In You

I’ve said many times, “If Jesus is in you, then He should be coming out of you. If He’s not coming out of you then maybe He’s not in you!” Easter should not be a one time a year event. We should celebrate the risen Lord every day of the year!

We see in John 20:24-31, Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

²⁶ A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”  ²⁸ Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

²⁹ Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

³⁰ Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹ But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

A new life in Christ is worth sharing! Be Jesus to the world around you today. Amen?

Remember Easter

Rarely do we see someone forsaking the Gospel and breaking their relationship with Christ in one instant. It’s usually starts with getting off course, staying apart from God’s plan, and then not returning to the faith. Max Lucado calls this “casual abandonment”.  We are warned about this in Hebrews 2:1 – We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away

We have just come through the Easter season where many of us have studied, experienced, and made decisions to follow Christ more. Do not forget to continue to feed on the Word of God, and live every day for Him. If you stray off of His purposes – turn back immediately! You’ll find Jesus there.

Today and always stay in the Word. Amen?

Be Excited!

Happy Resurrection Sunday! Let’s look at the excitement shared in Matthew 28:1-10. 

¹ After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.  ² There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. ⁴ The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

   ⁵ The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

   ⁸ So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

He has risen indeed! Live the resurrection of Christ every day of the year.

Don’t be afraid – Go tell somebody. Amen!

Friday Faith

In Max Lucado’s book, Six Hours one Friday, he speaks about the disciples being paralyzed in the Upper Room. They came back there after Jesus’ arrest and death on the cross.

John 20:19a - On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders,

-         Trained and taught but didn’t know what to say

-         Marched for 3 years but now they sat

-         As they looked at the walls of the upper room they also looked inside themselves in self examination

-         They could not forget Jesus and even though they fled, they came back together

-         This was the beginning of the first church

Upper room futility

-         enough religion to come together but not enough passion to go out

-         a little bit of faith but no fire

-         good people, ideas, plans, meetings, and intentions but the door remained locked

John 20:19b-22 - Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. ²¹ Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” ²² And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

Only one thing can change this futility – They saw Jesus and received His joy, forgiveness, peace, and Holy Spirit.

The same is true for churches today. May we always seek the risen Lord. Amen?

Friday

Good Friday – What’s so good about it? The day that Jesus, Son of God, dies for the world in the cruelest of ways, and we call Good Friday. The Sunday School answer would be it is good for what Christ did for me! I think there is more to it as we look at the Bible, and what it has to tell us.

1. All was completed! – Jesus had completed the mission He came to earth for. Philippians 2:5-11- Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

2. Scripture was fulfilled! – From Jesus’ birth to the resurrection was prophesied. Matthew 26:52 - Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me.  But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.”

3. It is finished! – tetelesti! (transaction/deal was omplete)- death has been defeated

1 Corinthians 15:55 - “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus gave up His Spirit in order that we can receive the Holy Spirit.

John 14:26 - But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Thank God that He is good all the time. Amen?

King

When Jesus enters your life, a new power comes to because He is your king. “Are you the King of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “You have said so,” Jesus replied (Mark 15:2).

Jesus wasn't going to lie. He could not deny his kingship. His kingdom though is much more powerful and mighty than anything anyone has ever experienced. It is and eternal kingdom. That power is yours, too, if you accept the king because when Jesus enters your life, a new power comes to you because he is your king.

All the power of the kingdom comes when the king enters in.

That’s what Jesus meant when he told his first followers,

Anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these … (John 14:12).

Bold words, but true.

Allow King Jesus to enter in to your heart, and rule your life today and always. 

Amen?

Eternal Hope

In Matthew and Mark, it is reported that both thieves were mocking Jesus along with the crowd. As the hours wore on, however, one criminal’s conscience was smitten, and he repented. The repentive thief rebuked the other and testified to Jesus’ innocence. His prayer reflected his belief that the soul  lives on after death; that Christ had a right to rule over a kingdom of the souls of me, and that He would soon enter that kingdom despite His impending death. His request to be remembered is a plea for mercy, which also reveals that the thief understood he had no hope but divine grace. All of this demonstrates true faith on the part of the dying thief. Christ graciously affirmed the man’s salvation, and offered paradise to the repentant thief on the cross

Luke 23:39-43 - One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.

Your hope in eternity brings you hope today. Amen?