My Christmas Gift for YOU
Contemplating the journey to Golgotha this Christmas
I would love to join the chorus of yuletide greetings, raise a glass or two, as is always the case in this time of the year. The festive mood is clandestine in effect. In some ways it robs us of the definite, intrinsic and paramount value of the birth of Christ the Lord. It is not another birthday party, with candles to blow, cutting a cake, donning party hats, flashing lights on the decorated tree (the decorating of the tree is in essence a medieval occultic practice) and the serenade of certain carols which has no relevance to the Lord Jesus (like Jingle Bells, White Christmas, Santa Claus is Coming to Town etc). Gazing at those lovely pictures of the manger scene, with the infant Jesus all so cuddly and cute, angels with trumpets and shepherds and noble men alike with gifts, muddles the writing on the wall of an impending and disastrous collision course mankind was destined to – Eternal Death. So Christmas minus the purpose of His birth is not that joyful after all. Today, the writing is on the wall, its not Christmas Greetings but Seasons Greetings flashed in advertisements, banners, cards and buntings.
Perhaps if you and I can look at the beginning from the end, would we then, up the tempo in celebrating the Lord’s birth differently or with an increased measure of REVERENCE?
"God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." This Saviour was the brightness of His Father's glory and the express image of His person.
He was equal with God. "It pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell." "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men, even born in a lowly manger: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, so that man, by a life of obedience, might escape the penalty of the law of God”.
Route to
Medical experts, historians and archaeologists have examined in detail the execution that Jesus Christ voluntarily endured.
Garden of Gethsemane
I have this question to ask of you but you can answer this later on
Will your heart melt for this Fella?
God’s blueprint for redemption
Because of limited ideas of the sufferings of Christ, many place a low value on the great work of the atonement and the implication of His birth. The glorious plan of man's salvation was brought about through the infinite love of God the Father to the fallen human race, as is manifested in the gift of God, His beloved Son. For this reason it was prophesied in Psalm 22:14-18, the angels heralded His birth, and the shepherds were the first to behold Him in a lowly manger.
He was equal with God. "It pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell." "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men, even born in a lowly manger: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, so that man, by a life of obedience, might escape the penalty of the law of God”.
The death of Christ proclaimed the justice of His Father's law in punishing the transgressor, in that He consented to suffer the penalty of the law Himself to save fallen man from its curse.
From His own divine lips are heard the words: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." The death of Christ justified the claims of the law.
Christ’s mission was to reconcile God and man, to unite the finite with the infinite. This was the only way in which fallen men could be exalted through the merits of the blood of Christ, to take on a human nature, to understand man's trials and sorrows, and all the temptations wherewith he is beset.
Christ condescended to take man's nature and was tempted in all points like as we, that He might know how to succor all who should be tempted.
Being human, He felt His need of strength from His Father. He loved to hold communion with His Father in the solitude of the mountain. In this exercise His holy, human soul was strengthened for the duties and trials of the day.
He required all the stronger divine support and comfort which His Father was ready to impart to Him, to Him who had, for the benefit of man, left the joys of heaven and chosen His home in a cold and thankless world.
Through the day He labored earnestly to do good to others, to save men from destruction. He healed the sick, comforted the mourning, and brought cheerfulness and hope to the despairing. He brought the dead to life. He frequently continued His petitions through the entire night.
If the Saviour of men, with His divine strength, felt the need of prayer, how much more should feeble, should sinful mortals like us feel the necessity of fervent, constant prayer! When Christ was most fiercely beset by temptation, He ate nothing, fasting instead whilst committing Himself to God.
As the Son of God bowed in the attitude of prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane
oute to Golgotha ’s from a Medical viewpoint
Route to Golgotha ’s from a Medical viewpoint
For this reason this young lad came, that we might live. All agree that he suffered one of the most gruelling and painful forms of capital punishment ever devised by man.
Here is a brief summary of some of the things we know about his last hours from history, archaeology and medicine.
Carrying the weight of the world upon His shoulders
Severe stress, even before the abuse began
After a period of prayer, Jesus went to the disciples, awakened them, and told them He was about to be betrayed. Moments later, Judas, one of Jesus' own disciples, arrived to betray Him with a kiss. The kiss was the method of identification used by Judas so Christ's enemies could select Him from among the group. Luke 22:48: "Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?" Can you imagine the hurt Jesus must have felt realizing He'd been betrayed for 30 pieces of silver, the price Judas was paid to deliver Jesus unto His enemies? His sufferings begins.
Even before the crucifixion began, he clearly had physical symptoms associated with severe stress. The night before the execution, his disciples reported seeing Jesus in “agony” on the Mount of Olives. Not only did he not sleep all night, but he seems to have been sweating profusely. So great was the stress that tiny blood vessels were rupturing in his sweat glands and emitting as great red drops that fell to the ground (see Luke 22:44). This symptom of severe stress is called hematohidrosis.
Jesus was physically exhausted and in danger of going into shock unless he received fluids (which he apparently did not).
After His capture, Jesus was brought before the High Priest. While being interrogated, Jesus was abused as seen in Matthew 26:67. He was spat upon, slapped, and mocked by the Jews. All of these things bore both physical and emotional pain.
During one of the beatings at that location, they blind-folded Jesus and slapped Him asking Him to prophesy as to which one of them was going to hit Him next (Matthew 26:28). Jesus could've spoken a word and freed Himself from their custody, but He instead chose to suffer knowing more intense pain was coming. Jesus spent the night with these tormentors and likely had no sleep at all.
Jesus was undoubtedly tired, bruised, battered, and dehydrated when the next morning He was taken to the office of Pontius Pilate, the Roman in charge of the region. Pilate questioned Jesus but did no harm to Him initially. Rather than punish Him, he elected to send Him to King Herod, the local government's ruler.
Upon Jesus' arrival, Herod was pleased to s
Having previously been beaten and ridiculed and shamed by the Jews, it was now the Romans' turn. The beatings administered by Roman soldiers are well known to be very bloody, leaving lacerations all over the body. Romans designed their whips to cut the flesh from their victim's bodies.
The spear released a sudden flow of blood and water (John 19:34). Not only does this prove that Jesus was already dead when pierced, but Thompson believes it is also evidence of cardiac rupture. Respected physiologist Samuel Houghton believed that only the combination of crucifixion and rupture of the heart could produce this result. There is no question that it was painful beyond words.
Biblically, it is clear that Jesus chose and willed His moment of death. That moment was induced not by pain, emotional stress, heart attack, or any other, but by His will. Though fully human, He is also fully divine. As God, He could not die from external sources, but only of His own volition and will.
Near the end, a criminal beside him mocked, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us.” Little did this sinner know that the man he was speaking to hung there voluntarily. He was speaking to our Creator, capable of releasing all the power in the universe and beyond, and easily saving himself. Jesus remained in this agony and shame, not because he was powerless, but because of his incredible love for humanity. He suffered to provide the needed way of salvation for you and me.
The tremendous suffering and agony Jesus endured for us should never be forgotten, taken lightly, or ignored. Having reviewed the events of His death, how can we not worship Him? There is no name under heaven more precious than the name of Jesus! Through His shed blood and death atCalvary , we've all been given the right to be called the sons and daughters of God! All He asks in return for the terrible suffering He endured on the cross is for us His sheep to believe in Him, and return to Him!
Acts 4:12: Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Galatians 3:26: For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
God required a price to be paid for sin. Jesus paid it for each and every one of us through His journey to the cross. His sacrifice made on behalf of all of us is why those of us who believe in Him will someday be gathered around His throne in heaven as seen in Revelation 7:12 saying, "Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, [be] unto our God for ever and ever. Amen."
Will you walk through with me over instances or incidences, we at some point of time would have been susceptible to?
While in office, were you content with the 99 sheep, thinking it was too much of an inconvenience to look for that perennially mischievous one? Was there a moment you decreed, the distressed sheep deserved being so?
When called on for help and vindication was it easier to pass the buck to someone else without remorse and not wanting to know the outcome?
Did you allow a situation which decries the very office you are placed in?
Did jealousy creep in and obscure your judgement?
Are you so individualistic, an island refusing to be a part of the larger family of God?
Are you so inundated with multiple portfolios, distressed sheep are unable to see you, when in essence the Shepherd of Love would readily wait with arms outstretched?
Were you the one to slight another person and did not bother to make amends?
Did you think your prolonged silence when an answer is imminent, refusal to address a pressing issue, abdicating a moral duty is an accepted norm?
Instead of being one (Gal 3:28), is championing color and ethnicity denying you heaven’s residence? Are you inadvertently or subtly advocating racism?
Have you cared to secure that broken back door in your congregation, instead of being content with the largeness of the front door?
Are you content with the routines of a bible study, home group or prayer hour, but lacks the presence, leading and the drive of the Holy Spirit?
Are your sheep struggling in these meets, barely contributing, having to contend with fatigue, sleep and boredom?
Are the charges under you still in stagnant mode since the day of their salvation, and still being spoon fed?
As a person in office, do you provide that spiritual covering to your flock? Do you and your flock come back defeated after ministry outings like missions, evangelism, witnessing & tracting? Are these ministries mere activities?
Are you caught in a vicious cycle of bondage and not wanting to reach for help, counsel and prayer of deliverance?
Are you in a habit of complaining about how much you have to do or sacrifice and yearn to abdicate? Is the routine of servitude intensifying with unhappiness instead of a glad and willing heart?
Do you usurp or question the authority placed above you?
Was there a moment you professed, “I am a chinese, indian or asian first, thereafter a Christian”?
Is your own bitter life experiences preventing you from seeing His?
Are you in a habit of complaining about how much you have to do or sacrifice and yearn to abdicate? Is the routine of servitude intensifying with unhappiness instead of a glad and willing heart?
Do you usurp or question the authority placed above you?
Was there a moment you professed, “I am a chinese, indian or asian first, thereafter a Christian”?
Is your own bitter life experiences preventing you from seeing His?
How many would hold up the Prime Minister of the country when summoned, but would stroll leisurely during a sunday worship giving little value or concern to the ONE who holds eternity in His hands?
Does the belief system or rituals passed down the ages hold more importance to you rather than the sure instructions of the Lord?
If you are found wanting on any of the above, then, you are one of those lined along the street that lead to Golgotha, joining the vile crowd of that day to the Savior’s sufferings. He gazes at you with the deepest of despair and a broken heart, trudging haphazardly, while carrying a heavy cross on which He will be crucified, so that you will live.
In the many experiences in churches, I have seen great beginnings in the early years, but that changes quickly when the baton is handed to the next batch of leadership. Probably because the dynamics of a supernatural experience by the pioneers is no longer first hand in the successors. Sometimes it is down to failure to scrutinize the people appointed to office, which is a difficult task in large churches.
Eventually it whittles down to an administrative like environment running the affairs of the church.
The value of the original vision becomes a distant thing occasionally remembered. Like Jesus, going into ardent prayer is the only way for the church to do great exploits in the power of the Holy Spirit. That call is now made to you and I.
Many would tend to think that none of the above has any bearing on us. Allow me to relate a true story of a woman who had not shed a tear for 18 years. Her case was physical, not emotional and put down to a condition called Sjogren’s syndrome. For reasons unknown, antibodies attacked her tear glands as if they were undesirable foreign organisms.
This reminds me of a spiritual problem amongst the people of God who should and could cry but don’t. They need to learn what Jesus meant when He said, “Blessed are those who mourn” (Matthew 5:4). To be mindful of changes that need to be made but refusing so, instead going about the norms of sunday worship with lifted hands, partaking at the Lord’s table as routine, holding office as if it’s another social obligation, in the process disarming the very act of the Holy Spirit to convict and to bring us to our very own gethsemanes, avoiding that tear that would break us at the altar. James tells the Christians to weep over their sins (James 4:9)
Pebbles ,
Sir Francis Drake, the 16th century English explorer who had sailed around the world, was crossing the Thames River
Another individual who had overcome obstacles in his walk fromNew York City to San Francisco
That’s how we can be spiritually defeated by what begins as a little irritant. We let an unkind word, a small setback, or a misunderstanding get us down. Instead of being determined to avoid evil,- big or small (Proverbs 4:14-27), we compromise. We neglect to go to the Lord for forgiveness and help. Remember it is little pebbles that stumbles us, not mountains.
We would be wise to ask ourselves, Shall I, who have come so far by faith, be defeated by ‘sand in my shoes?’ We must answer with a resolute no!
1 Peter 2:25 tells us; “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and B ishop of your souls.”
God reveals His Son to us as the Head of the Church. If we see the Head, if we know the Good Shepherd, we will come to know the Body and the Flock. We cannot say we love God if we do not love our brothers and sisters. We cannot maintain communion with the Head if we are separated from the Body. When we follow One Shepherd as One Flock then we will be in one accord. If we are one with the Head, we are one with the Body, even if we are not gathered together. But, if we are not one with the Head, we are not one with the Body, even if we are gathered together in the guise of unity.
