As we celebrate our independence in the United States of America lets remember those who fight for freedom everyday. Let’s remember those who have fallen in battle. I thank you. You put it all on the line for freedom.
There is One who can give true freedom.
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36
Watch this to see how
The bad news first. I am a sinner. I am a liar. I am a thief. I have pretty much broken all Ten Commandments. I am doomed! I am a sinner!
How did this happen? How am I this bad? Is there hope? Where is the good news??
You see, along came a serpent that asked a simple question, “Did God really say?” And then he replied to the answer “that is because you will be like Him.” Often this continues to be what plays out when we sin. The question gets asked and then we choose to try to be our own God. Our sin separates us from God because He is so Holy. But He gives us a way to be next to Him.
In the Old Testament God kept coming for His people. He chose a nation for Himself to make holy. Through this nation a redeemer would come to the world. Even though this nation kept disobeying, God kept saving them. He chose Moses to lead the Israelites out of captivity in Egypt. He did not give them a law to obey before he rescued them. He saved them from the rule of Pharaoh then He gave the law. The order of redemption is Salvation, Obedience, and Blessing. This is a theme throughout the Bible.
Knowing that the law couldn’t be kept God allowed animal sacrifice to atone for sins. The penalty of sin is death. Blood is the source of life. It must be spilled to atone for sin. A sacrificial system was laid out by God, but it pointed to something greater.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
As time went on Israel kept falling. The whole time this was going on God kept pointing to one moment in history. The Holy Spirit led some to prophecy about it hundreds of years before it happened.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law. Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it: “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.” Isaiah 42:1-9
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God. Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. Psalm 22:1-18
These are just a few examples of the many. God has always been pointing to His plan to redeem. This wasn’t just for Israel. His plan is for all the nations. He gave us His only begotten Son. He came and did what the law could not do. He came and did what sacrificing lambs and goats could not do. He is the perfect Lamb. He is the scapegoat.
But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5
God, knowing that we couldn’t keep the law, came down to us and became a man. He kept the law His entire life, being tempted as we are tempted, feeling the same suffering we do, yet He did not fall.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15
He lived a perfect life without blemish. He did so knowing the pain of the cross was His main mission. He did so amongst many who hated Him. Many spit on him. Many thought He was just crazy. Yet He lived a life of perfection rooted in the Word and abiding in the Holy Father.
Then comes the humiliation. The scourging. The Cross. His death was the worst in history. The beating and the scourging took Him inches away from death. Then He had to carry His cross with a crown of thorns placed on His head. Then they nailed Him to the cross. Nails through His wrists and feet and the He was raised up to hang there suffocating.
On the cross came His Words:
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. Luke 23:34
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30
His blood is the blood of the perfect Lamb. It was spilled to cover sins. Every sin committed and yet to be committed. His sacrifice is what the old system pointed to yet could not fulfill.
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthian 5:21
This took place for whosoever believes in Him. He suffered the worst death one could suffer so our sins can be forgiven. He suffered the worst death one could suffer so whosoever believes can have eternal life.
This is Good News!
It doesn’t end here. After this happened Jesus was in the tomb for three days and three nights.
For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Matthew 12:40
Then He rose. Not just spirit, but bodily. This is Good News! This is the resurrection. This is what Sunday is all about. He has risen! Risen indeed! Now we have an advocate with God. Now we share in His resurrection. Now we are free from the slavery of sin. Now death has been defeated.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1 Peter 1:3
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-7
I pray you believe.
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3:16-17
Holy Father, You are almighty God. You set heaven and earth in place. You make all possible. I pray that the readers of this believe in Your Son. I pray they are “whoever”. Lord, work in their hearts. There is nothing we can do. You have done it all. Others say “do, do, do,” you have said “it is finished.” Holy Spirit, work in hearts to take out hearts of stone and make them flesh. Let us put our faith in Christ Who died the worst death, taking on the sins of the world, so whoever believes and repents can be forgiven. Thank You so much for Your Son, giving us forgiveness, a way to turn from sin with a hearts of repentance, and eternal life with You. Thank You for giving us the Holy Spirit to work in us and through us. Thank You for Your Word to show us the reflection of who we are and the way to know Who You are. May we always find You there. I pray all of this according to Your will being done on earth as it is in Heaven. I pray all of this in the Name above all names. In the only Name that saves. I pray in the Name of my Lord, Savior, Healer, Sanctifier, coming King, Yessuah AhMessiach, Jesus Christ. Amen
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. Ephesians 1:3-10
THIS IS GOOD NEWS!!
