Hello Everyone,
What are the rewards for prayer in the Spirit?
· Confidence in the midst of uncertainty. Romans 8:27
“…the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will”.
The word “intercede” means to “speak in behalf of, to appeal and plead for.”
Prayer in the Spirit is a side bar. God says time out come up to the bench.
So we have certainty in times of uncertainty.
· Direction in times of darkness. (26)
“We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit…”
Prayer in the Spirit is”Night Vision”. It gives us access to God’s will.
Charles Spurgeon captures this best when he said: “The Holy Spirit’s intercessions have in them such a blessed blending of all that is good that they come up as a sweet perfume before the Lord…That prayer which came from heaven will certainly go back to heaven. If the Holy Ghost prompts it, the Father must and will accept it, for it is not possible that He should put a slight (to make trivial or insignificant) upon the ever blessed and adorable Spirit.”
“…the Spirit HELPS US…”
The Holy Spirit:
1. Comes along side us.
2. Takes my place.
3. Lifts it for me.
This is what happens when we pray in the Spirit.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
When we do not know what to say.
Hello Everyone,
Romans 8:26-27 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
To many times our focus when it comes to being filled with the Spirit is the “ought to” instead of the “why”?
“the Spirit helps us in our weakness”
Not from a weakness that we would need to recover from. This word literally means “without strength”. Exhausted or incapacitated.
I’m really glad to know this, aren’t you?
Some of us think that we have to be strong in order for God to use us. Actually, God goes to work when we’re weak.
2 Corinthians 12:10 says: “For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Hebrews 4:15 tells us that the Son sympathizes with us when we feel feeble: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses…”
· Life demands more than we can give. Ministry demands more than we can give. (26)
· Prayer can be difficult. (26)
· God’s will can be difficult to find. (27)
How can I pray in faith when I am living in a time that is so uncertain?
“…the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express”.
Romans 8:26-27 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
To many times our focus when it comes to being filled with the Spirit is the “ought to” instead of the “why”?
“the Spirit helps us in our weakness”
Not from a weakness that we would need to recover from. This word literally means “without strength”. Exhausted or incapacitated.
I’m really glad to know this, aren’t you?
Some of us think that we have to be strong in order for God to use us. Actually, God goes to work when we’re weak.
2 Corinthians 12:10 says: “For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Hebrews 4:15 tells us that the Son sympathizes with us when we feel feeble: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses…”
· Life demands more than we can give. Ministry demands more than we can give. (26)
· Prayer can be difficult. (26)
· God’s will can be difficult to find. (27)
How can I pray in faith when I am living in a time that is so uncertain?
“…the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express”.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Whats in your DNA?
Hello Everyone,
The third benefit when we come through “what in the world is going on?” times is that it provides a real life testimony we can share with others.
The Israelites who got delivered from Egyptian bondage never stopped talking about it.
It became apart of their national and spiritual identity.
Their DNA if you will.
That is what difficult times produce in us when we come out on the other side it is such a part of our life destiny that it is in our DNA.
God told the Israelites to make sure their children caught the importance of the Exodus.
Deuteronomy 6: 20-21 says: 20 In the future, when your son asks you, "What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the LORD our God has commanded you?" 21 tell him: "We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.
In other words, when kids ask the typical kid question about why are there so many rules!
Instead tell them: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.
Before our eyes the Lord sent signs and wonders.”
It is so important for this generation to know that serving God is more than a matter of do’s and don’ts. It is an incredible story!
It is about the awesome power of God setting us spiritually free when we call on His name.
It is about His faithfulness to us at times when we don’t know where to turn.
Life’s problems are real, but God is more real.
Ps.105 begins by telling us to “Give praise to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done”.
We should always be ready to share how Christ has proved to be faithful in our lives.
The unwanted, troubling, “senseless” things that happen in our lives are times that we can allow God to instill strength in our lives, force us to pray as never before, and give us a testimony to help others in need.
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
The third benefit when we come through “what in the world is going on?” times is that it provides a real life testimony we can share with others.
The Israelites who got delivered from Egyptian bondage never stopped talking about it.
It became apart of their national and spiritual identity.
Their DNA if you will.
That is what difficult times produce in us when we come out on the other side it is such a part of our life destiny that it is in our DNA.
God told the Israelites to make sure their children caught the importance of the Exodus.
Deuteronomy 6: 20-21 says: 20 In the future, when your son asks you, "What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the LORD our God has commanded you?" 21 tell him: "We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.
In other words, when kids ask the typical kid question about why are there so many rules!
Instead tell them: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.
Before our eyes the Lord sent signs and wonders.”
It is so important for this generation to know that serving God is more than a matter of do’s and don’ts. It is an incredible story!
It is about the awesome power of God setting us spiritually free when we call on His name.
It is about His faithfulness to us at times when we don’t know where to turn.
Life’s problems are real, but God is more real.
Ps.105 begins by telling us to “Give praise to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done”.
We should always be ready to share how Christ has proved to be faithful in our lives.
The unwanted, troubling, “senseless” things that happen in our lives are times that we can allow God to instill strength in our lives, force us to pray as never before, and give us a testimony to help others in need.
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Let Us Pray
Hello Everyone,
The second benefit to the challenges that life brings is that they give birth to the practice of prayer on a whole new level.
When the slavery began and things started getting ugly in Egypt, the Israelites called out to God like never before.
This is when serious prayer was birthed among the ordinary people.
Exodus 2:23-25: During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. 24 God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. 25 So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.
We know that Abraham prayed, and that Isaac and Jacob prayed. But we have no record of their descendants calling out to the Lord until they began suffering under the taskmasters’ whip in the hot Egyptian sun.
We may never think about the fact that it is high on God’s priority list to make us men and women of prayer.
He wants us to be people who understand deep inside what praying in faith is all about.
He wants people who will pray from their hearts and not just their heads.
He said through Jeremiah the prophet: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (29:13)
One writer asked the question: “Which would you rather have? A smooth path or a road so rough that the Lord is compelled to reveal his face to you at every step?”
For me, I would rather have the intimacy of knowing Christ in all His love and grace, even if it requires a stony trail to get me there.
Listen when hard times come CALL out to God! He will answer!
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
The second benefit to the challenges that life brings is that they give birth to the practice of prayer on a whole new level.
When the slavery began and things started getting ugly in Egypt, the Israelites called out to God like never before.
This is when serious prayer was birthed among the ordinary people.
Exodus 2:23-25: During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. 24 God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. 25 So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.
We know that Abraham prayed, and that Isaac and Jacob prayed. But we have no record of their descendants calling out to the Lord until they began suffering under the taskmasters’ whip in the hot Egyptian sun.
We may never think about the fact that it is high on God’s priority list to make us men and women of prayer.
He wants us to be people who understand deep inside what praying in faith is all about.
He wants people who will pray from their hearts and not just their heads.
He said through Jeremiah the prophet: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (29:13)
One writer asked the question: “Which would you rather have? A smooth path or a road so rough that the Lord is compelled to reveal his face to you at every step?”
For me, I would rather have the intimacy of knowing Christ in all His love and grace, even if it requires a stony trail to get me there.
Listen when hard times come CALL out to God! He will answer!
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Better Than Geritol
Hello Everyone,
The things that happen in all our lives have several benefits we usually don’t see at first.
One Unseen Benefit is Hardships Produce Iron in the Soul
These experiences cause new kinds of growth. The Bible tells us that as times got tougher and tougher for the family of Jacob down in Egypt, the more they multiplied and spread; (Exodus 1:12)
Their population increased to the point that the Pharaoh got worried. He ordered the mass murder of all the male newborns in an attempt to stop their growth. It didn’t work of course.
Instead, this adversity produced strength and endurance. The Israelites expressed their hope for their future by having more children (one of whom turned out to be Moses).
They refused to buckle under the pressure. Hardship in Egypt produced iron in the soul of this nation.
The goal of most people is ease, comfort, and self-gratification.
People find it hard to think that the challenges and struggles might be a regular part of God’s plan for their lives.
Watch the majority of television preachers today with their success formulas.
Listen: God predestined us “to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29), not to be the richest, best dressed, most comfortable people on the planet.
The Bible makes it clear that most believers in the early church experienced nothing that could be described as success.
They were persecuted and chased all over the known world. Some were killed for their beliefs.
But as they were being chased they carried the Gospel every where they went.
1 Thessalonians 3:3-4 3so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them. 4In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know.
