Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Tuesday; Hope of the heart.
Tuesday; Hope of the Heart.
Lesson Text; Luke 24: 1-9, 36-45 and 1 Cor. 15
Introduction....
No event in history of mankind has been more anticipated, longed for and sought after than the advent of the Redeemer, the Hope of Israel. He was first promised to Adam and Eve at the time of their fall into sin. God said that the seed of the woman should bruise the head fo the serpent, and the serpent should bruise the heel of her offspring. This was probably not so clearly understood at that time, but, as the years unfolded, God revealed through His prophets a clearer picture of the promised Messiah. Though this event was eagerly anticipated by Gods people, it was misconstrued by most. May we understand and experience Christs Kingdom in our hearts.
It is readily seen by reviewing the gospels that many who looked for the promised Messiah had a misconception of what Jesus came to do. The jews had studied the old writings long and hard only to be diillusioned. Jesus told the Pharisees, "Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me"(John 5:39). Yet they missed the prophecy that he was to be the sacrificial lamb, and they missunderstood the nature of the kingdom that He came to establish. Jesus must have felt that they should understand the concept of the new birth because He told Niccodemus, "A rt thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?"(John 3:10).
It is important to note that Jesus said that all things written about him in the law of Moses, in the prophets, and in the Psalms would be fulfilled(Luke 24:44). We who read Gods Word today look at Jesus' life from a historical standpoint. We have heard about His death and resurrection all our lives. We do not struggle believing the record, but maybe we should imagine ourselves in Jesus' day for a moment. Jesus' birth, ministry, death, and resurrection all contained elements that were difficult for the himan mind to comprehend. To understand them, one needed a revelation from God. Jesus told Peter that flesh and blood had not revealed the truth of Christ's identity to him but that God had. The apostle Paul received a revelation of who Christ was on the Damascus road. For each of us that has received the revelation of the new Birth, it is real, for without which we could not be born again.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus revealed the nature of His kingdom. He taught us to love and forgive in a measure beyond the capability of unregenerate man. He dealt with the very inner core of man, the core of mans heart.
Many professing Christians may also miss this truth of Jesus' kingdom..as it is now and in our hearts. Many are looking to some future time in which the Old Testament prophicies will be fulfilled. Jesus said,"The kingdom of God cometh not with observation....for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you"(Luke 17:20 & 21) We also read that "the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost"(Rom. 14:17).
There is no greater power to affect mans life than the power of the resurrection. Paul speaks of "the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead"(Eph.1:19-20)."Now unto him that is able to de exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Jesus Christ throughout all ages, world without end. Amen"(Eph. 3:20-21). This power is made available to us as we experience the fellowship of His sufferings and are made conformable to Hidsdeath(Phil. 3:10). May it be our blessing to walk and live in the fullness that God has for us.
Thought for today; "How will the resurrection of a living God manifest itself in my life today and for the days to come?
Love to all....
Terri
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