Spending Days with the Risen Savior

1The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
2Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
3To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
4And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. - Acts 1:1-4

Acts reveals the resurrected Lord spending time with His disciples.  He spent time with them, sharing vital truths with them regarding the kingdom of God.  The Word says that it was forty days that they spent together.
 
Imagine spending a 40-day intensive with Professor Jesus Christ.  Just think about it.  Picture yourself spending 40 days, listening at the feet of Jesus in an intimate setting.  Typically, we pay hundreds of dollars to hear gurus speak on all sorts of topics that may help us with evangelism or Vacation Bible School.  These guys were in the presence of Jesus after He had risen from the grave.
 
You can study under Jesus, too.  Spend some time getting together Him.  Read His Word.  Meditate on the Scriptures.  get into them and get into discussion and dialogue with others about them.
 
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life:
and they are they which testify of me.
- John 5:39

Doing as He Says

Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’

and do not do what I say?

- Luke 6:46 (NIV)

You shall observe My judgments and keep

My ordinances, to walk in them:

I am the LORD your God.
- Leviticus 18:4 (NKJV)



When accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, we also accept Him as Lord.  We embrace His sacrifice for our salvation.  We accept His suffering for our sins.  Yet, we stumble when it comes to His lordship over our lives.
 

In Leviticus 18, God addresses His people through Moses the man of God, affirming His relationship with the people by stating repetitively: I am the LORD your God.  The phrase repeats throughout the divine dialogue between God and His people.  God states it through Moses and establishes His relationship with His people based on His decrees and statutes given in the wilderness.

 

Read Psalm 145:13. It speaks of God's "everlasting kingdom." Nathan shared the words of God with David in 2 Samuel 7.  God promised David: And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever (2 Samuel 7:16, KJV).
 
Let us fast forward to Jesus walking the earth as the Son of David.  He came as the Messiah and the Christ, "the Anointed One." The Savior would reign and rule as Lord forever.  His kingdom would extend beyond Jewish bloodlines like He shared through His prophets.  He came and sacrificed Himself for us.  He kept His promise to redeem us.  He offers the sinner in us all reconciliation.  He lives as our Lord.
 

Look at how we handle Him ruling over us as Lord.  We cry out to Him, expecting Him to offer us healing and help.  Yet, we must regard Him as Lord.  We must serve as His loyal subjects, for He is the King.  Those who serve the King do as He says.  They do each and every act according to His commandments in true submission.

 

If He is your Lord, do as He says.  Leave your ego out of it.  Keep your faith as your focus.  Do just as He says.  He is Lord.  Submit to Him.  Do as He says.

 
He is your Lord.
 
Do what He says for you to do.
 
Do just what the Lord says.

The Message of the Messiah

"Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us." - 1 Corinthians 5:7 

The message of the Messiah comes from Old Testament prophecies.  The biblical books of Joel and Micah contain messianic prophecies.  Psalm 22 is a messianic psalm.  The prophecies of the Old Testament are fulfilled through the promised deliverer born in Bethlehem, the city of David.

Isaiah is probably the one prophet who offers insights into the coming of the Messiah that most Jews clung to during the days of Jesus Christ.  He wrote of the tribes of Israel turning from God as harlots of idolatry.  His chapter on the suffering Savior depicts the man of sorrows who was bruised for our iniquities.

Numerous books explain salvation for the unsaved to understand.  C.H. Spurgeon's personal salvation story in My Conversion offers a great look at entering into Christ's rest.   Max Lucado wrote He Chose Nails and 3:16.  Additionally, Andrrew Murray's Absolute Surrender conveys the message well, too.

True Bread Test

Manna Doesn’t Pass the True Bread Test [John 6:26-58]


Jesus shared that manna doesn’t pass the true bread test because their forefathers ate manna and still died (vv. 31, 49, 58).

The Master fulfills more than manna.

Manna cannot pass the true bread test.

Manna can fill your stomach, but it cannot satisfy and save your soul.

It can keep you alive, but it cannot give you life or eternal life.

Manna can only sustain, but it cannot save you.

There is only one “bread of life” that:

 Comes from heaven (vv. 33, 38, 50-51, 58)

 Does the will of the Father (vv. 38-40)

Gives life to the world (vv. 33, 40, 47, 50-51, 54, 57-58)

This is the bread that passes the true bread test.

 

Stewardship 101

I am convinced that much of how we taught people in previous years transcended beyond the simple, especially in the church. Whatever happened between the old school and new school did a lot to get us away fom the basics of what the Bible teaches us about how we are to live in Christ. We soon discover all of these new terms like atonement, propitiation and reconciliation amid the countless treasures of biblical knowledge available to us. We need to learn about stewardship and that's real. Churches and pastors should teach from the broad spectrum of stewardship rather than Christian giving. Why? Well, let's identify the benefits that outweigh simply teaching about giving. Stewardship is a lifestyle, not a mere act. As stewards, our actions are driven based upon how God has positioned us in this life. We can become better parents, spouses, employees and even employers as we learn more about stewardship. Stewardship teaches us about accountability as well as responsibility. As we share more about wise stewardship, we will reveal more and more about our actions as a response to our relationship with God. Start with Stewardship 101 and we should see a change in the people and their actions. I believe that we can do this. Learn about giving and you can give an offering Sunday by Sunday; learn about stewardship and you can learn to take care of the kingdom business just as you would take care of your own.

Black Business, Kingdom Business

William Washington Browne had been a slave, and became a minister, educator, and businessman. Did everybody get that? He was once a slave, but he escaped from slavery and signed on as a Union officer's servant before serving in the Union Army at fifteen. He was a minister and educator. A former slave? Yes, sir. Yes, ma'am. Finally, he was a businessman. The Bible is ripe with the Lord using businessmen of all sorts such as fishermen, shepherds, and others.

Visit www.sba.gov to learn more about small business success.

Kingdom Business

Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth,

who will entrust the true riches to you?

Luke 16:11 (NASB)

Being in business, I learned early that there are both blessings and benefits to just hanging out a shingle online or otherwise. However, I also learned that I had a unique responsibility to contribute to the kingdom of God because I was a business owner. We tend to call those who own small businesses those who are "in business for themselves," but I really cannot see it that way any longer.

Christian business owners need to do at least two things for the kingdom of God. It is by doing at least these two things that these Christians can make a difference by being in business.

1. Contribute to the Church: I call this a "business tithe." Through this effort, a business owner can add to the kingdom on a consistent basis with a consistent amount. I would go so far as to say make a commitment about the contribution by consecrating yourself in prayer regarding the gift. Even if it is not your home church, commit to giving and supporting the ministry and mission of the church for the kingdom of God.

2. Contribute to the Community: Give back. Don't just give (throwing money at the issues and problems that exist and persist within our communities). Give of yourself. Volunteer on local boards and coalitions to address pressing issues facing the community such as drugs, gang violence, education, and others. Mentor youth. Offer free or discounted services. Lend your expertise.

First Things First (Matthew 6:33)

Seek ye first the kingdom of God . . .- Matthew 6:33 (KJV)

God desires for us to make Him a priority. He's already told us that He's jealous and that we should have no other gods beside Him. He's exhausted His all in trying to redeem us. He extended all of His love to us through Jesus (John 3:16). The issue is that we need be sure to get these things in order as we go through our daily walk. We must make God a priority. We must make first things first.

We must make first things first. It's not because we have to do so. It certainly is not due to Him forcing us and twisting our arm about the the whole matter. It is a matter of the heart. It is about us feeling a deep-rooted desire to be in touch with God ona personal level. That's when we strat on the path towardsmaking God a real priority. In fact, that's the type of spiritual transition that God expects us to make after we've been in touch with Him. We make a change based upon the change that has taken place within me.

Kingdom Worth and Kingdom Work

...the kingdom of God is within you. . .-Luke 17:21 (ASV)

We are born again, born as heirs to His holy kingdom. We find ourselves a part of a family that is a "royal priesthood." Out of this newness of life, we realize that we were once living as the poor pauper but now we live a life of luxury like a prince. We are born through this new birth as part of the kingdom. We discover that we have both kingdom worth and kingdom work. The King Himself has ascribed our worth to us, sharing that we are precious and valuable to Him. The King has withstood the penalty of sin in order to redeem us with His very life and blood. That's how valuable we are to Him.

Yet, He also gives us work. God offers us work, a call to serve Him with gladness before others (Psalm 100:2). He shares that all that He desires to accomplish will not come about except that His harvest have laborers sent forth by the Lord. It is this kingdom work that the Lord grants us as a partnership opportunity with Him. Paul shared that we are "fellow workers" with God. Pray that you discover your kingdom worth and your kingdom work. It is our work that goes along with God's work that accomplish God's will.

Kingdom Value System

Kingdom Value System

Luke 16:10-11

The Lord has a value system that is not like the world system. Jesus referenced "true riches" that exceeded the value of money in the kingdom. I am excited about C28's influence with its Not of This World stickers and t-shirts. This should be more than a slogan or tagline for those who believe the Word. We are called out as the 'ekklesia' or 'ecclesia.' Since we have been called out and set apart, then we must believe that we have been called to live out our faith in a world that is not necessarily receptive to the Lord or the Word.

The church is share the kingdom's value system with believers. The church needs to teach its people the values of the kingdom of God. The people of God need to know their:

• Kingdom worth
• Kingdom work

The more that people understand it in its proper perspective the more that people would understand prosperity and "true riches."

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Through Life Path's Saved2Serve Network and REACH San Diego, several FREE materials are available at www.lulu.com/lifepath/ for download. Also, check for Rev. Bruce Jackson's books like Broken Pieces and Lamentations in the Storm at the same site.