The Precious Blood of Christ!

Stained with Blood So Divine
April 3, 2010

"But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, . . . one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith there came out blood and water." (John 19:33-34)

As with many of the great hymns, the verses of "The Old Rugged Cross" tell a story when considered in sequence. The first verse states the general doctrine of the cross; the second speaks of the necessity of the incarnation to accomplish the cross' purpose; the third, quoted below, gives details of the crucifixion and what it accomplished, and the last verse rehearses the results, both now and in the future.

In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see;
For t'was on that old cross Jesus suffered and died
To pardon and sanctify me.

That old rugged cross was stained with blood, as is obvious from our text. But this blood was special, for "ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold. . . . But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world" (1 Peter 1:18-20).

The divine Lamb of God suffered and died on the cross, "in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:14), "that he might sanctify the people with his own blood" (Hebrews 13:12).

But the old rugged cross was not the only thing stained that day, for "the blood of Jesus Christ . . . cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). The saints in heaven are portrayed as having "washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Revelation 7:14). "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow" (Isaiah 1:18). So I'll cherish the old rugged cross. JDM

My daily devotion: "Holy Goodness"

Holy Goodness
March 25, 2010

"|Barnabus| was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith." (Acts 11:24)

The Holy Spirit indwells all believers (1 Corinthians 1:22; 6:19, etc.) and the fruit of the Spirit includes "goodness" (Galatians 5:22) among eight other godly traits. One should therefore expect those empowered by the Spirit (Romans 15:19) to demonstrate holy goodness.

How does holy goodness manifest itself in people?

• Good people delight in God’s holiness (Psalm 37:23).
• Good people expect God’s blessing (Proverbs 12:2).
• Good people secure their children (Proverbs 13:22).
• Good people are satisfied with life (Proverbs 14:14).
• Good people love wisdom (Matthew 12:35).
• Good people are just people (Luke 23:50).
• Good people are full of faith (Acts 11:24).

Our Lord Jesus made it clear that the "fruits" borne by our lives provide the identification of our spiritual status (Matthew 7:20) for all to see.

The parables of the "talents" and the "pounds" (Matthew 25:14-30 and Luke 19:11-27) teach two different applications of the same principle.

In the one case, the same amount was given to everyone and reward was based on how well each did with their resources.

In the other case, different resources were granted to each, and the reward was distributed in proportion to the faithful use of what was initially given.

In both cases, the "unfaithful" and "lazy" servant was castigated and his initial wealth confiscated. No man "having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62).

Good people are productive people. HMM III

My daily devotion: "Heaven Opened"

Heaven Opened
by Henry Morris, Ph.D.


"And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." (John 1:51)

In Jacob's dream (Genesis 28:12), angels were ascending and descending on a great ladder between earth and heaven. Christ promised a future reality in which He Himself would be the ladder to the opened heaven.

But that was to be "hereafter." Until Christ came to die and rise again, heaven was closed, for nothing unclean could enter there and death had "passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Romans 5:12). Even those who died in faith could only be "comforted" in "Abraham's bosom" deep "in the heart of the earth" (Luke 16:22, 25; Matthew 12:40), because "it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins" (Hebrews 10:4).

Then Christ died and rose again "to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself" (Hebrews 9:26). In His spirit, "he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth," and "when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive" (Ephesians 4:8-9), leading all pre-Calvary saints with Him into heaven. Then was fulfilled the wonderful scene predicted in Psalm 24:7: "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in."

Since that wonderful day when Christ ascended back to heaven, "to be absent from the body" is "to be present with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8). Heaven someday will even receive our resurrected bodies. John prophesied it this way: "I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice . . . said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter" (Revelation 4:1). Heaven thenceforth will be open eternally to all the redeemed. "The gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there" (Revelation 21:25). HMM

This article was originally published March, 2010. "Heaven Opened", Institute for Creation Research, http://www.icr.org/article/5206/ (accessed March 24, 2010).

On Health Care

Today is my 3rd day out of the hospital and I praise the Lord for renewed strength. If there is anybody who longs to have a decent, in-expensive, and comprehensive medical insurance, it is me. Having gone through a seemingly countless cardiac procedures that include a quadruple by-pass surgery in 1998, angioplasty in 1999, and 4 more angioplasties between 2004-2009, which means 4 stents placed permanently in my arteries, it would be convenient and expedient for me to depend on the government, without worrying about the premium payments and totally put myself under their care and control for my physical health. While I feel wanting to enjoy these privileges; the responsible, moral, and spiritual part of me feels to do this is surrender my freedom to a system that has failed me time and time again.

Our problem is not having a good health coverage. We live in a country with the best health care system in the world. Our medical technology and practitioners are unequal with the rest of the world. We have everything the world wants to have in this country. It is the political ambition of some politicians bent only to promote a personal agenda without regard to the needs of the citizenry that causes the frustrations and the chaos we are facing today. We have enough laws passed that could protect and allow us to enjoy our rights and privileges. We can write better laws to protect, empower, motivate the citizenry to pursue positive and effective means to excel and provide opportunities for livelihood program and business enterprises.

The purpose of the government is to protect the citizenry to enjoy the inalienable rights that God bestowed and to allow freedom for the people to pursue their individual desires in the pursuit of happiness. The government must focus more on creating jobs and improve education to allow them to pursue greater excellence in life, instead of focusing on health that is already being enjoyed by the majority. It is the responsibility of the US to empower and not make dependents out of them.

As a christian nation, our dependency is on God alone, the provider of all things. The government must encourage the practice of faith and religion that honors respect, love, and liberty. Problems occur when we forget the source of our wealth and power: God. He is also the Great Physician who can provide the wisdom we need.

What we need right now is not health care but the right and biblical care that only God can give.

"The All-Sufficiency of Christ" by Dr. Charles Hand

Tonight was a blessed night after listening to an old and wise saint of God, Dr. Charles Hand during the Annual Revival Meeting at the International Bible Baptist Church main facility in San Leandro, CA. He has been a friend of IBBC for the last 30 years since the first time I met him when I was a Music Director of the Bible Baptist Church of Marysville, CA. His dedication to the work of the Lord has not wavered. As an 84 yr. old man of God, he represents a person whose love is solely for the Lord and would not allow anything in this life to get his mind and heart away from God. Instead of spending his remaining years for himself, he continues to live for God. He could have stayed in a Church and served His God. He does not have to travel far distances to preach through the snow and harsh elements of nature. He continues to be minister and encourage a preacher like to keep on loving God. He does what he is doing because He believes that is his calling until the Lord takes him away. His dedication has taught me to depend on the Lord and not worry about anything in this world. His sufficiency is the Lord.

The beloved and popular passage Psalm 23 was the focus of his message. he entitled it, "The Lord is" - quoting the first 3 words of Psalm 23. Dr. Hand shares that God is all we need because of 3 reasons:

1. He is the great and sovereign God who has created all things . He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. He is and He remains here all the time. Colosians Chapter 1.
2. What He has done before, He could do again. The God of Abraham, Moses, and Jacob is also our God today.
3. We do not need to covet and ask for anything more, God is our satisfaction. Hebrews 13: 5

We need to simply trust and totally depend on Him. Our friends, riches, fame, and things in this world can go and leave us. The people we love can and will abandon us. But not God. He remains for He is the great I am. Praise His holy name!

The Power of Love

Love is so precious that without it chaos prevails. It is so demanded and needed that people will always try to love and get love. Consequently, self love results, which is not love at all. Self love is the love that is widely expressed in this world today. The song, "What the world needs now is love, sweet love" speaks of this love. No wonder, nothing is accomplished in the name of love. People remain selfish, angry, proud, and covetous.

Many still search for the true love. They can not find it because they go to the wrong source. The world has shut their eyes at God that His love seems absent. How can they see God's love if they do not listen to Him? How can they feel His love if they continue to think selfishly and act ungodly?

God's love is always here present, so clearly shown and evident among those who posses His love. They are present in the missionaries who have abandoned their ambition and personal desires to serve the Lord in a place so hostile towards God and His Word. Yet, they are there willing to give all, even their lives. They are in the hearts of men who sacrifice comfort and fame to serve the Lord by serving the people, unconditionally. They are present in some who care not about being known. They do not long for commendation, special mention,or a place in the paper or media interview. They only long to have the opportunity to give and to bless.

The love of God is present in individuals whose desire is to be where there is hurt, anger, and presence of evil. So that even when they are oppressed, insulted, persecuted, and tried; they remain faithful, steadfast, and confident. They do this not only to show that they love but to share the love of God - to tell people that this love is available to those who come to Christ.

There is only one love and that is God's love, the agape love, Jesus Christ manifested and made available through the cross, the greatest symbol of Love. This love has the power to forgive even the greatest sinner. It has the power to reconcile a sinful man with the Holy God. To receive this love, one has to only confess and repent of his sins before God. Romans 5:8 Do you want to receive God's love?

This love is beautifully describe in this song:

1. "The Love of God" by Frederick Lehmen
2. 
   
3. The love of God is greater far
   Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
   It goes beyond the highest star,
   And reaches to the lowest hell;
   The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
   God gave His Son to win;
   His erring child He reconciled,
   And pardoned from his sin.
   • Refrain:
     Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
     How measureless and strong!
     It shall forevermore endure—
     The saints’ and angels’ song.
4. When hoary time shall pass away,
   And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
   When men who here refuse to pray,
   On rocks and hills and mountains call,
   God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
   All measureless and strong;
   Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
   The saints’ and angels’ song.
5. Could we with ink the ocean fill,
   And were the skies of parchment made,
   Were every stalk on earth a quill,
   And every man a scribe by trade;
   To write the love of God above
   Would drain the ocean dry;
   Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
   Though stretched from sky to sky.
6. God bless you! Remember that Jesus loves you!!

A Spiritual Church is what we need in this generation!

While Churches are deemed spiritual organizations yet they are far removed from what they should be. Churches have become merely a place to gather, a support organization, a theater where human abilities are weekly highlighted, and a kingdom where a human king resides to build the ministry around his personality. A Church is no longer a congregation of people in worship and humble service, ready and committed to give all the glory to a Great God. It is no longer a place where God is glorified but a place where man is deified.

Let us return our Churches to God. So He can again think, love, and serve among men and through men. This is the goal of the International Bible Baptist Church, the Church with the Great heart for souls! A place where the heart of God beats and where His blood flows to redeem men from sin and life of corruption.