The LORD Is: month of April

 

ANASTASIS AND ZOE

RESURRECTION AND LIFE

Jesus said unto her, "I Am the Resurrection and the Life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." 

John 11:25

JEHOVAH TSABA

The LORD of HOSTS

Isaiah 47:4

Our Redeemer, the LORD of Hosts Is His Name, The Holy One of Israel.

Amos 4:13

"For behold, He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind and reveals His thoughts to man, who turns the dawn to darkness and strides on the heights of the earth—the LORD, the God of Hosts, is His name.”

THE LION OF JUDAH

Revelation 5:5

Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Micah 5:2

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel--One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity.

JEHOVAH AREK

The LORD Is Longsuffering

Numbers 14:18

The LORD is longsuffering (patient, slow to anger), and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.

Psalm 78:38

And yet He was compassionate; He forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them. He often restrained His anger and did not unleash His full wrath.

Psalm 145:8

The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion.

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

FirstFruits: Romans 5

 

CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY

Romans 5:6

For at just the right time, while we were still powerless (unable to save ourselves), Christ died for the ungodly. 

PROVEN LOVE

Romans 5:8

But God proves His love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD

Romans 5:9

Therefore, since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from wrath through Him?

Romans 3:25-26

God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.

He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus. 

RECONCILED TO GOD THROUGH CHRIST

Romans 5:10

For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!

2 Corinthians 5:17-19

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!

All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:

that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 

WE REJOICE IN GOD THROUGH JESUS

Romans 5:11

Not only that, but we also rejoice (live with God-given confidence) in God through our LORD Jesus Christ, through Whom we have now received reconciliation (restoration resulting from Christ exchanging His righteousness {His blood} for our guilt). 

DEATH & SIN THROUGH ONE MAN

Romans 5:12

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all have sinned.

Romans 3:23

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. 

GIFT OF GRACE ABOUNDS

Romans 5:15

But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many!

Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace you are saved through faith, and this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

GIFT BRINGS JUSTIFICATION

Romans 5:16

Again, the gift is not like the result of the one man’s sin: The judgment that followed one sin brought condemnation, but the gift that followed many trespasses brought justification.

Justification: a sentence of acquittal, a restoration of a criminal.

Isaiah 43:25

I, even I, am he that blots out your transgressions for My own sake, and will not remember your sins.

Isaiah 44:22

I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed you.

Romans 8:1

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 

 ABUNDANCE OF GRACE THROUGH CHRIST

Romans 5:17

For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive an abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! ---

There are two points that need to be made clear here. One: this abundance of grace through Christ is for those who Receive Christ, not for those who deny Him. ---

Second: We who receive Christ Reign in Life through Him. To reign in life through Christ is to die daily, denying what our self wants and accepting obediently what God wants. Living the life victorious as we walk in the power of God's Holy Spirit! ---

Just know that both Grace and the Gift of Righteousness are for everyone. You just need to believe that Jesus Christ Is Lord. Repent of your sins to God, receive Christ into your hearts and pray the Holy Spirit into your lives.

I did and God changed my life. 

CHRIST'S RIGHTEOUSNESS BRINGS JUSTIFICATION

Romans 5:18

So then, just as one trespass brought condemnation for all men, so also one act of righteousness brought justification and life for all men.

Isaiah 53:11

After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.

Romans 3:25

God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.

2 Corinthians 5:21

God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 

THROUGH HIS OBEDIENCE

Romans 5:19

For just as through one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.

2 Corinthians 5:21

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Philippians 2:8

He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death-- even to death on a cross.

 

GRACE INCREASED

Romans 5:20

But the Law came to increase and expand [the awareness of] the trespass [by defining and unmasking sin]. But where sin increased, [God’s remarkable, gracious gift of] grace [His unmerited favor] has surpassed it and increased all the more.

2 Corinthians 3:7-8

Now if the ministry of death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at the face of Moses because of its fleeting glory,

will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?

1 Timothy 1:14-15

And the grace of our Lord overflowed to me, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

his is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.

GRACE REIGNS THROUGH RIGHTEOUSNESS  

Romans 5:21 

So that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:9-11

You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.

And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.

Romans 6:4

We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.

John 10:28

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

FirstFruits: 1 Corinthians 15, Acts 2 & 17

 

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, 

we are of all men most miserable.

