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The Bread Box REDEMPTION March 2004 |
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“THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST” MEL GIBSON’S LATEST MOVIE HAS STIRRED UP CONTROVERSY AND HAS BROUGHT AN AWAKENING TO THE CONSCIENCE OF MAN. THIS MOVIE HAS BROUGHT TO THE FOREFRONT OF PEOPLES CONSCIENCE THE NEED FOR GOD’S GRACE AND HIS MERCY. IT HAS STIRRED THE INNATE NEED IN THE HUMAN SOUL FOR GOD’S LOVE AND GOD’S ACCEPTANCE OF US AS MERE MORTALS. WE MUST UNDERSTAND THAT MANS QUEST FOR THE MEANING OR PURPOSE OF LIFE IS FOUND HIDDEN IN THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS CHRIST. I WONDER; COULD THIS BE WHY THIS MOVIE HAS BEEN EMBRACED BY THE MULTITUDES AND REJECTED BY OTHERS AS WELL?
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT CONTINUES TO ARISE
IS WHY DID JESUS HAVE TO ENDURE SUCH A PAINFUL AND CRUEL DEATH? WHY DID JESUS HAVE TO SUFFER SO MUCH AND
WHY DID GOD NOT STOP THE BEATING? WHY DID HE HAVE TO BE SUBJECTED TO THE ABUSE OF SUCH AND INTENSE
TORTURE? TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION WE MUST LOOK AT SCRIPTURE AND FIRST AND FOREMOST BELIEVE THE BIBLE IS INSPIRED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE FINAL AUTHORITY IN OUR LIVES. THE HOLY SCRIPTURES SPEAK WITH POWER TO EACH GENERATION TO LEAD US TO SALVATION, SO THAT MEN MIGHT SERVE JESUS CHRIST AND GLORIFY GOD THRU THEIR LIVES.
LET’S READ ROMANS CHAPTER 8:3 3 We aren't saved from sin's grasp by knowing the commandments of God because we can't and don't keep them, but God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent his own Son in a human body like ours-except that ours are sinful-and destroyed sin's control over us by giving himself as a sacrifice for our sins. TLB
GOD KNEW THE POWER OF SIN THAT WAS OVER MANKIND HAD TO BE BROKEN. BUT IT IS THIS POWER THAT WILL ALSO HOLD YOU BONDAGE TO WOUNDS AND HURTS THAT YOU HAVE SUFFERED IN YOUR LIFE. YOU MUST UNDERSTAND, THIS DEMONIC POWER THAT WAS UNLEASHED AS A RESULT OF ADAM AND EVE’S SIN, ALSO BROUGHT PAIN AND SUFFERING TO THE HUMAN SOUL. WE TEND TO THINK THAT THE WORK OF CALVARY IS JUST RELEGATED TO THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN AND THAT IS VERY MUCH PART OF IT. BUT JUST AS IMPORTANT, THE CROSS IS ABOUT HEALING AND RESTORING YOUR HEART AND EMOTIONS. THIS RESTORATION IS AN ONGOING WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
THE BIBLE SAYS;
WHAT THE APOSTLE WAS SAYING IS YOU MUST ALLOW THE WORK OF CALVARY, TO COME INTO YOUR SOUL AND BRING THIS REDEMPTIVE WORK OF GOD INTO YOUR MIND, WILL AND YOUR EMOTIONS. GOD’S SALVATION IS NOT JUST FOR YOUR SPIRIT. BUT SALVATION IS FOR YOUR SPIRIT, BODY AND SOUL. THE REDEMPTIVE POWER OF THE CROSS WAS SO YOUR BODY COULD BE FREE OF SICKNESS, AND YOUR SOUL BE FREE OF TORMENT. THE ARGUMENT THAT ARISES IS; BUT I AM A NEW CREATURE IN CHRIST, I DON’T NEED ANY HELP IN MY EMOTIONS AND MY MIND. I HAVE BEEN MADE NEW THRU CHRIST. IF THESE THOUGHT HAVE COME INTO YOUR MIND, YOU INDEED NEED REDEMPTION TO CARRY OUT ITS WORK IN YOUR SOUL. YOUR SPIRIT WAS RENEWED, BORN AGAIN.
1 Peter
1:23 BUT YOUR SOUL ALSO IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING BROUGHT UNDER DIVINE ORDER. 2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. NAS SO WE SEE THAT LIFE IS A PROCESS OF BEING TRANSFORMED INTO THE SAME IMAGE. THIS MEANS THAT JESUS WALKED IN LOVE, WE CAN WALK IN THAT SAME LOVE. JESUS WALKED IN PERFECT PEACE; WE ALSO CAN WALK IN THAT PERFECT PEACE. JESUS WALKED IN PERFECT HEALTH AND SO CAN WE. JESUS FORGAVE THOSE THAT TRESPASSED AGAINST HIM, AND SO CAN WE.
THE LIST IS ENDLESS OF WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY OURS BY VIRTUE OF THE BLOOD THAT WAS SHED ON THE CROSS. 700 YEARS BEFORE CHRIST, THE PROPHET ISAIAH PROPHESIED THE REDEEMING WORK OF THE CROSS.
HE SPOKE OF THE HEALING FOR THE SOUL THAT
JESUS WOULD BRING. 2 In God's eyes he was like a tender green shoot, sprouting from a root in dry and sterile ground. But in our eyes there was no attractiveness at all, nothing to make us want him. 3 We despised him and rejected him-a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we didn't care. 4 Yet it was our grief he bore, our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, for his own sins! 5 But he was wounded and bruised for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace; he was lashed-and we were healed! 6 We-every one of us-have strayed away like sheep! We, who left God's paths to follow our own, Yet God, laid on him the guilt and sins of every one of us! TLB
EVERY ACT OF VIOLENCE THAT WAS DONE TO JESUS WAS AN ACT OF LOVE FOR YOU AND ME. GOD IN HIS MERCY ALLOWED HIM TO BARE OUR GRIEVES AND SORROWS. SO THE NEXT TIME YOU FEEL LIKE HAVING A PITY PARTY, REMIND YOUR SELF AND THE devil THAT JESUS HAS BORE YOUR GRIEVES AND SORROWS. NEXT TIME YOU FEEL DEPRESSED, REBUKE THAT DEPRESSION BY DECREEING YOU ARE FREE BECAUSE JESUS BORE EVERY SORROW THAT WOULD INVADE THE SOUL OF A BORN AGAIN BELIEVER. YOU MUST UNDERSTAND SALVATION IS NOT JUST A FUTURE POSSESSION, BUT GOD INTENDED TO BE A PRESENT POSSESSION FOR THE BORN AGAIN BELIEVER. JESUS AS RECORDED IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN SAID; John 10:10 10 "The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly. NAS GOD WANTS YOU TO ENJOY THIS LIFE, THINK THOUGHTS THAT BRING LIFE. HE WANTS YOUR EMOTIONS TO BE HEALTHY, AND OF COURSE THE WILL OF MAN TO BE LED BY HIS HOLY SPIRIT. AS WE THINK OF THE TORTURE THAT JESUS WENT THROUGH, WE MUST REMEMBER IT WAS GOD’S MERCY AND GRACE BEING RELEASED FOR US. THIS IS HARD TO COMPREHEND WITH OUR NATURAL MIND, BUT YOU CANNOT REASON WHAT IS MEANT TO BE RECEIVED BY FAITH. THE WORLD TRIES TO ANALYZE THE CRUCIFIXION BUT CANNOT MAKE SENSE OF IT BECAUSE THEY TRY TO ANALYZE IT WITH THE CARNAL MIND. Romans 8:7 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. NKJV WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED THRU THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS CHRIST WAS IN THE NATURAL; BUT THE VICTORY WAS A SPIRITUAL ONE. GOD HAD TO ALLOW HIM TO BE CRUCIFIED AS A HUMAN BECAUSE WE LIVE IN A NATURAL SENSE WORLD. John 1:17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. NAS THE WORLD HAD TO UNDERSTAND THAT GRACE AND TRUTH FOR EVERY HUMAN BEING WERE ON DISPLAY DURING EACH BEATING AND UNTIL THE ACTUAL CRUCIFIXION. THE GOOD NEWS IS IT HAS NOT ENDED. BECAUSE JESUS WAS OBEDIENT TO THE POINT OF DEATH, GOD’S MERCY AND GRACE IS AVAILABLE TO ANY THAT WOULD CALL ON THE NAME OF JESUS! Rom 10:13 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (from New International Version) SAVED FROM WHAT? SAVED FROM ETERNAL DAMNATION AS WELL AS A TORMENTING SOUL. SIN HAD COME INTO THE WORLD THRU SIN AND THUS ALSO BRINGING THE PAIN THAT COMES FROM THAT SIN. IT WAS THIS SIN THAT SEPARATED MAN FROM GOD BUT IN GOD’S MERCY HE WOULD REACH DOWN TO MANKIND. YOU SEE CHRISTIANITY IS ABOUT GOD IN HIS MERCY REACHING DOWN TO HIS CREATION. HE WAS WILLING TO SACRIFICE HIS SON SO HE COULD ONCE AGAIN HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH YOU. IT IS THRU THIS FELLOWSHIP THAT HE RESTORES THE SOUL. Ps 23:3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. NAS THE LAW OF MOSES WAS GIVEN SO THE REVELATION WOULD COME THAT IN ORDER TO ATTAIN THE ACCEPTANCE OF GOD WE COULD NOT DO IT ON OUR OWN. THERE IS NO WAY YOU CAN BE PERFECT. YOU CAN LIVE A RIGHTEOUS LIFESTYLE THAT HONORS GOD AND BRINGS GLORY AND NOT SHAME TO HIM. A LIFE THAT LIVES OUT THE PURPOSES OF GOD AND ADVANCES HIS KINGDOM IN THE AREA OF INFLUENCE WE LIVE IN. BUT THIS REDEMPTION WOULD HAVE TO COME THRU A SPIRITUAL WORK OF GOD. GRACE AND TRUTH WERE REVEALED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD. John 1:17 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. NAS WE RECEIVE THIS GRACE AND TRUTH BY FAITH, THUS BEGINNING THE JOURNEY IN SALVATION OF OUR SOULS. Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; NAS THIS SCRIPTURE IS MORE THAN JUST YOUR SPIRIT BEING SAVED AND REBORN, IT IS ALSO ABOUT YOUR SOUL BEING BROUGHT UNDER THE ORDER OF GOD. YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IT WAS GOD’S MERCY AND HIS GRACE THAT WAS POURED OUT FOR EACH ONE OF US EVERY TIME JESUS WAS WHIPPED. THE WEIGHT OF THE CROSS WAS ACTUALLY OUR GRIEF AND SORROWS. LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION; WHERE DO WE CARRY OUR GRIEVES AND SORROWS? WE CARRY THEM IN OUR MINDS, OUR EMOTIONS. AND IF WE DO NOT EMBRACE THE REDEMPTIVE WORK OF THE CROSS IN OUR MINDS AND EMOTIONS, AND IN OUR WILL, IT WILL SHOW UP IN THE WAY WE LIVE. THE QUESTION TO YOU THEN IS; WHAT WEIGHT ARE YOU CARRYING THAT JESUS ALREADY HAS CARRIED FOR YOU? ARE YOU STILL CARRYING THE MISTAKES OF YESTERDAY OR THE WOUNDS IN YOUR HEART FROM YESTERDAYS HURTS?
IF YOU ARE, YOU MUST UNDERSTAND JESUS DID NOT ONLY BLEED EXTERNALLY BUT HE WAS BRUISED. A BRUISE IS AN INJURY THAT BLEEDS INTERNALLY. THE BRUISE WILL HAVE DIFFERENT SHADES OF COLOR AS IT HEALS. IT IS A PROCESS THAT THE BODY TAKES AS IT IS HEALING. SO IS THE PROCESS THAT THE SOUL MUST TAKE AS IT HEALS OF OPEN WOUNDS. JESUS BLED INTERNALLY; THEN HE SHED HIS BLOOD FOR EVERY HURT AND WOUND YOU HAVE IN YOUR HEART. EVERY DISAPPOINTMENT, EVERY HURT YOU ARE CARRYING INSIDE OF YOU HAS BEEN CARRIED BY JESUS. TODAY HE WANTS TO START THE HEALING AND RESTORATION. 2 Corinthians 6:2 for He says, "At the acceptable time I listened to you, And on the day of salvation I helped you"; behold, now is "the acceptable time," behold, now is "the day of salvation"-- NAS GOD’S PLAN IS TO SET YOU FREE TOTALLY. TO BE FREE AND TO LIVE IN LIBERTY! FREE FROM THE SINS OF THE PAST, FREE FROM THE MISTAKES OF LIFE. FREE FROM A SIN CONSCIENCE.
1 John 2:2
ARE YOU STILL UNDER THE CONDEMNATION OF YOUR PAST MISTAKES? JESUS PAID FOR YOUR MISTAKES. ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS REPENT AND TRUST HIM WITH YOUR PAST. WHAT ABOUT UNFORGIVENESS? WILL YOU FORGIVE THOSE THAT HAVE TRESPASSED AGAINST YOU, AS CHRIST FORGAVE YOU? ARE YOU CARRYING THE BURDEN OF YOUR ESTRANGED CHILDREN OR MAYBE A BROKEN MARRIAGE, FRACTURED DREAMS, A SHATTERED LIFE? Matthew 11:28 28 "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. NAS RECEIVE HIS REST. HIS REST IS HIS PEACE IN YOUR MIND, HEALING IN YOUR EMOTIONS, AND A WILLINGNESS TO FOLLOW JESUS WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND MIND.
THIS WORLD CAN BE A WORLD THAT IS VERY BRUTAL. THIS IS EVIDENT WITH THE BRUTALITY OF THE ROMAN SOLDIERS. KING JESUS WAS SUBJECTED TO A HARSH BEATING, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I REALIZED THAT THE LOVE OF GOD WAS ON DISPLAY. YES; THRU EVERY BLOW AND EVERY INSULT AND EVERY TIME HIS FLESH WAS TORN; IT WAS GOD’S LOVE FOR YOU AND I THAT WAS BEING DISPLAYED BEFORE ALL OF ETERNITY. ONLY GOD’S LOVE CAN OVERCOME THE BRUTALITY OF THE WORLD. HIS LOVE IS A PERFECT LOVE AND THIS LOVE WILL CONQUER AND HEAL YOUR SOUL. WHAT EVER BURDEN YOU HAVE TODAY; ALLOW HIS LOVE TO OVERCOME IT AND SET YOU FREE. I CLOSE WITH THIS SCRIPTURE; 1 John 4:9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. NAS THE FIRST STEP TO LIVING THROUGH HIM IS OF COURSE RECEIVING JESUS AS LORD AND SAVIOUR. LETS US PRAY
FATHER IN JESUS NAME, I ASK YOUR FORGIVENESS FOR ALL MY SINS, I BELIEVE IN MY HEART AND CONFESS WITH MY MOUTH JESUS AS MY LORD AND SAVIOUR. I BELIEVE JESUS CHRIST DIED ON THE CROSS AND WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD FOR MY JUSTIFICATION. IN JESUS NAME I RENOUNCE MY PAST AND I RENOUNCE EVERYTHING THAT DOES NOT LINE UP WITH THE WORD OF GOD. I THANK YOU HEAVENLY FATHER THAT IT IS BY YOUR GRACE I AM SAVED. I PRAY NOW YOU WOULD BRING YOUR SALVATION TO MY MIND, MY WILL AND MY EMOTIONS. HEAL EVERY HURT AND PAIN. I FORGIVE THOSE THAT HAVE HURT ME. I THANK YOU I AM ABLE TO DO THIS BY THE POWER OF YOUR HOLY SPIRIT. I TRUST YOU WITH EVERY BURDEN, EVERY HURT AND OFFENSE THAT I HAVE CARRIED IN THE PAST. I MAKE A CHOICE TODAY TO TRUST YOU AND RELEASE THOSE PAINS TO YOU, BECAUSE I BELIEVE JESUS BORE MY GRIEF AND MY SORROWS. I RECEIVE YOUR HEALING AND RESTORATION IN JESUS NAME! GOD BLESS YOU!! Pastor Cesar |
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