Romans 10:10
"For with the heart man believeth unto
righteous; and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation"
Salvation ii an experience of the heart. It is basically about our relationship with Jesus Christ. This relationship is established by what we believe. To believe in Jesus does not merely mean that we acknowledge the facts. You can believe that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, lived in Nazareth, died in Jerusalem and still be saved. These are historical facts. Saving faith is a commitment of our souls to Jesus based on our belief in His resurrection. The resurrection makes the difference. When Jesus died, was buried ans rose again, everything about life became different. The resurrection changes everything about living.. Life is no longer hopeless, and the grave is no longer victorious..
If Jesus had not been resurrected, then Christianity would be based on a lie. These are not matters of fact alone; they are matters of faith. When we believe in Jesus Christ in our hearts, we must confess our faith publicly. A person can certainly be saved without public confession. In fact, confession may be impossible simply because there is no one else present. But when a person is truly saved, what happened in his heart will have an effect on his mouth. This is always true. Jesus taught that what comes out of our mouths is the overflow or abundance of what is in our hearts (Matthew 12:34). Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Monday, March 31, 2014
Friday, March 28, 2014
Unfailing Love
Romans 8:35
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution,
or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?"
We find a list of things that cannot separate us from the love of Jesus. There is nothing left out in verse 35 above. God has included the complete range of human experience and concluded that none of these can separate us from the love of Jesus.
This is not a promise of an easy life. as far as our enemy goes, we are like sheep led to the slaughter. We are killed day in and day out by the awful principle of sin loosed on the world by Satan. This is the reality of life, but thanks to God we are not victims of anything. We are more than conquerors.
When a victorious army returned to Rome, the conquerors would stage a parade, showing off the wealth they had brought back. This was a magnificent show of wealth and power designed to honor those who had fought for their country.
The Bibles states that our reward far exceeds the rewards of a conqueror. In Jesus Christ, we have overcome principalities and powers. We have conquered Satan himself and conquered our own lust and weaknesses. What wonderful promises of Unfailing love and a glorious future for the children of God. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution,
or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?"
We find a list of things that cannot separate us from the love of Jesus. There is nothing left out in verse 35 above. God has included the complete range of human experience and concluded that none of these can separate us from the love of Jesus.
This is not a promise of an easy life. as far as our enemy goes, we are like sheep led to the slaughter. We are killed day in and day out by the awful principle of sin loosed on the world by Satan. This is the reality of life, but thanks to God we are not victims of anything. We are more than conquerors.
When a victorious army returned to Rome, the conquerors would stage a parade, showing off the wealth they had brought back. This was a magnificent show of wealth and power designed to honor those who had fought for their country.
The Bibles states that our reward far exceeds the rewards of a conqueror. In Jesus Christ, we have overcome principalities and powers. We have conquered Satan himself and conquered our own lust and weaknesses. What wonderful promises of Unfailing love and a glorious future for the children of God. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Jesus Saviour And Brother!
Romans 8:29
"For whom he did foreknow, he also did
predestinate to be conformed to the image
of his Son, that he might be the
firstborn among many brethren"
Whether or not things happen as we expect, we can be assured that God has a plan for our lives, and He is working out that plan for our benefit. This doctrine will change your life if you will believe it. Life for a child of God is not a series of random happenings where he bounces around not knowing where he is going or what might happen next. Instead, our lives are planned in Heaven, and all things that happen are working together for our good. God is working for us, never against us.
Like children, we may not know what is good for us and what is harmful, but our Farther in Heaven does, and He is seeking only our good. This is not only true for the present; the fact is that it has been true for all eternity. As far back as we can imagine, God has had a specific plan for every human being. That plan is simply stated in the goal that every human being would conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. God's ultimate goal in your life and in mine is that we will be like Jesus in every way. This makes Jesus the firstborn of the family of God and every other saved person the brother or sister of Jesus Christ Our Saviour. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"For whom he did foreknow, he also did
predestinate to be conformed to the image
of his Son, that he might be the
firstborn among many brethren"
Whether or not things happen as we expect, we can be assured that God has a plan for our lives, and He is working out that plan for our benefit. This doctrine will change your life if you will believe it. Life for a child of God is not a series of random happenings where he bounces around not knowing where he is going or what might happen next. Instead, our lives are planned in Heaven, and all things that happen are working together for our good. God is working for us, never against us.
Like children, we may not know what is good for us and what is harmful, but our Farther in Heaven does, and He is seeking only our good. This is not only true for the present; the fact is that it has been true for all eternity. As far back as we can imagine, God has had a specific plan for every human being. That plan is simply stated in the goal that every human being would conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. God's ultimate goal in your life and in mine is that we will be like Jesus in every way. This makes Jesus the firstborn of the family of God and every other saved person the brother or sister of Jesus Christ Our Saviour. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Never Alone In Prayer
Romans 8:26
"For we know not what we should
pray for as we ought"
One place we all need help is in prayer. The problem is that we do not know what to pray for because we do not know the will of God completely. Jesus taught us to pray for God's will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven, and we should, but we often do not know God's will in the many difficulties of life. God's will is revealed generally, but we live specifically, moving day by day through specific and detailed problems.
