A Message of Encouragement

The closing chapter of the Gospel of Matthew unfolds for us the wonderful account of that first Easter morning. Let us go back to that morning so long ago. There were two women both of who were named Mary and they came early to the tomb to worship and care for the body of Jesus. For them it was not a happy occasion because they had been at the foot of the cross and witnessed the death of Jesus. Now they were going to the tomb with spices to anoint the body. In fact, far from their minds was the resurrection that Jesus had told of in advance. This is supported by Marks account of that first Easter morning as recorded in Mark 16:3, “Who shall roll away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?” To their surprise, an earthquake, and empty tomb, and an angel greeted them. 

Angels appeared in both the Old and New Testaments, always in connection with a great event. This can be especially observed in the life and ministry of Jesus. An angel appeared to Mary and then to Joseph concerning the birth of Christ. An angel announced the birth of Christ to the shepherds in the field. An angel comforted Jesus following His temptation and again at Gethsemane. Now on this first Easter morning, an angel is again sent as a divine messenger. The angel’s message to the women at the tomb and to the world then and now is that there is hope for everyone’s redemption. The resurrection was the most dramatic point in the history of the world. For up to this point there was no hope for our redemption, no hope at all, until Jesus Christ died for our sins and conquered sin and death.  

The Announcement by the Angel was a Message of Encouragement. Note the words in verse 5 and 6, “Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen as he said.” Jesus said He would raise from the dead, but these women rather than being excited about the great event, were depressed and discouraged because still fresh in their minds were what they had seen at the foot of the cross. They had forgotten what Jesus had told them while He was still alive. It was truly a time of despair as these two women went to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus on that first Easter Sunday. They did not expect to hear a message of a Christ that was alive but they expected to find His lifeless body. They had let the circumstances of the last three days confuse them. We in the same way let the circumstances of this world get us to take our eyes off of Christ and His power.

What this message did was give these confused women and the little band of fearful disciples who were hiding from the authorities, a new hope. They would go from the pits of despair and fear to a renewed courage and victory. What the resurrection did was validate the teachings and sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. All that Jesus said He was, and all the claims He made were now proven true when He rose from the dead. That is why the chief priests did what they did in Matthew 28:11-15. They had to discredit the resurrection of Jesus because it would not only prove that Jesus was the promised Messiah, but they would be shown as the hypocrites that Jesus said they were. 

The whole priestly system and the sacrifices of the temple were no longer needed. This is clearly seen in Matthew 27:51, “And behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from top to bottom” which meant direct access to God. There is no longer any need for a high priest to be the mediator between us and God. We can approach God directly. Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we can now have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that prior to this time was not possible. We can now have Christ living within our hearts.

Let us all have a renewed faith as we hear the message of the angel, “He is not here: for he is risen.” Christ is alive and well in the lives of Christians today. He hears us as we pray. He takes note of our distresses. He supplies the grace we need. As our living Savior, He guides and directs us in every avenue of our life. The power of the resurrected Christ can do what no person or group of persons can do for you. It will make you a new man or women in Christ. Yes the Good News is, Christ Arose! He is the Risen Savior, your Savior, Christ the Lord.

Pastor Ralph

Taking Up Your Cross

We read in Matthew 16:24, “ Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” For many Lent means giving up something that we like for the 40 days leading up to Easter Sunday. For myself it is a time to reflect about the events of the life of Christ and at the same time take a good look at my own personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Lent should be a time that we do more than give up something. It would be a good time to improve some area of our Christian life. Jesus never meant that we had to give up normal comforts and endure self-inflicted pain to overcome sin or gain favor with God. There is no special merit in giving up something for the sake of just giving it up. 

Paul addresses this issue in Colossians 2:20-23. “If you die with Christ to the principles of this world, why, as though you still belong to it, do you submit to its rules: 21 Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch! 22 These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.”

To simply out it, Paul is saying that self-inflicted punishment or pain does not really get to the heart of the sin problem in the lives of people. These are external works. What really needs to happen is for a change to take place on the inside. Outside things are something we wear that does not really affect the inner person. Jesus did not mean self-inflicted punishment when He spoke of denying self. He doesn’t want us to suffer but He does expect us to put Him first in everything. Nothing is to occupy such a place in our lives that it prevents us from giving our Lord and Savior the love, honor, obedience, and service He alone deserves.

Is Jesus Christ the top priority in your life? This needs to be considered during the Lenten Season. Luke 9:23 says essentially the same things as Matthew 16:24 but he adds the word daily. We read, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” 

To deny oneself means to obliterate self as the dominant principal of life and make God truly number one. This is what Christ meant by denying self. During this Lenten Season, let us do more than give up something. Let us take serious what it means to deny self and take up one’s cross and follow Jesus. Lent points the way towards Easter Sunday and the glorious event called the Resurrection. Let us prepare for this wonderful event by growing in our Christian walk with Jesus Christ. 

Pastor Ralph

The True Meaning of Christmas

Christmas has become a very commercialized holiday and for many the true meaning of Christmas has been forgotten. I really enjoy Christmas and I love decorating my home with Christmas decorations. This can be fun but we must not lose sight of the real meaning of Christmas. We are celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. 

