Gordon’s Commentaries and Links from Current Affairs
The Constitution never uses the phrase “separation of church and state.” So what did America’s Founders actually intend? A closer look at religious liberty, the First Amendment, and the wall that has two sides.
SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE: HAVE WE BEEN GETTING IT WRONG? Read More »
The Constitution never uses the phrase “separation of church and state.” So what did America’s Founders actually intend? A closer look at religious liberty, the First Amendment, and the wall that has two sides.
SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE: HAVE WE BEEN GETTING IT WRONG? Read More »
Engaging with liberal ideologies has become exhausting and overwhelming. The constant debates and pressure to conform to their worldview are taking a toll on our emotional and mental well-being. By associating with them, we risk letting their madness rub off on us. Consequently, after some serious soul-searching following the events of last Saturday, I\’ve made a firm decision to completely cut ties with Liberals. I will have nothing to do with them in my community, at my church, or anywhere else. My reasoning is simple: I believe their presence is a threat to our mental health, our safety, and our families. Our safety and that of our communities are compromised when we interact with this unconscionable community of humans. Their narrative often breeds division, victimhood, hatred, and chaos, which can escalate into violent protests and harm. It\’s crucial that we prioritize the safety of our loved ones by distancing ourselves from these destructive ideologies. Don\’t confuse the biblical mandate to love our enemies and pray for those who hate us with an invitation to associate with them. Instead, pay attention to what the Word says about the association between light and dark, righteousness and unrighteousness. About hating evil and loving good. About speaking truth to power and exposing white-washed sepulchers as a brood of vipers. Our enemy, Satan, hasn\’t stopped prowling and devouring. Be mindful of the blessing for those who avoid the counsel of the wicked. Who avoid standing in the path of sinners or sitting in the seat of scoffers. Be wise about when to gather stones and when to hurl (Shalak) them. When to embrace and when to cease embracing. When to wage war and when to make peace. The Illusion of Unity: The Hypocrisy of the Liberal Call for Togetherness All of a sudden, we\’re seeing calls from both sides to tone down the rhetoric, to become more unified, to coexist. Why? I believe that liberals, along with their RINO bedfellows, are shaking in their boots at the prospect of losing and coming under the judicial spotlight for all of their known crimes. This apparent pivot in rhetoric from the liberal community can be seen as a direct response to the growing fear of retribution from the conservative movement. The increasing awareness of this community\’s corruption and deceit has led to a surge in support for conservative values and ideals. As a result, the liberal community is now scrambling to regain control and maintain their influence over the populace. This is nothing more than a facade designed to conceal their corrupt and malevolent intentions. True unity can only be achieved when those who perpetuate evil and corruption are held accountable for their actions. It is time for the American people to reject the false promises of unity from the liberal community and demand genuine change that benefits all citizens, regardless of their political affiliations. Over the past decade, the liberal faction has relentlessly vilified millions of diligent, honest Americans as \”Nazis,\” \”bigots,\” and \”deplorables,\” portraying Donald Trump as \”Hitler.\” For me, their rhetoric unarguably incited last Saturday\’s violence. Too Little Too Late By NOW calling for national unity, they aim to make you overlook that these are the very same people who shut down our places of worship and hindered families from being with their loved ones during their final hours. The very same ones who championed incarcerating us and snatching away our kids if we rejected their \”jab.\” They\’ve designated us as homegrown terrorists merely for craving a self-governed nation for our future generations. These are the identical individuals who denounced us as insurrectionists and incarcerated hundreds of us for simply strolling around the Capitol. They incinerated our cities in the summer of 2020 and labeled us as racists when we objected. They\’ve stifled and blacklisted us from social media, banks, and payment facilitators for years. They\’ve taken ownership of social media, censoring anything and everything that doesn\’t fit their corrupted philosophies and agenda for America. For more of the same violent mentality, you need only follow the actions and rhetoric of the socialist extremists in my own beloved motherland, South Africa. There can be no harmony with those who loathe us and wish us exterminated, who endorse the slaughter of newborns, advance hormone suppressants for children, advocate the sexual mutilation of minors, support men in women\’s sports, and strive to dismantle the traditional family unit. There will be no shared ground, no concession, and no synergy with these nefarious, despicable, and repulsive individuals. We must grant them no leniency.
There Is No Unity With Evil Read More »
Engaging with liberal ideologies has become exhausting and overwhelming. The constant debates and pressure to conform to their worldview are taking a toll on our emotional and mental well-being. By associating with them, we risk letting their madness rub off on us. Consequently, after some serious soul-searching following the events of last Saturday, I\’ve made a firm decision to completely cut ties with Liberals. I will have nothing to do with them in my community, at my church, or anywhere else. My reasoning is simple: I believe their presence is a threat to our mental health, our safety, and our families. Our safety and that of our communities are compromised when we interact with this unconscionable community of humans. Their narrative often breeds division, victimhood, hatred, and chaos, which can escalate into violent protests and harm. It\’s crucial that we prioritize the safety of our loved ones by distancing ourselves from these destructive ideologies. Don\’t confuse the biblical mandate to love our enemies and pray for those who hate us with an invitation to associate with them. Instead, pay attention to what the Word says about the association between light and dark, righteousness and unrighteousness. About hating evil and loving good. About speaking truth to power and exposing white-washed sepulchers as a brood of vipers. Our enemy, Satan, hasn\’t stopped prowling and devouring. Be mindful of the blessing for those who avoid the counsel of the wicked. Who avoid standing in the path of sinners or sitting in the seat of scoffers. Be wise about when to gather stones and when to hurl (Shalak) them. When to embrace and when to cease embracing. When to wage war and when to make peace. The Illusion of Unity: The Hypocrisy of the Liberal Call for Togetherness All of a sudden, we\’re seeing calls from both sides to tone down the rhetoric, to become more unified, to coexist. Why? I believe that liberals, along with their RINO bedfellows, are shaking in their boots at the prospect of losing and coming under the judicial spotlight for all of their known crimes. This apparent pivot in rhetoric from the liberal community can be seen as a direct response to the growing fear of retribution from the conservative movement. The increasing awareness of this community\’s corruption and deceit has led to a surge in support for conservative values and ideals. As a result, the liberal community is now scrambling to regain control and maintain their influence over the populace. This is nothing more than a facade designed to conceal their corrupt and malevolent intentions. True unity can only be achieved when those who perpetuate evil and corruption are held accountable for their actions. It is time for the American people to reject the false promises of unity from the liberal community and demand genuine change that benefits all citizens, regardless of their political affiliations. Over the past decade, the liberal faction has relentlessly vilified millions of diligent, honest Americans as \”Nazis,\” \”bigots,\” and \”deplorables,\” portraying Donald Trump as \”Hitler.\” For me, their rhetoric unarguably incited last Saturday\’s violence. Too Little Too Late By NOW calling for national unity, they aim to make you overlook that these are the very same people who shut down our places of worship and hindered families from being with their loved ones during their final hours. The very same ones who championed incarcerating us and snatching away our kids if we rejected their \”jab.\” They\’ve designated us as homegrown terrorists merely for craving a self-governed nation for our future generations. These are the identical individuals who denounced us as insurrectionists and incarcerated hundreds of us for simply strolling around the Capitol. They incinerated our cities in the summer of 2020 and labeled us as racists when we objected. They\’ve stifled and blacklisted us from social media, banks, and payment facilitators for years. They\’ve taken ownership of social media, censoring anything and everything that doesn\’t fit their corrupted philosophies and agenda for America. For more of the same violent mentality, you need only follow the actions and rhetoric of the socialist extremists in my own beloved motherland, South Africa. There can be no harmony with those who loathe us and wish us exterminated, who endorse the slaughter of newborns, advance hormone suppressants for children, advocate the sexual mutilation of minors, support men in women\’s sports, and strive to dismantle the traditional family unit. There will be no shared ground, no concession, and no synergy with these nefarious, despicable, and repulsive individuals. We must grant them no leniency.
There Is No Unity With Evil Read More »
When it comes to senseless suffering, injustice, and social decay, the universal lesson is this — most human suffering is the result of human sin. So, the lesson is not to hate God. But hate sin! “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” – Edmund Burke. As Christ followers, It’s very easy to feel defeated and blackpilled when suffering and evil appear to be accelerating all around us. But, we must hold fast to the truth that Jesus is still on the throne! He has overcome the world, and the One who is in us is greater than the enemy in the world. The reality is, that though we are commanded to love our neighbors as ourselves, to forgive those who wrong us, love those who hate us, and to turn the other cheek, we are also called to hate evil with a righteous anger while not giving in to anger, despair, or hopelessness. To hate evil, yet not become distraught, fearful and anxious, is the challenge of all believers. To become fixated, angry and obsessed over every form of evil and suffering is a weapon of the enemy, and reveals that we are essentially devoid of the peace that Jesus gives, giving up His life for us to be able to enter into that peace. (John 14-27, Philippians 4:6-7) The Bible tells us in Psalm 97:10, “Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.” But to hate evil does not mean that we should hate the people who commit evil acts. As Christians, we are called to love all people, even those who do wrong. When we are commanded to hate evil we are being called to hate the things that are opposed to God’s will and character. We are called to hate sin and all that it represents – destruction, death, and separation from God. We Are Commanded To Hate Evil The problem compounds when leaders in our culture, including some Christian leaders, promote a free-spirited, pragmatic version of love that emphasizes tolerance and acceptance at all costs. This nebulous view of love that promotes coexistence with everyone and everything, no matter how evil or wicked it may be, is not biblical, and it does not reflect the true nature of God. The fear of the Lord is a healthy respect and reverence for God, leading us to hate what He hates. To be focused only on God’s love and grace, is to ignore that there are indeed things that God hates. While this might be difficult to accept, it is important to understand that God’s hatred is not arbitrary or erratic. His hatred is based on His perfect nature and His desire for us to live according to His will. Perfect love necessitates perfect justice against evil. As His “poema”, the masterpiece of creation, God loves us unconditionally, while at the same time hating the sin that separates us from Him. Sin is anything that goes against God’s will, and it is something that we must strive to avoid. When we sin, we are rebelling against God and His plan for our lives. His Word is unambiguous. Proverbs 8:13 – “To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.” Romans 12:9 – “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” Psalm 101:3 – “I will not look with approval on anything that is vile. I hate what faithless people do; I will have no part in it.” Amos 5:15 – “Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.” Proverbs 13:5 – “The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked make themselves a stench and bring shame on themselves.” Psalm 119:104 – “I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.” When we hate evil we are not allowing it to have a foothold in our lives. We are not tolerating it or excusing it, but instead, we are actively fighting against it. We are standing up for what is right and what is just, even when it is difficult. When we hate evil we are acknowledging that sin and evil do exist in our world and that they cause pain and suffering. But we also know that God has overcome sin and evil through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We should look to the example of Jesus Himself, who drove out the money changers from the temple with a whip (John 2:15). He did not tolerate their wickedness and corruption but took action to remove it from the house of God. By hating evil, we are living out our faith in a tangible way. We are demonstrating our commitment to God’s values and His character. We are standing up for justice, compassion, and righteousness in a world that is often marked by selfishness, greed, and violence. Now is the time for Christians to not only start hating evil again, but actively waging spiritual warfare against it. We need to focus on building up our communities, praying for one another, and growing together in faith. We must not let the news of the day distract us from the work that God has called us to do. We are called to be a light in the darkness, to love our neighbors as ourselves, and to spread the good news of the gospel to all nations. That is our mission and we must not take our eyes off the prize of eternal glory with our King. Ultimately we can take comfort in the fact that we can and will overcome because Christ has already overcome. As the Bible says in 1 John 4:4, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is
The Root of Suffering and Evil Read More »
Paul, in trying to describe the tremendous power we have in God, used every word for power that he could think of. It\’s no wonder that he labels all of this power as mega power at the beginning of verse 19 In vs. 19. he uses four different words to enlarge on this theme of God\’s power. Dunamis – \” his incomparably great power\” From which we derive our word dynamic or dynamite. It refers to inherent power. Energeia – \” That power is like the working\” (energeia) From which we get energy. And this is the operative power. Kratos – \”the working of His mighty (Kratos) This is sometime translated dominion and means just that. It refers to ultimate power. Ischus – \”His mighty power (Ischus)\” This is his endowed power So this power, which is ours, by the way, is an unbelievable, almost indescribable power. The closest English transliteration we can arrive at from what Paul writes here is that in knowing God, we have Megadynamic, energizing, dominion giving, super power endowed upon us because of our faith in and knowledge of Christ. And his prayer was that we may know what we have. Not what we may someday have, but what we can embrace today. Go forth in mighty power today and everyday!
