JESUS IS LORD

 

JESUS IS LORD

Luke 20:41-21:28

It is popular to declare that Jesus is the Savior of the world. While He is, there so much more to Him than being our Savior. We do a disservice to others when we fail to declare Him as being Lord as well. The reason so many fail to mature in faith is because Jesus is not Lord of one’s life. Most are comfortable with knowing that their sins are forgiven, but few are comfortable with letting Jesus control their lives. Only when Jesus is Lord is victory over self and sin found.

In our text for today, Jesus is revealed as the Lord of David. Lord of the humble, and Lord of history. Jesus was born into the lineage of King David. He is the fulfilled of God’s promise to David that there would always be on sitting on his throne. David was declared to be a man after God’s own heart, in spite of his spiritual failures. Isn’t it great to know that we don’t have to be perfect in order for God to be pleased with us? We cannot excuse our sins, but when we live under the lordship of Christ, we are deemed to be righteous and holy before God. God always holds us accountable for sin, and when Jesus is Lord, we are convicted of them and repent.

Jesus is Lord of the humble. 46-21:4 We must always be aware of our tendency to become proud. Pride becomes the downfall of so many. We read through the Scriptures and this truth is made clear over and over again. We become proud of our accomplishments, our popularity, our wealth, our knowledge, our “spirituality”, etc. It’s such an easy thing to fall into. We must always let the Lord examine us and show us our areas of self-pride. The humble in heart do not flaunt what they do for others to see. 1,2 They do what they do whether anyone knows or cares about it. They do what they do out of love and obedience to Christ. 3-4

Jesus is Lord of history. 5-28 Whatever is in the world passes away. No matter how majestic things seem to be at the time, they pass away. No matter what happens in the world, they fade away into history. Nothing in this life is permanent. The only thing that surpasses time and remains the same is Jesus. Heb. 13:8 He always has been and always will be Lord. If you want to invest your life and efforts into something that you can always count on to remain the same, invest yourself in Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords for all time.

JESUS IN MINISTRY

 

JESUS IN MINISTRY

Luke 20:1-21:38

Living in the footsteps of Jesus is not easy. It wasn’t easy for Jesus to live a holy life on earth. He had much opposition from those who tried to be holy by their works instead of their faith. We likewise face much opposition from those who are not holy, or even try to be. People don’t like to be around people live better lives than they do. What did Jesus do that made so many people opposed to Him?

The most obvious answer is Jesus’ testimony about being God. Jesus did not hide the fact that He was God and was here to do God’s will. He claimed to have an intimacy with God unknown to anyone else. Those who don’t know God have real issues with those who do know Him, and they will often go out of their way to harass and quiet them.

Jesus’ preaching and teaching both amazed and irritated people. He spoke of the things of God in such a way that people gravitated towards Him. He had a following that made the religious elite jealous. Jesus did not let His enemies silence Him. He continued to share the Good New with all who would listen knowing that some would take it to heart and be saved.

In fact, Jesus often put His enemies in their place. He called them out and refused to let them go on sinning without being held accountable for their sins. We ought to follow in the Lord’s footsteps. Instead of being quiet about known sin, compromising the truth about sin, or being afraid of offending someone, we should boldly declare what the Word of God declares is sin.

People desperately need to hear the Gospel message being boldly proclaimed. They need people who are not ashamed to take a stand for righteousness. They need to hear what God says is sin. They must hear so that some can repent and be saved.

Follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Reach out to the world with the Gospel. Do not be silenced by those who would oppose you or mock you. Let your voice be heard; eternity is at stake.

BE REJUVENATED

BE REJUVENATED

Is. 40:28-31

Do your batteries need recharged? Are you running on an empty tank? Does the future look bleak? Don’t despair; there is real hope. Look to Jesus and He will rejuvenate your soul.

Isaiah penned the words, “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God.” He will never cease to be God. He always has been God and is always able to do for you immeasurably more than you could ever ask for or imagine.

The Lord, our God, never grows tired or weary. He is always available and able to help us in our hours of need. He never will get tired of touching and rejuvenating us when we turn to Him.

The Lord knows what it is like to be one of us. He lived iu the flesh for a season. He experienced what we do. He faced things we never could handLven if no one else understands what you are going through, Jesus does. He was tempted in every way that we are, yet without sin. There is nothing you have to deal with in life beyond the ability of the Lord to help you with.

Cast all your cares on the Lord. He cares about your struggles, He will help you deal with them and rejuvenate your soul so you can carry on. He will lift you up above all that weighs you down and you will soar on the wings of an eagle. You will run and not be weary. You will walk and not faint. Let Jesus help you today.

LEARN TO REST

 

LEARN TO REST

Matthew 11:28 “Come to me all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” NLT

There are a lot of “helps” out there for getting rest. There are pills you can take, pillows to lay your head on, mattresses to lay on, and various other remedies. I prefer God’s remedy. Jesus invites us to come to Him and He promises us rest. I don’t believe He is talking about a good night’s rest, although it is much easier when we discover what really causes us to not sleep well.

First, we struggle with things we have said or done that we are not proud of. Guilt and shame haunt us. When we turn over our sins to Jesus, He forgives us and gives us peace and contentment of heart. He bathes us in His love and provides us with a joy that only comes from a right relationship with God.

When we place all of our worries and concerns in the Lord’s hands and leave them there, there is nothing to fear about any of our tomorrows. Jesus will not let us carry around burdens that are too great for us. We will not get weary from trying to handle things we can’t handle. However, if we fail to surrender it all to Jesus, there will be no rest for the soul.

Sometimes instead of just removing the load from us, the Lord will provide others to come alongside of us to help carry our load. We need to be humble enough to what weighs us down and let others help us.

There is no rest for the weary so why not let Jesus help you? Learn to rest in His love. Learn to trust His ability to help you. Learn, to not doubt what the Lord can do for you. “Come to me all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

LEARN TO RELAX

 

LEARN TO RELAX

Ps. 23

Do you find it hard to relax? When was the last time you can honestly say that you relaxed your mind and body to the point where you were free from the stresses of life? Perhaps the news and fear for the future keeps you stressed out. Perhaps family drama is your stress point. Perhaps work keeps you stressed. Perhaps money issues, relationships, church problems, or neighbor conflicts are stressing you out. Whatever the reason may be, relaxing may be a real problem for you. Psalm 23 gives us some ways in which we may find relief from the stresses of life.

The Lord is my shepherd. In other words, get out of the driver’s seat. Relax and let the Lord do the leading.

Get a proper handle on what you really need. Don’t let your wants drive you. The Lord will supply your needs, but He does not say that He will supply your wants. We tend to confuse the two.

Get out of your head that you have to supply what your need. 2,3; Matt. 10:33 Learn to lean on the Lord and trust Him.

Get a grip on who is in control. 4 Only the Lord can restore your soul. Let Him have all that has you stressed out. Let Him take the burden off your shoulders. Let Him have His way with your life and truly be your Lord.

Get underneath the anointing of the Holy Spirit. 5 A shepherd anoints his sheep with oil to help keep pesky gnats away from their heads. The Holy Spirit can help us keep away the nasty little gnats that causes us to stress out. He empowers us to handle them and leads us through them. When He is in control, our cups overflow.

Get used to living life in Chris. 6 Life in Christ now is but a grain in the sand of life in Christ for eternity. Jesus came to give life and to give it more abundantly. John 10:10 Relax and let the Lord shepherd your life. Keep your eyes fixed on Him. Let Him fill your days with His sweet peace, joy, and love.

A HOUSE OF PRAYER 3

 

A HOUSE OF PRAYER 3

Matt. 21:14-17

We notice some interesting things that happened as a result of Jesus clearing out the merchants from the Temple area. First of all, Jesus regained control of the Temple. 14 Before the Lord can be restored to His rightful place as Lord of the church, and before prayer can become a vital part of the church, there must be a purging of God’s house.

Sin must be confessed and forsaken. Jesus must be allowed to be Lord of God’s house. Anything less and Jesus has been stripped of His authority in the church. He is Lord of the church, but when we resist His lordship and leadership, we essentially are stripping Him of His lordship of the church and assuming it for ourselves.

When Jesus is Lord, He welcomes those who were banished from the church and Kingdom of God. The church should welcome all into her fellowship. Salvation is for all. It does not mean we embrace the known sins of all. We must never compromise Biblical truths or values. If we don’t stand for what the Bible declares, we cease to be the true church of God.

We must regularly and consistently examine the church. Is there known sin in the house? Is there an attitude of rebellion against God’s holy standards? Are we standing strong or trying to appease people?

It is time for the purging in the church. We need to get back to our roots where prayer was important, and holiness was expected. But, before the church can be restored, we must individually get right with God. The church is falling into disrepair, but the key to fixing what is wrong begins with you and me.

A HOUSE OF PRAYER 2

 

A HOUSE OF PRAYER 2

Matt. 21:13 He said, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a place of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!” NLT

We notice first of all, that Jesus referred to the Scriptures. Isn’t that what we should be doing, standing on the authority of God’s Word? Ours should not be to debate it, but to live by it. God says what He means and means what He says. Do we believe the Scriptures well enough to stand on what it says?

The Scriptures determine what God’s house is. God’s house is a place of prayer. We must ask ourselves then, “How much praying really goes on in the church we attend?” Is the praying we do limited to a couple of minutes during our worship services? Do we actually invite people to come to an altar of prayer to pray? Is prayer vital to the life of our church? Do we pray out of hearts of love for God, or is it a duty we feel compelled to do? Do we really believe that our prayers make a difference?

The Scriptures make it very clear what God’s house is not. It is not a place of commerce. It is not a place where people get rich. It is not a place where people exploit others. It is not a place where self-righteousness flourishes. It is not a place where people puff themselves up and tear others down.

When we get our eyes off of Christ as the head of the church, we develop all kind of practices the Lord despises. When we let things become a part of church life that keep people from exalting and worshiping Christ in the church, we are stirring up the anger of God against the church. When we let prayer lose its prominence in the church, we are stripping the church of its power and reason for being. When prayer becomes an afterthought in the church and our lives, we no longer can be a people pleasing in God’s sight.

Pray for the restoration of prayer in the church. II Chron. 7:14

A HOUSE OF PRAYER

 

A HOUSE OF PRAYER

Matt.21:12 Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the merchants and their customers. He knocked over the tables of the money changes and the stalls of those selling doves.” NLT

The Temple was the place of worship. It was the most important building in town. People gathered to meet with God. At the time in which Jesus lived, people still offered animal sacrifices to atone for their sins. In the Temple, people gathered to listen to the Word of God being read and taught.

It is always a good thing for people to gather together to meet with God and be feed from the Word. It is good when God is the reason why people gather for worship. In fact, it is essential for the well-being of the soul. It is essential that we are around other like-minded believers. It is essential that the Word of God is taught and preached. It is essential that people sing God’s praises together. It is essential for our well-being to know that we are not alone in our faith walk and the struggles of life.

When Jesus entered the Temple, He took note of what was going on there, and He did not like what He saw. Instead of the Temple being treated as a sacred place, people had turned it into a place of commerce. There were those who were selling animals and birds to worshipers for profit. They treated God’s house as a common and ordinary place to do business.

We need to consider what we do in God’s house. Are we careful to keep it as a sacred pleace, or do we allow it to be used for secular purposes? To what extent should we allow our church buildings to be used for non-worship activities? And if we are okay with letting our buildings be used, do we do it for profit? Do we allow people to sell merchandise to be sold in God’s house? If so, where and when do we allow it?

