Love Your Neighbor as Yourself!

Love Your Neighbor As You Love Yourself!

Both Jews and Christians claim that Jehovah is their GOD and they try to live by the 10 Commandments. So when JESUS spoke to Jews – whether to one or to the whole nation what He said also applies to the Church. Such as the poor you will always have and you should minister to them. (Deuteronomy 5:11; Matthew 26:11; Mark 14:7; John 12:8) This is proof that GOD does not want all Christians to be rich or materially wealthy, that even in “Christian” communities and nations there will be those who are poor and destitute.

Like love your enemies and pray for those who spitefully use you. In Proverbs GOD says that if we see our enemy under judgment and trials that we should not gloat (rejoice) or He may relent. Why? Because His purpose is not to bless us over them but to bring them to the place of seeing that He is GOD and that He wants to redeem them. This is why in the Church there is much sin! We judge others believers and non-believers, we condemn them and take joy in their adversity and trouble, we pray against them and for their condemnation. “For GOD so Loved the world…that who so ever believes in Him…that none should perish but that all would be saved.” The Church is full of hate because Christians are full of hate, we hate sinners, especially ones we consider to do worse sins than our sins.

A big one is sexual sin, under the Law all sexual sin was judged equally – death; fornication (sex between a man and a woman outside of marriage), adultery (sex between a married person and someone other than their spouse), sodomy (sex where a man puts his penis into a woman’s anus) homosexuality (sex between people of the same sex, man with man, woman with woman) and bestiality (sex between a human and an animal). In our modern society outside the Church all of these are acceptable and even approved forms of sexual relationships. In the Church we only condemn and judge homosexuality and bestiality. Why does GOD judge them all the same? Because they all destroy marriage, they are acts of lust that lead to sin which leads to death (eternal death).

When JESUS met the Samaritan woman at the well He ministers Love to her and over the next two days the whole village is saved. Now many Christians believe that because He did this that divorce and remarriage and even living in an unmarried relationship is ok. Not so! Jesus clearly taught the importance of the marriage covenant and stated that divorce could only be granted due to sexual immorality and that if a divorced person remarried while the ex-spouse was still alive, that was an act of adultery. What Jesus did in the Samaritan village was minister Forgiveness and Love to dozens if not hundreds of Samaritans and bringing a whole community into GOD’s Kingdom ready for the salvation message after His resurrection.

All Christians who hate sinners rather than the sin that binds them – Stop judging, that is a sin! JESUS said you will be judged as you judge…that if you do not forgive you will not be forgiven. The Kingdom message is about GOD’s Love for every person ever born, now alive and all who will be born; that He Loves us and that JESUS died in our place to deliver us from the power of sin and death – He redeemed us to The Father. That is the only message that we are to preach!

If you are born and live you are condemned to hell, salvation is the gift of GOD that redeems all who believe, confess and live accordingly. JESUS told us not to fear those who can kill us but to fear GOD who can destroy body and soul in hell, Paul told us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, Peter told us, “Since you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth, so that you have a sincere love for your brothers…” James told us to show our faith by our works. Being born again is not just having our sins forgiven and waiting for Christ’s return. It is about doing the Father’s work in the earth as it is in Heaven; we all have a call and gift from GOD and He does expect us to fulfill it. Being a Christian is not about judging sinners, it is about telling sinners that GOD loves them and Jesus died for them. That is the work of GOD’s Kingdom and we will be judged by our fulfilling His will for us.

Todd Burpo said, “10,000 times I’ve been here and talked about on earth as it is in Heaven and I don’t know if I’ve ever listened to that…did GOD want me to have the same vision as you…of course not…He crushed my pride and opened my heart – to love and the one thing love requires is that I let others know they are not alone.”

When to Pray!

When to Pray!

Palm 32 By David. A maskil:

How blessed are those whose offense is forgiven, those whose sin is covered!

How blessed are those to whom ADONAI imputes no guilt, in whose spirit is no deceit!

When I kept silent my bones wasted away because of my groaning all day long; day and night your hand was heavy on me: the sap in me dried up as in a summer drought. (Selah)

When I acknowledged my sin to you, when I stopped concealing my guilt, and said, “I will confess my offenses to ADONAI”; then You, You forgave the guilt of my sin. (Selah)

This is what everyone faithful should pray at a time when You can be found. Then, when the floodwaters are raging, they will not reach to him.

You are a hiding place for me, You will keep me from distress; You will surround me with songs of deliverance. (Selah)

“I will instruct and teach you in this way that you are to go; I will give you counsel; My eyes will be watching you.”

Don’t be like a horse or mule that has no understanding, that has to be curbed with bit and bridle, or else it won’t come near you.

Many are the torments of the wicked, but grace surrounds those who trust in ADONAI.

Be glad in ADONAI; rejoice, you righteous! Shout for joy, all you upright in heart! (CJB)

As I was reading this morning verse six stood out to me, “This is when everyone faithful should pray at a time when You can be found. Then, when the flood waters are raging, they will not reach him.” The key words are when and then: “…when You can be found. Then, when the floodwaters…” Also verses three and five start with when: “When I kept silent…When I acknowledged…”

As I thought about these verses I thought of two other verses, 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Proverbs 1:20-33.

2 Chronicles 7:14 is one of those often quoted but not acted upon verses. “If My people, who are called by My Name will humble themselves and confess their sins; then I will hear from Heaven and I will forgive their sins and I will heal their lands.” (my paraphrase) If and then are the keys words in this verse. If we…then GOD! The responsibility starts with us, we have to be one of those who GOD calls by His Name (not those who call themselves by His Name, study Matthew 7:21-23). Then we have to confess our sins with humility, this leads to repentance. Then He hears our prayers and forgives us and heals our resources.

Proverbs 1:20-33, Wisdom calls aloud in the open air and raises her voice in the public places; she calls out at the street corners and speaks out at entrances to city gates:

“How long, you whose lives have no purpose, will you love thoughtless living? How long will scorners find pleasure in mocking? How long will fools hate knowledge?

Repent when I reprove – I will pour My Spirit to you, I will make My Words known to you.

Because you refused when I called and no one paid attention when I put out My hand, but instead you neglected My counsel and would not accept My reproof; I, in turn, will laugh at your distress, and mock when terror comes over you – yes, when terror overtakes you like a storm and your disaster approaches like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble assail you.

Then they will call Me, but I won’t answer; they will seek Me earnestly, but they won’t find Me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of ADONAI, they refused My counsel and despised My reproof.

So they will bear the consequences of their own way and be filled with their own schemes. For the aimless wandering of the thoughtless will kill them, and the smug overconfidence of fools will destroy them;

But those who pay attention to Me will live securely, untroubled by fear of misfortune.” (CJB)

The key words are; how long, when, then, bear and will; the theme is if we continue to neglect and reject God and His Word then, when we want and need Him we are not guaranteed to receive His blessings and deliverance. This is why many Believers struggle in life, it’s not about legalism but relationship. If we do not have a relationship with God, if we reject His Life, Light and Love then we have no access to His Grace and Mercy. But, when we understand that we are a sinner and if we ask for forgiveness and receive the instruction and wisdom of His Word; then we can count on being in GOD’s Grace and Mercy no matter the circumstances of our life. (Study Revelation 2:9, 13; 3:3-6, 8-10)

Luke 6:37-45

Luke 6:38

I was just watching a TV minister that I respect, who teaches the Word of GOD with accuracy, he was teaching about giving, but not in the sense of giving to get. He started in Proverbs 3:5-10 yet he used this scripture to emphasize his point on GOD’s bounty. “Give and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use it will be measured back to you.” While many take this verse out of context to use it for a financial giving and reward verse, it is in context about self discerning and judging.

“Judge not and you will not be judged. Condemn not and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use it will be measured back to you.” And He spoke a parable to them: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will then not both fall into the ditch? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye and do not see the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother let me remove the speck from your eye.’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye. For a good tree does not produce bad fruit; nor does a bad tree produce good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns not do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:37-45

The problem is not in just using certain verses out of the context of the full message to emphasis their point; but that those who do not study or meditate or even read the Bible contextually do not learn and understand what our LORD was teaching. So what happens is that people learn that Luke 6:38 is a financial blessing verse so they think the surrounding verses are also about financial blessings, but they are not. In verse 45 the treasure is not financial but moral, JESUS was teaching that our real wealth is our morality, if our heart’s desire is GOD’s will then we will produce good fruit and bring blessings to others. JESUS was teaching about not judging others, judging ourself, discerning others and getting our life in order so that we can help others.

