THE GREATEST POWER!!!!!!!!!

(THE POWER OF JESUS' JOY!!!!!!!!!) "...Looking unto JESUS, the Author and Finisher of our faith, Who for the JOY that was set before HIM endured the cross..." (Hebrews 12:2). "JESUS...endured the cross...". "Endured the cross" sounds like a very SIMPLE phrase...describing maybe a person surviving a time of very difficult trials---perhaps a very serious illness, or multiple injuries suffered in a terrible accident---but they DID make it through (endured). But "SIMPLE" is not always "easy". For example - if you want to get to the summit of the highest mountain on earth (Mount Everest)...it is simple - just climb it! But the "endurance" part of it includes hour after hour, day after day, climb- ing over and throughsnow and ice, sometimes fighting through winds of "hurricane force winds...all this and more while the air is so "thin" that if you don't CARRY supplemental oxygen...you will probably die! Simple but the very OPPO- SITE of easy! Then, you may be "on top of the world"-but that will NOT get you into heaven! For a personal example of endurance-if you are going to run a marathon (26.2 miles)...it is simple - just put one foot in front of the other for approxi- mately 46,112 steps- up and down hills, thirsty,tired beyond measure steps! But JESUS - enduring the cross-"numbers" fall short of illustrating all that JESUS endured on the cross! There are almost 8 billion people on earth at this time; and ONLY our LORD knows how many more will be here before JESUS comes back for us! What JESUS endured for us was the punishment necessary to forgive put ALL the sins of Hitler, Salin, Sadaam Hussein, Osama Bin Laden, ALL the sins of BARRY COKER and all your sins! How can I, how can YOU thank JESUS "enough" for enduring the cross??? Daily: Pray, Thank Him, Praise Him, obey Him, and share Him with others- with our hearts, our lips, our thoughts, forgiving others, study His Word, sub* mit to HIS transforming us into HIS image. (Philippians1:6/2 Cor. 3:18). LET'S GET TO IT!!! WORTHY IS THE LAMB!!! (Rev. 5:12)

DEATH'S DOOR, OR HEAVEN'S BLESSINGS!!!'

In Genesis 3:1-24 we can see the serpent [representing Satan (see Rev.12:9)] introduce DOUBT as one of His weapons against us (God's people) In verse one (1) the serpent asks Eve a question: Has GOD (INDEED(?) said, " you shall not eat of every(?) tree of the garden("?")

(verse 2) Eve answers: "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; BUT of the fruit of the tree which is in the MIDST of the garden---GOD has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.

*** Pause now to PICTURE this in your mind- you probably know that when a serpent bites someone/something---it injects  venom/poison into the person/animal to begin the killing process.

(verse 4) Next, the serpent  his second question/takes his second bite...His teeth are just DRIPPING with the venom of doubt --- ----

'You will NOT surely die.' For GOD knows that in the day that you

eat of it your eyes will be opened...and you will be like GOD."---there Satan is tempting Eve to think: "I could have more/better than GOD

wants me to have!!  ( What a HUGE, "kingdom-sized" LIE!!)

Genesis 3:16-19 lists some of the deadly results of ...Eve's giving in to that temptation.  Thus doubt was used by Satan to open the door of Eve's heart.........and all the other works of Satan came through while the 

door was open-----and became part of the trials that we go through

in life.

BUT, lets not all blame EVE for all this-----ALL of us have.....at times, doubted GOD in our lives!!!!!  I have...haven't you???

Now, let's look at another (VICTORIOUS!!!) "Garden Situation".....

It was in the Garden of Gethsemane (John 18-1:39) that JESUS allowed HIMSELF to be arrested and taken to trial-----leading to

HIS death on the cross to save US from OUR SINS ("the punishment necessary for us to have peace and healing... was put upon HIM....". 

(Isaiah 53:5).

".....looking unto JESUS, the author and finisher of our faith,

WHO for the joy that was before HIM endured the cross...

JESUS ON THE CROSS **PAID*** for EVERY SIN ever committed  by EVERY  PERSON who ever lived!!!

"For the joy that was before HIM, JESUS endured that!!!!!!!

So "THE JOY that was before HIM"  was EXCEEDINGLY POWERFUL!!!  JESUS on the cross was NOT a VICTIM-----

HE  was a VOLUNTEER--- AND the VICTORY for ALL of us!!!

"...be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and perfect will of GOD." (Romans 12:2)

So HOW can WE walk/live in victory now, and into the future???

Become more and more intimately familiar with JESUS OUR SAVIOR/GOD our HEAVENLY FATHER by reading HIS HOLY WORD/THE BIBLE.

If we will give an average of 15-20 minutes per day---we can read

all through the Bible in one year!!!

Go to  logostradingpost.com and you can get a reading plan.

GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST!!!!!!!!!

"THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH."

(John 16:13"        

     

Safe Passage Through Storms!!!

Monarch butterflies. One of Holy God's most beautiful and delicate creatures --- Early each fall, across North America, Monarch butterflies begin to gather in order to migrat,,e south. Yes, from all over the USA and even from parts of Canada...they gather to make their trip!!! As some of you probably know, butterlfies are considered a symbol of new life!!! Ok. Now let's put that thought "on hold" for a few moments...but don't let that thought "slip away". The "planned destination" for the Monarch butterflies is the mountains of Mexico where they gather to spend the winter. Now put that thought "on hold" also. Since the destination for the monarch butterflies is the mountains of Mexico...we don't have to wonder about the route they take to arrive at those mountains... Many of us who live in the south of the US have had the dreadful experiences of powerful, destructive hurricanes: high winds, flooding, rains - destroying homes as well as massive concrete-and-steel buildings. Most of those hurricanes come up through the Gulf of Mexico, gather strength from the warmer waters there - before they hit landfall. So here are the beautiful, FRAGILE, delicate Monarch butterflies poised near the beach areas of the Gulf of Mexico -- the very "storm track" of the hurricanes... How in the world do these butterflies get through all THAT...to get to the mountains of Mexico??? Well, their way is not "of the world". Rather, they are guided, enabled and carried by our Creator. As we are!!! To our mere human eyes --- butterflies are far more beautiful than we are -- Jesus is "the way" (NOT-directions to a location), But he is the Person who will take us there - to eternity in his radiance. (John 17:24) He does this not because of who we are, nor what we have done... But because of Who He Is. Because of What He Has Done, What He Is Doing, Which He Will Complete (Phil 1:6/2 Cor 3:18) How do we "get there"? Day by day, come to him humbly, submit to him, to him carrying us through the day and night, thanking him, praising him, and blessing him. Bringing our "thoughts captive to the obedience of Jesus" (2 Cor 10:5). Oh Lord, You are my shepherd. "You cause me to lie down in green pastures, you lead me beside still waters. You restore my soul. You lead me in the paths of righteousness for Your name's sake. Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me...your rod and your staff they comfort me...You annoint my head with oil...my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (Pssalm 23:1-6) Praise Jesus Forever!!!

***** FOR THE FINAL PART (PART 5) OF "AFFORD"..... ### PLEASE 'CLICK' ON "OLDER POSTS"***** THANKS, BARRY

(Part 1) "AFFORD???" Now I am NOT talking about a brand of car or truck, nor the act of crossing a stream or body of water.....(BUT,do look for that in later parts of this message.) (Didn't the Israelites cross the Red Sea, and the Jordan River?) Let's briefly look at the definition of Afford: a)to have enough resources for; b)to bear the cost of without serious inconvenience; to be able (to do something without serious consequences.

Part 2-a What started me on this train of thoughts was a truth on a bookmark: "Father is so pleased with me being his child, that HE will never leave me and HE wants to meet all my needs". That truth comes from: a) Luke 15:31 - "Son,you are always with me, and all that I have is yours". b) Hebrews 13:5 - "For HE HIMSELF has said 'I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Part 2-b But HOLY GOD --- HIS love is so great---He sent HIS ONLY SON to pay the price---His death on the cross---thus purchasing us---so that HE could (and DOES)meet all our needs in life ***AND** give to us the riches of heaven---for the "unlimited time" of ETERNITY IN HIS PRESENCE!!!!!!!!!