In Jesus’ trial, we see unity in evil (Luke 23:12). Politically, Pilate and Herod were at odds with each other. Spiritually, they were united in their opposition to Christ. Jesus was found guilty by neither Pilate nor Herod (Luke 23:13-16). They were Very Important People. Jesus was a threat to them. They held positions of great power. They could not allow Jesus to ‘upset the apple cart’. Three times, Pilate declared Jesus’ innocence (Luke 23:4, 14, 22). ‘Public opinion’said, ‘Crucify Him!’(Luke 23:21). Pilate had a problem. He would be ‘crucifying’ himself - politically - if he ignored public opinion. Pilate made his choice. Jesus had to go. Jesus went - but He came back again! There is real human drama here, but there is much more than that: There is God! Crucified by men, Raised by God (Acts 2:23-24): This is divine drama, the drama of redemption!
He Came To Call Sinners To Repentance
But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Matt 9:13
This Is What The Spirit Says
Rev 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
Rev 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
Rev 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Rev 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
Rev 3:13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
How Can We Refuse To Be Changed By God's Love?
There are times when it seems nothing is going right for us: ‘I am the man who has seen affliction...’(Lamentations 3:1-3). In such times, we must remember this: ‘The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end’. When we find ourselves in circumstances of great distress, we must learn to look beyond the things that are happening to us. We must learn to look to the Lord and say, ‘Great is Your faithfulness’. It will not be easy to see God at work in our lives when everything seems to be going wrong. We must be patient as we wait for the blessing of the Lord to return to our lives. We must put all our hope in the Lord, trusting in His precious promise: ‘The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul that seeks Him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord’(Lamentations 3:22-26). In our ‘grief’, we must not forget the ‘compassion’ of God (Lamentations 3:32). He understands us. He cares for us. How do we know that God loves us? ‘Christ died for us’(Romans 5:8). This is the greatest demonstration of God’s love for us. How can we doubt God’s love for us when we think of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, dying on the Cross for us as our Saviour? When we think of God’s love for us, we must remember that He calls us to love Him. We are not to take God’s love for granted - ‘God loves me. I can do what I like’. We are to appreciate God’s love - ‘God loves me. I will love Him’. God loves us. Christ died for us. How can we say, ‘I’ll do what I like’? How can we refuse to be changed by His love? ‘Let us examine our ways and turn back to the Lord. Let us open our hearts to God’(Lamentations 3:40-41).
Make Sure You're Invited
Just imagine sitting at God's table in heaven. There sits Jesus at the head and all the guests have invitations to the celebration. The sounds and sites are magnificent. The room is filled with joy. There is no sickness, wars, hunger, thirst or hatred. Love, peace, joy and freedom fill the room.
Make sure that you have your invitation to the celebration.
Blessings, in Christ
The Celebration
Just imagine sitting at God's table in heaven. There sits Jesus at the head and all the guests have invitations to the celebration. The sounds and sites are magnificent. The room is filled with joy. There is no sickness, wars, hunger, thirst or hatred. Love, peace, joy and freedom fill the room.
Make sure that you have your invitation to the celebration.
Blessings, in Christ
Pocket Change Come Back
Just imagine if you had all the change, the coins that have ever passed through your hands. The pennies, nickels, dimes and so on. Wow! that just might add up to some major pocket change.
Now just imagine if you had a very large container and each day you placed your pocket change in that container and saved it. How much would you save in one year, or two, or five or ten.
I'm just wondering if life has been stealing your pocket change? All those times that you tried to save a little here and a little there.
Call it back! All that has been stolen from you. Call it back. In fact, lets call back all that has been stolen from us by that enemy that comes to rob. steal and destroy.
The Seed Is The Word Of God
Luk 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
Luk 8:12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
Luk 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
Luk 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
Luk 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
The All American Way
In all honesty and as much as I love our country America isn't doing so well these days. Things seem to be slipping away from money matters, to stock markets, banking, home sales, auto industries and so on.
Maybe what's wrong is the nation and country has fallen away from the ROCK and tried building it's future on sand.
If my people, called by my name, will humble themselves and pray.....
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