I believe we ought to give careful thought to how we look at God’s house. It is a sacred place, a place where people come to meet with God. What we do and don’t do affects whether or not we are able to draw near to the heart of God. God’s house should not be like any other building where people gather. We should consider our worship gatherings as being on holy ground, a place where God is at. When we gather for worship, we are approaching the Lord of life, He whom we will stand one day to give an account for our lives. Let us be careful that we do not desecrate our meeting place with God.

THE EARTH SHOOK 3

 

THE EARTH SHOOK 3

Matt. 27:51 At that moment the curtain in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart,…. NLT

At Calvary, the earth shook. The Bible tells us that there is coming a time in which it will shake again. We are quite aware of the earthquakes that regularly occur around the world and the devastation they cause. Yet, none of the great earthquakes the world has known can compare to what is yet to come. Scientists have been warning us for years about big ones that could hit at anytime. The Bible warns us about the really big one that is coming. Rev. 6:12-17

There is coming a day in which God will pour out His wrath on earth. There will be worldwide catastrophes unknown to man. They will increase in their devastation as God purges the earth. A great city, the hub of the world, Babylon, will be hit with an earthquake that will utterly destroy it. A third of its population will die. People everywhere will be in shock at its destruction.

While the world carries on as if it is going to eternally exist, God warns us that it will meet its doom. When God finishes pouring out His wrath, justice will finally be served. He will create a new heaven and earth for us who live in Christ to dwell in.

Because of His great love and mercy, God gives us all a choice. We can continue to carry on like nothing is ever going to happen to us and the world, or we can live as if God is going to keep His word and rain down judgment on earth. We don’t have to live in fear of what is going to happen. We can live in peace with hearts full of love, joy, and sweet contentment if we know Jesus as our Savior and Lord.

We don’t know when God is going to once again shake the earth. The way the world is going, it could be very soon that God will begin to purge the world of sin. I believe that before these things begin, Jesus will come back for the church. Are you living in readiness for His coming? If He were to come today, do you know for sure you will be taken out of the world with the church? If Jesus is your Savior and Lord, you will be with Jesus when He comes back.

THE EARTH SHOOK 2

 

THE EARTH SHOOK 2

Matt. 27:51 At that moment the curtain in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart,…. NLT

As soon as Jesus breathed His last on the cross, Matthew tells us that the earth shook. I also believed the earth served notice. Things happened at Calvary that had never happened before when someone was crucified. It would do us well to pay attention to what we see there.

The earth shook, but the cross stood firm. Isn’t that wonderful news? No matter what may go on in life, the cross stands firm. No matter how evil people may get, the cross stands firm. No matter how many people may try to destroy it, the cross stands firm. The cross stands firm and Jesus calls from it, come. He bids all who are weary and heavy-laden to come. All are welcome. Jesus says, “Come. Come to me and I will give you rest.”

The earth shook and the rocks split apart. The earth shook and the graves were opened. I have often wondered what it must have been like to be in Jerusalem at that time. God opened up the graves and people who had died came alive and wandered all around time. People who people knew, people they had grieved over and buried. People who had an amazing story to tell about God and Jesus.

You would think that all of Jerusalem would have immediately taken notice and believed. Yet, most still did not believe, especially the religious elite who ruled the people. No matter what God does to make himself known, most will not believe. Here we are over 2,000 years later, and most still refuse to believe.

The cross still stands. Do you believe? Do you believe Jesus died on the cross for your sins? Do you believe that the cross is our only beacon of hope for a lost humanity? Is Jesus your Savior today?

THE EARTH SHOOK

 

THE EARTH SHOOK

Matt. 27:51 At that moment the curtain in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart,…. NLT

Some of us remember when Elvis Presley first came on the scene. At the time he was polarizing. He sang songs and moved on stage in way that appealed to young people, but was way too worldly for much of the adult population. One of the songs that has endured time, “I’m all shook up.”

The Bible tells times when the earth was all shook up. There was the time when God spoke to the Israelites at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19:16-19). When the people heard God speak, they trembled, listened, and vowed to obey. It makes me think about how we react today when God speaks. Do we tremble at the voice of God? Do we even listen? Do we even try to obey Him?

Another time the earth shook was when Jericho fell to the Israelites (Joshua 6:20-21). God told the Israelites what to do in order to conquer Jericho and they did it. When they obeyed God, the earth shook and the walls fell down. It is not enough to just listen to what God says, we must take action as well.

We live is very perilous times. Things seem to continue to get worse all the time. We don’t know how bad things may get. Fear grips our hearts. Yet, we are called by God to act. II Chronicles 7:14 calls us to repentance and prayer. Nothing is going to get any better for us until we obey God. We must confess our sins with broken hearts before God and ask Hiim to forgive us. We must put Him back into His rightful place in our lives. We must seek Him. If we do, the promise is that God will hear our prayers, forgive our sins, and heal our land.

Our churches, our nation, we need changed. The question is, “Will we obey God and do what He says? Will we humble ourselves before God, will we admit we have sinned, will we seek His forgiveness, will we let Him change us and our ways?

WHAT THEY DO

 

WHAT THEY DO

Luke 23:34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive these people, because they don’t know what they are doing.”

Sometimes we simply don’t know what we are doing. We mean well, but we don’t always realize the effect our actions have on others. We don’t always know what impact our words have on others. We need to take a careful look at how we act and think from time to time to be sure we are not creating a problem for others in the way we live.

The soldiers who crucified Christ did not understand what they were doing. All they knew was that they were following orders. It was not an uncommon practice to crucify people, and they just figured it was justified due to the obvious hatred of the Jewish leaders for Christ. He must have done something terrible to deserve such a fate. They did not know they were actually crucifying the Son of God.

We need to ask ourselves whether we, too, are guilty of crucifying Christ. We crucify Him when we turn our backs on Him, mock Him by the way we use His name, we treat Him as someone ordinary instead of the Son of God, we don’t take His presence in our lives seriously, we fail to live holy lives, etc. When we do these things, we are essentially putting the Lord back on the cross. We are not allowing Him to make a difference in our lives.

The soldiers denied that Jesus was the Son of God. They mocked Him as they tortured Him before they crucified Him. They made sport of Him and divided His clothes amongst themselves. To what extent do we deny Him? We are often more concerned about the approval of others than we are the approval of God. We only pay attention to what He says that please us. We fail to lift up the Lord and treat Him as one who is worthy of our worship, honor, and praise. We treat Him as if sin is no big deal, that He will overlook them and usher us into heaven in spite of them.

It does matter how we live. It does matter what we say. Jesus will not be mocked. We will stand before God some day and be judged by Christ’s righteousness. It is Christ in us that makes us holy. If God cannot see the difference Jesus makes in us, we will be judged unworthy of being with Him in eternity.

When you look in the mirror of God’s Word,, can you honestly say Christ lives in you?

"FORGIVE THEM"

 

“FORGIVE THEM”

Luke 23:34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive these people, because they don’t know what they are doing.”

It’s hard isn’t it? Forgiving someone who has caused you harm doesn’t come naturally for most people. The physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual pain that often haunt us because of someone’s actions and words haunt us. We usually can’t just “get over it” and move on as if it never happened. Yet, Jesus said that if we are not willing to forgive others, God won’t forgive us. So, what do we do?

As hard as it is to do, we must be willing to let go of the suffering we endure caused by others. Without God’s help, it may be impossible to do. Jesus showed us by His example, that it is possible to forgive those who do us wrong. He could have internalized His pain as the Roman soldiers nailed Him to the cross, but He didn’t. He A asked God to forgive them for what they had, and was now doing, to Him. He was more concerned about their souls than He was His own sufferings. A good place to start with healing would be to ask the Lord to forgive them and help them to treat others better than you were treated.

How can we muster up the interest in the well-being of someone who has wronged us? A good place to start would be with ourselves. We are not innocent people. We are guilty of wronging others, causing them pain and suffering. I know I have. I am no angel. The memory of some of the things I did to others are etched into my mind. But in order to not be a victim to my regretful actions and words, I have learned that I must forgive myself with the Lord’s help. I am not that person anymore because of Gods ’amazing grace. I can’t undo my wrongs, but I can learn from them. Sometimes forgiving one’s self involves going to the person you have wronged and ask for forgiveness.

Most importantly, if we want to be a forgiving person, we must ask God to forgive us for the wrongs we have done to Him. We are all guilty of saying and doing things against God. No one is beyond the need to be forgiven by God. And once we experience His forgiveness, we are set free to forgive those who sin against us.

"FATHER"

 

“FATHER”

Luke 23:34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive these people, because they don’t know what they are doing.”

In this short verse, we can learn so much about forgiveness and our relationship with God. Today I want to focus on our relationship with God.

We notice that Jesus prayed, “Father.” What significance does this have for us? One of the things that it tells us is that Jesus knew God intimately. God was not impersonal, unknowable, or so far removed from us that He wasn’t a real factor in our lives. When you read the Gospel witness, you find where Jesus often called upon God as His father. We read the Scriptures and we soon discover that Jesus was with God and knew God before even anything existed apart from God. Gen. 1:1; John 1:1. Jesus and God were one and the same. Jesus was God in human form.

Jesus knew God internally. John 8:19, 38, 54-55 You cannot read the Scriptures without knowing just how close Jesus was to God. They spent a lot of time together and God made it very clear that He was well-pleased with Him.

We have to ask ourselves about our on relationship with God. Do we know Him intimately and internally? When we refer to God as our Father in heaven, do we do so with a sense of reverence and endearment? Can we honestly say that we know God so well that He is truly our Father? Do we see God as someone who is loving and caring with only our good in mind for us? Do we trust Him for our daily needs with full confidence that He will indeed supply? Does calling God your father mean something special to you, or is it just a word you toss out because of His claim to be your father?

You can never really know God as your father unless you spend adequate and quality time alone with Him. God makes himself known as our Heavenly Father through the Word. If you are not faithful and consistent in reading and applying God’s Word to your life, you will not know Him as intimately as you should. You must also spend time regularly in prayer. If you aren’t talking to Him and listening to Him, He will not mean to you what He could and should be.

PARADISE: A MOMENT OF JOY AND TRIUMPH

 

PARADISE: A MOMENT OF JOY AND TRIUMPH

Luke 23:43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” NLT

The dying thief did not get to enjoyed his salvation for very long on earth, but what joy must have flooded over his soul. His sins were forgiven! He was going to heaven in a matter of a few minutes! He was now a child of God! There is no greater joy known to man than to know that one’s sins are forgiven. What peace floods the soul. What excitement captivates the soul knowing that there will come a day in which he will see Jesus face-to-face and be with Him forever and ever.

For Jesus, it was a moment of glorious triumph. Jesus had finished what He started and was now going back home to be with our Father. He had fought the fight and won. He had opened the door into heaven for all who would let Him lead them through. Man now had access to God! He had fought Satan on his turf and soundly defeated him once and for all. Satan’s death grip over us was broken. Death has been swallowed up in victory! There was nothing more for Jesus to do. He went back to heaven, and sat down at God’s right hand in glorious triumph. What God had planned before the foundation of the world was laid had now come to pass.

Oh what joy, oh what victory, is ours in Christ Jesus. There is no one or nothing that can take them away from us if we are abiding in Christ. Oh, dear friend, don’t let anyone or anything keep you from the joys of salvation. Stay focused on Jesus and live submissively to Him all the days of your life and you will live eternally with Him in the glorious presence of God free from all that is impure and unholy. “Oh, that will be glory for me….” I hope to see you some day there at Jesus’ feet.

PARADISE: A MOMENT OF VICTORY

 

PARADISE: A MOMENT OF VICTORY

Luke 23:43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” NLT

Let’s face it. It’s not an easy road to heaven. We have our ups and downs. No one can stay on the top of things all the time. No one can honestly say they never struggle to keep themselves holy before God. No one always wins their battles with Satan. No one lives a perfect Christian life.

Some people live what we would call charmed lives. They appear to have it altogether. Some achieve great things in life, without the Lord. Others live life on the downside. They never get out of the cesspool of sin. They do all the things God clearly says not to do. They are so hardened by sin that they don’t even fear death. Some reach out to the Lord before their last breath is taken. How do they fare as they enter into eternity. The dying thief gives us hope that even if it’s a deathbed encounter with the Lord, they will be saved from the clutches of hell.

God promises us that there is immediate salvation for all who reach out to Him with believing faith. There are no exceptions to this wondrous truth. No matter how evil a person may be, there is hope for salvation as long as there is breath of life. Never give up on a soul who is lost. Keep sharing the Gospel with them. Keep believing in the power of God to save them. Keep praying that they will believe in the Lord before they die.

There is victory over sin for all who would believe and accept Him. On the other hand, we learn from the cross that not all who are dying will believe in Jesus. The other thief on the cross went to his grave without the Lord. As far as we know, he died in his sins and fell into the clutches of hell.

The repentant thief got more than he bargained for. Not only did Jesus remember him and gave him victory over his sins, He assured him that he would have a glorious future. That very day, he would be with Jesus in paradise. We don’t know this side of heaven what all that entails, but we know that it is wondrous beyond our greatest imaginations. The glory of Christ will so fill heaven that there will be no need of sun. It will be a place where no sin will exist. It will be eternal bliss. Oh, that will be glory for me….!

PARADISE: A MOMENT OF COMPASSION

 

PARADISE: A MOMENT OF COMPASSION

Luke 23:43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” NLT

There were two thieves on the cross. One thief turned to Jesus and found help and hope in the hour of his greatest need. The other thief did not, and as far as we know, ended up in a godless eternity.

The thief that turned to Jesus turned to Him and asked Him to not forget him. He didn’t have time to jump through the hoops we normally would say are essential for entrance into heaven. All he could do was cry out to the Lord, and Jesus answered his heart’s cry. He was given the promise that he would be with Jesus in paradise that very day.

There are a couple of important observations that we need to make. One is that being saved does not necessarily save us from the consequences of our sins. The thief was still on the cross, and he wasn’t going to come down until he was dead. The Lord does not always remove us from paying the price for what we have done, even though He forgives us. We may have physical suffering. We may have to suffer at the hands of the judicial system. We may have to live with broken marriages, estranged children, loss of home and finances. Broken relationships may never be mended. Etc.

Even though we may make a real mess of our lives and things may be irreparable on earth, it does not have to be the end of the story. Jesus forgives sin and gives us in its place peace, joy, hope, a life worth living for, and a life worth dying for.

Jesus loves us. He came to give us eternal life in the presence of God. He came to make us new people, a people belonging to God, a holy people acceptable to God. He came to cancel our sin debt and set us free to live eternally without sin and its consequences. The love of Jesus for us cost Him everything, but it costs us nothing. All we have to do is accept Him as our Savior and let Him take control of our living.

If you have never accepted Jesus as your Savior, as the forgiver of your sins, now is the time. Don’t put it off and take the chance of your entering into eternity without Him. “If you confess your sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive you of your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9

PARADISE: A MOMENT OF GRACE

 

PARADISE: A MOMENT OF GRACE

Luke 23:40-42 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you are dying? We deserve to die for our evil deeds, but his man has done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

As we gaze upon the dying thief and his encounter with Jesus, we notice God’s amazing grace at work. It is a wondrous thing God does for us, none of us deserve the workings of God’s grace in us, but when it happens, it forever changes our lives.

I notice several things that happened to the dying thief. He prayed unexpectedly. No one expects to get caught in their sinful activity. When he did what he did, he certainly did not do it with the idea of dying on a cross for it. And, he certainly did not expect to get into a conversation with God as he was dying.

He prayed out of a sense of desperation and fear. When he met Jesus, he had no hope of ever getting off of his cross. He knew he was dying and fear gripped his soul. He had no one to turn to, no one to help him. But all hope was not gone for next to him was Jesus. He had paid no attention to him while he was living, but now that he was dying, Jesus was all that mattered. While the other thief was mocking Jesus, he asked him, “Don’t you fear God?” It’s a question that defines whether or not a person can truly be saved. A fear of God is natural and normal for those who would seek Him.

The thief prayed in believing faith. He had never given serious thought to whether or not Jesus was the promised Messiah, but now he did. He prayed in Jesus’ name. He finaslly saw the light and knew that Jesus was indeed God and could help him be ready for his last breath of life. As the saying goes, “It is better late than never.”

He prayed, “Remember me, Lord.” He did not pretend to be better than he was. He did not deny his life of sin. He did not try to clean up his act before He came to Jesus. He came to Jesus just as he was, a lost sinner in need of a Savior. He finally saw the light. Jesus was able to help him. “Remember me, Lord. Don’t forget about me. Don’t let me die without you. Don’t let me live another moment without you.”

He died expectantly. “…...when you come.” He knew that this was not the end for Jesus. Jesus would live on. He was soon going to establish His kingdom. Death was merely a stepping stone into eternal life. The thief did not want to be left behind.

