Easter Season

As we near the Easter festival and we ponder the history of the world, the history of Israel, the history of the church, and our own personal history, we are well aware the world was and is marred by sin, Israel was and is marred by sin, the church was and is marred by sin, and each of us are marred by sin. Romans 3:10-12 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable there is none that doeth good, no, not one. ” With the Good Friday message is God’s love brought to a fallen world, the sin bearer, The Father’s beloved son, becoming sin for us that righteousness would be imputed unto those who have no offering to appease a Holy God. With the publican at the temple: “God be merciful to me a sinner” With Isaiah the prophet “Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts”. God working in the heart repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” Here the voice of the suffering saviour “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” Jesus shedding his precious blood to wash away all our sins. Martin Luther on the value of Christ’s blood. “One drop of Christ’s blood is worth more than heaven and earth.” My friend, leave your sins with Jesus, he has paid for them all. Martin Luther again, “Either your sin is with you, or lying on your shoulder, or it is lying on Christ, the Lamb of God. Now if it is lying on your back you are lost; but if is resting on Christ you are free, and you will be saved. Now choose what you want.” Easter morning is arriving the dark night is past, sin is finished, Satan destroyed, his power broken, death hath no more dominion over the children of grace. “The Sun of righteousness (Jesus) has risen with healing in his wings ” Martin Luther ” .. What does the resurrection advantage us? It has already brought us this: our hearts are enlightened and filled with joy, and we have passed from the darkness of sin, error and fear into the clear light.” Peter 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” Brothers, sisters, young and old together, lets walk the narrow way as light and salt to all those around us, living for Jesus a life that is true striving to please him in all that we do. II Corinthians 5:14,15 “For the Love of Christ constraineth us because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” Holy Father bless our Easter services, cause our ears to be attentive and our hearts receptive to your word, our only life (Jesus) in his name, Amen.
Posted on 04 Apr 2011

Let’s Remember to Pray

Jesus said “That men ought always to pray and not to faint”, When the deciples asked Him to teach them to pray He gave them (us) the Lords Prayer. Prayer is important! The question we need to ask as the people of God and as individuals is, Do we pray?

The Bible on prayer

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 C H Spurgeon
on this verse “True prayer is an approach of the soul by the Spirit of God to the throne of God. It is not the utterance of words, it is not alone the feeling of desires, but it is the advance of the disires to God, the spiritual approach of our nature towards the Lord our God.”

” I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.” 1stCorinthians 14:15 Inwardly we groan with unutterable words, cries and pleas, with words also we talk to Our Father, our requests are made known , He does hear! In His word it is commanded “pray without ceasing”. Yes that is what is written. God knowing all things we need and desire, says, pray. O. Hallesby has written “Prayer is something deeper than words. It is present in the soul before it has been formulated into words. And it abides in the soul after the last words of prayer have passed over our lips”

“And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”
John 16:23-24 This is His promise. Let us keep asking.

Harvest time is coming Fall is upon us. Jesus is soon coming. The Lord’s words. “Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.” Luke 10:2 The Fall Services are just around the corner. I ask all of you to be in prayer for the services. With fullness of joy, that God for the sake of His dear son would, Open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing upon us. That the wonder working blood of the Lamb and mighty name of Jesus would purge us of our besetting sins, and the secret sins of our heart. That cleansed and made Holy we would ” Living in Thee Lord, and Thou in me; constant abiding this is my plea; grant me thy power, boundless and free: Power with men and power with Thee.” “mercy drops round us are falling but for the showers we plead.”

