Video: Beth Moore - The Moment of the Resurrection

Beth Moore imagines the heavenly anticipation and activity during the days leading up to Christ's resurrection. Excellent message!   ~Eve

Saturday Scripture Gold with Bibi: The Significance of the Risen Christ

When D. L. Moody, the great evangelist, was dying, his last words were, "Earth is receding, heaven is approaching; this is my crowning day."

Resurrection of Christ is a reminder that we need have no fear about death. Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

"Easter Sunday" is an annual holiday celebrated by many. Millions of people commemorate the resurrection of Jesus on this day. Many consider it as "the most holy" of religious holidays. For some, it marks the only time they attend church services (Christmas runs a close second).

Christians in the first century did not have an annual observance of this event. The word "Easter" is found only once in the KJV Bible (cf. Acts 12:4). The word in the Greek is actually "Passover", and so translated elsewhere in the KJV. "It is reasonably certain that the New Testament contains no reference to a yearly celebration of the resurrection of Christ" (ISBE). The annual observance is a human tradition, introduced in the second and third centuries.

Churches today who follow the New Testament pattern do not celebrate "Easter" as such. Like the church in Jerusalem, they are content to abide in the apostles' doctrine (Acts 2:42). They note Paul's teaching regarding religious holidays (cf. Galatians 4:9-11). Additionally, they value Jesus' warning regarding the traditions of men (cf. Matthew 15:9).

This does not in any way demean the importance of the resurrection of Christ. It has great significance to the Christian. It is something we should think about often (certainly more than once a year). It's also an appropriate subject even on "Easter Sunday", just as sermons on thankfulness are around Thanksgiving, and sermons on  mothers are on Mother's Day (even though churches may not celebrate such holidays fundamentally!)

Now, with that thought in mind, allow me to use this opportunity to review the significance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ for the Christian. It's significance can first be seen by considering if Christ was not raised. Let's see what might transpire in this case.

If Christ was not raised, then...

Gospel preaching is vain (1 Corinthians 15:14). The preaching of the apostles is empty, meaningless. Because they proclaimed nothing more than a fairy tale, a story of fiction.

Our faith is vain (1 Corinthians 15:14). Our belief in Christ would also be empty, meaningless. For our faith would be in a lie, a story of make believe, not truth.

The Apostles were false witnesses (1 Corinthians 15:15). They swore that God raised Jesus from the dead (Acts 2:32). They claimed to spend 40 days with Him after the resurrection, eating and drinking with Him (Acts 10:39-41). There is no way they could have been deceived or mistaken; either they told the truth or they were deliberate liars, deceivers, and frauds!

We are still in our sins (1 Corinthians 15:17). It would have been a liar or lunatic that died on the cross. No such person could have provided a sacrifice that was holy and without blemish.

Believers have perished at death (1 Corinthians 15:18). Their faith would have been in a false Messiah. They would have had no atonement for their sins. Dying in their sins, there would be no hope.

Christians are to be pitied (1 Corinthians 15:19). Because we believe in a false Messiah. Because our faith in Him leads us to refrain from much worldly pleasure. Because we are often ridiculed or persecuted for our faith.

As Paul makes it clear, the resurrection of Christ is foundational to the Christian faith.  If Jesus is not raised, then we should not be Christians! Now let's examine the significance from another angle.

If Christ has been raised, then...

It verifies our justification (Romans 4:24-25). Jesus claimed His blood would be adequate (Matthew 26:28). By raising Jesus from the dead, God demonstrated His acceptance of Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins! (Romans 8:33-34).

It demonstrates the power available to the Christian (Ephesians 1:18-20). It's the power available at our conversion (Colossians 2:11-12; 1 Peter 3:21). And, the power available to live the Christian life (Romans 8:11-13; Philippians 2:12-13; 4:13; Ephesians 3:20; 6:10).

It gives us hope concerning our own resurrection (1 Peter 1:3). His resurrection gives us a living hope! (1 Peter 1:21). Especially concerning the resurrection of believers! (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).

It demands our complete loyalty (Romans 14:9). He was raised and then exalted to become our Lord (Acts 2:32-36; Ephesians 1:20-23). Thus our lives and service belong to Him (Romans 14:7-8; 2 Corinthians 5:15).

In conclusion, the impact of the resurrection of Jesus should not go unfelt in our lives. Because as a historical event it has everlasting implications for both the believer, and the unbeliever. The believer must never lose sight of the significance of the resurrection. Do our lives demonstrate that we serve a risen Lord and Savior Do we possess the hope, peace, and strength that the reality and power of His resurrection gives to the Christian?

The unbeliever also needs to examine the significance of the resurrection carefully. It verifies the deity of Jesus, that He has all authority (Romans 1:4; Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:36). It verifies the truthfulness of what He taught, such as...

      1) No one can come to the Father but through Him (John 14:6)
      2) His blood was shed for the remission of sins (Matthew 26:28)
      3) He came to offer abundant life (John 10:10)
      4) He went to prepare a place for us (John 14:2)
      5) He shall come again (John 14:3)
      6) There will be a resurrection of the dead and ensuing judgment (John 5:28-29; 12:48)

If Jesus rose from the dead, then one must believe in Him (cf. John 8:24). And may we never forget the significance of the resurrection of Christ in our lives!

Now, let's pray...

O Father, give us the humility which realizes its ignorance, admits its mistakes, recognizes its need, welcomes advice, accepts rebuke. Help us always to praise rather than to criticize, to sympathize rather than to discourage, to build rather than to destroy, and to think of people at their best rather than at their worst. This we ask for in thy name's sake. Amen

Until next time...

Have a blessed week!

Bibi

Near The Cross: A Place of Redemption

The German theologian Jurgen Moltmann expresses in a single sentence the great span from Good Friday to Easter. It is, in fact, a summary of human history, past, present, and future: "God weeps with us so that we may someday laugh with him."     -Philip Yancey

When Jesus was crucified I wonder how near the cross I would have stood? I ask you to stop and think about this right now, at this very moment. How near the cross would you have been if you were there to witness Jesus’ crucifixion? What does it really mean to be near the cross when Jesus was crucified?

I am not talking about a literal physical presence, but I am referring to a spiritual position. I am talking about a special relationship to Jesus Christ.Today, we will briefly discuss one such person who stood near the cross, when Jesus was crucified, and try to understand what it meant to her to be near the cross. Her name is: Mary Magdalene.

Luke 8:2 tells us that Mary Magdalene was a woman whom Jesus had cast out seven demons. She had been in bondage to Satan for a long time. These seven demons made her do terrible things. Satan was at work in her life to destroy, cause havoc, wreck her physically, emotionally and spiritually. Mary was in a hopeless and helpless situation.

Then Jesus came along and cast out her demons. Jesus delivered Mary from bondage and set her free. Mary Magdalene was miraculously saved from her dilemma. Mary Magdalene was redeemed and bought back from the bondage she was in. She was ultimately delivered through a miraculous encounter with Jesus.

When a person trusts in the Lord Jesus Christ for deliverance from the bondage of sin, these same marvelous changes take place in their life. They go from darkness to light (mental, moral, spiritual). They go from the power of Satan to the power of God (God begins to take control). They go from being guilt to experiencing forgiveness. They go from being spiritually impoverished to becoming spiritually wealthy (becoming heirs of the Kingdom).

This is what Jesus did for Mary Magdalene. He redeemed her and bought her out of her miserable condition. But, redemption is a costly thing. When Jesus delivered Mary Magdalene it cost Him something. Standing there at the cross Mary saw the price being paid. Jesus had to die that we might be redeemed and bought back from bondage.

Redemption is a costly thing. It is no wonder Mary Magdalene was standing there at the cross. It is no wonder that Mary Magdalene was there at His burial. It is no wonder that Mary Magdalene was there at His resurrection. Mary Magdalene had experienced redemption and she stood near the cross because it was a place of redemption.

Like Mary Magdalene, all believers are taking His place here on earth. John 20:21 tells us that, “As my Father has sent me, even so, send I you.” You and I represent Jesus to others. To acknowledge the cross, is to acknowledge a place of responsibility.

If you and I have come to the cross, we have a huge responsibility to love the Lord Jesus (because he has loved us on the cross), to love others, and to love others the same way Jesus loved us. The cross is clearly a place of responsibility.

Near the cross is where the Lord wants us to be. Why? Because it is:

1) A place of redemption – if you have never trusted the Lord Jesus, the cross is the place to start;

2) A place of rebuke – all of our pride and selfishness just fades away as we stand at the cross and see the Lord Jesus suffering for us;

3) A place of reward – Jesus knows our struggles and will reward our faithfulness;

4) A place of responsibility – when we come to the cross through faith, we cannot hide ourselves, but we must go and do the work He has called us to do. Jesus ministered to others, we must follow suit.

I would like to close today's message with an illustration: Max Lucado (as found in his ‘God’s Inspirational Promise Book’, but written for his book, ‘In the Eye of the Storm’), told this fictional story of an angel trying to find another way for salvation:

“He looked around the hill and foresaw a scene. Three figures hung on three crosses. Arms spread. Heads fallen forward. They moaned with the wind.

Men clad in religion stood off to one side…Arrogant, cocky.

Women clad in sorrow huddled at the foot of the hill…Faces tear streaked.

All heaven stood to fight. All nature rose to rescue. All eternity poise to protect. But the Creator gave no command. ‘It must be done…,” he said, and withdrew.

The angel spoke again. “It would be less painful…”

The Creator interrupted softly. “But it wouldn't be love.”

Scripture: Psalm 22:14-18; John 8:12; Matthew 27:46; 1 John 2:2;  2 Peter 3:9; 1 Peter 3:18; John 5:24; John 10:17-18; Hebrews 2:14

Prayer: Gracious God, it is a day to go inward. A day to feel the deep darkness of death. A day to be quiet with the heavy silence that looms large. A day to feel the pounding weight of untruth and injustice. A day to own up to what is strangling my own soul. A day to feel gratitude for the full truth of your deep and abiding love; love that refused to claim its own safety, but willingly gave itself for me. Let my soul be open and empty before you. I ask this for the sake of your love. Amen

God bless you,

Jane

Christ's Sacrifice For Us

Theologians tell a story to illustrate how Christ's triumph presently benefits our lives: Imagine a city under siege. The enemy that surrounds they city will not let anyone or anything leave.

Supplies are running low, and the citizens are fearful. But in the dark of the night, a spy sneaks through the enemy lines. He has rushed to the city to tell the people that in another place the main enemy force has been defeated; the leaders have already surrendered.

The people do not need to be afraid. It is only a matter of time until the besieging troops receive the news and lay down their weapons. Similarly, we may seem now to be surrounded by the forces of evil -- disease, injustice, oppression, death. But the enemy has actually been defeated at Calvary. Things are not the way they seem to be. It is only a matter of time until it becomes clear to all that the battle is really over.    -Richard J. Mouw, Uncommon Decency,  pp. 149-150

We come now to a crucial time in the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. His enemies are plotting His betrayal and death (Luke 22:14-15). His disciples are gathered to observe the Passover (John 13:1). It is on this particular meal, the last Passover meal commonly referred to as "The Last Supper" that today's message refers to . For within 24 hours, Jesus will be crucified, and his disciples scattered, hiding in fear for their lives. But this was no surprise to Jesus, as He knew what would soon take place (Mark 10:33).

The last Passover meal is so critical for us to understand who Jesus is and what He did for us on the cross. The Passover was first observed in Egypt, on the night the Jews were released from slavery from Egypt. Each household was to share a lamb that night as a part of the meal. They would take some of the Lamb’s blood and place it on the doorposts. By doing this, the lamb became for them a king of substitution for them (Deuteronomy 16:1-8; Exodus 12:1-28,43-49).

It’s important to realize that on this same night - Christ was betrayed . Christ became for us our Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7). What was impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to do- Christ did (Hebrews 10:5). For He took away the hostility that sin causes- the judgment of God. Jesus symbolized his offering with bread and wine. There are three things you should notice about the bread:

First, it was unleavened. Leaven wasn't even allowed inside the house during the Passover (Exodus 12). Leaven represents sin in the Bible. The bread had no leaven in it just as Jesus had no sin in Him. He had no sin or blemish in him. If he had, then he would have the same sin problem that the rest of us have. If He did, then the cross would have been meaningless, He wouldn't have been able to die for anyone’s sins.

Second, this body Jesus said is given for you. The connotation is that His body is a gift. It wasn’t forced on Him by someone else. The Pharisees wanted to kill Jesus for most of his public ministry. But, God the Father didn’t allow it because his time wasn’t fulfilled. They were so blind with hate that they wanted to kill Lazarus too when he was raised from the dead.

We need to understand what 1 John 3:16 means when it says that Jesus laid down his life for us. Scripture indicates that God did this because he loves us and wanted to justify you in his presence. The Lord has been showing me that this plays out much like in a courtroom. The Lord is judge and the devil is your prosecutor.

He is the accuser of the brethren, the adversary. Charges are brought against you. The record of offenses are read. There are only 2 pleas you can enter. Guilty or Justified by Faith in Christ. You cannot enter a plea of innocent because the charges are true. You also can’t blame your mother, father, the schools, or your environment.

You need to understand this point- that Christ’s sacrifice allow me to stand before God- justified and at peace with Him. No one comes to God claiming innocent or ignorance. This is why it says this in Romans 5:1 “Therefore since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Third, the bread was broken. The flogging that Jesus endured before going to the cross alone was enough to kill a person. Flogging involved a whip, a cat of nine tails, that had bits of glass and rock intertwined with it to open up a person’s skin and cause as much pain as possible.

Isaiah 53:5 says that Christ was “pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our inequities ” There is also another significant passage in Isaiah 52:15. It tells us that Jesus was marred beyond human likeness. The physical beating that Jesus took for you and me is beyond words. But, worse than that is the sin that was hung on Jesus on that cross.

By every standard we have the cross is crude. The cross is violent. The cross is ugly. But, only by Jesus allowing Himself to be forsaken am I saved. Romans 10:9-10 says “That if you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”

Scripture: Mark 8:34; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:1; John 5:24; Luke 21:33; Luke 22:15 ; John 14:6 

Prayer: Prayer: Forgive me my sins, O Lord; forgive me the sins of my youth and the sins of mine age, the sins of my soul and the sins of my body, my secret and my whispering sins, the sins I have done to please myself and the sins I have done to please others. Forgive those sins which I know, and the sins which I know not; forgive them, O Lord, forgive them all of Thy great goodness. Amen

Have a blessed day!

Brandi

The Cross of Christ

"All heaven is interested in the cross of Christ, all hell is terribly afraid of it, while men are the only beings who more or less ignore its meaning."    -Oswald Chambers

The Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is the corner stone of our faith. It is the chosen symbol of the Christian faith. Thank God, we see it now as an empty cross because the seeming tragedy for good and apparent victory for evil was overturned by the power and purposes of God into the triumph of the resurrection of Jesus.

But what does it mean to us? Is the Cross in our experience more meaningful than a nicely sculpted piece of wood or an elegantly-shaped piece of gold hung around the neck? The Cross of Christ is God’s final word as to the character and consequence of human sin, and of the wonder and sacrifice of divine love.

Jesus went to the Cross so that we, through his death and resurrection might have a personal relationship with God and that we might know its power in every area of our lives. When we speak of "the Cross", we’re not thinking of it in the purely physical sense of two rough pieces of wood, bolted together and suspended by its vertical section before being dropped into a hole in the ground.

To the Christian, it is much more than that - "the Cross" is a "shorthand" expression meaning the death of Jesus. It’s Jesus stretched out between heaven and earth, suffering more than anyone has ever suffered, for you and me. The Cross is Jesus as our Savior  There is no holier place that we can ever hope to come to - the Cross is the place "to where heaven’s love and heaven’s justice meet."

The Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation of our faith. The prophet Zechariah looked forward to the coming of Jesus when he said, "on that day a fountain will be opened to the House of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity" (Zechariah 13:1). Have you been to the Cross? The Cross meant death for Jesus but, praise God, it is the place where life is ministered to us through His death.

Allow these wonderful Words of Jesus from the Cross to speak to you ( Luke 23:34-43; John 19:26-30) - feed on them in your hearts by faith:

"Father, forgive them" - there’s forgiveness for you at the Cross.

"Today, you will be with me" - there’s salvation for you at the Cross.

"Woman, here is your son" - there’s love for you at the Cross.

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me" - there’s atonement for you at the Cross.

"I thirst" - Jesus suffered for you at the Cross.

"It is finished" - Jesus was the victor over sin for you at the Cross.

"Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" - there’s eternal security for you at the Cross.

When evangelist John Wesley was returning home from a service one night, he was robbed. The thief, however, found his victim to have only a little money and some Christian literature. As the bandit was leaving, Wesley called out, "Stop! I have something more to give you." The surprised robber paused. "My friend," said Wesley, "you may live to regret this sort of life. If you ever do, here's something to remember: 'The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin!'" The thief hurried away, and Wesley prayed that his words might bear fruit.

