Adhere To God This New Year

Haggai 2:14 

"Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so

is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is

every work of their hands; and that which

they offer there is unclean."

    This Scripture involves the teaching of holiness. Personal holiness comes only by conscious effort, However sinfulness spreads and increases in our life unless it is quickly and effectively combated as well. This was evident in the lives of the Israelites. Their sinfulness in certain areas had effected all their activities as we see in Hag. 2:14.

    Since the Israelites had repented and laid the foundation for the temple in obedience to the message Haggai had delivered earlier. God asked them if they were ready for a harvest, because God was now going to bless their fields and orchards. "Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you," (Hag.2:19).

    My Friends, right now, Our Nation and it's people (all of us) must adhere to what God is saying here. God knows every sin our nation commits and every sin each of us commit in every area of our lives. But God said He would bless us and our nation if we repent of our sins.  However we can not be slothful in our service. We must renew our vigor in accomplishing the task God has called us to do. In our service to God we must remember to perform every task keeping in mind that God desires diligence and integrity. "Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart:" (Eph. 6:5-6).

Amen!

Reading: (Hag. 2:7-19)

Ref: (HG SB)

Happy New Year

May God Bless You

And your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry 

He Has Shown Thee

Micah 6:8  

"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what 

doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, 

and to love mercy, and to walk 

humbly with thy God?"

    God has shown here what He requires, and His answer is not to a group of the people, or to the people of Israel; but a single man, that consulted with God, and put questions to Him; particularly what he should do to please the Lord, and what righteousness He required of him, and would be acceptable to Him. And though he was a King, (King Balak of Moab) he was but a man, and God would have him know that he was no more, than a man. What a lesson we learn from Balak when God informed him of his duty to Him. That being doing that which was good, and avoiding that which was evil, which is no other than the work of God written in the hearts of the sinners, by which they are directed to do the good and to shun the evil.  
    Our Creator and Benefactor, from Whom we receive  all the blessings of life, and are dependent upon Him; and therefore, as a believer we should behave with humility towards our Creator, acknowledging our distance from Him, and the obligations we have to Him. No Matter who we are, our God and Creator is above all. 

    My Friends, It is the  King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, to Whom we owe our loyalty and love and are accountable to Him. We must "walk humble" as opposed to "walking in pride," which most people of the world are apt to do; but God can humble them, and bring them low, just as Heathen kings have been brought down many years ago, "And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them
that know understanding," (Dan 2:21). 
Amen! 

Reading: (Micah 6:1-16)
Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Counsel Of The Heart

Proverbs 20:5  

"Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; 

but a man of understanding will draw it out." 

    Pure and undisturbed, but secret, hidden; such are the things of the spirit of a man. The thoughts of his mind, the devices of his heart; which, though easily known by the searcher of hearts, are not easily penetrated into by men, and it is not easily gotten out of them what is in them, especially in some men, who are very closed and reserved. This is true of wicked men, who seek sleep to hide their counsel; and of good men, especially learned men, who have got a great deal of wisdom and knowledge in them, but not very communicative and silent in conversation;
    But a man of understanding will draw it out; he will find ways and means to discover the secret designs of wicked men, whether against church or state; and, by asking proper questions, an understanding man will get out useful things from men of knowledge. However, some men must be pumped, and a good deal of pains must be taken with them, to get out anything from them. It's like getting water out of a deep well, which when got is very good. 
    My Friends, that wisdom and knowledge can be drawn out by a person with understanding and a true heart. It is a challenge to any man in the world to prove himself sinless. Only saints in heaven, who “have seen Him as He is” and been made like Him, can say it. Though the believer, through the work of the Spirit, is pure from the sins of many others, yet each one still has sins that easily beset him—sins of omission and sins of commission which they have to continually confess in order to maintain unbroken fellowship with Christ. 
Amen!


Reading: (Prov. 201-30)
Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Prayer A Resource In Every Need

Psalm 64:1

"Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve

my life from fear of the enemy." 

    In our devotions we should use our voice and speak audibly. However; even mental prayer has a voice with God, which he will hear. Moses had spoken with his lips at the Red Sea, "And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:" (Ex. 14:15).

    Notice how often David turns to prayer. It is our duty to constantly turn to prayer; it is our battle-axe and weapon of war, we must pray under every pressure, whether it is inward sin or outward wrath, foreign invasion or domestic rebellion. 
    My Friends; "We would be wise if we make prayer to God our first and best trusted resource in every hour of need." God preserves our life from fear of the enemy. With all our sacrifices of prayer we must offer our "true faith." 
Amen!

Reading: (Ps.64:1-10)
Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You 

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross life Ministry

 

In The Word Of God I Trust

Isaiah 12:2  

"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: 

for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and 

my song; he also is become my salvation."

    Our Saviour, who is Christ, appointed by the Father, provided in covenant promised in the word, sent in the fullness of time, and is the author of salvation in which no other creature could be. The word "behold," is a solemn declaration, affirming Christ to be Saviour of God's Church (His Children). 

    Therefore, "trust" in Christ for salvation, be confident of enjoying it, and look upon Him to be safe and secure from all wrath and condemnation, and from every enemy; and do not be "afraid" of sin, Satan, the world, death, hell, or wrath to come. Because you as a believer in Christ are covered by the blood.

    My Friends, "behold," in the word of God my salvation I trust, and shall not be moved:'' Salvation is wrought out by Christ, and believers have it in them, and they know it, and believe it, and so are already saved in him. 

Amen!

Reading: (Is. 12:1-6)

Ref: (HG SB) 

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry  

 

The Real Reason

Luke 2:11

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,

which is Christ the Lord."

    During this Christmas let's all reflect on the real reason for the season. Not the reason to give or receive gifts, but to recognize the "Birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." I know we all have read or been told that Christ was not born on Christmas but in early spring. If we do research we will find that He was born around that time, and not in the winter. My Friends, the bottom line is, no matter when Christ was born "He Was Born"!
    It is a wonderful thing that the story should tell that the first announcement of God came to some shepherds. Shepherds were not liked by the people of that day. They were unable to keep the details of the ceremonial law; they could not observe all the meticulous hand-washings and rules and regulations. Their flocks made far too constant demands on them; and so they were looked down on.
    It was to simple men of the fields that God's message first came. We have already seen how in the Temple, morning and evening, an unblemished lamb was offered as a sacrifice to God. It is most likely that these shepherds were in charge of the flocks from which the Temple offerings were chosen. It is awesome to know that the shepherds who looked after the Temple lambs were the first to see the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, there in a stable in Bethlehem.
    All through these readings we must have been thinking of the rough birth of the Son of God. You would think that, He would be born in a palace or a mansion. My Friends, We have a God who knows the life we live because He too lived it.
Amen!

Reading: (Luke: 2:-20)
Ref: (HG SB)

 MERRY CHRISTMAS

TO ALL

                                                                        

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry 

A Gospel Worth Suffering For

 2 Timothy 1:8 

"Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord,

nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the

afflictions of the gospel according

to the power of God;" 

    It is the gospel of power. Any suffering which it involves, is to be borne in the power of God. The gospel was, and is, power, power to conquer self, power to master circumstances, power to go on living when life is unlivable, power to be a Christian when being a Christian looks impossible.

    It is the gospel of salvation. God is the God who saves us. The gospel is rescue. It is rescue from sin; it liberates a man from the things which have him in their grip; it enables him to break with the habits which are unbreakable. The gospel is a rescuing force which can make bad men good. It is not simply rescue from the consequences of past sin; it is a summons to walk the way of holiness.

    It is the gospel of grace. It is not something which we achieve, but something which we accept. God did not call us because we are holy; He called us to make us holy. If we deserved the love of God, our situation would be helpless and hopeless. The gospel is the free gift of God. He does not love us because we deserve His love; He loves us out of the sheer generosity of His heart.
    It is the gospel of God's eternal purpose. It was planned before time began. We must never think that God just laid laws down on His people, and that only since the life and death of Jesus, He has  forgiving love. From the beginning of time God's love has been searching for men, and His grace and forgiveness have been offered to them. Love is the essence of the eternal nature of God.
    It is the gospel of service. It is this gospel which calls us to be teachers of the faith. It did not leave Paul a comfortable feeling that his own soul was saved or that he did not need to worry any more. It laid on him the task of serving God and of his fellow men, an example well set for all Christians.
Amen!

Reading: (2 Tim 1:8-11)
Ref: (HG SB; DSB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

 

Five Essential Qualities Of The Christian Life

Hebrews 13:6 

"So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper,

and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." 

    The first essential quality of the Christian Life is "brotherly Love."  It is a great thing to keep the faith; but when the desire to do so makes us overcritical, harsh and unsympathetic, brotherly love is destroyed and we are left with a situation which may be worse than the one we tried to avoid. The second essential quality is "hospitality." Hospitality was very necessary in the circle of the Christians during the early Church years and still is today. In those days many isolated Christians fought a lonely battle. Christianity was, and still should be, the religion of the open door. 
    The third essential quality of a Christian Life is "sympathy." There is sympathy for those in trouble. It is here we see the early Christian Church at their best. It often happened that the Christian landed in prison and worse. It might be for his faith; it might be for debt, for the Christians were poor. It was then that the Church went into action. I pray that we as Christians are always ready to help our fellow men whither they are Christian or not.
    The fourth essential quality is "purity." First, the marriage bond is to be universally respected. In the early days the Christians presented such a purity to the world that not even their critics and their enemies could find a fault in it. However, still today we have perversion in the world and my friends it just gets worse. 
    The fifth essential quality is "contentment." The Christians must be free from the love of money. He must be content with what he has, "and why should we not be for we possess the continual presence of God"? Nothing that man can give us can improve on that!
Amen!

Reading: (Heb. (13:1-6)
Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

   
   

Life, A Theater For Christ

Philippians 1:20 

"According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing

I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so 

now also Christ shall be magnified in my body,

whether it be by life, or by death."

    It is Paul's conviction that the situation in which he finds himself will result in his salvation. Even his imprisonment, and even the almost hostile preaching of his personal enemies, It may sound like Paul is talking about his safety, in which Paul will be saying that he is quite sure that the matter will end in his release. But that can hardly be the meaning here, since Paul goes on to say that he cannot be sure whether he will live or die.
    I believe he may mean his salvation in heaven. In that case Paul would be saying that his conduct in the opportunity which this situation provides will be his witness in the day of judgment. There is a great truth here. In any situation of opportunity or challenge, a man is acting not only for time, but also for eternity. A man's reaction to every situation in time is a witness for or against him in eternity.
    Paul is certain that in Christ he will find courage never to be ashamed of the gospel; and that through Christ his labors will be made effective for all men to see. So, then, if Paul courageously and effectively seizes his opportunity, Christ will be glorified in him. It does not matter how things go with him. If he dies, his will be the martyr's crown; if he lives, his will be the privilege still to preach and to witness for Christ, and he very well did.
    My Friends, "our body should be a theater in which Christ's glory is displayed."  Here is the hard responsibility of the Christian. Once we have chosen Christ, by our life and conduct we bring either glory or shame to Him. A leader is judged by his followers; and Christ is judged by our actions. "Let's all make a True Faithful Showing For Christ"!
Amen!

Reading: (Phil. 1:19-20)
Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

followers; and Christ is judged by us.

Separation Is Essential

1 Corinthians 10:16

"The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion

of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break,

is it not the communion of the body of Christ"

    This cup is so called in symbol to the cup of wine used at common meals, or at the Passover among the Jews, which they used to take and bless God with, and give Him thanks for their mercies, and was commonly called "the cup of blessing."  Is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? Yes it is; it is a sign, a symbol, and token of fellowship with Christ in His death. It is a means of having communion with Him, and of enjoying the blessings of grace which come through His blood; such as righteousness, peace, pardon, and atonement; all which true believers are made partakers of; and this part of the Lord's supper, the cup being drank of, is a testimony and an indication of the same: "the bread which we break;" which is the other part of the ordinance, which, though performed first, is mentioned last, because of the argument the apostle pursues upon it. The act of breaking the bread does not only design the distribution and eating of it, but the manner also in which it is prepared for distribution and eating, namely by breaking it into pieces; and which is aptly expressive of the body of Christ, which was wounded, bruised, and broken for us:
    Is it not the communion of the body of Christ? It is; but not only believers by this act have communion with "His mystical body," the church, but with His natural body, which was broken for them they in a spiritual sense and by faith eat His flesh, as well as drink His blood, and partake of Him, of His sufferings and death, endured in His body, and of all the blessings of grace. The apostle's view in this instance, and his argument upon it, is this, that if believers, by eating the bread and drinking the wine in the Lord's supper, spiritually partake of Christ, of His body and of His blood, and have communion with Him; partakers who eat of things sacrificed unto idols, in so doing communion with them, and partake of the table of devils, are guilty of idolatry, which he urged them to avoid. 

    My Friends, the next time we take part in Communion, let's make sure our hearts are clear and we are in union with God, "before and after Communion." To Christians Christ is not mystical He was and still is real as you and I. "Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils," (1 Cor. 10:21).

Amen!

