Children's Bread and Confession of Faith

Children's Bread

But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs. And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.

Mark 7:27-28

Give us this day our daily bread.

Matthew 6:11

Children's Bread

Series 4.1.13 - #13

The Cross of Death Is a Table of Living Bread and Living Water

(Part 3)

January 13, 2006

Allow your ears to be opened so that you might hear the crowd against me. Receive spiritual eyes so that you might see executioners nail me to my cross. Open your ears and hear the mockers laugh while blood flows from my body. Behold them lifting me up from the earth on the staff of redemption, an old rugged cross of judgment and condemnation. Naked, accused, condemned, and full of agony, I hung for you. Death came slowly as my mind raced along the time-line of love for those who gambled for my garments. In the face of hate, my mind flowed with love for the whole world. With power from on high, I hung with victory in my being. Finally the victory cry was uttered in the face of defeat, and love won the battle against hate. Life did not leave my body before my humanity allowed life’s love to invite a repentant thief to enter into paradise. I forgave my accusers and my executioners. Into the realm where my spirit had never soared, I released it to the Eternal Spirit in total confidence and without fear or regret. While I thirsted, I refused to accept man’s way. While I pained, I refused to soothe my aches with man’s way. By grace, I endured my cross while draped with shame. With my heart encompassed with shame, I endured my cross for the joy I saw before me. I could have refused death, but you would have been left under death’s decree and judgment; therefore, I accepted the taste of death for you. I opened up myself and swallowed death in victory. Through my system came the disease of sin and death. Your lot came upon me and righteousness consumed your judgment as justice was satisfied and your debts paid. Why weep about doing the will of God when you have been loved in this manner?

Behold my manner of death and lose your self-righteousness and fears in the power of this death, my death, and not your self-righteous works. My darkness became your light. My burial in a borrowed tomb became your place of birth. The spirit of God, which is the spirit of Christ, raised me from the dead. Those who are mine seek after this spirit that they also may be raised. Will you seek a resurrection by the hands of man and your own works, or will you accept the gospel that is declared to you by the spirit?

Behold my death, burial, and resurrection. This is my gospel and there is no other. Arise, repent, be baptized, and receive the spirit of Christ. This is the avenue of the true gospel. If you have traveled another path, then you are deceived. Believe the truth, obey the truth, then will you be truly free.

Amos 3: 7 - 8

Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. The lion hath roared, who will not fear? The Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?

SCRIPTURAL VERIFICATION

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.

(Romans 10:8-10)

CONFESSION

OF FAITH

Series 4.1.13 - #13

Words of Light Upon the Face of Ignorance, Self-righteousness, Spiritual Pride, and Wastefulness

(Part 3)

January 13, 2006

I allow my ears to be opened so that I might hear the crowd against the Lord. I receive spiritual eyes so that I might see executioners nail Jesus to his cross. I open my ears and hear the mockers laugh while blood flows from his body. I behold them lifting him up from the earth on the staff of redemption, an old rugged cross of judgment and condemnation. Naked, accused, condemned, and full of agony, Jesus hung for me. Death came slowly as his mind raced along the time-line of love for those who gambled for his garments. In the face of hate, his mind flowed with love for the whole world. With power from on high, he hung with victory in his being. Finally, the victory cry was uttered in the face of defeat and love won the battle against hate. Life did not leave his body before his humanity allowed life’s love to invite a repentant thief to enter into paradise. Jesus forgave his accusers and his executioners. Into the realm where his spirit had never soared, he released it to the Eternal Spirit in total confidence and without fear or regret. While he thirsted, he refused to accept man’s way. While he pained, he refused to soothe his aches with man’s way. By grace, Jesus endured his cross while draped with shame. With his heart encompassed with shame, he endured his cross for the joy he saw before him. He could have refused death, but I would have been left under death’s decree and judgment; therefore, he accepted the taste of death for me. God opened up himself and swallowed death in victory. Through his system came the disease of sin and death. My lot came upon him and righteousness consumed my judgment as justice was satisfied and my debts paid. There is no need to weep about doing the will of God when I have been loved in this manner.

I behold Jesus’ manner of death, and I lose my self-righteousness and fears in the power of this death, his death, and not my self-righteous works. His darkness became my light. His burial in a borrowed tomb became my place of birth. The spirit of God, which is the spirit of Christ, raised him from the dead. Those who are his seek after this spirit that they also may be raised. I choose not to seek a resurrection by the hands of man and my own works, but rather to accept the gospel that is declared to me by the spirit. I behold his death, burial, and resurrection. This is his gospel and there is no other. I have arisen, repented, been baptized, and received the spirit of Christ. This is the avenue of the true gospel. If I had traveled another path, I would have been deceived. I have believed the truth and obeyed the truth. Now I am truly free.

Hebrews 10:22 - 23

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

2005---------2006

A Living Word Publication