“Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh." (Matthew 25:13)
Seventy-six years ago today, on December 7, 1941, America was attacked by the Japanese navy in a surprise air operation. We were not warned nor were we ready. Several of our ships were destroyed and sunk. The USS Arizona was sunk killing more than 1,100 soldiers. As a result the United States entered World War Two and vowed never to be caught unprepared again. A popular song in that long ago time was, “Let’s All Remember Pearl Harbor.”
Sometime out in the future, at a time not revealed to man, the Lord Jesus Christ will come back and claim His own. Many people will be as unprepared as the nation was on December 7, 1941. You can be prepared if you will accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. Jesus tells us to watch because we do not know the day nor hour when our Lord shall return.
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
The Church and Intercessory Prayer
“Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.” (Acts 12:5)
Being a Christian is no guarantee that we will have no problems. In fact, being a Christian sometimes invites trouble. James the brother of John had been killed by order of Herod the king. When Herod saw that the killing of this follower of Jesus pleased the Jews, he proceeded to put Peter in prison intending to kill him later.
Peter was in prison but the church was praying for him. The church today would make a difference if we prayed more and played less.
As we look at this passage of scripture there are seven facts about intercessory prayer.
God doesn’t always open the prison doors. We must pray and leave the results up to Him, as Jesus prayed in the Garden, “…not my will but thine be done.”
Being a Christian is no guarantee that we will have no problems. In fact, being a Christian sometimes invites trouble. James the brother of John had been killed by order of Herod the king. When Herod saw that the killing of this follower of Jesus pleased the Jews, he proceeded to put Peter in prison intending to kill him later.
Peter was in prison but the church was praying for him. The church today would make a difference if we prayed more and played less.
As we look at this passage of scripture there are seven facts about intercessory prayer.
- They prayed unceasingly.
- They prayed specifically.
- They involved the entire church.
- They directed their prayer to God.
- They prayed unselfishly for others.
- They failed to pray in faith but God answered. Verses 13-17 tell us of their lack of faith.
- Their intercessory prayer created a stir. (verse 18)
God doesn’t always open the prison doors. We must pray and leave the results up to Him, as Jesus prayed in the Garden, “…not my will but thine be done.”
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
They Had Been with Jesus
“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus.”(Acts 4:13)
Peter and John were giving their testimony before the Jewish Sanhedrin Council. Peter had just declared that salvation was in Jesus only. Our text says the authorities saw the boldness of these two mighty men of God. Further their perception was that they were uneducated and ignorant. Third, the council knew that they had been with Jesus.
When you and I spend time with Jesus reading His Word and hearing and heeding what He says, it will show. Do you ever feel intimidated when you share your testimony with someone? The more time you spend with Him the more boldness He will give.
People may speak of you and me as uneducated buffoons when we worship the Lord and resist the world. But they will know by your life and testimony that you have been with Jesus. How much time do you spend, not working for Him, but worshiping Him?
Peter and John were giving their testimony before the Jewish Sanhedrin Council. Peter had just declared that salvation was in Jesus only. Our text says the authorities saw the boldness of these two mighty men of God. Further their perception was that they were uneducated and ignorant. Third, the council knew that they had been with Jesus.
When you and I spend time with Jesus reading His Word and hearing and heeding what He says, it will show. Do you ever feel intimidated when you share your testimony with someone? The more time you spend with Him the more boldness He will give.
People may speak of you and me as uneducated buffoons when we worship the Lord and resist the world. But they will know by your life and testimony that you have been with Jesus. How much time do you spend, not working for Him, but worshiping Him?
Monday, December 4, 2017
Tell the Good News
“For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20)
When you have good news you want others to know about it. When the doctor told my wife and I that we were going to be parents, we were excited and told everyone we knew. You would have thought that no one else had ever given birth to a child. My wife could barely wait to get into maternity clothes.
In our first church I invited a black pastor and his choir to come and sing. They sang several songs but the one I remember more than fifty years later had these words: “I said I wasn’t gonna tell nobody what the Lord has done for me,” repeated about three times followed by, “but I couldn’t keep it to myself,” repeated about three times. It is the truth. When someone is genuinely saved, all their sins have been washed away in the blood of the Lamb and Jesus is now dwelling within, you just cannot keep it to yourself.
That’s where Peter and John were. They had seen the crucifixion and the empty tomb. They had seen the proofs of the resurrection during the forty days before Jesus ascended back to heaven. They had to tell it. They couldn’t keep it to themselves. This is good news. Don’t keep it to yourself.
When you have good news you want others to know about it. When the doctor told my wife and I that we were going to be parents, we were excited and told everyone we knew. You would have thought that no one else had ever given birth to a child. My wife could barely wait to get into maternity clothes.
In our first church I invited a black pastor and his choir to come and sing. They sang several songs but the one I remember more than fifty years later had these words: “I said I wasn’t gonna tell nobody what the Lord has done for me,” repeated about three times followed by, “but I couldn’t keep it to myself,” repeated about three times. It is the truth. When someone is genuinely saved, all their sins have been washed away in the blood of the Lamb and Jesus is now dwelling within, you just cannot keep it to yourself.
That’s where Peter and John were. They had seen the crucifixion and the empty tomb. They had seen the proofs of the resurrection during the forty days before Jesus ascended back to heaven. They had to tell it. They couldn’t keep it to themselves. This is good news. Don’t keep it to yourself.
Sunday, December 3, 2017
And With His Brothers
“These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with His brethren.” (Acts 1:14)
There is a passage about Jesus’ earthly half brothers, the sons of Mary and Joseph, that they did not believe in Jesus. They grew up in the same home with Jesus and their sisters. It was time for the annual Feast of Tabernacles at Jerusalem. His half brothers dared Him to go to Judea where He had great opposition. (John 7:1-5)
When we read our text for today we find Jesus’ brothers with the one hundred and twenty believers gathered in an upper room for a ten day prayer meeting. Later we find two of His brothers, James and Jude writing two of the epistles we have today. So, what made the difference?
There were a number of things that changed their attitudes about Jesus. First they witnessed Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross. Second, they heard Jesus speak from the cross entrusting Mary, their mother, into the care of John the Apostle. That must have pricked their hearts, realizing they were not worthy to take care of their mother. Third, they knew that Jesus, who was dead, was now alive following His resurrection.
One cannot go to the cross and the empty tomb and remain the same.
There is a passage about Jesus’ earthly half brothers, the sons of Mary and Joseph, that they did not believe in Jesus. They grew up in the same home with Jesus and their sisters. It was time for the annual Feast of Tabernacles at Jerusalem. His half brothers dared Him to go to Judea where He had great opposition. (John 7:1-5)
When we read our text for today we find Jesus’ brothers with the one hundred and twenty believers gathered in an upper room for a ten day prayer meeting. Later we find two of His brothers, James and Jude writing two of the epistles we have today. So, what made the difference?
There were a number of things that changed their attitudes about Jesus. First they witnessed Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross. Second, they heard Jesus speak from the cross entrusting Mary, their mother, into the care of John the Apostle. That must have pricked their hearts, realizing they were not worthy to take care of their mother. Third, they knew that Jesus, who was dead, was now alive following His resurrection.
One cannot go to the cross and the empty tomb and remain the same.
Saturday, December 2, 2017
No Guarantees of a Tomorrow
“Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” (Proverbs 27:1)
The Bible says that today is the day of salvation. You cannot go back and get saved yesterday. Yesterday is in the history books. You cannot count on getting saved tomorrow because tomorrow may not come. Within twenty-four hours from now a person may have a stroke, a fatal automobile accident or a heart attack.
The only time we have is now. I have witnessed to people who said, “I’m not ready right now. I have some things I need to work out. I will get saved later.” That is a terrible chance to take.
Neither can we Christians put off until tomorrow raising our kids in church. We cannot put off witnessing to a lost person until tomorrow.
The Bible says that today is the day of salvation. You cannot go back and get saved yesterday. Yesterday is in the history books. You cannot count on getting saved tomorrow because tomorrow may not come. Within twenty-four hours from now a person may have a stroke, a fatal automobile accident or a heart attack.
The only time we have is now. I have witnessed to people who said, “I’m not ready right now. I have some things I need to work out. I will get saved later.” That is a terrible chance to take.
Neither can we Christians put off until tomorrow raising our kids in church. We cannot put off witnessing to a lost person until tomorrow.
Friday, December 1, 2017
Be Ready
“Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh.” (Matthew 24:44)
As we make preparations for Christmas we have a deadline marked on our calendars when we celebrate the first coming of Jesus in Bethelhem. However, no one knows the time of the second coming of Jesus. It is not marked on your calendar.
Damage is done to the Christian testimony when someone claims to have a new revelation from God concerning the end. We were told in 1988 when three comets aligned just right that Jesus would come at that time. It never happened. Some false prophet made the announcement that Jesus would return this past September 2017. Did it happen?
Jesus never told when His return would take place. He simply said for us to always be ready. We are to live as though He could return today. Don’t look for signs; look for the Son.
As we make preparations for Christmas we have a deadline marked on our calendars when we celebrate the first coming of Jesus in Bethelhem. However, no one knows the time of the second coming of Jesus. It is not marked on your calendar.
Damage is done to the Christian testimony when someone claims to have a new revelation from God concerning the end. We were told in 1988 when three comets aligned just right that Jesus would come at that time. It never happened. Some false prophet made the announcement that Jesus would return this past September 2017. Did it happen?
Jesus never told when His return would take place. He simply said for us to always be ready. We are to live as though He could return today. Don’t look for signs; look for the Son.
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