Ed Christian's World

The Resurrection On Trial…

The Sanhedrin was the governing body that leveled the charge against the resurrection, that the disciples stole the body. The Sanhedrin was Israel’s court of law.

Why then in all its history was there never a trial or conviction of these charges? We have the Book of Sanhedrin in the rabbis’ Talmud. But there’s no record of any such trial.

Thus they obviously didn’t have any evidence to prove it. Otherwise they would have used it to stop the new movement.

The Sanhedrin couldn’t produce the body, and they had no way of proving their charge. They only proved one thing – that the tomb was empty – and not by the hand of man, but by the hand of God.

Kingdoms rise and fall but Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. If He abides in you, no matter what things look like in your life, no matter how hopeless, or overwhelming, the good will triumph over the evil.

The light of Jesus is going to conquer the darkness, and every power on earth and hell. He’s alive! He is risen! He has conquered, and so, in Him, will you.

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. Romans 8:11

Today, bring any issue you have been struggling with to the light of Jesus and declare, believe, and receive the truth – that He is alive and ruling over it.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Funeral Of Your Sins…

Hata‘ah is the Hebrew word used for the sacrifice that took away sin. The same word means sin. The sacrifice and the sin were called by the same name.

It means that the sacrifice for sin became one with the sin it was taking up – so much so, that the person offering up that sacrifice would see in it the dying of their sin.

So in 2 Corinthians 5:21 it says, “God made Him who knew no sin, to become sin, for us, that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” Jesus is the Hata‘ah.

When He died on Calvary, sin actually died on Calvary. Rage, jealousy, addiction, bondage, darkness, your past, was crucified. When He dies it’s over, it’s gone, and it’s dead.

Jesus didn’t just become an offering for sin, He became sin itself. And you can receive that your sin is actually gone for real. Live in the light of the fact that your sins have actually been killed.

The past is dead. For He who knew no sin, became sin for you, that you who did not know holiness, would become by that same miracle, holy.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29

Today, hold a funeral for your old sins. Rejoice that they are dead, gone, buried, and never coming back!

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Genesis Gene…

For centuries, a prevalent doctrine in the church world taught that God was finished with the Jewish people, that all His blessings were transferred to the church, and Israel was left with nothing.

It’s called replacement theology, or supersessionism. The problem with this is that the Word of God clearly says that He will never abandon His people.

Romans 11:2 says, “God has not rejected His people.” Jeremiah 31 teaches that as long as there is the natural order of the sun, moon, and stars, that the seed or the children of Israel will not stop being a nation before Him.

The Hebrew word for seed is Zerah. It means seed that you sow on the earth and it also speaks of DNA. It’s amazing how modern technology and genetic testing have now proven the Bible.

Jewish people all over the globe, are the exact same people, and they originated from Israel. If the God of Israel happens to be your God, and He hasn’t replaced Israel – He won’t replace you.

He’ll never leave or forsake you. For He who keeps Israel, and you, will never slumber nor sleep.

Indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep. Psalm 121:4

Today, meditate and soak in the fact that the Lord will never abandon you, replace you, or forsake you. He will keep you forever.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed.

The Gospel Of The Moon…

The full moon marked key dates in the ancient Hebrew calendar. It was the fullness of the month that was considered the best time for a betrothal.

So in the Hebrew marriage was often at the time of the full moon that the groom would propose and covenant with the bride. There, under the full moon, he pledged his life to the bride and the bride did likewise.

There, they shared in the cup of the covenant to seal the betrothal. Passover falls on the 14th and 15th of Nisan – the night of the full moon.

Jesus gave us the cup of the covenant that same night. Then He gave His life on the cross. That was His pledge to us.

For Jesus is the Bridegroom. And so He has given His pledge to you, the pledge even beyond marriage. Your response, in turn, must be, to pledge yourself, your love, and your all to Him.

Because the covenant is given, and so it must be sealed under the full moon. He has given His covenant and pledge to your life. Go and do likewise.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1

Today, pledge your life to your Beloved and give Him your all.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Becoming A Character In The Bible…

When I was a child, my parents called me Eddie. They bought me a children’s book called “Eddie goes to Washington.” My Father wrote an inscription, noting that the boy had my name.

So when I read that book, I could picture that I was that boy going to Washington DC, to the White House, and meeting the President.

Today they actually have children’s books that insert the name of the child in the books, so the child feels part of the story.

Herein lies a secret to reading the Bible. Don’t just read the Bible as if it’s a book about other things, other people, or general principles.

Read it as a Book that’s about God and you. God so loved… Eddie, Jim, Susan, Linda, that if… Bill, Maria, David, would believe in Him… Take it personally and specifically.

Whenever you read of anyone, whoever, or whatever applies to you, insert your name into the Holy Word and see what happens.

Put your name in the Book, because you are in the Book. Get yourself into the Book and the Book will get into you.

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. John15:16

Today, read the Bible by inserting your name into scripture. Make it personal, make it about you.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Blessing Of His Rod…

King David refers to the Lord as his Shepherd with a rod and a staff that comfort him. It’s comforting for sheep to know that the shepherd is able to defend them, because there are wolves out there.

But the rod and staff are not only for wolves, but also for the sheep; to be corrected, and pulled out of danger. We need the Lord’s rod to defend us from the evil one and to correct us.

Parents who don’t correct their child are sinning against that child’s life. God is a good Father who loves you and corrects you. He has to correct you because a child who doesn’t have anyone correcting them is an orphan.

Don’t be discouraged when you’re corrected. Rejoice in it and be encouraged. Because His rod is a sign that you’re not an orphan.

You’re a child of a loving Father and a sheep of a loving Shepherd. His love protects you from the danger of the wolf, and from your own sins and mistakes.

Thank God for His rod and staff, for as they comforted David, they will comfort you.

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. Hebrews 12:6

Today, rejoice in the rod of God, all the times and ways He corrected you. Be comforted, you have a Father who loves you.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Woman On The Hill…

While on a mission trip in Nigeria, a group of us were walking by a river where there was a shrine to the goddess Oshun. The high priestess was watching us from a hill. It was obvious that she was in darkness.

Someone from our group offered her a Bible, which she refused, but when they offered it again, she accepted. We began sharing the love of God with her. At the end, I asked if she was ready to ask the Lord into her life.

She said yes. We prayed a prayer of salvation with her. She came out of that prayer glowing, as much as I’ve ever seen anyone glow in the Lord.

There are many people in darkness. We often judge them as being part of the enemy’s camp. Human nature is to keep them outside. But the Lord reached out to us in our darkness.

We need to do the same. Reach out to that person in darkness. Because even the high priestess of a pagan god may be waiting, in the darkness, for you to reach out to them and bring them into the light.

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2

Today, break through the wall; share God’s Word with someone who is in darkness. Bring them the light.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Satan On The Wall

In 2 Kings 19, Jerusalem is surrounded and held captive under the threat of annihilation from the Assyrian army. In ancient Assyrian tablets, King Sennacherib records: “and Hezekiah himself, I shut up in Jerusalem, his capital city, like a caged bird.”

It then says that Hezekiah was afraid and sent a tribute of gold, and they left the city alone. It confirms the biblical account that they never took Jerusalem, with one big difference – the claim that Hezekiah sent a tribute.

But the Assyrians never accepted a tribute from a city that rebelled against them. Instead, they destroyed it. So what was the real reason they left Jerusalem alone?

The Bible records that King Hezekiah lifted up the crisis to God and an angel of the Lord struck down the Assyrian army in one night. The Greek historian Herodotus records an account of the Assyrian army struck down in one miraculous swoop.

So, whatever you’re going through, be at peace. For the same God who upheld Jerusalem will uphold you. When you put everything into His hands as Hezekiah did, you’ll rejoice in the morning when your enemies are gone.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Today, give your troubles over to the Lord, let Him fight your battles, and rejoice in the victory.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Pigs Jewelry…

Proverbs 11:22 says, “As a ring of gold in a pig’s nose, so is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.” The truth of this scripture applies to everyone.

Your life is as a gold ring, it’s priceless because you’re made in the image of God. It’s meant to be something beautiful, but if you give yourself to sinfulness; if you give your heart to greed, lust, anger, selfishness, sensuality and the like, you’re degrading something meant to be beautiful.

A ring given to a pig will end up in the mud. A life given to sin, will also end up in the mud. If you sell yourself cheap, your life will become cheap. You will become what you give yourself to.

If you give yourself to something low, you will be lowered. But if you give yourself to something higher, then your life will be lifted up.

So give yourself to what’s pure, true, and holy. Give yourself to Jesus and your life will be lifted up. Then your life will become the treasure it was meant to be and not a ring in a pig’s nose.

Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. Matthew 7:6

Are you giving yourself to a certain sin, an indulgence, or something not of God? Today, make the decision to not degrade yourself anymore. Live your life now as a precious treasure.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Show Them…

We are commanded by Jesus to preach the Gospel and the kingdom of heaven. However, our faith is not primarily about getting into heaven. It’s about heaven getting into us.

Heaven is in us because God is in us. So it’s not enough to just talk about Him, we have to show Him. Paul was taken up into heaven. He said he couldn’t speak about all the things he saw, it was too much.

But he showed it by living a heavenly life. For the rest of his life he lived a life of faith and perseverance, a life worthy of heaven, of someone who had been there.

He kept rejoicing and persevering because of heaven. He showed them the reality of it. If you’re born again, you’re born from heaven and you need to do the same thing Paul did.

You need to show heaven life now. For heaven is too wonderful to only be spoken about. So don’t just talk about it, put your life where your mouth is. Show them.

So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Luke 7:22

Today, be an example and live a life of a true believer. Don’t just talk about God’s love and blessings – prove it! Show it!

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed