Why Is Good Friday Good

1Co 15:3 

"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received,

how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;" 

    What is Good Friday and why do we call Good Friday “Good,” when it is such a dark and bleak event commemorating a day of suffering and death of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? For all "Believers" Good Friday is a very special day of the year because it celebrates what we believe to be the most important weekend in the history of the world. Ever since Jesus died and was raised,  "Believers" have proclaimed the cross and resurrection of Jesus to be the decisive turning point for them into Eternal Life and all creation as well. Paul considered it to be "of first importance" that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and was raised to life on the third day, all in accordance with what God had promised all along in the Scriptures, cf. 1Cor. 15:3. 
    On this "Good Friday Let's all," remember the day Jesus willingly suffered and died by crucifixion as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, "He came unto his own, and his own received him not," (John 1:10). "If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us," (1 John 1:10).  As we celebrate Good Friday lets ponder on what our savior went through just to carry our sins to the cross and defeating death and hell, "for us."  All this is  followed by what we call Easter, the glorious celebration of the day Jesus was raised from the dead, heralding, his victory over sin and death and pointing ahead to a future resurrection for all who are united to him by faith. 
    Still, why call the day of Jesus’ death “Good Friday”? In order for the good news of the gospel to have meaning for us, we first have to understand the bad news of our condition as sinful people under condemnation. The good news of deliverance only makes sense once we see how we are enslaved in sin.  We need the law first to show us how hopeless our condition is; then the gospel of Jesus’ grace comes and brings us relief and salvation.
    In the same way, Good Friday is “good” because as terrible as that day was, it had to happen for us to be freed from sins slavery. The wrath of God against sin had to be poured out on Jesus, the perfect sacrificial substitute, in order for forgiveness and salvation to be poured out to humanity. 
My Friends, Jesus endured the cross on Good Friday, knowing it led to his resurrection, our salvation, and the beginning of God’s reign of righteousness and peace.
Good Friday marks the day when wrath and mercy met at the cross. "That’s why Good Friday is so Dark and so Good."
Amen!

Reading: Matt: 27:15-66
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Minister

AVERTING OF JUDGMENT

Joel 2:27 

"And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that

I am the LORD your God, and none else: and 

my people shall never be ashamed." 

    A broken and contrite heart can be imparted only by the grace of the Holy Spirit. The love of God should bring us to repentance. God takes no pleasure in our miseries and "if" we repent and turn from our sin we find an immediate and loving welcome to the Father’s heart and His heavenly home.

    Joel had called for the trumpet to announce war; he now directs the trumpet blast to summon the people, from the highest to the lowest, to plead for help. Prayer and true repentance and faith bring an immediate answer. God promises not only to forgive sin, but to make us happy and well provided as if the locust and cankerworm had never settled upon our lives. God will have pity and removed the plaques in which He punished them, and then they as well as the world will know that God is in the mist, "It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there," (Ezek. 48:35).

Amen!

Reading: Joel 2:12-27

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry 

The Meaning Of Affliction

Lamentations 3:22  

"It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, 

because his compassions fail not."

    Lamentations has a variety of touching images. The prophet seems to stand among the ruins of city and temple, burned with fire, scatter with the ashes of his people. However, compared to the rest of the book, it does, reflect a gleam of hope. If only we would turn from our griefs to the mercies, compassion's, and goodness of the Lord, there would be light in our darkest dungeons. 

    It is good to hope and quietly wait; to take Christ' yoke and learn of Him; to keep silent in submission and faith. God cannot cast off. He does not willingly afflict; He has no sympathy or complicity with the turning of a man aside or subverting his cause. 

    My Friends, let us be sure of this, "the Lord will neither cast us out nor just write us off." He may hide His face for a moment, but with everlasting kindness, He will have mercy, according to the multitude of His compassion's.

Amen!

Reading: Lam. 3:22-36

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry 

 

All Dried Up

Joe 1:12 

"The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the 

palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are

withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men."

    All who labor for things that will perish will sooner or later be ashamed of their labor. Those that place their happiness in the delights of sensation, when deprived of them, or disturbed in the enjoyment, lose their joy; However let's take in consideration spiritual joy then flourishes more than ever. Can you see how we need to live in continual dependence upon God and his providence? Can you see what great harm and destruction sin causes? 

    My Friends, It is a sore judgment as far as poverty and piety, that would starve the cause of religion among a people. But how blessed are the awakening judgments of God, in rousing his people and calling home the heart to Christ, and his salvation!  

Amen!

Reading: Joel: 1:8-13

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Hold Fast With A Firm Arm

Hosea 12:6 

"Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment,

and wait on thy God continually." 

    God calls Israel to examine the life of Jacob. The phrase "and by his strength he had power with God"  refers to Jacob's attempt to use his physical strength to obtain blessing from God. This took place when he wrestled with God's angel at Penial (Gen. 32:30; cf. Hos. 12:4, 5). Jacob ultimately submitted to God's leading in his life and return to then place where he first had fellowship with God, Bethel (Gen. 28:16-22, cf. Hos. 12:4, 5). Jacob's "holding fast with a firm arm" and desiring God's blessing was what God wanted Israel to learn from his example. 

    My Friends, We as well can learn from Jacob's actions. God is still the same God now as He was in the beginning, and sin is still sin. The only thing that can change is the heart of man! Turn to Jesus Christ and "hold fast with a firm arm."

Amen!

Reading: Hos. 12:1-14

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

 

Bands Of Love

Hosea 11:4 

"I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them

as they that take off the yoke on their jaws,

and I laid meat unto them."

    God looks back on the happy, blessed past, as a fond parent on the innocent childhood of a son who is now causing endless pain and grief. He thinks about the call from Egypt, and relates how, in obedience to His appeal, Israel came out of the idolatries of that country. He describes Israel as a tiny child beginning to walk, and says, "I taught him to go."  He compares the Israel of those days to horses or oxen, relieved of the yoke, Let us remember that God is also willing to teach us to go, and to carry us when we are weary. 

    The blessed childhood of Israel however where bent on backsliding. As believers we know that God’s love is not easily repelled. What more pathetic words were ever uttered by broken hearted parents than, Hos.11:8-9! "For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers." That is still the reason for our plea. If we were dealing with man, we might despair. But we are dealing with One who forgives us according to the riches of His grace. "If a back-slider should read these touching appeals, let him be encouraged to retrace His steps one by one, sure that the Father waits to welcome him where the by-path has broken off from the main road."
Amen!

Reading: Hos. 11:1-12
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry 

Caught Up In A Whirlwind Of Evil

Hosea 8:5 

"Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; mine anger is kindled against them:

how long will it be ere they attain to innocency?" 

    Israel had renounced God for the likeness of a calf, and now in the misfortunes which had overtaken them, their calf had cast them off. What is it that you are putting in the place of God? Power, wealth, the help of influential friends? Sooner or later it will fail you. How different is the One who encourages us, saying, “I will not fail nor forsake thee,” and who promises to carry us to we are old and grey. The persistence with which Israel turned to other gods, left God no option but to put them back into the hot seat like Egypt had been, which would finally burn their chances of going to the promise land. Only when we walk before God with a perfect heart are we strong and happy. My Friends, Once you entangle yourself with evil alliances, and other gods you lay yourself open to many sorrows. So I ask you and all others; "if you haven't already, now is the time to seek The Kingdom Of God."  

Amen!

Reading: Hos. 8:1-14

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry   

Iniquity Will Be Uncovered

Hosea 7:13 

"Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them!

because they have transgressed against me: though

I have redeemed them, yet they have

spoken lies against me." 

     Remember in Chapter Six, God desired to turn aside the captivity of His people and to heal Israel, but His pleading was unavailing because of their deep-rooted sin. Their own evil-doing was there witness against them, "And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before my face," (Hos. 7:2). Their passions did not need to be heated up, just as an oven retains its heat without the baker’s continued attention.      

    They celebrated with drunken orgies, and the national religion had become a confused mixture of Gentile superstition and the old Hebrew faith.  My Friends, The national religion of today  "Christianity"  is still in the same shape Israel was and is today: It resembles a cake not turned-crisp on one side, sour and uneatable on the other. "Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned," (Hos. 7:8). 

    A searching question is applied in V-9!  Can it be that strangers have been stealing away our strength, without our realizing that deterioration is creeping steadily through our religious life? Just like cold air steals the warmth from boiling water; silently the fungus grows in the autumn woods; then silently old age fastens on the standing frame.

    My Friends, Our spiritual strength declines, unless we watch and pray; and when it diminishes away, we become foolish and walk straight into a snare, and are useless as the deceitful. "They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt," (Hos. 7:16).

Amen!

Reading: Hos. 7:1:16

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Let Us Return Unto The Lord

Hosea 6:1 

"Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn,

and he will heal us; he hath smitten,

and he will bind us up." 

    What an opening statement: "come and let us return"! A invitation from the hand that smote was the Fathers who waited to welcome the prodigal Nation with healing and up-binding. When the sun dips below the horizon, we begin to travel toward its rising again. Then we follow on, to behold the glorious dawn of the next day, which is prepared for us. Presently we catch the first glimpse, but soon we shall see into its full splendor.

    The sun does not move toward us, but we toward it. So when the soul turns toward God, if only it is willing to do His will, it has begun to follow on toward the light of His countenance, which presently will be revealed in its full radiance. God’s favor is also compared to the fertilizing rain, for its certainty and refreshment, "While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease" (Gen.8:22).

    While God’s love is constant, our religious life is erratic and changeful. Emotion is a memory as the morning clouds, that dissipate as quickly as they are formed. Our Lord quoted "But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance," (Matt. 9:13). 
Amen!

Reading: Hos. 6:1-11
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You 

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

 

This One Time

Luke 4:5-6 

"And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him

all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.  And the devil

said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the

glory of them: for that is delivered unto me;

and to whomsoever I will I give it." 

    The Kingdom of God would have an impact on everyone, weather they wanted it or not. Most definitely it has started battles. One of the biggest happened right off the bat. Right after the Baptism of Jesus The Holy Spirit led Him into the wilderness and tested by the devil to reveal the power and authority of  The Son of God.

    A lot was at stake here. Satan had been given temporary dominion over the earth. Jesus would later refer to him as "the ruler of this world", but in the same breath Jesus would pronounce Satan's soon and certain defeat. "Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out," (John 12:31).   

    There was a lot riding on the entrance of Jesus into the world to redeem lost humanity. Satan went for the Jugular, offering Jesus the easy way to world dominion. No cross. No blood. No crown of thorns or a lash across the back. Just worship me! This one time!

    My Friends, It would have been easy to argue that the ends might have justified the means. But for Jesus there was no shortcut for success but loyalty to the Father.  A Loyalty that has but one response, absolute obedience.  When Jesus declared His intentions to worship and serve the Lord alone,  it was a direct quote from God's instructions to His people thousands of years before. "Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name." (Deut. 6:13). 

    We as followers face the same decision every day. Someone will ask  you  to do or be engaged in some type of sin, if they haven't already, and I am sure they said, Just This One Time! Do we desire The Kingdom of God or The Kingdom of This World. Will it be personal fame or The Father's Glory. 

Amen!

Reading: Luke 4:1-13

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry.

             

God Will Sow

Hosea 1:2 

"The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea,

Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms:

for the land hath committed great whoredom,

departing from the LORD." 

    Many wonders why God would tell Hosea to marry a harlot, but understand that God intended to use this marriage as an illustration with His dealings with Israel. God used it to expose Israel's sin in this way because it reflected Israel's unfaithfulness to Him. So Jezreel, Hosea's first son, was legitimate because Gomer {Hosea's wife} "bare him a son" {1:3}. Now Hosea's other two children are identified as "children of harlotry" {Hos. 2:1-4} and are used as examples of Israel's illegitimate children, {Hos. 5:7}.

    This brief prophecy of the millennial reign of Christ gives several significant details. First, it clearly affirms that the restoration of God's people to the land of Israel will be a physical one. They will be called "son's of the living God" in the same place where Hosea called them "not my people" {v-10; the northern section of the promise land, possibly Samaria, Ezek. 37:21,25}. Second they will be reunited under one leader, and will be called God's children {v-11;  Ezek 36:10, 11, 28} when they return from the lands in which they have been captives. Third, the meanings of the names of Hosea's two youngest children will not apply to Israel anymore because their situation will be reversed.

    The application of this passage to the Gentiles is stated by the apostle in the book of Romans where he quotes the end of chapter 2 in our prophet, as expressing grace towards the Jews, and the Verse we are now considering towards the Gentiles: " Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?  As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.  And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God." {Rom. 9:24-26}.  While Peter, who speaks only to converted Jews, quotes the end of chapter 2 only. "Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." {1 Pet. 2:10}. There is no doubt that the Jews will come in, according to this principle in the last days; but the Holy Ghost expresses Himself here-as He has done in a multitude of passages quoted by the apostle -so as to adapt Himself to the admission of the Gentiles, when the time, foreseen of God, should come. But here He goes farther, and announces the return of the children of Judah and of the ten tribes, reunited, and subject to one head, in the great day of the seed of God

   It is said, "they shall come up out of the land"; and this has been supposed to mean their return from a foreign land; but I have an idea that it is rather that they all come up as one people in their solemn feasts. Thus the judgment of a corrupt and faithless people, and grace towards the Gentiles, and afterwards towards Israel as a nation, are very plainly announced, in words which, although but few, embrace the whole series of God's dealings.
    For example: We may observe that it is not said, "they shall be my people" (an expression less suitable to Gentiles), but "the sons of the living God"; which is precisely the privilege bestowed by grace on those who are brought to know the Lord since the resurrection of Christ. My Friends, This is the meaning of "Jezreel": or, more exactly, "God will sow."  "And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel," {Hos. 2:22}.

Amen!

Reading: Hos. 1;2

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

 

Power To Go On

1 John 5:20 

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding,

that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true,

even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is

the true God, and eternal life

    Do you have the, "power to go on in life"? You probably said, I believe I can. My Friend, the entire human race needs power and I mean a special power "immortality."  The Scriptures not only talks about the life of human flesh that begins with birth and ends in death, but also about Spiritual life that begins with Jesus Christ and that is eternal life after death. "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" (John 11:25-26).  
    My Friends, death is the reason we need Power to get through this "mortal life" and the next, "eternal life."  The power I'm talking about comes from within, "will power."  We have the power to chose between good and evil, and right and wrong as well as the knowledge to understand the difference. 
    We also have been given the sources we need: God's Love, God's Trust, a Church to attend, God's patience, our family of loved ones and a spouse if we so desire. The most important in life is we have God's Holy Word, "The Gospel of His Son Jesus Christ," His birth, His Ministry, His Death and Resurrection. But more important; "You Must Have A Heart That Believes In Both.
Amen: 

Reading: Devotional
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

       

The Attributes Of God (PT-9)

Psalm 99:9 

"Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; 

for the LORD our God is holy." 

    The thirteenth attribute of God is, God is holy. Without a doubt is the most prominent attribute of God as presented by both the Old and New Testament Scriptures, is His holiness. The one single perfection would perhaps come closer to describing  the eternal Creator than any other characteristic He possesses. It is believed that His holiness is the union of all other attributes, as pure white light is the union of all the colored rays of the spectrum. Here are a few biblical references: "Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy," (Lev. 19:2).  "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;" (1 Pet. 1:15).

    Holy is the way God is. To be holy He does not conform to a standard. Because He is holy, all His attributes are holy. So whatever we think of as belonging to God must be thought of as holy. God is holy and He has made holiness the moral condition necessary to the health of His universe. Sin's temporary presence in the world only accents this. Whatever is holy is healthy; evil is amoral sickness that must end in death.
    God's first concern for His universe is its moral health, that is, it's holiness, and whatever is contrary to this is under God's eternal displeasure. To preserve His creation God must destroy whatever would destroy it. Every wrathful judgment in history of the world has been a holy act of preservation. The holiness of God, the wrath of God, and the health of creation are united. God hates iniquity as a mother hates the polio that would take the life of her child.
    In the Bible God underlines His holiness by direct commands, objects, personal visions, and individual judgments.  (1) Direct Commandments:  a. the moral law, Ten Commandments Ex. (10:10-25) b. the spiritual law, feasts and offerings (Ex. 35-40) c. the ceremonial law, diet, sanitation, etc. (Lev. 11-15). (2) The Objects: The main object was the tabernacle itself. (3) Person Visions: a. Moses' vision,(Ex. 33: 18-23). b.Isaiah's Vision, (Is. 6:1-5). c. Daniel's Vision, (Dan. 7:9-14). d. John's vision, (Rev. 4:8-11). (4) Individual judgments: a. Upon Nadab and Abihu, for offering strange fire, (Lev. 10:1-3). b. Upon Korah, for rebellion, (Num. 16:4-12, 31-33). c. Upon Uzziah, for intruding into the office of the priest, (2 Chr. 26:16-21). d. Upon Herod, for blasphemy, (Acts 12:20-23). e. Upon Christ, for the sins of the world, (Is. 53:1-10; Ps. 22:1; Heb. 2:7; 1 Pet. 2:21-25; 3:18). 
Amen!

Reading: Devotional Study
Ref: HGSB; WBSG

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

   

The Attributes Of God (PT-8)

Job 5:7-9

"Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward. I would seek unto God,

and unto God would I commit my cause: Which doeth great things

and unsearchable; marvellous things without number:"

    The eleventh attribute of God is, God is incomprehensible. This means that  no one except God Himself can even remotely understand and comprehend God. To better understand this attribute better let us say, in heaven we are able to double our learning each year concerning the person and attributes of God. This really is not at all an unreasonable assumption, because we as Christians will possess a sinless and glorified body and a desire to know more about Jesus. So what I am saying is there is no limit of wisdom and knowledge that we will learn in heaven. "Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea," (Job 11:7-9).  "Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast," (Ps. 36:5-6). "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" (Romans 11:33).
    This staggering figure of knowledge that is in waiting in heaven for us cannot be comprehended by mortal minds. The point to all this is simply this. Throughout the untold and unnumbered trillions and trillions of years, timeless in eternity. Ever child of God can double their knowledge about the Creator each year and yet never even exhaust the awesome height, depth, or length to be know of the person of God.
    The twelfth attribute of God is, God is inscrutable. This attribute refers to the incomprehensible  and mysterious ways of God. It raises the most painful question of all: Why does a loving and wise God allow terrible tragedies to occur. "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! (Rom. 11:33).
    How many times since Abel's martyrdom at the dawn of human history have similar tragedies taken place? One only needs to change the names, places and rearrange some of the details. But the searching remains. Why does God allow such terrible things? A clue and only a clue to this question is found in, (Rev. 10:7) "But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets." 
But until the sound of that blessed trumpet, the perplexed child of God can arrive at no better conclusion than once offered by Abraham, "That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Gen. 18:25).
    The statement above is amplified on at least three other biblical occasions.  By Moses: "He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he," (Deut. 32:4).  By Job: "And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him," (Job. 1:21;13:15). And by a Galilean crowd in Jesus' day: "And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak," (Mark 7:37). 
Amen!

Reading: Devotional Study
Ref: HGSB; WSGB

May God Bless You 

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

          

The Attributes Of God (PT-7)

Hebrews 13:8 

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday,

and to day, and for ever."

    The ninth attribute of God is, God is Immutable. In a sentence, this says that God never differs from Himself. He may at times alter His dealings with men in a dispensational sense, but His divine character remains the same. This a is vital attribute of God, without this attribute He would not be God, (exist). For example, a person may change in two directions. He may go from better to worse or from worse to better. But it is unthinkable that God could or even would travel down either of these roads. "And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;  And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail, " (Heb. 1:10-12). "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning," (James 1:17). "Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven," (Acts 1:11).
    The tenth attribute of God is, God is sovereign. This means that God is the absolute and sole ruler in the universe. To be truly sovereign demands that one have the total freedom, power, wisdom and determination to carry out a predetermined course of action. God possesses all these in infinite measure and is therefore sovereign. Two problems usually surface during any discussion of the sovereignty of God: (1) If God is sovereign, how do we explain the presence of sin and evil?  These explanations I am giving here is totally unscriptural and are quotes from A. W. Tozer. "The only statement one could make, is that through man's ignorance is that the sovereign God has indeed allowed for (but not arranged for sin to enter this universe, but through it all He might receive the most glory." "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created," (Rev. 4:11). And that the elect might receive the most good. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose," (Rom. 8:28). 
    (2) If God is sovereign, how do we reconcile the responsibility and freedom of man? "God sovereignly decreed that man should be free to exercise moral choice, and man from the beginning has fulfilled that decreed by making his choice between good and evil. when he chooses to do evil, he does not countervail the sovereign will of God but fulfills it. In as much as the eternal decree decided not which choice the man should make but that he should be free to make."  "Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places," (Ps. 135:6). 
    "Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it," (Is. 46:9-11).
AMEN!   

Reading: Devotional Study
Ref: HGSB;WSB
Quotes From A.W. Tozer             

Knowledge Of The Holy

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

The Attributes Of God (PT-6)

Proverbs 3:19  

"The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by 

understanding hath he established the heavens." 

    The eighth attribute of God is, God is Wise.  We have already talked about God's omniscience, and it is based on His eternity and omnipresence. We may say His wisdom is grounded upon His omniscience. Even though, knowledge and wisdom are closely related they are not the same. And they do not always accompany each other. There is no doubt we have all known those who had acquired a great deal of facts, but did not have the ability to use them.

    Wisdom and knowledge are imperfect in man but perfect and perfectly related to each other in God. Only God knows how to use His infinite knowledge to the best possible end. Through His wisdom God applies His knowledge to fulfillment of His own purposes in ways which will bring the most glory to Him. Here are just a few of passages which declare the wisdom of God: "To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever," (Ps. 136:5). "But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: (1 Cor. 2:7).  "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Tim. 1:17). "To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen," (Jude 1:25).

Amen!

Reading: Devotional

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry 

The Attributes Of God (PT-5)

Psalm 147:5  

"Great is our Lord, and of great power: 

his understanding is infinite." 

    The seventh attribute of God is, God is omniscient (all knowing). God possesses "without prior discovery of facts"complete and universal knowledge of all things past, present, and future. This includes not only the actual, but also the possible. This total and immediate knowledge is based on God's eternity (He has always and will always exist), and His omnipresence (He has been, is, and will always be every where at the same time). "Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?" (Is. 40:13-14). "O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches," (Ps. 104:24). 
    My Friends, God sees and knows all things (the big and the small of the universe). "The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good," (Prov. 15:3). He knows mankind, our words, our deeds, our sorrows, are needs, our devotion, "And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him," (Gen 18:17-19). "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars," (2 Chr. 16:9).
    He knows our frailties, our foolishness, He knows His own. "I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity," (John 10:14; 2 Tim 2:19). 
    God perfectly knows Himself and, it follows that He knows all that can be known. And this He knows instantly and with a fullness of perfection that includes every possible item of knowledge concerning everything that exists or could have existed anywhere in the universe at any time in the past or that may exist  in the centuries unborn. God knows all thoughts, mysteries, all feelings, all desires, every un-uttered secret, all thrones and dominions, all things visible and invisible in heaven and in earth, motion, space, time, life, death, good, evil, heaven and hell."  
Amen!
Reading: Devotional
Ref: HG SB
The Doctrine Of The Trinity

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

        

The Attributes Of God (PT-4)

Genesis 18:14

"Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed

I will return unto thee, according to the time of life,

and Sarah shall have a son." 

    The sixth attribute of God is, God is omnipotent. "And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth," (Rev. 19:6). This means God can do anything if it can be done and if it does not contradict His own nature. For example: He cannot  create a rock so heavy that He couldn't lift it, because the very nature of this act would be impossible to perform. God cannot lie, or steal, because these things would contradict His own nature.

    Here are some areas in which God's omnipotent is clearly seen.  (1) Over Nature:  a. He separates light from darkness, (Gen.1:4). b. He separates the waters by the firmament (ie) space, (Gen. 1:7).  c. He separates seas from the dry land, (Gen. 1:10).  d. He measures oceans in His hands, and weighs mountains in His scale, (Is. 40:12).  f. He regards nations as a drop in the bucket, and looks upon the islands as small particles of dirt, (Is. 40:15). 
    (2) Over Men: "The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.  And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will," (Dan. 4:30-32).
    (3) Over Angels: "Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word," (Ps. 103:20).
    (4) Over Satan:  The first two chapters of Job deal with Satan's accusations against the patriarch before God (Job). The devil then subjects job to various fierce and fiery trials, but not before being granted the needed specific permission from the omnipotent God Himself,  "And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.  And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life," (Job:1:12 ;2:6). 
    (5) Over Death:  "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage," (Heb. 2:14-15).
Amen!
Reading: Devotional
Ref: HG SB,
The Doctrine Of The Trinity 

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry