Category Archives: Gird Up

No better sacrifice than Jesus

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Category : Jesus is Better in Every Way

Upon grateful reflection, we can look back and see how big mama, pawpaw, mama and daddy, god-mama and auntie, made many great sacrifices for us. Many sacrificed having their own comforts to ensure that we not only had the basic necessities of life as children, but to ensure that we had an opportunity to be involved in school activities and other extracurricular activities that could take a bite out of the monthly budget.

If truth be told, mama and big mama may still be making great sacrifices for us even into our adulthood. Many, have made, and are still making great contributions to the coffer as we raise our own children. Many are putting aside their own vacations to help with down payments on the purchases of new homes or cars for loved ones. Correspondingly, many are making room for adult children and grandchildren, who need a place to live.

Contrariwise, many adult children are finding themselves in the role of caretaker as they face the daily challenges of tending to adult parents who can no longer fend for themselves possibly due to financial struggles, sickness, and disease. Yes, I would submit to you that great sacrifices have been made as many have expressed their love and compassion to ensure a better quality of life for those in need.

However great the sacrifice of missionary, preacher, daddy, mama, big mama, big papa, auntie, or even you and I, there is no better sacrifice than Jesus Christ, our blessed Messiah.

The Bible says “11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.   12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.” (Hebrews 10:11-12).

The sacrifices of men are temporal at best. Jesus, that great High Priest, and Who is now sitting at the right hand of Yahweh God, paid the ultimate sacrifice when He died on the old rugged cross so that we may experience everlasting life with Him. Of a truth, Jesus came that we may have life and that life more abundantly (John 10:10b).

No more, the blood of bulls and goats by the priests in the Old Testament to sacrifice for themselves and for mankind at the altar. Under a new and a better covenant (New Testament) Jesus Christ, the sinless Lamb, sacrificed Himself, by shedding His powerful and cleansing blood and is now interceding for us from Heavens’ throne room (the Golden Altar)—for all who call on Him. That’s good news, my friends!

May we Pray

Papa God, we thank You that even though Adam didn’t get it quite right; you have given us a second Adam in the person of Your darling Son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Who redeemed us from a life of no return so that we can spend eternity with You. We thank You that surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives and we shall dwell in Your house forever and forever in Jesus mighty name, Amen and Amen.

If you do not know Jesus as your Savior, and you want to accept Him now, you can click on the link under PRAYER, and pray the prayer of Salvation.

Jesus, He is the Tabernacle

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Category : Jesus is Better in Every Way

As a young girl growing up in church, I used to recall hearing the seasoned saints praying and asking God to tabernacle with them. Lo and behold, I find myself praying this same prayer… Papa God, tabernacle with me this day and every day in Jesus name.

Today’s lesson is taken from Hebrews 9:11 and reads thusly, But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation”.

The first mention of the word tabernacle is found in Exodus 25:1-9

1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:   2 “Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering.   3 And this is the offering which you shall take from them: gold, silver, and bronze;   4 blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats’ hair;   5 ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood;   6 oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense;   7 onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate.   8 And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.   9 According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it”.

The word tabernacle means “tent”, “place of dwelling”, or “sanctuary”.

Upon further study of the Old Testament, you will find that in the tabernacle there was an Outer court, The Holy Place, and the Holiest of Holies.

The Outer court – This room was used for sacrificial offerings, judgment and cleansing. In the outer court, there were instruments constructed of bronze representing judgment and the need for justification.

The Holy Place – Only the Priests could go in this room and which contained the showbread, a type and shadow of (Christ the bread of Life); the lampstand, a type and shadow of (Christ the Light of the World); and the Altar of Incense, a type and shadow of (Christ our Intercessor). In this room was gold, silver and wood; representing the deity, redemption, and the humanity of Christ.

The Holy of Holies – This room contained the Ark of the Covenant or the Mercy Seat. Only the High Priest could enter here one day of the year on the Day of Atonement. On that day, the High Priest could enter the very presence of our Most Holy God, Yahweh. A veil or curtain separated this room from the other rooms. THE HOLIEST OF HOLIES IS WHERE GOD’S GLORY RESIDED!!! (KABOD) Halleluia!

