January 26, 2014

This Is The End....Or Is It? 

Luke 24: 44 - 53

Luke

Then he said, "When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me by Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must all come true."  Then he opened their minds to understand these many Scriptures.  And he said, "Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah must suffer and die and rise again from the dead on the third day.  With my authority, take this message of repentance to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem:  'There is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to me.'  You are witnesses of all these things.

"And now I will send the Holy Spirit just as my Father promised.  But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven."

Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them.  While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven.  They worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy.  And they spent all of their time in the Temple, praising God.

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Thoughts....

Do you recall that I said last week to remember how many were hanging out with Jesus?  Did you remember?  Let me refresh your memory, and tell those who are with us for the first time.  There were the 11 apostles/disciples, the other followers of Jesus, and the two from Emmaus, one of whom was Cleopas.  Although we do not have an exact number of folks, we do know Jesus usually had LOTS of people following him as his disciples/followers, so this would not be a small number in totality.  This is important to remember so you understand the content/context/fullness/import of his directive later on. 

Okay, so in the first three sentences of todays lesson, we are reminded of the prophecy over Jesus' life.  Find these in the Old Testament where it is documented historically in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms [His role of prophet in Deuteronomy 18:15-20; his sufferings in Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53:10, 11; his resurrection in Psalm 16:9-11 and Isaiah 53:10, 11 per Life Application Bible footnotes.]   He reminded those who he had already told and told others who were new to the group.  Then he expounded on the truths foretold, so folks would better understand his life, death, and resurrection and the importance of it in application to all mankind.

Then Jesus said one of the most controversial and profound statements: "With my authority, take this message of repentance to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem:  'There is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to me.'  You are witnesses of all these things."

Read that again and let it soak in a bit. 

First of all, there are many who believed he did not have any authority, that he was NOT the Messiah, nor the Son of God or Man.  Therein lays the first controversy.  The second is that people would be forgiven of their sins in turning to him.  So, in the minds of many he went from audacious to bodacious.  But in the minds of the people who knew him, had seem him perform miracles, had witnessed people being forgiven of their sins and healed of the diseases that plagued them, they KNEW what he said was true.  He WAS the Messiah, THE Savior come, Son of God and Man.  He DID have authority.

Furthermore, Jesus did NOT just say it to the 11 apostles who were first called to learn at his feet and administrate/ad-minister.  [I wrote 'administer' as a hyphenated word here because as you look at what they did, they 'advertised and ministered'.  Little play on the word on my part.]  Jesus spoke it, commanded it, gave the directive to ALL who were present that day.  ALL were called to go forth in his name!  ALL disciples/followers who believed in him and accepted him as Savior were to go forth sharing the Gospel message of forgiveness of sins for all who turn to him.  ALL were to take his message of repentance to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem.  

Since Jesus is the same yesterday, today, tomorrow, nothing has changed.  ALL who believe in him are to take the fullness of the Gospel message to all nations: the prophecy of him as a prophet, his sufferings, his resurrection; that he IS the Messiah; and all who believe in him will be forgiven of their sins.   

We do not have the right to sit back, just to have others share documented history about Jesus Christ.  We who believe in him and have accepted him as our Savior, Messiah, have a responsibility, we have been given the directive from him, been commanded by our Lord, and should count it a privilege, to tell the world about who he is, that he is, and how wonderful he is, and, that our Lord saves! 

Surely you have witnessed him forgiving you of your sins and his saving grace?!  The blessing, the freedom in moving forward in life with him?!  Knowing he is there to catch you if you fall, to carry you when you cannot take another step in the mire of life, the embrace he gives to make all things right....it is real, it is right, it is saving grace.  Don't you want to share it with others?!  Are you so selfish that you do not want to see others healed, not suffer, be redeemed?  Do you get the importance of all God has entrusted you?  Do you realize he saved you because he believed in you?  That you would go forth and share....abundantly as you have been given?  His mercy is real, folks.  You've experienced it!  Why not share him with others? 

