Instead, Jesus tells us that we should pray in quiet to God. “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:5, NIV). We shouldn’t take this too literally though and say that we will shut out everyone else and never pray in front of other people. In fact, we as believers are encouraged to gather together frequently and pray. “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20, NIV).

What Jesus is trying to say is that when we pray we should be able to examine our hearts at the same time and find out what is in them. Do we pray because we want recognition from other people? Or do we pray because of an honest desire to get closer to God?

I personally believe that everything that we do in God’s name is a prayer. So whether we are working on a Church project or leading worship, it is all a prayer to God. In the same way then, we should look deep into our hearts and decide that we do not desire earthly rewards in doing these things. Jesus, in Matthew 6:1 reminds us to “be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your father in heaven”.

A common thing that happens to people who claim to do God’s work is that they sometimes forget by whose power it is that they are able to do those things. A great outreach activity would be nothing if God did not give you the ability to organize them. Leading worship would just be plain entertainment if you are not doing it to glorify God. You can have the best singing voice and the most talented musicians and still fail to give praise. Sometimes even the things with the nicest intentions fail to give glory to God because we are doing it in search of our own credit. We look for the acknowledgment that we can get from people; we put value in the compliments they throw our way. The sad fact is that sometimes we want ourselves to shine instead of paving the way for people to know God better.

We are nothing apart from God. We are weak and inadequate. And no matter how hard we try to do something, it will not be possible unless He wills it. Let us remember then to give credit where credit is due. And that is to God, who makes all things possible for us.

-Romans 5:1

The blood, agony, and torture of the cross of Christ are well known, even to unbelievers and adherents to other religions. The Cross, however, was far more than mere historic melodrama. Its significance lies not in the emotional experience of the participants but in the reality of what God accomplished through His Son’s death.

At the cross of Calvary, sins were forgiven. The penalty of sin was death. Christ suffered that divinely decreed punishment on our behalf, thus enabling God to forgive us of our transgressions based on Christ’s sacrifice.

At the Cross death was defeated. Since Christ tasted the bitter dregs of death at Calvary and rose again three days later, death no longer reigns over those who trust in Him. Christ triumphed over the grave, and we who come to Him for salvation share in that awesome conquest.

At the cross of Christ, the three mortal enemies of humankind- sin, death, and the devil- were confronted and defeated by the Son of God. Jesus took your sins on Himself at the cross. He bore God’s judgment of death on your behalf, as your substitute. God’s uncompromising wrath against sin was satisfied. You have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light, from the dominion of sin to the dominion of God.

The cross of Christ appears unimportant to many cultures today mainly because of the time of its occurrence. “How could the death of a Jewish carpenter on the Roman cross two thousand years ago affect my life today?”  This reasoning confuses the significance of the Cross.

When Christ died is not the central issue. How Christ died is not the essential meaning either. He died on a cross, but had God desired, His son could have died another way.

The question, who was executed on the cross made the significance. Only God Himself was qualified to be our substitute on Calvary. The cross is relevant for every man, woman, and child in every age because there at the cross, the eternal God died on our behalf so that we might receive His gift of everlasting life.

The Cross is removed from a purely historical perspective when we realize that we, too, are involved in its ageless liberation. The apostle Paul informed us that by God’s unfathomable working, we were included in the Lord Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.

We have been crucified, buried, and raised with Christ. Through faith in Christ Jesus, each of us has died to sin and been joined within him to become “a new creature” (2 Corinthian 5:17).

Perhaps you have viewed the Cross with supreme sympathy for our suffering Messiah but never understood what His death entailed. If so, realize today that on the cross Christ died for your sins and overcame death. Come to Him for forgiveness of your sins, and gain the gift of eternal life.

The next time you look at a cross, wear it around your neck, or see its imprint, remember that sin was judged, death slain, and the devil conquered at Calvary.

]]> http://greatisthelord.net/blog/584/what-really-happened-at-the-cross/feed/ 0 http://greatisthelord.net/blog/481/deity-of-jesus-proof-for-you-and-me/ http://greatisthelord.net/blog/481/deity-of-jesus-proof-for-you-and-me/#comments Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:50:59 +0000 Bobbie http://greatisthelord.net/blog/?p=481

So what’s keeping you from believing that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God? The Gospel of John was written so that we may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him, we will have life (John 20:31).

Because right thinking equals right behaviour, what a person believes about Jesus becomes the most important thing about that person. The reverse is also true: wrong thinking equals wrong behaviour.  If you do not believe that Jesus is God, then you will think you do not have to practice His teaching nor obey His commands. But if you believe that Jesus is God, then you will worship Him and will desire to know Him.

If you don’t believe that Jesus is both fully man and fully God as John clearly states, then I encourage you to continue reading this article.

Jesus has no equal. His life, teachings, death and resurrection prove beyond doubt that Jesus is the Son of Man and the Son of God. As proof that He is God, Jesus performed many miracles. In John 2:1-11, Jesus was invited to a wedding. When the wine ran out, His mother told Him about it. Jesus told the servants to fill some water jars with water, and then to take some and to present it to the master of the ceremonies. When the master of ceremonies tasted it, he exclaimed, “A host always serves the best wine first. When everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!” Friends, Jesus turned the water into wine! This was His first miracle documented in the Gospels.

Do you want to experience God’s miracles in your life? You will notice in the story that Jesus was willing to attend a party. Through this account, the Bible reveals a different Jesus. Most of us think Jesus is always solemn and serious and that to be spiritual is to have nothing to do with laughter and fun. Jesus was in the world but not of the world. Sinners spent time with Jesus because He welcomed them. Yes, He spoke and ate with them, but He did not sin. Jesus made Himself available, even for sinners.

So, invite Jesus. He is always available for you. If Jesus made Himself available to attend a wedding party, He will show up in whatever situation you’re in if you ask Him to. Invite Jesus to be at the center of your life. Keep in mind, though, that just because Jesus is present does not mean you will not experience problems. In the story, the bridegroom ran out of wine. That was a cause of social embarrassment, and Jesus’ presence in the wedding did not prevent such things from occurring. But just like Mary did, we can also come to Him and present our concerns.

In the Old Testament, wine represented abundance and joy. Do you want joy and abundance in your life? Do you have situations in your life that you want to be changed into better? How about relationships with difficult people? Is there some sin in your life you have not been quite able to conquer? Has your family become dysfunctional? Do you need a miracle? Invite Jesus. Tell Him your concerns. Trust Him. And finally, obey Him.

So, what do you believe about Jesus? Take another look at that list again. This is the most important thing in your life, my friend. If you have come to believe that Jesus is God, and He is the Savior, invite Him into your life right now. Confess your sinfulness to Him. Trust that He died to take away your sins. By His grace and power, you can begin to live a life of obedience to Him. And ultimately, give all glory to Him: Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God!