"Victory's Yours"

"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."  1 Corinthians 15:57

Those who put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are not defeated, they are victorious.  We have been given victory.  Jesus secured our victory at the cross and in His resurrection. 

Through Jesus we have victory over besetting sins.  We have victory over the flesh.  We have victory over temptation.  We have victory over the enemy.  We don't have to "give in".  We don't have to be defeated by the trials, problems and circumstances of this life.  Jesus overcame and in Him we overcome. 

Often, we live our lives defeated, downcast and depressed because we don't realize that we have already obtained victory.  We aren't trying to gain victory; the victory is already ours.  We tend to let the circumstances and things that we go through tell us that we have lost or that we can't do it or won't make it.  Well, whose report will you believe?  Will you believe the enemy, the circumstances, the flesh, man's report?  Or will you believe what God has said?  He said you are more than a conqueror.  He said you have power over all the powers of the enemy.  He said you are victorious.

Stop walking around with a defeated mentality and loser attitude.  Child of God, rise up and be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.  You are not defeated... you are victorious... thanks be to God.

Have a great day.  If your faith and trust is in Jesus, you are not defeated but you are victorious.

For further reading:
Romans 8:37
Luke 10:19
2 Corinthians 2:14

John 16:33

"The Three Crosses"

"And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left." Luke 23:33

I was thinking about the three crosses at Calvary-- one for Jesus, the other two for the malefactors who were hung on each side of Him.  The three crosses are symbols and reminders to us. 

They remind us of several things.  They remind us that we are all "malefactors"-- evildoers, sinners.  "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."  They remind us that there is none good except Jesus- the One in the middle.  They remind us that whatever punishment we get, we deserve.  They remind us that we are not innocent, even at our best.  We have sinned against and transgressed the laws of God-- and probably the laws of man as well. The two men's death on the cross was punishment for their own sins.  Jesus' death on the cross was punishment for the sins of all mankind-- not His own.

They remind us that not all who have the opportunity to hear the truth about salvation will accept-- some will, some won't.  They remind us that we have to make our own choice concerning our eternity-- it is an individual choice made by each one individually.  Jesus didn't make the choice for either of these men, they made it for themselves.  He didn't force either one to accept Him, and He didn't push them away either.  They remind us of the love and compassion of Jesus who hears the cries of the repentant heart.  It reminds us that as long as we have breath in our bodies, it is not too late for Jesus to save us if we call out to Him.  It reminds us that we are never "too bad" for Jesus to save.   

The three crosses remind us that one day Jesus will do a separation among all people.  This time He will stand in the middle (not hang in the middle) and separate the sheep from the goats, the righteous from the unrighteous.  The sheep (those who like the thief who accepted Him) will be on His right side, and the goats (those who like the other thief who rejected Him) will be on His left side. 

The three crosses remind us that one day those who accepted Him will be with Him forever in His Kingdom.  We will live with Him in His Father's house forever.  We will rule and reign with Him. 

We have focused on the two crosses on each side, but the most important cross was the one in the middle.  Without it there would be no hope, not opportunity to receive forgiveness.  We would all be like the thief who rejected Jesus-- hopelessly lost forever.  But because of the cross in the middle upon which Jesus hung we can have eternal life if we don't harden our heart like the one who mocked Jesus but repent like the other one did. 

Which malefactor on the cross represents you-- the one who rejected Jesus, or the one who received Him as Savior and Lord?

Have a great day.  There were three crosses at Calvary.  Jesus was in the middle and two thieves on each side.  Which thief represents you?

For further reading:
Luke 23 
 

"Playing Religious Games"

"For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."  Matthew 5:20

So many people are playing games with their soul.  They think if they accumulate enough "religious points" they will make it to heaven.  For example, I was talking with a guy the other day about his salvation.  He told me he had been baptized in water and has the baptismal certificate.  He thought that certificate was his passport to heaven.  He was surprised to find out that it wasn't.  Several years ago, I asked another man about his salvation.  His reply was for me to turn on the television on Sunday morning to a particular channel and I would see him singing in the choir.  What?!  Sadly, he really thought that because he attended church and sung in the choir he was on his way to heaven.

