Posted by: pastorapbell | January 27, 2011

as we leave all our previously complicated lives behind

The concluding chapter of John’s gospel highlights the risen saviour eating and drinking with the disciples who by now had gone back to doing what they were used to (John 21:1-8). Catching fish was their business and fish and bread was their staple diet. However when Jesus came by he once again demonstrated to them his authority over the elements by directing them to where the fish were and invited them to leave the natural fish behind to become fishers of men. This is the hardest thing to do for any individual, leaving your gift at the altar and allowing it to be used by God for God. Peter was not aware that the skills he had harnessed as a fisherman could be used by God to build his kingdom.

Today whatever skills you have or whatever gifting you have been given, allow Jesus to direct you as how to use it and how to deploy it for the building up of his kingdom. Like Peter, Jesus will ask us where our priorities are, and get us to reorder our world. Once this is done we will be able to fulfil the plans and purpose he intended for us in the first place.

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Posted by: pastorapbell | January 26, 2011

as we increase our faith, little by little

believe and you will see

Faith is believing without seeing (John 20:19-31). It is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence o f things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). As we continue to hear evidence from John about the divinity of Jesus, today we learn that, not only was Jesus brutally murdered, and that he rose from the dead. He also appeared to his followers in a glorified new death-proof body. We also read that like many of our contemporaries today, Thomas questioned the validity of the evidence presented to him. This is a reasonable stance, if we were to apply reason to the situation. However, the life and times of Jesus was not predicated on reason but on faith. “Thomas, if only you could believe without seeing, you would be blessed.” And “blessed are those who have not seen yet come to believe” (Jesus ~AD34). Today my prayer is this, “Lord open my eyes so that I may see. Remove the scales from my eyes and cure my spiritual blindness.” Help me to go beyond reason and increase my faith in you. Let us exclaim like Thomas when we encounter the risen saviour: “My Lord and MY God, that’s who you are JESUS!”

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Posted by: pastorapbell | January 25, 2011

as we weep with Mary, but not for long!

When Mary arrived at the tomb of Jesus and did not see his body her natural reaction was to cry believing that those people who had wanted him dead now wanted to mutilate his body to stop him doing anything beyond the grave. This was akin to what the Royalist did to Oliver Cromwell who was beheaded posthumously in 1661 after they came back to power. It would appear that even when someone is dead they still pose a threat to those who survive them.  For Mary this was a real crisis, not only was the person who drove seven demons from her dead, his body was stolen to be mutilated by his enemies. Fortunately for her and for us, he died but did not stay dead. This was announced to her by two angels, viz, who are you seeking, why are you crying? they asked, (John 20:15). “They have taken my Lord, tell me where he is and I will go and get him”.  In Mary’s distraught condition she wanted to be with the corpse of Jesus, little did she know that Jesus was the one asking her questions. When the scales were lifted from her eyes, she saw and recognised that is was Jesus who was consoling her.  Today in your time of unbelief, anxiety and grief, when there seems to be no one to comfort you, just call out and ask Jesus to come into your situation by his spirit to bring comfort and peace.

It is OK to cry but remember that although weeping last for the whole night, Joy will come in the morning (Psalm 30:5)! Read and meditate on John 20:11-18.

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Posted by: pastorapbell | January 24, 2011

as we hear what they saw

Whilst Jesus was busy getting the keys of death and hell, his followers were in shock and denial. Even though he had been telling them for the previous months that he was going, that he would be killed and that this was the culmination of his mission, they still did not get it. After the Sabbath was over one of the three Mary’s, Magdalene, went to anoint and inspect the dead body of Jesus. To her surprise the stone was rolled away, the body was gone and the plan of God was now complete. He is alive and he reigns forever more. Simon saw it John reported it and hundreds of people verified it. Today Jesus is alive; his will is that all who follow him should be filled with his Spirit to accomplish all that God has called them to be (Ephesians 5:17).

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Posted by: pastorapbell | January 22, 2011

as see the link between here and there

While Jesus hung on the cross, Satan, the enemy of all righteousness, thought that he had finally won in fulfilment of Genesis 3:15. Here on the cross was the son of God suspended between heaven and earth and placed between two thieves. This was indeed an unholy trinity, with Jesus being first among thieves. One of the thieves recognising that Jesus was innocent asked for forgiveness and received it immediately, whilst the other condemned himself with his mouth (Luke 23:32ff). The devil had finally won or so it seemed, however we know that there was a twist to the story and that Jesus, during that period of separation from the Father, retrieved the keys of death and hell from Satan and redeemed humanity from eternal punishment. The gulf between heaven and hell was now bridged on the vertical plane, whilst the distance between cultures on the horizontal plane was closed. This all occurred because of the cross. Today we say to Jesus, “thank you for the cross.”

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Posted by: pastorapbell | January 21, 2011

as we accept/reject the gift of life

As a benefactor of the will we have the opportunity to accept the gift or to reject it. If we accept it we will be guaranteed eternal life on the other hand if we reject it we will have to face being separated from God forever. Please be assured that forever is a long time. So today the choice is yours, become a beneficiary or reject the offer.

