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4/29/2012

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Luke 5:1-11
A very interesting phenomenon unfolds during the calling of His disciples
V-1-3: PETER HEARD the message
Lord Jesus took Simon Peter’s boat to little away from the shore and made it a platform.
Lord taught the people from the boat.
One thing is very clear that Simon heard everything in such a close proximity.
Whatever the Lord taught, Simon understood at least some of it.
V 4-7: PETER SAW a miracle 
What took place before his professional eyes of a fisherman did not make any sense.
Suppressing his professional curiosity, he submits to the Lord’s command.
Peter saw a miracle of huge catch of fish just with one throw of the net.
V 8: PETER KNEW in his heart 
Peter understood that He was standing next to not an ordinary teacher.
He recognizes that he was with a holy man or a prophet some sort.
He also knew in his heart that he is unworthy to stand next to the Lord.
He felt unclean and sinful in the presence of the Lord Jesus.
Instead of asking Him to cleanse him, he wanted to go away from the presence of the Lord.
V 10: PETER BECAME a new person
Peter was in for another professional dilemma.
He is becoming a fisher of men unbelievable.
I am sure peter did not understand what the Lord was saying to him.
Lord Jesus was transforming them into His disciples to carry on with the message of the Gospel after His death.
Such an ordinary sinful fishermen are now became the instruments in the Lord’s hands.
V 11: PETER LEFT everything and followed
Peter and his other friends left everything and followed Him.
They all made a decision to follow the Lord on the basis of what they heard and what they had seen.
Today let us put on shoes of a fisherman.
1. The Lord needs very ordinary people to follow HIM.
Not what we have but what we are as a person.
2. No one is righteous but born sinners and needed the Savior.
So we approached the Savior with a repenting heart and sought forgiveness.
As believers in the Lord, whenever we approach HIS presence our conscious always pricks that we are unworthy and sinful and plead mercy to cleanse us again and again.
We know HIM spiritually, intellectually and experience HIS presence always.
Our intimacy with the Lord begins to change the core of our heart.
We don’t understand many things in our life today.
But following the Lord faithfully enables us to lead a life of worth in HIS eyes.
3. We are also commissioned to become fisher of men.
Every Christian has two professions one for us and one for the Lord.
We carry on HIS work thru our daily lives no matter what we are today.
4. Lastly the fishermen left everything and followed HIM.
Giving up does not mean leaving our jobs, our possessions, our assets, and our homes.
Putting the Lord first in our life is what it means to follow HIM unwaveringly.
So seek HIS kingdom first and the Lord promised to add everything in life.

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Post Title.

4/7/2012

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If we summarize all the 4 Gospel accounts we conclude that the Lord Jesus Christ first appeared to the women after His resurrection.
One thing is evident and very clear that the tomb was empty on the 3rd day.
The angels declared that HE was raised from the dead as the Lord Himself predicted.
As we celebrate the glorious resurrection event of Our Lord Jesus on this Easter morning, we should never lose focus that our faith hinges on this very fact.
The Lord’s resurrection is crucial and fundamental to our Christian faith.
Is there a resurrection of the dead? Yes
Do we have another life after our death? Yes
Is it the re-incarnation we are talking about? No
Everyone born to a woman will be raised from the dead one day.
Everyone will be raised with a new body to face the life after.
Some to eternal heaven and some to eternal hell         
The first category group goes to heaven on the basis of Christ’s resurrection.

When Christ was raised from the dead HE got a glorified body that defied the natural.
He was transformed into a glorified body that still kept HIS physical body.
People could touch HIM, see HIM, talk to HIM and ate with HIM.
We have to remember this that the Lord will always remain with the marks of crucifixion on His glorified body.
So also we will be transformed into a glorified body that can travel into the other world.
The believer in the Lord will live with the risen Lord forever that is what we call heaven.
So it is important for Christian faith that there is an empty tomb without the body of Christ.
The entire Christian faith is based on one incident that is the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
No resurrection, we are fools and people most to be pitied.
The unbeliever will also be transformed into a body that goes into hell to feel the pain and suffering forever.
On this Easter morning, THE RISEN LORD is waiting patiently outside the door of our hearts.
He promises eternal life with HIM for those who accept and believe in His death and resurrection.
He died and shed His blood for our sin and gave us free gift of salvation.
Through His resurrection we have the blessed hope of eternity with HIM.
We believe that He is living today in every believer’s heart.
Christ is risen, He is risen indeed
Happy Easter

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Post Title.

4/1/2012

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Palm Sunday: Mark 11:1-10   
Lord Jesus is traveling towards His death, burial and glorious resurrection. 
His entry in to Jerusalem for the last time completes His work on the earth.
Our road to the eternity begins from there.
One author said this way
“Behind Him were His sermons; ahead, His suffering.
Behind Him were His parables; ahead, His passion.
Behind Him were His suppers of fellowship; ahead, His last supper of betrayal. 
Behind Him the delights of Galilee; ahead dark Gethsemane”
Historians tell us that people from various regions choose a special spot to camp during the Passover festival at Jerusalem.
People from Galilee choose south of Mount of Olives closure to Bethany.
They were from rural country, unsophisticated and faithful followers of the Lord.
They heard HIM; they witnessed HIS miracles and knew HIM the best.
In verse 9 we see two groups of people, those who followed HIM and those who went ahead of HIM.
The elites, the teachers of the Law and the religious leaders were from Jerusalem city.
Lord Jesus was a great threat to this group because of HIS teaching and claims.
These people also were in that celebration along with the other crowd.
Today also we see many people participate in such celebrations or festivities with a different motif and purpose.
So also this group from Jerusalem was there shouting with people who later cried out ‘crucify’ before Pilot.
Lord was fulfilling two prophecies.
1. Daniel 9:24-26
2. Zechariah 9:9
Daniel’s prophecy deals with the Anointed One going into Jerusalem before the destruction of the Temple there.
Zechariah prophesied that “Your KING” coming to you riding on a donkey.
Lord on a donkey explains two things: He is a KING and the other He was entering Jerusalem in peace.
Our Lord was telling the world that HE is a King but comes in peace.
Mathew crowds declare that the Lord belongs to David’s family
Mark crowds thought Lord Jesus was establishing David’s throne.
Luke’s crowd did not shout Hosanna but all tied together declaring HIM as KING from God who brings peace and glory in heaven
John’s crowds declare Lord Jesus was the King of Israel.
All the Gospel writers echoed one theme that Lord Jesus Christ is a KING.
We know that He is KING of KINGS and LORD of LORDS and rule every heart that accepted HIM as Lord and Savior.
Palm Sunday is also called the Triumphal entry but the real triumphal entry occurs when a person opens his/her heart to the Lord Jesus and accepts Him as Lord and Savior.
Those who followed HIM and shouted ‘HOSANNA’ are those who knew HIM personally.
Let us shout with joy and celebrate this day saying Hosanna to the KING.


 
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    Author

    Pastor John Sesham
    Abundant Grace Community Church, Hayward.

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