We can only come to the unity of the faith through the revelation of Christ. All who see Him will be like Him, for they will see Him as He is; and as He is, so are we, in this world. (1 John 4:17).
Today, God's heart is One Flock with One Shepherd, with the Son filling all in all. May the Church fulfill His desire.
The Lord wants us to mourn our sin and to grieve what pains HIM. If the sorrow changes us, our tears won’t be in vain , so that blind eyes may be opened, deaf hears, the lame walk, barren womb opened, the mute declare His glory, the loss redeemed and healings aplenty.
Do not wait for the time is now.
Pray with me:
O Lord, I had You with me, and I strayed.
I turned my back on You and went away.
But now I see the error of my ways,
And now I want to turn again to you.
I pray that You will come into my life,
As Lord and Saviour, ruling over me.
I know that You are truly Son of God,
I know that You have risen from the dead,
I know that only You can save my soul.
I need Your guidance, and I need Your love;
I want to follow everywhere You lead.
I truly do repent of all my sins;
I feel remorse for evil I have done;
I know that only You can make me clean.
I turn my back on sin and look to You.
I am forgiving all who did me harm,
As You are now forgiving all my sins.
And now as I commit myself to You,
I pray that You commit Yourself to me.
I pray that You will take me as I am,
And draw me, step-by-step, into Your arms.
In Jesus' holy name I pray, Amen.
If you have never asked the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive you of your sins and be your Savior, I pray you'll do so this day.
Pray with me:
“This is how I wish to greet you and your loved ones this Christmas! By telling you what He had in mind when He came”
Jason T
Undoubtedly, Pilate must've been amazed to see Jesus returning to him for punishment for crimes Pilate didn't think worthy of punishment. Frustrated, Pilate elected to have Jesus chastised and released upon the second visit, but Jesus' captors asked for Pilate to release Barabbas, a murderer, in accordance with a tradition concerning a feast that was taking place at the time.
Pilate, wanting no part of harming Jesus, reasoned with them, but they yelled, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" In Luke 23:22 Pilate responded, " Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go."
Pilate eventually surrendered to their wishes, ordered Jesus killed, and released the murderer Barabbas. Jesus was betrayed by His own people to the extent they begged for the release of a murderer to insure He would be killed. Can you imagine the pain and betrayal He felt inside? In spite of His pain, He endured for our sake! Yours and mine! This is the man that the Jews and later the roman soldiers tortured.
Torture by beating with Roman scourges
These beatings were designed to be painful to the extreme. It would also cause a fluid build up around his lungs. In addition, a crown of thorns was forced into his scalp which was capable of severely irritating major nerves in his head, causing increasing and excruciating pain, as the hours wore on.
In Christ's severely stressed condition, these beatings were easily enough to kill him. His body was horribly bruised, cut and bleeding. Having had no nourishment for many hours, and having lost fluids through profuse sweating and much bleeding, Jesus would have been severely dehydrated. This brutal torture would certainly be sending him into what doctors call “shock,” and shock kills.
In addition, Jesus was forced to carry the the wooden beam on which he would die. Imagine the effect of carrying a heavy weight if you were in that condition. Imagine the rugged surface of the wooden cross rubbing against the open wounds throughout His arduos climb up Golgotha ’s hill. Tried walking with a broken blister beneath your feet?
As a result of the terrible beatings He had received, Jesus struggled to remain upright as the soldiers made Him carry the cross He was to be nailed to toward Golgotha . Simon, a man from Cyrene, eventually had to carry Jesus' cross for Him due to Jesus' weakness. Jesus was already in terrible physical condition from his numerous injuries, but He pressed onward for us.
Ever tried walking uphill with your best shoes and attire on? Did your heart palpitate, were you gasping for air and a moment to rest and to quench your thirst?
Crucifixion
Hung completely naked before the crowd, the pain and damage caused by crucifixion were designed to be so devilishly intense that one would continually long for death, but could linger for days with no relief.
While He suffered, the Romans placed a sign above Him which read: "Here is the king of the Jews." To add to Jesus' humiliation, they hung Him between two thieves. As He hung there in agonous pain, soldiers gambled for His clothing, passers-by mocked Him, and the priests said (Matthew 27:43), "He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel
In the Old Testament, our Father in Heaven established death as the punishment for sin. This is why we see the sacrificial death of animals used as an atonement for sin in ancient Jewish religious traditions documented in the OId Testament. It is also why we see Jesus referred to in the Bible as the Lamb of God. Jesus came to surrender Himself to death on the cross so none of us would have to experience eternal separation from God as a result of our sinful nature. Jesus knew, while He was hanging on the cross, He had to complete His mission and die for us.
According to Dr. Frederick Zugibe, piercing of the median nerve of the hands with a nail can cause pain so incredible that even morphine won't help, “severe, excruciating, burning pain, like lightning bolts traversing the arm into the spinal cord.” Rupturing the foot's plantar nerve with a nail would have a similarly horrible effect.
Furthermore, the position of the body on a cross is designed to make it extremely difficult to breathe.
Frederick Farrar described the intended, torturous effect: “For indeed a death by crucifixion seems to include all that pain and death can have of horrible and ghastly—dizziness, cramp, thirst, starvation, sleeplessness, traumatic fever, tetanus, shame, publicity of shame, long continuance of torment, horror of anticipation, mortification of untended wounds—all intensified just up to the point at which they can be endured at all, but all stopping just short of the point which would give to the suffer the relief of unconsciousness.”
He gazed at you with the look of love while you laughed,
ridiculed, mocked and denounced Him.
One doctor has called it “a symphony of pain” produced by every movement, with every breath; even a slight breeze on his skin could bring screaming pain at this point.
Were you just watching?
Medical examiner, Dr. Frederick Zugibe, believes Christ died from shock due to loss of blood and fluid, plus traumatic shock from his injuries, plus cardiogenic shock causing Christ's heart to fail.
As Jesus neared death, His suffering was so intense He felt He had been forsaken by the Father. The Bible tells us in John 1:1: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
We also are told the Word (Jesus) was made flesh (John 1:14).
Imagine if you can for a moment how badly Jesus, who'd been at the side of the Father throughout all eternity prior to mankind's creation even to the point of His crucifixion, must've felt when He said as seen in Matthew 27:46, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" For the first time in the history of eternity, Jesus felt separated from the Father! Jesus, having taken the sin of the whole world (yours and mine) upon Himself on the cross, knew for the first time the anguish sin brings.
This pain was likely worse for Jesus than all the other pains combined! He had lost contact with the Father!
James Thompson believed that Jesus did not die from exhaustion, the beatings or the 3 hours of crucifixion, but that he died from agony of mind producing rupture of the heart. His evidence comes from what happened when the Roman soldier pierced Christ's left side.
Biblically, it is clear that Jesus chose and willed His moment of death. That moment was induced not by pain, emotional stress, heart attack, or any other, but by His will. Though fully human, He is also fully divine. As God, He could not die from external sources, but only of His own volition and will.
Near the end, a criminal beside him mocked, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us.” Little did this sinner know that the man he was speaking to hung there voluntarily. He was speaking to our Creator, capable of releasing all the power in the universe and beyond, and easily saving himself. Jesus remained in this agony and shame, not because he was powerless, but because of his incredible love for humanity. He suffered to provide the needed way of salvation for you and me.
The tremendous suffering and agony Jesus endured for us should never be forgotten, taken lightly, or ignored. Having reviewed the events of His death, how can we not worship Him? There is no name under heaven more precious than the name of Jesus! Through His shed blood and death at
Galatians 3:26: For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
God required a price to be paid for sin. Jesus paid it for each and every one of us through His journey to the cross. His sacrifice made on behalf of all of us is why those of us who believe in Him will someday be gathered around His throne in heaven as seen in Revelation 7:12 saying, "Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, [be] unto our God for ever and ever. Amen."
Will not your heart melt for Him?
You would for the forlorn canine atop
The Saviour lovingly gazes at you through the barrier of pain and a broken heart. Were you there along the street leading up to Golgotha? Did you cast a stone at Him, hurl and or insult, maybe worse, did nothing?
