VCOC 2010

Happy New Year

2010-12-31T05:11:00.000-08:00

www.vestavia11.blogspot.com

New Year's Resolutions for Our Families

2010-12-31T05:07:00.000-08:00

1. Husbands: Love wives just as Christ loved the church

2. Wives: Submit to your own husbands as to the Lord

3. Fathers: Bring your children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord

4. Mothers: Love your children

5. Children: Obey your parents in the Lord

6. Husbands & Wives: Pray together

7. Fathers, Mothers & Children: Pray together

8. Husbands & Wives: Study God’s Word together

9. Fathers, Mothers & Children: Study God’s Word together

10. Fathers, Mothers & Children: Attend every service together

Jason

Repentance

2010-12-30T05:06:00.000-08:00

The challenge of the gospel is the challenge of the human will. The challenge is not to get people to believe (John 2:23-24), confess (Luke 6:46), or be baptized (Matthew 3:6). The challenge of the gospel is the challenge of getting people to repent: to change what they need to change (Matthew 11:20-24). Sin has separated us from our God (Romans 3:23; 6:23). What are we to do with this guilt? This sin? Go to God and repent of it.

Repentance is not knowing we have done wrong. David knew he was wrong long before he repented (Psalm 32). Judas knew he was wrong and never repented (Matthew 27:3-5). Peter knew he was wrong before Paul called him out (Galatians 2:11-14).

Repentance is not feeling sorry about our sin. Judas felt bad about betraying Jesus. He was sure sorry he had done so. Yet he did not repent (Matthew 27:3-5).

Repentance is not regretting that your sin has caused pain to other people. Your sin affects everyone you know. Judas regretted the pain his sin caused Jesus. Yet, he did not repent (Matthew 27:1-5).

Repentance is not confessing your sin. To be sure, God would have us confess our sin (1 John 1:9). Saul confessed his wickedness and David’s righteousness (1 Samuel 24:17-19). Later, Saul confessed his sin to David (1 Samuel 26:21). Although Saul confessed, he did not repent.

Repentance is not a mere change of conduct. When Josiah set about to reform the southern kingdom of Judah the conduct of the people changed for a time (2 Chronicles 34:31-33; Jeremiah 3:6). A change of conduct does not necessarily reflect the repentance that God desires in the hearts of men.

Repentance is a change of the heart resulting in a change of behavior. Repentance is a change of behavior that results from a change in our feeling toward God. Repentance must begin in the heart because this is where sin begins (Matthew 15:15-20). You have to make up your mind to serve God. Only you can give Him your heart. And so, you must repent: “I am sick of sin and from this day forward I am finished with that. I am Yours!”

Jason

Maybe the Best of Things

2010-12-29T05:05:00.000-08:00

"...hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies.” (Andy Dufresne)

“Hope” defined. Hope is favorable and confident expectation. It has to do with the unseen and the future. As a verb, hope means “to trust” (Vine’s). Our Father in Heaven would have us “hope continually” (Psalm 71:14; NKJV)

“Hope” describes. Hope is the happy anticipation of good: “in hope of eternal life” (Titus 1:2). Christ is the ground upon which "hope" is based: "Christ in you the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). Christ is the object upon which the "hope" is fixed: “the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope” (1 Timothy 1:1).

“Hope” daily. God is spoken of as "the God of hope,” (Romans 15:13). He is the author, not the subject of hope. Hope is a factor in salvation: “For we were saved in this hope” (Romans 8:24; NKJV). Hope finds its expression in endurance under trial, which is the effect of waiting for the coming of Christ: “patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 1:3; NKJV). Hope is "an anchor of the soul," staying it amidst the storms of this life (Hebrews 6:18-19). Hope is a purifying power: “And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself just as He is pure” (1 John 3:3; NKJV).

If hope is the best of things, perhaps hopelessness is the worst of things. Those without Christ are described as “having no hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12; NKJV). Christians do not mourn over the loss of a loved one “as others who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13; NKJV). Those who “have no hope” have not experienced the “one hope” of Ephesians 4:4. They have not experienced Jesus.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” (1 Peter 1:3; NKJV).

Jason

Live in the I AM

2010-12-28T06:04:00.000-08:00

And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, I AM has sent me to you.” (Exodus 3:14; NKJV)

The personal name of GOD is I AM, a Hebrew verb that means “to be.” GOD is. He is eternal. He is from everlasting to everlasting, the great I AM.

Allow the words of Helen Mallicoat encourage you…

I was regretting the past

and fearing the future.

Suddenly my Lord was speaking:

“My name is I AM…”

He paused.

I waited. He continued,

“When you live in the past

with its mistakes and regrets,

it is hard. I am not there.

My name is not I WAS.

When you live in the future,

with its problems and fears,

it is hard. I am not there.

My name is not I WILL BE.

When you live in the monet,

it is not hard. I am here.

My name is I AM.”

Jason

Know Him, Follow Him, Share Him

2010-12-27T10:03:00.000-08:00

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23; NKJV).

I've written these three points on the last page of my Bible. They help me stay focused. I hope they will help you.
Know Him. Paul sacrificed everything "for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:8; NKJV). To "know Him and the power of His resurrection" was the emphasis of the Apostle's life (Philippians 3:10; NKJV). My Father will reward me if I "diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6; NKJV). “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3; NKJV).
Follow Him. Christ has called me to deny myself, to take up my cross, and to follow Him on a daily basis (Luke 9:23). I am to follow His thinking, His speech, His behavior. I am to follow Him in everything - "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (Colossians 3:17; NKJV).
Share Him. When I come to Him He calls me to "go" for Him - "God therefore and make disciples of all the nations" (Matthew 28:19, NKJV). Go tell everyone who will listen who I am, what I did, what I am doing, and what I am going to do. Sharing Christ with others is the primary purpose of the disciple of Christ.
Father, let us come to know you more fully. Help us to follow your Son more closely. Bless us with the courage to share Him more boldly. Strengthen us by Your Spirit. In Him, Amen.

Jason

Hidden in My Heart

2010-12-26T06:44:00.000-08:00

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.

3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

(Psalm 23:6; NKJV)

Sunday Morning Starters

2010-12-25T05:49:00.000-08:00

The Purpose of Memorials…

1. Memorials stir memory.

2. Memorials honor great lives.

3. Memorials commemorate great deeds.

4. Memorials inspire.

The Purpose of the Lord’s Supper

1. Stir in our hearts the memory of our Christ!

“…in remembrance of me…” (1 Corinthians 11:24-25)

2. Honor the great life of our King!

“…this man has done nothing wrong.” (Luke 23:41)

3. Celebrate the great sacrifice of our Savior!

“While we were still sinners, Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:8)

4. Inspire us to greater devotion, service and sacrifice to our Lord!

“…present your bodies a living sacrifice…” (Romans 12:1)

Our Prayer: Father, stir in our hearts the memory of the great life, death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Inspire us to greater devotion, service and sacrifice as we reaffirm our covenant with You through Your Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Jason

Job's Three Friends

2010-12-24T06:48:00.000-08:00

“11 Now when Job's three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place — Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him, and to comfort him. 12 And when they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him, they lifted their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and sprinkled dust on his head toward heaven. 13 So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.” (Job 2:11-13; NKJV).

Who They Were. The Spirit refers to Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar in Job 2:11 as Job’s “friends.” They were his intimates, not casual acquaintances (Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon). Let there be no doubt about who these men were in relation to Job. The Spirit says they were his friends.

Why They Came. They came to Job at this time because they had “heard of all this adversity that had come upon him” (Job 2:11; NKJV). They had heard of all the “bad or evil” that had beset their friend (Strong’s). They made an appointment together to visit Job. The “appointment” suggests that some time has passed. The adversity strikes Job, his friends hear about it, make an appointment to go to him, and finally travel to him. They determine to visit him for the purposes of mourning and comforting. “Mourn” has to do with showing grief, lamenting, showing sympathy (Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon). “Comfort” has to do with sighing, breathing strongly, by implication it has to do with being sorry for another (Strong’s). They came not to satisfy their curiosity concerning his adversity and the strangeness of the circumstances of them. They were not sent for. They came on their own accord. This was not a visit out of duty, mind you, just to look upon him and be gone. But they came as those who would have had no enjoyment of themselves if they had returned to their place while their friend was in such misery.

