Advertise on podcast: Praise & Shine – Quicksie 98.3

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We have just finished Easter, the most important time for Christians. And as I reflect on the final moments of Jesus on the cross, his final words come to mind. My God my God, why have you forsaken me? We understand that Jesus did not believe that the Father had forsaken him. We also understand that Jesus knew why he was on the cross. Yet these words confuse us. Consider the true nature of Jesus. At all times he is one hundred percent God, but also one hundred percent man. At this moment we see Jesus' full humanity on display. In his pain, in his difficulty, in his agony, he cried out to the father. There are a few lessons we can take away from the final moments on the cross. First, it is okay for us to cry out and question God. Here we see Jesus, the God of the universe who created everything, our Lord and savior expressing his frustration, his confusion, and his struggle to try to understand and make sense of what the Father was doing at this moment in his Humanity. We know that God is good. We know that God works together all things for the good for all those who love Him according to his purpose. But in our Humanity, we still don't understand what God is doing. In our Humanity, we might be confused and frustrated or maybe even angry. But it is in these moments that we must remember that God is inviting us to cast all our cares on him because he loved us. The second thing we can learn is even though we cry out to God, He may never give us an answer to why. Jesus reached out to the Father, "My God my God, why have you forsaken me?" and in response there was silence. There are times in our lives when we cry out to God, "Why are you allowing this to happen to me?" And as we continue to cry out to God, why why why, we must accept the fact that there will be times in our lives when even though we may ask the question why, God may never answer. Ask yourself, if God were to answer your question why, would it make you feel any better? Would it take away the pain? We have to be careful not to confuse silence with absence. Sometimes we assume that because God has not answered our prayers, he must not care about us. Or that he does not hear us. Just because He is silent doesn't mean He is absent from our lives. In reality, God is doing things behind the scenes that you and I have no idea about. There are so many times in my life when I would cry out to God and I didn't understand God's plan but when I look back, I can see all that God was orchestrating behind the scenes. The final lesson we can learn is that Jesus understands our pain. He understands what it's like to be betrayed. He understands what it's like to be denied. He understands what it's like to be humiliated. He understands what it's like to be tempted. He understands all the difficulties and all the pains that you and I are dealing with because he went through them too. The next time you are dealing with difficulties I encourage you to remember that it is okay to cry out to God, to express your heart to God, to give all your pain and burdens, and cast your cares upon Him. But accept the fact that God may not ever explain why He is doing whatever He is doing, and because God may be silent that doesn't mean that He is absent in your life because the Bible says that He will never leave you nor forsake you.

What does Easter mean to you? Is it just another Government holiday? A day off work? Or maybe a money grab for candy companies? To Christians, Easter is the most important time. More important than even Christmas! Yes, Christmas is important but it doesn’t save us from our sins. Jesus’ birth only appears in two of the gospels, his ascension, in another two and Acts. But do you know what is mentioned in every single gospel? Not Jesus’ birth, not even Jesus’ teachings, but Jesus’ death and resurrection. Easter is so important because our Christianity revolves around the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Without that resurrection, Christianity would be meaningless because our sins would not be forgiven by the sacrifice of Christ. If it wasn’t for Easter we would have to continue living like the Jews of the old testament, offering up animal sacrifices to the Lord for our sins. Easter is just as important today as it was nearly 2000 years ago because it represents how Jesus saved us from our sins by dying and rising again after three days. Conquering death so that we may live for eternity with our Heavenly Father. For all of humanity, not just the Jews, but also the Gentiles that their sins may be redeemed if they believe in Him. So let’s celebrate Easter like it’s the most important time of the year. Because it is. What it represents is life. It is the center of our faith. Happy Easter

Did you know that the Bible is a collection of books from dozens of authors over hundreds of years? Even with all of this diversity, there is one common theme: God’s relationship with us. As Christians, we often look to the Bible for guidance and encouragement in our walk with Christ. It deals with timeless questions such as who we are, where we came from, why we’re here, where we’re going and how we should live. The Bible is the best-selling book of all time with an estimated 5 billion copies being printed in over 250 languages. The Bible is the living, breathing word of God. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, we read, “Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.” “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thought of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12. If you desire to know the true nature of our creator, the Bible is the book for you. I encourage you to read the Bible and read it often. It is the best way to grow a more meaningful and deeper relationship with God. It is after all the best-selling book of all time.

It is easy to get caught up in all the differences from one church to another and from one denomination to another. The church is not four walls and a roof, but rather the body of believers.   Regardless of what denomination you may call yourself, if you call yourself a Christian you worship Christ and believe these fundamental truths:  Christ is truly human and truly God Christ was born of the Vergin Mary Christ died for our sins Christ rose from the dead Christ ascended into heaven and will return to judge the living and the dead As long as you believe in these essentials, this is what's important. Different denominations can disagree on other matters, and there's vast diversity among them. But the fact that they can all agree on these essentials indicates their importance to all Christians.  All this diversity is what we should expect from a religion that spans the whole world and has lasted over two thousand years.  John Wesley said, “We may not all believe alike, but we can all love alike.” We may disagree on important matters like Christian baptism. However, we can still find the foundation for our fellowship with one another and treat one another with genuine respect—as members of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:1–14:40). We must put our differences aside and work together to reach a lost and hurting world so that heaven may be more filled. 

Contentment is not automatic, nor is it a natural attitude. Rather, it is a learned skill. So how can we find joy in any circumstances? Paul expresses thanks to the Philippian believers with a reminder that he was not thankful because he was in need, rather he was showing them that he was humble and content. Paul could exist with or without earthly needs being met beyond basic essentials. In addition to living humbly, Paul focuses on the concept of contentment, regardless of his circumstances. "…for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." Philippians 4:11-12. Paul's variety of ministry experiences offered him times of plenty, as well as times of need. This allowed Paul to learn how to find joy, regardless of his circumstances. Writing from Roman imprisonment, he was at a time of great need. Even so, Paul expresses joy and contentment. It's important to recall that his imprisonment was not brief. He had been continually held for two years in Rome, in addition to multiple years in Palestine. Contentment was essential for Paul to find joy in his circumstances. God desires us to be content and not worry in any circumstances. You are precious and valuable to our creator. "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" Matthew 6:26 Try to find joy and peace in even the toughest times.I pray this prayer on you from Numbers 6:24-26 "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gratious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."

God's grace isn't earned, and we can't wait idly to experience it. We need to engage in means of grace as a way to renew our relationship with the Lord. Means of grace are sacraments, special, holy moments when we are closest to the presence of God. Jesus gave us examples of these sacraments in scripture.  Two examples of these sacraments include baptism and holy communion.  Baptism is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual work of grace. Baptis marked the beginning of Jesus' public ministry. John the baptizer made it clear when he said, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming. ........ He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:8) In Matthew 28:19, Jesus said, “Go . . . make disciples . . . baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Baptism “is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him” (Acts 2:38-39). Baptism is a public confession of our faith and marks our new identity in Christ. Jesus instituted the sacrament of Holy Communion during his last supper with his disciples, and he commanded them to continue sharing the bread and cup of the new covenant in remembrance of him (Luke 22:19-20). And Jesus said to his disciples, “This [bread] is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). “Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you’” (Matt. 26:27). When we come to the Lord’s Table, we come to the banquet table of God. In addition to these sacraments, there are many other means of grace we can describe as sacred moments such as prayer, worship, or marriage.  Regardless of what sacraments you practice or believe in, these are holy moments that we get to share with God, our creator. In the words of John Wesley, "We may not all believe alike, but we can all love alike." Love first because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19)

The health benefits of rest are well known and documented. It can allow time for recovery, prevent muscle fatigue, reduce the risk of injury, and can even improve performance. With the benefits of rest so well known, why do we resist it so much? Even God, the creator of the universe found time to rest (Genesis 2:3). And the fourth commandment reminds us to “remember the Sabbath day.” (Exodus 20:8) If the creator found time to rest and called it holy, who are we to think we have the power to do more? Forget the troubles of the world. Relax and spend time with the family. Stop the stress/fatigue cycle. Find your Sabbath.

Despair seems to be all around us these days. Turn on the news or scroll through your social media feeds, and you'll know what I mean. The thing is, we live in a world that's ripe for revival. Like Ezekiel, we will all face situations that seem impossible -- an addiction, betrayal, barren womb, or wayward child. Ezekiel put all his doubts aside and did as the Lord asked, prophesizing the return of Israel in Ezekiel Chapter 36. The Lord showed Ezekiel a vision of a valley of dry bones coming together with flesh and becoming filled with the breath of life (Ezekiel 37:1-14). This vision symbolized the whole house of Israel that was then in captivity. Like unburied skeletons, the Israelites were wasting away with no end to their judgment in sight. They thought their hope was gone, and they were cut off forever, with their nation dying in the flames of Babylon's attack with no hope of resurrection. The dry bones signified God's plan for Israel's restoration. The vision also, more importantly, showed that Israel's new life depended on God's power to be brought back from a dead state and filled with the "breath of life." Something that only our God could do. Today we can see God's plan at work with the establishment of the state of Israel in the 1940s. The Israelites now reside in the Holy Land, with Jerusalem becoming recognized as the capital of Israel in 2017. God's plan is not yet complete with Israel, and He's not through with you either. God says He brought dry bones to life, so "you would know that I am the Lord" (Ezekiel 37:13). What if we approached each day believing that what God did then, He can do again? Jesus said in Mark 11:24, "I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours." "…Revive us so we can call on your name once more. Turn us again to yourself, O LORD, God of Heaven's Armies. Make your face shine down upon us…" (Psalm 80:18-19) "Won't you revive us again, so your people can rejoice in you? Show us your unfailing love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation." (Psalm 85:6-7) "Create in me a clean hear, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10) The following questions are from Newspring Church's devotion Pray for revival. Praise Where have you seen God bring something dead to life? Maybe it was a relationship, a career, or a dream. What did you learn about God’s faithfulness and unfailing love from that experience? Repentance Is there any situation where you’ve given up because things feel too far gone or too impossible to change? Where have you lost faith? How is your heart toward God? How do you deal with disappointments or despair? Ask What do you want to see God revive in you? Where do you want to see a revival around you? Ask God to show how you can help bring revival to your home, work, or community. Where do you long to see revival in the church? Ask to fill His church with joy, unity, boldness, confidence, generosity — and whatever else His Spirit brings to mind. Yield Read Psalm 51, making these words your own. If a line causes your heart to skip a beat, pause and wait to hear God speak. When you get to the end, consider what God said to you. The first step in any revival is aligning what we say about ourselves with what our Father says to us.

Have you ever wondered what it means to be a lukewarm Christian? We read in Revelation 3:15-16, "I know all the thing you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!" Many Christians believe these verses to mean being hot is to be on fire for the Lord and cold is to be far from God or ungodly. We can all agree in this context we all desire to be hot; however, I believe there is a more accurate interpretation of these verses. When taken in context, Jesus says, "I wish you were hot or cold." Do you believe that Jesus is saying that he wishes that we were either spiritually hot or spiritually cold and not of God? If this is the case, why then would God not spit out the spiritually cold? Jesus taught in parables that were easily understood by the people of the time. They would have understood that water is essential to life. Hot water is good for healing, cooking, cleaning while cold water is refreshing and sustaining. Lukewarm water on the other hand has no useful purpose. So with this understanding, what is Jesus trying to teach us in Revelations? He wishes that we would be useful to God. Either hot or cold, like water both are useful, but lukewarm water has no purpose. If you are not useful to God, he will spit you out. Ask yourself, "am I being useful to the Lord?"

Jesus describes the Final Judgment in Matthew 25:31-46: "…when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left." Here we see that the righteous are gathered at the Lord's right hand, at a place of honor, while the unrighteous are gathered at his left. "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.'Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothes? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?'"And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'" Here Jesus is making it clear that whatever we do to our fellow brothers and sisters, we are doing to the Lord. "You must love the Lord you God with all your hear, all your soul, and all you mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love you neighbor as yourself.'" Matthew 22: 37-39 "Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, 'Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.For I was hungry, and you didn't feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn't give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn't invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn't give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn't visit me.'Then they will replay, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?'And he will answer, 'I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sister, you were refusing me.'And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life." Let me be clear, our salvation is paid for by Christ's blood on the cross. Nothing we can do, or any amount of good works, will ever earn us a place in heaven. It is by Grace alone. "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6. "What good is it, dear brothers and sister, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, 'Goodbye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well'--but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless." James 2:14-16. Brothers and sisters, don't let another day go by without helping one another, treating them as you would the Lord Jesus.

Over the last few years, circumstances have required us to worship in different ways. Many Christians today opt to stay at home in their pajamas and stream their church services while they sit on the couch. And why not?  God has created us for community and friendships. The friendships and relationships we create with our church families are a blessing that allows us to do more for God’s Kingdom. “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭24‬-‭25 The enemy has used the last few years to isolate us. Like a predator on the hunt, the easy target is the one separated from the herd. We live in discouraging times, so the more godly relationships we can have to remind us that we are not alone in our faith, the better.  We are called to love God, and love people.  "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.'" Matthew 9:35-38 We are the workers in the field and what we have been called to do is even more important now because the task is not as easy as it once was. But through our relationship with Christ as the Head, we who are His hands and feet can accomplish this vital work.  It's time to come together again as a church body, encouraging one another and spreading the Good News. The time is short but the harvest is plentiful.