Category Archives: Power of The Cross

Christmas Forthnight Day 9 A Word from THE WORD! #421

20 Saturday Dec 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, Christ IS Alive!, Christmas IS Jesus, Christmas IS?, Christmas Ponderings, Holiness, Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus is our peace, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus IS Truth!!!, Power of The Cross, Praise Encourages our Heart, Praise God Today!, Time, Time Is Grace!, Times and Seasons, To Me To Live Is?, TODAY

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Christmas Fortnight Day 9   A Word from THE WORD! #421

Ornaments, lights, a manger and even trees—we’ve looked at all of these during this Christmas “Time”.  We are a culture of “Time”.  Clocks, watches, alarms, appointments, deadlines, punctuality!!!   All things related to time, so let’s take a ‘minute’ to talk about “Time”.  We mention Christmas ‘time’ as a special ‘time’ to reflect on the incarnation of our Messiah, our Savior, our Lord, yet is this not something that we should reflect on, celebrate and share all the ‘time’?

Philippians 2:7-8 says of Jesus,

“But

made himself of no reputation,

and took upon him the form of a servant,

and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man,

he humbled himself,

and became obedient unto death,

even the death of the cross.” 

Jesus stepped into “Time”,

He took on Himself the ‘likeness of men’.

He ‘humbled himself’,

took on servant hood

and walked to the cross for me and you.

Born to die!!!  It all goes together.  We should celebrate Jesus’ incarnation every day, for He came to “save His people from their sins”.  Jesus, God in the flesh, who (Father, Son and Spirit) exists irrespective of ‘time’. After all, He created ‘time’.

Time is set as a tool not a dictator.  Are we so hung up on ‘times’ and ‘seasons’ that we forget to use our ‘time’ celebrating and sharing the love of God each and every day. Christmas and Resurrection go together.  Jesus is LORD of all ‘Time’.

The Apostle Paul tells us how to celebrate Jesus in this same section of his letter to the Philippians believers.

 “…work out your own salvation

with fear and trembling.

13 For it is God which worketh in you

both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

15 That ye may be blameless and harmless,

the sons of God, without rebuke,

in the midst of a crooked

and perverse nation,

among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

16 Holding forth the word of life;…”                Philippians 2:12b-16a

 JESUS! JESUS! JESUS! “Christ in you, the hope of glory..”

May we ever remember that in time, on time, every time is our LORD Jesus!  We need to remember to “abide” in HIM!

“I am the vine,

ye are the branches:

He that abideth in me,

and I in him,

the same bringeth forth much fruit:

for without me ye can do nothing.”  John 15:5

So?  As someone said, ‘Just do it’…  Let’s celebrate Jesus all the “Time”—everyday, everyway ALL days!!!  In time, on time, every time!  He is worthy of our praise, always!

“I will bless the LORD

at all times:

his praise shall

continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1

Amen and Amen!!!

More About Spelling??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #396

12 Sunday Oct 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Choose Wisely, Choose You This Day!, Choosing Jesus or The World?, Christ IN YOU, Come And Worship?, Come to Jesus, Come To Worship HIM, Fruit of the Spirit, Living For Jesus, Living in Christ, Living Right, Living TODAY!, Looking Unto Jesus, Looking up Or around?, Peace of God, Perilous Times Are Here, Perseverance, Power of The Cross, Press ON!

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More About Spelling???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #396

We talked last time about being devoted to Jesus, not being a “misuser” of The Word (both the living Word, Jesus; and the breath of the written Word, Jesus—the real Jesus, who will always align with The Word of God, The Bible!).  I think James can help us understand the principle that it’s not what we say, either about Jesus or ourselves, but it is what we do with God’s Word.  We are to let the Word transform us into the image of our Lord by looking into that mirror of life—the Bible!

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren,

let every man

be swift to hear,

slow to speak,

slow to wrath:

20 For the wrath of man

worketh not the righteousness of God.

21 Wherefore lay apart

all filthiness

and superfluity of naughtiness,

and receive with meekness

the engrafted word,

which is able to save your souls.

22 But be ye doers of the word,

and not hearers only,

deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word,

and not a doer,

he is like unto a man beholding

his natural face in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself,

and goeth his way,

and straightway forgetteth

what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty,

and continueth therein,

he being not a forgetful hearer,

but a doer of the work,

this man shall be blessed in his deed.

26 If any man among you seem to be religious,

and bridleth not his tongue,

but deceiveth his own heart,

this man’s religion is vain.