This is where the ministry of the Holy spirit comes in. In ways we cannot explain and with groanings that cannot be uttered, the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us at the throne of God's grace. These groanings are a spiritual work we cannot understand, but they interpret our prayers before God. This does not mean that we as Christians are never wrong in prayer. As James tells us, we can ask amiss, or we can simply fail to ask at all. When we sincerely do not know how to pray or what to ask, the holy Spirit will intercede for us so that God's will is done in our lives. When a child of God prays about a matter, he can be assured that God will either resolve the matter or send sufficient grace to endure the trial. We have an awesome God! He knows our heart! Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"For we know not what we should
pray for as we ought"
One place we all need help is in prayer. The problem is that we do not know what to pray for because we do not know the will of God completely. Jesus taught us to pray for God's will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven, and we should, but we often do not know God's will in the many difficulties of life. God's will is revealed generally, but we live specifically, moving day by day through specific and detailed problems.
This is where the ministry of the Holy spirit comes in. In ways we cannot explain and with groanings that cannot be uttered, the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us at the throne of God's grace. These groanings are a spiritual work we cannot understand, but they interpret our prayers before God. This does not mean that we as Christians are never wrong in prayer. As James tells us, we can ask amiss, or we can simply fail to ask at all. When we sincerely do not know how to pray or what to ask, the holy Spirit will intercede for us so that God's will is done in our lives. When a child of God prays about a matter, he can be assured that God will either resolve the matter or send sufficient grace to endure the trial. We have an awesome God! He knows our heart! Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
We Have An Assured Future
John 10:27
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know
them, and they follow me"
Among the many life changing doctrines of the Bible is the simple teaching of the security of the believer. This is the truth, that once we are saved we are eternally saved and will never lose our salvation and have to be saved again. This is taught clearly and repeatedly in the Bible; yet, many do not believe it.
Often our words reveal what is truly in our hearts. Did you ever hear anyone say, "Well, I'm trying to do better." If that is true, that person is not trusting in the Lord, he is trusting in his own works. Have you ever heard, "I'm so disappointed with myself?" If so, that person was depending on himself to begin with. We may be disappointed with ourselves, but we will never be disappointed with Jesus Christ. Stop believing in yourself and start believing in Christ.
Did you ever hear, "I'm just so discouraged?" If so, that person is looking at the dirt at his feet and not at the skies above. When we look to Jesus, we have a wonderful and assured future. God can and will change our attitudes but only when we accept His truth and believe His Word. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know
them, and they follow me"
Among the many life changing doctrines of the Bible is the simple teaching of the security of the believer. This is the truth, that once we are saved we are eternally saved and will never lose our salvation and have to be saved again. This is taught clearly and repeatedly in the Bible; yet, many do not believe it.
Often our words reveal what is truly in our hearts. Did you ever hear anyone say, "Well, I'm trying to do better." If that is true, that person is not trusting in the Lord, he is trusting in his own works. Have you ever heard, "I'm so disappointed with myself?" If so, that person was depending on himself to begin with. We may be disappointed with ourselves, but we will never be disappointed with Jesus Christ. Stop believing in yourself and start believing in Christ.
Did you ever hear, "I'm just so discouraged?" If so, that person is looking at the dirt at his feet and not at the skies above. When we look to Jesus, we have a wonderful and assured future. God can and will change our attitudes but only when we accept His truth and believe His Word. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Monday, March 24, 2014
Weakness In The Law
Romans 8:3
"For what the law could not do, in that
it was weak through the flesh"
Since the Law has no claim on a saved soul, the Law cannot condemn that soul. This was its weakness, but God sent His son not to condemn the world, the law had already done that, but to save the world. Jesus dealt with sin by keeping the Law in all points. The Law of sin and death simply does not apply to a saved soul, anymore than the laws of one country apply to citizens of another.
Here is the exciting part. Since the law of sin and death has no claim on us and cannot condemn us, it can no longer control us. Every child of God has a choice. We can walk after the flesh or after the Spirit. Lost people can follow the Holy Spirit's conviction to faith in Jesus; saved people have the leadership of the Holy Spirit available every day to guide them in every decision they make. God guides us primarily through His Word. As we read the Bible and apply the truth of the Bible to our hearts, we can choose to walk after the Spirit in our everyday lives. Knowing for certain that Heaven is your home and that you will go there immediately after you die will change your life forever. All life changes when we know this wonderful truth. We live in Liberty. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"For what the law could not do, in that
it was weak through the flesh"
Since the Law has no claim on a saved soul, the Law cannot condemn that soul. This was its weakness, but God sent His son not to condemn the world, the law had already done that, but to save the world. Jesus dealt with sin by keeping the Law in all points. The Law of sin and death simply does not apply to a saved soul, anymore than the laws of one country apply to citizens of another.
Here is the exciting part. Since the law of sin and death has no claim on us and cannot condemn us, it can no longer control us. Every child of God has a choice. We can walk after the flesh or after the Spirit. Lost people can follow the Holy Spirit's conviction to faith in Jesus; saved people have the leadership of the Holy Spirit available every day to guide them in every decision they make. God guides us primarily through His Word. As we read the Bible and apply the truth of the Bible to our hearts, we can choose to walk after the Spirit in our everyday lives. Knowing for certain that Heaven is your home and that you will go there immediately after you die will change your life forever. All life changes when we know this wonderful truth. We live in Liberty. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Friday, March 21, 2014
Faith Prevailed And The Chains Fell
Matthew 18:13
"Now faith is the substance of things
hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen"
In the 12th Chapter of Acts, the people were praying without ceasing, for Peter to come out of prison., but their faith, evidently did not measure up to such a marvelous answer. But one person had more faith then the rest of them. When the knock came to the door she ran to it, and the moment she heard Peter's voice she ran back with joy, saying Peter stood before the gate. Can you imagine the joy that was felt when Peter just showed up at the gate.
I believe that there is only one way to all the treasures of God, and that is the way of faith. God would have us come to Him by His own way. That is through the open door of grace. A way has been made. It is a beautiful way, all His saints can enter in by this way and find rest. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"Now faith is the substance of things
hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen"
In the 12th Chapter of Acts, the people were praying without ceasing, for Peter to come out of prison., but their faith, evidently did not measure up to such a marvelous answer. But one person had more faith then the rest of them. When the knock came to the door she ran to it, and the moment she heard Peter's voice she ran back with joy, saying Peter stood before the gate. Can you imagine the joy that was felt when Peter just showed up at the gate.
I believe that there is only one way to all the treasures of God, and that is the way of faith. God would have us come to Him by His own way. That is through the open door of grace. A way has been made. It is a beautiful way, all His saints can enter in by this way and find rest. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Are You listening!
John 14:12
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that
believeth on me, the works that
I do shall he do also"
When Jesus spoke the two words "Verily, verily" He was telling the disciples and all those who believe in Him, "Listen to me" "If you haven't heard anything else I've said, please hear this." Jesus was making a significant disclosure.
The result of truly believing in Jesus would be that the believers would do the works Jesus did, and even greater works than those, because Jesus was going to His Father. Whatever was ask in Jesus name, He would grant in order to glorify the Father.
Some people might consider it wrong to think that a Christian could do even greater works than Christ. Yet, remember that God wants great things to be accomplished for His Kingdom. We are not competing with Jesus. All power is from Him and all glory goes to Him. His disciples and believers who would come after them, would be around for longer periods of time, scattered all over the world, and empowered by the Holy Spirit for ministry and service. Let us go forward in truth and faith and share The Gospel Of Jesus Christ. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that
believeth on me, the works that
I do shall he do also"
When Jesus spoke the two words "Verily, verily" He was telling the disciples and all those who believe in Him, "Listen to me" "If you haven't heard anything else I've said, please hear this." Jesus was making a significant disclosure.
The result of truly believing in Jesus would be that the believers would do the works Jesus did, and even greater works than those, because Jesus was going to His Father. Whatever was ask in Jesus name, He would grant in order to glorify the Father.
Some people might consider it wrong to think that a Christian could do even greater works than Christ. Yet, remember that God wants great things to be accomplished for His Kingdom. We are not competing with Jesus. All power is from Him and all glory goes to Him. His disciples and believers who would come after them, would be around for longer periods of time, scattered all over the world, and empowered by the Holy Spirit for ministry and service. Let us go forward in truth and faith and share The Gospel Of Jesus Christ. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Get On Board!
John 6:35
"I am the bread of life; he that cometh
to me shall never hunger, and he that
believeth on me shall never thirst"
Jesus stated that He was more than a provider of bread, He was the Bread. The phrase "Bread of Life" means bread that gives life. The word "life" in the original language has before it a definite article (the) which indicates that the life Jesus gives is more than physical life on the earth. It is eternal life. Essentially, Jesus told them that their spiritual hunger could be satisfied forever. But they would have to "come" to Him.
To understand what it means to come to Jesus, we must look at another word that carries the same idea as "come," the word "believeth." Believing in Jesus means more than believing in the fact of His existence. "Believeth" translates a verb that means what the English word faith means. To believe in Jesus means to place your faith in Him.
If you would fly from your home town to visit family in South Dakota, you would do several things. You would buy a ticket, you would be on time for your flight. And, you would need to believe that your plane really is going to South Dakota. But you would not have placed your faith in the plane until you actually boarded the plane.
Many people believe in the existence of Jesus without even placing their faith in Him. The biblical meaning of believe is faith. The person who wants to be saved must "get on board" placing his or her life in God's hands. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"I am the bread of life; he that cometh
to me shall never hunger, and he that
believeth on me shall never thirst"
Jesus stated that He was more than a provider of bread, He was the Bread. The phrase "Bread of Life" means bread that gives life. The word "life" in the original language has before it a definite article (the) which indicates that the life Jesus gives is more than physical life on the earth. It is eternal life. Essentially, Jesus told them that their spiritual hunger could be satisfied forever. But they would have to "come" to Him.
To understand what it means to come to Jesus, we must look at another word that carries the same idea as "come," the word "believeth." Believing in Jesus means more than believing in the fact of His existence. "Believeth" translates a verb that means what the English word faith means. To believe in Jesus means to place your faith in Him.
If you would fly from your home town to visit family in South Dakota, you would do several things. You would buy a ticket, you would be on time for your flight. And, you would need to believe that your plane really is going to South Dakota. But you would not have placed your faith in the plane until you actually boarded the plane.
Many people believe in the existence of Jesus without even placing their faith in Him. The biblical meaning of believe is faith. The person who wants to be saved must "get on board" placing his or her life in God's hands. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
A Sanctuary For All People
Ezekiel 11:16
"Yet will I be to them a little sanctuary"
Even in drastic judgment, as the case of the dispersion of Israel, God provides for His people a place of refuge. This refuge, called "a little sanctuary," is the Lord Himself. So with all God's own, Gentile as well as Jew, in the midst of deserved judgment there is a sanctuary of refuge and peace in Him.
There is a place where God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, reigns supreme in our lives. The Spirit reveals, unfolds, takes the things of Christ and shows them to us, and prepares us to be more than conquers.
When Nicodemus came to Jesus he said, "We know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with Him." Jesus said to him, "Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." Jesus pointed out the necessity of a miracle being created with every man who would see the Kingdom.
When a man is born of God, is brought from darkness to light, a mighty miracle has taken place. It is so wonderful to have a sanctuary in Jesus Christ and the Spirit of the Lord upon us. Do you feel like you have been cast away and that no one cares about you. There is a place you can go. God has prepared a sanctuary for all. That sanctuary is, "Jesus Christ" Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"Yet will I be to them a little sanctuary"
Even in drastic judgment, as the case of the dispersion of Israel, God provides for His people a place of refuge. This refuge, called "a little sanctuary," is the Lord Himself. So with all God's own, Gentile as well as Jew, in the midst of deserved judgment there is a sanctuary of refuge and peace in Him.
There is a place where God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, reigns supreme in our lives. The Spirit reveals, unfolds, takes the things of Christ and shows them to us, and prepares us to be more than conquers.
When Nicodemus came to Jesus he said, "We know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with Him." Jesus said to him, "Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." Jesus pointed out the necessity of a miracle being created with every man who would see the Kingdom.
When a man is born of God, is brought from darkness to light, a mighty miracle has taken place. It is so wonderful to have a sanctuary in Jesus Christ and the Spirit of the Lord upon us. Do you feel like you have been cast away and that no one cares about you. There is a place you can go. God has prepared a sanctuary for all. That sanctuary is, "Jesus Christ" Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Monday, March 17, 2014
Trust In God's Word
Joshua 1:16
"All that thou commandest us we will do
whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go"
Everywhere there are people taking God's Word the way they want to hear it, and not the way God's everlasting Word "IS." One of the things that seems to be attacked, is the miracles that took place when Jesus spoke, touched or walked by.
Some take the parables and, miracles and try to reduce them to no importance in God's Word. Let's take the tied colt, and the feeding of the four thousand for an example. Jesus said it would be there and it was. I have heard where apparently, some unbelievers said that Jesus arranged for the colt to be tie beforehand, and for the men to say just what they did. It has been said that it was easy for Jesus to feed the people with seven loaves. The loaves were so big in those days that it was a simple matter to cut the loaves into a thousand pieces each. But who ever said that must have never read God's Word. The little boy carried those seven loaves all the way in his lunch basket.
There is nothing impossible with God. All the impossibility is with us when we measure God by the limitations of our unbelief. We have a wonderful, God a God whose ways are past finding out, and whose grace and power are limitless. He can plan for you, and when He plans for you, all is peace. All things are possible if you will believe. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"All that thou commandest us we will do
whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go"
Everywhere there are people taking God's Word the way they want to hear it, and not the way God's everlasting Word "IS." One of the things that seems to be attacked, is the miracles that took place when Jesus spoke, touched or walked by.
Some take the parables and, miracles and try to reduce them to no importance in God's Word. Let's take the tied colt, and the feeding of the four thousand for an example. Jesus said it would be there and it was. I have heard where apparently, some unbelievers said that Jesus arranged for the colt to be tie beforehand, and for the men to say just what they did. It has been said that it was easy for Jesus to feed the people with seven loaves. The loaves were so big in those days that it was a simple matter to cut the loaves into a thousand pieces each. But who ever said that must have never read God's Word. The little boy carried those seven loaves all the way in his lunch basket.
There is nothing impossible with God. All the impossibility is with us when we measure God by the limitations of our unbelief. We have a wonderful, God a God whose ways are past finding out, and whose grace and power are limitless. He can plan for you, and when He plans for you, all is peace. All things are possible if you will believe. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Friday, March 14, 2014
Which Will You Choose?
Romans 6:15
"What then? shall we sin, because we are not
under the law, but under grace? God forbid"
If we are no longer under the law and eternally saved, we might as well behave as we want with no regard to the consequences. That old lie has been around for decades, but that old lie is refuted in God's Holy Word. Salvation is not a license to sin. God forbid that anyone would think that the grace of God leads us into sinful behavior. God is not gracious to us so that we can insult Him by continuing in sin.
