New Covenant Provided by the Blood of Christ

This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you . . . knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold . . . but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. (Luk_22:20 and 1Pe_1:18-19) The well-known Lord's Supper words from Luk_22:20 remind us that the glorious riches of grace found in the new covenant are all purchased by the shed blood of Jesus Christ, as He died on the cross for us. "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you." Customarily, believers in Christ think of forgiveness of sins when they hear these words. Forgiveness is certainly included in the blessings secured by the death of our Lord. Notice, however, that Jesus did not say "this cup is forgiveness in My blood." He said, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood." The new covenant is far more than forgiveness of sins. As previously indicated, the scriptures reveal that the new covenant has three basic areas of blessings. First is the forgiveness of sins. "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more" (Heb_8:12). Second is an intimate relationship with the Lord. "All shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them" (Heb_8:11). Third is an internal work of God producing an increasingly godly life in and through us. "I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts" (Heb_8:10). The word of God further confirms that all of these grand blessings depend upon God's provision, not our performance. "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God" (2Co_3:5). How can it be that such measureless spiritual abundance becomes ours through the new covenant of grace? Well, consider the amazing and effective redemption price paid to establish this new covenant. "Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold . . . but with the precious blood of Christ." This new covenant was not purchased with limited earthly wealth, like silver and gold. Rather, it was paid for by infinite heavenly treasure, the blood of Christ. No wonder the new covenant provides such amazing and effective resources for all who depend upon the One who died for them. One final reflection — realizing all that the cup of the new covenant represents can turn the Lord's Supper from a "religious snack" into a "spiritual feast"!


Dear Heavenly Father, You have surely provided for me grace upon grace - - complete forgiveness, intimate relationship, divine enablement! Yet, how could any less be supplied by such a rich price! Lord Jesus, thank You for pouring out Your life's blood to make such irreplaceable necessities available to me. Father, please bring to my remembrance day by day the wondrous riches of the new covenant that You want me to draw upon by faith, through Christ, my Lord, Amen.

ANSWERED PRAYER PROMISED IN JESUS NAME!

And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. (Joh_14:13-14)
We who belong to the Lord have a great invitation to thoroughly express our hearts to Him in humble, dependent prayer. "Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him" (Psa_62:8). We also have a great need to be speaking to Him. "Without Me you can do nothing" (Joh_15:5). We also have great promises of answered prayer. "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do . . . If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."
When the people of God are prayerless, they do not receive from the Lord all that He wants to give to them. "You do not have because you do not ask" (Jam_4:2). At times, God's children pray, but they still do not receive from the Lord. "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures" (Jam_4:3). Their prayers are anchored in their own will and interests. True praying is to be anchored in the will of God. "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him" (1Jo_5:14-15).
At this juncture, the scriptures are vital in our daily prayer life. God's word directs us in praying according to the will of God. "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you" (Joh_15:7). As we are abiding in (depending upon) Christ, we will be wanting His word to have full sway in our lives. As we are consistently getting into His word, the scriptures are shaping our thinking and our desiring. Consequently, we ask what the Lord is teaching us to desire. In that beautiful biblical setting, He promises to give us whatever we ask.
All of this describes the essence of praying in the name of Jesus. Praying in Jesus name is not merely a formula of words with which to conclude our prayers. Whether we verbalize that phrase or not, it is about praying as Jesus would pray (always concerned about the will of His Father). It is about praying based on all that the word teaches about the person and work of the Lord Jesus on our behalf. Those who pray this way enjoy the certainty of these great promises of answered prayer, and they see much glory brought to God. "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."

Lord Jesus, thank You for these great promises of answered prayer. Teach me to pray in Your name. Please shape my praying by all that Your word reveals concerning Your will and Your work on my behalf. In Your precious name, I pray, Amen.

NEW CREATURES IN CHRIST!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2Co_5:17)

Everyone who is "in Christ," through faith in His name, is a "new creation." We are new people. We are no longer who we were before we put our trust in the Lord Jesus. We are not the old person reformed or improved; we are a "new creation." Yes, we have the same body, but that is a mere tent in which we dwell. "For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" (2Co_5:1).

