What Did Jesus Do For Us, and Why Is The Heart So Important?

Cowardice, freezing, running away, avoiding, denying, joking, making excuses, and using family are all reasons we choose not to step out with abandon for God.  Jesus did it, taking His heart into His own hands and forcing himself into the difficult way forward, in spite of asking God to remove the burden from His soul.  Jesus prayed that God would take away the cup that He would have to drink, a bitter choice and certain death on the cross. 

We all have our moments of fearfulness, self-doubt, or insecurity.  Many people fear to support Israel now, because they know it is possible for Hamas or some other Muslim terrorist cell to track them down and end life in a moment´s notice.  That is just the way of the world now.  You have to choose how to make a stand, or fall by the wayside of fearfulness.  Choose Christianity and stand up for the family of Jesus Christ.  Yes, He was a Jew, a Rabbi, a chosen vessel to bear the message that God loved the world so much, that He gave His only begotten son.  Yes, the Jewish leaders of that historic time crucified Jesus, as they were corrupted and blind, but Jesus did not give up on His family and the people of His country.  Jesus always kept the Jewish Holy Days, even up until the day of death.  He kept all the laws and said that He came not to destroy the law but to fulfill the law and to provide a way of salvation for the world and all of humanity.

I have been in very many potentially violent or panic filled situations, that required me to control or at least to accept an extremely rapid pulse rate and exponentially racing heartbeat.  I have been robbed at gunpoint four times, been in controlled full-contact fights in Marital Arts, been threatened with death as a security guard on many occasions, been in car wrecks, given speeches before many people in schools and also in meetings, and yes scared literally into a state of panic, filled with stage fright.  

Jesus was God in the flesh, a real human being, with all the weaknesses of any other human form.  Yet, He mastered His out of control heart and went into Jerusalem, knowing that He would surely be killed and crucified.  That is completely different to just being fearful and having a panic attack, realizing you are in danger.  Jesus willingly walked into danger and death, knowing that the leaders of the church would sacrifice him and surely kill him.  That is completely different to just being in dangerous or strenuous stressful situations.

General George S. Patton is famous for saying to his soldiers in World War II, “No dumb bastard ever won a war by going out and dying for his country. He won it by making some other dumb bastard die for his country."  Jesus did the unthinkable and walked directly into the machine gun nest of Roman soldiers, brimming with swords and spears, knowing that He would be killed, but not in vain.  Jesus as much as fell on a grenade to save those of His own.  Jesus died for the sins of the world, so that if anyone believed in Him, that they would be saved and their sins forgiven.  Jesus had perfect mastery over His heart, knowing the danger and yet giving His life and taking on the sins of the world.  

You have to at least be brave enough to walk into the fire, knowing that God will be watching and save you, if it is His will, otherwise you are dead anyway, and less than what God wanted you to be, a witness for the love that Jesus Christ has for His own.

The brave IDF soldiers of Israel are now on the ground and going into the tunnels of Hamas in Gaza.  Terrorists are surrendering by the droves.  God will find a way to put an end to the brutal and senseless massacres of His people, one way or another.  But, you might not be recognized in God´s eyes as being worthy, if you don´t control your fearfulness.  Control your fear, master your own heart, and be a witness to the love of Jesus Christ, that He gave his life, so that we might have eternal life.  We, as Christians, must step out with abandon and trust God.

Mark 14:36

“And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.”

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Mark-14-36/ 

Matthew 5:17 - 5:18

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Matthew-5-17_5-18/

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/John-3-16/

Matthew 10:37 - 10:39

37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.            

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Matthew-10-37_10-39/

October 27, 2023

Cliff Rhodes Christian Ministry