“He is not here, for He has risen, as He said. Come, see the place where He lay.” Matthew 28:6
Easter is a defining time for all, whether we believe in its significance or not. It shines a bright light on the profound questions of our existence: Who are we? Where do we come from? Why are we so often in struggle? Is there anything we can do about it? As people, we have never been shy or silent with our theoretical or philosophical answers to these questions.
Buddha, Confucius, and Muhammad rose to great heights as men of faith. Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates rose to great heights as philosophers. Darwin, Sagan, and Einstein rose to great heights as scientists. As impressive as they became, none could rival the awesome stature of Jesus Christ-the one who rose from the dead to transcend death, the grave, and evil. It was Jesus who came to earth to testify to the truth (John 18:37). In fact, His claim went so far as to say that He was the Truth, and what He said was truth (John 14:6; 8:32). Many may question this assertion as well as the authenticity of His resurrection. However, Jesus definitively answered some questions on their behalf.
Who are we? We are beings created in God’s image and likeness. Where do we come from? We are manifested from the mind and heart of Almighty God. Why are we so often in struggle? We are separated from God in nature. What can we do about it? We can accept God’s free gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, as our redeemer. He came to earth because he so loved us that he was willing to die as punishment for our sin. If you find yourself hopeless, helpless, or even heartless, the living Spirit of Jesus Christ is available to you.
As true believers, we look beyond eggs, bunnies, and baskets and joyfully say Happy Resurrection Sunday…because He is risen!
1 Pet 1:3; 1 Thes 4:14; Rom 8:11; John 11: 25-26; John 6:40; Ps 32:11
When Jesus spoke again to the people He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
One of the more pleasant memories I have is when an idea came to me that would help our Fairhaven High School alumni raise money toward our beautiful high school’s restoration. That was over forty years ago and we called it “Light-A-Light”.
Here’s the basic idea: A large Christmas Tree was generously donated and placed in front of the High School. We ran a fund-raising campaign where people could pledge $5.00 per light to be lit on the evergreen tree. It was roundly accepted as a unique and valuable way to generate funds in our restoration effort. Most amazingly, with minor modifications, the Light-A-Light effort continues successfully and enthusiastically in raising money to this day, thanks to the faithful effort of dedicated alumni volunteers.
At this time in my life, I’m more impressed with a desire for another type of Light-A-Light campaign; this one has been ongoing with far more of an eternal consequence. It transcends a local building, human finances, and a temporal evergreen tree. This effort is about restoring living souls, understanding Godly value, and illuminating our Creator’s Tree of Life Spirit. For a number of years, I’ve had the privilege of volunteering at the Salvation Army facility in New Bedford, a Christian ministry with a world-wide influence for over 159 years. The scripture that leaps out from my experience at this local branch is found in Isaiah 58:10. “And if you pour out that with which you sustain your own life for the hungry and satisfy the need of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in darkness, and your obscurity and gloom become like the noonday.”
As we observe our world darkening around us, let’s keep faith that any looming desert will soon give way to the Promise Land and the only Lighter of Light that matters. There’s nothing more promising and restorative than to hear God’s voice once again say to each of our hearts – “Let there be light!”
John 9:5; Matt 4:16; Micah 7:8; Psalm 18:28; Psalm 119:105; Matt 5:16; John 1:5
**** The High School/Tree photo was taken by my late dear friend and legendary photographer, Jack Iddon.
“The true power of positive thinking comes from filling your mind with things God approves.” (Phil 4:8) – God’s Best for Your Success
Within an ordinary business setting, a manager plays a different role than the owner. The owner has the right to sell or divest of the business and has ultimate responsibility and accountability; after all, it belongs to him or her! A manager, on the other hand, is hired to oversee the assets and place of employment of the owner during work hours and as long as the business remains viable.
May we take a look in today’s message at the opportunity that God has given each of us to be a personal “manager” in His enterprise called life. As a prerequisite, may we acknowledge God Almighty as not only the owner of everything, including the air we breath, but the eternal Spiritual policy and procedural provider who guides us in managing ourselves as well as the privilege of helping us to direct others.
It’s been said that having or owning something is the easy part. Maintaining or managing what we have or own is when the challenge comes. Please consider the supernatural heart-felt managing spirit in these following Bible verses: In Isaiah 1:19, it says, that if we are willing and obedient, then we shall eat the good of the land. In Philippians 4:13, it says we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. In Romans 8:28, it says “all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. In Nehemiah 8:10, it says the joy of the Lord is our strength, and in 1 Cor 10:31 it says whatever we do, we are to do unto the glory of God.
As our Creator and Owner, God blesses (rewards or graces) us with assets known as time, money, energy, talents, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, family and relationships, and the opportunity to work. Our job is to honor God as our personal owner or leader, operate in His love, grow in a balanced way, give in a generous way, delegate and encourage others to take on responsibility, and remain faithful and obedient to Him.
Managing for God is primarily a heart or attitude issue. So, if we have held a management position in the world system or not, we can qualify because God’s basic resume requirement for all of us is simple, yet profoundly unique. It is not about our ability, but our availability that matters. If we trust Him with all our heart and lean not on our understanding, and in all our ways acknowledge Him, scripture says, He will direct our paths. Prov 3:5&6.
Our former pastor used to say, “Remember, wherever you go, whatever you do, you represent the Lord Jesus Christ.” So family and friends, why not go about Your Father’s Business this week and beyond as one of His gifted managers; responsible, accountable, and fruit-bearing, in Him!
Prov 20:23; Matt 6:33; Heb 13:5; Eph 2:10
** Credit to Christian Practices by David Batty, Teen Challenge International
“The Lord shall preserve you from all evil. He shall preserve your soul, The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth and even for evermore.” Psalm 121:7-8
Too often we hear some governmental official blaming an adversary of flirting with WWIII. My head spins when I truly think of that actually transpiring. A world war at this stage of our existence doesn’t provide for any future war. With the weapons of mass destruction unleashed by each country in an effort to survive would mean the end for all of us. My head may spin, but I’m grateful that my heart tells me something very different. Here goes….
There’s only one hope for mankind and it’s found in the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. The Bible shares so many scriptures that dispel a world war as the way His disciples and followers will end. There’s the dividing line of good and evil in John 10:10. It says, “The enemy (satan) comes to steal, kill and destroy; but I (Jesus Christ) have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.” It also says in Prov 21:1 that God is in control and can change a man’s mind and heart.
Another hopeful sign was when Jesus resurrected and God promised to send us His Spirit of Truth. He also promised that Jesus would return one day to celebrate victory regarding His Ultimate and Holy Foreign Policy.
Friends, the song’s lyrics “He walks, with me and He talks with me and calls me His own” must be amplified within us these days. Walking with Him, like His past disciples, is our greatest protection. Enlisted by His Spirit and aligning with His will, there is nothing that can undermine His foundation, upholding, direction, and cover in our lives.
As for me and my house, we choose walking with Jesus because He’s our only hope, and He’s coming back soon. In the meantime, His Spirit is here with us and in those of us who choose to be born again. May this helpful symbol be a prompt for a life style that relies on and honors the One who Created us to walk with Him; not in fear of a temporal world war, but in His victorious uniformed army, decorated in divine and eternal relationship.
Phil 4:13; Eph 4:29; Ps19:14; Col 3:12; Prov 21:23; Acts 2:17; Rom 13:13-14; Gal 5:16
**** The Walking With Jesus Symbol was designed by my wonderful granddaughter and talented graphic artist, Sophia Cenatiempo.
From Mt. Sinai to Mt. Calvary – The height of God’s love for us.
What Jesus Christ did for us at the cross is astonishing. Let’s go there for a moment. A grand and telling scene was set when three crucifixes marked the mount at Calvary. There was the Son and Lamb of God hung between two opposing souls. While both of the lesser figures were guilty as charged for their previous crimes, the Lord was blameless on all accounts. The very purpose of Jesus expressed itself when one thief decided to rebuke the King of kings and the other exhibited a heart cry for forgiveness. The disrespect of the hardened thief proved fully productive to lasting death, while the humility of his counterpart resulted in the greatest gift any man could receive—the promise of personal eternal life. Of course, the rest is His story. Jesus willfully died on that cross to become the only redemption of sin. There is no greater spiritual example of justice, love, and fulfillment of God’s will. In every sense, this Commander of the Christian faith lived the essence of His Word. It’s something of matchless beauty and worthy of our best effort to emulate and pursue.
Family and friends, it doesn’t matter who you are, from where you came, what you have done, or how old you might be to repent and get right with God. What does matter is your choice to do it now rather than later because your next breath is never guaranteed. It has been said that the ground beneath the cross is level for all concerned. That is some great news! You can’t be too good to earn your way or too nasty to be denied. What matters is the necessary Holy Spirited power He’s promised to turn our heart to know and live the love of God. That love is perfectly expressed in the active and skillful practice of the Ten Commandments.
Let’s not learn and live them out of obligation; let’s learn and live them because their Author is completely deserving. Let’s learn and live them because they are the literal building blocks of life. Let’s learn and live them to preserve the matchless ways of Jesus in a lost and dying world. Truly, the Ten Commandments are precious toward the honoring of God and His Kingdom; for Jesus—the fulfiller of those Ten Commandments—is the answer and only way. May each and every one of us go forth, putting the fullness of His Word to life-style action!
Finally, please invest some serious time in reviewing our insightful details regarding the entire series of Living the Ten Commandments of God. What we saw at the cross was their awesome power and fulfillment. That same power and fulfillment is ours through Christ and the honoring of His Word. So let’s take pleasure in learning to walk as He did—in the perfect and powerful love of God!
Ex 20; Deut 5,6; Mt 22:37-40; Jn 13:34-35; Rom 13:8-10; Lk 23:39-43; Jn 19:30; Heb 10:16
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matt 6:33
From the account of man’s first transgression against his Creator in the Garden of Eden, people have had a major problem with being responsible and accountable for their personal actions. Adam was told by God to tend, guard, and keep the garden. He was the one placed in authority and ultimately responsible. When Eve was successfully tempted to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Adam was nearby and failed to guide otherwise.
In the razzle-dazzle of excuses and rationalizing during God’s inquiry, Adam told God the true culprit was the woman He gave her. Following suit, she blamed the serpent for their spiritual woes. The association of love (God) with work and contentment was broken. The seeds of covetousness (desiring what others have rather than being content with what we are responsible and accountable to tend, guard, and keep) were introduced. They continue to rear their ugly heads in many of us to this very day. When we defy living the 10th commandment that says, “Thou shalt not covet they neighbor’s house nor anything that is thy neighbors,” we see the defiled fruit that stems from the irresponsibility and lack of accountability in our original ancestors way back in Genesis.
In Matthew 6:33, Jesus said for us to seek His Kingdom and His righteousness and all other things will be added as a bonus. If God is truly our source, our boss, our Commander, and social director, then to long for things that belong to others is out of His bounds. In Matthew 7:7, Jesus admonishes us to seek, ask, and knock for His grace and provision… not to seek, ask, or knock elsewhere. God’s life-abundant provision is comprehensive, well-detailed, and conditionally guaranteed. It includes our health, energy, persevering attitude, mental keenness, emotional stability, economic prosperity, marital and family harmony, and social connections. Throw in our God-given gifts, talents, time, passions, abilities and possessions, as well as His trust, knowledge, understanding, and wisdom and we suddenly and dramatically realize what a difference our God makes!
There are many scriptures that warn of the consequences of being covetous. The root of all evil is the love of money. Jesus spoke of money more than He spoke of Heaven. Why? Money represents power, knowledge, fame, influence, judgment and is easily substituted as a counterfeit for God. Each of us was specifically designed to play a role in the body of Christ. We are wonderfully made and fit perfectly into His plan for our life. With Christ as our Head, there is no need or benefit to desire to be someone else or lust after someone’s attributes or possessions.
We will always want… what we want… when we want it… unless we submit to the living God, who wants us to desire and trust in Him. If the root of all evil is the love of money, then the root of all good is the currency of Love or God Himself. Craving to know, follow, and rely in Him….one of His commandments at a time…. makes supernatural sense and enlightenment to joyfully live out “Thou shalt not covet they neighbor’s house nor anything that is thy neighbors.”
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44
Jesus boldly declared in John 14:6 that he was “the way, the truth, and the life and that no one could come to the Father except through Him.” It’s no great surprise that Jesus also declared the father of lies to be His antithesis–the devil. Of the seven abominations attributable to Satan in Proverb 6 verses 16-19, two come to the fore as it relates to this next rule: a lying tongue and a false witness that speaks lies. Fittingly, the ninth commandment of God reads: “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”
A simple, yet profound, distinction must be made: God is truth. Therefore, anything that derives itself of something other than Him falls short of His ordained standard. In genuinely seeking the truth that is God, we have the distinct privilege of becoming “temples of the Holy Spirit” (1Cor 6:19); in becoming “temples of the Holy Spirit,” our hearts find their natural tendency in a desire for honesty. Truth settles as our intimate and trusted friend.
