The Path

Hi this is breathing welcome to the Salvation Army's words of life. It doesn't pick and choose when there's so much to fight against.

Thanks for when others flee reverence toward and when darkness prevails. Love remembers his strength 156 years Salvation Army has left all feel lost. With your help will never stop back to words of life. I'm Cheryl Guillen and Bernie Dick were glad you're here last week we started our Easter series with major roots, new throughout this series she is studying God's long-term plan how Christ life and sacrifice were no accident, but part of God's plan since the Garden of Eden, and on this episode Ruth assuring some hard truths about being a Christian this walk with Jesus was never promised to be easy.

I'm a Christian and I still have bad days. There are days where I have questions about why God would let something happen. Death and grief these things that you know they make my heart hard in the sense I've heard a story that Mother Teresa lived so long because God knew she had a lot of questions. He wasn't ready for to come to have another that of course is just a story, God has a plan for all of our lives, but I think it's okay. I want to encourage any of our listeners to hear these words. It's okay to have a bad day. The beauty of the Savior is willing to listen is that we can release that to him and let him bear the burdens for us. If you're enjoying words of life we want to invite you to check out another show brought to you by the Salvation Army, the holiness podcast is a monthly Bible study with the tenant Col. Vern June.

This shows a deep dive into the Scriptures, starting with the word of God says about holiness with each episode. There is also a corresponding study guide. Listen wherever you get your podcasts or visit Salvation Army's outcast the Christian path one covered with roses describing the kingdom of God.

Jesus teaches us the price of following him look 923 Jesus says whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. He also said no one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God. Matthew chapter 10 verses 34 to 37 we read do not suppose that have come to bring peace to the earth.

I did not come to bring peace but a sword had come to turn a man against his father and daughter against her mother and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

Man's enemies will be the members of his own household. Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. Anyone who loves their son of her daughter more than me is not worthy of me. The Christian path has never been easy. Jesus called it narrow, challenging and full of obstacles to teach us how to persevere amid the difficulties of that way, he gives us his example as found in the Gospels. Today's reading is quite lengthy, so will only read a few select verses we can read the whole portion in Matthew chapter 26 versus 47 to 68. This passage shows that Judas the disciple has just betrayed Jesus. After a moment of violence that Jesus denounces, he immediately surrenders to the soldiers and the disciples flee if you hours later, Jesus stands before the Council and lying witnesses accused him. I believe the first thing we have to learn is that on the Christian path.

Many will betray us. The gospel message is complex for the world to accept Christ teaches sacrifice in the world teaches personal satisfaction price Excel service in the world promotes 15 Christ exhibits humility, and the world shows greed. The gospel offers freedom in the world offers licentiousness. Christ preached against adultery, love of money and mistreatment of the poor and we still find those sins around every corner.

So if the gospel proclaims the exact opposite of what the world teaches, of course, there will be people who will betray us when we put kingdom values above world values.

Perhaps you think I have friends who are not Christians. And you can stay alert, because light cannot coexist with darkness and if they show you affection, take care that it is not as false as the kiss of Judas and the even say that they are Christians because they go to church.

Still, the Bible says in first Corinthians 5 verse 11 but now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy and idolater or slander or a drunkard or swindler did not even eat with such people, says Paul.

When the road gets rough and tough.

This falls Christians will betray the church to save themselves. What is the Bible's advice then the author of the letter of the Hebrews's rights and let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see that day approaching. This is fanning Hebrews chapter 10 verses 24 and 25 on the Christian path nanny will abandon us the end of verse 50 6S then all the disciples deserted him and fled. What a sad scene. Let us imagine for a moment, and emotions of Jesus on the same night he had one last supper with his friends. Pray for them secretly left the CD so as not to be arrested across the Kidron Valley while meditating on his upcoming sacrifice and prayed onto he sweated blood admits so much anguish Christ finds his friends as sleep and therefore unable to share his pain and then after his arrest, they leave him.

Perhaps he had been through similar times moments when you most need of the company and encouragement of friends you felt abandoned maybe you're going through a moment like that right now that's Encouraging Word for you today is that in abandonment and sadness. There is a faithful friend who never leaves you.

And he's name is Christ there so many promises in his word that he will never leave you that I don't have time to read the fall, but I'm in a sheriff you in first Chronicles 28, 20. David also said to Solomon his son, be strong and courageous and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God is with you.

You will not fail you or forsake you onto all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished first Kings 857 offers this prayer. May the Lord our God be with us as he was without ancestors, may he never leave us nor forsake us in a couple of passages from Deuteronomy 31 verses six and eight. Be strong and courageous to not be afraid or terrified because of them. For the Lord your God goes with you.

He would never leave you nor forsake you. The Lord himself goes before you and he will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you again did not be afraid to not be discouraged that in Joshua chapter 1 verses five and nine.

No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, says the Lord. So I will be with you. I will never leave you nor forsake you. Had I not commanded you.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

And finally, our Lord Jesus says to us in Matthew 28, 2010, Charlie, I am with you always, to the very end of the age. If you feel lonely or abandon today claimed his promises.

Repeat them in your heart and mind and you will receive God's comfort and care today. Finally on the path of the Christian nanny will accuses the Bible tells us that during Jesus trial counsel brought false witnesses to accuse him. These were people who accused him of things that were not real.

And since the stories were not true, use Jesus's own words against them. When Christians decide to confront sin head-on there often accused of many things that are not true. The world condemns this by describing Christians assess intolerant and hateful prejudice and fanatical when in reality all those adjectives describe the treatment we often receive in 2016.

Time magazine published an article titled regular Christians are no longer welcome in American culture. In this article author Mary Eberstadt described the current situation in this way, some of the faithful have recently paid unexpected prices for their beliefs. The teacher New Jersey suspended for given a Bible to student the football coaching Washington was suspended for saying a prayer on the field at the end of the gang. Atlanta Fire Chief fired for self-publishing a book defending Christian moral teaching the Marine that was court-martialed for pasting a Bible verse on his desk and other examples of the new intolerance anti-Christian activists, mere Americans with traditional beliefs about marriage as bigots and haters and accuse antiabortion Christian stove waging a so-called war on women, all those lies and accusations can discourage you in your Christian walk. Don't be discouraged. Jesus Christ phase charges and slander with fortitude, knowing that his future was secure. You two can trust that even though this bath is full of accusers releases to it tomorrow with God and he will greet us with joy in these words well done good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things come and share your masters happiness. Matthew 2523. The Christian's bath is full of trials and pain makes with moments of victory and joy despite persecution, abandonment, betrayal and IQ stationed here on earth if we are faithful and strong will inherit an internal land where they will be no more crying no more suffering or no more pain make that fill you with his blessings today and always, the Salvation Army's mission doing the most good means helping people with material and spiritual needs to become a part of this mission every time you give to the Salvation Army visit Salvation Army USA.org to offer your support and love to hear from you. Email us radio USS.Salvation Army.org or call 1-800-229-9965. By this, PO Box 29972 11 GA 30359 tell us how we can help share prayer request or share your testimony. Would love to use your story here. You can also subscribe to our show on iTunes store and surely give us a rating search for the Salvation Army's words of life always on social media for the latest extended and if you don't have a church home. We invite you to visit your local sub worship center will be glad to see you next time for the Salvation Army life