You Can Experience His Resurrection Power: Part One

Ephesians 1: 18 – 23

Jesus sent a shock wave through hell when He arose from the grave. In doing so He calmed the fears of His followers and lit in their hearts the triple candles of hope, glory, and power.

Jesus Christ dramatically demonstrated His authority and power in the moment of His bodily resurrection. Death’s final call He did not obey. He is risen.

Impersonal power is impractical. Applied power has a purpose. All of the power involved in His resurrection is without purpose unless applied in your life. That is precisely the one thing that accounts for the emergence of His young devotees. There is no way to account for the development of the infant church other than the resurrection. The fact the church exists today is a proof of the resurrection. 

A single simple theme ran through His follower’s minds in those days immediately after His crucifixion: “You killed Him, God raised Him, we have seen Him.” That theme transformed their lives and enabled them to triumph. 

Ekklesia is the Greek word for “church.” It appears 144 times in the New Testament. In approximately 100 of these uses it refers to the local church. The word means, “the called out assembly.”

The young church sprouted in the fertile soil of hope, grew in glory, and produced with power. Now consider how that hope, glory, and power relates to you.

THE HOPE OF HIS CALLED  Vs. 18

What is the hope of those He has called?

Calling translates “kleseos” meaning an invitation.

His first calling is to salvation.

He then calls the saved to full and more meaningful service.     

“Hope” means happy anticipation of a future certainty.

There is a basic explanation as to why so many people have lost hope today. In world War II the allied forces chased the German Nazi forces out of France. As they retreated, they changed road signs to confuse the allies. At great expense the allies soon learned the road signs couldn’t be trusted.

The forces of the enemy, that is the devil, have changed spiritual road signs in our world. As a result of following these wrong directions, many have lost hope. “There is a way that seems right to a man, But the end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 14: 12) This truth is so important it is repeated in Proverbs 16: 25.

Listen to the loving Christ call you to Himself. Read such signs of hope as posted in Romans 15: 13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.” (Ephesians 1: 18) 

Hosanna or Crucify Him! It’s Your Choice 3/28/99

Mark 11:1-10

JESUS CHRIST wants to share His eternal victory with you. An event that occurred on His last Sunday in Jerusalem illustrates this.

The sun was rising rapidly. It was beginning to shoot its golden arrows across the horizon to gild the sky and curtain off the dawn that would bring a new day to the history-filled city of Jerusalem. This is the festive season of Passover. The old city was filled with pilgrims, visitors, and travelers who had come from many countries to share in the feast. Secular census records indicate there were at least 2,500,000 people in Jerusalem for the event. An exciting rumor spread through the city: “Jesus Christ is coming!”

Behind Him were His sermons; ahead, His suffering.

Behind Him were His parables; ahead, His passion.

Behind Him were His suppers of fellowship; ahead, His last supper of betrayal.

Behind Him the delights of Galilee; ahead, dark Gethsemane.

Prophecy was now to become practice.

Let’s set the stage and mentally walk through the actual event before applying it.

Jesus had spent the night at the home of friends in Bethany on the opposite side of the Mount of Olives from Jerusalem. The two towns were no more than three miles apart.

Historians tell us that traditionally persons from various regions all had their special area around Jerusalem where they camped for feast days. The south end of the Mount of Olives had for years been the camping grounds of people from Galilee. These were the unsophisticated and unspoiled people of the area where Jesus spent most of His time and performed most of His miracles. They knew Him best. On several occasions they had tried to make Him a king (John 6:15). Mark 12:37 says of them, “The common people heard Him gladly.” The Galileans were “the common people.”

In the city of Jerusalem were the wealthy and superficially religious leaders. Jesus had antagonized them by referring to the “scribes and Pharisees” as “hypocrites” (Matt. 23). Also among them were the Sadducees who had long been plotting His downfall. In order to preserve their wealth and lifestyle, they had consorted with the conquering Romans and compromised their faith. They had much to lose if they displeased their Roman overlords. These man-pleasing priests and scribes plotted their nefarious death scheme. The poorer Galileans had nothing to lose. The city dwellers would do anything to placate the Romans in order to continue to prosper.

To them the issue was “the economy stupid.” In their eyes Jesus was an expendable. Besides, in the eyes of the religious leaders He was a threat to religious tradition, not the Messiah.

Notice that in verse 9 there were two groups. “Those that went before” were persons who had come out of Jerusalem because of their curiosity as a result of all the shouting. “Those who followed” and “cried out” were the Galileans.

Our distance from the event causes us to merge the two crowds into one and assume it was the same people who shouted “Hosanna” that also cried “crucify Him.”

It was the jubilant Galileans who shouted “Hosanna” and the aristocratic, superficially religious ingrates of Jerusalem who wanted to appease the Romans who cried “crucify Him.”

With which crowd do your actions suggest you would have related? Do you daily put Him to an open shame or is your lifestyle a praise of Him, resulting in people praising Him?

I. THE PROVISIONS FOR HIS COMING
A. TIME. Timing is critical to everything we do. Doing the right thing at the right time is important. Don’t grow weary and become discouraged in waiting for God’s timing in your life. His clock is never wrong. He is a clock watcher, as this event illustrates. Therefore, we need not be.

Passover was a celebration commemorating the deliverance of the Jews from Egyptian captivity. It always occurred on the 15th of the Jewish month of Nisan. That’s about mid-April for us. All who lived within 20 miles of Jerusalem were required to attend. Actually, Jews from all over the world gladly gathered for this major happening. As excitement mounts with the approach of our holidays, so an air of exhilaration preceded Passover. Extensive preparation preceded it. Roads were repaired, tombs were whitewashed, and children were rehearsed in the significance of the event. The prophet Daniel foretold when this momentous event would occur. In Daniel 9: 24 – 26 he said it would be 173,880 days until it happened.

Jesus went to Bethany six days before Passover (John 12:1) and entered Jerusalem the next day, April 6, 32. That was precisely 173,880 days from the time of Daniel’s prophecy. In this act, the Father was further validating Jesus as the Messiah.

This may have seemed to have been an impromptu happening, but it had been scheduled in eternity 173,880 days in advance.

He was also dramatizing for us the fact that He keeps His word and always performs on time.

Incidentally, prophecy said Messiah was to come before the destruction of the temple. The temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. With it all the records showing family ancestry perished.

Prophetically it was written Messiah would be a descendent of Abraham (Genesis 12:3), Isaac (Genesis 17:19), and Jacob (Numbers 24: 17). It was written He would be from the Tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10), and heir to the throne of David (Isa. 9:7). Birth records of and title deeds were kept in the temple. When it burned the records were lost. Thereafter there has been no way to validate these family tree coordinates.

Two unanswerable questions confront those who doubt His Messiahship. If He were not the Messiah who was? If He were not, how can anyone since the destruction of the family ancestral trees were destroyed, prove from which tribe they descended?

God the Father wanted God the Son to be well identified on His visit to earth.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of the world famous fictitious detective, Sherlock Holmes, tells this story on himself and his identity. As he tells it he was waiting for a taxi outside the railway station in Paris. An accommodating taxi driver drove up, put his suitcase in and got in himself. As he was about to tell the taxi driver where to go the driver said, “Where can I take you Mr. Doyle?”

Doyle was astounded. He asked the driver if he recognized him by sight. The driver said, “No sir, I have never seen you.”

Puzzled Doyle asked how the driver knew he was Conan Doyle. The driver responded, “This morning’s paper had a story that you were on vacation in Marseilles. This is the taxi-stand where people who return from Marseilles always wait. Your skin color tells me you were on vacation. The ink-spot on your right index finger suggests to me that you are a writer. Your clothing is English, not French. Adding up all those pieces of information, I deduce that you are Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.”

Doyle exclaimed, “This is truly amazing. You are a real-life counter-part to my fictional character, Sherlock Holmes.”
“There is one other thing,” the driver said.
“What’s that?” Doyle asked.
“Your name is on the front of your suitcase.”

Messiah was identified in even greater detail.

B. MATERIALS. In any project it is important to have the right resources, the proper materials.

Jesus needed a couple of donkeys. Centuries earlier the prophet Zechariah (9:9) said Messiah would enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey.

All those along the route He was to ride had learned in infancy and repeated often the prophet. As they beheld Him riding the words would have reverberated in their thoughts:

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9).

Jesus knew where the resources He needed were. One was in the possession of one of His unidentified disciples. He not only had twelve apostles but many disciples, and the owner of the donkey was one. A disciple is a learner or follower. Every Christian is in reality a disciple. Today every true follower of the Lord and supporter of His cause is needed. Our Lord has need of us to pray, study, give guidance, and financially support His cause. These things we should do willingly, eagerly, spontaneously and without thought of acclaim or promotion.

Though He had the authority to command it, He gave the opportunity to refuse its use.

He had the integrity to make His request through His disciples.

He had the honesty and justice to return it.

Are you withholding what the Master needs? Are some of the resources needed by His church being held by you?

Through the ages there have been those who have delighted to serve a meaningful though menial role in His kingdom. He has always had those of us who delight to be the equivalent of His donkey, that is, the means by which He achieves His purpose.

When our beloved Lord needed someone to reform the medieval church from its petrified dignity He chose the rough unpolished son of a miner, Martin Luther. When He needed a donkey to arouse the orthodox church of England He called from behind the bar of the Bell Inn in Gloucester, George Whitfield. When He needed a hard-hitting, free-swinging evangelist at the turn of the century to shatter the formalism engulfing American Christianity He called a drunkard from Cartersville, Georgia named Sam Jones to be His donkey. They would all be proud to be likened to the beast of burden that bore Jesus into Jerusalem that day. When God needed a donkey to pastor this great church He graciously chose a country kid named Nelson Price.

II. THE PURPOSE FOR HIS COMING
A. He came to CLEANSE. In 175 B.C. Anticus Epiphanes conquered Jerusalem. He sacrificed swine on the holy altar and turned the sacred temple into a brothel. Anticus whose other name “Ephiphanes” means “the Manifest God,” not only had an ego problem, he had a spiritual problem. Three years later Judah Maccabee recaptured Jerusalem and physically cleansed the temple. Now Christ came to the temple to cleanse it spiritually from hypocritical defilement. That is what He wants to do in our lives. A spiritual cleansing is a joyous thing inherent with unimaginable blessings.

B. He came to FORGIVE. He was called “king” and “Lord.”

The Greek word for “Lord” is KURIOS. It was used in various ways. In which of these prominent ways is it used by you?

1. It was used as a title of respect like our Southern use of the words “Sir” or “Ma’am.”
2. It was used of one who is in charge. Luke refers to an individual who was the “lord of the vineyard,” meaning He was the master in charge of the vineyard.
3. It was used of deity. The Romans mistakenly thought Caesar was divine and called him Kurios Caesar. Is He the one you respect who has authority over you as your divine God?

C. He came to IDENTIFY with His followers. It was now time to bring to a climax His reason for coming to earth.

III. THE PERCEPTION OF HIS COMING
He who could have ridden the wind rode a donkey. He who could have summonsed the Seraphim chose a donkey.

Scripture says, “All things were created by Him…” Yet, He borrowed a donkey. “The earth is the Lord’s,” but He borrowed a donkey. Involved was – –

A. DONKEY. Jesus didn’t come riding a high spirited war steed or prancing white stallion, but on a colt, an animal associated with peace. They were ridden by judges.

B. CLOAK. Symbolized His kingship.

C. PALMS. Matthew, Mark and John each use a different word for “branches.” Matthew speaks of young branches or shoots. Mark refers to a mass of straw. John speaks of palm branches. Each was right. All three were used. Each writer simply mentions the one that stood out to him. This simply shows there was no collaboration or duplicity in their writing. Each wrote from his own viewpoint. Such was the response of the people when Judah Maccabee liberated the city. This confirmed Christ as Liberator.

D. HOSANNA. Pilgrims today follow Christ’s route from Bethany to Jerusalem. As Christ’s climactic moment arrived, He and His entourage mounted the crest of the Mount of Olives where suddenly the vista of the Holy City bursts into panoramic view.

The Jewish historian Josephus wrote of what He looked upon: “The outward face of the Temple in its front wanted nothing that was likely to surprise either men’s minds or their eyes; for it was covered all over with plates of gold of great weight, and, at the first rising of the sun, reflect back a very fiery splendor, and made those who forced themselves to look upon it to turn away their eyes, just as they would have done at the sun’s own rays.”

The exuberant and impetuous crowd of common people on the Mount of Olives shouted, “Hosanna,” meaning “Let even the angels in the highest heights of heaven cry unto God, save now!” (Matthew. 21:9).

In that shouting crowd were persons who owed Him gratitude for their restored sight, straight limbs, clear sane reasoning, and healed bodies; even one named Lazarus, his life restored from the grave. We like them are indebted to Him.

IV. THE POPULARITY OF HIS COMING
As Jesus descended from the Mount of Olives into the Kedron Valley and started His approach through the Eastern Gate of Jerusalem, there He encountered the hostile crowd intent on appeasing the Romans who would shout “Crucify Him!”

With which crowd do you identify? I don’t mean which in your more spiritual moments do you profess to identify with. In reality with which crowd does your lifestyle more closely identify. Consider the various reactions and mark yours. Some – – –

A. Wanted to use Him. The Zealots wanted Him to be their military liberator.

B. Wanted to ignore Him. The Romans felt superior to this lowly Nazarene whom they sought to ignore.

C. Wanted to obey Him. The owner of the donkey eagerly wanted to obey.

D. Wanted to worship Him. They knew He had resurrected Lazarus (John 12: 17,18).

The eventful morning of His entry into Jerusalem was a Sunday. On this day will you allow Him to enter your heart in triumph? He comes in only by special invitation.

The crowd reaction of that day is not so different from the various responses of today. John Mark in his gospel makes an interesting observation regarding Christ’s immediate followers:

“Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid…” (Mark 10:32).

When Jesus goes before you there is no need to be afraid.

They were not intimidated by their fear, they followed. Courage isn’t not having any fear. It is doing what you know is right in spite of your fear.

Is fear in any form holding you back in your response to Christ? If so, show faith in Him and express courage by reacting with the crowd that shouted “Hosanna.”

Following Christ involves courage, heroism, enthusiasm, power, glory, and peace. Palm Sunday is a living out of Christianity.

Living on the Third Level: Part Two

Colossians 3:17

Considering the three levels of Dr. Lawrence Kohlberg of Harvard let’s look at life on level three where one’s life-style is based on what matters is what is right. 

I. OUR ACTS ARE BASED ON “WHATEVER”  UNIVERSAL OBEDIENCE
If you live on level three you will do whatever you do based on principle.  You won’t change your mind simply because something makes you feel better or others approve.

One of the nation’s most successful football coaches told me the following. He had just won consecutive national Championships and had his most successful recruiting years ever, but he retired prematurely. The reason being he had given an assistant an earlier promise that if he would stay with him five more years he would retire, and make efforts to help the assistant become head coach. Even in light of his success he retired. He quoted Psalm 15: 4 as the reason, “He who swears to his own hurt and does not change.” He gave his word and kept it even in  light of his current success.  If you make a promise – keep it – even if it takes great effort or it hurts you. God places a very high priority on being people of our word.

II.      OUR ATTITUDES SHOULD BE “IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS.”
This reveals our realized oneness.  A team that wears a school’s uniform represents all for which the school stands.  As a Christian you represent all for which Christ stands.  His “name” stands for His character and being.

“In the name” means “in vital relationship with him,” that is:
a. In harmony with His revealed will. 

b. In subjection to His authority.

c. In dependence on His power.

III. OUR ACCLAIM SHOULD BE  “GIVING THANKS TO GOD.”
Are you able to give God thanks for being able to say or do what is contemplated?

Do you live up to the principles you profess?  When you became aware of your need for salvation and you received Christ as Savior, a principle was established.  You invited Christ into your life.

Let’s parallel this with an imaginary situation in which you invite a special guest into your home.  Upon his arrival you say, “I want you to make yourself at home.  My house is your house.  Make yourself comfortable.”

The next day you come home and your guest has out all of your financial records and is going through them. You are outraged, “What are you doing?”, you ask.  “I am looking over your financial records,” is the reply. Incensed you say, “Those are my private records. You shouldn’t be looking at them.”  Then your guest reminds you of your statement, “Make yourself at home. My house is your house…”

Did you really mean it?  Did you really mean it when you said to Jesus that you wanted your life to be His?  Are there areas of your life not being lived according to His principles?

Living on the Third Level : Part One

Colossians 3:17

Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”

Thus, he was telling us there are certain principles by which we should live.

Dr. Lawrence Kohlberg of Harvard has led the way in research in moral education and development.  He found that a healthy mature person develops through three levels of moral thinking.

LEVEL ONE extends from birth to about age ten.  This is the totally self-centered stage.  All issues and choices are viewed in terms of personal physical or pleasurable results.  The rules of the game are:  If I am rewarded as I desire my conduct is good.  If I don’t get what I want then my actions are bad.

There are people who have not grown out of this stage.  Their motto is: “Do your own thing.”  They are totally self-centered egotists.  Interestingly psychologists have concluded there are three motivational factors in life. Which of these is yours?

Self-preservation. Self-gratification. Self-glorification.

Note, in each instance the use of the word “self.” What is in it for me?

LEVEL TWO, Dr. Kohlberg says, begins sometimes between age ten and fourteen.  At this stage persons consider others as well as self.  Choices are based on whether they please others or are they approved by others.  Peer pressure and idols exert an enormous influence.  The status quo becomes important.

There are people of all ages still hung up at this level.  “Everybody is doing it,” becomes the mandate for mediocrity.  “Chicken” is a game such a person can dare to lose even if they lose their life trying to win.

LEVEL THREE begins anytime after the late teens.  At this level one isn’t trying just to please self or others, but what matters is what is right.  Internal convictions become important.  Morality is based on principle not force as in level one or acceptance as in level two. Honesty is now based on values. 

Dr. Kohlberg estimates that only about 20% of adult Americans reach level three when a person chooses to do something because it is right in and of itself.

Living on level three is life’s most satisfying peek.

Job evidenced he lived there when in his hour of extreme pain he revealed he lived by principles when he said, “Yeah, though He slay me yet I will trust Him.”

David revealed he had moved to the third level by saying, “When I am afraid I will trust in Him.”

Joshua gave away his level of living by saying, “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.”

Martin Luther on trail for his life declared: “Here I stand, I can do nought else.”

William Penn spoke of level three when he said, “Right is right though all men be against it, and wrong it wrong though all men be for it.”

Candidly, on what level are you living consistently? Are there times you relapse into levels one or two? Our text defines level three living. “…whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus….”

The Faith Factor: Part Two

Hebrews 11: 1- 3

In the fall of 1940 during World War II, the German Air Force, with an average of 200 planes per raid, bombed London for 57 consecutive nights. Many nights after the raids Prime Minister Winston Churchill could be seen in his suit and derby picking his way through the crowds, encouraging his countrymen.

Following VE Day in 1945, Sir Winston was asked what he had done during those interminable nights of the bombing. He responded that he had retired to his bomb shelter below Piccadilly Square and there before a map of Europe planned the invasion of Germany.

That is faith. He was making plans for victory while the enemy was at once building weapons for a siege by land and reigning terror from the sky. Maybe that is where you are now! You may have been driven into your own bomb shelter by fearful circumstances and doubt, a wonderful time to plan your spiritual victory.

Adversities besieged the Psalmist when he wrote: 

“It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.”  (Psalm 119:71)  Wooo! He continued: “I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are right, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.”  (Psalm 119:75)

That is faith applied where it hurts — when it helps.

Our word substance comes from the Greek “hypostasis.” A scientific term opposite of theory or hypothesis.  It is used to describe a chemical which settles to the bottom in a test tube. It is the primary element in a formula. Thus, faith is seen as primary to all of life. Substance also means “the title deed.”

Faith is the evidence of things to come. Evidence means proof.  Our faith is in the unseen, but not the unknown.  A photon illustrates this. Scientists believe in photons. Yet, they have never seen one. They only exist when traveling at the speed of light, 185,000 miles per second. At that speed they have never been photographed. Though unseen, scientists still believe in photons.

Also, we see the world, but not that of which it is made — atoms.

Evidence translated “elegchos,” a legal term for that which is necessary for conviction. Faith convicts us that God will keep His Word.

This expression carries the first one further.  It is the outward evidence of the inward assurance.  Our life is committed to what the mind believes.

Unbelievers are like a blind man who refuses to believe there is such a thing as a light because he has never seen one.

We live by faith.  We drink water from a faucet, eat in a cafe, place our pay in a bank, fly in a plane, undergo surgery and take medicine by faith.

Man has become the measure of all things. Everything outside man’s experience or understanding is denied. Do you understand how a sheep, cow, pig, and goose can eat grass in the same field and one grows wool, another hair, another bristles, and the other feathers? Do you understand how a brown cow can eat green grass growing out of black soil and give white milk? No! Yet, we believe it.

God’s word is far more assuring and deserving of our faith.