Christ the lord has risen today

THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION
This morning we are celebrating the power and glory of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. For many people, however, Easter Sunday morning brings a major crisis of faith. Easter confronts them with the essential question: Is the Christian religion natural or is it supernatural? Some people avoid the question even while attending annual Easter celebrations. The following poem suggests the possibility of such superficiality. The first two stanzas say,

On the third day
we eat brunch
wear bright dresses
munch on jelly beans
and marshmallow bunnies

On the third day
we sing hymns
and go to church
if we can find a parking spot.

It is possible for Easter to be nothing more than that. But to those of us who are alive in Christ, we confess the third stanza of the poem with gratitude and praise:

And on the third day
this God of ours
recovers from death
in a way that changes everything. (1)

In 2 Corinthians, the apostle Paul explains his biblical conviction that the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead does in fact change everything. Easter puts human history in perspective. The resurrection of Jesus Christ brings to Paul's present, personal experience creativity, vitality, and a confident hope for the future. Paul knows he will be raised from death to live eternally. The supernatural power and brilliant glory of God is consistently displayed through the Easter perspective of the past, present, and future.

Paul's powerful confession of faith in 2 Corinthians 4:3-15 explains why people cannot see the supernatural truth revealed in the Easter story. Eugene Peterson paraphrases it as follows:

If our Message is obscure to anyone, it's not because we're holding back in any way. No, it's because these other people are looking or going the wrong way and refuse to give it serious attention. All they have eyes for is the fashionable god of darkness. They think he can give them what they want, and that they won't have to bother believing a Truth they can't see. They're stone-blind to the dayspring brightness of the Message that shines with Christ, who gives us the best picture of God we'll ever get.

Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we're proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, "Light up the darkness!" and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.

If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us. As it is, there's not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we're not much to look at. We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us--trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us--he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus' sake, which makes Jesus' life all the more evident in us. While we're going through the worst, you're getting in on the best!

We're not keeping this quiet, not on your life. Just like the psalmist wrote, "I believed it, so I said it," we say what we believe. And what we believe is that the One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up with you, alive. Every detail works to your advantage and to God's glory: more and more grace, more and more people, and more and more praise! (2)

That incomparable power of God and the brightness of his glory was displayed in the resurrection. The apostle Matthew's account of the resurrection emphasizes both dynamics. Although Jesus had already been raised from the dead, God's power was still evident in the violent earthquake and in the boulder being rolled away from the tomb. The brilliance of his glory shines through in the blinding, dazzling white of God's angelic messenger (Matthew 28:1-8).

Paul knew the story of Jesus' resurrection even before he became a Christian, just as many people today know the story. While still an enemy of the gospel he was personally confronted by the risen Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. In addition to Luke's account of Paul's conversion in the New Testament book of Acts, Paul himself tells his own story two other places in Acts. Both times Paul emphasizes the power of God that knocked him to the ground and the brilliance of his glory reflected in Jesus Christ: "...a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all around me" (Acts 26:13).

Creation, resurrection and conversion

Paul ties three events together: his own spiritual transformation, the creation of the world when God spoke light into being, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. All three are past events, objective and historical displays of God's power and his glory. In 2 Corinthians 4:4b-6, Paul calls us to see

.the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give us the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

The Easter message that the apostle Paul and the early church preached declares that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Lord of life. He died a voluntary death and suffered crucifixion as the Savior of the world. He bore our sins in his body on the cross, but he died as a victorious Savior. In his voluntary death, he won the victory over sin, death and hell, and was raised to the newness of resurrection life on Easter morning. The New Testament always links his absolute sovereignty as Lord of life to that event. The resurrection endorsed, proclaimed and demonstrated the victory that Jesus won at the cross. He died as our Savior, but he now lives as our Lord.

Paul surrendered his life to Jesus as Savior and Lord on the road to Damascus. For the first time Paul could see clearly God's glory and power as it was reflected in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. He also understood that the same glorious, creative power that spoke the world into existence and replaced darkness with light was in fact the explosive power and glory of resurrection that brought Jesus out of the grave. God transformed Paul's life, and gave him a new perspective and dynamic for living.

My concern this morning is very personal. We sang in worship this morning:

Come and see the beauty of the Lord;
Come and know the wonder of his grace.
Come and see how much He cares for you;
Gaze at the compassion in His face. (3)

My question is: Have you seen the glory of God in the face of Christ? Has God driven back the darkness of sin and unbelief in your life?

A songwriter in the last century wrote:

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
"I am this dark world's Light.
Look unto Me, thy morn shall rise,
And all thy days be bright."
I looked to Jesus, and I found
In Him my Star, my Sun;
And in that light of life I'll walk,
ill traveling days are done." (4)

Have you seen the glory of God in the face of Christ?

Resurrection life as our present experience

In the next section of the passage, Paul explains what it means to walk in Jesus, "the light of life." The New Testament teaches that if we experience salvation from our sins through Jesus Christ then we have been given a new birth and a supernatural power to live. Paul explains that the very resurrection life of Christ is expressed through us as Christians. The amazing creativity and vitality of resurrection life can be our present, personal experience of God's power and glory. Paul describes it as a treasure inside of us (2 Corinthians 4:7-11):

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

Paul understands that the real treasure is the resurrection life of Jesus Christ within him. He is merely a vessel that carries it. Is there a more beautiful description of the Christian life than "we have this treasure in earthen vessels"?
Paul's life was lived under tremendous pressure. His clay pot was subjected to the strain of affliction, perplexing confusion, persecution, catastrophe, and constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake. Paul understood that what filled him up and resisted the external pressures of life was the surpassing greatness of the power of God inside of him. The power that spoke the world into being is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, and spiritually transformed Paul's life when he met Jesus on the Damascus road.

The following excerpts are a wonderful description of resurrection power, both as it was displayed on Easter morning and as it can be displayed in the lives of people who respond to Jesus as Savior and Lord. Ray Stedman writes in Body Life:

We must understand that resurrection power is like no other power on earth. It is unique, and has no possible rival. For one thing, it is the kind of power that operates in the midst of death. It works when everything around it is dull, dead and barren. It works best in the midst of a cemetery, for that is where it was first demonstrated. When Jesus Christ was resurrected he came out from among the dead. Therefore, if you learn to live by resurrection power you can be alive and vital when everything and everyone around you is dead and lifeless.

Resurrection power is also irresistible. It cannot be thwarted or turned aside. It takes absolutely no account of any obstacles thrown in its path, except to use them for further opportunities to advance its cause. When Jesus came bursting from the grave, he paid not the slightest attention to the obstacles man had placed in his way. There was a large stone in front of his tomb; he passed through it. He himself was wrapped in yard after yard of linen cloth; he left the graveclothes undisturbed behind him. There were Roman guards in front of his tomb; he ignored them. He took not the slightest notice of the decrees of Caesar, or the orders of Pilate or the fulminations of the Jewish priests.

Furthermore, resurrection power makes no noise. Other kinds of power that we know usually make some kind of sound: they pound, pulsate, throb, hum, buzz, explode, or roar. But resurrection power is quite silent. Without any display or ostentation it quietly accomplishes its purpose though there is nothing audible or visible to mark it. When a Christian is living by resurrection power he does not advertise it or seek to dazzle others by its display. His effect upon others is quiet and unobserved at first, but soon there are evident changes that mark the inevitable effect of resurrection power at work: the return of life, vitality, excitement and joy to an individual or situation. (5)

How did the apostle Paul evidence resurrection power in his own life? We read that in spite of his afflictions he was not crushed. He never despaired in spite of perplexity and confusion. Although people abandoned him, he knew he was not forsaken by God. And even though he was struck down, he was not destroyed. He said the life of Jesus was made public, or "manifest," in his own body by the way he lived. There is a tone of celebration in verses 7-11. Even though life had knocked Paul down at times, it never knocked him out. His life demonstrated creativity and vitality because he experienced God's power and glory in his life. If we are God's "resurrection" people like Paul, we are a lot tougher than we usually think. It is encouraging to know that we can cope with great pressures because we have the power of the resurrection within us.

During my years as a pastor at PBC I have seen many who are "in Christ" endure realistically and triumphantly with calamity, sorrow, tragedy, illness, death--losses of every sort. With time and patience, and with the Holy Spirit ministering encouragement personally and through brothers and sisters in the Lord they have bounced back with renewed faith and confidence. Are you experiencing that same resurrection power of Jesus Christ in your life?

Our confident hope of resurrection from death

In verses 12-15, Paul turns to the future and offers the confident hope of his own resurrection from death. It is the time when we look forward to hearing God's creative and commanding voice call us to eternal life. At that point we will finally know the completeness of his power and glory. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:12-15:

So death works in us, but life in you. But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE," we also believe, therefore also we speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.

At the end of chapter 4 Paul begins a discussion of death and the hope we have in the resurrection of those who die as Christians. For Paul, the present experience of resurrection life is not enough. He writes in his first letter to Corinth, "If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied" (1 Cor 15:19). Paul's unconquerable faith is spelled out against the backdrop of his belief that the same God whose Spirit renewed him daily was the one who raised Jesus on Easter morning. To the church in Thessalonica he writes, "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus" (1 Thess 4:14). One of the most important implications of Easter Sunday morning is that if we are in relationship to Christ, we no longer have to be afraid of death.

Apart from Jesus Christ, the fear of death is universal. The comedy of Woody Allen speaks to his obsession with it. In an Esquire magazine interview, Allen is quoted as saying, "It's not that I'm afraid to die. I just don't want to be there when it happens."(6) Most of the article shows that he is filled with dread. He says, "The fundamental thing behind all motivation and all activity is the constant struggle against annihilation and death. It's absolutely stupefying in it's terror and it renders anyone's accomplishments meaningless."(7)

The Easter message proclaims that Jesus rescues his followers from the horror of death. We will not only survive death, but we will be raised from it. We will be given new bodies like Jesus' resurrection body, bodies with new and undreamed of powers. We will have no more afflictions, perplexity, persecution, catastrophe, and no more "being delivered over to death." Revelation 21 is a promise of eternal life in a beautiful glimpse of heaven. The apostle John writes, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them, and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away" (Revelation 21:3, 4).

And on the third day
this God of ours
recovers from death
in a way that changes everything.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead does, in fact, change everything--the past, the present, and the future. Easter affects our understanding of the past--of salvation history at work in the creation of the universe, at work on Easter morning, and at work in our own conversion to faith in Jesus Christ. The resurrection brings to our present, personal experience the amazing creativity and vitality of resurrection life. And Jesus' resurrection gives us confident hope for the future. We will be raised from death ourselves to live eternally. The supernatural power and the brilliant glory of God is consistently displayed in the Easter perspective on our past, present and future.

You can experience the resurrection life of Jesus--as your Savior and Lord

Paul's concern at the end of verse 15 is that God's saving grace in Jesus Christ is spread to more and more people. I ask again: Have you seen the glory of God in the face of Christ? Has God driven back the darkness of sin and unbelief from your heart? Are you experiencing the resurrection power of Christ in your life? Has Jesus rescued you from bondage to the fear of death?

If your answers this morning are no, do you perhaps realize that you are spiritually blind, and that you are living in the darkness of sinful rebellion against God? Is your life dull, dead, and barren? Are you in bondage to the fear of death?

The good news of the Easter message is that Jesus can open your eyes to spiritual reality. He can forgive your sinful rebellion, dissipate your fear of what happens after you die, and he can give you life to the fullest right now. All you need to do is turn to him as Savior and Lord. Romans 10:9-10 explains that "...if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness [being made right with God], and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."

What better way to celebrate Easter than to accept the new life Jesus offers today? Trust him as your Savior, surrender your will to him as Lord. Then you will know the thrill, the joy, and the security of the resurrected Christ Jesus living inside of you.

Later in this letter, Paul writes with a sense of heightened seriousness and urgency, "And working together with Him [Jesus], we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain--for He says, [God speaking through Isaiah] 'AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU.'" Paul adds, "behold, now is "THE ACCEPTABLE TIME," behold, now is the "DAY OF SALVATION..." (2 Corinthian 6:1-2).

If you have never asked Jesus Christ to come into your life, I want to invite you to open your heart to him and accept the salvation he offers. Jesus says to you, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him, and will dine with him, and he with Me" (Rev 3:20). Please respond to his gracious invitation

A Palm Sunday Message

"I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who set out for Jerusalem with acclamations of praise and jubilation from the fickle-minded crowds that make sure that the "love-fest" would be short-lived; thus turning a welcome into a rejection in a matter of days.
Yet Jesus, though aware that his visitation, to the troubled city would ensnare him for death, continued his journey nevertheless. One week later he was affixed on a cross and left to die. But he did it for us, as described in John 3:16.
There are times when we are called upon to make little sacrifices, yet some try hard to avoid them, if you could. The story is told about three Scotchmen who were in a church when the minister made an appeal for a worthy cause. The tree became nervous when the collection plate was approaching. One of them fainted and the other two were glad to pick him up and carry him out.
Jesus' love for us was so strong, that not even death could have prevented him from loving us and embracing the cross. Whatever we do, and whatever we give, must be measured against Christ's sacrificial love for us. When understood in this context, giving becomes a pleasure; not a problem.

Palm Sunday, as we focus on Christ's entry into Jerusalem. This event, like all other events recorded in the Scripture, is more than a historical occurrence. It has a special significance that we need to be aware of, if we want the Bible to be a meaningful book for us. Jesus was going "up to Jerusalem", perfectly knowing, what will happen. He was about to face the greatest challenge in His life - trial and crucifixion, and the greatest ttriumph - glorious resurrection. He was determined. The biggest lesson we can learn from this story is that we don’t need to shrink from challenges, for our greatest challenge has a potential to turn out our greatest victory. We dont have to be afraid anything that might happen with us, for, in Truth, there is nothing to be afraid of. Jesus knew this Truth and acted accordingly. Be rooted in Reality of things. Know that you cannot and never will be destroyed, because you are more than flesh and blood. You are a spirit. You are eternal. You are immortal. Your true nature is invincible, for it is God�s nature. Sense knowledge has a tendency to absolutise sufferings. People, who think that they exist in three-dimensional world, are naturally inclined to do all they can to avoid challenges, to surround themselves with walls of self-defense, to protect themselves from all possible sufferings. Little do they know that by fearing physical pain and death, they put themselves into bondage of material world, and entangle themselves with deceptions of a carnal mind.

Eventually, they put a limit to their growth and soul unfoldment, and create the biggest obstacle to their happiness. There is no happiness in fear and dread. Spiritually enlightened persons know that all the crosses are temporal, but resurrection is eternal. They are not afraid to "take up their cross" of challenge, fulfilling God�s plan for their life. They know that the last word always belong to God. They are willing to say with James : "My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, LACKING IN NOTHING. Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him". It was a common custom in many lands in the ancient Near East to cover, in some way, the path of someone thought worthy of the highest honour. The Hebrew Bible reports that Joshua was treated this way, and many of the pre-Christian mystery religions, particularly that of Dionysus, report that their central human-divinity figure entered a major city in this way, usually before their death and resurrection.


Both the Synoptic Gospels and the Gospel of John report that people gave Jesus this form of honour. However, in the synoptics they are only reported as laying their garments and cut rushes on the street, whereas John more specifically mentions palm fronds. The palm branch was a symbol of triumph and of victory, in Jewish tradition, and is treated in other parts of the bible as such (e.g. Leviticus 23:40 and Revelation 7:9). Because of this, the scene of the crowd greeting Jesus by waving palms and carpeting his path with them has given the Christian festival its name. Jesus and Joshua are the same name in Hebrew, and Jesus' parallel to Joshua is usually seen as indicative of Jesus being seen as the Jewish Messiah. Those who see Jesus as a creation from Midrash tend to point to Joshua as the origin of this part of the New Testament narrative, while those who see Jesus as a myth, derived from syncretism of other religions, tend to consider the parallels with figures like Dionysus as more likely the origin. The song that the people are described as singing, Psalm 118, happens to be the benediction song for the passover meal, and hence is seen as foreshadowing Jesus' Passion as a symbolic passover sacrifice. Amongst those who see the events as being a literary invention, this is by design of the authors of the Gospels, while among those who believe the events are historic, this is seen as an example of Biblical prophecy.

The two of the Christ's most wonderful Palm Sunday lessons are : His marvelously courageous self-proclamation, and about the lesson He taught in the withering of the fig tree. Jesus was no fool. He knew Passover week was a time when thousands of Jewish pilgrims from all over the Mediterranean would be coming into Jerusalem. He knew that his thrilling popularity had raised the hackles on the necks of the Scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees, and He knew that His new message of love had infuriated His opposition back then to begin to plot to kill Him. Christ had tried hard to open the eyes of the religious authorities back then to their evil and corruption, but like the prophets of old, His messages (and His Divine love) had fallen on deaf ears. And so, the Lord chose a path of entry into Holy Week that made it clear for all who were there what He proclaimed Himself to be, not only a true prophet for Israel, but also the Messiah, a King.

Jesus' opposition had let it be known that they were intending to kill Him. A prophet, therefore, could and perhaps would have slipped into Jerusalem by night. But Jesus chose another route---entering Jerusalem from the holy hill, the Mt. of Olives, riding upon an ass, the donkey as it is known, in broad daylight. This could only be interpreted as a dramatic act showing two things. First that He saw Himself as a King of the Jews�only kings back then rode into a city riding upon a colt. Also, that He was a King of peace. If His animal of choice were to have been a horse, then His message would have been one of war. Every eye was certainly transfixed upon Him, and Jesus knew the intensity of anger His behavior would stir within those already planning to kill Him. Thus, we learn of the profound courage living in the Lord's heart telling His naysayers that He would bring His message of Divine love and peace into the hotbed of the red-hot anger against Him. There is a similar degree of opposition to the presence and work and spiritual ministry of Jesus Christ going on inside of us at times. Have you ever noticed how oppositional our selfishness can get? How angry and upset it can be at the approach of God's love and truth? If so, it can be calming inside to learn that my own selfishness cannot intimidate our Lord of love and peace. He will come down and enter calmly and confidently into the very heart of our own mental Jerusalem, which may plot to both oppose and destroy Him.

The starkness of Christ's behavior riding in on that donkey paralleled prophets like Jeremiah who had once sent bonds and yokes to Edom, to Moab, to Ammon, to Tyre and to Sidon, revealing the future servitude they would follow if their corruption did not change. Jeremiah also wore a yoke around his neck, emphasizing his point. Christ riding openly, in broad daylight, into Jerusalem was following in the history of many prophets who also wound up resorting to extreme acts of symbolism, again hoping to open the eyes of the blind who seriously needed to see. Christ's message to all back then, as well as to all today, is simply that He must be allowed to be King of Love and Truth in your own mind, or turn another direction for enlightenment. You and I have our own interior Jerusalem the mind which God has given us. If Jesus is your Savior, then you also must allow Him to be King, and let His truth rule triumphantly within your thoughts. It is extremely important that we too welcome the Lord with joy and celebration as He rides courageously and intently into the intense ministry of growth needed within your heart and mind, symbolized by the city of Jerusalem. There is a lot of crucial spiritual growth, healing and learning that must take place within us, symbolized by the final week of awesome ministry, which God in His Divine-Humanity can offer each of us daily.

Think about the messages of hope and new life that the Lord preached in the Temple during Holy Week, how He said things like, Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.Maybe there's a part of your own mind that resists resting deeply in God every day. Think of Him restoring sight to a blind man, and how perhaps there's a wonderful sort of spiritual truth just waiting for you to open your eyes to! Think about how vigorously Christ rebuked the extremely self-centered and stubborn religious authorities, calling them Vipers, whited sepulchers, full of dead men's bones and all corruption! Perhaps there's a stubborn and confused part of your self, which could use a stern and vigorous calling out on the carpet , which only Christ can do. And think of the Lord holding and blessing little children, and how this represents the special, innocent young affections in your heart, just waiting to be led today and every day to the warm touch and Divine love, which only Jesus can offer. Palm Sunday reminds us that the Lord is also your personal King of love in peace, who can ride calmly and courageously into your inner world of your heart and mind, and bring His ministry of growth and inspiration where things had once seemed to be fallen and hopeless. We are invited, too, to wave palm branches of joy and salvation in the air, and shout with glee, Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest! In this wonderful story we read together today, we are reminded of the enthusiasm felt and expressed by the pilgrims of Israel back then. This scene pictures, also, the kind of enthusiasm we too are designed to feel in welcoming the Lord as our King.

I want to end my Palm Sunday message with you today by briefly calling your attention to this fascinating story of Jesus using His Divine power to wither a simple little fig tree. Yet again we learn this morning of the vital importance of understanding spiritual correspondence, learning about the symbolism within the humble fig tree. The Fig is a modest tree, low and spreading. Its branches are ungainly and irregular. It is a tree that bears fruit without visible flowers. Interestingly, its fruit begins to appear before its leaves do. The fruit, however, is wonderful world renowned for its sweetness and nutritional value. Its fruit possesses soothing and healing powers. Leaves correspond to our ability to understand and receive God's light of truth, which are meant to lead us into new or greater forms of service. Flowers correspond to the most delightful of all kinds of thoughts those where we consciously connect our understanding to the Lord (perhaps with a quote from the Word) and know how to use God's truth, applying it directly to ours or another person's life in service of God's love and life. A plant that bears fruit reminds us that what we learn from God is meant to bear good fruit, sweetness that lasts. In comparison to the great Olive Tree, the humble Fig represents a natural degree of sweet kindness and usefulness, not connected to the Lord in a conscious way. As one author has said, the Fig is not so large, nor evergreen like the olive, nor so long-lived, nor are its fruit useful in so many ways. The olive represents the knowledge of the Lord's goodness and of how to bring forth His love in good works.


The fig represents a knowledge of natural kindness (unconnected to a person's higher thoughts of faith in the Lord). It's a more simple degree of goodness, sweet and nourishing, which is important and has its place in ourselves and our world, yet not yet ready to think more deeply about God our Father, who inspires the good works in the first place. The Lord took a moment, when He felt hungry, on Monday morning of the original Holy Week, to use His power to wither a little Fig Tree that had no fruit on its branches; this spiritual act of Christ reveals two bits of truth for us to consider. First, that He was simply using that little tree as an object lesson, showing His disciples of the real spiritual state of Israel at that time. Basic, simple, and random acts of kindness were of little import back then, which leads to spiritual decay and death. And second, that when or if we (people living today) choose a way of life where we are gaining access to simple wisdom on how to serve others but choose to not put it into action, then again spiritual decay is the effect. As Psalm 1 reminds us, blessed are those who delight in the law of God, who meditate upon it day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither. Christ, your Creator, hungers for you to produce simple acts of kindness for your family and others. May your Holy Week continue to intensify, as you welcome your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ as King. Amen.

Finding Peace in Times of Distress

When the hour is dark, when the situation is desperate, when we are humbled and brought very low, we finally begin looking and longing for God’s peace. Trembling, we grope through the darkness, longing to know that all will be well.

When the angel of Jehovah appeared to Gideon (Judges 6), he was crouching in the dark confines of a winepress, threshing wheat in secret to protect it — and himself — from the Midianite invaders. This was not a new way to thresh grain, it was cowardice. Listen to how the angel of the Lord addresses Gideon.

The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, “The LORD is with you, O valiant warrior.” Then Gideon said to him, “O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? …the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” The LORD looked at him and said, “Go in this your strength and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?” (Judges 6:12-14)

At first Gideon questioned this angel of the Lord and complained about his circumstances. How could God really love Israel? How could God really care about Gideon when they were all in such distress, danger, and poverty?

Gideon did not yet know to Whom he was speaking. This angel spoke as Jehovah Himself, and when Gideon finally realized he’d been discussing politics and religion with God — face to face — he was rightfully terrified:

“Alas, O Lord GOD! For now I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face.” The LORD said to him, “Peace to you, do not fear; you shall not die.” Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and named it The LORD is Peace. (Judges 6:22-24)

When do we first encounter the name Jehovah-shalom? Where does God first reveal His name as The Lord is Peace?

In the presence of a man who is desperately afraid… a man who is literally walled in by circumstances… a man who is worried and discouraged and has no peace in his heart.

When Gideon’s eyes were at last opened to see that the Lord had taken a personal interest in his situation, that God was present with him in the midst of all this darkness and fear, he worshiped the Lord by a new name — Jehovah-shalom, The Lord is Peace.

In the days to come, the Lord was going to put Gideon in some very unpeaceful situations. In some ways Gideon would face more stresses and challenges than he had ever faced in his young life. Learning this business of being a “valiant warrior” wasn’t going to be easy.

But no matter what happened from this point on, Gideon could look back to an altar. He could look back at a moment in time when Jehovah-shalom said to him, “Peace to you, do not fear.”

Beloved, do you ever feel as if you’re trying to thresh wheat in a winepress? Surrounded by an enemy who presses in on you and tries to steal every grain of peace and gladness out of your life? Do you ever begin to wonder where your God is in the midst of your hurt and worry?

How rightly Gideon named that altar, The Lord is Peace. True peace cannot be found in any other place than in a right relationship with God.

We cannot base our peace in the circumstances and situations of life.We must not let our peace be centered in another man or woman — no matter how dear they are to us.

We dare not allow peace to depend on sunny skies, a full stomach, a balanced checkbook, a healthy body, or a harmonious home. I believe the Lord sometimes allows situations that strip away the shallow, surface peace on which we have come to depend. He allows us to be distressed and in turmoil and unable to find the answers we need from our husbands, wives, friends, or counselors.

In those times, as with Gideon, we need to discover that God is Jehovah-shalom.

As Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “He Himself is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14). Once you really understand this and worship God as Jehovah-shalom, you can have peace no matter what storms sweep over the horizon.

Jesus told His disciples this very thing in the last few hours before the Cross. These men were in terrible turmoil, and things were about to get much worse. Here is Jesus’ promise:

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” (John 14:27)

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Where do you run when you need peace? Is your first response to go looking for a person or to pick up the phone?

Before you do, Beloved, run into the shelter of His name. When you find Him, you will find peace because He is Peace.

Fear Not My Child

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
I John 4:18
Fear is something that entered the world as a result of the Fall. Before they sinned by eating the forbidden fruit, the Bible says that Adam and Eve walked and talked with God being transparent to the point of nakedness. Yet after the deed was done God came to spend time with them in the cool of the evening only to find them hiding. His inquiries brought out the sad fact that their eyes had been open to things that God did not intend for them to see. At the same time, fear became a factor not only for Adam and Eve but also for all of mankind.

God found them hiding because they were naked and afraid—thus the beginning of a battle that rages in each of our lives at one time or another. Often times we become fearful, afraid and, as a result, we too hide from God or stand paralyzed to the point that the enemy finds us to be easy prey. It is a horrible state to be in and one we have all experienced from time to time.

I have been thinking a great deal about fear with all that is going on in the world today. We have experienced terrorist attacks, bomb scares, and the threat of biological warfare. Many Americans have been shaken to the very core of their beings. People are coming to the Lord, and others are coming back to the Lord. Even the sale of Bibles has risen some 40% since the bombing of the Twin Towers rocked our world. Those are some of the blessings that come from an otherwise devastating occurrence. I see God’s hand at work as always to use even this terrible tragedy that He did not cause but did allow for a purpose: That purpose is to conform us into the image of His Son Jesus, according to Romans 8:28-29. My heart is warmed by many of the stories that have emerged from the rubble, and I find myself thanking God for His faithfulness at all times.

As all of you have, I have had discussions with many people about what is happening in America. Everyone seems to want to talk about what is going on, but I have noticed that many of the people I have talked to, though they are Christians, are extremely fearful. They are bogged down with fear even to the point of becoming ill with worry. Recently I asked God why so many of His people were so afraid. His reply was, "Because they are not all My people. They worship Me with their lips but their hearts are far from Me." That totally blew my mind for a moment, but as I studied the Word the statement became much clearer to me. I would like to share some of my findings with you:

There are several reasons why people who claim to be Children of God are very fearful at this time. Ezekiel 33:31 says, "So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain."

There are many folks attending church regularly who profess salvation but refuse to obey the Word of God—they say the right things but they have impure motives. Many of them have been doing this for so long that they have deceived themselves into believing that these actions make them a Christian…a Child of God. Sadly enough, they are mistaken. God’s kids are known by their love for God and each other; they are also known for purity and obedience. If you are in a state of fear, perhaps it is time for you to examine yourself and see that you truly are a blood-bought, born-again believer for if you find evidence lacking, there is no time like the present to surrender to Him.

Another reason why people who claim to be Children of God are very fearful is because they have not fully accepted the love of God in their hearts. For many reasons, people often have certain areas in their lives that they are not willing to let God help them deal with. That is because they are not confident of God’s love and, as a result, have secret areas that they want left untouched.

II Timothy 1:7 says, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." Also, I John 4:18 tells us that, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love." If you find yourself to be ridden with anxiety and extremely fearful, then you need to go to God and begin accepting His perfect love. It will cast out fear and give you a sound mind.

There is much more that could be said concerning our frailties and the reasons we find ourselves fearful. Sometimes we do not seek God in times of fear so He can deliver us (Psalm 34:4.) At other times, we do not let the Peace of God rule our hearts, and we not thankful for His Blessings and Presence in our lives (Colossians 3:15.) People often live in fear because they are "god" in their lives and eventually experience something that is far outside their realm of control. They never really let Jesus be the Lord of their life. They never learned to walk in the Spirit. Most grievous of all they never developed a relationship with God. They did the things that they were taught when they should have sought the Lord for the truths of His Word.

The good news is that it is not too late. Many are already surrendering themselves to God, and others are coming back to Him. It is my burden and the cry of my heart that the Holy Spirit will convict with an increased intensity. As He examines the heart of all who claim to be a Child of the King, may the bondages of religious spirits be broken and the truth illuminated. People need the Lord. They need Him on Sunday. They need Him on Monday too. In the good times and the bad times, He alone will get people through.

I am so glad I have such an Awesome Heavenly Father. I once lived a life in bondage to fear and anxiety but He sent His Word and healed me. As we talk to people in the days ahead, let’s keep our spiritual antennas up. When we hear fear, let’s do a little investigating. This is to be a great time of harvest…even within the four walls of the church. Don’t miss it! Don’t let others miss it either.

"Fear not my Child, I have redeemed you. I have called you by name…you are MINE." Clasp tightly onto this truth and you will see fear flee.

Beware of Missing God's Plan for Your Life

It is possible for a believer to miss God's perfect will for his life. Saul was chosen by God to be king over Israel, but eventually as a result of his impatience and disobedience, God had to reject him. True, he remained on the throne for some years more, but he had missed God's will for his life. Solomon is another example. He pleased God in these earlier years, but fell away later through marrying heathen women.

Twice in the New Testament we are exhorted to take a warning from the example of the Israelites who perished in the wilderness. God's perfect will for them was that they should enter Canaan. But all except two of them missed God's best through unbelief and disobedience (1 Cor. 10:1-12; Heb.3:7-14). Many believers have similarly missed God's perfect plan for their lives through disobedience and compromise - often in marriage or in the choice of a career.

G Christian Weiss in his book, `The Perfect Will of God', tells of a teacher in a Bible School who told his students one day, "I have lived most of my life on God's second best". God had called him to be a missionary in his younger days, but he had turned aside from that calling as a result of marriage. He then began a selfish business life, working in a bank, with the primary purpose of making money. God continued to speak to him for a number of years, but he refused to yield. One day his little child had a fall from
a chair and died. This drove him to his knees, and after a whole night spent in tears before God, he put his life into God's hands completely. It was too late for him to go to Africa now. That door was closed. He knew that had been God's best for him, but he had missed it. All that he could do was to ask God to put the rest of his life to some use. He became a teacher in a Bible School, but could never forget that this was only God's second-best.

Weiss continues to say, "I have since met numerous people who have borne similar testimony. Usually these testimonies have been bathed, or at least marked, with bitter tears. For while, thank God, He has ways of using even those who have sinned and have gone past that single entrance into the channel of His perfect will, life can never be the way He originally intended it. It is a tragedy to miss the perfect will of God for one's life. Christian, mark well these words and this testimony lest you too miss His
first choice. God, doubtless, will use any life that is submitted to His hands, anywhere along life's pathway, but let us be among those who have sought and surrendered to His will at the outset of life's journey, and thus avoid those painful and shameful detours along the way."

We just cannot live the victorious life or be of maximum use to the Lord, or be a blessing to others in any place we choose. Some may feel that they can choose their own career and their place of residence and then seek to be a witness for the Lord wherever they are. The Lord may in His mercy use such believers in a limited way. But their usefulness in God's vineyard will be only a fraction of what it could have been had they earnestly sought His plan and remained in the center of His perfect will. Stunted spiritual growth and limited fruitfulness are but the consequences of a careless disregard of God's laws.

If you have disobeyed God in some matter, turn to Him in repentance now, before it is too late. It may yet be possible for you, as in Jonah's case, to come back into the mainstream of God's plan for your life.

Each of us has but one life. Blessed is the man who like Paul, can say at the end of it, that he has finished his God-appointed task (2 Tim. 4:7).

"The world and all its passionate desires will one day disappear. But the man who is following God's will is part of the Permanent and cannot die" (1John 2:17-JBP).

"Live life then with a due sense of responsibility, not as men who do not know the meaning and purpose of life, but as those who do. Make the best use of your time, despite all the difficulties of these days. Don't be vague but firmly grasp what you know to be the will of God" (Eph. 5:15-17- JPB).

What are things we can do to remain faithful to God?Acts 2:42

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Think of this verse as a recipe for faithfulness. All of the things stated in the verse are very important. If you leave out an ingredient when baking something, the end result is not what was desired. These disciples devoted themselves to four necessary activities that spiritually fed them and strengthened their faithfulness. Let's examine each one.

The Apostles' Teaching
The apostles' teaching is something that should be important to you. As recorded in John 14-16, Jesus told the apostles the night before His crucifixion that He must go back to heaven and send the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was to teach them all truth and remind them of all that He had said. When we read what the apostles were inspired by the Holy Spirit to write, we are looking at the truth. Two things convinced the early Christians that what the apostles taught was true: the Old Testaments documents (Acts 17:11) and the miraculous signs that accompanied their message (Mark 16:20; Acts 4:29-30; 5:12-16; 8:6; 1 Peter 2:2; Romans 10:17; 2 Peter 1:3)


Fellowship
The second ingredient in the recipe for faithfulness is fellowship (Acts 2:42). Fellowship comes from the Greek word koinonia, which means "lives interwoven together, interdependent on each other." Christians in the first century were of constant encouragement to one another. The same should be true of Christians today, that we build each other up and spur each other on (Hebrews 10:23-25).
Hebrews 10:23-25
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Believers trusted and encouraged each other every day. They had all things in common, meaning they shared their blessings with one another. Their lives were interdependent and interwoven. This is what helped them remain faithful to the Lord.


Breaking of Bread
The third ingredient in this recipe to faithfulness is breaking of bread (Acts 2:42). This term is used to speak both of common meals and the very special meal that Jesus instituted on the night before His death. The context helps us understand what is being talked about in individual verses.
Jesus knew that we would need a constant reminder of the price of our salvation. He took the bread and wine of the Passover (the Jewish feast reminding the Jews of their release from Egyptian bondage) and made it a memorial feast for His disciples to remember Him.
Matthew 26:26-29
While they were eating, Jesus took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."
1 Corinthians 10:16
Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are the one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.
Acts 20:7
On the first day of the week we came together to break bread.
Again we find the Christians meeting on Sunday for the purpose of breaking bread (Lord's Supper). This weekly reminder of Jesus' sacrifice is something that God knew that we would need. This is an important element to our faithfulness.


Prayer
The fourth ingredient in the recipe for faithfulness is prayer (Acts 2:42). The Christians were known as people of prayer. God has opened His throne room and made it accessible to us through Jesus (Hebrews 10:19). Prayer is our communication with God.
Praying for others and knowing others are praying for you is very important to your faithfulness. God wants you to depend on prayer. He says that prayer has great power.
James 5:13-16
Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call on the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
Prayer is not coming to God with a long list of our requests and asking Him to agree with us. Rather, prayer is seeking to understand and submit to God's will. Prayer is our expression of dependence on God. He knows what we need even before we ask (Matthew 6:8), yet He still wants us to open our hearts to Him.
When you pray, you need to have this same attitude. God wants you to make your requests known but at the same time to recognize that He knows what you need better than you do. You must surrender to His will (Isaiah 55:8).

When you pray, address your prayers to the Father and express your praise of Him. Surrender your requests to God by asking His will to be done. Praying for daily needs expresses your constant dependence on Him. Forgiveness of your sins is your greatest need, but His forgiveness of you depends on your willingness to forgive others. Depend on God's guidance and strength to overcome temptation. Satan wants you as his disciple.


Conclusion
The Christian life is like a race, not a sprint, but a marathon. Your faithfulness to the end is vital to your eternal destiny. Seeking godly teachers and strong Christian fellowship is crucial; otherwise, you could be deceived and led away from God. The prayers in your life will draw you closer to God as you meditate on what he has done for you while Breaking the Bread.

You find each of these crucial elements of faithfulness during our Sunday Morning time together. The goal is that while we are together we may encourage one another to live a life of faithfulness to our Alimighty God.

SEARCHING FOR A VESSEL

The Master was searching for a vessel to use;
On the shelf there were many -- which one would He choose?
Take me, cried the gold one, I'm shiny and bright,
I'm of great value and I do things just right.
My beauty and lustre will outshine the rest
And for someone like You, Master, gold would be the best!

The Master passed on with no word at all;
He looked at a silver urn, narrow and tall;
I'll serve You, dear Master, I'll pour out Your wine,
And I'll be at Your table whenever You dine,
My lines are so graceful, my carvings so true,
And my silver will always compliment You.

Unheeding, the Master passed on to the brass,
It was wide mouthed and shallow, and polished like glass.
Here! Here! Cried the vessel, I know I will do,
Place me on Your table for all men to view.

Look at me, called the goblet of crystal so clear,
My transparency shows my contents so clear,
Though fragile am I, I will serve You with pride,
And I'm sure I'll be happy in Your house to abide.

The Master came next to a vessel of wood,
Polished and carved, it solidly stood.
You may use me, dear Master, the wooden bowl said,
But I'd rather You used me for fruit, not for bread!

Then the Master looked down and saw a vessel of clay.
Empty and broken, it helplessly lay.
No hope had the vessel that the Master might choose,
To cleanse and make whole, to fill and to use.

Ah! This is the vessel I've been hoping to find,
I will mend and use it and make it all Mine.

I need not the vessel with pride of its self;
Nor the one who is narrow to sit on the shelf;
Nor the one who is big-mouthed and shallow and loud;
Nor one who displays his contents so proud;
Not the one who thinks he can do all things just right;
But this plain earthy vessel filled with My power and might.

Then gently He lifted the vessel of clay.
Mended and cleansed it and filled it that day.
Spoke to it kindly. There's work you must do,
Just pour out to others as I pour into you.

~ Author Unknown

They That Wait upon the Lord

"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 40:31)

This is one of the best-loved promises of the Bible, for it is easy to grow weary and faint in our mortal bodies, even when doing the work of the Lord. The answer, we are told, is to "wait upon the LORD."

But what does this mean? The Hebrew word (gavah) does not mean "serve," but rather, to "wait for" or "look for." It is translated "waited for" the second time it is used in the Bible, when the dying patriarch Jacob cried out: "I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD" (Genesis 49:18).

The first time it is used, surprisingly, is in connection with the third day of creation, when God said: "Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place" (Genesis 1:9). That is, the all-pervasive waters of the original creation, divided on the second day of creation, now are told to wait patiently, as it were, while God formed the geosphere, the biosphere, and the astrosphere, before dealing again with the waters.

Perhaps the clearest insight into its meaning is its use in the picture of Christ foreshadowed in the 40th Psalm. "I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry" (Psalm 40:1).

"The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary" (Isaiah 40:28), and His gracious promise is that we can "renew our strength" (literally, "exchange our strength," our weakness for His strength!) by "waiting upon Him." We wait patiently for Him, we gather together unto Him, we look for Him, we cry unto Him, we trust Him, and He renews our strength!

THE LORD FAITHFUL, AND HIS WORD TRUE TO THE LAST

"Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed." Joshua 23:14

There is no testimony to the faithfulness of God in His Word so convincing and touching as that of the dying believer. If ever a man is sincere, it is then. If ever the veil is laid aside and the soul appears real and undisguised, be it a saint or a sinner, it is at that solemn moment. No motive now exists for the false, and no cloud can conceal the true; the coin that has passed current with many for genuine is now found to be counterfeit, and that which many regarded as counterfeit--even the possessor himself--proves to be genuine! Nature now appears to be but nature; and grace, vindicating its true character, proves itself grace. The specious hope dies, and the true hope gathers life; the false faith sinks, and the real rises; and the timid believer, who went doubting and trembling all the way to Jordan's brink, plunges boldly into the river, and passes over to the other side, with the paean of triumph breathing sweetly from his lips, "O Death, where is your sting? O Grave, where is your victory?"

Such is the picture which the position of Joshua now presents to our view. He is standing upon the sunny slope, and before the soles of his feet smite the cold waters, he casts a back glance upon all the way the Lord his God had brought him; and in words the most emphatic and impressive, testifies to the divine faithfulness and unchanging love of his covenant God in making good all His great and precious promises He had so graciously given, "Not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord, your God, spoke unto you; all are come to pass."

Such is the divine assurance with which we conclude our daily thoughts. What more precious truth, blended with sweeter melody, could linger upon the ear as we close the volume than this--God's faithfulness in the fulfillment of His Word? Let us look at this truth as confirmed by the experience, first, of the living, and then of the dying believer, for both are God's witnesses.

What is the life of the child of God but a continuous experience of the truth of His Word, and the veracity of His promises? You have, perhaps, been placed in trying circumstances; resources have lessened and demands have increased; your faith has been sharply tried; your spirits depressed; the sky has lowered and the waters have risen; but lo! the Spirit, the Comforter, has guided you to some precious promise which has just met your case. It has touched your heart, moistened your eye, uplifted the pressure, and your whole soul has been, as it were, absorbed in God. And now the harp that hung sad and mute upon the willow is taken down, and thrills with a new song of praise and thanksgiving to the faithfulness of God in the fulfillment of His Word.

Yes, my soul, you can testify to the truth that every sweet invitation and precious promise and loving word of Jesus, upon which He causes your soul to rest in its grief and desolation, has come to pass--not one word has failed. This is a clear proof of God's veracity in the making good His every word of promise. Has He not promised to provide for you? then trust Him. Has He not pledged Himself to guide you? then commit your way to Him. Has He not undertaken to save you? then believe His Word and pray--"Say unto my soul, I am your salvation."

Soon the living witness to the faithfulness of the Lord in His Word will become the dying one. When heart and flesh are failing--when the solemn curtain of eternity is rising--when the eye is darkening, and the pulse is sinking, and earth is receding, and eternity is nearing, and, heaven is opening, oh, then, like Joshua, you shall testify to the unchanging love and faithful word and precious comforts and secure supports of your covenant God and redeeming Savior, as He gently leads you down the valley, radiant with His presence, resounding with your song--up the delectable mountains, home to your Father's House--"Forever with the Lord!"