1 John 5:13a
"These things have I written unto you that
believe on the name of the Son of God"
How do you respond to good news? Say, for example, that your friends arrive with a letter and a check made out in your name. With hugs and cheers they explain that a rich relative has sent you a huge gift. How do you respond? You have two choices, you can disbelieve. You may think "this is to good to be true," and trash the check. Or you can believe enough to go to the bank, endorse the check, and receive the full benefit of the gift. Your response depends on what you chose to believe.
In the same way the "Good News" benefits those who accept it. As 1 John 5:13 says, this message is "to you who may believe." Now brothers and sisters in Christ I want to remind you of the "Gospel" (Good News) that has been preached and is being preached today. If you have received and have taken you stand, by this same "Gospel of Jesus Christ" you are saved, you must hold firmly to the Word of God. If you received and you believed, than you have chosen Jesus Christ, for there is no other way to the Father. Therefore stand solid on your decision and keep the faith. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Division Obscures The Cross
John 13:35
"By this shall all men know that ye are
my disciples, if ye show love one to another"
To know if your church is starting to have a "Division Problem" look for these indicators. Splitting into groups, disunion, separation of members according to how they feel or stand on an issue in the church. Division is not nothing new. It has been present in churches in previous generations, the the restoration era, back to the first generation of Christians, to the present. They have all faced the same recurring problem; work of the flesh (Galatians 5:20) "The Cause" and false teachers (2 Peter 2:1) "The Who".
Yet, to often the church is know by their bickering and division among itself, instead of being know as churches that show love for one another. When a church is divided, it is easy to fall into the temptation of placing blame on others, but the reality is that if your church is divided, "You" not the person who has all sorts of problem and issues, may be the cause of division.
Many don't set out to be divisive in the church. The seeds of division are small, but they can grow into a large problem. As Christians, it is important that we prayerfully, examine ourselves to see if we are or are not the cause of division within our congregation. Here is five signs to consider. Now before I list these five signs, remember do not just go throughout your church looking for this signs to be used against members of your church or other churches. The five signs are: Pride, Heresy, Legalism, Distrust, and Traditionalism which in and of itself is not a bad thing, as long as it don't become an idol that can divide churches. We all have the same Spirit of God within us, therefore let's act like it even when the church is going through struggles. Amen!!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"By this shall all men know that ye are
my disciples, if ye show love one to another"
To know if your church is starting to have a "Division Problem" look for these indicators. Splitting into groups, disunion, separation of members according to how they feel or stand on an issue in the church. Division is not nothing new. It has been present in churches in previous generations, the the restoration era, back to the first generation of Christians, to the present. They have all faced the same recurring problem; work of the flesh (Galatians 5:20) "The Cause" and false teachers (2 Peter 2:1) "The Who".
Yet, to often the church is know by their bickering and division among itself, instead of being know as churches that show love for one another. When a church is divided, it is easy to fall into the temptation of placing blame on others, but the reality is that if your church is divided, "You" not the person who has all sorts of problem and issues, may be the cause of division.
Many don't set out to be divisive in the church. The seeds of division are small, but they can grow into a large problem. As Christians, it is important that we prayerfully, examine ourselves to see if we are or are not the cause of division within our congregation. Here is five signs to consider. Now before I list these five signs, remember do not just go throughout your church looking for this signs to be used against members of your church or other churches. The five signs are: Pride, Heresy, Legalism, Distrust, and Traditionalism which in and of itself is not a bad thing, as long as it don't become an idol that can divide churches. We all have the same Spirit of God within us, therefore let's act like it even when the church is going through struggles. Amen!!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Monday, April 28, 2014
Remember Your Blessings
1 Corinthians 1:5
"That in every thing ye are enriched by him,
in all utterance and in all knowledge"
The first thing we should ask ourselves is, have we forgotten our blessings? Now with that being said let's focus on something positive; the work of God's grace. As a Christian can you point out your blessings from God. When we speak critically about our church or another; how often do we pause and first consider evidences of God's work there? We go to church to hear God's word from someone God has appointed to preach the Gospel. We hear God's word and we have God's written word. We don't worship a picture or a statue or an idea. We worship a personal God who speaks and has spoken to us. We are blessed people!
We have been sanctified in Jesus Christ, declared and made holy in Him. Grasping the reality of sanctification is crucial to putting things in perspective. God separates people from the world by putting them in Jesus Christ. We are declared to be holy and righteous because Christ's holiness and righteous are accounted to us. Friends, if you are Christians, you do not need to labor under condemnation. To do so is to ignore what God has done for you in Christ. We are sanctified in Jesus Christ, and in Him we are being changed in our attitudes and actions, our loves and longings, to be more like Him. This is true of you, my friends, therefore "Remember Your Blessings" Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
"That in every thing ye are enriched by him,
in all utterance and in all knowledge"
The first thing we should ask ourselves is, have we forgotten our blessings? Now with that being said let's focus on something positive; the work of God's grace. As a Christian can you point out your blessings from God. When we speak critically about our church or another; how often do we pause and first consider evidences of God's work there? We go to church to hear God's word from someone God has appointed to preach the Gospel. We hear God's word and we have God's written word. We don't worship a picture or a statue or an idea. We worship a personal God who speaks and has spoken to us. We are blessed people!
We have been sanctified in Jesus Christ, declared and made holy in Him. Grasping the reality of sanctification is crucial to putting things in perspective. God separates people from the world by putting them in Jesus Christ. We are declared to be holy and righteous because Christ's holiness and righteous are accounted to us. Friends, if you are Christians, you do not need to labor under condemnation. To do so is to ignore what God has done for you in Christ. We are sanctified in Jesus Christ, and in Him we are being changed in our attitudes and actions, our loves and longings, to be more like Him. This is true of you, my friends, therefore "Remember Your Blessings" Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
Friday, April 25, 2014
Warning Against Wantoning
Luke: 10:20
"Notwithstanding in this rejoice not,
that the spirits are subject unto you;
but rather rejoice, because your
names are written in heaven"
As Christians workers, worldliness is not our snare, sin is not our snare, but spiritual wantoning is, by taking the pattern and print of the religious age we live in, making eyes at spiritual success. Never go or do anything without the approval of God. Jesus told His disciples not to rejoice in successful service, and yet this seems to be the one thing in which most of us do rejoice. We have the commercial view, so many souls saved and sanctified, thank God, now for it's all right to do so. Our work begins where God's grace has laid the foundation; we are not to save souls, but to disciple them. Salvation and sanctification are the work of God's sovereign grace; our work as His disciples is to disciple lives until they are wholly yielded to God. One life wholly devoted to God is of more value to God than one hundred lives simply awakened by His Spirit. As workers for God we must reproduce our own kind spiritually, and that will be God's witness to us as workers. God brings us to a standard of life by His grace,and we are responsible for reproducing that standard in others. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"Notwithstanding in this rejoice not,
that the spirits are subject unto you;
but rather rejoice, because your
names are written in heaven"
As Christians workers, worldliness is not our snare, sin is not our snare, but spiritual wantoning is, by taking the pattern and print of the religious age we live in, making eyes at spiritual success. Never go or do anything without the approval of God. Jesus told His disciples not to rejoice in successful service, and yet this seems to be the one thing in which most of us do rejoice. We have the commercial view, so many souls saved and sanctified, thank God, now for it's all right to do so. Our work begins where God's grace has laid the foundation; we are not to save souls, but to disciple them. Salvation and sanctification are the work of God's sovereign grace; our work as His disciples is to disciple lives until they are wholly yielded to God. One life wholly devoted to God is of more value to God than one hundred lives simply awakened by His Spirit. As workers for God we must reproduce our own kind spiritually, and that will be God's witness to us as workers. God brings us to a standard of life by His grace,and we are responsible for reproducing that standard in others. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Thursday, April 24, 2014
The Light That Never Fails
2 Corinthians 3:18
"We all, with open face beholding...
the glory of the Lord"
A servant of God must stand so much alone that he never knows he is alone. In the first phases of Christian life disheartenments come, people who used to be lights flicker out, and those who used to stand with us pass away. We have to get so use to it that we never know we are standing alone. "All men forsook me... notwithstanding the lord stood with me" (2 Timothy 4:16-17). We must build our faith, not on the fading light, but on the light that never fails. When a "child of God" leaves us, we are sad, until we see that they are meant to go. The one thing that remains is looking in the face of God for ourselves. Amen!!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"We all, with open face beholding...
the glory of the Lord"
A servant of God must stand so much alone that he never knows he is alone. In the first phases of Christian life disheartenments come, people who used to be lights flicker out, and those who used to stand with us pass away. We have to get so use to it that we never know we are standing alone. "All men forsook me... notwithstanding the lord stood with me" (2 Timothy 4:16-17). We must build our faith, not on the fading light, but on the light that never fails. When a "child of God" leaves us, we are sad, until we see that they are meant to go. The one thing that remains is looking in the face of God for ourselves. Amen!!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Worship Of The Work
1 Corinthians 3:9
"Labourers together with God"
Beware of any work for God which enables you to evade concentration on Him. A lot of Christian workers worship their work. The one concern of a worker should be concentration on God, and this will mean that all the other margins of life, mental, moral and spiritual, are free with the freedom of a child, a worshiping child, not a wayward child. A worker without this solemn dominance of concentration on God is most likely to get his work wrap around himself; where their is no margin of body, mind, or spirit free, and eventually becomes spent and crushed.
There is no freedom, no delight in life; nerves, mind, and heart are so burdened that God's blessing cannot rest. But the other side is just as true; once the contraction is on God, all the margins of life are free and under the dominance of God. There is no responsibility on you for the work; the only responsibility you have is to keep in living constant touch with God, and to see that you allow nothing to hinder your obedience to God. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"Labourers together with God"
Beware of any work for God which enables you to evade concentration on Him. A lot of Christian workers worship their work. The one concern of a worker should be concentration on God, and this will mean that all the other margins of life, mental, moral and spiritual, are free with the freedom of a child, a worshiping child, not a wayward child. A worker without this solemn dominance of concentration on God is most likely to get his work wrap around himself; where their is no margin of body, mind, or spirit free, and eventually becomes spent and crushed.
There is no freedom, no delight in life; nerves, mind, and heart are so burdened that God's blessing cannot rest. But the other side is just as true; once the contraction is on God, all the margins of life are free and under the dominance of God. There is no responsibility on you for the work; the only responsibility you have is to keep in living constant touch with God, and to see that you allow nothing to hinder your obedience to God. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Be Careful Of Spiritual Phonies
Romans 16:17
"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them
which cause divisions and offenses contrary
contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned"
Some people will reject Jesus as their Savior. Some will accept Jesus but will never allow the Holy Spirit to teach them or to change their minds. Such people will always cause division. We are taught to identify such people and avoid them. Our behavior always follows our beliefs. If another person believes things that are contrary to the Bible doctrine, they will eventually behave contrary to Bible doctrine, and will not be serving Jesus; they will be serving their own lust and desires.
It is not always easy to recognize spiritual phonies. They may speak great, good words and make wonderful claims about what they are doing. These things will serve to deceive the hearts of some Christians. Paul describes these people as simple, a word that suggests without harm or guile. Some people believe everything they hear, and they are often easily fooled by false claims. The test of any teaching is obedience. Does the person who makes grand claims live up to what he says? if not, then be cautious about listening to what he says. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them
which cause divisions and offenses contrary
contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned"
Some people will reject Jesus as their Savior. Some will accept Jesus but will never allow the Holy Spirit to teach them or to change their minds. Such people will always cause division. We are taught to identify such people and avoid them. Our behavior always follows our beliefs. If another person believes things that are contrary to the Bible doctrine, they will eventually behave contrary to Bible doctrine, and will not be serving Jesus; they will be serving their own lust and desires.
It is not always easy to recognize spiritual phonies. They may speak great, good words and make wonderful claims about what they are doing. These things will serve to deceive the hearts of some Christians. Paul describes these people as simple, a word that suggests without harm or guile. Some people believe everything they hear, and they are often easily fooled by false claims. The test of any teaching is obedience. Does the person who makes grand claims live up to what he says? if not, then be cautious about listening to what he says. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Friday, April 18, 2014
Overcome Or Be Overcome
Romans 12:21
"Be not overcome of evil, but
overcome evil with good"
Just as Romans 12:21 states, we have only two choices in dealing with our own evil or the evil of others. We can overcome evil, or we can be overcome by evil. If a child of God will not present his or her body to the Lord, he or she is over come by evil. If church members cannot disagree in an agreeable way, they are overcome by evil. If we cannot go into the world with a sweet spirit and live on a different level, we are overcome by evil. Evil rules this sinful world and it can and will overcome us if we fail to stay close to Jesus Christ. The safest place for a sheep among wolves is next to the shepherd. That is where God wants us to be. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"Be not overcome of evil, but
overcome evil with good"
Just as Romans 12:21 states, we have only two choices in dealing with our own evil or the evil of others. We can overcome evil, or we can be overcome by evil. If a child of God will not present his or her body to the Lord, he or she is over come by evil. If church members cannot disagree in an agreeable way, they are overcome by evil. If we cannot go into the world with a sweet spirit and live on a different level, we are overcome by evil. Evil rules this sinful world and it can and will overcome us if we fail to stay close to Jesus Christ. The safest place for a sheep among wolves is next to the shepherd. That is where God wants us to be. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Thursday, April 17, 2014
What Matters, Is Where We Are Going!
Romans 10:4
"For Christ is the end of the law for
righteousness to every one that believeth"
The problems of this world will never be solved until Israel has a right relationship with Jesus Christ. This is not spiritual conjecture; it is biblical reality. No individual or nation can have a right relationship with God unless it realizes that righteousness does not come from works but through faith. As long as people try to be righteous through their deeds, they succeed in proving what the Law of Moses declared so long ago; all people are sinners. True salvation is the gift of God, and it comes when people repent of their sins and place their personal faith in Jesus Christ.
It is not just the plan of salvation for the Gentiles alone; salvation is for all people. No matter what our national heritage or ethnic background , or where and what our fathers worshiped, Jesus is the only begotten Son of God and He alone is the Mediator between God and people. The great matters in life do not concern where we came from; they concern where we are going. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"For Christ is the end of the law for
righteousness to every one that believeth"
The problems of this world will never be solved until Israel has a right relationship with Jesus Christ. This is not spiritual conjecture; it is biblical reality. No individual or nation can have a right relationship with God unless it realizes that righteousness does not come from works but through faith. As long as people try to be righteous through their deeds, they succeed in proving what the Law of Moses declared so long ago; all people are sinners. True salvation is the gift of God, and it comes when people repent of their sins and place their personal faith in Jesus Christ.
It is not just the plan of salvation for the Gentiles alone; salvation is for all people. No matter what our national heritage or ethnic background , or where and what our fathers worshiped, Jesus is the only begotten Son of God and He alone is the Mediator between God and people. The great matters in life do not concern where we came from; they concern where we are going. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Anchor of Hope
Hebrews 6:19
"Which hope we have as an anchor
of the soul, both sure and steadfast"
When it comes to our salvation, our hope is anchored in the promise of God and the work of Jesus Christ. The winds and waves of doubt, discouragement, and spiritual attack by evil can cause us to think that we are adrift and salvation from God is not secure. Don't think that way! God has given His promise that our salvation is sure, and He cannot lie. Our hope is securely fastened in Jesus Christ who redeemed us once and for all when He died, rose again, and ascended to heaven. Our anchor is the Rock unmovable; Jesus Christ. His limitless love holds us sure and steadfast.
AMEN!!
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, both sure and steadfast"
When it comes to our salvation, our hope is anchored in the promise of God and the work of Jesus Christ. The winds and waves of doubt, discouragement, and spiritual attack by evil can cause us to think that we are adrift and salvation from God is not secure. Don't think that way! God has given His promise that our salvation is sure, and He cannot lie. Our hope is securely fastened in Jesus Christ who redeemed us once and for all when He died, rose again, and ascended to heaven. Our anchor is the Rock unmovable; Jesus Christ. His limitless love holds us sure and steadfast.
AMEN!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Safe In Christ
Romans 33:39
"Nor height, nor, depth,nor any other creature, shall
be able to separate us from the love of God
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord"
There is a great contrast in Romans between being the servant of sin, earning the wages of death and being a child of God secure in the knowledge that eternal happiness is waiting at the end of physical living. Eternal life is the gift of God. Men do not work to earn it and do not have to work to keep it. We are saved by grace; we live by grace, and we are secure in the grace of God. Men can and do fail in their endeavors, but God never does. God always delivers what He promises. It is helpful to remember that it is not up to us to keep ourselves saved; it is up to God. Although we fail, God never does.
The Holy Spirit is always there to make intercession for us when we pray. The plan of God is ever before us and every day God is working out that plan in our lives so that all things will work together for our good. Added to that is the unfailing love of Jesus for those who belong to Him. Nothing in present life or in the life to come can ever separate us from His love. Our lives will take on a new meaning when we realize these life-changing truths and appropriate them to our own souls every day. Amen!!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"Nor height, nor, depth,nor any other creature, shall
be able to separate us from the love of God
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord"
There is a great contrast in Romans between being the servant of sin, earning the wages of death and being a child of God secure in the knowledge that eternal happiness is waiting at the end of physical living. Eternal life is the gift of God. Men do not work to earn it and do not have to work to keep it. We are saved by grace; we live by grace, and we are secure in the grace of God. Men can and do fail in their endeavors, but God never does. God always delivers what He promises. It is helpful to remember that it is not up to us to keep ourselves saved; it is up to God. Although we fail, God never does.
The Holy Spirit is always there to make intercession for us when we pray. The plan of God is ever before us and every day God is working out that plan in our lives so that all things will work together for our good. Added to that is the unfailing love of Jesus for those who belong to Him. Nothing in present life or in the life to come can ever separate us from His love. Our lives will take on a new meaning when we realize these life-changing truths and appropriate them to our own souls every day. Amen!!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Monday, April 14, 2014
God's Ray's Of Love
Psalm 145:9
"The Lord is good to all"
We are creatures of a God Who takes care of His beings. He does not leave us to fin by ourselves, nor does He disown His children. God knows our happiness and our misery, never has God left Himself un-witnessed to man. He has never withdrawn His Fatherly providence and love, never abandoned the feeble, helpless, untutored children. From our first breath until our last God has been there for our support, our instruction, our guidance, and our climb to higher attainments. He constantly reveals himself to us in various ways, constantly giving us undeserved benefits; sometimes lovingly correcting, and sometimes bountifully blessing us, and constantly being nigh to us.
God's Love is as wide as the whole scope of Heaven. It is abundant as all the air. If one had art to gather up all the golden sunlight that falls wide over the continent today, through every silent hour; across every ocean wrapped in every wave, and as the overflow falls down through the bright hours of the morning, then we could visualize the rays of God's love as they enter into the secret place of man, "Our Heart's" Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"The Lord is good to all"
We are creatures of a God Who takes care of His beings. He does not leave us to fin by ourselves, nor does He disown His children. God knows our happiness and our misery, never has God left Himself un-witnessed to man. He has never withdrawn His Fatherly providence and love, never abandoned the feeble, helpless, untutored children. From our first breath until our last God has been there for our support, our instruction, our guidance, and our climb to higher attainments. He constantly reveals himself to us in various ways, constantly giving us undeserved benefits; sometimes lovingly correcting, and sometimes bountifully blessing us, and constantly being nigh to us.
God's Love is as wide as the whole scope of Heaven. It is abundant as all the air. If one had art to gather up all the golden sunlight that falls wide over the continent today, through every silent hour; across every ocean wrapped in every wave, and as the overflow falls down through the bright hours of the morning, then we could visualize the rays of God's love as they enter into the secret place of man, "Our Heart's" Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Thursday, April 10, 2014
The Debt Of Love
Romans 13:8
"Owe no man any thing, but to love one
another: for he that loveth another
hath fulfilled the law"
The wise advice in Romans 13:8 will save us many sorrows. We have a duty to love one another. We own it to each other to do so, but we should incur no other debt. This verse is plain and easy to understand; yet, many of God's children are in financial difficulties simply because they have not taken this verse seriously. We all have a debt of love, and we should not have any others.
Paul repeats a lesson Jesus taught in answer to a question from a lawyer. Jesus was asked about which was the greatest commandment of the Law (Mark 12:29-31). Jesus answered that all the Law was summed up in loving God and loving our neighbor. If we think of others in the same way we think of ourselves, we would never do harm to anyone, at least not purposely. What we do not readily see is that when we harm others we are in some way harming ourselves. Every sin has in it the seeds of destruction, and sin will destroy a sinner from the inside out.
Selfishness, which is the opposite of love, always works to destroy. Love works to build up and edify. When we love someone, we want the best for them. We cannot declare our love and also seek to harm others. This is way the law of love can replace every other law. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"Owe no man any thing, but to love one
another: for he that loveth another
hath fulfilled the law"
The wise advice in Romans 13:8 will save us many sorrows. We have a duty to love one another. We own it to each other to do so, but we should incur no other debt. This verse is plain and easy to understand; yet, many of God's children are in financial difficulties simply because they have not taken this verse seriously. We all have a debt of love, and we should not have any others.
Paul repeats a lesson Jesus taught in answer to a question from a lawyer. Jesus was asked about which was the greatest commandment of the Law (Mark 12:29-31). Jesus answered that all the Law was summed up in loving God and loving our neighbor. If we think of others in the same way we think of ourselves, we would never do harm to anyone, at least not purposely. What we do not readily see is that when we harm others we are in some way harming ourselves. Every sin has in it the seeds of destruction, and sin will destroy a sinner from the inside out.
Selfishness, which is the opposite of love, always works to destroy. Love works to build up and edify. When we love someone, we want the best for them. We cannot declare our love and also seek to harm others. This is way the law of love can replace every other law. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Operating In The Will Of God
Romans 13:1
"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.
For there is no power but of God: the
powers that be are ordained of God"
Christians should always choose to do right and obey God. We should not use this as an excuse to disobey the laws of the land. Generally, rulers are not a threat to those who want to do good; they are threats to those who do evil. If our desire is truly to serve the Lord and do good to all men, we will find that most governments will welcome our actions. If we have a secret agenda to overthrow the government and make ourselves rulers we will encounter trouble.
God's plan for human governments is that they would do good for those they control. When a government is not doing good, God can and will replace it. Indeed, God may use human instruments to accomplish this.
Governments also exist to punish those who do evil. God will use the nations of this earth to stop evil and to punish those who do evil. A child of God should take a long view of human government and realize every government is temporary and all human governments will eventually be replaced by the everlasting Kingdom of God. AMEN!!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.
For there is no power but of God: the
powers that be are ordained of God"
Christians should always choose to do right and obey God. We should not use this as an excuse to disobey the laws of the land. Generally, rulers are not a threat to those who want to do good; they are threats to those who do evil. If our desire is truly to serve the Lord and do good to all men, we will find that most governments will welcome our actions. If we have a secret agenda to overthrow the government and make ourselves rulers we will encounter trouble.
God's plan for human governments is that they would do good for those they control. When a government is not doing good, God can and will replace it. Indeed, God may use human instruments to accomplish this.
Governments also exist to punish those who do evil. God will use the nations of this earth to stop evil and to punish those who do evil. A child of God should take a long view of human government and realize every government is temporary and all human governments will eventually be replaced by the everlasting Kingdom of God. AMEN!!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Friday, April 4, 2014
When Personality Merges
John 17:22
"That they may be one, even as we are one"
Personality is that peculiar, thing that is meant when we speak of ourselves as distinct from everyone else. Our personality is always too big for us to grasp. An island in the sea may be but the top of a great mountain. Personality is like an island, we know nothing about the great depths underneath, consequently we cannot estimate ourselves. We begin by thinking that we can, but we come to realize that there is only one Being Who understands us, and that is our Creator, "Almighty God."
Personality is the characteristic of the spiritual man as individuality is the characteristic of the natural man. Our Lord can never be defined in terms of individuality and independence, but only in term of personality, "I and My Father are one." Personality merges, and you only reach your real identity when you are merged with another person. When love, or the Spirit of God, strikes a man, he is transformed, he no longer insists upon his separate individuality. Our Lord never spoke in terms of individuality, of a man's elbows" or his isolated position, but in terms of personality; "that they may be one, even as We are one."
If you give up your right to yourself to God, the real true nature of your personality answers to God straight away. Jesus Christ emancipates the personality, and the individuality is transfigured; the transfiguring element is love, personal devotion to Jesus. Love is the outpouring of one personality in fellowship with another personality. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"That they may be one, even as we are one"
Personality is that peculiar, thing that is meant when we speak of ourselves as distinct from everyone else. Our personality is always too big for us to grasp. An island in the sea may be but the top of a great mountain. Personality is like an island, we know nothing about the great depths underneath, consequently we cannot estimate ourselves. We begin by thinking that we can, but we come to realize that there is only one Being Who understands us, and that is our Creator, "Almighty God."
Personality is the characteristic of the spiritual man as individuality is the characteristic of the natural man. Our Lord can never be defined in terms of individuality and independence, but only in term of personality, "I and My Father are one." Personality merges, and you only reach your real identity when you are merged with another person. When love, or the Spirit of God, strikes a man, he is transformed, he no longer insists upon his separate individuality. Our Lord never spoke in terms of individuality, of a man's elbows" or his isolated position, but in terms of personality; "that they may be one, even as We are one."
If you give up your right to yourself to God, the real true nature of your personality answers to God straight away. Jesus Christ emancipates the personality, and the individuality is transfigured; the transfiguring element is love, personal devotion to Jesus. Love is the outpouring of one personality in fellowship with another personality. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Build On A Firm Foundation
Matthew 7:24b
"I will liken him unto a wise man
which built his house upon a rock"
The parable that Jesus describes in Matthew (7:24-27) is this, "When the rain descended and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon the house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock." (Matthew 7:25) But the foolish man built his house upon the sand. "And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it." (Matthew 7:27)
There has been many great disaster's in this world; and in the lives of the people that were effected by them, since Jesus spoke this parable. Biloxi and Gulf-port and New Orleans are just a few, but they pierced the illusion of the worlds permanence. However through the strength and love of other people, and other States; within the United States, they are rising again.
But there is no recovery from the crash Jesus describes in His Parable. I pray that all of us will be aware of the truth within our own selves, and that we will look to unity in our congregations and from it to the gospel of the crucified Christ. Then let us look to our own treasures to see if our hearts are founded on the Rock, "Christ," or if we have built our lives and our loves in a much dangerous place. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"I will liken him unto a wise man
which built his house upon a rock"
The parable that Jesus describes in Matthew (7:24-27) is this, "When the rain descended and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon the house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock." (Matthew 7:25) But the foolish man built his house upon the sand. "And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it." (Matthew 7:27)
There has been many great disaster's in this world; and in the lives of the people that were effected by them, since Jesus spoke this parable. Biloxi and Gulf-port and New Orleans are just a few, but they pierced the illusion of the worlds permanence. However through the strength and love of other people, and other States; within the United States, they are rising again.
But there is no recovery from the crash Jesus describes in His Parable. I pray that all of us will be aware of the truth within our own selves, and that we will look to unity in our congregations and from it to the gospel of the crucified Christ. Then let us look to our own treasures to see if our hearts are founded on the Rock, "Christ," or if we have built our lives and our loves in a much dangerous place. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
When I Entered I Learned
Psalm 73:17
"Until I went into the sanctuary of
God; then I understood"
David very properly puts entering into the sanctuaries as going to the school of God, and his meaning is this: Until God became my schoolmaster, and until I learn by His word what otherwise my mind alone could not. When I come to consider the things of this world and can not comprehend, I stop short all at once, understanding nothing about the subject. So here we realize that men are unfit for contemplating the arrangements of divine providence, until we obtain wisdom elsewhere than from ourselves, how can we attain to wisdom but by submissively receiving what God teaches us, both by his Word and by His Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit dwells within those that have become children of God, therefore we leave the things of sense for the things invisible. We change our worldly point of view to God's point of view and our apparent disorder resolves itself into harmony. It is time to acknowledge that men are not created to flourish for a short time in this world to have luxuries and pleasures while in it, but man's aspirations should be toward Heaven. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
"Until I went into the sanctuary of
God; then I understood"
David very properly puts entering into the sanctuaries as going to the school of God, and his meaning is this: Until God became my schoolmaster, and until I learn by His word what otherwise my mind alone could not. When I come to consider the things of this world and can not comprehend, I stop short all at once, understanding nothing about the subject. So here we realize that men are unfit for contemplating the arrangements of divine providence, until we obtain wisdom elsewhere than from ourselves, how can we attain to wisdom but by submissively receiving what God teaches us, both by his Word and by His Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit dwells within those that have become children of God, therefore we leave the things of sense for the things invisible. We change our worldly point of view to God's point of view and our apparent disorder resolves itself into harmony. It is time to acknowledge that men are not created to flourish for a short time in this world to have luxuries and pleasures while in it, but man's aspirations should be toward Heaven. Amen!!
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
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