Bob’s Devotionals – Crosspower

Satan’s biggest lie is trying to convince us that we cannot walk in continual victory with Christ. Learn the Power of the Spirit of God is available to you 24/7

Elisha & His Servant

Elisha appealed to the invisible to do the impossible

Listen Up Saints

Being a saint isn’t about recognition by the church, it’s about opening up your heart & seeking out God’s will in your life.

Missing the Obvious

Sometimes we fail to see what’s right in front of us.

Much Too Alive To Die

The only way to real victory in the Christian Life is to die to ourselves. The problem is, as humans, we are much too ‘alive’ to die.

Run The Race

The entire world has been captivated recently with the Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Personal confession time – I love the Olympics! I love the spectacle, the competition, the camaraderie – everything! I especially enjoy watching the track and field events. It brings back memories of days long ago when I ran track in High School. This year as I watched the world’s greatest athletes run their hearts out – I was reminded of the wonderful text in Hebrews 12:1-2 1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the authora and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Allow me to share some simple points.

The first thing I see in the text is our Motivation. The pastor of my youth always said, “when you see a wherefore, look for the therefore”. The writer is obviously pointing back to Heb. 11 – the great chapter that contains God’s Hall of Faith. Yes, the race gets rough, the way is tough – but look at what those who ran before us endured! This “cloud of witnesses” is cheering us on to run the race that is set before us with their remarkable example of faith and faithfulness even through the deepest darkest portions of the race. I think there is another application. The text says, “we also are compassed”. In football the home field advantage is estimated at 3 points. In basketball it’s 7 points. Why? The crowd of witnesses cheering on the home team. I don’t know about you – but I have a whole stadium of witnesses that are cheering me on. My Father is in heaven, my mother and father-in-law are there as well. I’m not positive they can see what is happening here on earth – but even if not, their teaching and example still motivates me to keep on – to not quit!

Secondly, I see our Participation. It says “let US”. Those two simple letters, US, are used four times in one verse. Athletics do incredible things for the athletes – but little for the spectators. Take a look at Ohio State Football – you have 104,000 people sitting in a stadium cheering for 11 players on the field. You must be in incredible physical condition to compete in a major sports program like Ohio State Football – but you can be flabby and totally out of shape in the stands. That’s not God’s desire. Running the Christian race is not to be a spectator sport – but for so many that’s exactly what it is. They show up on Sunday to cheer on a few spiritually well-conditioned people on the platform. God desires that we get out of the stands and participate.

Third, I see Elimination. We are exhorted to “Lay aside” every sin AND the weight that would keep us from winning our race. Now, the sin part is simple. Most of us probably know sin in our life that needs to be eliminated. But what about the “weights”? Many times “good” activities get in the way of doing God’s work. Things that are not necessarily bad – but they weight us down and hinder us from accomplishing God’s purposes in running our race. In order to really run – all weight has to be abandoned. Did you see any of the Russian runners trying to run their races with a Polar Bear skin wrapped around them? Of course not!! Christians, however, try to run their races bogged down with all kinds of sin and weights. No wonder we do such a poor job. There must be elimination.

Fourth, I am drawn to the text’s mention of our Continuation. Look closely – it says, “run with patience”. The Christian life is not a sprint – it’s a long, grueling marathon. When I ran track, my specialty was the short distances – the sprints. To prepare, however, I had to run long, long distances and I hated it. I told my coach my side hurt, my lungs were burning, my legs were on fire! His response? Run through the pain. You know what, it worked. Had I quit I never would have achieved the conditioning that I needed to run even the short races. Do we ever feel like quitting? Oh yes! Five times yesterday – but we can’t quit. We’re not at the finish line yet. Our work is not finished. Not until He calls us home. Don’t quit no matter how difficult it becomes – keep running with patience.

