Episódios
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JESUS IS LAID IN THE TOMB – Jesus Walking in the Way of the Cross (VIDEO)
LYRICS TO MUSIC:
Go on brothers lay him down Go on brothers lay him down
Wrap his body with a clean white shroud Roll that stone leave him in the ground Go on brothers lay him down
Go on sisters cry for him Go on sisters cry for him
But wipe your eyes and dry your skin
The crying will be done in three mornings Go on sisters cry for him
Hold on children wait and see Hold on children wait and see
The death that’s come is a death too weak Can’t take my Jesus cannot take my King So hold on children wait and see
Oh glory glory won’t you come for me Glory glory won’t you come for me
I know your slumber is a momentary sleep I feel you rising up from the deep
Oh glory glory you will come for me
MESSAGE SUMMARY:
Some of the most expensive, elaborate, and impressive structures in history are tombs. Throughout humanity great energy has been spent constructing a final resting place for the prestigious and powerful. The Taj Mahal in Agra, India, the pyramids of Egypt, and the terra cotta army in Xi’an, China are some of the most notorious. They stand as feats of architecture, design, and craftsmanship - each fueled by countless hours of work by a vast number of humans. Some of these structures are still visited today by hundreds of thousands each year.
Jesus too was laid in a tomb. And though purchased by a wealthy disciple, it seems to have been no more than a small, man-made cave. When Joseph of Arimethea asked Pilate for Jesus’ body, his request was surprisingly granted. After being wrapped in linen, Jesus was placed into a room ‘cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid’ (Luke 23:53).
Today, there remains uncertainty as to which specific site held the body of Jesus. Notwithstanding this fact, many travelers still seek out Christ’s tomb. Unlike many of the famous burial monuments however, those who make this journey do not come to be amazed by the architecture or awed by the craftsmanship. The spectacle itself is rather unimpressive - no more than a small hole cut into the side of a hill, void of any adornment.
Despite Jesus’ position, despite his seat ‘at the right hand of God’ (Mark 16:19), he was buried in a common tomb. Despite the ‘riches’ of his glory and grace (Colossians 1:27, Ephesians 2:7), Jesus’ body was laid to rest in a cave. How he continually clothed himself in humility!
So why then do countless Christians travel across the world each year to see where Jesus walked? Why spend the time and effort to visit a hole in the ground, that quite possibly Jesus’ body never actually entered? People come because of who Jesus was, not any place where he may have laid. They come to gain perspective. They come to refresh their spirits. They come because Jesus was real, and most critically, that three days after his death, the tomb stood empty.
Hallelujah! Death was beaten as God’s perfect plan for his Messiah was fulfilled. The tomb could not hold him. “He has risen, just as he said,” (Matthew 28:6), and he is alive now and forever!
Written by Jesse Braswell Roberts / Poor Bishop Hooper golgothamusic.com // poorbishophooper.com // Second edition ©2022 Jesse Braswell Roberts / Poor Bishop Hooper
TODAY’S PRAYER: Praise Jesus for his death and resurrection.
Ask Jesus for a fresh revelation of what the empty tomb means for you today.
Thank him for how he has saved you.
Pray for those who do not yet know the One who has conquered death, and do not understand what Jesus’ resurrection means for their lives. Give thanks that God’s perfect plan was fulfilled in
Jesus Christ, and that his love for you is unfailing and everlasting
Today’s Affirmation: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT: If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (Luke 11:13).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Mark 15:42-47: “It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.”. Further Reading: Matthew 27:57-61; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42; Isaiah 53:9-12.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “Contemplating the Mighty Acts – Palm Sunday and Holy Week”, at our Website: https://awtlser.podbean.com/
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JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS – Jesus Walking in the Way of the Cross (VIDEO)
LYRICS TO MUSIC:
From the sixth hour it came
A darkness like no man had seen
The sun’s light failed and through the black A voice that held all breathing
As his friends stood distant still
His thirst the wine his pierced side fulfilled Bowed his head the innocent
He left his life his spirit
And he cried ‘my God my God Why have you forsaken me’…
The veil was torn from the top to the bottom The tombs opened and the holy ones rose His murderers saw what they had done
A soldier spoke what he had come too late to know
‘Truly this was the son of God’…
MESSAGE SUMMARY:
The physical miracles that surround the death of Jesus are many in number and beyond remarkable. Taking time to think about what surrounded Jesus’ final hours makes one realize that this moment in history was like no other. It was certainly an experience that would cause us all to join with the Roman soldier and exclaim, ‘truly this was the Son of God.’
It was noon when the darkness came. The darkness then stayed until sometime around three o’clock; a three hour disappearance of the sun in the middle of the day. Many scholars and scientists explain this event by saying it was a solar eclipse. If so, this would have been the most fascinating and miraculous solar eclipse in history. We know the events of that day occurred during Passover, which always took place during the full moon. This time of the month is one in which a natural solar eclipse cannot occur. Consider also that the longest eclipse astronomically possible is somewhere around seven and a half minutes in length. If the explanation for the ‘darkness over the land’ was an eclipse, it was nearly three hours longer than any other in history.
During the darkness, ‘the earth shook, and the rocks were split,’ (Matthew 27:51). Phlegon, a Roman historian and contemporary of Jesus, noted the earthquake at the time of Jesus’ death, as well as an extraordinary and unexplainable mid-day eclipse, where the stars in heaven were seen. Earthquakes are not uncommon in the region, but Matthew writes that the “tombs opened and the bodies of many holy people rose from the dead,” (27:52). Though the ground might have occasionally shook, the rising of the dead was no common occurrence.
As if this wasn’t enough, amidst the ground shaking, the sky turning black, and dead people walking, another massive and meaningful event took place. Skillfully made of fine twisted linen, a veil of blue and purple and scarlet separated the holy of holies from the rest of the world (Exodus 26:31-33). It sat in the temple, never crossed save once a year when the High Priest would enter into the presence of God (Hebrews 9:7). Some sixty feet high, thirty feet wide, and four inches thick, the Jewish historian Josephus records that two horses tied to either side could not pull it apart.
Yet at the moment Jesus took his last breathe, this massive man-made curtain was torn. The Gospel writers note that it was torn from top to bottom, highlighting that this was a task completed from above. It was an unaccessible height, and a feat too remarkable to be completed by any man’s hand. The separation from God was over - literally and figuratively destroyed.
But despite all of these wonders, witnessed by many, shocking and sensational, the most important miracle was that which went unseen. The events in the physical world assuredly revealed that this was no ordinary man being crucified, and testified to Jesus’ dominion. But much like the unmeasured weight of the cross, the work being done behind the curtain of the visual was a far greater phenomenon.
God the Father put upon his Son Jesus all the wrath and guilt we deserved. Jesus satisfied this wrath perfectly and completely. Jesus completed the task no sinful man could handle. He had no help. He was fully alone. All so the Father could demonstrate his love for us. For we were lost, unworthy sinners, and Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Jesus was tortured and raised on a cross for us. He breathed his last for us. He was ‘forsaken’ by his glorious Father for us (Matthew 27:46). And none of this could be ‘seen’ by the Roman soldier or any
other bystanders.
It is safe to say that when the centurion exclaims that Jesus is the ‘Son of God,’ he did not have the full ‘Christian’ understanding of what his words meant. He spoke out of awe, fear, and terror (Matthew 27:54). He has just seen the sky turn dark and the earth shake violently upon the death of what he now knows is no ordinary man. He had read the inscription above Jesus’ head. He most likely had heard rumors about who Jesus claimed to be. And in that moment, as the world is seemingly crumbling around him, this Roman soldier knows Jesus was the man others said he was. The miracles in the physical world were enough to convince him of that. But had this common centurion seen the weight of his very own sin being placed upon Jesus’ body (1 Peter 2:24), how much more would he have exclaimed! Had this man fully seen God’s cup of wrath being poured out on Jesus for his own sake, how much more remorse and regret would he have had? And simultaneously, how much praise, adoration, and thankfulness would have filled his heart?
