 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:9- 11)
While I sit here drinking in God's created beauty, a nice lake, flowers and trees in full bloom, a squirrel in his playful character, rays of sun caressing beautiful foliage and so on; how could I deny that Father God has so much more for us in the new heavens and new Jerusalem. Sometimes, we have to stop and reflect this fact, that this world is out of course with our God. If you or I decide to play along with it, we will suffer loss, This loss will compromise our relationship to Jesus' companionship. If we stand for God's holiness: rejection will become our traveling companion. We will find ourselves caught between two spiritual worlds,; all in the same natural habitat. Yes, the spirit of holiness, which is the Father, Son and Holy Ghost or the spirit of darkness, the Prince of the air, which is the devil. However, we have a bonafide unbreakable promise! Whether alive or dead, Jesus will so come in like manner to receive all of his unto himself. The dead shall rise first; then the rest will be caught up into the clouds to be with Jesus for ever. What we are really seeing in these Scriptures from acts is a perfect picture of the resurrection and the rapture. Praise the Lord!
0 Comments
 In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice. (Proverb 29:6)
It seems that Father God made all creation to magnify the Scriptures. Take for instance when the sweet melody of a bird is heard. The world seems to be hard and harsh. Demands are always interrupting our sense of peace and values. Then we hear the songbird singing; so sweet and so encouraging. If we stop and pause for a moment, his soft song brings a smile to our face. For that moment, we escape. Though the wings of that songbird may not be in motion, one can find themselves flying away to a peaceful rest in their mind. What has happened? The psalmist writes, If I had wings of a dove, for then I would fly away and be at rest. (Psalm 55:6). Do you and I have the wings of a dove? Yes we do, it is the Spirit of God! And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water; and, lo, the heavens were opened onto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. (Matthew 316) If the simple song of a bird can bring the results of a peaceful rest in our minds, how much more will our song when lifted on the wings of the Holy Ghost! Praise the Lord!  There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord. (Proverbs 21:30)
As we walk through the mountains and valleys of our personal lives with Jesus; time and time again God's counsel seems to be challenged. Oh, that I had wings of a dove, I would fly away and be at rest; sometimes are the only words of comfort that we seem to process. Beloved, what God has said, He has said! When Almighty God said there is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel that can stand against the Lord your God, not only did he mean it, Jesus will back it up. If God be with us, who can be against us? Wait on the Lord. Do not compromise on his precepts and commandments. Do not rob yourself from receiving the blessings God so graciously bestows on his faithful. Therefore, faint not at the times of adversity, reproof or when others challenge Almighty God's counsel. You will surely mount up on Eagles wings, renewing and strengthening your faith. Praise the Lord!  For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. (2 John 1:2)
Can you imagine that, forever! Once again, the Scriptures, the living word of God, expounds on an eternal existence. With all the demands this world puts on us, a guarded position concerning the Holy Ghost must always be our plight. Why? He is the seal, the promise, the ongoing resource of the kingdom of God. In John 14:26 we are enlightened to the fact that the spirit of truth is the Holy Ghost. Jesus never intended for you or I to conduct business in this world without the Spirit of truth. Acts 2:38 is an immovable Scripture. In it we can read, repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, also named the spirit of truth, which dwelleth in us and shall be with us forever. In heaven there are no bills to pay. There will not be any heartaches, sick bodies are loneliness. Neither will there be any work or school schedules to follow. In fact, in heaven you will be know even as you are known.(1 Corinthians 13:12) So, for the truth's sake, never sell yourself out to the baggerly elements of this world; which are temporal. Always carry about the dying of the Lord Jesus in your body; so that the life of the spirit of truth, which will remain with you forever, may have his full course. Praise the Lord!  Nicodemus answered and said unto him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered and said unto him, "Art thou a master of Israel and knowest not these things? If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I told you of heavenly things?" (John 3:9, 10, 12)
Oh yes Jesus! Not like any other man; heavenly originated, earthly manifested, divinely orchestrated, eternally purposed and certainly life-changing. "If I have told you earthly things." Jesus was enlightening all of us to the fact that there are heavenly things and earthly things. These earthly things may not be the ones you or I might think them to be. Jesus was reinforcing with Nicodemus that element of being born again. This is God's operation in the natural or earthly realm to reveal himself; not only as the creator, but a Father. This as the result of the precarious death that Jesus would offer on the cross. This would Usher into our soul the existence of a resurrected life; to be lived in this our natural earthly body. Nicodemus's question was on these lines, "How can these things be?" Perhaps there are some asking similar questions today concerning other teachings Jesus instructed; such as: greater works will ye do, all things are possible, as I was in the world so shall ye be in the world, I ascend to my Father and your father; to my God and your God, ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost has come upon you and so on. These are only some of the earthly things between you and your creator. So, what about heavenly things? How well does the architect of our soul know us! Praise the Lord! |
Dr. Thomas SnyderArchives
January 2019
Categories |
RSS Feed
|
place holder text 888.888.9999
place holder text 888.888.9999 place holder text 888.888.9999 place holder text 888.888.9999 place holder text 888.888.9999 |
place holder text 888.888.9999
place holder text 888.888.9999 place holder text 888.888.9999 place holder text 888.888.9999 place holder text 888.888.9999 |
|