The Sin Of Pride

Luke 18:11  

"The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 

God, I thank thee, that I am not as other 

men are, extortioners, unjust, 

adulterers, or even 

as this publican."

   This Pharisee, did not go to pray to God. He went and prayed with himself. A true prayer is  offered to God and God alone. The Pharisee did not go to pray; he went to inform God how good he was. There was a tax-collector (publican). He stood afar off, and would not even lift his eyes to God. So what is the difference between the two?

   The Pharisee was proud of his holiness as measured by legalistic and external standards. of course as a Pharisee he tithed is possessions. then we have the publican which was conscious of his sin and stood a distance from the Pharisee. His humility is indicated by his refusal to lift his eyes to heaven and in the constant striking of his breast, saying, "God be merciful to me a sinner."  The publican had nothing but his humility and honesty. Jesus said that the publican was justified, the Pharisee was not.

   My Friends, Self-exaltation brings humiliation, but humility results in exaltation. Righteousness is not external but internal. God's mercy belongs to the man who humbles himself.  

Amen!

Reading: Luke 18:9-14

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross life Ministry   

     

A Lesson In Prayer

Luke 18:3-5 

 "And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, 

Avenge me of mine adversary.  And he would not for a while: but

afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, 

nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me,

 I will avenge her, lest by her continual

 coming she weary me." 

    This parable does not say that God is liken into an unjust Judge, but it contrast Him, (strikingly different) to the unjust judge. The widow was the symbol of all who were poor and defenseless. It was obvious that she, without resource of any kind, had no hope of ever getting justice from such a judge, but she had one weapon "persistence.." I am sure that some time in you life ,you have felt the same as the widow in the parable. You prayed and prayed to God for help in a matter, but it seem like God  wasn't listening. But  you also have a power, " faith and persistence in prayer."  

   Often a father has to refuse the request of a child, because he knows that what the child asks would hurt rather than help. God is the same way. We do not know what is to happen in the next hour, let alone the next week, or month, or year. Only God sees time whole, and, therefore, only God knows what is good for us in the long run.       
   My Friends, That is why Jesus said we must never be discouraged in prayer. That is why God wondered if men's faith would stand the long delays before the Son of Man should come. We will never grow weary in prayer and our faith will never falter "if," after we have offered to God our prayers and requests, we add to our prayer, Thy will be done. 

Amen!

Reading: Luke 18:1-8
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Increase Your Faith

Luke 17:5  

"And the apostles said unto the Lord, 

Increase our faith."

   The Bible tells us that the most powerful force in the world is faith. This saying means that even that which looks completely impossible becomes possible, if it is approached with faith.  

   My Friends, If we approach a task saying, "It can't be done," it will not be done; if we approach it saying, "It must be done," the chances are that it will. We must always remember that we approach no task alone, because with us there is God and all His power.

Amen

Reading: Luke 17:5-6

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Always Forgive

Luke 17:1  

"Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but 

that offences will come: but woe unto him, 

through whom they come!" 

   

   Jesus admitted that offenses would come to Christians, Every one will be given his first invitation to sin, his first push along the wrong way, a stumbling-block placed in a man's way to trip him up. Jesus said that it was impossible to construct a world with no temptations; but woe to that man who taught another to sin or who took away another's innocence.

   Sin is not committed in a vacuum; therefore, man's sin affects others Christians. There is a principle of care in dealing with others and it begins with the Christian forgiving his brother. You may call your brothers trespass to his attention, but you are obligated to forgive your brother in Christ. 

   My Friends, Although the Jews believed seven times to be ample forgiveness, the Christian is to know no limit when it comes to the forgiveness of others. Forgiveness is like the law of love; Forgive others like Christ forgave you.

Amen!

Reading: Luke 17:1-4

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr. 

The Cross life Ministry

"Mammon Of Unrighteousness"

Luke 16:9  

"And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends 

of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, 

when ye fail, they may receive you 

into everlasting habitations." 

   This steward was accused of wasting his lord's goods. The master called him and required an account of his stewardship. The accusations brought against the steward proved to be true. He faced the possibility of having his stewardship taken away from him and then having no employment. He was unwilling to accept hardship and toil as his way of life, and he was ashamed to beg. 

   Acting in a skillful way, he called those indebted to his master and inquired about their indebtedness. After talking with each debtor the steward suggested that their bills be decreased by considerable amount. When the master learned of the stewards action, he acknowledged the wisdom, admitting that the steward had acted cleverly.

    Jesus used these words to illustrate the wisdom with which men of the world conduct themselves and provide for their futures, "And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light," (Luke 16:8). We see this more so today than ever before. 

   Jesus taught His disciples to make friends of  the "mammon of unrighteousness" so that they may be received by those able to provide materially for them. Jesus does not commend dishonest methods. He suggested that the men of the world acted more wisely in providing for sustaining in the future than those of spiritual sensitivity.

   My Friends, With this parable, Jesus is saying that the Christian could be prudent and wise in the usage of his possession for the benefit of others. This does not mean that an individual is admitted to heaven because he has given generously. Heaven belongs to a man because of his relationship with God, and it is his relationship which prompts the Christian to be a good steward of his possessions.

Verse 13 summarizes Jesus' teaching. The inability of men to be obedient to two diverse masters is clearly stated. Man cannot be double-minded. Jesus bluntly concluded, "Ye cannot serve God and mammon." But you can serve God by using possessions in a spiritual fashion. 

Amen!

Reading: Luke 16:1-13

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

God's Concern For The Lost [PT-2]

Luke 15:10  

"Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in 

the presence of the angels of God 

over one sinner that repenteth"

    God's Concern For the Lost [PT-2] begins with The Lost Coin. Here Jesus speaks of a woman that had 10 pieces of silver and she lost one of the coins. So she lit a candle and swept until she found the lost coin. When she found it she called her friends and neighbors and said, "Rejoice with me for I have found the piece I had lost. The point being here is, that losing the coin brought sorrow, but finding the coin brought joy.  
   The Lost Son parable contains many spiritual truths and some described it as the "gospel within the gospel." And not without reason this has been called the greatest short story in the world. Under Jewish law a father was not free to leave his property as he liked. The elder son must get two-thirds and the younger one-third. "But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his, "(Deut. 21:17).
   The details of this parable speaks volumes of truth. To note only the detail which describes human suffering and compassion is to fail to find the point illustrated by Jesus. Obviously, the son who strays from home depicts a sinner separated from God. The prodigal's sin is not involved simply in the waste of his inheritance or in his careless attitudes and behavior. It is a sin of a debauched life, (socially unacceptable) a rebellion against love.
   My Friends, The parable illustrates the fall of man, "For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil," (Gen. 3:5).  The love of God is seen in the activity of the father. When the son returned to his father, it was not for the purpose of gaining a new inheritance, but for the expressed purpose of becoming an obedient servant. Repentance like this brings forgiveness. The father was not merely accepting the son as a servant but was restoring him as a son. Are you a child of God that has strayed away, If so I pray with these illustrations of God's Concern For The Lost will guide you back to The Father.
Amen!

Reading: Luke 15:8-32
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

 Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross life Ministry

   

God's Concern For The Lost

Luke 15:7  

"I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven

over one sinner that repenteth, more than 

over ninety and nine just persons, 

which need no repentance." 

   The parables in  Luke Chapter 15, illustrate God's concern for those separated from Him. God is unwilling for any to perish. Jesus' audience were publicans [tax collectors] and sinners. The pharisees joined the scribes in criticizing Jesus for His conduct with the social and religious outcast, suggesting that He socialized with the sinners.
   To further His illustration, Jesus then related the account of a shepherd who cared for 100 sheep. However, when he counted them there was one missing. So he left the 99 in search for the one which was lost. That was how important one lost sheep was to a shepherd's care. Many of the flocks were communal flocks, belonging, not to individuals, but to villages. There would be two or three shepherds in charge. 
   Those whose flocks were safe would arrive home on time and bring news that one shepherd was still out on the mountain side searching for a sheep which was lost. The whole village would wait watching, and when, in the distance, they saw the shepherd coming home with the lost sheep across his shoulders, there would rise from the whole community a shout of joy and of thanksgiving. 
   My Friends,That is the picture Jesus drew of God; Jesus, is what God is like. God is as glad when a lost sinner is found as a shepherd is when a lost sheep is brought home. "God, too, knows the joy of finding things that have gone lost." We will continue with part two of God's Concern For The Lost, tomorrow with the parables of  The Lost Coin and The Lost Son.
Amen! 

Reading: Luke 15:1-7
HG SB

May God Bless You 

And Your family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

    

The Cost Of Discipleship

Luke 14:26

"If any man come to me, and hate not his father

and mother, and wife, and children, and

brethren,and sisters, yea, and his

own life also he cannot 

be my disciple." 

    Any miracle worker could attract multitudes, with no doubt many people followed Jesus because of His miraculous power. However, Jesus' intent and purpose was to define the cost of true discipleship so that His follows might understand the price of His yoke. True discipleship involves total and complete loyalty to the Master. No loyalty can take precedence of  loyalty to Christ, not even loyalty to parents or immediate family. We, as Christ disciples must be willing to bear our cross. Without cross bearing there is no discipleship.
   Jesus used the  logic of one counting the cost of discipleship by illustrations concerning building and warfare. The building of a tower is costly, as is the waging of a war. If  the contractor does not count the cost, he may not be able to complete the building of the tower.  If  the king don't count his soldiers and those of his enemy, it may be wiser for him to seek peace instead of war.
   My Friends, Discipleship means the rejection of selfish interest, and the acceptance of God's will even though there is a cost to be considered. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, payed a high price for the cross He carried for mankind. Now we must be pay the cost to be His disciples!  Be Loyal, and bear your cross!  
Amen!

Reading: Luke 14:26:33
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr. 

The Cross Life Ministry

Jesus Teaches Humility

Luke 14:11

"For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; 

and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

   Jesus used a parable of a wedding to teach humility. In the parable, as the guest of the wedding were filing in, they contended for superiority for the best seats. The seat to the host's immediate left was secondary, and the positions then alternated in order of importance. The place of honor is assigned to an individual because of the host's evaluation of their character; or these days its who ever is the host best and richest friends; Really hasn't change much as it? 

   Now Jesus turned to His host with whom He ate bread with on the sabbath, suggesting that his guest list should not only include friends, relatives, and neighbors, but also the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind. Even though the last group of people mention here will not be able to return the favor, the Lord will bless the host in the resurrection of the just. "And thou shalt be blessed for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just." (Luke 14:14).
   My Friends, Humility has always been one of the characteristics of great men. How can we retain our humility? We can retain it by realizing the facts. However much we know, we still know very little compared to the knowledge available to us. However much we have achieved, we still have achieved very little in the end. However important we may believe ourselves to be, when death removes us or when we retire from our position, life and work will go on just the same. And if we set our lives beside the life of the Lord, if we see our unworthiness in comparison with the radiance of his stainless purity, pride will die and self-satisfaction will be shriveled up. Then Humility steps in. 
Amen!

Reading: Luke 14:7-14
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You 

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Every Day Is An Opportunity

Luke 13:23-24  

"Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? 

And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the 

strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will 

seek to enter in, and shall not be able." 

    Through our reading of God's word, we believe through faith that the Kingdom of God will be victorious, but Jesus recognized that it would be difficult for some to accept the Kingdom of God. The disciples were aware of the difficulty which many would approach the Kingdom, so they ask Jesus, "Are they few that will be saved." Jesus did not answer their question with a fancy theory; He insisted that man strive to enter the Kingdom of God.  In other words, a man must struggle as for a prize in a contest, "give it your all."

   The strait gate is the only means of entering the Kingdom, and only few will be able to enter, even though many may attempt to find it. The essentials of the Kingdom Citizenship are defined by God not man.

   My Friends, Jesus demonstrates the abuse of opportunity by referring to the householder who had closed his door for the night. The frustrated and false hopes held by those outside will become judgments upon them. Their own confessions remind them of wasted opportunities. Every Day Is An Opportunity, Don't Waste It! 

Amen! 

Reading: Luke: 13:22-30

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

  

What Shall I Do

Luke 12:19 

"And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods 

laid up for many years; take thine ease,

eat, drink, and be merry." 

     The disciple who requested his brother to divide his inheritance with him provided the occasion for Jesus to speak the parable of the rich fool. This is parable underlines the dangers of materialism. The rich man's fields produced so much that he faced a problem and ask; "What shall I do, because I have no room to store my fruits? His decision was simple but selfish: destroy his present barns and build new ones that would be much bigger. This seemed reasonable and  for certain made him feel secure, (12:19). The rich man could then live in luxury and eat, drink and be merry. But God's response was entirely different; That night the rich man's soul was required of him.

    The question remained,  "Who will benefit from these possessions?"  The picture of covetousness is related in the words of this parable. The man who had planned for the future in the terms of   "my barns, my fruits, my goods, and my soul" realized his folly only in death. He left the world poorer than the beggar on the street corner.

    My Friends, This is true of all who lay up treasures for themselves without reference to God. Jesus did not condemn material possessions, He also did not condemn the desire to possess material things. However, Jesus condemned covetousness and greed. Let Us All Be Aware Of Our Standings With God! 

Amen!

Reading: Luke 12:13-21

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross life Ministry 

A Question Of Relationship To Beelzebub

Luke 11:15

"But some of them said, He casteth out devils 

through Beelzebub the chief of the devils." 

    The Jews believed in demons and also claimed to assert authority over them. The Jews did not question Jesus' ability to cast out demons, some suggested that He did it through Beelzebub, the chief of demons. This is equivalent to suggesting that Jesus cast out demons through the power of Satan. In their response to their thoughts Jesus reminded the Jews that a Kingdom divided against itself is brought to destruction, a divided house provides His demonstration. Jesus then drew the analogy that Satan divided against himself, would fall.
    Jesus then gives us a brief observation concerning the robber of the palace. When a strong men guards the palace, his goods are safe; when one stronger comes in and over powers him, then the palace goods are divided as spoils. The point is; the palace can never be robbed until one stronger than the palace guard over powers him. There can be no neutrality in the struggle with Satan (V-11:23). Man is either aligned with God or he is a victim of Satan.   
    Jesus then described spiritual cleansing by referring to the activities of an unclean spirit once he has been driven out of a man. The demon walks through dry places seeking rest, but finding none, returns to his former abode. The house which he inhabited has been swept and cleaned. He enters again taking with him seven more wicked than himself. So the last condition of the individual is worse than he was before.
    My Friends, What Jesus is teaching us is the peril of an empty heart. Man's heart is no vacuum; it must be filled. When a man refuses to accept God's Spirit, he is practically inviting evil to return. We either fill our heart with Jesus, or Satan will step in. 
Amen!

Reading: Luke 11:14-26
Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry  

Man's Greatest Glory

Luke 10:20  

"Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; 

but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven."  

    When the Seventy returned they meet Jesus at a designated site probably picked by Jesus. The Seventy was radiant with the triumphs which they had worked in the name of Jesus. Jesus said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven." That is a difficult phrase to understand. Jesus said this because the disciples could not explain the demons submission, Jesus explained it on the basis of Satan's power having been broken. The breaking of the devil's power began with Jesus' temptation and continued throughout His ministry to Gethsemane, and beyond to the cross.

    Although the disciples may have taken this as an occasion for rejoicing, Jesus carefully reminded them that the gift of power was not the main reason for rejoicing; rather, it was the promise of a heavenly home. Surely the disciples would understand that the one who gave them the power to conquer their severest enemies was capable of writing their names in The Lambs Book Of Life. 

    My Friends, Man's greatest glory is not what he does in the name of the Lord, his greatest glory is what The Lord does with Man's name. Let us not get wrapped up in all the gifts and power over evil that God has given us. We must stay focused on the future gift of  Life Ever After!! 

Amen!

Reading: Luke: 10:17-20

Ref: HG SB

 May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross life Ministry

  

Laborers For God's Harvest

Luke 10:2-3  

"Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: 

pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth

labourers into his harvest. Go your ways: behold, 

I send you forth as lambs among wolves." 

    The laborer is worthy of his hire, but the servant of a crucified Master cannot be a seeker for luxury. To have heard God's word is a great responsibility. A man will be judged according to what he has had the chance to know. We allow things in a child we condemn in an adult; we forgive things in a savage we punish in a civilized man. Responsibility is the other side of privilege. 

    My Friends, It is a terrible thing to reject God's invitation. There is a sense in which every promise of God that a man has ever heard can become his condemnation. If he receives these promises they are his greatest glory, but each one that he has rejected will some day be a witness against him.

Amen!

Reading: Luke 10:1-16

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You 

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

he Cross Life Ministry