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Tag: Lord

Slow of Heart to Believe
Are we slow of heart to believe in the bodily resurrection of Christ Jesus?

In an early encounter with two of His disciples (followers), Jesus, our risen Lord, accuses gently:

“O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken …”

– Luke 24:25 KJV

Does this from our Lord resonate in your twenty-first century ears?

A commentator on what Jesus told these two disciples from the Prophets remarked (certainly tongue-in-cheek) that he could never forgive Cleopas for not telling Luke which passages from the Prophets Jesus used. I, too, could only speculate; but would point us to some scriptures we might resist in our Bible reading. It is with more ‘WARNINGS’ to the churches I would like to direct our reluctant eyes ‘slow of heart to believe.’
- Ephesus – you have abandoned the love you had at first…
- Smyrna – Do not fear what you are about to suffer.
- Pergamum – you have some there who… practice sexual immorality.
- Thyatira – teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality…
- Sardis – “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die…
- Philadelphia – I know that you have but little power… I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
- Laodicea – For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
AS WE, would so easily dismiss the cautions of Jesus to the seven churches of Revelation; so, too, the disciples were ‘slow of heart to believe’ all the Prophets had warned God’s disciple nation: Israel (and also Judah).

NOTE: The following scriptures are King James Version:

Isaiah 3:8 For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory.

Jeremiah 2:11 Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.

Hosea 4: Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.

Perhaps, hearing with open ears and seeing scripture with eyes uncovered, you may see in much scripture how the Messiah, the Christ, must suffer and die.

Hear (even after His resurrection) and consider in closing Psalm 49, thinking of the incarnate life of Jesus.

Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:

Both low and high, rich and poor, together.

My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

I will incline mine ear to a parable…

They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;

None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:

(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)

That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption…

But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me…

Luke 23:46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!”

And having said this he breathed his last.
May 8, 2014
Who is it? – 2

Revelation 3:17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

Jesus? At my door?

Of course He knows my works, but shall I let Him in?

How can I stall Him just a little?

(For Jesus has said: “Because you are lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth.)

What can I do? Is it too late? Should I open the door just a little?

The church at Laodicea had an urgent problem. If the risen Jesus Christ is knocking at the door, what must we do to make ourselves ready for this unexpected returning owner of our church?

18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

What shall we do with our smiling ushers with open palms?

What shall we do with the indulgences for the idols?

How will we fund the evangelism of our books?

How will we pay for the grande cathedrals of our Saints?

Revelation 3:6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

Why are you so quick to glorify men and so slow to glorify God?

Why do you not lay down your life for the poor and take up your cross to follow Christ?

Christ Jesus, the Living God! our risen Lord loves His bride the Church.

It is our Lord who stands at the door of lukewarm christians. It is our Lord who knocks at the door of our hardened hearts.

20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock.

If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

Is your Communion with Christ Jesus something He would want to spit out?

Should the Lord knock on the door of your heart and give you words of reproof and discipline, would you repent?

Would you invite Jesus in to eat with you and you with Him?

Luke 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying,

This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Revelation 3: 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.

22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

May 2, 2014
Who Is It?

A knock at the door:

What is your first thought?

‘Who is it?’ your mind rapidly asks. “Who is it?’ your voice may even inquire loudly?

Perhaps you know who to expect and will just open the door to welcome your guest. Or in a more hostile environment you might even ask, ‘Friend or foe?’

The door stands as the remaining barrier between you and the unseen ‘friend or foe,’ the known guest or unknown visitor who has come to meet you face to face in the place where you live.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock,” invites the painting which does grace the walls of many homes and houses of worship.

The friendly guest is none other than the Lord, Jesus.

I have heard a sermon or two using the illustration of Jesus at the door – some based on the actual scripture; other messages from the pulpit using the picture to illustrate other applications of other scriptures.

(Personally, I had forgotten for a moment the source of this scene.) The author, through the Spirit, is not an unexpected guest to the Apostle. The context, perhaps a bit unexpected for this tranquil scene, is the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John.

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John…

3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

Greeting to the Seven Churches

4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia:

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

The Apostle John then describes his vision and prophesy from the Risen Christ Jesus and continues with Christ’s word to each of seven churches.

STOP. Do not be deceived for an instant that this Revelation of Christ Jesus does not apply to you and me (even though addressed to ‘seven churches of Asia’ in the first century).

We are the church – the churches of Christ Jesus in this day. The Revelation is timely to Christ’s Church worldwide (catholic, universal, orthodox, protestant, Greek, Roman, etc.): ALL who are true Christians, faithful to our One Lord, who IS faithful and true.

Behold, it is Christ who knocks at the door.

Look! See the Word of scripture. Listen to the Voice of Jesus.

What is your answer to His word to each of the seven churches? [See Revelation 2-3]

To the Church in Laodicea

[He has kept this Revelation until last for the seven churches.]

14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.

15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot.

Is Jesus (at the door of your heart) a friend?

OR is Jesus, the Amen and final Judge of all souls, a foe?

“I know your works,” says the Lord.

He knows our love. (OR He knows our lack of love.)

He knows our faith or lack of faith.

He knows our service for Him or our lack of fruit for His Kingdom.

Imagine that our risen Lord Jesus comes to your door and confronts you with this:

Would that you were either cold or hot!

16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold,

I will spit you out of my mouth.

To be continued…

May 1, 2014