Our High Priest Jesus would have to pass from the outer court, into the Most Holy Place, and then into the Mercy seat or the Holiest of Holies to give His life a ransom for many, when He became that sacrificial Lamb. At that very moment, when Jesus died, the veil which had separated the other rooms from the Holiest of Holies (Mercy Seat) was torn in two from the top to the bottom. (Matt 27:51).

What does that mean for you or for me? That means that our High Priest, Jesus, when He shed His blood on Calvary’s Cross redeemed us from a world of sin so that we could come boldly before God’s Throne and Mercy Seat as cleansed and sanctified priests. As priests, we can now come into the very presence of Almighty God to worship and adore Him and tell Him all about our troubles. We can now lay at His feet to love on Him and to allow Him to love on us and bask in His presence knowing that whatever troubles we might encounter, Papa God will make it alright.

Thank You, Jesus, for being better in every way! There is nobody like You! Jesus, our Priestly Tabernacle is better than the grandest cathedral or the biggest church with all of its modern day conveniences.

And guess what ya’ll? My Bible tells me:

“Christ in me, the hope of glory”. (Colossians 1:27). That means that as born again believers, we already have the tabernacle of Jesus residing on the inside of us. In other words, we have the love, mercy, and grace of Jesus in us. That’s good news my friends. I love good news and I pray that you do as well.

 

Prayer: Papa God, in the words of a song as written by Eddie Williams and popularly sung by Albertina Walker…..Lord, keep me day by day, in a pure, and perfect way. I want to live on in a building not made by hand. I’m just a stranger here traveling through this barren land. Lord, I know there’s a building somewhere, in a building not made by hand. Lord, keep my body strong, so that I can do no wrong. Lord, give me grace just to run this Christian race to a building not made by hand in Jesus name, Amen!

If you do not know Jesus as your Savior, and you want to accept Him now, you can click on the link under PRAYER, and pray the prayer of Salvation

Jesus, even better than Abraham

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Category : Jesus is Better in Every Way

As a child, do you remember singing the song: Father Abraham had many sons…many sons had Father Abraham. I am one of them and so are you. So let’s all praise the Lord., Right arm! And the song goes on to repeat, left arm, right foot, left foot, etc. It was a fun to sing as we lifted our right arm, left arm, right foot in coordination to the song.

The name Abraham actually means the Father of Many Nations (sons and daughters). I submit to you that Abraham is highly respected by many of the Christian persuasion. In the Bible, the Apostle Paul taught that Abraham’s faith in God, even before the Mosaiac law; made him a model of sorts for all believers whether circumcised or not. (Romans 4)

God loved Abraham so much that He told him that whoever blesses him and his seed will be blessed and whoever curses him and his seed will be cursed. (Gen. 12:3).

With all of the power, honor and respect of Abraham, he was humble enough to give a tenth of the spoils to Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High (El’Elyon). But before that, Melchizedek, (king-priest) greeted Abraham with bread and wine on his victorious return from war in the name of God Most High. Halleluia!

But there is one greater than Abraham and His name is King Jesus and High Priest. Halleluia!

And surely, you’re wondering what does Melchizedek have to do with this lesson? I’m glad that you asked. Melchizedek was an Old Testament type of Jesus. The Bible says that Melchizedek was a priest of God Most High, a king of righteousness, a king of peace, without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, and that he remains a priest forever. (Genesis 14:18-20; Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 5:6; 5:10; 6:19-20; 7:1-4; 7:9-11; 7:15-17; 7:21. The same attributes are characteristic of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

Melchizedek was superior to Abraham because he blessed Abraham (greater blesses the lesser) and Abraham gave an offering to him (honor).

JESUS IS SUPERIOR TO ABRAHAM 

“Jesus said to them, Truly, Truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:58.

I am, is present tense! Meaning that while Abraham has passed away, Jesus yet lives. And although the Bible speaks of the faith of Abraham (Romans 4; Hebrews 11), but no scripture speaks of the faith of Jesus–the faith of Jesus is exemplified in that He lived by faith in Father God and which is evident in this scripture….”Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner” (John 5:19.

Hebrews 7:4 says Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

Please know that even the richest man alive today cannot honor Yahweh God with money. Psalm 49:7:8a says “Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God.   8 Redemption does not come so easily, for no one can ever pay enough” (NLT).

There is no way that we can pay Him for what He has done for us when He walked up Golgotha’s Hill to shed His blood as the sacrificial lamb to redeem us from a life of sin and eternal damnation.