Sin has consequences on every level. Paul asked, Don't you know that you become the slave of the thing you obey? This wisdom seems to escape many today. People drink alcohol, seek comfort in drugs, engage in adultery, love money and are surprised and shocked when these things become their masters and they become their slaves, Lust brings fourth sin, and when sin is finished, it produces death.
We can choose to sin unto death or we can choose obedience and be righteous and eternally rewarded. The important thing is that every human being has a choice. How do we know this? Because it is declared through the doctrine of God's Holy Word. When we learn the truth about Jesus and what He came to to, we have a choice to obey the Holy Spirit and be saved or reject Him and remain lost. It's your choice which will you choose?
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"What then? shall we sin, because we are not
under the law, but under grace? God forbid"
If we are no longer under the law and eternally saved, we might as well behave as we want with no regard to the consequences. That old lie has been around for decades, but that old lie is refuted in God's Holy Word. Salvation is not a license to sin. God forbid that anyone would think that the grace of God leads us into sinful behavior. God is not gracious to us so that we can insult Him by continuing in sin.
Sin has consequences on every level. Paul asked, Don't you know that you become the slave of the thing you obey? This wisdom seems to escape many today. People drink alcohol, seek comfort in drugs, engage in adultery, love money and are surprised and shocked when these things become their masters and they become their slaves, Lust brings fourth sin, and when sin is finished, it produces death.
We can choose to sin unto death or we can choose obedience and be righteous and eternally rewarded. The important thing is that every human being has a choice. How do we know this? Because it is declared through the doctrine of God's Holy Word. When we learn the truth about Jesus and what He came to to, we have a choice to obey the Holy Spirit and be saved or reject Him and remain lost. It's your choice which will you choose?
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Thursday, March 13, 2014
We Are Made Alive Unto God
Romans 6:14
"For sin shall not have dominion over you:
for ye are not under law, but under grace"
It might seem that being dead to sin is all negative. For too many of God's children, their behavior is only described by the things they will not do. Being dead to sin does, indeed, mean there are some things we no longer do, but it also means there are some things that we will want to do that we have never done before. Being dead to sin is being made alive unto God, and it is a far greater blessing to be alive to God than it ever could be to remain a sinner. No one gives up anything in salvation. God only ask us to give what we cannot keep, and He rewards us with blessing that we cannot lose.
When we are alive to God through Jesus Christ, we have the power to control sin. The wording here is interesting. We are not to allow sin to reign or rule in our lives. This means that sin and our sin nature will never have the final say in the decisions we make. After we are saved, we are still living in a carnal body, but now the life Jesus has given us gives us the power to overrule our sinful desires. Lust will still tempt us, but we have the power to refuse the lustful desires of our flesh and replace those desires with the power of the new life in our souls. Christians have a clear and pressing mandate to use their strength and ability as instruments of God's righteousness. Amen!!
May God Bless you
And your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr
The Cross Life Ministry
"For sin shall not have dominion over you:
for ye are not under law, but under grace"
It might seem that being dead to sin is all negative. For too many of God's children, their behavior is only described by the things they will not do. Being dead to sin does, indeed, mean there are some things we no longer do, but it also means there are some things that we will want to do that we have never done before. Being dead to sin is being made alive unto God, and it is a far greater blessing to be alive to God than it ever could be to remain a sinner. No one gives up anything in salvation. God only ask us to give what we cannot keep, and He rewards us with blessing that we cannot lose.
When we are alive to God through Jesus Christ, we have the power to control sin. The wording here is interesting. We are not to allow sin to reign or rule in our lives. This means that sin and our sin nature will never have the final say in the decisions we make. After we are saved, we are still living in a carnal body, but now the life Jesus has given us gives us the power to overrule our sinful desires. Lust will still tempt us, but we have the power to refuse the lustful desires of our flesh and replace those desires with the power of the new life in our souls. Christians have a clear and pressing mandate to use their strength and ability as instruments of God's righteousness. Amen!!
May God Bless you
And your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr
The Cross Life Ministry
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Distractions Are Dangerous!
Matthew 14:30
"But when he saw the wind boisterous
he was afraid, and beginning to sink"
What is the danger in distractions? Luke 9:62, "Anyone who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God." Matthew 14:28-31, Then Peter called to Him "Lord, if it's really you, tell me to come to you by walking on the water." "All right, come," Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he look around at the high waves, he was terrified and began to sink. "Save me Lord!" he shouted. Instantly Jesus reached out His hand and grabbed him. "You don't have much faith," Jesus said. "Why did you doubt me?"
Distractions take our focus off of Jesus. We can be in the middle of doing good things, but if we take our eyes off Jesus a moment, we will begin to sink. God can refocus our attention on His way, by distracting us from our our ways. When God wants our undivided attention He will use a distraction much harder then the one that took our focus off of Him. Don't be distracted even by good things, if they take you away from what you know is right.
