Easter Words - Death

Easter Words – “Death” “Death is swallowed up and utterly vanquished forever in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? Now sin is the sting of death, and sin exercises its power upon the soul through the abuse of the Law. But thanks be to God, Who makes us conquerors through our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Cor.15:54b-57(Amp.). Jesus’ death on the cross, with all of its ramifications, was the most significant death in all of history. To a Christian there is no “grim reaper” in death, just angels to usher us into the Father’s presence, and to forever be with Him (Luke 16:22). There have been more books written about Jesus’ death, more sermons preached, more songs sung and more enactments than all commemorations ever given. Jesus’ death, and all it meant for the eternal salvation of all mankind who would believe in His shed blood, became the crux of the Christian faith and he crossroads for the Jews (Rom.1:16). Jesus’ death became the pivotal point which turned the “Law” to “Grace,” from sacrifice of a lamb to the eternal sacrifice of “The Lamb” (John 1:29). Jesus’ death meant we could live forever. It meant we are free from the curse and demands of the “Law.” Jesus’ death meant because of His going back to the Father He sent His Holy Spirit to live in and with us. Jesus’ death meant we can now live in the power, gifts and joys of His spiritual kingdom. To a Christian there is hope after death; hope of all the joys of heaven – no tears, no sickness, no sorrows, no disappointments, nor sin. And, just think, we will be forever with the Lord and those who have gone before us. So Death, where is your victory; for because of the power of the cross your victory has been swallowed up, and your sting has been healed? So why should those of us who are in Christ fear you? We should just give all praise to Jesus Who took the “sting” out of death for us! Face To Face (Carrie E. Breck) What rejoicing in His presence, when are banished grief and pain, When the crooked ways are straightened and the dark things shall be plain. Face to face I shall behold Him, far beyond the starry sky; Face to face, in all His glory, I shall see Him by and by!

Easter Words - "Consider Your Choices to Drink The Cup"

“Choose you this day whom you will serve!” (Joshua 24:15) There has been much discussion on choices and our freedom to choose. All of life is made up of choices, whether or not we believe in unlimited free will to choose, or whether we believe every choice is controlled by God, we being the puppet, He being the puppeteer. According to scriptures (i.e. above and Jn.3:16), God gives us free will to choose in things which determine our destiny. Of course we do not have the freedom to choose who our parents are; or what color our eyes, skin or hair color is; or in which country we are born, etc. But, if we live in a free democratic society, God does give us the freedom to choose who our friends are, who we marry, to what political party we belong, and many more. But the most important choice God has given us is the choice of choosing to serve Him or the world, the flesh or the devil. So we must consider very wisely the choices we make for they may determine our eternal destiny. As a man, Jesus had to make choices also. They were not choices which would determine His destiny, for He was also God in the flesh and God cannot sin. But Satan didn’t seem to understand this because he continued to try to cause Jesus to sin by inducing Him to fall by serving the flesh, the world and the devil, even as we see in Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness (Matt.4:1-11). And He overcame them all by choosing to resist the devil by quoting and standing on the scriptures!! Then the most notable of all Jesus’ temptations was when He had the choice whether or not to “drink the Cup of suffering” that had been prepared before the foundation of the world. Yes, He would suffer and die if He drank This Cup, but His purpose, salvation’s plan, renouncing the flesh, and completing the “work” the Father had for Him to do would be finished. It would all be accomplished forever, for “whosoever” would choose Him. Or He could choose to take the easy way (for now) - to succumb to the flesh – to refuse the Cup. This would mean for us there would be no salvation, or freedom from sin; no heaven with all of its glories; and no eternal life for anyone, only a fearful and awful expectation of divine judgment…. (Heb.10:27). If Jesus had not drunk this Cup, we would not have a choice between being with Jesus forever, nor forever spending eternity without Him. I am forever grateful that Jesus chose to drink that most bitter Cup which enabled us to live a life free from the bondages of sin, and someday to enjoy the pleasures of heaven with Him forever, and ever and ever, and as Dr. S.M Lockeridge said in one of his sermons, “…and when you get through with all the evers ….then AMEN!!” Because at the cross Jesus gave you the freedom and summun bonum choice (“the supreme good from which all others are derived”), to choose life or death! Today, choose who you will serve! As for me and my house we will serve the Lord! I have determined to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back!! b>

Easter Words - Betrayed

Blog - Easter Words “Betrayed” Betrayed is a hurtful word. Just to say the word brings feelings of hurt, incomprehension, mistrust and sorrow for that relationship which cannot ever be the same again. Saying the word in jest, or with a sneer, or with a sorrowful voice, it doesn’t matter how you say it there is deceit and sorrow in the word. Do you feel you have ever been betrayed at some time by a friend, your spouse, your child, or even your government? Webster says to betray is “to deliver into the hands of an enemy, to lead astray or to desert in time of need.” Jesus certainly knew the feelings of betrayal, but He knew those “friends,” this night, this time in history, this place, this pain – all was prophesied. This was the night and the time for the “King of the Jews” to be betrayed. This night was meant to be a time of meditation and remembering. This Pass-over night was to be celebrated with special foods, with special friends, in a prepared place. But as the fulfillment of prophecy would make it, this night became the night of great loss for Jesus, part of which was never to be gained again. It was to be the eternal loss of one of twelve of Jesus’ closest friends, Judas Iscariot, loss temporarily of all of His other friends and family. He had to bear this loss alone. All the disciples slept while Jesus agonized in prayer over the coming events, but Jesus recognized the betrayal was soon to be completed, “Get up, let us be going” See, My betrayer is at hand!” Even as He was speaking, the betrayer came with a great crowd of especially wicked sinners whose nature was to act in opposition to God. They had swords and clubs. Betrayers are always cowards who hide behind someone or something else to do their “dirty” work. Jesus had trusted His betrayer with the group’s money bag – Judas was the treasurer. He could have at any time taken any or all of this small group’s money to keep for his own, if he chose. Isn’t it ironic that it was money, just 30 pieces of silver, that was the betrayal barter used to buy Judas. Judas was to hand Jesus over to the “haters” in exchange for these few coins. To demonstrate how very deceitful this betrayer was, he preplanned his hypocrisy with a friendly greeting, an embrace and a kiss of pretended warmth and devotion, to signify the certain one to be taken. Even then Jesus called Judas, “Friend, – for what reason are you here?” (Jesus knew the answer.) But Jesus went willingly, as a Lamb to the slaughter, although Jesus could have appealed to His Father and He would have provided more than twelve legions (80,000 angels), but He did not in order that all the scriptures might be fulfilled. So all this must come about. All these happenings were prophesied and fulfilled in Matt.26:1-57. Were there other betrayers among the twelve? Matthew 26:56 says, “Then all the disciples deserted Him and fleeing, escaped.” Was that betrayal? Verse fifty eight says that Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest’s home; and even went into the courtyard to watch as Jesus was accused, spit upon, and struck with fists and slapped in His face. While sitting and watching in the courtyard a maid came to Peter and accused him of being with Jesus the Galilean, but Peter denied (he lied). He went out to the porch where another maid saw him and also said he had been with the Nazarene. Peter again denied it and disowned Jesus with an oath (I guess to make emphasis??), saying he did not know the Man. Later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “You certainly are one of them too, for even your accent betrays you.” Peter began to invoke a curse on himself and swear, “I do not even know the Man!” After the third denial a rooster crowed as prophesied by Jesus. And Peter remembered Jesus’ words, and he went out and wept bitterly. Did Peter betray Jesus? You answer this for yourself. Did the other twelve betray Jesus when they ran away when confronted with arrest and possible death? You answer. Do we, in myriad and sometimes like ways, betray Jesus by our denial of being “one of His?” Do we betray Him by failing to support His cause? Do we betray Him by failing to walk a godly life and fail to point others to the only One Who can give them salvation now and forever? Do we betray Him by failing to stand alone when others (maybe all others) will not stand for Christ? Is there enough evidence against us to convict us of being a Christian, a Christ follower? After the deed was done Judas, the betrayer, became very remorseful – but it was too late to undo what had been done. It isn’t remorse that saves anyone. Judas could have been saved if he would have only confessed his horrific sin, repented and asked for forgiveness. When Judas, His betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was afflicted in mind and troubled for his former folly; and with remorse (which was little more than a selfish dread of the consequences, and hopefully a realization of the Truth about Jesus), he brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, “I have sinned in betraying innocent blood.” They replied, “What is that to us? See to that yourself.” Were the Betrayer’s last thoughts not only of remorse but of the true price of betraying the One Who loved Him most. Did Judas have remorse for betraying the only one who could change his darkness into light; and change him from being a “betrayer” to being a kind, loving, loyal and devoted friend; and, most of all, the only One Who could save Him eternally. And casting the pieces of silver into the holy place of the sanctuary of the temple, he departed; and he went off and hanged himself (Matt 27:3-5 Amp.). Erwin Lutzer said that the gate to hell is right by the gate to heaven. Judas took the wrong path. Judas’ epitaph would have been, “It would have been better for this man if he had not been born.” For us we can say, “Unless I have been born twice, it would be better if I had not been born at all.” Although Jesus Christ was betrayed He continued to love and now He lives and enables us to love although we have been betrayed, hurt, disillusioned, rejected and despised - so was He! If I Gained The World But Lost The Savior Anna Olander If I gained the world, but lost the Savior, Were my life worth living for a day? Could my yearning heart find rest and comfort, In the things that soon must pass away? If I gained the world, but lost the Savior, Would my gain be worth the lifelong strife? Are all earthly pleasures worth comparing, For a moment with a Christ-filled life. Had I wealth and love in fullest measure, And a name revered both far and near, Yet no hope beyond, no harbor waiting, Where my storm-tossed vessel I could steer; If I gained the world, but lost the Savior, Who endured the cross and died for me, Could then all the world afford a refuge, Whither, in my anguish, I might flee? O what emptiness!—without the Savior, ’Mid the sins and sorrows here below! And eternity, how dark without Him! Only night and tears and endless woe! What, though I might live without the Savior, When I come to die, how would it be? O to face the valley’s gloom without Him! And without Him all eternity! O the joy of having all in Jesus! What a balm the broken heart to heal! Ne’er a sin so great, but He’ll forgive it, Nor a sorrow that He does not feel! If I have but Jesus, only Jesus, Nothing else in all the world beside— O then everything is mine in Jesus; For my needs and more He will provide.

Easter Words - Adore, Agony, Alone

“Adore Him for His Agony Which He Suffered Alone” As we approach the most significant day of the year to the Christian, and deeply and meditatively look at the total picture of the price that was paid for our redemption, for our salvation, for our deliverance, and for our hope of eternal life. We must adore Him for this incomprehensible love of the Father toward us; what can we possibly do but fall on our faces before Him and just Adore Him for being willing to go through such Agony. He could have called tens of thousands of angels to deliver Him, but instead He endured the Agony that was set before Him and prophesied hundreds of years before - it was the Father’s will. Jesus knew before His ordeal began that one of His own apostles, His own family, the leaders of His church, and even some of his disciples (His followers), and His friends. He was alone! Webster’s definition of adore is “to worship, to bow down, to serve.” We say we adore, someone we admire and for whom we have great affection. Our feelings of admiration and caring may be very great toward another person, but if we have ever truly “fallen-in-love” with Jesus, we cannot truly adore another in the true sense of the word. When we consider and accept all the Father did for us through Jesus Christ, we are compelled to bow down our knee, our will, our desires, hopes and dreams, and our whole heart to Him and desire and seek how we can serve Him in spirit and in truth. We are compelled to adore Him by putting Christ first in our lives – to love Him with all our heart, soul and intellect (Mt. 22:37). We must not have anything before Him in our hearts, He must have first place. To adore Him we must keep our minds “fixed” on Him, and regard Him with our devotion (our love and loyalty). As we adore Him, our meditations, our words and our actions should intentionally bring honor to Him Who did so much for us. As the Christmas carol says, “O come let us adore Him!” If we could only realize the agony of the life and death of Jesus! Even before the crucifixion, Christ agonized over those who would not come to him for salvation, comfort, provision and peace, just like a mother fowl gathers her brood under her wings. But His sobbing cry was “You would not” (Matt.23:37, 38). Who were these people who brought such agony of soul to their one and only hope for anything worthwhile in this life? They were the spiritually blind Pharisees, the soldiers who were just obeying orders, Pilate, the prideful church leaders; and even YOU AND I, at times!