Why not indeed!  If you don't you will be cut from the vine!  Then where will you be?  Ladies and gentlemen, Christian brothers and sisters, I implore you, get this right.  Jesus loved you enough to die for you!  Can you not get out of your comfort zone and off your duff to preach the message of salvation to the world in thanksgiving for all he has done for you?  What are you thinking?  Your world may not be as large as THE world, but folks, you better start somewhere.  As I've said and said and said and said, 'YOUR end times may come before THE end times'.  You do need to be prepared to meet your maker....on good terms if you want to gain entry into heaven....into his arms for eternal life.

And then Jesus said, "And now I will send the Holy Spirit just as my Father promised.  But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven."  'You'....all of those present and listening.  And all of us today who believe in him and have received him as Savior, Messiah.  All can receive the Holy Spirit.  All should be willing to receive him into their lives.  Holy Spirit "fills with power from heaven".  This 'power' will help you share Jesus' message and live your new life with Christ Jesus.  We'll learn more about Holy Spirit as we begin a new journey through the book of Acts.  Stay tuned.

'Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them.'  I would think just being in his presence would be enough of a blessing, but here Jesus is bestowing a blessing on those who believed.  How marvelous is his love! 

'While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven.' 

Picture this:  Here you are in the midst of the masses of people.  Maybe you are standing directly in front of Jesus, or maybe in the back of the crowds, or perhaps stranded somewhere in the midst.  You see Jesus raising him arms, hear the love in his voice as he is blessing the multitude who had followed him to Bethany.  And right then, as he was blessing all, he begins to arise toward heavens gate.  You hear all the gasps including your own.  You look around rapidly and see the look of astonishment, bewilderment, awe, fear on some of the faces. You turn to look again at Jesus, but you must lift your face toward heaven's brilliantly lighted blue sky.  He has risen higher.  He looks lovingly at all with longing, compassion, embrace in his heart.  And then he is gone.  Aphantos.  He vanishes into a cloud and is whisked away.  

He is seated at the right hand of God.  Will you see him....there....?

Dropping to your knees, you, and all the others, worship him from the ground he just walked.  You bow your heads, lifting them occasionally to be certain he is not returning....has really risen.  You vow to love and adore him, worship him in the fullness of his majesty.  You praise him in thanksgiving for all the love, care, concern, and lessons given.  Mourn him, that he is with you no longer.  Yet he will be forever in your heart.  And praise him again for all the hope, the promise left behind to carry on. 

And carry on you must.  You were called, directed, commanded to share the message that he LIVES and he CAN live in ALL!  That there is forgiveness of sins for ALL who turn to him, believing him the Messiah, Savior come!  That ALL can live forever.

With joy, you and the others have grasped the fullness of Jesus' message and return to Jerusalem to share the Good News! And the curtain closes on the scene of you and the others spending all of your time in the Temple praising God.

Were you able to see yourself in this scenario?  Has Jesus captured your heart?  I hope so.  I hope, as does he, that you will take up the torch and spread the Good News that our Lord reigns and he can reign in the hearts and minds of men, women and children everywhere.  He plays no favorites.  He loves all.  He died for all.  Will you live for him? 

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Consider what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:  'Now let me remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before.  You welcomed it then and still do now, for your faith is built on this wonderful message.  And it is this Good News that saves you if you firmly believe it - unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place.

I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me - that Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.  He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, as the Scriptures said.  He was seen by Peter and then by the twelve apostles.  After that, he was seen by more than five hundred of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died by now.  Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles.  Last of all, I saw him, too, long after the others, as though I had been born at the wrong time.  For I am the least of all the apostles, and I am not worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted the church of God.

But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me - and not without results.  For I have worked  harder than all the other apostles, yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.  So it makes no difference whether I preach or they preach.  The important thing is that you believed what we preached to you.     

But tell me this - since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead?  For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either.  And if Christ was not raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your trust in God is useless.  And we apostles would all be lying about God, for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave, but that can't be true if there is no resurrection of the dead.  If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless, and you are still under condemnation for your sins.  In that case, all who have died believing in Christ have perished!   And if we have hope in Christ only for this life, we are the most miserable people in the world. 

But the fact is that Christ has been raised from the dead.  He has become the first of a great harvest of those who will be raised to life again.

So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, Adam, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man, Christ.  Everyone dies because all of us are related to Adam, the first man.  But all who are related to Christ, the other man, will be given new life.  But there is an order to this resurrection:  Christ was raised first; then when Christ comes back, all his people will be raised.

After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having put down all enemies of every kind.  For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet.  And the last enemy to be destroyed is death.  For the Scriptures say, "God has given him authority over all things.  (Of course, when it says "authority over all things" it does not include God himself, who gave Christ his authority.)  Then, when he has conquered all things, the Son will present himself to God, so that God, who gave his Son authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere.   

If the dead will not be raised, then what point is there in people being baptized for those who are dead?  Why do it unless the dead will someday rise again?

And why should we ourselves be continually risking our lives, facing death hour by hour?  For I swear, dear friends, I face death daily.  This is as certain as my pride in what the Lord Jesus Christ has done in you.  And what value was there in fighting wild beasts - those men of Ephesus - if there will be no resurrection from the dead?  If there is no resurrection, "Let's feast and get drunk, for tomorrow we die!"  Don't be fooled by those who say such for "bad company corrupts good character."  Come to your senses and stop sinning.  For to your shame I say that some you don't even know God.

But someone may ask, "How will the dead be raised?  What kind of bodies will they have?"  What a foolish question!  When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn't grow into a plant unless it dies first.  And what you put into the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a dry little seed of wheat or whatever it is you are planting.  Then God gives it a new body - just the kind he wants it to have.  A different king of plant grows from each kind of seed.  And just as there are different kinds of seeds and plants, so also there are different kinds of flesh - whether of humans, animals, birds, or fish.

There are bodies in the heavens, and there are bodies on earth.  The glory of the heavenly bodies is different from the beauty of the earthly bodies.  The sun has one kind of glory, while the moon and stars each have another kind.  And even the stars differ from each other in their beauty and brightness.

It is the same way for the resurrection of the dead.  Our earthly bodies, which die and decay, will be different when they are resurrected, for they will never die.  Our bodies now disappoint us, but when they are raised, they will be full of glory.  They are weak now, but when they are raised, they will be full of power.  They are natural human bodies now, but when they are raised, they will be spiritual bodies.  For just as there are natural bodies, so also there are spiritual bodies.

The Scriptures tell us, " The fist man, Adam, because a living person."  But the last Adam - that is, Christ - is a life-giving Spirit.  What came first was the natural body, then the spiritual body come later.  Adam, the first man, was made form the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven.  Every human being has an earthly body just like Adam's, but our heavenly bodies will be just like Christ's.  Just as we are now like Adam, the man of the earth, so we will someday be like Christ, the man from heaven.

What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.  These perishable bodies of ours are not able to live forever.

But let me tell you a wonderful secret God has revealed to us.  Not all of us will die, but we will all be transformed.  It will happen in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown.  For when the trumpet sounds, the Christians who have died will be raised with transformed bodies.  And then we who are living will be transformed so that we will never die.  For our perishable earthly bodies have been transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die - then at last the Scriptures will come true: "Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death, where is your victory?  O death, where is your sting?" 

For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.  How we [should] thank God, who gives us victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord's work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless'.//

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Like Paul and Timothy, as noted in Philippians 3:14, I, too, '....strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.'  

Paul also said, 'And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter.  Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right.  Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  Keep putting into practice all you learned from me, and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.'  Philippians 4:8-9        

See you next week as we begin a study in the Book of Acts!  'Lord willing!

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 Let Us Pray

Thank you Father God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, for spelling out the Scriptures to ordinary people like me, so that I may share what you tell me with the world, that all may come to their knees to receive your saving grace.  But everyone can receive your Holy Spirit to better understand Scripture and learn how to walk on their journey with you so to receive the prize....being in your arms forever.  Thank you for forgiving me and others of our sins, if we but ask.  I ask you now, please forgive me of my sins.  Heal me, please, in the ways that only you know how, mind, body, spirit, soul, financially, economically....in all ways.  Forgive and heal my family, too, Lord.  They love you with their whole heart.  Help me onward, Father God, in Jesus' name I pray.  Help me walk this journey you have given me in a way that others may see you and love you, not rebel against you.  But I guess rebel they must if they are not walking with you, but sinning.  Oh, Father God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, the world may not love you, but I do.  I've given my life to you and asked you to please walk with me, embrace me, uplift me, carry me and my family and help us grow in you and with you.  Please do not ever leave our side.  I need you now more than ever....again....as always.  I pray for all others in the world, that they may see how wonderful you are....'how great thou art'....and receive you in the fullness of all of your love for them.  May they choose to grasp the torch and march forth as a soldier in battle to share who you are, that you are and how wonderful you are with the world.  And battle it will be against Satan and his assigns in the world.  You never said life would be easy with you, Lord, but you did say you would never leave our side if we were in this world battling for you.  Thank you for that.  It doesn't always make it easier, but it feels safer knowing 'thou art with me'.  Thy rod [God], and thy staff [Jesus], comfort me.  Surely goodness and mercy will follow me and my loved ones all the days of our lives and we will dwell in the comfort of your arms forever.  Thank you.  We love you.  We praise you.  Amen.       

Praise for Merlin Carothers and his life!  His work is now done on earth, but carries on from heavens gate.  Thank you Merlin, and thank you, God, for receiving him into your loving arms.  Be with his family in their loss.  I know you are thrilled to have him home, but those who carry on grieve greatly.  Embrace them, Father, as only you can.  Thank you.  Amen.

Visit www.foundationofpraise.org to learn more about his wonderful work on earth!  To further his work on earth for the Savior, donations can be sent to Foundation of Praise P.O. Box 2518 Escondido, CA 92033-2518.  Please tell them Church of the Holy Spirit and Trinity Missions USA sends our love, too.  Haven't read Prison to Praise or Power in Praise, or any of his other works?  You simply MUST!  They, as well as other works of his, are filled with unrestrained joy and praise!  Learn to praise the Savior in a new way today!   

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Let us hear from Paul as he prays:  

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.  And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now glory be to God!  By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.  May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages.  Amen.  Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT         

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Scroll down to read Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving...'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'.

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Definition of a Christian:  Anyone who believes in God, Jesus and Holy Spirit, and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Regardless of church name or religious affiliation. 

'All who have been united with Christ in baptism have been made like him.  There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female.  For you are all Christians - you are ONE in Christ Jesus.'  Galatians 3: 27

  It is not how we worship, but that we worship....the Trinity!

Teach tolerance....reach in acceptance....worship as one!

Embrace....Respect....Encourage!

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Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this:

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It is time to reach into the community and the world around you to see wherein lies the greatest need.  As you choose to focus on these areas, do so with a servant's heart.  Whether the need is for children, adults, or animals, or any cause in between that will help those in need, ask God how you can best serve his needs, what path you must take, and how long you should persevere.  Sometimes we are to be in the lives of others merely as stepping stones.  Sometimes we are to touch those lives forever.  Whatever journey you are called to take, whatever team you will be a member, know this:  God is with you always...even til the end of time.  He loves you, is grateful for you, and will help you along life's way, especially if you are helping others along theirs, persevering with a servant's heart.  

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    One last thing....

 Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving

'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'

"Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer:  "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.  You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people.  Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."

Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly.  "The Father has given me all these things to do and say.  This is a unique Father - Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge.  No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does.  But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen."

"Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn how to live freely and lightly.

   Matthew 11:  25-30

  The Message

And the people said,

"Amen."

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I now write most prayers in the position of ' I ' (first person) because most people are sitting at their computer alone, not in groups, and it allows those reading and praying to personalize the prayer as coming from them going to God.  Variations may appear on holidays when families may wish to use the prayer provided.  I encourage you to pray your own prayers as well.

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  Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189.  All rights reserved.

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NOTE:  I said it long ago, but let me say it again.  If you are wanting to lead a group, start a church, or are confined in an institution, or live in a country where the Gospel is not preached, and you don't know what to say or how to say it, and yet feel led to share, teach, or preach, besides just reading straight out of the Bible and sharing what God puts on your heart, please feel free to share any or all of what I've written, if it will help you, as long as you include where it comes from, due to copyright laws.  Jesus gave God's love and healing freely, as well as his message.  Our responsibility is to get the Word out to those who need to hear it.  If what I've written....by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit....or what he has said through me....has helped you, it may help others that you know.  You are welcome to share it.  God calls all of us to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the world.  Please share it with the fullness of love that God, Jesus, Holy Spirit....and I....have given it.  Amen!

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