Eye's Open Into Danger!

Romans 15:31
"That I may be delivered from them that do not believe

in Judaea; and that my service which I have for

Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;" 

       As far as we know Paul's plans to go to Spain were never realized. We know for a certainty that when he went to Jerusalem he was arrested and spent the next four years in prison, two in Caesarea and two in Rome. 

     When Paul went to Jerusalem he knew what he was doing and was well aware of the dangers that lay ahead. Just as Jesus steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51) so did Paul. The highest courage is to know that something perilous awaits us and still we go on. That is the courage that Jesus showed; that is the courage that Paul showed; and that is the courage that all Christ's followers must show.
     In situations as Paul's, we should asked for the prayers of our Church family. It is a great thing to go on knowing that we are wrapped in the warmth of the prayers of those who love us. No matter how far we are separated from those we love, we all can meet around the mercy-seat of God. Paul leaves them his blessing as he goes. It was no doubt all that he had to give. Even when we have nothing else, we can still bear our friends and loved ones in prayer to God.
     It was the blessing of the God of peace that Paul sent to Rome and it was with the presence of the God of peace that he himself went to Jerusalem with all its threats. The man who has the peace of God in his heart can meet all life's perils unafraid.
Amen!

Reading: (Rom. 15:25-33)
Ref:( HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Christian Freedom Has It's Dangers

Romans 14:17
"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink;
but righteousness, and peace, and
joy in the Holy Ghost."

    Paul is talking about peril and Christian freedom. All His life he had been surrounded by rules and regulations. so many things were unclean and so many clean, and so many laws had to be observed. When the Jew came into Christianity as well as lot of Christians today found that all their petty rules and regulations were abolished at one stroke, and the danger was that he might interpret Christianity as freedom to do exactly as he liked. We must remember that Christian freedom and Christian love go hand and hand; we must hold fast to the truth that Christian freedom and brotherly love are bound up together.
    Christianity does not consist in eating and drinking what one likes. It consists in three great things, all of which are essentially unselfish things. There is Righteousness and this consist in giving to God and men what is their due. Christianity means putting others first and self last. There is Peace. In the New Testament peace does not mean simply absence of trouble; it is not a negative thing, but is intensely positive; it means everything that makes for a man's highest good.Let's not forget Joy: Christian joy can never be a selfish thing. It does not consist in making ourselves happy; it consists in making others happy. A so called happiness which made someone else distressed would not be Christian. If a man, in his search for happiness, brings a hurt heart and a wounded conscience to someone else, the ultimate end of his search would not be, joy, but sorrow. Joy comes to the Christian only when he brings joy to others,      
    When we  follows this principle we become a  slave of Christ. The essence of the matter is this: Christian freedom means that we are free to do, not what we like, but what Christ likes. Without Christ a man is a slave to his habits, his pleasures, his indulgences. He is not really doing what he likes. He is doing what the things which have him in their grip make him do. Once the power of Christ enters into him then, and only then, real freedom enters his life. Then he is free not to treat men and not to live life as his own selfish human nature would have him do; he is free to show to all men the same attitude of love as Jesus showed when He gave His life and took our sins upon Him on Mount Calvary. 
Amen!

Reading: (Rom. 14:13-20)
Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

 
 

Time Is Not A Threat, It Is A Reality

Romans 13:11

"And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time

to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation

nearer than when we believed."

    The world does not understand that they cannot stay here forever. When the end comes wherever you are you cannot stay there. We should know the time. This should be a motive for civil obedience, because, God's people know that life here is temporary and that Heaven is waiting for all believers.

     The Early Church expected it at any moment, and therefore it had the urgency to be ready. However, Today the expectancy has gone dim and faint; but one permanent fact remains. No man knows when God will rise and tell Jesus to bring His children home. My Friends, the time is even nearer, for we are one day closer each day. We too, must have all things ready to meet Jesus, and only you can prepare yourself for that Glorious Day!
Amen!

Reading: (Rom. 13:11-14)
Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You
And Your Family
Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry

Doubts Are Weakness In Faith

Romans 14:1 

"Him that is weak in the faith receive ye,

but not to doubtful disputations"

     Paul Is dealing with what may have been a temporary and local problem in the Roman Church. In the Roman Church there were apparently two lines of thought. Some believed that Christian liberty was gone. They believed that Christianity did not consist in the special observance of any day or days. However, Paul makes it clear that this is in fact, is the standpoint of real Christian Faith. 
    Christianity today still have the same lines of thought. Christians today feel like their Christian  liberty is being taken away, and really they are. Paul is calling on the doubtful man, the man who is weak in faith. Just what does he mean by that?
    Such a man is weak in faith for two reasons.  Such a man has not yet discovered the meaning of Christian freedom; he is at heart still a legalist and still sees Christianity as a thing of rules and regulations. In his heart he believes that he can gain God's favor by doing certain things and sustaining from others. Basically when someone has doubts like that they are still trying to earn a right relationship with God, and has not yet accepted the way of grace, still thinking more of what he can do for God than what God has done for him.
    It is our job as a believer to welcome such a person and not to overwhelm with constant criticisms. My Friends, There may be many questions left unanswered, but there must be some certainty left unshaken.
Amen!

Reading: ( Rom. 14:1-23)

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

    

True Worship Is The Way To Essential Change

Romans 12:2 

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is

that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

   What mattered to the Greek was the spirit; the body was only a prison-home, something to be despised and even to be ashamed of. No real Christian ever believed that. We as Christians believe that our body belongs to God just as much as our soul does, and we can serve God with our body alone with our mind and our soul.

    Our bodies as Christians are the temple of the Holy Spirit and the instrument through which the Holy Spirit works. After all, the fact of the incarnation basically means that God did not hesitate to take a human body upon himself, to live in it and to work through it.
    My Friends, True worship is the offering to God of one's body, and what one should do every day with it. Real worship is not the offering to God a service, however noble or a ritual however magnificent.  Real worship is the offering of everyday life to God, not something transacted in a church, but something which shows the whole world that God's Spirit dwells in the Christian Body.  
    As the Bible tells us, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind," (Rom. 12:2a). We may say, "I am going to church to worship God." But we should be able to say, "I am going to the shop, the office, the school, the garage, to the grocery store, to worship God." My Friends, when Christ becomes the center of our lives then we can present real worship, which is the offering of every moment and every action to God.
Amen!

Reading: (Rom. 12:1-2)
Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You
And Your Family
Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
   

The Callus On The Heart

Romans 11:8 

(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber,

eyes that they should not see, and ears that they

should not hear;) unto this day." 

     The prophets began to see that there never was a time, and never would be, when the whole nation was true to God; nevertheless, always within the nation a remnant was left who had never forsaken their loyalty or compromised their faith. Prophet after prophet came to see this.  (Amos 9:8-10) thought of God sifting men as corn in a sieve until only the good are left. (Mic. 2:12; Mic. 5:3) had a vision of God gathering the remnant of Israel. (Zeph. 3:12-13) had the same idea. Jeremiah foresaw the remnant being gathered from all the countries throughout which they had been scattered (Jer. 23:3).

    Ezekiel, the individualist, was convinced that a man could not be saved by either a national or an inherited righteousness; the righteous would deliver their own souls by their righteousness (Ezek. 14:14; Ezek. 14:20; Ezek. 14:22). Above all, this idea dominated the thought of Isaiah. He called his son Shear-Jashub, which means "The remnant will return." Again and again he returns to this idea of the faithful remnant who will be saved by God (Is. 7:3; Is. 8:2; Is. 8:18; Is. 9:12; Is. 6:9-13). 

    They were so secure, so self-satisfied, so at ease in their confidence of being the Chosen People, that, that very idea had become the thing that ruined them. The day will come when they cannot see at all, and when they will grope with bent backs like men stumbling blindly in the dark. 

When a callus grows on any part of the body that part loses feeling. It becomes insensitive. The minds of the mass of the people have become insensitive; they can no longer hear and feel the appeal of God. My Friends, "Just as a callus can grow on the hand, a callus can grow on the heart." That is what had happened to the mass of Israel. God save us from that!

Amen!

Reading: (Rom. 11:1-12)

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

  

God Is Working For You

Romans 8:28

"And we know that all things work together for good

to them that love God, to them who are

called according to his purpose."

    Whether or not things happen as we expect, we can be assured that God has a plan for our lives.The Gospel of Jesus Christ will change your life. However don't miss-understand what the scripture says in verse 28. It says,"God worketh all things together for good to them that love God" Now look closely at the last four words in closing of verse 28; It Says, "called according to his purpose." 
    God don't bounce around not knowing where He is going or what He might do next. Because our lives our planned in Heaven, and all things that happen are working together for our good. God is working for us, never against us. We may not know what is good for us and what is harmful, but God does, and He is seeking only good for us.
    My Friends; There is no other blessing greater than to realize that God is working for you. God gave His son for you, so you can be assured He will give you everything else that you need to serve Him.
Amen!