I want to say it clearly that Satan does attack God’s people in many different ways, including health, finances, and family and when this happens, we must stand boldly on The Word of God, resisting the devil to make him flee from us!
We need the knowledge of God’s Word and the discernment of the Holy Spirit to know what is really going on.
I am convinced that more often than not, tough times in the lives of faithful believers are indicators that God is preparing them for something special down the road.
One of the last things that Jesus told those who followed Him was that the life of faith would not be easy.
“In this world you will have trouble” but then He went on to say, “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Never forget that God loves you more that you can imagine.
He is building character in you that is more valuable than a big pay check or a huge house.
The trials of this life are in fact part of His strategy for producing iron in your soul.
Oh How He Loves Us!!
Pastor Phil
The things that happen in all our lives have several benefits we usually don’t see at first.
One Unseen Benefit is Hardships Produce Iron in the Soul
These experiences cause new kinds of growth. The Bible tells us that as times got tougher and tougher for the family of Jacob down in Egypt, the more they multiplied and spread; (Exodus 1:12)
Their population increased to the point that the Pharaoh got worried. He ordered the mass murder of all the male newborns in an attempt to stop their growth. It didn’t work of course.
Instead, this adversity produced strength and endurance. The Israelites expressed their hope for their future by having more children (one of whom turned out to be Moses).
They refused to buckle under the pressure. Hardship in Egypt produced iron in the soul of this nation.
The goal of most people is ease, comfort, and self-gratification.
People find it hard to think that the challenges and struggles might be a regular part of God’s plan for their lives.
Watch the majority of television preachers today with their success formulas.
Listen: God predestined us “to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29), not to be the richest, best dressed, most comfortable people on the planet.
The Bible makes it clear that most believers in the early church experienced nothing that could be described as success.
They were persecuted and chased all over the known world. Some were killed for their beliefs.
But as they were being chased they carried the Gospel every where they went.
1 Thessalonians 3:3-4 3so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them. 4In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know.
I want to say it clearly that Satan does attack God’s people in many different ways, including health, finances, and family and when this happens, we must stand boldly on The Word of God, resisting the devil to make him flee from us!
We need the knowledge of God’s Word and the discernment of the Holy Spirit to know what is really going on.
I am convinced that more often than not, tough times in the lives of faithful believers are indicators that God is preparing them for something special down the road.
One of the last things that Jesus told those who followed Him was that the life of faith would not be easy.
“In this world you will have trouble” but then He went on to say, “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Never forget that God loves you more that you can imagine.
He is building character in you that is more valuable than a big pay check or a huge house.
The trials of this life are in fact part of His strategy for producing iron in your soul.
Oh How He Loves Us!!
Pastor Phil
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Does God Have Favorites?
Hello Everyone,
Have you ever had those moments in your life when God was hard to figure out? We know God is Sovereign and fully in control. We know “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He (God) delights in his way”. (Ps. 37:23)
But what is this latest surprise all about anyway?
When negative things happen to us, when our expectations are left twisted from the storm, when we are crushed by pressures we don’t understand.
This is the time we want to say to God, “This just does not make sense. I’ve put faith in Jesus Christ; I am a child of the King. So why is all this happening? God, what are you doing?
In his farewell speech to the people of Israel, Joshua brought up just such an occasion. He began by reviewing Israel’s national heritage:
Joshua 24:2-4 2 Joshua said to all the people, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Long ago your forefathers, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the River and worshiped other gods. 3 But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the River and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants. I gave him Isaac, 4 and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I assigned the hill country of Seir to Esau, but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt.
Jacob was the chosen one. It was through him, not his brother Esau that the promised blessing of abundant descendents in a special land would continue.
If that promise was true, why did Esau get the hill country of Seir while Jacob and his family went to Egypt-away from the promise land?
Seir (southwest Jordan on modern maps) was a lot better deal than having to go down to Egypt, where slavery was waiting Jacob’s family.
So why did his family get the short end of the stick?
Isaiah records this in chapter 55:8-9:
8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. 9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
We have to keep reminding ourselves of this when things don’t make sense on the surface.
I want to declare to you to take courage: The things that happen in all our lives have several benefits we usually don’t see at first.
We will be looking at a few of these benefits this week.
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Have you ever had those moments in your life when God was hard to figure out? We know God is Sovereign and fully in control. We know “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He (God) delights in his way”. (Ps. 37:23)
But what is this latest surprise all about anyway?
When negative things happen to us, when our expectations are left twisted from the storm, when we are crushed by pressures we don’t understand.
This is the time we want to say to God, “This just does not make sense. I’ve put faith in Jesus Christ; I am a child of the King. So why is all this happening? God, what are you doing?
In his farewell speech to the people of Israel, Joshua brought up just such an occasion. He began by reviewing Israel’s national heritage:
Joshua 24:2-4 2 Joshua said to all the people, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Long ago your forefathers, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the River and worshiped other gods. 3 But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the River and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants. I gave him Isaac, 4 and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I assigned the hill country of Seir to Esau, but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt.
Jacob was the chosen one. It was through him, not his brother Esau that the promised blessing of abundant descendents in a special land would continue.
If that promise was true, why did Esau get the hill country of Seir while Jacob and his family went to Egypt-away from the promise land?
Seir (southwest Jordan on modern maps) was a lot better deal than having to go down to Egypt, where slavery was waiting Jacob’s family.
So why did his family get the short end of the stick?
Isaiah records this in chapter 55:8-9:
8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. 9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
We have to keep reminding ourselves of this when things don’t make sense on the surface.
I want to declare to you to take courage: The things that happen in all our lives have several benefits we usually don’t see at first.
We will be looking at a few of these benefits this week.
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
HIs wounds bring healing
Hello Everyone
In Isaiah 53 we see many reasons for the suffering of the
Savior. In verse 5 we that He was pierced through for our transgressions. Jesus did not suffer for His own sins (because there were none to suffer for), but for OUR transgressions. Look at some of the verses in the New Testament.
Matthew 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
Romans 5:6-8 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Jesus was pierced or wounded by thorns, nails and a spear for our sins.Also in verse 5 we see that He was crushed for our iniquity. This verse refers to the fact that Jesus was crushed under the weight of OUR sins. The weight of the world’s sin would crush Jesus.
The word used here means to be broken to pieces, to be bruised, or crushed.
The use of the word here, is meant to imply the most severe inward and outward sufferings.
It was my sin that sent Jesus to the cross.
He was also punished (chastened) for our well-being. Jesus was punished for our well-being or for our peace.
1Peter 2:24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
Jesus died so that we could have peace with God through Him.
When we sin we are at war with God and Jesus died so that we could have our sins forgiven.
That allows us to be at peace with God, which also leads to eternal life!
Colossians 1:20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
Jesus stepped in and took the punishment that we deserved!
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
In Isaiah 53 we see many reasons for the suffering of the
Savior. In verse 5 we that He was pierced through for our transgressions. Jesus did not suffer for His own sins (because there were none to suffer for), but for OUR transgressions. Look at some of the verses in the New Testament.
Matthew 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
Romans 5:6-8 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Jesus was pierced or wounded by thorns, nails and a spear for our sins.Also in verse 5 we see that He was crushed for our iniquity. This verse refers to the fact that Jesus was crushed under the weight of OUR sins. The weight of the world’s sin would crush Jesus.
The word used here means to be broken to pieces, to be bruised, or crushed.
The use of the word here, is meant to imply the most severe inward and outward sufferings.
It was my sin that sent Jesus to the cross.
He was also punished (chastened) for our well-being. Jesus was punished for our well-being or for our peace.
1Peter 2:24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
Jesus died so that we could have peace with God through Him.
When we sin we are at war with God and Jesus died so that we could have our sins forgiven.
That allows us to be at peace with God, which also leads to eternal life!
Colossians 1:20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
Jesus stepped in and took the punishment that we deserved!
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
All For You
Hello Everyone,
In Isaiah we see the suffering Christ. What was the true reason for His suffering?
The first reason that Jesus suffered in found in verse 4: Isaiah says that one of the reasons that Jesus suffered was so that He could bear our infirmities, (grief’s).
The word for infirmities or grief means sickness, disease, anxiety, and affliction. It does not refer to sins, but to sufferings.
The word “bore” means as when one removes a burden from the shoulders of another, and places it on his own. The word means “to take up, to lift, or to raise.”
Listen: Jesus wants to lift your source of grief from you; He wants you to place it on His shoulders so that He can carry it for you. You do not have to bear your grief’s alone. He also suffered so He could carry our sorrows this is also found in (vs.4). The difference between this word and the word translated grief’s is, that this refers to pains of the mind.
Anxiety or trouble of the soul; this covers also those sorrows that come as a result of sickness and disease.
Many are fighting fears in their minds about many different things, Jesus wants to carry those for you.
Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
In Isaiah we see the suffering Christ. What was the true reason for His suffering?
The first reason that Jesus suffered in found in verse 4: Isaiah says that one of the reasons that Jesus suffered was so that He could bear our infirmities, (grief’s).
The word for infirmities or grief means sickness, disease, anxiety, and affliction. It does not refer to sins, but to sufferings.
The word “bore” means as when one removes a burden from the shoulders of another, and places it on his own. The word means “to take up, to lift, or to raise.”
Listen: Jesus wants to lift your source of grief from you; He wants you to place it on His shoulders so that He can carry it for you. You do not have to bear your grief’s alone. He also suffered so He could carry our sorrows this is also found in (vs.4). The difference between this word and the word translated grief’s is, that this refers to pains of the mind.
Anxiety or trouble of the soul; this covers also those sorrows that come as a result of sickness and disease.
Many are fighting fears in their minds about many different things, Jesus wants to carry those for you.
Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Monday, April 6, 2009
Back To the Future
Hello Everyone,
Of all the messianic prophecies that can be found in the Bible, there is nothing out there as wonderful or as powerful as Isaiah 53.
Isaiah wrote this some 700 years BEFORE the birth of Christ.
It’s almost as if the prophet Isaiah was sitting at the foot of the cross as he wrote these beautiful words describing our Lord’s life, death, and resurrection.
In our society today people have the mentality that they do not need Jesus because they are too good to need a savior or they feel that they can follow the path of their choosing to heaven.
People today look at Jesus and they wonder, if He was the Son of God, why did He die like He did?
People have a hard time believing that a loving God would allow His one and only Son suffer and die. In verses 3 and 4 Isaiah tells his listeners that when the Messiah suffered, people would turn their backs on Him because they believed that He had to have done something to deserve the punishment that He was receiving.This is part of the reason that verse 3 says that He was despised.
At the end of verse 4 we see “yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted”. People could justify His treatment because they thought He deserved it.
Look at how this was fulfilled in Matthew 27:39-44. 39Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!"
41In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42"He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God.' " 44In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
The only way that people could be so cruel to Jesus was to write Him off as a sinner. Today people write Jesus off as just a good teacher, a fable or anything else to justify not following Him.
Today we put Jesus on a lower level than we should because we do not want to have anyone tell us how to live our lives.
Isaiah and the rest of the Bible tell us the real reason that Jesus suffered. This week let’s look closely at Isaiah 53 and see the true reason for His suffering.
Oh HOW He loves US!
Pastor Phil
Of all the messianic prophecies that can be found in the Bible, there is nothing out there as wonderful or as powerful as Isaiah 53.
Isaiah wrote this some 700 years BEFORE the birth of Christ.
It’s almost as if the prophet Isaiah was sitting at the foot of the cross as he wrote these beautiful words describing our Lord’s life, death, and resurrection.
In our society today people have the mentality that they do not need Jesus because they are too good to need a savior or they feel that they can follow the path of their choosing to heaven.
People today look at Jesus and they wonder, if He was the Son of God, why did He die like He did?
People have a hard time believing that a loving God would allow His one and only Son suffer and die. In verses 3 and 4 Isaiah tells his listeners that when the Messiah suffered, people would turn their backs on Him because they believed that He had to have done something to deserve the punishment that He was receiving.This is part of the reason that verse 3 says that He was despised.
At the end of verse 4 we see “yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted”. People could justify His treatment because they thought He deserved it.
Look at how this was fulfilled in Matthew 27:39-44. 39Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!"
41In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42"He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God.' " 44In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
The only way that people could be so cruel to Jesus was to write Him off as a sinner. Today people write Jesus off as just a good teacher, a fable or anything else to justify not following Him.
Today we put Jesus on a lower level than we should because we do not want to have anyone tell us how to live our lives.
Isaiah and the rest of the Bible tell us the real reason that Jesus suffered. This week let’s look closely at Isaiah 53 and see the true reason for His suffering.
Oh HOW He loves US!
Pastor Phil
Friday, April 3, 2009
Because He Lives I Can Also Live
Hello Everyone,
BECAUSE HE LIVES WE HAVE HIS PROMISE TO SATISFY US:
John 14:19B: because I live, ye shall live also.
Jesus is pointing beyond this life to the life that never ends. When He rose from the dead to life everlasting, He went where no man had gone before.
No one had ever died and then been raised up never to die again.
But Jesus doing it was not a one-time event.
It was Jesus making a trail that we all can follow.Jesus rose from the dead to build a heaven for you - a forever home made just right for you.
Because He lives, you can live with Him forever in the place of your dreams, designed for you by the one who designed you before the world began.Through His suffering and death, Jesus paid the price for our sin.
Then, by rising from the dead, Jesus dealt a deathblow to death.
There were two great human enemies, sin and the grave.
Through the cross and resurrection, Jesus defeated them both. So, there is nothing to stop us from living forever in His heavenly mansions.
He offers forgiveness of sin as a gift we didn’t deserve or earn, and He leads the way to life beyond the grave.
Winston Churchill planned his own funeral, which took place in St. Paul’s Cathedral. He included many of the great hymns of the church. At his direction, a bugler, positioned high in the dome of St. Paul’s, after the benediction played the haunting melody of Taps. The melancholy air gave the universal signal that Churchill’s day had come to an end. But as soon as Taps had ended, Churchill had instructed another bugler, placed on the other side of the dome, to play Reveille: That was Churchill’s testimony that the last note of his time on earth was not Taps, a final end, but Reveille, a new beginning.
Taps was being played for Jesus Christ - when darkness fell, Jesus died, and Taps moaned for all humanity. That was not, the last note.
Sunday morning, the bugle rang out with Reveille.
And Jesus ROSE FROM THE DEAD!Unless Jesus returns, Taps will sound for you and me someday.
The same bugler that trumpeted Reveille for Jesus on that resurrection morning will play for you and I as well.
Death will not be the final note!
Since He lives you can live also.
Pastor Phil
BECAUSE HE LIVES WE HAVE HIS PROMISE TO SATISFY US:
John 14:19B: because I live, ye shall live also.
Jesus is pointing beyond this life to the life that never ends. When He rose from the dead to life everlasting, He went where no man had gone before.
No one had ever died and then been raised up never to die again.
But Jesus doing it was not a one-time event.
It was Jesus making a trail that we all can follow.Jesus rose from the dead to build a heaven for you - a forever home made just right for you.
Because He lives, you can live with Him forever in the place of your dreams, designed for you by the one who designed you before the world began.Through His suffering and death, Jesus paid the price for our sin.
Then, by rising from the dead, Jesus dealt a deathblow to death.
There were two great human enemies, sin and the grave.
Through the cross and resurrection, Jesus defeated them both. So, there is nothing to stop us from living forever in His heavenly mansions.
He offers forgiveness of sin as a gift we didn’t deserve or earn, and He leads the way to life beyond the grave.
Winston Churchill planned his own funeral, which took place in St. Paul’s Cathedral. He included many of the great hymns of the church. At his direction, a bugler, positioned high in the dome of St. Paul’s, after the benediction played the haunting melody of Taps. The melancholy air gave the universal signal that Churchill’s day had come to an end. But as soon as Taps had ended, Churchill had instructed another bugler, placed on the other side of the dome, to play Reveille: That was Churchill’s testimony that the last note of his time on earth was not Taps, a final end, but Reveille, a new beginning.
Taps was being played for Jesus Christ - when darkness fell, Jesus died, and Taps moaned for all humanity. That was not, the last note.
Sunday morning, the bugle rang out with Reveille.
And Jesus ROSE FROM THE DEAD!Unless Jesus returns, Taps will sound for you and me someday.
The same bugler that trumpeted Reveille for Jesus on that resurrection morning will play for you and I as well.
Death will not be the final note!
Since He lives you can live also.
Pastor Phil
Because He Lives I Have Purpose
Hello Everyone,
BECAUSE HE LIVES I HAVE HIS POWER TO STRENGHEN ME:
Ephesians 1:19-20 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
How much power did it take for God to raise a crucified, mutilated, disgraced, and dead Jesus to newness of life and make Him a radiant, triumphant, and glorious Christ and place Him at His own right hand of His throne of glory?
More power than we can imagine.We can have this same power. Paul tells us to depend on this power; seek God as our source of strength and not ourselves.You already have all the power you need to witness, to overcome temptation and sin, to endure whatever trials may come your way.
You just need to realize it and tap into it!
BECAUSE HE LIVES WE HAVE HIS PURPOSE TO MOTIVATE US:
John 29:21B: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
One of the most important things that I can do as a Christian is to understand God’s will for my life and do that will.
We all know that it is God’s will that we go and tell others about Jesus.
One Sunday morning a pastor was dressing for church and had the radio on listening to a local church service. Suddenly he heard a minister say, "It’s Easter, and it doesn’t make any difference if Christ be risen or not..." Shocked, A.H. Ackley shouted," It’s a lie! He is risen!" His wife said," Why don’t you write a song about it?" Reading the gospels again" He is risen" and feeling God’s presence, he began writing. "I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today, I know that He is living, whatever men may say..."
He is ALIVE tell some one.
Pastor Phil
BECAUSE HE LIVES I HAVE HIS POWER TO STRENGHEN ME:
Ephesians 1:19-20 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
How much power did it take for God to raise a crucified, mutilated, disgraced, and dead Jesus to newness of life and make Him a radiant, triumphant, and glorious Christ and place Him at His own right hand of His throne of glory?
More power than we can imagine.We can have this same power. Paul tells us to depend on this power; seek God as our source of strength and not ourselves.You already have all the power you need to witness, to overcome temptation and sin, to endure whatever trials may come your way.
You just need to realize it and tap into it!
BECAUSE HE LIVES WE HAVE HIS PURPOSE TO MOTIVATE US:
John 29:21B: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
One of the most important things that I can do as a Christian is to understand God’s will for my life and do that will.
We all know that it is God’s will that we go and tell others about Jesus.
One Sunday morning a pastor was dressing for church and had the radio on listening to a local church service. Suddenly he heard a minister say, "It’s Easter, and it doesn’t make any difference if Christ be risen or not..." Shocked, A.H. Ackley shouted," It’s a lie! He is risen!" His wife said," Why don’t you write a song about it?" Reading the gospels again" He is risen" and feeling God’s presence, he began writing. "I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today, I know that He is living, whatever men may say..."
He is ALIVE tell some one.
Pastor Phil
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Shalom
Hello Everyone,
William Frey, retired Episcopal bishop from Colorado, told the following story: When I was a younger man, I volunteered to read to a degree student named John who was blind. One day I asked him, "How did you lose your sight?""A chemical explosion," John said, "at the age of thirteen." "How did that make you feel?" I asked. "Life was over. I felt helpless. I hated God," John responded. "For the first six months I did nothing to improve my life. I would eat all my meals alone in my room. One day my father entered my room and said, ’John, winter’s coming and the storm windows need to be up, that’s your job.
I want those hung by the time I get back this evening or else!’ "Then he turned, walked out of the room and slammed the door. I got so angry. I thought, "Who does he think I am? I’m blind!" I was so angry I decided to do it. I felt my way to the garage, found the windows, located the necessary tools, found the ladder, all the while muttering under my breath, ’I’ll show them. I’ll fall, and then they’ll have a blind and paralyzed son! John continued, "I got the windows up. I found out later that never at any moment was my father more than four or five feet away from my side".
Whatever you go through, wherever you are, whatever task God calls you to undertake, whatever trial you have to endure, whatever delights you enjoy or heartbreaks you suffer, because Jesus is alive, He will never ever, at any moment be away from your side.
"Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."BECAUSE HE LIVES WE HAVE HIS PEACE AVAILABLE TO US:
John 20:21A: Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you:
The one thing the disciples didn’t have was the one thing that Jesus was offering...PEACE! They were not at all happy with what was happening.
But in their hopelessness, Jesus said, “peace be with you.” The world can’t give you peace only God can. A personal encounter with the risen Savior is where you will find true peace and forgiveness.
God’s Word tells us that He not only forgives our sins but forgets them also.
God can give you peace with your past! THIS PEACE HE GIVES US IS BEYOND UNDERSTANDING, AND ALL BECAUSE OF GOD’S GRACE.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Shalom
Pastor Phil
William Frey, retired Episcopal bishop from Colorado, told the following story: When I was a younger man, I volunteered to read to a degree student named John who was blind. One day I asked him, "How did you lose your sight?""A chemical explosion," John said, "at the age of thirteen." "How did that make you feel?" I asked. "Life was over. I felt helpless. I hated God," John responded. "For the first six months I did nothing to improve my life. I would eat all my meals alone in my room. One day my father entered my room and said, ’John, winter’s coming and the storm windows need to be up, that’s your job.
I want those hung by the time I get back this evening or else!’ "Then he turned, walked out of the room and slammed the door. I got so angry. I thought, "Who does he think I am? I’m blind!" I was so angry I decided to do it. I felt my way to the garage, found the windows, located the necessary tools, found the ladder, all the while muttering under my breath, ’I’ll show them. I’ll fall, and then they’ll have a blind and paralyzed son! John continued, "I got the windows up. I found out later that never at any moment was my father more than four or five feet away from my side".
Whatever you go through, wherever you are, whatever task God calls you to undertake, whatever trial you have to endure, whatever delights you enjoy or heartbreaks you suffer, because Jesus is alive, He will never ever, at any moment be away from your side.
"Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."BECAUSE HE LIVES WE HAVE HIS PEACE AVAILABLE TO US:
John 20:21A: Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you:
The one thing the disciples didn’t have was the one thing that Jesus was offering...PEACE! They were not at all happy with what was happening.
But in their hopelessness, Jesus said, “peace be with you.” The world can’t give you peace only God can. A personal encounter with the risen Savior is where you will find true peace and forgiveness.
God’s Word tells us that He not only forgives our sins but forgets them also.
God can give you peace with your past! THIS PEACE HE GIVES US IS BEYOND UNDERSTANDING, AND ALL BECAUSE OF GOD’S GRACE.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Shalom
Pastor Phil
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
He is with you
Hello Everyone,
BECAUSE HE LIVES WE HAVE HIS PRESENCE TO SURROUND US: Matthew 28:20B: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
We have the Son of God as our partner in life, every step of the way.If someone is alive, they are still with you:
We can go through life with Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as our partner, our companion, our mentor, our instructor, and our friend.There have been other spiritual and ethical teachers throughout the history of the world:
The one thing they all have in common is, they’re all dead.
Their followers can read their ideas and try to apply them, but they can’t actually have these teachers as their companions. Jesus is alive! He rose from the dead.
This means he can be with us every step of our lives.If I were to die, I could leave behind written instructions to my children on how to live.
But how much better for me to go on living and be there for them every day - to teach them, guide them, listen to them, cheer for them, discipline them, enjoy them, love them, and - what they care most about - buy things for them. If Jesus were dead, I could still have His written instructions.
But since He is with me, I have a joy that nothing in this world can ever take away.
Jesus is alive to teach me, guide me, listen to me, cheer for me, discipline me, play with me, explore with me, enjoy me, love me, and, yes, even buy things for me (He bought my eternal life with His blood).
How do I know He lives? He lives within my heart!
All for Jesus
Pastor Phil
BECAUSE HE LIVES WE HAVE HIS PRESENCE TO SURROUND US: Matthew 28:20B: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
We have the Son of God as our partner in life, every step of the way.If someone is alive, they are still with you:
We can go through life with Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as our partner, our companion, our mentor, our instructor, and our friend.There have been other spiritual and ethical teachers throughout the history of the world:
The one thing they all have in common is, they’re all dead.
Their followers can read their ideas and try to apply them, but they can’t actually have these teachers as their companions. Jesus is alive! He rose from the dead.
This means he can be with us every step of our lives.If I were to die, I could leave behind written instructions to my children on how to live.
But how much better for me to go on living and be there for them every day - to teach them, guide them, listen to them, cheer for them, discipline them, enjoy them, love them, and - what they care most about - buy things for them. If Jesus were dead, I could still have His written instructions.
But since He is with me, I have a joy that nothing in this world can ever take away.
Jesus is alive to teach me, guide me, listen to me, cheer for me, discipline me, play with me, explore with me, enjoy me, love me, and, yes, even buy things for me (He bought my eternal life with His blood).
How do I know He lives? He lives within my heart!
All for Jesus
Pastor Phil
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