27 Pure religion

and undefiled before God and the Father is this,

To visit the fatherless and widows

in their affliction,

and to keep himself unspotted

from the world.”  James 1:19-27

James isn’t saying that “religion” saves us, but that if we claim to belong to Jesus, our lives should be a reflection of godly character; if you would, “religion” in action before the world, not works to be saved, but as Paul tells the Ephesians, good works that draw people to our Lord Jesus!

“For by grace are ye saved

through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus

unto good works,

which God hath before ordained

that we should walk in them.       Ephesians 2:8-10

We aren’t saved by any work that we can do, but we are saved by grace “unto good works”—not saved by works but saved to do good works before the world by the power of God, in Jesus our Lord.  Even Jesus talks about this, for when we belong to Him, when we are born again by the Spirit of God—our lives should be like the moon which reflects the light of the ‘sun’; we are to reflect the light of the ‘SON’!  Never of works that we do on our own, but the light of The Lord of glory who saves and transforms us!  Are we being salt and light, or have we changed the spelling of Lord of all, to “all for me” and become “good for nothing”?  I don’t know your heart, but God does!  You might need to check the spelling in your life (read my last post to get the picture of the spelling that I’m talking about.)

“Ye are the salt of the earth:

but if the salt have lost his savour,

wherewith shall it be salted?

it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out,

and to be trodden under foot of men.

14 Ye are the light of the world.

A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle,

and put it under a bushel,

but on a candlestick;

and it giveth light

unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light

so shine before men,

that they may see your good works,

and glorify your Father      

which is in heaven.”  Matthew 5:13-16

How “so shine”s your light?  Are you reflecting the glory, truth and love of Jesus Christ our Lord, or are you so filled with the world’s darkness that you have no “shine” to show?  Are you walking in your own power or that of the precious Holy Spirit.  Paul makes a pretty powerful statement to the believers at Rome.  How does Paul spell “service” (and if you would, The Holy Spirit, gives spelling lessons!)

“But ye are not in the flesh,

but in the Spirit,

if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.

Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,

he is none of his.”  Romans 8:9

“And he that searcheth the hearts

knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,

because he maketh intercession

for the saints

according to the will of God.

28 And we know that all things work together

for good

to them that love God,

to them who are the called

according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow,

he also did predestinate

to be conformed to the image of his Son,

that he might be the firstborn

among many brethren.

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate,

them he also called:

and whom he called,

them he also justified:

and whom he justified,

them he also glorified.

31 What shall we then say to these things?

If God be for us,

who can be against us?” Romans 8:27-30

Are you ready to walk in The Spirit, or keep on falling down in the flesh?  It’s your choice, but it will make all the difference in the world to your walk!  God has ordained “good works” that you and I might walk in them; we aren’t to continue to wallow in the flesh.

While the following is a lengthy passage, I think it is beneficial and clearer to grasp in its context, remembering what we saw above—” If God be for us, who can be against us…”, remembering that “I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me…”!  You can—I can—we can—all because our Lord has not only paid the price but supplies our every need and ever lives to “make intercession” for His own! (See Hebrews 7:25). Also note that when it says things are “manifest”, it means to be visible, evident, and recognizable; telling us that our behavior will reflect what is in our heart!

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit,

and the Spirit against the flesh:

and these are contrary

the one to the other:

so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit,

ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest,

which are these;

Adultery,

fornication,

uncleanness,

lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry,

witchcraft,

hatred,

variance,

emulations,

wrath,

strife,

seditions,

heresies,

21 Envyings,

murders,

drunkenness,

revellings,

and such like:

the which I tell you before,

as I have also told you in time past,

that they which do such things

shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is

love,

joy,

peace,

longsuffering,

gentleness,

goodness,

faith,

23 Meekness,

temperance:

against such there is no law

24 And they that are Christ’s

have crucified the flesh

with the affections

and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory,

provoking one another,

envying one another.”  Galatians 5:16-26

So, my question is, are you misspelling?  Changing “Thy kingdom come…” to “my kingdom come”; and “Thy will be done…” to “my will be done”?  It’s your choice, but remember there is a test coming, and Jesus knows the truth.  Paul gives a great example—won’t you measure your heart by this truth?

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

Amen and Amen!!!

