Touch The Untouchable

Luke 5:13  

"And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, 

I will: be thou clean. And immediately 

the leprosy departed from him."

    Those who innocently acquired leprosy were cast out and despised. The leper was hated by others until he became to hate himself. That is the kind of man that came to Jesus. He was unclean; and Jesus touched him.
    Jesus touched the untouchable. Jesus touched a man that no one else would touch. This is a good reminder for us because if we ever despise ourselves, and feel like we are cast out and filled with bitter shame; Therefore whatever happens to us, Christ' hand is always stretched out.
    My Friends, It is the very essence of Christianity to touch the untouchable, to love the unlovable, to forgive the unforgivable. Jesus did, and so should we. 

Amen!

Reading: Luke 5:12-16

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Faith Unstoppable

Mark 2:3-4  

"And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered 

the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they 

let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay." 

    The news of his coming immediately spread abroad. In the morning the door of the house was opened and anyone who wished to come in was welcome. The door was never shut.  So, in no time, a crowd had filled the house; and they were all eagerly listening to what Jesus had to say. 

    Within the crowd came four men carrying a stretcher with a friend of theirs who was paralyzed laying on it. They could not get through the crowd at all, but these men were determined. The roof of a Palestinian house was flat. It was regularly used as a place of rest and of quiet. So the four men dug out the filling between two of the beams and let their friend down direct at Jesus' feet. When Jesus saw this faith he must have smiled an understanding smile for He looked at the man and said "Child,"  "your sins are forgiven." 

    The story of this healing has been studied in two different ways. 1. The man in this story may well have been paralyzed because consciously or unconsciously his conscience agreed that he was a sinner, and the thought of being a sinner brought the illness which he believed was the inevitable consequence of sin. 2. The "faith" of his four friends that carried him to the house and made a big enough hole in the roof to be able to let in down, right in front of Jesus. Jesus saw and felt the faith of the four men and healed the Paralytic man. The first thing that Jesus said to him was, "Child, God is not angry with you. It's all right." 

    My Friends,  It is a lovely story because the first thing that Jesus does for everyone of us is to say, "Child, God is not angry with you. Come home, and don't be afraid."

Amen!

Reading: Mark 2:1-12

               Matt. 9:1-8

               Luke 5:17-26

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry 

Christ' The Power Of Life

Philippians 4:13

"I can do all things through Christ

which strengthenth." 

    God gives us power to fortify, in (chap 4) and we need to understand it and apply it. "Be careful for nothing," (v-4:6). The first thing one might say is, "If I don't know what to be careful about why be careful." The word "careful" here means to be pulled in different directions. Paul is not talking about concern, he is talking about panic, "Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved," (Ps 55:22). 
    Then He tells us, "but in every thing by prayer," (v-4:6). There are only two areas the believer is not to worry about. The things that he himself can change and the things he cannot change. With prayer we can enjoy the peace of God which truly passes understanding. This peace guards our hearts, protecting us from wrong feelings. And it guards our minds, protecting us from doing wrong thinking.
    My Friends, God's power can purify, satisfy and can supply all our needs each day, all daylong. However; There is one thing you might want to ponder on a little while first. "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus," (Phil. 4:19).  
Amen! 

Reading: Phil:4:1-23
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

    
    

     

Christ Is The Prize Of Life

Philippians 3:14  

"I press toward the mark for the prize of the 

high calling of God in Christ Jesus." 

 
    Sincere Christians rejoice in Jesus Christ. The prophet calls the false prophets dumb dogs, because their malice against faithful professors of the gospel of Christ. Paul explains their action as evil doers. All their good works were done in the "flesh,"  "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away," (Is. 64:6). They were enemies of the Cross. Just like unbelievers today, they were proud of what they should have been ashamed of.

    The cost of  the prize it was simple for Paul, as it should be for people today. He was glad he counted as loss, his many earthly advantages after he had received Christ. For the Crown of this Prize; We must do just like Apostle Paul done. After conversion we must lay aside all confidence in race, religion and confidence in the flesh. As Paul we too will possess God's Redeemer. 

    My Friends, One is a fool, who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. We gain new hope and our citizenship is in Heaven.  As some one has said: "All the way to Heaven is Heaven"). A believers life while here on earth, should mirror actions all the way to heaven.

Amen!

Reading: Phil. 3:1-21

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

           

Christ' The Pattern Of Life

Philippians 2:5  

"Let this mind be in you, which 

was also in Christ Jesus:"

    Paul's subject in Chapter two is the Christian virtue "unity."  There is encouragement and fellowship in the spirit of God. What examples did Christ leave us? Jesus left heaven's glory to unite and unify all mankind with the holy creator "God."  Christ laid aside His deity, however He was and always will be called the Son of God! There are a lot of examples that our Savior left us, and there is no way to list them all, because when you say or hear the name Jesus Christ you get that feeling of completeness.

   My Friends, there should be no desire for personal prestige. Prestige for many people is even a greater temptation than wealth. To be admired and respected, to have a platform seat, to have one's opinion sought, to be known by name and appearance, even to be flattered, these things are desired by most people. But the Christian should not be just for himself, but become one with the universe. He should do good deeds, not so he himself could be glorified by man, but that they may glorify his Father in heaven. Again, Christian's should desire to focus men's eyes not upon himself but on God, just as Jesus Christ our Savior did, "That's The Pattern Of Life!"

Amen!

Reading: Phil. 2:1-30

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You 

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

    

Christ' The Purpose Of Life

Philippians 1:21

"For to me to live is Christ

and to die is gain." 

    Christ gives meaning to live and cause people to serve Him even unto death. Apostle Paul believed it and lived and died believing it, "so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death, (Phil. 1:20d). Paul was bold in what he said about Christ And the Grace of God, and in all his writings he glories in his afflictions. 

    My Friends, as believers we must not hide in the flesh, for we are filled with the fruits of righteousness through Jesus Christ "unto the glory and praise of God."  Christ is the purpose of life, and without Christ' there is death eternal. But with Christ' there is life eternal. We have a choice! We can live and die in Christ or live and die in vain, "It's Your Choice."  Let me leave you with this word of comfort from the Scriptures, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ, (Phil. 1:6). 

Amen!

Reading: Phil. 1:1-30

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry    

 

Don't Fight Your Faith Battle Alone

Isaiah 41:13

"For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand,

saying unto thee, Fear not;

I will help thee."  

     Are you facing a faith battle today? Are you planning on facing it alone? What are your weapons of choice? Well let me help you with you choice. Face it head on with the word of God, because you know He told you in His Word He would hold your hand and help you. Put your total trust in God, and face the fear with God; for He has given you the strength to stand and declare the faith.

    Our God is wiser, more loving and more powerful than any problem you will ever face. No matter how hard, dark or long your faith battle as been going on, because today our God is still  Omnipresent and Omniscient, for has promised us; "Even there shall, thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me," (Ps. 139:10).  
Amen!

Reading: Is. 41:9-13
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

At The Time Of Salvation

Acts 19:3

And he said unto them, unto what then

were ye baptized? And they said 

Unto John's baptism. 

    This is a good example of not knowing the whole Gospel of Jesus Christ. All babes in Christ need the milk of God's Word and then move on to the meat of God's Word. This event took place in Ephesus, and it concerned the disciples of John the Baptist. The people had received the baptism of John but not of the Holy Spirit, which would not coincide with exercise of their faith in the Lord. 
    How could this have happened?  Well let's look at the statement they made, "We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost."  We all know what a question like that would mean in our Churches today. It would reflect our lack of knowledge about the Holy Spirit's work or ministry. It does not show denial of His existence. 
    A lot a people read have pointed out that Paul asked the people if they had received the Holy Ghost "since" they believed. The way this reads some thought and still do, that the Holy Spirit is received sometime after you believe.
    My Friends, it is clear in (v 4-5) that these people had not believed in Jesus Christ but in the repentance that John the Baptist had preached. So the way I see it there should be no conflict with the belief that all believers receive the Holy Spirit at salvation, (when you are saved by the blood of Jesus Christ).  
Amen!

Reading: Acts 19:3-7
Ref : Acts 2:1-13
        Cor. 14:1-3

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

    

    

Our Heart Is Like A House (It Has Many Doors)

Revelation 3:20  

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, 

and open the door, I will come in to him, 

and will sup with him, 

and he with me." 

    It is better to be cold than lukewarm, because in some cases God's love has done all that love can do for the soul has only produced a moderate result because, if we are cold, our soul has yet to be tried. The Gospel has a better chance with the openly profane and godless than with those who have been brought up under its influence and are so far unaffected.

    I believe that "God's Love has done all that love can do for the soul," is a very true statement. Let's face it; "Humans are evil minded and don't really know themselves, and do not want to know; and equally ignorant of the rich stores of blessedness that Christ waits to bestow upon us. 