Certainly, we should be steadfast to honor and bless our Lord and Savior financially, but our financial giving to Him, is meager at best. (2 Cor. 9:7).  Hebrews 10:8 states…”Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law). For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. (Hosea 6:6)

Because Jesus is better in every way, however, we can Honor Him as King of Kings and the Lord of Lords with our lips. We can honor our King and High Priest with our Worship. We can honor Him with our love and mercy for mankind. We can honor Him with our lives, halleluia which is what He enjoys.

But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel (you and me! (Psalm 22:3)

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy! (Psalm 107:2)

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (Romans 12:1)

Prayer:  Father God Yahweh, let it not be said that we honor You with our lips but that our hearts are far from You. Papa God, I pray that our lives, our work here on earth, and our praises will always be acceptable to You in Jesus name, Amen!

If you do not know Jesus as your Savior, and you want to accept Him now, you can click on the link under PRAYER, and pray the prayer of Salvation.

JESUS IS OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST AND INTERCESSOR

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If it had not been for Jesus on our sides, where would we be? It was the grace, mercy, love, and compassion of Jesus that prevented us from receiving what we actually deserved—death and eternal damnation.

Let’s face it–we aint always been so good and if truth be known, it’s a daily struggle to stay in a place of holiness to an Almighty God.   For many, it’s not those obvious sins and trespasses such as adultery, fornication, profanity (potty mouths), drunkenness, murder, or stealing that we might struggle with.

No, I venture to assert, that many struggle with those not so obvious sins such as jealousy, hatred, bitterness, gossip, pride, anger, rage, idolatry, rebelliousness, contention, unforgiveness, and prayerlessness.

But Jesus, our great High Priest and Intercessor, rich in compassion, is ever ready to make intercession for our souls. (Hebrews 7:25).

What is an intercessor? One definition is that it is a person who intervenes or mediates on behalf of another person especially through fervent prayer, travail, and crying out.

We know that God is rich in grace and mercy because even though Aaron allowed the Israelites to make a golden calf (idolatry), God ordained him as high priest to atone for the sins of the people. Not only did Aaron have to intercede and offer sacrifices on a regular basis to atone for the sins of the Israelites, he had to first atone for his own sins. (Lev. 16; Heb. 9:7). Please understand this…Levitical priests, through sacrifices and intercession, could only cover the sins, but they could not cleanse the sins of the people.

Only Jesus, could cover and cleanse our sins which makes Him better in every way. King Jesus, our High Priest, who knew no sin, once and for all paid our sin debt (2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15).  His death and sacrifice was a finished work. Jesus didn’t have to keep going to the altar to atone for sins. Jesus Christ paid it all in one clean sweep when He shed His atoning blood on Calvary’s cross to pay the ultimate sacrifice for you and for me.

Yes, Jesus is better in every way…. better that Aaron and any other Levitical priests. And although God appointed and ordained Aaron as a high priest, Jesus was appointed and ordained by God as a Faithful High Priest. Jesus didn’t put Himself on a pedestal—no, it was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob Who appointed Him and ordained Him— as the Faithful High Priest and Intercessor for our souls.

King Jesus, as our High Priest and Intercessor came to care for us as His own Sheep. And please understand that sheep have to be led, they cannot lead. Sheep are dumb, and will go astray in a New York minute. But Jesus, when he stepped out of heaven to take on manhood came to  “deal gently with the ignorant and misguided and to lead us back to Him.”   (Hebrews 5:2)  In other words, He knows and understands our weaknesses even though He does not condone those weaknesses.

Jesus once said that His sheep hear His voice and not the voice of a stranger and He will protect us from the devil who comes to steal, kill, and to destroy. And thank God, that Jesus came that we may have life and that more abundantly. (John 10).  That’s good news!

Yes, Jesus is better in every way as our Faithful High Priest and Intercessor.

Prayer: Abba Father, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, we thank You for sending us a Great High Priest to atone and intercede for our souls in the courtroom of Heaven. We thank you for allowing Your darling Son Jesus to die on the cross and shed his blood to pay the ultimate sacrifice for the whole world. Papa, help us not to take the great sacrifice of Jesus for granted. Help us to understand and appreciate that Jesus paid it all so that we can come boldly to Your throne through the redemptive blood of Jesus to ask for mercy and help in the time of need, and to spend eternity with You in Heaven in the matchless name of Jesus, we pray, Amen!

Hebrews 5:1-5

1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.   2 He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness.   3 Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins.   4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.   5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.”  

If you do not know Jesus as your Savior, and you want to accept Him now, you can click on the link under prayer, and pray the prayer of Salvation.

No, Not than one, but King Jesus Is His Name

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Many, who have been following me on social media, know that sometimes I may refer to Jesus by His Hebrew translation which is Yeshua.   Yeshua is the Hebrew name for Jesus. It means “Yahweh [the Lord] is Salvation.” The English spelling of Yeshua is “Joshua.” However, when translated from Hebrew into the Greek language, in which the New Testament was written, the name Yeshua becomes Iēsous. The English spelling for Iēsous is “Jesus.”

What this means is that Joshua and Jesus are the same name. One name is translated from Hebrew into English, the other from Greek into English. Both names mean “Savior” and “the salvation of the Lord.”

In today’s text found in Hebrews 4:7-8, we find that the writer here is expounding on the fact that there is a greater and a better rest given to the people than that of Joshua, son of Nun.

After the death of Moses, Joshua was given the charge by Yahweh God to finally lead the surviving children of Israel out of the desert wilderness and into the Promised Land of Caanan to find rest for their weary souls.

Of course, this was not to be a permanent rest but only a temporary one until the time of rest in Jesus Christ of Nazareth. And this rest of Jesus Christ is a permanent rest of faith for all the faithful believers.

Job speaks of a day when the wicked shall cease from troubling, and there the weary will be at rest. (3:17). But right here on earth, there is also a sabbath or a Sunday rest reserved for Gods people—and its a spiritual rest; of which JESUS so freely gives to all who call on Him.

Of a truth, King Jesus is the better way!

Joshua, the son of Nun, conquered Canaan not only for the people of Israel, but also for himself, his children and his grandchildren, (Joshua 19:49-50). But, Jesus, the SON of Yahweh God, purchased that heavenly Canaan by His shed blood. And not for His sake only, but for the sake of all those that believe on Him. We find glory in the fact that before the world was ever created; Christ Jesus made a decision to step out of heaven to give us that redemptive rest. (John 17:5). Christ Jesus is the better way!

Joshua needed the help of all the tribes of Israel to conquer Caanan, but our Lord and Savior, King Jesus, purchased our heavenly inheritance. He saith, “I have trodden the winepress alone, and none were with Me” (Isaiah 63:3). Christ Jesus is the better way!

Joshua did not face bloodshed or death in the conquest of Caanan, but the eternal inheritance of every believer would cost Christ Jesus bloodshed and death. (Hebrews 9:26; 1 Peter 1:18-19).  Christ Jesus is the better way!

Yes, of a truth, both names—Joshua and Jesus—signify a Savior…but only one of them can give that true spiritual rest. That one is Jesus Christ the blessed Messiah, Who died for the sins of the world. (John 3:16)

Prayer: King Jesus, our blessed Messiah, we thank you for that physical and spiritual rest that we can find only in you. Jesus, Your word says that You will keep us in perfect peace when our minds are stayed on you, because we trust in you. (Isaiah 26:3). Jesus, I thank You that You have many mansions in that heavenly place and we thank You that You will come back and receive us unto yourself where we can find eternal rest in one of those mansions in Jesus name, Amen. (John 14:1-4)

7 again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.”   8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. (Hebrews 4:7-8)

Watch video! Coming In On Broken Pieces

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Jim

Yes, Even Better than Moses

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Category : Jesus is Better in Every Way

Down through the years, Yahweh God has used many men, women, boys, and girls to do mighty exploits in His name. Hopefully, a few names may come to your mind as you ponder on the many ways in which God has used people for His purposes. Moses was such a man. In the Bible, there is an Exodus account in which God used Moses in a powerful way to deliver the people of Israel out of Egypt and into the Promised Land.

Truly, Moses was faithful to God’s work from the building of the tabernacle, to standing up against the wicked Pharaoh, to putting blood on the doorposts.

Many are familiar with the fact that Moses was used of God to establish the Ten Commandments to the children of Israel. And although Moses was a man of faith and served Yahweh God, he was not perfect; and at one time was disobedient to God, killed a man, struggled with his calling, and oftentimes, wrestled with his own emotions–but at any rate, God used him mightily to do a great work in His name.

