Thank God, after viewing Sunday’s video sermon, Pastor Brian has not broken down! He spoke of the number “40” being used often in the Bible: we are in the Easter season for 40 days and the resurrected Christ made many appearances to His disciples and others during that time period, before Ascending into heaven as the disciples looked on in amazement, while the angel said, “What are you looking at? It’s time to get to work!” Prior to this we saw our Savior suffering on the cross, taking on all our sins and infirmities into His body, separated from the Father; “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?” (The only time He didn’t call Him Father.) As He was falling, the Father swept in and caught His son by the power expressed in Ephesians 1:18-20; “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms”. The finished work of Jesus has saved us with the forgiveness of all our sins and granted eternal life to all who believe.
Therefore, He is now always with us since delivering the Holy Spirit just 10 days after His Ascension! Omnipresent; simply meaning, always with us everywhere! Sometimes while driving, I think, Jesus knows where everyone is going! Paul in his earthly ministry suffered to preach the gospel. Jesus said to Ananias in Acts 9:15-16; “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.” Paul, himself described his own sufferings in 2 Corinthians 11:24-27; “Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.” Wow! Most of us have not gone through such ordeals just for sharing the One true gospel of Jesus Christ. Yet Jesus was with Paul warning him of impending disasters and actual real presence in Acts 23:11; “The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”
We’re going through interesting times, with the Invisible enemy of the Coronavirus attacking physical bodies and economies around the world. We’ve had to make adjustments in our own lifestyles…but know that Jesus is with us and will take us through whatever lies ahead! It was Paul’s goal to preach the Hope of the Resurrection in Jesus Christ at all costs to himself for his Savior! May those divine appointments be set before us and recognize when to respond. So let us go forth to stand firm with courage and perseverance as Paul did throughout his ministry. May the peace and protection of Jesus Christ be with us all! Amen.
Tom Anderson
04/21/2020