Years later, Wesley was greeting people after a Sunday service when he was approached by a stranger. What a surprise to learn that this visitor, now a believer in Christ as a successful businessman, was the one who had robbed him years before! "I owe it all to you," said the transformed man. "Oh no, my friend," Wesley exclaimed, "not to me, but to the precious blood of Christ that cleanses us from all sin!"

The Bible is clear when it tells us that the way to be saved is for the sinner to accept by faith what the Bible teaches about Jesus, and His atoning death on the cross, Romans 10:9-10. This is what the teaching of the cross is all about! It is not about you quitting your sins! It is about you coming to Jesus by faith! It's not about turning over a new leaf, it's about placing your faith in Jesus and Him alone for salvation!

Prayer: O God, by the passion of Your blessed Son You made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life: Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

May God bless you!

Riley

The Spirit of Forgiveness

"Forgiveness is a funny thing; it warms the heart and cools the sting."    -William A. Ward

In living the Christian life, we do not find our pattern in a set of laws. Rather the character and actions of Jesus Christ provide us with a wonderful example to follow with the help of his Holy Spirit. Today we begin looking at the pattern set by our Savior as he faced the great crises of his suffering and his death on the cross.

What can the words of the Savior from the cross say to modern humanity concerning the manner in which we should face the crises, the struggles, and the hurts of life? Can we agree that we are to make a serious and concerted effort to face life with its crises, responsibilities, and opportunities as our Lord did?

Let's listen to our Lord's words from the cross to discover his manner of facing the unpleasant things of life. We will find that our Lord faced, met, and conquered mistreatment by practicing forgiveness. How do you react to mistreatment?

1. Do you resort to personal revenge and retaliation in word or deed?
2. Do you respond by developing an attitude of resentment that eventually leads to self-pity and then to despair within your heart?
3. Do you respond with an attitude of hostility that develops into deep bitterness and hurtful hate? This can lead to an attitude of anger that leads to murder.

Luke 23:34 reveals that Jesus reacted with forgiveness to mistreatment by his apostles, by the Jewish officials, by the Roman authorities, by Roman soldiers, and the crowds. Alexander Pope, an English poet, once said, "To err is human; to forgive, divine." All of us can agree with this truth. 

In the Old Testament forgiveness is divine, for there is little human forgiveness to be found in it. To forgive meant "to cover up, to blot out, to lift up a burden, to send away." But in the New Testament some new elements are added to forgiveness. In the teachings of our Lord, to forgive means to repudiate, or refuse the right to retaliate, to restore a ruptured relationship, to return good for evil, and to heal broken fellowship.

Jesus insisted that his disciples practice forgiveness. He taught that forgiveness of others is a condition for receiving forgiveness from God (Matthew 6:14-15; Mark 11:25). Jesus also taught that forgiveness is to be granted as an act of grace on the part of the injured person (Luke 17:3-4). And that forgiveness must not be limited (Matthew 18:21-22).

The primary benefit that comes as a result of forgiveness is experienced in the heart of the person who does the forgiving. Let's rephrase this in the form of a question, "What is the importance of a spirit of forgiveness? " Now, we can look at several examples that help us answer this question.

The practice of granting forgiveness is essential for a healthy emotional life on the part of the injured person. The most unhealthy thing a person can do is to harbor hate and hostility. Forgiveness purges this destructive emotion from the thought processes and from the emotional life of the person who has been injured.

The practice of granting forgiveness is essential for a successful marriage and wholesome home life. Even the best husband and wife will occasionally mistreat each other in some manner. Children have been known to mistreat parents, and parents have been known to mistreat children. The practice of forgiveness is the only thing that can heal broken relationships from day to day.

The practice of granting forgiveness is essential for effective Christian witness. People can believe in the forgiveness of God only when they see it practiced and when they feel the results of it in personal experience.

The practice of granting forgiveness is essential for power in prayer. This is emphasized by the words that follow the model prayer found in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:14-15). If we harden our hearts with an attitude of hostility, we shut out God's grace as a benevolent power in our lives.

Jesus was not declaring that forgiveness was a price we must pay in order to have power in prayer. He was affirming that it is a condition we must meet for power in prayer. There is a difference.

To forgive has never been easy, because it is incompatible with our earthly nature. In fact, forgiveness is usually not even expected. It seems more reasonable that we should react with hate than with love when we are mistreated. But there is hope for us. While on the cross our Lord demonstrated the possibility of our being able to grant forgiveness toward those who mistreat us.

In fact, several things can be done to find this help and to develop the habit of being forgiving rather than giving way to hate and retaliation. We can recognize and acknowledge that an unforgiving spirit is contrary to the will of God. We can recognize and acknowledge that forgiveness is the only sane way to deal with painful experiences.

We can recognize that forgiveness is God's divinely ordained method by which we purge hate from our hearts. We can recognize that a spirit of forgiveness can be a strong creative force for good. We can recognize that our Lord's forgiving us of our sins is the basis on which we are to practice forgiveness toward others (Colossians 3:13).

In conclusion, look to Jesus' pattern in granting forgiveness to those who mistreat you. With God's help in practicing forgiveness you will become a medium through whom others will experience forgiveness, both human and divine.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:32; Luke 6:37; Mark 11:25; Ephesians 4:26; Luke 6:27; Proverbs 3:5; 1 John 1:9; Proverbs 15:1; Proverbs 15:18; Proverbs 3:6; Mark 11:25-27

Prayer: Hear, Lord, the prayers we offer from contrite hearts. Have pity on us as we acknowledge our sins. Lead us back to the way of holiness. Protect us now and always from the wounds of sin. May we ever keep safe in all its fullness the gift your love once gave us and your mercy now restores. Amen

Have a blessed day!

Debbie   

Jesus Is Alive and Well!

An optimist sees an opportunity in every calamity; a pessimist sees a calamity in every opportunity.  -Anon.

In today's message, we’re going to see how Jesus’ resurrection changed one woman, Mary Magdalene. Therefore, I want you to put yourself in her shoes; in other words, I want you to be her. I want you to feel her sadness, but I also want you to feel her joy and comfort when she realizes that Jesus has indeed risen from the dead. The question I submit to you is this: "How does the resurrection of Jesus Christ change you?"

As we begin, we find Mary Magdalene at the tomb, and she was crying. She was shedding tears of hopelessness, tears of despair and frustration. For some time now, she had been following the Teacher, Jesus Christ. She had thought that perhaps he was the Messiah.

He had healed her of demon possession, and more importantly, he had shown her how to have peace with God. He had made so many promises. He had said so many good things. He had even performed miracles. But now he was dead. And all the things he had said and done were dead with him. How can you hope in someone who is dead?

For Mary Magdalene, the world had become a very cruel place – a place of broken promises, unfulfilled dreams, and big disappointments. And to top it off, it seemed that someone had stolen the body of Christ – could things get any worse? It’s no wonder that she’s crying.

Have you ever had moments like Mary Magdalene? Moments when the world seemed like a very cruel place – a place of broken promises, unfulfilled dreams, big disappointments? The world can be a very difficult place to live, and the Devil uses those difficult moments to make you feel hopeless and despairing. The Devil wants you to say to yourself, “God is dead. There is no hope.”

Think about these following things for a moment: When an earthquake kills thousands, when a tornado kills hundreds, you are tempted to think, “God is dead. There is no hope.” When the job that seemed so secure a year ago suddenly disappears today, when your health suddenly takes a turn for the worse, you are tempted to think, “God is dead. There is no hope.”

When you look into your past and consider all the mistakes you have made in life, all the words and actions you wish you could take back, but you can’t, you cannot help but feel a sense of hopelessness. “Is there any way I can change the past? Is there any way I can make right the wrong things I have done?” The answer is no. And then we feel what Mary felt – an overwhelming sense of hopelessness and despair.

Mary was dealing with the death of a loved one. What happens when you have to deal with that? Perhaps you've dealt with it, or maybe you’re dealing with it right now. When a loved one dies, or when you face your own mortality, it feels as though you’re facing the end of the road. To think that there is anything positive beyond death is far-fetched, we say to ourselves.

What hope does the world have to offer? Not much. “This is all there is,” many people say, “So you better grab what you can while you can.” That turns people into very self-centered creatures, glorified animals really. A life that is truly here-focused, me-focused, is truly a wasted life, and with it comes loneliness, greed, and ultimately, hell. Maybe that person puts on a happy face, but it’s a face that’s covering up feelings of hopelessness.