However, there is one greater than Moses and His name is Jesus Christ of Nazareth. The Word of God states this in Hebrews 3:1-3  “Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,   2 who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house.   3 For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house.”

Moses performed good works for God, but Jesus was better in every way. And we will discuss a few of those ways on this platform.

First and foremost, Moses was given instructions on how to build the tabernacle and how to worship in God’s house. Basically, Moses served in God’s house–Jesus is the Son who rules over Gods house.

Both did many miracles, signs, and wonders–Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness (Numbers 21:8-9), Christ Jesus lifted Himself up on the Cross to draw all men. (John 3:14-16).

Moses was sinful (Numbers 20:7-13); Jesus was sinless. (Hebrews 4:15)

Moses delivered people from physical bondage (Exodus 14:13-31), Christ Jesus delivered people from spiritual bondage. (Luke 4:18-19)

Moses gave physical bread (manna) from heaven to sustain strength (Exodus 16:14-15); Jesus gave that spiritual bread from heaven that gives and sustains eternal life. Jesus is the bread of Life. (John 6:32-35)

Moses appears with Jesus Christ at the Mount of Transfiguration and was taken up, but the people saw Jesus, the beloved Son in Whom God was well pleased, as the only one left standing. (Matt. 17:8)

Moses’ assignment pertained to the people of Israel only (Exodus 3:1-9), while Christ’s assignment was ultimately to the whole creation. (Mark 16:15).

Moses was only a mere man (Exodus 2:2); while Christ Jesus is both man and God. (John 1:1; John 17:5; John 20:28; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8).

Moses’s body was buried and saw deterioration and corruption (Deut. 34:6), Christ was spared corruption and decay. (Acts 13:37Yes, Jesus, the Son of God, the One Who Built the House and has More Honor than the House is better in every way–yes, even better than Moses.

Moses asked God, “Show me Your Glory”? JESUS CHRIST IS THE GLORY OF THE TRUE CHURCH OF GOD.

Yes, Jesus, the Son of God, the One Who Built the House and has More Honor than the House is better in every way–yes, even better than Moses.

 

Prayer: Father God, we thank You for Your Son, Christ in us (our spiritual tabernacle), our Hope of Glory. Papa God, we know that when this earthly tent (tabernacle) we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God Himself and not by human hands (2 Cor. 5:1) NLT. And Papa God, we thank You for these promises in Jesus’ blessed name, Amen!

Not Just Any Prophet

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In the Old Testament God spoke through His prophets such as to Moses, Elijah, Nathan, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, and Joel to get information out to His people.   Under the New Covenant, there are those who are still speaking for God under a prophetic anointing according to Ephesians 4:11.

“11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,   12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”

These 5 gifts are commonly referred to as the 5-fold ministry gifts. And although many think these gifts to be no longer needed or operational in the church today, but that the gifts ceased with the 1st Century Church, nothing could be farther from the truth.

In the New Testament, we can find references in Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; 1 Peter 4; and 2 Timothy 1-6; wherein the ministry gifts are necessary for the full gospel ministry of the church to flow like Jesus Christ intended for it to flow.

Unfortunately, in the times in which we now live, we are starting to see an increase in the misuse and exploitation of the ministry gifts and especially the gift of prophecy. Instead of prophesying, many are prophe-lying. Many are misappropriating the gift of prophesy to line their pockets by preying on the weak and vulnerable.

That’s why John the Revelator admonishes us on this wise…”Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)

In contrast, there are a great many prophets who have humbled themselves before God, who have sold out completed to God, who have the ear of Almighty God, and are doing mighty exploits in His name through the gift of prophecy.

However, Jesus Christ the soon coming King is better than any prophet (Hebrews 1:1-3)  that has been or that now is. When King Jesus communicates to us whether through a still small voice, through the voice of thundering waters, or through His Word, we can take it to the bank. The Bible says, He is not a God that He should lie, neither the Son of man that He should repent.” (Numbers 23:19) IF HE SAID IT, THAT SETTLES IT, AND WE SHOULD BELIEVE IT!!!

Everything about Jesus is prophecy and prophecy fulfilled, from His death, burial, resurrection, to His ascension. He is the better prophet. All that King Jesus has done, is doing and is going to do in the future is prophetic in nature as we study His word and carry out His mission.

