By Gobel Brockman
"Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. But when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were greatly perplexed concerning this, suddenly two men stood by them in shining garments. As they were afraid and bowed their faces to the ground, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen!" - Luke 24:1-6
I once read a story of a wealthy miser in Ireland who was one of the last to get electricity in her home. A utility worker was at her home a few months later and commented on how her meter had barely moved. He asked, "Is your electricity working all right?" She replied that it was. When he asked why she wasn't using it, she said, "I do use it. At dusk I turn the lights on long enough to see to be able to light my candles, then I turn them back off."
This lady had power literally at her fingertips but she didn't take advantage of it. This morning, many, many people will do the same thing. People who generally want nothing to do with God will get up, put on their "Sunday best" and head to church. They'll hear the same sermon they hear every Easter and then head back home to their lives of spiritual apathy. The sad thing is, the sermon they'll be hearing is about the greatest miracle that ever happened - Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died and rose again. His sacrifice on the cross and His defeat of death has opened the door to us for eternal salvation from death and Hell. And yet many people will hear this powerful truth today and just go right back to their spiritual nonchalance. Just as the lady who refused to use her electricity, a wealth of power will be wasted.
I once read that Napoleon Bonaparte was asked if he believed that Jesus had rose from the dead. He replied, "Yes, and I'll tell you why. You can say His name in front of peasants and see their eyes light up with hope. Say His name in front of kings and they will recognize that they are in the presence of royalty. Yes, I am convinced that Jesus rose from the dead. Dead men don't get that much respect." We still see that today. You can talk about "church" or "God" in public all you want and little will be said. But end a prayer at a high school football game or city council meeting "in the name of Jesus" and instant controversy is born.
Yes, Jesus is alive. He's alive forever more. His death and resurrection have paved the way for all who will receive to be saved. His power is still moving on the hearts of men and women everywhere. Bondages are being broken and broken hearts are being mended, and yours can be as well. But to those who don't receive His wonderful salvation due to indifference or outright rejection, for them this miracle will be all for nought. How tragic that really is.
Jesus is alive! It's true today. It's also true the other 364 days in the year. There is power available to you today. Turn on the lights and receive it.
Saturday, April 20, 2019
Saturday, April 13, 2019
You're Not Done Yet
By Gobel Brockman
Let me begin this week by asking a somewhat startling question: “Have you ever wondered how you are going to die?” (I know that’s an interesting way to begin a “devotional!”)
The reason I brought this up is because in the Bible, Simon Peter had that question answered for him. After His resurrection, Jesus met with the remaining eleven disciples on the banks of the Sea of Galilee. After giving them a miraculous catch of fish, dining with them on the banks, and then asking Peter three times, “Do you love me?” Jesus then said this to Peter:
“Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” (This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God.)” - John 21:18-19
After the day of Pentecost and the birth of the New Testament church, persecution eventually broke out against the church. James, the brother of John, was killed by Herod. Peter was arrested and faced a similar fate. Then a miraculous event occurred that we read in Acts 12:5-8;
“Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.”
There’s an important lesson in this we must realize for ourselves. In John, Jesus told Peter, in essence, “When your time comes, other people will gird you and lead you to your death.” In Acts, the angel told Peter, “Gird yourself, put on your sandals, and follow me.” What’s my point? Simply this: the angel was delivering this message to Peter: YOU’RE NOT DONE YET! Peter knew that there would be a time when others would gird him and lead him away. The angel was telling him that “Now is not that time; you still have work to do!”
That same message applies to all of us: YOU’RE NOT DONE YET! Yes, the Bible tells us in Hebrews 9:27 that “It is appointed unto man to die once, and after this the judgment.” Should the Lord delay His return, we will all face death. But I haven’t reached that time yet, and until I do I want to remain about my Father’s business. There is still a great move of the Holy Ghost to be a part of, and I want to be a part of it! The same applies to every one of you reading this. If you are born again and filled with the Spirit of God, and if there is still breath in your body, then I encourage you to clothe yourselves in the full armor of God (Ephesians 6) and follow Jesus into the unknown but exciting ride ahead!
