A Crucified Life - - Is Unashamed of The Gospel

 

    Romans 10:11

For the Scripture says, "Everyone who Believes in Him will not be put to shame."

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2617

[not] Shamed: does not disappoint

From the Greek word 'kataischuno' (pronounced kat-ahee-skhoo'-no): put to utter confusion, disgrace, frustrate.

    Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

    1 Corinthians 1:18

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

    Shame is what the faithless unbeliever is covered in, but even this covering cannot prevent the death and destruction that awaits them after death. The unbelieving state of their hearts causes them to stumble in the dark, bumping into whatever doctrine of philosophy they prefer to embrace, when they refuse to believe that Jesus Christ Is Lord. 

    Utter confusion dwells in a chaotic atmosphere. Here the lonely heart cries out to be rescued from its chains of despair and depression, but refuses to lay hold of the Cross and the gospel of salvation. That which brings joy to the faithful faith-filled believer brings only condemnation to the unbelieving soul. 

     Not under my own power do I believe, but within the realm of the power of God, who planted a seed of faith in my heart, when I first believed in the His only begotten Son Jesus Christ as Lord. Though many weeds sprang up to torment this seed of faith as it grew within me, they did not manage to destroy my faith. And my faith grew.

    The Bible clearly states it is the Power of God which brings about salvation to the believer. I do not need to fully understand how or why at this point. I believe there is One:

One God, One Gospel, One Holy Spirit. 

One Creator of Salvation. One Redeemer Who Saves. One Spirit of Wisdom Who Calls us to Salvation. 

    And I love Him. I am not ashamed of the gospel. I am not confused. I am not deluded. I am not disappointed. I am not condemned. 

    Now, Today, is your opportunity, your chance, your turn to believe that God sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross in your place; to carry the weight of your sins upon His shoulders. Today is your day of salvation, to have the saving grace of the blood of God's Lamb wash away the stench and make clean the darkness of your hearts. 

    Now, Today, it's your turn to believe that Christ is here to redeem you to Himself. Today is not a day for condemnation, for He came not for that reason but to bring you close to Him and nearer to God. Today could be the day you turn from unbelief, leaving the darkness of not knowing Him and embracing the Light of God's Love. 

    Only God has the power to wash and make clean the darkness of our hearts with Blood. Only God speaks light which pierces the darkness of our hearts. Only God can do the impossible. 

    James 4:8

        Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 

UnAshamed

Nothing Is Too Hard For You - Vineyard Worship

We Are Not Ashamed - Carman

The Power of The Cross - Stuart Townend

Miracles - Jesus Culture

This I Believe [The Creed] - Hillsong Worship

Glorious Ruins - Hillsong Live

There Is One Gospel - CityAlight

God of The Impossible - Lincoln Brewster

A Crucified Life - - Walks In The Power of The Holy

 

2 Corinthians 6:7

By the Word of Truth, by the power of God, by the armor of Righteousness on the right hand and on the left. 

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3696

Armor: tools, implements, weapons

From the Greek word 'hoplon' (pronounced hop'-lon): God always gives all the resources we need to engage in spiritual warfare.

    The Word of Truth is the gospel, the Full Gospel, the Whole Complete WORD of GOD, in all its fullness. 

    Having His WORD living in us and us living in His WORD makes us bold and should make us fearless while we serve God in this life. 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us to study diligently that we may be able to 'righty divide the Word of Truth', in other words that we might clearly understand and know the Word in order to explain and share it with others.

    Ephesians 1:13 "In Whom you also trusted, after you heard the Word of Truth, the gospel of your salvation: in Whom also after you believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise."

As the song declares, "Living He loved me, Dying He saved me, Rising He justified freely forever. One day He's coming, O glorious day!"

    Galatians 3:14

He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.    

    This Holy Spirit of Promise is the Power of God in us who have received this Promise. God promises the believer many precious and wonderful gifts; the Holy Spirit is by far the best gift God could gift to us after Christ ascended into heaven.

    It is impossible to live in the Power of God if we don't have the Power of God living in us. The workings of the Holy Spirit are essential to a confident, overcoming life in Christ. He is God's seal of Authority on us. 

    Lastly, we are shown that we have been given weapons for both of our hands to grasp. Ephesians 6:16,17 show us that in our dominant hand is the Sword of The Spirit, the Word of God. In our other hand is the Shield of Faith, which has the power to extinguish all of the flaming arrows/darts which the enemy of our souls throws in our direction. This is why we bring our hands together when we pray; for one must work with the other to succeed in the endeavor. 

    Being fully clothed in His Righteousness (Romans 13:14), and in our right minds (Titus 1:8), we are now prepared -- on a daily basis -- to face that which is coming against us as we take our stand in the Word of God.

    We are not alone. We have God's angels battling hell's demons (Daniel 10:13), we have God's Son interceding on our behalf (Romans 8:34), and we have God's Holy Spirit, who not only aids us in our work, but utters the deepest prayers of our hearts to God (Romans 8:26). 

    Prayer is an absolute necessity in our lives. It is our base of communication with our God and Savior. Faith, believing God, activates our prayers. Why pray if we are not going to believe that our prayers will be answered as long as we pray according to God's will? 

>James 5:16

>1 Timothy 2:1

>Ephesians 6:18

>Philippians 4:6

    Wake up! Wash the sleep out of your eyes and Rise up! Now is the time to awaken out of the slumber into which we have fallen. Now is the time to let our lamps burn brightly that the Light of the Word of Truth would shine into the outer darkness, revealing the bright and wonderful Light of God's Love to a dying world.

WORD OF TRUTH

The Gospel - Ryan Stevenson

Jesus Said It - Eddie James

Word of God Speak - Mercy Me

Holy Water - We The Kingdom, Tasha Cobbs

Come Holy Spirit - Steve Kuban

Fire of Your Spirit - Sarah Lieberman

Sound The Alarm - Instrumental

Whom Shall I Fear - Chris Tomlin

House of Prayer - Eddie James

Rise Up - Cain

    

A Crucified Life - - Lives To Convince Others

 

2 Corinthians 5:11

Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is clear to God, and I hope it is clear to your conscience as well. 

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3982

Persuade: have confidence, urge

From the Greek word ' peithó' (pronounced pi'-tho): to cause belief in a thing, to convince with words.

THE LORD PERSUADES

    Romans 1:16

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.

    1 Corinthians 1:18

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 

    Romans 10:17

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

    1 Corinthians 13:30

It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.

    Mere words alone cannot convict an unbeliever into believing. The words spoken must have the power of God in them. And the Spirit of God must be in the words being spoken. 

    Knowing, however, that many preach without power and too many sit in their congregations believing their souls are fine and everything will be hunky-dory when they reach heaven's gate. This is so untrue. 

    Read your Bible. Don't just let it sit there. It wasn't meant to be a dust catcher or a table decoration; Bibles are printed to be read. Like any good book it has adventure, romance, battles and a happy ending. Unlike other good books though, we can ask the Author to reveal the meaning in what we are reading and He will show us.

    God reveals Himself in His Word. His Word is Love. His Word is Jesus Christ. And in Christ is our salvation. 

THE POWER OF GOD CHANGES HEARTS

    The power of God conquered death, hell and the grave forever. The power of God washes sin from our hearts when we believe on the Name of His Son Jesus Christ for our salvation. John 3:16, a much loved verse and known by even those who have not yet believed: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

    The Word of God has power to save the lost, the lost in the darkness of this world. It has power to save the humiliated, the lonely, the bullied and the bully. The Word of God has power to save the thief, the murderer, the embezzler, the adulterer and the fornicator, the liar. In fact any transgression against God can be forgiven as long as the heart is sincere in turning away from the wickedness that entangles it. 

    How do I know this? In the Old Testament we read about King David. King David lusted after a married woman in his kingdom, had an affair with her and got her pregnant, had her husband killed upon thereafter he married the woman. Then their son got ill and died because of David's sin. But David repented and God forgave him. 

    In the New Testament we read about Saul. After the 120 became filled with the power of God, they immediately set about preaching the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ the power of God. Whereupon Saul began to persecute the new sect, the Way, condemning their belief and having them stoned. But God persuaded Saul to change his heart mind: God changed Saul's heart. God even gave him a new name: Paul. 

    The power of God also changed women in the Bible, too. One was delivered from demonic possession. At least two that we read of (one in the OT and one in the NT) were delivered from prostitution. Hadassah was elevated from her lowly stature in her Uncle's family to a position of influence when God made her Queen in Persia. And God changed her name, too: Esther. 

    The power of God changes a person's heart. The power of God fills a believer's heart that we may live for Him, in Him, with Him. If God has yet to change your heart, come first to the cross and then into the garden. See my Jesus? God has raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand where He intercedes for us. Even now. 

    Can you feel that tug at your heartstrings? That's the Holy Spirit calling you to salvation in Jesus Christ. For the Spirit and the Bride, like a strongly built lighthouse, shine out over the rocky shores of life to the wandering vessels, warning them to avoid danger and come to the harbor where they will be safe. 

    Come to Jesus. We want you to join us. Come as you are to the cross and lay down every thing that weighs you down. Give it all to God and allow Him to change you. Talk to God. He wants to hear from you.  

PERSUADED