JESUS 'HATED' THE CROSS

JESUS ‘HATED’ THE CROSS

BY DR. MERVYN ABREO

          Although the Lord did not shirk from His responsibility but went willingly to His death by crucifixion, He knew what was in store for Him.

          Death by crucifixion does not occur, either because of severe agonizing pain, or bleeding, but as a direct result of asphyxia, i.e. cutting off of the oxygen supply to the lungs.

MECHANICS OF CRUCIFIXION: Unlike popular belief, the nails that pierce the hands do not pass through the palms.

          Rather, the nails have to pass through the wrist.

THE FOOT REST: The feet of the crucified person rest on a small wooden wedge. And we will soon see why this wedge is necessary.

KEEPING ALIVE: Death is by asphyxiation occurs because the crucified person, who is literally hanging by his wrists, is unable to breath. And so, in order to suck air into his lungs, he has to pull himself up, using his pierced hands to do so, while simultaneously pressing down on the foot rest, beneath his feet, which too have also been pierced.

          The instinct for survival is so strong, that it may take several days for him to ultimately weaken, give up and die.

          To hasten death, Roman soldiers often broke the knees of those crucified, so that they were unable to lift themselves up any more.

JESUS AND CRUCIFIXION: Calvary weighed heavily on His mind. “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One Who could save Him from death…..” (Hebrews 5:7).

 GETHSEMANE: He showed us that He was human, (so we can identify with Him), by His prayer, “Now My heart is troubled, and what shall I say” ‘Father save Me from this hour? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father glorify Your Name!” (John 12: 27).

          He had a job to do. And He would complete it. But He was no masochist, and would have done anything to evade the torment He would have to go through.

          But there was none! And so He accepted crucifixion………. for you and for me.

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Dear friend,

          I look forward to getting your feedback. Do write in to me at:

                                        drmervynabreo@gmail.com

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HOLY SPIRIT OF LORD JESUS THE JEHOVAH

HOLY SPIRIT OF LORD JESUS THE JEHOVAH

BY DR. MERVYN ABREO

          Is the Holy Trinity a mystery? No! It isn't! But it will always remain a mystery to those who, like the ostrich, hide their heads in the sand.

          And we need to get a better understanding of this ‘mystery’ if for no other reason but to get a better picture of Who God really is, whether we see Him as the Father, the Son or the Holy Spirit.

WHY IS THE TRINITY A MYSTERY?

On one hand, we have the Biblical truth proclaimed by the Church, that there is only one God! While on the other hand, in the Bible, on a number of occasions, we come across, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, being mentioned individually, or in twos and even   threes, conversing with Each other.

  The Christian and three Gods:  The greatest danger is to the Christian himself, who uses the term Father, Son and Holy Spirit as though they were three Gods.      

          When questioned, he quickly goes on the defense, saying that he actually believes in one God, and that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit actually are three Persons in one God.

              But when asked as to how he visualizes God, he describes God the Father as an old man with white hair and a long white beard, God the Son as a young man, with a trimmed beard and shoulder length hair, and the Holy Spirit as a dove, hovering in the air.

  GOD THE FATHER: Right from the beginning God revealed Himself to man as one God: ‘Hear, Oh Israel the Lord thy God is one God (the only God)’. (Deuteronomy 6:4).

  JESUS CHRIST AS GOD: There was absolutely no doubt that Jesus claimed to be God and was therefore crucified for it.

 THE HOLY SPIRIT AS GOD: is described as the mysterious power or presence of God.

 BASIC ISSUE ABOUT THE TRINITY: Is Jesus Christ God? Is He really and fully God? The core of the doctrine of the Trinity was and is the divinity of Jesus Christ, as well as that of the Holy Spirit!

THE TRINITY EXPLAINED BY TIME-SPACE-MATTER:

 The rules of time-space-matter can be applied to Jesus Christ, while He was on earth, because He was a man like you and me. But these rules cannot in anyway be applied to the Father and the Holy Spirit because They are essentially Spirit Beings.

THE WORLD OF GOD THE FATHER: God told Moses His name,’’ I am who I am. (Exodus 3: 13). An Omnipresent God! (One Who is continuously in a ‘present’ state).

WORLD OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: He is the Spirit of Jesus - or Jesus in the Spirit form, outside the confines of our world, so that He can be at all places at all times, (Omnipresent), ministering to everybody, simultaneously, an attribute/ characteristic the human Jesus did not possess.

 USING TIME-SPACE-MATTER TO STUDY THE ‘THREE GODS’ OF THE TRINITY:

GOD (God the Father) - the one true living God (Jehovah, Yahweh):

He created the earth (matter).

In a time/space environment.

 Time: made up of- yesterday, today and tomorrow.

 Space: made up of- length, breadth and height.

He created man: matter in time and space.

Man sinned- God lost His kingdom to Satan.

God communicated with man (Israel) - people terrified.

God decided to become man (matter) in time/space dimension.

And communicate with man on a one to one basis.

JESUS (GOD THE SON)

God became man, and was named Jesus.

Got the title of Christ (Greek), Messiah (Hebrew) -- Anointed One.

In the Gospel of John:

 “In the beginning was the Word (Jesus).

And the Word (Jesus) was with God (the Father).

And the Word (Jesus) was God (the Father).

He (Jesus) was with God (the Father) in the beginning.

Through Him (Jesus) all things were made”. (John 1:1-3).

Jesus came down on earth to reestablish His kingdom.

Crucifixion, resurrection & ascension: Jesus ceased to be human (matter) and ceased to be bound on earth (by time & space).

GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT (Advocate, Councilor)

          Presence of God (Lord Jesus Christ) continues on earth in the Spirit form as:

          “The Holy Spirit of Lord Jesus Christ the Jehovah”.

 

A CHILD LIKE EXPLAINATION FOR THE HOLY TRINITY

          When my son was nine and daughter six years old, I explained to them about the Trinity by giving them my personal example.

          I told them that I was their dad, a doctor in the clinic and a preacher in the Church. Was I three different persons? Definitely not!

          If you had to ask my son who I was, his answer, ‘My dad, Dr. Mervyn is a preacher in the Church!’

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Dear friend,

          I look forward to getting your feedback. Do write in to me at:

                                        drmervynabreo@gmail.com

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THE COUNSELOR'S PITFALL

 THE COUNSELOR’S PITFALL

BY DR. MERVYN ABREO

Counselor’s personal problem: They may be very professional, highly trained and well qualified. They may even be born-again pastors, with several churches under their control.

          But, more often than not, these counselors have unresolved issues, which they, knowingly or unknowingly, pass on to their clients with, resulting in more harm than good.

          If you are being counseled, be on your guard, lest you be led astray.

AN EXAMPLE: There was this pastor who used to advise, both married as well as unmarried couples, to ‘release their partners’.        

         On questioning him, he confessed that his wife didn't trust him, not even allowing him to even speak to another woman. His need of freedom caused his advice to be biased and unreliable.

KING SOLOMON: Considered to be the wisest of men, came out with utter rubbish. He wrote, “………man has no preeminence over a beast…..” (Ecclesiastes 3:19).

          The Bible does not teach this, because God’s inspired Word, is infallible! “Every Scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching………..reproof……….correction, for instruction……….in righteousness.” (II Timothy 3:16).

          Then why include Samson’s nonsense in the Bible? Because it gives a startling picture for how fatal it is for even the wisest of men to substitute man’s “wisdom” for God’s wisdom, and to attempt to live by it. Solomon’s reign began with God, gold and glory. It ended with bafflement, brass and bewildered acceptance of man’s having “no preeminence over a beast,”…….man who was made “in the image and likeness of God” (Genesis 1:27) and “but little lower than God.” (Psalm 8:5).

A WARNING: When receiving council, remember that even Solomon, the wisest man, spewed nonsense. So then, be rest assured that you need to very carefully evaluate the advice you receive!

          And if you are a counselor, then diligently pray that your advice truly reflects the thoughts and heart of our Lord Jesus Christ!

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Dear friend,

          I look forward to getting your feedback. Do write in to me at:

                                        drmervynabreo@gmail.com

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SCREWED? THANK GOD!!

 SCREWED? THANK GOD!!

BY DR. MERVYN ABREO

          “My daughter’s a stripper!” Cried out an anguished mother to a pastor! To which he asked her, “Have you thanked God for it?”

     “And why would I ever thank God for something so terrible?” she asked, taken aback.

          “Because, by thanking God, you get every situation under His will and control!” (Note: one does not thank God that she was a stripper).

          Thank Him for everything! We strongly believe that everything good comes from God, and that we should thank Him only when the going’s good. And that we should!

          But how should we react when accidents, disease or calamity assails us. Do we rightly blame the devil? Or worse still, blame God? It would seem ridiculous, to a devout Christian, to thank God at a time like this, thereby indicating that He is the cause of this disaster.

          But thanking Him is what we should rightly do, especially when times are bad! Not because He is the author of our misfortunes, but because, by doing so, we bring the situation under His will. And act, He will definitely do!!

The stripper daughter: The moment the mother thanked God, He took control. A committed Christian was passing the club and the Lord told him to enter. He did so with great reluctance. But once inside, he was confronted with the daughter doing a pole dancing. As the other customers were jeering, he, not knowing what to say, blurted out, “Jesus loves you.”

          After her performance, the astonished girl came to his table. And he was able to give her the Gospel Message. She accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. And returned home!

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          Dear friend,

          I look forward to getting your feedback. Do write in to me at:

                                        drmervynabreo@gmail.com

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