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Can You Say the Lord's Prayer?
I cannot say OUR if I live only for myself.
I cannot say FATHER if I do not endeavor each day to act like His child.
I cannot say WHO ART IN HEAVEN if I am laying up no treasure there.
I cannot say HALLOWED BY THY NAME if I am not striving for holiness.
I cannot say THY KINGDOM COME if I am not doing all in my power to hasten that wonderful event.
I cannot say THY WILL BE DONE if I am disobedient to His word.
I cannot say ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN if I will not serve Him here and now.
I cannot say GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD if I am dishonest or seeking things by subterfuge.
I cannot say FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES if I harbor a grudge against anyone.
I cannot say LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION if I deliberately place myself in its path.
I cannot say DELIVER US FROM EVIL if I do not put on the whole armor of God.
I cannot say THINE IS THE KINGDOM if I do not give the King the loyalty due Him from a faithful subject.
I cannot say THE POWER if I fear what others may do.
I cannot say THE GLORY if I am seeking honor only for myself.
I cannot say FOREVER if the horizon of my life is bounded by the things of today.
The Three Crosses Of Calvary
Dayspring Baptist Chapel
I take this thought from the prayer tract that gives us an outline of The Three Crosses. Luke 23:32-33 And there were also two others, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. [33] And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Looking today at the three crosses of Calvary. Have you ever wondered why there were three crosses? Why were the two thieves crucified with the Savior on the same day at the same place and time.
I believe that it is more than just providence. These crosses and the ones who were upon them represent all of man-kind.
There was and is a cross of Rejection, Repentance and of Redemption. I call your attention to the first cross:
1. The Cross of Rejection
Luke23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. What a sad sight, seeing someone about to die and still rebelling against life. This is the cross of the man who mocked Jesus in his hour of humiliation and shame. The dying thief was a shameless criminal, coarse and hardened in sin. He has a lot of children alive today, it seems they think everyone has nailed them to a cross. They are rebellious and are very bitter.
A. Rebellion
Rebelling against the Savior's love and offer of salvation. In rejecting the Savior, he was dooming his soul to an eternal hell and soon to be an eternal lake of fire.
B. Requiting
He was returning another's love with bitterness. Jesus was dying for him also. Even the solemnity of death couldn't restrain the blasphemies from his lips. He could see Jesus, and hear him pray, Father Forgive Them For They Know not What They Do
2. The Cross of Remorse
Remorse is moral anguish arising from repentance for past misdeeds; bitter regret.
Luke23:40-41 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? [41] And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. Here is the one who repented. He changed his mind, this is shown by the way he talked. We find them both being belligerent to Jesus. Matthew 27:44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. This means, at first they both repeated the same railing accusations. it is so sad to see them join in with the religious leaders in mocking the Lord Jesus. However, the Lord Jesus won him by not coming down from the Cross.
A. Repentance
2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. Now in Godly sorrow, this thief has a prayer instead of curses. It was a prayer for forgiveness of his sins.
B. Receiving
Luke 23:42-43 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. [43] And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. I have read that the thought of paradise in this setting is a Persian word meaning a walled garden used by a king.
When a Persian king wished to show some guest that they are accepted in his kingdom. He would take them to his Walled Garden, which was a sight of beauty. Jesus, the King of Kings, honored this penitent thief with Salvation, a promise of Paradise and a prominent position, With Me. Position Of Honor ,With Me) Position In Heaven (Eph. 4:8-10) The one on this cross teaches us that Salvation is so easy that a Child can understand. God has never meant for His brilliant plan to be complicated. It is religion that has complicated the simple plan of Salvation. The devil always has twisted the Word of God and complicated
things.
The cross of Repentance reminds us that whosoever will may be saved. Society did not even try to reform this thief, just execute him, was their attitude. Now don't take me wrong, a careful study of the Bible shows that the Knock covenant is still in effect for the Church age. However, the Lord always has a better way, it is called
Regeneration which is always better than reformation. Why can't our government learn this? Why can't we invest in Schools rather than prisons. Reach them before they need the reformation of the prison system.
Another important lesson to learn here is that the thief did not have time to perform any religious ceremonies.
3. The Cross of Redemption
Luke23:44-48 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. [45] And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. [46] And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. [47] Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.[48] And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.
These words of the Centurion, the one who preached the funeral of the Lord Jesus are worth noting. Even the worse critic that the Lord Jesus ever faced, said, I find no fault in HIM. Then Christ Himself: John 8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? An innocent man was crucified that day. The innocent Lamb Of God, who died for my guilty soul. I deserved what He had to endure, I couldn't make it or am not qualified. However, He took my place and gave me a opportunity to call upon Him for Salvation.