What hope does the world have to offer? Be a positive thinker, people say. Can you imagine going up to Mary Magdalene as she’s crying, and saying to her, “Everything will be alright, Mary, just think positive thoughts!” That’s ridiculous. And yet, that’s the best comfort our world is able to offer. To tell someone to be optimistic without any real reason for being optimistic is really quite silly. That causes even greater feelings of hopelessness and despair. There has to be a reason to be optimistic.

Mary Magdalene found that reason on Easter morning. She looked into the tomb, and found that it wasn't empty after all – two angels were in the tomb, and one of them asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” Mary said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” Then she turned around, and there was Jesus, standing right behind her. She didn't recognize him right away. Jesus asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Mary wasn't thinking clearly. She thought that Jesus the gardener. She said to Jesus, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” At this point, Mary still believes that Jesus is dead. She still believes that his body is missing, that she must find the body so that she can give it a proper burial. The Messiah was still dead. There was still no hope.

But Mary was wrong – there was hope. Jesus said to her, “Mary.” So many times, Jesus had called her by her name while he was alive. And now she heard that familiar voice call her name called again. She looked up, and realized that it was Jesus. The Bible tells us that she was so excited that she called out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” which means teacher. She grasped Jesus’ legs and did not want to let him go. Somehow, he was alive! Jesus told her that she need not to hold on to him like that any longer. He wouldn't be leaving her in death, like he had done before.

Soon he would be returning to the Father, but he would be with her and his followers always. “Go, and tell the brothers that I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” Mary quickly returned to the disciples and told them that she had seen the Lord.

What a turn-around for Mary! One minute God is dead, and there is no hope. But then she sees that Jesus is alive. God is not dead. There is hope! There is a reason to be joyful, to be hopeful, to be optimistic. Jesus was alive and well, and that’s what changed her. Her hero was alive. We all love heroes. But there is only one hero in all the world who has died, and then has come back to life – Jesus Christ.

In closing, that empty tomb filled Mary Magdalene’s heart with an incredible sense of joy and comfort and hope. It changed her life forever. Jesus is just as much alive today as he was on that first Easter morning.

Only one thing can bring hope to a hopeless situation. Only one thing can bring joy where there is only sadness. Only one thing can bring life where there is nothing but death. Only one thing can give you a real reason to be optimistic. And that one thing is knowing that Jesus Christ is alive, right now – he has risen from the dead.

Scripture: Romans 8:28; Joshua 1:9; Proverbs 4:23; 2 Timothy 3:16; Ephesians 6:11;1 Corinthians 13:12; Luke 11:28; Luke 4:4

Prayer: How shall I make a return to God for all the good God has done to me? I will take up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. Amen

May your day be blessed!

Cyndi

Saturday Scripture Gold with Bibi: How Have You Treated the King?

"Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." (Zechariah 9:9)

On the Sunday before Easter we see our Lord making his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, offering himself as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy; and as the King who alone can bring peace and harmony to human hearts. How have you treated the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Matthew's gospel presents Jesus Christ, the Savior, as the King whom the people of God had been expecting as the fulfillment of messianic prophecy.

Matthew 2:2 tells us that Christ was born to be king. The magi from the East came seeking a mysterious baby "born King of the Jews." In his infancy our Lord was recognized as a king by these mysterious magi, and he was treated as a king by the wicked Herod. Herod saw him a rival for the throne and plotted to bring about his death (Matthew 2:13).

We know that Christ was anointed to be a king. At his baptism the heavens opened revealing the King's realm of authority (Matthew 3:16). The Holy Spirit descended as a dove indicating the spiritual nature of Christ's reign. And the voice from heaven was the voice of the eternal God revealing the divine favor of the Almighty on this King and his kingly program.What program was this? Christ explained the principles and the program of his kingdom in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).

In addition, Christ demonstrated his kingship in many areas of authority. Our Lord exercised kingly authority over nature. The winds obeyed his command, and the waves of the sea granted his wishes. Our Lord exercised kingly authority over disease. At his word or at his touch, healing came to those who suffered. Our Lord exercised kingly authority over the demonic world. He resisted and overcame the temptations of the devil. He exercised authority over demons, commanding them to depart from those who were demon-possessed.

Our Lord exercised kingly authority over death. He restored life to the daughter of Jairus (Mark 5:35-43). He raised to life the son of a widow (Luke 7:11-17). He raised Lazarus back to life (John 11:38-44). Our Lord was later to conquer death and the grave, coming forth triumphant and victorious.

We know that Christ died as a king. In satire and cruelty the Roman soldiers covered our Lord in a purple robe and bowed before him saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" (John 19:3). Pilate instructed those who crucified Jesus to the superscription "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews" (John 19:19) on his cross to indicate the crime of which he was accused and for which he was dying. Ironically, never did Pilate speak words of greater truth than when he recognized Jesus Christ as "the King of the Jews."

Christ's death at the hands of wicked men appeared to be a great triumph for the forces of evil, but in reality it was a conquest of evil by the powerful King of love and grace. Death could not hold him, and the grave could not conceal him. Yes, Christ conquered death as a king.

Lastly, following his resurrection our Lord assumed kingly authority on a universal scale (Matthew 28:18-20). Jesus says that all authority in heaven and earth has been given to him. We need to recognize and respond to his authority. As believers in Jesus Christ, as followers of the Lord, and as children of the King, we need to treat him as the King who alone can bring about peace, purpose, power, and plenty in our lives.

In closing, this year on Palm Sunday ask yourself, "How have I treated the King?" We can be grateful that we have not treated him as Herod did. We can rejoice that we have not treated him as did the soldiers. We can find peace in the fact that we have not mistreated the King as did Pilate.

One day the King will return in all his glory and power for those who have trusted him and who love him. We would be wise to receive him as the King and treat him as an honored guest in our heart and life. We would be wise to listen to him and follow his teachings and his commandments. We should trust him as our dearest and most precious friend.

We should obey him as the Lord of unquestioned and immeasurable love. We should follow him as our divine and infallible leader. He can bring peace and joy into our hearts only when when we make him sovereign Lord and King in every area of our lives.

Scripture: John 12:13; Acts 8:36-38; Luke 19:30; John 12:15; John 12:9-19; 1 John 5:3

Now, let's pray...

O Father, give us the humility which realizes its ignorance, admits its mistakes, recognizes its need, welcomes advice, accepts rebuke. Help us always to praise rather than to criticize, to sympathize rather than to discourage, to build rather than to destroy, and to think of people at their best rather than at their worst. This we ask for in thy name's sake. Amen

Until next time...

Have a blessed week!

Bibi

Video: Angela Thomas - God, Do You Know Who I Am?

Angela Thomas explains the depth in which God knows us, and the depth in which He wants us to know him. A nice inspirational message for all of us.   ~Eve

Bible Study Snacks, Acts 18:1-17

Hi, everyone!

Happy Friday, and welcome back to another presentation of Bible Study Snacks! As always, I thank you so much for joining me as we walk together through the richness of God's spoken word, and wisdom. I pray that today finds you in good health and strong in faith!

This week, I would like to continue our study of the Book of Acts, with Chapter Eighteen, Verses 1-17.

I have designed these studies to be brief, yet packed full of good information for everyone regardless of your level of biblical knowledge. I might add that these quick studies make perfect small group discussion starters, as well!

As always, I whole-heartedly believe in the importance that any Bible study should begin with prayer. If you have your Bible ready, let's pray together...

Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen

If you are taking notes for yourself, or using this for a bible study with others, here are the objectives for this week's lesson...

OBJECTIVES: This week, the reader will...

1) Examine the final travels of Paul's 2nd Journey, from Corinth back to Antioch of Syria.

For your convenience, here is a summary of Acts 18:1-17...  

Paul leaves Athens and goes to Corinth.  He finds Aquila and Priscilla. He stays with them, as they are of the same trade, tentmakers. Aquila and Priscilla had left Rome because of the command by Claudius. During this time, Paul teaches in the synagogue and "persuaded both Jews and Greeks." Silas and Timothy join Paul at Corinth, coming from Macedonia. Paul teaches the Jews that "Jesus is the Christ." They oppose him. Paul tells them, "Your blood be on your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."

Paul then goes to Justus' house, which is next to the synagogue. Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, and his household believe. Many Corinthians believe and are baptized. The Lord speaks to Paul in a vision, encouraging him to be bold and to continue to speak; for the Lord would be with him. Paul continues teaching there another year and a half. The Jews then take Paul before the proconsul of Achaia, Gallio, charging that he" persuades men to worship God contrary to the law." Gallio refuses to be a "judge of such matters" and drives them away from the judgment seat. [I and II Thessalonians may have been written.] Paul remains in Corinth a while longer before setting sail for Syria. (1-17)

REVIEW QUESTIONS:  

1) Why were Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth rather than Rome? (Acts 18:2)
2) What was the common occupation of Paul and Aquila and Priscilla? (Acts 18:3)
3) What did Paul do every Sabbath? (Acts 18:4)
4) When Silas and Timothy joined Paul, what was he compelled to testify by the Spirit and to whom? (Acts 18:5)
5) What was the reaction of the Jews? (Acts 18:6)
6) How did Paul respond and to whom was he going next? (Acts 18:6)
7) Whose house did Paul enter and where was it located? (Acts 18:7)
8) What resulted with the people of Corinth? (Acts 18:8)
9) After the vision from the Lord, how long did Paul remain there? (Acts 18:11)
10) What was Gallio not willing to be a judge over? (Acts 18:15)

After completing this week's study, I encourage you to go back and read through the material again. Take your time and read each topic and scripture reference as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you just might see something new that you overlooked the first time around!

As we journey through the Bible together, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until next time, I wish everyone a blessed week!

God bless you!  

Sheri

Jesus Experienced Loneliness, Too!

Hello, and thank you for visiting The Coffeehouse Bible Ministry blog! We hope that you find our postings spiritually beneficial and instructive. It's always been our most sincere purpose that we adhere to 2 Peter 3:18 in all of our endeavors. We strongly believe that when all is said and done, to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" is manifest in everything we do.   ~Eve

"Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty."   -Mother Teresa

To walk the street of any major city in the world and to look in the faces of those you meet, is to be impressed with look of loneliness that fills people's eyes even while they are in the middle of a crowd. Do you have periods of extreme loneliness when you are forsaken, cut off, abandoned, isolated, and very alone? The desire of belonging, and the assurance of acceptance are basic human needs.

You might be thinking, "why do we have a problem with loneliness?" There are many reasons why; too many to address in this brief forum, but we can submit several for the purpose of discussion today. We can experience loneliness because we are lost in the crowd. Just being in the midst of people does not guarantee that we won't be lonely.We can experience loneliness when we feel that we are misunderstood by family members or the circle of people whose acceptance is important to us.

We can feel lonely because of mistreatment at the hands of someone else. This is a perennial problem because we are always subject to mistreatment by others. We can experience loneliness as a result of frustration in our work or in relationships that are important to us. We can experience loneliness because of weariness of body and mind. The body and mind must have rest from the burdens and stresses of life. We can experience loneliness because of a position of leadership. Bearing the weight of responsibility or standing at the top of an organization can be a very lonely position.

We can experience loneliness because of physical or emotional suffering. Pain can be so intense that i can cause us to feel we are alone in the depths of our agony. We can feel lonely because of a negative and critical attitude toward self. This is one of the major contributing causes to a feeling of loneliness. Many of us developed a negative way of thinking early in life and have never been able to replace our negative thoughts with a positive mental attitude. And the list goes on...

Would you be surprised to know that Jesus suffered the agony of feeling lonely? Because he has experienced the pain of loneliness, we are assured that he is able to sympathize with us and to help us with this painful problem (Hebrews 2:17-18). Jesus who suffered in all ways can provide us with a pattern for dealing with life's painful problems. It wouldn't be presumptuous to think that on many different occasions Jesus must have experienced the pain of loneliness.

How do we know? The Bible tells us that: Jesus was misunderstood by the members of his own family (Matthew 12:46-50). Jesus was misunderstood and rejected by the people of his own city (Luke 4:24-30). Jesus was betrayed by one of his twelve intimate friends. In a time of great stress when Jesus needed the prayer support of his most intimate friends, they went to sleep leaving him alone in his agony (Luke 22:45-46). When Jesus was seized by wicked men, all of his apostles forsook him though one did follow from a distance.

Knowing even the little that we have discussed here, there can be no question concerning the agony of Jesus' loneliness as he bore the burden of human guilt and condemnation. Jesus had taken on himself the sin and guilt of a rebellious creation and was dying under the penalty of human sin; our sin. Indeed, Jesus felt himself to be utterly forsaken. There is no more agony than Jesus experienced as he died to redeem us from the awful penalty of sin. He suffered the wrath of a  Holy God against the malignancy of evil.

So what can we do to solve the problem of loneliness? Dear friends, we need to admit that we cannot make ourselves totally immune from loneliness. It is a problem with which we will have to deal with as time goes by, and the example of Jesus provides us with a pattern to follow. Jesus responded to the problem of loneliness by crying out to God in his time of need. First, and foremost, when we feel lonely we should look to the Lord for grace, guidance, and help. It's not the will of our Father God that any of us experience the painful agony of loneliness.

Developing a positive mental attitude based on faith in God will help us greatly in overcoming loneliness. Accepting the humanity of others so as not to be knocked off balance by their misunderstanding or by mistreatment can help us overcome loneliness. Getting plenty of rest and following good health habits will go a long way toward helping us overcome loneliness. Also, we aren't so apt to be lonely if we define our reason for being in terms of living or giving rather than getting

To conclude today's message, let the Lord Jesus become your Savior if this is the great need of your life. If you have already trusted him as your Savior, the trust in his promise to be with you at all times and under all circumstances. He has promised, "I will never fail you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5)

Scripture: Isaiah 41:10; 1 Peter 5:7; Joshua 1:5; Matthew 28:20; Deuteronomy 31:6; 1 John 4:13; James 4:7; Psalm 62:5; Philippians 4:6-7; John 14:18; Proverbs 18:24; Psalm 23:4

Prayer: God our Father, you call each of us by name, and you treasure each of us individually as though no-one else exists. Inspire us to respect and value each person who comes into our lives this day. Amen

May God bless you always,

~Eve

Video: Beth Moore - Look What the Cat Dragged In

Beth Moore illustrates the truth that clinging to the wrong thing can cause us harm as she tells the hilarious story of Raquel the Squirrel. Enjoy!   ~Eve

Focus Your Life on Christ

The Carnegie Technological Institute has stated that 90% of all people who fail in their life's vocation fail because they cannot get along with people.    -Lloyd Perry, Getting the Church on Target,  Moody, 1977

Christ came into the world to minister to the deepest problems that disturb human hearts. He came to reveal the way of love for everyone. In Colossians 3:1-11, Paul is speaking to believers concerning their position in and relationship to Jesus Christ. Paul deals with the painful problems that distress and divides people by first of emphasizing our relationship to God from God’s perspective. He points out that we died to sin through Christ (Colossians 2:20) and that we have been raised with Christ to new life (Colossians 3:1).

Further, he asserts that when our Lord appears in his glory, we will appear with him (Colossians 3:4). In view of these great spiritual realities, Paul encourages us to cooperate with our Lord as we seek to live out our union with him. The apostle provides spiritual encouragement in the form of some great imperatives.

Let’s first discuss how we are encouraged to focus the aim of our life on Christ (Colossians 3:1). Paul had defined his purpose for being in terms of relating himself to Jesus Christ and letting Christ live in him (Philippians 1:21). Then, we are encouraged to focus our mind on Christ (Colossians 3:2). Our affections, our disposition, and our will; our entire personality is to be affected by our desire to let Jesus Christ have his way with us.

Finally, we are encouraged to focus our hope on Christ (Colossians 3:4). Our great hope for the future and beyond time is to be united with the Christ and with the people of God throughout all eternity. Thus Paul encourages us to remove barriers to Christian fellowship (Colossians 3:5-17). I will break this down for you as follows:

A. We are to put to death all destructive impulses and drives (Colossians 3:5-6).
B. We are to put away a disposition that is evil, mean, and hurtful (Colossians 3:8).
C. We are to put away falsehood and dishonesty from every area of life (Colossians 3:9-10).
D. We are to recognize that in Jesus Christ there can be no destructive discrimination (Colossians 3:11).

1. In Christ there can be no racial discrimination: “Here there cannot be Greek and Jew.”
2. In Christ there can be no spiritual discrimination: “Here there cannot be…barbarian, Scythian.” In the Greek world barbarian was a word of contempt for the uncultured, while “Scythian” was a synonym for savage.
3. In Christ there can be no social or economical discrimination: “Here there cannot be…slave, free man.” In Christ the rich and the poor are on level ground.
4. In Christ there can be no sexual discrimination. “There is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). In Christ womanhood was exalted, reaching the highest position of status and dignity.

