Sunday, April 27, 2014

Walking With Jesus




Luke 24. 13-35

Luke 24:32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” 

The Emmaus Road A village 7 miles northwest of Jerusalem.

burn=
to set on fire, light,  to consume with fire

opened=
to open by dividing or drawing asunder, to open thoroughly (what had been closed)
a male opening the womb (the closed matrix), i.e. the first-born
of the eyes and the ears
to open the mind of one, i.e. to cause to understand a thing
to open one's soul, i.e. to rouse in one the faculty of understanding or the desire of learning

This is perhaps one of the greatest examples of prayer fellowship in the New Testament.  We need to be part of cooperate prayer groups. I need to pray with other believers regularly. 


1. Prayer is Fellowship With Jesus. 

Interesting they were doing but did not realize it until after!

Worship Loving Him, praising Him, thanking Him.

Walking in our daily  routines with Jesus

Talking with Him about the deep needs of our lives.
The Crystal Fountain Floyd Hawkins
You give them drink from Your river of delights. For with You is the fountain of life. ~ Psalm 36:8-9

One of the “national treasures” of the Church of the Nazarene, Floyd W. Hawkins, died in 2002 at the age of 97. He was born in Pullman, Washington, and grew up in Walla Walla. His early years included extensive training and experience in music. In his 20s, he began writing songs and directing music at neighboring churches and camp meetings. It was at one of these meetings in 1933 a telegram came from the district superintendent, telling Floyd he had been appointed pastor of the Nazarene church in Hoquiam, Washington. He was 29 years old. This began a 24 year pastoral ministry at Nazarene churches in Medford and Parkdale, Oregon; Dinuba and Stockton, California. He established a strong music ministry in each assignment.

Hawkins became a well-known songwriter/composer in the evangelical world. He had 500+ published songs. Most widely used was “I've Discovered the Way of Gladness,” featured in Billy Graham Crusades and theme song of the Day of Discovery television program. Two of his classics are “Let Thy Mantle Fall on Me,” and “Thou Wilt Keep Him in Perfect Peace.”

After a 12-year pastorate at Stockton, in 1957 he became music editor of Lillenas Publishing Company, music division of Nazarene Publishing House.

In 1952, while at Stockton, he wrote this song. The memory of his pastorate in Parkdale and nearby Mount Hood was the inspiration. In his words, “In the spring, when the snow at lower elevations had melted, we would drive up the winding mountain slopes to Cloudcap Inn near the timberline. Then, by taking a trail up Cooper Spur, it was not far to a vantage point of unbelievable beauty overlooking Elliot Glacier. Beside the trail were many varieties of wild flowers and everything spoke of freshness. Little streams and rivulets from snow-melt at higher elevations hurried down the mountainside. They were so crystal clear that at any point one could lie face-down and drink with full satisfaction, unquestioning its purity.” The vivid image of God’s creation became his song of man’s re-creation with these words . . .

So long of thirst my weary soul did languish,
And naught of earth my soul could satisfy;
But when to Christ I turned in bitter anguish,
I found in Him the answer to my cry.

Refrain
O I have found it - the Crystal Fountain,
Where all my life's deep needs have been supplied;
So freely flowing from Calvary's mountain,
And now my soul is fully satisfied.

- Floyd Hawkins, 1952

Copied from Sing to the Lord © 1993 by Lillenas Publishing Company

In prayer we take in His Spirit, the Water of Life
In His Word we take in the Bread of Life

Listening
Most of the time He points out a scripture. He uses a scripture and applies it to our situation. This really is all He was doing.


2. Christ Opening the Scriptures To Us.
Here was the Master Teacher talking to them about what the Old Testament said about Him. It must have been glorious.

How they point to Him.
John 16:13-14 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from Me that He will receive what He will make known to you. 

The work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is to magnify Christ.
He is not going speak on His own.

How they apply to us.

His Promises
In this passage:
He comes and walks with with His followers when they are downcast-v.17
When we have lost our Hope. v.21
When we are perplexed. v.24

The prophecy of scripture.
John 16:14; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify Me because it is from me that He will receive what He will make known to you. 

2 Peter 1:20-21 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 


So many today are looking for an experience outside of scripture. We have so much to experience inside that if we remain in His Word and get grounded in His Word and get built up in His Word... 
Ephesians 4:14-16 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. 

The health and wealth false teaching has nothing to with Christ who was penniless and homeless.

Lots of what is being said about leadership has more to do with the cooperate board table than the LORD's Table. Jesus washing the disciple's feet. Simpler is closer to Jesus than elaborate.



3. He Shines in us. We let the light out.
Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. 


Walking with Jesus, Knowing Him...
What was the secret of the early church, the church in the book of Acts? There are several  believe.
One is that they were constantly filled with the Holy Spirit.

Two is they were people of prayer. "In every chapter of Acts they were either at a prayer meeting, going to a prayer meeting or coming from a prayer meeting." Jim Cymbala

One thing we overlook is they had the awareness of the cross upon them. Rome was still crucifying men years after Jesus died and rose again. This reminded them of their LORD, the way He died and that He rose again and went back to heaven but before going told them He was with with them and would be in them!  It was the fellowship of the cross through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. After all Jesus told us in 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. 

Jesus spoke to them often of the cross. How often do we hear the Spirit speaking of this to our hearts? We look for wonderful experiences, success and comfort while ignoring often His call to carry the cross. The fellowship of sharing in His sufferings is bittersweet but also necessary to know Him fully.

May we have that same fellowship with Jesus! 


Ephesians 1.17-21 
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and His  incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when He raised him from the dead and seated him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 

Are we living in the blessings of prayer and God' Promises?
Lili's  story at the Deli

Sunday, April 20, 2014

The Empty Tomb



Mark 16.1-8

More to come, many more

I Thessalonians 4.13-18

1 Corinthians 15:20-28 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when He comes, those who belong to Him. Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For He must reign until He  has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For He “has put everything under His feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under Him, it is clear that this does not include God Himself, Who put everything under Christ. When He has done this, then the Son Himself will be made subject to Him who put everything under Him, so that God may be all in all. 

God's Wonderful Plan of Eternity for us was wrapped up in Jesus rising from the dead. Salvation is a diamond:
Being saved
Saved to the uttermost
Saved for eternity

Paul writes about how personal the resurrection of Jesus Christ is for believers in the scripture we read from I Corinthians.


1. We have had loved ones die.

This is one of the most difficult things we experience in life.
It is deep grief. 
It is heart breaking.  
It is hard.

The most detailed description we have of it  in God's Word is in John 11, the account of Lazarus.

We see the grief of losing a loved one, in this case a younger person.

There was weeping.

The loss of a loved one is something we never fully recover from in that we will always miss them.

Paradise Lost /Paradise Regained

Jesus defeated death on the cross and in rising from the dead.
Romans 8:11 And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He Who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit Who lives in you. 

John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Our faith in the LORD will hold us in times of grief. Jesus words to Peter a few days ago: Luke 22:31-32 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”  Peter fell but his faith in the LORD did not fail.




2. We Grieve but not like  the rest of men who have no hope.

The LORD makes all the difference.
Those who do not have Jesus.
Those who do.
The hospice worker at my brother's side.

Psalm 23.  He is walks with us in the Valley of the Shadow of Death.
Psalm 34:18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. He binds up their wounds.

As a believer the loss of a loved one who believes brings a mixture of emotions- hope mixed in with sorrow. Tears and peace, peace which transcends all understanding.

God comes to us in special ways as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death.
He is with us.
He is with us in a vast array of ways.
Song What A Friend We Have In Jesus by Joseph Scriven, written by a brokenhearted man with hope in Christ.

Notice how, although Lazarus had died, there was the long term Hope among his sisters, who loved the LORD.
John 11:21-26 “LORD,” Martha said to Jesus, “if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever You ask.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” 

Hope:
Christ defeated death.One day it will be done away with completely
To be absent from the body is to be present with the LORD.
The moment we breath our last on earth we are in the Presence of the LORD.
We will all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.



3.  Jesus turned their grief into joy with His Resurrection that Day.
More, much more to come

Even before He rose, in fact when He died
Matthew 27:50-53 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. 

This was among other things a foreshadowing of heaven. In that city, the New Jerusalem, there will not be a cemetery. All cities have cemeteries. When you arrive in NY you see several. There will be no cemeteries in heaven. Deaht will be done away with!

John 20.19-22

I Thessalonians 4.13-18

The grieving over loved ones who have died in the LORD will be done away with in a moment and replaced with a glad reunion.

Romans 8:29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

More, much, much more to come

Sunday, April 13, 2014

The Triumphal Entry



Matthew 21.1-11

Passover Week
Pilgrims from all over Israel and the world came to Jerusalem to celebrate it.
Jesus had been making His way to Jerusalem for months, now in the past few days a multitude had been gathering around Him as that journey grew to an end. Hopes were high that finally He would be the One Who would restore the kingdom to Israel, pushing the occupying Roman forces out of the land forever and reestablishing the monarchy of David once again.

Life under Roman occupation with its governors and rulers was hard. There were taxes on the people without any representation, edicts announcing censuses for that purpose could be called and everyone had to obey. Roman soldiers could compel Israelis to carry their burden for a mile. It was bitter for them because this was the land God gave them and now they were prisoners in it. Then there was the whole thing of crucifixions. The governors were the jury and judge. Men's lives were in his hands. crucifixion was used as a form of terrorism to frighten any rebels or trouble makers against Rome. Herod's father  had even used this horrible killing technique against good men, just to strike fear into the hearts of the Israelites.

Passover augmented all these things. It was a celebration and remembrance of God making Israel free from Egyptian slavery. Now they found themselves occupied by the Romans.

Messianic hopes had come and gone before, but Jesus of Nazareth fit all the criteria. He was a descendant of David. He had healed the lame, blind, deaf and mute. He announced His ministry in Nazareth by reading from Isaiah and proclaiming Himself to be the One of Whom the prophet spoke. (Luke 4.16-30)

Now 3 1/2 years later it is the time when Jewish hopes and memories of deliverance from a foreign power were at their highest.

Jesus rode into Jerusalem as a conquering king.

1.The City Of Jerusalem- v.1

Center of Worship for the Jews
The capital - Kings reigned there from from David until the end of the monarchy when Nebuchadnezzar came and conquered it.
The place where Jesus would die and rise again  and ascend into heaven 
and one day come back to.

Luke 19.41-44
As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace–but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

Jerusalem's rejection of Christ was its greatest error, bringing about a tragic end. So it is with anyone who finally rejects him. It would be better for that man or woman if they had not been born.

Here we see how a group of people can be busy, so busy thinking they are worshiping the LORD and yet not recognize the time of God's coming to them.

A city left to its own will is headed down a slippery slope. The rejection of God means the ultimate destruction of that place. That is true of an individual, a city or a nation.


2. The Fulfillment of Prophecy. vs. 2-7/  Zechariah 9.9 
Chapter Nine of Zechariah God is speaking through the prophet concerning the judgment against Israel's enemies in Damascus, Tyre and Sidon and the Philistine cities of Ashkelon, Ashdod, Gaza and Ekron.  These people had oppressed Israel over the years. They had to concern themselves with them and protect themselves from them.

There is the promise of peace from these enemies. The sign would be the Messiah riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, an animal of peace.

Jesus is the Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9.6
His Kingdom is not of this world. John 18.36
He brings peace to the hearts of people.  John 14.27
The kingdom is within you. Luke 17:20-21 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” 

Jesus rode into Jerusalem, not to, at this time, restore the kingdom to Israel.
He came to offer them peace with God through Himself. He came to restore man's relationship with God.
Luke 19.41 As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace–but now it is hidden from your eyes..."
What would have brought them peace would have been to accept the fact He is the Son of God and follow Him (it is what brings the only true peace)
Too much was at stake for them
1-Pride. They would have had to admit they were wrong. Remember the question of John's baptism Jesus posed? "John's baptism, was it from heaven or from men?" Of course John pointed the way to Jesus through repentance and water baptism.
2-The Cost. This would have meant an end to their means of trying to be accepted by God, through the keeping of the law... being good enough.
3-The Place.
"If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”
John 11:48
They loved the temple more than the LORD. That is how some "churches" can go against the Word of God and still have these beautiful buildings.
4-Their positions as "leaders" would be much less. They would have to become servants.
5-They would have leave all this.

Yet Jesus came. As He was proclaimed Messiah by the pilgrims, the leaders of Jerusalem, the leaders of the Jews secretly had been looking for some sly way to have Him arrested. Mark 11:18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching. 


3. The Messiah Proclaimed vs. 8-9
Psalm 118 overlooking verse 22 and 23

I Kings 1.32-40

Matthew 21:7-9 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:“Hosanna to the Son of David! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! ’Hosanna in the highest!” 

Jesus knew this act would set off the Chief Priests and Teachers of the Law at Jerusalem. The beefing up of Roman forces to ensure peace during the feast were easily detected. All things were set. The Passover's fulfillment, the Roman Governor being there in Jerusalem able to order His death, the hour had come.

He is the Master of Love. He came to die. He had spoken plainly about it. 
Yet for this brief moment the crowds were able to do what was in their heart.

Jesus rode into Jerusalem as the Messiah. He is the Lamb of God, Who by His death on the cross takes away the sin of the world.