Sound Word Outreach and Ministry

Take Up Your Cross (Re-posted) When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” — Mark 8:34—36 NKJV Sacrifice, CHRISTLIKENESS.  Growing in the likeness of Christ requires that we be willing to lay down our lives and take up our cross daily. It regularly confronts the human insistence on our own will, way, and wants. But even as Jesus laid down His life for us, He invites us to lay down ours for His. It is not an equal exchange. He died to do for us what we could never do for ourselves—to save us and give us eternal life. But when we sacrifice for Him, that opens the way for His life to reveal even more of the glory of His way and will—...

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. —   Genesis  1:27   NIV Just, as I Am Our desire for justice reflects the image of our Creator. What is it about injustice—about seeing one person prosper at the expense of another or seeing certain people denied rights that are enjoyed by others—that strikes such a universal chord in the human heart? Chalk it up to our internal wiring. In the creation story of Genesis, we find a remarkable statement: “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” ( 1:27 ). The human race bears the likeness of the Creator. We possess, in finite form, many of his qualities. His priorities are wound into our DNA. Nowhere is this more evident than in our desire for justice. Proverbs 11:1 says, “The LORD detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him.” In Old Testament times, mos...

Friendship with the Master No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.    — John 15:15 NKJV In the Roman world, a “friend” was often a political ally who owed one a favor, or a more powerful patron on whom one could depend. But the traditional Greek concept of friendship remained influential even during the apostle Paul's day. Paul had urged the financially well–off Christians of Corinth to treat Christians in Jerusalem as friends by sharing all things in common. Friends treated one another as “equals” (2 Corinthians 8:13,14). Jesus said to His disciples: “I have called you friends.” While He was not implying that as His friends they were His equals, He was offering to share with them what belonged to Him. John's Gospel describes this assurance specifically as the promise of the Spirit sharing Jesus' words with t...

His Great Love Toward Us Praise the LORD, all you nations;   extol him, all you peoples. For great is his love toward us,   and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the Lord.    — Psalm 117 NIV This psalm captures the essence of praise in miniature — it is the shortest psalm in the Psalter and the shortest chapter in the Bible. The psalm opens with a call for the nations to praise the Lord (verse 1) and then gives the reason for praise: the Lord's great love and eternal faithfulness toward his people (verse 2). 117:1 The Lord is more than a parochial or tribal deity; he is Lord of all the earth (114:3 – 8;115:15 – 16). Consequently, all nations must praise him. Psalms pictures a great contest between the rebellious nations and their Creator (see 2:1 – 6). The nations submit to their Creator by praising him (see 2:10 – 12; 108:3). The New Testament attests that the nations have submitted to God because they praise the Son ...

Searched for Jesus and found him? Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.' Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to...

Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves, We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; — Psalm 100:3-5 NKJV A Song of Praise and Thanksgiving Enjoy the verse insights on this passage from  The MacArthur Study Bible. Verses 100:1–5 This well–known psalm, emphasizing the universal nature of God's kingship, is a benediction to the series of psalms which are occupied with the Lord's kingdom rule (Psalms 93, 95–100). Most of it is a call to praise and thanksgiving, while verses 3 and 5 fix the reasons for that worship. Verse 100:3 Know.  In the sense of experiencing and being completely assured of the truth. The LORD, He  is  God.  A confession that Israel's covenant God, Jehovah, is the only true God. Made us.  Though God's actual creation of every human bei...

Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice. —Psalm 55:17 NKJV Pray First, Often and Always! While many believers sincerely desire to spend time with God in prayer, few actually do. Spiritual discipline is necessary to make prayer a priority in our lives. God, however, has made prayer a priority—directing his children to pray first, often and always. Therefore, prayer should become a priority for us! Scripture speaks repeatedly of the importance of prayer. Paul says to pray about everything (Philippians 4:6). Believers should make all requests known to God. In addition, believers are admonished to pray regularly and frequently. David promised the Lord, “Evening, morning and noon I cry out” (Psalm 55:17). Jesus prayed for extended periods of time, especially when making important decisions (Luke 6:12). Certainly when facing challenges or trials, a believer should pray (James 5:13). Paul exhorted the Christians in Thessalonica ...

Marks of Faith Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree. Then some rose up and bore false witness against Him, saying, “We heard Him say, 'I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.'” But not even then did their testimony agree. And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy! What do you thi...

Take Up Your Cross When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” — Mark 8:34—36 NKJV Sacrifice, CHRISTLIKENESS.  Growing in the likeness of Christ requires that we be willing to lay down our lives and take up our cross daily. It regularly confronts the human insistence on our own will, way, and wants. But even as Jesus laid down His life for us, He invites us to lay down ours for His. It is not an equal exchange. He died to do for us what we could never do for ourselves—to save us and give us eternal life. But when we sacrifice for Him, that opens the way for His life to reveal even more of the glory of His way and will—to discover ...

Commitment Commitment  is a great way to our blessing. Commitment is what it takes to be a great success. 1 Tim 6:20, Luke 2:49. Commitment is guiding. The act of commitment enables the spiritual blessings to manifest in the physical. Commitment bring us closer to God. Commitment brings miracles, wedding at Cana. Lack of commitment brings condemnation. Commitment brings name to you. When you're committed God'll commission you and for a better position. Your commitment will bring values to you. Commitment is an asset. Your commitment to God makes God to be committment to healing, blessing and prospering you. Luke 13:31-32. Luke 12:49 How committed are you? Follow Us on: Facebook Twitter