Saul And Samuel Together

1Samuel 9:6  

"And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, 

and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: 

now let us go thither; peradventure he can 

shew us our way that we should go."

    As a king was demanded by the people, one was selected to suit their taste “a choice young man, and a goodly!” But the king after God’s own heart was selected for other qualities, "But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart," (1 Sam. 16:7).  Saul’s character lacked important elements. His ignorance about Samuel was surprising; even his servant knew better. This did not promise well for a successful reign, "but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits," (Dan. 11:32b.)
    But how should Saul and Samuel be brought together? A succession of trifling and ordinary events prove to be the links in the divinely constructed chain. The lost the prolonged search, the fear of the effect of anxiety upon Kish, the timely suggestion of the servant and his possession of a few coins which would serve as an introduction, the greeting of the young girls on their way to the well, what accidents they seem! No, but they are Providences! All things work together to execute God’s purpose. Nothing is too trivial to be part of the divine plan. Let us follow the indications of God’s will, they lead to the waiting seat, the reserved portion, and the ultimate throne. 

Amen!

Reading: 1 Sam. 9:1-17
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr

The Cross Life Ministry

Motive Can Make Our Actions Sinful

1 Samuel 8:7

" And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice 

of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they 

have not rejected thee: but they have rejected 

me, that I should not reign over them."

    Like Eli, Samuel neglected to discipline and teach his sons properly. Perhaps, like servants of God today, he was away from home too often, and to occupied with helping others. Just like the personal failures of individual ministers lead many to reject the whole concept of the Church, the failure of Samuel's son's lead the people to reject their authority as judges, as well as to reject God.
    So the Israelites request for a King is condemned by God. What is it that made the request a sin? God knew that someday Israel would desire a King. In Deut. 17:14-20, He had given guidelines that were to be followed by the people and by the Kings that would reign over them, Gen. 17:6, 16; 35:11.  It seems equally clear that there was nothing wrong with the time of their request. The Kingdom would not be proper until the coming of the Messiah, so it seems that the motive of the people making the request was what made their actions sinful: though on the surface their motives seem to be justified: they wanted to avoid further military losses and to be rid of the corrupt leaders of the future, the sons of Samuel and Eli. 
    Samuel saw their request to be a rejection of himself, but God affirmed that they had actually rejected Him. They rejected God because they wanted to be like the other nations, not a peculiar, set apart as the chosen ones of God. What they wanted was a visible deliverer, a man that they could trust. They wanted to walk by sight, not by faith.  My friends let us always place our trust in our Lord and walk by faith and not by sight.
Amen!

Reading: 1 Sam. 8:1-22
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You 

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Christmas Eve In Heaven

Isaiah 7:14  

"Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; 

Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, 

and shall call his name Immanuel." 

    It was Christmas Eve in Heaven, and all was joyful with singing around God's Throne. Then all at once there was a silence in Heaven, as if time had stopped all around. A deep voice came from God's Throne, and this is what God Said. "Son Bring MY Children Home"!!
    Jesus turned to ready Heaven for all God's children to come home, the dead in Christ will come first followed by the living in Christ. But wait, a voice was heard from the souls singing around God's Throne. The voice cried out, "My Lord My God," O' please not yet, I have loved ones that have not yet ask Jesus to forgive them for all their sins. "They don't know, The Saviour, your Son Jesus Christ"! Please wait a little longer before You send Jesus down to bring our brethren home.
    A voice came from the throne saying, "Time was given enough for the wicked to seek Salvation, and some had many chances." So God told Jesus to go,
"Bring My Children Home On This Christmas Eve"!! 

God Bless Us All 

On This Christmas Eve

Minister Robert Lail

The Cross Life Ministry

The Plot Of Joseph's Death

Gen 37:13  

"And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed 

the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send 

thee unto them. And he said to him, 

Here am I."

 
    From head to tow, Joseph was a very remarkable type of our Lord. The first mission of the beloved Joseph was to check on the well being of his brethren, which reminds us of the advent of God’s Beloved and Only Begotten Son, who brought us the Father’s greeting, and came to see and know by personal inquiry how we fared.
    Dothan was in the northern portion of the land, and the journey must have taken time and strength; but he persisted until he found them, and came where they were. Their plot against their helpless brother was as the plot of Caiaphas and the rest against our Lord. Pilate knew that for envy they had delivered Jesus into his hands.  
    The pit Joseph's brothers put him in was probably one of the rock hewn cisterns that were all around in Palestine, to catch water but there was no water in it. Joseph’s life was not sacrificed; and there he awaited what was a kind of resurrection. The scene at the pit’s mouth was recalled by Joseph, "And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come," (Gen. 42:9), and was never forgotten by the others,  "And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us. And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required," (Gen. 2:21-22). 
Amen!

Reading: Gen. 37:12-24
Ref:

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry 

Keep The Trash Out

Proverbs 15:14  

"The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: 

but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness."

 

     It want be long until, millions of people are glued to their TVs watching the 2017 Super. However, it’s interesting to note that studies have shown while roughly half the audience is watching because of the football game, the other half actually watches for the commercials. Companies create ads so  that what is typically perceived as an interference in our entertainment, is actually seen as entertainment itself.

    But we all know the real reason why companies put together such ads, it’s to increase their sales. In fact, companies spend a whopping $5 million for a 30 second time slot during the Super Bowl and about $8 million for 60 seconds. All this proves what ad companies already know: what we see profoundly impacts what we do.

    Or as we sometimes say, "garbage in, garbage out." Whatever goes in, must come out. So if a wise person hungers for knowledge and consumes knowledge, he or she is going to make wise decisions about how to act. On the other hand, a fool "feeds on trash." A fool is drawn toward foolishness and, as a result, acts foolishly. What are we feeding ourselves?  

    Our Lord warns us about chasing after what our eyes see and desire. What we see is what we ultimately consume, and then it eventually consumes us. Just as it is important to be careful with what we ingest physically so that we might have a strong and healthy body, we need to be vigilant in what we see and digest in order to keep a strong and healthy soul. Don’t be fooled into thinking that what we see doesn’t affect how we think and what we do. If that were true, no one would pay $5 million dollars for a 30-second ad!

    What we look at matters. What we pay attention to matters. So we better guard ourselves from consuming trash. Instead of watching garbage on television, use your eyes to fill yourself up on God’s Words. Don’t listen to trash talk; instead listen to inspiring Bible classes.

It’s been said "you are what you eat" Perhaps a more accurate statement is we are very much the product of what we see, hear, and think.

Amen!

Reading: Prov. 15:1-33

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr. 

The Cross Life Ministry

Having Everything Means, I Have Exactly What I Need!

Genesis: 33:11

"Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; 

because God hath dealt graciously with me, and 

because I have enough. And he urged 

him, and he took it."

    Jacob sent his brother Esau extremely generous gifts in hopes of winning his friendship, even though the two had been enemies for years. Thankfully, Esau reacted positively to the gesture. Not only did he extend his hand in friendship, but he even declined to take any of Jacob’s possessions. "And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself."
(Gen. 33:9).  Jacob insisted: "Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it," (Gen. 33:11).

    At first glance, it seems that the brothers were saying the same thing: "You keep the gifts, I don’t need them!" And while both men acted admirably, there is something profoundly different in what each one said.  Esau said, "I have enough;"  Jacob said, "I have everything."

What’s the difference? Having enough implies that while I’m fine with what I have in life, there is always room for more. I would prefer more. But having everything means that I have exactly what I need. I don’t need less and I don’t need more. God has given me exactly what I need to succeed in the place I am in my life right now. My cup is already full and I feel truly blessed.

    Who is a wealthy man? He who is satisfied with his lot. What we have doesn’t determine how wealthy we are; how we perceive what we have, does.

Today we live in a society where the average person enjoys a standard of living that exceeds what the wealthiest people enjoyed just a century ago. But does the average man feel exceedingly blessed? Unfortunately not. We are constantly reminded by billboards and ads of how much we still lack. Though we might acknowledge that we have enough, few people feel that they have everything.

    My Friends, It shouldn’t take a devastating event to remind us of what we have. Look around you and notice your many blessings. We have freedom. We have abundance. We have each other. With That, "We have everything!"
Amen!

Reading: Gen. 33:1-17 
Ref: HG SB 

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr. 

The Cross Life Ministry

Under Any Circumstances

Obadiah 1:1  

"The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom; 

We have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is 

sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us

rise up against her in battle."

    Esau had the privilege of growing up in the holy home of Isaac and Rebecca. He had perfect role models in his parents and was given a loving and nurturing upbringing. Obadiah, on the other hand, grew up among the depraved Edomites. After converting to Judaism, he lived with King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, arguably the most wicked king and queen ever to rule Israel (See 1 Kings18:3-16).    Esau, in spite of his envious upbringing, ended up living an evil and immoral life. But Obadiah, despite the evil influences around him, remained righteous and good.

    By examining the lives of Esau and Obadiah, we learn that while our life experiences definitely affect us, we are ultimately responsible for the paths we choose in life. We cannot control what happens to us in life, but we can always control how we react to those events.