May his prayer be all of our prayers. Don’t let your guaranteed death catch you unprepared and leave you behind.

PARADISE: A MOMENT OF OPPORTUNITY

 

PARADISE: A MOMENT OF OPPORTUNITY

Luke 23:39 One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself---and us, too, while you’re at it!”

This passage reminds us of several important truths that we must heed. We are reminded that God gives us opportunities to be saved, even sometimes on our deathbed. When we reach out to Jesus and accept Him as our Savior, we are given much grace. Jesus is compassionate and does not turn us away when we turn to Him. When we turn to the Lord we become victors over sin and hell. We then experience the wondrous joy of salvation. And then, when we die, we enter into paradise, a place where Jesus has gone on before us to welcome us into God’s kingdom.

In verses 39-40, we learn that God gives us opportunities to be saved. Everyone is given one last chance to! repent. Our problem is, we don’t know when our last chance will be given. For some, it’s early in life and for some it may be late in life while we are on our deathbed. We cannot assume that we will have another day, another chance to get right with God. If we pass up our opportunity to repent and die in our sins, it will be too late and we will wind up in hell. Life is very unpredictable and fragile. Only a fool would ignore God assuming there will be another day, another hour, for him to repent.

There is no way to sugarcoat this sobering truth. Today is the day of salvation. This moment in time is all you have been given. You don’t know when you will be taking your last breath. Hell will be full of people who passed up God’s offer of salvation one too many times.

I am sure that the dying thief on the cross did not wake up that morning thinking about salvation. He may have been overwhelmed by the thought of his certain death that day, but he probably did not know he would be dying next to the Savior of the world. But God in His mercy opened his eyes to the truth and realness about Christ as they hung there on their crosses. He understood that thought he did not deserve it, God had given him one last chance to repent. No one deserves another chance to repent. No one deserves to be forgiven for their life of sin. No one deserves to be with Jesus in paradise.

Are you sure you are ready to die? Can you say with confidence your sins are forgiven and if you were to die today that you would be in paradise with Jesus? This moment may be your last opportunity to be sure before you die. Don’t be a fool and pass up your opportunity to be ready to die.

CHRIST ON THE CROSS: HIS PORTION

 

CHRIST ON THE CROSS: HIS PORTION

Isaiah 53:10-12

Isaiah predicted that not only would Jesus come and die, He would come for a purpose. We cannot understand Jesus or live for Him unless we can understand His portion in life. What makes Jesus stand out from all the other people who have died cruel deaths before and after Him?

Jesus did not just die, He died to lay down His life for our sins. No one who has ever lived on earth was qualified to die for our sins except for Jesus. He did what no one else could ever do, He lived a sinless life. 10 He alone was able to satisfy God’s wrath against sin. He laid down His life, no one took it from Him. Everyone who participated in Jesus’ death was helpless to stop doing what they did. Jesus had to die.

Jesus died to lift off the curse of sin from our souls. God’s holiness demanded that he who would sin against Him must experience the death of their soul. No one with a heart full of sin could be with Him. Jesus, who knew no sin, is perfectly righteous and holy before God. He broke down the curtain that separated sinful man from God. He stands between us and God and is our righteousness and holiness so we can draw near to God.

God commands us to be holy, even as He is holy. When Jesus rules our hearts, we become a holy people, a people after God’s own heart. We become victors over sin instead of victims to it. Instead of living in sin to sin, we live in Christ to sin no more.

Jesus not only paved the way for us to be a people well-pleasing to God, He is the way. He forever changes our standing before God when we abide in Him. He changes our hearts. He changes our thinking. He changes our living. The old us gives way to the new us.

Jesus did not die in vain when we open up our hearts and lives to Him. He forgives our sins when we confess them to Him and ask for His forgiveness. He takes the controls away from us and gives us a new life, and abundant life, now and forever. But for those who reject Him, nothing changes in their lives. They remain slaves to their sins and hell awaits them when they die. They spend their lives without hope and die without hope of ever escaping hell’s clutches.

Is Jesus your Savior and Lord today?

CHRIST ON THE CROSS: HIS PASSIVITY

 

CHRIST ON THE CROSS: HIS PASSIVITY

Isaiah 53:7-9

If anyone had anything worthwhile to say, it was Jesus. All throughout His earthly minister, Jesus spoke out. He made it very clear through word and deed that He was the promised Messiah,, the Son of God. He was bold in His preaching and teaching, so bold that those who rejected Him sought to have Him killed. There is nothing more dangerous than a religious people who believe the lies of Satan rather than the voice of God.

Yet, when it came time to speak out once again or die, Jesus was silent. He did not try to defend himself so He would live. Rather, He chose the path that led to His death, for that was why He came and He knew that it was time. He could have commanded the angels of heaven to silence His accusers, but He did not. Matt. 22:63 By His silence, He forced them to crucify Him. There is a time to speak out, and there is a time to be silent. Wise are those who know when to be quiet.

Jesus knew that He would be crucified. He knew the cruelty of the Roman soldiers would be almost unbearable. He knew what His body, mind, and soul would be facing in just a few short hours, yet He let His accusers have their way with Him. He would not let anyone stand in the way of His going to Calvary because of His unfathomable love for us.

Jesus kept quiet, even though He knew He was innocent. He knew no sin, and nobody could ever find one in Him to accuse Him of it. He was willing to let others lie about Him in order t and crucify Him. There will always be those who accuse us of wrongdoing, even when we know we have done nothing wrong. How we respond to our accusers speaks volumes about our souls. It is not always necessary, or even beneficial to address the accusations of others. Others will believe and say what they want, and they won’t listen to what we say, even if it’s the truth.

