Moments After Resurrection Part 5

“The graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after Jesus Resurrection, and went into the Holy City, and appeared unto many.”   ~ Matt.27:52-53 

What Power Resurrection!? “Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph o’er His foes; He arose a Victor from the dark domain, and He lives forever with His saints to reign, He arose!  He arose!  Hallelujah! Christ arose!”  What a powerful song written by Robert Lowry.  Just to sing it, is to sense that powerful moment when Jesus came forth from the grave overturned the power of darkness and became our Hope of Eternal Life!  There were “happenings” at that moment that sometimes are overlooked. Let us begin at the moment preceding the “empty tomb!”  The Angel has come and rolled back the stone from the door of the tomb.  Scripture reveals in Matthew Ch. 28. The guards in great fear, and shaking became like dead men.  As the Sabbath ends and the first day of week begins to dawn, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome come bringing sweet spices that they might anoint Jesus body – they came wondering how they would roll away the stone. They found the stone rolled away and this awesome Message: “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, He has risen!”  Jesus appears first unto Mary Magdalene and as she reaches to embrace Him; ^“Jesus saith unto her, touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father … and to My God, and your God.” In those first brief moments Jesus presented Himself to the Father and became our Sacrifice for Salvation.  “And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them….” Jesus went and preached unto the spirits in prison; and He said: “I Am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I Am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” I can only respond as Paul:  “That I might know Him in the power of His Resurrection…” Loving you, Pastor.

Jesus Weeps Part 4

“When Jesus was came near, He beheld the city, and Wept over it …”  ~ Luke 19:41

What do you think Jesus see’s as He visits the cities of America?  Even in our day, He continues to weep for the lost – the unrepentant.  He also continues to intercede for the saints as He sits at the right hand of the Father.  I’m not sure, but I believe when someone intercedes in Prayer, there is no doubt some tears! The Apostle Paul wrote in Rom. 8:26-27  “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.  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.”  Today’s Message is about our Weeping Saviour.  We know that He wept at the tomb of Lazarus, and various other places, but today we want to look at “why” He Wept, and think about the Weeping that continues as He sits at the right hand of God. This message is not a doctrine, it is food for thought!  In this Lenten Season we were lead by the Holy Spirit to “Talk About Jesus!” So often we read the Scriptures and fail to meditate upon what we are reading. It is in a systematic study, that is, searching through the Scriptures that we learn the lessons that will encourage us and also will bless the heart of Jesus as we “Talk About Him.”  He is the Reason we go to Church, He is the object of our Worship, He is our Life and Light in this world of gross darkness! As Jesus walked with His disciples, He taught them. As you well know they heard Him, but they didn’t hear Him. Over and over He told them, He would go away and the believers would be scattered, yet when it came to pass, they hid for fear. They did not grasp His Message until He appeared unto them in Resurrection Power!  We have the Resurrected Lord Jesus!  Let’s talk about Him, let’s honor His Life and Sacrifice and discipline ourselves to grow in Him! In Resurrection Power, Loving you, Pastor

Jesus, Alpha and Omega Part 3

“I Am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” ~ Rev. 1:8
As we continue to “Talk About Jesus, let’s look into His Origin. The Old Testament is a witness of Jesus. We see Him in various places as we walk through the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms. He was from the beginning of all things. Jesus said: “I Am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the end, the First and the Last.” Jesus gives us information concerning Himself in John 16:27-28. He tells us −“I came out from God … I came forth from the Father.”  And John, in the First Chapter, we read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the Light of men.”  I believe in this moment in time we need to evaluate what we know about Jesus. There are entities that want to discredit Jesus, the Bible, and the Gospel. We see the signs all around us! Jesus was with the Father in the Beginning, and from the sin of Adam & Eve, God’s plan unfolds. Jesus is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 1 Peter 1:19-20 declares we are Redeemed by ...“The precious Blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was Foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you/US! ...  Paul writes speaking of the Israelites and Moses: 1 Cor 10:4 “they “did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” The Prophets foretold His virgin birth, the place of His birth, and the Star that would bring the wise men. O Church, Let us “look unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith; who for the Joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despised the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Having a sincere Lenten Discipline causes us to talk more about our Saviour, to focus on Who He is in our Personal life!  Continue strong in your Lenten Discipline and talk about Jesus!  Loving you, Pastor

Our Praying Saviour Part 2

“I Pray for them: I Pray not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given Me; for they are Thine. And all Mine are Thine, and Thine are Mine; and I Am glorified in them.”  ~ John 17:9-10

We continue to “Talk About Jesus!”  May our journey in this Holy Lenten Season be unique and special as we discipline ourselves to be more like Him. As we focus on Jesus we immediately see that He is a tremendous Praying Man. While on earth, He kept close contact with His Father.  He withdrew Himself into the wilderness to Pray, and unto the mountain to Pray. Scriptures tells us He had a “Solitary Place” where He would rise up early in the morning and go to Pray. He Prayed over the Five Loaves of Bread and the two fishes. And who can forget the moment when He said to Peter; “I have Prayed for thee, that thy Faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” There were life-giving Prayers ─ At the tomb of Lazarus we see this powerful confession of Faith as Jesus Prays: “…Jesus lifted up His eyes, and said, Father, I thank Thee that thou hast heard me.  I knew that Thou hearest Me always;” and we know the outcome of that Prayer, Lazarus came forth from the grave!  There were Prayers for the sick, the blind, the lepers; Prayers of deliverance that sent the legions of devils into the swine! Many times Jesus’ Prayer was just a statement of Faith to His Father. He taught His followers to Pray, and even now He teaches us to Pray. What an awesome Lord’s Prayer.  It is a simple Prayer, a Model Prayer for His followers. It is powerful when Jesus is the focus of our life, and we desire to follow His example. It is called the Lord’s Prayer, but in all reality His Prayer is found in John Chapter 17.  It was a very personal Prayer; Prayed to His Father in heaven for us!  A miraculous time of Prayer is when Jesus took Peter, James, and John and went up into the mountain to Pray.  As Jesus Prayed, His countenance was altered, and His raiment was white and glistening, Moses & Elijah appeared unto Him and they visited with Him about His coming death. As He faced the Cross, His moment of trial and pain, He took His disciples aside into the Garden to Pray. O saints! We have a Praying Saviour.  He continues to ever intercede for us even now at the Throne of our Father God.  Jesus is our example of Prayer. Prayer is our entrance into God’s Throne.  Loving you, Pastor