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Tag Archives: Jesus Christ

Why We Know About the Return of Christ

06 Mar

The Bible talks a lot about the return of Christ.  Why is that so important to us?

Acts 1:6-8
So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
(NIV)

The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is probably the most talked about subject in all of Christianity.  Unfortunately, many believers miss the point of why God put this teaching in the Scripture.  Too many people want to know about Christ’s return for the wrong reasons.  Some want to know simply to satisfy their curiosity.  Others like sensationalism.  These are not good reasons to study the Word of God.

As Jesus prepares His disciples for His departure into Heaven, He tells the them to go to Jerusalem and wait there for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  When that happens, they will be given all the power that they need to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

As they share this time with the Lord, they ask Him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”  This was a burning question that they had on their minds.  Think of it.  Jesus rose from the dead!  When Jesus was ministering on earth He was able to feed 5,000 people with just a few loaves and fishes.  Just imagine Him leading the army of Israel.  The Romans can’t kill him.  He can supply all the food they need.  He can get money out of a fish’s mouth.  How could they lose with a commander like that?  The disciples must have decided that now is the time to restore the Kingdom of Israel.

Surprisingly, Jesus tells them that they don’t need to know the Father’s timetable.  The most important thing to know is how to be a witness.  We know about the Return of Christ in order to be a WITNESS.  Why?  By knowing the times and seasons, we can better understand the hour in which we are living.  We can better understand the closeness of Christ’s return.  It is this information that will give us the incentive we need to bring others into the kingdom before it’s too late.  That’s why Jesus shares with them the exhortation that they don’t have to worry about the “when”.

You don’t have to be anxious about the day or the hour of His return either.  These things are all in the Father’s hands.  That’s His job.  What you and I need to know is how to be the best witness we can be.  We must major on how to bring God’s glory to the earth while we still have that chance.

 
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Posted by on March 6, 2012 in Return of Christ

 

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The Light – Part 3

29 Feb

Proverbs 31:18
She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
(NIV)

This verse really emphasizes the true purpose of a lamp.  If the sun is shining brightly, and your house has a lot of windows, there is no need for a lamp.  Turning a lamp on at that point is a waste of energy, and you probably wouldn’t even notice that it was on.

The time that a lamp is needed is after the sun goes down.  When you light a lamp in a dark room, there is no hiding it.  As a matter of fact, even a small light can have that effect.  I have been in a hotel room where the tiny red light on the smoke detector has kept me awake for hours!

The darker it gets, the more the light is needed.  That is true in the spirit as well.  We live in a dark society – spiritually speaking.  And it seems to be getting darker and darker with each passing day.  That tells me that there is a reason God has us here in this place, at this time in history.

So many people spend their lifetimes trying to find purpose.  That should be no problem at all for the Christian.  We are to shine the light of Christ wherever we are.  That is our destiny.  To light up the darkness of this world.

Therefore, I need to spend quality time in the presence of the Source of that light.  If I am to adequately reflect Christ, then I need to abide in Him.  Spend time with the Lord today.  Let His joy, strength, and purpose flood your soul.  Then allow His light to spill out to all those around you who need to come into His light.

 
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Posted by on February 29, 2012 in Daily Thoughts

 

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The Light – Part 2

28 Feb

Exodus 27:20
“Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning.”
(NIV)

Hopefully, all believers want to be a light for Christ in this dark world.  What trips us up is the fact that it doesn’t just happen.  Left to myself I would do nothing worthy of the Lord’s glory.

It follows the same principle as in the verse above.  If Israel wanted the lamps in the tabernacle to continue to burn brightly, they had to be tended to.  It was not just a once a week task.  Olives had to be picked and crushed for their oil.  The oil had to be filtered for clarity.  The wicks had to be changed when they had burned down.  The oil level in the lamps needed to be monitored frequently.

In the same way, hearing a sermon and singing some songs once a week is not enough to keep us burning bright for the Lord.  It is a daily task to tend to the needs of our spirits.  We need the solid food of the Word of God.  We need the living water of the presence of God.  We need to be meditating on His Word throughout the day.  These are the things that keep the lamp going.

As I said in my post yesterday, it is not my light that is shining.  But that doesn’t mean I have no part to play.  Unless the lamp is prepared, there will be no place in me for the light of Christ to ignite.  Keep your lamp in good condition.  Give the fire of the Lord a ready home to light up your world.

 
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Posted by on February 28, 2012 in Daily Thoughts

 

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The Light – Part 1

27 Feb

Psalm 18:28
       You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.
(NIV)

“This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.”

Sometimes children’s songs are the most profound.  Notice how the song says I’m gonna let it shine, not I’m gonna make it shine.  Simply put, I can’t be a light apart from Christ.  He is the light of the world.

David said that it is the Lord that kept his lamp burning.  It was God who turned his darkness into light.  I am only a light as I reflect the light of Christ.  As soon as I think it is my goodness lighting up the world around me, I plunge back into darkness.

I need to see myself as the moon.  A great source of light and beauty at night. Yet none of it comes from its own glory.  The moon only reflects the glory of the sun.  In the same way we reflect Christ to the world.

When we take our eyes off of the Lord and begin to think we are so great, it is like a lunar eclipse.  Our flesh starts to cast a shadow over the light.  Depend upon God for your light today.  Then you can be the lamp God intended you to be.

 
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Posted by on February 27, 2012 in Daily Thoughts

 

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Jesus the Traveler

25 Feb

Luke 9:57-58
As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

He had no corporate office.  He had no house in the big city.  He traveled almost the whole time during His ministry.

In some ways it is very difficult to live your life “on the road.”  Jesus did it for three years.  He understood the stress of always having to be on the move.

Spiritually speaking, if we serve the Lord, we can expect to be just like Him – to be constantly on the go.  He does not want us to stagnate, but to press on toward the prize.  To do that we must be always willing to change and to try new things as the Lord continues to call us forward.

This kind of life is forever bringing new challenges across our path.  Each step of the way we are being drawn to deeper commitment, greater devotion, and higher callings.  With each new opportunity for obedience comes a choice – to be satisfied with the old or to move on in Christ to the new.  It is exciting following Jesus – but you have to keep moving.

Take the time today in your prayers to let the Lord know your willingness to move on with Him.  If there is an area of your life where you have been resisting His change, then repent and commit to move on in obedience.

 
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Posted by on February 25, 2012 in Daily Thoughts

 

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An E-mail From Christ

20 Feb

How would you like to receive an e-mail from Jesus, Himself?  Wouldn’t that be awesome?  There are so many hurting people in the world who would desperately love to hear from the Lord.

2 Corinthians 3:3 – You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
(NIV)

The fact is, if you are in Christ, then you are that letter!  The Lord has sent you out into a lost and dying world.  You are to show His care and concern for those around you.  It is clear from His Word that we are not to live for ourselves, but for His glory.

To many people, you are the only “Jesus” they will ever see.  They will not read the Bible or hear the message of salvation in a church.  It is only by your life that they will know that God loves and cares about them.

Because of this fact, it must be by the power of the Holy Spirit.  That is the only way we can fulfill such a challenging call.  To be a letter from Christ to the world!  How amazing is that.  I can think of a hundred more efficient ways that an all-powerful God can get His message across – but He chooses to use us, as imperfect as we are.

Be a part of God’s plan today.  Be that love letter from God to the world around you.

 
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Posted by on February 20, 2012 in Daily Thoughts

 

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