Good Friday

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6 (ESV)

Good Friday is a religious observance primarily by the Church, commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary.

Observed on the Friday of Holy Week, Christians all around the globe gather and recapitulate what's been dubbed "The Seven Last Words" or "The Seven Last Sayings" uttered by Jesus, as preserved in the gospel writings, during the final and agonizing 6 hours of his life on the cross from approximately 9 AM to 3 PM.

Conveyed within these last seven sayings are spiritual principles germane to understanding the message of the gospel. In these seven sayings, we find the purpose and power of the gospel; we visit the scene and are allowed to hear the conversation and conversion of a criminal; we learn of a familial connection cemented by this cross; we hear the tortured cry of one cursed for another; we are given confidence in the fulfillment of Scripture; we hear the acclamation of a victor; and we hear the unshakeable confidence of a surrendered sovereign soul.

Take a moment to reflect back almost 2000 years ago to the precursor of the resurrection, to the place of reconciliation and redemption, and hear the voice from the cross. Click link to Seminary Now videos on the Last Seven Sayings of Christ on the Cross. These videos offer insight from well-respected New Testament scholars.

1. "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34) | https://youtu.be/Shq_L4KMtwA?si=uUfbnx5jk74OSCWk
2. "This day you will be with me in Paradise." (Luke 23:43) | https://youtu.be/5GVbEFnJXyk?si=Y_DV9sXvnyuqm3WI
3. "Woman, here is your son...[John] here is your mother." (John 19:26-27) | https://youtu.be/Lc1AcGTVxWc?si=S0VsmBFnPw4pO4r8
4. "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34; Matthew 27:46) | https://youtu.be/BjJ4_x6xHBU?si=FtH6jJwZWQWuNiA8
5. "I am thirsty." (John 19:28) | https://youtu.be/c_b3kA1xnFY?si=2oGXhDqBhrLsWkFp
6. "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." (Luke 23:46) | https://youtu.be/Dej8W09hUcE?si=CMJPnSBHaNN3P7mD
7. "It is finished." (John 19:30) | https://youtu.be/HkYGEC8ktZo?si=w95DwFLE-XcBGiTO                                                                                                                                                                                  Without the cross there is no Christianity. The preaching of the cross and the death of Christ is the center of the Christian gospel message.

But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 1 Cor 1:23-24 (KJV)

Copyright © 2024 Johnson Beaven III. All Rights Reserved.

Johnson Beaven III is Principal of Johnson Beaven III Ministries LLC. He serves in the Church Of God In Christ (COGIC) as Executive Secretary and Director of Education in the International Department of Evangelism, and Chairman of District Superintendents in the Indiana North Central Jurisdiction. He's also a religion columnist for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. He is a former pastor, local site coordinator and instructor for the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) Certificate in Theology Program. For information, check Linktree. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @jbeaven and @jbiiiministries.

Move When God Says, "Move!"

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Hebrews 11:8 ESV

 
WOW, what a year! It has been an adventurous year of faith for the Citadel of Faith Church Of God In Christ (COGIC) throughout the process of acquiring, relocating, and transitioning from the place of preparation to a place of promise.
 

Praise is due to God, who in His grace has brought the Citadel of Faith Church to a wealthy, spacious place! From our church’s inception out of the womb of very small COGIC church, to an incubator at the home of charter members, to a crib in a classroom at an old elementary school, to a laboratory in a 2,500 square foot building on less than an acre of land, God has now blessed us with a 25,000 square foot facility on 5+ acres of land in a strategic spot to do greater works for the Kingdom. God has prepared us through years of testing and learning in the laboratory at our old church location for entering into a new phase of ministry in our new church location to bring into fruition His promise and plan.

You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.

 Psalms 66:12 ESV

This time last year, I couldn’t have told you with confidence that we would be in a facility one year later like we are today. We knew it was necessary for us to either expand the building we were occupying, or relocate to a larger facility (God confirmed in 2008 to relocate). Either way would require reassessing and planning out a financial strategy and campaign for at least another two years. Then in January of this year, God spoke to my heart that it was time to move, to relocate the church saying “give Me something to work with.” I looked at our needs and what we had (I think you know what that means)…it didn’t add up on paper. The only thing I had to give God to work with was the bit of finances we had and a whole lot of faith. Needless to say, GOD DID IT! It’s amazing what God can do when He’s ready to move (there are plenty of biblical stories and personal testimonies confirming that).

One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”

 John 6:7-9 ESV

One of the adventurous and confounding aspects early on in this process was having our hearts set on a property we felt adequately met our needs and would allow for growth, but from the beginning of negotiations in the spring-time, everything always ended in a stalemate. We were yet encouraged with our facility having a buyer within 30 days of being on the market in June. Then in August, we became aware of the property we closed on December 1^st. The ironic thing with that is it was the very first property we viewed when we started looking at properties over two years ago when the economic market had hit rock bottom. The property had been taken off the market for sometime and was put back on the market this summer. God providentially orchestrated that, knowing exactly what we really needed. Most amazing is that we purchased the property for only 35% of what its list price was when we first viewed it! We held our first service in our new facility this past Sunday, December 12^th. We're celebrating the Christmas Holiday season in a great gift provided by the hand of God.

Whatever God may be challenging you with, if He says go, do, or move...act in faith. It's amazing what God can do when He's ready to move!

I invite you whenever in the Indianapolis area to visit the Citadel of Faith Church of God in Christ (COGIC) where we are endeavoring to transform and empower lives through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We're  located at 7676 E. 38th Street, between Shadeland Avenue and Frankiln Road at the I-465 overpass (Exit 42 off I-465). We'd love to have you worship with us! Please feel free to become a Facebook fan as well.


Copyright © 2010 Johnson Beaven III. All Rights Reserved.

Johnson Beaven is pastor of Citadel of Faith Church of God in Christ (COGIC). He serves as a district superintendent and Episcopal assistant in the COGIC Indiana North Central Jurisdiction; human resources director for the COGIC International Department of Evangelism. He is the Indianapolis site coordinator and an instructor for the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) Certificate in Theology Program, and a religion columnist for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. His Twitter account is @jbeaven.

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