How Can the Cross of Jesus be a Place of Glory?

In John 17:1, Jesus prayed, Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you…

 The hour Jesus spoke of is the hour of His crucifixion.  How could Jesus glorify the Father by dying?  How can the cross of Jesus be a place of glory?  How can a gruesome, cruel & gory act of execution be a display of God’s glory?

I believe the cross of Jesus is the greatest display of God’s glory, because when you look at the cross, you see the glory of God on display like no place else.

On the cross of Jesus

You see God’s love by giving His only Son for our sins.

You see God’s grace by doing for us what we do not deserve.

You see God’s mercy by withholding from us what we do deserve.

You see God’s power by overcoming over sin, death, hell & the devil.

You see God’s sacrifice by dying for our sins.

You see God’s holiness by not excusing our sin, but dealing with it.

You see God’s wrath by inflicting His divine judgment on His Son.

You see God’s justice by making a way for us to be saved.

You see God’s goodness by doing for us what we could not do for                                      ourselves.

That is why I believe the cross of Jesus is the greatest display of God’s glory.

It’s Easy for the Church to Lose Sight of What It is

It’s Easy for the Church to Lose Sight of What It is

In his message, “The Making of Disciples of All Nations” (June 9, 1985), Dr. John MacArthur shares a compelling illustration about the church:

On a dangerous seacoast where shipwrecks often occur, there was once a crude little lifesaving station. The building was just a hut and there was only one boat but the few devoted members kept a constant watch over the sea and with no thought for their safety went out day and night, tirelessly rescuing the lost. Many lives were saved by this wonderful little lifesaving station. So it became famous.

Some of those who were saved and various others in the surrounding area wanted to become associated with the station and give of their time and money and effort for the support of its work. New boats were bought and crews were trained and the little life station grew.

Some of the members of the lifesaving station were unhappy that the building was so crude and poorly equipped. They felt a more comfortable place should be provided, as the first refuge of those saved from the sea. So they replaced the emergency cots and beds and put better furniture in the large building.

Now the lifesaving station became a popular gathering place for its members and they decorated it beautifully and furnished it exquisitely because they used it as sort of a club. Fewer members were now interested in going to sea on lifesaving missions so they hired lifeboat crews to do the work.

The lifesaving motif still prevailed in the club’s decorations and there was a liturgical lifeboat in the room where club initiations were held. And about this time a large ship was wrecked off the coast and the hired crews brought in loads of cold, wet, half-drowned people. They were dirty and sick. The beautiful new club was considerably messed up. So, the property committee immediately had a shower house built outside the club where the victims of shipwrecks could be cleaned up before coming inside.

At the next meeting there was a split in the club membership and most of the members wanted to stop the lifesaving activity because they were a hindrance and unpleasant to the normal social life of the club. Some members insisted on lifesaving as their primary purpose and pointed out they were still a lifesaving station after all. They were finally voted down and told if they wanted to save the lives of various kinds of people shipwrecked in those waters, they could begin their own lifesaving station down the coast…which they did.

As the years went by, the new station experienced the same changes that occurred in the old. It evolved into a club and another lifesaving station was founded. History continued to repeat itself and if you visit that coast today, you’ll find a number of exclusive clubs along the shore, shipwrecks are still frequent but most of the people drown.

It’s easy for the church, isn’t it, to lose sight of what it is…so easy.

How about you?

The Persecution in China

We have received good news regarding the Oubei Sanjiang Church of Wenzhou. The government is negotiating with the church. I will share more about the good news tomorrow. Before I do that, however, please read this email I received from Pastor Zhou last week. It will show the intensity of the Christians of Wenzhou:

Oubei Sanjiang Church of Wenzhou was built on an existing church ground and took several years to complete. How is it possible for the government not to know this project? We must be alert and pray as we join hands and hearts asking God to lead us. As believers we must be ready to defend our homeland and stand up firmly for our faith unto death. Very thankful to know that brothers and sisters are all united and are willing to give their lives to protect the church from destruction. This is an appeal to brothers and sisters to come to Yongjia Sanjiang Church of Wenzhou to show our support, defend our right and to protect our church.

Urgent Message:
Dear brothers and sisters please pray for churches in Zhejiang, China. In recent months, led by Zhejiang Provincial Party Secretary, Xia Baolong, his followers had falsely accused churches that they are in violation of building codes and began to remove Cross from many churches and demolished church buildings altogether in Zhejiang Province.

Therefore, dear brothers and sister we ask you to pray for churches in Zhejiang because of the persecution. Please also help us and bring this message to the attention of overseas, international news media, exposing this act of hostility towards Christians. The actions of Xia Baolong and his members are against our constitutional right and they must stop immediately.

Brothers and sisters, we urge you to pray and support us, specifically in the following areas:

1. We will not waver but stand firm for the Cross that it will always be lifted high and honored.

2. Help us to get the news out to every news outlet, every social media; let the world know the hostile act of Xia Baolong.

He (Mordecai) sent back this answer (to Esther): “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” Ester 4:13-16

Instead of governing pressing issues of the nation, they chose to demolish our Cross, our Church, even though it was built in accordance to high standard and requirement. They blatantly disregarded the need and harmony of the community. This is a call on all Christians to take a strong and firm stand against this persecution. May God brings changes to China to receive His blessings!

My fellow citizens, brothers and sister, we must rise up to the occasion!

To the brothers and sister in Wenzhou: today, a revival meeting was being held at Yongjia Sanjiang Church and over ten thousand people attended! We believe it will bring forth changes and growths in many lives. We will not make room for satan!

PLEASE UPDATE YOUR LINKS

The JustOneMore.info blog is no longer hosted at WordPress.com

Please visit JustOneMore.info for the blog as we have moved the hosting of the blog.  Please update your bookmarks as well.

Thanks – J1M.info Webmaster

let is snow, let it snow, let it snow

Sunday was a beautiful day, wasn’t it?  This was the view from my backporch.  Later in the day my daughter and her friends made this snowman.

I am so glad we went ahead with plans to meet for Bible Study and worship in the midst of a bad weather.  Although our crowds were down considerably, we still had wonderful worship.  Our policy at CrossPoint, very simply, is to meet for worship unless the roads freeze over and are impassable.

I realized we made the right decision when I met a guest who had driven more than an hour to worship with us.  Actually, he did not originally intend to worship with us.  The church he planned to visit was closed.  When passed by CrossPoint and saw the cars in our parking lot he headed our way.  After worship he informed me that he had been out of church for a long time.  He was convinced God brought him to CrossPoint.  Now that’s a good story.

Another good story comes from a CrossPointer who gave an extra tithe Sunday morning because he knew our offerings would be off from the inclement weather.  Next weekend we are preparing for a record offering to make up for the bad weather yesterday.  Some have already informed us that will be dropping their offering at the office this week or be including it in next weekend’s offering.

I thank the Lord for His faithfulness to us.  I thank Him also for the faithfulness of the people of CrossPoint.  Sunday was a beautiful day, indeed.

Habitat for Humanity House update

For the next few weekends, we will be sharing updates from the Habitat for Humanity build that CrossPoint is a part of.  If you would like to help with the build and still haven’t signed up, please contact the church office.

God provided us a beautiful day for day two of our project. With the sun shining and temps rising quickly we started the day with about 40 + people. After a word of prayer we divided up into groups. One group took the task of installing the insulation board and wrap for the exterrior walls. The second group started sorting through the marked trusses and handing them to another group standing on the walls that was installing them. The fourth group had to wait a bit but finally started the roof decking.

By lunch time we were 3/4 of the way done with the trusses, 1/4 of the way done with the roof decking, and finished with the insulation board and wrap. After a fantastic lunch prepared by another group of Crosspointers off site, the crowd thinned a little but we resumed the goal to finish the roof. By 5:00 it was done. The trusses….finished, the decking…finished, the facia board…finished. The task of the day…completed. We all went home tired and sore but happy. Happy to finish what we started but happy most of all because we worked for the glory of the Lord. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped this past weekend.

–David Tully

Habitat for Humanity update

For the next few weekends, we will be sharing updates from the Habitat for Humanity build that CrossPoint is a part of.  If you would like to help with the build and still haven’t signed up, please contact the church office.

Last Friday morning, about 20 men were blessed by God with the opportunity to serve both Him and one of our neighbors.  Crosspoint began construction of the Habitat for Humanity home for Ms. Underwood.

The Lord gave us a beautiful day for work, and we were able to finish everything that we had scheduled for that day.  We started with a blank concrete slab in the morning, and by the end of the day, all of the walls for the house were built and ready for the construction of the roof framing the next day.

As with all construction projects, there were a few minor glitches that had to be worked out, but each potential problem was handled quickly by the men that God sent for this project.  God has given Crosspoint a group of willing servants who gladly gave of their time and skills to build a home for a deserving member of our community.

Although we enjoyed the work and the time spent together, the high point of the day was watching the reaction of Ms. Underwood when she came to the site that afternoon and saw what had been accomplished that day.  As always, God’s word is true in that it is better to give than receive.

Please continue to pray for this project as God through Crosspoint gives back to our community.

–Buddy Whitley

Jesus, our Great High Priest

I want to apologize to all the CrossPointers, in advance, for publishing part of my message for next Sunday.  Let me also apologize for the length of this blog.  I am so fired up, however, by what I have been studying throughout the week that I am compelled to include it in today’s blog.

For those of you who are not CrossPointers, we have been studying the temptation experience Jesus encountered in the wilderness while fasting 40 days and 40 nights.  This Sunday we will conclude the series by talking plainly about that fact that Jesus Himself is the answer to our temptation.  Yes, He serves as a model in Matthew 4:1-11.  But the account also teaches that He serves as the victory over temptation.

Our text for Sunday is found in Hebrews 4:14-16, where the Bible reads:

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:14-16

Early in my message I must explore the role and purpose of the high priest.  My explanation, which follows, is derived from Hebrews 5:1-10.  Let’s drop into my message at midstream, where I am using the ten verses to explain our Jesus Christ as our Great High Priest.

First, let’s consider verse 1 -4:

1 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.  2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

From this we learn three facts about the high priest:

1. He was chosen by God – 1 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed – Hebrews 5:1a
2. He served as a mediator between man and God – to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. – Hebrews 5:1b
3. He was a sinner himself, and therefore obligated to offer sacrifices for his own sin – 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. – Hebrews 5:2-4

In the next two verses we learn that, just like Aaron and his sons who served as priests, Jesus was appointed by God to serve as our High Priest

5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; 6 as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

Hebrews 5:5-6

Now, from verses 7 & 8, we learn how Jesus identified Himself with humans:

7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.

Hebrews 5:7-8

Do not be alarmed by the phrase “he learned obedience”.  Do not be alarmed by it, learn from it.

The phrase “he learned obedience” reminds us of the humanity of Jesus.  This is speaking of the human side of Jesus’ nature.

Let’s remember some theology at this point.  The humanity and deity of Jesus is called the hypostatic union – where Jesus is both God and man, simultaneously.  That is why He is called “Son of God” referring to His divine nature, His deity; and He is called “Son of man”, referring to His human nature, His manhood.  Jesus was both fully God and fully man, concurrently.

When the Bible speaks of how “he learned obedience” it is a good reminder for us that Jesus was human, and that as a human He was tempted to sin.  Yet Jesus did not sin because He obeyed His Father by living according to faith.

Sure, as the Son of God, Jesus could resist sin.  But as the Son of Man, His human side, Jesus had to learn obedience by living by faith; just like we should.  Here is the reality: Jesus, who was fully God and fully man, was tempted and resisted that temptation by faith.

And finally, we learn this about Jesus: He became the source of our eternal salvation:

9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 5:9-10

Jesus did not need to offer a sacrifice for His own sins because He had no sin.  But He became the once-and-for-all-sacrifice for sin by being made perfect.  And He did all this in the order of Melchizedek.

Now Melchizedek is only mentioned twice in the Old Testament.  The first time is in Genesis 14, when Abraham offers him a tithe offering, and again in Psalm 110, which is a Messianic reference used here in Hebrew.

Melchizedek’s name means two things – “King of Righteousness” and “King of Salem” (peace).  Melchizedek is different from Aaron in that he was both a priest and a king.

Two kings in the Old Testament tried to take on the role of king and priest – Saul and Uzziah, and God brought judgment on both of them for their actions.  Only one in God’s kingdom shall serve as both priest and king – Jesus Christ.

Jesus is in the order of Melchizedek because He holds two offices as our Savior: He is both Priest and King.

And now for the summary:  there are two things you must take away from this brief teaching on the order of our great High Priest.

First, Jesus is our High Priest forever.

9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 5:9-10 (bold underline added for emphasis)

The entire sacrificial system was abolished by the death of Christ.  All the Law and the Prophets, in other words, all of the Old Testament was fulfilled by Jesus Christ.  Every requirement of the Law was met by Christ.  What He did means that none of the ceremonies, feasts, festivals and seasons of the Old Testament has to ever be recognized or repeated again.

Through His life, death, burial, and resurrection Jesus made the complete and final atonement for our sins.  So, first, Jesus is our Great High Priest forever.

Second, our salvation is eternal.

9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 5:9-10 (bold underline added for emphasis)

Our belief, our faith, our security, our salvation, our hope, our forgiveness, our justification, our regeneration, our redemption, our adoption, our sanctification and our glorification is signed, sealed and delivered, paid in full in Jesus Christ.  Thus, our salvation is eternal.

Make sure you note that – Jesus is our Great High Priest forever and our salvation is eternal.

Note what the write of Hebrews instructed earlier:

Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

Hebrews 2:17

the valley of vision

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,
Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,
where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights;
hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory.
Let me learn by paradox
that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.
Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,
and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine;
Let me find Thy light in my darkness,
Thy life in my death,
Thy joy in my sorrow,
Thy grace in my sin,
Thy riches in my poverty,
Thy glory in my valley.

Reprinted from The Valley of Vision

try God

Early in January I drove past three different churches within a five or six mile stretch that had marquee signs that caused me some consternation.

The first marquee said, “Make Jesus first this year.”

A mile or two down the road the next sign read, “Give God more time in 09”

The final over the hill declared, “Try God.”

Now I know what they meant, at least I think I do.  Yet I still have trouble with each message.

“Make Jesus first this year” – we don’t make Jesus first.  Jesus is first.  We submit to Him as our only priority.  By the way, since He is first, there is nothing else that matters.  So try to avoid the order of priorities: Jesus first, spouse second, kids third and job fourth.  If Jesus is first in your life, all other priorities fall in place as they should.

“Give God more time on in 09” – you don’t give God more time.  We should be thankful God gave us time.  Therefore we should submit to Him in order to “number our days aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

“Try God” – Trying God sounds like taking Him for a test drive.  Trying God is like a “90 Days Same as Cash” offer.  If you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, return it for a full refund, no questions asked.  You do not try God.  You serve God.

Is it just me, or does anyone see the irritable rub of these messages?

The messages are humanistic.  The messages are man-centered.  They sound like Oprah Winfrey sermons – syrupy, spiritual, human-oriented and insipid.

I am concerned that the church has become too pragmatic in her theology.  The idea of “you doing this, so God will do that” permeates many of our churches.  That is manipulation, and God will not be manipulated.

What was it that Jesus said in the wilderness?

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Matthew 4:4

You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.

Matthew 4:7

You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.

Matthew 4:10

Now there are three marquee signs worth posting.

Oops! I better be careful.  If I use too much Scripture I might become irrelevant.