As we seek to have a deeper relationship with the Master Prophet, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, may we find hope in His plans and purposes, that HE IS JUST NOT ANY PROPHET but that He is better than any prophet–from the Old Testament to the New Testament. Help me shout!

 

Prayer:   Father God, in the name of Jesus, we thank You for giving us Your Son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Master Prophet, who is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). We thank You for that great and merciful salvation that is found in Jesus Christ along. And we equally thank You that if we apply the truths of the Word of God, we never have to be tossed about with every wind and doctrine, because Jesus is the better way, Amen and amen. 

1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,   2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;   3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Hebrews 1:1-3)

Why Settle for Less Than the Best!!!

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WHY SETTLE FOR LESS THAN THE BEST!

If we would but only look back over our lives, we will find where we have sometimes and in various ways compromised our moral positions, values, dreams, relationships, and even our spiritual walk with God. And If we would be honest, oftentimes, we settled for less than the best due to impatience, feelings of unworthiness, a deflated self-esteem, or because we wanted instant gratification.

And if the truth be told because we decided to settle for less than the best, we’ve had to suffer severe consequences and deep regrets as a result.

However, we don’t have to continue walking in self condemnation (Romans 8). We need only repent, ask God for forgiveness, surrender to Him as the Lord of our lives and to begin to allow Him to lead and guide us in every decision–whether big or small.

Why settle for less than the best when you can have a better way in Christ. Not mere religion with all of its legalistic rules and manmade dogmas, but a true relationship with Christ.

In the book of Hebrews we find at least ten ways that Jesus is better than anything that this world or this life has to offer and they are outlined as below:

  • Jesus is better than the Prophets (Hebrews 1:1-3)
  • Jesus is better than the Angels (1:4-14)
  • Jesus is better than Moses (3:1-6)
  • Jesus is better than Joshua (4:6-11)
  • Better than the High Priests (5:1-10)
  • Jesus is better than Abraham (7:1-10)
  • Jesus is better than the Old Testament Priesthood (7:11-19)
  • Jesus is better than the Tabernacle (9:2-12)
  • Jesus is better than the old sacrifices (10:11-18)
  • Jesus is better than the experience at Mt. Sinai; 12:18-24

Over the course of time, we will be discussing a few of the blessings above as we seek to appreciate just how blessed we are to have Jesus Christ of Nazareth in our lives and to appreciate that He is better to us than anything this world has to offer.

First off, we wish to establish what “better” means in the book of Hebrews as it relates to Christ Jesus. In Hebrews 1:4, it says “being made so much better than the angels”, and we find in the Strongs Concordance, that the Greek translation for better is kreitton, pronounced krite’-tohn (G2909) and means “stronger, best, more excellent”.

In the Bible, angels held very important roles in speaking to God’s people.

  • Two angels accompanied the Lord when He spoke to Abraham. (Gen. 18:2-22)
  • Two angels met Lot in Sodom and warned him of the coming judgment. (Gen 19:12)
  • An angel wrestled with Jacob in the night and blessed him (Gen 32:22-32)
  • An angel spoke to Joshua on how to take the city of Jericho. (Josh 5:13-15)
  • An angel spoke to Gideon to drive the enemies of Israel from the land. (Judg 6:11-24)
  • An angel shuts the mouths of the lions when Daniel was in the lion’s den (Dan. 6:22)
  • An angel came to Mary to tell her she would give birth to Jesus. (Luke 1:26-38)
  • Angels appeared to the shepherds and announced the birth of Christ. (Luke 2:8-20)

Even though angels held prominent roles, they were not superior to Jesus. Only Jesus is deemed the First-born. Only Jesus is deemed the Messiah. Only Jesus came to redeem us. Only Jesus can save us. In other words He is the Captain of our Salvation. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the light, no man cometh to the Father except through Him. (John 14:6).

When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, and came up out of the water, immediately the heavens opened and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; 11 and a voice came out of the heavens saying : “Thou art My beloved Son, in Thee I am well-pleased.” (Mark 1:10-11).

With this statement, God identified Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy. Jesus is the beloved Son of God. And all who call on the name of Jesus are accepted in the beloved. Ephesians 1:6 declares “To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in His beloved.

Do you understand what that means? Yes, Yahweh God sends His angels to protect us on so many fronts, but can’t no nobody do us like Jesus. We are accepted in the beloved bosom of Jesus. Like a lamb in the arms of His shepherd, He loves us that much. He paid a price that no other could pay. Jesus shed His blood on Calvary’s Cross to save us, to protect, to shield us from all hurt, harm, and danger.

Jesus loves us just that much. And I agree with the Apostle Paul when he asserts this passage of scripture found in Romans 8:38 and I like this translation in the NLT, “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.”

And get this, even the angels know that Jesus is better. An angel had to warn John the Revelator not to worship him but to worship God. …”Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said, No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers and sisters who testify about their faith in Jesus. Worship only God! For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.” (Rev. 19:10 (NLT)

JESHUA HAMASHIACH, “bka” JESUS is better than the Angels. So, why settle for the less than the best….More to come…stay tuned…..

 

 

 

Christ, The Conqueror of Death

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Category : Gird Up

JESUS MADE “OLD DEATH” TO BEHAVE!

Hebrews 2:14-15

Do you really mean it when you quote from the 23rd Psalm…”and though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil?” When unrelenting spiritual attacks seem to be the norm of the day, when the many media outlets are filled with horrors and atrocities associated with the persecution of Christians, who like you, only wish to share the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ, or when you have received a shocking or terminal report from the doctor, do you squirm or hesitate to quote verse 4 or do you assert with an unwavering faith and trust in God that regardless of what comes, I will not fear death or evil.

In Hebrews 2:14-15, we find these words… “14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,   15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

At the time that the epistle of Hebrews was written, in approximately 67 A.D, the Jewish temple was still standing and the priestly ceremonies were still being done daily. During this same time, Jews who had become Christian believers were going through some rough patches and were being tempted to go back to the Jewish religion to escape persecution. And many of them feared death.

The Hebrew writer was assuring the Jewish believers just as he is assuring us on today, that Jesus, through His own death, has conquered death. In other words, Jesus has made that old death to behave.  Halleuia!

As believers, we are well aware of the fact that HaSatan comes to steal, kill, and to destroy, (John 10:10), however, he does not have power over death. HaSatan can only do what Yahweh God will allow Him to do. And we see this in Job 1:12; 2:6). God gave the direction that the devil could torment Job, but he couldn’t take his life.

But since HaSatan is the author of sin (John 8:44) and because sins brings death (Rom. 6:23), he does wield some power in the realm of death in this world.

And what HaSatan does is he uses the fear of death (shadow) as a tricky weapon to gain control over the lives of people. And Colossians 1:13 tells us that his kingdom is one of darkness and death.

But the good news is that WE CAN PUT OUR TRUST in the fact that only Yahweh God has the final authority over death. (Deut 32:39; Matt 10:28; Rev. 1:18).

We can trust God’s Word in Deut. 32:39 which declares… ‘Now see that I, even I, am He, And there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand. 

We as believers can walk through the valley of the shadow of death trusting in the Word coming from the lips of King Jesus when he asserts in Matt. 10:28…. ‘And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.’ Only Jesus has authority over the soul and body, not the devil. Amen!

We can walk with an unwavering faith and trust in the Word as written by John the Revelator when Jesus says this…..”I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.” (Rev. 1:18)

So even though there may be seasons where we may have to walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we should not be in bondage to the fear of death, because we have the victory. We have the victory because the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ have given us the victory!

1 Corinthians 15:55 begs the question…”O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”   Verse 56 answers the question that “The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.   57But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.   58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

As we trust God and His unwavering Word, we can walk this thing out called “life,” til He shall call us home.

Please meditate on the words to this old hymn as penned by Louisa Stead.

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His Word; Just to rest upon His promise, And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”

Chorus: Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er; Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! Oh, for grace to trust Him more! 

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee, Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend; And I know that Thou art with me, Wilt be with me to the end.

Prayer: Papa Yahweh God, in the name of Jesus, we give You Praise, we Honor You, and we Glorify You. We thank you that even when trouble surrounds us and storm clouds rise, we have the sweet assurance or knowing that we can walk through the valley of the shadow of death and even though at times we may be plagued by fear, anxiety, and worry, you promised that you will never leave us nor forsake us in Jesus name, Amen!

Click on “Prayer” page for salvation prayer.

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