I Am Christian's Back

 

LUKE 18:33

"And having flogged Him, they will kill Him; and on the third day He will rise again."

    I am Christian's back. I have been created to house the spine, the backbone. In me is the source of life: blood is created within these bones. The blood is life. Without blood there is no life. And the sweetest blood flowed from the back of The only begotten Son of God, Who shed His blood on Calvary to atone for the sins of the world. This blood ran down His back from the whiplash marks across it. This blood streamed from His head where the thorns pierced it. This blood stained the rugged cross to which He was nailed. This blood dripped onto the ground and into the hearts of every believer who came to the cross and saw Jesus. Including mine. I am Christian and this blood covers me.

    On my back are the wounds and scars of the suffering I have endured. The sound of the whip hitting flesh is torture itself. I will not give in. Jesus' Name escapes my lips and I in Him I have strength to endure. As the apostle stated, "My life is not my own" -- Acts 20:24. I belong to Christ and Christ is not only with me, but in me. We take the whip together. We suffer together. In Christ I am His own. 

    As Christ's blood flowed from His body on the cross at Calvary, so, too, do I give my life in service to the gospel of salvation. I surrender all I am and have because I love Him so. God has given me breath and with my breath I will praise His glorious Name. God has given me life and it is only fitting and reasonable that I give my life back to Him -- Romans 12:1-8. And let Him use this life I have been given for His purpose according to His will and His Word. 

    My back is attached to my neck which holds my head up. Though my shoulders are bent from the burdens I have carried through the years, my head remains up. For Christ Jesus is the head of His body -- Ephesians 5:23, 1 Corinthians 11:3. Whose head sits on your shoulders? Your own, of course. Why would you expect it to be different with the body of Christ? 

    I am Christian's back. In me is the Strength of God's Word. Which I do, indeed, need for I have been called to suffer for The Name of Christ. May I fulfill the purpose for which God has created me with honor and faithfulness. 

WITHHOLDING NOTHING - William McDowell 

CALLING ME - Brian Tucker

     

Heart & Soul - - True Heart

 

Hebrews 10:22

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 228

True Heart: real, genuine, made of truth

From the Hebrew word 'aléthinos' (pronounced al-ay-thee-nos'),  emphasizing the organic connection (authentic unity) between what is true and its source or origin. 

Antonyms, opposites of, true would include: inaccurate, counterfeit, false, flawed, deceptive, corrupt, evil and disloyal.

    It is important to have a True Heart, because without it we will not see God and live. Though all will see God on judgment day not all will remain with God for all eternity. Too many will have chosen not to be with God. By their own actions/inactions they will have sent themselves to hell, for that is the destination of the unbeliever. Even if a person says they are a Christian in their lifetime, their own words and actions deny that such a spiritual transformation has taken place. 

    THE COVENANT OF BLOOD

    When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden, God had to kill an animal and cover their sinfulness with its hide, a shadow of the Lamb of God Who would die on the cross to cover/wash away/remove sins. The coverings Adam and Eve made for themselves were not enough to cover their nakedness completely, and so were inadequate. As filthy rags, our attempts to cover or remove sin are just as inadequate. We need a better covering and that Covering is Jesus Christ. (Genesis 3:21; Isaiah 64:6; Hebrews 8:6).

    When the tenth and last plague was about to cover the land of Egypt before the Israelites were kicked out of Egypt, God instructed Moses on the proper way to sacrifice a lamb whose blood would be used to cover the door frames of each Israelite's home where the lamb would be eaten. (Exodus 12:1-13).

    When Moses met God and heard what He had to say before Moses spent those first forty days and nights on the mountaintop with God, the LORD God spoke the Ten Commandments and the law to him, as a boss would dictate to his secretary. Moses wrote every word down making this writing the Book of the Covenant (Exodus 24:7), which he then sprinkled with the blood of the peace offering, of the young bulls which had been sacrificed for that purpose. Then Moses sprinkled the blood on the people, signifying the covenant between God and themselves. (Exodus 24:1-8). 

    When the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world came to us, the instruction is also made clear that this blood must be applied (1) Individually, and (2) By Faith. 

(1) John 1:12, 3:18, 20:31; Mark 16:16. 

(2) Hebrews 11 (the Hall of Faith); Ephesians 2:8, 9; Colossians 1:1-29. 

    The True Heart is the heart that has acknowledged its unrighteousness and evilness in living a life that was not pleasing to God. In so doing it also recognizes its need for a Savior to bring salvation which can cleanse the True Heart of its sins and bring it to a right relationship with God. 

    The True Heart is more than sincere in its desire to know God personally, it recognizes the urgency to meet God face to face and the strong desire to hear Him speak with it in private: a one-on-one encounter that will forever change a person. 

THE WASHING OF THE WORD

    Having received Christ into its heart by faith in the Name of the Son of God (Romans 10:8-10), the True Heart now sees the need for outer purification as well and is baptized, submerged beneath the water, representing being buried with Christ in the tomb, then raised to new life in Him. 

    The heart gets sprinkled with the blood of Christ by faith; the body gets washed in the water of purification in a public display of this transforming power of God to change a person from the inside outward. 

    While it is not always possible to receive a water baptism after proclaiming one's belief in the Name of the Son of God, those who can, do so. There were two thieves hung on their own crosses next to Christ, one on each side. One died in his sins, the other declared his faith in Christ. There was no time for him to be baptized, but with Christ he is now and forevermore. 

    Christ, as our example always, was baptized by His cousin John, where those who were nearby heard John cry out to them, "Behold! The Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world!" (John 1:29-31) Upon Christ also came the Spirit of heaven, like a dove, which rested upon Him (John 1:32-34).

    And just before Jesus was arrested He washed His disciples' feet. This was the example of servitude He set for them. They/we should not consider themselves/ourselves above the needs of other just because they were/we are His disciples. We are the body of Christ and we should interact with each other as Christ interacted with His first disciples. (John 13:1-17). 

    Let us come now with True Hearts and receive today what God has in store for His faithful people. 

    

TRUE HEART 

His Indescribable Gift

 

2 Corinthians 9:15

Thanks be to God for His Indescribable gift!

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 411

Indescribable: inexpressible (beyond words); indescribable (inexplicable), impossible to estimate

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 1431

Gift: freely given, not acquired by merit or "entitlement."; expresses a brand of giving that highlights the beneficent desire of the giver

INDESCRIBABLE

This word 'indescribable' is used only once and that is here in 2 Corinthians 9:15. The King James Version (KJV) renders it 'unspeakable'. The English Standard Version (ESV) reads as 'inexpressible', while the New Living Translation (NLT) says 'too wonderful for words'. 

Indescribable by Chris Tomlin

HIS GIFT

Romans 5:12, 15, 17-19

(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 sinned.

(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!

(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!

(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.

(19) For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

Acts 15:11

On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.

Ephesians 2:8-10

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.

Romans 9:16

So then, it does not depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy.

Romans 6:23

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

THANK YOU JESUS FOR THE BLOOD by Charity Gayle

     BORN AGAIN

     In life, gifts are handed out either individually or jointly, like birthday presents (to the individual) or wedding presents (to the couple) or corporately (to the company). But the gift must be received on an individual basis, as well. We don't always receive the gifts given to us well. "I don't like this gift as much as I liked that other gift." "Do I have to participate?" 

    This applies Scripturally and spiritually, too. The gift of grace is given to everyone, but everyone must accept it on an individual basis. As Jesus explained to Nicodemus, "Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

    Ezekiel 36:26 wrote, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." That is what happens when we believe that Jesus Christ is Lord. God gives us a new heart when He applies the blood of His Son to our hearts. He puts a new Spirit in us when we receive the baptism of His Holy Spirit. Both Grace and Power are the gift from God. To receive only half of the gift is to cripple one's self spiritually. We need both to fulfill God's purpose, God's will, in our life.

     John 3:4, 5 

(4) “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time to be born?”

(5) Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless anyone be born of water and of the Spirit, he is not able to enter into the kingdom of God.

(6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

INDIVIDUAL ACCEPTANCE

John 1:12. 13

But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.

     

     To 'all who did receive' shows us that not all will receive the gift of God. Only the people who believe in His Name will receive the gift of God: Jesus Christ His only begotten Son. 

1 John 3:8-10

(8) The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil.

(9) Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God's seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.

(10) By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

John 1:16

From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.

Dear Lord,

I recognize that I am a sinner, that I have sinned against You and broken Your laws. Forgive me of my sins and make me Your child. You are so good to me. Thank You for Your grace on me, for saving me. Thank You for this Indescribable Gift which You have given me. Thank You for removing my hardened heart and replacing it with a new heart: a heart that loves You and wants to serve You; a heart which rejoices in Your Word and Your presence; a heart that wants to share You with everyone I meet. 

Thank You, Lord, for giving me Your precious Holy Spirit, Who empowers me with boldness to speak Your Word. Help me to be more gracious, more loving, more merciful to those around me, to shine Your Light and Your Love into a dark and dying world. Give me words to speak. Open my mouth and fill it with Your Word.

In Jesus' Name, I pray

Amen.

Here I Am To Worship by Tim Hughes

God Gives The Victory Through Jesus Christ

 

1 Corinthians 15:57

But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! 

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3534

VICTORY: the result of a conquest, In the NT, this victory always refers to the conquest accomplished for the believer by Christ--which conquered all the powers of darkness (sin). Accordingly, death can not exert conquest over the believer. 

GOD GIVES THE VICTORY

John 3:16, 17

(16) For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

(17) For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

John 6:40

For it is My Father’s will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

VICTORY THROUGH OUR LORD

Romans 8:35-39

(35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

(36) As it is written: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

(37) No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

(38) For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

(39) nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8

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

Romans 6:23

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

Romans 8:21

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

Hebrews 2:14

Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil.

John 1:14

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

What is God's Will for us? To have Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! If we don't have this victory, we are not living God's Will for our lives. When we do surrender our hearts and our lives to God, we live a life of victory, even if it may not appear to be victorious on the outside at times, we can be assured that we are, indeed, victorious on the inside. For God has given us the victory over sin and death and the grave through the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son. 

Dear Lord, 

Thank You for dying on the cross, taking my sins upon Yourself and paying the ultimate price for my wickedness. Thank You for loving me so much that I can never repay You. Please take my life and live in my heart. Make me Yours and fill me with Your Holy Spirit, that I might live the live You have purposed for me. Make me to truly know just how Wonderful You are. 

In Jesus' Name, I pray,

Amen. 

The Maker's Mark

 

THE MAKER'S MARK

I bear the Maker's Mark on my heart

 (2 Corinthians 3:2-3 "You yourselves are our letter, inscribed on our hearts, known and read by everyone. It is clear that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.")

but someday His Mark will be on my forehead 

(Revelation 3:12 "The one who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will never again leave it. Upon him I will write the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from My God), and My new name.")

But before the second mark can be made, the one desiring such an honor must first surrender to God fully. Our hearts must be given over willingly to God that He might transform our hearts and our lives for His glory. We have to go to the cross where He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die in our place. Sin was not just laid on Him, Jesus 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.").

How do we come to the cross of Calvary when the cross no longer stands? The cross we come to is spiritual; it is an act of believing and submission. When we face this 'cross', we are compelled to fall on our knees, believing in our hearts that Jesus Christ Is God's only begotten Son, who surrendered His will and obediently did what His Father asked Him to do: pay the penalty for our sins. We could never pay as completely or as fully as Jesus did. He paid it all. He paid a debt, our debt, that He did not owe. Because God the Father loves us He sent God the Son to die for us, and He sent God the Holy Spirit to lead us out of the darkness of this world system into the light of God's Love at the foot of the cross. 

There we leave our shame. There we leave our sorrows. There we leave our baggage. And we pick up our cross to follow Him wherever He may lead us. We surrender our will and obediently do as God asks us to do. Because we love Him and we want to please Him. We spend time with Him in prayer, open and constant communication with our heavenly Father, Who has adopted us into His family through our belief on the name of the only One who can save us, deliver us, from condemnation and judgment. 

We kneel in submission, giving Him everything we have. Which to us may not seem like a lot, but to God it is everything He wants; because He wants  us. He calls our names and when we respond to His call to come near, He rewards us immensely. We receive eternal life for Christ did not stay on the cross, nor did He remain in the grave: He walked out of the tomb and into eternity. When we believe on His name, this wonderful Word of Life which God has given to us, we, too will carry our cross and be persecuted for His name's sake. These bodies God has seen fit to place us in will be buried in the ground or scattered into the wind and waves, but God will immediately take our 'hand' and bring us to heaven with Him. 

Because I believe I bear the Maker's Mark. Both Now. And Later.

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. 

 

Blessed Repenter(s)

BLESSED REPENTER(S)
ROMANS 4:7
Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, 

and whose sins are covered.
To be envied are we whose iniquities (lawless deeds: utter disregard for God's Written and Living WORD) are forgiven, and whose sins (self-empowered nature, sinful deeds, failure to hit the mark) are covered (pardoned).

Outside The Gate