What Happened on the Cross Isaiah 53: 4 – 6

Isaiah 53: 4 Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was on him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

One of the distinct memories I will carry of the second time around with breast cancer is the number of people who prayed with and for me. Several times in my hospital room, on the phone, in the emails and cards, once even at the Dollar Store, many I knew, some I didn’t. It was a blessing that I will ever be grateful for to our God and to those of His people who know the value of speaking with the Father on behalf of another. Prayer does change things, circumstances, and people. One of the most frequently quoted Scriptures during those prayers was the final part of verse 5…and with His stripes we are healed. I stand here before you today as testimony that our God does heal, does perform miracles. I took a brief look at information about survival rates after first and second occurrences of cancer – needless to say, it is only by God’s grace and mercy that I am still here. But the thought, the challenge, the question I’d like you to consider today – is that what that verse is for? Is this about the healing of our bodies or the healing of our souls?
Consider what the verses say we need to be healed from: Verse 4 griefs and sorrows, that is: anguish, heartache, woe, misery; sadness, melancholy, depression..sickness in the heart and the soul. Does sickness in the body create this? Yes it does, but if only the body is healed without the healing of the sin sick soul then we are healed and healthy sinners still on our way to hell. Those observing Jesus thought He was taking on all that suffering because God was punishing Him for something He had done. Isaish says “not so” that was your misery He took on. Verse 5a reinforces that idea, our transgressions and iniquities caused Jesus to be bruised and afflicted. Listen to Matthew Henry’s words about these verses: “Our sins were the thorns in Christ's head, the nails in his hands and feet, the spear in his side. He was delivered to death for our offences. By his sufferings he purchased for us the Spirit and grace of God…” Jesus took the punishment, the chastisement that was required by our Father God in order for us to be at peace with Him. He who knew no sin became sin. Every one of those stripes Jesus took He took for all of our lies, all of our cursing, all of our envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. Our immorality, adultery, fornication, homosexuality. Our gossip, slander, pride, arrogance and boasting; disobedience, faithlessness, heartlessness, and ruthlessness.(Rom 1:24 – 30). By His stripes, we are healed.
Finallly verse 6, just in case we didn’t get the message and think this is referring to everyone else and not to me. Isaiah compares us to sheep..”all we like sheep”..”every one, each one to his/her own way.” There is no getting around it. There is no way to escape or avoid the fact. I, you, me, we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God yet God has laid the iniquity of us all on Him. By His stripes we are healed.
Sickness and disease exist because of the presence and impact of sin on our natural world. But Jesus did not die for the purpose of saving our bodies. Jesus died to save our souls. The part of us that will live on forever in eternity. Can He physically heal us? Absolutely. Is He willing? Without question. Did He suffer, take those stripes on His back, endure crucifixion, bleed and die because of sickness and disease in our bodies? I think not. Did He rise from the dead with resurrection power so that I wouldn’t have to be sick? I repeat as I started. I am a living, walking, breathing testimony to the healing power of Jesus Christ active in this body.
But His stripes, saved my soul,
His stripes and His crucifixion delivered me from eternal Hell,
His stripes, His crucifixion, and His shed blood cleansed me from my sin
His stripes, His crucifixion, His shed blood and His resurrection have given me the victory.
I am healed today saints, but the healing in my body is not even half the story – it is the liberation, the freeing of my soul from the grip of sin that is the whole story. By His stripes I am, I am healed. I am healed.

Christ Lives in Me

Gal 2:20 (NKJV) 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Christ Lives in Me!

Walking around this verse during the week created a "wow" that is comforting, humbling and a bit overwhelming. I love the idea of the nearness and closeness of Christ but feel the press of responsibility to live the kind of life that reflects His presence in me. A few thoughts on what Christ brings to my life:

L - He loves me
I - He gives me insight through His Words
V - He give me the victory
E - He gives me eternal life
S - He gives me security

Those things just scratch the surface of describing the blessings that come from His presence in our hearts. I am praying for a match between His life and mine. What do you want from Him? As always thanks for listening. Be blessed. Leslie

August 10—16 We Die With Christ but Live by Faith Galatians 2: 20

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Christ Lives in me.

Have you ever given that serious thought? Jesus Christ the Lord of all lives in me. He has residence in my heart and makes Himself manifuest to me by His Spirit. I am never without His presence. He is always available to me. He is always active and working on my behalf. He is with me every moment of my life. What an awesome blessing.

Lord, I praise and thank you for being with me. You are God and yet you love me. How I thank you. I pray that each and every person who reads these words will feel your presence and the comfort and joy of knowing you. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Be Blessed. Leslie

August 3– 9 Trials Make Us Grow Up James 1: 2– 4

Trials Make Us Grow Up
James 1: 2– 4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Counting - Knowing - Growing

We can count on it. Trials will come. James says - don't be surprised or think it's some strange thing that should not be happening to you. In fact, he says, "count it all joy". Rejoice? Yes, be glad that God has seen fit to provide you with an opportunity to grow. Just like the little seedling in our picture, growing strong through adversity.

Knowing this, knowing for sure that's it's coming, knowing for sure that it's for our good (remember Romans 8:28) we can weather the storm. Runners sometimes practice with ankle weights on. When the weights are off their feet can fly and they can run faster. So it is with our souls, when the weight of trials has passed, when the darkness has given way to light, then we can fly, we can soar, we can mount up on wings like eagles.

Growing up. Becoming mature and settled and steadfast. More and more conforming to the image of Christ. Is that easy? No, of course not, but it is worth every effort. Let us pray for each other. As always, thanks for listening. Be Blessed. Lesile

August 3– 9

Trials Make Us Grow Up

James 1: 2– 4

Psalms 119:71 says "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes".

Wow! Now there's an eye opener! It is good for me that I have been afflicted so that I can learn.

It seems like everyday you talk to someone else who is being afflicted; who is going through some type of health or family issue or job issue. After I passed the golden age of 50's it seemed like everything started going down hill. I was always hurting, always at the doctors office. I seemed to be hurting from head to toe and most times I don't tell anyone because they wonder, "You sick again?" Have you ever just stopped and asked, "God, what is going on?" But I'm learning that it's not what I'm going through but how I'm going through it.

James 1:2-4 says "Count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations, knowing that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work that ye might be perfect and entire, lacking nothing." So, we are to rejoice in our infirmities. In all things we are to give thanks because that is the will of God concerning you.

Sometimes you may find it hard to give thanks and to 'count it all joy' when you are in the middle of a trial but faith in God knows that you are more than a conquerer. So whether in the body or out, you are a winner anyway! So rejoice in your trials and let God get the glory out of your living.

As you meditate on being a winner this week, let these scriptures minister to your spirit, ...that ye might be perfect and entire and not lacking in any area of your life. Be blessed, Love Evangelist Dorthy

Psalm 119:71

It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

Romans 5:3-5

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Romans 8:35

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Romans 8:13

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Romans 8:18

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

2 Cor. 1:3-4

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

2 Cor. 1:7

And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

Eph. 3:13

Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

The week of July 27-August 2, 2009 we meditated on God Limiting Our Temptations. Boy, we know about those don't we. It seems that daily something is coming against us to tempt us to do wrong. It's a never ending battle for sure. Sister Leslie brought out that point that temptation takes you to an opportunity to sin whether it is sex, lying, stealing, covetousness, greed, pride, uncontrolled anger or any other sin. Let's look at that uncontrolled anger.

The scripture says "we are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; "

A lady in my sunday school class brought out this wonderful point about when she want to give people a piece of her mind. Sometimes we are tempted to do that. We get so angry about the way things are going, that sometimes we just NEED to tell people how we feel. So we think. However, she said that the holy ghost gave her the revelation that "when you give people a piece of your mind that you are actually giving them YOUR PIECE OF MIND." Piece of mind is the most valuable thing we have. You never want to give in to temptation where you allow Satan to destroy your piece of mind. As you meditate on the word of God, use these handy scriptures below as your ammunition and reinforcement. Replenish your ammunition with the word of God. Have a blessed week!

Proverbs 25:28

He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

1 Cor. 10:13

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Hebrews 2:18

For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.

Hebrews 4:15

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

James 1:2-3

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

James 1:12-14

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

2 Peter 2:9

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

Proverbs 16:32

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

Evangelist Dorothy