The suffering of Jesus was beyond compare. A debt paid, that just as the centurion, we will never fully comprehend or understand. But the current age has seen the full story. We know Jesus did not stay on the cross, nor was he bound by the chains of death. And we know that he will come again on the clouds with glory (Mark 13:26).
Written by Jesse Braswell Roberts / Poor Bishop Hooper golgothamusic.com // poorbishophooper.com // Second edition ©2022 Jesse Braswell Roberts / Poor Bishop Hooper
TODAY’S PRAYER: Take some time to meditate on this moment in history. Ground shaken. Tombs opened. The curtain torn. Darkness.
Think about Jesus’ words when he cries out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Ask the Lord for a better understanding of the miracle that went unseen that day.
Praise and thank Jesus for drinking the cup of his Father’s fury! For carrying your burden and paying your debt.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, Because of who I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be driven by Lust. Rather, I will abide in the Lord’s Perfect Provision. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Mark 15:33-39: “At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken
me?’).
When some of those standing near heard this, they said, ‘Listen, he’s calling Elijah.’
Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. ‘Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,’ he said.
With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, ‘Surely this man was the Son of God!’”. Further Reading: Matthew 27:45-54; Luke 23:44-49; John 19:28-30; Psalm 22:1-31.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “Contemplating the Mighty Acts – Palm Sunday and Holy Week”, at our Website: https://awtlser.podbean.com/
DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
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JESUS ENTRUSTS MARY AND JOHN TO EACH OTHER – Jesus Walking in the Way of the Cross (VIDEO)
LYRICS TO MUSIC:
Mother look upon your son
My dear friend behold your mother now
MESSAGE SUMMARY:
Often referred to as the ‘Seven Sayings’ of Jesus, there is a long and rich history surrounding the liturgical use of Jesus’ remarks during his crucifixion. Primarily implemented as the focus of meditation during Lent, these seven ‘words’ or phrases are recorded in the gospels, and shed great light on Jesus’ heart in his last hours. Just as a dying loved one’s last words are often highly regarded, so too are Jesus’.
Along his road to the cross, Jesus primarily speaks to his Father in Heaven (Luke 23:46, Matthew 27:46). He also offers words to the thieves next to him (Luke 23:43), and possibly to his murderers (John 19:28, 30). But despite his situation, hung from a cross, wrapped in excruciating pain, he calls out to his mother and the disciple ‘whom he loved.’ Even amidst unbearable circumstances, Jesus is still concerned with what will happen to his mother and friend after his death.
Why would the God of the universe need to entrust his earthly mother to a man? Would Jesus not be able to see, know, and care for every detail of Mary’s life, even beyond his physical body? Of course he would. But he is still interested in her worldly well-being. Though he does not call her ‘Mother,’ but rather ‘woman,’ this is not out of disrespect. It seemingly attempts to lessen the pain caused by the horrific death of her special son, and turn Mary’s focus to her new child, John. Jesus’ words to his mother show his deep respect and commitment, a model of love overflowing.
But Christ’s words also meant a great deal to John. He certainly listened, for as John notes in his own account, ‘from that hour he [John] took his [Jesus’] mother [Mary] into his family.’ John didn’t wait until Mary was in the clutches of old age, he promptly began caring for her. His obedience was immediate, and evidently without second thought. At Jesus’ request, a new family was created, one which shared a unique bond - hearts devoted to Christ.
Written by Jesse Braswell Roberts / Poor Bishop Hooper golgothamusic.com // poorbishophooper.com // Second edition ©2022 Jesse Braswell Roberts / Poor Bishop Hooper
TODAY’S PRAYER: Even in death Jesus was interested in strengthening relationships and creating new community. Ask God for courage to receive those in need into your family, both physically and spiritually. Ask God to help the church follow Jesus’ vision of true community.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that, because I am in Jesus Christ, I will think like Jesus. (Philippians 2:5f). “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”. (Philippians 4:14).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): John 19:25-27: “Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” Further Reading: Matthew 27:55-56; Luke 23:49.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “Contemplating the Mighty Acts – Palm Sunday and Holy Week”, at our Website: https://awtlser.podbean.com/
DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
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JESUS PROMISES HIS KINGDOM TO THE REPENTANT THIEF – Jesus Walking in the Way of the Cross (VIDEO
LYRICS TO MUSIC:
There next to him two unrighteous men Who’d wasted their lives on taste for their sins One spoke with no worry through his dying breaths
With mocking he cried out to Jesus
‘Are you not the Christ are you not the king Are you not the man that you claim to be Climb down from this tree kill the men at your feet And save yourself’
The other said
‘Have you no fear this is God whom you speak The one of us three who hangs underserving For our sins paint us black by our sins we were cast Can’t you see this man is white as driven snow
‘Lord remember me
When you come into your kingdom’…
‘Truly I tell you this very day
You will be with me in my holy place In paradise in paradise forever’
MESSAGE SUMMARY:
In 1854, Frederick William Faber wrote a poem entitled ‘Souls of Men, Why Will Ye Scatter?’ It was soon after fit with a tune, and sung as a congregational hymn both under its original name and the now more common title, ‘There’s A Wideness in God’s Mercy.’ Though it is difficult to differentiate between Faber’s original work and later additions, some versions contain up to thirteen stanzas. But the message of each is the same: how vast and great and wide is God’s love and mercy. Three of those thirteen stanzas follow:
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy, Like the wideness of the sea; There’s a kindness in his justice, Which is more than liberty.
There is welcome for the sinner, And more graces for the good; There is mercy with the Saviour, There is healing in his blood.
Pining souls, come nearer Jesus, And O come not doubting thus; But with faith that trusts more bravely, His great tenderness for us.
We see this immense wideness in God’s mercy as Jesus hangs on the cross between two thieves. These two men, who admit their own guilt (Luke 23:41), call out to Jesus in very different ways. One gives him recognition as the Christ, the other as King. The same titles given as formal charges against Jesus in his trial before Pilate and the Jews.
The first criminal cries out for his own life and freedom, and asks Jesus to save them all. But the second criminal rebukes the first. The second criminal knows that Jesus has done nothing wrong. It is as though he somehow comprehends the power and glory of this particular King, despite the group’s present circumstances. This criminal most certainly understands that his punishment is deserved. Simultaneously, he knows that Jesus holds the verdict concerning his everlasting sentence. It is from this place that the man asks subtly for something he may not have fully understood in that moment. He makes one simple request, “…remember me…”
And Jesus’ answer must have been ever-sweet to his ears. “In truth I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (v.43).
How deep and wide and vast is God’s mercy! How overwhelming is his grace! This man, this thief, did nothing to deserve paradise. In fact, at his own confession, his brutal and cruel sentence of crucifixion was justified. Yet Jesus delivers him reprieve like no other. He welcomes the criminal into everlasting glory at his word.
History has routinely called this man the ‘Good Thief,’ though in truth he did nothing ‘good’ at all. However, he understood the person of the man next to him. He knew that Jesus was Christ and King, and in doing so, was allowed to taste the sweetness of God’s mercy that is offered to all. In that moment, this criminal was freed from his cross, because Christ’s mercy is wider than the sea. He is freed because Jesus’ kindness carries freedom, and in his blood there is full restoration. There on the cross this thief became a powerful example of Faber’s words. That we could simply ‘trust more bravely his great tenderness for us.’
Written by Jesse Braswell Roberts / Poor Bishop Hooper golgothamusic.com // poorbishophooper.com // Second edition ©2022 Jesse Braswell Roberts / Poor Bishop Hooper.
TODAY’S PRAYER: The faith of this criminal reminds us that there is nothing we bring to salvation. It is truly a gift. Meditate on this fact.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, Because of who I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be driven by Fear. Rather, I will abide in the Lord’s Faithfulness. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Luke 23:39-43: “One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: ‘Aren’t you the Messiah Save yourself and us!’. But the other criminal rebuked him. ‘Don’t you fear God,’ he said, ‘since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.’.” Further Reading: : Matthew 27:38-44; Revelation 2:7.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “Contemplating the Mighty Acts – Palm Sunday and Holy Week”, at our Website: https://awtlser.podbean.com/
DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
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JESUS IS CRUCIFIED – Jesus Walking in the Way of the Cross (VIDEO)
LYRICS TO MUSIC:
Above his head read the charge ‘King of the Jews’ torn and marred
They nailed him up as the priests remarked ‘Go on and save yourself Man of God’
They took his clothes and they tore apart
As they rolled their dice, as they cast their lots But what he wore was seamless art
Hidden on the Skin of God…
Even after all the evil
Even when they raised him from the ground As countless weight was laid upon him
He could only speak the sound His voice could only cry the sound
‘Forgive them they know not what they do’…
MESSAGE SUMMARY:
Just outside the walls of Jerusalem, stood a hill that resembled the cap of a human skull. Known as the ‘Place of the Skull,’ or Golgotha, it is mentioned in all four gospels by name, and it was on this hill that many men were crucified, including Jesus. The Romans administered capital punishment publicly, as a symbol that criminal activity would not be tolerated. Jesus joined the ranks of many murdered men, sometime around nine in the morning, and became another simple message to those remaining under Roman authority.
His captors thought nothing of his death. He was against the Roman cause. A rebel with followers in tow. The Jews desired his death because Jesus’ teachings both contradicted and convicted them. Yet no one involved understood just what it was they were doing. They did not see who Jesus was. Spitefully, a sign was hung above him. It read: ‘This is the King of the Jews.’ Though its intention may have been mockery or offense, its words were accurate. This inscription stated a truth that the prophets foresaw, the gospels attest to, and the eventual outcome of history would and will reveal. Revelation 17:14 says that the ‘Lamb will triumph… because he is Lord of Lords, and King of Kings.’ But no one in the moment recognized this.
The soldiers removed his clothes and cast lots for them, fulfilling more prophecy (Psalm 22:18). His undergarment was seamless, ‘woven in one piece from neck to hem,’ (John 19:23). This was similar to that of the high priests’; a pure woven robe so it would not tear, (Exodus 28:31-33, 39:22-29). So as not to ruin their spoils, the soldiers rolled dice to see who would take it. Even his undergarments exemplified his holy position! Hebrews 4:14 tells us that Jesus is ‘the great high priest who has ascended into heaven.’
Still more words of the prophets are accurately and miraculously confirmed amongst the details of Jesus’ crucifixion. Yet no one made these connections. Jesus however, as King, High Priest, and Judge saw their blindness from the cross.
‘Father, forgive them, they know not what they do,” (Luke 23:34).
‘They know not what they do.’ These are powerful words. Despite cruelty and violence, the victim forgives his killers. He renders no judgment except mercy and love. These words would be repeated by Stephen at his own death (Acts 7:60). It’s an idea that would be affirmed by Peter when he preaches in Acts 3, and Paul, both in speech (Acts 13:27), and writing (1 Corinthians 2:8). Jesus realizes that these men before him do not understand. They do not realize who he is, nor do they recognize the implications of their actions. Despite being King of all Kings and High Priest to the one true God, he shows mercy to the sinners before him. If ever there was a man undeserving crucifixion, it was Jesus. But we see God’s nature in this moment. Though King, High Priest, and Judge, he is ever merciful. He could speak no ill against them.
Written by Jesse Braswell Roberts / Poor Bishop Hooper golgothamusic.com // poorbishophooper.com // Second edition ©2022 Jesse Braswell Roberts / Poor Bishop Hooper
TODAY’S PRAYER: It is easy to miss details, even when they are right before your eyes.
Ask God to open your eyes to his ways. Do you see Jesus as King and High Priest?
It is easy to condemn. It is difficult to forgive. Pray that you could follow Jesus’ example and forgive those who harm you. Pray for those who do not see or understand.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, Because of who I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be driven by Fear. Rather, I will abide in the Lord’s Faithfulness. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Luke 23:32-34: “Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals— one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.” Further Reading: : Matthew 27:33-43; Mark 15:24-28; John 19:18-24; Psalm 22:18; Acts 7:60.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “Contemplating the Mighty Acts – Palm Sunday and Holy Week”, at our Website: https://awtlser.podbean.com/
DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
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JESUS MEETS THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM – Jesus Walking in the Way of the Cross (VIDEO)
LYRICS TO MUSIC:
Daughters of Jerusalem Do not weep for me
Cry for yourselves and your children Follow on Hosea’s lead
Blessed are those who barren sit
Who’ve never known their children’s screams They’ll ask the mountains please fall on us Follow on Hosea’s lead
For terror comes with Roman siege
MESSAGE SUMMARY:
Throughout the Bible there are dozens of women who are plagued with infertility, whether it be for a short time or a lifetime. Beyond the well known stories like that of Abraham and Sarah, Jacob and Rachel, and Zechariah and Elizabeth, there are countless others among the scriptures who cannot bear children. Some are healed, some are not. Some women are even restored in large numbers. All of Abimelek’s wives, though exactly how many there were is unknown, are given fruitful wombs after Sarah is returned to Abraham (Genesis 20:17-18).
The prominence of these stories exemplifies a common theme throughout Jewish and non-Jewish history alike. A woman’s ability to have children was vitally important. It was praiseworthy and fulfilling. Jewish custom praised motherhood and stigmatized the barren.
It is surprising then to hear Jesus’ words as he speaks to the women of Jerusalem. It was not uncommon for women in the city to attend the executions of criminals by the Roman leadership. They would often mix a palliative of wine and spices to offer those being tortured. They would eventually offer the same to Jesus, though he would refuse it. But it is to these women that we hear Jesus’ last words of true discourse. As these women ‘mourn and lament’ for the tragedy that unfolds before their eyes, Jesus speaks at length concerning the coming catastrophe they do not yet see. And in doing so, he directly opposes a truth they had likely never before heard challenged.
‘Blessed are those who are barren.’ Jesus’ statement is shocking. But to those familiar with the prophets, it was a statement that was not new. Jesus uses the exact words of the prophet Hosea. As Hosea prophesied that Israel would be destroyed and punished for its unfaithfulness to Yahweh, so too does Jesus use his words to predict the same. Some forty years after Jesus’ death, Roman soldiers would enter Jerusalem and utterly destroy it. Those who took up arms and those who did not were murdered indiscriminately. Each stone of the temple would be annihilated at Roman order. Every tree was cut down, and the city was made into ruin.
This is certainly one of the acts of which Jesus spoke. A Roman siege that would leave behind a mountain of anguish and sorrow to be carried upon the backs of the women who now wept for him. As Jesus himself continues, the coming violence will make them “say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’” Jesus describes a fate worse than death.
Though the sight before the women’s eyes seemed the greatest of horrors, Jesus knew the horror to come would be far worse. More importantly however, he again exemplifies his humility. He desires no pity or concern for himself, but rather cares for those standing before him. He mourns over the injustice to come, disregarding the pressing pain of his own circumstances.
Written by Jesse Braswell Roberts / Poor Bishop Hooper golgothamusic.com // poorbishophooper.com // Second edition ©2022 Jesse Braswell Roberts / Poor Bishop Hooper
TODAY’S PRAYER: How often do we worry more about ourselves than the tragedies around us? What injustices would God have us mourn over? Pray for those situations.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, A CHILD OF GOD. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. John 1:12f
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Luke 23:27-31: “A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.
Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then they will say to the mountains, Fall on us!’ and to the hills, Cover us!’ For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?””. Further Reading: Hosea 10:8; Hosea 9:14; Revelation 6:16-17.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “Contemplating the Mighty Acts – Palm Sunday and Holy Week”, at our Website: https://awtlser.podbean.com/
DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
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JESUS IS HELPED BY SIMON OF CYRENE – Jesus Walking in the Way of the Cross (VIDEO)
LYRICS TO MUSIC:
Brother Simon of Cyrene
You know not what you mean You know not what you mean Chosen from the ranks unknown Enlisted in an army
The only one worth fighting for The only one worth fighting for
Lost I’m sure but what you hold Was made to save the world
No broken tree so beautiful Water blood the stains to come But your sweat joins in the mix Like no others ever did
Like no others ever did
MESSAGE SUMMARY:
Here stands a man, ‘on his way in from the country,’ (Luke 23:26), who stumbles upon a spectacle like no other. In front of him trod criminals to their death, convicted and condemned, being led out of Jerusalem carrying the instruments of their own mortality on their backs. The criminals were minutes away from the ends of their lives; Simon was minutes away from town.
He had made a nearly nine-hundred-mile journey from Cyrene, a city residing in what is present day Libya in North Africa. He was most likely in Jerusalem for the festival of Passover, as many Jews from his home had made custom. But the singularity of this moment went well beyond an annual ritual. He was ‘seized’ by some Roman soldiers, and made to help one of the criminals. Undoubtedly a confusing circumstance, this was not what Simon had traveled all this way for. It must have been quite unnerving. It was not a part of his plan.
But Simon did as instructed. He lifted the beam with the Savior of the world. He sweat with Jesus, as each step became more difficult than the one before. They made progress together, toward the hill where the cross would be lifted. The blood of Jesus could have stained his clothes. Maybe Jesus spoke to him, words unique and perfect. Simon took on a one-of-a-kind role. No other man in history fulfilled such an appointment and none ever will again.
There is much we don’t know about Simon of Cyrene. We don’t know if Simon knew that the man he was helping was the one some called the Christ. We don’t know if he had even heard of Jesus before. What we do know is that he did not volunteer his aid. Simon was compelled to help Jesus. He was forced by a soldier out of his role as bystander, and into the canon of scripture forever. He was enlisted for a purpose unknown to him, part of God’s divine system, perfect and mysterious. And in this plan, he was made to help carry the cross of Christ, regardless of whether he was averse or indifferent to the matter.
Simon had no choice.
Though in many ways we are like him, this is where we differ greatly from Simon. Jesus calls his disciples to choose the cross daily. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it,” (Matthew 16:24-25). Taking up our cross means choosing to suffer under the weight of the cross beam with others. It might mean entering into the lives of those in need and walking with them along their path, even if it is difficult or painful. We have no Roman soldiers to compel us. No spears at our backs to make us act. We must step forward to join Jesus on his ‘Sorrowful Way.’ We must help him bear his cross, and in turn, help lift the crosses of others.
Written by Jesse Braswell Roberts / Poor Bishop Hooper golgothamusic.com // poorbishophooper.com // Second edition ©2022 Jesse Braswell Roberts / Poor Bishop Hooper
TODAY’S PRAYER: Who do you know that has a heavy cross to bear? Pray for them.
Pray for those in your life that you should help.
Pray for the courage to step forward and join them in carrying their burdens.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because I am in Jesus Christ, I will trust in the Lord with all my heart. I will trust in the Lord with all of my heart and lean not on my own understanding. In all my ways I will seek to know Him, and He will make my pathways straight. From Proverbs 3:5f
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Mark 15:21: “A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.”. Further Reading: Matthew 27:32; Luke 23:26.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “How Does God Say He Loves You: Part 5 The New Covenant”, at our Website: https://awtlser.podbean.com/
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JESUS TAKES UP HIS CROSS – Jesus Walking in the Way of the Cross (VIDEO)
LYRICS TO MUSIC:
So he then Handed him On to them
To be crucified
They took him And he went Out bearing His own cross
To the place Called the place Of the skull Golgotha
There they crucified him
MESSAGE SUMMARY:
From Rembrandt to Francis Bacon, most visual representations throughout art history portray Jesus carrying the entirety of the cross. Though this picture is common, it is unlikely. The object Jesus was made to carry would have probably been only the horizontal beam, known as the patibulum. A full cross would have weighed well over 300 pounds, a near impossible feat for someone post Roman flogging. The patibulum likely weighed somewhere between 75-125 pounds, and would have been placed across the nape of the victim’s neck, balancing upon their shoulders. It was sometimes tied to the victim’s arms.
Immediately preceding Jesus taking up his cross, we must remember that he had been brutally tortured and beaten. His body would have been beginning to break down. Yet, he is made to carry the object that would eventually administer his death. The physical weight of this crossbeam amidst the circumstances is unimaginable, and we know that eventually this weight required the help of a bystander (Mark 15:21).
Though its material mass was certainly substantial, how much more the weight that was immeasurable? This beam would support the weight of the world’s sins, as it raised the Son of God from the ground. This beam would eventually take the Son of God’s life, and usher in Jesus’ separation from his Father. This beam would become the emblem of Christ’s sacrifice, and be displayed for the remainder of history as such.
Written by Jesse Braswell Roberts / Poor Bishop Hooper golgothamusic.com // poorbishophooper.com // Second edition ©2022 Jesse Braswell Roberts / Poor Bishop Hooper
TODAY’S PRAYER: Pray for a better understanding of both the physical and spiritual ‘weight’ of the cross. Where can you share in Christ’s sufferings? Pray that the symbol of Jesus’ death and resurrection would have true meaning, and be a light to the world.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, because of I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Heartlessness. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit’s fruit of Kindness. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): John 19:16-18: “Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.
So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.”. Further Reading: Mark 15:20.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “How Does God Say He Loves You: Part 5 The New Covenant”, at our Website: https://awtlser.podbean.com/
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JESUS IS SCOURGED AND CROWNED WITH THORNS – Jesus Walking in the Way of the Cross (VIDEO)
LYRICS TO MUSIC:
He spoke his preparation he spoke of this time Said they will hand him over
To be mocked to be flogged to be crucified
So they led him down to the post he knew
To be tied and bound to be stripped and bruised With a scarlet robe wrapped around his frame They spit insults inside a deserving name
Then the whip falls down on his back
You come again with your nine black straps Whip fall down you can have your day
For these stripes will heal these stripes will save
You can strike this man you can make him bleed But some day you’ll answer
On your knees
Wind those thorns make your cursed crown While you bind those horns trap a good reason There’s a sacrifice on the table set
But Abe’s son was spared and the Lord’s he forgets
You can strike this man you can make him bleed But some day you’ll answer
On your knees
Whip fall down would you make your mark You have set the stage you are just the start You have paved the way you are just the start…
MESSAGE SUMMARY:
When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, ‘Abraham, Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.’ And Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.” (Genesis 22:9-13).
Genesis 22 relates quite possibly one of the most memorable occurrences in the Bible. God’s miraculous providence in Abraham’s situation is fascinating. At the call of God, Abraham went up to the mountains in Moriah. He intended to lay his one and only son Isaac on an altar, and sacrifice him unto the Lord. For this is what God had commanded Abraham to do. Just as the knife was raised, the Angel of the Lord stopped Abraham. There in a thorn bush, caught by his horns, is a ram. This ram takes the place of Isaac on the altar. This ram dies in Isaac’s place, and in doing so, grants Isaac new life.
The prophetic imagery that pulses through this story is remarkable. A ‘lamb’ of God, whose head is entangled in thorns becomes the sacrifice required. A thorn-wrapped replacement for the one who deserves death. This image prefigures Jesus, centuries before he himself is crowned with thorns by the Roman guards.
But Jesus’ suffering went far beyond the piercing crown he was bestowed. And this was only the beginning of his physical torment. We know from historical accounts that Roman flogging was a legal and common precursor to death by crucifixion. It’s intensity and duration differed, but its harshness and cruelty was second to none.
The common instrument was a short whip with braided leather thongs. Attached to the leather strips were small iron balls or sharp pieces of bone. The recipient was stripped, and his hands were bound to a post. The back, buttocks, and legs were flogged. The abuse was intended to weaken the victim to a state just short of collapse or death. Roman soldiers would repeatedly strike the prisoner, creating deep contusions, cutting into the skin and underlying tissue, and eventually creating lacerations in the underlying muscle and bone. Pain and blood loss generally set the stage for circulatory shock.
And so began the physical torment of Jesus. After beating him, the Roman guards mocked him, and adding insult to their physical abuse, they placed upon him a ‘twisted’ crown of thorns. And so, in what Abraham was prepared to do, God actually did. The only Son of the Father was cast into thorns and sacrificed in our place.
We cannot forget that on the day of judgment, we will be like Isaac. Standing before God, we will deserve death. We will deserve to be flogged for our transgressions. But a King crowned with thorns has taken our place. ‘God made him who had no sin to be sin for us,’ (2 Corinthians 5:21). God knew that Isaac’s blood could not take away the sins of the world. Isaac could never bear the burden of all mankind. Jesus is the only one who could.
