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The Gospel in Song (during Super Bowl)

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On February 9, 2011

In Christian

During the 2011 Super Bowl XLV halftime show, the Black Eyed Peas with R&B star Usher and former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash, entertained millions by featuring the following setlist:
1. I Gotta Feeling
2. Boom Boom Pow
3. Sweet Child O’ Mine
4. Pump It
5. Let’s Get It Started
6. OMG
7. Where Is The Love? and
8. The Time (of our life)

One of the controversies before the game was that the ‘Look Up John 3:16’ ad was rejected to be aired during the Super Bowl game, but unbeknown to many, closer review of the events on this day, show that each song in this set list that was featured during the same Super Bowl game could be used with the other to unfold the very essence of John 3:16; God’s beautiful story for the Salvation to mankind. Continue reading for to see how.

We have been having  The Time (of our life) as in the time of Noah, ignoring and disobeying God’s commands and indulging in sinful wickedness, only to become a prisoner of a war (POW); a war between God and evil that began in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:15). I Gotta Feeling that there is something horrendously wrong with this sinful lifestyle of mine and I see that validated from the Bible, which states that the wages of sin is death (Boom Boom Pow). Oh My God (OMG), what can I do? is my cry. We have refused or rejected the Faith, and we do not have Hope nor Love. Where is The Love? I ask, and hidden in the Scripture (Bible), I hear God’s still soft voice, say, “I have sent you my Only Begotten Sweet Child O’ Mine, who is called Jesus Christ and all who believe in Him shall not perish (i.e., be  no longer a prisoner to death) but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16). Why did God do this? Because He loved each one of us very much. Jesus Christ was God’s response to man’s groaning and cry – Where is The Love? Jesus is God’s gift to mankind. For the wages of sin is death (Boom Boom Pow), but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23). He sacrificed Himself so that we would not have to pay the penalty of our sin. His love for you made Him endure our Cross and He who knew no sin, was imputed our sin on Himself, separating Him from God, a agonizing experience in which He had to cry out OMG, OMG, why have you forsaken me? (Matthew 27:45-46). God (the Father) forsook God (the Son) so that He would not have to forsake you and me.  To God be the glory! for this provision, He has made possible, through Jesus Christ, for the problem of our sin. All we need to do is accept this gift of God, by believing in Him. So Let’s Get It Started. Delay no further, for now is the accepted time; now is the day of [your] salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). And when we believe, let our lives change and let us love the Lord our God, with all our soul, strength, mind and heart and let us love our neighbors as ourselves (Luke 10:27). Let every pump of our heart (heartbeat) out-pour this story of God’s love for and to mankind. Let us Pump It (share) with those who have not yet heard it. Only then can we truly say that we are in deed having The Time of our lives.

‘Look up John 3:16’ ad was rejected but in the Song setlist is hidden the Gospel of Truth. There is no stopping God’s message. His Word does not return void (Isaiah 55:11) and shall accomplish that which God pleases.

Point(s) to ponder:

If you have never accepted this free yet costly gift of God to mankind, then you can receive Him today.
A – Acknowledge the need you have for a savior.
B – Believe in Jesus Christ, God’s gift for the salvation of the world.
C – Confess with your mouth your sinfulness, for He is faithful and just to cleanse us of ALL unrighteousness.

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

John 3:16-17 (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Born Once, Die Twice; Born Twice, Die Once

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On January 4, 2011

In Christian

‘Born Once, Die Twice’; ‘Born Twice, Die Once’ is the essence of the teachings of a Jewish carpenter, Jesus Christ, who is the only one known to have divided human history into two; before his death (B.C) and after (A.D).

All who are born in this world are conceived in sin (Psalm 51:5) and since the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23); physical birth (first birth) is subject to physical death (first death) and spiritual death (second death).

But when one believes and puts their trust in Jesus Christ, they are born again. This spiritual birth (second birth) ensures us that we will all have eternal life and that death (first or second) has no power or control over those who have accepted Jesus Christ, as their personal Lord and Savior. Unless, one is born again, they cannot see the kingdom of God; they cannot have eternal life (John 3:3,16)

Ye must be born again (John 3:7). Are you born again? Remember, ‘Born Once, Die Twice’; ‘Born Twice, Die Once’

John 3:1-21 (KJV)
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Romans 3:23 (KJV)
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:23 (KJV)
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Cross-in Destiny

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On December 30, 2010

In Christian, Christmas

Recently I came across a painting called “Destiny” which I believe appropriately captures the intent of Christmas. It had the following words inscribed underneath it. “Most of us spend our lives seeking our destiny. One Man [Jesus] created His own. It began in a manger and led to a cross, and it included you. You too have a destiny, and someday … someday soon, your destiny will cross with His.”

Do you know what your destiny is and has it crossed with His [Jesus’]? Without Christ Jesus and His cross, one has no destiny. Our destiny must cross in with His. His included you, does yours include Him?

John 3:16 (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Image Source: Kingdom Galleries

Give Life For

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On May 14, 2010

In Christian

Colossians 2:13 calls out two characteristics of the work of Jesus Christ, first the Quickener or the one who makes alive a.k.a. the Life giver and second the Forgiver.
What is interesting to note is that in these two functions of the work of God, we are revealed that Jesus Christ is a giver; a LifeGIVER and ForGIVER.

God so loved the world that he GAVE his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish (i.e, is FORGIVEN) but have eternal life (i.e., is GIVEN LIFE).
We are forgiven because Jesus was given for us!

Jesus GAVE His LIFE FOR us; the question that remains then is Can we Give Our Life For Him?

Colossians 2:13 (KJV)
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened [made alive] together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

Water – satisfying and purifying LORD

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On August 18, 2009

In Christian, The Elements

The fourth and final element in our series is Water.

Recently as I watched an episode of  “I shouldn’t be alive” covering the lives of certain folks lost at sea, and how their desires for water after the second or third day started to drive some members delusional leading eventually to their death as they hallucinated seeing land in the open ocean and trying to swim to it. This got me thinking about the length of term that one could possibly stay alive without drinking water and from the Holy Scriptures I read that for a period of forty days and forty nights, Moses did not eat any bread or drink water (Deuteronomy 9:9) as he went up to the mountain to receive the tablets of the covenant of the LORD. I wondered as to how Moses could have stayed alive and without being able to rationalize in a human sense, how this could have been possible, I had to remind myself of the words of Jesus, that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4) and that Jesus is the giver of living water and whoever drank of him shall thirst no more (John 4:14). It was the Water from the Rock (Jesus) that sustained and saved the Israelites as they trekked toward the promised land, led by God’s servant, Moses. (Numbers 20:7-11)

Water not only satisfy one’s thirst, but it also purifies (Number 31:23). When Naaman the leper immersed himself in water, his skin was purified and he was made into a new creation with skin as if it was like that of a child (2 Kings 5:14).

Just as water is essential for physical survival, Jesus, the Living water is essential for Spiritual survival. Despite the fact that the human body is composed 90% of water, we still need water to live. Despite the fact that we are made in the image of God, we need the expressed image of invisible God (Colossians 1:15), who is Jesus Christ to live eternally (John 3:16).

Jesus is THE ELEMENT, the LIVING WATER that satisfies and purifies us making us a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) when we believe in Him.

Jesus Christ, God’s Gift; THE PRESENT to mankind

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On August 11, 2009

In Christian, The Gift

If I was to ask you as to what the gift of God is toward mankind, the chances are that your answers may be one of the following – salvation, eternal life, a restored relationship with God, all of which are scripturally correct, but how often do we think of the gift of God is the person of Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh for us.

I can’t quite remember who it was that first said that the gift of God is an INCREDIBLE, INDISPUTABLE and INDISPENSABLE gift, but believe that the inspiration was truly divine. Jesus Christ, God’s gift The PRESENT to mankind is One you and I can freely receive and cherish. Jesus Christ is truly Incredible, Indisputable and Indispensable.

Incredible because of His

  • Origin from God (For God)
  • Overflow of Love (So)
  • Object of Affection (The world, you and me)

Indisputable, because He is

  • Definite (That)
  • Sacrificial (He Gave)
  • Unique (Only begotten Son)

Indispensable, in that He

  • Reaches all of Humanity (Whoever believes in Jesus)
  • Rescues from Hell (Shall not perish)
  • Redeems us for Heaven (but have eternal life)

Have you received this Indescribable Gift?

John 3:16 (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

The greatest story

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On June 13, 2009

In Christian

For God – the greatest Lover
So loved – the greatest degree
The world – the greatest number
That He Gave – the greatest act
His Only Begotten Son – the greatest gift
That Whoever – the greatest invitation
Believes – the greatest simplicity
In Him – the greatest Person
Shall not perish – that greatest escape
But – the greatest difference
Have – the greatest certainty
Eternal Life – the greatest destiny

From “All the Greatest” by J. Edwin Hortell

For related reading, see GOSPEL defined

GOSPEL defined

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On June 6, 2009

In Christian

God so loved the world, that he gave his
Only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
Perish, but have
Everlasting
Life.

John 3:16 (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Appointment to die ONCE

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On June 5, 2009

In Christian

The Bible records in Hebrews Chapter 9, that it is appointed unto men to die once and then the judgment. The operative word is ‘Once’.
All our us will die one day, unless the Lord returns in his appointed time, wherein those who believe in Jesus Christ to be Lord and Savior will be caught up (raptured) to be with Him.

As I said, the operative word in that statement is ‘Once’. But the Bible also talks about a second death, which is reserved for those who have not accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and believed in Him. It must be recognized that while the first death is appointed, the second death is a verdict upon judgment.

The question then is – Not if we will die, but when we will die (first death),  will you and I have to face second death?
He that believes in Jesus Christ shall not perish (face second death), but have eternal life (John 3:16).

For a related reading, see Are you Afraid or Are you Ashamed to Die?

Hebrews 9:23-28 (KJV)
23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Revelation 21:7-9 (KJV)
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.|
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Mission 3:16

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On February 10, 2009

In Christian

16

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