Never once in either of these answers did I hear anything about Jesus.  I said earlier that people are playing games with their souls.  They are playing "religious games".  If you think you can earn your way to heaven, if you think you will win in the end just because you have accumulated some "religious brownie points" you are sadly mistaken and deceived.

The Pharisees and scribes were the religious leaders of their day.  They practiced religious rituals.  They taught others the commands of God.  They could quote scripture after scripture.  They were in the temple every time the doors were open.  But Jesus said they would not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 

Our righteousness doesn't save us-- it is like filthy rags.  Our good deeds don't save us-- they are all wood, hay and stubble that will be burned up.  Our religious knowledge doesn't save-- we know only in part.  The ONLY thing that saves us is faith in what Jesus Christ did for us at the cross.  You may think that is a bold statement.  Well, let me ask you something since you may be the one playing games with your soul.  If you have ever played any sort of game whether it is a board game or a field game, are there numerous ways to win?  Or is there only one?  To win you always have to get to the finish line, get around the board, run the bases in order, etc.  So why do we think there are many ways to get to heaven?

In any game there are rules.  In life there are rules.  If you are going to live life you are going to have to follow the rules.  If you are going to heaven, you have to follow the rules that God has established, or you will not win/go.

Have a great day.  Are you playing games with your soul?     

For further reading:
Matthew 7:21; 18:3
Isaiah 64:6
Titus 3:5
Ephesians 2:8,9
 

"Messenger Of Blessings"

"Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord: we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord."  Palm 118:26

This verse was a prophecy concerning the Messiah who was to come.  It was fulfilled in Jesus when He made His triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday riding on the colt of a donkey.

This verse was fulfilled in Christ Jesus, but it is a continuation to what He fulfilled.  It is continued through the Body of Christ.  "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!' (Isaiah 52:7) 

He fulfilled it, but we continue to make it known.  When we share the good news of salvation with others, we do not share it in our own name or authority.  We do it in "the name of the Lord".  We are His messengers, announcing peace and proclaiming good tidings.  We are "blessed" messengers bringing "blessings" to others.  The Greek word here for blessed means:  to invoke a blessing upon a person.  Each time you share the message of salvation through Jesus Christ, each time they hear the Good News that Jesus saves, each time you testify to someone about Jesus, you are bringing a blessing into their lives.  (Of course, it is up to them whether they receive it or not.)

Do you want to be a "blessing" to others?  The best way, the greatest way to do that is by sharing Jesus-- sharing the message of His love, His saving grace, His salvation, His mercy and His power.

Have a great day.  We are messengers of the Lord who bring blessings to others as we share the good news that Jesus saves.

For further reading:
John 12:13
Matthew 21:9

"Praying It From The Heart"

"Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."  Matthew 6:10

When Jesus taught us to pray after the manner of the Lord's Prayer, it was a guideline and model for praying perfect prayers to the Father.  He did not intend for us to pray it out of form, ritual, only from memory or off the top of our head.  It isn't some meaningless, mindless recitation you pray when you don't know what else to pray.

It was meant to be prayed, and any other prayer we pray, from the heart.  It was meant to be prayed in sincerity.  It was meant to be prayed in faith.  It was meant to be prayed with reverence. 

How do you pray it?  How do you pray any prayer to the Father?  Do you pray it from memory only and don't give much thought to what you are saying?  Do you consider it a "stand by" that you pull out when you know you need to pray but don't feel like it?  Do you think you can "throw it up to heaven" and feel justified that you "have prayed"?  When you pray those words, "Thy will be done", do you really mean them? 

I believe we should pray the Lord's Prayer-- I do myself often.  But when we pray it, we should do so from the heart and in faith.

Have a great day.  When you pray the Lord's Prayer, are you just reciting words or is it coming from your heart?

For further reading:
Matthew 6:9-13; 15:8