Have You Been To The Cross??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #202

27 Wednesday Mar 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, 'Tis The Season?, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A heart of faith, Abundant Life In Jesus, Are you ready for Jesus' return?, Are you ready?, Cleansed from all sin, Come to Jesus, Come To Worship HIM, Consider Your ways, Cross, Crucified With Christ, Every Knee Shall Bow, Jesus Built A Bridge, Jesus Is Alive, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus is our peace, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Saves!, Jesus' Sacrifice, Lifting up Jesus, Peace, Peace of God, Peace Of The Rock, Peace that passeth ALL understanding, Power of The Cross, Seeing Truth, Serving God or Using God?, SIN, Sin IS the issue, Speaking The Truth In Love

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Have You Been To The Cross??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #202

As we celebrate this time of the end of Jesus Christ’s earthly life, and the salvation that He provided in His death, burial, and victorious Resurrection this week, may we remember that  He arose victor over sin, death, and hell; He arose to offer eternal life to all who will come to Him in repentance of sin and faith in His substitutionary, atoning, sacrifice for that sin—for all who sin, and that my friend is all, everyone!

“And when I saw him,

I fell at his feet as dead.

And he laid his right hand upon me,

saying unto me,

Fear not;

I am the first and the last:

18 I am he that liveth,

and was dead;

and, behold, I am alive

for evermore, Amen;

and have the keys

of hell and of death.”  Revelation 1:17-18

John saw the risen Lord and He spoke to Him and assured him that it was He!  I love reading and studying The Revelation, and while it is a difficult book, it is a great comfort to those who will delve into its riches; there’s even a blessing promised to those who will read it.  Yes, a promised a blessing, yet it’s to those who don’t just read it, but more importantly, to those who will heed the messages in it, or as the KJV says the blessing is to those who keep it.

“Blessed is he

that readeth,

and they that hear the words of this prophecy,

and keep those things which are written therein:

for the time is at hand.”  Revelation 1:3

And my dear friends, the time is truly “at hand”!  Yet, the cross is still calling to all who will hear and heed Jesus’ message to “come unto me”!  Have you come to Jesus?  Do you need to come?  Many have convinced themselves that they are fine, productive people, and Satan is purporting that message at every hand.  But Jesus’ message is still the call to “come unto me”.

Who needs to come?   Let’s look to scripture to answer that question, for scripture will be the judge of every man, woman, boy, and girl—and that day is nearing, my friends.

“For the word of God is

quick,

and powerful,

and sharper than any twoedged sword,

piercing even to the dividing asunder

of soul and spirit,

and of the joints and marrow,

and is a discerner

of the thoughts and intents

of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature

that is not manifest in his sight:

but all things

are naked and opened unto the eyes of him

with whom we have to do.”  Hebrews 4:12-13

Paul gives us even more clarity in his beautiful message to the believers at Philippi. Jesus paid the price for my sin and yours, if we will but bow before Him and receive the gift of salvation that His blood purchased; will you receive it or reject it, to pay your own debt. (And FYI, “propitiation” means the payment in full…)

“For all have sinned,

and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace

through the redemption

that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth

to be a propitiation

through faith in his blood,

to declare his righteousness

for the remission of sins that are past,

through the forbearance of God;” Romans 3:23-25

Jesus’ precious blood shed at Calvary bought salvation for all who will come to Him in repentance and faith.  What will you do with The One whose resurrection from the dead we celebrate this week?  He died for you; and God has proclaimed that “every knee shall bow”, so the question isn’t “Will you bow?” for God has declared that all will bow!  The question is, “when will you bow”!  Will you bow before Him as your Lord, Savior, and King, receiving the salvation that He died to provide; or will you bow before Him at His throne of judgment with no recourse for salvation, and pay your own sin debt in hell?  The choice is yours, but choose wisely, there is a test, and there is no cheating, for God knows!

“But now being made free from sin,

and become servants to God,

ye have your fruit unto holiness,

and the end everlasting life.

23 For the wages of sin is death;

but the gift of God is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”   Romans 6:22-23

And Paul’s mighty message of truth, Jesus did it all for me and you:

“Let this mind be in you,

which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God,

thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation,

and took upon him the form of a servant,

and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man,

he humbled himself,

and became obedient unto death,

even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,

and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus

every knee should bow,

of things in heaven,

and things in earth,

and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.”  Philippians 2:5-11

I invite you to consider the cross, the peace of God that flows out from it, and the joy of The Lord that Jesus imparts to His own.

