Author: evangelist_breland

Luke 24:1-12   

There were certain women disciples of Jesus of whom He had healed of evil spirits and sicknesses and cast out demons, and there were many others who provided for Him from their possessions (8:2-3). They came with Jesus from Galilee; they witnessed His crucifixion (23:44-49) and burial (23:50-55). They went back home, prepared spices and ointments for His body, and observed the Sabbath day as commanded.

Luke 24 verses 1-8 show the faithfulness of these women even though they were perplexed because they did not find the Lord Jesus’ body. They, and certain other women, came to the sepulcher the first day of the week, very early in the morning, bringing spices which they had prepared to finish the anointing of the Lord Jesus’ body. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb; they went in, and found it empty. While they were pondering about the situation, they received an angelic testimony of Jesus’ resurrection. The angels asked them, “Why are you looking for the living among the dead” (v.5)? “He is not here, but is risen (v.6)!” They were challenged to recall that when He was still in Galilee, the Lord Jesus had prophesied to them that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and on the third day rise from death to life. How wonderful it is to remember the Master’s words in the time of uncertainty!

Recalling His words (v.8), these faithful women: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary, the mother of James, and the other women with them, left the tomb and delivered the resurrection message. It was to the apostles. How did the apostles respond?  The women’s words seemed like idle tales to the apostles. “The Gr. leros, means silly nonsense.” It’s a medical term for delirium and used only here in this context. They did not believe the women. They thought them to be delirious. Peter, however, heard the message. He arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened (v.12). Today is a great day for you to believe the resurrection message – Jesus is alive!

Romans 8:9-11

Paul declares that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Romans 8:1). In the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:11-14) the Pharisee prayed within himself, glorifying himself. On the other hand, the tax collector stood way off, refusing to look up to heaven, hit his chest, and said, “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13). He prayed openly to God, and Jesus declared that the tax collector was justified rather than the Pharisee. When we humble ourselves and accept the Lord, the Spirit of God will come to live in us. His Spirit of righteousness empowers us to live as children of God.

Romans chapter 8:9 says that “we are not living in the flesh but in the Spirit. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.” Those of us who live in the Spirit “are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of our God” (1Corinthians 6:11). “If Christ lives in you, though your body is  dead because of sin, your spirit is alive because of righteousness” (v.10). We have heard the phrase “Sin is a mean thing,” or we may even have used it. Why do we use that expression? Sin is a killer, and it kills our physical body. The Spirit provides righteousness, giving life to the soul of the believer. “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead lives in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead will also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that lives in you”(v.11). How blessed we are to have the Holy Spirit who sanctified our souls to live in us that we might live eternally! For that same Spirit that resurrected Jesus from the dead in three days, is that same Spirit that will quicken our mortal bodies by his Spirit that lives in us.

Acts 12:12-17

How many of us have prayed for a situation to change, and when it did, we were astonished? Your prayer could have been personal, an intercessory prayer on behalf of a fellow brother or sister in Christ, for an end to a global pandemic such as COVID-19, or other.  What is most comforting about prayer is that it is our direct line of communication with God through His Son Jesus Christ. Believers have always prayed. James declares that the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective (James 5:16b, NIV). If the righteous didn’t pray, this world would be more chaotic than ever.

In the early days of the church at Antioch, King Herod had Peter arrested, and the church prayed for their brother without ceasing (v.5). When their prayer was answered, the church responded in astonishment. We dare not judge them; it happened then, and it happens now.

Peter was bound with two chains, asleep between two soldiers, and two others guarded the door when he was delivered from the shackles of chains by an angel of God. The angel led him safely outside and left him. When he came to himself, he went to the house where many believers had been gathered in prayer all night (v.12). Peter knocked at the door, Rhoda answered (v.13), and recognizing his voice, she ran off joyfully without opening the door to tell the others their prayer had been answered; Peter was at the door (v.14). They didn’t believe their prayer had been answered. Rhoda kept insisting that he was at the door (v.15), and Peter kept knocking. How astonished the believers were when they opened the door and saw him (v.16)! Let’s not forget that somebody prayed for us. So the next time we pray let’s believe that He is a prayer-answering God. Give Him glory!

 

Acts 12:12-17

The Blessed Will Receive the Crown of Life

James 1:12 (AMP)

Because we are children of God, we will be tested. We will experience trials and tribulations of all kinds; therefore, James says that we are to count it all joy (v.2) because we know that the trying of our faith works patience (v.3), and patience works perfection (v.4). Someone might ask, “Why should I suffer with joy? That’s an unfair expectation of me. Looking from a fleshy point of view, we don’t want trials; however, being that we are children of God “we are His heirs and joint heirs with Christ, sharing His spiritual blessing and inheritance; we also share in His suffering so that we may also share in His glory” (Romans 8:17, Amp Bible).

We expect to receive the crown of life. My nephew Nathan was a high school and college track star. When he ran, he understood that every runner tried their very best to win, but only one would win and receive the prize. Nathan never won a competition because he wished it. He prepared by disciplining himself and practicing self-control in all things. Paul says that every runner goes through this in order to win a crown that won’t last, but believers do it to receive an everlasting crown when Jesus comes back. So James declares that the one who is “steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted” is “blessed.” Because when the child of God has passed the test and been approved, he will receive the [victor’s] crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Do you love the Lord? If so, when He comes back, you will receive the crown of life.

Numbers 27:1-11

God does all things in His own time and way to accomplish His purposes. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. ⁹ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

The old generation of Israelites had mostly died out, and now the new generation was being prepared to enter the long-awaited promised-land. God ordered Moses and Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, to take a census of the entire congregation of Israel twenty years old and up that were able to go to war (26:1-2).

Five sisters, who clearly exemplified faith and courage: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah, daughters of a deceased man named  Zelophehad who had no sons, stood together before Moses, other leaders, and all the congregation of Israel and made their request known (vv.1-3). The old adage says “together we stand; divided we fall.” Scripture says “ye have not, because ye ask not.” These sisters asked, “Why should the name of our father be removed from among his family because he had no son” (v.4)? So “Moses brought their case before the Lord” (v.5). The first step to accomplishing anything is to take it to the Lord; God does answer prayers. Their request for the possession of their father’s inheritance was unchallenged; they were granted the desires of their heart. In every generation God has used women to impact change against all odds.