Saul’s Conversion

Pete just returned from an extended trip back to Alabama and Auburn where he attended a reunion of his old Auburn baseball team. At the reunion dinner, one of his old Fraternity brothers confined in Pete. He said, “I’ve spent my whole life trying to become a success in what the world defines as success. I’ve accumulated wealth and worked hard and accomplished everything that I thought would be the American Dream. However, I’ve lately been questioning, “Is it all worthwhile?” Pete is looking forward to meeting with this man to discuss what’s really important in life. Christianity is a rescue effort for desperate men.

Nothing makes sense in life unless we meet our Lord at the foot of the cross. Life is so much more than checking off our “Christian checklist.” Christianity is not about what you’ve done, but rather whether you’ve born good fruit. Jesus said, “by their fruit you shall know them.”

The book of Acts is the record of the early church and how the Word of God moved. It didn’t take long before the devil began to disrupt the movement of the Word. The apostle Peter was arrested for preaching the gospel and for healing a lame man. Jealousy, power, insecurity and pride are the devil’s tools to pervert the hearts of men from the truth of the Word. If you’re not extremely intentional and careful when serving within the church, the devil will have his way with you.

In Acts 6, there was a complaint from the Hellenistic Jews who had left Jerusalem. They spoke Greek instead of Aramaic like the “pure” Jews whose ancestry remained in Jerusalem. Acts 6:2 is the first record of the calling of “deacons” to serve tables and to do the groundwork of the church. Stephen was the first devout believer who was chosen to serve as a deacon. Act 6:8-9 says, “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
9. Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.”

According to verse 3, Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom. However, those who opposed Stephen were filled with jealousy and pride. Their charge against Stephen is in verses 10-14.

10, “And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake 11. Then they suborned (secretly instigated) men, which said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.”
12. And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, 13. And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
14. For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.”
“And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.”

The charges that they brought against Steven are the same charges that the Devils’ minions charge men of God today. Darkness is not compatible with the light of the truth of the Word of God and men who represent truth.

Stephen answered their charge in Acts chapter 7. He concludes his answer with verse 51, “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
52. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers.
53. Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
54. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
55. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56. And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.”

Steven while he was being persecuted didn’t even see the people who were against him. He could only see the glory of God and Jesus standing on God’s right hand. This riled up the crowd because darkness cannot tolerate the light of the truth of the Word of God.

57. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58. And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.
59. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

The word of God never returns void. The powerful witness of Stephen planted a seed of truth in the mind of Saul, the young man at whose feet the witnesses laid their clothes. Saul became a leader of the Christian persecutors. Acts chapter 8 is the record of the rise of Saul’s hate group against the followers of Jesus. “AND Saul was consenting unto his (Stephen’s) death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3. As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.”

According to Acts 9, “AND Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2. And desired of him letters to Damascus to the”“synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:”
4. And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5. And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
6. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.”

Saul had been a man who was in complete control. He was a Hebrew of Hebrews who had the right worldly credentials. He had a unique encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. From the moment of this dramatic conversion experience, Saul listened to the Holy Spirit and the voice of the Lord. The power of God changed the leader of the Devils’ minions and completely turned him around. Likewise our prayer should be that God would change the hearts of men who are power brokers. Men who self-righteously rage against the truth of the Word of God. God has a way of humbling a man whose heart is ready to turn from darkness unto light.

7. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
8. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
9. And he was three days without sight, and nei”“neither did eat nor drink.”
10. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
11. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12. And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
13. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
14. And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
15. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
16. For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

God chooses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. He took the worst sinner the world could find to turn his life around. God chooses men who are ready for repentance…those ready to be broken. A changed life is a powerful witness for Christ. Jesus said, “I am come to open the eyes of those born blind.” God will bring along a “Barnabus” like Ananias to encourage and shepherd those whom God has called unto repentance.

Those we knew before we met Jesus on our “road to Damascus” will marvel how our lives have been changed. We who have been grabbed by his nail-pierced hands bear the testimony of him who has called us from darkness unto the glorious light of the gospel of truth.

May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

When God Says No

What do you do when God says “no?” When you want to move ahead, sometimes God will say “wait.” Those are the times when we discover that our thoughts are not God’s thoughts and our ways are not God’s ways. Who’s Sovreign, me or God?

In Matthew 26, Jesus had just shared the “Last Supper” with his disciples. He told them what would happen over the next few days… That he would be crucified and then be resurrected from the dead. Jesus went to pray in the Garden of Gethsamane. In verses 26 and following:

“Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.”

When we face the fires of life, we need our brothers for comfort, encouragement and the fellowship of like minded believers. Men need to bond face to face for edification and encouragement.

Jesus’ soul was deeply grieved. The devil and his minions had arrayed against him. Jesus prayed to his father, “if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.” The cup was the wrath of God for the sin of the world. It is he cup of sin and death which is separation from God.

When he returned to his disciples, he found them sleeping. Jesus had brought Peter, James and John so that they could be bound together in fellowship. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. He returned three times to find them sleeping. The warning is “watch and pray.”

Sometimes God’s answer when we pray is not what we want to hear. When Pete asked God to allow him to take his wife on their 50th anniversary river cruise, God’s answer was “no.” When God asked Pete and Suzan, “can I trust you with a brain tumor,” they needed to come to an understanding of what it meant to Trust God. God does so many things when he says “no” to teach what’s really important in this life.

The Apostle Paul said that because of the abundance of the revelation that God had given him, God sent him a “thorn in the flesh” a messenger of Satan to keep him humble. God allows thorns in the flesh to keep us broken so that we will come to him with a contrite heart. Only then can we will learn that “thy strength is made perfect in my weakness, thy grace is sufficient for me.”

Trials of life teach us what’s really important in life. When faced with trials, is our response “grumbling and complaining?” If this is our response, then this is our calling to repent. All God asks is a heart of awe and gratitude. Like the song says, “thank God for unanswered prayer.”

In the Garden of Gethsamane, Jesus as the “son of man” asked the question, “if there be any other way, let this cup pass from me.” Jesus knew the answer to the question before he asked it. He knew the purpose for which his Father had called him. Prayer is not aligning God’s will with my will. Rather, it’s aligning my will with God’s will. The answer to Jesus’ prayer is in the book of Hebrews: “he for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame and is set down upon the right hand of the throne of God. The joy set before him was your salvation and mine. What amazing grace!

If God has you in a holding pattern, thank him for teaching you what it means to “wait upon the Lord. May our pray be, “nevertheless, not my will but thine be done.”

May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Saul’s Conversion

Pete just returned from an extended trip back to Alabama and Auburn where he attended a reunion of his old Auburn baseball team. At the reunion dinner, one of his old Fraternity brothers confined in Pete. He said, “I’ve spent my whole life trying to become a success in what the world defines as success. I’ve accumulated wealth and worked hard and accomplished everything that I thought would be the American Dream. However, I’ve lately been questioning, “Is it all worthwhile?” Pete is looking forward to meeting with this man to discuss what’s really important in life. Christianity is a rescue effort for desperate men.

Nothing makes sense in life unless we meet our Lord at the foot of the cross. Life is so much more than checking off our “Christian checklist.” Christianity is not about what you’ve done, but rather whether you’ve born good fruit. Jesus said, “by their fruit you shall know them.”

The book of Acts is the record of the early church and how the Word of God moved. It didn’t take long before the devil began to disrupt the movement of the Word. The apostle Peter was arrested for preaching the gospel and for healing a lame man. Jealousy, power, insecurity and pride are the devil’s tools to pervert the hearts of men from the truth of the Word. If you’re not extremely intentional and careful when serving within the church, the devil will have his way with you.

In Acts 6, there was a complaint from the Hellenistic Jews who had left Jerusalem. They spoke Greek instead of Aramaic like the “pure” Jews whose ancestry remained in Jerusalem. Acts 6:2 is the first record of the calling of “deacons” to serve tables and to do the groundwork of the church. Stephen was the first devout believer who was chosen to serve as a deacon. Act 6:8-9 says, “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
9. Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.”

According to verse 3, Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom. However, those who opposed Stephen were filled with jealousy and pride. Their charge against Stephen is in verses 10-14.

10, “And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake 11. Then they suborned (secretly instigated) men, which said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.”
12. And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, 13. And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
14. For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.”
“And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.”

The charges that they brought against Steven are the same charges that the Devils’ minions charge men of God today. Darkness is not compatible with the light of the truth of the Word of God and men who represent truth.

Stephen answered their charge in Acts chapter 7. He concludes his answer with verse 51, “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
52. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers.
53. Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
54. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
55. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56. And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.”

Steven while he was being persecuted didn’t even see the people who were against him. He could only see the glory of God and Jesus standing on God’s right hand. This riled up the crowd because darkness cannot tolerate the light of the truth of the Word of God.

57. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58. And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.
59. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

The word of God never returns void. The powerful witness of Stephen planted a seed of truth in the mind of Saul, the young man at whose feet the witnesses laid their clothes. Saul became a leader of the Christian persecutors. Acts chapter 8 is the record of the rise of Saul’s hate group against the followers of Jesus. “AND Saul was consenting unto his (Stephen’s) death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3. As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.”

According to Acts 9, “AND Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2. And desired of him letters to Damascus to the”“synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:”
4. And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5. And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
6. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.”

Saul had been a man who was in complete control. He was a Hebrew of Hebrews who had the right worldly credentials. He had a unique encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. From the moment of this dramatic conversion experience, Saul listened to the Holy Spirit and the voice of the Lord. The power of God changed the leader of the Devils’ minions and completely turned him around. Likewise our prayer should be that God would change the hearts of men who are power brokers. Men who self-righteously rage against the truth of the Word of God. God has a way of humbling a man whose heart is ready to turn from darkness unto light.

7. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
8. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
9. And he was three days without sight, and nei”“neither did eat nor drink.”
10. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
11. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12. And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
13. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
14. And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
15. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
16. For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

God chooses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. He took the worst sinner the world could find to turn his life around. God chooses men who are ready for repentance…those ready to be broken. A changed life is a powerful witness for Christ. Jesus said, “I am come to open the eyes of those born blind.” God will bring along a “Barnabus” like Ananias to encourage and shepherd those whom God has called unto repentance.

Those we knew before we met Jesus on our “road to Damascus” will marvel how our lives have been changed. We who have been grabbed by his nail-pierced hands bear the testimony of him who has called us from darkness unto the glorious light of the gospel of truth.

May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

The Passover Lamb

Traditions of many different religions have been incorporated into the rituals of “Easter.” Easter bunnies and Easter eggs were handed down from pagan religions as symbols of fertility. These symbols were adopted into traditional observances of a holiday associated with spring, the “vernal equinox” the season where the earth is renewed with life after the “death” of winter. Church history incorporated many of these pagan rituals as the Roman Church assimilated different cultures and their religious rituals. The Passover holiday is observed by Jews according to a calendar that’s different from our Gregorian calendar. This year Passover and Easter coincide.

Exodus 12:1-2 is the first reference of the celebration of Passover.
1. “AND the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 2. This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.”

The Jewish calendar no longer acknowledges this month as the beginning of the year. They have changed it to the deliverance of the Law as the first month of the Jewish calendar. Their tradition changed the first month from the month of Passover to the month of the Law.

Exodus 12:3-6 says, “Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.
Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day”“of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.”

They kept the lamb and inspected it for four days to make sure it was without spot and blemish.

According to Daniel 9:25, “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.”

The time frame is 69 weeks.

Nehemiah 2:1 says, “AND it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been”“beforetime sad in his presence.”

There was a command to rebuild Jerusalem. Nehemiah had a command from God to rebuild the wall. 483 years is 69 times seven weeks of years.

Jesus came into Jerusalem riding on the colt of a donkey on the tenth of the month of Nisan. He was the Passover lamb in fulfillment of this prophecy. God always honors his word according to his timetable. God is never late. All things are accomplished according to his Sovereign will.

On the tenth day they began inspecting Jesus. On the day before Passover, the inspection became intense. Jesus had just finished the “Last Supper” with his disciples.

Luke 22:39-46. And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.
40. And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
41. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42. Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
43. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
44. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
45. And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, 46. And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.”

The prayer of Jesus to his Father is the prayer that overcomes the evil one. At sundown on this day was the fourteenth of Nisan, the day of the Passover. Why would Jesus have wanted this cup to pass from him? The prayer at Gethsemane gave Jesus the power over the adversary. Prayer is aligning our will with our father’s will. Jesus said, “not my will but thine be done.”

Why did Jesus live the perfect life without sin? Jesus said, “I always do my father’s will.” Even though he was tempted in all things like as we are, yet he never sinned. He never “missed the mark” of the high calling of his Father. Sin separates us from our Heavenly Father. Jesus Christ according to Romans 6 was the “last Adam” the only man who kept the first of the Ten Commandments, “thou shalt have no other Gods before my face and your face.” He was without spot and without blemish because he always did his father’s will. Even though Jesus hated and despised sin, he willingly took the sin of the world upon himself for the joy that was set before him. According to Hebrews 12, He who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross and is seated on the right hand of God. The joy that was set before him was your salvation and mine.

Jesus went to the cross to prove that “death is swallowed up in victory.” Without a crucifixion, there can be no resurrection. What amazing grace! For he who was without sin became the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him.

May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Why the Savior?

Luke answers the question, “From what did Jesus come to save us?” According to Luke: “And thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins.” Sin is the “missing of the mark” of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Sin is that which separates our hearts from God. Some types of sin are listed in Galations 5:19-21 “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Another list of sins is in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

According to Revelation 22, the fearful and unbelieving are also sinners.

One who “practices” such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. A “practitioner” is one who confesses and practices that which he preaches. Jesus was the perfect sinless “lamb of God.” Jesus inherited the nature of his Heavenly Father. According to Romans he was the “last Adam.” He was in all things tempted like as we are and yet without sin. This is why Jesus Christ was the lamb of God without spot or blemish. Jesus did not sin… he had a keen awareness of that which is holy. Holy is the same as “sanctified.” Holy means to separate according to the purpose designed by the designer. He said, “I always do my father’s will.”

According to Isaiah, All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone unto our own way. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey on the tenth of the month of Nisan in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. This day was the day when the Passover lamb was inspected to be an acceptable sacrifice “without spot and without blemish.”

Israel thought that the Messiah would come as “king of kings and Lord of lords” according to the prophecy in Isaiah. They were not expecting him to enter Jerusalem as a humble servant riding on a donkey. They did not know that Jesus Christ himself was God’s Passover lamb without spot and without blemish.

The day that Jesus was crucified was the tipping point of history… On that date, Jesus fulfilled his holy purpose for which God ordained…for he who was without sin became the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.

In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed, “If there be any way, let this cup pass from me.” The cup was the cup of wrath of sin and death, the cup of separation for sin of the world. Jesus’ will was to serve his Father. Prayer is not aligning God’s heart with our heart, but rather prayer is aligning our heart with God’s heart. The conclusion of Jesus’ prayer was “not my will but thine be done.”

What was the price that Jesus paid? He bore your sin and mine. He took upon himself the sin of the world. He shed his innocent blood in exchange for our guilty blood. All men deserve to die, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Upon the cross, he died so that we may be presented blameless before the Father. What is the value of a life? Value is counted by the price paid. God valued our life according to John 3:16. For God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

For what were we sanctified, for what were we made holy? We were sanctified and set apart for God’s purpose…that we may bear witness of the Cross of Christ. For we preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ and him crucified. For I was crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life that I live, I live by the faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.

May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Reverence and Awe

Have you ever been in the presence of God? We must prepare our hearts in order to approach the throne of God. To enter into God’s holy presence we need God’s grace and mercy. We cannot enter on our own merit for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. We can enter into God’s presence by God’s mercy only because of the sinless innocent offering Jesus Christ paid on our behalf. For he who was without sin became the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.

To serve God we must serve him with reverence and awe. If Israel did not escape when they disobeyed, much more shall we not escape if we do not listen to the voice from heaven.

Hebrews 12:18, and 21-29 says, “For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, 21. And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:
22. But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23. To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24. And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
25. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
26. Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
27. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear (awe and respect):
29. For our God is a consuming fire.”

The fire represents God’s judgement. Holy and righteous is he that judges all the earth.

The eternal fire is not cast away from God but rather the fire remains in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb of God. Our God is a consuming fire. The question is not whether all roads lead to God. The real question is “What will you do when you get there?” Isaiah 61:10 says when we get there we who are born again will put on robes of righteousness:
“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”

Isaiah 66:22-23 says, “For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.
23. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.

To the righteous, judgement is not a fearful concept. It’s only fearful to the unrighteousness. Isaiah 33:14-15 says, “The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
15. He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; 16. He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.”

Psalm 24:9-10 says, “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.”

To stand before a holy God, we must stand in the righteousness of Christ alone, faultless to stand before the throne.

According to Matthew 16, there is a chasm fixed between the saved and the unsaved, however they are both in close proximity. The chasm prevents those in hell from entering into heaven.

Hebrews 12:14-15 says. “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;”

Satan has tricked some churches to stop preaching about “holiness.” Holiness is to be set apart, sanctified according to the purpose for which he designed us. To know God is to walk in righteousness. Eternal life is to know God and him whom he has sent. Those who have seen the presence of God cannot leave unchanged. Every man’s work shall be tested by fire. The fire is that which consumes and separates the righteous from the unrighteousness… the holy from the unholy.

For those who have been born again clothed in righteousness, the righteousness of the Lamb of God protects them from the judgement of God’s holy fire. We can rejoice in the holy presence of Almighty God, clothed in the righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ.

May God richly bless you,
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

The Spotless Lamb

Passover in Israel was celebrated every year according to the Old Testament Law. This is the time of the year beginning with Palm Sunday in fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9 and Daniel 9, the prophecy that Jesus would ride into the city of Jerusalem on a donkey. On that Passover, Jesus Christ himself became the spotless Passover lamb of God.

Those of us who have died to the world in order to live for Christ, convict the world of sin and separation from God. To confess is to “speak the same thing.” It means to align my heart with God’s heart, my will with God’s will and my word with His word.

Before the Passover feast was the inspection of the lamb. This is the “trial” of Jesus when they “inspected” Jesus Christ the lamb of God. They found him without spot and without blemish. The “inspectors” we’re mad at Jesus because he convicted them of their separation from God. The Pharisee’s had asked Jesus, “Who gave you authority to do these things?” Jesus replied, “I’ll tell you who gave me authority if you can answer this question: “was John’s baptism from heaven?” They couldn’t answer Jesus’ question because they would be wrong if they answered either yes or no. If they answered yes, then the question is “then why don’t you follow his doctrine? He said that I’m the messiah.” If they said, no, then they feared the people because John was popular with the people.

Why do we need to concentrate on the “spotless lamb of God?” Hebrews 12:14 says, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:”

Churchinanity has taken “holiness” out of the church. It’s too controversial a subject. Holiness is not sinless perfection. Holiness means to separate according to the purpose intended by the Designer. Jesus’ holy purpose was the cross. The cross of Christ was God’s purpose for his only begotten son.

Likewise, the cross of Christ is also our purpose for this life. When Jesus gave the “upper room discourse” at the “last supper” he said the Holy Spirit will come after me. In order to be raised in righteousness we must recon ourselves dead to sin. According to Psalm 91, Jesus made his father his dwelling place. He needed his father’s strength to be able to withstand the crushing weight of the sin of the world.

The requirement to approach the cross of Christ is to die to our sin nature in order to live for him. Confession unto salvation is to change lords: to turn from my selfish nature to the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. If you lost everything in this world, would you still have everything in Christ? For what shall it profit a man if he gains the world but loses his soul?

At the cross, the Roman soldiers did not kill Jesus. He willingly laid down his life as the perfect and spotless lamb of God. For he who was without sin became the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.

May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael