Sunday, April 26, 2009

The LORD's Day April 26, 2009

Good Grief

Matthew 5.4

The beatitudes turn preconceived notions upside down. Of course Jesus has a way of doing that. He turns things upside down to make them right side up A graphic illustration of this is the tables of the money changers and those selling doves in the temple. Jesus came and cleaned house literally. It was Passover Week. Preparations including getting rid of all the leaven/yeast in the house. It was a time of spring cleaning of sorts. Jesus came and cleansed the temple His Father’s House. He upset everything that was wrong. He turned the table upside down.

Jesus told His disciples that greater works they would do because He was going to the Father. By the time we get to Acts 17.6 we see the assessment of ministry of Paul, the apostle and his traveling party... these are the men who have turned the world upside down.

Jesus turns things upside down.

Mourning, sorrowing and lamenting always appeared to be a bad thing. It was something that made others have pity on those going through it.

Jesus pronounced a blessing on it.

A blessing on mourning, sorrowing, lamenting? Yes

1. Those Who Are Mourning are Blessed Because They Inherit Promises God Gave.

Psalm 34. 18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those crushed in spirit.

Psalm 147.3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Psalm 23.4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for You are with me. Your Rod and Your staff they comfort me.

There are some promises that do not mean as much until we have mourned. When we sorrow these promises come to us and we find strength from them. Before we believed they were true, but having experienced them they become more meaningful to us personally and so does the LORD He keeps His Word. He is faithful to all His Promises.

We find we are not alone in our mourning. He is with us. He is the Resurrection and the Life. There is something about God that you will not know until death comes to someone you love. He is not pronouncing a blessing on the mourning but on those going through it- on the mourners themselves.

2. Those Who Are Mourning are Blessed because They Are on the Way to Heaven.

Someone said that all these promises have to with life on earth and the rewards we will get in heaven for such a life on earth. I believe that we receive a partial payment here on earth. There is joy on the journey to heaven

However that joy will be fulfilled when we get home. When we all see Jesus what a day of rejoicing that will be.

Paul wrote in II Corinthians 4.17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

This idea of fixing our eyes on what is eternal is an activity we do on the way to heaven. There are questions we can’t find answers for as we journey but we have the Presence of the LORD with us to comfort us. We know we are going to where He is. We know when we see Him face to face all answers will be given. We’ll know the answers to the questions of “Why?”

The Way- Jesus said He is the Way, the Truth and the Life when He was asked about the way tot he place He was going the night before He died. There is joy in following Him- even through the Valley of the shadow of Death


3. Those Who Are Mourning are Blessed because Know they will be Comforted.

Ultimately

Here on earth:

Comforted: Parakletos
to call to one's side, call for, summon

to address, speak to, (call to, call upon), which may be done in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, instruction, etc.

to admonish, to console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation, to comfort

to instruct, teach

II Corinthians 1.3-11
When we have been comforted by God then we are able to comfort others.

We find healing in that ministry. We find hope there. We have received hope. We are passing it on.
This is not just an information exchange. It is much more than that. It is heart to heart. It is your heart speaking to another heart. It is listening to a person’s experience and knowing what they are talking about.

When Jesus rose from the dead He conquered death. His power within us (that same Spirit that raised Christ Jesus from the dead Romans 8.11) enables us to take authority over things that once held people and kept them down.

This is not say that death does not have a sting. It is our last enemy but it still an enemy Sometimes that sting is deep for those left. That is one of the points of this beatitude. But when we walk with the LORD, He is with us in the valley of the shadow of death. He gives us strength to face each day. (Deuteronomy 33.25) He gives us songs in the night. (Job 35.10) He is with us all along.

And while we may experience some very high moments on this earth, heaven is ahead and is not here on earth. If you are looking for heaven on earth stop Begin looking for what is ahead in eternity. Don’t look for high moments to satisfy you You will never have enough. Enjoy them as gifts from God but find fulfillment in obeying Jesus, even when you are mourning Serving Him, loving Him, following Him is a rewarding experience in itself.

The ultimate and permanent comfort is beyond the blue. It is beyond the sunset. It is with Jesus in the land where there is no night

As believers when we mourn we know we will be comforted one day. We believe these promises about heaven:

Revelation 21.4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

I Thessalonians 4.13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.

We will be comforted


Sunday, April 19, 2009

The LORD's Day, April 19, 2009

Bread From Heaven

Matthew 4.1-11

Think about something we do each week, sometimes several times: grocery shopping. King Kullen, Shop Rite, Produce Warehouse, etc. We all shop. Sometimes we go out to eat. I like doing that from time to time.

We need to eat. While we can go at times missing a meal (and for some of us it wouldn’t hurt) we should not making a practice of it unless we are purposely fasting. Women who are expecting and those with diabetes should not fast. The rest of us should.

We love to eat- most of us. We enjoy good food. We enjoy our fellowship time downstairs after church on Sunday and the homemade goodies are delicious

We love home cooked meals. We all have our favorites. We enjoy holidays and the delectable culinary things that accompany them. We have favorite recipes.

There is nothing wrong with this. The Old Covenant had its feasts. The New Testament speaks of Love Feasts.

We see Jesus eating at people’s houses and we even see Him feeding thousands to the point of them being glutted or stuffed. (John 6)
1. We do live by bread.

Jesus taught us to pray to the Father, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Now we have a problem. That prayer is very applicable in third world countries where there is no refrigeration. The people literally go to the market each day.

What about here? They had a great deal on Mozzarella cheese at Shop Rite the other day and we have enough to last us til summer If we have stocked cupboards and pantries and we have food and enough to spare, praying that prayer like brothers and sisters in 3rd World Countries just does not make sense. We need to apply it not ignore it. We should give thanks daily for the food we have and in so doing realizing it is from the LORD.

It is easier or more natural to ask God for something we need than to thank Him for things we already have. In giving the LORD thanks we need to remember (and giving Him thanks helps us to) that He is Creator and Sustainer and the One behind providing the food source.

We need food for strength.

We need food to maintain a healthy body.

Without food we would starve to death. That was the point Jesus was at after fasting 40 days and 40 nights.
As good and as necessary food is and as we just concluded we cannot live without it:

2. We do not live by bread only.

We are not just physical beings.

We are spiritual beings
God has placed eternity in the hearts of men. Ecclesiastes 3.11 We have eternal souls. We are different from all of God’s creation. We are the only ones that had the LORD breath into his nostrils. He breathed His Spirit into Adam. Genesis 2.7 There is a hunger inside us that longs for eternal life.

Sad that so many do not realize this. Many today are trying to fill that spiritual spot with material things. It doesn’t work. Things wear out. The rust out. Everything is going to burn one day. But the eternal lasts forever.

This eternal part of us needs eternal food:

3. We need the Bread from heaven.
Deuteronomy 8.1-3

Manna

Jesus’ Words about Manna John 6.30-40
The word “life” means absolute fulness of life.

Jesus is the Bread that has come down from heaven. He is the Word of God in the Flesh.

The Bible is the written Word of God.
II Timothy 3.16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

II Peter 1.21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

4. We need to feed on the Word of God, the Bible

Daily Daily Bread is more than physical food. We need to take in God’s Word each day. We are given instructions throughout God’s Word read, remember, ruminate.

Faithfully regularly take in the Word of God. Don’t let it be hit and miss. Set a time.
Make a date with the LORD. Set an appointment with Him.

Each moment Meditate upon His Word day and night.
Psalm 1.1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.

New recipes Ask the LORD for new insights. He will give it to you. The Word of God is unfathomable. We will never get to its depths. Men who have studied it their whole life have admitted at the end of their lives that there is just a little they know about it.

