Dear Weekly Readers!   God’s Peace!

Words are so very important.  One small good word can encourage a brother.  Likewise, one small evil word can do much destruction.   Let us always be careful of the words we use.  Ephesians 4:29  Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hears.

The below article by Pastor Wayne Juntunen gives a different but wonderful example of how very small words can change the meaning and importance of the subject being communicated!

Please enjoy, and my God Bless your week!

 

OUR COVENANT KEEPING GOD

Dear precious brothers and sisters in Christ, the Lord opened mine eyes to see something from His Word I had never seen before.  Yes, I have read the passage many times, but have not really “seen” the importance of a single word in the verse that is so important that it changes the emphasis of the entire event which it describes.  It is the little word “it” in Joshua 4:7.  God had given specific instructions to Joshua as to the manner by which His people with whom He had made His covenant were to cross the Jordan into the Promised Land.  There are many significant details in this event that are worthy to note.  But the one that struck me this morning as I was reading the passage is a part of verse 7 in chapter 4.  The phrase is as follows:  “…the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan…”

As often as I have read that verse, without thinking, I have put the emphasis upon the people so as to believe the waters were cut when the people passed over.  But that is not what the Bible says!  It says, “the waters were cut off before the ark of the Lord when it passed over Jordan.”  That “it” does not refer to the people, but to the ark!  As surely as soon as the feet of the priests touched the flood waters of the Jordan, the waters parted; not because of the priests, but because they bore the ark.  God had given the instructions as to how the crossing was going to be possible, but it was the presence of the ark that created the effect.  Why is this so important?  Simply and clearly it shows us that in God’s work of salvation, the emphasis is always upon what He has done, is doing, and will do! 

Yes, it is true that the twelve stones taken up from the dry river bed of the Jordan by a representative of each of the twelve tribes was to be set up as a memorial to future generations to testify that the Lord God “…dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over. (Josh. 4:21).  But that testimony referred to the effect or result of the fact that the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan.  Without the presence and power of “the Ark”, Israel would never have made it into the Promised Land!

That Ark, as we all know, was the Ark of the Covenant that God instructed Moses to make and into which were place the Ten Commandments and upon which was the lid known as “the mercy seat” (Ex. 25:17-22).  The Epistle to the Hebrews in chapter 8 – 10 points us forward to Christ who is the fulfillment of God’s covenant.  Therefore, we know this Old Testament Ark was a “type of Christ.”  He is the Author and Finisher of our salvation.  It is because of Him and Him alone that we are not only saved but in and through whom we have life in abundance here, now, and forever!

God is faithful!  He has kept and continues to keep His covenant.  He puts no confidence in the flesh.  Not only has He begun the good work, within us but will continue to bring it to completion within us until we, too, cross over the Jordan of our death into the Promised Land of eternal glory.  All of this is because of His grace.  As Paul writes in his Epistle to the Romans, where sin abounds, grace much more abounds (Rom. 5:20).

Our response is the obedience of faith (Rom. 1:5; 16:26).  God has perfected his marvelous grace throughout the ages having spoken in these last days through Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection.  He has fulfilled and kept his covenant promises.  But if we do not take Him at His Word, all that He has promised and finished will be of no benefit to us.  How dramatically did God show His power as the Ark stopped the raging flood waters of the Jordan.  Had Israel feared the waters and not trusted God’s Ark, they would have never known the riches of His abundant blessing He had in store for them.  Has He not shown His power even more dramatically on Calvary’s Cross and the Garden tomb through the death and resurrection of our Lord? 

 God’s love for fallen mankind has never faltered or failed.  His love is stronger than death!  Dear reader, trust Him and sing, “Jesus love me this I know for the Bible tells me so.”  Then live in the power of that truth and walk by faith!

Pr. Wayne Juntunen

  THE CROSS OF CHRIST

What do we think and feel about the cross of Christ?
This week I want to examine what one of the greatest and most notable Christians who ever lived thought of the cross of Christ.
We can read about what Paul thought on this important question by reading Galatians 6:14  But God forbid the I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…..

So individually I would like to ask each of you, "What do you think about the cross of Christ?"

Paul begins our text by saying God Forbid.  In other words:  God, do not let this happen, or : God, allow me to NEVER Forget, or:  God,  stop me from glorying in something else, other than the cross of Jesus.   
These are such strong words from Paul! 

According to how the world sees things, Paul could have boasted about so many things, but he did not.
He could have boasted about his national privileges. He was a Hebrew of Hebrews.  He could have boasted he comes through his forefather Abraham, being in the right tribe, born in the right place, at the right time, etc.
He could have boasted in his own works, because he did so many things, even healings and wonderful missionary journeys.  He could have boasted in his knowledge, as he was schooled under the best teacher of his era.   He could have boasted in his graces. He was so loving, he was self-denying, so prayerful, so thankful.    

He never boasted in his churchmanship.  He started so many churches; he was a great church leader.
He could have gloried in his own personal conversion which was so exceptional that we read about it in the Holy Bible even today.

If Paul said, "God forbid that I should boast in anything whatever except the cross," should I dare to say, I have something to boast of? I am a better man than Paul?
Oh, let us beware of self-righteousness!   Be thankful, never boasting in ourselves!

  1^st Corinth 2:2 For I am determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and him crucified.

When Paul talks about the cross in this way, he was referring to the doctrine that Christ died for sinners upon the cross.   This is what Paul is speaking about!  The Doctrine of atonement, blood shed for sin! The Doctrine of substitution, where we do not have to die and go to hell, because Jesus died for us!   
He is speaking about the doctrine that says as in Col 1:14    In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.  (also in Eph. 1:7)

He is speaking about the fact the “without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins.”   He is talking about the fact that   God so loved the world that He GAVE His only begotten Son! John 3:16
He is talking about the “ Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.”   This is the Cross of Jesus Christ that Paul is referring to when he says he desires to Glory in nothing else!

A powerful verse says:  ( 1 Corinth 1:18)    For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which believe it is the power of God!  
  
What a revelation when we can see the cross as the POWER OF GOD!  The Love of God!  Our Salvation!  O what power it is!

The Cross was in evidence before time:   In Revelations 13:8 … Lamb Slain from the Foundation of the World  In Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God who cannot lie, promised before the world began.   

The Cross in Sacrificial Symbolism:   Read the story of the Passover! What a picture!  Read about the sacrificing of the Lambs in the temple…. Right down to the water and blood flowed from the side of the temple just as they flowed from Jesus side.    

The Cross is Life for us!  1 John 5  11-12 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.    READ 2 Corinth 5 :14-15! You will see life!

 The Blood Cleanses: Isaiah 1:18  Come let us reason together saith the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet they shall be white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool!      

The Cross makes the believers exempt from judgment.      Romans 8:1 … No condemnation   Rev 2:11.. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.    Rev. 20:6  …on such the second death hath NO POWER.

The Cross gives us Power over sin: Romans 6:6  …Old man crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.   

The Cross is the subject Paul loved to preach about, and it is the subject he loved to dwell upon when he wrote to believers.
This is what Paul lived upon all his life, from the time of his conversion. He tells the Galatians, "The life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galat. 2:20.)

May we rest assured that Paul was right. Depend upon it, the cross of Christ—the death of Christ on the cross to make atonement for sinners—is the center truth in the whole Bible.
Let us not forget that all Christ's sufferings on the cross were fore-ordained. He was crucified "by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God." (Acts 2:23.)

Do not forget that Christ's sufferings on the cross were necessary for man's salvation. He had to bear our sins, if ever they were to be borne at all. “by His stripes we are healed.”      

Do not forget that Christ's sufferings were endured voluntarily Romans 8:32  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all…..

How can we love sin, when we remember that because of our sins Jesus died?   
The Cross of Christ is the only place in the history of the entire world that we can see where the Saviour of Mankind, the Diety, dies for the sinner, for the disciple!     In all the other world religions, man has to do things to please the Diety.  That is why Christianity is a FAITH, not a religion and it is set apart by the Cross of Jesus, by the fact the it is all done for us by Christ! 

The cross is the strength of a minister and the entire church! . 1 Corinth 1:18    For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which believe it is the power of God!       
Are you living in any kind of sin? Are you inquiring the way toward heaven?  Are you a distressed believer? Are you dying from a disease or cancer?  Jesus Christ won the victory over death, hell, and the power of the devil upon the cross!

Now I ask you again,  What you think now about the cross of Christ? 

 May you and I both say together… "God forbid that I should boast—except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ!        

Dear Weekly Readers!

Let us remember one another in prayer throughout this week!

Again this week I have typed out a tract that has been used in our church in the USA!  You can feel free to print and pass it out as you see fit.       Also, if any of you feel inspired to write a Spiritual article, please email it to me at foreignmission@comcast.net

May God Bless your week!

 

Problems Too Great to Carry?

Many times in life our problems and cares in the world cause us great concern and worry. We try to make our own way, and do it all ourselves.

The Bible teaches us, “Cast all your cares upon Him (Jesus), for He cares for you.” (Peter 5:7).

Jesus said, “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matt. 6:34)

The Lord shows us that “All things are possible with God” and that “Whatsoever you ask in Jesus’ name, believing, the Father shall give unto you.”  How important, therefore, that we bring all our problems, cares and concerns to the Father in prayer in Jesus’  name.

The greatest burden which we often carry is the guilt of our own wrongdoings toward men of God, and the consequences of them, which the Bible calls sin.  It is written, “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us… Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.”  (Heb. 12:12)

The consequences of in are twofold; The chastisement of the Lord and death, “Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth,  and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” (Heb. 12:6).    “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

Remember the loving Saviour who looked down from the cross and prayed, saying, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” If you sins in this world are burdening you, may you by the grace of God bring them to Jesus, in repentance, that by faith you may receive the assurance of the forgiveness of all your sins through Jesus’ name and blood.

God had given such power unto the disciples to preach repentance and the forgiveness of sins in His name beginning at Jerusalem.  (Luke 24:47)