Thursday, April 21, 2011

The Significance of Christ's Sacrifice

 As we approach Resurrection Day, we recognize that this season represents the very centerpiece of the Christian life. Christ the Lord, the resurrected Son of God, has enabled us to receive: forgiveness of sins, the promise of a present life lived in the glory of God’s power and the promise of an endless life in God’s presence!


We believe the Good Friday dimension of life that says, "Christ died for my sins." Many readily believe and receive the payment Christ made for our sins. Many also readily accept and receive the Resurrection Sunday dimension of life that says, “Because I live you will live also.”


But that does not teach the full measure of provision which God has made possible through the redeeming work of our Lord.

Christ’s suffering was both redemptive and substitutionary. Jesus suffered in our stead, and absorbed in Himself the horrible implications and effects of sin's impact on the human existence.Isaiah 53:4-5 powerfully illustrates this:


"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.


But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."


This scripture, along with Matthew 8:17 and I Peter 2:24, shows how completely biblical it is to reach out to the Lord Jesus Christ for deliverance from suffering and sickness just as surely as we can reach to Him for salvation from our sins.


Many believe Christ died for our sins. Many find it easy to believe and receive forgiveness for your sins. What about when pressures mount?


What about when your marriage ruptures? What about when your business is on life support? What about when you face betrayal? What about when your co-workers are disloyal and setting you up for failure? What about when your children are floundering?


What about the periods when turnaround, deliverance or healing seems so remote—not because God is cruel, taunting or uncaring, but because it just seems to elude us?


At such a point, some people try to wax philosophical or become resentful or bitter. Some tend to rationalize the situation as "God's will." Others become angry with God, saying He doesn't care. But Christ, in going all the way through His sufferings, has provided an alternative.



You see, there is a force—a power—in Jesus' suffering to break the ability of pain, injury, or sorrow to dominate you, even when these things seem to persist even after you have prayed. Hebrews 2:18 tells us, "For since he himself has now been through suffering...when we suffer...he is wonderfully able to help us" (Hebrews 2:18, TLB). Christ's suffering has a power to absorb the most hellish attack, the most tragic or traumatic pain, or whatever it is that seems about to exceed your capacity to endure.


Without Christ, problems, crises, heartaches, embarrassments, stresses, upheavals, and all forms of suffering can overwhelm people until they're reduced to an emotional pulp. Without Christ people can feel resigned to give up. Some are driven to exhaustion or depression. Others just suffer breakdowns. Still others suffer heart attacks, seizures or strokes.


But the revitalizing truth is that in His suffering, Christ has caused the very eye of your storm to collapse: He has disabled the power of suffering to destroy you.


Jesus has broken the ability of suffering to reduce you to bitterness, foolishness, faithlessness, or disobedience. Jesus wants to fill you with the same life that brought Him through suffering. He wants to fill you with the same life that kept Him from shrinking before the fires of hell's worst workings. He wants to fill you with the same life that kept Him from being weary in well-doing. He wants to fill you with the same life that kept Him from becoming bitter or turning to animosity. He wants to fill you with the same life that caused Him to TRIUMPH!


You must recognize, acknowledge, believe, and receive that His life power belongs to you. Take it! That is part of your salvation that was purchased by Christ’s suffering! Yes, the Lord says, "Come to Me, I love you, I forgive you, and I understand." But also hear Him say: "I will invade your suffering with My life, and not only will you survive but you will triumph in the midst of it all!"

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Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Jordan Crossings

At pivotal times in life you may find yourself at a point of departure where you leave one place and enter into a new dimension in life. From student to employee.  From employee to employer.  From renter to home owner.  From pew sitter to missionary. Such places I like to call "Jordan crossings."

Jordan crossings represent a divide, where although you are in one place, you can see the other side. It is a place that challenges you to transition into a new dimension in your life. A new dimension in your relationship with the Lord. A new dimension in marriage. A new dimension in ministry. A new dimension in finances. A new dimension in your physical body. A new dimension in parenting. A new dimension in industry. A new dimension in business.


Jordan crossings are: where you walk into what others only looked at; where you experience what others have only dreamt about; where you go from hanging around the anointing to actively participating in the move of God. Jordan crossings are designed to take you from your present into your promise. You know you have come to a Jordan crossing when you recognize that you must move forward, but the way forward seems quite uncertain.

Joshua and the Israelites faced a Jordan crossing -- the distance between wilderness living and promise living. The Jordan parted for Joshua and the children of Israel. The Jordan also parted for Elijah.  He walked across the Jordan on dry ground and was caught up to be with God. Talk about entering a new dimension! The Jordan parted for the prophet Elisha. Elisha crossed the Jordan and went from serving the head prophet to being the head prophet. He entered a completely new dimension in ministry.

The new dimension can only be achieved God’s way. That’s why you will never find a boat at a Jordan crossing! You enter the place where you fully trust God to take you over and bring you through.  You learn that there are absolutely no limits to what God can and will do.

To cross Jordan successfully, you must: (1) Acknowledge that it is God speaking to you, challenging you to move forward even though the way seems uncertain (Prov. 3:5-6); (2) Be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:6,7,9); (3) Speak the end result as God has revealed it to you (Joshua 3:9-13); (4) Get in position to cross/get ready (Joshua 3:14); (5) Carry God's presence (Joshua 3:13); (6) Step into Jordan/move out under the power of God (Joshua 3:15); and (7) Give God praise/testify to the goodness of God (Johua 4:19-24)!

These points are dealt with in depth in the CD and DVD entitled “Crossing Jordan.”

You can obtain it here.

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Thursday, January 27, 2011

The Dangers of Lethargy

“Lethargy” is defined as “A deficiency in mental and physical alertness and activity; a lack of emotion or interest.” Lethargy is not laziness. Lethargy is a state of unresponsiveness, dullness, disinterest, impassivity, and indifference. It is dangerous to be lethargic when it is time to fight.


Consider David. David, we know, was a mighty man of valor. Even as a youth, he stood while others trembled. Yet, the Bible describes a time in David’s life when he fell prey to the influence of lethargy. Look at 2 Samuel 11:1-2:

And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.

And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

It seems David allowed a spirit of lethargy to enter and permeate his thinking such that his soul was rendered immobile. Pay particular attention to verse 2. It says that David arose out of bed in the EVENING! Why was he in bed all day? We know David was hardly lazy, and there is no evidence that he was depressed at that time. But the scripture shows us that David had no fight in him. He was immobilized mentally and lethargy manifested itself physically. Though he was to be at war, it’s as if his mindset was, “whatever; so what.” It’s not laziness. It’s not depression. It’s indifference. It’s lethargy.

Operating from a spirit of lethargy is dangerous. That spirit will point you in the direction of sin! It will lure even a spiritual Superman to his Kryptonite – the area of weakness. When you find yourself saying, “What’s the use?” or “whatever,” look out! A temptation consistent with an area of weakness typically follows a lethargic believer. Once David embraced the spirit of lethargy and became indifferent about war he suddenly became so consumed with lust that he went on the rooftop right where Bathsheba could be seen. That led to an illicit affair and the death of an innocent man.  You may not succumb to a spirit of lust, but the spirit of lethargy will try to lure you to your own Kryptonite. It could be anger, overeating, uncontrolled shopping, addictive behaviors – you get the point.

Refuse to allow the enemy of your soul to disarm you with a spirit of lethargy. Keep a holy fight on the inside of you. You don’t have to pick up a machine gun or grenade. Our battle involves bringing contrary thoughts into captivity. 2 Cor. 10:4-6. Our battle involves truly believing in our hearts the Word of the Lord despite what things look like. Acts 27:25. Our battle involves opening our mouths and decreeing the Word despite what we see! Job 22:28; Romans 4:16-17; Mark 11:24. The Lord God enforces the defeat of the enemy when we cooperate with Him. Isaiah 42:13 says, “The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.”

In this hour we cannot afford to be lethargic. It is time to fight!  Fight for your finances!  Fight for your dreams and visions!  Fight for your family!  Fight for your health!  Don't give in to lethargy.  Fight!


For more information, visit http://www.jdsministries.org/

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Saturday, January 8, 2011

BlackNews.com - Ted Williams: From Homeless To Oprah Winfrey - In One Week

Year 2011 is the year of swift transition and acceleration. This is just one example. If you have fallen down, you can and must get back up again! There is grace for rescue, revival, and reaping!


BlackNews.com - Ted Williams: From Homeless To Oprah Winfrey - In One Week