INJUSTICE

Mark 15:14 ” ‘Why? What crime has he committed?’ asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, ‘Crucify him!’ ” Matthew 27:18 “For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.”

The Scene: The Lady of Justice figure–the scale of justice is broken. The left side which held the weight signifying “EVIDENCE” fell to the ground and on the right side of the scale the weight represents “TRUTH”. Jesus should not have been arrested, for there was no evidence against Him. Yet Pilate, out of fear of the people, had Jesus arrested and executed.

Mark 15:15 “Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged and handed him over to be crucified.”

Again, according to Roman law, Jesus was entitled to have a Roman trial, to find out the Truth. The Pharisees could not execute Him. Instead, a lynch mob of Jews & vigilantes insisted Jesus die on the cross, in keeping with the Old Testament prophecies.

Psalm 22:16-18 “Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.”

Isaiah 53:5 “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

8-135 INJUSTICE

2 Timothy 2:15 “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

The Scene: An Army medic with a Red Cross arm band, helping someone wounded. As Christians we are to study and train for godly service and also pray to God for opportunities to witness to the unsaved.

Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

God prepares us for his service by our experiences. Many go through their “Gethsemane” experience, so that they will be better prepared for life and to perform God’s work, helping others. The Holy Spirit gives us the five-fold ministry as needed:

Ephesians 4:11-13 “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

8-121CHRISTIAN SERVICE

Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

The Scene: A carnival scene- -people on the rides that take them up and down and round and round; representing God’s people who make wrong choices for themselves as they travel on the path of life. Sometimes they follow God’s plan for their lives, sometimes not, mostly seeking worldly pleasures in lieu of God’s treasures. Then when they bottom out they will seek God, praying to our Lord Jesus Christ for His help. When God’s people call on Jesus and follow His plan God’s children can find the victory.

Psalm 60:12 “With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.”

God’s Word is true. We can trust Him.

Romans 8:9 “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.”

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

8-133 OVERCOMING

Galatians 6:9-10 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

Scene: A woman hoeing her garden. She is loosening the dirt around plants and pulling out weeds that are encroaching upon her expected crop, careful not to disturb the plants’ growth. She does this work daily. The plants are straight and tall, green, flourishing, well cared for, in her garden.

The vision represents the bride of Christ, who works diligently to see that their gifts of the Holy Spirit, given to them by Father God, grow stronger in their lives (as mature Christians will try to do in obedience to the Spirit’s leading).

Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

We must be diligent with continual effort, even when we are tired and weary of doing good, day in and day out working for God’s kingdom in our ministries. The Holy Spirit says, ‘My people must be obedient so that they may be rewarded by Me, in this world and in the next.’

Hosea 10:12 “Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes, and showers righteousness on you.”

8-130 RIGHTEOUSNESS

Matthew 5:13-14 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.”

The Scene: A block wall of salt being built with God’s light shining thereon.

The Holy Spirit shows us the walls (spiritual) that He has put around all His people (born-again believers) all those He calls His own. Like the wall of salt ,this wall glistens in the light of the Son (Jesus Christ) shining so brightly that sinful man cannot look upon it for long. Your house on a hill and its wall can be seen plainly, because God’s light will illuminate His people in the spiritual realm.

Phillipians 2:12-15 “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed–not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence–continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.”

8-131 SALT AND LIGHT

1 Peter 5:8-9 “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

The Scene: A fishing boat sitting low in the water, bobbing up and down– the boat has run out of fuel.

The enemy is a liar; resist him, stand firm. If Christians listen to the enemy they will be led away from their relationship with Father God and His Word. Speaking to the Pharisees at the temple, Jesus said to them, “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44

In this vision, the skipper of the boat debated whether or not he should fill the fuel tank on the boat before going out. The Holy Spirit had spoken to him and advised him to fill the tanks with fuel before leaving. As he pondered, another voice said to him, “Go right now! The fish are biting now. You have enough fuel.” The foolish captain listened to the latter voice. Now he is stuck, out of fuel far from shore.

The Holy Spirit was sent by Father God to the Church when Jesus was resurrected from the grave and ascended into heaven. Beginning at Pentecost (50 days after Jesus went back to the Father) the Holy Spirit came among the 120 who were told by Jesus to wait in the upper room for the Counselor who will come and help to guide the Church into all truth.

John 14:15-17 “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever–the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”

John 14:25-26 “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

Jesus gave us a helper and He said He would never leave His Church without help.

8-126 HOLY SPIRIT

Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

The Scene: USA army, A-1 Abrams tank, slowly advancing against the enemy, firing its cannon and machine guns intermittently. Behind the tank walking in place is a lone soldier representing the Body of Christ, the Church, hidden from the enemy’s return fire. The tank symbolizes Jesus the Christ, our Savior and Protector, going before the Church to fight the enemy, satan. We follow Jesus spiritually in the shadow of the power of His might.

God’s Word tells us to be strong, standing firm, going forward, dressed in the whole armor of God, while the battle is the Lord’s. Ephesians 6:11;14-17 “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Stand firm, then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

2 Timothy 4:18 “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

God wants us to remember when we are in a spiritual battle, that we are to be strong and courageous, because we trust in God and His Word, which is all Truth.

The enemy has many helpers both spiritual and human, but we need not be afraid. Christians can bind the strongman, the spirit of fear, away from ourselves and others, and loose the Holy Spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. See 2 Timothy 1:7.

8-127 DIVINE PROTECTION

Matthew 25:20-21 ” The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘You entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ His master replied, ‘Well done good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ “

The Scene: A large gift box–represents God’s rewards to us when we do His will. The purple color surrounding the gift from God is symbolic of the Holy Spirit who encapsulates the gift.

Numbers 18:6-7a “I myself have selected your fellow Levites from among the Israelites as a gift to you, dedicated to the Lord to do the work at the Tent of Meeting. But only you and your sons may serve as priests in connection with everything at the altar and inside the curtain. I am giving you the service of the priesthood as a gift.”

When we are given something to do by the Lord (a task or ministry) He gives us a gift; when we do as He commands we are rewarded. God has given us His heart, His One and Only Son–who has sent His Holy Spirit– and that is all we need to be equipped for doing God’s will.

John 14:15-17 “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever–the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”

8-129 REWARDS