GOD and Rulers!

GOD and Rulers!

In the Church today we hear so much about the End Times and the Rapture, but what about the Millennial Reign of Christ? How is it that after 1000 years of the Risen Savior reigning from Jerusalem all of the nations will gather under the banner of satan to dethrone Him and destroy Jerusalem? All this happens after the seven year reign of the anti-christ and the false prophet; when Christ returns for His persecuted Church and raises those who have been killed while doing the works of the Father in the earth.

Why can this happen?

This happens because since the beginning humanity has rebelled against GOD’s rule (government) no matter how good humanity’s existence was. Adam and Eve lived in the perfect environment economically, physically, emotionally and spiritually yet they desired more; to be like GOD to know good and evil and it cost them everything good and eternity.

Humanity is the same today; after four thousand years GOD came as a Man, Jesus Christ, to redeem humanity back to GOD. To restore our relationship with GOD as our Father as it was in the Garden of Eden, yet humanity resisted GOD’s Will and Gift and still resists today.

Humanity was not created flawed but through Adam and Eve was deceived and disobedient this resulted in our spiritual death and broke our relationship with GOD our Father. We see glimpses throughout history of a few people Enoch, Noah, Abram (Abraham), Moses, Esther, David, Mary (Mother of Jesus), Martin Luther, William Tyndale, Billy Graham and many others who have yielded their life and will to the Father’s so that humanity could be redirected to a personal relationship with the True and Living GOD; but even they had their faults.

If you have been a Believer very long you should understand that since Adam and Eve’s fall we are born with a flawed nature that desires sin rather than righteousness and that we can only be saved from its resulting eternal damnation by believing in Jesus Christ His life, death and resurrection as revealed in the Gospels.

How does this happen?

Since the beginning of time GOD has raised up and torn down rulers and kingdoms and He still does that today even if we do not see and understand it. The scriptures teach us that rulers are for our good but if we desire evil we will have evil rulers. We see throughout history how evil men have been followed by the masses to destroy others for their own political and economic gain; Nimrod, Pharaoh (who enslaved the Israelites), Nebuchadnezzar, Nero, Hitler and others who gave themselves over to destroying other nations and ruling over the people for their own benefit and purpose.

This will continue until the heavens, the earth and the seas are destroyed by fire and the New Heaven and the New Earth are created and Christ reigns from the New Jerusalem. But first satan must be bound for 1000 years then released for a while; in which time he will again draw the rebellious and self-willed to join his cause against GOD.

This can only happen because during Christ’s 1000 year reign in Jerusalem unredeemed people will still live in the earth. Revelations reveals that Christ will rule with a Rod of Iron over the nations. If the nations were populated only with Believers who had yielded their life to His Will there would be no need for Him to rule with a Rod of Iron. So during the 1000 years that satan is bound and not able to influence people sin will still exist in the hearts of men; even with Jesus Christ ruling over the earth from Jerusalem.

This is why throughout history and today and in the future sin is so hard for us to overcome. This is why Jesus told us that we have to take up our cross and follow Him; this is why Paul says that we have to work out our salvation with fear and trembling; this is why in the Epistles we are taught to gather together with other believers and to limit our contact and relationship with those who are opposed to GOD and His Kingdom.

We can be a witness without condemning and judging but also without joining! We use our experience in life and our experience as a Believer to show the lost and deceived the Light, Life, Love and Truth of who Jesus is and the eternal consequences of believing in Him and rejecting Him.

Rulers

We are taught throughout the Bible to pray for and support our rulers and that we get the rulers that we deserve based on our yieldedness and obedience to GOD. If we are a people that pray for GOD’s will to be done in our lives, families, communities and nations then we will have moral and righteous rulers who exercise integrity in all they do. If we are a people who complain and resist GOD’s will then we will have rulers that lack morality and integrity and lead us into wickedness.

This is what we have in many nations today, governments that are crooked and wicked because the people have resisted GOD’s will and allowed the wicked to come into authority. There have been and will always be rulers who are selfish, prideful and wicked as long as this natural world exists. Once this heaven, earth and the seas are destroyed and the New Heaven and Earth exist there will no longer be deception, corruption and wickedness at all and there will only be the perfect, holy just and merciful reign of Jesus Christ for eternity. There will still be government, the 12 Elders and the 24 Elders under the Father and Jesus Christ and whatever structure they establish, but it will all be perfect and without corruption.

Israel and America (USA)

Israel and America are two nations that were established by GOD for His will to be done in the earth as it is in Heaven. Israel was established under the Law to reveal GOD as the Almighty Creator and LORD over everything who was to be worshiped and served by all peoples.  Israel was to bring the Light of GOD’s Love to the world through worship, obedience and sacrifice under the guidance of the Law. America was established under the Bible to reveal GOD as the Almighty Creator, LORD and Redeemer who was to be worshiped and served by all peoples. America was to bring the Light of GOD’s Love to the world through the freedom to worship, obedience and service to GOD under the guidance of the Bible. Both nations have had success and failure and both nations are still GOD’s chosen nations to reveal Himself to all the nations.

There are other nations where the Gospel is sent forth from but these two are the ones that GOD has put His mantle on to proclaim and demonstrate His eternal Kingdom in the earth.

But, if Israel and America are to regain their role of proclaiming and demonstrating the Kingdom of GOD in the earth as it is in Heaven, then the people of these nations must repent; personally and as families and communities; seek leaders who have the integrity and morality to serve GOD first and proclaim salvation to the lost of their own nation and the other nations of the world.

Jesus’ admonition to us as individuals and therefore as nations is to, “…seek first the Kingdom of GOD and His righteousness…” and to lay down our life for His and to take up our cross daily.

This is every Believers challenge and responsibility!

The Easter Story

The Story of Easter

A Short Story By Bob Headrick

Chapter 1

It was still dark that Sunday morning as the women made their way towards the tomb of Jesus; Mary, His mother, Mary Magdalene and Salome. They spoke quietly as they may their way out of the city carrying the spices and herbs they needed to properly bury Him.

Joseph and Nicodemus had quickly anointed and wrapped His body on Friday after His death and placed Him in Joseph’s new tomb in a garden a short distance from the place of His crucifixion. A large stone had been rolled in front of the tome and on the Sabbath the High Priest had requested that the Romans seal and guard it so His disciples could not steal His body and claim He had risen from the dead, so they did.

The women wonder why they had not asked a couple of JESUS’ brothers or even a couple of His disciples to come and roll the stone away for them; they were certain that the Roman guards would not help them.

As they approached the tomb they could tell something was not right, there were no Roman guards; they had gone into the city to tell the priests what had happened; two men who were glowing so white they could hardly look at them were standing on either side of the tomb entrance and the stone was not there!

Chills ran over their bodies as they tried to understand what they were seeing. The angels spoke in unison, “Why are you seeking the living among the dead? JESUS is risen just as He said! Go in and see that He is not here. Then go and tell His disciples that He will meet them in Galilee.

After going into the tomb the women turned and fled to tell the disciples what they had seen and heard, they were both frightened and ecstatic. As they made their way back into Jerusalem they did not say a word to each other. What was there to say, He said He would rise on the third day and He has, JESUS’ mother was so excited that she ran to tell His brothers and sisters the news. When Mary Magdalene and Salome entered the upper room where the 11 disciples where Mary immediately told Peter and John what had happened to them at JESUS’ tomb, they were dumb struck.

Peter and John immediately left and ran to the tomb, John being younger out ran Peter and when he arrived at the tomb he found it as the women had said, he stooped down and looking into the tomb he could see that it was empty. Peter arrived breathless a few minutes later and went straight into the tomb, so John followed him. They could see the shroud in which JESUS had been wrapped on the slab and the kerchief that had covered His face set to the side. Peter had his doubts but John believed yet they both feared what the Roman and Jewish leaders would say and do.

While all this was going on the Jewish leaders bribed the solders to say that JESUS’ disciples had come in the night while they had slept and stolen the body; they promised to protect them from the Governor.

As Peter and John returned to the upper room where the 11 disciples were in hiding Mary Magdalene returned to the tomb, she stood outside weeping, she stooped down to look into the tomb. She saw the two angels standing one at the each end of the burial slab, they asked her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” she answered, “Because they have take my LORD and I do not know where they laid Him.” Mary turned around and saw JESUS, but did not know it was Him. JESUS asked her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” Mary thought He was the gardener and said, “Sir, if you have taken Him away (pointing into the empty tomb), tell me and I will take Him away.” JESUS said, “Mary!” she turned and said, “Rabboni!”

She fell at His feet hugging herself to Him, JESUS said, “Do not cling to Me for I have not yet ascended to My Father. Go tell My brethren, ‘I Am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My GOD and your GOD.” Mary ran to tell the disciples what JESUS had said to her.

Chapter 2

As word spread through the community of believers and disciples that JESUS was risen from the tomb and Mary Magdalene had seen and spoken to Him, two of the 70 disciples that followed JESUS, Cleopas and his friend left Jerusalem for Emmaus, a town about 7 miles from Jerusalem. As they walked and talked about the events of the last three days JESUS joined them, but their eyes were restrained from recognizing Him.

“What kind of sad conservation is this that you are having?” Cleopas answered, “Are you the only one in Jerusalem that does not know what has happened these last few day?” JESUS asked, “What things?” “The things concerning JESUS of Nazareth, a Prophet, mighty in word and deed before GOD and all the people. How the chief priests and our rulers condemned Him to death and delivered Him to the Romans to crucify Him. We were hoping He was the Christ who would redeem Israel; and today is the third day since His crucifixion and some women of our company arrived at His tomb early this morning to find it empty and the Roman guards had fled. They came and said they had seen angels and were told by the angels that JESUS was alive. Then two men from our company went and found the tomb empty as the women had said.”

JESUS said, “You foolish and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have said; should not the Christ have suffered these things and entered into His glory?” Beginning at Moses and all the Prophets JESUS explained to them all that the Scriptures said about Himself.

As they neared the town of Emmaus JESUS acted like He was going to continue His trip, but the two disciples invited His to stay the night with them since it was almost evening and He agreed.

As they sat to eat JESUS took bread and breaking it He blessed it and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew they were with JESUS. He vanished from sight and they said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” So they immediately returned to Jerusalem during the silent trip they each wondered how after a year of being with JESUS almost daily they could not recognize Him as they walked and talked on the road.

When they got to Jerusalem they found the 11 except for Thomas and the company of disciples gathered together, the disciples told them that JESUS was alive and that Peter had seen Him. The men then told them how they had walked and talked with JESUS and did not know it and how He revealed Himself to them in the breaking of bread.

As the men and women who had believed in JESUS in life wondered what this meant and how the rulers and Romans would react, they agreed that the 11 must go to Galilee as He had directed them but they would do it in secret, in small groups so as not to attract attention.

The 11 were locked in the upper room because of their fear of the religious leaders: Suddenly! JESUS stood in the middle of the room! He said, “Peace to you.” They were all terrified thinking they were seeing a spirit, He said, “Why are you afraid? Why do you still have doubt in your hearts? See My hands and feet and the wound in My side; touch Me and see that I am flesh and bone; does a spirit have flesh and bone?”

The disciples still were not rejoicing with joy and they marveled at what they were seeing and hearing. JESUS asked, “Do you have anything to eat?” and they gave Him some broiled fish and honeycomb, se He ate in their presence.

Then He said, “These are the Words that I spoke while I was still with you, how all things must be fulfilled from Moses, the Prophets and Psalms concerning Me.”

To Be Continued…

The Sabbath

It is hard for many today to understand and believe that almost 2000 years ago on this Sabbath that Jesus Christ; who had just been murdered by crucifixion at the hands of the Romans by the desire of the Jewish religious leaders; was actually doing the work of His Heavenly Father. His body had been anointed in death and laid in a new tomb just hours before; but now He was at work defeating death and hell and taking the keys of their kingdoms; He was ministering the Gospel to those held captive in death and leading them forth in liberty into GOD’s Eternal Heavenly Kingdom.

He who had overcome every temptation that is common to man and not committed any sin and had willingly shed His blood from the Garden of Gethsemane to the cross on Mount Calvary; in obedience to His Heavenly Father’s will; though He had died in the flesh He was alive in the Spirit.

He was about to become the first born of the Resurrection, where His bloodless body (because His blood is every present on the Altar of GOD to cleanse and redeem all who repent and confess) would be alive in flesh and bone. He was about to present Himself to the world as the Son of GOD, Son of Man, the Lamb of GOD slain from the foundation of the world to redeem humanity from it’s fallen sin nature to it’s Heavenly calling of the children of GOD.

The Sabbath was the bridge between death and life, between hell and Heaven. But only for those who would believe in JESUS Christ as the Son of GOD in the flesh, the Savior of the world.

By the power of His Spirit JESUS changed the world’s history from rebellion and lawlessness to it’s Heavenly destiny of obedience and service. Yet there are many who refuse to believe and many who are deceived into not believing and many who have not heard the truth of GOD’s salvation for humanity.

Good Friday!

Good Friday

Christ was crucified before the foundation of the earth was laid; before humanity was made in GOD’s image. Revelation 13:8-10

GOD always makes a way for us to escape. 1 Corinthians 10:12-15

There were three men on crosses the Friday Christ was crucified, JESUS of Nazareth and two thieves. The two thieves deserved to be on the cross for their crimes but JESUS voluntarily went to the cross for all of humanities crimes (sins) against GOD.

One of the two thieves believed in JESUS enough to know that He was being crucified even though He was innocent so he asked JESUS to remember him when He came into His Kingdom. JESUS said, “Today, you will be with Me in Paradise.” Not because he asked for forgiveness but because GOD had made a way of escape to all who believed in HIS plan of salvation as revealed in the Law and Prophets; and all Jews understood this.

Just a couple of hours after their deaths the high holy Sabbath started, that one thief was in Paradise when JESUS proclaimed liberty to the captives and led them into His Eternal Kingdom. The other thief was in hell with the rest of humanity who rejected GOD waiting for the Day of Judgment.

In both the verses listed above there is an admonition to pay attention, to see and hear in the Spirit not the flesh.

Remember in JESUS’ Revelation to John just before the passage about all in the earth will worship the dragon (satan) and the beast (anti-christ) except those whose names were “written in the Book Of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” In 12:11 He said that His servants “overcame him (satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony and they did not love their lives to the death.”

This is our escape from the greatest temptation that anyone will ever face; to receive or not receive the mark of the beast.

I have and most Christians believe and teach that according to 1 Corinthians 10:13 GOD will always allow us to escape (get away from or get out of) every temptation or bad situation that we get into. This is not what Paul is teaching here, he is teaching that we should avoid (read the first 12 verses of chapter 10) getting into being tempted; we should avoid those activities and people that cause us to be tempted.

We are not promised an escape from our deliberate or stupid behavior, we are promised an opportunity to avoid or resist temptation. In your Bible there is probably a gap between verse 13 and verses 14 and 15, but when Paul wrote his letter to the Church at Corinth there was not a pause in that thought. Verse 7 directly relates to verses 18-22, all from 10:1 thru 11:1 is a conversation about avoiding being tempted and living that out before others.

Many Christians are looking for the great escape, the rapture, so that they do not have to be tempted by the mark of the beast and the great tribulation. But the Bible teaches that it is after we find ourself in temptation that we cannot overcome that GOD rescues us, not before.

The best defense against temptation is to know the Word of GOD and to speak it just as JESUS did when satan was tempting Him in the wilderness after 40 days of fasting and prayer. When satan thinks we are weak and vulnerable that is when he will tempt us into eternal death and judgment. The way we overcome is by the blood of the Lamb, the word of our testimony and not loving our lives over death.

On Good Friday JESUS died for us, those who rejected Him, laughed at Him and hated Him. Why? Because, we had already given in to the temptation to live after the flesh, to serve ourself over everyone else including GOD.

From the beginning GOD knew that humanity would sin and would need to be redeemed from that sin so He planned that He Himself in the form of man would come and pay the ultimate price a man could pay, His life, to redeem humanity from eternal damnation to eternal life in His Eternal Kingdom.

THAT WAS A GOOD FRIDAY!