In no way, am I all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing. Forgetting the past and looking toward what lies ahead. Don't let the past drag you down, focus your energies on what you can do for God and others now and in the future. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr
The Cross Life Ministry
"But when he saw the wind boisterous
he was afraid, and beginning to sink"
What is the danger in distractions? Luke 9:62, "Anyone who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God." Matthew 14:28-31, Then Peter called to Him "Lord, if it's really you, tell me to come to you by walking on the water." "All right, come," Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he look around at the high waves, he was terrified and began to sink. "Save me Lord!" he shouted. Instantly Jesus reached out His hand and grabbed him. "You don't have much faith," Jesus said. "Why did you doubt me?"
Distractions take our focus off of Jesus. We can be in the middle of doing good things, but if we take our eyes off Jesus a moment, we will begin to sink. God can refocus our attention on His way, by distracting us from our our ways. When God wants our undivided attention He will use a distraction much harder then the one that took our focus off of Him. Don't be distracted even by good things, if they take you away from what you know is right.
In no way, am I all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing. Forgetting the past and looking toward what lies ahead. Don't let the past drag you down, focus your energies on what you can do for God and others now and in the future. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr
The Cross Life Ministry
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Bitterness Will Not Hinder God
Ezekiel 3:14
"So the spirit lifted me up, and took me
away, and I went in bitterness"
Ezekiel received a vision of the Majesty and wonder of God's Glory, showing that his God was more magnificent than anything to be found in heathenism, and impressing on his mind the greatness of the unseen God of Israel. Ezekiel was given a task that he did not want, He was placed as a watchmen unto the house of Israel. Ezekiel said, "So the Spirit lifited me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit.
We like Ezekiel see the Majesty and wonders of God's Glory, but we see it daily in His Holy Word and God Himself in our lives each and every day. We sometimes take God's Love and Christ' death on The Cross for granted. How do we do that and not realize it? The same way as Ezekiel did before he realized his task.
As servants to our Lord, He will often assign us a task, that we don't want to perform for some reason or another. We too become somewhat bitter in the heat of our spirit. When we do this of course we are showing bitterness toward God for assigning us a task, that we don't want any part of. Then we show bitterness toward others, because they may or are the reason God assigned the task.
When it is all said and done, what we have hurt most of all is our union with God. It may have been just a little or it could have been a lot. But it only takes a little for evil to sneak in and try to destroy God's work. If you choose not to do a task that God has assigned you then you know you have failed Him. God will seek someone else and assign them the task that you didn't want. I have learned that if God wants you to do a certain task for Him, you will do that task whether it is now or later it will be done!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"So the spirit lifted me up, and took me
away, and I went in bitterness"
Ezekiel received a vision of the Majesty and wonder of God's Glory, showing that his God was more magnificent than anything to be found in heathenism, and impressing on his mind the greatness of the unseen God of Israel. Ezekiel was given a task that he did not want, He was placed as a watchmen unto the house of Israel. Ezekiel said, "So the Spirit lifited me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit.
We like Ezekiel see the Majesty and wonders of God's Glory, but we see it daily in His Holy Word and God Himself in our lives each and every day. We sometimes take God's Love and Christ' death on The Cross for granted. How do we do that and not realize it? The same way as Ezekiel did before he realized his task.
As servants to our Lord, He will often assign us a task, that we don't want to perform for some reason or another. We too become somewhat bitter in the heat of our spirit. When we do this of course we are showing bitterness toward God for assigning us a task, that we don't want any part of. Then we show bitterness toward others, because they may or are the reason God assigned the task.
When it is all said and done, what we have hurt most of all is our union with God. It may have been just a little or it could have been a lot. But it only takes a little for evil to sneak in and try to destroy God's work. If you choose not to do a task that God has assigned you then you know you have failed Him. God will seek someone else and assign them the task that you didn't want. I have learned that if God wants you to do a certain task for Him, you will do that task whether it is now or later it will be done!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Monday, March 10, 2014
Awake And Live For God
Matthew 26:40b
"What, could ye not watch with me one hour?"
That same question, Jesus' ask Peter can be applied to each of us today. For that is about all some of us do; but then we wake up to reality, self-interest arises and the abiding has passed. There is no condition of life in which we cannot abide in Jesus. God writes the new name on those places in our lives where He has erased the pride and self-sufficiency and self- interest. Some of us have the new name in spots only, I call them spiritual spots. In sections we look all right. When we have our best spiritual mode on, you would think we were very high-toned saints; but don't look when we are not in that mood.
Pride is the deification of self, and this today is wide spread among Christians. To say "Oh, I'm no saint," is acceptable to human pride, but it is unconscious blasphemy against God. It means that you defy God to make you a saint. Why are you not a saint? It is either that you do not want to be a saint, or that you do not believe God can make you a saint. The common phrase is; "It would be alright if God saved me and took me straight to heaven. You know that is just what he will do. Make no conditions, let Jesus be everything, and He will take you home with Him not only for a day, but forever. Amen!!
'WIDE AWAKE AND LIVING FOR GOD"
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"What, could ye not watch with me one hour?"