How They Responded. Job’s frame and general appearance had become so ravaged by his disease he was beyond recognition (Job 2:12). The force of the impression produced on them prompted them to weep loudly, to tear their robes, to sprinkle dust on their heads toward heaven, to sit with him on the ground seven days and seven nights in silence (Job 2:12-13). Observing their friend miserably altered, they did not leave him, but expressed so much the more their love. As true friends, they put themselves into the same humble and uneasy place and posture: “So they sat down with him on the ground…” (Job 2:13; NKJV). They resolved to stay with him as long as they were needed by him. For seven days and seven nights they did not speak to Job, “for they saw that his grief was great” (Job 2:13; NKJV).

Job’s Three Friends and Me. You may think when your friend is suffering that you have to say something comforting, sympathetic, or advisory. But what they may really need is for us just to be with them and share their pain. I believe Job 2:11-13 is one of the most moving scenes in the Bible. Job’s three friends sat on the ground with him in silence for seven days and seven nights, mourning with him, comforting him. Pray for friends likes these three. Be a friend like these three. Sometimes we say it best when we say nothing at all.

Jason

Is The Bible Relevant to Me?

2010-12-23T04:47:00.000-08:00

Perhaps the single greatest challenge GOD'S people have today is to take GOD'S book, the Bible, and help people to see the relevance of it to their lives. GOD'S word is practical. It speaks to the issues of everyone's life.
The Bible is relevant to you because of what the Bible is - The Word of GOD. Scripture is "inspired by God" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Bible did not originate in the mind of man. Scripture originated in the mind of GOD. Men "moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God" and were guided to put His word in written form (2 Peter 1:21). "For the word of God" is from Heaven, not from Earth (Hebrews 4:12). Written by our Creator, Sustainer, and Savior, the Bible is relevant to us!
The Bible is relevant to you because of the nature of the Word of GOD - Living, Powerful, Piercing, and Discerning. Nature is a thing's essential qualities or character. "For the word of God is living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12; NKJV). The Word of GOD speaks to the heart of man about the issues of the heart (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
Is the Bible relevant to me? Read it and see!

Jason

In Praise of Godly Women

2010-12-22T05:20:00.000-08:00

And Jehovah God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him” (Genesis 2:18; ASV).

Men and women were made to be complementary parts of a remarkable whole. Our ultimate nature and destiny are the same, and much we are to be in life is identical, but our roles here are different. This difference has nothing to do with value or status, but with the way God in His great wisdom ordered the human family.

There is nothing so priceless and so beautiful as a woman of spiritual grace and loveliness: “Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies” (Proverbs 31:10; NKJV). The man achieves what he does from a position of leadership, the woman from a position of submission. This submission arises from the very nature of creation, the woman created for the man and not man for the woman (see 1 Timothy 2:11-15; 1 Corinthians 11:8-9). There is nothing degrading about God’s order! The wife follows to serve her husband and the husband leads to serve his wife. Both serve each other in order to serve the Lord Jesus: “…submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21; ESV). Everything is for the sake of others.

The secret of the worthy woman is revealed by in the “words of King Lemuel, the oracle which his mother taught him” (Proverbs 31:1; NASBU). The worthy woman “fears the LORD” (Proverbs 31:30; NASBU). That is why the “heart of her husband trusts in her” (Proverbs 31:11; NASBU). That is why she does her husband “good and no evil all the days of her life” (Proverbs 31:12; NASBU). The foundation of her love for him is not his handsome good looks or his charming personality, but her deep love for Christ before whom she has committed here faithful love to her husband.

“Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying: ‘Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all” (Proverbs 31:28-29; NASBU). Let all of us rise up and give glory to God for the Godly women that have blessed us along the way. Follow the lead of these good women as they have followed the lead of the Chief Shepherd.

Jason

Imitate What Is God

2010-12-21T04:58:00.000-08:00

“Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God” (3 John 11; NKJV).

We are to do good, to imitate good, because God is good. Evil is not of God. Evil is of the Devil. As the children of God we are to imitate our Father by doing good.
Diotrephes was not of God. He was concerned with things that are not of God: preeminence among brethren, not receiving brethren, prating against brethren with malicious words, forbidding others to receive brethren (3 John 9-10). Diotrephes was of his father the Devil: “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer and a liar from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44; NKJV).
Demetrius had “a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself” (3 John 12). Demetrius had a good testimony because he imitated God.
What about me? Do I imitate my good God or do I imitate the evil one? Let us see God and imitate what we see for “he who does evil has not seen God” (3 John 11).

Jason

If I Can See Your Sins

2010-12-20T07:58:00.001-08:00

“Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later” (1 Timothy 5:24; NKJV).

Some sins are visible. They are open, known to all. Other sins are unknown. They are committed in private, known to none save One. If I can see your sins…

GOD can see them. Be not deceived, “there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13; NKJV). Nothing escapes His holy eyes. He sees your public sins. He sees your private sins. He sees. Consider carefully 2 Corinthians 5:9-11.

Your brethren can see them. The brethren at Corinth could see the sin of their brother (1 Corinthians 5:1-2). If you are not walking in the Spirit, you are walking in the flesh. If you are not being led by the Spirit, you are being led by the flesh. If you are not living in the Spirit, you are living in the flesh. The sins of the flesh are evident. They are apparent. They are seen. Consider Galatians 5:16-26.

Little ones can see them. Little children are attentive, curious, and impressionable. Consider these words of Jesus: “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea…Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones…” (Matthew 18:6, 10; NKJV). With Jesus, there are no excuses. Whatever you must do to avoid sinning, whatever you must do to avoid causing another to sin, do it. Consider carefully Matthew 18:7-9.

Lost souls can see them. Not even the pagans living in Corinth would have participated in the sin of the brother under discussion in 1 Corinthians 5 (See verse 1). When we sin publicly we fail to “shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15; NKJV). Instead of lost souls seeing our good works and glorifying our Father in Heaven, we give them the opportunity to blaspheme. Consider carefully 2 Samuel 12:1-14.

Hear the conclusion! That brother in Corinth, he was moved with godly sorrow. He confessed his sin. He repented. GOD forgave him. So did his brethren. Don’t let your sins follow you to judgment. Be forgiven of them now!

Jason

Hidden in My Heart

2010-12-19T04:58:00.000-08:00

"For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." Then they said to Him, "Lord, give us this bread always." (John 6:33-34; NKJV)

Sunday Morning Starters

2010-12-18T04:35:00.000-08:00

“The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The LORD has clothed and girded Himself with strength; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.” (Psalm 93:1; NASBU)

The GOD we worship and adore is majestic. There are many synonyms for majesty: Beauty, comeliness, excellency, glory, glorious, goodly, grandeur, honor, magnificence, ornament, splendor. Majesty has to do with having an imposing form and appearance and carries with it overtones of superior power and position. When used of GOD it evokes a sense of amazement in the mind of the one beholding Him. Simply stated, GOD’S majesty is his “greatness” (Vine). GOD would have us see His majesty, respond to His majesty, and magnify him in our lives.

See His Majesty. Moses requested to see GOD’S greatness: “Please, show me Your glory” (Exodus 33:17 – 34:7; NKJV). What Moses saw at Mount Sinai we are to see by faith! See GOD’S greatness through the eyes of faith! Gaze at His glory, majesty, and dominion. Grow in the grace of seeing Him: “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened…” (Ephesians 1:18; NASBU). Each of us needs our own Mount Sinai experience. Wisdom unsearchable. Purity unspotted. Years unending. Strength undaunted. Love immeasurable. Glimpses of the majesty of GOD!

Respond to His Majesty. “So Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped” (Exodus 34:8; NKJV). The proper response to GOD’S greatness is worship! To worship is to prostrate oneself (literally or figuratively) in reverence to the great I AM. The externals (reading, prayer, singing, the Lord’s supper, giving, and preaching) are important, but our hearts must be engaged in order for GOD to be glorified! In worship, GOD longs for you to turn to Him “with all your heart. So rend your heart, and not your garments…” (Joel 2:12-13; NKJV).

Magnify Him in My Life. To magnify is to make great, to enlarge (Vine). GOD is great; but is He great in your life? Have you made these words your own: “…in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death” (Philippians 1:20; NKJV)? Magnifying GOD in every aspect of your life glorifies GOD!

The GOD we worship and adore is worthy of our praise because His is majestic! See His majesty. Respond to His majesty. Magnify Him in your life. He is worthy. “…to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 25; NASBU)

Jason

How You Can Help Those Who Hurt

2010-12-17T04:34:00.000-08:00

“Bear one another’s burdens”

(Galatians 6:2; NKJV)

1. Help the hurting realize that he has a loving Father.

2. We must meet the needs of those who hurt – not our own needs.

3. Recognize the value of silence.

4. We must help in practical ways.

Hear the Conclusion! We are a family.

Jason

Give Attention to Reading

2010-12-16T04:33:00.000-08:00

The young evangelist Timothy was admonished by the Holy Spirit in 1 Timothy 4:13 to “give attention to reading.” The Father would have each of His children to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). If each of us is to “come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,” each of us must spend time reading God’s word (Ephesians 4:13).
We are to read “the Holy Scriptures,” which are able to make us “wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). It is important to read the word of God because the word of God is “truth” (John 17:17). This “truth” will set us free and enable us to live lives that glorify God (John 8:32; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Let us make a commitment to read the New Testament in 2010. Set aside some time each day to read a small portion of our Father’s will for our lives. If we will devote ourselves to the reading of His word, if we will meditate on the truth that GOD’S word is, if we will prayerfully apply its teachings to our lives, we will experience a wonderful year of spiritual growth that will transcend our lives into eternity: “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jude 20-21; NKJV).

Jason

From Glory to Glory

2010-12-15T04:33:00.000-08:00

“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29; NKJV).

The Image of Christ. The heart of real discipleship is a commitment to be like Jesus Christ. The Christian is to be centered on the word of God because the word is where Christ is seen: “Then He said to them, ‘These things are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.’” (Luke 24:44; NKJV). The Scriptures make Jesus come alive so He can live in our hearts: “…Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27; NKJV)!

The Glory of GOD. “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 by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18; NKJV). Some translations say, “beholding as in a mirror;” others say, “reflecting like mirrors.” One implies contemplation; the other implies refraction. Which is accurate? Actually both. The verb katoptrizo can be translated either way. But which meaning did the Holy Spirit intend? In the context, the Spirit paralleled the Christian experience to the Mount Sinai experience of Moses (Exodus 34). After Moses beheld the glory of GOD, his face reflected the glory of GOD (2 Corinthians 3:7). Upon beholding GOD, Moses could not help but reflect GOD. The brightness he saw was the brightness he became. Beholding led to becoming. Becoming led to reflecting. Perhaps the answer to the translation question, then, is “yes.” Could it be that the Holy Spirit intentionally selected a verb that would remind us to do both? To behold GOD so intently that we can’t help but reflect Him? To behold is to study, to stare, to contemplate. This beholding is a serious pondering!

The Call. As we behold His glory, dare we pray that we, like Moses, will reflect it? Dare we hope to be mirrors in the hands of God, the reflection of the light of God? This is the call: “Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31; NKJV). From one level to another – “from glory to glory” – reflect GOD’S glory in your life!

Reflecting GOD’S Glory! It’s not about us; it’s all about Him! He sends the message; we mirror it! Beholding leads to becoming. Becoming leads to reflecting. Get in the word! Deny self, take up your Bible, and learn of Him! Gaze at His glory in the word! Reflect His glory in your daily life!

Jason

Exalted

2010-12-14T04:31:00.000-08:00

“Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently; He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high” (Isaiah 52:13; NKJV).

Made a Little Lower. In eternity, the Word submitted to the will of the Father. In the first century, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. He "was made a little lower than the angels" (Hebrews 2:9; NKJV). Angels are spirit beings of a higher order than physical men and women. The Word lowered Himself. A body was prepared for Him (Hebrews 10:5). The One who inhabits eternity inhabited a body for some thirty-three and a half years. He became flesh and blood. He was a baby, a young man, a teenager, a twenty-something. He was made a little lower.

Lifted Up. The Word became flesh for the purpose of being "lifted up" (John 3:14). The process of crucifixion was efficient. A hole was dug in the Earth. The cross was laid on the ground. The victim was laid on the cross where he was then nailed to it. The cross was then "lifted up" and dropped into the Earth. The Word "was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death" (Hebrews 2:9; NKJV). GOD in the form of GOD cannot die. The Word made Himself lower than the angels so He could die. He became flesh “so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9; NASBU). He was made a little lower so He could be lifted up.

Exalted. The death of Jesus on the cross is not the end of the story. It was never intended to be the end of the story. Isaiah prophesied the story from beginning to end over seven hundred years before the Word lowered Himself. “Behold, My servant will prosper, He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted” (Isaiah 52:13; NASBU). The I AM raised up His Servant and "Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins" (Acts 5:30-31; NKJV). When He, "by Himself purged our sins," He then "sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high," exalted (Hebrews 1:3; NKJV). Jesus is worthy of exaltation because He lowered Himself, He sacrificed Himself, and He loved us without end. With the “myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands” around the throne, let us say with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing” (Revelation 5:11-12; NASBU).

Is He exalted in your life?

Jason

Everyday Evangelism

2010-12-13T06:31:00.001-08:00

“…for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10; NKJV)

His work is our work. There is no greater work than seeking out those who need Jesus and introducing them to the Savior. On a daily basis pray for…

Doors of opportunity. “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ” (Colossians 4:2-3; NKJV). Pray for open doors to share Him. Pray for opportunities daily. Pray without ceasing…

Courage. Paul asked the Colossians to pray that he would make the gospel “manifest, as I ought to speak” (Colossians 4:2-4; NKJV). It takes courage to make the invisible One manifest (1 Timothy 1:17). Pray for faith in the unseen. Pray without ceasing…

Wisdom. “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time” (Colossians 4:5; NKJV). Wisdom is needed in sharing Christ. To be effective one’s speech must “always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Colossians 4:6; NKJV). Pray for wise words. Pray without ceasing…

Christlikeness. The more like “the light of the world” (John 8:12) I become the brighter my light will shine (Matthew 5:16). As others see Him in me, doors will begin to open. Pray for Him to shine forth from the depth of your being. Pray without ceasing…

Love for one’s neighbor. To “love your neighbor as yourself” is the second greatest commandment (Mark 12:31). Perhaps the second greatest love is to introduce someone to the one who participated in the greatest act of love: “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13; NKJV). Pray for love for your neighbors. Pray without ceasing…

Participate in evangelism everyday!

Jason

Hidden in My Heart

2010-12-12T04:27:00.000-08:00

And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst." (John 6:35; NKJV)

Sunday Morning Starters

2010-12-11T05:48:00.000-08:00

A Hymn of Faith

Habakkuk 3:17-19

Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls -
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.

The LORD God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer's feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.

Every Member An Evangelist

2010-12-10T05:47:00.000-08:00

“Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:10; NKJV).

Moses didn’t want to do it. He couldn’t imagine himself being God’s spokesman before Pharoah. But GOD “convinced” him to take the job. He would provide whatever was needed for the task at hand. Moses just needed to understand that Jehovah wasn’t requesting that he go back to save the children of Israel. He was commanding him to go. See Exodus 3:1 – 4:17.
Similarly, we need to understand that the Lord didn’t just ask that we help Him in saving others, he commands it. If you’ve been saved from your sins, it is expected that you will help the Savior find others to save. We come to Jesus. We go for Jesus. It is expected that you will be an evangelist. See Matthew 28:18-20.
The term “evangelist” is an anglicized form of the Greek euanglistes, from eu (“well”) and aggelos (“messenger”). It refers to one who proclaims the good message, a gospel herald. Often, the term is used in the New Testament in a restricted sense – equivalent to a gospel preacher, an evangelist (Acts 21:8; Ephesians 4:11; 2 Timothy 4:5). In this sense, a woman cannot serve as an evangelist. See 1 Corinthians 14:34 and 1 Timothy 2:11-15.
But in a general use of the term, any person, male or female, who brings the gospel to others through various means, is an evangelist. And every Christian should be involved, in some way, in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ through evangelism. You can share Jesus with those you know. See John 4:27-42.
As we all work together to take the gospel to our family, friends and neighbors, GOD promises to bless our efforts! See 1 Corinthians 3:6-7.

Jason

Eunice, the Mother of Timothy

2010-12-09T05:46:00.000-08:00

“…when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.” (2 Timothy 1:5; NKJV)

When Dad is out of the picture, you must pick up the slack. Let Eunice encourage you! Her husband, Timothy’s father was “Greek,” an unbeliever (Acts 16:1). Lois did not have the blessing of an Ephesians 6:4 man. She picked up the slack!

You can do the work GOD has given you to do! Let Eunice encourage you! She raised Timothy to develop a faith of his own (2 Timothy 1:5). She raised Timothy to be a disciple of Christ (Acts 16:1). She raised Timothy to be a blessing to others (Acts 16:2). “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:29-31; NIV).

When you need help, seek it out. Let Eunice encourage you! She went to her mother Lois for help because she needed help! Certainly she relied on her brethren in Lystra (Acts 16:1-2). “Yet you do not have because you do not ask” (James 4:2; NKJV). Brothers and Sisters – Open your eyes to the opportunities to help mothers-in-need! Opportunity abounds right here at Vestavia. “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:18; NKJV) Be a doer of the Word! (James 1:22).

You can raise your child to be a blessing! Let Eunice encourage you! No help from Dad. Her faith was sure and steadfast. She raised Timothy to deny self, to take up his cross and follow Jesus. She raised Timothy to be a blessing!

Despite your circumstances, hold on to your faith! Despite your circumstances, communicate your faith in GOD to your children. Despite your circumstances, your children will rise up and call you blessed on Mother’s Day, every day, and throughout eternity.

Jason

Christ Died For Me

2010-12-08T05:45:00.000-08:00

“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:4-6; NKJV)

When I come to see Christ on the cross because of my sins…

My pride will be broken. Pride has to do with having a high or over bearing opinion of one’s worth or importance. No one is worth more or more important than Him. How can I have a high opinion of my importance as I stand at the foot of His cross with the realization that He is dying for my sins?

My guilt will be expunged. The broken and contrite find forgiveness at the Cross. The sins of the poor in spirit are erased, removed, and remembered no more at the Cross. I am free from the bondage of sin and death. Jesus relieves my guilt at Golgotha.

Love will be kindled. Love is the response of the good and honest heart that gazes at the love expressed at Calvary. Love for Him because He is expressing love for me. Seeing Him bleed and suffer and die for my sins moves me to love Him, to worship Him, to serve Him.

Hope will be restored. Sin destroys. It robs me of hope. The Cross communicates the most profound truth of all – Jesus loves me. I have confident expectation now and forever because He died for my sins.

My character will be transformed. Jesus died for me so that I might live for Him. To gaze upon His glory is to become like Him. The more I go outside the camp and see Him suffer for me, the more conformed to His image I become.

“…and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to rightesouness; for by His wounds you were healed” (1 Peter 2:24; NASBU).

Jason