by Terry Laughlin | Apr 20, 2016 | Easter
Why a Crown of Thorns
The Word of God gives us great details on the “Battlefield Wounds of Christ” which were inflicted upon Jesus Christ as He gave His life for our redemption. Taking time to remember those wounds and understanding what He purchased for us could fan into flames the love we should be expressing all year long to our Lord.
The scene of the battlefield of which Christ was on was humanity at his worst and Jesus was inflicted with many wounds, One of those infliction’s was a “crown of thorns.” Thorns came in with sin and became part of the curse that was the product of sin. (Genesis 3:18) Therefore, Christ being made a curse for us, and dying to remove that curse from us, felt the pain and hurt of those thorns.
Jesus’ bearing the crown of thorns answers the type of Abraham’s ram, which took the place of Isaac. The “thicket” (bak) that the ram had his horns caught in were a dense growth of heavy shrubs or underbrush that are intertwined in a manner that would catch persons or creatures and were very difficult to go through.
The Bible is very clear, God told Adam, “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you…” (Genesis 3:18) Thistles (darda) were a very prickly plant having no value for producing life giving fruit. Even though they are a luxuriantly growing plant, they are still a worthless plant. Thorns (qowts) are a non-fruit bearing bush noted for their sharp, wood-splinter-like spines or tines.
It has been said that “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you want to pay.” Sin holds you in bondage and keeps you from having a fruitful relationship with Christ. Sin grows vigorously yet will leave you in a worthless state of mind and heart. The results of sin never escape the mind of the one who committed it nor of those who have had placed within their minds the horrors of it actions.
However, the Easter story is God laying the results of sin upon Christ, yet He got victory over sin and death, thus giving eternal life to all who come to Him in repentance. He got victory over the results of your sins.
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 20, 2016 | Easter
Why Mocking
The Lord had mocking laid upon him. Matthew 27:29 says, “They put a staff in His hand and knelt in front of Him and mocked Him…” A definition for mock is an object of ridicule. Christ withstood a false homage from the sinful wicked so that we may not have to remain guilty of sin that always brings mockery in the end.
In the workplace, it is not uncommon to see co-workers encourage sinful behavior that leads to all kinds of outward manifestation such as lying, adultery, and the misuse of God’s name. Worldly attitudes cause all to eventually misuse gifts, talents, and skills that God has given to mankind. When the manifestations of the sinful nature reach the point of public embracement, mockery comes from the co-workers, who by their actions and words encourage the sinful behavior. The very ones who encouraged flirting among the man and female sexes, mock those who eventually become involved in adultery. Those who encouraged back biting, telling dirty or off colored jokes, and wrong attitudes, publicly bad mouth those that they have encouraged to live a sinful lifestyle. Sin always brings approach, heartache, and emotional drain.
Yet, our Lord took those words and actions of mockery for the sake of God’s justice and our redemption. The Holy Spirit spoke through David, a man after God’s heart, reflecting the heart of Christ regarding His Father’s will, “For I endure scorn for your sake…”
The Romans had learned that this type of mockery is a powerful way to break a person mentally and especially emotionally. Mockery does not affect the body but it puts tremendous strain on the mind and tears at the heart of a person. Women and children have been scared for an entire life time from emotional and mental abuse. In war or sports, if you can intimidate or break the heart of your opponent the battle is half over.
Sin brings destruction to every part of our lives and this includes our emotions. Thus, our Lord suffered in mocking and reproach, being placed on the Cross of Calvary naked.
The great news is that Christ rose from the dead thus showing His power over sin and death. In Him you are victorious over the mockery that comes with sin.
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 20, 2016 | Football Season
Living God’s Best for You
I once read a truth written by Tony Dungy, “Any head coach will tell you the task of setting himself with the best assistant coaches can make or break his season.” An eternal truth worth grasping is, “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:7)
This spiritual truth has life application not only for service in the things of God, such as church, but truth for enjoying all that this life has for you now. No matter your circumstance in life, the Lord through His grace and mercy has set before you leaders who have a Super Bowl mentality.
The Super Bowl is played every year and no one playing in the Super Bowl this year got there on his own merit or by just showing up at the game. All NFL Super Bowl participants received playbooks at the beginning of the season. They also receive specific playbooks each week containing information about their opposing team, along with game plans full of strategy, assignments and techniques that can enable them to successfully play a good game. Each player must discipline his life by giving full devotion to studying the playbooks, scheduling practice time, and exerting effort in applying the plans on the game field. Each player has had several coaches help him assimilate what was in the playbook so he may enjoy the maximum success. Even when players failed, they had coaches to guide them in paths to getting back in the game. The Bible says, “If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” (Ecclesiastes 4:10)
NFL Coach Joe Gibbs and Quarterback Kurt Warner discovered the greatest playbook, God’s Word. By assimilating His truths, they have surrounded themselves with Godly assistant coaches who know the Lord thus enabling them to enjoy God’s best for them. These men sense God’s pleasure in their labors with Him.
Surround yourself with Godly coaches, enjoy His best for you!
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 20, 2016 | Baptism
Your Responsibility
Jesus told us all in Scripture, “temptations [are] sure to come.” Satan’s first temptation to Jesus dealt with overcoming the flesh. Our Lord overcomes the temptation by informing the devil that man lives by the whole counsel of God’s Word. (Matthew 4:4)
To prepare God’s children for service to Christ’s church, the Holy Spirit has given gifts (1 Corinthians 12) to the servants of the Lord. A mature Christian must ask these questions, “Am I exercising my gift for myself?” or, “Do I sacrificially use my gift for the good of Christ and others?” No Christian is beyond the temptation of using Spiritual gifts selfishly. Christians must depend upon the Holy Spirit to enable them to use their Spiritual gifts for Jesus Christ and exercise their gifts sacrificially for the good of others.
Jesus’ second temptation from Satan was to use sensationalism to prove He was the Son of God. (Matthew 4:6) God expects us to take risks in order to be true to Him, when called to, but He does not expect us to take risks to enhance our own prestige. Ministries have often used glorified testimonies to draw attention to their church. They often let people know of the risk they take to accomplish their vision. Jesus quoting “..do not put the Lord your God to the test” shows us that “God’s rescuing power is not something to be played and experimented [with;] it is something to be quietly trusted in the life of everyday living.” (Daily Bible Study Series)
Satan’s third temptation to Christ was to not stay on course of His Father’s plan. Satan was saying, “If you just worship me, you can by pass the cross and all its pain.” Since Satan is the god of this age (2 Corinthians 4:4) and the prince of this world, (Ephesians 2:2) he was telling Jesus, “I can accomplish God’s will for you.” (The Bible Knowledge Commentary) Jesus’ answer, “Away from me Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only’” (Matthew 4:10) This rebuke is the Christian’s victory. God’s word, His Son and walking instep of the Holy Spirit, requires Christians to worship the Triune God in Spirit and truth, trusting the whole of Scripture.
God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit had met before the creation of the world – they made a plan for the redemption of mankind and the earth. (Ephesians 1:4) Jesus knew the plan; He was not going to change the plan, no matter what.
If Christians seek the Lord wholeheartedly, God will reveal His plan to them. Do not let anyone change that plan. Do not let any temptation turn you from achieving His high calling upon your life. God’s Word has a promise, “…in view of God’s mercy, offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2)
Let the Holy Spirit examine your heart with these questions? 1.) Do you take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ? 2.) Do you make decisions based off the whole counsel of God’s Word? 3.) Are you a good “Berean” one who takes what you hear and compares it to the Word of God? 4.) Is what you say, do, and envision for the Lord’s glory, or yours? 5.) Do you sacrificially exercise your Holy Spirit gifts to point people to Christ and for the good of all mankind?
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 20, 2016 | Baptism
Dangers of Self-righteousness
The sacrament of water baptism is a beautiful illustration of the cleansing of God’s elect from all their sins through the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son. Satan works hard to get Christians debating over the mode of baptism, keeping them from grasping the heart of water baptism. The writer of the Book of Romans wrote it so clearly, “…don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Romans 6:3-23) What are you dying for? Each of us is spending our lives on something, the flesh, the world, Satan or Christ.
In Dr. Charles Swindoll book, “The tale of the Tardy Oxcart” we find the true story about what happens when we set our own external acts of worship over God’s righteousness. The article was written by Haddon Robinson with the title, “What Jesus Said about Successful Living”
“Joe Bayly, the late Eternity magazine columnist, visited some Germans who were religious and who had been devoted soldiers in the German army during World War II. Two of them had been put up for promotion to become second lieutenants in the Nazi Army.
“They were told that their promotions would be accepted. However, there were conditions to the promotions – both of them would have to join the Officers’ club and attend some weekend dances.
“This was a major problem, the conviction of two candidates – they had been taught by the church dancing was wrong for it could lead to immorality. The two faithful soldiers turned down the promotions.
“Later in their military careers these same two men were assigned to the death camps where thousands of Jews were stuffed into ovens and killed. Even though they did not directly participate in the slaughter, they knew what was going on.
“When Jo Bayly talked to the two soldiers years after the war, they looked back on their experience with no regret, convinced that they had made the right decisions. For them, not conforming to social pressure and refusing not to dance was an act of righteousness. And conforming to patriotic mass murder and remaining silent while thousands of Jews burned in ovens left them with no feelings of unrighteousness.” Hadden Robinson wrote, “When we set our own standard of external righteousness, we are capable of any evil.”
Let the Holy Spirit place this truth deep within your heart: do not set your life on the conjecture of man about water baptism; set your heart on what the whole of Scripture teaches about God and Jesus’ righteousness. Touch the holy things of God with holy hands.
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