Reading: (Rom. 8:28-39)
Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You 

And You Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

     

The Choice Is God

Romans 9:33  

"As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone 

and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth 

on him shall not be ashamed."

    The problems of this world will never be solved until all nations have a right relationship with God. But first they must realize that righteousness does not come from works but through faith. As long as people try to be righteous through their deeds, they merely succeed in proving what the Law of Moses declared a long time 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. 

    The plan of salvation was and is not for the Gentiles alone, it is for everyone. No matter what our national heritage or ethnic background, no matter where or what our fathers worshiped, Jesus Christ is the only begotten  Son of God and He alone is the Mediator between God and mankind.

    God has made choices and Israel is one of them. This is simply true and we must accept it. But God has also ordained that every individual, Jew or Gentile, make his own personal choice concerning Jesus Christ. My Friends, The great matters in life do not concern where we came from; but they do concern where we are going!  What is your choice going to be?

Amen! 

Reading: (Rom. 9:30-33)

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

  

The Spirit Of God Will Guide Your Heart In The Way Of The Lord

Proverbs 23:19

"Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and

guide thine heart in the way."

    We must hear and follow the instruction and the words of Wisdom from our Heavenly Father, and His ministers of the Gospel, which is the way to be wise unto salvation. Faith comes by hearing; spiritual wisdom, and an abundance of it. The Spirit of God, and his gifts and graces; will guide thine heart in the way of the Lord, in the way of wisdom and understanding, in the way of truth and faith, in the way of religious worship, in the way of the commandments and ordinances of the Lord; in all which the heart should be guided and directed, or otherwise it will be of no avail.
    My Friends, There is no better goal for your life than being in loving relationship with our great and glorious God forever, regardless of what passing pleasures you may have to let go of in order to take hold of it. "My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off," (Prov 24:13-14). 
Amen!

Reading:  (Prov. 23:19-35)
Ref:         (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

 
 

Afflictions Are Pledges Of God's Love

Job 5:17-18  

"Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not 

thou the chastening of the Almighty: For he maketh sore, 

and bindeth up: he woundeth, and 

his hands make whole."

    Blessedness belongs to that man whom God rebukes. The reason is plain, because afflictions are pledges of God's love, which no man can buy.  Afflictions are necessary to purge out sin, and thereby to prevent infinite and eternal miseries. Without respect to this, the idea of "blessedness" could not be true. So therefore it plainly shows, that good men then and now have the belief, and hope of everlasting blessedness. Do not despise it as having a harmful effect, or think of it as being a useless thing, never think of afflictions as an unnecessary thing. 
    Reverence the chastening of the Lord: have an humble, regard to his correcting hand, and study to learn the design of it. God Who is able to support and comfort us in our troubles and deliver us out of them can also add more calamities to them, if we are stubborn and don't listen to Him and are  harden as dry wood. My Friends, remember "God's afflictions upon us are pledges of His Love." 
Amen!

Reading: (Job 5)
Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry    

The Blessings Of Redemption

Galatians 3:13  

"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being 

made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is 

every one that hangeth on a tree:"

    The law left us debtors with no hope of making any restitution acceptable to God. It pronounced a curse on us because of sin, but it provided no cure. Only the Lord Jesus was sufficient to settle the accounts against us. Paul tells us plainly that Christ redeemed us from the law's curse. He became a curse for us. On the cross He took upon Himself our guilt in order that we might be exonerated from all the debts we owed to the law. 

    The word "redeemed" in (verse 13) signifies a ransom price to set someone free.  Christ than paid a ransom to free us from bondage to the law. And what was that ransom price? His sacrifice on the cross! He had no sins of His own, He did not have any sin debts of His own to cover through the punishment of death. He tasted death for us, shedding His blood, to satisfy the demands of the law that were against us and to bring us to God.
    My friends not all men, will enjoy the blessings of redemption. Paul made it clear that faith in Jesus Christ is necessary for a person actually to receive the blessing which God promised to Abraham, "and to all like Abraham that believe." The blessing includes justification, the ministry of the Spirit, and an inheritance. Men are faced with a choice. they may continue under a curse by trusting in there works, or they may by faith accept the merits of Calvary. I pray that all has chosen Jesus Christ Our Lord and Saviour. 
Amen!

Reading: (Gal 3:13-18)
Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry