In Acts, Chapter 2, the Apostle Peter told the Jewish people that when they killed Jesus, they killed the promised Messiah. But then Peter gave them the good news that Jesus had been raised from the dead and would therefore be able to bring in the promised Jewish kingdom. To prove his point, Peter quoted a prophecy of King David, saying: You will not leave my soul in the grave, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. (Acts 2:25-27).
Peter knew that David's words in Psalm 16 were not written about David because David's body did see corruption in the grave. As Peter said: Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Therefore, being a prophet . . . he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in the grave, nor did His flesh see corruption. (Acts 2:29-31).
The apostles were greatly encouraged by this prophecy which was given by King David a thousand years before Jesus lived on the earth. Today, the hope of Christian people is based on the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the fulfilled prophecies of the Old Testament still stand as a potent confirmation of our faith. Jesus said, I've pitched my tent in the land of hope (Acts 2:26 The Message), and because Jesus Christ is alive today, we too can pitch our tents in the land of hope.
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1-2 NKJV).
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Sunday, June 05, 2011
Living in Victory
When the nation of Israel made a covenant with the Lord at Mt. Sinai, God told them that He would give them the land of Canaan as their inheritance. But what was God planning to do with the Canaanites who were already living in that land? His plan was to drive the Canaanites out of the land a little bit at a time. God said: And I will send hornets before you, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite from before you. I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land. (Exodus 23:28-30 NKJV).
People often come to God in faith and expect Him to rid them instantly of all their demons, even though those demons have had the opportunity to flourish unhindered over many years. It may be that victory over those demons and the claiming of the promised land will take years of dedicated warfare, but the victory is assured and well worth the effort.
When Joshua was ready to lead the nation of Israel into the Promised Land, God said: No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. (Joshua 1:5-6 NKJV).
Jim Roberts, Peace Church, Indiahoma, OK
http://www.ok-peacechurch.org
People often come to God in faith and expect Him to rid them instantly of all their demons, even though those demons have had the opportunity to flourish unhindered over many years. It may be that victory over those demons and the claiming of the promised land will take years of dedicated warfare, but the victory is assured and well worth the effort.
When Joshua was ready to lead the nation of Israel into the Promised Land, God said: No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. (Joshua 1:5-6 NKJV).
Jim Roberts, Peace Church, Indiahoma, OK
http://www.ok-peacechurch.org
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
FORGIVENESS
In the 1993 movie, Groundhog Day, Bill Murray plays the part of a man who lives the same day over and over again until he learns some important lessons. Day after day he wakes up to exactly the same circumstances as the day before. His hedonistic exploits result in extreme frustration, but even his attempts at suicide cannot deliver him from the day in which he is trapped.
This is a great illustration of what happens when we refuse to forgive. Ephesians, Chapter 4, says: Do not let the sun go down on your wrath. (Ephesians 4:26 NKJV). If we refuse to forgive, the sun will, in a figurative sense, never go down on our wrath.
The scriptures declare that God gets angry when he sees sin and violence, but He never allows His anger to overshadow His love or His forgiveness. Some sins seem truly unforgivable to us, but when Paul encourages us to forgive, he is not talking about justice; he is talking about healing. Every victim of injustice has a right to a period of anger, but every victim also has the opportunity to heal through the love of Jesus Christ.
Therefore, Paul goes on to say: Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32 NKJV).
This is a great illustration of what happens when we refuse to forgive. Ephesians, Chapter 4, says: Do not let the sun go down on your wrath. (Ephesians 4:26 NKJV). If we refuse to forgive, the sun will, in a figurative sense, never go down on our wrath.
The scriptures declare that God gets angry when he sees sin and violence, but He never allows His anger to overshadow His love or His forgiveness. Some sins seem truly unforgivable to us, but when Paul encourages us to forgive, he is not talking about justice; he is talking about healing. Every victim of injustice has a right to a period of anger, but every victim also has the opportunity to heal through the love of Jesus Christ.
Therefore, Paul goes on to say: Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32 NKJV).
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