This past week a friend of mine lost his sister to cancer. I did not know her but he told me she fought hard. She never gave up.
My friend is a fellow believer in Christ Jesus. He gives his life to Christ. As a believer he prayed without ceasing for his sister to win her battle. He talked to his sister about the healing power of Jesus and what faith in Him can do. He even found a church where the pastor had a personal physical healing by Jesus and took her there. He said she began to gain greater strength to fight for her life. In the end though her life on this earth has gone.
After losing a loved one after praying and believing in miracles many would lose faith. Many would turn from God. But my friend is an inspiration. He knows the truth. He demonstrates true faith in Christ Jesus. Instead of turning from God he boldly turns to Him.
At the viewing he said a few words about his sister. He spoke of how he and many other family and friends had been praying for a miracle. He said that many prayed for her life. Then he spoke more truth of how in her battle with cancer he saw her grow closer and closer to the Lord. He saw her faith grow. You see, he knows the truth. He knows the true miracle. He knows the true promise of Christ Jesus. He knows that when we believe in Him we never die but we have eternal life. Life without pain. Life without suffering. Life without cancer.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26
While we all prayed for a miracle of her life continuing on earth, another one happened. She came to truly believe in Jesus. We prayed for her to live and now she lives forever. If we believe, we will live forever as well. My friend believes. He will see his sister again.
Some may not see it as a miracle. Some only see miracles as the blind seeing, the lame walking, the dead rising back on earth. Once they see they will believe. But believing is seeing. Jesus didn’t work miracles in his life to draw attention to himself. He worked them for the people who already believed. All throughout scripture there are examples.
They came to the house of the synagogue official; and He saw a commotion, and people loudly weeping and wailing. And entering in, He said to them, “Why make a commotion and weep? The child has not died, but is asleep.” They began laughing at Him. But putting them all out, He took along the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and entered the room where the child was. Taking the child by the hand, He said to her, “Talitha kum!” (which translated means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl got up and began to walk, for she was twelve years old. And immediately they were completely astounded. And He gave them strict orders that no one should know about this, and He said that something should be given her to eat. Mark 5:38-43
I recently listened to a sermon by Alistair Begg about this passage. He had a lot of eye-opening points. The one that spoke to my heart about this loss is that after Jesus heals the little girl He tells those in the room not to tell anyone. This is after He puts out all those who were laughing. Alistair Begg points out that those who were laughing at Jesus, unbelievers, did not get to see the miracle. He said something like, “those who laugh at the words of Jesus don’t get to experience the works of Jesus.”
Again I see that a true miracle did take place in my friend’s sister’s life. She believed and now in her death she finally gets to live.
I pray that his family gets time to grieve. I pray that when they are done grieving, whenever that may be, that joy comes in the morning. I pray that they all see the miracle and they all find their way to give themselves to the Lord Christ Jesus.
To my friend, you are a godly man. Your love and boldness for Jesus is inspiring. Thank you for setting a great example for so many.
I saw how many people your sister touched with her life. I am sure there are many more. She is home now.
Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. John 5:25
We all make mistakes. No one is perfect. We may strive to perfection and on the way we may find excellence. In the end perfection in this world may never be reached. It is pretty evident that we will mess up somewhere in our lives. It may be at work. It may be in our personal relationships. It may be in our finances.
Wherever you mess up be careful to not let it define who you are. We are not defined by our worst moment. We can, however, be defined in our worst moment. But we do not define ourselves. It has already been done.
In our mistakes, in our sins, in our lost moments, our Creator is our way out. He defines who we are. He already created us in His image.
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26
(Side note: Notice use of “Our” referring to the Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.)