    Therefore, that brings up our Title for today; "Our Heart Is Like A House (It Has Many Doors)." Let us not be confused with accepting Christ as our Savior and that being all we should do. 

We should spend alone time with our Lord. We have accepted Christ in our Heart, but like a house it has many rooms with locked doors. Behind those doors are secrets you don't share with anyone. A door of the past: All the hurt and love from your family, close friends, your spouse your work and even your church. A door for the present: Taking care of the family, paying bills, working two jobs seeking higher education, and if you don't know Christ as your Savior, now would be a good time to let Him in that door.

    A door to your future:  Christ can not open this door, only you have the key. You make your plans for the future,You decide where you are and how you're going to get there. We all ask a lot of people on what direction do they think we should go, but do they tell us with our interest in mind or there's. My Friends, that door to the future opens one way, "from the inside" What am I saying? We think that we abound in gift and grace, when in Christ’s eyes we are just pitiful. And at this moment, He is standing at the door, with the gifts of heaven. Let Him in, or at least lift the latch, so that He may push the door back and enter.  "Behold I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and sup with him, and he with me." (Rev. 3:20)

Amen!

Reading: Rev. 3:15-20

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

  

Freed From Guilt

Jeremiah 33:8  

"And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have 

sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, 

whereby they have sinned, and whereby 

they have transgressed against me." 

    Anyone who expect to receive comforts from God, must call upon him. Promises are given, not to do away with, but to quicken and encourage prayer. And those who by sanctifying grace are cleansed from their sin by pardoning mercy are freed from the guilt. When sinners are justified, washed, and sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Holy Spirit, they can walk before God in peace and purity.

    Whenever you feel guilt ask the Lord, to help you understand it's cause so that it can be removed. When you have strayed from The Lord's will, ask Him to direct you back on the right path He has for you.  

   Today, Let's all choose to believe in God's full forgiveness, no matter what we may feel. Then my friends we must ask for God's help to accept any consequences for our rebellion against Him with grace and understanding.
Amen!

Reading: Jer. 33:8-11
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

Storehouse Tithing

Malachi 3:10  

"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, 

and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open

you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, 

that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

This passage is often used by those who advocate "storehouse tithing" that is, bringing the "tithe" into God's storehouse (the local church), rather than giving it anywhere else. Most church's if not all suggest that gifts to ministries other than the local church should be above the "tithe." Most certainly the "storehouse in Malachi represents the temple or building in the temple complex.

However, today the Old Testament tithe or tenth cannot be reasonably compared with ten percent of gross salary or wages which most people earn today. My Friends, I believe above all, that giving should be a matter between the Holy Spirit and the believer.The tithe may be an adequate guide for determining how much some people should give. Indeed, for many in a lucrative society, it is probably an inadequate amount. There is one thing we must remember, "the amount of giving must be a personal decision. The Apostle Paul wrote that God examines the motives for the giving, not the amount. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver,"(2 Cor. 9:7).  

Amen!

Reading: Mali. 3:7-15

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

The Father And Son Are One

John 16:23  

"And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, 

I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the 

Father in my name, he will give it you."

    Asking of God shows a sense of spiritual wants, and a desire of spiritual blessings, with conviction that they are to be had from God only. Asking in Christ's name, is acknowledging our unworthiness to receive any favors from God, and shows full dependence upon Christ as our Lord.  Our Lord had  spoken in short and significant sentences, or in parables, to the help disciples understand, but after His resurrection He intended plainly to teach them such things as related to the Father and the way to Him, through His intercession. 

    And the frequency that our Lord enforces the offering up of petitions in His name, shows that the mediation of Christ is to impress us with a deep sense of our sinfulness, and of the merit and power of His death, whereby we have access to God. 

    My Friends, Let us always remember, that to address the Father in the name of Christ, or to address the Son as God, dwelling in human nature, are the same, as the Father and Son are one.

Amen!

Reading: John 16:23-27

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry 

The Day God Talked With Man

Deuteronomy 5:24

 "And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory

 and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the

 midst of the fire: we have seen this day that 

God doth talk with man, and he liveth."

   God appoints Moses to be His messenger to them, to receive the law from His mouth and to communicate it to them  Here the matter was settled by consent of both parties that God should hence-forward speak to us by men like ourselves, by Moses and the prophets, by the apostles and the evangelists, and, if we do not believe these, neither should we be persuaded though God should speak to us as He did to Israel at Mount Sinai, or believe His messages about heaven and hell that God left for us in His Holy Word.

   My Friends, God expressed His feelings to us here in the Old Testament, "O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever! 

Amen!

Reading: Deut. 5:22-31

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry 

Anger And Compassion

Jonah 4:10-11  

"Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, 

neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:
And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are 

more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot 

discern between their right hand and their 

left hand; and also much cattle?" 

    It is just that those who love to complain should never be left without something to complain about, so that problems manifested and corrected and if possible, be cured. Even after the rebuke God gave Jonah, God reasoned with him again, (v-9). 

    When afflictions deprive us of our relations, possessions and enjoyments we must bear it patiently and not be angry at God. Those things are gone God is not gone. Passion often over rules conscience and forces us to make a wrong call or judgment.    

    He that gave took away, and Jonah should have blessed his name in both; but because, when he took the comfort of the gourd, he did not give God the praise of it, God deprived him of the benefit of it, and justly so.
    My Friends, when we start to take to much comfort for the things God provides us with, and not Bless and Praise God for them; we will soon understand the meaning "He That Gave Took Away!"  
Amen!

Reading: Jonah 4: 1-11
Ref: HG SB 

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry  

At A Loss To Know Where God Is?

Job 23:3  

"Oh that I knew where I might find him! 

that I might come even to his seat!" 

    It was God, Job was seeking. Job desired to find God as a judge sitting on His throne. Job doing right, thought that he might have justice done to him: indeed he might be under the hidings of God's face, which added to his affliction, and made his case heavier; Job wanted access to God, however he was at a loss to know where He is, and "how" to find Him. 

    We know that God is everywhere. We know that our God is in the heavens, His throne is there, "Yes, Heaven is His Throne;" He is in his church, and among His people, where they are gathered together in His name. Are we really at a loss to know where God is and "how" to find Him? No we are not because we cannot contain ourselves without seeking after Him, and making use of all means of finding Him, as Job did.
   One might come even to His seat; either His mercy seat, from where He communes with His people. The throne of His grace, where He sits as the God of grace, dispensing his Grace to his people, to help them in time of need; the way to which is Christ, and in which all believers may come to it with boldness, in his name, through his blood, righteousness, and sacrifice; they may come up even to it, in the exercise of faith and hope. 
    My Friends,  We are never at loss when it comes to seeking God. Job felt that he was at a loss and God would not answer, because Job was going through a test o faith. "For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened," (Matt. 7:8). 
Amen!

Reading: Job 23:1-17
Ref: HGSB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

The Big Question

Proverbs 3:6

"In all thy ways acknowledge him, 

and he shall direct thy paths."    

    How do I ask the "Big Question," and how will I know the right time to ask? The question I'm talking about is the question that every person that gets saved ask; "Lord what do you want me to do for you?" First let me say, as a newborn Christian you don't need to worry about your calling until you have become a mature Christian, "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby," (1 Pet. 2:2). 
    During our lives we are always in a hurry, impatient and most of the time headed in the wrong direction. Now Let me ask; "Can we really accomplish anything positive for God that way?" Waiting on the Lord is something the godly do. It's about holding on tight, hoping with expectation and trust, knowing that our Lord is not making us wait just to see how long we can take it.
    There are times when God will delay His answer, and we will at times wonder why He seems so reluctant to intervene in our affairs: "I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God," (Ps. 69:3). But knowing the Lord, we trust that He will come at the perfect moment, not a second too soon or too late.
    We must have complete dependence on God and the willingness to allow Him to decide the terms, including the timing of His plan. Trusting God with the timing of events is one of the hardest things to do. The half-joking prayer, "Lord I need Patience, and I need it right now," is not far from the truth of how we often approach matters of Spiritual Growth and the Lords will. To wait on the Lord produces Character in the life of the Christian in that it involves patience, "But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing," (James 1:4).
    My Friends, This doesn't mean we sit idly by as we wait on the Lord to act on our behalf. We should not spend our time doing nothing! We should continue to do the work He has given us to do. One thing you must remember; just because you don't get an answer or the answer you were waiting for is this: You may not be mature in the Word of God enough for what God wants you do for Him. Or you are already in the place and doing what His plan is for You. May God Bless All That Serve And Acknowledges Him. 
Amen!   

Reading:  Devotion Scriptures
Ref: HGSB

May God Bless You 

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry