Waiting For The Rain??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #207

10 Wednesday Apr 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, 'Tis The Season?, JESUS, Jesus Is Alive, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus Is Coming!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves!, Jesus--our all in all, Rain from heaven., Waiting for the rain

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Waiting For The Rain???      A Word from THE WORD!!! #207

“Be patient therefore, brethren,

unto the coming of the Lord.

Behold, the husbandman

waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth,

and hath long patience for it,

until he receive

the early

and latter rain.

8 Be ye also patient;

stablish your hearts:

for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”  James 5:7-8

We live in Oklahoma and drought is often an issue here; we look for the rain and while it sometimes comes with damaging winds, hail, and other frightening weather phenomenon, we are grateful for that earth refreshing water from heaven.  It’s sometimes difficult to wait for rain—to see ponds dry up, green turn to brown, leaves fall off prematurely and other results of drought—but God!  God has a plan, and we have to practice the “patience” which James calls believers to walk in.

James reminds believers to remember that our Lord Jesus Christ is returning, and while some are skeptical, as Peter mentioned in his second letter (See 2 Peter 3:1-12), but we must put on our armor as we wait for the return of our Lord, even as the farmers wait for the rain to bring their crops to harvest.  James goes on to remind us that prayer isn’t an instant fix, but rather it is a display before a lost and dying world of our hope in The One who is sovereignly, totally ruling this world—all of it.  And while He allows Satan to have a measure of power in this world (Ephesians 2:1-10, and that’s a lesson for another time), his time is limited, and God holds the leash!  James mentions the prayer of Elijah as he encountered the prophets of Baal.  We must not forget to check out the context.  God told Elijah to pray—first that it wouldn’t rain for three-plus years, then God sent him out again, and Elijah openly defied Ahab and Jezebel along with the prophets of idolatry.  So Elijah prayed, yes; but He prayed that which God led him to pray, and God heard, and answered, yet not immediately even then!  Don’t be impatient with what God is doing!  We don’t usually see beyond right now, yet God is working eternity into us!  (Read 1 Kings 17 and 18).

“Confess your faults

one to another,

and pray one for another,

that ye may be healed.

The effectual fervent prayer

of a righteous man

availeth much.

17 Elias was a man

subject to like passions as we are,

and he prayed earnestly

that it might not rain:

and it rained not on the earth by

the space of three years and six months.

18 And he prayed again,

and the heaven gave rain,

and the earth brought forth her fruit.”   James 5:16-18

Jesus reminded us to look for His return, not fret over the situations around us.  Don’t be alarmed by the activity in God’s creation!  He set it all in place, and all creation heeds His will—except for man.  Will you bow before Jesus, rest in His love, care, and provision, keeping your eyes on Him, or depend on the questionable commentary of man!  Let God’s Word be your standard, your plumbline, your bedrock foundation, so that you can stand fast “in the evil day”!  Amen and Amen!!!

“And when these things begin to come to pass,

then look up, and lift up your heads;

for your redemption draweth nigh.”  Luke 21:28

Amen and Amen!!!

Seeking For A Sign??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #206

07 Sunday Apr 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Form of godliness?, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, All About Jesus!, All Sufficient God!, Be not conformed to this world, Commitment Or Convenience, Compromise, Father of Lies!, Father's Way!, Fickle or Faithful, JESUS, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus is our peace, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, Jesus Saves!, Jesus--our all in all, Satan, Signs of the times?

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Seeking For A Sign???      A Word from THE WORD!!! #206

We live in a culture, even much of our Christian culture, that seems to be fixated on signs!  Not the signs that we are called to observe (the signs of the times that Jesus speaks of in Matthew 23-25, as well as other places) but seeking proof of God’s presence, His work, and often just to prove a point—Jesus makes it clear that there are “signs of the times”, but He also makes it clear that “seeking signs” is a different thing!  I just want us to consider what Jesus says, in deference to what men may say.

As Jesus spoke to the religious leaders, He didn’t mince words—He never does!  And I don’t think He’s mincing words as He speaks to us today if we’re willing to hear Him!

“The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came,

and tempting

desired him

that he would shew them a sign

from heaven.

2 He answered and said unto them,

When it is evening, ye say,

It will be fair weather:

for the sky is red.

3 And in the morning,

It will be foul weather to day:

for the sky is red and lowring.

O ye hypocrites,

ye can discern the face of the sky;

but can ye not

discern the signs of the times?

