No Longer Opposed Blog

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Hebrews 7: 24-25, NIV

“but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”

Think on these two things:

1. He saves completely those who come to God through Him – not partially and not only if you do x, y, z  just right. Completely doesn’t mean there is anything left unfinished. Your salvation is complete. It was complete at the cross when He sacrificed and offered Himself up for your sins once and for all. If you have come to God through Christ Jesus you are saved completely, entirely and to the uttermost. There is nothing more you have to do for it and no one can take your salvation away from you. Rest in that.

2. He always lives to intercede for those who are saved by Him. As you are struggling in your faith and walk, as life gets hard, as friends betray you, when you are tempted beyond what you think you can handle, as you lose your job, when you don’t know how you are going to feed your family or where you will find another job…as you struggle to see hope in dark times, as you wonder if anyone really cares about you anymore,  as you find yourself tired and weary…. Jesus knows what you are facing in that very moment, He knows what you need and He LIVES to intercede on your behalf before the Father. What does it feel like to know that you have a Savior who approaches the Father on your behalf? Who stands ready to speak up for you. Would you keep going? Would you pass up that temptation? Would you do whatever it takes knowing that on the other side of eternity someone is working on your behalf?

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In honor of Palm Sunday: Matthew 21:1-17, ESV

In thinking about Jesus’ triumphal entry to Jerusalem, He fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah so it would be complete “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud O daughter of Jerusalem! behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey.” Zech 9:9, ESV

When we think about his triumphal entry into our own hearts (when we first placed our faith in Him), did we hope that He would take all our suffering away, right then and there? Did we hope, like the Jews of His day, that trusted and believed in Him, that He would establish His kingdom right then and there and reign righteously, forever? That we wouldn’t experience any more suffering at the hands of others? Much to all of our earthly disappointments, He did not do what we thought He should do, but He did what was greater for us by establishing His kingdom eternally, which is yet to be seen here on earth – except in the body of His Church at this time. He has set an example of entry… a low and humble righteous king, not any different than the low and humble babe born in a stable with smelly animals and a feed trough not fit for a king…yet it was! Because it was all a part of prophecy being fulfilled. And there is still more to come. God’s word is true and He is faithful. Scripture proves scripture!

What if, our pain and suffering brings us down low in humility to learn how to be the same servant that washed the feet of those we love and those whom we know will betray us. Will they find out who He is as a result? What am I willing to allow in my life? Will you and I allow Jesus to cleanse the temple of our hearts? Because that is where He went next… and after He did, He healed the blind and the lame and the children praised Him. Will we see? Will we walk? Will we praise?

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Matthew 6:25-34, ESV

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

There are so many troubles and worries in our world right now. Nothing is sure except the fact that God remains the same, from beginning to end. Such great hope! Everything He said in His word has come true, is true and will come true. He is the God of the past, the present and the future. Nothing happens that doesn’t surprise Him. If He cared so much to put everything into place for you and me, don’t you think He cares enough to provide all of our answers and needs? And if He knows you down to numbering even the tiniest hairs on your head, to know you before you were even knitted in your mother’s womb, how much more will He continue on until the day of completion all the work He began in you. Worry will rob us of being able to enjoy all that He has for us today. Trust that He will take care of you. He has conquered! And in the end, at the name of Jesus, EVERY knee will bow and EVERY tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. (Phil 2:11, ESV) Try to extend your vision outward on the big picture. How can you trust in the One who made you and remain faithful to wait upon His provisions instead of taking it into your own hands? Is it possible He will grow your character in the meantime and continue to mature you into His own likeness?

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Psalm 34:18, ESV

” The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

When you are struggling with depression and feel all alone, when you are in your deepest and darkest place and can’t find a way out you don’t have to go far to find your Jehovah God. He is right there with you; in fact, the word ‘near’ in its original Hebrew means ‘to approach, to draw near, to bring near, to offer, to join, to be ready, to stand’. God is being active to bring Himself near to you when you are so crushed and down in spirit and can’t even make that step towards Him. He is ready to stand with you and be with you right where you are at. He will comfort and save you; He will free you and keep you safe in Him. Mighty Rescuer!

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“Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them — every day begin the task anew.”       Saint Francis de Sales

When you are in the middle of the deepest darkest pit and feel like there is no way out, its not hard to believe that your vision is so narrowly focused that it is the only thing you can see. But there is a light that shines from Christ…where His truth is found, the darkness must flee. “The One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4b, NIV. Cry out to the One who can lift you up and out of your mire and muck, “God, help me!” You are right where you need to be, He is near to the broken-hearted. Every day is a new day to find your way out of the dark and into the hope that only His mercy can bring. If you don’t find your way out today, there is still tomorrow, and the next, and so on. His mercies are new every morning. Don’t give up!