More Power to You! Read More »
Election Infection I was recently questioned regarding my thoughts on the idea of Election Infection. Since this was the first time I had heard this phrase I had to pause for a moment, and then thought, “how apt”. Though the phrase till now was unfamiliar to me, the idea behind it is something about which I will most readily posit my thoughts. The idea that the response, reaction and institution of regulations around the C-19 infection is a deliberate human intervention into the affairs of man, namely a Presidential Election, is presupposed by the fact that President Elect Trump is the most dangerous opponent in the history of the Elitist, Fabian Socialist, Marxist movement. However, to believe that this intervention is aimed at the election only, and American Politics exclusively, is to be perilously short sighted. There is far more at stake! A vote in favor of the radically left wing Democrats is a victory for the One World Government which impacts the fabric of our existence. As America goes, so goes the world.So is this an Election Infection? Read on and decide for yourself. The fact that such a global pandemic would appear so close to the election is more than a coincidence. Conspiracy theories aside, circumstances and scientific papers abound to suggest that C-19 is a man modified virus designed specifically to be highly contagious and vaccine resistant. The theory is that the virus was modified by scientists in an American University, transported to a Chinese lab and was strategically released within a Wuhan wet (fresh meat) market. “This new virus was created at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, (they published the highlights of their creation in November 2015)… when you look at the list of “scholars” associated with this… virus, you’ll see the name Zheng-Li Shi, who just happens to represent…Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens, Bio-safety Wuhan Institute of Virology…’ “From 2014, Shi Zheng-Li was the recipient of a number of US Government grants as well as grants from the National Basic Research program of China… funding research into coronaviruses.” Dr Rashid Buttar. Another line of thinking is that what we are seeing is not a virus at all, but an electro chemical reaction to the acceleration of 5G technology which produces similar symptoms due to oxygen deprivation. Whatever your belief germane to the outbreak, one thing I believe cannot be denied. The Deep State, influenced by the Rothschild funded Zionist Bolshevik movement has capitalized on this to bring down the most devastating threat to their planned world domination in the past 250 years. If the upcoming election does not go their way it will mean the end of their control for the distant future. Will they stop? Never… but we know how the story ends. For those who seek further clarification on all the options, opinions, documentation and science on the Covid-19, this paper is exhaustive and revealing:https://dsc.cloud/786a23/A-Comprehensive-Analysis-of-the-Covid-19-Crisis.pdf (Caution – This document is not meant to create fear, but rather to invoke action. It is not for the feint of heart of for the blinded cynic) Interesting Timeline of Covid-19 from 2010 to 2020https://dsc.cloud/786a23/Timeline-Leading-To-Covid-19_2020.pdf Here is a summary of the detailed and documented outcomes of leveraging the pandemic: A brief synopsis of the Fabian Influence and tactics. The Fabian tactics. (For a close up of the Fabian influence throughout modern history read Fabian Freeway: High Road to Socialism in the U.S.A. The Fabian Society was named—at the suggestion of Frank Podmore—in honor of the Roman general Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus (nicknamed Cunctator, meaning the \”Delayer\”).[7] His Fabian strategy sought gradual victory against the superior Carthaginian army under the renowned general Hannibal through persistence, harassment, and wearing the enemy down by attrition rather than pitched, climactic battles. Thus for centuries the Fabian approach has been one of a “peaceful, highly tactical revolution”. Fabian code, “For the right moment you must wait, as Fabius did most patiently, when warring against Hannibal, though many censured his delays; but when the time comes you must strike hard, as Fabius did, or your waiting will be in vain, and fruitless.” Since the end of the Cold War, however, we find that Fabian Socialism is far more dangerous than revolutionary communism. Highly attractive to so-called “reasonable” and “moderate” people, and compatible with the ideologies of so many center-left and center-right political parties, Fabian Socialism, unlike soviet-style communism, has exhibited a staying-power already shown to be much stronger than anything revolutionary communism has yet produced. But in recent days we have noticed a radicle shift away from this tactic towards Rothschild funded Zionist Bolshevik insurgency as for the first time in the Fabian history in America, patience gives way to urgency because of one salient factor…a President who for the first time in 250 years has threatened to not only to reverse the Fabian influence, but to also break the elitists three century stronghold.This I believe is the moment the Fabians anticipated when stating, “but when the time comes you must strike hard, as Fabius did, or your waiting will be in vain, and fruitless.” It is this huge threat that has forced their hand as they swing from slow and steady, towards Saul Alinsky’s “the end justifies the means” mantra. (Rules for Radicles ~ Saul Alinsky)The above is just one of the many Marxist publications/Handbooks to which the leaders of the Deep State ascribe. Here is an extract from the chapter entitled “Of Means and Ends”Alinsky puts this in his own words as “He who sacrifices the mass good for his own personal conscience… doesn’t care enough for people to be corrupted for them. The community organizer is given eleven rules for guidance with respect to ethics. (1) The first rule is “One’s concern with the ethics of means and ends varies inversely with ones personal interest in the issue.” That is to say, the more you care about the issue the less you should care about the methods you use to fight for it. (2) “judgment of the ethics of means and ends is dependent on the political position of those making
Election Infection Read More »
It is Finished! The Courage of the Cross. On this Good Friday in San Antonio, Texas, as traffic continues to inch along crowded highways, and stores are pressed to the limit with last minute weekend shoppers, lets pause for a few moments and focus our attention to the penultimate cry of Jesus on the Cross. Of the many lessons that Christ taught us through His life on earth, here is one spoken at His death that resonates in all of us . \”It is finished.\” Interesting that His first recorded words were, \”Should I not be about my Fathers business?\” and among His last were \”It is finished\” Several years ago, Simon and Garfunkel wrote a song about a poor boy who went to New York on a dream and fell victim to the harsh life of the city. Penniless, with only strangers as friends, he spent His days \”laying low, seeking out the poorer quarters where the ragged people go, looking for the places that only they would know.\” Easy to picture him there. Looking for work and finding none he dreams about going somewhere \”where the New York winters aren\’t bleeding me, leading me home.\” He thinks about giving up, going home. Quitting. Something that he never believed he would do. But just when he is about to give up, he encounters a boxer. The words go: In the clearing stands a boxer and a fighter by his trade, and he carries a reminder of every blow that laid him down or cut him till he cried out in his anger and his shame – \”I am leaving, I am leaving!\” but the fighter still remains. Those who remain like the boxer are a rare breed. A colorful character in the world of heavyweight boxing was a close friend of mine, Gerrie Coetzee, three time contender and WBA heavyweight champion of the world, taught me first hand the resilience and tenacity of a boxer. He had a flaw which would be any boxers’ worst nightmare. He had brittle bones in his wrist that were broken in almost every fight he had. He once gave me a plaster cast that was removed from his fist after one of these repairs. Many of his championship fights were won with broken hands. Gerrie would never give up! Though many times his cry may have been the same as the boxers in the clearing, but the fighter still remains. Our human tendency is to quit before we cross the finish line. But not Jesus. I love how this scripture puts it: Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! Hebrews12:1-3 (MSG) Adrenaline into your souls! How we need that! Our inability to finish what we start is seen in the smallest of things. A partly mowed lawn A half read book An unfinished letter An incomplete degree An abandoned diet A car up on blocks An Expired Gym membership Or it shows in life’s most painful areas. An abandoned child A faded faith A job hopper A wrecked marriage An un evangelized world. If I’m addressing someone who\’s considering giving up, I hope I can encourage you to remain. I want to encourage you to remember Jesus\’ determination on the cross. He did not quit. And don’t think for a minute He was not tempted to. Wincing as the disciples backbite and quarrel. Weeping as He sits at Lazarus\’s tomb Wailing as he claws the dirt of Gethsemane. Watching as small groups of Pharisees, scribes and soldiers secretly plot his death. Did He ever want to quit? You bet. Twice that we know of… That is why these words are so remarkable. “It is finished.” Stop and think for a minute what it was that He finished. There is one thing of which I am certain. It was not a cry of defeat. It was the cry of a certain victory. Tetelestai! \”It has been finished\” So what is it that has been finished? In Acts 2:23 Luke says that Jesus was delivered into his sufferings by the determinate council of his Father. Jesus had said upon entering his sufferings \”Father, thy will be done\” and he had said earlier in John 4:34 \”My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work.” Now he is able to say with victory, “Father it is done.” He had carried out his Fathers will to the enth degree. And it was finished. What was it that had been finished? The Old Testament contains no less than 37 prophecies pointing directly to Christ. Seven of these had been fulfilled at Calvary. Now upon receiving the vinegar Jesus realizes that all had been fulfilled and cries out in victory \”It has been finished\” All has been fulfilled. What was it that had been finished? Up till now mankind had been judged under the law. Now the substance had been provided to free man from the burden and the shadow of the law. No more would animal sacrifice have to be made. No more would our access to God be through the priest. The veil of the Temple separating man from the presence of the holy of holies would soon be rent in two. The wall of partition would be taken down. “It is finished.” The price
TETELESTAI – \”It Is Finished\”! Read More »
It is Finished! The Courage of the Cross. On this Good Friday in San Antonio, Texas, as traffic continues to inch along crowded highways, and stores are pressed to the limit with last minute weekend shoppers, lets pause for a few moments and focus our attention to the penultimate cry of Jesus on the Cross. Of the many lessons that Christ taught us through His life on earth, here is one spoken at His death that resonates in all of us . \”It is finished.\” Interesting that His first recorded words were, \”Should I not be about my Fathers business?\” and among His last were \”It is finished\” Several years ago, Simon and Garfunkel wrote a song about a poor boy who went to New York on a dream and fell victim to the harsh life of the city. Penniless, with only strangers as friends, he spent His days \”laying low, seeking out the poorer quarters where the ragged people go, looking for the places that only they would know.\” Easy to picture him there. Looking for work and finding none he dreams about going somewhere \”where the New York winters aren\’t bleeding me, leading me home.\” He thinks about giving up, going home. Quitting. Something that he never believed he would do. But just when he is about to give up, he encounters a boxer. The words go: In the clearing stands a boxer and a fighter by his trade, and he carries a reminder of every blow that laid him down or cut him till he cried out in his anger and his shame – \”I am leaving, I am leaving!\” but the fighter still remains. Those who remain like the boxer are a rare breed. A colorful character in the world of heavyweight boxing was a close friend of mine, Gerrie Coetzee, three time contender and WBA heavyweight champion of the world, taught me first hand the resilience and tenacity of a boxer. He had a flaw which would be any boxers’ worst nightmare. He had brittle bones in his wrist that were broken in almost every fight he had. He once gave me a plaster cast that was removed from his fist after one of these repairs. Many of his championship fights were won with broken hands. Gerrie would never give up! Though many times his cry may have been the same as the boxers in the clearing, but the fighter still remains. Our human tendency is to quit before we cross the finish line. But not Jesus. I love how this scripture puts it: Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! Hebrews12:1-3 (MSG) Adrenaline into your souls! How we need that! Our inability to finish what we start is seen in the smallest of things. A partly mowed lawn A half read book An unfinished letter An incomplete degree An abandoned diet A car up on blocks An Expired Gym membership Or it shows in life’s most painful areas. An abandoned child A faded faith A job hopper A wrecked marriage An un evangelized world. If I’m addressing someone who\’s considering giving up, I hope I can encourage you to remain. I want to encourage you to remember Jesus\’ determination on the cross. He did not quit. And don’t think for a minute He was not tempted to. Wincing as the disciples backbite and quarrel. Weeping as He sits at Lazarus\’s tomb Wailing as he claws the dirt of Gethsemane. Watching as small groups of Pharisees, scribes and soldiers secretly plot his death. Did He ever want to quit? You bet. Twice that we know of… That is why these words are so remarkable. “It is finished.” Stop and think for a minute what it was that He finished. There is one thing of which I am certain. It was not a cry of defeat. It was the cry of a certain victory. Tetelestai! \”It has been finished\” So what is it that has been finished? In Acts 2:23 Luke says that Jesus was delivered into his sufferings by the determinate council of his Father. Jesus had said upon entering his sufferings \”Father, thy will be done\” and he had said earlier in John 4:34 \”My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work.” Now he is able to say with victory, “Father it is done.” He had carried out his Fathers will to the enth degree. And it was finished. What was it that had been finished? The Old Testament contains no less than 37 prophecies pointing directly to Christ. Seven of these had been fulfilled at Calvary. Now upon receiving the vinegar Jesus realizes that all had been fulfilled and cries out in victory \”It has been finished\” All has been fulfilled. What was it that had been finished? Up till now mankind had been judged under the law. Now the substance had been provided to free man from the burden and the shadow of the law. No more would animal sacrifice have to be made. No more would our access to God be through the priest. The veil of the Temple separating man from the presence of the holy of holies would soon be rent in two. The wall of partition would be taken down. “It is finished.” The price
TETELESTAI – \”It Is Finished\”! Read More »
It is Finished! The Courage of the Cross. On this Good Friday in San Antonio, Texas, as traffic continues to inch along crowded highways, and stores are pressed to the limit with last minute weekend shoppers, lets pause for a few moments and focus our attention to the penultimate cry of Jesus on the Cross. Of the many lessons that Christ taught us through His life on earth, here is one spoken at His death that resonates in all of us . \”It is finished.\” Interesting that His first recorded words were, \”Should I not be about my Fathers business?\” and among His last were \”It is finished\” Several years ago, Simon and Garfunkel wrote a song about a poor boy who went to New York on a dream and fell victim to the harsh life of the city. Penniless, with only strangers as friends, he spent His days \”laying low, seeking out the poorer quarters where the ragged people go, looking for the places that only they would know.\” Easy to picture him there. Looking for work and finding none he dreams about going somewhere \”where the New York winters aren\’t bleeding me, leading me home.\” He thinks about giving up, going home. Quitting. Something that he never believed he would do. But just when he is about to give up, he encounters a boxer. The words go: In the clearing stands a boxer and a fighter by his trade, and he carries a reminder of every blow that laid him down or cut him till he cried out in his anger and his shame – \”I am leaving, I am leaving!\” but the fighter still remains. Those who remain like the boxer are a rare breed. A colorful character in the world of heavyweight boxing was a close friend of mine, Gerrie Coetzee, three time contender and WBA heavyweight champion of the world, taught me first hand the resilience and tenacity of a boxer. He had a flaw which would be any boxers’ worst nightmare. He had brittle bones in his wrist that were broken in almost every fight he had. He once gave me a plaster cast that was removed from his fist after one of these repairs. Many of his championship fights were won with broken hands. Gerrie would never give up! Though many times his cry may have been the same as the boxers in the clearing, but the fighter still remains. Our human tendency is to quit before we cross the finish line. But not Jesus. I love how this scripture puts it: Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! Hebrews12:1-3 (MSG) Adrenaline into your souls! How we need that! Our inability to finish what we start is seen in the smallest of things. A partly mowed lawn A half read book An unfinished letter An incomplete degree An abandoned diet A car up on blocks An Expired Gym membership Or it shows in life’s most painful areas. An abandoned child A faded faith A job hopper A wrecked marriage An un evangelized world. If I’m addressing someone who\’s considering giving up, I hope I can encourage you to remain. I want to encourage you to remember Jesus\’ determination on the cross. He did not quit. And don’t think for a minute He was not tempted to. Wincing as the disciples backbite and quarrel. Weeping as He sits at Lazarus\’s tomb Wailing as he claws the dirt of Gethsemane. Watching as small groups of Pharisees, scribes and soldiers secretly plot his death. Did He ever want to quit? You bet. Twice that we know of… That is why these words are so remarkable. “It is finished.” Stop and think for a minute what it was that He finished. There is one thing of which I am certain. It was not a cry of defeat. It was the cry of a certain victory. Tetelestai! \”It has been finished\” So what is it that has been finished? In Acts 2:23 Luke says that Jesus was delivered into his sufferings by the determinate council of his Father. Jesus had said upon entering his sufferings \”Father, thy will be done\” and he had said earlier in John 4:34 \”My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work.” Now he is able to say with victory, “Father it is done.” He had carried out his Fathers will to the enth degree. And it was finished. What was it that had been finished? The Old Testament contains no less than 37 prophecies pointing directly to Christ. Seven of these had been fulfilled at Calvary. Now upon receiving the vinegar Jesus realizes that all had been fulfilled and cries out in victory \”It has been finished\” All has been fulfilled. What was it that had been finished? Up till now mankind had been judged under the law. Now the substance had been provided to free man from the burden and the shadow of the law. No more would animal sacrifice have to be made. No more would our access to God be through the priest. The veil of the Temple separating man from the presence of the holy of holies would soon be rent in two. The wall of partition would be taken down. “It is finished.” The price
TETELESTAI – \”It Is Finished\”! Read More »