We are created in the image of God. The problem is we fell. We had the choice to stay perfect but made the choice to sin. Now we have a sin nature that keeps us from seeing we can be better. It can keep us from seeing we are created to be better. When we mess up the enemy wants the mess up to define who we are. The enemy will use it to his advantage to keep us away from God.
Yes, even our little mistakes may beat us down and keep us from God. When we chase perfection in our lives sometimes we have a tendency to rely only on ourselves to get it right. We start to worship the work to get to perfection. We devote our time to making things better. We devote time to self-improvement.
This is what the enemy wants. He wants us to put our time into improving ourselves for ourselves. He wants us to stay worried about our mistakes and our sins. He wants us to feel we can never be good enough.
But God says otherwise. He gave us His only Son and when we believe in Him we are more than conquerors. We do not have to be slaves to our mistakes and our sins. We do not have to keep beating ourselves up because we do not feel perfect.
His love makes us perfect. His work on the cross took our sins. We can now call on His power and turn from our sins. His Holy Spirit is with us. Allow it to work on and through you.
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:14
God made us wonderfully. Our souls know it and when we sin our souls know it is not right. Jesus saves us from that. Our souls long for Him and when you let Him in your life you will have the power to turn from sin. It will not be easy, but on your own it will be impossible.
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:20-23
You can be victorious over your mistakes. You can be victorious over your sins. This has been made possible because Christ Jesus is the greatest victor of all.
Will you let Him in?
Will you let Him be your savior?
Will you put your trust and your faith in Him?
“Jesus fulfilled His part. Now it is time to do ours.” – Josh Conn
Dealing with loss is different for everyone. Some grieve right away and others later. Some grieve for a long time and others for a short period.
I don’t think we ever get over losing a loved one. I don’t think that we should get completely over the loss. It is something that sticks with us. It is up to us though, to find a deeper meaning for the loss and a deeper meaning for life.
As you know, if you have been reading this blog, my Mother passed away a few years ago from ovarian cancer. Even though it was a few years ago, it is still hard sometimes. I guess I have been thinking about her more because I am writing about her more. But that to me is proof that she is still here. Her presence comes to me.
I have a friend who is dealing with loss. I do not know her well, but can tell her Mom was close to her. She relied on her Mom for support. When you feel the only person that supports you is gone it has to be hard. I am sure many of you out there may have lost someone who you felt was the only one. But I will tell you there are others that support you. There is something that will always support you.
Your loss of a loved one may not even have been a death. You can lose people to addiction. You can lose people to a lifestyle change. You can lose people for many other reasons.
Loss is loss. Pain is pain.
Many people handle pain and loss very differently. I used to, and still do, find good reasons why bad things happen. I do not just push-off the bad things and ignore them. I just get passed the grief (and we must grieve) and see what the plan is. Even if I do not get a clear picture, and I probably won’t, I look for the plan. This might take a week, month, year, decade, but you will find something and say “wow, if that loss and pain did not happen then this great thing would have never come to pass.”
Now please do not get me wrong, I love, and as you can see, miss my Mother dearly. But I do not blame anyone for her loss. I am not mad at God. I am thankful for the time with her and I feel I am closer to Jesus because of the loss of my Mother. I believe I would have continued down the path of the ritualistic Catholic, just going through the motions because it was what I did. To be clear it was not what she did. I believe she knew Jesus. She was not a go through the motions Catholic. She believed and now I believe I will see her again and we will be with Jesus.
That is me. That is what I believe. TRUTH. You may not. You might be mad at the world. You might be mad at the doctors. You might be mad at someone who caused the death. You might be mad at God.
God does not bump off people. He loves us all. We are all the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:45 Sometimes bad things happen to good people. Most of the time it is caused by people. God does not have things happen without a plan. It is unveiled in His perfect time. It goes back to TITL.
Don’t know how? Here are two ways.
1) Pray: Just talk to God. Tell Him how you feel. Tell Him what is wrong. Say you’re sorry. Forgive as He forgives you.
2) Read His Word: Get a Bible. Start to read. Even if you do not believe in any of this it won’t hurt to start reading the number 1 best seller of all time. It is the manual some people say they wish life came with. BOOM!
I will leave you with this.
Psalm 34:18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
God Bless
1 Way 1 Truth 1 Life 