Seven Last Words - First Word, Do You Know What You Are Doing?

Min. Angela Lee Price

Scripture records seven occasions on which Jesus spoke at the point of His greatest extremity, as He hung naked on the cross. His statements open a unique window into His heart and mind and as such demand our reverent attention. Today we will reflect on His remarkable prayer: "Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing."

"Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.  When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals -- one one his right, the other on his left.  Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.'  And they divided up his clothes by casting lots" (Luke 23: 32-34).

Jesus knew what to do on the Cross:

Jesus knew what to do on the Cross, and that was to pray.  He knew to whom to pray, to the Father.  He knew what to pray about, that was forgiveness of sin.  He knew for whom to pray, "them," his enemies including you and me.  Jesus prayed to the Father when he might have focused on the gross injustice of the situation - the treachery of Judas, the deceitfulness of Pilot, the cruelty of Roman, the hostility of the establishment, the timidity of the disciples.  He could have focused on this own considerable suffering as he had done the night before in the Garden of Gethsemane. It is remarkable because Jesus prays this selfless prayer at the time HE is most in need of prayer. He is concerned for the people crucifying him and with compassion and mercy, he asks God to forgiven them. It’s unconditional. That’s love. 

Do you know what you are doing?

You and I made the cross necessary. We are the ones he prays to the Father to forgive. Do you know what you are doing? Because none of the leaders of that day understood the magnitude of their sin. 1 Corinthians 2:8, “None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” Paul himself did not what he was doing? He, a man of Jewish pedigree and religious upbringing, persecuted Christians because he didn’t know to do, he didn’t understand.  

When you don't know what to do:

 

1. Pray to the Father and constantly maintain awareness of the Father's presence in your life. He is the One who knows all things. He knows about your problems and can handle them.

 

2. Pray for your enemies and resist the temptation to pray only for yourself in those trying, back-up-against-the-wall situations. Praying for our enemies is what we tend to do last.  However, this is what Jesus did first on the Cross. 

3. Pray for forgiveness in love unconditionally. Jesus prayed on the Cross for his enemies unconditionally.  It wasn't about IF they would get him down off the Cross, of IF they would take take care of his family members or give them something, nor IF they would apologize to him for their unjust accusations. Jesus asked God the Father to forgive his enemies without condition.  In doing so, Jesus prayed for our forgiveness, thereby canceling our sin debt by dying on the Cross while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8).

Sermon Excerpt from Seven Last Words on the Cross, Kenwood Northeast Missionary Baptist Church, March 2021

Good Friday: Christ Died In Your Place

Angela Lee Price

Happy Good Friday to you!  We've been hearing a lot of bad news lately.  Are you ready for some good news?   Jesus loves you and he died for you!  Romans 5:8 states, "But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  There is so much in this passage, but I want to focus on the phrase, "...Christ died for us."  We remember the death, burial and Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ this Easter Weekend because He didn't die merely for our benefit, Jesus died in our place! You and I should have been on that cross that Good Friday. Instead, Jesus took our very place on the cross, paying the penalty,  the price (Rom. 6:23) for our sins.  Isn't that good news?  And it gets better!

In the New Testament,  Jesus is described as having died in place of the Christian, the church, and the world.  First, Jesus died in place of the Christian. 1 Peter 2:24 states, "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.  By his wounds you have been healed."  And Romans 6:8 states, "And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him."  
Secondly, not only did Jesus die in place of the Christian, He also died in place of the church. Ephesians 5:25 states, "For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church.  He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by cleansing of God's word."  Jesus is head of the church and he loves the church. Colossians 1:18 states, "He is also head of the body, the church and he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he himself will come to have first place in everything."  

Finally, Jesus died not only in place of the Christian and the church, but also the world. Hebrews. 2:9 states, "What we do see in Jesus, who was given a position 'a little lower than the angels'; and because he suffered death for us, he is now 'crowned with glory and honor.' Yes, by God's grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone." 

The good news is this. Jesus paid a debt He did not owe because we owed a debt we could not pay. Christ died in our place and he died for everyone who would place faith in him.  

Living for Jesus may seem like a daunting task.  I get that.  But the entire book of Romans, and the New Testament, for that matter, lets us know it is possible to live a life that is pure and pleasing to God.  If you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, why not make that a priority today.  When you accept Jesus into your life, He gives you the Holy Spirit. If you follow the leading of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:5), you will not serve God out of fear and duty, but out of love and gratitude. The Holy Spirit will give you the power to resist temptation and win battles against the world, the flesh, and the devil.  You will declare, "Greater is He that is within you than he that is in the world!"  You will be motivated out of love for Jesus and by a desire to be close to Him, recognizing you already have God's approval because of what Jesus did in dying on the Cross for you.  Now, that's good news indeed! It is Friday, but Sunday's coming!  Jesus saves!

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Jesus Saves Ministries, Celebrating 14 Years of Lifting Up Jesus Christ!

Holy Monday - Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

On Monday of Holy Week, Jesus cursed the fig tree because it did not bear fruit (Matt. 21:18-21).

"Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry.  Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves.  Then he said to it, 'May you never bear fruit again!'  Immediately the tree withered.  When the disciples saw this, they were amazed.  'How did the fig tree wither so quickly?' they asked.  Jesus replied, 'Truly I tell you, if you have the faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was don to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done.  If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.'"

The cursing of the fig tree is an incident in the gospel, presented in Mark and Matthew as a miracle in connection with the entry into Jerusalem, and in Luke as a parable.  The cursing of the fig tree is connected with the cleansing of the temple.  The image is taken from the Old Testament symbol of the fig tree representing Israel, and the cursing of the fig tree in Mark and Matthew and the parallel story in Luke are symbolically directed against the Jews, who have not accepted Jesus as king.

Figs generally appear on fig trees in February, followed by leaves, which are not formed until late Spring. Jesus cursed the tree because it was well past fruit-bearing season, yet it was still unproductive.   Is there spiritual fruit on your tree? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? When we accept Jesus as Lord, He gives us the Holy Spirit to enable us to bear fruit. The Bible states in Luke 13:8, "And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down." We should do what God requires and bear much fruit in developing godly character and in loving one another (Gal. 5:22).  If we do not bear fruit then for what good are we?  Why are we here?  

The parable of the sower highlights the importance of bearing fruit (Matthew 13:3-23 & Mark 4:3-20).  In the parable, seed is thrown on four types of soil, but only seed planted in good soil grew plants that produced fruit.  When we hear, receive and obey the Word of God believers can bear much fruit.  When we reject the Word of God because of stony hearts, we will not bear fruit.  

Finally, believers are to be faithful branches of the Vine of Christ.  In John 15:1-8, Jesus tells his disciples, I am the vine, you are the branches; he that abide in me, and I in him, will bring forth much fruit.  Further He says, If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  This is to my Father's glory that you bear much fruit showing yourselves to be my disciples (vv7-8).  This last statement mirrors what Jesus said in Matthew 21:20-21.  The important point here is to have faith in prayer.  

The True Meaning of Christmas

Min. Angela Lee Price

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:10-14).

What is the true meaning of Christmas?  It depends on who you ask.  For many in society, Christmas is just another holiday or another season to make money. Christmas means jolly ol' Saint Nick is on his way to find out whose been naughty and whose been nice; that the halls are decked with bales of holly, lights, trees, and and shiny things.

For some, Christmas means family and foods from festive recipes loaded with sugar, spice and everything nice. Christmas to the sports fan means the season for basketball and football - games galore, college rivalries, bowl games, NBA and so much more.

For others though, Christmas means not gladness but sadness, worries and stress about mounting bills, which gifts to get and which gifts to give.  It is not the most wonderful time of the year. Gift-getting and gift-giving oftentimes overshadow our greatest gift, Jesus the baby in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothing.

The true meaning of Christmas can be found in the greeting the angel(s) gave the shepherds the night Jesus was born (Luke 2:10-14).