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Posted by: pastorapbell | January 20, 2011

as we understand the nature of the will

Jesus repeatedly said in his discourses to his hearers, “I have come not to do my will but the will of him that sent me”(John 9:4, Luke 22:42). This was his mantra, but what constitutes a will. For me a will is the last testament of an individual about where their assets go once they leave planet earth. The individual writing the will must be in his right mind and must have the document witnessed so that it can be validated. A will that is prepared with all the beneficiaries lined up but not signed is of non-effect. For it to be valid it must be signed by the testator and witnessed by an individual who is not a beneficiary. On that fateful day in April 0000, Jesus signed his last will and testimony with his blood, had it witnessed by the Pharisees, Sadducees, Zealots and many from the Roman army and gave his inheritors the benefit of inheriting all of his estate, which includes the gifts of salvation, the gifts of the Holy Spirit (wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecies, discerning spirits, various tongues, interpretation of tongues) the fruit of the Holy Spirit (long-suffering, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) and the promise of eternal life. Jesus’ will became effective the very second he died, and since he rose and left death behind we who accept his offer can live and reign with him forever and ever and ever. What an inheritance!

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Posted by: pastorapbell | January 19, 2011

as Jesus sign the will; it is finished!

When Jesus died on the cross several significant things happened.

  1. The religious leaders thought that had gotten rid of their problems and consequently keep their Roman occupiers at bay. Sedition among them meant that the Roman army would continue to exact their tough regime amongst the Jewish people.   
  2. Many Old Testament prophecies were being fulfilled at that moment, namely; casting lots for Jesus’ seamless garment. They cast lots rather than rip it to shreds because it was an expensive seamless piece of clothing which would have taken about three months to weave. So they gambled for it (Psalm 22:18). They did not break his legs, since he was already dead when they inspected him (Psalm 34:20). They pierced his side with a spear (Zachariah 12:10, Isaiah 53:5) to see if he was really dead.
  3. The death of Jesus was the turning point in the history of humanity. That single event brought the reality of our mortality and the possibility of our eternity into sharp focus. Jesus died physically, but spiritually he was very much alive. And like any disease, death died with Jesus in his body but could not rise with him because it was dead (1Cor 15:55). So the sting of death has been overcome and the gift of life given to all those who believe on the name of Jesus. The name which is above every other name!

The Jews thought they had solved a problem, the Romans though they had appeased the Jews but we know that God’s plan was executed with precision and accuracy so that all those who were dead in their trespasses and sins can have the opportunity to live and do so eternally. The plan has been executed now read and embrace what that means for you. Read John 19:16-37.

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Posted in Restoration | Tags: , , , ,

Posted by: pastorapbell | January 18, 2011

as we witness the symbolic slaughtering of the Lamb, to institute the plan!

Jesus is standing before Pilot; it is early in the morning. Jesus was kept awake all night being spat on, slapped and insulted by the temple police and the spiritually blind religious leaders.  When they hand Jesus over to Pilot, they stand outside his quarters so that they would be able to eat the Passover later on when the sun went down (John 18:28). Little did they know that the son would go down earlier than usual, about 3pm that afternoon, and would not rise until three days had passed!

Pilot asked Jesus what turns out to be questions that brought conviction to his spirit.

Pilot: “So you are The King of The Jews?”

Jesus: “Do you ask on your own or did someone tell you about me?”

Pilot: “I am not a Jew am I, it is your own people who’ve handed you over to me as a criminal so what have you done?”

Jesus: “My kingdom is no of this world, if it was my followers would be fighting to keep me from being arrested.”

Pilot: “so you are a king?”

Jesus: “If you say so, but it is for this reason I was born, this is why I came into the world, to testify to the truth, and everyone who belongs to the truth, listens to my voice [including you, implied].”

Pilot: “what is truth?”

Jesus had said earlier to his followers, you will know the truth and the truth will make you free (John 8:32).

Being face to face with Jesus sent shivers down Pilot’s back. He did everything he could to avoid putting Jesus to death. He had him tortured, ridiculed, stripped naked and totally humiliated by the soldiers. And he knew what he was doing, killing an innocent man was wrong! But it was Passover and the Lamb of God had to be slaughtered to fulfil the plan of eternal redemption.

Today, what questions do you want to ask Jesus? And what answers do you think he would give? Can we say like John, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, mine included!” (John 1:29).

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Posted by: pastorapbell | January 17, 2011

as we die to self and allow the Spirit to germinate in us

Jesus said this: ‘unless a grain of wheat fall into the ground and dies it remain a single seed, but if it dies it produces many seeds (John 12:24).’ As Jesus stood before Pilot (John 19:28-40) he knew that the time had come for everything he had preached about to be fulfilled. This was the culmination and the fulfilment of the plan of God. Jesus would die to self and for others so that we all could have access to eternity. Today, allow those things that separate you from the love of God to die. Things like bad habits which we say is ‘how I am’ or ‘how God made me’, take a stand; habits only become habits when we feed them.

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