Written by Jesse Braswell Roberts / Poor Bishop Hooper golgothamusic.com // poorbishophooper.com // Second edition ©2022 Jesse Braswell Roberts / Poor Bishop Hooper
TODAY’S PRAYER: Meditate on Christ’s love which endured excruciating pain for you.
Thank God for doing what Abraham was prepared to do.
Thank Jesus for taking the death and punishment you deserve.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, Because of who I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be driven by Resentment. Rather, I will abide in the Lord’s Compassion. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): John 19:1-3: “When Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.”. Further Reading: Matthew 27:27-31; Mark 15:16-20; Luke 22:63-65; Genesis 22:13; Isaiah 50:6-7.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “How Does God Say He Loves You: Part 5 The New Covenant”, at our Website: https://awtlser.podbean.com/
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JESUS IS JUDGED BY PILATE – Jesus Walking in the Way of the Cross (VIDEO)
LYRICS TO MUSIC:
Husband come and hear my plea I’ve seen this man you keep
He visits me between the walls of my dreams He comes upon the whitest righteous wings
I see the crowd turn and move as one
They’re fools to follow themselves they’re fools in what they want
His blood’s upon their hands and on their children’s fate It wasn’t made to bathe their greed still it was
made for this very claim
Do not break do not lose to the roaring round What they beg of you what their voices howl
It’s an evil born from their bones that they don’t know
I heard you ask what you already know Where is he from where will he go
It was he who said his kingdom’s not of here
And a throne I cannot see is a throne that I must fear
Do not break do not lose to the roaring round What they beg of you what their voices howl
It’s an evil born from their bones that they don’t know
MESSAGE SUMMARY:
In support of the gospels, a good amount of extra-biblical evidence exists about the man Pontius Pilate. We know he was the governing leader of the Roman province of Judea from approximately AD 26-36. We know he served under Emperor Tiberius. We know he was the man who ultimately decided Jesus’ fate, handing him over to the crowds to be crucified. Very little is known about Pilate’s wife however. Though Pilate’s interaction with Jesus is seen in all four gospels, all that is known about his wife comes from a single verse in Matthew.
“Now as he [Pilate] was seated in the chair of judgment, his wife sent him a message, ‘Have nothing to do with that innocent man; I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him’ (Matthew 27:19).
Dreams can be fascinating. Stirring, vivid collections of the senses can be produced in the mind, all while the body is at rest. Pilate’s wife’s dream must have been particularly impressive. So powerful and moving that she ‘suffered’ because of it. No more details of her dream are known beyond that it concerned Jesus, and that she somehow knew him to be innocent or upright. Maybe she saw Jesus coming on the clouds with glory. Maybe she saw him sitting upon the judgment seat. Perhaps her dream was just an encounter with Christ, and while in his presence she realized his holiness and simultaneously, her unworthiness. But this is all conjecture. What is known from scripture is that a woman sent her husband an urgent message, warning him not to condemn the man who stood before him. She had come to some understanding of who Jesus was, and her understanding led to knowledge and fear.
The famous preacher Charles Spurgeon put it well. “Most dreams we quite forget; a few we mention as remarkable, and only now and then one is impressed upon us so that we remember it for years. Scarcely have any of you had a dream which made you send a message to a magistrate upon the bench.”
It is truly a unique situation. God gives Pilate’s wife new perspective. God uses Pilate’s wife to warn him. Though Pilate certainly did not know it, this was no doubt one of the most crucial and important renderings of judgment in history. And amidst his deliberation comes a simple message from his bride. Don’t do it. Don’t condemn this man. But the crowds had a different message. “Crucify him!”
Again and again. “Crucify him!”
Pilate knows the truth. He says so himself, “the man has done nothing to deserve death,” (Luke 23:15), and he was even “anxious to set [Jesus] free,” (John 19:12). His wife’s plea only reiterates what he already knew. Jesus was innocent. He was faultless. He in no way deserved punishment.
But as the crowd continued their chanting, Pilate’s anxiety grew in another way. Mark 15:15 says that he was ‘anxious to placate the crowd.’ How often is this our response? We know something to be true in our spirit, but everyone else contradicts it. The crowd or culture shouts, screams, and clamors with ‘Crucify him,’ and it becomes increasingly difficult to stand against them. It is a far easier path to blend in and become one of the mob, even if we don’t agree. So that is often what we do.
Jesus says in Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Despite his own feelings, and a unique message from his wife, Pilate chose the wide path of destruction.
Written by Jesse Braswell Roberts / Poor Bishop Hooper golgothamusic.com // poorbishophooper.com // Second edition ©2022 Jesse Braswell Roberts / Poor Bishop Hooper
TODAY’S PRAYER: Would you have chanted with the crowd that day? Pray for conviction to stand up for your beliefs.
Ask God for integrity and strength at all times and in all circumstances, whether public or private.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that, because I am in Jesus Christ, I will proclaim Him. (Philippians 1:15f). “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”. (Philippians 4:14).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 27:11-26: “Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” For he knew it was out of self- interest that they had handed Jesus over to him. While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream
because of him.”
But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.
“Barabbas,” they answered. “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.
They all answered, “Crucify him!”
“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”
Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.”. Further Reading: Mark 15:1-15; Luke 23:1-23; John 18:28-40.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “How Does God Say He Loves You: Part 5 The New Covenant”, at our Website: https://awtlser.podbean.com/
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JESUS DENIED BY PETER – Jesus Walking in the Way of the Cross
LYRICS TO MUSIC:
I said even if everyone else
Turns on you I promise I never will
I thought you were wrong wrong wrong Wrong about me…
I screamed even if I have to die I’m never never gonna deny you
I thought you were wrong wrong wrong Wrong about me…
You used the words of an old gone man Said God will strike the shepherd down
I know these lines have never been wrong before But I swear they won’t define me now
I knew you were wrong wrong wrong Wrong about me…
When she asked her question
That servant girl she broke my heart I knew she was the message
That you had spoken all along
Two behind her followed in the prints her feet had made
Said they’d seen me walking with you said my tongue gave me away
But I swore against their charges claimed you I’d never known
Just in time to hear the bird you promised lift its head and crow
Lift its head and crow
Oh Jesus
I wish you were wrong wrong wrong Wrong about me…
MESSAGE SUMMARY:
Peter’s three-fold denial of Jesus is a well documented incident. Not only is it recorded in all four of the gospel accounts, but history has provided a wealth of art, music, and writing to immortalize one man’s set of egregious mistakes. A lesser known addition to this collection is a poem written by pastor John Piper entitled ‘Peter and John.’ The work examines Peter’s denial from some years after the fateful event, by imagining a reunion between the two disciples.
Piper’s words are simple. His rhyme and rhythm straightforward. Still they paint a powerful picture of unbearable regret. As they reminisce, Peter confides in John that his denial of Jesus still haunts him. Peter’s mistake has grown into a plaguing remorse, despite any good work he can do in Jesus’ name. Though the conversation is entirely speculative, Piper’s assumptions could very well be true. Jesus predicted Peter’s behavior, and even with a warning, Peter turned his back on his friend and Savior.
We know Peter was an emotional and zealous man. He was the one with the courage to step out of the boat in Matthew 14:22-33. He rebukes Jesus when Jesus predicts his own death (Matthew 16:22- 23). Peter draws the sword and cuts off the soldier’s ear in the garden. And when Jesus says that all of his friends will leave him, Peter declares with full intent and belief, “even if all fall away, I will not,” (Mark 14:29). Jesus’ reply must have been heart breaking to such a devoted man: “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today - yes, tonight - before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.”
What a blow this must have been to Peter’s spirit! It was a statement that directly challenged his devotion. But what Jesus says is true, even when it may confuse or be hard to stomach. Remember, Jesus also proclaimed that Peter would be the rock on which the church would be built. This too is true. And what an empowering truth that must have been! Peter certainly stepped into this role after Jesus’ departure. Not wallowing in his mistakes, but becoming the man that Jesus saw in him.
Though Piper’s poem spends a good deal of its time illustrating Peter’s burden, it also accurately portrays Christ’s desire for full forgiveness and redemption. He ends the conceived conversation with John laying hands on Peter and praying for him:
…And so John laid
His hands on Peter’s head and prayed: Come now, O Lord, and touch with me, Come, Jesus, heal the memory
Come, Spirit, spread a table here:
No sin, no guilt, no pain, no fear.
Come pour the cup and break the bread, And lift your servant Simon’s head,
And feed him with your righteousness,
And make the cup of blessing bless…
Written by Jesse Braswell Roberts / Poor Bishop Hooper golgothamusic.com // poorbishophooper.com // Second edition ©2022 Jesse Braswell Roberts / Poor Bishop Hooper
TODAY’S PRAYER: All of us are often like Peter. We want to follow Jesus, but we are weak.
The truth is we love him in spite of our denials. Ask Jesus to forgive you for when you deny him.
Receive his forgiveness.
Ask Jesus to speak encouragement over you, and open your eyes and heart to the truth of who he has made you to be.
Tell Jesus you love him.
uhj
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, because of I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Self-Centeredness. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit’s fruit of Love. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Mark 14:66-72: “While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high
priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. “You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.
But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.
When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” Again he denied it.
After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”
He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”
Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.”. Further Reading: Mark 14:27-30; Matthew 26:69-75; Luke 22:54-62; John 18:25-27; Zechariah 13:7.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “How Does God Say He Loves You: Part 5 The New Covenant”, at our Website: https://awtlser.podbean.com/
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JESUS CONDEMNED BY THE SANHEDRIN – Jesus Walking in the Way of the Cross
LYRICS TO MUSIC:
Why do you come against me Why do you seek false testimony I tell you you will find none
But still you say
‘Show us, show us you Son of God’
Two have brought their witness
Saying ‘he will destroy he will rebuild in three days’
No words I say could sway you But still you say by the Living God ‘Show us, show us you Son of God’
What blasphemy what further need Now tell me people what do you think He deserves death every bit of it
Come prophesy whose mouth forfeits this ‘Show us, show us you Son of God’
MESSAGE SUMMARY:
In the summer of 1933, John Lomax visited the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola with a singular goal: to collect and record American folk music. A pioneer musicologist and folklorist, Lomax was influential in the preservation of much of America’s folk music. But it was in that particular June, amidst a stifling Louisiana summer, that he recorded the oldest surviving rendition of ‘He Never Said A Mumblin’ Word.’
The now commonly known American spiritual originated in the deep south many years before Lomax’s recording. It chronicles some of the specific events during the crucifixion of Jesus, but within the simple words of the refrain lies its power: ‘And he never said a mumblin’ word, not a word, not a word, not a word.’
That Jesus would be falsely accused, spit on, and struck, and yet not speak out a word in his own defense is fascinating. Jesus becomes the definition of what it means to be meek. The people cry out for displays of his power, commanding him to ‘prophecy’ as they beat him with their fists (Mark 14:65), yet Jesus’ mouth remains shut. Why would Jesus allow false testimony after false testimony come against him, and not defend himself?
Peter’s first letter to the exiles answers this question beautifully. “[Jesus] committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return, when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly,” (1 Peter 2:22-23).
Jesus was able to be meek because he trusted his Father in heaven. Jesus was able to be meek because he knew his Father’s plan was perfect, despite blasphemous accusations. Jesus held his tongue because he trusted the only just judge.
This can be incredibly difficult to do. Our culture often promotes, even rewards, self-centeredness and aggression. All the while, meekness is often associated with weakness and submission. Numbers 12:3 tells us that ‘…Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.’ As we know from Moses’ life, being passive and submissive was not his thing. Nor could this erroneous definition be applied to Jesus when he turned the tables in the temple (Matthew 21:12), or when he called out the scribes and pharisees for being hypocrites (Matthew 23:12-13). The Bible shows us that meekness does not mean weakness. The King of Kings is ‘gentle and humble in heart,’ (Matthew 11:29), but that in no way lessens his strength and power, ‘for all authority in heaven and on earth’ is his (Matthew 28:18).
Before the chief priests and the whole council, as part of his Father’s perfect plan, Jesus only speaks when the high priest asks him, ‘Are you the Christ…’ To this question he replies with an all-powerful truth. ‘I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.’ This is the man Jesus, meek and mild, yet possessing the full power of the Almighty.
Written by Jesse Braswell Roberts / Poor Bishop Hooper golgothamusic.com // poorbishophooper.com //
Second edition ©2022 Jesse Braswell Roberts / Poor Bishop Hooper
TODAY’S PRAYER: When do you seek power when you should pursue peace? Ask God to create in you a sense of true meekness. Entrust your life, your circumstances, and your reputation to the One who judges justly.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, Because of who I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be driven by Loneliness. Rather, I will abide in the Lord’s Presence. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Mark 14:55-65: “The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.
Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’” Yet even then their testimony did not agree.
Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.
Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
“I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”
They all condemned him as worthy of death. Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.”.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “How Does God Say He Loves You: Part 5 The New Covenant”, at our Website: https://awtlser.podbean.com/
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JESUS BETRAYED BY JUDAS AND ARRESTED – Jesus Walking in the Way of the Cross (VIDEO)
LYRICS TO MUSIC:
Who is this that comes amidst The shadows in the night
Swords and spears and one man’s kiss The weapons at their side
His words are empty his lips no more Do what you have come for
Why do you march on him
As though you have met your match Twelve legions wait upon him
But his Father holds them back
Choose wise the side you take up in this war But do what you have come for
For this is your hour this is the reign
Of darkness unmentioned of darkness untamed
You ask his name as though
He is some thief you’ve longed to see His answer short but shakes the air And drags you to your knees
He stood in the temple he lived upon its floor But do what you have come for
For this is your hour this is the reign
Of darkness unmentioned of darkness untamed So over and over his mercies can come
To fly the banner high and victorious
MESSAGE SUMMARY:
In Matthew 26:14, we see Judas’ preparations for his betrayal: “[He] went to the chief priests and said, ‘What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?’ And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.”
The Lord, the Savior of all mankind was bought and sold. Ostensibly without contemplation, Judas takes the priests’ offer, and exchanges his friend and teacher for money. If there ever was a priceless man, it certainly was Jesus. If ever there was a man too powerful and full of worth to be arbitrarily cast into bondage, it most definitely was Jesus. Yet, thirty pieces of silver claims him. It was not a particularly small fee, for we know the sum was able to purchase the ‘Potter’s Field’ (Matthew 27:7, Acts 1:18). But it was not an exorbitant amount either, probably equal to between a few weeks and a few months worth of the common laborer’s wages.
Though the priests’ chosen fee seems small and insignificant, it simultaneously tells a deeply beautiful and prophetic story.
In Exodus 21:32 we see that upon the death of a slave, the owner of that slave is owed “thirty silver coins.” The price that the Law fixed for a slave, the lowest of men, is the same price that was paid for the greatest of men. Jesus becomes the perfect example of his own words, “So the last shall be first, and first last” (Matthew 20:16). 1 Peter 2:7 tells us that for those who believe, “Jesus Christ is precious.” How true this is, and yet he humbled himself (Philippians 2:8) even in this seemingly minute detail.
We know this was all part of God’s plan. The Gospel of Matthew reminds us that Messianic prophecy in both Jeremiah and Zechariah predict these events. Zechariah 11 paints a picture of Jesus as the ‘Good Shepherd,’ who is detested by his sheep. When his wages are ‘weighed out’ for his priceless work, thirty pieces of silver is all he is paid, an insultingly small amount. The Roman guards mocked Jesus, even spitting on him (Matthew 27:29- 31). But Jesus was insulted long before this, being bought for the price of a slave.
This is Jesus. Sharing the worth of the lowest of men. Dying for every man, rich or poor, free or in bondage. Jesus even calls his betrayer ‘friend,’ as Judas kisses him and hands him over to the Roman guard (Matthew 26:50).
Written by Jesse Braswell Roberts / Poor Bishop Hooper golgothamusic.com // poorbishophooper.com //
Second edition ©2022 Jesse Braswell Roberts / Poor Bishop Hooper
TODAY’S PRAYER: When have you taken advantage of our priceless Savior? Do your prayers reflect the way you esteem him? Jesus, the priceless Son of God, was betrayed by one of his closest friends. Have you ever betrayed someone for your own profit? Repent and ask Jesus for the strength to seek reconciliation. Have you ever been betrayed by someone close to you? Ask Christ for the strength to forgive them.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, Because of who I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be driven by Loneliness. Rather, I will abide in the Lord’s Presence. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Mark 14:43-46: “And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard.” And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him. And they laid hands on him and seized him. But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.” And they all left him and fled.”; Further Reading: Matthew 26:47-56; Luke 22:47-53; John 18:1-14; Zechariah 11:12; Exodus 21:32.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “How Does God Say He Loves You: Part 5 The New Covenant”, at our Website: https://awtlser.podbean.com/
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Sermon Series: Lent
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JESUS IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE – Jesus Walking in the Way of the Cross
LYRICS TO MUSIC:
In the garden he waits
For the very moment he has made Like the face before a fist
Like the eyes before a kiss It’s beautiful anguish
In the garden he prays That this overflowing cup Could pass away
And in this hour of need If there ever such a thing Out of fear I fall asleep
Oh the hour has come…
In the garden he bleeds
But a glimpse of the coming sea
And every angel up above Cannot calm the sorrow When a Father leaves his Son
Oh the hour has come…
MESSAGE SUMMARY:
Written in 1802, Beethoven’s only oratorio ‘Christ on the Mount of Olives’ (Christus am Ölberg) is intense, moving, and dramatic. A fifty-minute barrage of harsh yet beautiful German words pours from the mouths of a soprano, a tenor, and a bass. Unlike many of Beethoven’s contemporaries, Jesus’ humanity is fully embraced in his composition. Christ’s coming betrayal is witnessed amidst his own anguish and pain. From his very lips, the listener hears Jesus question his Father; every cry for mercy, every plea for help, every request for strength.
Much like many other works of art, Beethoven’s piece sheds new light on Jesus’ suffering. It births new perspective, and makes the listener think, if even for a second, about the intricacies and complexities of the man Jesus Christ. It makes one ponder just what his betrayal meant not only to all humanity, but to Jesus himself.
Understanding Christ’s humanity is something that is hard to do. Where does one begin? Few have experienced anything near the physical torture he endured, and to fully understand his spiritual and emotional anguish is impossible. For “he himself bore our sins in his body on the cross,” (1 Peter 2:24). This is certainly a weight no other could carry. He experienced the cup of wrath (Matthew 20:22), the fullness of God’s fury toward sin.
But we know that he did so in a very human body. And it was in this body that the fullness of deity dwells (Colossians 2:9). We know he grew hungry (Matthew 4:2). We know he became tired (John 4:6). His emotions were no less real than any others’, as the author of Hebrews tells us, he lifted his prayers to the Father with crying and tears (Hebrews 5:7). Seeking to better understand Christ’s humanity will help us better understand how he saved humanity. Knowing the pain he endured can help us understand the frequent pain in our own lives.
As Jesus prepared for his most difficult hours, the human nature of his closest friends took a prominent position. The disciples who accompany him cannot seem to stay awake in prayer. ‘For their eyes were very heavy,’ (14:40) seems to be a sorry excuse at such an important time. But oh how often we share the apostles apathy! Like the disciples, we often get distracted, lose focus, or fall asleep during prayer. We too await the magnificent return of the bridegroom (Matthew 25:1-13), but we so often cannot keep our eyes open.
As Beethoven’s oratorio ends, we hear for a third time Jesus powerfully cry out “Nevertheless, not my will, but Thine.” What magnificent words to hear! That Jesus would fully embrace and admit his humanity, yet fully submit to his Father. These are the words that begin his journey to the cross, and usher in his final hours of sorrow. But they are also the words that allow for the world’s redemption. Despite the melancholy and heartbreak woven throughout Beethoven’s piece, the final moments of his work build in intensity, with flurries of rising notes and triumphant chords. It ends with the chorus singing:
‘Glorious worlds above us spire,
Happy Seraphs sing your joys.
Man, join in the holy choir,
Hail the great Redeemer’s praise’
Written by Jesse Braswell Roberts / Poor Bishop Hooper golgothamusic.com // poorbishophooper.com //
Second edition ©2022 Jesse Braswell Roberts / Poor Bishop Hooper
TODAY’S PRAYER: Thank and praise God for his perfect plan.
Ask Jesus to give you a better understanding of his humanity.
Ask Christ for forgiveness regarding your inability to pray, and for the strength to endure in prayer.
Ask Christ to give you a sense of readiness and expectancy for his return.
Praise and thank Christ for his willingness to endure the cross.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, Because of who I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be driven by Loneliness. Rather, I will abide in the Lord’s Presence. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Mark 14:32-42: “And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”; Matthew 26:36-46; Luke 22:39-46.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “How Does God Say I Love You, Part 4: Violation of the Covenant”, at our Website: https://awtlser.podbean.com/
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GOLGOTHA EXPERIENCE FOR LENT – Jesus Walking in the Way of the Cross
MESSAGE SUMMARY:
INTRODUCTION by Poor Bishop Hooper -- Jesse Braswell Roberts
Some years ago, I had the opportunity to spend a short time working and doing ministry in the Dominican Republic. During my stay in the southeastern city of La Romana, our group supported individuals living in the nearby ‘bateyes’, which are small, company-owned towns for sugar industry laborers. Mostly of Haitian descent, these workers often live in grossly impoverished conditions and
work arduous hours cutting sugar cane by hand.
I was fortunate to meet a certain middle-aged man there one warm afternoon, tired and sweat glistening, but with a strong presence and similar forearms. He told me that he worked as a mechanic, as well as holding other jobs, when he wasn’t ‘cropping cane.’ We spoke amidst rubble of engine parts and tin roof. His English was broken yet formidable, so conversation came somewhat easily. I do not remember a great deal of our particular words, and I am to this day ashamed that I cannot recount his name, but I do recall one moment vividly. Our words somehow made their way to the subject of vacation. I asked about time off in his particular situation. I assumed his response to be Sundays or certain holidays. His answer startled me.
‘One day,’ he said joyfully. ‘Good Friday.’
It was at that time mid-March, so his day of respite was ever approaching. He told me he was excited for that day.
Imprudently, I inquired further. ‘What about Christmas?’ I asked. ‘No,’ he replied.
‘Why not Easter?’
Oh how I wish I could remember his next words exactly, for what he said was simple but powerful. Essentially, he told me that Good Friday was when Christ did the work so he did not have to. And for that he got the day off. And for that he was thankful.
From that moment, my perspective surrounding this ‘holy day’ and the preceding Lenten season changed. Growing up, Good Friday was at best mentioned, a semi-afterthought on the backs of Palm Sunday and Easter. But here, this man’s only day of rest was the Friday before Easter. It was truly ‘good’ for him, and its goodness existed in ways I had never before pondered.
It was years later that my wife Leah and I wrote the body of music that makes up ‘Golgotha.’ We were inspired to increase our community’s appreciation and understanding of what Jesus did on his ‘Sorrowful Way’ to the cross. As we explored the many traditions within the observance of Lent, we were drawn to the ‘Stations of the Cross.’ We found that it was built predominantly upon a bedrock of visual art. Christians over thousands of years had recounted Jesus’ last hours before his death in many strikingly beautiful ways. Our desire was to add to that beauty by creating new music. We wanted to write music that was rooted in scripture. Music that honored tradition, but also that invited the mind to see our Savior’s suffering in new ways. Not for our own entertainment or enjoyment, but rather so that we might offer him more thanksgiving, more praise, more adoration, and more love.
I pray the words that follow would lead you into deeper relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ. Each chapter corresponds with a song of similar title, and I’d invite you to listen to the music as you read. I’d encourage you to have a bible with you, and look up the other scriptures that are cited. They’ll undoubtedly provide deeper understanding and beauty. At the end of each section, I’d invite you to pray. There are prompts provided, but they are intended to be starting places, not final destinations.
With all of this, I must credit my acquaintance that day in the Caribbean sun. The Lord used his words to stir my heart. He made me think differently about the true work that Jesus did on the cross, and birthed in me an ever- growing appreciation for what Christ so magnificently accomplished there. I pray that in spending time with Jesus now, as he makes his way from the garden to the cross, the same would be true for you.
Jesse Braswell Roberts
Written by Jesse Braswell Roberts / Poor Bishop Hooper golgothamusic.com // poorbishophooper.com //
Second edition ©2022 Jesse Braswell Roberts / Poor Bishop Hooper
TODAY’S PRAYER: Lord, everything in me resists following you into the garden of Gethsemane to fall on my face to the ground before you. Grant me the courage to follow you all the way to the cross, whatever that might mean for my life. And then, by your grace, lead me to resurrection life and power. In Jesus’ name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 100). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (Luke 11:13).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Luke 22:39-44: And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
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As You Live on Earth, God Has Work for You; You Are to “Live in Christ” So that Others See Jesus in Your Life
MESSAGE SUMMARY: As a Jesus Follower, God Expects You to Both Work for Kingdom and Witness for the Gospel. Also, as a Jesus Follower, you are to live in Christ and to let others see Jesus in your life. If you are to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for you – God has work for you; God’s work for you is real work. The spiritual life is work – it is fruitful labor. Also, Godly conduct is a necessity to live in Christ as we are instructed in Philippians 1:27: “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ . . .”. Not only does God have a work for you, but you, also, have a witness for Him through your actions, words, and your attitudes. Your actions, words, and attitudes constantly reflect who and what God is in your life. Paul admonishes us, in Galatians 6:2,9-10a to follow the law of Christ and to do good and live a moral life: “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ . . . And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone.”. Also, Paul, in 1 Thessalonians 2:10-12, succinctly presents what it means for a Jesus Follower “to live in Christ”: “To be a witness, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.". Are you following Jesus so that you are living in Christ and letting others see Jesus in your life?
TODAY’S PRAYER: Father, I confess that when difficulties and trials come into my life, large or small, I mostly grumble and complain. I realize the trials James talks about are not necessarily “walls,” but they are difficult to bear, nonetheless. Fill me with such a vision of a transformed life, O God, that I might actually consider it “pure joy” when you bring trials my way. I believe, Lord. Help my unbelief. In Jesus’ name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 94). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that, because I am in Jesus Christ, I will proclaim Him. (Philippians 1:15f). “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”. (Philippians 4:14).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Galatians 5:18-26; 1 Peter 1:15-19; 1 Thessalonians 2:10-12; Psalms 37d:21-40
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “How Does God Say I Love You, Part 4: Violation of the Covenant”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/
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This Is the Time, in Our Fear-Evoking Events, that Jesus Followers, Like Jesus and King Hezekiah, Need to Get Alone with God and Pray
MESSAGE SUMMARY: Immediately, Jesus made His Disciples get in a boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side while Jesus dismissed the crowd. After Jesus dismissed the crowd, He went up on a mountainside, by Himself, to pray. He was alone with His Father. In Mark 1:35, Jesus’ prayer life is presented: “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed.”. If there is one Christian discipline that is neglected by Christians of today, it is the practice of getting alone with God and having a quiet time to pray -- not you and your computer; not you and a friend; but only you and God alone in your prayer. We can learn a great deal from King Hezekiah, in Isaiah 37:15-17a about his personal relationship with God, through personal prayer, as he is faced with a powerful invasion of Israel: “And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: ‘O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. Incline your ear, O LORD, and hear.’”.
TODAY’S PRAYER: Lord, in order to be with you, I need you to show me how to “create a desert” in the midst of my full, active life. Cleanse me from the pressures, illusions, and pretenses that confront me today so that my life may serve as a gift to those around me. Amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 26). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, because of I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Despair. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit’s fruit of Joy. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): John 17:1-5; Matthew 26:36-40; Isaiah 37:14-17; Psalms 100:1-5.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “How Does God Say I Love You, Part 4: Violation of the Covenant”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/
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Your Focus on Yourself and not on God or Others Will Lead to a Miserable Spiritual Condition – To serve is Christ
MESSAGE SUMMARY: When we show up at our church on Sunday, what is our purpose – is it to serve or to be served? Too many of us go to church seeking what the church can do for us. Our church should provide us a place to worship Jesus in Spirit and in the truth of His Word. Also, our church should provide a chance to serve others -- To serve is Christ. We will never be more like Jesus than when we are serving others. We are all serving someone, but who are we serving; are we serving ourselves or others? In Mark 10:43b-45, Jesus explains that His followers must have mind focused on service and being a servant to others: “But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”. The longer that we stay focused on ourselves and not God or others, the longer we will remain stuck in a miserable spiritual condition. To serve is Christ.
TODAY’S PRAYER Lord, I praise you because your love seeks my good in any and every situation. Forgive me for the seeds that I have squandered. Soften my heart to surrender to your will in and through me. In Jesus’ name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 120). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, Because of who I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be driven by Loneliness. Rather, I will abide in the Lord’s Presence. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 20:1-16; Philippians 2:21-30; Matthew 25:34-46; Psalms 99:1-9.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “How Does God Say I Love You, Part 4: Violation of the Covenant”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/
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Jesus Followers Have a Personal Relationship with the Creator of the Universe So Pray, Listen, and Be Patient for God’s Call
MESSAGE SUMMARY: No interaction with the Holy Spirit is too small for you or for God, and no Spiritual outcomes are too big for you or for God. Jesus illustrates, in the “Parable of the Mustard Seed", that big things come from small beginnings. The selection, by Jesus, of His initial twelve Apostles, led to the growth of Christianity from twelve followers to more than two billion Christians. So, when God gives you a vision or He puts on your heart to start a ministry or to visit the home bound; and you think the Spirit’s is so small or inconsequential, just remember small beginnings lead to significant outcomes through the Lord. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus commissions and promises His support to His Apostles and to us; therefore, how can any call, from the Holy Spirit, be too inconsequential or unsupported for us to embrace: “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” Pray, listen, and be patient. After all, you have a personal relationship with God, the Creator of the Universe!
TODAY’S PRAYER: Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus’ name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FORGIVEN. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 20:1-16; Philippians 2:21-30; Matthew 25:34-46; Psalms 37b:11-20.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “How Does God Say I Love You, Part 4: Violation of the Covenant” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/
DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
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As a Jesus Follower, Is Your Faith So Solid that, Unlike the “rich ruler”, You Would “follow Jesus” in a Financial Storm?
MESSAGE SUMMARY: If a financial and economic calamity were to occur in America or in your family, would you still be content with Jesus; or would your faith be tested? In a personal financial problem, would you cling to your “wealth” like the rich young ruler, in Jesus’ Parable, from Luke 18:18, 22-24: “And a ruler asked him {Jesus}, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ . . . When Jesus heard this, he said to him, ‘One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’ But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, ‘How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!’”? It is not beyond the realm of possibility that we could face a situation in which our economy goes off the cliff; prices inflate; and life’s necessitates become scarce. When you compare yourself to the remainder of the world, you are wealthy like the young ruler – we are all earthly rich in this country. Therefore, can you, unlike the “rich ruler”, “follow Jesus” in a time of financial calamity as well as in good economic times?
TODAY’S PRAYER: Lord, I have spent much of my life running from pain and loss, medicating my pain, and quickly moving on to the next project — the new urgent demand. I ask for the grace to embrace all of life — the joys and the sorrows, the deaths, and the births, the old and the new. In Jesus’ name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 110). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because I am in Jesus Christ, I will trust in the Lord with all my heart. I will trust in the Lord with all of my heart and lean not on my own understanding. In all my ways I will seek to know Him, and He will make my pathways straight. From Proverbs 3:5f
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Luke 18:21-27; James 5:1-6; Mathew 6:24-25; Psalms 37a:1-10.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “How God Says He Loves Us: Part 3 -- The Covenant with Moses”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/
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