“Be careful for nothing;

but in every thing by prayer and supplication

with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God,

which passeth all understanding,

shall keep your hearts and minds

through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren,

whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest,

whatsoever things are just,

whatsoever things are pure,

whatsoever things are lovely,

whatsoever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue,

and if there be any praise,

think on these things.

9 Those things,

which ye have both learned,

and received,

and heard,

and seen in me,

do:

and the God of peace shall be with you.”  Philippians 4:6-9

And in closing the most gracious and merciful invitation of The Savior—The One who redeemed my soul, and He is here for you as well.  You will never walk alone when you come to Jesus.  “Today is the day of salvation”, what will you do with it?  I pray that you will hear the call of Jesus and respond in repentance and faith to His invitation to salvation.

“All things are delivered unto me of my Father:

and no man knoweth the Son,

but the Father;

neither knoweth any man the Father,

save the Son,

and he to whomsoever the Son

will reveal him.

28 Come unto me,

all ye that labour

and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you,

and learn of me;

for I am meek and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy,

and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:27-30

And some food for thought as you go about your week thinking about Jesus being lifted up (His death on the cross).  Jesus said He would draw all men to Him by this death on the cross, but He never said He would remove the free will that He imparted to all humans!  It’s your choice but choose wisely there IS a test. (See Numbers 21 if you want to know about the “serpent in the wilderness”!)

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,

even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world,

that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world through him

might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation,

that light is come into the world,

and men loved darkness rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.”   John 3:14-19

May you know the true joy of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ!  He is coming again soon.  Are you ready? I pray that you will come to Him.

Amen and Amen!!!

Without A Preacher??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #149

30 Monday Oct 2023

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A heart of faith, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, All About Jesus!, Gospel, Heaven or Hell?, Jesus Is Coming Again., Power of The Cross, Preach Christ and HIM crucified!, Preaching Jesus, Preaching truth about SIN, The foolishness of preaching

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Without A Preacher???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #149

There is a lot going on these days that purports to be spreading the Gospel, but I find a lot of it not only deficient, but near if not total heresy!  So let’s see what God’s Word has to say to us today, and heed it, live it and share it!  Let’s begin with Paul’s ‘Gospel in a nutshell’.

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel

which I preached unto you,

which also ye have received,

and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved,

if ye keep in memory

what I preached unto you,

unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all

that which I also received,

how that Christ died for our sins

according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried,

and that he rose again the third day

according to the scriptures:

5 And that he was seen of Cephas,

then of the twelve:” 1 Corinthians 15:1-5

Take note that Paul not only shared the truth of Jesus being our only way of salvation succinctly, but he also made it very clear that the cause of the need for salvation is SIN; an issue that so many today don’t want to talk about.  They want to talk about prosperity, a good life, peace, joy, and love (and Jesus will bring you peace, joy, and love, but not without repentance and faith in HIS substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for SIN!) yet more often than not leave out the subject of sin—and if I have no sin, I have no need of a Savior!  Jesus Himself said that He came to call ‘sinners’ to repentance (See Matthew 9:13, Mark 2:17, Luke 5:32) for those who ‘think’ they are righteous have no need of a Savior.  I wish we had time to go through the first three chapters of Romans, where Paul leads us to see the three types of sinners, and just to simplify it for today, he starts by his bold declaration of his confidence of the Gospel, then on in chapter 1 to describe the openly, willful sinners; then in chapter 2 he confronts the “SELF-righteous” sinners; before going on to boldly proclaim the state of us all as the “NONE-righteous”!  But to keep it comfortable for people, we have compromised this message of and need for us to see our sin before we will ever come to the JESUS! We have conveniently neglected the message of “all have sinned” and call people to just ‘say this prayer’, ‘walk this aisle’, demand that God save you because you ‘called the name of Jesus’.

“So, as much as in me is,

I am ready to preach the gospel

to you that are at Rome also.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:

for it is the power of God unto salvation

to every one that believeth;

to the Jew first,

and also to the Greek.

17 For therein is the righteousness of God

revealed from faith to faith:

as it is written,

The just shall live by faith.”  Romans 1:15-17

Paul was confident of his preaching, for preaching was God’s chosen method to get the word out—not programs, props, or entertainment (not that there is anything wrong with those things in and of themselves, but they cannot take the place of ‘Preaching’ the Gospel)!

“Where is the wise?

where is the scribe?

where is the disputer of this world?

hath not God made foolish

the wisdom of this world?

21 For after that in the wisdom of God

the world by wisdom knew not God,

it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching

to save them that believe.”  1 Corinthians 1:20-21

And one of my favorite passages:

“For whosoever shall call

upon the name of the Lord

shall be saved.

14 How then shall they call

on him in whom they have not believed?

and how shall they believe

in him of whom they have not heard?

and how shall they hear

without a preacher?

15 And how shall they preach,

except they be sent?

as it is written,

How beautiful are the feet of them

that preach the gospel of peace,

and bring glad tidings

of good things!”  Romans 10:13-15

It’s God’s WORD, and not only was Paul unashamed of the Gospel of Jesus, but he was confident in its power, and the clear truth that it is ALL about JESUS—HIS sacrifice for sin—and the need for salvation.  But if we never see our sin, if we never preach about sin, who will see the value of Jesus’ sacrifice?  NO ONE!  The other thing that we seem to have forgotten is that the convicting power of The Holy Spirit is essential to the genuine conversion of lost souls—Jesus words make it clear.

“No man can come to me,

except the Father

which hath sent me

draw him:

and I will raise him up at the last day.”  John 6:44

“He was in the world,

and the world was made by him,

and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.”  John 1:10-13

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:6

Jesus is THE WAY—THE only way, and without HIS sacrifice for my/your sin there is no hope.  Who wants to go to heaven anyway, when you have no desire for God in this world, no desire for HIS ways, no pleasure in HIS Word, no time for HIS work or to hear the preaching of truth?

“Be it known unto you all,

and to all the people of Israel,

that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,

whom ye crucified,

whom God raised from the dead,

even by him doth this man stand here

before you whole.

11 This is the stone

 which was set at nought of you builders,

which is become the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other:

for there is none other name under heaven

given among men,

whereby we must be saved.

13 Now when they saw the boldness

of Peter and John,

and perceived that they were

unlearned and ignorant men,

they marvelled;

and they took knowledge of them,

that they had been with Jesus.”  Acts 4:10-13

Did you get what the opposition said about the disciples, “they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus”?  What do people notice about you and me?  Do they see that we have “been with Jesus” or do they see a reflection of the world instead of the ONE whom we claim as our LORD and Savior?  I believe that will be one of the greatest indictments of this generation when we stand before our God—and yes real believers will give an account of our actions (not for heaven or hell, but for rewards or lack thereof), our stewardship and our service to The King, and our integrity toward HIS WORD!  Those who have not believed and received Jesus’ salvation will also give an account but not for destiny, they will have already chosen hell—sad, but true!  What Gospel are you preaching with your life as well as your words.  Paul gives us some amazing tidbits of truth to measure our testimony by!

“For I determined not to know any thing among you,

save Jesus Christ,

and him crucified.”  1 Corinthians 2:2

“But God forbid that I should glory,

save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,

by whom the world is crucified unto me,

and I unto the world.”  Galatians 6:14

“For the preaching of the cross

is to them that perish foolishness;

but unto us which are saved

it is the power of God.”  1 Corinthians 1:18

“For we preach not ourselves,

but Christ Jesus the Lord;

and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.

6 For God,

who commanded the light to shine out of darkness,

hath shined in our hearts,

to give the light of the knowledge

of the glory of God

in the face of Jesus Christ.”   2 Corinthians 4:5-6

So what Gospel are you/I preaching?  Living?  Sharing by our life, conversation, choices, activities?  Jesus is coming my dear friends, and HE knows all things and will reward every man accordingly—heaven or hell!  It’s your choice but choose wisely, there is a test!  (See Revelation 20:11-15). Have you been born again?  Is your name written in The Lamb’s Book of Life?   Jesus is the only way, it’s why He came– that we might have life—but HE will never force Himself on anyone, including YOU!

“For God so loved the world,

that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world through him

might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation,

that light is come into the world,

and men loved darkness rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.”  John 3:16-19

“Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.”   2 Corinthians 5:17

May the truth of Jesus prevail in our lives!  Preach it, brother, preach it!!!

Amen and Amen!!!

The Manger Leads To The Cross! A Word from THE WORD!!! #51

07 Wednesday Dec 2022

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Christmas, Christmas IS Jesus, Christmas IS?, Cross, Crucified With Christ, Death, Father's Way!, GET READY, Glory To God, God Knows, God Knows His Own, God of all comfort!, God Still Reigns, God's love, God's Presence Not Presents, God's ways are not our ways, Power of The Cross, The manger leads to the cross

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The Manger Leads To The Cross! A Word from THE WORD!!! #51

“For unto you is born this day

in the city of David

a Saviour,

which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you;

Ye shall find the babe

wrapped in swaddling clothes,

lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel

a multitude of the heavenly host

praising God,

and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace,

good will

toward men.

15 And it came to pass,

as the angels were gone away from them

into heaven,

the shepherds said one to another,

Let us now go even unto Bethlehem,

and see this thing which is come to pass,

which the Lord hath made known

unto us.

16 And they came with haste,

and found Mary,

and Joseph,

and the babe

lying in a manger.”  Luke 2:11-16

Just as this amazing news of The Messiah was told to shepherds, they went to see this child and found him “lying in a manger” because “there was no room for them in the inn”; amazed, like the shepherds, we come to the manger during this wonderful season of celebrating Jesus our King!  Yet we must not be distracted from the truth that Jesus didn’t stay in that manger.  He grew to be the man who was nailed to a cruel Roman cross for my sin and yours!  That is why HE came!  This precious baby endured the trials of all flesh without sin, HE was/is the perfect “lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world”!  He came to be born that He could be the perfect sacrifice for sin–He was Born to Die–for our sin, to be raised from the dead, and ascend back to heaven where HE ever intercedes for His own!

“For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched

with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted

like as we are,

yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly

unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:15-16

Yet, there’s more–more that points us to the pain of the cross, so let’s go back to Luke’s account, and while this is a bit lengthy, I think it worth our time and effort!

“And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem,

whose name was Simeon;

and the same man was just and devout,

waiting for the consolation of Israel:

and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

26 And it was revealed unto him

by the Holy Ghost,

that he should not see death,

before he had seen

the Lord’s Christ.

27 And he came by the Spirit

 into the temple:

and when the parents brought in the child Jesus,

to do for him after the custom of the law,

28 Then took he him up in his arms,

and blessed God, and said,

29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant

depart in peace,

according to thy word:

30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

31 Which thou hast prepared

before the face of all people;

32 A light to lighten the Gentiles,

and the glory of thy people Israel.

33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled

at those things which were spoken of him.

34 And Simeon blessed them,

and said unto Mary his mother,

Behold, this child is set

for the fall and rising again

of many in Israel;

and for a sign

which shall be spoken against;

35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through

thy own soul also,)

that the thoughts of many hearts

may be revealed.”  Luke 2:25-35

Then we see this prophecy played out at the foot of the cross!

“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus

his mother,

and his mother’s sister,

Mary the wife of Cleophas,

and Mary Magdalene.

26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother,

and the disciple standing by, whom he loved,

he saith unto his mother,

Woman, behold thy son!

27 Then saith he to the disciple,

Behold thy mother!

And from that hour that disciple

took her unto his own home.

28 After this, Jesus knowing

that all things were now accomplished,

that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith,

I thirst.

29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar:

and they filled a spunge with vinegar,

and put it upon hyssop,

and put it to his mouth.

30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar,

he said,

It is finished:

and he bowed his head,

and gave up the ghost.”  John 19:25-30

Like some of you, I have experienced the death of a child, and it is like a sword piercing your heart, leaving a hole that seems to always be there–even when the immediate pain subsides, the hole in your heart is ever-present with you!  I can’t imagine the pain that Mary felt, knowing that this was God’s plan for her own salvation; the wonder and questions that flooded her soul, are the same questions that often come to our hearts!  BUT GOD!  God was working His perfect plan for the redemption of mankind, for all who would repent of their sin and trust in the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice that Jesus offered at Calvary.  It’s all about the cross, so don’t linger at the manger and miss the cross, but trust to the sacrifice that this baby came to BE!  And as Paul so clearly reminds us, and which I try to convey in all I write and teach:

“And I, brethren,

when I came to you,

came not with excellency of speech

or of wisdom,

declaring unto you the testimony of God.

2 For I determined not to know any thing

among you,

save Jesus Christ,

and him crucified.”  1 Corinthians 2:1-2

And Paul’s words ever resound in my heart as my hope, my goal, and my encouragement! May it ever spark us on to greater hope and victories as we walk in the power of the precious Holy Spirit whom Jesus imparts to each of His own!

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

May you draw near to the cross, remembering the greatest gift of all, Who was laid in that manger in Bethlehem; enjoy your celebrations but don’t forget the price that baby came to pay for you and me!

Merry CHRISTmas!!!

Amen and Amen!!!