Liberty And The Cross

Galatians 6:14 (Scripture in Blue comments in Red) – But God forbid that I should glory (boast), save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (what the opponents of Paul and I believe us Christians today sought to escape at the price of insincerity is the Apostle’s and our only basis of exultation), by Whom the world is Crucified unto me, and I unto the world. (Listen: The only way we can overcome the world, and I mean the only way, is by placing our Faith exclusively in the finished work of Jesus at the Cross and keeping it there.)

    

     I’ll never forget the first time I saw in person the Statue of Liberty. As a young soldier at the time, it really made me proud to be an American. There is something about “Miss Liberty” that evokes stronger feelings of the meaning of freedom, than probably any other monument in the United States.

     For the Christian, there is another symbol which stands as a visual reminder of the central truth of our faith in Jesus Christ. It is His Cross!

     In every believer’s heart, there is a special response at the mention of the cross, and the work that was done there.

     Christ was holy, undefiled, separate from sinners, and knew no sin yet was “made sin” for us. He humbled Himself and became obedient even unto death on a cross.

     Miss Liberty is a symbol of freedom in the United States, which is rapidly eroding away, which makes this freedom not eternal. But praise God, the symbol of the Cross and the finished work of Jesus there, stands for eternal freedom and life available to every person who believes that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God who died there on the cross for them.

     Do you know Him; you can through faith and by just asking Him to forgive you of your sins and come into your heart.

     Remember freedom is quickly eroding away therefore, heed to what the bible says In 2 Corinthians 6:2 – “…behold now is the Day of Salvation”.

Lord It's Hot & Dry

Lord it’s so hot and dry in Texas the Baptists are sprinkling; the Methodist or using wet wipes; the Catholics as you know Lord are praying for You to turn wine back into water and the Pentecostals - well they are doing the rain dance.

FIRST LIGHT - Spiritual Shipwreck

1 Timothy 1:18-19 – “This charge I commit unto you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on you, that you by them might war a good warfare; 19) Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: 

     Thinking of the Christian life as a ship vessel, we are all capable of spiritual shipwreck. The Titanic proved there is no such thing as an unsinkable vessel.

     Some are able to go through this life apparently without suffering shipwreck. However, others do not fare as well and end up shipwrecked.

1.  If the captain does not follow or heed to sea charts or radar, he may run aground in shallow water. When we live by our feelings instead of by the truth of God’s Word, we endanger ourselves.

2.  Pure neglect, over the course of time, will begin to take its toll. A ship goes to dry dock for repairs. We too, must always be alert for areas in our lives which need healing work or repentance and forgiveness. This should be urgent in our lives.

3.  Some ships sink by collisions. How many quarrels and disagreements have ended relationships in some people’s lives? God’s alarm system in our lives against such collisions is the voice of the Holy Spirit.

4.  How does shipwreck occur? Through carelessness! If you are to remain afloat in a ship, a captain and his crew know you cannot afford to be careless for one moment. Likewise, in your spirit to remain afloat you must follow the same rule. Don’t let down your spiritual guard for one moment.

5.  Another cause is storm. An experienced and wise captain has respect for the power of a storm, and also has learned how to sail through them.

     How is your weather gauge? We stand in danger of spiritual shipwreck when we see storms approaching our lives and do not prepare for them, or when we allow fear to paralyze us.

     As sure as sunny days come, storms will come. We can’t control the weather, but we can rely on the One who has control of the wind and waves. His name is Jesus, because He speaks to the wind, “Peace, be still.” And it obeys.

     Be watchful. It is possible to sail the seas of life without becoming shipwrecked, but danger is ever present.

     Someone once said “A holy life will make the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns; they just shine.”

FIRST LIGHT - Real Hope and Change

Read: 1 Peter 1:3-9

     “Do you think our economy will pick up next year?”

     “Well I certainly hope so.”

     “Do you believe our next president will help America get back to the roots of what our founding fathers intended and envisioned for this great nation?  A nation with freedom which is strong, moral and prosperous who loves God, family, neighbors and I add supports Israel?”

     We would have tremendous hope that he or she could.”

     But please listen to me – The average man’s working definition of hope is “an optimistic outlook that things will turn out okay.” However, because such a view is founded on the ever-shifting sands of time, circumstances, people, and money, he has absolutely no foundation for genuine hope.

     The bible says: “ That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:” (Ephesians 2:12)

     “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy;” (1 Timothy 6:17)

     Listen: Anything the world offers as hopeful allurements – peace, success, enrichment – are mere illusions because they have no lasting power to fulfill their promises. The hope of the world is, in the end, hopeless.

     So what’s the Answer: It is only the person (nation) who has accepted the dynamic message of the abiding hope in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His finished work at Calvary’s Cross? Upon Him all true hope rests.

     “Do you know Him today?”