THEN AND NOW! WHAT THE CROSS REPRESENTS!

And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written I have written. John 19:14-22 KJV

Crucifixion! Defined by the historian Josephus as the most wretched of deaths, crucifixion was cruel, horrible, barbaric, demeaning and looked on with horror! There was nothing noble about being crucified! There was nothing beautiful about the cross! It was a fiendish device invented by an equally fiendish ingenuity to produce the most excruciating torture and the most exquisite pain in the body and mind of the unfortunate wretch that incurred its wrath!

The world now seeks to glamorize the cross by making it into beautiful pieces of jewelry robbing it completely of its once gruesome reputation. The modern church also seeks to do away with the ugliness of the cross in order not to offend “sensitive” souls and the “finer” sensibilities. There have been so many attempts to exchange all that is gory for just the glory, the horrible for the honorable and the crucifixion for the coronation that in many “Christian” circles the preaching of the cross is literally foolishness.

The words of Christ however, continues to declare very clearly: Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  Matthew 16:24 KJV And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.  Luke 14:27 KJV

To many in the modern Christian community the offence of the cross has ceased! However the truth of the gospel remains …that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV

To the believer there is something precious about the cross despite it gory, gruesome nature! More accurately the Presence of the Sinless One, the Holy One of God, the Son of God, crucified, dying, bleeding, suffering on the cross has forever redefined this symbolic instrument.

THE CROSS A SYMBOL OF PUNISHMENT BECAME A SYMBOL OF PARDON

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; Colossians 2:13-14 KJV

Every transgression from Adam to Adam’s last son has been nailed to the cross and we can only claim this privilege when we come to the cross! There is no bypassing the cross to pardon from God! There is no shortcut to be free from transgressions. We must kneel at the cross for Christ will meet us there where His Blood is a cleansing healing stream! And sinners plunged beneath that Blood lose ALL their guilty stains!

THE CROSS A SYMBOL OF TORTURE BECAME A SYMBOL OF RELEASE!

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.  Colossians 1:20 KJV

Whatever our pain, whatever our problem, whatever we are prisoners to; at the cross we find release, we find freedom, we enjoy liberty; for at the cross we die, and when we die we are no more subjected to a world of pain, sorrow, sickness and suffering! We’re free and if the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.  John 8:36 KJV

THE CROSS A SYMBOL OF CRIMINALS BECAME A SYMBOL OF THE CHRIST

Indisputably the crucifixion of Christ on the cross forever changed the way we look at the cross. As criminals running from the consequences of our sins we come face to face with our Christ on the cross taking our place. Instead of us hanging there He takes our place and like the apostle Paul we say But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.  Galatians 6:14 KJV

It’s His Cross and, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.  Colossians 1:20 KJV

In the Cross of Christ there is a change of death to life, hate to love, separation to reconciliation, loss to salvation, despair to hope.

Therefore God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.  Galatians 6:14 KJV

In the beautiful words of John Mark Mcmillan:

We are His portion and He is our prize,

Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,

If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.

So Heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss

And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,

I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,

When I think about, the way…

that He loves us,

Oh how He loves us,

How He loves us so

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.  1 Corinthians 1:18 KJV

THE PARADOX OF PALM SUNDAY!

And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. Matthew 21:1-14 KJV

Jesus' entrance, riding into Jerusalem is one of a few incidents recorded in all four gospels. The others are:

The Cleansing of the Temple;

Feeding of the 5,000;

The Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus!

It was His final entrance into Jerusalem before His Death and represents a critical and significant turn in His ministry. It was beginning of the rapid series of events leading to His eventual betrayal, trial, crucifixion and resurrection.

It showed Him in His:

Kingly role fulfilling prophetic and leadership requirements

Prophetic role in surgical cleansing and holiness declaration

Priestly Role in His ministration to the needs of the people

Jerusalem was populated with visitors for the upcoming feasts, and there was therefore a massive amount of witnesses to the culmination of the earthly ministry of Jesus.

The Jerusalem crowd was curious and moved by the event leading to them asking “Who is this?”

The hometown crowd in the procession replied proudly “This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee!”

The tragedy is that:

They were moved not yet not improved.

They felt His presence yet gave Him no residence.

They honored Him yet ignored Him  

They glorified Him yet crucified Him.

That original Palm Sunday emphasized a sequence of events!

1. Prophetic Event (Procession)

Jesus rode in like a King. This is the first time that Jesus deliberately presents the King’s calling card! To the scribes, students and teachers of the law and prophets he evoked the words of the prophets for All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet,…Matthew 21:4 KJV  

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.  Zechariah 9:9 KJV

Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.  Isaiah 62:11 KJV

Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD. Psalms 118:25-26 KJV

2. Purging Event (Profession)

Jesus cleanses the temple in a prophetic and provocative manner, and declares the true function of the temple of God!

 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. Matthew 21:12-13 KJV

Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.  Isaiah 56:7 KJV

Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD.  Jeremiah 7:11 KJV

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.  Malachi 3:1 KJV

3. Pastoral Event (Provision)

Jesus demonstrates the true purpose of the temple of God. It’s a place where man meets with God. It is not a place to deprive people of their hard earned wages and living but a place where there is ministry and provision of needs.

And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, Luke 19:47 KJV

And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.  Matthew 21:14 KJV

The den of thieves was reclaimed for God and put to the purpose for which it was made. People come to the house of God and expect to meet with God. It is the duty of His ministers to zealously point the way to Him then humbly stand aside as the servants that they are, while the people meet with their King, Saviour, Healer and Redeemer! No substitute will suffice and any attempt at substitution is an act of robbery. The glory is His and His alone! No amount of personal charisma, human intelligence, or worldly props will ever substitute for a momentary encounter with the LORD! He alone can give rest to the human soul! He alone can bring peace to the heart and mind! He alone can give strength to the weary! He alone can take away the sin of the world!

 BEHOLD HIM!!!

HEAVENLY OFFER! REPROGRAM YOUR IMAGINATION BY RENEWAL THROUGH GOD’S WORD.

 Rom. 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

The power of the renewed mind! What vast potential lies within the believer!

How important is a renewed mind?

It's possible to get a renewed mind because the Word of God says so!

Nurturing the dream and vision!

We are under construction! A work in progress! An ongoing work in mind renewing!

Our present physical feelings are real and the pain is real but remember God is more real and so is His Word…very real! In fact His words are more real than the physical universe we presently occupy, for the universe was framed by the word of God! If His words should cease then everything else ceases for He upholds all things by the Word of His Power!

His promises are yes and amen! What He says about you is true. So in the great debate about your life, your health and well being whose report should you believe?

While the enemy is on one side flashing us with all his wares, God is on the other side showing us what He did through His Words and what He paid for with His Blood!!

If Jesus came that we might have life and that more abundantly what has the enemy been really force feeding us? Are we really satisfied? Have we settled for less than He promised us?

How did we get saved and become children of God?

By hearing Believing and Confessing God’s Word!

Meditation on God's Word moves us from theological fact to spiritual truth!

As we allow our minds to be renewed we become transformed. Transformation is a radical change from something ordinary looking into a totally revolutionary new creation! Just like those cars in The Transformers movie!

As we meditate on the Word it may look difficult and indeed the enemy will do his utmost to make it so. But as we persist it becomes like one of those candies, like Jolly Rancher Double Blasts or Gushers, that you work on with patience until you get to the center and a flood of flavor explodes in your mouth as you savor its sweetness!

So really now:

"How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?”

The word transformed here comes from the Greek metamorphoo¯ which occurs in three verses in the New Testament. It's translated as transfigured, 2 times in Mar 9:2; as changed in2Co 3:18; and as transformed in Rom 12:2

It's in contrast with metasche¯matizo¯ which occurs as transformed in2Co 11:14-15;change in Phi 3:21;figure in 1Co_4:6 and transferred in 1Co_4:6

metasche¯matízo¯; fut. metasche¯matíso¯, from metá (G3326), denoting change of place or condition, and sche¯matízo¯ (n.f.), to form, which is from sche¯´ma (G4976), shape, outward form. To transform, change the outward form or appearance of something. Occurs only in 1Co_4:6; 2Co_11:13-15; Php_3:21.

This outward change is best illustrated by contrasting metasche¯matízo¯ with metamorphóo¯ (G3339), to transform. If one were to change a Japanese garden into an Italian one, this would be metasche¯matízo¯. But if one were to transform a garden into something wholly different, as a ballfield, it is metamorpho¯´. It is possible for Satan to metasche¯matízo¯, transform himself into an angel of light (2Co_11:14), i.e., he can change his whole outward semblance. But it would be impossible to apply metamorphóo¯ to any such change for this would imply an internal change, a change not of appearance but of essence, which lies beyond his power.

In the metasche¯matismós, a transformation of the bodies (Php_3:21; 1Co_15:53), there is to be seen a transition but no absolute dissolution of continuity. The outer physical transformation of believers at the end of the days (1Co_15:44 ff., 1Co_15:51 f.) is called by Paul in Php_3:21 metasche¯matízo¯, but such transformation has already begun in this life from within. Paul speaks of the final metasche¯matismós, outer transformation, shaping. (Complete Word Study)

Many today are obsessed with a total makeover but it is all on the outside! There is no change inside!

The change God wants to work in us is not an outward show of appearance, but an inner reconstruction. You may still look the same outside but there is now something new and totally, radically different in you...in your thoughts, your motives, your dreams, your imaginings, your responses, your carriage, your disposition, and the glow of it will begin to break out and show through. As you continue to turn up the wattage you literally light up inside, for the Eternal Light dwells in you, and greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world! What you have inside begins to change you from glory to glory! The more room you give Him to shine the more you become aglow with the Spirit.

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Colossians 3:1-17 KJV

Meditation is the switch that turns on the light of His Word in our lives!

The world is obsessed with a total makeover but it is all on the outside! Inside is no change! They are just empty shells full of promises but no fulfillment. Just shadows...no substance! It’s just foam, driven hither and thither, to and fro, backward and forward, with the movement of every new wave.

 The promises of God are what my spirit knows but it may not be what my body shows. I should work therefore, to allow what my spirit knows, to renew my mind, resulting in a transformation of thoughts, imaginations and attitudes, which will then direct my body accordingly.

 My mind and consequently my body are wired and connected to the world system and are fed by the ideologies and influences of the world. My regenerated spirit is connected to a different power source...the Source that declared "All power is given to me in heaven and in earth"! That source has already snatched the powers of death and hell! The power of that Source is unlimited! There is no power shortage here and it powers my spirit with unsurpassed power. I therefore disconnect from the previous power source and reconnect to this Eternal Source! Feel the difference as you allow this Power to flow!  How do I reconnect? By believing the things He believes! By starting to say the things He says! By filling my mind with His Words and Promises! Meditation releases the revelation in our spirits into the mind bringing about renewal!

We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.2 Corinthians 4:13-18 KJV

By continuously severing the old connections and substituting the new, we begin to fill our hearts with new thoughts and new promises. As we confess this truth that we believe we find a gradual change taking place for as a man thinketh in his heart so is he! The carnal mind is the enemy! It's rebellious, stubborn, perverse and in total opposition to the Word! Put it in its place! Right there where it belongs, in the box for burial! It's not the boss of you!

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:17-32 KJV

Look at the woman in Mark 5:

And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. Mark 5:25-29 KJV

 

Note: the woman never stopped trying! She kept on seeking every avenue to the exhaustion of all her financial resources! BUT SHE NEVER STOPPED TRYING! She was determined to get what she was seeking...that is...healing! She kept seeking, she kept knocking and her final knock was just a touch! But it worked! She got God's attention!

Question: Why did this woman seek out Jesus?

Answer: She wanted healing of course!

Question: But HOW did she know Jesus could heal her?

Answer: She heard something that caused her to believe she could receive healing from Jesus.

Question: So WHAT EXACTLY did she hear that caused her to believe that?

Can we conclude that what we hear can influence what we believe and therefore our course of action?

Faith is never passive but always induces action in obedience to His Word!

The woman with the issue of blood conceived her healing in her mind and set about doing what she imagined in order to obtain her healing.

She had one thing and only one thing in her mind! If I can only touch the hem of His robe! It continuously resounded in her mind until it filled her imagination, because she believed what she had heard about Him! She believed and acted on it! It did not matter how she got there, she meant to get there...where she could touch His tassels!

She did not make a request of The Lord! She did not get up in His face! She sneaked in behind with just one thing on her mind! If I can just touch the hem of His garment I will be made whole! She simply made a connection with Him through the covenant by touching the "hem" of His "garment"!

The woman came with an expectation to receive! That expectation made her touch and contact with Jesus something tangible! Many were pressing and touching Him as the disciples pointed out. Only the woman received from her touch!

It began in her heart! She began to confess one thing and one thing only! I will be made whole if I can touch Him!

We continue to fellowship but have already declared in our minds that this is the sum of it all. We have failed to penetrate, we have failed to use our whole being, and we have lent cursory lip service and are content! But God has much more for us...if only we "knew"! That’s the key…KNOWING!

Familiarity breeds contempt and sometimes we can take things for granted. Therein lies danger for we tend to overlook vital truths revealed because we perceive the messenger only in the natural!

Let us look at another case...that of Bartimaeus. He was blind. He was begging by the wayside on the route between Jericho and Jerusalem.

What did he hear? He heard a noise of a crowd passing.

What did he do? He tried to find out what was happening

What was he told? He was told that Jesus was passing.

What did he do? He began crying out to Jesus for mercy.

Why did he cry out to Jesus? Was it something he knew? What did he know?

 What he heard determined his response and caused him to persist until he was heard and received!

Meditation on God's Word moves us from theological fact to spiritual truth! This truth is what sets us free!

Meditation is not a blanking of your mind but rather a saturating of your mind in His Word!

Learning produces knowledge. Meditation in His Word releases truth!

Meditation is the switch that turns on the light of His Word in our lives!

Meditation releases revelation in our spirits into the mind bringing about renewal!

Meditation in the Word reveals how to obey the Word helping you to make your way prosperous and bringing good success. Is there something like bad success?

Faith is never passive but always induces action in obedience to His Word!

You cannot want what the Word promises without doing what the Word commands!

Constant meditation in God's Word keeps you connected to the Source of God's Word!

Savor the Word of God just as you savor a tasty morsel!

If we hide the Word of God in our hearts abundantly then from out of the abundance of the heart the mouth will speak the Word.

God has riches in glory not basement bargains! He supplies our needs according to His riches!

What is it that you remember about God that causes your soul to be satisfied and your mouth to praise Him joyfully?

In meditating I deliberately turn from distracting elements to pursue after Him!

When your carnal mind is clouding your thoughts with doubts your uttered words of faith will drown them out and eventually destroy them. So flood your soul by speaking His Words.

A testimony that glorifies Him and not self goes a long way to overcoming the accuser!

The vital importance of fellowship is manifold! One important benefit is that we get to speak of the greatness of God building up our faith and the faith of others.

Worry is destructive meditation! It’s also sinful do stop it!

Preach to yourself from the Word of God and build yourself up in His faith!

We store God's Word in our Spiritual Rumen to chew on it throughout the day! Chew for His truth to be released to you!

Using your imagination in meditation is illustrated meditation! Don't you love a book with great pictures?

Let your thoughts be PG rated! Professing Godliness!!!What you paint is what you'll see!

My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. Proverbs 4:20,21 Ear, eyes and  heart!

Listen to the Word!

Look at the Word

Lock in the Word!

We do not do leg presses alone if we want to build deltoids and biceps. We have to do presses and curls that work the upper body!

In like manner we have to feed on the Word in a way that will cause us to grow and develop in the area we desire. A person who only thinks of getting to heaven, concentrating and feeding only on heavenly scripture will not think about healing down here. What is required is a balanced and total body workout!

When the Word is planted like a seed in you then it is your duty to nurture it until it conceives.

Before faith can bring substance to hope there must first be hope present in you!