    My Friend, for every circumstance in life, we choose the consequence. We can let our circumstances weaken us; we can let them harden our hearts; or we can use them to become better. Obadiah chose to become better.

How do you react to life?  Do you let the circumstances in your life bring you down, or do you use them as a springboard to reach higher? The choice is always our own.

Amen 

Reading: Oba.1:1-21

                1 Kings 18:3-19

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You 

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

The Promise of A Champion

Judges 13:5  

"For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: 

for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: 

and he shall begin to deliver Israel out 

of the hand of the Philistines." 

  
    Samson was Danite, living adjacent to the Philistines, He was selected before birth as the one who would begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines. God gave Samson superhuman strength to achieve this, but Samson's whole life was filled with compromise in his repeated refusal to control his sensual desires and whims. 
    The secret of Samson’s strength was a puzzle to his contemporaries. Even Delilah could not account for it, (Judg.16:5-6).  Clearly, then, it did not depend on his great height, nor his brawny chest and arms, nor his muscular development or his long hair. The instructions that the lord gave to his parents about not shaving his head was a covenant, a vow that was broken when Samson told Delilah his heart, (Judg. 16:17).  It was due, to his faith, which opened his nature to the Spirit of God. "And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done," (Judg. 14:6). "And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father's house," (Judg. 14:19). "And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands," (Judg. 15:14)."
    However, I believe his physical blinding by the Philistines (Judg. 16:21) seemingly brought about the opening of his his spiritual eyes, because he gave his life for his people. But faith is always in direct proportion to consecration. The soul cannot give itself in two directions nor serve two masters; and if it draws its energy from the eternal God, there must be strict discipline exercised on the pathways of sense.
    We all have to encounter lions. Happy we'll be if we sever them in the power of the Holy Spirit! And have we not often discovered that the very sorrow, trial, or temptation which we dreaded most and which threatened to destroy us, has yielded the strength and sweetness, the meat and honey, which have enriched time after time? Samson shared these with his mother and father. Let us never keep to ourselves those glorious lessons and results which we may have won in conflicts and sorrows that only the eye of God has witnessed. Let others share their benefit. 
Amen!

Reading: (Judg. Chap. 13-16) 
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry 

     

Sharing His Wealth

Genesis 32:13–15

  "And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his 

hand a present for Esau his brother; Two hundred she goats, and 

twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams, Thirty 

milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten 

bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals."

    Jacob acquired 5,500 animals while working for Laban. From that, he gave one-tenth, 550 animals to his brother Esau as a peace offering. This percentage is no accident. Ten percent of those animals didn’t belong to Jacob anyway. When Jacob left his father’s home, he made a promise to God. In keeping with what would later become an official biblical law, Jacob committed to giving a tenth of his profits to charitable causes: “and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee,” (Genesis 28:22). But for whatever reason, Jacob did not tithe his property while working for Laban. Now, instead of parting with his assets for the sake of charity, Jacob ended up losing his property to Esau, a far less attractive cause!

    We all know that we should be charitable and share our money with others. But that’s not always so easy to do. It’s our money after all, we think. Shouldn’t we get to enjoy it? But God says: "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of host," (Haggai 2:8). None of our earthly possessions actually belongs to us. Everything belongs to God, and we are to use what He has graciously given to us appropriately.

    There is a lesson to be learned from this. It is that knowing who the owner is makes all of the difference. If we see ourselves as the true owners of our assets, then we may resist sharing them with God and others. But when we realize that everything belongs to Him, we will jump at the opportunity to share. 

Amen!

Reading: 32:1-21

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You 

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry 

 

Everyday Miracles

Genesis 29:35

"And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, 

Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called 

his name Judah; and left bearing." 

    When Leah gave birth to her fourth son, she bestowed on him a name that reflected how she felt, she named him "Judah." The name Judah comes from the Hebrew, which means to thank or give praise. At that moment, Leah felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude toward her Creator for giving her yet another child.

    Everyone before Leah who thanked God did so in response to some unusual event, a miracle of some sort.  But Leah thanked God for the commonplace wonders that happen every single day. She gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby, something that many folks take for granted. She realized that just because something is natural and common doesn’t mean that it isn’t miraculous.

    It’s so easy to get caught up in everyday life and miss out on the extraordinary things that are happening all around us. Many of us take for granted the glory of the morning sunrise and the brilliance of the stars at night. We don’t fully appreciate the gift of a dear friendship, the beauty of children’s laughter, or the ability to eat a satisfying meal. God’s miracles are everywhere. He is in the wind that blows through the trees, and the breeze that kisses your cheeks. He is in the rise and fall of the waves in the sea. All people need to open their eyes and appreciate that God is everywhere, and give Him thanks for everything.

    We must take the time to reflect daily on the miracles that we experience every day of our lives.  Because when we can find God in the little things, we will also experience Him in the big things. When we recognize everyday miracles, we will merit seeing the greatest miracles of all.
Amen!

Reading: Gen. 29:30-35
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

 

The Burning Of The Bramble

Judges 9:48, 49  

"And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and

 Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and 

laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen 

me do, make haste, and do as I have done. And all the people likewise cut down 

every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and 

set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of 

Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women." 

    My Friends, terrible deeds like these give tokens of the power of the god of this world, the same spirit that now works in the children of disobedience. Still similar monstrosity's are being perpetrated after all these centuries of what is called Christian civilization. But this Christianity is only a very shallow covering, and when national passions break loose, there is little to choose between war today and in pre-Christian ages.
   My Friends, Man has no right to attribute the evil mind filled with sins, and cruelties of the present day to Christianity. They are due to the absence of Christianity. The whole Gospel of the Son of man protests against them. We must sadly admit that His "enemy Satan has done this." And there will be no ending of the evils of which the world groans until the King comes to His own and sets up His everlasting Kingdom. With all the efforts toward arbitration and peace, proves that something new must be brought to pass before the Father’s kingdom can come and His will be done on earth. My friends, we now wait for that something new!! 
Amen!

Reading: Judges 9:41-57
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

 

Moving On

Genesis 27:33  

"And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he 

that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten 

of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? 

yea, and he shall be blessed."

    Isaac wanted to give the birthright blessings to his oldest son, Esau. But Rebekah remembered the Lord telling her that the older child would serve the younger. Jacob would need those blessings to fulfill his mission of spreading God’s word. So Rebekah coached Jacob on how to trick his father into giving him the blessings. The plan succeeded, and then comes the moment when Isaac realized that he had been tricked. 
    My friend there is a difference between the birthright and the blessing. The birthright is related to the order of the birth of sons. The first born was given the title to the family name and a double potion of his father's inheritance. Yet despite Jacob's wickedness and Esau's foolishness, the agreement over the birthright was binding. The regulation was later given that the father could not alter the birthright nor give it to another, (Deut. 21:17).  None of this had anything to do with the blessing of Isaac upon Esau. As Esau himself recognized a father could bless his son in any way he saw fit, (v36). Therefore, when Jacob deceived his father and got Esau's blessing, he stole something from his brother to which he had no right.   

    The real Esau returned from a day of hunting, ready to be blessed. Isaac asked, "Who art thou?" Esau answered "It’s me, your son Esau!" And then it all came together in one crushing moment. As the Bible tells us, “Isaac trembled exceedingly (violently). This was no ordinary shudder. This was the kind of shuddering that shakes a person to the core. Isaac’s whole outlook had been wrong, and only at that very moment did he fully understand God’s plan for his sons. All of Isaac’s hopes and dreams for Esau came crashing to the ground.

    We can feel Isaac’s pain. The moment is sad and heart wrenching, but at the same time, it is encouraging and inspiring. How many of us could walk away from a lifelong belief and humbly accept that we were mistaken? And yet, Isaac does just that.      

    We all know what it’s like to find out that we have been mistaken. It is humbling and can shake our world. But there is something much worse than letting go of a long held belief; it’s continuing with the same faulty outlook and repeating the same mistakes over and over. Let’s learn from Isaac how to confront our mistakes and let them go. Only then can we change our course and move on with grace. 

Amen!

Reading: Gen: 27:1-40

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Promises and Prophecies

Kings 1:29  

"And the king sware, and said, As the LORD liveth, that hath redeemed 

my soul out of all distress, Even as I sware unto thee by the 

LORD God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy 

son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my 

throne in my stead; even so will 

I certainly do this day."

    At a point during King David’s old age there was a quest for a successor to his throne. One of his sons, Adonijah, appointed himself king even though Nathan the prophet had already determined that Solomon would rule. Nathan intervened and David promised that Solomon would be king. David took an oath that he would make sure that Solomon would be king.

    Nathan had already prophesied that Solomon would succeed David. Why didn’t David relax in his old age and watch God take care of everything?

While David trusted in God completely, he understood that he was not excused from doing his part. Even as he relied on God, he understood that he had to make an effort as well.

    Friends, we live in a time in which we see many ancient prophecies coming true. Just as the prophets foretold, the Jewish people have returned to Israel, and the land of Israel has begun to flourish once again. Other prophecies are unfolding which involve wars against Israel and all kinds of world conflicts. But we know how the story ends. We know that God has promised the Messiah and peace in Israel.

    But that doesn’t mean that we are free to sit it out and watch the scenes unfold on the nightly news. Like David, we need to commit ourselves to doing everything we can to help God’s promises come true. We must promise to do our part. We stand at the beginning of another great transition in history. It is our duty to play our role in every way that we can. 
Amen!

Reading: 1 Kings 1:5-30
Ref:

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Climbing Jacob’s Ladder

Genesis 28:12 

"And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, 

and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the 

angels of God ascending and descending on it."

    When Jacob was on his journey to the city of Haran, he ended up in a certain place and decided to stay there for the night. Jacob found a few stones, made a pillow, and went to sleep. As destiny would have it, the place where Jacob slept was the holiest place on earth. There, he had his famous dream in which Jacob saw a vision of a ladder resting on earth, stretching up to heaven. Angels were going up and down on it. Jacob had by destiny, experienced a virtual stairway to heaven.

    Jacob’s vision was more than just the revelation of the ladder between heaven and earth; it was also the instructions for how to climb it. The message? Every human being has the potential to reach the greatest heights or to sink to the deepest depths.  You can go up, or you can go down. But here’s what you can’t do on the ladder of life: You can’t stand still.  
    No one sits on a ladder. That’s why Jacob saw angels going up and down on it. Chairs and sofas are for sitting, but ladders are for moving up or down. No one can stay on one rung for very long. If you’re not headed up, gravity will pull you down. God’s message to Jacob that fateful night was: If you want to reach heaven, you will have to climb a little bit every day. You’ll have to work your way upward or else you will be headed in the other direction.
    Which way are you moving on Jacob’s ladder? There is only one way to avoid sinking lower to the earth. And that’s to take one step up every single day. Are you inspired? Are you growing or are you stagnant? You do not need to take giant leaps to make it to the top, just steady progress, one rung at a time, every single day.

Amen!

Reading: Gen. 28:10-22

Ref:

HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry 

The Greatest Affirmations of Faith

Joshua 24:15 

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day 

whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served 

that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the 

Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me 

and my house, we will serve the LORD."

    This invitation of Joshua is similar to the one extended by Moses to Israel on the other side of the Jordan, before Joshua was appointed the new Leader, (Deut. (30:15-20).  Joshua recognized, as well as we all should, that one can only serve God in sincerity and truth if he has freely and willing pledged in his heart to do so.

    He summarizes the options that are open to Israel, and today to all Nations that believe in The Lord Our God.  In other words, what Joshua was saying is that they could go back to their old ways, and worship Images or the gods of the Amorites. He said, "choose you this day whom ye will serve."  They and all Generations have a an example of Joshua and his family, "To Serve The Lord." This statement of Joshua's stands as one of the greatest affirmations of faith in all the Bible. 
    What the stone of witness was to Israel, the ordinances of the Lord’s Supper and Baptism are to the Church and to the world.  "And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD.  And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the LORD which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God," (Josh. 24:26-27).
    The walls of our private chambers have listened to our prayers and tears. God help us to be true to them! 
Amen!

Reading: Josh. 24:1-28
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

       

    

   

A Love of Our Own

 Malachi 1:2–3

"I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? 

Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,  

And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage

waste for the dragons of the wilderness" 

     Malachi began with encouragement, telling the people that God loved them, but the people responded, “How can that be? How can He love us?” The people of Malachi’s time felt unworthy and unlovable. They believed that any grace shown to them by God was only because of the merit of their fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

    But God told them ,"Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?"   Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated.” In other words, if that logic were true, then God would have loved Esau, too. After all, he was also a descendant of the patriarchs!  Ultimately, a person’s relationship with God comes down to that person and God.

    We acknowledge God as our own personal God; before we mention that He is the God of our forefathers in order to emphasize that our relationship with God must be personal.

Sure, we all benefit from being the spiritual heirs of such holy and beloved men and women, but it’s not enough. If we worship God only because our parents did, that’s not enough. If we go to church only because it’s our family tradition, it’s not enough. First we must discover our own connection to God, and only then can we enjoy the benefits of our heritage.

    God is not inherited!  A relationship with Him has to be earned, and cultivated by every individual who walks this earth! We must all go through our own trials and develop our own faith. And then, when He loves us, it will be for our own sake and not based on anything else. 
Amen!

Reading: Mal. 1:2-3
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You 

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

The Concept of The "Scarlet Thread"

Joshua 2:18  

"Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread 

in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy 

father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy 

father's household, home unto thee."

    The Scriptures tells us that Rahab used a cord to let the two spies down through a window and down the wall of the city out of sight of the pursuers. The two spies told Rahab to bind the "Line of Scarlet Thread" in the window that she had let them down the wall, and that would be a sign to all Israel, that all in the household of Rahab would not be destroyed, because she helped the spies by hiding them and telling them where to hide for three days before they started back.

    The concept of this "Scarlet Thread" can be found throughout Scripture. It's called the line of blood atonement, and it began in the Garden of Eden,  "Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them." (Gen. 3:21). The blood atonement was exemplified in the Passover, "And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it," (Ex. 12:7). 
    The people of the house did not see the sprinkled blood. It was not necessary to be on the outside looking at it. It was clearly not a matter of emotion or of intelligence. It was an accomplished fact, and it was enough for God to see it; "And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt, (Ex. 12:13).  Abide thou in Christ. It is not necessary to try to understand, or feel; just be quiet and trust the finished work and the sworn promise of God. He hath said: "Whosoever believeth shall not perish."  
    This concept of  "The Scarlet Thread" was finally fulfilled in Christ's sacrifice on the cross, "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission," (Heb. 9:22). "But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, " 1 Peter 1:19-20)  The Lamb of God slain, it is enough for the world..  My Friends, that "Scarlet Thread" was the means of deliverance for Rahab and her family. All who were to be delivered had to trust Rahab and stay in her house.  We have an On Time God, Every Time and in every place!! 
Amen!

Reading: Josh. 2:15-18
               Ex. 12:1-28
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr. 

The Cross Life Ministry  

 
   

An Act Of Faith

Joshua 2:1  

"And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men 

to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. 

And they went, and came into an harlot's house, 

named Rahab, and lodged there." 

    "To view the land" was a hazardous undertaking. The writer does not commend Rahabs mode of life nor her lies.  Her morality was faulty enough, but beneath it, slowly smoldering, was a spark of pure love and faith, and this would consume the rubbish and burn clear, "By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace," (Heb. 11:31).
    The stalks of flax that she hid them under were probably laid out on the roof to dry, and a perfect place for them to wait out the search for them. Rahab believed, of the wonders wrought in Egypt, that Jehovah was the true God, and that His word was sure.  Her faith proved itself in her works, in her efforts to save others, and in the confidence with which she rested behind her scarlet cord. 
    The possibility that she was sneered at and persecuted is quite likely, but she persisted and became an ancestress of Christ, "And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;" (Mat. 1:5).  How faith strengthens the soul!  "Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?" (Jam. 2:25). 
Amen!

Reading: Josh. 2:1-19
Ref:
HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Be Strong In The Lord

Ephesians 6:16  

"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith 

ye shall be able to quench all the 

fiery darts of the wicked."

    Many of us would be strong, but fail because we forget that we can be effective only "in the Lord, and in the strength of His might."  Paul had a very vivid conception of the powerful forces that are arrayed against the Church. He is not dealing here especially with our personal temptations, but with those hosts of wicked spirits that lie behind the evil of the world. There are extensive systems which oppose the gospel: the philosophies, temples, and priests of false religions; impurity, and like evils; are agents of evil spirits in arms against God.
    My Friends, You as well as I have had many doors opened unto as believers in Christ. But once that door was opened there were many adversities waiting to strike. But only through our Faith, and God's Strength and Guidance did we make our way through those doors of opportunity. Let us not forget to take up our shield of faith daily.       
Amen!

Reading: Eph. 6:16-20
Ref: HG SB 

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

         

Be An Example

1Timothy 4:10  

"For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because 

we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of 

all men, specially of those that believe." 

    In our Christian service we must set our hope on the living God. Nothing counts apart from God. Prayer implies that all our gifts and efforts cover only a small part of our efficiency. There are unlimited resources in God, which He is waiting to employ in human affairs, and of which we fail to make use of. 

    The Christian worker, must not only labor and strive, but also hope in the living God, whose saving grace is at the disposal of our faith. The faith exercised by the average man results in obtaining only natural things; the supernatural is secured by the faith of those who have made profound discoveries of God. 

    In order to succeed, we must give ourselves wholly to our work for God. In answer to prayer great gifts had been communicated to Timothy, but he had to give heed to them, use them, and stir up the slumbering embers of the fire.

    My Friend's we must give all we have faithfully to our Lord. and as Timothy, "stir up the those slumbering embers of  the fire."
Amen!

