Our Blessed Hope In Rejoicing
“But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first-fruits of them that slept.”
I Corinthians 15:20
No other part of the Gospel produces greater joy than this.
Christ’s resurrection.
Why do we usually only focus upon this Reality once-a-year, Pilgrim, when this is the essence of the Good News? His having lived a sinless life helps us to know He understands what we’re going through (Heb. 4:14-16). And, His being “the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world” (Jn. 1:29, 36), making us right with the Father through His Blood (Rom. 5:6-11; II Cor. 5:21; Heb. 9:14), certainly helps us better understand how we can be cleansed from sin, forgiven and adopted into God’s Family.
But, none of these impacts us more than His Resurrection from the dead!
Only those with a working knowledge of the Bible can appreciate the deep implications of the Incarnation and Christ’s Substitutionary Atonement. And, even the most serious of Bible students cannot fathom truths like the Trinity, God’s Sovereignty, Biblical eschatology, etc.
That’s why the central essence and thrust of our simple, Gospel “Seed-sowing” must be today’s Manna: “But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first-fruits of them that slept.” Everything else pales in comparison.
There’s no doubt Paul’s readers had a Jewish background and were embracers of Jesus as the Promised Messiah. Thus, they had a working knowledge of the Law and the sacrifices. That’s why his describing Jesus as “the First-fruits of them that slept” was so powerful.
The Creation Story
Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Gen 1:2 And the earth was waste and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep: and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Gen 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
Gen 1:5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.
Gen 1:6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
Gen 1:7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
Gen 1:8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.
Gen 1:9 And God said, Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
Gen 1:10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.
Bringing in the Sheaves
“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goes forth and weeps, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
Psalm 126:5-6
Although most of our joy-in-reaping and “sheaves” will not be experienced until we reach our Harvest Home, we can still know (by faith) the Lord of the Harvest is using us here-and-now.
Instant gratification.
That’s what the industrialized world looks for these days, whether it be in fast-food, on-line purchases, text-messaging, calling up a friend on a cell phone, etc. And, if we’re thwarted or ignored in this quest, we either grow frustrated, fume or fret.
Although the context for today’s Manna was Babylonian captivity. . .and the one writing it was evidently one of those who’d languished in a foreign land for 70 years. . .the fact remains they were going home (i.e., back to Jerusalem and their homeland).
Ten Shekels and a Shirt by Paris Reidhead
And today I would like to speak to you from the theme, “Ten Shekels and a Shirt”, as we find it here in Judges Chapter 17. I’ll read the chapter and then I will read a portion also from the 18th to the 19th chapter as the background might be clear in our minds. “And there was a man of Mount Ephraim whose name was Micah.” A little background if you please. There was a situation where the Amorites refused to allow the people of the tribe of Dan to any access to Jerusalem and they crowded them up into Mount Ephraim. It is a sad thing when the people of God allow the world to crowd them into an awkward position. So they were unable to get to Jerusalem and we find, out of this comes the problems that we are about to see.
Judges 17:1- 18:6
And there was a man of Mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah.
And he said unto his mother, “The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it.” And his mother said, “Blessed be thou of the Lord, my son.”
And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, “I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the Lord from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image; now therefore I will restore it unto thee.”
Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image; and they were in the house of Micah.
And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.
In those days, there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
How To Install E-Sword In Ubuntu
Are you using Linux as your Operating System in your computer? If you do, probably you are having some problem in installing a better Bible Software. Well, most of us who cannot afford to buy real good Bible Softwares, we go to E-sword . The problem is, so far, people find it hard to integrate Window based softwares to Linux, in our case Ubuntu.
But no worry, I already have found a way to integrate it. I posted the full instructions in my tech blog. Just click this link:
Web Site Maker University
If you find this very helpful, I would really appreciate if you will post some comments below so that I can improve my services to you. By doing so, I will be able to know some problems that you may encounter and so as making a solution for it.
On Reaping In Joy
“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goes forth and weeps, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
Psalm 126:5-6
Never forget “Weeping may endure for a night—but joy comes in the morning” (Ps. 30:5b).
Seeds sown today do not bear fruit tomorrow. They must first be buried in the soil. And, for a time (depending upon the conditions of climate and soil) they may lie dormant and seemingly void of any life.
Repeatedly digging them up to examine if the seed’s shell is cracking is futile and will possibly injure the seed. Much better is leaving it alone and waiting in hope. And, most likely, the shell will crack and new life in the form of feeler roots and tendrils will appear.
So often, those loved ones or friends for whom we pray so diligently seem oblivious to our pleas. We try to reason with them, but they will not listen. They laugh at us. . .or deride and mock us. . .or worse, ignore and avoid us.
But, still we plead.
We repeatedly knock on Heaven’s Door, begging the Lord to save them or bring them to their senses.
Yet, nothing happens.
Rembering EDSA People Power
The death of Pres. Cory Aquino rekindled the memories of EDSA People Power of 1986. Who can believe that a tiny nation called the Philippines was able to overthrow a dictator that reigned for 20 years without shedding of blood.
This song that was presented in the video below is the theme song of the EDSA People Power. Everytime I hear this song, the more that I fell in love in the Philippines, my country, my home, my blood. As a pastor, I will never cease to pray for it, especially to the politicians to change their mindset. Going to public office is not for living or income generation but for service. Cory Aquino demonstrated this well.
On Sowing In Tears
“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goes forth and weeps, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
Psalm 126:5-6
Tears are not a prerequisite for reaping; however, so often they help soften the soil, allowing the Master to better till it.
Anyone who’s ever worked on a farm or in a garden knows the importance of adequate rainfall. While sunshine is good and helps the crop to grow, moisture is also essential if the plants are to survive. Without it, the ground grows hard and the green leaves begin to grow brown, wilt and die.
Sadly, so many these days have grown quite cold and hard in heart. Many moons have passed since hot tears of contrition and repentance rolled down their cheeks. Perhaps, initially, their tears were many and “their food day and night” (Ps. 42:3a).
President Cory Aquino Dies at 76
President Corazon Aquino was the widow of the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino of the Philippines. He was a fighter of democracy that leads to his assassination in 1983. “Filipinos are worth dying for!” this is Ninoy’s famous statement. Cory lost his most beloved husband in their fight for democracy, yet gained millions of Filipino people as her allies in their fight for freedom.
I was still a young boy when Pres. Cory Aquino came into power in the Philippine government. I still remember when Pres. Cory along with the people of the Philippines overthrew Pres. Ferdinand Marcos through the famous “People Power” of the Philippines.