7 Sayings of Christ on the Cross – PART 6
This is PART 6 of the 7 PART Series titled “7 Sayings of Christ on the Cross”. PART 6 - Christ’s 6TH Saying (John 19:30) “…It is finished…” 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.” From the beginning, Satan opposed the work of redemption. Beginning with Abel’s death, he attempted to hinder the coming of the Messiah. Pharaoh, in Egypt, attempted to keep the Hebrews in bondage and to have all male babies drowned in the Nile River in order to prevent the coming of the Messiah. God foiled Satan’s strategy delivering the Jews. Wicked Haman attempted genocide in the complete and utter destruction of all the Jewish people. Herod attempted to destroy all male Jewish boys to prevent the Messiah from taking the throne. Satan had tried numerous times to stop Calvary's plan. But he failed, and Christ conquered victoriously. The Lord Jesus was not ignorant of Satan’s devices (II Corinthians 2:11). Through His life and ministry, He fought the enemy with the Word (Matthew 4:1-11). But in His death, glory be to God, the Seed of the woman crushed the head of him “…that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14). Praise the LORD, Jesus said “It is finished”, and not, “I quit!” It is finished speaks of Christ’s success over Satan. Satan had opposed Christ going to the cross and dying in the way heaven had planned. The word ‘finished’ occurs 3 times: a) Genesis 2:1. At the completion of God’s physical creation, b) John 19:30. When salvation was completed on the cross. c) Revelation 16:17. “It is done” at the 7th vial judgment. Here our Lord Jesus used the Greek word “Tetelestai” meaning, “It is finished, and as a result it is forever done.” The very words of the Lord Jesus, “It is finished,” make it clear that He did win! When Jesus cried, “It is finished”, the redemptive work He came to accomplish was done. Nothing else needed to be added to it. The word “Tetelestai” speaks of accomplishment, satisfaction, and victory! Examples of this are: 1. A servant reporting to his master would say “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do” (John 17:4). 2. A farmer would use this term when there was born into his herd an animal so well-rounded, beautiful, and healthy that it seemed to be without defects and fault. 3. An artist or sculptor who finished a great masterpiece would stand back and say “Tetelestai. Tetelestai,” meaning that the painting is so perfect that nothing can be added to it. It needed no corrections, nor any improvements. 4. A merchant would say this when “The debt is paid in full”. As our Kinsman Redeemer, the Lord Jesus paid the exacted payment to set us free from the bondage of sin. 5. A priest would use this word when examining a perfect animal sacrifice when the devout worshipper brought a lamb without blemish, a male of the first year (according to God's instructions in Exodus 12:5), to be offered as a sacrifice. 6. The greatest and best example is when Christ said it to describe His payment for our sins on the cross. When our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, offered Himself as the Lamb of God on the altar at Calvary being such a full, complete, and perfect payment that nothing could he added to it. Jesus fully met the righteous demands of a holy law. He paid our sin debt in full. The Lamb of God shed His blood to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29; Hebrews 9:24-28). His Sacrifice for sins which was perfect, pure, powerful, once for all, eternal, finished, and done forever. Amen and amen!!!! The Creator (John 1:1-3) was sacrificed for His creation. Everything Christ did was according to the Scriptures. While on the cross, Christ spoke of finishing the work of salvation. Calvary was the sacrifice that finished all sacrifices for sin which made salvation possible. Christ had completed perfectly the work assigned to Him. Jesus paid the perfect price for sin and bridged the gap between a holy God and sinful people. Jesus had proclaimed He laid His life down in John 10:18, “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 truth of this claim was verified in 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.” Jesus was not robbed of His life; He voluntarily laid it down. John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” When Jesus declared, “It is finished”, His work of atonement for sin was done. The demands of the law had been met. The debt for sin had been paid in full. Nothing can be, or needs to be, added to Christ’s finished work on the cross. Jesus endured the punishment for our sins against God, He opened the way for people to have a relationship with Him. Paul said “I have finished my course” II Timothy 4:6-8. Will you finish your life’s work that God has given you to do? PRAYER: Father in Heaven, thank You for sending Jesus to shed His blood, to die, and pay the price for my sins. Thank You for giving Him the strength to finish the word He did at Calvary. He did it all. He finished the work You sent Him to do. In Jesus name, Amen. Thank you for reading PART 6 of the 7 PART Series titled “7 Sayings of Christ on the Cross”. Please visit this website tomorrow for Part 7. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com
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7 Sayings of Christ on the Cross – PART 5
