“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His Love, in Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” (Col. 1:13,14)

April 2006

Dear Friend,

Trusting that all is well with you and your loved ones. We are fine and thanking God for all He is doing in our ministry and lives. Isn’t it just so awesome to watch God work? The first three months of this year brought us to greater heights in Him as He opened doors that we could never imagine possible! You will be hearing about our new areas of ministry soon! Please keep us in prayer, as we go forward to serve Him in wonderful new ways!

This month we reflect upon the Cross of Calvary, the Sacrifice that the very Son of God made just for us, so that we can be set free from the power of darkness and be made right with God. Just think! He left His home in heaven to come to earth as a human being and suffer all the things that we do!  According to God’s plan He was born of a virgin in humbling circumstances. As He grew He  suffered in all the ways that we do, yet He was without sin. Throughout His life He was faithful to the Cross, teaching and healing all those who followed Him. He was LOVE. He was TRUTH. His disciples sat at His feet learning, taking in everything that they could to understand the wisdom He was bringing forth. Can you just picture their faces when Jesus healed the blind, the deaf, and the lame? They were in such awe of Who He was!

When we accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, didn’t we feel the same way? There was such an excitement in our life! Everything looked different, everything looked brand new! It is always awe inspiring to think of where we were, and how our life has been changed since that glorious day of salvation! Think back upon that day, and relive the excitement you felt! Recall the glorious joy you experienced knowing that you were forgiven, that you were starting out as a brand new creature in Christ! Glory!

Then when the disciples felt on top of the world, reveling in all the joy of following Jesus, it was  time for Jesus to fulfill His mission here on earth. The Cross awaited Him. They did not understand what was happening! Their Lord and Master was being taken away! Would they follow Him to the Cross? The Bible tells us when the soldiers came for Jesus, they ran, they were afraid. Yet Jesus did not become angry with them. He understood.  Peter cried after denying Him three times. He could not believe he actually did that! He thought he was so brave, and nothing could draw him away from his Master! Aren’t we like that at times? We think we are so strong, then someone comes along who questions our faith, or persecutes us in some way. What is our reaction then?  Perhaps we don’t deny Jesus, but at the same time we become quiet, or fearful.  In our weakness, we forget that God’s grace is sufficient and His power is perfected in our weakness (2 Cor. 12:10). Jesus went all the way to the Cross. As a human being, He was frightened. He knew the pain He would endure, He knew the suffering He would go through, He knew the ultimate would happen, that He would be for a moment separated from God His Father! He knew that, yet He did not waver.... He also knew what it meant for mankind, that through His Sacrifice, man would be set free from the dominion of sin and darkness. Man would once again have fellowship with his Creator and Heavenly Father, and would, by accepting Jesus into his heart, receive the gift of life eternal. This drove Him onward, this was His mission. This was the purpose for His life here on earth. On the Cross of Calvary, up on a hill, between two thieves, Jesus fulfilled His mission. “...He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit “(John 19:30).

Praise God it did not end there! The Bible goes on to say how on the third day Mary Magdalene went to the tomb where He was buried and the stone was taken away! And as she wept, and looked into the tomb, two angels in white asked her why she was weeping. She said because they had taken her Lord away and she did not know where He was. Now.... picture this.... when she turned around, Jesus was there, asking her why she was weeping, and whom she was seeking. She did not recognize Him at first, but then she did! She cried “Rabboni!” Wow!! (John 20:11-16). Doesn’t this just take your breath away?  Jesus was no longer dead, He had Risen from the dead! He is alive forevermore!! Glory!!!

Paul’s prayer for the Colossians was for believers, for those who accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. This prayer is for us today. (Col. 1:9-12) We can pray it for ourselves, and we can also pray it for others. We can pray for wisdom and spiritual understanding in order to know God’s will for us. And as we pray that we will live for God, we pray that we will be fruitful in His service. We can then give thanks to God for making us “saints in the light.”

Salvation is simple.  Hebrews 9: 14, 15 tells us “how much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the Living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.” Apart from the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins. Jesus did it all. In Colossians, Paul is trying to get across that believers who embraced the gospel were adopting forms of Jewish legalism. Others were going into immorality. The true gospel was being polluted with worldly philosophies that compromised the integrity of the Christian message. This has always been, and is still here today. We must be aware of the tactics of the enemy who would try to distort the truth of the gospel. Let us get back to the basics, and receive the inheritance to which we are entitled to because of Jesus! Remember, you are a co-heir with Jesus Christ, the Son of God! What belongs to Him, belongs to you! Praise God!

God bless you, and have a glorious Resurrection Sunday!

Rev. Barbara Anne Yovino, Ph.D.