Not all the disciples...
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Object:
Not all the disciples had seen the risen Lord, so they were still frightened of the powers that be. They saw what a horrible end a cross can be and they were not ready yet to endure it. But when Jesus entered he brought peace. To prove who he was to those who have doubts, he showed them his hands and feet with the scars from the cross. At that point they had no doubt and were filled with joy. He was alive! There were very few examples of people being raised from the dead in the Bible. I have only heard one reported in Southeast Asia a few years ago by an eyewitness.
My folks appeared to me in a dream a few days after their deaths. It was so real I still remember it vividly, but they didn't appear to anyone else. It gave me peace. They appeared to be standing hand in hand smiling and telling me that everything was just great.
It can be difficult for some to believe in a God who they can't see or touch. That is what faith is about. We believe because we see him working in ours and in other's lives. It may only convince us but that is all we need.
Jesus is still sending people to do his work. Almost all whom he has sent can remember a time when they felt him working in their lives. It may be impossible to explain to others, but it has convinced us. Sometimes we have a feeling about the pastor or someone else in the congregation, a sense telling us that they have met the Lord. It is an inner feeling that can't be explained, though it is real.
The word for "breath" in the Bible is the same word for "wind" or "Spirit." God breathed the breath of life into Adam it says in Genesis. Adam could not communicate with God before he had that Spirit.
Jesus was in trouble mainly because he forgave sins. It was even worse than healing miracles according to the Jews. They felt that only God could forgive sin. They were right. The healings that often followed were the proof of this. Now that power was given to Jesus' disciples.
How do we know when we have God's Spirit? We can't write a book of instruction for this. It can come in so many different ways, but others can sense when we have that Spirit.
When we receive the bread and wine at the Lord's Supper we may feel God's forgiving Spirit.
God has given us the Holy Spirit so that we also can forgive others. He did not give us the power to get even with them but to forgive them. In Nepal we were winning some to Christ by forgiving those who were trying to hurt us. Forgiveness is a great evangelistic tool.
My folks appeared to me in a dream a few days after their deaths. It was so real I still remember it vividly, but they didn't appear to anyone else. It gave me peace. They appeared to be standing hand in hand smiling and telling me that everything was just great.
It can be difficult for some to believe in a God who they can't see or touch. That is what faith is about. We believe because we see him working in ours and in other's lives. It may only convince us but that is all we need.
Jesus is still sending people to do his work. Almost all whom he has sent can remember a time when they felt him working in their lives. It may be impossible to explain to others, but it has convinced us. Sometimes we have a feeling about the pastor or someone else in the congregation, a sense telling us that they have met the Lord. It is an inner feeling that can't be explained, though it is real.
The word for "breath" in the Bible is the same word for "wind" or "Spirit." God breathed the breath of life into Adam it says in Genesis. Adam could not communicate with God before he had that Spirit.
Jesus was in trouble mainly because he forgave sins. It was even worse than healing miracles according to the Jews. They felt that only God could forgive sin. They were right. The healings that often followed were the proof of this. Now that power was given to Jesus' disciples.
How do we know when we have God's Spirit? We can't write a book of instruction for this. It can come in so many different ways, but others can sense when we have that Spirit.
When we receive the bread and wine at the Lord's Supper we may feel God's forgiving Spirit.
God has given us the Holy Spirit so that we also can forgive others. He did not give us the power to get even with them but to forgive them. In Nepal we were winning some to Christ by forgiving those who were trying to hurt us. Forgiveness is a great evangelistic tool.
