Our politics fail, but the Cross will not!

Christ on His Cross did far more than politics has ever done.  The Cross if you will, can do more positive today and in the future than all politicians put together can do.  Systems, companies, Gov and people you really trust can fail you.  You know that's true.  It's painful at times, but Christ won't fail you.  He can literally save you for all eternity.

Ultimately it's Your deal, God, this whole salvation thing.. but we do want to be a part of what You're doing here. Yes Lord, let that daily be my motto for life. What a joy and huge privilege we have! But our friends and family members are on our hearts, so please help us continue to share Your Word with power as we preach the Cross. I can't change people and with Your help won't try. But You can by the Cross. That's where the power is. Thanks for being alive again. Our leaders have let us down, we've let ourselves down.. but You never have. We trust You to use us as part of the Solution, when too many vote-ignorant, exist that way, and opt to be part of the problem. In Christ's Name. Amen.  

"It is not before us, but before the Cross that the world trembles." ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Rescued: By Jesus' love;

Rescued: For life above;

Rescued: To serve my King;

Rescued: My praise to bring. ~ Verway

Today, we live in a Land of fear, but the Bible tells us to fear not. 

NEW POLL: 64% of Americans Believe that America is 'Out of Control'. #YaThink http://t.co/Q6p7HG8ueq 33/1-25two.chro.
— Kurt von Schleicher (@kurtwvs) October 20, 2014

We have Isis, lack, a lame economy with this great recession, joblessness, Ebola, wide open boarders and uber-zealous Muslims and Mexican gangs entering at will.. with up to 34 MILLION blank green cards and work permits being ordered ahead of our leader's imperial edict of forced illegal immigrant 'amnesty.' How is it there in your nation, family and personal life? 

"Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob." 114/7ps

"The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, but the righteous are bold as a lion." 28/1pro 

"By this we know love, because [Jesus] laid down His life for us." 3/16one.jn.

I love the Cross cuz I love the Lord. When people were stuck with their prob, drowning in our sin, the Father gave His best. Jesus Christ was sent. He came and gave His life just to come to our aid. You and me and our friends were the ones that He came to rescue. From dead inside to life.. He made us. He came down from heaven above and pulled us to safety. He did this by vicariously taking our place.. by taking the punishment at Calvary for all of our wrongdoings as He died on the Cross (1 Peter 2:24). And three days later He emerged; He was resurrected so we can enjoy life everlasting. The Bible says, "By this we know love, because [Jesus] laid down His life for us" (1 John 3:16). Jesus' sacrificial love for us now motivates us, compels us, sends and inspires us.. to go show genuine love like He did.. "in deed and in truth" (v.18), yes, to others with whom we have relationships.

As we read through the Bible we see glimpses of the Cross in past history.. all through it. History is His story. In this current time I see white crosses on churches all over this city I live in, this city with so many streets and avenues named after Bible places and people.

Will we as the Lord's church, see glimpses of His Cross in the future that'll remind us of the high price that Jesus paid for us with His blood? Yes, I think we will.

The Bible speaks of our future saying, "And one of the elders said to me, 'Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.' And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain.." 5/6-7rom.

"For I am not ashamed of the Gospel because it is the power of God for salvation to those who believe, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." 1/16rom.

"Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days, Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise." —Smith

Fear not.. knowing Jesus and spreading His Good News is thrilling! The need is urgent. The time is now. God and His purpose hasn't changed. Billions of people across the globe are still waiting to hear the lifesaving Gospel message. The Church is God's Plan A for getting it to them and He basically doesn't have a Plan B. facebook.com/shareJesus

Preach the Cross like Paul did.. cuz the Cross head-on addresses man’s pride, self-righteousness, and rebellion against Authority.

                   Pray, invite, and bring some people with you! 

Yes, bring people to Christ, then to a church where they actually preach the Gospel and cast a net.. yes, bring them to heaven with you. You can't bring your money or stuff there, but you can bring people. How should we do that, Kurt? Simple. Do it confidently in Christ. Let's do it by faith and in His love..without being ashamed or embarrassed about Him. Do it by exalting Jesus. simply tell people of the Good after you explain the bad new of sin and judgement for those outside of Christ. Why do this? Well cuz, "The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed." ~ Hudson Taylor

Let's all know and exalt the Christ of the Cross. Let's make Him known both here and to the ends of the earth as He told us go to do! Let's elevate this priority of all priorities. And today is a good day for this. Are you praying that God harvests America and beyond? More than ever, we need Him to do this. So go tell, adequately explain, tactfully proclaim, make clear ..and even sing new and old songs about the essentially of Christ and His Cross!

Paul said, "For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." 1 Corinthians 1:22-24

My old fleshly nature tells me, Hey Kurt, you don't need to take up the cross to follow the Lord. Pride, says you only need a boost-up from below when we all really need God's darling Son and Savior ..from above. It says you only need elocution, reform, energy from within, education, religion, self-will, or etiquette.

Say bye bye to boasting about yourself. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

The Cross is about the truth of God's love for us, but it also tells us the truth about ourselves—yes, we're sinners in need of a Savior. Not a popular term, that "S"-word.       

On the Cross God opened His arms wide and said I LOVE YOU! Preach the Word of the Cross and about Calvary's blood shed. That's where the power is, and the Word doesn't return void. 

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 nkjv

"I argue that the cross be raised again at the center of the marketplace as well as on the steeple of the church... that Jesus was not crucified in a cathedral between two candles, but on a cross between two thieves; on the town garbage heap; at a crossroads so cosmopolitan that they had to write his title in Hebrew and Latin and in Greek; at the kind of place where cynics talk smut, and thieves curse, and soldiers gamble. Because that is where he died. And that is what he died about... that is where churchmen should be and what churchmen should be about." ~ George MacLeod

Tell em about the Resurrection of Jesus too!!! Over 500 eyewitnesses saw Christ after He came out of that hole in the ground.  

Experience the power of the Cross and of the resurrection. Paul did saying, "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" (Gal. 2:20 kjv). If he can, why can't we deny ourselves and die to our own way? Some Christians today and other religious people as well.. like to wear a Cross (nothin' wrong with that..), but many don't live the Message of the Cross. The later is far more important. Choose not to be like them. Listen, Jesus can fill you with His Spirit and help us live the life!  

"Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart.." 2 Corinthians 4:1

The Church exists primarily to worship and glorify the Lord. We are here to fellowship with God, to win people to faith in His Son, and then of course to biblically disciple em. On the horizontal plane.. the Church is here to be used in sharing the Gospel.. drawin' people unto Christ, and helping each one mature to become more like Christ. You know the truth, but do our friends? Liney and I have been on the phone today inviting people to join us tonight at www.DFW.harvestamerica.com (do get friends to watch online Oct 5 5:30p CT..if you live far away).

"The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became Man for no other purpose." ~ C.S. Lewis

Why tell em about the Cross? Here's why.."The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Meditation. The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." Psalm 9:17

“Just a tiny little boy stood in tears, on a busy street corner, what was he doing here? As he tried to explain, all he knew was his name, but it was late and beginning to rain, so I asked him 'bout the place where he lived. He remembered the old church where the big cross was lit; then his eyes opened wide and he said with a smile, 'If you can get me to the Cross, I can find my way home.'" ~ Terry and Barbi Franklin (lyrics)

We all need to come to the Cross. More than in any other generation gone by, people these days are feeling down. Many have given up. In my Land many have lost their jobs and have quit looking for jobs. Did you know that one in ten Americans are now taking anti-depressant medications, and 1 in 4 women are taking anti-depressant medications? When I come home and watch the news I really don’t blame them. And it’s not at all wrong for some people. Illicit drug use and sales, sure! It’s wrong.

But I’m not saying that anti-depressant medications are wrong for all because I am simply not a doctor. Sometimes medications are absolutely called for. It’s true.

But I say that there is something even more called for than medication ..it’s meditation (upon the truth of the Bible). Yes, this is really called for!

The Bible says, “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.” Proverbs 12:25 nkjv

“Those who love Your law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble.” Psalm 119:165

Today we Ebola here. We see Islamic Isis beheading and crucifying Christians. Erwin Lutzer says, "Right now [by choice for the most part, sadly] we see America in submission to Islam." We see Islamic Isis taking over towns by force in the name of their war-loving Allah. Listen friend, in a world where an estimated 170,000 plus Christians are being martyred for their faith each year, you and I need to hear and apply the truth of God’s word regardless of what happens. We are in the end times.. “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:28

“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. “ 1 John 3:3

Everyone believes in someone or in something. In our day people will worship themselves, another person, money, meth, the waves they surf on, the nature they camp in, a non-existent deity not found in the Bible called Allah, their company they work for, they government that over taxes em, or even tech thinking that will meet all their needs. But Jesus says to all of us, "BELIEVE IN ME.”

It’s really not as hard as people make it. Just have just one clear map, not a bunch of maps if ya will—it's meant to remain simple, never confusing or over complicated. Yes, God the Father has given us a map to Heaven and it’s THE BIBLE. And there is only one way into Heaven and that is through Jesus Christ. By His Cross and resurrection He alone was uniquely qualified to bridge the gap between a holy God and sinful people.. like you and me. You are not your own, you have been bought at a price. So how will you respond to Him? Will you accept Christ, put it off and/or reject Him? 

Why reach out to lost people during the holidays, or on any other day?

Here’s why…

* People are hurting, broken, guilty, lonely, empty and afraid to die.

* People are living in the last days and need to decide. Just look around you to see what is happening and how things have accelerated. And no matter your eschatology one thing is for sure… you and I are living in our last days. Life here is so brief. It’s like a vapor (Ps. 39:11, 62:9, Jam. 4:14)—gone so quickly.  

* People cannot gain and enjoy righteous fellowship with God by money (the God who hates destructive sin can't be paid off), by good works, by suckin'-up or by any other efforts. 

Many people believe that they will have a chance to talk fast and get right with God postmortem (after they die and face the Judge), but it ain’t gunna happen. They Bible makes this clear—gotta make your reservations in advance through Jesus Christ. Remember Lazarus and the right man?  

* People cannot even reach out to God for forgiveness by their own efforts. We all need to respond as the Holy Spirit woos and draws us to Jesus.

* People have value - they matter. Christ reached out and He still deeply loves lost people, wanting each of them to repent, believe and be saved.

* People can have all their needs met by faith in God. True fulfillment, inner peace, eternal purpose, and real satisfaction can only come to a person once they have been forgiven by Jesus.

“When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. "Zacchaeus!" he said. “Quick, come down! For I must be a guest in your home today. Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy.” Luke 19:5-6

The Lord ain’t so much into where a person is coming from as in where that person is headed. He ain’t so much into how much sin a sinner has committed per se, but is very much concerned that all have sinned and all need to turn to Him away from it today. Of course Jesus will accept those who humble themselves in repentance and He will show them his unconditional love as they come to the cross willing to be changed.

* People have great potential - there's potential there for all who are made righteous, that they each will grow spiritually, become fruitful and will be used of God for world-changing exploits—yes, to accomplish great things for the glory of the Lord. Christ catches His fish so to speak and then He cleans them.

That which I used to loath (talk of truth and the things of God), I now love and that which is used to love (sinning) I now loath. Religious folk try to change sinners from the outside in (remember the Pharisees?), but Jesus can change any of us from the inside out.  

“Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have overcharged people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!" Luke 19:8

Witnessing to lost people domestically or overseas.. for the purpose of winning them to faith in Christ (..meaning to the Jesus in the Bible) is the heartbeat of God. It’s the mission of every believer. And newborn baby Christians are the lifeblood of the local church.

Some believers who say they aren’t called to evangelize or discipleship in Christ need to re-read their Bibles. Some with an honest heart might even say they don’t like evangelism, but what they don’t like is some off-base, strange, or religious “caricature of evangelism” that ain’t the soul-winning that Jesus did cuz all true believers really love evangelism the way Jesus won people.

I love how Zacchaeus humbly turned and received Christ. He repented. Repent means to be sorry for what you’ve done and then stop doing it. Too many people confuse feeling remorseful with this, but they are not repentant. I love how Christ dealt with Zac. 

And it all happened so simply rather than religiously. Zacchaeus repented, trusted Jesus and was transformed from greedy to generous, from selfish to selfless, from a person with a thieving heart to one with a heart of thanksgiving. God made him content and changed him from a person of full loneliness to one of true excitement and joy, from one of rejection to one of good acceptance in the Beloved.

“Jesus responded, ‘Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a son of Abraham. And I, the Son of Man, have come to seek and save those like him who are lost.’" Luke 19:9-10

That can happen for you today. It can happen right now! Do you need get right with God? Don’t put it off. Come to Christ just as you are.. before anyone or anything can distract you from this. Nothing, no nothing at all is more important!

I wish there was some wonderful place called the land of beginning again. Where all our mistakes and all our heartaches and all our sickening sin could be dropped on the floor like an old shabby coat and never be put on again. ~ Anon.

Simple talk to Him in your own words. Ask and allow God to forgive you and then make you loving like Christ—one who is strong spiritually and seeks to rescue the lost. He is completely sovereign not kinda sovereign, and He desires to use you in His exciting plan.  

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.'" John 14:6

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

You simply receive Jesus by humble turning and sincere invitation.

Jesus said (in Revelation 3:20), "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him."

It's about turning to God from a self directed lifestyle (repentance) and appropriating His forgiveness for your sins.  It involves trusting Him to transform you and then maturing you into what He wants you to be. Many intellectually acknowledge the facts of Christ's deity (Jesus being God), and about His crucifixion, bodily resurrection and ascension, but agreeing with the Bible alone is insufficient for obtaining salvation.  Having had emotional or supernatural experiences are also inadequate.  By an act of your will, you receive Jesus with His full-orbed redemption by faith and that solely is enough!

Kurt, what specifically are you asking me to do? This...

1. Recognize that you are a sinner (admit your need) 

2. Repent of your sin (be willing to turn) 

3. Realize that Jesus Christ died for you on the Cross and rose from the grave. 

4. Receive Jesus as Lord into your life to empower and control you by the Holy Spirit (through prayer). Stay with Him in fellowship with a Bible teaching church. 

5. Resolve to do it publicly. Everyone, who Jesus called, He called openly and publicly 

6. Respond to Christ now! Why NOW? Because God says now, Today is the day of salvation, now is the acceptable time. The Devil will say “tomorrow,” but Jesus says now.

Biblical “Salvation” begins with:

1. Repentance – a change of mind, we have a new mind about God.

2. Conversion – a change of life, we have a new life from God. 

3. Regeneration – a change of nature, we receive a new heart from God. 

4. Justification – a change of state, we have a new standing before God. 

5. Adoption – a change of family, we get a new relationship toward God. 

6. Sanctification – a change of service, we have a new condition with God.

"As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His Name." John 1:12

"For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13   

Check it out in context. Prayerfully read: Luke 19:1-10 facebook.com/shareJesus