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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue # 785 April 18, 2003 Good Friday? Good Friday is a time when many Christians remember the pain of the Lord on their behalf. He suffered and died for us. I sat here this morning trying to comprehend the feelings of the apostles and other followers of Jesus as they watched their Lord die on a cross so many years ago. I thought about the times I have attended the funerals of friends. That helped some, especially the funerals of non-believers. There is a difference between the funeral for a believer and a non-believer. When a believer goes home to be with the Lord, I know there is no more pain or suffering for them and that I will see them. When a non-believer passes on, I know their chosen destination is eternal torment and separation from God. The disciples didn't yet understand the resurrection because on the day He died, Christ was yet to rise again. They must have felt despair something like that I feel when a non-believer passes, but it would have been more intense. I thought about the very blackest moments of my clinical depression, those times when there seemed to be no hope. The times when I was so overwhelmed that I can't even make the decision to stand or to sit and would end up collapsing on the floor in tears. Those days are long past...controlled by a combination of healing, deliverance, medication and a more balanced life-style, but I still remember them well. Everything the followers of Christ had hoped for seemed to have been snatched from their hands in the space of a few hours. They must have felt totally overwhelmed as well. I remember the times I have lost a job and the panic of wondering how I would make ends meet. I remember the shame of being fired and wondering how I would come home and tell Kathy. The apostles must have felt similar panic. They must have felt a similar shame as they thought of going home and telling people that the Messiah they gave up everything to follow had just died on a cross. Being on the other side of the resurrection, I can only speculate how they felt. I know they weren't rejoicing. With all the pain they mist have felt at watching their Lord die, I have often wondered what was so good about Good Friday. Without the tragedy of the cross there would be no hope for any of us. The tragedy we remember on Good Friday is in fact a victory. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace Ephesians 1:7 NIV In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Hebrews 9:22 NIV But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ Ephesians 2:13 NIV Not only did the cross set us free, it brought God glory. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11 NIV Good Friday is good because it represents a victory for all who would accept Jesus. Without it our future would be darker than anything the disciples felt on that day. Until next time, remember that He paid the price for your sins on that cross so praise His name. Be blessed. Hallelu Yah (Praise God)! Kevin YOU ARE Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour you are free. You were bought with the very blood of God. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. You have value in the eyes of God so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You can simply begin the relationship by honestly and completely opening your heart, admitting you need God's help, and saying a prayer along the lines of: Jesus: I have made many mistakes in my life and done things I am not proud of. I have sinned. I need your love and forgiveness. I believe that you came into this world and gave your life on a cross to pay for my sins and that you defeated death and rose again. Please forgive me, and be the Lord of my life. I give my life to you Lord. Amen If you pray this prayer for the first time let me know so I can rejoice with you. Did you know that at Gleanings, we have a dedicated team of prayer warriors and all prayer concerns are kept strictly confidential? Your comments, your questions and your joys are shared with the prayer team, to keep me accountable as the head of the ministry and to encourage them as they see God at work in your life. As with prayer all these things are kept confidential within the Gleanings team. To share your questions, comments, thoughts, prayer concerns and praise reports email us If you enjoyed this issue of Gleanings From The Word, email it, in its entirety, to a friend. For information on use of Gleanings in your church newsletter or other situations please visit the permissions page . You can write to us at Gleanings From The Word Ministries International 114 Oak St Sherwood Park, AB Canada T8A 0V8 © 2003 K.F. "Kevin" Corbin Gleanings From The Word Minististries International - All Rights Reserved
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