The true meaning of Christmas can be found in Luke 2:10-14:  
1) That God loves man:  “Fear not” (v10); (See also John 3:16 and 2 Timothy 1:7)
2) That God’s love is manifested” “For, Behold,” (v10); (See also 1 John 3:1)
3) That God showed His mercy before man sought it” “I bring,” (v10); (See also Romans 5:6-8)
4) That good tidings and joy are for every individual: “you,” (v10);  (See also Acts 13:32)
5) That God is no respecter of persons: “to all people,” (v10);   (See also Isaiah 52::10 and Romans 2:11)
6) That salvation from sin is within reach of everyone (v11). (See also Acts 4:12)
7) That God wants man to enjoy peace on earth, and good will among men (v 14) (See also John 14:27).

Happy New Year from Jesus Saves Ministries, Louisvillle. 

Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ!

I Ain't Afraid of No Ghost 2

By: Min. Angela Lee Price

The following links are from a nifty website called GotQuestions.org. I pray you will take the time to peruse these one-page fact sheets on ghosts and related topics so that you will become better eqipped to defend the faith.  More Christians, it seems, believe in ghost and the paranormal due to all the ghost hunting shows on television, and in the movies and because they just don't know what the Word of God says about this subject.  My bible tells me, absent from the body is present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8).  I ain't afraid of no ghosts either.

What does the Bible say about ghosts / hauntings?

Answer: Is there such a thing as ghosts? The answer to this question depends on what precisely is meant by the term “ghosts.” If the term means “spirit beings,” the answer is a qualified “yes.” If the term means “spirits of people who have died,” the answer is “no.” The Bible makes it abundantly clear that there are spirit beings, both good and evil. But the Bible negates the idea that the spirits of deceased human beings can remain on earth and “haunt” the living.

Hebrews 9:27 declares, “Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” That is what happens to a person’s soul-spirit after death—judgment. The result of this judgment is heaven for the believer (2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:23) and hell for the unbeliever (Matthew 25:46; Luke 16:22-24). There is no in-between. There is no possibility of remaining on earth in spirit form as a “ghost.” If there are such things as ghosts, according to the Bible, they absolutely cannot be the disembodied spirits of deceased human beings.

The Bible teaches very clearly that there are indeed spirit beings who can connect with and appear in our physical world. The Bible identifies these beings as angels and demons. Angels are spirit beings who are faithful in serving God. Angels are righteous, good, and holy. Demons are fallen angels, angels who rebelled against God. Demons are evil, deceptive, and destructive. According to 2 Corinthians 11:14-15, demons masquerade as “angels of light” and as “servants of righteousness.” Appearing as a “ghost” and impersonating a deceased human being definitely seem to be within the power and abilities that demons possess.

The closest biblical example of a “haunting” is found in Mark 5:1-20. A legion of demons possessed a man and used the man to haunt a graveyard. There were no ghosts involved. It was a case of a normal person being controlled by demons to terrorize the people of that area. Demons only seek to “kill, steal, and destroy” (John 10:10). They will do anything within their power to deceive people, to lead people away from God. This is very likely the explanation of “ghostly” activity today. Whether it is called a ghost, a ghoul, or a poltergeist, if there is genuine evil spiritual activity occurring, it is the work of demons.

What about instances in which “ghosts” act in “positive” ways? What about psychics who claim to summon the deceased and gain true and useful information from them? Again, it is crucial to remember that the goal of demons is to deceive. If the result is that people trust in a psychic instead of God, a demon will be more than willing to reveal true information. Even good and true information, if from a source with evil motives, can be used to mislead, corrupt, and destroy.

Interest in the paranormal is becoming increasingly common. There are individuals and businesses that claim to be “ghost-hunters,” who for a price will rid your home of ghosts. Psychics, séances, tarot cards, and mediums are increasingly considered normal. Human beings are innately aware of the spiritual world. Sadly, instead of seeking the truth about the spirit world by communing with God and studying His Word, many people allow themselves to be led astray by the spirit world. The demons surely laugh at the spiritual mass-deception that exists in the world today.

Recommended Resource: The Truth Behind Ghosts, Mediums, and Psychic Phenomena by Ron Rhodes.

Did the witch of Endor really summon Samuel from the dead (1 Samuel 28:7-20)?What does the Bible say about praying for the dead?
What does the Bible say about praying to / speaking to the dead?
What does the Bible say about channeling?

Source:  GotQuestions.org Home

The Believer's Resurrection 2023

By: Angela Lee Price

It is no more remarkable that we should live again than that we should live at all!  We just need to think of the bewildering complexity of the human body and the even more intricate workings of the human personality to see that we are indeed "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Ps. 139:14).  The God who could make us once can certainly make us again.  What is of utmost importance to the Christian faith is that Jesus Christ rose from the dead.  It is a fundamental, factual, and fervent belief.  It gives us hope for the future.  Because  Jesus died and rose again on the third day, we too, by faith shall be raised in our mortal bodies to put on immortality to spend eternity with the Lord.

Our belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is a fundamental belief.  In 1 Corinthians 15, the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth to remind them of the gospel he had preached  to them stating, "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures...." (1 Corinthians 15: 3-4).  This is the eu angelion, the gospel which means "Good News." Apart from it the Word of God is a false, the work of Christ is a failure, and the witness of the Spirit is a farce.

The Resurrection is a factual belief.  The Apostle Paul referenced the Scriptures used logic and factual evidence to combat the false teaching of those claiming there was no resurrection of the dead.  He provided proof of the resurrection of Christ.  Paul stated, ...he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve, then to 500 brothers and sisters at the same time...He then appeared to James and to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me...." (vv5-8).  Paul put icing on the list of witnesses to the resurrection stating, "and.. he appeared to me". In other words, I am not telling you what I heard or what I think I know. I am telling you what I know.   Paul had a personal encounter with Jesus later on the road to Damascus as he was persecuting the saints.  Do you have a "know-so" faith?  Have you had a personal encounter with Jesus on your own "Damascus Road"?  Then you ought to tell somebody about the Lord!

Paul said if Christ did not rise from the dead, our faith is useless.  But Christ did rise from the dead and we will also be resurrected (vv12-14; 20-23).  Jesus speaking to Martha when Lazarus died said, "I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die" (John 11: 25-26).  Then he asked her the ultimate question, the question I am asking you now, "Do you believe this?"  Martha answered, "Yes, Lord...."  What is your answer?

The resurrection of Jesus Christ --as wonderous as it is, as marvelous and as game-changing as it is-- it is not the end of God's display of power!  Just as Jesus was raised from the dead, believers shall be raised from the dead also.   Our resurrected bodies will be the same bodies. Thomas would not believe unless he felt Jesus' wounds.  Jesus proved it to Peter, John and the disciples whom he called from their boat to have breakfast with him along sea shore before he ascended. Paul told the church as with Jesus, "So will it be with the resurrection of the dead.  The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power, it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body (vv42-44). Our bodies, will be splendid bodies -- the mortal shall put on immortality.  Our bodies will be spirit bodies, incorruptible like Jesus' glorious body.  This is our inheritance, the hope of the  bodily resurrection of the believer.  We praise God for it!

The belief in the resurrection is not only fundamental to the Christian faith and factual with many witnesses, the prospect of it is the rapture of the church.  It is a fervent belief.   Paul said, "Listen, I tell you a mystery:  we shall not all sleep, but we will be changed -- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed (vv51-52).    The song of the living and raptured saint is "O death, where is thy sting."  The song of the departed but raptured saint is "O grave, where is thy victory" (v55).

Brothers and sisters, we have the hope of the believer's resurrection.  We shall enjoy resurrection bliss.  We shall be with our Glorious Lord in heaven, a glorious land. We thank God for Jesus who gives us  abundant life here on earth, and one day we shall live with Him throughout eternity.

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Turn Your Bad Friday Into Good Friday

By: Min. Angela Lee Price
Are you having a bad Friday? Turn your bad Friday into Good Friday. After all, today is Good Friday!

Say “TGIF – Thank God I’m Forgiven!” Write down, “TGIF.” Take the “T” that represents the Cross and move it from the beginning to the end because Jesus is coming back again. Now you have the word, “GIFT.” You have just turned your bad Friday into Good Friday. John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life!” You've got a Gift in Jesus Christ!

Turn your bad Friday into Good Friday. Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Isaiah 53:5 says, "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." What can wash away are sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus! What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

Turn your bad Friday into Good Friday. Jesus defeated Satan and his evil forces at the cross! Colossians 2:15 states, "And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them at the cross."

The disciples turned their bad Friday into Good Friday in Acts 6. They recognized that they were not serving properly within the body of Christ so, “They gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry for the Word of God in order for us to wait tables” (v2).

An excerpt from the sermon, "Get In Where You Fit In!," Acts 6.
It is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves. Jesus saves!

Devotional: Now Run And Tell That!

By: Min. Angela Lee Price

Scripture: John 20:1, 10-17

"Jesus said, 'Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God’” (v17 NIV).

Six women in the New Testament had the name Mary. One of them was from a northern city called Magdala in Galilee. Mary Magdalene became a follower of Jesus early in his ministry after he healed her of seven demons (Luke 8.2). I don’t know if her head spun around like Linda Blair in the movie, The Exorcist, or if she cut herself violently like the Gadarene demoniac, but one thing is for sure she was eternally grateful when Jesus freed her from her affliction so much so, that she left everything to follow Him. She became a friend, supporter, traveling companion, and disciple. When all the disciples abandoned Jesus during his crucifixion, Mary Magdalene stayed there, along with the other women. On the morning of the resurrection, Mary and some other women including Mary the mother of James and Joseph went to anoint to body of Jesus, but found the tomb empty (Matt. 28:1-5; John 20:1). She ran and got James and John, and after they had left, she met the risen Jesus.

Some Gnostic writings would have you to believe that Jesus married Mary Magdalene. Dan Brown in the DaVinci Code goes so far as to claim that they even had a baby together. However, there is no evidence to prove this in Scripture. Evidence indicates that Jesus and Mary had a unique relationship, one of Teacher and disciple. It was unique in that women were not permitted to study the Law. Jesus broke all the rules where women were concerned. He risked being considered unclean for associating with them. And for a Rabbi to associate in any way with a woman once possessed with evil spirits was unheard of in his culture.

Jesus called Mary to a pivotal assignment at the tomb on Resurrection Morning. He could have told her to go and play with the children since that’s “woman’s work,” or go and pray since women “know how to get a prayer through,” or go and stay quiet since women “should keep quiet in the church,” but he didn’t. He said to her, “Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” In other words, Now run and tell that!

Somebody needs to know that He is risen! Regardless of the situation, there is hope in Jesus Christ. He’s a heart fixer, a mind regulator, a burden bearer, and heavy load sharer! Somebody needs to put on some jogging shoes today and run and tell that!

What is it that we must do if we are to effect change in our society and bring more people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ? We must...

Start early

1. “Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.” If you want to make a discovery about who Jesus is, get a jumpstart while it is still dark. Start early.

Stay fit

2. If you are going to be a trailblazer for Jesus, you must stay fit. To run for Jesus requires that you have strength, stamina, courage and conviction. Mary Magdalene didn’t just begin running for Jesus in verse 17, she began running for him soon after He cured her of seven demons (Luke 8:3). The race is not to the swift, but to those who endure to the end. Stay fit.

Stay late

3. The bible says, "Then the disciples went back to their homes, but Mary stood outside the tomb crying…. " (v11). She stayed late. In this severe economic crisis, many people are turning to God. However, many are not participating and partnering with God. Like the disciples, in running to look in the tomb and leaving, many people come to church, look in and leave early. Some come to see what they can see and, and others come to get what they can get. Mary Magdalene stayed late. She went beyond the call of duty and tried to tend to the things of God. If you want to hear from God in a direct and profound way, do what Mary did and stay late.

To run and tell that, not only must you start early, stay fit, stay late, but you must…

Stick with it.

4. The angels asked, "Woman, why are you crying?" She told them, "They have taken my Lord away and I don’t know where they have put him." She was so concerned about finding Jesus that she threw protocol and formality out the window. She didn’t say, "My name is Mary, and you are? What you doing just sitting in the tomb in all that white?” None of that. She was so busy sticking to the task of searching for Jesus, that the presence of the angels was the least of her concerns. The bible tells us, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2 Tim 2:15. Stick with it.

And finally, you must...

5. Stride Wide
Jesus told Mary, "Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God" (v17). In Matthew 28:18-19, Jesus told the disciples, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Ghost;..." The operative word here is "Go." Go to your brothers and sisters who have lost sight of Jesus. Go to those who need to know who Jesus is. Go to every body and tell them about the goodness of the Lord. Tell them Jesus is risen! Tell them Jesus saves! Now run and tell that!




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Resurrection Sunday: What True Love Does

“And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome had bought sweet spices that they might come and anoint Him.”  Mark 16:1-6.

Love doesn’t sit around,  and mope around during times of crisis!  Love doesn’t sit around on its "do nothing" waiting for someone else to do something!  Love doesn’t keep putting off til tomorrow, next week, next year what can be done today!  Love doesn’t make light of, normalize or trivialize serious matters!   Love doesn’t mope around with head hanging down, but looks up, prays up, speaks up, and stand up!  Love looks to the hills from which cometh its help…love prays and keeps on praying…love speaks those things that be not as though they were…love stands on the promises of God!!  That’s what love does!  That's what the women did on Resurrection morning.

The women who came to the tomb on Resurrection Sunday can teach a number of lessons about such love. We see our obligation to respond to the love of God with action.

True love leads to action.  Love led these women to seek Jesus that morning.  Some of them were the last at the cross and the first at the grave.  Love led these women to bring the expensive gift of sweet spices to properly prepare his body for burial. This shows how true love willingly makes heavy sacrifices.  The Bibles says, "This is how we know what love is:  Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.  And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.  If anyone has material possessions and see his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."  (1 John 3:16-18)

Secondly, love leads us to see Jesus early.  The women came early in the morning.  This teaches us the time to seek the Lord is early. Early in life.  Ecclesiastes 12:1 states, "Remember your creator in the days of your youth.  Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go,  and when he is old he will not turn from it."  Early in the day.  Psalm 5:3 states, "In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.  This allows one to be with Him when the mind is fresh and bright.  In the early stages of everything you do, you ought to seek the Lord!  Don't wait until it is late or until things have reached the point of desperation. 

True love presses on. The women could have failed to go because they knew they would face soldiers, a stone, and a seal.  They refused to be deterred by what they were sure would be difficult.  When there is true love, it will push on through the obstacles.  Paul said it, I press toward the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Lastly, true love finds its rewards. Those who press forward in spite of difficulty always find more than they had anticipated.  The women sought the dead body of Jesus and found an angel and a living Savior.  The Bible says “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with your whole heart”  (Jeremiah 29:13). Earnest seekers always find more than what they thought they were seeking.  This is what love does!

Prayer for Much More Love

Heavenly Father, You are the one true God. Beside You there is no other god. We bless Your name. You are Yahweh, King of kings and Lord of lords.  You are the Great I am, Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.  We worship You with the fruit of our lips today. 

In a world that is becoming increasingly more violent, I pray for more love.  For you demonstrated your love for us in this, while we were sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Lord, thank you for loving us so much that you sent your son Jesus to die for our sins that we might have eternal life ( John 3:16).  

Father, forgive us for failing to love as You have commanded. I pray like the apostle Paul prayed in Ephesians 3 that we may be rooted and established in love and in power, that we may grasp how wide and long and how high and deep is the love of Christ and to know his love that surpasses knowledge that we may be filled to measure with Your fullness.

Heavenly Father, help us love you more faithfully. Give us more love.  Help us to obey and keep your commandments. We live under grace and not the law; that doesn't mean we should live any kind of way, but that we ought set the standard for a more excellent way.  We thank you for grace that keeps us when we fall, and love that lifts us back up again.  Help us, oh Lord to love our neighbors and ourselves. 

I pray for family members, friends, co-workers, colleagues, churches, and communities in Kentucky and everywhere.  Help us to give and receive more love.  I pray  for our enemies and those who mistreat us.  Please give them what they need most. Your word says, "Be completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing one another in love (Ephesians 4:2).  Lord, I pray for everyone who is on this journey to Christ likeness. May they give and receive love at home, at church, on the job, and even here on the Jesus Saves Ministries Blog. May we speak truth in love according to Your Word. For you have said, the greatest of these is love (1Corinthians 13:13). In Jesus Name, Amen.

What Does Frederick Douglass and Valentine's Day Have in Common?

By: Rev. Angela Lee Price

Abolitionist, orator, author, diplomat, politician and polemicist Frederick Douglass was born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey in Maryland in February in either 1817 or 1818. The exact date of his birth is unknown. However, he chose to celebrate his birthday on Valentine's Day, February 14th. Frederick Douglass was a courageous African American intellectual who escaped slavery, and through his life and literary works, provided hope for the future.

In his 1845 autobiographical book entitled Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave, Douglass eloquently articulated that hope as he reflected on his life as a slave in Maryland. Had Douglass not penned his autobiography, we would have never known the full scope of brutalities, injustices, hypocrisies and humiliations he endured in his quest from slavery to freedom nor would we have understood the level of brilliance, creativity and bravery required of him in order for him to teach himself, and other slaves, to read and write in a system that treated the American Negro as chattel.

Moreover, Douglass’ scathing condemnation of slave-holding Christianity provides hope today to seminarians and Christians currently grappling to understand and explain this nation’s racial divide.

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Here are excerpts from three of Frederick Douglass' speeches:
Church and Prejudice
Fighting Rebels With One Hand
What A Black Man Wants

"And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love" 1 Corinthians 13:13.

Remember, There's only one way to eternal life. Jesus Saves!

ARE YOU THAT ONE?

By:  Rev. Angela Lee Price

Jesus healed ten lepers, but only the one, a foreigner, a Samaritan, followed up.  He returned to Jesus to say thank you. Jesus asked the whereabouts of the other nine, and then told the one, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well" (Luke 17: 11-18). Don't miss the blessing of giving thanks. Verse 15 states, "And one of them, when he saw that he was healed turned back, and with a loud voice gloried God."  

When praises go up, brothers and sisters, blessings come down! All ten lepers were cleansed, but only the one was cleansed and made well.   This Samaritan, a Gentile, Jesus pointed out was more spiritually minded than the nine leprous Jews.  All were healed, but only the one gave thanks to Jesus.  And so, his salvation was complete (v19).  Let us give thanks in this season not because everybody else is doing it, or because it is the politically correct thing to do, but because we recognize where our blessings come from.  They are not of ourselves, but from the One, the One who loved us so much He gave His only begotten Son to save us from our sins!

As believers, we should be thankful to God not just at Thanksgiving, but at all times. The Bible says, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thess. 5:18 NIV). The Bible declares, "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, those he redeemed from the hand of the enemy" (Psalms 107:1-2). And Hebrews, 12:28 states, "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our 'God is a consuming fire.'"

Be the one who rejoices always whenever God heals and sets someone free; Be the one who prays constantly for others because you understand the power of prayer. Be the one who gives generously and, in all circumstances, because God has given generously to you!   You can't beat God's giving no matter how hard you try! Are you the one? Be the one!  Jesus saves!

Don't Give Up On Your "Tulips" in Mum Season!

Fall is here! It is mum season! Look around. Mums are everywhere, little ones, big ones, and very, very BIG ones. You can pray for tulips in September and October, but that won't get you very far. You are more likely to get tulips in March. That's because March is tulip season. If God is giving you mums right now, thank Him anyway even though you didn't ask for them. Don't throw a tantrum, pout or get mad with God. God is not a genie, nor cosmic bellhop, nor Santa Claus, nor is He an ATM machine! Don't grow weary! Wait on the Lord! Renew your strength.  

Try appreciating the mum for what it is. Mums will beautify your garden or your home, just like tulips. Renew your strength by counting your blessings! And wait on the Lord. Thank God for your mums, and take care of them! He didn't have to give them to you, but He did! We serve a good God who knows what to give and just when too give it. 

Learn to appreciate the season that your in. Claim the promise is Isaiah 40:31, and keep on praying, and praying. Pray persistently in September, in October, in November, in December, in January...keep talking with God about tulips, the pretty colors, and different textures, and how you plan to water and take care of them. Then say, in March, in tulip season, or shall I say in due season, the Holy Spirit just may give you tulips. God just may give you double for your trouble! Just ask Job. And, I'm a living witness of what God will do when you persist, according to the Lord's will in prayer. 

Don't give up on your tulips in mum season! Ecclesiastes 3:1-8: To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace; And a time to refrain from embracing; A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time for peace.

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