Lying is a callous and unwise investment whose inevitable end is failure. When deceitfulness (e.g., gossip, false accusations, blame, or self-deceit) is detected as part of one’s agenda, trust has no way of being afforded. What’s more, adding or omitting information to support a personal bias–even if it seems harmless–is equally damaging in the long run.
The Word of God always supports the telling of the truth and is revealing of its lasting benefits. “The wise keep all falsehood and lies far from them” (Prov 30:8). “God hates a lying tongue, and delights in those who tell the truth” (Prov 12:12). Truth speakers are valued by kings (Prov 16:13). To live as a witness of the truth requires one to remain intimate with God through a life sown in personal integrity and outwardly in brotherly love.
Let’s celebrate a new season, allowing our light of honesty to shine brightly wherever we may go. How good it is to know, follow, and to grow ever-closer to the truth and the One who is truth… one commandment at a time! In the power of the Holy Spirit, savor living out His 9th, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”
He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. Ephesians 4:28
Taking what does not belong to us is a violation of living God’s 8th commandment. “Thou shalt not steal” is easy to discern as it relates to a robbed goat, a hijacked airplane, a kidnapped child, or a plagiarized writing. “Stealing” is not always so cut and dry, however. Take for example cheating on an exam, undermining someone’s will, not paying our bills, faking sick time, downloading software illegally, withholding taxes, working slothfully, stealing cable services, or defaulting on loans. What about when we look at our calendar and check book and discover we are cheating God with our time, talent, energy, and treasure?
Stealing boils down to a matter of trust. If we have to resort to wrestling goods or talents from another person rather than operating in the provision of God, then Philippians 4:19 means nothing: “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” If we take things that do not belong to us, then the wonderful confidence spoken of in Matthew chapter 6:25-33 doesn’t count. If callous plundering of our neighbor’s materials and services is our behavior pattern, then the devil surely is having his way: “The enemy comes but to steal, kill, and destroy…” (Jn 10:10).
Our magnificent Creator has made us to produce so we can thrive. He has made us with a conscience and ability to observe His masterpiece called earth and the heavens so we can be humbly honest in our behavior as well. He gave His only begotten Son in the most unconditional loving gesture so that we could be givers too.
Perhaps a tombstone in the graveyard on Blackwell’s Island says it best: “Here lies the fragments of John Smith who contradicted His Maker, played football with the Ten Commandments, and departed this life at the age of thirty-five. His mother and wife weep for him. Nobody else does. May he rest in peace.”
With the guiding influence of the Holy Spirit’s presence within us, let’s put an end to defying God’s goodness or playing games with His law. Rather, let’s purpose to really know and follow Him. Romans 13:8 (Amp) says it best: “Keep out of debt and owe no man anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor (who practices loving others) has fulfilled the Law (relating to ones’ fellowmen, meeting all its requirements).” In light of that, living out the 8th Commandment,“Thou shalt not steal,” becomes easy!
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
If we are able to wade into Living the Ten Commandments with a teachable spirit and accept truth as a friend, then we quickly begin to realize the high standard God has set for us. To be sure, their fulfillment lies beyond our capabilities; yet, God’s grace and mercy are more than sufficient to bridge whatever gap exists. Now let’s focus on the value God has for faithfulness and sexual purity. The 7th commandment, “Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery”, warns us of sinning against God, our spouse, and against our bodies (1 Cor 6:18). According to God’s Word, engaging in counterfeit gods and/or not being faithful to one’s husband or wife is defined as adultery.
According to God’s law, marriage vows made before Him should be honored, regardless of difficulties. Sex, being a gift from God, is reserved for marriage only. In the Old Testament, Leviticus 20:10 sternly calls for adulterers to be put to death. In Jeremiah 3:3-6, God calls being unfaithful to Him adultery. After King David committed adultery with Bathsheba, he was confronted by Nathan the prophet. He repented and wrote the 51st Psalm that asked God to create a pure heart in him. An adulteress that was brought to Jesus was told by Him that no one condemned her and neither would He. He did, however, tell her to go and sin no more.
Jesus increased the magnitude of this standard when he addressed His disciples in the Sermon on the Mount. He said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Mt 5:27-28). He also said that adultery, as an act of marital unfaithfulness, was grounds for divorce (Mt 19:9).
Jesus was careful to explain an adulterous heart: its inner motive is to satisfy self. The seed of selfishness gets planted, takes root, grows and produces a lustful fruit. He also noted what would cause one to seek to serve others: a heart that operates from God’s seed of love.
Can we really love others and be faithful the way God demands? His word says if we do what He commands, He will give us the provision to carry it out by the power of His Holy Spirit. In the Book of Romans, chapters 7 and 8, Apostle Paul best captures and defines this divinely inspired transforming process. From this point on, let’s not condemn ourselves for not being perfect, let’s not get weary in pressing in to do good, and let’s purpose to keep pure our relationships with our God, ourselves, our spouses, family and neighbors. Do these and watch what God or Love Himself will do in equipping, restoring, and downloading His Spirit in settling us into living His 7th command “Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery.”
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. Mat 15:19
Although God never changes, He expects each and every one of us to be led and guided along His path of righteous change. That is why we were excited to embark on this Living the Ten Commandment series, specifically in light of Romans 13:8-10 (which says we are to owe no man anything but to love them and love is the fulfilling of the law). We believe the Spirit of God is purposefully involved. If He indeed is the Master Teacher, then we have a wonderful opportunity to grasp what God wants us to understand relative to His operating system. Admittedly, it is all too clear that we have no idea on our own what God’s operating system truly is. As the singer is more important than the song, the builder more important than the building, the test here is to review our writing and give credit to the Author behind it. With that in mind, let’s take a look at Commandment #6: Thou shalt not commit murder.
In order for us to receive this command in the right context, one must research the Hebrew word for “kill.” According to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, this word is “ratasch,” which means “to dash in pieces, i.e. kill (a human being), especially to murder–put to death, kill, slay.” A premeditated taking of another’s life, for the sole purpose of destroying such life, in the light that God created it with a potential to live in the fullness of His image and likeness, is tantamount to killing God Himself. Killing or murdering another person is the exact opposite of God’s admonition to “love thy neighbor as thyself.”
John 10:10 is the dividing line on this issue. Jesus said, “The enemy comes not but to steal, kill, and destroy, but I have come to bring life and bring it more abundantly.” Therefore, if someone murders another person by reason of dark intent, the spiritual result is not of God, but of Satan. If someone comes alongside another person for the purpose of nurturing, enhancing, and infusing hope, then the assurance is that the spiritual influence is of God alone. Essentially, this five-word command dictates the parameters of how we are to conduct ourselves with others; regarding life and God in a synonymous way and consistently behaving as if it were our top priority.
It is critical to note that God’s Word is totally reflective of Himself. He is the definite Spirit of that which is good or holy. He is “The Divine Definer.” Therefore, the intent of His Spiritual principles must be interpreted and understood through the filter of His Holy Spirit deposited within us. His grace is what allows us to awaken to His essence: The Ten Commandments are not rules and regulations, written in stone for us to argue about, be condemned by, or discover through archeological pursuit. They are God’s perfect moral guidance for the right time, the right place, for the right people, and for the right reason. Moses knew God’s ways and the people of Israel knew God’s actions. (Ps 103:7). In Hosea 4:6, God said, “My people are destroyed by lack of knowledge, because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me; seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” To His credit, God is not a respecter of persons. Each of us is created in a perfectly just equality. By our willingness and the power of His Spirit, we are given the means to know Him, His ways, His principles and patterns, represent Him, and effectively destroy the cursing influence of previous generations.
One of the saddest chapters in American history, is the one going on at this very moment. It epitomizes what God describes as an abomination; the shedding of innocent blood. In the face of God’s law, since 1973, millions of babies have been “legally” aborted in this land of ours. An unborn child is not merely a mass of tissue. It is living, human, and innocent. Make no mistake, those who engage in, assist, or endorse this shameful practice, God will one day hold accountable.
Murder at any level is a symptom of a vile heart. Let’s ask God for a pure heart, because that’s the place from which the issues of life stem. What the world calls our “subconscious,” God calls our “heart.” And “as a man thinketh in his heart, so he is” (Prov 23:7). Keep going family and friends; we are on the most fulfilling journey to live out God’s moral law of love –one commandment at a time! This milestone is Commandment # 6: Thou shalt not commit murder.