Reading: (1 Cor. 10:16-22)

Ref: (HG SB; DSB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

 

Let God's Anchor Hold

Psalm 42:11  

"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou 

disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall 

yet praise him, who is the health of 

my countenance, and my God." 

    In looking back on his sorrow, he finds after all no sufficient grounds for being unsettled. When looked in the face, his fears were not so overwhelming as they seemed when covered in obscurity.  My Friends, how many times have we ourselves, been in that same situation? My guess is many times for all of us. It is a human thing to look on our sorrow and find that there was no reason for us to be worried. Must of the time when we face these things we realize there was no reason to be overwhelmed. Let the anchor keep it's hold. God is faithful, God is love, therefore there is room and reason for hope. 

  Here and now Christ is ready to deliver us to the Father. I am not ashamed to own Him amid the sneers and taunts, are you? Faith closes the struggle, a victor in fact, and in heart a firm reliance.      My Friends, The saddest countenance shall yet be made to shine, if there be a taking of God at His word and an expectation of His salvation. 

Amen!

Reading: (Ps. 42)

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

          

The Stump That Become A King

Isaiah 11:1-2

"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse and a Branch

shall grow out of his roots; and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon 

him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of

counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge

and of fear of the Lord"

    This passage describes what is left of a once mighty tree after it has been cut down, "a stump." That mighty tree, being the Kingdoms of David and Solomon, which was destroyed by the Assyrian and Babylonian axe men. However this stump stands in obvious contrast to the number of dead stumps that covered the ground after God had cut down the huge Assyrian forest described by Isaiah in chapter 10. "The same will come to all ungodly nations at the final destruction of all Gentile world power at the return of the Lord." 

    But there is an important difference in this stump, "is not dead!" First a rod (or sprig) will spring up from that dead stump, and then the rod will branch out into fruit. "And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof," (Rev. 5:5).  
    The Holy Spirit of God rested upon the Babe of Bethlehem and citizen of Nazareth giving to Him the Spirit of  wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge and of fear of the Lord. These six Spirits, plus the Holy Spirit making it seven corresponds to the Golden lampstand, with the main shaft and the three pairs of branches from its side. (Ex. 25:31-32; Rev. 1:4; 4:5; 5:6).
    My Friends, The Stump that become a King is our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. His own people denied Him crucified Him, But He Is Still Lord of Lords King of Kings and Saviour. 
Amen:

Reading: (Highlighted Ref )
Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

         

 

He Who Calls, Shall Be Answered

Isaiah 55:6  

"Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, 

call ye upon him while he is near:" 

    The grace of God and all the promises are here given to all, to every one that thirsts after happiness, "Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged," (Is. 55:1). Pray and your prayers will be heard and answered. Seek him whom you have left by revolting from your allegiance to him and whom you have lost by provoking him to withdraw his favour from you. "Call upon Him now while He is near and within call."  

    My Friends, I know we all have instilled in us the old theory of, "it's never to late," However when it comes to life after death "Eternal Life," you best trash that old theory because you are not the time keeper of your soul.

Amen!

Reading: (Is. 55:1-6)

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

      

In The Day Of Apostasy

2 Timothy 3:1

"This know, also, that in the last days

perilous times shall come."

    What does this word perilous mean? My friend it means "exceeding fierce"  In the country of Gergesenes there were two possessed with devils coming out of the tombs. "And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way," (Matt. 8:28). So in the last days Satan will attempt to turn this world into his own personal graveyard.
    Apostasy, is the "falling away," which is the act of professed Christians who deliberately reject the revealed truth of the "Deity of Jesus Christ," and "Redemption" through His atoning and redeeming sacrifice.  However Apostasy is also a result of "ignorance" (Acts 19:1-6) or "heresy" which may be due to the snare of  Satan, (2 Tim. 2:25-26). Both ignorance and heresy may exist with true faith. Apostates depart from faith, but not from the outward profession of Christianity, (Verse 5).  An Apostate is a person who renounces a religious or political belief or principle.  
    My Friends, Every word of Holy Scripture is inspired "God Breathed." God supernaturally directed the writing of Scriptures so that they recorded perfect accuracy His comprehensive and infallible revelation to man. If God Himself had done His own hand writing, the written Word would be no more accurate and authoritative than it is. Let us all study and proof ourselves worthy. "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, (2 Tim. 2:15).  
Amen! 

Reading: (2 Tim. 3:1-17)
Ref: (Hg SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A, Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry 

True Peace

Isaiah: 2:2

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of

the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the

mountains, and shall be exalted above  the

hills; and all nations shall flow unto it."

    Isaiah 2:2-4 and Micah 4:1-3 are practically identical. The Spirit of God gave both prophets the same revelation because of it's importance. There are some general predictions concerning the kingdom. In Scripture a mountain is sometimes the symbol of great earthly power (Dan. 2:35); and hills as smaller.  The prediction declares the ultimate establishment of the kingdom, with Jerusalem for the Capital. (Mic. 4:2). "God is telling us all that the Capital of Israel will be Jerusalem."   

    This plainly tells us that this prophecy is made concerning One who will come and bring about an end to all warfare on earth. (Is. 9:6) tells us this one is called the "Prince of Peace." It is also clear that Micah was talking about Jesus Christ who will bring all this to pass when He returns at His Second Coming. "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night," (1 Thess. 5:2).

    My Friends as we go forward in the days ahead as a Sovereign Nation we must stand with Israel and our God. When that day comes, all Nations will be destroyed and God's Kingdom will be set upon Mount Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. "And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem," (Mic. 4:2). 

Amen!

Reading: (Is. 2:1-4)

               (Mic. 4:1-3)

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

 

               

What Can Be Done?

Isaiah 1:7  

"Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: 

your land, strangers devour it in your presence, 

and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers."

    Isaiah gave hope of salvation to people of Judah at a time when the northern kingdom of Israel had falling prey to Assyria. His mission spanned the reigns of four kings: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah. But Isaiah's prophetic vision looked far beyond those times of trouble. His words offered comfort to a future generation. 

    The wickedness was universal. They were a sinful nation; the people were vicious and profane.  In the management of their public treaties abroad, and in the administration of public justice at home, they were corrupt. My Friend, This is a statement of God's intent: Israel will be righteous. In  (verses Is. 1:18-20), the Lord reveals that Israel will either become righteous through repentance or will achieve their purification through judgment. And today that battle rages on with the Capital of  Israel being moved to Jerusalem. There are many against one! Does that ring a bell?

    My Friends, As we look forward, we see God's word unfolding before us. Words and Actions are waging between Nations. Governments are failing and Democracy is gone. Nuclear war is in the horizon.  What can be done?  This My Friend!        

    The conviction of sinfulness which the prophet desired to secure, then as we should be doing today was sought, not by appealing to a code of laws which had been transgressed, but by showing True Love (God's Love) and gratitude to our Father in Heaven!  As I close today, I say this: "The backsliding of those who have professed relations to God are very provoking to Him and all departures from Him and opposition to Him are met by the constant manifestation of His goodness and mercy toward the backslider. Those who will break off their allegiance with sin are always welcome to come back to fellowship with Him."  God Have Mercy Upon Our Nations.

Amen!

Reading: (Is. 1:1-20)

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A . Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry 

       

  

Influence Built On Christ

2 Cor. 10:18 

"For not he that commendeth himself is approved,

but whom the Lord commendeth. 

    There is marvelous power in the weakest of men, when governed by a single purpose and filled with the consciousness and the power of God. Weak and despicable in themselves, they are often the chosen channels through which God pours His living water. A five foot man thinks himself tall when he compares himself with a dwarf. Always compare what is worst in yourself with what is best in others, and you will be kept humble.
    Paul was always pressing outward to the areas that lay before him. These were vast unoccupied regions, which he longed to count as provinces in the Kingdom of Christ. This is the supreme test of a man. It is comparatively easy to build on foundations laid by another Christian worker, and to win away his converts. Such conduct is mean and cowardly. Open up new ground and do what you can do with Christ in you.

Amen!

Reading: (2 Cor. 10:8-18)

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Longing For The House Of God

Psalm 84:11 

"For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will

give grace and glory: no good thing will he

withhold from them that walk uprightly."

    God is better than His sanctuary. He is a Sun in dark hours, and a Shadow in scorching ones. Grace is His unmerited pardon and blessing to sinners;This path of blessing is through trial; therefore is the need of strength. It is the way of love, that leads to Him. We pass through trails and tribulations  and they become our strength. For by these things we live, and in all these things is the life of the spirit. We may be put to the test daily but we are spiritually renewed daily until all appear before God in Heaven. "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day."( 2 Cor. 4:16). We are a praying people. Dependence is exercised in confidence in God's Grace. 
Amen!

