Cause Me To Hear

“Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.”  ~ Psalms 143:8

With Resurrection still on our mind we continue to look into the happenings of Jesus’ three years among the saints on earth. So many awesome things took place as Jesus walked among the people.  He healed the sick, the lame, the deaf, He opened blind eyes, He cleansed the lepers, He feed the thousands, He comforted the down trodden and He delivered the sinner. These are the natural things that the Disciples witnessed as Jesus walked among humanity. However more important, Jesus came to influence mankind, that after Salvation they would be ‘His witness.’ So many things our Lord and Saviour did while on earth, John 21:25 declares: “There are also many other things which Jesus did, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.”  What awesome and Holy moments we have to remember! The natural things of miraculous proportion, was to draw them to Him and in return He could deliver them from their sins and then they would be a ‘Witness’ for His Father in heaven. As He walked among them, He alerted them to the fact that He would go away, He would be persecuted, mocked, scourged, rejected and killed, but would rise the third day. [Mark 10:34]  Mark 9:31 tells us  “Jesus taught His disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill Him; and after that He is killed, He shall rise the third day.”  We hear the prophetical words of the Psalmist [135:17] Psalms 135:17 “They have ears, but they hear not;” such was the case of Jesus followers.  As His followers today, may we invoke this Prayer, Cause me to hear Thy Lovingkindness! We hear all the negative things, we see darkness and gloom, but O Lord, “Cause us to hear your voice!” His Excellent Lovingkindness is our fountain of Life!  Psalms 36:7-10: “How excellent is Thy lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their Trust under the shadow of Thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied... and thou shalt make them drink of the river of Thy pleasures. For with Thee is the Fountain of Life: in Thy light shall we see light. O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know Thee;...”Loving you and Praying for you, Pastor

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

“Have Mercy upon me, O God, according to

Thy Lovingkindness: According unto the multitude

of Thy tender Mercies blot out my transgressions.”   ~ Psalms 51:1

Children, Have Ye Any Meat?

John 21:4-5 “When the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.”  

   

What a glorious morning, Resurrection!  So much for the disciples to take in – unbelief still in their hearts!  Fear of the persecutors, grief stricken, and most of all they just can not comprehend all the happenings of this week. They disperse for fear, a couple of them head for Damascus, others hide away in what they feel is a secret place.  The Risen Christ reveals Himself to Mary Magdalene, to the women at the tomb, and unto Peter ... as the others begin to hear such news, there is still unbelief ... Thomas says unless I touch the nail prints I can not believe. Such is the atmosphere in our own society today – unbelief. The Message today begins in John Chapter 21: Simon Peter says, I go a fishing.  And seven of the Disciples reply, “We also go with thee.” As this account in Scripture reveals, it is yet another miraculous experience at sea with Jesus!  They toil all night they catch nothing. VS 4-6 “When the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.”  And He said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.” There’s a terrific lesson in this account of Jesus revealing Himself once again to His followers. The question is still on the table to His followers–“Have ye any meat”?  Scripture reveals the Word of God is “Meat!”  Paul talks about milk and meat. We know Jesus was talking about fish, but always there is a spiritual Message revealed when Jesus walks into your life. If we will fill our lives with the strength [meat] of His Word, He will be revealed in our lives. We must move from the milk of the Word to the Meat of God’s Word – we must be able to stand in the midst of the crisis and proclaim the power of God that unbelievers might overcome and be a recipient of God’s Great Grace. We hear the Words of the Hebrew writer, “Strong Meat belongth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” This is our day, Christ is revealed and may He be seen in us!  Loving you, Pastor

The Son of Righteousness Revealed

“Unto you that fear My Name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up....” ~ Malachi 4:2     

From the Pastor’s Study: Jesus had several conversations with His Disciples regarding His going away; He told them the chief priests and the scribes, would condemn Him to death, And they would deliver Him to be mocked, scourged, and Crucified: And the Third Day He would rise again! They heard the sad part of Jesus conversation, for in Gethsemane when they slept, it says they “slept for sorrow.”  They missed the glorious part – “The Third Day, I will rise again!” Jesus shared the Last Supper with them, they heard His Words for they break Bread and drank from the cup, but they did not discern nor understand what was ahead. We are a Blessed people for when we partake of the Bread and the Fruit of the Vine, we understand that the event of Jesus death, burial, and Resurrection has taken place and we have only to believe! The Disciples did not discern their day of visitation; a time to intercede for Jesus in the garden, a time to embrace the power of His Words, nor a time to prepare for the Comforter Who was coming!  All these things we have knowledge of – The Sun of Righteousness has come!

Righteousness is a powerful Word, it is used some 300 times in the Bible. We may experience His Righteousness because of this very day – Resurrection Day! Jesus continues to warn us regarding the End-Time – could we be like the Disciples and not hear His total Message?  We hear the good things, the healing, the help, the blessings, but what about the warnings? The Son of Righteousness revealed Himself to His Disciples before His death, and most assuredly after His death.  He came within the room even through the doors were locked, the Disciples had hid for fear... His Word of comfort filled the room.. “Peace be unto you!” He revealed the scars of His Righteousness! He revealed God’s plan for them: “As My Father hath sent me, even so send I you!” In preparation for the Day of Pentecost, He breathed on them, and said, Receive ye the Holy Ghost!”  All this, the Church now, has knowledge of – What will we do with this Revelation? Let us note the Prayer of the Apostle Paul: “That I may know Him, and the Power of His Resurrection, and the fellowship of His Sufferings...”  — “Being made free from sin, we become servants of Righteousness!” Loving you in Resurrection Thanksgiving, Pastor

Palms of Purpose

“Much people were come to the Feast of Passover, and when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took branches of Palm trees, and went forth to meet Him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.”  ~ John 12:12-13   

Palms of Praise  — As we enter the Week of our Lord’s Passion we remember: Jesus kept the Passover as Triumphantly He went toward Jerusalem. He paused at the Mt. Of Olives, weeping over His beloved city, because they had not believed their day of His visitation. Jesus proceeds toward Jerusalem with determination in His heart. The worshipers wave their Palm Branches, they throw their garments before Him as He enters the Holy City ... Shouts are heard; “Hosanna, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord!” Blessed be the Kingdom of our father David that cometh in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the Highest!” – “Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: Peace in heaven, and Glory in the highest!”  Jesus has a table prepared for His disciples; it is the Last Supper, a time of Communion with His them.  Soon we see Jesus and His disciples singing a hymn and heading toward the Garden for Prayer. This was not just any Prayer but the moment of His heart-breaking decision to surrender His will, to be obedient to His Father – to bring Salvation to God’s people. Great drops of Blood fall to the ground as Jesus gives His Will to His Father.  An angel comforts Him, then He rises to find His disciples sleeping. Judas arrives with the cantankerous religious leaders and kisses Jesus – Jesus addresses him as Friend. Hastily Peter raises his sword and cuts off the soldier’s ear – Jesus heals the enemy’s ear and willingly gives Himself to the captors. Suffering follows!! Rejection rises as they mock Him, spit upon Him, and they smite Him with the Palms of their hands – They shove the Crown of Thrones into His head! And after much abuse they nail our Lord Jesus to the Cross... This is the week of His Passion, we do the Lenten discipline for Him, He suffered and died for us! Let us raise our “Palms” in Thanksgiving, and in Grateful Adoration for the Passion of our Loving Saviour! 

Loving you, Pastor