Sunday Service
It's great to see all this wonderful faces here today. Thank you for being here and I hope that you are blessed as we had to take a look at God's word before we do. So, let's ask for the guidance of the spirit is weak, immune Our Father in heaven. We thank you again for allowing us to gather in your house, in to be able to open the scriptures and see what you have to say for our lives. For it is the power of your spirit, in the word of God, that ministers to our hearts and lives. For you're the one that makes the difference. My words are just clanging cymbals apart from your spirit working in each of our hearts and lives including my own. So father we pray for your rich and Powerful blessing. And your guidance for me is I speak that that would speak the words that have been implanted on my heart by you and your spirit. Bless us in this oh Lord Our God in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, Our Savior. Amen. Well, we are going to be looking at a restored life, and if you had no Jesus Christ, as your lord and savior, you are a restored live through the blood of Jesus Christ and his mighty work in the resurrection. We're going to be taking a look at Jesus is worse than the disciples in Luke 24. If you wanted to go there, but what I want to get across to you, before we get started as the whole idea of Truth in life. You know what? When scripture was written, it was assumed to be the power in the word of God. As a matter of fact, the Bible describes that each of the words of this book are inspired by the Holy Spirit. And it is given to us to lead and guide us through this life. So it's incredibly valuable and important and we kind of lost sight of that through the centuries as it let up and then in the 1500s we had a Revival of the importance of scripture in life that we grasp the hold of that and held on to it for a few centuries. And then we had some cracks begin to happen in life with the rise of the ideas of evolution and all those theories that came along with it, there began to be some breaks in the idea of Christians and what life was all about and we began to lose sight of what God's word had to say in regard to these things. And It's continue to build upon those cracks and we have different ideas in this life even supported by the church that are totally against scripture because we lost sight of the truth of what God's word was things like life and I owe in the church saying. Well, abortion isn't such a bad deal, but John says it's murder. And sometimes we say, well, you know, it's what God says, that's what the word is, or we get the idea of relationships, you know? Okay, well homosexuality is okay, you know, we have to live with that. So, it's okay. But the scripture says, no, it's not. Okay, is wrong with the idea of Purity in our lives. You know, are we to live lives of pureness and Holiness. The Bible says yes and sometimes we struggle with them, some of those issues, but God wants us to grasp, a hold of God's word and recognized the power and the strength there because it's not just words on these pages, is God's word that is on the pages of this book. And every one of them is important for us. All scripture is god-breathed that is supported by Jesus's words on the sermon of the mount. You know, that nothing will change about what is written in this book. And we need to hold fast to that and hold on to it. And that is to say, as we get into what Jesus had to say, he wanted the disciples to find real truth. They had a distorted truth before the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but he wanted them to get the whole truth. So we started Luke 24, chapter 24, verse 45. And he says, these simple words, then he opened their minds so that they could understand the scriptures. Okay, he wanted them to understand the truth of God's word. And so, he open their minds to that. What is the power and opening their minds? It is the power of the holy spirit because it is the holy spirit that gives guidance to each of your lives. If you have the spirit within you that spirit guide you as you open his word and begin to read the pages, you need to seek that guidance and that's what Jesus wanted for the disciples to understand that this is the truth. And if anything goes against what God says here, it's a lie. And it's a distortion of what he wanted for our lives. When Jesus was praying, before he went to the Cross, he was in the garden and he was praying for the relationship between himself. And his father was praying for the disciples and he was praying for you. And for me, and one of the things he says, sanctify them by the truth. Your word is truth. You say Jesus is called the word of life, but this Bible is also the word of Truth and it is for you. And for me to understand God, this book is all about God and His desire for you, and for me and what life is all about. And so we need to stand in that word of Truth. In fact, John starts his his gospel by this statement he said in the beginning was the word Jesus Christ and that word was with God and that word was God. Answer when Jesus describes, the word is being truth. He's describing God's truth, God's truth to us and he one of them don't understand that. As he went along, leading up to that great experience that we celebrated through this last week, the celebration of the work of Christ on the cross. And then of course today the resurrection of Jesus Christ and he's been telling the disciples all along back last week, we talked about him telling the disciples, at least three different times. Listen, I'm going up to Jerusalem and when I get there I'm going to be arrested and they're going to make me suffer for this and then they're going to kill me and I but don't worry, I'm going to rise again the third day. Now he mentioned that three different times at least before the disciples that we have recorded and it may have been more, but we have at least three different to recordings about this and Jesus says to them and Luke 2444, just jumping back. One verse, he says he's headed them. This is what I told you while I was still with you, everything must be fulfilled. It is written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms, in other words, all that scripture in the Old Testament, and sometimes we get bored about 8 that's talkin about Jesus Christ. It's not really as boring, as you think, if you recognize what is leading us to. And why it is so important. And so he wanted the disciples to understand and know this. And so that's where he was headed. Now, remember that all scripture again, as I said as inspired and guided by the holy spirit. So when you go and you want to look at the word, it probably would be a wise idea before you head, there to go to God and ask him to truly open your heart by the spirit of God, so that he can truly give you guidance and wisdom and he will, he promises? Hey, you want it? I've got it and I'll give it to you. Just asked me for that guidance. And I'll give you that guidance in 1st Corinthians 210. It says these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit, the holy spirit that is working in us. So he starts off his statements to the disciples. I saying Hey I want to give you a truth. I want you to know what is real. Not what you imagined in your heads as you were going along. I didn't come to be the Conquering King. This time, I came to be the saving king and you needed saving and that's what I've done. I provided the Avenue of salvation for you and so he wanted them to realize that and understand that. Now the next time he comes back, he's not going to come back, is the saving King but the Conquering King and that's what we look forward to as Believers in Jesus Christ. But this is okay. He continues on in Luke 24 vs, 46 and 7. He told them this is what the, what is written, the Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and repentance for the Forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all the nations beginning in Jerusalem, okay? A lot is sad. And it's just those few words, but let's give a little guidance. He's trying to help them understand the scriptures now. Before he came to the disciples here, he spend some time with two men out on the road to Emmaus. We talked about his Sunday school this morning and along that way. He opened up the scriptures and told them what the what the Old Testament had to say about his coming to Earth and his suffering. You see, they were all looking for a great and mighty king, that would come and conquer the Roman Empire and all this. But he was trying to get them to realize that that isn't what the scripture said about his first coming, he was coming to be the Demon Lord and so he says I will suffer just one of the scriptures that can talk about that is found in In the book of Isaiah chapter 53. Now, in other chapters that talks about his his death, if you went back to some 22 written by David, a thousand years before Christ was there a talks about a crucifixion that nobody knew about? At the time, David wrote that description of the crucifixion. So the Bible looks forward to a savior that was going to die in Isaiah 53. Verse 8. It says by oppression and judgment. He was taken away in other words, Jesus came to be taken away to die for you and for me to continuing on in that same verse, it says, yet, he you yet who of his generation protested, Remember, the disciples ran away. Nobody said, no, you can't do that to Christ. You know, there was nobody to stand up in his defense was there. For he was cut off from the land of the living for the transgressions of my people. He was punished. the transgressions of my people if you are here today And you can say I know Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior and I trust that he died on the cross. For me, this verse is about you and I and me because it is speaking. Of those who whom he died for tourist tourist, tourist, tourist, that, but it continues all on. If you read through that wonderful chapter in Isaiah chapter 53, it speaks of all these things, and it finally gets the verse 11 and it says these things after he suffered. Remember, he suffers and dies, can you imagine writing these words and not thinking ahead to the Future? And what is this talking about? This guy who comes and he dies. But after he dies, it says, after he suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied. You mean, he will rise again. And that's exactly what it meant. He will rise again, and that's what we celebrate this day. We celebrate the resurrection of Christ. Why Because you don't want to get to the end of life to die and be stuck in the grave for all eternity.
No, we want a hope that is an eternal hope and that's what he gives us through his resurrection. We realize we have a resurrection and that's what he's looking forward to a nice versus. Okay. So what do we do now? Okay, I am a person who is been given life through Jesus Christ, what am I called, too? And Jesus speaks to this in the second half of the word he gave them. That we are supposed to be Ministers of the gospel of Christ. Can you believe that you and I who call Upon Jesus Christ, as Lord, and Savior are called to be Ministers of the gospel of Christ? And we have that hoping us Romans 10:14. Paul is writing to the people and he's talking about salvation and then he's talking about, well, if you're saved, do you just sit back and just take it easy and he says, no, you don't do that. And he says, how can then can they call on the one whom they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? Preaching to them. you know, as we Have time with the Lord, you know, each and every one of you. If you know, Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, there's a call on your life to not only have been changed because we all will be, we are all change when we come to know Jesus Christ but there is a progression that comes on. Jesus says you've been Sanctified but I want sanctification to occur in your life. But what's that big word mean that big word means that he wants you to become more like the perfect person? Jesus Christ. In other words, he wants you to get rid of the sand in, it is in your life and take on the character of Jesus Christ. In the more you do that, the more you have the understanding of the spirit that is at work in you and that spirit is encouraging, you day by day, when you have the opportunity to profess your faith in Jesus Christ, so that others can hear the wonderful hope that you have and perhaps even make a decision. To turn to Christ themselves. In other words, you're a vessel of God's work in this life, you can change others lives. In fact, that's what Jesus told the disciples when he was getting ready to go up into Glory. He says, okay, I've spent these three to four years with you trying to help you understand who you are in me. And now, I want you to go out and I want you to tell the world. He says, in Matthew 28:19, therefore go and make disciples of all Nations, baptizing to get them in the name of the father, and of the son and of the Holy Spirit and that's what we do. We are there to Proclaim that now you are involved in that Ministry. If you're a member of this church, or at least if if, if you're an attendee of this church you're involved in that Ministry, believe it or not.
Yeah, well, let me tell you about a few ways that you're involved in that Ministry. We have we had our are supporting, at least three different missionary families or groups in this church. And those people are going out and they're reaching the gospel, reaching people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Let me identify them for you teeth. And Sophie are sitting up here in front of this church and they have a Ministry to prisons around this country. They have a booklet that they are willing to send two people to prisons around this country. In that book has been ministering to people in helping people to change their lives for Jesus Christ, you support that Ministry. So you're a part of the ministry that they have. Dan and Shannon Kane. It take the gospel to Ministries in Russia, the Ukraine. To Greece and to Turkey. And you're a part of that Ministry to the people in those countries. Pretty amazing, isn't it? We support Brian Kaiser, and his God's eyes Ministry, where he makes the glasses for people, that can't afford them in different countries, poor countries around the world and in doing, so he has an opportunity to present Jesus Christ to the world. You're involved in that Ministry.
So, you are a part of reaching out to a world. It is in desperate need of knowing Jesus Christ, as Lord and Savior. But that doesn't take away from the idea that you were also called to be involved in that Ministry. You know, God doesn't build you up to just have you sit there like a lump, he builds you up. So that as you have opportunity, you can percent the truth of God's word to well, people that are lost and Bound for hell and you have an opportunity to allow the spirit to use you to redirect their Lots. Jesus talks about that in the end here. He says in that Luke 24 vs, 48 and 9. You said, you are witnesses of these things. I'm going to send you what my father is promise but stay in this city until you have been clothed with power on high. What do you sending them? Is the holy spirit. Holy spirit is getting ready to come in and participate inside people's lives. Now, occasionally in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit came into people and was involved in their work, but that wasn't very commonplace. But Jesus is saying the holy spirit is there to come into each and every believer who calls upon the name of Jesus Christ to be is are their lord and savior. And so we have that Ministry, that Jesus is talking about you saying, hey, the holy spirit is going to come upon you. Well, if you are again a believer in Jesus Christ, if he is your lord and savior, what is happened to you? Is actually the holy spirit is already come upon you, but he hadn't to them yet. And it will happen. He says in John 15:27 before he went to the Cross is telling the disciples and you also must testify. You also must testify You also must testify you know that's hitting God saying a you know if you have opportunity if things just turned out just exactly like you want them to your opportunity to minister know you also must testify that's a command by Jesus. It's not a well you know if it just so happens I know it's a command that we are to be involved in that ministry. That's why he's kept you around so that you are involved in that industry. But it continues on for you have been with me from the beginning and you've been with him from the time. You came to know Jesus Christ. Well, there's three steps of the disciples go through and we can go on those three steps. I was watching the track meet yesterday at the pre-fund Invitational at Marshfield High School the day before. I went to the Coquille Invitational. And in that invitation, you know, if they're starting a race particularly a Sprint race, they'll go Runners, take your marks and instead, and go, okay, a three-point command here. Well, here's Runners. Take your marks for the disciples for you. And I, it's Runners. Take your mark because the spirit is come upon you. But he says, in John 14, 17, the spirit of Truth. Speaking of the spirit, he says the spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him but, you know, him for a lives with you and will be in you another where's the spirit of Truth is coming? So that's get ready. It's time for you to get involved in this course when he went to the Cross, what did they do? They went running away and they didn't. They weren't involved in anything. Why? Well, they didn't have the spirit, I didn't have the power to be able to minister.
But then the set Park Jesus raises from the grave and he ministers to many over 40 day. Jesus ministered on the earth after the resurrection. Think about that. It says in the 1st Corinthians, it actually minister to a group of 500 people at one time. Is that amazing that this guy who is Dad is able to minister to 500 people because he is living is alive, God and Minister. That's the set as of the disciples are getting ready to go. He's speaking with them and acts 1:4 on one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command, do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift. My father promised, would you have heard me speak as the Fat portion. You know, when you and I who do have the spirit of God in us, we are in that set portion and the spirit of God is working in you molding, you bringing about that sanctification process that he wants to have in your lives and he's getting you prepared.
To give a word of Truth to a world in need. Okay well let's go to the go portion. Hear the disciples and about 058 other. People are in this upper room and they're waiting because that's where Jesus told him to wait. So they're up there, they're waiting and all of a sudden the Holy Spirit comes pouring out upon them and it says in flames of fire they come up on their lives and it says it says Xanax to, for all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and they began to speak in other tongues as the spirit enable them. In other words, the Holy Spirit came upon them and they began to speak in a different language but they knew We had opportunity to go Ministry overseas and we got to go to hungry. I don't know if you've ever tried to speak to Hungarian language, but it's one of the most difficult languages in the world to speak. I would have loved to have the Holy Spirit come upon me and allow me to speak it right away. It was a, it was a difficult process when we transition to Greece, which is another one of those difficult languages and you just say, okay, but why doesn't the Spirit come upon me there? But it did at this time and people from all over the world from different parts of Africa and different parts of Europe and Asia juice in it. Come from all of the world to celebrate the Pentecost came there that day and they began to hear their the ministries of God in their own language. Finally, Peter has the opportunity to stand up and preach the word. And like I said, when he preached the word 3,000, people came to know the Lord. Why? Because Peter was such an awesome preacher know. They didn't turn to God because Peter was awesome. They turn to God because the Holy Spirit, instilled in him, the power and the strength to make a difference in others lives, and they came to know Jesus Christ because that's Spirit worked on their hearts. You know, we don't have the power to do anything by ourselves. But you if you're going to be a minister of the word of God to a world around you, you're going to do it because the holy spirit is working in you. And I don't stand before you today to preach this message, by my power or my strength. Because if it if that's the case is going to go right over your heads, you won't understand a thing. Because the spirit isn't working in you because you're not working in me, but if the truly Spirit the spirit is working in me, as I prayed, he would, then this message is for you. To do two things. 1. If you are a person that is saved by Jesus Christ, in his mighty work that he did on the cross that covered your sins. And you've asked him to be your lord and Redeemer, you are saved in the. Holy Spirit is in you, you have the power sitting in you.
God Says by Zakaria not by might nor by power, but by my spirit, you have the power to make a difference in the world. Because that's God in you. It's not because you're so wonderful. It's because God is in. You use that power? But you know what? If you've heard this message a day and you realize, wow, these people have something that I don't have that, I don't know. Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior and I need to know him. It's a chance for you to step up and make a difference and change your life by coming to know Jesus Christ as your lord and savior and give you that Eternal hope of everlasting Glory. Ed glory is having the presence of the Living God in you for all eternity.
The glory Jesus has as the glory. He wants to give you and me. And I am thankful that I look forward to that time when that Glory will be fulfilled when I pass from this life into eternity. You know what a blessing time. That'll be But that's a call to each and everyone of us. And I hope that if you're feeling that urge to meet that, you don't speak to me or to one of the Elders of this church. And find the truth in your own lie. And if you're wondering, you know, I'm a Believer but I'm a timid person. Allow the spirit to work in your heart starts, taking it more and more. Osprey. Our Father in heaven. We thank you for the richness of your presence in the lives of those who call Upon Your Name. Lord, how blessed we are to have that not because we're so good or anything like that because we are just people that are sinful and separated apart from your work. But now we rejoice in your presence. What a joy that is what a glory or father. I know that there are some here who do not know you who are sitting there, and then seat and listening to what's going on. And yet it seems to be passing them by and yet your spirit can touch, even their heart and I pray that you would have still have them a desire. To come forward and be accounted as a minister of the gospel of Christ. Oh Lord, we thank you for your work, may continue on with power and strength in Jesus name. Amen.