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 The Cross.
The lesson on April 1, 2007 studies the Cross of Christ. You can’t get to the resurrection until you get to the cross.
This is where the transaction of our sin debt was paid by God. This is the week before the resurrection which is when we see his suffering, his passion. There is a
lot said about the cross in scripture. Without the cross we would still be in our sins. The cross is every where today. It’s on the walls, it’s in jewelry,
it’s on a hill by a church... but the cross has lost it’s meaning. If we see it from a proper perspective, the only thing we should see is the shame of
sins that God resolved. It says in 1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it
is the power of God.” In Hebrews 11:6, we find that in order to come to God we must first believe that he is, and a rewarder of those that diligently seek
him. Preaching is one way we get to know God (preaching from the word of God). It says faith cometh by hearing, and hearing the word of God.
(Romans 10:17). When you look at the cross in scripture, you find out why God used the cross. God established the cross to be a picture of cursing.
In Deuteronomy 21:22-23 “And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: His body
shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;)”. The cross is
accursed of God. In Galatians 3:10, 13 it says “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one
that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. Christ hath redeemed us from the
curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:” God created the
law that all who sin receive death. God is righteous and he had to take care of your sins in order to have fellowship with
you. All you have to do is accept the fact the Christ took the penalty for us. He had plenty of opportunity to walk away
from it but he choose to do it God’s way. In Matthew 27:39 we see that “... they that passed by reviled him, wagging their
heads,” Isn’t it wonderful that Christ did God’s will to take care of the sins of the world instead of coming down from the
cross as the asked him to do in Matthew 27:42.   Click here to listen now. You may also want to
hear other audio lessons about Easter.
 The Resurrection of Christ.
The Easter holiday is the most celebrated event in all of Christianity. The lesson on April 8, 2007 reads in 1 Corinthians 15:12 where Paul was instructing the church in
Corinth that the resurrection was real and Christ lives. Further Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by
man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so
in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.” The problem in Corinth was some were saying there was no
resurrection. We have hope in a life hereafter because He lives! Jesus Christ knew what was
before him but he didn’t let that deter him from what he had to do. In Matthew 16:21 “From that time
forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many
things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.” The apostles didn’t
understand what he was talking about until after the resurrection. When he came to the garden of Gethsemane in Matthew 26:39, Jesus prayed “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be
possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” The cup Jesus was referring to was the
cup filled with every sin of the world and the wrath of God. Judas then betrays Jesus and guards came and took him to the Chief Priest: Matthew 26:57 “And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the
scribes and the elders were assembled.” When Jesus was dragged in front of every Roman official and Jewish Priest on
his trial, he didn’t say a word. Why did Jesus remain silent? It says in Isaiah 53:5-7 “But he was wounded for our
transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we
are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him
the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to
the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” They took him to the cross to
die for you and me. The cross is the bridge between the love of God and the joy of God. The cross is what everyone has
to go through to get to the empty tomb. The resurrection is what gives us hope! Click here to listen now. You may also want to hear other lessons about Easter and the Resurrection of Christ.
 Repentance - Godly versus Worldly.
The lesson on April 15, 2007 was provided by Leland Maples of the LOOPS Ministry who gave an update on LOOPS as well as a study on 2 Corinthians
7:9-11. In this passage, Paul was dealing with two different types of sorrows and two different
types of repentance which lead to two different results. We see a very personal example of these
when comparing Peter and Judas. Mark 14:27-31 tells of the time where Jesus was telling the
apostles that they will all deny him this very night. We see Peter vehemently say he will not deny Jesus even until death “And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this
night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. But he spake the more vehemently, If I
should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.” As we see, all
twelve apostles agreed with Peter. We pick up the story in Matthew 26:69-75 we see Peter was
standing in the palace where Jesus was being falsely accused and somebody asked him if he was associated with Jesus and he denied them three times (Matthew 26:75 “And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which
said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.” Peter was just like
you and me who have made promises to God and have broken those promises before the end of the day. We see another
one of the twelve apostles name Judas in Matthew 27:1-6. When Judas saw he made a mistake, went back to the Chief
Priests and tried to give the 30 pieces of silver back to repent his deeds for betraying an innocent man. In the end, they
would not take back the money they paid Judas. Consequently, we read in Matthew 27:4-5 “Saying, I have sinned in that I
have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of
silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.” Peter and Judas were so much alike: they were one of
the twelve apostles, they both were baptized, they both performed miracles, they both took communion, they both had a
good reputation, in fact, Judas had a better reputation than Peter because they let Judas carry the money. Yet one was a
saint and one was a devil. One was wheat, and one was a tare. One was real, and one was a hypocrite and the only
one that knew about the both of them was Jesus Christ. Nobody around them could tell. Nobody could look at them and
tell them apart but Christ knew who was the saint and who was the devil. They both committed a sin. Peter denied Christ
three times and Judas sells him out. Peter repented to God and was forgiven while Judas repented to the Chief Priests
and was not forgiven but hanged himself. Two types of repentance and two different results. Peter later was used by
God through half the book of Acts and wrote two books in the New Testament (1 & 2 Peter). One person was Godly and
the other Worldly. Which type of saint are you? Click here to listen now.
 Timothy Study - Part 9. The lesson on April 22, 2007 is the continuation of the series on the books
written by Paul to Timothy who is the leader of the church at Ephesus. Timothy was a young man in
a hostile territory leading a church in a city which was steep in idolatry and he had much opposition
to Christ. God has given Timothy all he needs to know through the Apostle Paul. Even more with us
today. God has completed the word of God and we have all we need in scripture to complete our
walk which we have been called to do. When Paul told Timothy in 1 Tim 4:8-9 (KJV) “For bodily
exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which
is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.” Paul is telling Timothy to practice godliness. We should
as well. There was a terrible tragedy that happened at on a college campus this past week where over 30 students were
killed by another student with a gun. The media has tried to explore why the murderer did this but they won’t come to the
conclusion that sin is the problem. We are to be appropriating godliness in our lives to enjoy the fruit of righteousness.
Our desires should be brought under subjection to the truth. We see in verse 1, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that
in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;” which is who
Timothy is wrestling with. We also are seeing these problems today with people abstaining from marriage and raising
babies born out of wedlock who statistically have shown are at a much greater risk for criminal behavior. Paul is
encouraging Timothy to be an example in leading the church. We should take the same encouragement so our witness for
Christ is presented well. There should be no reservation of giving yourself wholly over to God to serve him. Paul finishes
the chapter by saying in verse 16 “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou
shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” Click here to listen now. You may also want to review all of the Timothy Audio lessons as well.
 Timothy Study - Part 10. The lesson on April 29, 2007 is the tenth lesson on the audio series
called the “Timothy Study”. The scripture for this lesson is chapter 5 of 1 Timothy verses 1 thru 16.
Paul writes Timothy in chapter 5 about practical lessons on administration in the church, particularly
in regards with widows. The chapter starts out with wisdom expressed in the means of handling
elders. Timothy is told not to rebuke an elder but treat them like family members as if they were
brothers. There is often a comparison of family members with other Christians in the body of Christ.
In verses 3 to 10 Paul is specifically speaking about two types of widows: Widows, and Widows
indeed. Why the distinction? Isn’t a woman that has lost her husband a widow? Yes but she is not
a widow indeed unless she meets the criteria set forth in verse 5 “Now she that is a widow indeed,
and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.” An example of a widow indeed is Anna from Luke 2:36-37 ”And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which
departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.” God cares about the widow. For
example, in Luke 18:1-6 Jesus tells of a judge that fears not God or man but when he is approached by the widow, this judge is moved to avenge her. In Luke 18:7 it says “And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not
God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?” We also find in Deuteronomy 10:17-18 “For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible,
which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.” Also in Chapter 27:19 it says “Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the
stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.” God loves the widow! The difference between the
widow and the widow indeed is the condition of being desolate. We don’t see much of that today because the
government has taken the place of the church with social security. Men also have taken advantage of using estate
planning with the use of life insurance so the widow is financially okay. Click here to listen now. You may also want to hear all of the audio lessons from the Timothy Study.
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Audio Lessons for this Month
