FROM THE HEART OF DR. REXELLA VAN IMPE

Someone With Skin On

I suppose this story has been told in a variety of ways, but it illustrates so well the heart-cry of all mankind.

As I heard it, a little boy woke up in the midst of a violent storm, frightened by the thunder and lightning, and cried out for his mother. She reassured him, and told him never to be afraid of the dark or the storm because God was right there with him.

In a few minutes the child cried out again, and the mother went back to his side and reminded the youngster of her earlier assurance that God was with him in the storm. “I know,” said the lad, “but I want someone with skin on!”

Don’t we all? Religions based on noble thoughts or impersonal cosmic forces, or centered around idols made of stone or wood, do not satisfy the deep longing inside the human breast for a God with whom we can have a personal, living experience. We seek a God we can touch — Someone with skin on — to be our Example, our Saviour, and our Intercessor.

Centuries after the time when God himself came down to the Garden of Eden in the cool of the evening to walk, talk, and have fellowship with Adam and Eve, sinful man had lost sight of who God was and what He was like. Mankind stumbled about in the dark, disobedient and lost.

So God sent His Son to earth once again to reveal to man what God is like and to restore the lines of communication and fellowship. And to help man relate to God, the Father wrapped His Christmas present to the world — the divine spirit and person of His Son — in human skin!

The Apostle Paul wrote, For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6).

Jesus, our Example

The old gospel song, “Where He Leads I’ll Follow,” has a tremendous message in its lyrics. One line in particular describes Jesus by saying, “He the Great Example is, and Pattern for me.”

The truth is, Jesus gave us an example for living as well as His life. When we see how Jesus lived, how He acted, how He responded to other people and the circumstances of daily life, we catch a glimpse of how we should live. Oh, if only we would ask ourselves, “What would Jesus do?” when faced with life’s tough decisions and choices.

We know that His life was an outpouring of love and joy. His very first recorded miracle was performed at a wedding! He had dear, cherished friends in Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, in whose home He enjoyed rest and fellowship. When Lazarus died and Jesus was called, we’re told He wept for His friend. Onlookers even noted, Behold how he loved him! (John 11:36). And Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.

The Gospels are filled with examples of the compassion of our Lord. And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them (Mark 6:34). We’re told He taught them…and later fed them.

Acts 10:38 tells how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

This is the example Jesus set for us — He went about doing good. In love and compassion, He met people’s needs, touching, healing, and lifting them. And that is what we are to do.

In today’s dark world, you and I may well be the only light some people will ever see. We are the only hands of God that will ever touch them. Ours are the only feet that will bring the good news of the gospel to them.

I tell you, if Christ’s hands are not extended through ours, He will never reach out to some people. That individual in your world crying out for someone with skin on to come to him…is waiting for you.

“Oh, Rexella,” you say, “how could we ever expect to be like Jesus and minister as He did?”

Because He said so. Jesus said, Verily, verily, [truly, truly] I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son (John 14:12,13).

Jesus, our Saviour

A short time after the birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph brought Him to Jerusalem to the Temple to be presented to the Lord, according to the law of Moses. Two remarkable and beautiful things happened there that day.

First, there was a priest named Simeon, an old man who had been promised that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ. When He saw Jesus, he took Him in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation (Luke 2:29,30).

There was also an 84-year-old prophetess named Anna in the Temple. The Bible says that she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him [Jesus] to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem (Luke 2:38).

Why is it so significant that Simeon and Anna recognized Jesus as the Saviour? Perhaps God knew that we today needed to see this confirmation of the faith of others in the holy Scriptures. The majority then and now could not see who He was and is because of spiritual blindness. The Lord Jesus entered the world He had created to rescue fallen man, yet those with whom He desired to be intimately associated rejected Him.

The Bible says, He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not (John 1:10,11).

Jesus knew the price He would have to pay as the Saviour of the world. The Christmas card picture of Him being revered as a beautiful baby in a manger was for a brief moment. The adulation of those touched by the compassionate prophet, teacher, and healer lasted only a few days.

Jesus grew up in a humble home, in a despised village. His brothers and sisters misunderstood Him. The religious leaders of the day hated Him. And finally, when He was falsely convicted and crucified, His own disciples forsook Him.

But He died for everyone to redeem all mankind, willingly, by choice. He came to be a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11).

Someone has said that Jesus would have come to earth, suffered and died, to save just one person. And I believe that is true. But it is also true that, had the Lord been born ten thousand times in Bethlehem, it would have been ineffective… unless He had a birth in our hearts. Only then is He our Saviour.

Jesus, our Intercessor

I’ve often heard the old folk proverb which suggests that before one criticizes a person, he should walk a mile in his shoes. The point is, of course, that one cannot really understand someone else’s behavior unless one has gone through their tests and trials.

The writer of the Book of Hebrews reminds us that because Jesus, the Son of God, came down and wrapped himself in human skin and walked in our shoes, He knows what we’re going through… He understands. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15).

Under the law of Moses, the role of the high priest was to intercede before God for mankind. And Jesus, who provided the ultimate sin offering in His death on the cross, now serves as our Intercessor in heaven before the Father.

Having walked the rocky road of human existence before us, He fully understands what it means to be hungry, tired, and penniless …to be misunderstood, slandered, falsely accused… to endure heartache, physical pain and suffering…even death!

Oh, He knows what you’re going through, He understands what you need…and He cares! He sees your struggles, He hears your cry. And He is reaching out to you.

I heard about a little girl whose mother was in the hospital, and who was spending the night alone with her father. Soon after her dad turned out the lights, the little girl said, “Daddy, are you there?”

“Yes, child,” he said, “I’m here.”

It was quiet for a moment, and then a little voice asked, “Daddy, are you looking at me?”

What a joy to know that, in our darkest hours, we can go ahead and go to sleep knowing that Jesus stays awake all night looking after us!

I love the beautiful words of the old song that says,

Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share;
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Just now, reach out and touch the “skin” of Jesus the Lord, God’s “unspeakable gift” of love. Receive Him as your Example, accept Him as your Saviour, trust Him as your Intercessor.

A CLASSIC MESSAGE OF HOPE FROM DR. JACK VAN IMPE

To Be Lost: Trust in Good Works – part 2

Trust in Church Membership and Attendance

Others talk about church membership as if this automatically opens the Pearly Gates to sinners. Friends, a church role is not God’s book of life. Occupying a pew will not make one a child 9f God. A rusty wheelbarrow does not become a Cadillac by occupying space at the GM dealership. A woman does not become an old hen by sitting in a chicken coop. She may do a lot of cackling. but she is still a Miss-or is it Mrs.. or is it Ms .. (or could it be mistress?). It is hard to keep liberated birds straight these days. People and things are not changed (presto) by such situations. and sinners are not saved by sitting on sanctified. foam padded pews. It takes an experience with the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit unfolds this premise for us in Acts 16:14: And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira. which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened. that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. This is so plain that even a young child could grasp God’s marvelous plan of salvation. Notice this worshipper of God heard Paul and her heart was opened to the point that she attended to the need Paul’s sermon created.

And what was the glorious truth this giant of God proclaimed? Acts 16:31 says, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. The worshipping woman, upon hearing these potent words, attended to her spiritual need by receiving Christ. Oh. if all worshippers could only see their need, the Lord Jesus Christ. they would end up with Lydia in heaven rather than in an eternity of devastation and doom. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life (1 John 5:12).

Trust in the Ten Commandments

Finally, there are those who trust in commandment keeping as a means of appeasing God and entering heaven. This is drastically wrong because it leads a soul into eternal separation from the God who gave the commandments.

Does this seem contradictory? It need not when one understands God’s purpose in creating Sinai’s demands. Jehovah God gave the listing to Moses to expose the sinfulness of mankind. By the law is the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20). Again in Galatians 3:24: The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  A schoolmaster or teacher helps one to find the right answers. Thus the Law, a teacher, brings mankind to the point of sin’s recognition in order to drive the sinner to the blood of Christ for cleansing.

This Law. the Ten Commandments, could never take away sin-only reveal the wickedness of man and condemn the sinner. The law worketh wrath (Romans 4:15). Again in 2 Corinthians 3:6: The letter killeth. It is the “ministration of condemnation” and only produces a curse. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them (Galatians 3:10).

After one studies the Commandments, as listed in Exodus 20:3-17, he realizes his helpless, hopeless situation. He sees that he is a sinner under wrath, condemnation, and a curse. He also witnesses the fact that this judgment is for all because all have sinned (Romans 3:23), and the scripture hath concluded all under sin (Galatians 3:22). Because the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23}, the sinner realizes that the Holy Commandments can only be his judge and jury, condemning him for all eternity. After all, who can keep the following of Sinai perfectly?

1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above. or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honour thy father and thy mother.
6. Thou shalt not kill.
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8. Thou shalt not steal.
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house… wife … nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

Upon analyzing the holiness of these commandments, one must conclude that he, too, is condemned, doomed, and lost. For who, in his own strength, can keep such righteous demands, especially as interpreted in the New Testament?

For instance, hatred becomes murder in 1 John 3:15 and mental lust becomes adultery in Matthew 5:28. So, an act of bitterness or a lustful desire renders one a lawbreaker. Is it any wonder that God says, The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men (Micah 7:2).

Oh, you think you still are blameless? Well, what will you do with the ninth commandment -Thou shalt not bear false witness [lie]? No truthful per-son admits to complete and perfect honesty from birth onward, for even gossip usually includes this sin. Revelation 22:15 states, For without [or outside of heaven] are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolators, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. We are all guilty. and God’s Law was given to bring every member of the human race to this conclusion. Romans 3:19 states that the Ten Commandments were given so that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

In other words. God says, “I have given My Holy Law to seal one’s lips, silence one’s speech, and cease one’s arguments, for all the world is guilty.” Since the Law produces wrath, doom, and damnation, what is the sinner’s hope? The answer is Jesus Christ crucified, buried, and risen again. For the law was given by Moses, but grace [unmerited favor], and truth came by Jesus Christ (John 1: 17). So, Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth (Romans 10:4).

Human effort through the commandments is forever finished. Christ, through death, has become our righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). Instead of slavishly working to obtain the righteousness of God, one simply believes and receives Christ. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness (Romans 10:10).

There is not one shred of hope in the Commandments. They condemn, period. Man’s goodness can only be found in the sinless one, Jesus. Galatians 2:16 declares, Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law [the Ten Commandments] shall no flesh [Get it-NO FLESH] be justified.

God’s plan of redemption and salvation is not in a code of ethics or in a series of laws, but in the cross of Christ. To trust in works, the Sermon on the Mount or the Ten Commandments is to frustrate and confuse God’s plan of grace, or unmerited favor. God gives the sinner salvation as a gift (Romans 6:23). The lowliest of sinners, without any worth or merit, may have this gift without cost or obligation. To add any plan or program of human assistance to Christ’s shed blood as an aid to obtaining salvation is to destroy the offer of grace. Paul said, I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law [Ten Commandments] then Christ is dead in vain (Galatians 2:21).

Think of it, Christ’s death is a mockery if salvation can be obtained through the commandments. Believe God today. Nothing this flesh can do merits salvation.

The Galatians had turned to the commandments for righteousness and Paul says, 0 foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you. that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth. crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law [Ten Commandments], or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? (Galatians 3:1-3). He adds in verse 11: But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for the just shall live by faith.

The Law curses but Christ bore the brunt of the curse at Calvary to lift the curse from sinners. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree (Galatians 3:13). Tum to Jesus today. Quit trying and start trusting. It is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul (Leviticus 17: 11).

CHANGED LIVES-one at a time

Hi Rexella!

How are you? Thank you so very much for the email regarding Israel! It was perfect timing…within the hr. of receiving it, I prayed the 7 points you requested. I also pray for America’s protection as well. I normally pray specifically for Israel, of course. I will try to keep praying about the 7 points you mentioned for now.

I pray for you too! Please HAVE a very beautiful and lovely day and night!

Lonnie S.

Dear Rexella,

I have been listening to you and Jack since the 1970’s.  I often find myself watching the news and thinking, “wow, if Jack Van Impe could see this he would be amazed!” Thank you for your faithfulness through the years.

Laura G.

HIGHLIGHTED MINISTRY OFFERS

Raised by Wolves: Five Lies From the Pulpit

“Love is Love”

“No Justice, No Peace”

“All Roads Lead to Heaven”

You expect to hear loaded (and deceptive) messages like these on the culture — from celebrities, media, politicians, college professors, business leaders…

But the lies have burrowed in so deeply, you’ll even hear them from a place you’ve come to expect only God’s truth: The Pulpit.

Dr. Rexella Van Impe and her team have condensed Dr. Jack Van Impe’s teaching on five of the most pernicious and culturally significant lies being echoed by pastors and Christ leaders today — and expose each one with the truth of God’s Word.

You may come away thinking differently about some of the popular shepherds leading their flocks astray by giving voice to these lies.  And you will certainly come away better prepared to spot the counterfeits by measuring them against the real deal, Jesus Christ.

Get ready for the eye-opening truth!

God’s Good Plan: A Look at Revelation

Christ’s end-time plan is good … for those who have committed their lives to the Lord.

In fact, believers will be called up to the heavens with Jesus before any of the “bad stuff” begins! Are you ready for the trumpet sound?

Bible prophecy can be confusing … even scary. But if you understand God’s Word, it’s clear to see. He wins in the end! And His beloved children will stand victorious with Him in the days to come.

This booklet contains explanations and details about the most important events found in the book of Revelation, all compiled from Bible prophecy experts Drs. Jack and Rexella Van Impe’s decades of study … to give you hope and fill your heart with anticipation! Yes, evil will rule for a time … but it will be destroyed, and God’s children will be safely removed from the earth before the trouble begins. So delve in, and share this booklet, too! Let’s reach as many souls as possible with the Good News of Jesus, before it’s too late.