This is PART 5 of the 7 PART Series titled “7 Sayings of Christ on the Cross”. Christ’s 5TH Saying (John 19:28) “…I thirst.” John 19:28, “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.” We all know the common cry of daily thirst in our bodies. When the water level of the body falls below a certain point, the brain signals that we are thirsty. On a hot day, we have all become especially thirsty for water. But most of us have never known the thirst that accompanies suffering and death. Physicians have assured us that there is no suffering comparable to that of an unassuaged thirst. It’s been said that those who died on the cross became so thirsty that their tongues would swell and protrude from their mouths. The Lord Jesus had suffered in many inconceivable ways. He had been mocked, beaten, and scourged. Then He had the cross laid upon His bleeding shoulders and back. When He reached Calvary, His hands and feet were nailed to the tree. The cross was then dropped into a prepared hole. His body screamed with pain, indicating the intense level of His sufferings. Christ did all He did according to a divine arrangement and order. The words “After this” conclude the movements of this event. “After” His prayer for forgiveness; “After” His acceptance of the thief; “After” His mother and His disciple were addressed; “After” the Father withdrew His presence from the Son; “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished . . . saith I thirst.” The Jews, stunned by what they have already experienced, now hear a cry that stirs sympathy in the hearts of some of the crowd. Jesus again reveals His humanity by declaring "I thirst." In response to this cry, some of the people standing by took a sponge and filled it with vinegar and put it to His mouth. Jesus had refused the pain deadening wine that was offered to those about to be crucified (Matthew 27:34). A soldier moistened Jesus’ lips with cheap vinegar on a sponge (John 19:29). “I was thirsty and ye gave me drink” (Matthew 25:35). When Jesus cried, “I thirst,” no doubt He was thirsting for the Father’s presence from which He had been separated. Perhaps He was also thirsting for the finality of His redemptive work. Remember as the rich man was thirsty in the tormenting flames of hell (Luke 16:24), so the Saviour, bearing our sins in His own body on the cross, was thirsty as He suffered the judgment for us. What infinite and precious love! It is clear that the Lord Jesus was concerned “that the scripture might be fulfilled.” In John 19, four references are made to prophetical fulfillments related to His crucifixion (John 19:24, 28, 36, 37). In His life and in His death, the Living Word did what He did in perfect agreement with the written Word. In order to fulfil the Scriptures Jesus said, “I thirst.” He had just endured three hours of darkness when He felt the wrath of God and separation from God (Matthew 27:45-49). Jesus experienced darkness, thirst and isolation as well as spiritual sufferings. “My soul thirsteth for God” (Psalm 42:1-2). This fulfilled Psalm 22:15, “My tongue cleaveth to my jaws.” This shows the deep suffering Jesus went through. Messianic themes in Psalm 69: Psalm 69:3, “…my throat is dried.” John 19:38, “…I thirst.” Psalm 69:4, “They hated me without a cause.” John 15:25, “They hated me without a cause.” Psalm 69:8, “I am become a stranger to my brethren.” John 7:5, “For neither did his brethren believe in Him” Psalm 69:9, “The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.” John 2:17, “The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.” Psalm 69:21, “…they gave me gall for my meat: in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” John 19:28-29, “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.” Jesus had earlier said, “He that believeth on me shall never thirst” (John 6:35), and “If any man thirst, let him come into me and drink” (John 7:37). Jesus, who gave His life so man need never thirst spiritually, endured great physical thirst (John 4:13-15). The One Who had said that those who are thirsty are invited to come unto Him and drink was now thirsty. He thirsted that sinners might have their thirst quenched at the Fountain of the Waters of Life. Today, we can “give Jesus a drink” by sharing what we have with those in need. The Lord wants to draw your focus beyond the immediate to the eternal. Everyday we encounter empty vessels who are in desperate need for the Fountain of Living Water. Many in this world are spiritually thirsty, but they have found nothing to quench their thirst. They have pursued the waters of pleasure, success, fame, and fortune; but they have been chasing a mirage without the Living Water Christ offers. It is our moral obligation to guide these people to the Living Water, whatever the cost. PRAYER: Father in Heaven, my soul truly thirsts after your righteousness. My desire is to continually pursue You each day until Your Son Jesus comes back for me. In Jesus name, Amen. Thank you for reading PART 5 of the 7 PART Series titled “7 Sayings of Christ on the Cross”. Please visit this website tomorrow for Part 6. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com This is PART 4 of the 7 PART Series titled “7 Sayings of Christ on the Cross”.
7 Sayings of Christ on the Cross – PART 4 Christ’s 4TH Saying - (Matthew 27:46) “…My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” 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?” At the sixth hour, which is noon, suddenly and without any warning the light of the world went out. There was a total darkness that lasted for the next three hours. Both Jews and the Roman Soldiers must have been very troubled. It seemed that our Lord was silent for most of these three hours. No one was moving because of the darkness. What would happen now? The suspense was building. Perhaps some of the Jews remembered when their ancestors were down in Egypt in the days of Moses and God sent a darkness that lasted for three days and nights. How long would this darkness last? But now, in this awful darkness in the middle of the afternoon, He did not address God as His Father, but rather addressed Him as God. Even greater than this, Christ was now talking about God forsaking Him. While Jesus did not address His Father, He did call upon God. As man, Jesus cried out to God in obedience and love. Jesus was not questioning the divine plan. The last Old Testament prophecy was fulfilled in Matthew (Matthew 27:46; Psalm 22:1). Jesus, in His dying hour, quoted prophecy, expressed faith in it, and fulfilled it. He totally understood the Messianic prophecy of Psalm 22:1. Jesus quoted this from Psalm 22:1. Isaiah prophesied that Jehovah’s Servant would be “despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3). The Christ would be forsaken, not because of hard times and harsh conditions, but because “men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19). Jesus was forsaken by the Jews, His disciples, the Father, and the Holy Spirit. When Jesus came, we read that “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not” (John 1:11). Jesus was forsaken and accused by the religious leaders of His day (Luke 23:10) “the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him”. After the leaders apprehended Him in the garden, His own disciples “forsook Him, and fled” (Matthew 26:56). It is certainly clear that no other experience of abandonment in His earthly sojourn came close to His being forsaken by His Father. Though He had previously known only unbroken divine fellowship from all eternity, Jesus experienced the horrible abandonment of His Father as God poured out His wrath on His Son as He bore the sins of the world. In what sense was Jesus forsaken by God? God approved His work. He was innocent. He had done nothing to forfeit the favor of God. God still loved Him. Christ’s intense sufferings were caused by our sins being laid on Him and the manifestation of God’s intense hatred of sin to His soul. This had never happened before. Why did the Father turn His back on the Son? Because Jesus was bearing the sin of the world, and God cannot look on sin (Habakkuk 1:13). The torture and agony of the past few hours were horrible for Jesus, but the temporary alienation from God the Father was the ultimate pain. This sense of separation was intensified because Christ, as our substitute, actually took upon himself the full weight of guilt and punishment for every sin that has ever been committed or ever will be (II Corinthians 5:21). We cannot even begin to comprehend the sense of abandonment that Jesus felt as He hung on the cross. Here we see God’s Son, the Creator of the universe (John 1:1-3), not only rejected by His creation, but also isolated from the One who is everywhere. No human ever endured such a strong sense of judgment and isolation from God. Even though He had never sinned, God made him “to be sin for us” (II Corinthians 5:21). He was “wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: ” (Isaiah 53:4-5) and He gave “his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28; I Timothy 2:6). He died forsaken so that we would never have to be forsaken (Psalm 22). By his suffering, He restored to those who trust Him a right relationship with God (I Peter 1:19). This cry speaks of the separation of the sinner from God, the worst punishment of all. Christ was taking the place of the sinner on the cross and so experienced this terrible separation. The plea, “Why hast Thou forsaken Me?” indicates that when Christ was made sin for us (II Corinthians 5:21), because of the terrible nature of sin, the Father turned His back on His Son. Jesus was forsaken by the Father that we may never be forsaken by Him. He cried out as an orphan that we may never feel like orphans. Christ was cut off that we might never be cut off from God and His grace. Points to Ponder: Because Christ was forsaken by His Father, God will never leave us or forsake us (Psalm 37:23; Hebrews 13:5). Jesus experienced separation from God for the sake of others who would not need to experience that same separation. PRAYER: Father in Heaven, thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to shed His blood and die on the cross for my sins. Because of Jesus sacrificing Himself to pay the debt for my sins, I’ll never be forsaken by You. In Jesus name, Amen! Thank you for reading PART 4 of the 7 PART Series titled “7 Sayings of Christ on the Cross”. Please visit this website tomorrow for Part 5. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com This is PART 3 of the 7 PART Series titled “7 Sayings of Christ on the Cross”.
7 Sayings of Christ on the Cross – PART 3 Christ’s 3RD Saying (John 19:26-27) “…Woman, behold thy son!…Behold thy mother!” John 19:26-27, “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.” Jesus, in His dying moments, expressed His tender care for His mother. What a model for all children in providing for our parents’ needs who have done so much for us. “Behold thy mother”. Because your mother has always been your caregiver, when the tables are turned in her life, taking care of her can be a very challenging experience. Although you are a capable adult, in her eyes you are still her little one. We know the circumstances and challenges of Christ’s day were very different than ours. Yet He did not shirk the responsibility of taking care of His earthly mother. When the hour of His death arrived, it was clear that He had made special plans and accommodations. John, His beloved disciple, would take care of His mother, and Mary, whose heart was closest to the heart of Jesus, would live the remainder of her life with John. The God Who said, “Honour thy father and thy mother” (Exodus 20:12), came to this earth and “was made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7). With human flesh draped around Him, He obeyed the same commandment that He had given to men. And even when He was dying, He continued to obey that commandment, honoring His mother with His thoughtfulness and provisions. Even as He hung dying on a cross, Jesus fulfilled His obligation to care for His mother. Even during the agony of a horribly cruel death, and in the last moments of His life upon earth, Jesus was concerned about the welfare of his mother. He made arrangements for her care. Caring for and assisting helpless and needy family members is a responsibility we have until death. The focus here is on the responsibility of children for their dependent parents. Jesus was saying to John that He wanted him to be the substitute for the Substitute. As Jesus trusted John to take Mary to his own home and to lovingly provide for her in His absence, may He trust us to do His bidding. The fact that Jesus spoke to both His earthly mother and John from the cross indicates they were on His heart. He loved Mary so much that He guarded her future; He loved John so much that He gave Him a special ministry. He had us on His heart also and lovingly died for us. He still has us on His heart and lovingly speaks to us by His Spirit. Like John, may we hasten to do His will. And He purposes the same for all of us who have been purchased by His Precious Blood. As the poet has said; "Christ has no hands but our hands To do His work today, He has no feet but our feet To lead men in His way, He has no tongue but our tongues To tell men how He died, He has no help but our help To bring them to His side." Points to Ponder: Jesus was touched with the feelings of His mother’s hurt and pain. Jesus is touched with the feeling of our hurt and pain, so He takes care of us. PRAYER: Father In Heaven, I thank You for my Mother. Thank You for giving me a mother that has sacrificed so much for me and who has always been there for me. My I be as strong and supporting for her as she was for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Thank you for reading PART 3 of the 7 PART Series titled “7 Sayings of Christ on the Cross”. Please visit this website tomorrow for Part 4. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com This is PART 2 of the 7 PART Series titled “7 Sayings of Christ on the Cross”.
7 Sayings of Christ on the Cross – PART 2 Christ’s 2ND Saying (Luke 23:42-43) “…Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:42-43, “And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” In Luke 23:39, two thieves were being crucified with Christ. One thief looked over to Him and said, "If thou be the Christ, save thyself and us." This man asked the Lord to save him, but he wanted to be saved physically. He wanted no part with Christ and salvation. There is no evidence of him being saved from sin. There are still many people today who are trying to get to heaven without the cross and the shed blood of Jesus Christ. It did not work then for this man, and it will not work for those who try it today. In Luke 23:40, the thief on the other side of Christ rebukes the thief who spoke in Luke 23:39. One malefactor railed on Him, becoming more hardened in guilt, while the other was repentant. In his rebuke, the second thief acknowledged a fear of God. He also acknowledged that Jesus is God, and that he himself was a guilty sinner. He acknowledged that Jesus Christ was sinless by saying, "This man hath done nothing amiss." In Luke 23:42, the second thief turned to Christ and did two things. First, he confessed Jesus is LORD. Then he said unto Jesus, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." He knew death was not the end. The malefactor was saved on the cross just before he died. He was never baptized, so baptism does not save. Salvation begins immediately, it does not take weeks before it takes effect. The repentant thief believed Jesus was the Messiah He claimed to be and wanted to enter His Kingdom. In faith, the helpless thief asked to be remembered by the Saviour. In hope, he anticipated Christ’s future kingdom. His plea was not only answered personally, “Jesus said unto him”, but it was answered immediately, “To day”. It was salvation spontaneously and instantaneously. While the Lord does as He pleases and sometimes waits to answer, it is possible that He will answer our prayers much more quickly than we expect. This is Scriptural proof that some may come to Christ for salvation on their deathbed. This confirms that believers go immediately into God’s presence at death. His last minute salvation does not encourage procrastination in the matter of salvation. The Apostle Paul spoke interchangeably of Heaven and Paradise (II Corinthians 12:2, 4). While Jesus was on the cross, Paradise was on His mind. In conjunction with this, a poor sinner was on His mind, a sinner He would take to Paradise. “Paradise” was a reference to the heavenly home of the redeemed. Very soon, Jesus was going back to His “Father’s house” (John 14:2), and the thief was given assurance that he would be there with Jesus. The malefactor had Christ's word (the Word of God) to give him all the confidence he needed for his salvation. We learn 3 things about salvation here:
We see 3 men here:
There are all classes of people characterized at the cross.
PRAYER: Father in Heaven, I’m thankful that when Your Son, Jesus Christ, was on the cross, that I was on His mind. I have family, friends, and loved ones who are not yet saved. Thank You for compelling me to go tell them of the salvation they can have through Your Son Jesus. In Jesus name, Amen. Thank you for reading PART 2 of the 7 PART Series titled “7 Sayings of Christ on the Cross”. Please visit this website tomorrow for Part 3. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com This is PART 1 of the 7 PART Series titled “7 Sayings of Christ on the Cross”.
7 Sayings of Christ on the Cross – PART 1 Christ’s 1st Saying (Luke 23:34) “…Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34, “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” He asked God the Father to forgive them for they did not know what they were doing. This was the first statement He said on the cross. His blood was shed for us that we might be clothed in the bright raiment of His righteousness. In all of His suffering, Christ demonstrated great compassion not only for those who crucified Him, but for all mankind. As He forgave His tormentors, the Lord forgives all who come to Him in repentance seeking His forgiveness. When Jesus was crucified, He fulfilled a number of prophetic Scriptures (Psalm 22:6, 16, 18; 34:20; 69:20-21; Isaiah 53:12; Zechariah 12:10). The idea that this terrible thing was done in ignorance runs through the New Testament. Acts 3:17, “And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.” Acts 13:27, “For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.” According to Matthew’s account, Jesus had already suffered various forms of abuse. He had been “scourged” (Matthew 27:26); He had “a crown of thorns” placed upon His head and was “mocked” (Matthew 27:29); the wicked ones had “spit upon Him…and smote Him on the head” (Matthew 27:30), and nailed Him to the cross. Jesus has been on the cross for a period of time and had said nothing. Everyone was wondering what He would say. Suddenly, from the lips of Jesus there comes the first word since He has been on the cross. The suspense of only a half-minute pause would have seemed like an eternity. What would His next words be? Would He pronounce a curse upon them? His first words would bring a hush over the crowd. In the darkest hours of His life, Jesus called upon Him as a trustworthy “Father.” The next words that Jesus spoke are perhaps the sweetest words to ever fall from the lips of the Saviour. He said, "Father, forgive them". This fulfilled the prophecy “and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:12). Here Jesus practiced what He had preached earlier in His sermon on the mount in Matthew 5:44, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you”. We cannot comprehend what a sword this would pierce into the unbelieving hearts of those Jews. Try to imagine what must have been going through the mind of those that had just passed by the cross and ridiculed Him for making Himself the Son of God. In essence, the first words that came from His mouth were, “I love you!” His prayer to the Father for the forgiveness of His enemies was an expression of love for sinners. The malice of hatred was never as toxic as in this hour. Yet the strength of love was never as powerful as when Christ prayed for His enemies. While the wicked succeeded in manifesting their wicked hearts, the Lover of sinners succeeded in revealing His loving heart. And by asking the Father to forgive them, He demonstrated to us that where there is a heart of compassion, there is a heart of forgiveness. Then the next phrase "For they know not what they do" was like adding insult to injury. The Jews were a very proud people and to tell them they did not know what they were doing did not help their feelings. This must have been a stunned crowd as they tried to analyze what the Lord Jesus had just said. The Saviour of men was the center of attention. But due to spiritual corruption and depravity, the people were blinded to His Person. Paul stated this, “for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (I Corinthians 2:8). The Jews did not fully understand the greatness of their sin of crucifying their God and Creator. Instead of showing Him their affection and devotion, they revealed their accusations and detestation. Because God alone can forgive sin and open blinded eyes, we must also pray for those who continue in spiritual ignorance. Even as He was being tortured to death, Jesus remembered the purpose for which He came; to open the door of divine forgiveness for all who would receive Him. He prayed that the Father would forgive even His executioners, because they did not know what they were doing. As they gambled for His clothes, He pleaded for mercy for them, fulfilling prophecy from (Psalm 22:18). As sinners mocked Him, He interceded for them so that they might repent and be saved. He prayed for God to forgive those who were crucifying Him. The very purpose for His coming was to make provision for forgiveness of sins. God will hold no sin against any man, if that man will personally trust His Son. If God forgave the men who killed His only Son, God will forgive any man for any sin—if that man will just ask. PRAYER: Father in heaven, thank You for loving me and sending Jesus to die on the cross for me. Thank You that I can be forgiven of all my sins. Help me to share this Good News with others. In Your name. Amen. Thank you for reading PART 1 of the 7 PART Series titled “7 Sayings of Christ on the Cross”. Please visit this website tomorrow for Part 2. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com The Severest of All Sins (Proverbs 8:13)
Proverbs 8:13, “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” In his day, Charles Spurgeon was probably the most famous preacher in the world. The crowds of people who wanted to hear him preach were so large that before the church was able to erect a building with enough seating, they rented the Royal Surrey Music Hall which seated ten thousand people. For a number of years, tickets were required to get in to hear Spurgeon preach. The story is told that a visitor from America, eager to hear the famous “prince of preachers,” convinced a friend to get a ticket for him. After the message concluded, the American stood in the vestibule of the church talking to his English friend. He did not know that Spurgeon was standing nearby listening. The Englishman asked what his friend thought of the service, and he replied, “What a preacher!” According to the story, Spurgeon began to weep. A church member asked him what was wrong and Spurgeon said, “I wish he had said, ‘What a Saviour!’” Pride is a sin that those who have it assume they don't. Pride can blind someone and cause them to ignore even the toughest of warnings. Pride places us on a dangerous path, and it harms our relationships with God. James 4:6, “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” When we humbly acknowledge Him as the source of all of the good things we have and do, we continue to receive His grace to help us deal with the challenges and temptations of life. Proverbs 6:16, “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him.” God hates this sin above all others because it describes people who are so full of pride it shows in their eyes. Pride heads the list of the seven sins God hates most because it is the severest of all sins. I. Pride’s Description. Pride is the worst of all sins because it is the original sin. Pride is not self-esteem; we need self-esteem, and should have it. Pride is arrogance, or having an exaggerated opinion of one’s self. "Prideful" is the one word that best describes Satan. Because of pride, Satan, then Lucifer, led a rebellion against God in Heaven (Isaiah 14). In Luke 10:18, Jesus describes the swift outcome of that rebellion in as a flash of lightning as God defeated Satan. II. Pride’s Danger. Pride causes all kinds of problems in life and hurts us in three ways:
III. Pride’s Destruction. To motivate us to rid ourselves of the sin of pride, Proverbs 18:12 reminds us, “Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.” Only one thing can destroy pride in our lives, and that is humility. Humility can push pride out of our hearts. But how do we become humble? We must do at least three things.
We can have victory over pride when we compare our inflated thinking with reality. Reality check 1: The moment we are not willing to accept Godly correction, we are in a dangerous spot. Reality check 2: We are not that important – God created us from dust. Reality check 3: Our opinions mean very little – only God’s opinion matters. Reality check 4: We have no accomplishments without God. Reality check 5: The praise of others does not define how valuable we are – only what God says about us counts. Examples of pride: Devil (Isaiah 14:12-15; 1 Timothy 3:6) Cain (Genesis 4) Pharaoh (Exodus 5-14) Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4) Haman (Esther 5:9-17) Herod (Acts 12:21-23) Diotrephes (III John 9-10) Antichrist (II Thessalonians 2:4) How do we know if we have pride? Here are some helpful questions for us to consider: How quickly do I admit I was wrong? Is it difficult for me to accept correction? Does being seen or heard by others make me feel good? Do I often talk about myself and my opinions to others? Do I brag about my accomplishments or do things so others will notice me? Do I rely upon the acceptance of others to give me self-worth? Do you see yourself as better than others? Are you focused on getting people to like you? If we answered yes to any of these questions, then we have a pride problem. Concentrate on reality – on God, others, and yourself. Your ego will deflate, and you will be an effective witness for Christ. Prayer, Father in Heaven, too often I have knowingly and ignorantly come against Your will and Your ways. Open my eyes to the blessings of humility. Let me view it in its beauty and fullness of joy not as the world sees it. While I desire a life of godly humility, pride pulls hard to overpower me. In my warfare against pride, help me to fight against ego and the flesh as I pursue humility. Your Son left the pleasures of heaven for a life of service on earth. He gave His life for ungodly, ungrateful and undeserving people. Help me have His attitude, remembering that You resist the proud and give grace to the humble. In Jesus name, Amen! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Worry Can’t Fix It; God Can Fix It! (I Peter 5:7)
I Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” Not long ago, I had a very productive conversation with a member from our church. Both of us were sharing burdens and concerns with one another when the subject of worry came up. He stated, “Why worry…Worry can’t fix it; God can fix it!” “WOW!” I responded, “I’m going to take that thought and use it.” Love is the most basic word we have concerning what God is like (I John 4:8). Because He loves us greater than any other, we can trust Him with anything that worries us. We matter to God, and He is for us and will never forsake us, therefore, He can bear our anxieties with more insight than we can. More than we could ever imagine, God is deeply concerned for the troubles of every one of His children (Psalm 27:10; 37:5; 40:17; 55:22; Matthew 6:25-34; 10:29-31; 11:28-30; Philippians 4:6). The Bible is filled with examples of people with precarious predicaments ending with the Lord providing for their needs and strengthening their faith in Him. God took care of their problems, and He can take care of your problems, too. Don't let worry weaken your faith. Worry will weaken your faith and rob you of your peace. The beginning of worry is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of worry. I Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” So, what do we do with our worry? We cast it on the Lord! God wants us to throw our cares overboard, He wants us to willingly throw them upon Him. Casting indicates a deliberate act of our will. In other words, “I will thrust my cares upon the Lord.” Casting means we throw our cares onto the Lord and leave them there. Too often, we cast our burdens like we are fishing, and reel them back. We are to cast them onto the Lord and leave them there. Once our worries are deposited with God, we leave them there. We must decide to turn all our worries over to God and trust His way and time in handling them. A recently licensed pilot was flying his private plane on a cloudy day. He was not very experienced in instrument landing. When the control tower was to bring him in, he began to get panicky. Then a stern voice came over the radio, “You just obey instructions, we’ll take care of the obstructions.” Worry shifts the focus of attention from the all sufficient power of Christ to your human insufficiency and insecurity. Ultimately, worry can undermine your Christian witness by presenting God as impotent and unworthy of praise. It’s been stated that the average human has about 50,000 daily thoughts and 70% of them are negative. We can spend all our energy and efforts on what we are worrying over and at the end of the day we will have high blood pressure and stress. We spend more time worrying about the things we’re unsure of and less time worrying about the things we are sure of. It seems like worry is programmed into our brains. If we don't have something to worry about, we worry about that. Remember, you can't change things when they are outside of your control. It doesn't help you to worry about something you can't change. Worry is taking responsibility for something God never meant for us to handle, without depending on Him and following His guidance. In the New Testament the word "worry" is merimnao, which means "to be anxious, to be distracted" or "to have a divided mind". To worry is to divide your mind between that which is useful and worthwhile and that which is damaging and destructive. Worry reveals that you are taking on personal responsibility and concern for that which God has already promised to provide for. The word “cares” carries the idea of “being pulled apart.” That is what worry and anxiety do to us. They pull us apart! We are worried about so many things every day and we bear the burdens that we should never bear! Keep in mind, God has a solution for every worry that comes into your life. The words "Take no thought " are used by Jesus three times (Matthew 6:25, 31, 34). "Take no thought " carries the idea of stopping what has already been done. The LORD is telling us to stop worrying. In other words, we are to stop worrying and never start worrying again. Nothing justifies our worry and anxiousness when we have the Lord. Worry fails to recognize that God is working in your life. God knows what He is doing. He has not forgotten us. God is at work, but when we worry, we are saying that God is not in control. Worry is irrelevant, it cannot change anything. It says that He doesn’t know what He is doing, and He can’t take care of us. Worry is like a rocking chair, it moves back and forth, but it does not get you anywhere. There is no need to worry because the Lord can supply every need for every situation that we face in life. God will never be guilty of nurturing the sparrows and neglecting His own children. God is bigger than our problems. He is never caught off guard or surprised at what takes place in our lives. He knows what is going on and will take care of you. Freedom is found, not by fretting over the temporal, but by focusing on the eternal. The man who feeds his heart on the record of what God has done in the past will never worry about the future. Worry wears us down in a number of ways! (1) Worry causes us to focus on the fret and not our faith in God. (2) Worry harms our health. (3) Worry manipulates the way we minister to others. (4) Worry prevents our productivity. (5) Worry trims down our trust in God. Prayer, Father in Heaven, I regret having carried these burdens and worries so long by myself when, in fact, You were always ready to take them from me and to carry them on my behalf. But it’s never too late to do what is right, so right now I make the decision to yield to You every one of these matters that are troubling me. Thank You for coming alongside me to take these weights from my shoulders. Because You are so loving and attentive to me, I can now go free! I pray this in Jesus’ name! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Be Still So You Can Know God (Psalm 46:10)
Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” When we sit still, and let God work, He proves Himself to us. God instructs His people to be still. Though times of trouble come, we are reminded to be quiet and remember that God is still on His throne. This has been the case throughout all time. Very soon, He will be exalted aMing every gentile nation upon the earth. He will be exalted from one end of the earth to the other. The worship of God will be universal in that day. This verse is especially applicable to those of us in ministry. If we do not know God well, we will struggle with trusting God fully and submitting ourselves to Him. Knowing God according to His Word is not only important if we are to be effective in witnessing to the lost, but it also vital as we preach to and care for the members of our churches. For us to “be still” and not try to force or manipulate things, we must know God and His Word intimately and accurately. For us to experience His peace in our lives personally, in our families collectively, and in our ministries effectively, we must know God and His Word. The more we know the Lord, the more we will rest in His ability to take care of whatever situations come our way in life. Knowing Jesus, knowing what He has done for us, and trusting Him to meet our needs is not only important for the lost to receive salvation and forgiveness of sin; but it is also essential for believers to live Biblically and effectively. I pray that each of us this year will grow in knowing our Lord deeper so we can experience His power in our lives and ministries in a greater way. May you also learn to find the blessings of getting alone with God. Matthew 14:23, “And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.” Mark 1:35, “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” Luke 9:18, “And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?” If you are going to get close to the Lord and learn His Word, you must make preparations to learn. You need to find a time and a place where you can get alone with God and remove distractions. Open His Word and let Him speak to your heart. Are you comfortable spending time alone... solitary and separate from others? Or, do you prefer to spend your waking hours surrounded by people, noise, and activity because you associate quiet, private time with loneliness and emptiness? Actually, spending time alone—seeking the peace and quiet of solitude—can bring serenity to your spirit. Solitary time spent in prayer or Bible study can also broaden your perspective and deepen your faith. Psalm 46:10 encourages you to “Be still, and know that I am God”. By seeking times of solitude, you put aside your worldly concerns and simply listen for God's voice. Doing so helps you discern His intended path so that you can choose it as your own Psalm 143:8, “Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.” Child of God, what happens in the dark, secret prayer closet of the Christian, the place where he or she cries out to God in prayer, will impact his or her life in the light of the home, school, work, or church. Getting alone with God in prayer begins by making the choice to do just that. Get alone with God! Win the struggle of this battle. Take time to pray in a quiet place where you are alone with God. Prayer: Father in Heaven, I know the thoughts and plans You have for me are for Your glory and my good. Whatever I may face today, I can expect that You are working for good in all of it. So I’m going to step forward in faith, trusting You in all things and seek to cooperate fully with Your plans for me. I know I can’t imagine all the good You have planned for my life, but I also know it’s all coming in Jesus’ name, so I can say, amen! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com What to Do About Your Doubt (Numbers 14:1-3)
Numbers 14:1-3, “And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?” “We’re claiming the entire land, it’s ours!” This should have prompted singing, shouting, and rejoicing. “We’re going to take the land God has promised us. Remember the plagues, the Red Sea, Mt. Sinai, the manna, and much more. He has never failed us before.” According to Numbers 14:1-3, they weren’t. Why? They were surrounded by complainers and doubters. This was not just a few people, but the entire congregation. We see in Numbers 14:3-4, they even entertained the idea of selecting another leader to take them back to Egypt. They were planning a mutiny against Moses. In effect, they were saying, “We’re going back to Egypt. We are better off as slaves in Egypt. God will not give us the victory here.” This type of thinking was totally contrary to their amazing experiences with God. Why were they thinking this way? They had forgotten about God’s provisions. The pillar of cloud by day, the pillar of fire by night, the dividing and crossing of the Red Sea, manna every day, etc. God had miraculously brought the Children of Israel out of Canaan and promised them a fruitful land. Yet, when the Israelites saw some obstacles, they wished they were back in slavery in Egypt. This sounds absurd to us, but do we ever have a similar response? Don’t desire to go back to your former ways; have faith to move on to the more abundant blessings the Lord has for you. I have never trusted God and regretted it. Yes, at times, the challenges have been huge. I can remember times when I have chosen doubt and missed the incredible opportunities to prove the faithfulness of God. I remember how disappointed I felt afterwards. When a believer is backslidden, they tend to run from God’s purpose for them. When a Christian is carnal, they tend to not think wisely. Despite the promises of God, and in spite of His miraculous deliverance and provisions, Israel claimed they would rather have died in slavery in Egypt. They went so far as to accuse God of bringing them there to die. They were willing to return to the bondage from which God had graciously delivered them. When times were tough, Israel failed to look to their God. Never doubt in the dark what God has already revealed in the light. When we are in doubt, God will never fail to give light when we have no other plan than to please Him and to act in love for Him. Doubt is a lack of confidence or assurance that God will keep His promises. The more you pay attention to doubt, the less you can see of God. Doubt can’t diminish God, but it can limit your view of the One who has promised to be for you. Doubt undermines wisdom. Faith is an active confidence that God’s promises are always true. It is a glimpse of the majesty and awesomeness of God that obliterates the nagging unbelief of doubt. Your faith may not be huge, but it affirms your tiny, mustard-seed confidence that God is more than enough to meet the challenges in your life. Wise living is living by faith. Doubt is a very common, human, natural struggle. One of the hard things about struggling with doubt is overcoming the feeling of your struggle with those feelings of doubt. To overcome doubt, one must confront doubt with truth. People who have trusted the Lord when faced with doubt have an impeccable track record. Every step toward Christ kills a doubt. Take God’s Word and trust Him in it. Be fully prepared to fight, but fight honestly with your struggle. Arm yourself to acknowledge it, face it, name it, and then overcome it with truth. God never intends for His people to wander wearily through life, headed nowhere. God has for you a land of milk and honey, a life of victory, if you’re willing to follow him in obedience. Rather than forfeiting to your fears and being defeated by doubts; follow your faith in the Lord. PRAYER: Lord, I truly want to defeat the doubt I struggle with in life. Arm me with Scripture that I may defeat the devil with the power of Your Word. In Jesus name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com |
AuthorDr. Blackman is passionate about helping others grow in the grace of the Lord. His devotions are centered on how to grow closer to the Lord through a personal relationship with Christ. Archives
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