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

1 Corinthians 15:19-20

But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death because it was impossible for Him to be held in its clutches.

Acts 2:24

PROOF OF GOD'S JUSTICE GIVER

Acts 17:30-31

"Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.

For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”

Psalm 9:8

He judges the world with justice; He governs the people with equity.

Psalm 96:12-13

Let the fields exult, and all that is in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the LORD, for He is coming—He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness.

1 Samuel 2:10

Those who oppose the LORD will be shattered. He will thunder from heaven against them. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth and will give power to His king. He will exalt the horn of His anointed.

Revelation 19:11

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

THAT THE WORLD MAY KNOW

 

 As The Father Commands

John 14:31

"But I do exactly what the Father has commanded Me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Get up! Let us go on from here."

John 12:49

"I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it."

Everything Jesus did or said was in obedience to His Father's commands. Everything.

Seek God's Will

John 4:34

"Jesus explained, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work."

John 5:30

"I can do nothing by Myself; I judge only as I hear. And My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me."

Obedient Unto Death

Philippian 2:8

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.

He Became Sin

2 Corinthians 5:21

God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 

No Claim

 

 John 14:30

"I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming, and he has no claim on me."

Revelation 5:1-10

Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One seated on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals.

And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?”

But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look inside it.

And I began to weep bitterly, because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look inside it.

Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

And He came and took the scroll from the right hand of the One seated on the throne.

When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song:

'Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth.'

By His death the Son of God overcame sin. While He was dead the Son of God overcame death, hell and the grave. After His death He rose to life; walking out of the grave, into the garden and into the city streets. And after many days ascended into heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Father, interceding for His people until He returns to bring us all home with Him. 

In the end the prince of this world will be conquered and thrown into the lake of fire, along with those he has deceived. You don't want to go there. You don't want anyone you know to go there. 

Now is the time to pray for the people we love, the people we like, the people we know; we pray for the strangers in our communities, the people who come against us because we are Christ's own. Now is the time to pray for our families: our parents, our children, our siblings, our aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews and cousins. 

We pray for those in government at every level, from the mayor of our city to the ruler of our country at the highest level. We pray for ourselves to remain steadfast in His Word, that His love may remain in us and we in Him. 

Now is the time to pray for strength to endure, love that overcomes, and a hope that perseveres. Not just for ourselves but for they for whom we pray. 

We who belong to Christ live in the Authority of Christ. Satan has no claim on us, either. 

I belong to Jesus!

I belong to Him!

I belong to Jesus!

Free from sin!

Lion of Judah

I'm Telling You Now

 

John 14:29

"And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe."

Matthew 24:23-27

"And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible. See, I have told you in advance.

So if they tell you, ‘There He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man."

Out of the hundreds of prophecies in the Old Testament, most of them regard the first coming of Christ: His birth, His life, His death, His return. We know that most have come to pass. Because the Word of God Is Faithful and True, we can believe It. The Word does not contradict itself.

But as Jesus tells us in Matthew 24, the people who will be around to see those events happen need to be careful in what/who they listen to and guard their hearts.

The Cross Has Two Sides

 

There are two sides to the cross: the front and the back. The front of the cross is the part we see when first we come to the cross. The eyes of our heart want to look away, for the sight before us is one of death and shame. 

Blood covers the cross where the body of Christ bled and died on it. It is a means of humiliation, torment and torture (Deuteronomy 21:23; Acts 5:30; Galatians 3:13) He was beaten so badly He was unrecognizable (Isaiah 52:14; Isaiah 53:2; Isaiah 50:6; Psalm 22). Yet the cross is known even to His enemies, for none can really take their eyes off of it. 

The Roman soldier who stood looking on at the Man who had been nailed to the cross, who stood where the blood was flowing, knew that here was a righteous man (Mark 15:39). 

If we listen to the Voice of Reason, which tells us this is where the Savior of the world died, then we can make our way to the back of the cross. But to get there we will have to go through the blood.

With our eyes wide open, and our hearts having received the knowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, we are able to walk through the blood which was shed for us and make our way to the other side of the cross. 

Death is not here. Shame is not here. We left those on the other side, under the blood. Life is here. Joy is here. Victory is here.  Jesus is here. He's not on the cross any longer. 

In the blood 

we are forgiven. 

For it is the blood of Christ which washes away all our sins, WHEN we repent. It is not enough to be sorry for what we have done wrong. It is not enough to be remorseful for our wrongdoings.

Even Judas was sorry for his actions. He saw the immediate results of his betrayal of his Friend. But he did not repent. He tried to give the money back. But he did not repent. 

Unless we repent of the sins we have committed against the Word of God, we will not be forgiven. We must go through the blood of Christ on the cross in order to walk out of the grave with Him. 

We cannot live a new life in Him unless we go through Him. 

I am forgiven. Every day I ask the Holy Spirit to search my heart and show me where I need to be washed clean. Then I repent and ask for help and strength to not commit the same crimes against God that I have already been forgiven for. And He helps me. 

If you don't already have it, you, too, can have this relationship with Jesus Christ. All you have to do is ask God for it. You will know the change when it happens. No fancy prayer, just talk to Him from your hearts. Like I did. 

 

A Different Peace

 

 

John 14:27

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid."

Philippians 4:7

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Even now this world calls for peace. But beware. One will come who will declare peace and delude people into thinking he has created peace. But it will be a false peace. 

There is only one peace that will last for ever and that Peace is the Peace of God. Him who declares that the Prince of Peace is Jesus Christ has sent us His Peace to save our souls. Not only that but He has sent us His Holy Spirit to sanctify us and make us holy that we may for ever live in the presence of God. That's peace.

That's a peace that passes understanding and can only be obtained by faith in the name of the Son of God: Jesus Christ. 

Stand your guard, discipline yourself, watch and pray that we may be alert, ready. aware. 

Colossians 3:15

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful.

KEY HOLDER

 

Revelation 1:17-18
  When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. And He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last [absolute Deity, the Son of God], and the Ever-living One [living in and beyond all time and space]. I died, but see, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of [absolute control and victory over] death and of Hades (the realm of the dead)."

John 11:25
Jesus said to her, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in (adheres to, trusts in, relies on) Me [as Savior] will live even if he dies."

Romans 6:9 
For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has dominion over Him.

  

Romans 14:9

For this reason Christ died and returned to life, that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

1 Thessalonians 5:9-10

For God has not appointed us to suffer wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.

Several keys are mentioned in the Bible. For instance, Isaiah writes about the Key to the House of David, a key of Authority and Power, which was taken from the one wearing it and given to another. Now, Christ has this key: Revelation 3:7 "These are the words of the Holy One, the True One, He who has the key [to the house] of David, He who opens and no one will [be able to] shut, and He who shuts and no one opens."

There are the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven: Matthew 16:19 "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.", which Jesus gives to His followers. (TBD at a later date)

There is the Key of Knowledge in Luke 11:52.

The Key to the Abyss, the bottomless pit in Revelation 9:1.

All of these keys are keys of authority and power. The one who holds them wields in justice and truth, because they are God-given keys; God is Truth and Love, He holds ALL Power and ALL Authority. He determines which doors open or shut and when. Daniel 2:21-God determines the seasons and years; God sets up kings and takes kings down; God gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. Romans 13:1 and James 5.

Now we know that the only begotten Son of God holds ALL these keys, as well. He has been given by God the Father ALL Authority to rule His kingdom as He Will. 

John 5:21

"For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He wishes."

Not only is He the Key Holder, He is also the Way & the Door: John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 10:9 "I am the Door; anyone who enters through Me will be saved [and will live forever], and will go in and out [freely], and find pasture (spiritual security)."

Let me tell you, you who doubt and do not believe: the day is coming when you will no longer doubt, nor will you hold to unbelief. Whether on this side of eternity or the other you will acknowledge that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD. For God has said in Isaiah 45:23 "By Myself I have sworn; truth has gone out from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will swear allegiance." and again in Philippians 2:9-11 "Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." 

Again, in Romans 14:11 "It is written: “As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.” 

We who confess on this side of eternity also bow and acknowledge that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD. But we are not forced to do so. We do confess and acknowledge His Authority because we love Him who first loved us: 1 John 4:19 "We love him, because he first loved us." 

We are not afraid to die for His name's sake. Matthew 10:28 "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Just a reminder that JESUS CHRIST holds the Keys to death and hell. Which side of the Door do you want to be on?