Some day in glory, we will trade this temporal, earthly tent for an eternal heavenly one. Meanwhile, though we live in the same old tent we had in Adam, we are new tenants, a "new creation." We may have the same old physical brain, but we are learning to think an entirely new way. "We have the mind of Christ... be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Rom_12:2 and 1Co_2:16).

Christ lives in us, and His Spirit also dwells in us. His Spirit takes the word of God and unfolds the thinking of our Lord for us. As we embrace God's way of thinking more and more, we are transformed to walk in the newness that is ours in "in Christ."

In all the ways that matter before God, "old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." The old guilt is replaced by new forgiveness. "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus... in whom we have... the forgiveness of sins" (Rom_8:1 and Col_1:14).

The old foolishness is replaced by new wisdom. "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God... But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God" (1Co_3:19 and 1Co_1:30).

The old unrighteousness is replaced with new righteousness. "All our righteousness's are like filthy rags... For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (Isa_64:6 and 2Co_5:21).

The old hope of changing (self-help) is replaced by new hope of changing (sanctification, God changing us). "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength... You are in Christ Jesus, who became for us... sanctification" (Jer_17:5 and 1Co_1:30).

This is grace upon grace.
O Lord, my hope, I thank You for making me a new person in Christ. Please strengthen my heart to spend time in Your word that I might hear more of these grand truths. Lord, I yearn to walk in more of this rich newness of life, in Jesus name, Amen.

What is the condition of your altar?

WHAT IS THE CONDITION OF YOUR ALTAR?

1 KINGS 18:30 - THEN ELIJAH SAID TO ALL THE PEOPLE , "NOW COME TO ME," SO THEY GATHERED AROUND HIM, AND ELIJAH REBUILT THE ALTAR OF THE LORD WHICH HAD BEEN TORN DOWN.


AN ALTAR IS A PLACE SEPARATED FOR WORSHIP UNTO GOD, A PLACE WHERE PRAYERS AND PRAISES ARE OFFERED. IT IS A PLACE OF REFUGE AND A PLACE OF COMFORT FROM THE TROUBLES OF THIS WORLD. IT IS A PLACE TO HUMBLE YOURSELF, TO OFFER THANKS AND TO MAKE VOWS. IT IS A PLACE WHERE YOU SOMETIMES HAVE TO CLIMB MT. MORIAH AND OFFER UP YOUR ISAAC. IT IS A PLACE WHERE YOUR LIFE IS CHANGED AND YOU CAN DISCOVER YOUR DESTINY. IT IS A PLACE WHERE SINNERS BECOME SAINTS AND SAINTS ANSWER THE CALL TO CARRY THE GOSPEL TO A WORLD THAT IS LOST AND DYING.

HAVING AN ALTAR IS SO MUCH MORE THAN PRAYING FOR FIFTEEN MINUTES EACH DAY. IT IS A PLACE WHERE EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY NOT EVEN SAY A WORD, THE PRESENCE OF GOD SURROUNDS YOU. IT IS WHERE YOU CAN DIE AND FIND LIFE ABUNDANTLY. IT IS A PLACE OF DEDICATION AND CONSECRATION WHERE YOU LAY YOURSELF ON THE ALTAR AND SAY "I AM YOURS, GOD, YOU MAY USE ME AS YOU CHOOSE." TO SOME IT IS JUST A PIECE OF WOOD BUT TO ME IT IS A PLACE WHERE OUR SINFUL WOMAN DIED AND WE CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE.

WHY AN ALTAR? WITHOUT IT WE ARE CONFINED IN OUR MINDS, STUCK IN THE WORLDLY WAYS, AND THOUGHTS, THERE IS NO FEELING OF RELEASE OR SENSE OF CLOSURE FROM THE OUR SINS. THERE IS A DEEPER SENSE OF COMFORT AND FORGIVENESS.

ITS LIKE WHEN YOU TALK TO YOUR PARENT YOUR SO CLOSE TO OR A BEST FRIEND ON THE PHONE, IT IS NOT THE SAME AS SEEING THEM FACE TO FACE, AND FEELING THEIR TOUCH, YOU GET A BETTER SENSE OF ATTACHMENT AND LOVE THEN ON THE PHONE, AS I FOR TOLD HAVING AN ALTAR IS NOT LIKE PRAYING FOR 15 MINUTES EACH DAY IT IS RATHER WHERE YOU CAN GO AND JUST SIT IN COMPLETE SILENCE AND YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN IS RIGHT THERE HOLDING YOUR HAND, CATCHING YOUR TEARS, SOOTHING YOUR PAIN, RENEWING YOUR HEART, BUT BEST OF ALL WE ARE GETTING TO KNOW HIM EVEN MORE EACH TIME.


ELIJAH CONFRONTED THE PROPHETS OF BAAL.

VERSE 30 TELLS US THAT BEFORE ELIJAH TOOK HIS TURN TO APPEAL TO HIS GOD,
"HE REPAIRED THE ALTAR OF THE LORD THAT HAD BEEN BROKEN DOWN' BY THE PROPHETS OF BAAL. THE FALSE PROPHETS OF BAAL HAD SPENT MOST OF THE DAY DANCING, CUTTING THEMSELVES, AND DESPERATELY TRYING TO GET THE ATTENTION OF A GOD THAT COULDN'T HEAR THEM.
BUT BEFORE ELIJAH SOUGHT AFTER GOD, HE KNEW HE NEEDED TO REBUILD THE ALTAR. WHY, BECAUSE BEFORE A SACRIFICE COULD BE MADE OR BEFORE GOD COULD ANSWER ELIJAH'S PRAYER IN A MIRACULOUS WAY, BEFORE THE PEOPLE COULD EXPERIENCE REVIVAL, ELIJAH HAD TO FIRST REPAIR THE ALTAR.

WE NEED TO ASK OURSELVES WHAT IS THE CONDITION OF OUR ALTAR? IS IT TEAR STAINED? IS IT SATURATED WITH YOUR CONSECRATION AND SELF-SACRIFICE? IS IT WORN FROM USING IT SO MUCH? OR IS IT A LITTLE DUSTY? MAYBE IT HAS BEEN MOVED FROM A PROMINENT PLACE TO A BACK ROOM? MAYBE IT IS BROKEN DOWN FROM DISUSE, MAYBE IT HAS BEEN THROWN OUT ALTOGETHER? JUST AS ELIJAH DID MAYBE IT IS TIME FOR SOME OF US TO REBUILD OUR ALTAR. IF WE DO, JUST AS GOD DID FOR ISRAEL, HE WILL MEET US THERE AND THE MIRACULOUS WILL HAPPEN.

His mercy endureth forever!

We don't choose the person who sits beside us at work, the uncle we've become related to by marriage, or the neighbor who just moved in next door. We cant control the choices of wayward children or wayward parents or wayward friends. What pleases God is our mercy toward the ones you haven't chosen. They may be fallen, struggling, disappointing, or downright embarrassing. Maybe one is the stranger who rear-ended you in the parking lot. God loves it when you give to anyone the mercy he has so freely extended to you.

When your soul is being perfected by mercy, judgment fades. The rules don't matter as much, and what everyone might think becomes ridiculous. You become tender toward people in sin, the snare of addictions, and the depths of pain and suffering. On the other hand, life gets messy when you become merciful, and some people won't understand. (they didn't understand Jesus either) Some will jusge-bank on it. Someone will doubt your motives or your radical choice to extend mercy. Give on, because blessed are the merciful.
I expect that no matter how much you give, you will always receive more than you have given. God's mercy accounting is amazing. But one warning: Mercy won't let you hold onto your legalism or value rules more than you should. Mercy might make you uncomfortable and blow away the box you've drawn around God. If you become merciful, things are going to change. You are going to look into the eyes of people and hurt for their pain. You are going to hear yourself offer light into their darkness. You will start to love the unlovely.

You will be a lot more like Jesus that way. What satisfaction to know that although it is not easy to be merciful like this, but it is not easy learning to ride a bike or tie our shoes but through this very Jesus like act we receive the satisfaction to know that we become more and more like him. God is so wondrous and amazing to me.

Melissa Harris

We never know when it is our time.

Just recently I lost my step-father. It was the first time in my life ever that i truly understand that hey we never know when our time is, and so the bible says in Ecclesiastes 3 there is a time for every thing. In the same book chapter 12:1 it also says "Remember your creator while you are young, before the days of trouble come and the years when you say "i find no pleasure in them"....

We all mourn differently but instead i have realized that death isn't such a bad thing, it is all in God's plan and we are warned to enjoy life a life that pleases him that is, so when we do go, no matter how young or old, it is because it was time He always does things on time.
I thank him for the time I have been given and my children have been given to enjoy my step-father's spirit, his love and knowledgeable nature. I understand that God remembers that we are all dust and will return that way. I just pray that the people that don't know Him, try to understand, and understanding comes with faith, faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen, ask for understanding because not always what His words say is what it really means.
I have lost so many people sisters, grandparents, uncles, aunts, step-father, and only now are my tears comforted by him because i see it now, they were before but i didn't allow him to comfort me or even in my heart, instead i blamed Him and was angry at Him.
What a blessing it is to be able to understand that EVERYTHING IN OUR LIVES GOOD OR BAD HAPPENS FOR THE GOOD IN GOD, GOD ALWAYS HAS A PLAN.
My mother lost her best friend Jan 27/2009, God is treating with her even if she truly does not see it right now, it is up to her to allow Him to use her, otherwise He will keep treating with her. Death in my eyes is really life, if we know Jesus and are baptized in His name. Acts 2:38.

Thank you Father for you Mercy and Grace, for the understanding of your word. For all the troubles and joys you bless me with each day. I pray Lord that you bless my mother, give her peace in her heart, wash her lord, renew her heart, forgive her for her faults, help her to be more like you God.
Amen.

God speed to Him rest in peace Andy Cohoe Jan 27/2009

I am blessed!

I am so blessed and thank full for His grace and mercy, not that I am at all deserving of it and he knows this yet he continues to pour his grace and mercy out on me. He remembers that I am just dust yet He continues to bless me.
For many years I recall the times I would sit and wonder, why had my life been so drastic, what was the purpose of being abandoned as a child, or molested, abused physically, emotionally, forgotten, unloved by my own mother or at least that is what it felt like. Having to grow up without structure or to take care of myself, at such a young age, going through many of the sins in this world, to say the least, this is just a small list of the trying things I have endured in my life, and here I sit not like most crying for sympathy, blaming my parents or others, yet I have come to the realization that My Lord has only giving me what He knows I can handle, it is my recipe, many may not have been my choices or even my mistakes, but I have been given them to live by, through, and with. He brought me out of all of these messed up situations and alive and still loving Him, what a blessing, Thank you lord for the understanding and wisdom to know that you are always blessing me and trying to have me use the very ears you have blessed me with to hear You.

Today, I am where no one I am sure would ever have thought i would be. Blessed with a wonderful christian husband, and a very faithful and loving christian family. A mother I have never really had, a spiritual guider that is not just my pastor but my father-in law, and family members to lean on in times of crisis. Yes I wish that my own family that I have been blessed with did not judge me so that it prevents us from even sitting down together anymore, but they do, still this doesn't keep me from praying even more for them, and wishing for them to one day see the truth and hunger and thirst for Him the way I do, they way He wants us to.

I am blessed with the very air I breath, all I have ever wanted was a baby, a loving husband whom showed me and told me how he loved and and how beautiful i was to him, and a close loving family, yet God has blessed me with 8 kids, more than a loving husband, and a family that sadly enough loves me more than my own. All i can say is I am not worthy, I am not worthy, but he chose me, and I will work for Him and tell of Him until he takes my last breath, and stops blessing me.

I am blessed just to know that Jesus Christ is Lord, blessed blessed blessed!

Prayer!.

Prayer, I at times wonder why is seems to be such and intimidating, and unclothing word for some. Even the bible says that "the fervent prayer of a righteous man, prevailith much!" So when we pray continuously and believe our prayers are answered, yes. And if not this simple yet complex sentence doesnt make you see, then why not the miracles of the people spoken about in the bible that believeth so much and prayed fervently and received, do these help you see what is right in front of you and so simple. Most of my favorite testemonies in the bible are that of the prayers. Take Hannah for instance, so heart broken she prays. How long has she asked for a child? Tears spill over as she mutters a prayer from the depths of her soul. "Lord All-Powerfull, remember me and dont forget me. If you will give me a son, I will give him back to you all his life." Each year they would travel to shiloh to pray, worship and offer sacrafices. It was there that Hannah would plead again with the Lord for a son. Some people thought that she was drunk and accuse her, "No sir," Hannah says, troubled at his accusation. " I was telling the Lord about all my problems. I have been praying because I have many troubles and am very sad". It was that very prayer that gave her what she so desperatly wanted, a son. When all seemed hopless, Hannah perserved in prayer . Why cant we be as patient as Hannah when we pray for a specific need or desire, lets not give up. Furthermore why be so afraid of prayer, or is it not the prayer that is really intimidating but the All powerful Lord and his judgement that will come beside your prayer and weight at your heart with the fear of your sins overweighing the chance of and answered prayer. It is simply said " His love is everlasting and His mercy is neverending, Yes he is the only Judge but he manifested Himself into flesh, and lived to die for us so that our sins shall be forgiven, so why yes, fear Him as the bible warns, but not prayer.
Prayer is powerful, when we just believe, faith comes through believing, faith is the substance of things "Hoped" for and the "Evidence" of things not seen, so in lamen terms, you must believe that He is there and hearing your prayers for anything to happen.

I was told once by a family member in times of trouble i said i will and have been praying for you, and they very defensively suggested I not do that, for it would cause bad karma, what is karma, clearly there a lack of belief in the all mighty, surely we dont enjoy a life full of pain, and suffering, loss, and disapoinment. So then why not pray.

I like to say that we need not make time for praying, yet pray and make time for the rest.

In His hands!

I am here in this world of wonders , of pain and sorrow, of needs and wants, of the lost and needy, of the forgoten and needed. I have the revelation that nothing is possible without God, that everything is possible in God. I have rested in him and give thanks for the troubles as well and equally with my happiness. I know that all things work for the good in God. So basically all things good and bad that happen in my life are for the good. My God is always trying to talk to me, to us, but like the bible says we have ears to hear so hear with them. I have been blessed with the understanding of God's love, of his mercy of which both are undying, never ending. We live in a world of greed, lust, pain, terror, sickness and much more, but only a few chosen ones will really see the light at the end of the tunnel per say. I have had a hard time understanding why people say how could and why would God, a God of love let these "things" happen. Why does he let us breath the very air we breath? Every day is a blessing, a gift, a very treasure to be thankful for, because of his mercy and love we live today, every ounce of Pain, every tear full of sadness shed He is yelling out to us, Seek for Him and He will bless you, Just because I have God in my life faithfully, so faithfully some might say i have no other life, but they don't understand that He is my very life, just because of this doesn't mean that i have no troubles, because i do and I am very thankful for them because these very troubles are what teaches me to be patient and that i need not just love Him when He gives me what i want. I was laying and thinking about my "father" in heaven and said to myself if i could have but one wish i would wish for you to hold me in your Hands they are so great, and comfort me with your wings, and then i realized something, (another revelation) He is holding me in His hands, all the time, i am under His wings all the time, I am always on His mind, i was in His thoughts before i was even born. What a wonderful Father we have. The bible says "I will never leave you, your mother or father might abandoned you but I will never Leave you My child" but what i was really wanting was that same touch of the women that was hemorrhaging for so many years and knew that with her faith that if she could just touch his garments that she would be healed and she was. How precious is the lamb. My father manifested Himself into flesh to live to die for me, for us, He was crucified on the cross, and shed the very blood that washes me clean, that gives me eternal life. How could one, hold a new born child, or read their favorite book, wake up to the sunshine, feel the drops of rain on ones face, or the winds blow through your hair, taste so many flavors of ice cream, hear your favorite music, but not realize the very miracles of the one whom gives them. Because we simply as foretold in the book of life we live in a world of greedy, lustful, proud, selfish, violent, cruel, carnal people to say the least that have forgotten or just do not want to know the very reason why they wake up to the sun, and breath the air, how sad, we don't appreciate anymore the simple truth.

Just my mind wondering with many thoughts letting them out as they come.

Thank you my father for the undying everlasting love and mercy and grace that you so freely give to those who want it... I know that i am so unworthy but yet you pour out your love on me...how beautiful is that..Unconditional love is Our God, Christ Jesus.