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3rd October 2007

Two Sides of the Cross

Hi Guys

This is the 2nd part of the low-esteem response. This one is related to the Vision of the African Boy that Vicki shared.

T
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The dark ones fall as lightening every day as we daily raise the banner of our King up high within our hearts.

Where shall we flee from the presence of our King? To whom shall we run too? Even hell cannot hide me away from Him.

His Presence of Power & Light infiltrates every cell; breaks through every barrier.

Do you not think that Apostle Paul had flashbacks of the people he had killed? Do you not think sometimes he thought about Stephen and what he had done?

But he had a response: 1 Tim 1:12-15 KJV
12: And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has enabled me, for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
13: Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it in unbelief.
14: And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
15: This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of of whom I am chief
16: Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all long suffering, for a pattern to the which should believe on Him to life everlasting.

1 Tim 1: 12-15 Contemporary English Version
12: I thank Christ Jesus our Lord. He has given me strength for my work because He knew that He could trust me.
13: I used to say terrible and insulting things about Him, and I was cruel. But He had mercy on me because I didn't know what I was doing, and I had not yet put my faith in Him.
14: Christ Jesus our Lord was very kind to me. He greatly blessed my life with faith and love just like His own.
15: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." This saying is true, and it can be trusted. I was the worst sinner of all!
16: But since I was worse than anyone else, God had mercy on me and let me be an example of the endless patience of Christ Jesus. He did this so that others would put their faith in Christ and have eternal life.

Here are the two sides of the Cross! Paul pre-Cross & Paul post-Cross.

Paul had an inadequacy because of his past: he was a murderer. This was Paul pre-Cross.

We all have our pasts. Some of us were blasphemers, others thieves, others fornicators, others into witchcraft etc... Many had fallen victim to our wiles, and we also have been hurt by the wiles of many.

Yet Paul shows us the way out of this chain of despondency: "I obtained mercy". He had a secret: there is a post-Cross Paul. None could condemn this one who now rested in the work of the Saviour!

There is nothing you can do after coming to Christ that will make Him love you more or love you less!

What then this our cowering in despair?
What then this continual wallowing in lowness?

It is not for you to do - it is for Him to be allowed to perform in you.

Is our God not Mighty enough to save? Is He not Faithful enough to heal us from our pain? Is He not Powerful enough to cleanse us from every vestiges of darkness?

Arise and Shine! Christ will give you Light! And His glory will lighten upon you.

Brethren, we are saved by His life. (Rom 5:10). That Life is both in His Blood and in His victory over physical death.

So we see two sides of ourselves in Christ's Cross - embrace the side unto Victory. Don't embrace your dark side!

Tony

Related: 2007 Depression figures by Occupation (So you know this is a "Huge" issue.)