Mark

Posted on 29 Jul 2011

Reflections, Looking Ahead, Questions

For the American Church, how has the past year been?
For the Church whatever name it goes by, or you or I
whatever our individual name is. What has been our
priorities? 2010 is fast ending, 2011 is soon arriving.
What has it been in 2010? What will it be in 2011?
Have we sought the kingdom of God and his
righteousness? see Matt 6:33 or our own will and way?
Before you left your room in the morning did you
think to pray? Did we forget to pray? Jesus said Luke 18:1
“… that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”
Have we prayed or fainted? Have we attended church worship
and the word, and Bible study regularly? or just not bothered?
The Bible says, Heb 10:24-25 “and let us consider one another
to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the
assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is;
but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye
see the day approaching.” Have we, will we? Did we? Will we
walk in the steps of Jesus? Apostle 1st Peter 2:21 “For even
here unto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:”Have
we suffered and followed in Jesus’ steps?, are we willing to?
Do we have a concern for lost souls? Jesus said of himself
Luke 19:10 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save
that which was lost.” he also said “as my father sent me so
send I you” Have we obeyed our commission and calling?
Will we? Have we? Gal 6:2″Bear ye one another’s burdens,
and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Did we? Will we bear each
others burdens? Has love ruled our hearts and actions?
1sr Peter 1:22 “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying
the truth through the spirit unto unfeigned love of the
brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart
fervently:” Did fervent love rule? will it? Oh Holy Father our
wickedness and sins are many. We are in agreement with
Daniel 9:19-20 “O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken
and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city
and thy people are called by thy name. And whiles I was
speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of
my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the
Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God;” Forgive us as
we call upon thy name Lord. Turn us Oh Lord and we shall be
turned grant us a fresh pouring out of your grace by Thy
Holy Spirit. Grant us Father in heaven strength to live for Thy
glory in all that we say and all that we do. Amen
Mark
Posted on 28 Dec 2010

The Epiphany of Our Lord

The revealing of Christ’s divinity and rightful position as the second person in the Trinity. Conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the virgin Mary, there by being truly God and truly man. Romans 1:34 “Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:” God’s own testimony of His only begotten Son being baptized by John. Matthew 3:16-17 “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Jesus in perfect obedience walked on earth as the first perfect man fulfilling all righteousness as the son of Adam. Then the fallen sons and daughters of Adam could be redeemed. Sin committed in the flesh, atoned for in the flesh, the God man dying in the flesh, shedding His precious Holy blood for sinners condemned and unclean. 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Hebrews 2:14-17 “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” This revelation to the heart of a sinner, works godly sorrow over sin, repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ. Washed in the blood of Jesus, translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God. Born again, if any man be in Christ he is a new creature old things are passed away; behold all things are become new, as Apostle Paul teaches. God has call us brothers sisters young and old to proclaim the everlasting gospel of Jesus’s blood and righteousness. This gift of justification by Jesus Christ comes as a free gift without any merit or worthiness on our part. It comes to us from a mercifull God to sinners by birth and by choice Titus 3:3-7 “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful,and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” This is the message of
the Gospel, there is life in Jesus name and a sure anchor for the soul. John 5:11-13 “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” Oh what an Epiphany it is when the grace of God in Christ Jesus is revealed to a sinner. Proclaim it preach it, teach it, sing it, herald forth the word of life as long as there is breath. The seed is planted and God gives the increase. The time is short, Jesus is coming again! In His service

Mark

Posted on 10 Feb 2011 

Advent (Parousia) presence as opposed to absence

The first advent is the incarnation which brings God to us
in human form The long awaited for promised seed of the
woman bringing salvation to a lost and condemned world.
Adams seed. The voice of the Lord spoke to Joseph quoting
Isa. 7:14 Matt 1:23 “Behold, a virgin shall be with child,
and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name
Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
Jesus being born of woman became present as “God in flesh”
True God and now true man. Jesus, from Bethlehem’s
manger grew to be a man, walked among us felt everything
we feel, yet with one big difference, He always pleased His
Father, Jesus lived perfectly Holy without sin. After fulfilling all
righteousness, as the spotless Lamb of God he laid His Life
down on the cross, shedding His blood for us sinners, that he
might take it up again, rising from the dead. Jesus then told Mary
“Touch me not for I have not yet ascended to my Father and
your father”
He than came back and told Thomas John 20:27 ” Reach
hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither
Thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but
believing.” “Believing we have life through His Name.” He then
came and preached peace to them that were near and to them
that were afar off. Jews and Gentiles, establishing His Church
saying as my Father has sent me so send I you. This is really
Jesus’s Second appearing from heaven as one of us as victor
over sin death and hell.
We read of His third appearing in Acts 1:11, “Ye men of
Gal’i-lee , why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus,
which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like
manner as you have seen him go into heaven.” Jesus is coming
again the third time to separate the sheep from the goats.
Two messages will be heard, “Come ye blest of my Father” and
“Depart ye cursed” We wait for a great and glorious day as many
as love the Lord. As we wait with anticipation, lets go forth with joy,
bearing our little cross’s proclaiming the everlasting gospel of Jesus
and his love,that whosoever believes may live and not die.Mark

Posted on 28 Nov 2010

Christmas is About Christ

Napoleon said “Battles are not won, by men, but by a man, He was right about earthly battles, the General is crucial for victory. The battle for the souls of men was won by one man, Jesus was his name. Emanuel (God with us) “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Galatians 4:4-5 Christmas is a time of Joy as we remember our saviors birth over two thousand years ago. Born to die that we can live, as our mediator, For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” 1 Timothy 2:5 At the cross the power of the enemy was destroyed “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;” Hebrews 2:14 In Christ’s redemption we have been bought with a great price the blood of Jesus and have received the atonement in the the one and only accapectable sacrifice. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” Romans 5:8-11 We praise and thank God this Christmas for the greatest gift ever given, Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. 2 Corinthians 9:15 We wait for the great and glorious day as many as love the Lord, with a lively hope of eternal life, Which we have alone in the salvation brought to earth in Bethlehem’s manger so long ago. May God richly bless each of you, in following the King who is victorious, over everything.
Mark
Posted on 10 Dec 2010

The Church

It is the Lord’s Church of which He is the Head. The real church is the body of Christ on earth. Jesus said, “I will build MY church.” It is still under construction. “And He is the head of the body, the church” Colossians 1:18. For His body’s sake, which is the church” Colossians 1:24.
Only those who are the “called out ones,” as the Greek word implies, are a part of that church. (Called out of the world purified and cleansed by His blood to be His own.)
It is the Lord that adds people, and saves them, to the church (Acts 2:47).
The church is more than an organization; it is a living, body, because Christ is within it.
Each member is a important part of the Churchs function. “For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members are one in Him, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.” Read 1 Corinthians 12:13-31. An individual Christian cannot be a church but is to function as a member of the body, Christs body, His church. God set in the church various gifts, of and directed by the Spirit, in the word.
MARK
Posted on 29 Oct 2010

Give Thanks

We see it is a good thing to give thanks.
Psalm 92:1,2
“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: 2. To show forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,”

The Bible teaches us that as a body of believers we should be Thankful
Colossians 3:15
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”

In good times an bad time we should always give thanks.
Ephesians 5:20
“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”

We should thank him with words that are spoken.
Hebrews 13:15
“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”

Ben Franklin, Told this story from New England history. “That in a time of great despondency among the first settlers of New England, it was purposed at one of there public assemblies to proclaim a fast. An old farmer arose, spoke of their provoking heaven with their complaints, reviewed their mercies, showed that they had much to be thankful for, and moved that, instead of appointing a day of fasting, they should appoint a day of thanksgiving. This was accordingly done, and the custom has been continued ever since.”

In spite of troubles and trails, lets us continually thank and praise Him.

Mark

Posted on 12 Nov 2010

Two Covenants

Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
Psalm 110:3

The old has the motivation of fear, if you don’t do good the axe will fall or if I do more and more good the reward gets better. As the Devil promised Eve you will be like God.

The day of power is the day of Christ, Christ came in the fullness of time to redeem man who all his life is subject to bondage, under the old covenant promise, do or die. In the new covenant Jesus as true man fulfilled all the demands of the law, went willingly to the cross taking our justly deserved condemnation made atonement for our sins in His blood, reconciling us to the Father. As new creatures in Christ, motivated by love we desire to obey God.

Praise be to God for the covenant of Grace!

Martin Luther’s exposition on this verse says it well.

The scriptures speak of two periods: the first of weakness, which included those who lived under the law. At that time, men did not observe the will of God freely through love but in the spirit of servile obedience. That day became to them an unbearable load and burden, impossible to enjoy. God’s will must be done without compulsion and that, in the nature of the case, was impossible for them.

The second period is the covenant of grace and help through which man is made strong, willingly observes the will of God and his commands, and sincerely loves him. Christians do this not for the sake of necessity or reward, nor do they fail through suffering or death. This is not the work of nature but of grace.

Mark

Posted on 23 Oct 2010

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