I Will Remember No More

"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." (Hebrews 8:12).

This blessing makes every other blessing of the new covenant possible. God forgives. God then remembers no more...

Jason Cicero

Jehovah is a Man of War

"Jehovah is a man of war: Jehovah is his name." (Exodus 15:3; ASV)

1. See all of Him - Romans 11:22

2. Don't go to war with Him - Psalm 24:8

3. Allow Him to fight for you - Exodus 14:14

4. Be with Him - Revelation 17:14

Jason Cicero

The Lamb Will Overcome Them

Question: How can we overcome those who make war? (Revelation 6:15-17;16:14; 17:14; 19:15-21; Psalm 2:8-9)

Answer: Through Christ!

"These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful." (Revelation 17:14; NKJV)

Hidden in My Heart

"No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him." (John 1:18; NASBU)

Sunday Morning Starters

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;

10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Hebrews 11:8-10; NKJV

Be Mindful of GOD When You Adorn Yourself

"Do not let your adornment be merely outward — arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel — rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God" (1 Peter 3:3-4; NKJV).

Be mindful of GOD when you adorn yourself.

Verb – primarily "to arrange, to put in order" (Eng., "cosmetic"), is used of one's person, 1 Tim 2:9; 1 Peter 3:5; Rev 21:2

Noun – "a harmonious arrangement or order,” decent, modest, 1 Tim 2:9; 3:2 (Vine’s Expository Dictionary of NT Words)

When you adorn yourself, “…let it be the hidden person of the heart…which is very precious in the sight of God" (1 Peter 3:4).

Jason Cicero

Jesus, Kindness and Me

Plummer says "kindness" refers to the "sympathetic kindliness or sweetness of temper which puts others at their ease, and shrinks from giving pain."

I am to clothe myself with Christ: "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ..." (Romans 13:14; NKJV).

I am to put on kindness: "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness..." (Colossians 3:12; NKJV).

Jason Cicero

Three Questions About the Preeminence of Christ

"And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence." (Colossians 1:18; NKJV)

Preeminence has to do with being first in rank or influence (Strong's), holding the first place (Thayer's), being first (Vine's).

Consider these three questions about the preeminence of Christ:

1. Is Jesus first in my life?

2. Does He hold the first place?

3. Is His influence on me above all others?

Jason Cicero

Accepted in the Beloved

"...to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved"(Ephesians 1:7; NKJV).

Accepted - to grace, to indue with special honor (Strong's).

Beloved - to love, is used of Christ as loved by God (Vine's).

Because the Father accepted the sacrifice of Christ as sufficient to redeem the sins of men, the Father has accepted us in Him. He graces those with special honor who respond to the sacrifice of the Beloved. Because He is beloved, so too are we.

Jason Cicero

The Role of GOD in Salvation

1. The Role of the Father - Election - Loving Choice - Ephesians 1:3-6

2. The Role of the Son - Redemption - Redeeming Work - Ephesians 1:7-12

3. The Role of the Holy Spirit - Protection - Sealing - Ephesians 1:13-14

Jason Cicero

Hidden in My Heart

"No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him." (John 1:18; NASBU)

Sunday Morning Starters

Tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM we will consider the lesson "Living in the Shadow of the Cross."

10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.

11 For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp.

12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.

13 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.

Hebrews 13:10-13; NKJV

Ephesians 3:14-21

Read Ephesians 3:14-21.

Pray Ephesians 3:14-21 for yourself.

Pray Ephesians 3:14-21 for others.

Jason Cicero

The Death, Resurrection, and Second Coming of Christ

Christ has died...He is risen...He is coming again!

In Thessalonians, these three supreme doctrines do the following...

1. Prompt Evangelism!

2. Promote Holiness!

3. Deepen Fellowship!

4. Inform Worship!

5. Inspire Hope!

"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:23; NKJV).

Jason Cicero

The Gospel of Mark

Mark presents Jesus as an active, compassionate, and obedient Servant who constantly ministers to the physical and spiritual needs of others. The distinctive word of this book is euthus (translated “immediately”), and it appears more often in this compact gospel than in the rest of the New Testament. Jesus is constantly moving toward a goal that is hidden to almost all. Mark clearly shows the power and authority of this unique Servant, identifying Him as no less than the Son of God (1:1, 11; 3:11; 5:7; 9:7; 13:32; 14:61; 15:39). Chapter by chapter, the book of Mark unfolds the dual focus of Christ’s life: service and sacrifice. The purpose of Mark is to present the Christ as the servant of the LORD.

Jesus calls me to be His servant and the servant of others. Jesus calls me to discipleship: “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (8:34). I am to “be last of all and servant of all” as His disciple ( 9:35). To be great in this Man’s kingdom is to be a “servant” and a “slave of all” (10:43-44). I am to follow His example: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (10:45).

Jesus calls me to sacrifice my life for Him and for others. To save my life I am to lose it in Him and for Him (8:34-37). Like the Rich Young Ruler, I am to sacrifice whatever it takes to follow Jesus (10:21). The sacrifice I make for Him and others will be rewarded now and in eternity: “…who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time – houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions – and in the age to come, eternal life” (10:29-30).

Jesus calls me to victory through suffering. A cross is an instrument of death: “…let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me” (8:34-38). His victory came after persecutions, suffering and death (10:30, 33-34). Mine will too.

See Mark’s portrait of Jesus and give your life to the service of the Lord, sacrificing your time, energy, your very life for others!

Jason Cicero

The One Leper

Jesus had passed through Galilee into Samaria, making His way toward Jerusalem and the Cross (Luke 9:51; 13:22; 17:11). Coming to a small village, He encountered a group of lepers—nine Jews and a Samaritan—who, keeping their distance, tried to call Him. "Go, show yourselves to the priests," Jesus said. He didn't heal them on the spot but gave them an assignment to go to the priests in Jerusalem who were designated as the only ones who could pronounce them cured (see Leviticus 13-14). The ten started off by faith. As they walked along, they noticed their skin was clearing up. They were being healed. That's when the Samaritan stopped and said, "I'm going back to thank Him."

Have you noticed there were two thankful people in this story? The leper and the Lord. The Lord Jesus was thankful for thankfulness. Being the God-Man, He both receives and renders thanksgiving. Thankfulness is simply an element of Christlikeness. When we're thankful, we're modeling the Master.

The Lord's response to this leper is two-fold. While appreciating the thanksgiving of the one man, He noted the ingratitude of the nine. We must consciously watch ourselves that we don't fall into the 90% who never pause to regularly say, "Thank you," to GOD. Thanksgiving, after all, is a command, and Jesus always notes disobedience. Thanksgiving, remember, is therapeutic. It lifts the soul. If you want to enroll in Thanksgiving University where the Master Teacher tutors us in Gratitude 101, begin intentionally thanking God and others for the blessings surrounding you.

A sense of our spiritual leprosy should make us very humble whenever we draw near to Christ. We may look for GOD to meet us with mercy, when we are found in the way of obedience. The others only got the outward cure, he alone got the spiritual blessing.

Question: Who am I?

Answer: I am the one leper.

This week meditate on…

“I am the one leper.”

Jason Cicero

They Shall See His Face

"They shall see His face..." (Revelation 22:4).

I've seen some special things in my life. There are some things in life I long to see. To see His face is my deepest longing.

No one compares to Him. Nothing compares to Him. He is the beginning and the end. He is everything and all things. He is the One I long to see, to touch, to be with. To see His face, to be in His presence, to never have to leave His side, that will be glory for me.

Jason Cicero

Hidden in My Heart

"No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him." (John 1:18; NASBU)

Sunday Morning Starters

Psalm 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.

3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

NKJV

All Things New

Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful" (Revelation 21:5).

Things in this world have gone terribly wrong because of sin. In the new heaven and new earth all the wrongs will be made right. All things will be "new."

No more tears, death, sorrow, crying, or pain. The former things will pass away. All things will be "new."

Jason Cicero

The Book of Life

"And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15).

The Lamb has a book. He writes names in it (Philippians 4:3). He blots names out of it (Revelation 3:5).

At the final judgment the Lamb's Book of Life will be opened (Revelation 20:12). Those not found in His book will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15). "But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life" (Revelation 21:27).

Allow Jesus to love you. Allow Him to wash you from your sins in His own blood. Allow Him to write your name in His book: "To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood..." (Revelation 1:5).

Jason Cicero

KING and LORD

We glory, honor, and worship Him because of who He is:

And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS
AND LORD OF LORDS.

Crown Him the King of your life. Submit to Him as your Lord. Receive Him as your Savior.

Jason Cicero

Babylon the Great is Fallen

After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying,"Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen..." (Revelation 18:1-2).

It would seem to be the Babylon under discussion in Revelation 18 is Rome. The time and historical context of the book leads me to this conclusion. Others see Jerusalem or some city yet to come.

Whatever city is under discussion in Revelation 18 know this: "strong is the Lord God who judges her" (Revelation 18:8). Cities rise and fall under the watchful eye of the true and living God. He is Lord over all and will judge righteously.

Jason Cicero

Those Who Are With Him

"These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful" (Revelation 17:14).

Called - by the gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14)

Chosen - in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-14)

Faithful - unto death (Revelation 2:10)

Jason Cicero

Hidden in My Heart

"No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him." John 1:18 (NASBU)

Sunday Morning Starters

Psalm 103

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:

3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,

4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6 The Lord executes righteousness And justice for all who are oppressed.

7 He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.

8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

9 He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever.

10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;

12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him.

14 For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more.

17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children's children,

18 To such as keep His covenant, And to those who remember His commandments to do them.

19 The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all.

20 Bless the Lord, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word.

21 Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.

22 Bless the Lord, all His works, In all places of His dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!

NKJV

The Seven Bowls of Wrath

The true and living God "rules in the kingdoms of men" (Daniel 9:21). Revelation 16 appears to describe God's judgment of the Roman empire. These "bowls of the wrath of God" are poured out on the earth, not in the final judgment, but in a judgment that results in men continuing to blaspheme God (Revelation 16:21).

Rome sinned against God, did not heed the warnings of the trumpets, and God poured out His wrath.

I have sinned against God. His trumpets of warnings are sounding now. I can avoid His wrath if I repent.

Jason Cicero

They Sing

Those "who have victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name" sing (Revelation 15:2-3). Not just any song, mind you. "They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God,and the song of the Lamb" (Revelation 15:3).

The song they sing: "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested" (Revelation 15:3-4).

Long to join those who sing! Fear the Lord and glorify His name! Worship Him in the beauty of holiness!

Jason Cicero

144,000

In Revelation 7 the 144,000 are on earth: "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads." And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand..." (Revelation 7:3-4).

In Revelation 14 the 144,000 are in heaven: "Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand...for they are without fault before the throne of God" (Revelation 14:1, 5).

As long as we follow the Lamb on earth, we will end up in Heaven: "These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes" (Revelation 14:4).

Jason Cicero

The Mark of the Beast

In the latter half of the first century Roman emperors began erected emperor temples where Roman citizens were required to prove their loyalty to the emperor. Some would burn a pinch of incense at the image of the emperor. Others would pour a libation and taste sacrificial meat.

In order to buy and sell in Roman markets in the latter half of the first century one would need a certificate. This certificate was given by the cult priests to those who had worshiped the emperor. Revelation 13:17 seems to be a reference to this certificate: "and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."

What would the Christians of the first century do? Bow the knew to Caesar or Christ? What would you have done?

Jason Cicero

They Overcame Him

Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven,"Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death." (Revelation 12:10-11)

The brethren overcame the accuser through three things:

1. The blood of the Lamb

2. The word of their testimony

3. They did not love their lives to the death.

You and I must overcome him the same way...

Jason Cicero