4 A wicked and adulterous generation

seeketh after a sign;

and there shall no sign be given unto it,

but the sign of the prophet Jonas.

And he left them, and departed.”  Matthew 16:1-4

Jesus talks about this again in Matthew even with a bit more information; He tells us what the “sign of the prophet Jonas” was referring to; for they were demanding that He prove Himself with “a sign” just for them.  What are you asking God to prove to you?  How shall we find the purposes of God?  In Jesus, and by abiding in Him, not looking inside of ourselves as many are promoting these days; our culture, including many Christians, who are turning to pantheistic self-improvement from within ourselves!  I challenge you to find self-improvement in scripture; God’s Word is replete with reminders that “all have sinned” and only Jesus can, will and does provide salvation to those who believe in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin—a transforming power.  Paul says it better than I can, we must be transformed by the work of Jesus’ saving power and grace, not self-improvement, or the world’s message to look inside of yourself.  Oh, my friends, only Jesus can change hearts and lives by the blood that He shed for you and me; and three days in the grave from which He arose victorious over sin, death, and hell!  Don’t be like the religious leaders of Jesus’ day and reject the only true salvation.  You cannot do it yourself!

“For of him,

and through him,

and to him,

are all things:

to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect,

will of God.

3 For I say,

through the grace given unto me,

to every man that is among you,

not to think

of himself more highly

than he ought to think;

but to think

soberly,

according as God hath dealt

to every man

the measure of faith.”                   Romans 11:36-12:1-3

So, back to the words of Jesus, that we may hear truth from Him who IS truth—The Only Way to God—Jesus!

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:6

On to Jesus’ truth about signs!

“O generation of vipers,

how can ye,

being evil,

speak good things?

for out of the abundance of the heart

the mouth speaketh.

35 A good man

out of the good treasure of the heart

bringeth forth good things:

and an evil man

out of the evil treasure

bringeth forth evil things.

36 But I say unto you,

That every idle word that men shall speak,

they shall give account thereof

in the day of judgment.

37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified,

and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying,

Master, we would see a sign from thee.

39 But he answered and said unto them,

An evil and adulterous generation

seeketh after a sign;

and there shall no sign be given to it,

but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights

in the whale’s belly;

so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights

in the heart of the earth.

41 The men of Nineveh

shall rise in judgment with this generation,

and shall condemn it:

because they repented at the preaching of Jonas;

and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

42 The queen of the south

shall rise up in the judgment with this generation,

and shall condemn it:

for she came from the uttermost parts of the

earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon;

and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.”            Matthew 12:34-42

And my friends, we must examine the things that we allow into our lives to see whether they be of God or of the world.  As Hebrews chapter 11 puts it so concisely, we must come to God by faith, and then live by faith.  Are we walking by faith or filling our lives with the faulty solutions of the world; we must look unto Jesus “the author and finisher of our faith”!

“(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”. 2 Corinthians 5:7

“Now faith is

the substance of things hoped for,

the evidence of things not seen…

…. 6 But without faith

it is impossible to please him:

for he that cometh to God

must believe that he is,

and that he is a rewarder

of them that diligently seek him.”  Hebrews 11:1 & 6

In closing, remember to measure things by God’s yardstick and not the world’s.  Satan, the great deceiver is a master of deception and deceit; don’t fall for his lies.

“For such are false apostles,

deceitful workers,

transforming themselves

into the apostles of Christ.

14 And no marvel;

for Satan himself

is transformed into an angel of light.

15 Therefore it is no great thing

if his ministers

also be transformed

as the ministers of righteousness;

whose end shall be

according to their works.”   2 Corinthians 11:13-15

Be sure you’re lining up with Jesus and not His enemy; for you can’t ride the fence and not be in danger of falling off on the wrong side.

“No man can serve two masters:

for either he will hate the one,

and love the other;

or else he will hold to the one,

and despise the other.

Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”  Matthew 6:24

“Jesus said unto them,

If God were your Father,

ye would love me:

for I proceeded forth

and came from God;

neither came I of myself,

but he sent me.

43 Why do ye not understand my speech?

even because ye cannot hear my word.

44 Ye are of your father the devil,

and the lusts of your father

 ye will do.

He was a murderer from the beginning,

and abode not in the truth,

because there is no truth in him.

When he speaketh a lie,

he speaketh of his own:

for he is a liar, and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth,

 ye believe me not.”  John 8:42-45

I pray that we will all hear the “truth” speaker, Jesus, and align our lives with His Word and His ways—not fall for the lies of the enemy of our souls.  I pray that this will be received in the love with which I write it!

Amen and Amen!!!

Is It PRAY Day??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #205

05 Friday Apr 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Form of godliness?, Abundant Life In Jesus, Daniel Prayed--Do You?, Daniel Prayed--Will You?, Daniel's Prayer, Jesus Knows, Peace of God, Peace of Jerusalem!, Perilous Times Are Here, Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem, PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!, Prayer, Prayer or Panic?, Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done, Time, Time Is Grace!, will you?

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Is It PRAY Day???      A Word from THE WORD!!! #205

If there was ever a time that we needed to fall on our knees and pray?  I would just like to share some words of challenge, hope and instruction that we may call upon our God with a heart willing to behave and seek HIM in love, conviction, and righteousness.

Some prayer directions that might help us seek HIM:

When are we to pray?

“Pray without ceasing.

18 In every thing give thanks:

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus

concerning you.”  1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

Why are we to pray?

“Confess your faults one to another,

and pray one for another,

that ye may be healed.

The effectual fervent prayer

of a righteous man

availeth much.”  James 5:16

“Epaphras,

who is one of you,

a servant of Christ,

saluteth you,

always labouring fervently for you in prayers,

that ye may stand

perfect

and complete

in all the will of God.”  Colossians 4:12

“We give thanks to God

and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

praying always for you,” Colossians 1:3

What are we to pray for?  As we’ve seen above, we are to pray for one another, for spiritual growth and maturity of the brethren, for our own faithful life of righteousness, and that of the family of God!  Our life must line up with our praying, and there is one thing that we are to pray always—and right now, we need to double up (in my humble opinion!)!  If it’s important to God, it ought to be important to us.

“And I will bless them that bless thee,

and curse him that curseth thee:

and in thee

shall all families of the earth

be blessed.”  Genesis 12:3

“I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem,

which shall never hold their peace

day nor night:

ye that make mention of the LORD,

keep not silence,

7 And give him no rest,

till he establish,

and till he make Jerusalem

a praise in the earth.”  Isaiah 62:6-7

And may we ever stand fast praying:

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:

they shall prosper that love thee.”  Psalm 122:6

We are to pray because it is our lifeline to God, and our obligation to a lost and dying world—especially our world today!  And a few words from some praying men’s examples.

“O my God, incline thine ear,

and hear;

open thine eyes,

and behold our desolations,

and the city which is called by thy name:

for we do not present our supplications before thee

for our righteousnesses,

but for thy great mercies.

19 O Lord, hear;

O Lord, forgive;

O Lord, hearken and do; defer not,

for thine own sake, O my God:

for thy city

and thy people are called by thy name.” Daniel 9:18-19                          (And if you really want to see a heart set unto prayer, I encourage you to read all of Daniel 9—one of the most heart-rending prayers and models of all scripture.)

Our prayers are to be according to God’s will, while asking in faith for that which HE has laid upon our hearts.

“And he went a little further,

and fell on his face,

and prayed, saying,

O my Father, if it be possible,

let this cup pass from me:

nevertheless not as I will,

but as thou wilt…

….41 Watch and pray,

that ye enter not into temptation:

the spirit indeed is willing,

but the flesh is weak.

42 He went away again the second time,

and prayed, saying,

O my Father,

if this cup may not pass away from me,

except I drink it,

thy will be done.

43 And he came and found them asleep again:

for their eyes were heavy.

44 And he left them,

and went away again, and

prayed the third time,

saying the same words.” Matthew 26:39 & 41-43

The very best way to pray according to God’s will, is to know God’s Word!  Then trust the precious Holy Spirit will make intercession when we can’t find the right words—He is ever willing to take our heart to God!

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart,

that I might not sin against thee.”  Psalm 119:11

“Let the words of my mouth,

and the meditation of my heart,

be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD,

my strength,

and my redeemer.”  Psalm 19:14

And Jesus’ admonition and instruction about prayer:

“After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done

in earth,

as it is in heaven…

….13 And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom,

and the power,

and the glory, for ever. Amen.”  Matthew 6:9-10 & 13

And Paul’s great assurance:

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:

for we know not what we should pray for

as we ought:

but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us

with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27 And he that searcheth the hearts

knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,

because he maketh intercession for the saints

according to the will of God.”  Romans 8:26-27

And in closing our confidence is ever in our God’s open arms, and His ear!

“For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched

with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted like as we are,

yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore

come boldly unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:15-16

I pray that we who claim the name of Jesus Christ The Lord for our salvation, will call upon our God while there is still time to see deliverance.  Are we really the “my people” who will call upon God for wisdom, forgiveness, strength, and deliverance?

“If

my people,

which are called by my name,

shall humble themselves,

and pray,

and seek my face,

and turn from their wicked ways;

then will I hear from heaven,

and will forgive their sin,

and will heal their land.”  2 Chronicles 7:14

Amen and Amen!!!

Do You Not See? Not Hear??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #204

03 Wednesday Apr 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Father's Love, A Witness--Good or Bad???, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Do you not hear?, Do you not see?, God Who Sees, God's Call, God's glory NOT mine!, God's Judgment, Hear ye HIM!, Hearing God, Independence, Iron Sharpens Iron, Isaiah, It's All About The Cross, It's Your Choice, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus Is Coming!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Renewing or Reviewing, Repentance, Responding Rightly, Resting Or Wrestling?, REvival, Revival or Recycle?, Righteousness exalts a nation, Seeing Truth, Servanthood, Serving God or Using God?, When Is True NOT?, Who are YOU following?, Who are you listening to?, Who's Listening Anyway?, Who's Listening?, Witness

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Do You Not See? Not Hear??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #204

I don’t know why this particular passage was laid upon my heart, but as it was, I want to share as simply and humbly as I know how the truth that God keeps bringing to my heart.  We are in a difficult place, and I don’t see a lot of people ready to truly come to God The Father, Jesus Christ The Son, through the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, in true, honest, repentance and longing for the fire of revival to start in “me”!  May we truly come to the feet of Jesus for the touch of The Master’s hand to cleanse and make us usable, even as Isaiah did.  Lord please open our eyes to see you as YOU are, not as we have tried to conform you to.  When Isaiah saw you, he was humble and open to your will—may I be so!

“In the year that king Uzziah died

I saw also the Lord

sitting upon a throne,

high and lifted up,

and his train filled the temple.

2 Above it stood the seraphims:

each one had six wings;

with twain he covered his face,

and with twain he covered his feet,

and with twain he did fly.

3 And one cried unto another, and said,

Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts:

the whole earth is full of his glory.

4 And the posts of the door moved

at the voice of him that cried,

and the house was filled with smoke.

5 Then said I,

Woe is me! for I am undone;

because I am a man of unclean lips,

and I dwell in the midst of a people

of unclean lips:

for mine eyes have seen the King,

the LORD of hosts.

6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me,

having a live coal in his hand,

which he had taken with the tongs

from off the altar:

7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said,

Lo, this hath touched thy lips;

and thine iniquity is taken away,

and thy sin purged.

8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying,

Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?

Then said I,

Here am I; send me.

9 And he said,

Go, and tell this people,

Hear ye indeed,

but understand not;

and see ye indeed,

but perceive not.”  Isaiah 6:1-9

Isaiah was brought to see his sin and the sin of his people, he realized that he was unsuitable to serve God, “but God”—oh, that is one of my favorite phrases in all of scripture, “but God”!  I am so glad that God has a plan, and if we will but humble ourselves and turn from our own way, He will send the fire of salvation to our soul.  While the “but God” isn’t specifically in this passage the principle is—as Isaiah saw his own condition before God and then the “but God” principle changed him; and God will change us if and when we let go of our own pride, self-will, and independence and fall on our faces before His holy presence and the convicting power of The Holy Spirit!  We are transformed into the “sent” to share His glory with a lost and dying world—but notice the message isn’t one that most want to hear; and it’s not the only time that Isaiah was compelled by God to speak this message.  Paul’s challenge to us reminds me that we are called today to share the same message of the finished work of Jesus Christ our Lord—the Risen LORD!

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect, will of God.

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me,

to every man that is among you,

not to think of himself more highly

than he ought to think;

but to think soberly,

according as God hath dealt

to every man the measure of faith.”  Romans 12:1-3

And as we ask God to touch our own hearts, may we hear another of Isaiah’s messages, and lay ourselves open before God, truly seeking conviction to the revival of the saved, conviction of sin, unto repentance for the lost, yielding a great harvest from God not our own hands!  Unlike many preach and teach today, it’s not about being “happy”—God is calling us to holiness; and I think God is often offended by what we have tried to make holy for our own convenience; have we become those who hear with our hears but don’t understand, and see with our eyes yet don’t perceive what God is asking from us or even doing around us?  And while Isaiah’s message is a lengthy one, I think it valuable for our consideration.

“To whom then will ye liken God?

or what likeness will ye compare unto him?

19 The workman melteth a graven image,

and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold,

and casteth silver chains.

20 He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation

chooseth a tree that will not rot;

he seeketh unto him a cunning workman

to prepare a graven image,

that shall not be moved.

21 Have ye not known? have ye not heard?

hath it not been told you

from the beginning?

have ye not understood

from the foundations of the earth?

22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth,

and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers;

that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain,

and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:

23 That bringeth the princes to nothing;

he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.

24 Yea, they shall not be planted;

yea, they shall not be sown: yea,

their stock shall not take root in the earth:

and he shall also blow upon them,

and they shall wither,

and the whirlwind shall take them away

as stubble.

25 To whom then will ye liken me,

or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.

26 Lift up your eyes on high,

and behold who hath created these things,

that bringeth out their host by number:

he calleth them all by names

by the greatness of his might,

for that he is strong in power;

not one faileth.

27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob,

and speakest, O Israel,

My way is hid from the LORD,

and my judgment is passed over from my God?

28 Hast thou not known?

hast thou not heard,

that the everlasting God,

the LORD,

the Creator of the ends of the earth,

fainteth not,

neither is weary?

there is no searching of his understanding.

29 He giveth power

to the faint;

and to them that have no might

he increaseth strength.

30 Even the youths

shall faint and be weary,

and the young men

shall utterly fall:

31 But they that wait upon the LORD

shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings as eagles;

they shall run, and not be weary;

and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:18-31

Oh, to be one that waits “upon the LORD”, that is the desire of my heart; and there have been times that I have waited patiently, other times that I waited but not very patiently, but oh my friends, the victory that God will bring is so much more than “worth it”!  Jesus is coming again—hold fast, my friends—our redemption “draweth nigh”; so don’t put off what God is calling you to do!  Will you hear?  Will you see?  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test!

“And then shall they see the Son of man coming

in a cloud with power and great glory.

28 And when these things begin to come to pass,

then look up,

 and lift up your heads;

for your redemption draweth nigh.”   Luke 21:27-28.

Amen and Amen!!!

The Time Between??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #203

30 Saturday Mar 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, 'Tis The Season?, Are you in between?, Choices And Consequences, Choose You This Day!, Choosing Jesus or The World?, Christ IS Alive!, Come to Jesus, Come To Worship HIM, Jesus IN You!, Jesus Is Alive, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus is our peace, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, Jesus Knows YOUR Storm, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves!, Jesus' Sacrifice, Resting In Jesus, Restoration, Resurrection, The Time Between

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The Time Between??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #203

 

Isaiah said it best:

“He is despised

and rejected of men;

a man of sorrows,

and acquainted with grief:

and we hid as it were our faces

from him;

he was despised,

and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he hath borne

our griefs,

and carried

our sorrows:

yet we did esteem him stricken,

smitten of God,

and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded

for our transgressions,

he was bruised

for our iniquities:

 the chastisement

of our peace was upon him;

and with his stripes

we are healed.

6 All we like sheep

have gone astray;

we have turned every one

to his own way;

and the LORD hath laid on him

the iniquity of us all.”  Isaiah 53:3-6

Isaiah prophesying of the coming Messiah, painted a picture of sin and its penalty on “All we”, and God had already appointed a Redeemer, a Lamb of God, a perfect sacrifice to atone (Pay for) for all our sin.  We are all “sin sick” and that is the disease that we all need to be healed from.  It’s why God says that “with his stripes we are healed”; for without Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice of Himself– the beating, the nails, the rejection of men, the spitting, the cursing, the shame, the shedding of HIS own blood—we would have no hope, no cure for this disease of SIN!  But “the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all”. Thank you, Jesus, for dying for me.

But I want us to think about something else; as it’s Saturday and the disciples and followers of Jesus are full of grief; this One whom they believed was the Messiah, The Deliverer, The Chosen One, is now dead!  Hope was seemingly gone.  Have you ever gone through that “Time Between”?  The time between hopeless fear, and the joy of The Lord?  The time between loss and renewal?  The time between life-absorbing grief and renewed hope and peace and restoration from the hand of The Lord?  Most of us have suffered that grief of sudden, unexpected loss, and without Jesus, I can assure you, I couldn’t have gotten through mine!  But by the grace of God, and the saving power of The Blood of “The Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world” my heart was sustained in many times of sorrow and loss, but especially the murder and loss of my precious daughter.  BUT GOD!  Oh, my friends, the “BUT GOD”s of my life are innumerable, yet I have found Him faithful.

Think of the followers of Jesus, full of grief, sorrow, and unexpected horror; what could save them now.  They are hiding from the leaders who killed Jesus—fearing they might be next.  Even though Jesus had tried to prepare them, how could our feeble human minds comprehend His resurrection.  How about you?  When was the last time you went to a funeral, or sat by a loved one who died in your presence, that you expected them to arise from the grave?  Not me!  The disciples couldn’t comprehend what The Master wanted them to see—HE would arise.  Let’s see how scripture describes it from two who were walking to Emmaus just after the news came of the resurrection.  And while I know this is a lengthy passage, I think if more worthy of your time than my feeble words.  These were living the “time in between”!  How about you?  Have you met The Master?  He’s alive and well and loves you too!  I pray that you will ponder this passage and if you know Jesus, rejoice in it.  If you don’t know Jesus, I pray that you will call upon Him today—He is still in the life-changing business.  He saved me and has done wondrous things to make me who I am today, and He will do the same for you.

“And, behold, two of them went that same day

to a village called Emmaus,

which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

14 And they talked together

of all these things which had happened.

15 And it came to pass, that,

while they communed together and reasoned,

Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

16 But their eyes were holden

 that they should not know him.

17 And he said unto them,

What manner of communications

are these that ye have one to another,

as ye walk,

and are sad?

18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas,

answering said unto him,

Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem,

and hast not known the things

which are come to pass there in these days?

19 And he said unto them,

What things?

And they said unto him,

Concerning Jesus of Nazareth,

which was a prophet

mighty in deed and word before God

and all the people:

20 And how the chief priests

and our rulers

delivered him to be condemned to death,

and have crucified him.

21 But we trusted that it had been he

which should have redeemed Israel:

and beside all this,

to day is the third day

since these things were done.

22 Yea, and certain women also of our company

made us astonished,

which were early at the sepulchre;

23 And when they found not his body,

they came, saying,

that they had also seen a vision

of angels,

which said that he was alive.

24 And certain of them which were with us

went to the sepulchre,

and found it even so as the women had said:

but him they saw not.

25 Then he said unto them,

O fools, and slow of heart to believe

all that the prophets have spoken:

26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things,

and to enter into his glory?

27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets,

he expounded unto them in all the scriptures

the things concerning himself.

28 And they drew nigh unto the village,

whither they went:

and he made as though he would have gone further.

29 But they constrained him,

saying, Abide with us:

for it is toward evening,

and the day is far spent.

And he went in to tarry with them.

30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them,

he took bread,

and blessed it,

and brake,

and gave to them.

31 And their eyes were opened,

and they knew him;

and he vanished out of their sight.

32 And they said one to another,

Did not our heart burn within us,

while he talked with us by the way,

and while he opened to us the scriptures?

33 And they rose up the same hour,

and returned to Jerusalem,

and found the eleven gathered together,

and them that were with them,

34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed,

and hath appeared to Simon.”  Luke 24:13-34

I can’t imagine the change of the environment when they saw and knew that Jesus was/is alive!  My friend, no matter your sorrow, grief, or feelings of hopelessness, I assure you that Jesus is LORD of all, and He can bring new life, hope, joy and restoration to your heart, mind, and soul.  He’s done it for me, and He will meet you where you are.  But by His saving blood HE won’t leave you there, He’ll lead you into His truth, love, and grace; just look up and believe in The One who died for YOU!

May you have a blessed and joy-filled time rejoicing in the victory that Jesus won at Calvary.  Rejoice in the Lord by joining His people in church tomorrow (and yes, the church is imperfect and full of hypocrites, but I’d rather go to church, in obedience to my Savior, with a few hypocrites than spend eternity in hell with them!)!

A Blessed Resurrection Day to you all.  HE IS ALIVE!!!  And HE IS COMING AGAIN!!!

Amen and Amen