Finally, I see our Inspiration. This is the best part! “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith..” Who is at the finish line? It’s Jesus standing there with outstretched, nail pierced hands – motioning for us to keep running – right into his arms. Motivation gets you going – but it’s inspiration that gets us to the finish line. When running this race, never take your eyes off of Jesus. Never get distracted by those in the stands, those running with you. Never emphasize the difficulty of the race – rather keep your eyes on Jesus.

Now, all of us have a unique race course laid out for us by our creator. Let’s run with patience that race until we see Jesus.

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No Bread No Eat

I recently returned from my sixth ministry trip to the Eastern European country of Moldova. I’ve had the opportunity to travel there on an every-other-year basis for the last dozen years to minister in an incredible summer camp for teens. In the last ten years this camp has hosted over 30,000 young people from every corner of this communist country. Each visit has had its unique moments from the time I was arrested and held at gunpoint for several hours (for bringing Christian materials into the country), to the experience—in the dead of winter—in an outhouse with no roof! This trip, however, was possibly the most blessed by God.

Most of my other ministry opportunities have been of an evangelistic nature. The kids in the camp were, for the most part, non-Christians. This summer was totally different in that only Christian teens were invited for a “Teen Leadership Camp.” From the first service I knew this was going to be a special week. What I didn’t know is that God would be teaching me profound things through cell phones and bread. Before I get to cell phones and bread, however, a little history lesson would be helpful.

Moldova is part of the former Soviet Union. It’s bordered on one side by Ukraine and the other by Romania. As with most of the Soviet Republics, when the Iron Curtain fell and the USSR crumbled, Moldova embraced her new found freedom ecstatically. The ecstasy, however, soon turned to despair as the country struggled with freedom and self-rule. Elements of the Russian mafia and others rushed in to fill the leadership void. The already fragile economy continued to collapse and in desperation the people of Moldova freely elected a communist government to rule over them again.

Now, what about cell phones and bread?

Just two years ago on my last excursion into Moldova you would be hard-pressed to find any of the teenagers at the camp with a cell phone. After all, this is one of the poorest countries in Eastern Europe with a pitiful average annual family income. For example, it is not at all uncommon to drive through the thousands of villages throughout the country and notice that the common mode of transportation is a horse drawn cart. To this day, oxen are commonly used for plowing.

With this in mind, I was shocked to discover that one of the biggest problems at this particular camp was the use of cell phones among the youth. Cell phone use was so pervasive that it became necessary to round up all those little plastic communicators the very first day of camp. Otherwise, the kids would spend their time in the chapel services text messaging their friend across the aisle. Astonished, I asked the camp director how in the world these kids could afford cell phones. He simply shrugged his shoulders and sighed. He could not explain the phenomenon.

While I cannot fully explain the phenomenon either, I have learned this: people will find a way to obtain what they feel is important. That’s a principle provable anywhere in the world. This helps us understand why we are warned in Scripture to make sure that our treasures are laid up in Heaven. We are driven to obtain what is important to us. So while in Moldova, my prayers included petitioning God to take the intense desire the campers had for cell phones and redirect it toward His Word and will for their lives. Praise God, for He did this! As the kids were departing the camp after the last service many had experienced “blessed forgetfulness”—they had to be reminded to drop by the camp office and pick up their phones.

God not only taught me through cell phones, but bread as well.

The camp I work with is run with military precision. You can set your watch to the call for meals. Breakfast is at exactly 8:00 a.m. Lunch is at exactly 1:00 p.m. In all these years I have never seen the time deviate more than a minute or two—until Thursday.

The teens began to gather in front of the dining hall just before 1:00 p.m. awaiting the call to lunch that blares over the loud speakers. 1:00 became 1:05; 1:05 became 1:10. I was standing beside the camp director as he excused himself to discover what was wrong. He was told by the chief cook (a large imposing Russian woman) that the bread truck had not yet arrived.

Unfazed, the camp director said to the cook, “Well, okay, let’s just go ahead and eat. We’ll have extra bread for supper.” He explained that an extremely busy afternoon had been planned and we needed to eat ASAP. To this he received a very emphatic “Nyet!” (Russian for “No”). The cook then said in broken English, “No bread, no eat.”

It’s a deeply held custom in Moldova that there must be bread at every meal. In other words, it is not a meal without at least some form of bread. To eat, without bread, was unthinkable. In spite of various pleading and prodding, the cook stood her ground. No bread, no eat!

Lunch that day was delayed by two hours. The soup was cold, the rice was cold, but there was bread!

Later that evening I retired to my room in the camp dormitory and thought on the events of the day. I could not get lunch off of my heart. “No bread, no eat.” I wondered what would happen if all Christians were that emphatic about their “daily bread.” What if we absolutely refused to do anything until we had partaken of God’s bread for our soul? Regardless of how pressing the demands of the day or how filled our schedule, what if we would say “Nyet” to everything until we had heard from God through His Word?

It’s amazing what you can learn in a communist country through cell phones and bread.

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Good News Gone Bad

The morning headline shouted with joy, “12 Miners Found Alive”. The banner echoed the euphoria that swept through a small mining town in West Virginia after a 42 hour vigil of incredible emotional intensity. The headline, of course, was wrong. Tragically wrong. There had been a “miscommunication” and the sad reality was that 12 of the 13 trapped miners were indeed dead.

There are so many lessons to be learned from this sad event. Near the top of the list for me is a reminder of how relative man’s “truth” is. All of the major news networks, newspapers and media outlets concurred on the good news of a “mine miracle”. Out of the pit had come deliverance. This “news” caused rejoicing, bell ringing and short lived, though fervent, jubilation. Three hours later the real truth was discovered. The hopes and dreams of hundreds of family members was lifted high and then dashed by false news.

I am eternally grateful that the Truth of God’s Word is not relative, but absolute. The Good News of the Gospel has been proven, tested and tried for over 2,000 years now. It has never failed, never been proven wrong. It is possible to be miraculously delivered from the pit of sin. This is no “miscommunication” – it is truth. The truth of the Gospel.

Let the bells ring. Let the rejoicing continue. There is no chance that we will discover this news is wrong.

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Leprosy

“Leprosy! He has leprosy?” I couldn’t believe what I just heard. An old friend, which I had not seen for quite some time, was filling me in on what had been happening in his life for the last few years. Then, we began, the typical “hey, what’s ‘so and so’ doing these days?” That’s when he hit me with the bombshell. A mutual friend of ours has leprosy!

He had made a mission’s trip to Brazil many years ago. While there, he became quite ill and required emergency surgery in a small, antiquated hospital. His roommate died during my friend’s days of recovery. It’s a very long and complicated story – but my pastor friend began having very strange physical symptoms. For several years he bounced from doctor to doctor and no one had a clue as to what was happening in his body. Finally a very wise physician began probing deeper. “Have you ever traveled out of the country? Have you ever been around Leprosy?” At that point all the “dots” began to connect. He had indeed contracted Leprosy – but it lay dormant in his body during a long incubation period of several years.

Now, I’ve preached my fair share of sermons on Leprosy. I love the story of the four Lepers in II kings chapter six! I’ve tried my best to wax eloquent about the ten Lepers that Jesus healed – and only one returned to give thanks. But I honestly never have given a thought to the fact that it still exists!! I thought it was gone with polio! Now, a friend, a Pastor, has this horrible disease.

The spiritual impact smacked me in the face. We all know that Leprosy is clearly a symbol for Sin in the Scriptures. Few things in the Bible are clearer. Leprosy represents the horrible disease of Sin that each human being is born with. Yet, when I hear a lot of preaching today – you would think that Sin no longer existed. You would think that the human race was somehow inoculated against this scourge – that sin has been banished from the planet by a wave of good deeds and “love”. The reality is – Sin is just as awful and evil as it has always been. Everyone is infected with it. The Blood of Jesus is the only cure.

Yes, Leprosy is still around. So is Sin. Don’t sugar coat it, don’t avoid it. Now, let’s go give some people the cure.

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Let It Rain

Aren’t we fickled people? I’m sitting in my office and it is raining like crazy outside. It’s one of those cold, damp, windy days that most people hate. Just a few minutes ago I muttered to myself, “man, I wish it would stop raining!” Then like a sword to my heart I remembered the scripture, “in everything give thanks” You see it was just a few days ago I was standing in my back yard looking at the brown grass and the large cracks in the soil and saying, “when are we ever going to get some rain!” See what I mean?

The same is true with our spiritual life. God brings all kinds of “weather” into our lives to develop the growth that is needed. We all have had our share of sunshine and warm breezes – but without the rain and storms there will be not be growth. All the seasons, all the sun, all the rain, all the storms – all are necessary. We just like some of it more than others – but we all must realize that it is all necessary.

Now, that I think about it – let it rain!

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By His Son

Heb.1

[1] God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

[2] Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by 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 on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

It must have been incredible to live during the times of the Prophets! Just imagine what it was like to hear Elijah, to experience Jeremiah, to sit under the preaching of John the Baptist. The text above, however, proclaims the wonderful truth that in these times God has chosen to speak to us directly – not through Prophets – but through His own Son!

Of course, that ministry began in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago and we celebrate His birth on Dec. 25. I just want to remind you of the one whose birth we celebrate. As I’ve already said He’s greater than the Prophets but look at what else this brief text says.

This Babe in the Manger is:

“Heir of ALL things” Think of it – all that is God’s is His. The manger may have been a humble place but it held the Heir of all things.

The Maker of the worlds – “by whom also He made the worlds”. A baby – yes. Sweet, innocent – yes. Don’t forget, however, that this Babe was the Creator or the worlds. Scripture says, “all things were made by Him and for Him” – Col. 1:1

“The Brightness of His Glory” – When you looked into that little manger you would be looking at all the glory of The God of the Universe. That child embodied all the Glory of Him who possesses all Glory.

“The express image of his person” – Let’s get this straight – the Baby Was God! To see Jesus was to see God!

He “upheld all things by the word of His power” – Just meditate on that for a minute!! The Babe in the Manger holding all things together. Gives a different perspective to the Nativity, doesn’t it!

Ultimately He would “purge our sins”. And He did it “by Himself”. No help, no assistance – He did it all!

He “sat down” – the only reason He sat down was because His work was done. When He cried, “It is Finished” from the Cross – He meant it! His work was finished and our salvation was purchased. This was all done – “By His Son”

Don’t ever forget who that Baby was in the manger. Now, have you received the gift of salvation through His finished work? If not, you can today. Read Romans 10:9-10 and simply follow the instructions from the owner’s manual.

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Fallen Soldiers

I admit it – I’m a “News Junky” – almost an addict. Something I have always enjoyed is opening the morning newspaper. Normally I’m all pumped to see what the news of the day is – until recently. There it is the daily body toll from Iraq. Maybe it’s because of my closeness to the Viet Nam era but I have come to dread the morning headlines. “Two soldiers killed in suicide bombing.” “Three American Soldiers wounded in ambush.”

Unfortunately, the same things are happening in our spiritual warfare. Almost weekly, certainly monthly I hear of another soldier of the Cross that has fallen. Immorality, pornography, money, and just plain stress – the casualties continue to mount. My heart aches for today’s Pastor and today’s Christian. Many of the fallen have been close friends. Read the statistics – they’re mind-boggling.

May I say to you today – keep up the fight! Yes, it’s rough – the enemies many – the tactics subtle; but God has called you to the highest calling on this earth. The decisions you make today could haunt you years from now – or they can assert your steadfastness for all to see. I read the end of the book and we win! Don’t quit, don’t compromise, and don’t falter. Truth is on your side and the Spirit of the Living God is your power and defense. “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.”

Lift up your head, soldier. The battle is raging but the Commander in Chief has made the orders clear – “Be faithful unto death”.

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Father Forgive Them

Forgiveness is a forgotten concept in our world today. We are surrounded by a culture that demands its “rights”. It seems that we are far more concerned about rights than righteousness.

We all know that Jesus is our perfect example – few Christians would argue the point. The truth is, however, that we like to follow Jesus example when it is comfortable and convenient – not when it is costly and painful. One of the supreme lessons taught at Calvary is the power of Forgiveness. There He is suspended between heaven and earth; experiencing unfathomable pain and agony – we listen for His voice – what does He say? Scripture tells us clearly that He could have commanded the forces of Heaven to swoop down and take vengeance on the crowd that unjustly crucified Him. Now, that would have been very human. If we had the power that’s what we would do to those who hurt us. It would not be Christ like, however. No, as the crowd watches this one who claimed to be God they received an unforgettable lesson in mercy. He looks at His accusers and tormentors; He takes a labored, painful breath and speaks the words that reveal His heart. “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do!”

Now, how do you fight that? Anything else would have been understandable and defensible. But how do you resist that kind of compassion and mercy? Jesus surrendered His rights and became consumed with His Father’s Glory and the redemption of mankind. Why can’t we follow that example? We are far too consumed with our own rights and our own glory – that’s why. Calvary demands love, forgiveness and mercy. Our humanity demands vengeance, retribution and justice.

If we are ever to be like Jesus, we must come to grips with our reluctance to forgive. But wait, doesn’t forgiving someone who has hurt us, offended us, harmed us justify their actions? Doesn’t it diminish what they did? Doesn’t it make a mockery of the whole principle of justice? A very wise person has said – “Forgiving someone doesn’t make them right – but it does set you free”. Bitterness and anger doesn’t bring justice, it just destroys you and robs you of joy and peace.

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Christmas

I confess – I love Christmas. I love the songs of the season the time with family and friends. Yes, I even love the gift giving and receiving. There is something however that I love above all else – it’s the word Emmanuel. That’s the word that was given to Joseph to calm his fears and take away his confusion when he found out Mary was pregnant. The angel came in Matthew chapter one and told Joseph it was OK – this baby was “Emmanuel, which being interpreted is God with us”. That is the essence of Christmas – God with us. It means:

GOD IS COME DOWN – That cute little baby was no ordinary baby, He was God. Think how far He came down. From all the splendor of Heaven to total human helplessness. Couldn’t feed himself, dress himself or even change himself. No wonder the songwriter wrote – “What condescension, bringing us redemption” Yes, God came down to human form – for us.

GOD IS COME UP – He didn’t stay in the manger. Christmas is so much more than shepherd, angels, wise men and a manger. Don’t leave the story there – there’s so much more.

GOD IS COME OUT – There was no secret. This child was God. As He grew, he taught the Elders in the temple at the age of 12. Then when He was 30 John the Baptist identified Him as the “Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the World”. For 3 ½ years He healed the sick, fed the hungry and raised the dead. Every day of His life – he was living proof that He was God. But there’s more.

GOD IS COME IN – Here’s where it gets personal. Jesus came to this earth – was born, lived and died that He might become our personal savior. He told a Jewish leader named Nicodemus the secret of it all. It is possible to be Born-again. Christmas is about Jesus being born – but not just in Bethlehem. He can be born in you. His ultimate desire is to become your personal Savior. Yes, you can invite Him into your heart and life, today. He wants to come in. But there’s even more.

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Don’t Be Fooled

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

– 2 Cor 10:3-5

April 1st is April Fool’s Day. Well, I don’t know about you but I enjoy fooling far more than being fooled. It is far more fun to fool someone else than to have the tables turned – especially when the Jokester’s intent is malicious and not just harmless fun. That is exactly the intent of Satan, he wants to make a fool of you and his devices are intended to keep you from walking in victory.

One of the cruelest tricks he plays on us is to convince us that we just can’t walk in continual victory. Have you heard that one? Felt it, experienced it? No matter how hard you try – you’re just a loser. Well, don’t be fooled. The Cross of Christ assures us of victory if we will appropriate it’s wonderful truth and power to our lives. But Satan counters that truth with lies about our inabilities, weaknesses and failures. They’re all true about our flesh, but not about our new identity in Christ.

Take a look at the text above from II Corinthians and consider these points:

Recognition. First we must recognize the strongholds in our lives (vs. 4). What are the things, habits, people, attitudes that are keeping us bound to that old flesh. Take them to the Cross – surrender them and leave them there. Second, what are the imaginations (vs. 5) that are exalting themselves above the truth of the Word of God. Satan wants you to imagine that you cannot claim your victory at the Cross. He wants you to believe that there is no hope, you’re just a loser. It’s a lie, and imagination – recognize it as such!
Renunciation. Verse 5 in our text tells us to “Cast down” those imaginations. Satan has lied to you and told you that you can’t live in victory. That’s not true. If we are willing to die to ourselves and reckon ourselves dead (Rom. 6:11) then we can live in the power of the Cross. Recognize those lies and cast them down! Now!
Restoration. Again, our text reminds us that our weapons are not carnal – they’re mighty. Our weapons pull down strongholds. Our weapons defeat the accusations and imaginations of the evil one. It is possible to bring into captivity “every thought to the obedience of Christ”. Sure we lose our victory occasionally, it happens to everyone, but we don’t have to live that way! Fellowship, victory, power can be immediately restored by once again, surrendering to the death, burial and resurrection of the Cross.

If you have been saved, all the power of the Spirit of God is available to you, daily, minute by minute. It’s there for the claiming. If you’ve never accepted Christ as your personal Savior – what are you waiting for? The Cross is for you, too. Bow your head right now, admit your need, your sin, and ask Christ to save you. The walk in the power of the Cross begins just that simply. BUT DON’T BE FOOLED!

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Elisha And His Servant

I love the great stories of the Old Testament. One of the most vivid in truth for me is the story in II Kings 6 about Elisha and his servant. They find themselves completely surrounded by a vast Syrian Army that has come to take Elisha back to their King for possible execution. Elisha’s servant discovers this frightening scenario as he walks out in the morning possibly to draw some water. He looks around and discovers this precarious predicament. He rushes to his master and announces what his startled eyes have just seen. Elijah calmly replies and tells the servants things are OK – in fact Elijah assures this frightened young man that there are more of them than the Syrians. I would love to have seen the servants face as he looked at the two in the room and then out the window and the hundreds. “More of us! Are you kidding??”

Here is the wonderful thing about this story. Elisha simply prays that the eyes of the young man would be opened. When that occurs – all of a sudden the servants fear turns to confidence. There surrounding Elisha and the servant was a previously unseen, but still present army of flaming chariots! They had been there all along – they just could not be perceived with human eyes. Here’s the point – Elisha appealed to the Invisible to do the Impossible.

We are all too familiar with the visible and are often troubled by what we see, hear and experience. We read promises about an invisible God who promises to do the impossible. We wrestle with what we are to believe – the visible or the invisible. Everything in our human flesh cries out to believe only the visible and to reject what cannot be immediately seen, touched or heard.

Elisha’s servant learned something we must all learn if we are going to accomplish the impossible for God – the invisible is even more real than the visible. What we see with eyes of Faith will determine how we respond to the daily circumstances of life. If you look at the great Hall of Faith in Heb. 11 – you will see that the one thing all of those great Saints of the past had in common was the ability to see what others could not see – the reality of the promises of God when there was no physical evidence to cling to.

Want to accomplish the Impossible? See the Invisible!

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Listen Up Saints

Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

– 1 Cor. 1: 1-9

When you mention the church at Corinth almost everyone thinks of words like – Carnal, immature, backslidden. Paul knew that humanly these were apt descriptions but he saw them differently. He saw them as God saw them. In the introduction to his first letter to this beleaguered church he looked past their condition and reminded them of their Position.

First he reminded them that they were Sanctified in Position. In vs. 2 he tells them that they were sanctified in Christ Jesus. We all know that sanctification is a process but we sometimes forget that it is also a declaration. When we get saved God says, “you’re mine”. The Corinthians had forgotten that. Don’t let your present condition cause you to forget who you are IN CHRIST.

Secondly, he points out that they were Saintly in Purpose. They were called to be saints! Did you know that you have a distinct calling from God to be a saint? Hey, why not live like it? Your purpose in life is to bring Glory to God – that is the purpose of all of God’s saints. You’re not declared to be a saint by a church or religion – you are called to be a saint by almighty God.

Third, Paul assures the Corinthians that they were Sufficient in Power. In verses 3-4 these failure-ridden saints were encouraged by the promise of Grace at work in their lives. Twice he tells them that they have all the Grace they need for their daily trials and temptations. Yes, Paul understood that God’s grace is sufficient for every need and wanted the Corinthians to live in that luxury.

Fourth, they were assured that they were Sealed in Providence. Verses 5-9 assures this congregation that God is faithful and sufficient for their every need and trial. Through the powerful work of the Holy Spirit they would one day be presented “blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ”.

The Cross had set the Corinthian Christians free from the penalty of sin – now he wants them to experience freedom from the power of sin. Right now, begin meditating on who you are in Christ. Yes, the Cross makes it possible for you to live like a Saint.

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Missing The Obvious

It is easy to miss the obvious. The question – “Has anyone seen my glasses?” The answer, “They’re on you heard!” I can’t figure out whether that’s old age – or just being human. Whatever the case – we often miss the obvious.

For about three months now I have been captivated with what the Disciples missed during their time with Jesus. On at least four occasions Jesus sat them down, looked straight into their eyes and said – “OK, guys, get this. I’m going to Jerusalem. I’m going to be arrested, tried, convicted and killed. It’s OK, though, because I’m going to rise again on the third day”. Scriptures implies in Matt. 16:21 that He did this often.

Fast forward to the Crucifixion. Did any one of the Disciples remember the words of Jesus? Not one! Get this! They walked with Jesus, talked with Jesus, ate with Jesus and listened to Him preach – but THEY MISSED THE CROSS!

Now, why did they miss the Cross? If you follow the story carefully you will find that the disciples admitted that that all of this stuff about “Jerusalem, arrested, tried, convicted, crucified” was missed because it “made them sorry” and it “made them fearful”. I submit to you that many if not most Christians are missing the real meaning of the Cross for the same reasons.

We are convinced that if we surrender to the demands of the Cross – we will not be “happy” as we want to be. We’re convinced that full surrender to the death of the Cross will somehow make us “sorry”. How blinded we are by the evil one. In reality the only place of true Happiness is at the foot of the Cross – fully surrendered. Then there is “fear”. Why, if I surrender completely to the demands of the Cross – who knows what God will ask me to do!! I might even be called to be a Missionary! Again, how foolish to fear the only one who truly loves us unconditionally. The only one who knows what is truly best for us!

The teaching of the Cross is everywhere. Don’t miss the obvious. Come to the Cross – and there totally, unconditionally surrender to the Sovereign Will of God.

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Much Too Alive To Die

It’s just not fair! I tell you, it’s not fair. Here we are going out every weekend telling people that the only way to real Victory in their Christian lives is to die. Die to our flesh, die to our self, die to our rights, identify with Christ’s death and live at the Cross. Then of all things – God expects us to live it too. Well, let me tell you teaching it and telling others about it is much easier than living it. But you know what? That’s exactly what God expects!

You know why? Because we are much too alive to die. It is not human or normal to live this Crucified life – it is supernatural. And that’s the point! That snotty waitress demands a put down, doesn’t she? That smart remark that hurt our feelings deserves some retaliation, doesn’t it? Well, humanly, yes. But God has called us to live a life that is like Christ, not like Adam. Paul understood this and that’s why he so often encouraged us to “die daily”. But oh how we protest the death sentence! We like to talk about being like Christ. We love to sing about it – but dying to ourselves in order to do it – well, we’re far too much alive to die.

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