Category Archives: Easter

May 21, 2023 · 12:00 am

Seventh Sunday of Easter

Letting Go and Letting God

The twelve disciples lived with Jesus every day for three years. He had taught them directly from scripture and by example. They had watched his miracles and healing of the sick. They saw him calm the storm and multiply the loaves and fishes. They did not always understand him but they relied on his loving and calming presence. And now he was leaving them. When would he return? Reading from the Book of Acts:

When the apostles had come together, they asked Jesus, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”   (Acts 1:6-11)

The angles reassured them. Jesus would be returning. Do we have that same assurance today? We are living in chaotic times. Is today’s Church looking for a way out? The rapture perhaps?

God does not want us to be overcome with discouragement. The Apostles were living in difficult times. Jesus told them that they were going to receive power from on high. Then he called them into action. They were going to be his witnesses and change the world.

The psalmist wrote:

Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth;
sing praises to the Lord.

He rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;
he sends forth his voice, his mighty voice.

Ascribe power to God;
his majesty is over Israel;
his strength is in the skies.

How wonderful is God in his holy places!
the God of Israel giving strength and power to his people!
Blessed be God!   (Psalm 68:33-36)

They would soon discover that God magnifies power through human weakness. The Apostle Peter wrote:

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.   (1 Peter: 5:6-11)

We need the same power of the apostles. When Jesus prayed for the twelve he also prayed for those who would follow:

”I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.”   (John 17:6-11)

We are among the chosen ones who have followed. We live in a difficult and challenging world. It is no more difficult than the time of the apostles. Now is.not the time to look for an escape. It is not a time to run and hide. Rather, it is a time for bold action. It is a time of consolidating the kingdom or God on the earth before our Lord’s return. Are we up to it?

That is not the real question. Apart from Jesus we can do nothing. The apostles were just ordinary people. But they waited upon the Lord. They were then clothed with power from on high. What about us? Jesus needs our witness throughout the land, throughout the world. Let us begin in our families. Let us begin in our neighbor hood. Let us begin even in our churches,

People joined the early church because they saw the power of God at work. We need to tap into that same source of power. Does it fit our denomination? It is far too late for those kind of questions. A great revival is needed. A great revival is here. God is pouring out his glory on all who believe, who humble themselves to him. and repent of their sin.

if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.   (2 Chronicles 7:14)

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May 18, 2023 · 12:00 am

Ascension Day

Clothed with Power from on High

There is much speculation in today’s Church concerning the date of Jesus’s return to the earth. Little has changed. This same concern was on the mind and hearts of the early disciples. From Acts we read:

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”   (Acts 1:6-8)

Jesus did not answer his disciples directly. Rather, he told them that there was a more important consideration for his Church. They were to be witnesses to his resurrection. From Luke we read:

“Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”   (Luke 24:46-49)

There would be two essential ingredients to witnessing for Christ: 1) they were to proclaim the repentance and forgiveness of sins, and 2) that they would be clothed with power from on high. Does not sound like a seeker church with a watered down Gospel/

The Church DOES not need to blend into the world and, thus, have little relevance. We need to be clothed with the Holy Spirit in order to fulfill our calling. The age of the apostolic faith is not over. We are now the apostles.

Are we equipped for ministry? If not, let us ask for power from on high. Jesus promises to baptize us in the Holy Spirit. He has called us to do his greater works. Now is not the time to shrink back or hide behind man-made doctrines or traditions.

The questions the angels asked the disciples on the day of ascension is still applicable to us:

“Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”   (Acts 1:11)

We do not have time to waste. Let us get on with the true task of the Church. Jesus may come at any moment. We should be living holy lives with our lamps full of oil all the time. Our concern must be for the lost. That is the heart of God. We were once lost and someone witnessed to us. Will we not witness to others? If we love Jesus then we will obey his command and commission..

His great commission is all the more important today as we approach the close of the Church age. Jesus speaks to us today:

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”   (Acts 1:8)

Waiting on the return of Jesus is not our mission. The world is waiting on us. Jesus Christ living in us is the witness that the world needs to see. They need to see Jesus.

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May 14, 2023 · 12:01 am

Sixth Sunday of Easter

The Hope That Is Within

One of the names of Jesus is Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” What does that mean? Yes, God came to earth. He was God incarnate. God took on flesh and became one of us. Is he still one of us? Is he still with us?

Before his departure, before the cross, Jesus told his disciples:

”If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.”   (John 14:15-17)

Not only God with us but God in us. That changes everything. That transforms our lives. He has something in it that the world does not have, but that the world needs. The Apostle Peter wrote:

Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and respect. Maintain a good conscience so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame.   (1 Peter 3:15-16)

We live in a complex and challenging world, yet we have hope for something greater. And we have a taste of that something more significant. Does the world see that new life in it?

This new life was purchased for us on the cross. Reading from John’a Gospel:

On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’ ” Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive, for as yet there was no Spirit because Jesus was not yet glorified.   (John 7:37-39)

Before receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, we need to have our souls cleansed by the blood that Jesus shed for us on the cross. Only when Jesus defeated hell and the grave could we receive this gift. Reading from Ephesians:

Therefore it is said,

“When he ascended on high, he made captivity itself a captive;[b]
    he gave gifts to his people.”   (Ephesians 4:8)

By his sacrifice, Jesus made good on his promise:

”I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”   (John 14:18-21)

Today, do we have a hope within us that all the world needs to see? Are we able to give an account of the hope that we have within us? As disciples of Christ, the Holy Spirit is our legacy. If we do not know this gift, then we may simply ask for it. Jesus said:

“So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asked for[a] a fish, would give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asked for an egg, would give a scorpion? If you, then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit[b] to those who ask him!”   (Luke 11:9-13)

To hold dear to this gift we must love Jesus more than this world. When the Apostle Peter was questioned by those in religious authority he said:

“We must obey God rather than any human authority.The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”   (Acts 5:29-32)

We are living in a time of great spiritual warfare. The Apostle Paul reminds us that this was true in his day:

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on the evil day and, having prevailed against everything, to stand firm. Stand, therefore, and belt your waist with truth and put on the breastplate of righteousness and lace up your sandals in preparation for the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.   (Ephesians 6:13-17)

Jesus wants us to use the Spirit he has given us. He wants us to prevail. He wants us to occupy until he comes again. By the Holy Spirit, we can stand against the evil of this day. We can speak God’s word with authority. Church, let us go to battle in his name. The Apostle John reminds us:

By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. And this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. Little children, you are from God and have conquered them, for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.   (1 John 4d:2-4)

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May 7, 2023 · 12:00 am

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Living Stones

Upon what or whom is our faith based? This is perhaps the most important determinant in our lives. Nothing governs our behavior more than this. The Apostle Peter wrote:

Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture:

“See, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious;

and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe,

“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the very head of the corner”,

and

“A stone that makes them stumble,
and a rock that makes them fall.”

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.   (1 Peter 2:4-8)

The religious leaders of Judaism had rejected the very foundation of their faith. Even when they saw this stone and how people were healed and delivered by faith in this stone, they rejected the stone. They rejected the Lord of life and embraced a lie that they were in charge of life.

How badly did they stumble? They rejected the one who stood on the stone, towering high above them:

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Stephen gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died.   (Acts 7:55-60)

Stephen, the first martyr of the faith was full of the Holy Spirit. The rulers were very jealous of him. He was still able to forgive them. The psalmist captured his heart:

Into your hands I commend my spirit,
for you have redeemed me,
O Lord, O God of truth.

My times are in your hand;
rescue me from the hand of my enemies,
and from those who persecute me.

Make your face to shine upon your servant,
and in your loving-kindness save me.”   (Psalm 31:5, 15-16)

Into your hands I commend my spirit,
for you have redeemed me,
O Lord, O God of truth.

My times are in your hand;
rescue me from the hand of my enemies,
and from those who persecute me.

Make your face to shine upon your servant,
and in your loving-kindness save me.”   (Psalm 31:5, 15-16)

Stephen was able to stand up for the faith under false accusations and threats of his life. He stood upon the rock that was higher than himself. This was not a dead rock, but a living stone. This stone had been raised from the dead. It proved to be indestructible. What are we standing on today? Are we ready for any persecution that may come our way?

The Apostle Philip had seen this very living stone of God but did not recognize him. Jesus had to explain that this stone was none other than God of all.

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.”   (John 14:8-14)

Dead stones do not crush living stones. Stephen did the mighty works of God. God calls each one of us, who are just ordinary people, to do extraordinary things. Are we willing? like Stephen, to step into our positions in Christ, to complete his body on the earth today, until he comes again? The Apostle Paul wrote:

We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.   (Ephesians 4:14-16)

As living stones, let us be built into a spiritual house, where Jesus is the cornerstone. Then we will be unshakeable, as was Stephen, in our stand for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

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