E. We are to put on the tender graces of Jesus Christ that are associated with love and mercy (Colossians 3:12-14).
F. We are to let the peace of Christ rule in all our relationships (Colossians 3:15).
G. We are to let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly to guide us and to instruct (Colossians 3:16).
H. We are to do all that we do under the authority and for the glory of our precious Lord, being thankful for every blessing and every opportunity to serve (Colossians 3:17).

In closing, Christ came and died for our sins, conquering death and the grave so that eternal life might be a reality for us. Christ came to dwell within each of us when we trusted him as Savior. He wants to help us with our pressing, painful problems; we must recognize and respond to him continuously. It was faith in Christ that established us in a loving relationship with him, and it is obedience to him that will bring satisfaction and joy to our lives.

Scripture:  Peter 5:6,7; Psalm 19:14; Ephesians 4:2-3; Hebrews 10:24-25; Proverbs 13:20; John 15:13; Colossians 3:23; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Prayer: O Lord, through wisdom a house is built,
and by understanding it is established;
By knowledge the rooms are filled
With all precious and pleasant riches.

Make me a wise person who is strong,
Yes, a person of knowledge that increases strength.
For by wise counsel I will wage my own war,
and in a multitude of counselors I will have safety. In Jesus precious name I pray, Amen

God bless you!

Sharon

He Is the Remedy for Your Problems

“Every problem is an opportunity to prove God's power. Every day we encounter countless golden opportunities, brilliantly disguised as insurmountable problems.”   -C. Swindoll, One Step Forward, Two Steps Back, p. 35.

Depression is one of the most prominent emotional illnesses in the world today. Thousands in the United States alone are hospitalized annually with depression, and even more go untreated. Most people suffer at one time or another with some form of depression. This can range from a minor case of the blues to a severe case of psychosis.

Two of Jesus’ disciples had a case of the blues. They had followed Jesus thinking he was the Messiah promised in the Old Testament. But the crucifixion in Jerusalem shattered their idea of the Messiah. They traveled form Jerusalem to Emmaus, and as they traveled they vented their disappointments. Their demeanor was extremely sad. During the course of their travel, the risen Christ joined them, but they did not recognize him. In a post resurrection appearance Jesus ministered to the mood of these disciples.

How did Jesus accomplish this? He dealt with the disciples’ depression by explaining the Scriptures (Luke 24:27). A clue to overcoming the blues is learning what God says in his Word. The disciples failed to know the Scriptures. An explanation of the events was readily accessible to them in the Old Testament, but their personal prejudices prevented them from understanding God’s Word. Often our despair of life comes from a failure to understand and apply the Scriptures.

Jesus explained the Scriptures to these two sad disciples. He related Old Testament passages to himself, showing them that he is the theme of Scripture that the Old Testament portrayed and anticipated the Messiah. Finding Jesus in the Scriptures is the secret to the Bible’s meaning. Through reading the Bible, we encounter the living Christ. He causes life to make sense. And he can dispel the blues if we trust his word.

But in order for this to happen, we need to increase our intimacy with Christ. Upon closer examination of Jesus’ appearance to the two disciples, on the road to Emmaus, we learn another clue about overcoming the blues. Their despondency did not improve as long as they dwelled on the problem of reconciling the crucifixion with their expectations of the Christ.

However, as the disciples walked and talked, Jesus joined them and contributed to the conversation. His presence challenged their mood. Once they asked the Lord to abide with them, he broke their despondency by having intimate fellowship with them.

Deep despondency can result when we focus on the negative part of life. Rehearsing disappointments over and over causes us continual disturbance. Morbid preoccupation with our problems and disappointments will do us no good. However, if we spend time in conversation with Christ and focus on the Scriptures, he will lift us up.

Now, let’s talk about Christ involves us. Jesus dealt with the disciple’s depression by getting them involved. Instead of turning away from Jerusalem as they had at first, they now returned and told the apostles that the Lord had risen from the dead. We can only guess why their first inclination was to go to the small village of Emmaus. Perhaps they were so disappointed that they were going to get involved in another vocation. But the risen Christ kept them involved for him.

A person’s mood can be sad because of extreme concern over self. These disciples were sad because their hopes had been frustrated. Their vocation seemingly had been eliminated. They became extremely blue because their selfish desired had been thwarted. Modern disciples often get depressed because of a preoccupation with themselves.

Jesus challenged these men to be involved with his ministry by serving others. Psychologists attest that our minds are helped when we get beyond ourselves and help others. Getting involved with the needs of others helps to break the blues.

Finally, maybe you have some real problems in your life today. Perhaps you are frustrated because your dreams have been shattered. You can identify with the sadness of the two disciples traveling to Emmaus. The remedy to their problem was the risen Christ, and he is also the remedy for your problems.

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:19-23; John 15:18-20; 2 Corinthians 11:23-26; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Romans 15:4; Philippians 4:6, 7; Matthew 26:36-46; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Prayer: O Lord, in Whom is our hope, remove far from us, we pray Thee, empty hopes and presumptuous confidence. Make our hearts so right with Thy most holy and loving heart, that hoping in Thee we may do good; until that day when faith and hope shall be abolished by sight and possession, and love shall be all in all. Amen

May God be with you,

Alexis

Jesus Always Kept His Word...Do You?

“What upsets me is not that you lied to me, but that from now on I can no longer believe you.”   -Friedrich Nietzsche.

Lying is one of the most prevalent moral problems we face. It affects private relationships, families, social lives, business practices, entertainment, music, etc. Lying is everywhere. We find  it at school, on the golf course, at the grocery store…even in the church. Lying is at epidemic proportions!

The Day America Told the Truth by James Patterson and Peter Kim says that: 91% of Americans lie regularly; 63% men and 52% woman have lied to protect themselves;  and 40% said they had lied on job applications. What does this tell us? It says that Christians are not immune from the temptation (Ephesians 4:25; Philippians 4:8). God is not pleased! (Jeremiah 9: 3-9)

Our words should be well thought out and our words should be few. For example, if we tell someone that we will call them back tomorrow, and we have no intention of calling them, then we have lied. This excuse is often used with a deliberate intent to deceive. The person does not call back at the appointed time and will call back at a much later date with excuses of why they were unable to call which usually goes something like: “I just was so busy, I meant to call , but did not get around to it.”

We all have been guilty of this, but we need to realize when we say we will do something we need to keep our word. We do understand there are legitimate reasons that make it impossible at times to keep our word and in those circumstances we are not guilty of lying. But it might be better not to make this promise or to say, “I will try to call you back tomorrow

I could list numerous examples. The point is, any time we say the words “I will” we need to be responsible to do it. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that we have lied if we fail to act. We all, on occasion, fail to do the things we have good intentions of doing or we are hindered in some way and can’t do them.

However, if we are unable to keep an appointment we should be thoughtful enough to call and cancel, or tell of our delayed arrival. We are living in an age when there are so many uncaring attitudes expressed. Too often, these careless attitudes, if left unchecked for too long, can be construed as lies and deceit. As Christians, we can be good witnesses by being different.

None of us likes being lied to. None of us likes being falsely accused of lying. The reason is because truth is primarily a self-regarding virtue. In other words, it is in our own best self-interest to see things as either being true or untrue. If we wish to walk carefully through life, to do so we must be able to calculate our true position.

When you lie to me, you know your position but you have given me false data which obscures mine. When I lie to you, I create a situation in which you have a false view of reality and you may lose your way.  (Jonathan Wallace, Lying, The Ethical Spectacle, May 2000, www.spectacle.org)

The implication of this is that no one who has any regard for his own dignity and self-respect will be guilty of the immorality of a lie. Even a liar does not like to be lied to. The one principle of truth that I have tried to demonstrate today is that lying must always involve malice (the desire to harm others).

In addition, it is possible for an honest person to understand truth such that he or she might make an error without any intention of deceiving. Such an honest person may prove himself to be inept, but not a liar. Just as the hypocrite is justly detested and despised, so should the liar be. However, as no honest man would ever consent to play the hypocrite, so no honest man will ever be guilty of a lie.

What kind of witness are we to those around us? As Christians we need to ask the Lord to forgive us if we are guilty of lying or deceit. Not only do we not want to lie, but we also want to keep our word so that people know we are honest and trustworthy.

On the other hand, before we point our finger at another for being a liar, we need to make sure that we can prove malice or intent, or we might be deceived and become liars ourselves. As Christians, we want to represent our Father well in this life and be honest and free from fabrication and false accusation. We can only do this through the power of the Holy Spirit as we seek to be like Jesus.

Jesus always kept His Word. God still keeps His Word and is faithful to keep every promise He makes in the Bible. That is why He is reliable and we can trust Him. We are called to be like Him. According to Webster’s dictionary, a lie is:

• To make a statement that one knows is false, especially with the intent to deceive.
• To give a false impression or action or false statement, especially with the intent to deceive.
• To make a false statement in order to evade the truth.
• The invention of a false story or excuse in order to deceive.

Are we guilty of lying when we do not keep our word? It is certainly true that if we knowingly tell someone that we are going to do something while at the same time knowing that we have no intentions of following through on our promise or commitment, then, we are guilty of lying - there was intent to deceive that person.

But if we do not follow through on a commitment or promise, it does not necessarily mean that we lied. Too often we are just too quick or rash with our mouth. One who is “hasty in word or impulsive in thought” doesn't take enough time to think about what they are saying. They usually don’t have too much thought behind their words. This can lead to other problems in our relations with God and others.

For instance, more often than not,  making senseless vows or commitments is a result of talking too much. We tend to think in financial terms when we think of making vows, especially since Solomon says to “pay what you vow”. But much more is in mind here. It’s especially dangerous for a person to make vows, especially to God, if the person has no intention of keeping the vows. 

When vows are made to God, there should be no delay in paying them; God has a right to require payment in full, and to not pay is considered sin before God. It is better not to vow, in which case the person will not be held guilty. The point is that our words should mean something. Our words should be well thought out and our words should be few.

In closing, lying is easy, but oftentimes the truth is hard. Are you known to be a truly honest person, or do people have to question you and wonder about your genuineness? Do you have a reputation as a liar, or do people know what you say is true? Is your word as good as your signature? Do you do what you say you will do? Do you tell the truth even when it will cost you something?

Scripture: Colossians 3:9-10; Leviticus 19:12; Proverbs 25:18; Zechariah  8:17; Proverbs 14:5; 1 Kings 22:16; Proverbs 19:5; Deuteronomy 19:17-19; Revelation 21:8; James 3:14; Proverbs 12:19

Prayer: Father, from this day forward, I seek Your Truth and whatever it may look like. I trust You and Your Divine Plan because I know that I originally came from You. Protect me Father and help me to always speak the Truth and to purposefully move away from omissions, lies and anything that is not a deliberate reflection of Your Truth. Through Jesus Christ's Precious Blood and Most Holy Face. Amen

Have a blessed day!

Ginny

Saturday Scripture Gold with Bibi: Patrick, A True Man of God

"And I am certain of this: I was a dumb stone lying squashed in the mud; the Mighty and Merciful God came, dug me out and set me on top of the wall. Therefore, I praise him and ought to render him something for his wonderful benefits to me both now and in eternity."   - from Confessions by Magnus Sucatus Patricius (St. Patrick)

Patrick role modeled for the Christian community what it means to forgive others. He also taught us that we have to follow the call of God because it will make a difference in this world. He became a hero by winning the Irish to Jesus Christ.

Patrick’s life and ministry teach us to be open to the call of God in our lives: His beginning in Ireland did not dictate his future but it drew him into a love relationship with Jesus Christ. His relationship with Christ helped him to overcome adverse circumstances in his teen years. His ability to draw close to God and forgive had a dramatic impact on the Irish people. His willingness to follow God’s call makes him a hero of the faith.

Let’s learn from this man of God and ask our self a few questions, “Am I willing to draw closer to God in turbulent times? Am I willing and able to forgive those who have caused pain in my life? Am I willing to follow the call of God and even give my life to those who enslaved me? If you do you could become a hero of the faith like Patrick.”

Historical Background of Patrick:

Patrick lived in the fifth century, a time of rapid change and transition. In many ways we might say that those times of turbulence and uncertainty were not unlike our own. The Roman Empire was beginning to break up, and Europe was about to enter the so-called Dark Ages. Rome fell to barbarian invaders in 410. Within ten years of that time, the Roman forces began to leave Britain to return to Rome to defend positions back home. Life, once so orderly and predictable under Roman domination, now became chaotic and uncertain. Patrick entered the world of that time.

Partick’s biography is as follows: By Anita Mc Sorley

The uncontested, if somewhat unspecific, biographical facts about Patrick are as follows: Patrick was born Patricius somewhere in Roman Britain to a relatively wealthy family. He was not religious as a youth and, in fact, claims to have practically renounced the faith of his family. While in his teens, Patrick was kidnapped in a raid and transported to Ireland, where he was enslaved to a local warlord and worked as a shepherd until he escaped six years later. He returned home and eventually undertook studies for the priesthood with the intention of returning to Ireland as a missionary to his former captors.

It's not clear when he actually made it back to Ireland, or for how long he ministered there, but it was definitely for a number of years. By the time he wrote the Confession and the "Letter to Coroticus," Patrick was recognized by both Irish natives and the Church hierarchy as the bishop of Ireland. By this time, also, he had clearly made a permanent commitment to Ireland and intended to die there. Scholars have no reason to doubt that he did. He died on March 17 the day we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

Let’s briefly explore Patrick’s life and discover some spiritual lessons that we can apply to our lives.

(1) He modeled for us the importance of following the call of God in our lives. Patrick was taken as a slave at 16 from England by Irish raiders. During his time of slavery he worked as a Shepherd and he says his faith grew. He turned to God for comfort. He had been raised as a Christian but he considered his faith to be nominal even at some points nonexistent.

He escaped Ireland from a vision from God. The vision told him where to go and how to escape. He followed the leading of the Lord and escaped back to England. After his escape he went and studied in France and became a priest and a Bishop after about 15 years. God spoke to him to return to Ireland and win the Irish to Christ.

After completing his studies in France Patrick returned home and received a call in a dream. The dream is said to have had a man standing on the shore of Ireland crying out for help. Patrick believed it was a message from God that he was to return to Ireland and evangelize them with the Gospel. The Irish people would never have became Christian if someone like Patrick had not gone to them to share the message of good news. He returned to Ireland with the Gospel.

(2) He won a nation to Jesus Christ and gave us insight and wisdom in how to evangelize others. He was not afraid to face the cults and dangers of being a witness for Christ. He faced his heaviest opposition from the Druids who practiced magic, and offered human sacrifices. Many of their writings refer to the need to kill that holy Patrick.

Patrick’s courage came as a result that he died to the Lord and followed him. This made him successful in Ireland. He used their cultural beliefs to present the Gospel in a manner they could relate to. He presented the Gospel with power and authority. He stood up to the Druids. He believed in miracles and they happened.

According to Christian History the Irish believed in a tri-faced god, for three was their magical number, and gods and goddesses often manifested themselves as three. Patrick used the Shamrock to show the Irish how God was a Trinity by pointing to the three leaves on the Shamrock. The result of Patrick going to Ireland also was he abolished human sacrifice in Ireland. Among other things, the Irish where known for sacrificing prisoners of war to the war gods and newborns to the harvest gods.

He focused his energy on the leadership of the day.The royalty! As a result, their changed lives influenced the lives under them. Many of the royalty became priests, monks, and nuns. He built and planted local churches and monasteries.

(3) He trained a nation by stressing the disciplines of Christianity. To Patrick prayer was an essential tool to be used by the Christians to overcome the world of darkness. He tells of how under slavery he became a prayer warrior. He understood the importance of prayer in one’s life. He modeled the church of Acts. He stressed that believers are to be enraptured by God’s love and God’s words of love in Scripture.

He stressed Bible Study and meditation on the things of God. He did not want us just to know about God he wanted his converts to experience God in a personal intimate way.

Patrick’s life and ministry teach us to be open to the call of God in our lives. His beginning in Ireland did not dictate his future but it drew him into a love relationship with Jesus Christ. His relationship with Christ helped him to overcome adverse circumstances in his teen years. His ability to draw close to God and forgive had a dramatic impact on the Irish people and the success of his life. His willingness to follow God’s call made him a hero of the faith.

Let's learn from this man of God and ask our self a few questions, “Am I willing to draw closer to God in turbulent times? Am I willing and able to forgive those who have caused pain in my life? Am I willing to follow the call of God and even give my life to those who enslaved me? If you do you could become a hero of the faith like Patrick.”

If you learn to be like Patrick you have the benefit to really start living right were you are at. You really start to live when you take your eyes off the circumstances of life and draw closer to God. Then you will learn to recognize God’s voice. This spiritual maturity will lead you out of bondage and slavery to freedom. Then as you continue to draw closer to God through study, prayer, and spiritual disciplines you will be called upon by God to do a ministry for Him.

Who knows maybe you could win an entire nation to Christ? Maybe you could win a generation to Christ? Maybe you could win your family to Christ? The benefits to you will be eternal and the most rewarding thing you could do with your life.

Scripture: John 8:47; Mark 4:24; Proverbs 2:1-5; John 10:27-28; Hebrews 4:7; Philippians 4:6; Psalm 37:4-5; Revelation 3:20; John 10:2-4; James 1:22

-special thank you to Michael McCartney
 
Now, let's pray...

O Father, give us the humility which realizes its ignorance, admits its mistakes, recognizes its need, welcomes advice, accepts rebuke. Help us always to praise rather than to criticize, to sympathize rather than to discourage, to build rather than to destroy, and to think of people at their best rather than at their worst. This we ask for in thy name's sake. Amen

Until next time...

Have a blessed week!

Bibi

Bible Study Snacks, Acts 17:16-34

Hi, everyone!

Happy Friday, and welcome back to another presentation of Bible Study Snacks! As always, I thank you so much for joining me as we walk together through the richness of God's spoken word, and wisdom. I pray that today finds you in good health and strong in faith!

This week, I would like to continue our study of the Book of Acts, with Chapter Seventeen, Verses 16-34.

I have designed these studies to be brief, yet packed full of good information for everyone regardless of your level of biblical knowledge. I might add that these quick studies make perfect small group discussion starters, as well!

As always, I whole-heartedly believe in the importance that any Bible study should begin with prayer. If you have your Bible ready, let's pray together...

Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen

If you are taking notes for yourself, or using this for a bible study with others, here are the objectives for this week's lesson...

OBJECTIVES: This week, the reader will...

1) Examine how Paul preaches in Athens and how he finds common ground from which to teach the Gospel of Christ in an idolatrous city.

For your convenience, here is a summary of Acts 17:16-34...  

Upon arrival in Athens, Paul's "spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols."Again, he goes to the synagogue to reason with the Jew and Gentile worshipers, daily. He also reasons with others in the marketplace each day. This create an opportunity to speak with the philosophers (i.e., Epicureans, Stoics, and others). Some deride him, calling him a "babbler." Others think he speaks of foreign gods.  They invite him to speak in the Areopagus (also called Mar's Hill). This is the place of the supposed experts of philosophy and religion in Athens. (16-19)

Paul speaks to them by finding common ground from which to launch into his gospel message. He keys into the inscription: "TO THE UNKNOWN GOD." This is the One he proclaims to them. Paul also references a saying of their own poets, "For we are also His offspring." He points out that since they are the offspring of God, He could not be made of gold or silver or stone by human artists. Paul then teaches them of repentance and judgment.  He indicates that Christ will be the judge and that He was raised from the dead. Some mock Paul at this saying. Others want to hear more about this later. Some believe and joined him. (20-34)

REVIEW QUESTIONS:  

1) As Paul waited for his companions to arrive in Athens, what provoked Paul? (Acts 17:16)
2) What two venues did Paul use to reason with people? (Acts 17:17)
3) Who encountered Paul?  Why did they think he proclaimed some foreign god? (Acts 17:18)
4) Where did they invite Paul to speak?  Why were they willing to listen to him? (Acts 17:19-21)
5) As Paul began to speak, what did he first acknowledge?  Why? (Acts 17:22-23)
6) Whom did Paul proclaim as the subject of his speech? (Acts 17:23)
7) What seven things did Paul first declare about Him? (Acts 17:24-26)
8) What was God's purpose in all this? (Acts 17:27)
9) What should give one hope that God can be found? (Acts 17:27-28)
10) To whom did Paul appeal for support in what he was saying? (Acts 17:28)
11) What conclusion did Paul draw from such observations? (Acts 17:29)
12) What does Paul then reveal? (Acts 17:30)
13) Why should man repent? What evidence has God given?  (Acts 17:31)
14) What reaction was there to the subject of the resurrection? (Acts 17:32)
15) As Paul left, who joined him? (Acts 17:33-34)

After completing this week's study, I encourage you to go back and read through the material again. Take your time and read each topic and scripture reference as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you just might see something new that you overlooked the first time around!

As we journey through the Bible together, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until next time, I wish everyone a blessed week!

God bless you!  

Sheri

Godly Friendships Are Truly A Blessing!

"Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts, nor measure words, but to pour them all out just as they are, chaff and grain together knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then, with the breath of kindness blow the rest away."   -George Eliot, quoted in Today in the Word, July, 1989, p. 28

Knowing how to choose friends is one of most important skills you’ll ever develop. Friends help shape your life because of their strong influence; therefore it is important to choose the right friends. In the Word of God, He shows us how to select friend to be part of our life. Who we hang with is who we become. We need to use Godly wisdom in our relationships. Choosing good friends can be a blessing or a cursing to our lives. Let's look to the Word and see what God has to say about choosing Godly friend.

First, we must examine our relationships. After all, choosing good friendships is essential to our well-being. A good friend knows how to empower you for success. The wrong friend can be a curse. Proverbs 12:26 tells us that, "the righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray." We must cut off any relationships that aren't productive.Those who walk in opposition to God’s Word can cause you to go astray, keep your distance from these people.

Secondly, don’t be unequally yoked (associated) with any person, Christian or non-Christian that lives opposed to the Word. The Bible says that evil company corrupts good character (1 Corinthians 15:33). If you want to live right, you will have to keep the right company. You are known by the company you keep. Proverbs 13:20 reminds us that, "He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed."

We need to guard our time with people; we can't be everyone’s friend. And, we must be loyal to the Word of God. Look at it this way, we can choose God or the world’s way of doing things. One brings blessing, one brings great pain and sorrow. The Bible tells us to separate ourselves from unbelievers. A friendship with the world hinders your relationship with the Heavenly Father.

You need relationships that enhance your relationship with God. Don’t just accept anyone into your life because you are lonely. And, don’t form friendships with people that stand against everything you believe (God, church, morals, etc). Remember, you cannot be friends with the world and God! (James 4:4)

Third, there are three levels of friendship. The Bible supports relationships because two are stronger than one (Ecclesiastes 4:9). It might be easier to think of the different levels of friendship/relationship as being similar in design to the tabernacle of old. The tabernacle design consisted of the outer court, inner court & the holy of holies (behind the veil). Please allow me to clarify these for you below:

i) Outer court: represents a casual relationship; 

ii) Inner court: represents a close relationship and ;

iii) Holy of holies: represents an intimate relationship - vulnerable to one another 

The Holy of holies relationships are for a select few people. A person should earn the right to have this relationship with you. Determine what friends should be in your outer court, inner court and holy of holies. Don’t allow someone that is an outer court friend into your inner court or holy of holies that have not show you the qualities of Christ (like minded, trustworthy). Be patient enough to see if a person is willing to prove him or herself to be faithful. Remember this: Friend is a covenant word. Abraham was God’s friend. Are you a friend of God? (James 2:23)

And finally, beware of those that call themselves Christians but who are really immoral people. In fact, simply remove yourself from people who are rebellious. Don’t hang with people who constantly sin and are not committed to changing their behavior, it's just not worth it. Stick with people who are committed to pursuing Godliness. Depart from people who refuse to repent.

In review, God desires that you fellowship with like-minded people, those that will encourage you in your walk with Jesus Christ. Who you hang with is who you become. Examine your relationships this morning. Are the people you call a friend a blessing or a curse? Godly friendships will stand the test of time. These people are the ones in the inner court or the holy of holies. 

Always remember, you are known by the company you keep. Therefore, we must make good decisions as it relates to friends; we can’t have the world and God. We must choose one! Jesus desires to have a relationship with you today. Do you know Him? Are you a friend of God?

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:14; Romans 12:2; Matthew 10:14; 1 John 1:7; 1 Peter 2:15-16; Proverbs 27:9; Exodus 34:12; Romans 1:24; 2 Timothy 3:1-3; Luke 12:2

Prayer: You have blessed us, O God, with the gift of friendship, the bonding of persons in a circle of love. We thank you for such a blessing: for friends who love us, who share our sorrows, who laugh with us in celebration, who bear our pain, who need us as we need them, who weep as we weep, who hold us when words fail, and who give us the freedom to be ourselves. Bless our friends with health, wholeness, life, and love. Amen.

-thanks to Jeff Budzinski

Have a blessed day!

Elise