BLACK FRIDAY? BUT THE LIGHT HAS COME!

BLACK FRIDAY?  BUT

THE LIGHT HAS COME!

 

 

I had a conversation with my daughter the other day and she mentioned that the world is getting so dark with evil. And I shared with her that yes, the days seem dark spiritually, evil abounds, but our Lord promises that His light shines on and on, and someday that light will cover the earth. But for us who are believers, His light has come:

 

“Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and the kings to the brightness of your coming” Isaiah 60:1-3.

 

Yes, as believers we have the light of the Lord Jesus Christ upon us, even though darkness seems to be covering the earth and its people. Hear the word of the Lord from Jesus Himself:

 

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” John 8:12.

 

Thanksgiving Day is coming tomorrow and I pray that you and your family will have a blessed day of giving thanks and praise to our Lord for the blessings He has bestowed upon us, namely His salvation and His gift of eternal life. And Friday is what we have come to be called “Black Friday.”  Many will stand out in the cold and dark waiting for those doors to open and looking for a bargain.

 

I want to now go back to another “Black Friday” so long ago.  And there were no long lines at shopping malls or waiting in parking lots.  In fact, on this day, 2000 years or so ago, there were crowds of people, but not out for a bargain.  This indeed was a dark day, a day of earthquakes and darkness when the sun refused to shine.

 

It was a day of suffering, intense suffering.  And as the earth trembled and the sky grew dark, there upon the hill were three crosses.  And on the middle cross was the Savior, Jesus Christ.  And there He was suffering for my sin, for your sin.  And of all Fridays to come down through the years, this was the blackest Friday in history. 

 

And there were crowds at the foot of the cross, crowds of men and women calling out curses at the One who was taking their sin on Himself.  And also at the foot of that cross were those who loved Him, and now felt helpless as they watched Him suffer and die there.  They thought He had come to overthrow the Romans and would set on the throne of David and bring peace to the world, and they just couldn’t understand why He would die and suffer such a cruel death.  And they felt they had lost all their hope in Jesus, the Messiah.

 

But it was “At the Cross” on that first “Black Friday” that we can kneel today as the price has been paid in full by the shedding of His precious blood. 

 

AT THE CROSS

 

“Alas, and did my Saviour bleed and did my Sovereign die? Would He devote that sacred head for such a worm as I?

 

At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light and the burden of my heart rolled away.  It was there by faith I received my sight and now I am happy all the day!

 

Was it for crimes that I have done He groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity, grace unknown, and love beyond degree!

 

Well might the sun in darkness hide, and shut His glories in, when Christ the mighty Maker died for man the creature’s sin.

 

But drops of grief can ne’er repay the debt of love I owe; here, Lord, I give myself away, ‘tis all that I can do.” (Isaac Watts)

 

People are running everywhere looking for that special price on a bargain they are looking for.  But I want you to know that another price has already been paid.  And it was paid, not for physical “things” that would soon decay and fade away.  But a price was paid for your eternal soul and for mine.

 

“knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” II Peter 2:19.

 

We owed a debt of sin and it was paid in full on the cross on that “Black Friday.”  How can we comprehend the debt of love that our Saviour took to that cross?  As the song says so plainly, we give ourselves totally to Him as Lord of our lives and look forward to spending eternity with Him.

 

Yes, that day was dark, but three days later, the “Son” shone again!  The earth again shook, but on this day, our Saviour came out of the tomb shining brightly.  He conquered death and is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven for you, my friend.  He has sent His Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts by faith.  His precious Holy Spirit brings comfort and peace into our hearts as we walk with Jesus.  We may have dark days, but I am so glad that the “Son” still shines in our lives! The Light has come!

 

So on this “Black Friday” we remember the “Black Friday” so many years ago on Calvary, and we meet Him at the cross where our sins are forgiven, and we can praise Him for His great salvation.  Just stop in all your running around today and give Him praise with a grateful heart for all He has done and we can look forward to seeing Him face to face at last!

 

In Jesus’ Name,

Pastor Sharon

 

 

STAND UP! STAND UP!

STAND UP! STAND UP!

 

On this November day, looking forward to Thanksgiving next week and holiday preparations ahead, we look at our world and we see terror spreading all around the world, with bombings and terror attacks, and we could be caught up in great fear, wondering where they will strike next. And I so feel for the families and victims of these attacks.

 

Refugees are running for their very lives and many, many are believers, and many are coming to know Jesus Christ as their own personal Savior, and we hear of many who are giving their lives for Jesus, and some are in prisons for their stand, refusing to deny the Lord who bought them with His own precious blood, given them peace and they look for the day when they will finally reach their heavenly home.

 

During the night a song came to me, and I had been troubled and thinking about how we Christians in America would stand in the face of such persecution. I search my own heart to see where I stand with my Lord. But God always has an answer in our blessed hymns. And He is calling His church to “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus!”

 

“In 1858, churches throughout Philadelphia united in a citywide evangelistic effort. Every morning and evening, services were held in churches, convention halls, and theaters. Dudley Tyng, a twenty-nine-year-old Episcopalian preacher spoke to five thousand men, and one thousand responded to the gospel invitation.

 

Four days later, however, Tyng was tragically injured while watching a corn-threshing machine in a barn on the family farm. He caught his loose sleeve between the cogs, and his arm was severely torn. A main artery was cut, and he lost a great deal of blood. As he lay dying, he whispered to his father, “Stand up for Jesus, Father, and tell my brethren of the ministry to stand up for Jesus.”

 

A friend, Presbyterian minister George Duffield, preached the next Sunday on the text “Stand therefore” and in conclusion read a poem that he had just written entitled “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus.” The verses of that hymn first appeared as a leaflet for Sunday School children, then later were set to music.” (“Hymns” by Petersen).

 

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross; lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss: from vict’ry unto vict’ry His army shall He lead, till every foe is vanquished and Christ is Lord indeed.

 

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the trumpet call obey; forth to the mighty conflict in this His glorious day: ye that are men, now serve Him against unnumbered foes; let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose.

 

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, stand in His strength alone; the arm of flesh will fail you; ye dare not trust your own. Put on the gospel armor; each piece put on with prayer. Where duty calls, or danger be never wanting there.

 

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the strife will not be long. This day the noise of battle; the next, the victor’s song. To him that overcometh, a crown of life shall be; He with the King of Glory shall reign eternally. (George Duffield Jr.).

 

What a powerful message in this song, especially for the day in which we live. The war is waging, victory is near, but He is calling His Church out to Stand Up, Stand Up! Awake you who sleep, the battle is on, and the enemy of our souls knows that his day is coming. You who are fearful of these things coming, stand in the strength of the Lord. This is a glorious day in which we live, as Jesus is still King of kings and Lord of lords! And someday soon He will burst the heavens, and we will see our Glorious King face to face, and the enemy will be defeated and peace will reign.

 

We can’t stand and fight the enemy in our own strength, we will fail. Many of the saints are going through great trials right now, many are sick and don’t see any way out of their situation. But Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:13, 18:  (vs. 13) “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (vs 18) “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.”

 

He is calling His Church to put on His armor daily, and to put each piece of His armor with prayer. And when we get back into our prayer closets and reading His Word daily, when duty calls to fight the battle that is being waged, we will have the Holy Spirit’s power we will see victory after victory in our lives, in our cities and in our nation. If God’s Church would stand up in mighty power again, in victory, we would see our churches filled again and souls being saved and lives changed, and we could turn this nation around and God would heal our land and protect us from the terrorists that even now are threatening our nation, and then would stop the terror in other nations. But it takes us Standing Up!

 

As we stand up for Jesus, we know the strife will soon be over. The noise of the battle will turn into a victory song as we gather around the throne, and the crown of life as promised in James 1:12, to those who overcome all the trials of life, some even unto death. What a precious promise! And Jesus reign as King eternally.

 

Oh, my friends, my heart is overwhelmed and I just give you what is on my heart at this hour. He has called us to be faithful and His word if full of promises that someday the battle will be won, and victory at last. So Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus!

 

Pastor Sharon

 

 

 

 

COME! WE NEED YOU!

COME! WE NEED YOU!

 

I sitting here looking at the grey and cloudy skies, as the fog has lifted. Fall is here with all its colors, but a time for warm blankets and warm fires, if you have them.

 

But I am thinking how dark the world is out there, and how dry our souls become as we think about world events and the times in which we live. Are you withered and dry? Is your strength almost gone? Do you fear the days ahead, and need a refreshing in the Lord? I know many of you out there need a renewal of the power you once knew as you walked with Jesus, a new sense of His presence.

 

I visited with an elderly gentleman the other day, and such a sweet man! He has been a believer for many, many years, but his faith was wavering and needed a bit of encouragement that Jesus loves him, and I reminded him of the times before when he and I had sweet fellowship in the Lord and God did a special answer to prayer at that time. I reminded him that heaven is just around the corner, and remember that as He walks this pathway, that Jesus is there to walk with him and lead him to his eternal home. I wish I could sit down with many others and just encourage them in the Holy Spirit, to keep looking to Jesus, asking for His strength for the journey. 

 

What we need in our churches and our lives is to look to the Holy Spirit and just say “Come” I need you, and He is right there. So my prayer for you this day is “Come, Holy Spirit, we need you.”  I need him in my own life, as I have walked this path of trial. I need Him daily to restore my  joy and strength, and the power to go out and into those places where there are lonely people who need Jesus. But I can only do that if I daily seek His Word and spend time with Him.  So Come Holy Spirit, we need you, every person reading this right now, “COME!”

 

COME, HOLY SPIRIT, WE NEED YOU!

 

Come, Holy Spirit, we need you,

Come, sweet Spirit, I pray.

Come in your strength and your power.

Come in your own gentle way.

 

Come as a rest to the weary,

Come as a balm to the sore.

Come, Lord, as strength to our weakness,

Fill us with joy evermore.

 

Come like a spring in the desert,

Come to the withered of soul.

Lord, let your sweet healing power,

 Touch us and make us whole.

 

Come, Holy Spirit, we need you,

Come, sweet Spirit, I pray.

Come in your strength and your power.

Come in your own gentle way.

 

                                Come in your own gentle way.  (Author Unknown

So are you weary today? Are you just tired of the continued trial you are going through. The Spirit says “Come!”  in Jeremiah 8:22, the prophet cried: “Is there no balm in Gilead, is there no physician there?” Yes, Praise the Lord, we have a balm, a healing for our souls in the Lord Jesus Christ as He comes by the power of the Holy Spirit. He comes as a strength to our weakness.

 

There are days when my body and soul are so weak, I just don’t want to move, but He comes, and directs me back to the path that He is leading me on, a path of wholeness and healing in body, soul and spirit, and He promises us joy ever more, His joy. In Hebrews 12:2, the writer states that Jesus saw the joy ahead, past the cross and was able to endure the terrible suffering He went through.  He could see past the cross, and the joy that our salvation would bring, and the joys of walking with Him and looking forward to our eternal home, and He wants us to walk in that joy, although sometimes it is hard, but we have to keep our eyes on Jesus and the goals ahead. Just thinking about heaven and my eternal home fills me with great joy.

 

And have you driven though a desert lately? There are miles and miles of dry scrub and grass. Now imagine a spring suddenly springing up in that desert place, and in a short time everything that was withered is suddenly green and beautiful!  Are you feeling withered and dry today? Jesus promised in John 7 that He would fill us with rivers of living water and we would just flow with the Holy Spirit. Is that what you desire today, as I do?

 

Just lift your hands, look up to Him and say “Come” I need you. I need you in my weakness, in my dry soul, and healing in my body, soul and spirit. He comes in such a gently way, our gentle Holy Spirit. I pray that wherever you are out there, you will just call out to Him now, “COME!”

 

In Jesus’ Name,

Pastor Sharon