That same question, Jesus' ask Peter can be applied to each of us today. For that is about all some of us do; but then we wake up to reality, self-interest arises and the abiding has passed. There is no condition of life in which we cannot abide in Jesus. God writes the new name on those places in our lives where He has erased the pride and self-sufficiency and self- interest. Some of us have the new name in spots only, I call them spiritual spots. In sections we look all right. When we have our best spiritual mode on, you would think we were very high-toned saints; but don't look when we are not in that mood.
Pride is the deification of self, and this today is wide spread among Christians. To say "Oh, I'm no saint," is acceptable to human pride, but it is unconscious blasphemy against God. It means that you defy God to make you a saint. Why are you not a saint? It is either that you do not want to be a saint, or that you do not believe God can make you a saint. The common phrase is; "It would be alright if God saved me and took me straight to heaven. You know that is just what he will do. Make no conditions, let Jesus be everything, and He will take you home with Him not only for a day, but forever. Amen!!
'WIDE AWAKE AND LIVING FOR GOD"
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Friday, March 7, 2014
A God Honored Relationship
Genesis 1:27b
"In the image of God created he him;
male and female created he them"
God created us with a need for and dependence on, relationships. We were not designed to do life alone. "And the Lord God said, It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him." (Genesis 2:18). This is a reminder that not one of us can fulfill our live without others. We must first remember to have life-giving relationships and not life-depleting ones. There is no way to have a godly relationship that is full of hurting emotions, such as negativity, criticism, jealousy, insecurity and fear. That relationship my friend will end in disaster.
We must proactively build our relationship with a real purpose and destiny. I encourage you to share and be upfront and honest in all relationships whether they be, close friends, family, a dating relationship or a marriage relationship. Make sure that each party is working in harmony, helping each other, and not hindering each other. If your relationship is producing the fruits of the spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, than you and I will know that we have a godly companion and, a "God Honored Relationship."
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"In the image of God created he him;
male and female created he them"
God created us with a need for and dependence on, relationships. We were not designed to do life alone. "And the Lord God said, It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him." (Genesis 2:18). This is a reminder that not one of us can fulfill our live without others. We must first remember to have life-giving relationships and not life-depleting ones. There is no way to have a godly relationship that is full of hurting emotions, such as negativity, criticism, jealousy, insecurity and fear. That relationship my friend will end in disaster.
We must proactively build our relationship with a real purpose and destiny. I encourage you to share and be upfront and honest in all relationships whether they be, close friends, family, a dating relationship or a marriage relationship. Make sure that each party is working in harmony, helping each other, and not hindering each other. If your relationship is producing the fruits of the spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, than you and I will know that we have a godly companion and, a "God Honored Relationship."
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Hope; An Anchor For The Soul
Hebrews 6:19
"Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul"
I remember when I was on an evening cruise from Todendorf Germany to Denmark. As we started our voyage out to sea, the Captain came over the microphone and said, "Once we reach Denmark we will drop anchor for four hours, for those who wish to stay aboard you may do so, and he said with a chuckle; don't worry the ship will not float away it has a huge anchor."
As my friends and I enjoyed our visit to Denmark it never came across my mind about what the Captain had said earlier about the anchor. However a light did come to mind. That anchor was a fitting visual to the Scripture in Hebrews 6:19. Hope is our strong and trustworthy anchor for our soul, just like the ship's anchor was for it. There will be times in our lives when things around us gets rocky and unbalanced. If our hope is in the unbalanced things in our lives we will start drifting and soon become shipwrecked in sin. But as long as our hope is anchored in Jesus Christ, we will never be moved. Praise God!!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul"
I remember when I was on an evening cruise from Todendorf Germany to Denmark. As we started our voyage out to sea, the Captain came over the microphone and said, "Once we reach Denmark we will drop anchor for four hours, for those who wish to stay aboard you may do so, and he said with a chuckle; don't worry the ship will not float away it has a huge anchor."
As my friends and I enjoyed our visit to Denmark it never came across my mind about what the Captain had said earlier about the anchor. However a light did come to mind. That anchor was a fitting visual to the Scripture in Hebrews 6:19. Hope is our strong and trustworthy anchor for our soul, just like the ship's anchor was for it. There will be times in our lives when things around us gets rocky and unbalanced. If our hope is in the unbalanced things in our lives we will start drifting and soon become shipwrecked in sin. But as long as our hope is anchored in Jesus Christ, we will never be moved. Praise God!!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Looking Toward Heaven
Psalm 84:2
"My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth
for the courts of the Lord"
Until we are in the courts of our Lord our soul will long to be with our Lord. But until then, we have something to hold on to! The very life of Jesus Christ has been put within us, and is moving within us, "a perfect life." May God help us to see the power of this life while here on this earth. The Bible tell us that the years of a man's life are threescore and ten, and so in the natural order of things my life will be finished in 70 years; but I have begun a new life that will never end.
"From everlasting to everlasting thou art God." This is the life that you and I have come into, and there is no end to this life. In us is a power stronger than any other power, "Christ the power of God." Though we long for our Lord, let us not be quick to faint on our Lord; For we are spiritually renewed daily by His Word.
