loyalty to Him and His
laws. If they failed to obey His instructions, then their actions would tell
God where their hearts, loyalty and obedience to Him were. Obedience is
trusting God to keep His word, which He has done. Disobedience caused sin to
enter the world and man has been in a fallen state ever since.
Just as God rained down manna from heaven to feed the nation of Israel
He rains His spiritual manna on all believers then, now and for generations to
come, which is provided fresh daily.
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welcome
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Monday, December 15, 2014
Rejoice In The Works Of God
Psalm 19:1-4
The heavens declare the glory of God and the
firmament sheweth His handiworks.
Our
scripture text dispels the notions that all creations happened by some form
other than by the handiworks of God. Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1-3 support our
scripture text of God creative powers as Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior was
present during the creation process.
God
is worthy of all praises, glory and honor because of who His is and His
sovereign powers both seen and unseen. His handiworks are visible daily in man
and nature. It is in God that we have our being. God promised to meet all our
needs; He does. Man needed a Savior; God gave His only begotten Son Jesus
Christ to be the Savior of the world. Our salvation is in Jesus Christ as He
was born to die to restore a broken fellowship between God the Father and man.
Therefore,
rejoice! rejoice! let us rejoice in the glory and handiworks of God.
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Monday, July 14, 2014
Three S's Of The Cross
Matthew 16:21-27
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 priest
and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 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.
In our scripture texts we have salvation, sacrifice and service that
Jesus displayed on the cross. That said, let's look at each-salvation is what Jesus provided
through His atoning death redeeming man back to God the Father so that all who
believe in Him and accept His atonement in faith shall be saved. What salvation
means to every believer is that Christ paid our sin-debt as man lacked the
ability to pay his own sin-debt. Christ our Savior willingly gave His life as a
ransom for many-all who believe.
Sacrifice-Christ made the
one-time sacrifice to atone man's sins. Christ's sacrifice supersedes the
sacrifices made by earthly priests in that Christ knew no sin whereas the
earthly priests' sins had to be forgiven before they could make atonement for
the people. Earthly priests could not forgive sin whereas Jesus forgave sin. These
questions come to mind, What sacrifices are we willing to make as an expression
of gratitude for Christ's atoning work on our behalf? Are welling to deny
ourselves for the sake of the gospel of Christ?
The Service component of the
cross, which calls for self denial where Christ denied Himself as He served His
Father unto the cross and is now seated at the right hand of the Father where
He continues to serve making intercessions for mankind. Christ is our perfect
example of a servant who came to this earth not to be served, but to serve, and
serve He did. Christ met the needs (physical and spiritual) of the people while
here on earth and continues to do so while in heaven as His Spirit lives in
every believers. Believers, a line-item in our service record should read self
denial.
Do you see the three S's of the cross?
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Christ And The Cross
John 19:17-22
And He bearing His cross went forth into a place called the place of a
skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha; Where they crucified Him, and
two others with Him, on either side, one, and Jesus in the midst.
Taking an in-depth look at the cross and Jesus Christ our Savior, the
cross tells of God's love for mankind who gave His only begotten Son to bear
the sins of the world (John 3:16). Christ became flesh (John 1:14) so that He
could pay man's sin-debt by way of the cross to restore a broken fellowship
that sin caused. Man was created to be in fellowship with God, but God in His
love for His prized creation would not allow man to remain in a fallen state;
therefore, God's plan of redemption to reconcile sinful man back to Him was
implemented. Christ was our sacrificial lamb who was slain from the foundation
of the world. That said, the cross was essential to God's redemptive plan
because God required a sinless atoner to redeem man-Christ met all requirements.
Christ's love for mankind is also on display because He willingly gave
His life as a sacrifice for all humanity and in doing so Christ paid our
sin-debt. All who accept Christ's sin atonement receives God's free gift of
salvation. Salvation is the greatest gift anyone can receive.
Christ and the cross are essential to our salvation; on the cross our
sins are forgiven.
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Saturday, April 28, 2012
Be Viligant
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring
lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.
Peter
is encouraging all believers both then and now to be wise and aware of your
adversary the devil as he is constantly seeking to impede the believer's faith
journey as believers have committed him or herself to doing the will of God.
How must believers be vigilant of our
adversary? This is achieved by first refusing to believe his lies as he is
a masterful strategist and is very clever in laying straps. Reflect on how he deceived Eve into eating
the forbidden fruit, he is still at work in the world today. Second, believers
are to be watchful by studying God's Word and living according to His Word.
Third, believers must rely on the Holy Spirit in our efforts to refrain from
falling prey to Satan. Fourth, believers must remain fully dressed in God's
body armour as God knew that Satan would make every effort to destroy believers
(Ephesians 6:11-18). Therefore, believers are to take the fight to Satan
through prayer and God's Word-the Bible.
1
John 4:4 states, "greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the
world;" therefore, use your resources and remain watchful of your
surroundings, because Satan is on the prowl. He wants to destroy you. Believers,
we have victory; Christ won the victory.
Watch
as well as pray.
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Wednesday, April 4, 2012
The Cross
Galatians 6:12, 14
As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you
to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution of the cross of
Christ. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
Reflecting
on the significance of this week these questions come to mind, What do the
cross mean to you? Does it mean that all had sinned and come short of God's
glory (Romans 3:23) and this posed a love dilemma for God and the cross was
God's perfect solution as He is righteous and cannot look on sin? Do you
believe that the cross of Christ was where God's wrath and love collided? Do
you believe that God poured out His wrath on His Son so God's love and
forgiveness could be lavished upon us? Does
it mean that the horrific death that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ suffered
for our salvation is worthy of our steadfast faith in Him? Does it mean that
all who believe in Jesus Christ suffered and died with Him on the cross and was
raised with Him on Resurrections Sunday to a life of righteousness? Do you believe
it was necessary for Jesus to go by way of the cross and to shed His precious
blood to atone man's sins as man lacked the ability to atone his own sins?
The
cross means that Christ bore the wrath of God the Father for our sins to redeem
man back to the Father all out of love. Without the cross of Jesus Christ there
is no salvation and no hope for tomorrow.
The
cross is the beginning of Friday's and Sunday's events; Crucifixion Friday and
Resurrection Sunday. Thank God for both.
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are welcome.
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