Pleasant Grove Baptist Church November 30, 2018 at 04:13AM

from Pleasant Grove Baptist Church https://ift.tt/2QqbAa4
via IFTTT The Romans who nailed the nails didn't kill Jesus. The Jews who accused him didn't kill Jesus. The Scribes and Pharisees, Pilate didn't kill Jesus. No one "killed" Jesus. He gave his life voluntarily. If we say that someone "killed" Jesus, we elevate that person or group above Jesus, above God. We should be careful how we speak of such things. Jesus death was a sacrifice. He sacrificed Himself as both the high priest and the lamb. He had no sin, and therefore was not worthy of death as we are. He lived the life Adam should have lived. He lived holy. That's why Jesus was able to die for our sins, because he had no sin of his own. Not only did Jesus have authority to lay down his life for us, but to also rise again. God the Father didn't raise Jesus from the dead. Jesus did that of his own authority! Wait... How did Jesus bring himself back to life if he was dead? We are three part beings... Made in God's image with a body, soul, and spirit. The body is what dies here on earth. Jesus body was dead. Completely. For three days and thee nights. But Jesus spirit was still alive. It was the spirit, the inner essence, that brought the body back to life. We are built the same way. Our body dies, but the spirit awaits the judgment, the second death or eternal life. We do not cease to exist upon physical death, only the body dies and decays. So Jesus allowed his body to suffer and die, that part of him which overcame sin. that part which became the sacrifice and payment for our sins. Then, when the job was done. His spirit acted on authority from the Father and gave life back to his body, becoming a full man again. A glorified man, but a man in that same body. Nail holes, spear wound, gashes from whips, everything. He lives in that same body today! So no one killed Jesus. We are all guilty of rejecting him, but humans do not, can not kill God. Jesus is a living willing sacrifice. Fully God, and fully man. And the reason we have a second chance, through the blood He shed.

Pleasant Grove Baptist Church November 29, 2018 at 04:26AM

from Pleasant Grove Baptist Church https://ift.tt/2TV5lKd
via IFTTT Do you feel alone? Rejected? "Put out"? This man did. He had stood for what he knew, simply stating the facts that he was aware of, and those in charge... Those that"knew better" rejected him. They "put him out" or turned him away. No longer welcome with the crowd. But, Jesus found him. WOW! The King of all kings, the Creator of the universe, God in the flesh sought out this man and found him! So will He do for you! When we stand up for what's right, refuse to compromise, the world and even the church may disown you. They may turn you out and reject you because you do not "fit in" with their theology, their tradition. But have no fear! Jesus will seek out those who refuse to compromise! God comforts those who stand in truth! Who would you rather have stand with you? God or man? When you feel alone, abandoned, rejected... Know that if the reason for that is truth and refusal to compromise, Jesus will find you! You are never alone, if you stand in the light!

Pleasant Grove Baptist Church November 28, 2018 at 02:54AM

from Pleasant Grove Baptist Church https://ift.tt/2Q3lcrJ
via IFTTT What has more value? Truth, or the one speaking it? The wisdom of man answers... "The one speaking". The pride of man requires truth to come through man's efforts (education, training, position, fame, wealth, success) or it is not valuable. The messenger carries more value than the message. This is a slap in the face of God, who authored truth. It is a lie proceeding from the deepest conceited heart of man. Not only a lie, but a way of placing man above God himself. Strong words? Yes. Truth is truth, regardless of the speaker. The truth does not come from man. Truth comes only from God Himself. Placing importance on the messenger above the message is placing importance on man above God. The same sin that brought death, disease and destruction into our world through Adam's actions. Now I get why people do this... It is easier. So much easier to just assume that a person speaks truth because of their background, position, etc. The listener no longer has to evaluate... No longer has to do the work of discerning truth. Just follow, assume, and life is easy. But is that what God desires of us? To become blind followers of men? NO! We are each granted the ability to see truth through the enlightenment of the Holt Spirit. We are given equal access to truth. Why would we toss that aside and start blindly following men? Jesus said " a little child shall lead them". Not an educated, trained, professional. Not a wealthy, successful person. Not a famous popular individual. A child. Why? Because the child has nothing to rely on but God and truth. You, I, all of us are equal. No one is above a sinful deceitful nature inside. No training or education or paperwork can erase a heart bent on believing lies. We are all born in sin. We all must rely on God, through Jesus' blood granting us access to the Holy Spirit to receive truth. No man warrants blind faith. We don't get the easy path. We are each responsible for properly discerning truth. Sure we help each other... That's one purpose of the church. But church is not a place of the blind, but the seeing. We are to see for ourselves, and judge everything regardless of who speaks. Judge rightly, but judge. The Pharisees here acted much like today's educated professional. They discount the voice of the layman. They put themselves up on a pedestal, above God himself, who uses the lowly things of the world, not the great. It is sad. Bottom line? Truth is truth. Anyone can speak truth. God spoke through a donkey once. We should never discount the message because of the messenger. We should never blindly assume the message based on the messenger. Listen to the Spirit, and see with the eyes that God gave us and Jesus paid for.