Does God Love ME?

by Harry

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He suffered and He died for you,
An agonising death on a rugged cross
Tortured and crucified for you,
To save the sick, the lonely and the lost

Black hearted Pilate washed his hands in a dish of delph
It could have been in blood as much as in water
For he may as well have nailed Jesus to the cross himself
It was he who gave the fatal order

They surrounded Him in the dark of night
Armed guards with torches aglow
The crowds milled expecting a fight
But Jesus said, “It is I you seek, let the others go”.

On His Head a crown of black thorns they did add,
Their tips dipped in a deadly poison
A practice that could drive ordinary men mad,
As the Blood of Christ turned those tips to crimson

The mass of bleeding tissue was revealed
As ruthless Romans scourged again and again
Strips of skin were torn and peeled;
But not even once did Jesus complain

They mocked and insulted
They ripped the cloak from blood congealed
They pierced His Hands and His feet
His back was like a furrowed field,

When they nailed Him to that cross,
They nailed our sickness and our sin
They nailed your pain and your loss
So you would learn the Kingdom of God is within

His friends who loved Him looked up and cried
The sky darkened and clouds gathered as if nightfall
When Jesus looked down at the mob, just before He died
His Heart of Love still forgave them all

He had created the very wood and also the nails
And even the merciless men who drove them through
Despite the leather whip with it’s leaded tails
He pleaded, “Forgive them Father; they know not what they do”.

They took Him from the cross and gave Him to His Mother,
She cradled and she held this Blessed Fruit of her womb
She cried for her baby that once she lay in a manger
But now she prepared to lay her baby in a tomb.

However three days later the impossible happened
And Mary’s pierced heart was healed
She screamed with Joy as the tomb was opened
Jesus had defeated death, to all it was revealed.

He had endured and He had triumphed, this story is true
How He dispelled darkness with the light of love that day
And He would suffer it all over again, even if for only you
So that you too can live again in a most abundant way

Who is this faithful man who now holds out His Hand?
This man who is always honest, always true
Who speaks to pain and misery and it’s forever banned,
He is the one who will never leave or forsake you

You may not know Him yet but He knew you before you were born,
He knows everything about you, your strength and your frailties
He loved you in the womb, before you were even formed
And He will love you forever, and through all eternities

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16

(c) Harry Toye 2016

Five Fold Ministry Ireland

Road to Calvary 9: Satan tempts Jesus

Immediately after Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit led him out into the desert, where he fasted for forty days and forty nights. During that time he was tempted by Satan.

satan tempts Jesus
Satan tempts Jesus

Satan said, “If you are the Son of God, turn these rocks into bread so you can eat!
Jesus replied, “It is written in God’s Word, ‘Man does not live only on bread, but on every word that God speaks!

Jesus on the temple
Jesus on top of the temple.

Then Satan took Jesus to the highest point on the Temple and said, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command His angels to catch you so your foot does not hit the ground. But Jesus replied, “It is also written in God’s Word, ‘Do not test God.”

satan shows Jesus world
Satan show Jesus the world

Then Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and all their glory and said, “I will give you all this if you bow down and worship me.
Jesus replied, “Get away from me, Satan! It is written in God’s Word, ‘Worship only the Lord your God.”

satan defeated
Satan leaves in defeat.

Then Satan left him to wait for a better time. Angels came and took care of Jesus.

Satan was so foolish to offer Jesus, something that He already owned. Rather than sending him to Hell where he belonged, Jesus simply defeated Satan by quoting the Word of God. 

Five Fold Ministry Ireland

Road to Calvary 8: John baptises Jesus

When John grew up, he became a prophet. He lived in the wilderness, ate wild honey and locusts, and wore clothes made from camel-hair.

John the Baptist preaches
John proclaims the first coming of the Messiah

Many people came to listen to John. He preached to them, saying, “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is near. Some people repented and were baptized when they heard John’s message, but there were many religious leaders who came to be baptized without repenting and confessing their sins.

John rebukes the hypocritical church leaders
John rebukes the religious leaders

John said to the religious leaders, “You bunch of snakes! Repent and change your behavior. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” This fulfilled what the prophet Isaiah said,

“Behold, I send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way.”
(Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. ) Matt. 7:20(KJV)

Some Jews asked John if he was the Messiah. John replied, “I am not the Messiah, but there is someone coming after me who is much greater than I am. I am not even worthy to untie his sandals. 

John meets Jesus
John points out and proclaims Jesus

The next day, Jesus came to be baptized by John. When John saw him, he said,

“Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

John

John said to Jesus, “I am not worthy to baptize you. You should baptize me instead.” But Jesus said, “You should baptize me, because it is the right thing to do.” So John baptized him, but not because Jesus had sinned—he never sinned.

Jesus and the Dove
Holy Spirit settles on Jesus

When Jesus came out of the water, the Spirit of God took the appearance of a dove and landed on him. At the same time a voice from heaven said, “You are My beloved Son, and with you I am well pleased.”

Later when Jesus went into Caesarea, Philipippi He asked His disciples, “Who do men say I am?” They replied, some say John the Baptist, some say a prophet. This was we believe, plain silly. Although John was a great man He was no comparison to Jesus. He never worked a miracle in his life, never healed anyone. His job was to proclaim the first coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Above, God the Father didn’t mention John, only His Son.

John bears witness to the Son of God
John bears witness to the Son of God

God had told John, “The Holy Spirit will land on someone you baptise. He is the Son of God.” There is only one God. But God is three persons, the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

God had stated who Jesus was. John saw and bore record that this was the Son of God. Then, in our opinion, this is where John erred. He pointed to Jesus, others began to follow Jesus. Yet why did he not? What was wrong with him? He continued in dead works. And this is what many churches do, continue in works that produce No fruit. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Matt. 7:20(KJV)

In John’s case, this is why the enemy was able to move so quickly. After many years preaching without hindrance, now he was promptly arrested and beheaded. He was continuing in a work that was already finished.

Five Fold Ministry Ireland