Ask the Lord to give you the wisdom to know when it’s important for you to speak out and when it’s important for you to just be quiet. It is much more important to be a victim of man’s words than it is God’s wrath. Leave matters in God’s hands, and He will be sure justice will be served.

CHRIST ON THE CROSS: HIS PASSION

 

CHRIST ON THE CROSS: HIS PASSION

Isaiah 53:4-6

Jesus was a man of great passion. He believed with all of His heart in His mission, and He was willing to give His all to fulfill it, even His death on the cross. We see Christ’s passion on display in His determination to do God’s will, bring God glory, finish what He started, and to not wilt under enormous adversity.

Jesus knew that going to the cross was God’s will for Him. He had prayed in great agony over what He knew awaited Him in Jerusalem. He asked God that if there was any other way to purchase our salvation that it would be done. Yet, He knew through prayer that there was no other way, and He yielded to God’s will. He set out for Jerusalem with His disciples, knowing that even they would desert Him when things got really bad. His passion was to provide a way for our sins to be forgiven and cast away from God where they would be seen no more.

Jesus’ passion was always to see God glorified. John 12:27-28 Jesus did not seek His own glory. He knew that if God were to be glorified, He would also. He knew that after the cross, He would return back to God and be eternally glorified with God. We likewise need to seek God’s glory always and not our own. Only the Lord deserves praise, honor, and glory.

Jesus’ passion is seen in His determination to finish what He came to do. John 20:30 Jesus did not have to finish what He started, but He did. He could have called upon the legions of heaven’s angels to come and take Him home at any moment of the process, but He wouldn’t do it. They were at His command; He was the Captain of Heaven’s armies. Instead, He endured the horrendous beatings meted out by the Roman soldiers, being nailed to the cross, the mockery of the crowd gathered there, and the painful process of dying on the cross. Are we as determined to finish what we start for the Lord? Are we willing to pay whatever price is necessary in order to fulfill God’s will for us?

Jesus was determined to not wilt in the face of adversity. He had counted the cost before He came. He knew that He would be misunderstood and rejected by most. He knew that even dying on the cross would not convince most that He was the Son of God. He knew that He would be the object of much scorn and mockery, then and forever. Have you counted the cost of following Jesus? Are you determined to stay true to Him no matter what happens to you or how you are received by others? Have you taken up your cross to follow Him? It’s not an easy road to heaven and few will actually travel on it.

CHRIST ON THE CROSS: HIS PERSON HOOD

 

CHRIST ON THE CROSS: HIS PERSON HOOD

Isaiah 53:1-3

You cannot read the Bible without knowing who Jesus is. Those who are confused about who He is have never read the Scriptures, deny that what is written is true, or are so deeply immersed in sin that they cannot grasp that He is God wrapped up in our humanity.

Through Isaiah, the prophet, Jesus is revealed as a servant of God. 2 We don’t very often think of Him that way, but Jesus himself said that He came not to be served, but to serve. Jesus came as a servant of God to do His will, to be the perfect sacrificial lamb for our sins. Jesus never backed down when confronted about whether or not He was the promised Messiah, the Son of God. He made very bold and clear statements about His being God. Matt. 26:62-64 In a role that only He could fill, Jesus was God serving up to us eternal salvation.

As a servant of God, Jesus humbled himself and became man to die for our sins. John 1:12,14 Jesus was the perfect balance between God and man. He was fully God and fully man. We read in the Scriptures that Jesus experienced what all humans do. He was hungry, tired, angry, frustrated, saddened, compassionate, needed alone time, suffered great pain, was mocked, and felt forsaken by even God himself.

We see Jesus as a great lover of people. He reached out to them and helped them with their physical and spiritual needs. He was the greatest example of love the world has ever known. It was His love for us that moved Him to offer himself as the sacrifice for our sins, and it was His love that kept Him on the cross until our salvation was won.

. Isaiah portrayed Christ as being just a normal looking man. There was nothing special about His appearance that drew people to Him. He was a carpenter by trade growing up. He did not glow as you might expect from someone coming from heaven. He was not a world leader. He was not among the rich and famous. He did not win any popularity contest.

Yet, He changed the very course of history. He did what only He could do. He opened up the doors of heaven for us. He made it possible for our sins to be forgiven. He broke down all the barriers of humanity and offers salvation to all who would receive Him. Hallelujah, what a Savior!

CHRIST ON THE CROSS: HIS PREEMINENCE

 

CHRIST ON THE CROSS:HIS PREEMINENCE

Isaiah 52:13-15

Seven hundred years before Jesus was ever born, Isaiah prophesied about His coming and suffering. In our text today, we see our Lord’s preeminence. As we look at verse 14, we notice the appearance of Christ on the cross, and it’s not something for the weak of heart to see.

Jesus was disfigured. His appearance was such that He could barely be recognized as being who He was. His body had been put through horrendous pain. He was whipped with leaded chords to the point where his flesh was torn from Him. His head was running down with blood from the crown of thorns jammed onto His head. He was degraded by those who put Him on trial. They spit in His face and slapped Him. He was despised. Not only was He flogged and mocked, but He was forced to carry His own cross until He simple couldn’t carry it anymore. Jesus was devalued. He was deemed by the powers to be to not even be fit to live anymore. “Crucify, Him! Crucify Him!” was their passionate cry.

In spite of all that He was forced to endure (although He could have called upon His angelic hosts at any time to come and spare Him), we notice the activity of Christ at Calvary. He did what He was often found to be doing throughout His ministry, He forgave those who were crucifying Him. He never backed down from those who considered Him to be guilty of blasphemy. He never stopped being God. Even the thief on the cross experienced Jesus’ forgiveness.

We also notice the ascension of Christ from the cross. Although He indeed died in the flesh on the cross, He lived on. Death could not keep its prey; up from the grave He arose with a mighty triumph over His foes. He is seated today at the right hand of God and He is coming back for the church. Hallelujah, we serve a risen Savior today!

In verse 15 of our text, we notice the atonement of Christ through the cross. Jesus did not die in vain, nor was it without purpose. Jesus died for our sins and has given eternal life to all who would receive Him in their hearts. Because of what He did on the cross, He forgives us for our sins, and there is no sin beyond the reach of His saving grace.

Jesus is preeminent overall. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is the creator and sustainer of all that is. And best of all, we can know Him personally as our Savior and Lord. Do you know Him today as your Savior and Lord?

BUT, GOD 2

 

BUT GOD 2

Ps. 3:3-8

In the first two verses of this Psalm, the Psalmist speaks to us about how things are in the world. In verses 3-6, we are challenged to reflect on how things are in the Lord, and in verses 7-8 we are challenged to ask ourselves how things are with us in our faith walk.

How are things in the Lord? We see in verse 3 that for the child of God, the Lord is our protection and encourager. The Lord is our shield. He has us covered with His protective care all around us. He won’t let any harm come to our souls as long as we stay in His protective care. He encourages us by lifting up our heads. He is our glory, the one who keeps us from sinking beneath life’s circumstances, trials, and tribulations. He won’t let us sink beneath them as long as we stay fixed upon Him.

In verses 4-5, we discover that the Lord is our helper and peace. When we cry out to Him, He hears and comes to our aide. What peace of heart and mind! What joy to know that when we cry out to the Lord, He hears and answers our prayers! We can lie down and rest in His loving arms knowing the Lord is with us and on our side. We are safe as He watches over us.

In verses 6-8, we discover that the Lord is our deliverer and victor. There is nothing to fear when we are living in the Lord. Even if we are left all alone as we fight our battles of life, we are never alone for the Lord is with us.

Are you winning your spiritual battles, or are you struggling to stay out of the cesspool of sin? Victory comes from the Lord. We cannot stand up to Satan and resist him on our own strength. We don’t have the willpower to rise up and overcome what tempts us without the Lord’s help. Stay rooted in Christ. Let His shield of protection surround you. Rest in what He can and is willing to do for you. Cry out to the Lord and let Him deliver you. There is victory in Jesus for all who abide in Him.

BUT, GOD

 

BUT, GOD

Ps. 3:1,2 O LORD, I have so many enemies, so many are against me, so many are sayng, “God will never rescue him!” NLT

We live in very troublesome times, yet it’s a very exciting time. The world is self-destructing right before our very eyes, but God. God has not lost control. His promise of Christ’s return is being fulfilled daily in our lives.

As we observe what is happening in our world today, we notice that believers are shrinking in population, popularity, and our position in the world. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that the world is outgrowing the family of God. As the world’s population increases, so does those who do not know the Lord. Everyone is naturally born a sinner and few find their way into the Kingdom of God. As the population increases, so does those who are opposed to God. It comes as no surprise to us as the Lord told us it would be this way as His return drew near.

There was a time in which believers were at least shown respect in the world. As the world increasingly has grown alienated from God, evil has prospered. Those in the darkness do not like believers because we challenge them in their lifestyles. We expose sin for what it is and warn people that hell is real and they are going there if they don’t repent. Now, the world is trying to silence our voice. God has been kicked out of the public arena, and it has now gotten to the point where we are accused of all kinds of bias and hatred because we don’t condone what the world accepts as good and the norm. God told us it was going to happen before Jesus came.

Once, godly people were often seen in positions of power. Once, people respected believers because of their higher standards and values. Once, people wanted a godly influence to help balance the influence of evil around them. Not so much any more. People want to be surrounded by those who will tell them what they want to hear. They don’t care about the truth. They only care about what makes them feel good about themselves.

But, God is still in control. We must pray that the Lord will raise up godly difference-makers in our world today while Jesus still tarries. We must pray that the church will wake up and return to a holy standard in our world. We must pray that we can reach as many people as we possibly can before Jesus comes.

SURRENDER

 

SURRENDER

“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Luke 23:46

As a man, Jesus struggled mightily before He went to the cross. He knew that His crucifixion was very close. He knew all that He would have to go through in order to become our Savior. He knew that He didn’t want to do it so He went to the Garden of Gethsemane with a few of His disciples to pray. He took along His disciples so they could be there to support Him as He wrestled with His reluctance to go through with it. He knew He had to die, but like most of us, He fought to live.

Jesus prayed. It was His way of life. He regularly got alone with God and prayed. Prayer for Jesus was as necessary as the food He ate. He always stayed in close fellowship with God. But, what awaited Him required more intense praying than He had ever prayed before. He was at war within himself. He prayed that God would somehow spare Him from the suffering He was about to endure. He knew that His suffering was going to be intense, both physically and spiritually. I believe that He knew that there was going to a time in which He would even be unable to be in touch with God.

Jesus turned to the disciples for support, but they could not stay awake to pray. Three times He turned to them, and they let Him down each time. Jesus prayed that if it were possible that God would find another way to save us. He prayed so intensely that it was as if sweat drops of blood poured from His body. He prayed until He was ready for what lied ahead, until He had surrendered His will to live to God’s will for Him to die.

Have you ever been in a spiritual battle while you prayed? Have you wrestled with God over your will? Has God led you to do something you didn’t want to do, but you knew you had to in order to obey Him? Have you ever prayed until you had surrendered your will to God’s will for you?

It’s a constant battle, isn’t it? We often want different things for us than God does. We are prone to resist His will when it conflicts with our own. Yet, surrendering is the only pathway to peace and victory. It is impossible to live in close fellowship with God without a surrendered heart. Have you given your all to Jesus? Is He Lord of all your life? If not, pray. Pray until you can say, “All to Jesus, I surrender. All to Him I freely give….”