You and I see, and cannot help seeing that these things cannot be understood on natural lines, no natural reasons can comprehend the divine plan. Let us not worry for it is a new life of absolute faith in the sufficiency of our God in everything that pertains to life and godliness. Therefore when we lean and call upon our living God; let us do so by faith. Amen
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth
for the courts of the Lord"
Until we are in the courts of our Lord our soul will long to be with our Lord. But until then, we have something to hold on to! The very life of Jesus Christ has been put within us, and is moving within us, "a perfect life." May God help us to see the power of this life while here on this earth. The Bible tell us that the years of a man's life are threescore and ten, and so in the natural order of things my life will be finished in 70 years; but I have begun a new life that will never end.
"From everlasting to everlasting thou art God." This is the life that you and I have come into, and there is no end to this life. In us is a power stronger than any other power, "Christ the power of God." Though we long for our Lord, let us not be quick to faint on our Lord; For we are spiritually renewed daily by His Word.
You and I see, and cannot help seeing that these things cannot be understood on natural lines, no natural reasons can comprehend the divine plan. Let us not worry for it is a new life of absolute faith in the sufficiency of our God in everything that pertains to life and godliness. Therefore when we lean and call upon our living God; let us do so by faith. Amen
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Burden-Bearing; Right and Wrongs
Psalm 55:22
"Cast thy burden upon the Lord"
We must distinguish between the burden-bearing that is right and the burden-bearing that is wrong. We ought never to bear the burden of sin or of doubt; but there are burdens placed on us by God which He does not intend to lift off, He wants us to trust in Him and give them back to Him. If we under take work for God and get out of touch with him, the sense of responsibility will be overwhelmingly crushing; but if we trust in God and give burdens back to Him, He takes away the sense of responsibility by bringing in the realization of Himself.
Many workers have gone out with high courage and fine impulses, but with no intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ, and before long they are crushed. They do not know what to do with the burden, it produces weariness, and people say; "What an embittered end to such a beginning!"
If you have been bearing all your burdens; deliberately put one end on the shoulders of God. "The government shall be upon His shoulder." Commit to God. "that He hath given and the burden is lightened by the sense of companionship. Never disassociate yourself from the burden. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"Cast thy burden upon the Lord"
We must distinguish between the burden-bearing that is right and the burden-bearing that is wrong. We ought never to bear the burden of sin or of doubt; but there are burdens placed on us by God which He does not intend to lift off, He wants us to trust in Him and give them back to Him. If we under take work for God and get out of touch with him, the sense of responsibility will be overwhelmingly crushing; but if we trust in God and give burdens back to Him, He takes away the sense of responsibility by bringing in the realization of Himself.
Many workers have gone out with high courage and fine impulses, but with no intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ, and before long they are crushed. They do not know what to do with the burden, it produces weariness, and people say; "What an embittered end to such a beginning!"
If you have been bearing all your burdens; deliberately put one end on the shoulders of God. "The government shall be upon His shoulder." Commit to God. "that He hath given and the burden is lightened by the sense of companionship. Never disassociate yourself from the burden. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Monday, March 3, 2014
Dried Up Religion Hangs Around
Matthew 23:25b
"For you make clean the outside of the
cup and the platter,but within they
are full of extortion and excess"
Have you ever picked up a fork that you thought was clean, but as you looked at it you find old food still hanging on it. Then you pick up a bowl and it still has food clinging to it. Have you ever admired someone who was the picture of a Christian, only to find some old dried sins still stuck to their spotless reputations? If you said yes to any of these questions, then you can understand Jesus' picture of the Pharisees. Jesus challenged them to get their inner person and their outer person in line.
What a challenge this is in our lives. Which one of us would want to list our inner most thoughts on a board in front of the church to see? I don't think anyone would do that, because we like to protest our privacy. Piety can be the most deceptive of masks. We can look clean, even holy while we harbor intentions far from decency. Yesterdays old affections still cling to today's piety.
We must not harbor a lust for power and authority and devour the livelihood of those around us. Religion is easily corrupted. It is easy to confuse our need to serve God and our need to play God. How quickly the church is spoiled when this distinction is lost. Just think of what power might settle on us if we were all clean on the inside as we were on the outside. AMEN!!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"For you make clean the outside of the
cup and the platter,but within they
are full of extortion and excess"
Have you ever picked up a fork that you thought was clean, but as you looked at it you find old food still hanging on it. Then you pick up a bowl and it still has food clinging to it. Have you ever admired someone who was the picture of a Christian, only to find some old dried sins still stuck to their spotless reputations? If you said yes to any of these questions, then you can understand Jesus' picture of the Pharisees. Jesus challenged them to get their inner person and their outer person in line.
What a challenge this is in our lives. Which one of us would want to list our inner most thoughts on a board in front of the church to see? I don't think anyone would do that, because we like to protest our privacy. Piety can be the most deceptive of masks. We can look clean, even holy while we harbor intentions far from decency. Yesterdays old affections still cling to today's piety.
We must not harbor a lust for power and authority and devour the livelihood of those around us. Religion is easily corrupted. It is easy to confuse our need to serve God and our need to play God. How quickly the church is spoiled when this distinction is lost. Just think of what power might settle on us if we were all clean on the inside as we were on the outside. AMEN!!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
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