Easter Everyday

The Bible tells us that God will release His power to us. Now that’s empowerment. We show God faith when we rely and use it!

1. God's power is shown by His Hand (creation, flood, law, etc.)

2. God's power is shown through people ion the Bible (Adam, Noah, Moses, Abraham, the Prophets, etc.)

3. God's power is shown through us (His children, Me & You)

After seeing the resurrected Lord why are we hanging around with "dead people". Don't go back to the way things were before. Experience the new life God has for you!

What are you going to do the day after Easter? Should our joy turn in to despair over what awaits us? We shout He Lives but then we have to go and make a living! Instead let’s agree to celebrate Easter every day!

         Once you come to grip with your situation,

         Then through salvation you recieve your identification.

         You will be sure of your destination.

         And that will be cause for a Celebration!

Be wise today and always - celebrate Easter everyday.

Grace

In Matthew and Mark, it is reported that both thieves were mocking Jesus along with the crowd. As the hours wore on, however, one criminal’s conscience was smitten, and he repented. The repentive thief rebuked the other and testified to Jesus’ innocence. His prayer reflected his belief that the soul  lives on after death; that Christ had a right to rule over a kingdom of the souls of me, and that He would soon enter that kingdom despite His impending death. His request to be remembered is a plea for mercy, which also reveals that the thief understood he had no hope but divine grace. All of this demonstrates true faith on the part of the dying thief. Christ graciously affirmed the man’s salvation, and offered paradise to the repentant thief on the cross

Luke 23:39-43 - One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."   .

Be wise today and always - your hope in eternity brings you hope today.

Good Friday?

Good Friday – What’s so good about it? The day that Jesus, Son of God, dies for the world in the cruelest of ways, and we call Good Friday. The Sunday School answer would be it is good for what Christ did for me! I think there is more to it as we look at the Bible, and what it has to tell us.

1. All was completed! – Jesus had completed the mission He came to earth for. Philippians 2:5-11- Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

2. Scripture was fulfilled! – From Jesus’ birth to the resurrection was prophesied. Matthew 26:52 - Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me.  But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.”

3. It is finished! – tetelesti! (transaction/deal was omplete)- death has been defeated

1 Corinthians 15:55 - “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus gave up His Spirit in order that we can receive the Holy Spirit.

John 14:26 - But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Be wise today and always - thank God that He is good all the time.

King Jesus

When Jesus enters my life, a new power comes to me because He is my king.

“Are you the King of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “You have said so,” Jesus replied (Mark 15:2, NIV).

Jesus wasn’t going to lie. He couldn’t deny his kingship. His kingdom though is much more powerful and mighty than anything anyone has ever experienced. It is and eternal kingdom. That power is yours, too, if you accept the king because when Jesus enters your life, a new power comes to you because he is your king.

All the power of the kingdom comes when the king enters in.

That’s what Jesus meant when he told his first followers,

Anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these … (John 14:12, NIV 1984).

Bold words, but true.

Be wise today and always - allow King Jesus to enter in to your heart, and rule your life.

Righteous Living

When Jesus enters my life, righteousness comes to me because he is the fulfillment of the Law.

“There is no one righteous, not even one;… there is no one who does good, not even one” (Romans 3:9b-10, 12b,).

Despite all the Pharisees’ efforts, no one—not one soul—had managed to keep the Law of God … because the Law was not given to make us righteous.

The Bible says the Law was given to show us our sin.

No one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin (Romans 3:20 NIV).

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17).

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21, NIV).

So when I have Jesus Christ living in me, I have righteousness living in me, and flowing out from me.

In Romans 5, verse 17 (NIV), the Apostle Paul says: “those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!”

Be wise today and always - accept God's gift and allow Christ to change your life.

Religion to Relationship

In this week's lesson from The Bible series we see in Luke 19:28-48 that a relationship with Jesus brings about things that no amount of religion could ever do. When Jesus enters my life, forgiveness comes to me because he is my high priest.

First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Hebrews 10:1–10, NIV).

Jesus came, a high priest above all high priests, and did not offer a bull or lamb as a sacrifice—he offered himself, and He did it for you and me.

Be wise today and always - it's not about religon it's about relationship.

Change the World

Jesus told His disciples that they were going to "Change the World" in The Bible Series that's broadcasting on the History channel this month. A friend of mine was put off by the comment because Jesus never said that in their version of the Bible. They're right - it's not said in mine either, but it certainly is stated loud and clear.

Jesus did change the world! His disciples took on His mantle and started churches all over the know world, and it grew faster and larger than any time since. That is real change - Amen?

Jesus said in Matthew 18:2-5, He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.


May we become more "child-like" as we accept how Jesus changes our lives and world as we follow Him.

Be wise today and always- change is good.