A. Choice
John 10:17-18 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. [18] No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. The one who hung on the middle cross was the Person of Redemption. The thing about this is that He choose to be there, so that He could redeem us from the penalty of sin. Now, the other two, did not have a choice with them being on their cross. Just as we do not have a choice as to being here, we are here, we are living. Christ, who choose to die, so that we by choosing Him can live.
B. Crucified
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: The difference between Christianity and religion is that religion demands a sacrifice and Christianity provides a sacrifice. Religion in the worst way has it's converts to die for their god, Christianity has a Savior who died for the believer. Think of the many who sacrificed their life in ritual for the devil.
There is not any other way for you to go this honored position to be with Him
in Paradise. You must accept Him, the Crucified Savior.
Submitted by:
Roger Pickett
105 Pickett St.
Jonesville, N.C. 28642
Appearances of Christ After Resurrection and Ascension
Appearances of Christ Between Resurrection and Ascension
- Mary Magdalene (John 20:14)
- Other women - Mary, mother of James and Salome (Mark. 16:1,2,
Matthew 28:1)
- Simon Peter (Luke 24:34)
- Two disciples on Emmaus Road (Luke 24:13)
- Ten apostles in upper room that evening of first lord's day (John
20:19)
- Eleven apostles in upper room on next Lord's day (John 20:26-29)
- Seven apostles fishing at Sea of Tiberias (Galilee) (John 21)
- Eleven apostles and possibly other disciples with them (Matthew
28:16)
- More than 500 brethren at once (1 Corinthians 15:7)
- James (1 Corinthians 15:7)
- To the eleven apostles and possibly other disciples on the mount of Olives at his ascension
(Acts 1)
Appearances after Ascension
- To Stephen at his stoning (Acts 7)
- To Saul on way to Damascus (Acts 9)
- To John on Patmos (Revelation 1)
Next Appearance
- At his glorious appearing.
The gospel is "how Christ died for our sins...He rose again...and was seen of above five hundred..." 1 Corinthians 15:3,4.
Let's help people go to heaven. Boy, do we have good news! Aren't you glad someone told you this good news? I led a man to Christ this week at the Home Depot. I emphasized the three things above and God opened his eyes and he trusted God and prayed to receive the Lord Jesus. "The harvest in plenteous, the laborers are few" Matthew 9:37.
The Last Seven Sayings of Jesus Christ.
In this bible study, we will map out the seven last sayings of Christ on the cross. Often overlooked, these seven last sayings explain in full form, why we call Jesus Christ the savior! Seven is the number of perfection and holiness, and Christ uttered seven cries from the tree that held His body in suspension between heaven and earth.
1. Matthew 27:46
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama
sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? The ninth hour in this verse is considered to be the time period of 12 to 3 PM. This verse shows the separation of Christ from God. At this one point, a human weakness is shown in Christ, proving an earthly life and His suffering. Jesus was a man of sorrows and the sin-bearer for all. God cannot view sin. At this moment, Jesus WAS sin! Jesus was ALONE, suffering the greatest suffering of all - separation from God. This will be the worst thing about hell.
2. Luke 23:34
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
The spiritual ignorance of the world is shown in this verse. Jesus states, "for they know not what they do" to show man's complete misunderstandings, and to show His love and mercy for everyone. Christ's intercession for men in this verse goes along with John 14:16 showing him as a comforter that will abide and intercede for men forever. God is a forgiving God. (It's His nature.) God would rather forgive than punish. He forgave mocking, scourging, crucifixion, unbelief, and our sins.
3. Luke 23:43
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
This verse speaks of three specific things. It speaks of Christ's presence and being in the presence of the cross. It secondly speaks of outcasts received when just by faith in Jesus, the vile sinner who was hanging beside Jesus, was received and promised paradise. The final and third portion of this verse talks of paradise that gives a hope for everyone today. This illustrates that FORGIVENESS means ACCESS. This illustrates that anybody can be saved. Even the thief, you and me!
4. Luke 23:46
And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
With this cry Christ showed confidence in God, total commitment to His work, His death on the cross, and a way being provided. Notice, that this was not a wimpy cry, but a powerful and loud cry that still rings in the hearts of men today.
5. John 19:27
Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
Christ love for his mother, for his friends is shown. The disciple John, Christ's beloved friend, shows his obedience to Christ. It gives us an example to be obedient unto everything that we are meant to do.
Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. As first-born son, it was His responsibility to care for her.
6. John 19:28
After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
The foreordained plan is scripturally ready to be fulfilled. All things are accomplished leading up to the fulfillment of prophecy. But one cry rings louder, "I thirst." This shows a that all tasks are completed, that Christ has became weak. Now, that all things are done he finally thirsts. Christ's foreknowledge is proven. Jesus was a man, just like you and me. He got thirsty, tired, hungry, angry, sorrowful, compassionate, etc. He wept, he slept, he ate, he drank, he laughed, etc. There was no diminishment in His suffering because He was God!
7. John 19:30
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Christ's tasks were finished! They were fully completed. The will of God had been done. "It is finished" was the cry, but it was the beginning of our grace, our mercy, our hope. Make note, that all of our hope, our salvation, was at the cost of the life of the Son of God. Christ bowed his head, gave up the ghost, and returned to his kingdom where he went to prepare a place for you and for me. Victory over the devil had been achieved. God's love for you and I had been demonstrated. The penalty for sin had been paid. The word
TETELESTHAI: Word is found on sales receipts - literally "Paid In Full" Tense indicates "It is finished once and for all, for all
time!" Jesus said, "It" is finished, NOT "I" am finished. "He gave up the ghost" lit. means "He voluntarily laid down His life."
Conclusion
The character of Christ was revealed in His dying by what He said. It could not be revealed by what He did--He was nailed to a cross and unable to do anything. From the earliest years the church has celebrated the death and resurrection of Christ by remembering His last seven sayings on the cross. They are actually principles for living. No wonder he is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Alpha the Omega, the beginning and the end. In His death Jesus taught us how to live. We often look at His dying moments and observe that His death illustrates the seriousness of sin and the need for a Savior to pay the price for our iniquity. We recognize that by His
substitutionary death, He died in our place. But Peter said that there's even more to the cross than that. Christ died not only for us, but also as an example to us. He died to show us how to live.
On The Subject Of Children ...
- You spend the first 2 years of their life teaching them to walk and talk. Then you spend the next 16 telling them to sit down and shut-up.
- Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like clearing your driveway before it has stopped snowing.
- Grandchildren are God's reward for not killing your children.
- I asked Mom if I was a gifted child ... she said they certainly wouldn't have paid for me.
- Mothers of teens know why animals eat their young.
- Children are natural mimics, who act like their parents despite every effort to teach them good manners.
- Be nice to your kids; they'll choose your nursing home.
- The main purpose of holding children's parties is to remind yourself that there are children more awful than your own.
- Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn't have said.
- We child-proofed our home 3 years ago and they're still getting in!
11 Things You Won't Hear in School
To anyone teaching or raising kids, of any age, here's some advice Bill Gates recently dished out at a high school speech about 11 things they did not learn in school. He talked about how feel-good, politically correct teaching has created a full generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in the real world.
Rule 1
Life is not fair - get used to it.
Rule 2
The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.
Rule 3
You will NOT make 40 thousand dollars a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice president with a car phone, until you earn both.
Rule 4
If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss. He doesn't have tenure.
Rule 5
Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping - they called it opportunity.
Rule 6
If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.
Rule 7
Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you are. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.
Rule 8
Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life has not. In some schools they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as many times as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.
Rule 9
Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very
few employers are interested in helping you find yourself. Do that on your own time.
Rule 10
Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.
Rule 11
Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.
Church Football
Quarterback Sneak - Church members quietly leaving during the invitation.
Draw Play - What many children do with the bulletin during worship.
Halftime - The period between Sunday School and worship when many choose to leave.
Benchwarmer - Those who do not sing, pray, work, or apparently do anything but sit.
Backfield-in-motion - Making a trip to the back (restroom or water fountain) during the service.
Staying in the Pocket - What happens to a lot of money that should be given to the Lord's Work.
Two-minute warning - The point at which you realize the sermon is almost over and begin to gather up your children and belongings.
Instant Replay - The preacher loses his notes and falls back on last week's illustrations.
Sudden death - What happens to the attention span of the congregation if the preacher goes "overtime".
Trap - You're called to pray and are asleep.
End Run - Getting out of church quick, without speaking to any guest or fellow member.
Flex Defense - The ability to allow absolutely nothing said during the sermon to affect your life.
Halfback Option - The decision of 50% of the congregation not to return for the evening service.
Blitz - the rush for the restaurants following the closing prayer.
The Unsung Hero of Christmas
by Jack Peters
jpeters@alltel.net
Matthew 1- 2
We hear much about the virgin, the angels, the shepherds, and the wise men. All of these, of course, can be considered "heroes", in a sense, because of their roles in the Christmas Story. However, we tend to forget God's servant, Joseph, who valiantly served His God. To me, he is the unsung hero of Christmas.
He Was a Spiritual Man 1:19 - We are shown here that Joseph was both just and compassionate.
He Was a Sensitive Man 1:20-23, 2:13, 19, 21 - Four times we are told that God spoke to Joseph in a dream. He was sensitive to God's leading in his life.
He was a Submissive Man 1:24-25, 2:14-15, 21-23 - Joseph was not a free thinker. He simply did as God instructed Him.
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