Reading: (Ps. 84
Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

 

Obedience And Prayer

Hebrews 13:17-18 

"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls,

as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for

that is unprofitable for you.  Pray for us: for we trust we have a good

conscience, in all things willing to live honestly."

    A Church is a democracy not a democracy ran mad. The congregation must give obedience to those whom it has chosen as its guides (leaders). However obedience is not given to gratify the leaders' sense of power or to increase their prestige.
    The greatest joy of a leader of any Christian fellowship is to see those whom he leads established in the Christians way. As John wrote: "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."(3 John1:4). The greatest sorrow of the leader of any Christian fellowship is to see those whom he leads growing further away from God.
    The duty of the congregation is to pray for their leaders. It is our Christian duty to always bear our loved ones to the throne of God's grace and daily to remember all who bear the responsibility of leadership and authority.
    Therefore, My Friends, we must give our respect and our obedience to those set in authority over us in the church when they are present with us or when they are absent we must remember them in our prayers.
Amen!

Reading: (Heb. 13:17-21)
Ref: (HG SB, DSB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross life Ministry 

Give Just Weight, And A Just Measure

Proverbs 11:1 

"A false balance is abomination to the LORD:

but a just weight is his delight."

    A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, which includes all false weights and measures, and all fraudulent practices in commerce and dealing; which are forbidden by the Lord, and are abominable to him, as being harmful to the estates and properties of others. And especially when  professors of religion, are being contrary to the grace of God; because when there is just common honesty; where is the grace of God? My Friends; There cannot be no true grace of God where there is no true honesty. The grace of God teaches to deny all such worldly lusts.

    A just weight is a "perfect stone"  The ancient practice was to make use of stones for weights. Now to give just weight, and also just measure, and to do justly in all civil dealings with men, is what God requires, and is well pleasing in his sight. "Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure," (Lev. 19:35). This is to be understood of balances and weights in religious affairs; the balance of the sanctuary is the word of God, with which all doctrines are to be weighed, and, if found lacking and without balance, they are to be rejected; this is agreeable to the will of God: false balances are abominable to him; such as carnal reason, vain philosophy, and the traditions of men, used by Antichrist and his followers.

    My Friends, we live in a harsh world with harsh people around us. Just because other people may not posses true honesty or don't understand, (Lev. 19:35) or even if your Church has somewhat of the same problem; "Don't mean that you should follow suit, Where there is no
True Honesty there cannot be no True Grace of God."

Amen!

Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry 

Though A Crucified Savior Was Near

Luke 23:43 

"And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, 

Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." 

    As soon as Christ was fastened to the cross, he prayed for those who crucified him. The great thing he died to purchase and procure for us, is the forgiveness of sin. This he prays for. Jesus was crucified between two thieves; in them were shown the different effects the cross of Christ would have upon the children of men in the preaching the gospel. One malefactor was hardened to the last. No troubles of themselves will change a wicked heart. The other was softened at the last:he was snatched as a brand out of the burning, and made a monument of Divine mercy. This gives no encouragement to any to put off repentance to their death-beds, or to hope that they shall then find mercy.It is certain that true repentance is never too late; but it is as certain that late repentance is seldom true. None can be sure they shall have time to repent at death, but every man may be sure he cannot have the advantages this penitent thief had. We shall see the case to be singular, if we observe the uncommon effects of God's grace upon this man. He reproved the other for railing on Christ. He owned that he deserved what was done to him. He believed Jesus to have suffered wrongfully. Observe his faith in this prayer. Christ was in the depth of disgrace, suffering as a deceiver, and not delivered by his Father. He made this profession before the wonders were displayed which put honor on Christ's sufferings, and startled the centurion. He believed in a life to come, and desired to be happy in that life; not like the other thief, to be only saved from the cross. Observe his humility in this prayer. All his request is, Lord, remember me; quite referring it to Jesus in what way to remember him. Thus he was humbled in true repentance, and he brought forth all the fruits for repentance his circumstances would admit. Christ upon the cross, is gracious like Christ upon the throne. Though he was in the greatest struggle and agony, yet he had pity for a poor penitent. By this act of grace we are to understand that Jesus Christ died to open the kingdom of heaven to all penitent, obedient believers. It is a single instance in Scripture; it should teach us to despair of none, and that none should despair of themselves; but lest it should be abused, it is contrasted with the awful state of the other thief, who died hardened in unbelief, though a crucified Savior was so near him. Be sure that in general men die as they live.
Amen!

Reading: (Luke 23:32-43)
Ref: (HG SB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry