He reached out His arms and said....

I love you

By: Dr. Jeff Fuller

 

Today is Good Friday and on this day in history Jesus Christ died at the age of thirty three years of age.  He died on a Roman stake, on a hill called Calvary, as His mother and the disciple named John watched in horror as the event unfolded.

 

On that day, there were others who were present at Calvary as Jesus was crucified.  Among those numbered on that hillside were rulers who mocked Him, the soldiers assigned to do the dirty work, Simon the Cyrenian, two thieves who were on His right and on His left, the Centurion guards, and a multitude of onlookers.  All participated in this execution in some form or fashion.

 

As Jesus hung on that cross, bleeding and dying, He spoke words which give evidence of the great love of His heart.  To those who would perpetrate such an awful crime upon an innocent man, He said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34 KJV)  John Piper writes:

 

“Forgiveness is for the guilty. So when Jesus says, ‘Father, forgive them,’ he means they are guilty. Then when he says, ‘For they don't know what they are doing,’ he must mean, ‘And they should know what they are doing. And they are guilty for not knowing what they are doing.’ In other words, they have so much evidence of the truth that the only explanation for their ignorance is they don't want to see it. They are hard and resistant and have a guilty blindness. That is why they need to be forgiven.

 

One of the thieves who hung on the cross wanted to have Jesus take away his punishment: “If thou be Christ, save they self and us.” (Luke 23:39 KJV)  But the other one said, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” (Luke 23:42 KJV)  To which Jesus replied, “Verily I say unto thee, to day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:46 KJV)

 

There are seven of these phrases or as some preachers call them, “words” found in the Gospel letters.  In Luke, we find three of the seven.  Two we have already covered, but there is one more.  Jesus said, “Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit.” (Luke 23:46 KJV)

 

When Jesus speaks of forgiveness, a guilty man being promised eternal life, and freely giving His life He is saying “I love you.”  He is clearly saying, “My Father loves you.”  Together, Jesus and Father God demonstrated the love they have for mankind by allowing the Son to go to the cross and die for the sin of the world.

 

While Jesus was teaching the people, He made a comment that struck at the heart of all who heard it.  It was something that made a true impact on the heart of people.  Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11 KJV)  On the cross, Jesus demonstrated that love the shepherd has for the sheep.  In the cross, Jesus stretched out His hands and said, “This is how much I love you.”

 

During a three year period He taught the people, instructing them in the love and care of God and why God had sent Him.  In more ways that we have space to share here, Jesus showed the love He and His Father have for the world.  In that time they did not see Him as the promised Messiah of the Prophets; they saw Him as a good teacher, a good man, and someone who could work miracles and wonders-changing water to wine, healing the lame, bringing the dead back to life, and causing a fig tree to die by speaking a word. 

 

Yet, in scripture we learn that this love, demonstrated to the world in the death of Christ on the cross, is extended to all who come after Him.  Over two thousand years ago on this day in history Jesus died.  On this side of Calvary, we look back and see that Jesus loved us so much He gave His life for us.  He was willing to go all the way to rescue me and you from the penalty of death and eternal separation from His abiding love.

 

If that was all there is-if Jesus dying was all there was-then we would be in the same boat with those who profess many other beliefs-but that is not all there is; no, there is more.  Jesus did die; but Jesus rose again from the grave.  Jesus both paid the price for our sin on the cross of Calvary, meeting the demands of the Old Testament law, but Jesus went a step further and on Sunday morning, He awoke from the temporary slumber of death and proved that “death ain’t no big deal.”

 

His death offers us forgiveness from sin; the risen Savior gives us evidence that we will not die, but live for eternity.  This life is not the end, but only the beginning.  We labor and toil here, because we live in a fallen, sinful, sick world; but this is not all there is-there is more, so much more, and for those who have accepted the forgiveness of Jesus Christ, we have eternity awaiting us.

 

Friend, today is Good Friday and Sunday is Easter-Resurrection Day-and both are special days if you know Christ and have chosen His free gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Savior and the Messiah.  If not, then today and this weekend means nothing more than just another weekend to spend time on the lake or in the woods or eating a meal with the family. 

 

Jesus said, “I love you!”  And He proved it by spreading His hands out and allowing His hands and feet to be nailed to old, rough timbers.  For three hours He allowed His blood to freely flow and His body to burn in the mid-day heat of a boiling sun.  All in order to say, “I love you!”  Yet, even though He died on Friday, He rose again to life from the cold, dark, damp grave, to say with a triumph shout, “I LOVE YOU!” 

 

Yes, He loves you.  He loved you so much that He would rather die than live life without you.  Yes, He loves you.  He loves you more than you will ever realize, as He made a way for you to enjoy the fruits of life and eternity.  Yes, He loves you!

 

The old children’s song says, “Yes, Jesus loves me; Yes, Jesus loves me; Yes, Jesus loves me, for the Bible tells me so.”

 

God bless you and keep you, until next time…

Something think about...

 

 

A Nation that Needs God

 

 

Today I wish to share with you an article printed in The Coosa News in August of 2012.  While this article points to some tragic events in the life of our nation at that time, it still speaks to the additional material I wish to share with you today.

 

Please take time to read the following article:

 

When are we as a nation going to learn that life is precious, short, brief and valuable? 

Our kids and young adults are sucked into a world of make believe where there is no danger as they sit with the controls in their hands.  For hours they will sit unmoved as their eyes are glued to a plasma screen participating in a gun fight, a war, a car race, and a number of other things which make them feel as if they are in control and when it is all over they are still standing, unharmed and breathing.

We watch the television shows and movies unthinking, as the drama unfolds and the bad man dies and the good man lives to see other day where he will fight the villains of society once again.  John Wayne, Tom Cruise, Will Smith and Clint Eastwood put on a good show and we applaud as they walk away with a few bruises, but reality is this was a movie set, those were stuntmen involved, and the bullets were blanks.

Yet, what happened in Tuscaloosa and in Colorado in the last few weeks was real and leaves lasting effects.  Those bullets that hit the side of a popular restaurant and those which went through the walls of a theater were real bullets; the pain felt and the death that ensued was real and lasting; the memories and the reminders will flash through the minds of Americans for years to come, especially in the minds and the hearts of those closest to the events which transpired. 

While these two events stand out in our minds, have been covered on media broadcast and are unimaginable, there is something we need to remember, we must consider.  Last weekend, in a seventy two hour period, twelve people died in the city of Chicago.  In Birmingham a young girl died in a drive by shooting.  On July 1, a bright Sunday morning in the suburbs of Mobile, a man strolled into a church service carrying multiple guns, a knife and ammunition. A girlfriend stabbed her boyfriend, who died on the scene in Harpersville, Alabama.

Do not get me wrong, please do not consider me callous, and do not say I am uncompassionate.  It is a sad, sad thing to hear the Mayor of Aurora say that seventy plus people were shot or injured at the theater.  Twelve of that number were mortally wounded, and the youngest being three months old.  I think of the families who rushed to the hospitals to await the news on their loved ones, the ones who ended up taking time out of life to make plans for funerals, and the untold number of people who have been traumatized by a man who no one knows anything about attempting to figure out why he would commit such a violent, senseless act on people gathered for a time of entertainment.

But when I look at the mass shooting, alongside the other things which have gone on in our country, in towns and cities around the nation, I still come back to the same question.  It is a question which still has no answer; no matter how hard, how long, or how involved I become with the thought.  This senselessness in our nation, this willingness to take the life of another living soul, this unending struggle with evil and death at the hands of someone else…It is difficult to wrap my mind around.

Yet, I am reminded in God’s Holy Word that He is still in charge and still sits upon His throne and still observes and directs the lives of men and woman upon this earth.  That is what David writes about:

“The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.” (Psalms 11:4-7 KJV)

We may not understand all things, we may not be able to put the pieces together, but God has a plan and God has a purpose.  He will and does work all things together for His good. (Romans 8:28)  God uses the bad and good in this life to reveal Himself and His purposes, so that He might draw others to Him, His love and His grace covering the hurts and filling the holes of a life that seems meaningless.  We must keep our eyes on Him-the author and finisher of our faith. (Hebrews 12:2)

In the end, this reminder is crystal clear: We must pray for our nation.  As we pray for those involved in the mass shooting in Aurora, Colorado and the ones who now deal with the aftermath, we must lift them up and pray that God will be the comfort and sustainer in their time of need.  We must lift up petitions for all those involved in law enforcement, emergency response teams and elected officials as they deal with the evil that permeates our society.  And we must be ever vigilante in our prayers for this nation, as we seek His intervention in the mess we have made.

Since those events in Tuscaloosa and Colorado, we have seen another mad man commit a mass shooting in an elementary school in Connecticut as a nation stood by somberly and sadly by as children were laid to rest and families mourned the untimely passing of their children.

Our world continues on a path of sorrow and struggles as we move further and further from the truths on which we were founded.  We are to be “One Nation Under God,” a nation who trust God (on our money are the words, “In God We Trust”), reveres God and Godly principles, who lives to proclaim the goodness and grace of a loving, every abiding Father.  Yet, we continue to slap the face of the one who provides for us, turn our backs on Him and go about our merry way without thought that He is in Control of our Destinies. 

All the while our children are dying at the hands of madmen, our educational system is broken, our government is debt-ridden, and people are asking the questions that seem to have no answer.  The problem does not lie in the government, or the educational system, or in gun control, or war-the problem is that America is asking the wrong question.

Take a moment to watch this and listen closely for JESUS IS THE ANSWER!

http://youtu.be/0ifuvuRsv60

There is only one question to ask and that question can and will be answered and that one is: “God will you revive us again?”  David asked that question of God in Psalm 85.  It is here that we find David recounting the goodness and glory of a loving, caring God.  Then he asked the question: “Will thou be anger with us for ever?  Wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?” (Verse 5)

Yes, my friend that is what we are seeing in the world today.  We have turned from the goodness and the glory of God.  We have exchanged the truth for a lie; we have turned our backs on God; and He has no recourse but to release us to our own miserable, pathetic ways.  Therefore, we have the problems we have today because we have become dulled by our own choices and have gone our own way seeking God to bless us in our rebellion.

We need REVIVAL AMERICA!  We must put God back in His rightful place!  We must let Him rule and reign!  We must renew our minds and allow the Word of God to wash over our souls and spirits.  We must turn to Him before it is too late!  We must turn to Him before another madman takes out our precious children; before another country takes us over; before we become like Rome-rotten from the inside.

There is still time!  God is still on His throne and the Savior awaits His release to come make war with His enemies.  God is still calling the lost to His love and the saved to repentance and holiness.  There is still time!  But it is short…

 

Church it is imperative to get on your knees and pray for Alabama!  We need revival!  Our churches need to receive a fresh wind of fire and the Holy Spirit to blow through and relight the embers which have grown cold.  Our people need to see the holiness of God lived within the life of those who are set apart to Him for His service. 

Let us pray and seek the face of God and turn from our evil ways and allow the God of Heaven to hear our pleas, forgive our sin and heal our land. (2 Chronicles 7:14) 

Yes, we are a nation that desperately needs God!     

Praying Across Alabama

Seeking God through prayer for revival and spiritual awakening across our state

What started in the Baptist churches of Alabama on February 24, continues to impact Alabama, as we push toward May 2.  At each courthouse across the state citizens are gathering for a time of concerted prayer, praying to a God who hears and will respond according to His Word and His will.

Here at Rockford, we took time in our morning service to pause and apply the principles of 2 Chronicles 7:14 and seek God for revival in our church, in our town, in our county and in our state.

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV)

 

How we need revival in our land!  We are surrounded on every side by the evil and sin of rebellion and pride, selfishness and apathy.  Within the church and without, there is such a turning away from God as never before seen.  We are seeing such hardness and self-centeredness as never before.  We who are called by God’s name must start with our own lives.

We must take the stand.  We must humble ourselves, we must pray, we must seek the face of God, and we must turn from our ways of sin.  Isaiah says we must seek God while He is found (Isaiah 55:6)  He is in His temple, He is waiting on us, God’s people, to call out to Him.

Are you praying for revival?

For more information, go to

www.alsbom.org

or

www.prayingacrossalabama.org.

 

Spending time with a hero

Tuesday of this week one of my hero’s in the preaching field came to Rockford.  I know that almost sounds too strange to believe, but it was one of those incredible God things; something I would never have dreamed possible.

First, let me tell you about the hero, then I will tell you how this transpired…

Several years ago, as a young preacher boy, a pastor in the area took me under his wing, and introduced me to some of the finer preachers and theologians in the Southern Baptist Convention and some outside of the SBC.  These were men he held in great esteem, men of character and of the Word.

Clifton Brown, pastor of the Second Baptist in Fort Payne at that time, took me to Tennessee Temple, Roswell Street Baptist Church, Woodstock First Baptist, and to the 12^th Street Baptist in Gadsden.  It was in these types of places he introduced me to some of the best, prominent, and humblest preachers of that time.

One preacher he introduced me to caught my attention and I have seemed to follow his ministry through the past 20 plus years.  This fellow was only 10 years older than myself and was already in the upper spiritual circles.  He had already preached before large audiences, spoken in pastors conferences throughout the Southeast and written a book or two.

Danny Lovett was pastor of the Open Door Baptist in Tuscaloosa at the time I heard him preach for the first time.  Growing up in the First Baptist of Fort Payne, I had rarely seen anything like Bro. Danny at that time.  He was loud, he was strong in the Word, pointing his finger, dancing a jig and stepping on your toes.  What appealed to me was his fearlessness in the pulpit.  He was comfortable with the message and was not concerned with the outcome.  His desire was to preach the Word and leave the work with the Holy Spirit.

Through the years I heard him on other occasions.  Once was at Woodstock First, with Johnny Hunt and Bailey Smith.  Bro. Bailey introduced him as the pastor of a church in Alabama that had single-handedly been responsible for closing an abortion clinic across the street from the church.  That is when I realized that Bro. Danny was not only fearless in the pulpit; he was fearless in the marketplace.

Bro. Danny was only in his late middle to late thirties in those days, but God had called him and qualified him, and was moving in his life.  He left Tuscaloosa for Liberty University.  At Liberty he served as Dean of the Liberty Theological Seminary.

Again I followed him each month reading his articles in the Flame.  As a Southern raised boy, he continued his down home approach to communicating, even though he was in a “school of higher learning.”  In reality, academia did not change him or his foundational living; it did give him the opportunity to reach more people with the message.

After a short time at Liberty, he left there and moved to Chattanooga to become the President of Tennessee Temple University.  A school which for years sent out students into the fields of the fundamentalist, independent churches became his new stomping ground.  Bro. Danny took the school to new heights, while increasing enrollment and making the school a viable contender among Southern Schools.  His leadership in the school was excellent, with integrity and professionalism, while demonstrating his favorite motto, “Loving God and Loving People.”

Coupled with the presidency of TTU, Bro. Danny was also Co-Pastor of the historic Highland Park Baptist Church.  This old, old church is a legacy among Baptist.  It was the mega-church during a time when no one even knew or understood that term.  Serving along side Pastor David Bouler, Bro. Danny reached a pinnacle that many men his age only dream to reach.  God had truly raised up a man to lead that great historic church.

Then disaster came, lightening flashed and troubles mounted.  While I have read and followed some of the stories, and will leave them for you to read, I have stood with him and prayed for him.  Much of what has been said or printed is either the medias way of spinning a story or the facts were not complete or accurate.  Yet, when someone desires to bring another down, they will do whatever is within their power to do so; of course the evil one is behind them pushing the envelope the whole time.

It is amazing what evil things people can do to discredit and bring down a man who believes that God has called and who digs in wherever God places him and serves with his whole heart, soul and being.  As hard as it is to stomach something of that magnitude, I am proud to say that my hero is one who rises above that evil and moves forward with the strength and power of the Most High God.

A few months ago one of my church members and a dear friend came to me and told me that Danny Lovett was starting a new church in the Chelsea/Westover area of Shelby County.  He also shared how his brother was involved in this new church start and asked if I would pray for the new work.

I was delighted!  Delighted to pray and delighted that a member of my church had family who was involved in such a wonderful project for the kingdom of God.  Selfishly, I was also delighted to know that I might get the opportunity to actually meet this man face-to-face, my hero in the ministry, one day very soon.           

On Tuesday of this week, that became a reality.  As Chaplain for my dear friend and church member, the Sheriff, I have some special privileges.  From time to time he gives me an opportunity to have contact with distinguished individuals.  Sheriff Wilson asked if I would like to spend a few hours visiting with Danny Lovett in his office.  I jumped at that opportunity!

For two hours I had the opportunity to talk with, visit, eat lunch and pray with a man that for years I have considered a hero.  Bro. Danny is truly a man with a heart for God and for people.  In those few hours I saw why he had not only been a pastor who was sought after for conferences and revivals, crusades and events for years, but also why he had served two colleges.  He has a desire to Love God and Love People!

His work in Shelby County is an awesome undertaking.  He explained to me that within a ten mile radius of the Servpro Training Center, which is being used for their weekly services, there are 80, 000 people.  A staggering number, but to Bro. Danny it is a challenge.  He still believes in knocking on doors and inviting people to come to Christ.  It works!  He said that they are reaching an average of 125 each week and have baptized 25 since the inception of the church a few months ago.

Danny Lovett is a man that is serving God in Alabama.  Will you pray with me for his work and ministry?

Hero’s come in many shapes and sizes.  Some are sports icons, others are political leaders, and still others are mythical creations of Hollywood.  Hero’s may come and go, may fall and rise again for another day, or they may just fad away.  Some people may have one or two; others may have a whole long list of them.  Hero’s are the ones we want to pattern our lives after, men and woman we wish to emulate, or they may be ones that give us courage because we learn from their lives.  In the end, a hero is larger than life.

We all have heroes.  These men and stand out as important figures in our lives.  My list could go on and on.  Clifton Brown, Danny Lovett, Babbie Mason, Gerald Hallmark, Luther Strange, Ruby Self, Dan Ireland, Jimmie Lou Peacock…

Yet, I submit to you that even though I have given you a snap shot of one that I have considered a hero in my life, there is one greater than he; yes, I have a hero that is a Hero of Hero’s.  He is my best friend.  I can go to Him anytime, anywhere and He will listen.  He understands my joy and sorrow, my lows and my highs.  He will never leave me or forsake me; He loves to the uttermost! 

This man was willing to put His life on the line and give it all for me.  He loved me more than life itself, and died so that I might live.  That is a true HERO!  His name is Jesus Christ.  He wants to be your Hero…

“The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  (Romans 10:8-13 KJV)