Old recipes We need to go over the old truths. We need to hear them again and again. Our faith is being challenged today in a big way. There are ridiculous things being put forth in the name of Christianity.

There are things that are in the Bible plain and simple that people who call themselves Christians no longer believe. God help us. Interesting that the scripture we read in II Timothy begins that chapter with talking about the perilous times in the last days.

5. We need to remember how important the Word of God is

Stay true to the Word of God. Don’t let any of pass from your heart.
Remember Jesus’ Words:
Matthew 5.17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

I Peter 1.23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

Jesus said in John 15.7 If you remain in Me and My Words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.

Matthew 24.35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.


Hunger for it.

There ought to be a deep longing in our hearts to open God’s Word and read it and seek to understand it.

Let it satisfy your soul


Sunday, April 12, 2009

The LORD's Day, April 12, 2009 He is Risen!

Resurrection Emotions

Mark 16.1-8, John 20.1-31

Back in the 1980's there was a book written, Emotions, Can You Trust Them?. The conclusion of the book was no, you cannot. However there are some things we can learn about comparing emotions with facts.

For instance, if you feel down and I am tired, then I get a good night’s rest the next night and wake up refreshed the next day, there is a good possibility that the reason you felt down in the first place is that you were tired.

Grief is a powerful emotion that can spawn other things. Love is a powerful emotion and mind set that can move people to great sacrifice. It can be a force to drive us to the limits of our abilities and beyond through Christ’s power.

1. No One Believed on that First Easter Sunday That Jesus Had Risen.
Mark 16.1-3

These women were on their way to anoint Jesus’ body. These spices were for preservation of the body of a dead person. These women were expecting to find Jesus’s body in the tomb. They had no expectation of a resurrection. What was in their hands showed what was in their heart and mind, same as us!

They were grieving. This was part of the grieving process. They were sad. They were in for the greatest surprise of their lives.

Sadness sometimes is because we do not know all the facts. Sometimes we are saddened because we forget Jesus’ promises. This was the case here.

The lack of faith can cause of a lot of problems. Many times our problems come because of unbelief; certainly not all of them but a good share of them.

What is the answer- believe what Jesus said. Become strong in your faith. How? By reading and listening to the Word of God This will build you up and make you strong in the LORD.

Verse 3 through 4 show us that some things we concern ourselves are already taken care of by the LORD. One old Baptist pastor said that the little pebble in front of the tomb was not worth comparing with the Rock of Ages inside.

That little band of followers on that first Easter Weekend were devastated. Their hopes were shattered and they were hiding out in fear that they might be arrested and killed. They were confused and perplexed. They forgot what Jesus said about rising again.

2. Seeing Angels is Amazing.
they were alarmed to throw into terror or amazement, to alarm thoroughly, to terrify, to be thoroughly amazed, astounded, to be struck with terror

The LORD send Angels to us in times when we need them. Psalm 91.11 For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. I believe many times they are unseen, once in a while we get a glimpse. Dr. Perkins’ letter, Girls first day of school in Bay Shore, 1984.

It is in part the situations many times that are terrifying. There was shock due to the tomb being empty. They didn’t know it was a good thing. They just knew that Jesus’ body was gone and there were angels there talking to them.

3. Life can bring us to a wide array of emotions v.8

They were running scared.

Trembling

Bewildered They were ecstatic. They were in ecstacy.

Afraid They were struck with fear.

This news was too good to be true but they had heard it from these angels. So they went from being struck with terror and being throughly amazed to ecstacy with the news Jesus had risen.

4. Jesus meets us and brings us all we need and more

I love the last few chapters of the gospels. They are full of Resurrection accounts.
The men on the Road to Emmaus, the portion here in John’s Gospel.

The run of John, son of Zebedee John 20.3-4

The appearance to Mary Magdelene.

The appearance to the frightened disciples John 20.19-20
From fear to being overjoyed. We can have this same joy: Jesus is alive

The appearance to Thomas

The blessing on us John 20.29

The Resurrection is about Life and Death, or we should say death and life:
I had a minister say to me this week: I wish I was here when Jesus was on earth. I have had this said to me before by another pastor. Why? We have a greater blessing because we believe and have not seen. But we have seen evidences of His Work. I took a picture of my dad holding Jackson his grandson last week. Both are miracles. Both had their doctors tell us that they were going to die
The neurosurgeons and neurologists were wrong Hallelujah Both admitted they had seen a miracle.

Yet, we have lost loved ones as you have. In the valley of the shadow of death the LORD has kept His Promise... He has been with us. He has comforted us in wonderful ways For believers there is a wonderful promise in death
I Thessalonians 4.13-18- What a wonderful promise - Jesus’ Resurrection and ours

The Resurrection of Jesus and His power are so great they even extend over into areas in our lives when what had hoped for and prayed for doesn’t happen-mainly the healing of a loved one when death results.

Many years ago I heard an evangelist say that there is something about God you will not know until death comes to someone we love.

Jesus is with us. When life brings a wide array of emotions due to what is happening to us we have to remember and give thanks that we are standing on the Rock of Ages. We have to remember the LORD is our shepherd, the Good Shepherd Who lays down His life for His sheep.

One day we will see Him face to face. Just as the first believers saw Him we will see Him and we will see Him in all His glory! Our questions will all be answered by this wonderful encounter.

The LORD died so we could be forgiven. He rose again.

He is the Resurrection and the Life!

Resurrection emotions- joy, hope, peace.

Thanks be to God for His indescribable Gift!!

He is Risen!


Sunday, April 5, 2009

The LORD's Day, April 5, 2009 Palm Sunday


The Triumphal Entry

Matthew 20.29-21.1-11

The crowd had been gathering for days.

Jerusalem was and is a intense city. No other city on earth compares to it.
Psalm 118 was a psalm of deliverance from the enemy. It was a psalm in the temple liturgy of Passover week. It could have been recited in the temple as Jesus came in. It probably was recited in its entirety by the crowds, or at least some in the crowd. Verses 19-27 describe the scene outside as He approached the temple.

What is Palm Sunday?
1. A Day of Prophecy Being Fulfilled.
Psalm 118.26

Zechariah 9.9-10, But because of the mountain view aspect of Bible prophecy the people wondered where it would end. 14.1-9 Mark 11.10
Daniel 9.25

And more given by Jesus:
Luke 19.39-44 Luke 19.1-11 (v.11)
2. A Day of Hope for Those in Distress over National and World Situations.

Psalm 120.1- the beginning of the Psalms of Ascents

Going to worship at Jerusalem began by asking God for personal help.


3. A Day of Joy for Those Were Knocked Down by Life.

Luke 18.43

The Blind Beggar Mark 10.49 Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you!
Psalm 123.1-3 Psalm 120-134 were recited by pilgrims going up to Jerusalem and on each step of the south side of the temple. Each Psalm was being recited by many who came to the Passover feast that week, even as Jesus rode in.
4. A Day of Peace for Those Longing For the Messiah.

Palm Sunday was the calm before the storm. By Friday of this week the LORD would be crucified and give up His life for us.

Today we can have peace in our hearts. We will not have in this world but we can have it in our hearts.

Riding out of the city this past week with my nephew Stephen he commented, “That is an incredible city Uncle Larry and one day it is all going to crumble!”

Finally this morning... Palm Sunday is

5. A Day When the Master of Love Completed a Long Journey for You!
Luke 9.51 Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem...


He did it knowing it was God’s will.

He did it because He was the Master of Love

He did it knowing that Jerusalem would not be His final work:
I like the way this verse begins: As the time approached for Him to be taken up to heaven...


He was laid in a borrowed tomb because He just needed it for the weekend.

He is alive today! The work of redemption is finished!