Reading: 1Tim. 4:6-16
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Don't Miss Your Crown!

1 John 5:4, 5  

"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this 

is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that 

"believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

     God's word is the communication, in regeneration, of the divine nature, of which the first evidence is His love. His love is not a weak sentimentality, but a, strong, vigorous response to the motions of the divine love.

    God's life manifest itself in the soul through our faith, and faith is the substance of the unseen (ie) "the eternal world."  My Friend, if you are a Christian or a young Believer, You Must understand these two verses;  "Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither know him. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God," (John 3:6, 9).  If you take these two verses as a contradiction; that it is not possible for those who are really born again to sin,  then there must be very few genuine Christians.

    God is ever bearing witness to the Son by the eternal life that He gives to and maintains in those who believe. Eternity begins even here for those who have the Son as their indwelling guest. Let your faith entwine around the risen Lord and you will be weaned from all else. Jesus must become all-in-all to you, else you will miss the crown!
Amen!

Reading: 1 John 5:1-12
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

 
 

A Fortress of Faith

Psalm 94:21-22

"They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous,

and condemn the innocent blood. But the LORD is my defense; 

and my God is the rock of my refuge."

    In Psalm 94, the psalmist described a situation that didn’t look good: "They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous,and condemn the innocent blood." The situation appeared hopeless. Even as an angry and evil mob converged against defenseless innocents, the psalm writer vowed, "But the LORD is my defense, and my God is the rock of my refuge."  Even when the situations in our life appear hopeless and we can’t see a way for them to work out, the psalmist encourages us to have faith anyway.

    It’s one thing to have faith when everything is going well in our lives. Sure, things can change on a dime, but who stays up at night worrying about putting food on the table, when they have a stable job? It’s another thing to have faith in God when there is no money in the bank and no bread on the table. 

    This psalm reminds us that in even the most hopeless of situations, we are not allowed to lose our faith in God. In fact, it is our very faith that has the power to turn around the worst situation and to bring about the greatest miracles.

    Let our faith be our fortress. When life rains down all kinds of problems on us, when it thunders and pours, let us take refuge in our faith. We don’t need to know how God will take care of us; we only need to believe that He can and will!! 

Amen!

Reading: Ps. 94: 19-23

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr. 

The Cross Life Ministry 

Depend On God

Deuteronomy 17:16  

"But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, 

to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath

said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way." 

    Regulations are set up for reasons, and each one has a specific detail that it addresses. If we could really understand God's Regulations and understand the purpose of each one, maybe we would understand that it's possible to actually "Depend On God."  Let's look how God used His Regulations to show the children of Israel that could always depend on Him.
    Now the regulations mentioned in (v16), namely the multiplying of horses and wives, were set up so that the King's attention would not be turned from God and to rely on himself, or worse, on idols. God specifically commanded that the children of Israel rely on Him when it came to military endeavors, and not on horses or chariots.  "And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire." (Josh. 11:6).    

    The example of God destroying the Egyptians in the Red Sea was intended to show Israel that having horses for the purpose of building military strength was unnecessary as long as they trusted in God. When Elisha and his servant was surround by the armies of Aram. God opened the eyes of the servant so that he could see God's army of chariots surrounding the Aramean forces. 
    My Friend's God was providing His watchful care over His servants. God wants His servants today to "Depend On Him" just as Israel did, and not on what man can do! Now is the time when we must truly put our trust in God, and "Depend On Him." 
Amen!

Reading: (Ex. 15:19, 21)
               (Deut. 11:4)
               (Ps. 33:17; 147:10)
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

    

Why The Second Set Of Stone Tablets?

Deuteronomy 10:13:

"To Keep the commandments of the Lord, and

his statutes, which I command thee

this day for thy good?"

    God told Moses to hew out two tablets of stone just like the first, and to make an Ark of shittim wood. He wrote the same commandments on the second set of stone tablets, that was on the first set that Moses broke. However, this time as God commanded, Moses placed the tablets in the ark that he was instructed to make.

    God's rewriting of His Law was a demonstration of His forgiveness. The ark of the covenant made of wood, is a symbol of  "humanity" and covered with gold  "deity." It is believed by some to be a symbol of Jesus Christ in who full humanity and full deity were combined, "For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily," (Col. 2:9). 

    My Friend's, even though we now live under God's Grace, through His Son Jesus Christ, who gave His life for our sins.  Actually, I must say for those who accept and believe that Jesus Christ Is The Saviour Of the World. We Must not ignore God's Ten Commands! Just because they were written under the old convent as a guide line of obedience dosen't mean that God is just going to forget His Commandments, after all He did write the same commandments twice. 

Amen!

Reading: Deut. 10:1-5

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

     

       

The Bronze Snake

Numbers 21:8 

"And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent,

and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that

every one that is bitten, when he

looketh upon it, shall live.

    The people were plagued by serpents for some time, because the Lord did not take away the serpents as they had requested. It is likely that they carried the brazen serpent with them, setting it up wherever they camped. It was placed in a permanent location once they enter into the land. However, it was later destroyed by King Hezekiah because the people had begun to worship it. "He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan," (2 Kings 18:4). 

    The brazen serpent is a type of Christ, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life," (John 3:14, 15), and since a crossbeam was likely needed to support the snake, the pole is considered by some to be a symbol of the Cross. The Jews themselves claim that faith in God, and not the mere sight of the brazen serpent, was what healed. 

    Such faith in our Lord Jesus Christ is the way of salvation and it is attested by both Old and New Testaments, "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else", (Is. 45:22). "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God," (Heb. 12:2).  My Friend's, let us not forget the meaning of the Cross and the suffering that was undertaken by our Saviour Jesus Christ! 

Amen!

Reading: (Num. 21:4-9)

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

.   

 

 

Is Being Presumptuous And Self-Confident A Sin?

Numbers 14:44  

"But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless 

the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and Moses, 

departed not out of the camp." 

    There are actually ten instances recorded in Scripture which involve Israel and their exodus from Egypt. There were two temptations at the Red Sea (Ex. 14:11; Ps. 106:7); demanding water twice (Ex. 15:23; 17:2); demanding food twice (Ex. 16:20, 27); demanding flesh twice (Ex. 16:3; Num. 11:4); the incident with the golden calf (Ex. 32); and the incident with the twelve spies (Ex. 13).
    We cannot wonder at the people’s murmuring. They were unaccustomed to the fatigues of the desert, and had not realized the length of the journey.  Now they had two reports from the twelve spies that searched the land. The first was a negative report. The people where told there were giants and the land had eaten up the inhabitants thereof. The second report came from Joshua and Caleb, and they said the land was good. "If the Lord delight in us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it to us (v8), and only rebel not against the Lord" (v9).  But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. 
    Needless to say, the congregation that was  gathered God consumed along with the men that brought the evil report with a plague.  However, the next morning the children of Israel rose early and gathered at the top of the mountain, saying, "we be here and will go up unto the place which the Lord hath promised: for we have sinned" (v40).  Remember they were told that they would not possess the promise Land and their carcasses would fall in the wilderness and your children shall wonder in the wilderness for forty years. 
    They presumed to up into the land, but the ark of the covenant of the lord and Moses did not depart from the camp.  Needless to say the Amalekites and the Canaanites smote them and discomfited them (v45).  My Friend's let us look at this as a lesson not just on an individual basis, but as a Nation, State, City and Church. The Children of Israel added the sin of presumptuous self-confidence to their unbelief.  I Pray that all of us, "Believe And Trust In God."  
Amen!

Reading: Num. 14: 1-45
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

            

Accountable For The Words We Speak

Numbers 11:18  

"And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, 

and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, 

saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well 

with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will 

give you flesh, and ye shall eat." 

    When the people were obedient to God, they enjoyed His blessing and protection, but disobedience brought His judgment. Despite the wonders that God performed on Israel's behalf, they were ready to return to Egypt on several occasions. Because of their unbelief, it was easier to get Israel out of Egypt than to get Egypt out of the Israelite's.  

    God held the Children of Israel accountable for the words they spoke:  It began with the discontent and complaining from, "the mix multitude and the Children of Israel" as they wept and said,"who will give us flesh to eat." You see they had gotten tired of gathering manna that God had been providing and were saying  "why come we forth out of Egypt."  They had forgotten why they had fled from Egypt, because nothing but food was on their mind. Therefore, God answered their cry.
    God told them that they would not eat one day, nor two days, nor 5, 10 or 20 days; but a whole mouth! Here is what God said,  "But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?" (Num. 11:20).
    Here was God's answer to the Israelite's cry for flesh to eat. "And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague.  And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted," (Num. 11:33-34).
 My Friend's, let us not doubt the power of the words we speak. Most people don't even here what we speak and probably don't care; However, God hears all and cares about all! So I would watch what I spoke, because God is listening, and God will hold people accountable for the words they speak!
Amen!

Reading: Num. 11:1-35 
               Prov. 5:21
               Matt. 12:36,37
               Heb. 4:13
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr. 

The Cross Life Ministry