Paul states in Galatians 4:4, “But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son.” The Bible shows the timing of God is always according to His perfect plan. The world was ripe for His coming. The political situation had Rome ruling the known world. We had the Greek language as the world language of commerce. A Roman citizen was able to travel through the empire something that had not been possible before or since that time. It was the perfect time to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When we look at the moral and spiritual situation we find a world that needed a spiritual awakening. Judaism had become a legalistic system that was dead spiritually. Other cultures had pagan gods. Society was devoid spiritually.

The birth of Jesus was a humble birth. He was born in a stable for animals in Bethlehem. At the time His birth went unnoticed but His impact would later change the world forever. We read in Galatians 4:5 the purpose of Christ’s coming which was, “to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” As sinners humanity was condemned by the law. But the birth of Christ changed all of that and salvation is now available when we accept Christ into our heart. 

Christ took our condemnation by going to the cross and dying in our place. Verse 5 is very clear about Christ’s purpose, “to redeem.” Paul makes it very clear that Christ’s ultimate purpose was our adoption into the family of God. The sin of Adam and Eve broke our relationship with God. Jesus came to restore that broken relationship and make us part of the body of Christ. If we look at both redemption and adoption we realize that redemption is a legal act that delivers us from sin. This had to happen for the salvation of the world. Never take this for granted because our redemption came as a result of the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Adoption is an act of love. Paul states that Jesus came “that we might receive adoption.” If we look at Roman law we find that adoption meant that the person received the full benefit and status of a natural born child. At our adoption we become sons of God.

Christ came to earth over two thousand years ago. The event we celebrate on Christmas Day was just the beginning. Don’t let the commercialism of what for many is just a holiday take away the true meaning of Christmas. Remember that because of Christ we are now children of God and are heirs of eternal life. That is why Jesus Christ came to earth on that first Christmas Day. 

Pastor Ralph

Let Us Give Thanks

We read in Isaiah 41:10, “fear not, for I am with you,be not dismayed, for I am your God;I will strengthen you, I will help you,I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.”  This verse was written to be an encouragement to the people of Israel, but it also speaks to us today. The Lord is telling us that He will be with us and that we need not be anxious about anything. We are told that the Lord will strengthen and help us and uphold us. Thanksgiving is a time when we should stop and think about al that God has done for us and be truly thankful. As a pastor I have found that many persons spend a lot of time worrying about what will happen next. They look at life on the negative side, never taking the time to look at all they have. It is especially sad when we find this situation among Christian people. 

Our text says, “fear not”. This is something we should all be thankful for. Just think, God is always with us. When a child is scared and they put their arms around one of their parents, they feel safe and secure. This is the way we should feel because God’s is ever present in our life. Christians, we have a lot to be thankful for. Our heavenly Father is always with us no matter where we are and no matter how difficult life may have become. God is holding our hand the same way a loving parent would hold the hand of their child. 

I remember what Jesus said to His disciples as He walked towards them on the water when they thought He was a ghost. We find this in Matthew 14:27. Jesus said to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Yes life get tough and at times we can become afraid, but remember these words of Jesus and be thankful, for He is saying the same thing to us today. We are secure because as Christians we are constantly in God’s presence. 

Our test goes on to say, “be not dismayed, for I am your God.” The trouble today is that millions are unhappy and discontent because they worship the god of temporal pursuits. Their god is possessions, pleasures, power and popularity. But these things soon decay, depreciate, and deteriorate. None of these things can really satisfy. How quickly the temporal things fade away and don’t bring real fulfillment in life. But as Christians we have a lot to be thankful for. We have the living God who can satisfy the longing of our soul. So be thankful and encouraged because all who trust in Christ will have the longing of their heart satisfied. Philippians 4:7 tells us these wonderful words, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” This is the peace the world can never give us. We should all give thanks for God’s satisfying peace. I like what this part of Isaiah 41:10 tells us, “for I am your God.” As Christians we are a chosen people and that is something we should all be thankful for.

How wonderful are the words of the verse 10,  “I will strengthen you, I will help you” I think all of us at one time or another has felt that we are not strong enough to serve the Lord as we would like to. But this verse tells us that the very God of the universe who created all things will strengthen us. The Apostle Paul says it well in II Corinthians 12:9, “And He has said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weakness, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” Paul is saying that God gives us strength at just the time we need it. 

The last part of Isaiah 41:10 tells us, “I will uphold you with my victorious right hand” Yes, the Lord will take us His Children by the hand and guide us, as a loving parent would help their child across a street. You wouldn’t let a child go half way across the street and say you are on your own would you? God would not do that to us. He promises to be at our side all the way. We read in Matthew 28:20, “and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” It’s like the song that says He hasn’t brought us this far to let us go. As a Christian we can say with confidence, all the way my Savior leads me.

This short verse says a lot. It is also a promise from God and what God promises you can count on. We need to take time to thank God for His presence that gives security and His peace that satisfies. As we prepare to celebrate another Thanksgiving Day, let us give thanks for all God has done for us.   

Pastor Ralph