Taking Stock of Self
He died for our sins of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Every time we wrong Him this day, we are party to; splashing him with hyssop (vinegar) on His open wounds and ruptured lips, reviling, slapping and kicking Him, labeling Him a child born out of wedlock (like the jews did) , drive that whip that tears at His flesh, pierce His side, spit at Him, mock Him relentlessly, turn our face away. Did you know the One who created time itself, transcended through time into the future, taking the blame for every wrong you and I will or about to commit, so that the work on the cross for once and for all be complete?Will you walk through with me over instances or incidences, we at some point of time would have been susceptible to?
While in office, were you content with the 99 sheep, thinking it was too much of an inconvenience to look for that perennially mischievous one? Was there a moment you decreed, the distressed sheep deserved being so?
When called on for help and vindication was it easier to pass the buck to someone else without remorse and not wanting to know the outcome?
Did you allow a situation which decries the very office you are placed in?
Did jealousy creep in and obscure your judgement?
Are you so individualistic, an island refusing to be a part of the larger family of God?
Are you so inundated with multiple portfolios, distressed sheep are unable to see you, when in essence the Shepherd of Love would readily wait with arms outstretched?
Were you the one to slight another person and did not bother to make amends?
Did you think your prolonged silence when an answer is imminent, refusal to address a pressing issue, abdicating a moral duty is an accepted norm?
Have you cared to secure that broken back door in your congregation, instead of being content with the largeness of the front door?
Are you content with the routines of a bible study, home group or prayer hour, but lacks the presence, leading and the drive of the Holy Spirit?
Are your sheep struggling in these meets, barely contributing, having to contend with fatigue, sleep and boredom?
Are the charges under you still in stagnant mode since the day of their salvation, and still being spoon fed?
As a person in office, do you provide that spiritual covering to your flock? Do you and your flock come back defeated after ministry outings like missions, evangelism, witnessing & tracting? Are these ministries mere activities?
Are you caught in a vicious cycle of bondage and not wanting to reach for help, counsel and prayer of deliverance?
Do you usurp or question the authority placed above you?
Was there a moment you professed, “I am a chinese, indian or asian first, thereafter a Christian”?
Is your own bitter life experiences preventing you from seeing His?
Do you usurp or question the authority placed above you?
Was there a moment you professed, “I am a chinese, indian or asian first, thereafter a Christian”?
Is your own bitter life experiences preventing you from seeing His?
Does the belief system or rituals passed down the ages hold more importance to you rather than the sure instructions of the Lord?
If you are found wanting on any of the above, then, you are one of those lined along the street that lead to Golgotha, joining the vile crowd of that day to the Savior’s sufferings. He gazes at you with the deepest of despair and a broken heart, trudging haphazardly, while carrying a heavy cross on which He will be crucified, so that you will live.
In the many experiences in churches, I have seen great beginnings in the early years, but that changes quickly when the baton is handed to the next batch of leadership. Probably because the dynamics of a supernatural experience by the pioneers is no longer first hand in the successors. Sometimes it is down to failure to scrutinize the people appointed to office, which is a difficult task in large churches.
Eventually it whittles down to an administrative like environment running the affairs of the church.
The value of the original vision becomes a distant thing occasionally remembered. Like Jesus, going into ardent prayer is the only way for the church to do great exploits in the power of the Holy Spirit. That call is now made to you and I.
This reminds me of a spiritual problem amongst the people of God who should and could cry but don’t. They need to learn what Jesus meant when He said, “Blessed are those who mourn” (Matthew 5:4). To be mindful of changes that need to be made but refusing so, instead going about the norms of sunday worship with lifted hands, partaking at the Lord’s table as routine, holding office as if it’s another social obligation, in the process disarming the very act of the Holy Spirit to convict and to bring us to our very own gethsemanes, avoiding that tear that would break us at the altar. James tells the Christians to weep over their sins (James 4:9)
Dry Eyes
Literal tears are’nt the real issue. What’s important is the attitude of the heart and how deeply we sense the implications of our misdemeanors. Are we filled with godly sorrows? Are we pained by the tragic consequences our actions creates in our relationships with others? Are we willing to turn from it? Or do we have dry eyes? It saddens me more when infants (new believers) take sides in a losing battle. Are we so stoic in our flesh, we tend to write-off certain problems as little mishaps? Do we say hurting that one person is of no consequence as he or she is insignificant?
Do we have dry eyes?
Pebbles , Not Mountains
Sir Francis Drake, the 16th century English explorer who had sailed around the world, was crossing the Another individual who had overcome obstacles in his walk from
We would be wise to ask ourselves, Shall I, who have come so far by faith, be defeated by ‘sand in my shoes?’ We must answer with a resolute no!
Rededicate
Ezekiel 34:23-24: "And I will set up ONE shepherd over them, and He shall feed them, even my servant David; He shall feed them, and He shall be their shepherd. And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a Prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it.” David is a reference to the Messiah, Jesus for King David has been dead some 400 years when this was prophesied. Yehovah, the Father tells us that Jesus, will be the shepherd of His people. Men, whatever their position are only under-shepherd’s who serve under the great Shepherd and bishop of our souls, Jesus.1 Peter 2:25 tells us; “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and B ishop of your souls.”
We can only come to the unity of the faith through the revelation of Christ. All who see Him will be like Him, for they will see Him as He is; and as He is, so are we, in this world. (1 John 4:17).
Today, God's heart is One Flock with One Shepherd, with the Son filling all in all. May the Church fulfill His desire.
The Lord wants us to mourn our sin and to grieve what pains HIM. If the sorrow changes us, our tears won’t be in vain , so that blind eyes may be opened, deaf hears, the lame walk, barren womb opened, the mute declare His glory, the loss redeemed and healings aplenty.
Do not wait for the time is now.
O Lord, I had You with me, and I strayed.
I turned my back on You and went away.
But now I see the error of my ways,
And now I want to turn again to you.
I pray that You will come into my life,
As Lord and Saviour, ruling over me.
I know that You are truly Son of God,
I know that You have risen from the dead,
I know that only You can save my soul.
I need Your guidance, and I need Your love;
I want to follow everywhere You lead.
I truly do repent of all my sins;
I feel remorse for evil I have done;
I know that only You can make me clean.
I turn my back on sin and look to You.
I am forgiving all who did me harm,
As You are now forgiving all my sins.
And now as I commit myself to You,
I pray that You commit Yourself to me.
I pray that You will take me as I am,
And draw me, step-by-step, into Your arms.
In Jesus' holy name I pray, Amen.
Accepting Jesus as Your Savior
Are you one who has for the first time contemplated the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Did this pictorial journey of the suffering Christ switch on a light bulb within you? Is there a faint or intense knudging deep within you to receive Jesus as you Lord and Savio r?
Acknowledge that Jesus Christ shed His blood and died on the cross. Confess Him as the risen Savior of your soul. Repent of all your past ways and renounce all form of idol worship. Proclaim He alone is the Living God and there is no other name given by which one can be saved unto eternity.
Receive Him as you Lord, Savior and Master and determine to follow Him from this day onwards. Romans 10: 9 & 10
Pray with me:
Father God, I come to You right now, in the name of your most Holy Son, Jesus Christ, asking You to accept me as a Christian.
You say in Your word that if I confess my sins and ask forgiveness, You are faithful and will forgive my sins and remember them no more. You will not hold them against me and You will give me everlasting life.
Father, I confess that I have sinned against You. I have not followed Your commandments and I have broken Your laws. I repent of my sins and ask for Your forgiveness.
Father, I believe that Jesus Christ, Your only Son, came to Earth and was born, that He lived among us, and that He was crucified to pay for our sins and for my sins. I believe that You raised Him from the dead and gave Him power over all creation.
Lord, right now I accept Your Son Jesus as my Savior and as the Lord of my life. Send the Holy Spirit to guide me, protect me, lead me and counsel me. Send Your angels to gather around me and protect me. Protect me from Satan and his evil forces. Help me grow in wisdom, knowledge and love for You and Your ways. Give me the strength and courage to change my ways and resist the Devil and avoid sin in the future.
Lord, I thank You for sending Your only Son to die so that I can live.
Jesus, I thank You in that You died for me while I was still a sinner and had not yet accepted You. I thank You for forgiving my sins and for bringing me to a saving knowledge of You. Please bless me and protect me. Teach me to pray. Guide me. Increase my faith, and make me sure in the knowledge that I can rely on You, no matter what may come.
Lead me to a good church where I can learn Your word and the Father's will, where I can fellowship with Christians and grow in my knowledge of You.
I ask these things in Your most holy and precious name, and I thank You for making me a Christian. Amen!
“Merry Christmas”!
And “Thank You” for your Exhortations, Feedbacks and many Contributions thoroughout 2012!
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