Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Anger

Matthew 15:19

"For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, 

murders, adulteries, fornication, thefts, 

false witness, blasphemies:"  

 

         The Bible has a lot to say about anger. I don’t mean righteous anger, the kind of anger we can experience toward injustice or evil but sinful anger. Many times we may feel we are “righteous” in our anger because someone wronged us. Anger often involves our sense of justice. But it’s very easy to slide into sinful anger, hatred, and bitterness. Here are some Biblical truths and principles that God has used to help me make progress in conquering my own sinful anger.

        No one else can make you angry. Circumstances don’t cause your anger. Anger is your own sin. Our hearts are like sponges. If I squeeze a sponge and black ink comes out, it might seem that the squeezing caused black ink to come out. Yet I might squeeze another sponge and have clear water come out. So, it was not the squeeze that caused the ink to come out, but ink came out because that was what was in the sponge. The squeeze merely revealed what was there in the first place. Other people and circumstances can “squeeze” our hearts and if anger comes out, it is because that’s what was in our heart. ( Matt. 15:19).

        We tend to downplay the seriousness of anger. “I was just venting” or “letting off steam.” But Jesus said anger is murder of the heart and a violation of one of the 10 commandments.  Not only does anger fail to produce righteousness, it makes things worse. It stirs up anger in others. It stirs up strife. It has the opposite effect to what we are desiring. (Matt. 5:21-22)

        When we “let the sun go down on our anger” or fail to deal with it in a timely fashion, either by asking forgiveness, forgiving others, or working things out with them, it opens the door for Satan to tempt us to bitterness, revenge, slander, and a host of other sins. Cain’s anger at Abel led him to kill his brother. Anger is serious. We must deal with it quickly. (Eph. 4:26-27)

        These truths have helped me numerous times when I’ve been tempted to anger.  I’m not saying I’ve conquered it and I never sin in anger. But by God’s grace, understanding these things has helped me make progress. I hope you, too, will find God’s Word and Spirit help you make progress in overcoming anger.
        Amen! 

Reading: (Matt Chap 5; 15)
                (Eph Chap 4)
Ref: (HGSB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Continual Need Of God's Love

Psalm 40:11  

"Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, 

O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy 

truth continually preserve me."

        To the end of our life we will continually need God’s lovingkindness, to deal mercifully with our failures and sins; for His truth, is His faithfulness. The Covenant, ordered all things to be sure, and that makes God,  the rock of our comfort, whether we are compassed by evils or overtaken by iniquities. "For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me" (Ps. 40:12).

        Our sense of sin grows with our increasing knowledge of the holiness and love of God. They who are nearest to the heart of God are least able to forgive themselves, even though they know they are forgiven. But while we think hard thoughts against ourselves, and confess ourselves to be poor and needy, we may take great comfort in God’s thoughts for us: "But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God" (Ps. 40:17). God's thoughts are tender and loving.  "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end" (Jer. 29:11). Poverty and need are never reasons for despair. 

        These things do not turn God’s interest away. They attract Him; just as a sick child will get more of the mother’s care than other members of the family that are healthy. My Friends, there is no one that is not in God's eye view. God's plan is for all to live a good life, but we must remember; "We cannot live without God's grace in this live, and you want enjoy your next life if you don't accept Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour.   

        Amen!

Reading: (Ps. 40:1-17)

Ref: (HGSB)  

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

The Window Into The Heart Of God

Hebrews 6:6

"If they shall fall away to renew them again unto

repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves

the Son of God afresh, and put him

to an open shame."

         The Cross was an event which opened a window into the heart of God. It is a showing of suffering love in a moment of time, which is for ever in that heart. The Cross said to men: "That is how I have always loved you and always will love you. This is what your sin does to me and always will do to me. This is the only way I can ever redeem you. So long as there is sin, this agony of suffering and redeeming love, will always be in God's Heart. Sin does not only break God's law; it breaks his heart. It is true that when we fall away, we crucify Christ again.
        The writer of Hebrews says, that when we fall away we make a mocking show of Christ. How is that? When we sin the world will say: "So that is all that Christianity is worth. So that is all this Christ can do. So that is all the Cross achieved." It is bad enough that when a Church member falls into sin he brings shame to himself and discredit on his Church; but what is worse is that he draws men's taunts and gestures on Christ.
        In the letter to the Hebrews there are three impossible things. It is impossible for God to lie (Heb. 6:18). It is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats can take away sin (Heb. 10:4). Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6).
         Amen!


Reading: (Heb. 6:1-12)
Ref: (HGSB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Everlasting Rest, We Dare Not Miss!

Hebrews  4:1  

"Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us 

of entering into his rest, any of you should 

seem to come short of it"    

        The promise of the rest of God for his people still abides; the danger is that we fail to reach it.  The Israelites long ago failed to enter into the rest of God. They did not trust God to bring them through the difficulties that lay ahead; and therefore they never enjoyed the rest they could have had. 
        In the creation story in Gen. 1:1-31; Gen. 2:1-25 there is a strange fact. On the first six days of creation it is said that morning and evening came; that is to say, each day had an end and a beginning. But on the seventh day, the day of God's rest, there is no mention of evening at all. We can say from this, that while the other days came to an end, and the day of God's rest had no ending; God's rest was and is for ever. 
        Therefore although long ago the Israelites may have failed to enter that rest, it still remains. There is more to this rest than merely entry into the Promised Land. So the final appeal comes. God still appeals to men not to harden their hearts but to enter into his rest. God's "today" still exists and the promise is still open; but "today" does not last for ever; life comes to an end; the promise can be missed; therefore, says the writer to the Hebrews: "Here and now through faith enter into the very rest of God."

        We must never think that the days of great promise and great achievement lie behind. This is still God's 'today.' There is a blessedness for you as great as the blessedness of the saints; there is an adventure for you as great as the adventure of the martyrs. God is as great today as ever he was."

In Hebrews 4:1 Through the writer to the Hebrews, and us as well; bids people beware lest they miss the promise. This Christian fear is not the fear which makes a man run away from a task; nor the fear which reduces him to paralyzed inaction; it is the fear which makes him put out every ounce of strength he possesses in a great effort not to miss the one thing that is worth it all. "And That My Friend, Is The Promise Of Eternal Rest." 

        Amen!

Reading : (Hebrews 4:1-13)

Ref: (HGSB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

The Long Day Comes To A Close

Luke 23:45  

"And the sun was darkened, and the veil 

of the temple was rent in the midst."

        There was a great darkness as Jesus died. It was as if the sun itself could not bear to look upon the deed men's hands had done. The world will always be dark in the day when men seek to banish Christ.  Amen!!

        The Temple veil was ripped in two. This was the veil which hid the Holy of Holies, the place where dwelt the very presence of God, the place where no man ever enter except the High Priest, and he only enter once a year, on the great day of Atonement. It was as if the way to God's presence, once closed to man, was thrown open to all. It was as if the heart of God, once hidden, was laid open. The birth, life and death of Jesus tore apart the veil which had concealed God from man.

        "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father:" (John 14:9). On the cross, as never before and never again, men saw the love of God. His death did what even his life could not do; it broke the hard hearts of men. Already Jesus' saying was coming true. "I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." The magnet of the cross had begun its work, even as he took  His last breath, and the Long day comes to a close.

        Amen!

Reading:  (Luke 23:44-49)

                 (Matt. 27:45-56)

                 (Mark 15: 33-41)

                 (John 19: 28-30) 

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Finding Joy

Nehemiah 8:10  

"Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, 

and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this 

day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for 

the joy of the LORD is your strength."

         It’s not surprising to find that a lot has been written about this topic. We all want to be happy.

 In the book of Nehemiah, we read, "for the joy of the Lord is your strength." This phrase consist of two things.The first is that we can find joy in God. The second is that this God driven joy is also a great source of strength. Practically speaking, how does one find happiness through God? And what does that joy have to do with how strong we are? There is no shortage of advice on how to be happy, ranging from being more grateful to being more giving. All are fantastic suggestions, and each has its place in our Christian community.

        How do we find joy in God? When we know that God literally has our back and is right beside us, taking care of us at all times, so we can sit back and enjoy the ride of life. Even when life seems difficult or scary, we know that a power greater than us is pulling the strings so that everything works out just right. This not only gives us joy, but also strength as we can face difficulties with confidence and peace. Next time we begin to feel unhappy, remember that the Creator of the world is right there working out everything for our greatest possible good. It’s going to be a fabulous ride; relax and enjoy it. 

Amen!

Reading:(Neh: 8:8-12)

Ref: (HGSB)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

                                                      

Jesus Is Not Dead

Luke 24:12  

"Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulcher; and stooping down,

he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, 

wondering in himself at that which was come to pass."
 

        The all important and challenging question in this story is that of the messengers in the tomb, "Why  seek ye the living among the dead?" (Luke 24:5)  Many of us still look for Jesus among the dead.

        There are those who regard Him as the greatest man and the noblest hero who ever lived, as one who lived the loveliest life ever seen on earth; but who then died. That's just not true!  Jesus is not dead; He is alive. He is not merely a hero of the past; He is a living reality of the present.

        There are those who regard Jesus simply as a man whose life must be studied, His words examined, His teaching analyzed. There is a tendency to think of Christianity and Christ merely in terms of something to be studied. The tendency may be seen in the quite simple fact of the extension of the study group and the extinction of the prayer meeting. Beyond doubt study is necessary but Jesus is not only someone to be studied; He is someone to be met and lived with every day. He is not only a figure in a book, even if that book be the greatest in the world; He is a living presence.  

        Jesus Christ is not only the pattern and the example. He helps us and guides us and strengthens us to follow that pattern and example. He is not simply a model for life; He is a living presence to help us to live. It may well be that our Christianity has lacked an essential something because we too have been looking for Him who is alive among the dead.  "Jesus Is Not Dead," He Is Alive!!  

        Amen!! 

Reading : (Luke 24:1-12)

                  (Matt. 28:1-10)

                  (Mark 16:1-8)

                  (John 20: 1-10)

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry