The Lord Is My God

 Zechariah 13:9  

"And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will

 refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as 

gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I 

will hear them: I will say, It is my people: 

and they shall say, The LORD is my God"  

   Christ and the Father are one. He is the Shepherd who was to lay down His life for the sheep. As a Sacrifice, He was slain, for without shedding of the life blood there was no remission and, yet He had no sin of His own to answer for. This is the whole of Christ's sufferings, especially His agonies in the garden and on the cross, when He endured unspeakable anguish till Divine justice was fully satisfied. "Smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered." 

   This passage our Lord Jesus declares was fulfilled, when all His disciples, in the night that He was betrayed, forsook Him and fled. It has, and shall have its accomplishment, in the destruction of the corrupt and hypocritical part of the professed church. Because of the sin of the Jews in rejecting and crucifying Christ. 

   My Friends, If we are His people, we shall be refined as gold; He will be God, and the end of all our trials and sufferings will be praise, and honor, and glory, at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Is My God!! I Pray He Is Yours!!  

Amen!

Reading: Zech: 13:7-9

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

The Open Fountain

 Zechariah 13:1  

"In that day there shall be a fountain opened to 

the house of David and to the inhabitants of 

Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness." 

    Atonement for iniquity would be made for all sin at Calvary; it applies to all individuals, not to the nation of Israel (cf. Zech, 12:10-13:1; 14:4-9. It had been closed to the unbelieving nation of Israel; but when the Spirit of grace shall humble and soften their hearts, he will open it to them also. This fountain opened is the pierced side of Christ. We have a fountain opened for us to wash in, and streams flowing to us from that fountain to uphold and maintain ourselves in union with God. The blood of Christ, and God's pardoning mercy in that blood, made known in the new covenant, is a fountain always flowing, that never can be emptied. It is opened for all believers, in Jesus Christ. Those who are washed in the fountain; as they are justified, they are also sanctified. Believers Souls are brought away from the world and the flesh, the two great idols of mankind, that they may cleave to God only. 

   My Friends, When convinced that we are gone out of the way of duty, we must show the truth of our repentance by returning to it again.  It is good to acknowledge those who are friends and who by severe discipline are instrumental in bringing us to see our own faults and errors; Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful," (Proverbs 27:6).  And it is always good for us to ponder on  the wounds of our Savior.  Christ was not guilty! We are!!

Amen!

Reading: Zech. 13:1-7

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

"Beauty" And "Bands"

 Zechariah 11:7  

"And I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. 

And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, 

and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock." 

   

   These verses discuss Israel's rejection of the true Shepherd, Jesus Christ. When those who have power proudly abuse their power, and, instead of being shepherds, are as young lions, they may expect that the righteous God will humble their pride and break their power.  Now those that were being inflicted and abused by those in power has not changed today. In fact there are Groups being formed, that "they" say it is for a better way of life for "them," while at the same time they are destroying the way of life for everyone else.    

   Christ was first rejected in favor of rulers who did not care for the people which became a "flock of the slaughter."  How can we go to God to ask a blessing on unlawful methods of getting wealth, or to return thanks for success in them? There was a general decay of religion among them, just as it is among us today.  

   The prophet had taken two staffs; "Beauty," symbolized the privileges of the Jewish nation, in their national covenant;(millennial blessings) the other he called "Bands," symbolized the harmony which united them as "the flock of God."  But they chose to cleave to false teachers.  The cutting of the staffs shows that Israel has forfeited these blessings in their rejection of the Messiah.

   The carnal mind and the friendship of the world are enmity to God; and God hates all the workers of iniquity: it is easy to foresee what this will end in. The prophet demanded wages, or a reward, and received thirty pieces of silver. By Divine direction he cast it to the potter, as in contempt for the smallness of the amount. This foreshadowed the bargain of Judas to betray Christ, and the final method of applying it. 

   My Friends, Nothing ruins people so quickly, as weakening the brotherhood among men. When sin abounds, love waxes cold, and civil contests follow. No wonder if those fall out among themselves, who have provoked God to fall out with them. Willful contempt of Christ is the great cause of men's ruin. And if Believers rightly valued Christ, they would not contend about little matters. 

Amen! 

Reading: Zech. 11:4-14

HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry 

Prince Of Peace

Zechariah 9:9  

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: 

behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation;

lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass."

   This is a joyful representation of the coming of the Messiah, He took the character of a King, when He entered Jerusalem in the middle of the multitude.  His kingdom is and always will be a Spiritual kingdom.  It will not be advanced by an outward force or carnal weapons.  His Gospel shall be preached to the world, and be received among the heathen.  

    A sinful state is a state of bondage; it is a pit, or dungeon, in which there is no water, no comfort; and we are all by nature prisoners in this pit. Through the precious blood of Christ, believers had been set at liberty from the horrible pit in which they must otherwise have perished, without hope or comfort.  Let us seek that His holiness and truth may be shown in our own spirits and conduct. 

   These promises are accomplishment in the spiritual blessings of the gospel which we enjoy by Jesus Christ.  Therefore this invitation speaks to all the language of the gospel call. Sinners are prisoners, but prisoners of hope; their case is sad, but not desperate; for there is hope in Jesus Christ.  Christ is a Strong hold, a strong Tower, in whom believers are safe from the fear of the wrath of God, the curse of the law, and the assaults of spiritual enemies. To Him we must turn with  faith; to Him we must flee, and trust in His name under all trials and sufferings.

   It is here promised that the Lord would deliver His people. This passage also refers to the apostles, and the preachers of the gospel in the early ages. God was evidently with them; his words from their lips pierced the hearts and consciences of the hearers. They were  defended in persecution, and were filled with the influences of the Holy Spirit.  All who are saved by the Good Shepherd as His flock, are honored as jewels of His crown. 

   My Friends, The more we are Blessed with God's Goodness, the more we shall admire the beauty revealed in the Redeemer. Whatever gifts God bestows on us, we must serve Him cheerfully with them; and, when refreshed with blessings, we must say, How great is His Goodness!  

Amen!

Reading: Zech. 9:9-17

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Belivers Will Be Blessed

Zechariah 8:16-17  

"These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth 

to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in 

your gates:  And let none of you imagine evil in your 

hearts against his neighbour; and love no false 

oath: for all these are things that I 

hate, saith the LORD"  

   Those who lay their hands to the plough of duty, will have them strengthened with the promises of mercy. Those who avoid their fathers faults, will have the curse turned into a blessing. Those who believe the promises of God, must show their faith by their works. When God is displeased, He can cause a whirlwind  of destruction, and set every man against his neighbor; and Nation against Nation; but when God returns in mercy, all is happy and will be prosperous. 

   My Friends, When God comes towards us in ways of mercy, we must meet Him with joy and thankfulness. Therefore be faithful and honest in all your dealings; and let it be a pleasure to you to be so, though you come short of the gains others get dishonestly; and as much as in you, live peaceably with all men. Let the truths of God rule in your heads, and let the peace of God rule in your hearts. 

Amen!

Reading: Zech. 8:9-23

HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry 

Change Will Be Made

Zechariah 8:7-8  

Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, 

and from the west country;  And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in 

the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be 

their God, in truth and in righteousness." 

   God will take away our sins, and then no other enemies shall hurt us.  However those who profess religion must adorn their profession by godliness and honesty. Verses 4, 5, describes a state of outward peace, along with temperance, and contentment. The scattered Israelites shall be brought together from all parts. God will never leave nor forsake them, for this He has promised them; and they shall never leave nor forsake Him in a way of duty, as they have promised Him. 

   This Chapter looks at the positive prospect of God's future blessings. It opens with a distinct message that God is dwelling in the city of Jerusalem, and Judah is exalted among the nations and made  Holy. These promises were partly fulfilled in the Jewish church, between the captivity and the time of Christ's coming; and they had fuller accomplishment in the gospel church; but the full impact must be as to the future times of the Christian church, or the future restoration of the Jews. With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible; God's thoughts and ways are above ours. 

   My Friends, In the present low state of godliness, we can hardly conceive that so complete a change can be made; but a change that is as extensive and glorious as this, can only be brought to pass by Our Almighty Godt. Let the hands of all who labor in the cause of the gospel be strong, serving the Lord in true holiness, assured that their labor shall not be in vain.

Amen!

Reading: Zech. 8:1-8 

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Judgments; Written For A Reason

Zechariah 7:9  

"Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true 

judgment, and shew mercy and compassions 

every man to his brother:" 

   God's judgments upon Israel of old for their sins, were written to warn Christians. The duties required are, not keeping fasts and offering sacrifices, but being justly and loving mercy, which accommodate the public welfare and peace. The law of God lays restraint upon the heart. But they, and people today filled their minds with prejudices against the word of God. 
   My Friends, Nothing is harder than the heart of a sinner. Great sins against the Lord bring great wrath from His power, which cannot be resisted. Sin, if regarded in the heart, will certainly spoil the success of prayer. The Lord always hears the cry of the broken hearted penitent; yet all who die not saved and unbelieving, will find no remedy or refuge from miseries which while here they despised and defied.  An unbelieving soul will not be able to bear, "Life After Death."

Amen!

Reading: Zech. 7:8-14

HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry