Substitution

Paulette Fraticelli

(Gen 22:13 CEV) Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in the bushes. So he took the ram and sacrificed it in place of his son.

This morning we continue Genesis 22 opens with the Lord instructing Abraham to take his "only" son Isaac to the land of Moriah to sacrifice him. Let's think about this for a minute. Isaac was the child of promise and Abraham and Sarah had to wait 25 years for that promised to be fulfilled.

However, they did have a lapse in patience that caused Abraham to have another son (Ishmael) with his servant Gomar. This really made Isaac his second son, but God referred to him as the "only" son, because he was the son of promise. Incredibly enough, Abraham looked past the awesomeness of the request and set out the next morning to kill the son that he loved for the God that he served. He got up early in the morning and took off with his donkey, the materials for the sacrifice, his servants, and his son.

After a three day journey Abraham was able to see the place the Lord led him to. It was still afar off when he told his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you." Notice that he said, "...we will come back to you." He had faith in God that somehow they would both be back together.

Abraham built the altar and arranged the wood. He then bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar. Imagine that for a moment. Imagine preparing to sacrifice your only son, based on a request of your loving God. When Abraham lifted up his knife to shed the blood of his promised son the angel of the Lord stopped him and pointed out a ram that was stuck in a nearby thicket. The Lord honored Abraham's faith and provided the ram for the sacrifice in the stead of the boy. This is chock-full of application about faith, promises, and provision; but our focus this morning is a seldom talked about subject: substitution.

Let's take a closer look:

1. Isaac was the second son, but he was the child of promise.
2. God instructed the 'Father of Faith' to sacrifice this second and promised son.
3. At the point of sacrifice, the Lord stopped it and provided a ram to die in the stead of the man.

God tested Abraham's faith, but stopped him before human sacrifice. God would reserve the shedding of human blood to that of His only begotten Son and the Old Testament would continue to riddled with the blood of animals for the actions of man. The ram in the text and all other animals sacrificed after it had nothing to do with the circumstances surrounding the sacrifice, but they died so that humanity could live. This is called substitution.

Remember that the Old Testament is but a foreshadow of the New. Let's take a look at the New Testament revelation of this text:
1. Like Isaac, Jesus was the second (Adam was the first) and promised Son of God.
2. God instructed Jesus to offer Himself as a sacrifice, thereby shedding human blood and ending the requirement for the shedding of animal blood.
3. Jesus was the only human to never commit sin and was therefore not required to pay the penalty for it; but He substituted His righteousness for our sin. He became the innocent Lamb that paid the price for the guilty man. He took on our guilt and gave us His innocence so that we could take on His innocence and give Him our guilt. This is substitution.
4. We can now face this day with the peace and assurance that we have been redeemed. Jesus died a substitutionary death so that we could live a substitutionary life. He died for you so that you could live for Him. What are you going to do today that will honor His sacrifice?

Father, with my whole heart I seek You and I declare, by faith, that I will never cease to give You praise for sending Your Son to die so that I could live. You substituted Your Son for my sin and I now substitute my life for His. I will be Your legs to walk and Your mouth to talk this day. Use me as an instrument of Your anointing. I honor You Lord with my life and service. I live my life in the name of the one who died so that I could have it. I owe You everything and I will seek to honor Your sacrifice by living the life You desire for me to live. In declare this in the name of the one who died for me! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Resurrection Sunday

Paulette Fraticelli

(Gen 3:21 KJV) Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

This week is commonly known as "Holy Week." During Holy Week we celebrate the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. With that in mind, I feel led to take a break to share a weeklong mini-series on Jesus, His death, and His resurrection. Thank you Jubilee Bible Collage that through the classes I took there I have learned so much on this subject.This upcoming Sunday children all over the United States will go on extensive searches through fields of grass, with their best clothes on, looking for colored eggs. They will call this "Easter."
I call this upcoming Sunday morning Resurrection Sunday. Sorry Guys I hate to be scrooge It has nothing to do with Peter Cotton tail, or bunnies, or eggs.

Resurrection Sunday has everything do with celebrating Jesus and how He conquered satan, hell and the grave on the cross! The songwriter said, "What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!" Let's talk about blood this morning.

Christianity is a religion riddled with blood. Were it not for the blood of Jesus, I would not be writing this morning, nor would you be reading. Were it not for the blood of bullocks, goats, turtledoves and lambs, the journey of the Old Testament would have never reached the shores of the New. Sacrificial blood was used all throughout the Bible. Let's begin our journey in the beginning. Genesis 3 opens with the despicable serpent and his conniving acts. He tricks the woman into eating from the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil; disobeying the command of God. She then gives to her husband and he eats as well. As soon as he ate the eyes of both of them were opened, they realized they were naked, and they covered themselves with fig leaves. They were previously naked and not ashamed (2:25), in a perpetual state of communion with God.

However, their act of disobedience caused a breach in their relationship with God. Sin created a gulf between the Creator and His creation. Consequently, we were born the same way - separated from God. We will learn later that Jesus came that we might be Born-Again, that we might be reconnected with God's Spirit, and that we might be restored to the original condition of man in the garden. Going back to the garden we find a man and a woman who have broken covenant with God. Their act of disobedience introduced a dynamic-duo - Sin and Death - into the world. This duo would trouble mankind until the coming of Christ, who delivered us from both. After pronouncing judgment upon the serpent, the woman, and the man; God did something in our text that would be the pattern of deliverance for the rest of the Old Testament.

He killed an innocent animal for the act of a man. The blood of the animal became the price for the works of the man. The skin of the animal became the covering for the shame of the man. This was the one class at Jubilee that impacted me the most when Pastor Dick shared on this it was totally life transforming. This unidentified animal paid the price that was reserved for the man (Gen 2:17) and the man lived his life then, under the covering (clothes) of the animal. So what does this mean? It means that the Old Testament is but a foreshadow of the New. We will learn that Jesus came as the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world. He would be the Lamb that would die for the man, so that the man could live for the Lamb. He put down His righteousness and clothes Himself in our sin, so that we could put down our sin and clothe ourselves in His Righteousness!

We can enter into this day knowing that we have been redeemed from sin and bought with a price. What was that price? It was the Blood of Jesus! This Sunday has nothing to do with rabbits and eggs, but everything to do with Jesus - His life, death, burial and Resurrection!Father, I know there is power in the Blood of Jesus. Your Son died that I might live. Jesus paid a price I could not pay, for a debt He did not owe. He redeemed me from both Sin and Death. I have been bought with a price and I walk as a redeemed soldier in Your Army. I am covered by

Simon from Cyrene Carries Jesus' Cross

"A man named Simon from Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was coming from the fields to the city. The soldiers forced Simon to carry the cross for Jesus" (Mk. 15:21)
Simon grumbles beneath his breath. His patience is as scarce as space on the Jerusalem streets. He'd hoped for a peaceful Passover. The city is anything but quiet. Simon prefers his open fields. And now, to top it off, the Roman guards are clearing the path for some who-knows-which-dignitary who'll march his soldiers and strut his stallion past the people.
"There he is!"
Simon's head and dozens of others turn. In an instant they know. This is no dignitary.
"It's a crucifixion," he hears someone whisper. Four soldiers. One criminal. Four spears. One cross. The inside corner of the cross saddles the convict's shoulders. Its base drags in the dirt. Its top teeters in the air. The condemned man steadies the cross the best he can, but stumbles beneath its weight. He pushes himself to his feet and lurches forward before falling again. Simon can't see the man's face, only a head wreathed with thorny branches.
The sour-faced centurion grows more agitated with each diminishing step. He curses the criminal and the crowd.
"Hurry up!"
"Little hope of that," Simon says to himself.
The cross-bearer stops in front of Simon and heaves for air. Simon winces at what he sees. The beam rubbing against an already raw back. Rivulets of crimson streaking the man's face. His mouth hangs open, both out of pain and out of breath.
"His name is Jesus," someone speaks softly.
"Move on!" commands the executioner.
But Jesus can't. His body leans and feet try, but he can't move. The beam begins to sway. Jesus tries to steady it, but can't. Like a just-cut tree, the cross begins to topple toward the crowd. Everyone steps back, except the farmer. Simon instinctively extends his strong hands and catches the cross.
Jesus falls face-first in the dirt and stays there. Simon pushes the cross back on its side. The centurion looks at the exhausted Christ and the bulky bystander and needs only an instant to make the decision. He presses the flat of his spear on Simon's shoulders.
"You! Take the cross!"
Simon dares to object, "Sir, I don't even know the man!"
"I don't care. Take up the cross."
Simon growls, balances the timber against his shoulder, and steps out of the crowd onto the street, out of anonymity into history, and becomes the first in a line of millions who will take up the cross and follow Christ.
He did literally what God calls us to do figuratively: take up the cross and follow Jesus. "If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross each day and follow me" (Lk. 9:23 CEV).

A Refusal to Correct is a Refusal to Love

A Refusal to Correct is a Refusal to Love

Paulette Fraticelli

(Prov 10:10 NLT) People who wink at wrong cause trouble, but a bold reproof promotes peace.

In this text Solomon contrasts those who see something wrong and ignore it with those that seek to do something about it. When I read this I think of the Military. The military culture is one of standards and values. Solider are to adhere to a certain way of life. If their conduct does not line up with written regulations and time-honored military traditions it is said that their conduct is "unbecoming" of an officer or non-commissioned officer. They are expected to live, act and perform a certain way. There are many storied and movies about the corruption in the Military

Solomon calls this "winking at wrong." He explains to us that those who wink at wrong - who laugh at it and gossip about it, instead of confronting it - are guilty of causing trouble. Soldiers have an inherent responsibility to not only live up the standards, but to enforce them.

Now, you may be thinking, "Were you going with this? I am not a solider nor am I in the military." I beg to differ we are all in God’s army if we are born again believers I would hope that you are a Christian. If you are, then you have an inherent responsibility to love your brothers and sisters in Christ enough to confront them (in love) when you see them doing wrong. Don't talk about them behind their backs.

Don't laugh about their shortcomings. If you love them, like you should, then you should pray for them. If after praying you are led by God to speak to them about it, then please do so. Allow God to use you as the tool through which He can bring correction to his child. If you are not led by God to speak to them, then fine, don't; but don't speak to ANYONE else about it either.

This reminds me of the often quoted, "Spare the rod, spoil the child" scripture. This quote comes from Proverbs 13:24. The Message Bible translation of that text says, "A refusal to correct is a refusal to love; love your children by disciplining them." Another good passage to reference on this topic is found in Hebrews where the writer said, "Don't feel sorry for yourselves... have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children? My dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline, but don't be crushed by it either. It's the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects.

God is educating you; that's why you must never drop out. He's treating you as dear children. This... isn't punishment; it's training... We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God's training so we can truly live?" (Heb 12:5-9 MSG).

The first scripture was a reference to parent-to-child relationships. The second was a reference to God-to-child relationships. The principles that apply to those relationships also apply to peer-to-peer relationships. If you love your brothers and sisters in Christ (and you should), then you should share the truth in love. A refusal to correct is a refusal to love.

So what does this mean? A few quick things:

1. Don't get upset when someone is trying to help you. Receive correction and grow!

2. Love your neighbor just as they are, but love them too much to leave them that way.

3. If your neighbor does something you like, tell someone else. If you they do something you don't like, TELL THEM!

4. Use your mouth to build up and never to tear down.

Father, I am my brother's keeper. I love my brothers and sisters in Christ too much to talk about them. If I see something in them that is not like You, then I will pray for them. If you lead me to, I will talk to them and become the tool through which You can bring correction to them. Whatever I do, I will do it in Love! You are love and You love me enough to correct me. Likewise, I love them enough to correct them, if that's what You lead me to do. And if I am the person that needs correction, then I declare, by faith, that I will accept the correction in love. I will not get upset with the person You use to correct me! I welcome correction, so that I can grow! In Jesus' name. Amen!

Receiving Instruction

Receiving Instruction
Paulette Fraticelli

(Prov 10:8 NLT) The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.
This morning we continue our series, " Walking in the Wisdom of God." Somehow I skipped verse 8 and taught from verse 9 yesterday. So this morning we go back to verse 8 and seek to glean from the wisdom of God through Solomon.

In this text Solomon contrasts those who are eager to receive instruction and correction with those who can't stop talking long enough to learn from anyone else. The Contemporary English Bible translation of this text says, "If you have good sense, you will listen and obey; if all you do is talk, you will destroy yourself." The quickest way up in the Kingdom of God is through humility and the quickest way down is through pride.

The person who does not receive instruction is the person who believes they know it all. I have learned over the years that the closer you get to God, the less you think of yourself. Now, let me be clear, I am not talking about having a low self-esteem. I often say that it is a sad commentary for a believer to have a low self-esteem.

No, I am talking about remaining humble. The more you know about God the more you realize how much you need Him. You know that it is only by the Grace of God that you are who you are and that if it had not been for God - working through many people to speak to you - you would not be who and where you are today. When you enter your day with that perspective you are more apt to be receptive when a word of instruction or correction comes through someone else. You don't fight the messenger, because you know that it has taken many corrections and much teaching to get you to the point where you are. If you are going to maximize your potential and purpose, in the earth, before you die, then you must remain teachable. The day you stop learning is the day you stop growing.

James said, "Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry" (1:19). Being quick to listen and slow to speak is easier for some than others. By nature, I am a social person. I enjoy meaningful conversations and I am rarely at a loss for words. However, I make every effort to realize when God is attempting to teach me something through someone else. On those occasions I limit my speech and put myself in "receive mode."

I am very fortunate; the Lord has blessed me to learn from many gifted mentors. I believe He has given me favor with experienced and influential people, because I make the effort to avail myself to what they have to offer. If I am in the presence of someone whose experience far exceeds my own and that person is willing to teach me something, then the greatest thing I can do is listen.

I would be a fool - like the one Solomon mentions in this text - if I wasted these precious God-given opportunities by simply talking over the person I should be learning from. I have heard many people say that God gave us two ears and one mouth, so we should listen twice as much as we speak. Whether that is the proper ratio or not, the point is that we must learn to maximize every learning opportunity.

So what does this mean ? A few things

1. You don't know it all. Realize your limitations and allow God to develop you.

2. Be a lifelong learner. The day you stop learning is the day you stop growing.

3. Maximize every learning opportunity. When you sense God has put you in the presence of someone who can teach you something, then put yourself in "receive mode."

4. Receive correction with gladness. You are not perfect, so God will have to send people your way, from time to time, to correct you. Make the course corrections and grow from them!

Father, I thank You for helping to keep me humble. Whenever I sense that You have placed me in the presence of someone who has something to teach me, I place myself in "receive mode." I refuse to waste divine appointments. I maximize every opportunity You give me. I remain teachable all the days of my life. I don't fight against those You send my way to correct me. I receive the correction, I apply the changes, and I stay on course to arrive at Your desired destination for my life! In Jesus' name. Amen!

Walking In Integrity

Paulette Fraticelli

(Prov 10:9 NLT) People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will slip and fall.

In this text Solomon contrasts those that make every effort to walk in integrity with those that knowingly follow crooked paths.

I have shared with you before how we can and should make every effort to rid ourselves of what I call "Blessing Blockers." The writer of Hebrews painted a picture for us. He used the analogy of our lives being a race and how our purpose is wrapped up in the race that God has set before us.

He told us that to affectively run the race we must rid ourselves of every weight and sin that could slow us down (12:1). Not everything is a sin. Some things are weights - things that we know we simply should not do - and if we rid ourselves of the weights and the sin, of every Blessing Blocker, then we can freely and surely run our race. I know first hand the liberating feeling and the internal assurance I walk in when I know I am right before God; it gives me and overwhelming confidence and peace that cannot be shaken.

Solomon is not talking about a man that is sinless, because only Jesus was sinless, but he is talking about a man that walks in sincerity, integrity, and with a pure heart towards God and man. This man worships God with his whole heart, he seeks to be a blessing to others, he allows the Word of God to be the ruler by which he judges every decision. He walks by faith, with humility and patience, and he does it in love. This man is safe and his spirit can be at rest. He has nothing to fear and no reason to be afraid.

. Matthew Henry said of this man: "He is safe under a divine protection and easy in a holy security. He goes on his way with a humble boldness, being well armed against the temptations of satan, the troubles of the world, and the reproaches of men. He knows what ground he stands on, what guide he follows, what guard he is surrounded with, and what glory he is going to, and therefore proceeds with assurance and great peace." The Psalmist told us that God will not without any good thing from those that walk uprightly (Ps 84:11).

On the other hand we have the man that willingly chooses crooked paths. This man is not deceived; he knows the difference between right and wrong and he chooses wrong. He refuses to submit to Godly counsel. He ignores the Word of God. He is deceitful towards others and walks with contempt towards God. Solomon says that he will slip and fall. The Message Bible translation of this text says, "Honesty lives confident and carefree, but Shifty is sure to be exposed." This man has chosen to live the shifty and shady life and he will be exposed. Sooner or later he will reap what is has sown (Gal 6:7).

So what does this mean? I could say that it means that you have a choice between walking in integrity or choosing the crooked path, but if you subscribe to Today's Word I will make the assumption that you have already made your choice and you have chosen God. That being the case, then this text should serve as a reminder of your security in Him. You are making every effort to walk upright before Him, so you can face every day with quiet confidence, knowing that God is in you, with you, and for you. You are safe in His arms and He will not withhold any good thing from you. Allow this security to a source of strength and peace!

Father, I am a woman of integrity. I walk upright before You. My heart is pure towards You and man. I remove every Blessing Blocker. I release all bitterness and guile. I am free of all weight and sin. I run my race with patience and confidence. I shall arrive at Your desired destination for my life. I walk by faith, not feelings and I seek to Be a Blessing every day. I am safe in You and this safety gives me an overwhelming confidence and peace that cannot be shaken. I enter this day with boldness and assurity! In Jesus' name. Amen!

How will You be Remembered?

How will You be Remembered?

Paulette Fraticelli

(Prov 10:7 NLT) We have happy memories of the godly, but the name of a wicked person rots away.

Here Solomon contrasts the legacy of the righteous with the short-lived memory of the wicked. I believe the NIV translation of says it plainly, saying, "Good people are remembered long after they are gone, but the wicked are soon forgotten."How do you want to be remembered? Will you be remembered at all? 100 years after your death, will your name still remain? Will the legacy of your works echo through the halls of time? Will the work of your hands leave an indelible mark in heaven's history books? After you are gone, will you be inducted into the Hall of Faith? These are probing questions. They are soul-searching questions. These are the types of questions that make us consider what life is all about and whether or not we are giving our time, energy and effort to the right things. In Proverbs 13 (v.22) Solomon tells us that a good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children. The inheritance he talks about does include money, but it is not limited to it. The Amplified Bible translation of that text tells us that part of what a good man/woman leaves behind is an inheritance of "Moral stability and goodness."

This reminds me of a message I heard in the past. One of the points brought out in that message was that we should "Father or Mother for Purpose, not for Pleasure." Although our children are our greatest legacy, the focus of our parenting should not be on us, but rather on them. Our focus should be to prepare them for life. Any loving parent wants to bless their children, but we must remember that sometimes we have to make the hard decisions, even when the outcome will not be pleasing to our kids. If all we focus on is their pleasure, we might fail to prepare them for their purpose.

A Father/Mother must do more than just have children. He raises his children to become mature adults. It is a painful, costly, time consuming, life draining, "stay up all hours of the night" type of relationship. It is not always a joyful experience for the Father/Mother or the child. The cost is everything a parent has within them. The benefit is a child who will honor his Parents."

Some parents lord over their children. Our children are lent to us from the Lord and we are to love them and care for them; not rule over them. We have to remember that the time will when they will grow UP and then OUT!

We can't live their lives for them, nor can we attempt to live our own lives vicariously through them. The development of our children should be the goal of our parenting. Someone I hear once said, "The greatest mark of a leader is Development, not dictatorship!"So what does this mean? It means that we should keep the main things the main things. In this day and age is too easy to get so caught in the daily "rat race" and to fail to keep the important things important.

A great majority of people spend most of their time on things that have no eternal significance. Don't be one of them. Determine today to do all you can, while you can, for as long as you can; and as you do it, do it with God in mind.

Keep Him first and He will help you to prioritize your efforts so that you can leave the legacy He expects you to leave!

Father, I thank You for giving me this reminder to keep the main things the main things. I take self-inventory and I make the changes You lead me to make. I understand what is really important. I know what things have eternal significance and what things don't. I focus my efforts on the things that are pleasing to You. I pour into my children and my grandchildren all that You have poured into me. And I pass down The Blessing upon them. I leave an inheritance of righteousness and a legacy of love! In Jesus' name. Amen!