Larry Lilly's Journal Christ Lives...Or Else Vol 19 Issue 4 2018
Larry & Joyce Lilly
1Corinthians 15:12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen.
14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.
15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up--if in fact the dead do not rise.
16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen.
17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!
18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. (NKJV).
The line making the rounds this April is that there are two holidays this month, April 1st widely known as April Fool’s Day for Atheists, and Resurrection Day, for Christians. Tragically many who suppose that due to their keeping of rituals and “Doing their best,” they therefore are Christians, all the while joining with Atheists in denying the literal, bodily Resurrection of Christ from the dead.
The lead scriptures above posit the absurd possibility of truly being a Christian without belief in the Resurrection of Christ as well as the resurrection of the human dead who have passed on.
Paul makes it clear that if Christ is NOT risen from the dead, preaching such is vain, empty of any true meaning, and the faith of anyone is also empty of value. Further Paul admitted that if Christ is not raised from the dead, than he and the others who preached such were false witnesses.
The above makes the bold, heartrending truthful statement that faith is “futile”, meaning serving no useful purpose. To make it worse we are assured that in despite going through the motions, without Christ’s resurrection, unbelievers in The Risen Christ are still in their sins!
Paul makes the failure to believe in Christ’s resurrection a pitiable condition. Christ is more than this current human life, He is eternal, therefore the life He gives via the resurrection is eternal, forever life.
To believe in Christ’s resurrection is to simply take Christ Himself at His word, and the word of the ones who saw Him after the Cross. Many have trouble believing in miracles. Yet the Bible begins with the account of the miraculous beginning of things. All of God’s work is, miraculous. If you cannot accept Genesis 1:1, then how can you trust the rest of the miracles recorded as facts?
Dave Brown, a close friend and what they call a “Creationist” was talking to a local pastor, who is a nice man. The pastor said to Dave, “I can’t scientifically accept the Genesis account as scientifically possible.” Dave replied, “Do you confess the resurrection of Christ.” The deer in the headlights expression as the pastor said, “Yes,” Dave replied; “Science states Genesis is impossible, and science also says resurrection is impossible.”
Please realize that much science accepted as fact a few years ago is now considered foolish, such as the science of Phrenology, the fact that the shape of persons head, determined whether of not they were criminals! Science proved heavier than air things could never fly. Science drained blood from George Washington, thus sending him to an early grave! Most of us know that according to the scientific rule of aerodynamics a Bumble Bee cannot fly. The Bumble Bee being unaware of the Law of Aerodynamics’ flies anyway.
Note that the Bible several times insists the bodily resurrection happened. Luke tells it like this:
Luke 24:36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you."
37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.
38 And He said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?
39 "Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have."(NKJV).
Jesus puts to rest the false teaching that His resurrection is “spiritual!”
The agency used to bring this resurrection about is shared by Paul to empower those who believe in the tremendous we have as believers to be more than conquerors as we deal with the vicissitudes of life. Romans 8:11 is one of the most powerful verses in the Bible in that it plainly declares that we have power much greater than humanly possible to overcome the things that destroy many others who fail to grasp this neglected truth.
Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (NKJV).
The meaning is simple: The Power/Person/Holy Spirit, who brought Jesus from the tomb to resurrection can and does give you and me the necessary power to live a life that is higher, and nobler than to wallow like pigs in slime. We can overcome the addictions that bind so many, as Christ, via the Holy Spirit who abides in us to resist temptations and to “break the power of canceled sin.”
We are not biblically taught that some sort of magical ritual or above and beyond work will deliver us from Adamic sin, or the sins we commit, or the addictions we embrace. Here’s Paul again on the power of Christ living in us via the Holy Spirt:
Colossians 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (NKJV).
Notice “Christ in you!” We must accept the teaching that John proclaims here concerning our living Christ acting on the inside of Christians:
1John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (NKJV).
This verse of late has been God’s 44 Magnum for the believer! We do not have to live miserable lives, for as Bill Gaither wrote, “Because He lives I can face tomorrow!”
13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen.
14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.
15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up--if in fact the dead do not rise.
16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen.
17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!
18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. (NKJV).
The line making the rounds this April is that there are two holidays this month, April 1st widely known as April Fool’s Day for Atheists, and Resurrection Day, for Christians. Tragically many who suppose that due to their keeping of rituals and “Doing their best,” they therefore are Christians, all the while joining with Atheists in denying the literal, bodily Resurrection of Christ from the dead.
The lead scriptures above posit the absurd possibility of truly being a Christian without belief in the Resurrection of Christ as well as the resurrection of the human dead who have passed on.
Paul makes it clear that if Christ is NOT risen from the dead, preaching such is vain, empty of any true meaning, and the faith of anyone is also empty of value. Further Paul admitted that if Christ is not raised from the dead, than he and the others who preached such were false witnesses.
The above makes the bold, heartrending truthful statement that faith is “futile”, meaning serving no useful purpose. To make it worse we are assured that in despite going through the motions, without Christ’s resurrection, unbelievers in The Risen Christ are still in their sins!
Paul makes the failure to believe in Christ’s resurrection a pitiable condition. Christ is more than this current human life, He is eternal, therefore the life He gives via the resurrection is eternal, forever life.
To believe in Christ’s resurrection is to simply take Christ Himself at His word, and the word of the ones who saw Him after the Cross. Many have trouble believing in miracles. Yet the Bible begins with the account of the miraculous beginning of things. All of God’s work is, miraculous. If you cannot accept Genesis 1:1, then how can you trust the rest of the miracles recorded as facts?
Dave Brown, a close friend and what they call a “Creationist” was talking to a local pastor, who is a nice man. The pastor said to Dave, “I can’t scientifically accept the Genesis account as scientifically possible.” Dave replied, “Do you confess the resurrection of Christ.” The deer in the headlights expression as the pastor said, “Yes,” Dave replied; “Science states Genesis is impossible, and science also says resurrection is impossible.”
Please realize that much science accepted as fact a few years ago is now considered foolish, such as the science of Phrenology, the fact that the shape of persons head, determined whether of not they were criminals! Science proved heavier than air things could never fly. Science drained blood from George Washington, thus sending him to an early grave! Most of us know that according to the scientific rule of aerodynamics a Bumble Bee cannot fly. The Bumble Bee being unaware of the Law of Aerodynamics’ flies anyway.
Note that the Bible several times insists the bodily resurrection happened. Luke tells it like this:
Luke 24:36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you."
37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.
38 And He said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?
39 "Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have."(NKJV).
Jesus puts to rest the false teaching that His resurrection is “spiritual!”
The agency used to bring this resurrection about is shared by Paul to empower those who believe in the tremendous we have as believers to be more than conquerors as we deal with the vicissitudes of life. Romans 8:11 is one of the most powerful verses in the Bible in that it plainly declares that we have power much greater than humanly possible to overcome the things that destroy many others who fail to grasp this neglected truth.
Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (NKJV).
The meaning is simple: The Power/Person/Holy Spirit, who brought Jesus from the tomb to resurrection can and does give you and me the necessary power to live a life that is higher, and nobler than to wallow like pigs in slime. We can overcome the addictions that bind so many, as Christ, via the Holy Spirit who abides in us to resist temptations and to “break the power of canceled sin.”
We are not biblically taught that some sort of magical ritual or above and beyond work will deliver us from Adamic sin, or the sins we commit, or the addictions we embrace. Here’s Paul again on the power of Christ living in us via the Holy Spirt:
Colossians 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (NKJV).
Notice “Christ in you!” We must accept the teaching that John proclaims here concerning our living Christ acting on the inside of Christians:
1John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (NKJV).
This verse of late has been God’s 44 Magnum for the believer! We do not have to live miserable lives, for as Bill Gaither wrote, “Because He lives I can face tomorrow!”
Book Worms Corner Comments From/About Helpful Books
Joyce Lilly TgB
Hope for Each Day. Billy Graham 399 pgs 365 chps Thomas Nelson.
This book is a beautiful leatherette bound volume, with devotions in monthly order through the year.
As you would expect Billy did not rehash so many overused illustrations but dug around for fresh ones in harmony with the theme of the day.
Here’s a great one from May 27th
Martin Luther was going through a period of discouragement and depression. For days his long face graced the family table and dampened the family’s home life. One day his wife came to the breakfast table all dressed in black, as if she were going to a funeral service. When Martin asked her who had died, she replied, “Martin, the way you’ve been behaving lately, I thought God had died, so I came prepared to attend His funeral!’
(I made sure Larry read this one)!
November 15th shares this timeless truth. “When English patriot Sir William Russell went to the scaffold in 1683, he took his watch out of his pocket and handed it to the physician who attended him in his death. ‘Would you kindly take my timepiece?” he asked. “I have no use for it. I am now dealing with eternity.”
Mr. Graham says, “We should strive to live every day as if it were our last, for one day it will be.”
I urge you to get and read a copy of this truly great devotional book. Joyce Lilly TgB
This book is a beautiful leatherette bound volume, with devotions in monthly order through the year.
As you would expect Billy did not rehash so many overused illustrations but dug around for fresh ones in harmony with the theme of the day.
Here’s a great one from May 27th
Martin Luther was going through a period of discouragement and depression. For days his long face graced the family table and dampened the family’s home life. One day his wife came to the breakfast table all dressed in black, as if she were going to a funeral service. When Martin asked her who had died, she replied, “Martin, the way you’ve been behaving lately, I thought God had died, so I came prepared to attend His funeral!’
(I made sure Larry read this one)!
November 15th shares this timeless truth. “When English patriot Sir William Russell went to the scaffold in 1683, he took his watch out of his pocket and handed it to the physician who attended him in his death. ‘Would you kindly take my timepiece?” he asked. “I have no use for it. I am now dealing with eternity.”
Mr. Graham says, “We should strive to live every day as if it were our last, for one day it will be.”
I urge you to get and read a copy of this truly great devotional book. Joyce Lilly TgB
Letters, Notes, News, and Comments!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBgyhlpcWzk
Inmates Save Jailor having Heart attack
A Texas jail guard nearly died from a massive heart attack two years ago while on the job, but thanks to the inmates, he survived.
“I just slumped and went out,” Gary Grimm told WHAS11 about what he remembers from the day it happened on June 23, 2016. “Next thing I remember is looking up at the ceiling in the ER.”
Sitting across from at least eight men who were behind a locked gate, the inmates at first thought he was kidding, according to the news outlet.
They began to shout and bang the cell’s siding as Grimm had fallen unconscious without a pulse. They were able to break free and catch the attention of others who were able to help.
“Instead of overtaking me and taking my gun, and killing me or taking a hostage and escaping, they looked at me as a human being,” Grimm told the news outlet, adding that he’s always treated the inmates the way he would want to be treated if he was in their shoes.
He added: “I don’t care if they’re a drug user, hot check writer or child molester. They’re still a human being. I don’t have to like what they did, but it’s not my position to be the judge and jury.”
While his life was saved, the 52-year-old who retired in December has continued to have issues with his heart. This week he’s undergoing open heart surgery to get a Left Ventricle Assistance Device, which he will need for at least six months before he hopes to get a transplant.
A GoFundMe page was created to help Grimm with his medical expenses.
He’s a “family man that has opened his house to numerous foster children,” his friend wrote on the page. “Just true salt of the earth person. Please give if you can.”
And while Grimm says he’s never been able to thank them personally because they were transferred to another facility, he gets “emotional” when he thinks about what they did for him and how different the outcome could have been.
“If they wished harm for me, all they had to do was sit there and do nothing,” he says.
Editor’s Note: Due to the urging of the late Charles Colson, many prisoners around the country have formed groups that pledge to help any officer who p ill, or under attack. Many also come to the aid of first timers who make the mistake of becoming indebted to other prisoners. They negotiate with the “seasoned” men, or women and help to get a break. Do the same thing again and you’re on your own. Pray for prisoners and for those charged with keeping them there. LML.
Brother Lilly,
We have four new puppies to train! Our favorite, “Sparky” flunked out due to his refusal to learn to stop barking at every sound! The brother that was his handler, feels terrible, but has one of the new ones. They are Retriever/Lab mixed. Talk about cute! Training these puppies to be service dogs gives great meaning to the life of many “lifers!” C.W.
Editor’s Note: Pray for C.W. who is an agent for peace now for over 25 years. He is a genuine believer. LML
A Texas jail guard nearly died from a massive heart attack two years ago while on the job, but thanks to the inmates, he survived.
“I just slumped and went out,” Gary Grimm told WHAS11 about what he remembers from the day it happened on June 23, 2016. “Next thing I remember is looking up at the ceiling in the ER.”
Sitting across from at least eight men who were behind a locked gate, the inmates at first thought he was kidding, according to the news outlet.
They began to shout and bang the cell’s siding as Grimm had fallen unconscious without a pulse. They were able to break free and catch the attention of others who were able to help.
“Instead of overtaking me and taking my gun, and killing me or taking a hostage and escaping, they looked at me as a human being,” Grimm told the news outlet, adding that he’s always treated the inmates the way he would want to be treated if he was in their shoes.
He added: “I don’t care if they’re a drug user, hot check writer or child molester. They’re still a human being. I don’t have to like what they did, but it’s not my position to be the judge and jury.”
While his life was saved, the 52-year-old who retired in December has continued to have issues with his heart. This week he’s undergoing open heart surgery to get a Left Ventricle Assistance Device, which he will need for at least six months before he hopes to get a transplant.
A GoFundMe page was created to help Grimm with his medical expenses.
He’s a “family man that has opened his house to numerous foster children,” his friend wrote on the page. “Just true salt of the earth person. Please give if you can.”
And while Grimm says he’s never been able to thank them personally because they were transferred to another facility, he gets “emotional” when he thinks about what they did for him and how different the outcome could have been.
“If they wished harm for me, all they had to do was sit there and do nothing,” he says.
Editor’s Note: Due to the urging of the late Charles Colson, many prisoners around the country have formed groups that pledge to help any officer who p ill, or under attack. Many also come to the aid of first timers who make the mistake of becoming indebted to other prisoners. They negotiate with the “seasoned” men, or women and help to get a break. Do the same thing again and you’re on your own. Pray for prisoners and for those charged with keeping them there. LML.
Brother Lilly,
We have four new puppies to train! Our favorite, “Sparky” flunked out due to his refusal to learn to stop barking at every sound! The brother that was his handler, feels terrible, but has one of the new ones. They are Retriever/Lab mixed. Talk about cute! Training these puppies to be service dogs gives great meaning to the life of many “lifers!” C.W.
Editor’s Note: Pray for C.W. who is an agent for peace now for over 25 years. He is a genuine believer. LML
Page 4 The God of All Comfort Dale Byers
Dale Byers
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
On one occasion I had the privilege of speaking to a group of people who had experienced the death of a child. It was a very special time. We ministered to one another. They came from various backgrounds with different stories to tell. One had a teen-age daughter who was taken from them, and one touching story was of a young couple whose six-year-old son died of cancer. We represented various age groups with diverse battles to fight and a variety of issues that come from the death of a child. Dr. Larry Lilly had donated a copy of his new book, Outrageous Forgiveness in 30 Days, to each family. It is a tremendous book and will be a blessing to many people. You may contact him at his email address: larrylilly@larrylilly.net.
I also gave them each a copy of our book, SUICIDE: How God Sustained a Family. We pray that God will use it to minister to their hurting hearts. If you would like to become involved in that program call 395-3138 or pmnewenhouse@yahoo.com What a diverse group we represented.
While there may have been many things that were different among us, we all knew that the one thing that bound us together was the grace, mercy, and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. What do you say to hurting people? What can you do to comfort them? Is there anything that can help? These were all issues that we covered. But there was one common thread that bound us together and gave us hope, and that is the marvelous grace of our loving God. It is in those dark hours that we find light for our path and hope for our future. He is called the God of all comfort (2 Cor. 1:2) because He is the God of all grace (2 Tim. 1:2) Who extends to us His immeasurable mercy (Ps. 103:8-12). I know you are aware of the definitions; but grace is God giving us what we do not deserve, and mercy is God not giving us what we do deserve.
You may presently be going through one of those dark night of sin your life. You may not be able to comprehend God’s purposes. You may wonder, Why? Why now? What else can come? These are all unanswerable questions.
While we do not know all of the answers, we do have the right solution. Proverbs 3:5-6 exhorts us, Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
Not only has God given us grace and mercy, but He is also the great God of peace. Through the darkest hour of the night, and in the midst of the most severe storm, He has promised peace to those who put their trust in Christ, Who is called the Prince of Peace.
To those who are hurting, I beckon you to come to Him and trust in your great source of comfort. He is the God of love, grace, mercy, and peace (Titus 1:4).
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Dale handles all that goes with age with grace and shines for Jesus. His regular blogs are here:
http://dalebyers.wordpress.com/
***
“If God be for us, who can be against us?”
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