"It Is Finished !" - Inspirational Weekend

Resurrection Day is this coming Sunday, as all Christians know.  They will hear sermons and Scriptures concerning Jesus' resurrection from the dead.  He suffered a cruel and painful death; but He did it out of love for us - us undeserving humans that can be so stubborn and self-willed.  Oh how He loves us !!  We should thank Him everyday for His sacrifice because we who believe in Him will have everlasting life !  

For believers, therefore, death is not the end, but the beginning.  The beginning of life in eternity with our blessed Lord Jesus Christ; and in a new resurrected body.  

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:  And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.  Believest thou this?"   -  John 11:25-26

We have all sinned and deserve death, God's punishment.  ( Romans 3:23).  But God in His great love and mercy, sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins; to die in our place, taking the punishment that we deserved, so that those who believe in Him and in His resurrection may have eternal life. (Romans 10:9,10,13).  

Charles Spurgeon has said, "This love of Christ is indeed measureless and fathomless; none can attain unto it" ......"Herein is love! and truly it is love that "passeth knowledge".  O let this love fill our hearts with adoring gratitude, and lead us to practical manifestations of its power."

Jesus' resurrection is the foundation of the Christian faith.  I urge you to read 1 Corinthians chapter 15.  Also study Isaiah 53 which prophesied about Jesus, and was written during the prophet Isaiah's  later years and he lived till around 681 BC. 

"When Jesus therefore had received  the vinegar, He said, "It is finished": and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost."     -  John 19:30

John is the only Gospel that mentions that Jesus said this.  It is no doubt the cry mentioned at Matthew 27:50 and Mark 15:37.  

The fact that Jesus said "it is finished" signifies several things:

(1)  The work of man's redemption was completed.

(2)  Every obstacle was removed, symbolized by the tearing of the veil.

(3)  The way of mercy was opened.

(4)  Jesus had met man's desperate need as a transgressor.

(5)  He had satisfied the law's demand in God's government.

(6)  He had answered every Scriptural type with an antitype. 

(7)  He had fulfilled every ancient prophecy concerning Himself.

(8)  Thus, in one word, Christ exhaustively discharged that entire 

       former dispensation in a new one.

Christ triumphed over the devil and his cohorts (evil angels) and must have sent unimaginable alarm into hades itself.  (Colossians 2:15).

In ancient times, telelestai  (finished) would be written across invoices to indicate "paid in full".  It is the same word used in John 19:28.  All was finished. Jesus had given His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).  God's will had been done.  The means of the world's salvation had now been provided.

How could we ever become self-important and self-righteous, knowing that we, as sinners, deserve death and punishment except for the love and mercy of the Lord,   We should be very humbled and very grateful for all Jesus did for us, by dying in our place.

Let us sing praises to Him, and in true gratitude worship Him as our Master and Savior !

Following is a worship song you are probably familiar with:

"For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many."   -  Mark 10:45

"And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple."          -         Luke 14:27

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."   -  John 3:3

"For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved."    -  John 3:17

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:  no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me."  -  John 14:6

If you are not a believer in Jesus Christ, I urge you to make the choice today to repent of your sins, and pray to the Lord for forgiveness.  Believe with all your being that Jesus is the Savior, and that He is waiting to pardon you if you will turn to Him in faith and repentance.  

Jesus loves you !!   

Choose Him !  Choose Life Eternal !

Romans 10:9,10,13 tells us: (9)  "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  (13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

"An Attitude Of Gratitude Can Change Your Life" - Inspirational Weekend

We Americans tend to have an attitude of entitlement rather than an attitude of gratitude.  Part of that may be due to the fact that the younger generation has had everything handed to them and also the fact that materialism is the religion of most of us.   We are never satisfied and content with what we have; we want something newer like the latest IPhone  or whatever the latest fad is.  Maybe we go into debt to get a fancy car or buy a home out of our financial reach.  Always wanting more, and never truly satisfied.  

Friends, there is only one thing that can satisfy a hungry soul, and that is a relationship with Jesus, the Savior.  Only He can fill the void within our soul that is always searching for and craving for that elusive "something" .....that need to fill the void within our inner being that only Christ can truly fill and satisfy.  

"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."                         -  Jesus at John 10:10b   

Jesus is not speaking here of material riches, although He may bless you with that as well, but, rather, He is speaking of having spiritual blessings and riches;  a relationship with Him and the Father.   Such a relationship will give you peace and comfort, although you may still have trials and sorrows to endure. 

We should be grateful for all the Lord has done and will do for us.  Think about it.... He gave His very life as a sacrifice on the cross for you and me.   He bled and died for us.   He redeemed us; He sets us free from sin and bondage if we will but accept Him as our Savior; by faith believe in Him and in His resurrection, and surrender our life to Him in obedience.   Yes, we have much to be grateful for !!

"Jesus is moved to happiness every time He sees that you appreciate what He has done for you."              -  Ole Hallesby

"Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul."   -  Henry Ward Beecher

"Gratitude is an offering precious in the sight of God, and it is one that the poorest of us can make and be not poorer but richer for having made it."  -  A. W. Tozer

Did you know that by expressing gratitude you actually make yourself happier? It seems, so some experts say, that feeling and expressing gratitude gets those feel good chemicals in the brain to produce dopamine.  So go ahead and count your blessings daily and say "thank you" with heartfelt gratitude.  Some people actually keep a gratitude journal in which they daily (or every few days) write down things that happened that day that they are grateful for.  It seems this can even turn you into a nicer person, by being thankful for all of your blessings.

 As an adult, I tended to not be satisfied myself.  But when I turned to the Lord in faith and surrender, I realized that all I really needed was Him.  He took me out of the pits, out of the darkness, and into His glorious life-giving light and began to transform my thinking.  (Romans 12:1-2).  I am very grateful for all He has done in my life, my heart, my soul, and my mind.   

The Bible has much to say about thankfulness and gratitude.  

"O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever;"  -  1 Chronicles 16:34

"I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD."                  -  Psalm 116:17

"Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;"  -  Ephesians 5:20

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."                             -  1 Thessalonians 5:18

From the preceding verses, we can clearly see that thankfulness and gratitude should be a way of life for us.   Think about it:  our very existence is dependent upon God! He gives us our every breath.  We should live to please Him in everything we do, and that includes being grateful for all of His blessings.  

"Thou who has given so much to me, give one thing more: a grateful heart."  -  George Herbert

Following is a moving song about thankfulness:

"Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever, Amen."   -  Revelation 7:12

Have a wonderful and blessed Christ-centered weekend!

"Gratitude And Thankfulness Pleases God And Jesus" - Inspirational Weekend

"Gratitude is an offering precious in the sight of God, and it is one that the poorest of us can make and be not poorer but richer for having made it."  -  A.W. Tozer

The quote above is so true.  When things are going badly or I get a little discouraged, all I have to do is remember how God has blessed me in so many ways and when I pray and thank the Lord for His goodness and His blessings, it relieves any negativity that has crept into my thoughts and puts me back on the right track. Worshiping and praising the Lord is the most positive and powerful antidote for any type of upset or discouragement.  It causes me to remember all the ways God has "rescued" me in the past, and that in turn increases my gratitude many times over.  It also increases my faith tremendously to recall His goodness to me in times past, as well as in the here and now.

"God wants to see prayers that are filled with genuine praise and thanksgiving for what He has done in the past.  He wants our hearts to be filled with awe and gratitude for His blessings.  He wants us to set up memorials in our hearts testifying to the provisions He has given us."  -  Michael Youssef

The Bible is full of men of God who expressed their gratitude and thankfulness to their Creator.   Job lost all of his children and all of his wealth and was stricken with painful boils all over his body (all at satan's wicked hand).   Although Job did not realize the evil one was behind all his troubles and pain, still Job had faith in the goodness of God and said at Job 1:21, "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."  Job was grateful to God and still praised Him in his adversity.

Consider how the apostle Paul was persecuted and all of the hardships that he endured during his ministry and in preaching of the Gospel.   Yet his letters to the churches were full of thanksgiving.  In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Paul wrote,  (16) "Rejoice evermore.  (17) Pray without ceasing. (18) In every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

All one has to do is read the Psalms of David to grasp how much he gave praise to God and that he was grateful for all the LORD's provisions and protection and guidance.

"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name." - Psalm 100:4

Consider how Jesus Christ suffered and died at Calvary so that all who believe in Him and in His resurrection may have eternal life. How could we not be grateful for His sacrifice and for the extreme and supreme love He demonstrated in doing so for us!!

"If we comprehend what Christ has done for us, then surely out of gratitude we will strive to live "worthy" of such great love.  We will strive for holiness not to make God love us but because He already does."  -  Philip Yancy

May all of us say a prayer like what George Herbert said, "Thou who has given so much to me, give one thing more: a grateful heart."

Just as parents are pleased when their children show them gratitude, so it pleases God and Jesus when we are thankful and grateful to them for their many blessings.

Here is a lovely song on thankfulness by Josh Groban:

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."  -  Colossians 3:15

"Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and  power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever.  Amen."  -  Revelation 7:12



  

"Thanksgiving Is The Language Of Heaven" - Inspirational Weekend

"Thanksgiving is the language of heaven....." says A.J. Gossip, a professor of Christian Ethics and Practical Theology at the University of Glasgow.   I thought that quote was rather beautiful and expresses all the praise, thanksgiving, and worship to God that the angels and the saints in heaven are continuously proclaiming.  Imagine if all mankind on earth were to do the same.....now, before they die.   It would be a healing and transforming movement.   

The Bible has much to say about giving thanks to the Lord.   When we sing hymns and give praise and thanks to God, it uplifts our spirits to grand heights,   Harry Ironside, an American preacher, has said  "We would worry less if we praised more.  Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and disatisfaction."

"Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: and call upon Me in the day of trouble:  I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me."  -  Psalm 50:14-15.

"Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:" - Psalm 147:7

Philippians 4:6 tells us: "Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."  All Scripture is wonderful and beneficial, but Philippians 4 is special to me.  Read verses 6-8 and also verse 13, the latter verse reads, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."   That verse 13 saw me through some tough times and kept me hanging on.   But I digress a bit.  

Following is a sermon by Dr. Charles Stanley titled, "Thanksgiving In The Midst of Adversity." 

If you are not currently experiencing adversity, chances are you have in the past and will again in the future.  Not to mention the conflict and adversity in America itself in these last days we are living in.  I urge you to watch this 23 minute video, as it is quite relevant to everyone.   In this sermon, Dr. Stanley gives 9 ways we can be thankful even in the midst of adversity.   One thing he touched on and that I have learned from experience is that we need to view everything that happens to us as coming from God, or allowed by God.  When we do that, and go to the Lord in prayer and ask Him what He is trying to teach us by this adversity, it helps to alleviate the stress and sense of helplessness that can overcome us when we are stricken by hard times, heartache, pain......and the list goes on.  Just remember that you are not alone.......God is with you.  (Hebrews 13:5).  If you would spend time in prayer and Bible reading, (developing a close, personal relationship with Him) you would realize the Lord is near and waiting to direct your path.  Remember that when we are grateful, we will learn to focus on God and not on our circumstances.

"Pride slays thanksgiving, but an humble mind is the soil out of which thanks naturally grow."        -     Henry Ward Beecher 

Bottom line is :  When you have a close, personal and intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ, you will find the faith and the strength to persevere during trials and hardships, and to wait on the Lord for direction.  Only He can give you the endurance necessary to "ride out" various adverse conditions.  

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."                            -  1 Thessalonians 5:18

"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him."  -  Colossians 3:17