Stay close to Jesus and stay busy. You’re not done yet.
Let me begin this week by asking a somewhat startling question: “Have you ever wondered how you are going to die?” (I know that’s an interesting way to begin a “devotional!”)
The reason I brought this up is because in the Bible, Simon Peter had that question answered for him. After His resurrection, Jesus met with the remaining eleven disciples on the banks of the Sea of Galilee. After giving them a miraculous catch of fish, dining with them on the banks, and then asking Peter three times, “Do you love me?” Jesus then said this to Peter:
“Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” (This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God.)” - John 21:18-19
After the day of Pentecost and the birth of the New Testament church, persecution eventually broke out against the church. James, the brother of John, was killed by Herod. Peter was arrested and faced a similar fate. Then a miraculous event occurred that we read in Acts 12:5-8;
“Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.”
There’s an important lesson in this we must realize for ourselves. In John, Jesus told Peter, in essence, “When your time comes, other people will gird you and lead you to your death.” In Acts, the angel told Peter, “Gird yourself, put on your sandals, and follow me.” What’s my point? Simply this: the angel was delivering this message to Peter: YOU’RE NOT DONE YET! Peter knew that there would be a time when others would gird him and lead him away. The angel was telling him that “Now is not that time; you still have work to do!”
That same message applies to all of us: YOU’RE NOT DONE YET! Yes, the Bible tells us in Hebrews 9:27 that “It is appointed unto man to die once, and after this the judgment.” Should the Lord delay His return, we will all face death. But I haven’t reached that time yet, and until I do I want to remain about my Father’s business. There is still a great move of the Holy Ghost to be a part of, and I want to be a part of it! The same applies to every one of you reading this. If you are born again and filled with the Spirit of God, and if there is still breath in your body, then I encourage you to clothe yourselves in the full armor of God (Ephesians 6) and follow Jesus into the unknown but exciting ride ahead!
Stay close to Jesus and stay busy. You’re not done yet.
Saturday, April 6, 2019
The Sword Will Not Be Silent
By Gobel Brockman
I was recently reading through the Old Testament book of Jeremiah, and a passage that I had read before jumped out at me. It is found in Jeremiah 47:6-7, and it says this:
“Ah, sword of the Lord! How long till you are quiet? Put yourself into your scabbard;
rest and be still! How can it be quiet when the Lord has given it a charge?”
This chapter is speaking of the Lord’s judgment against the Philistines. But the phrase from verse six just grabbed me: “Sword of the Lord, how long till you are quiet?” I’m sure that many of you reading this are familiar with the word of God being compared to a sword, as found in Hebrews 4:12:
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Although the context in Jeremiah 47 is a little different, the truth that grabbed my attention is absolutely true indeed: THE SWORD WILL NOT BE SILENT! What I mean is simply this: the word of God is indeed alive, powerful, and will absolutely accomplish what it says. It will not be silent, and it will not be silenced. The Bible contains both instructions and commandments, with accompanying blessings for obedience and judgment for disobedience. And the sword – the word of God – will NOT be silent. It will absolutely do what it says it will do.
Time and space do not permit me to speak of all of the blessings contained within the pages of the word of God. Suffice to say that as a child of God, those promises are “yes and amen” to all who will receive them, and I rejoice in the fact that what He has promised He will indeed fulfill. Likewise, I am not intimidated by those who deny and reject the truth of God’s word. Throughout history many have tried to “silence the sword,” and 100% of those efforts have proved to be futile. Jesus said it best in Matthew 24:35:
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.”
I have said all of this to simply make this point: each one of us has the choice to accept or reject the truth of the word of God. And each one of us will stand responsible for the decision we make. I simply remind us all of this simple but eternal truth: Heaven and earth will pass away, but God’s word will never pass away.
The sword will not be silent.
I was recently reading through the Old Testament book of Jeremiah, and a passage that I had read before jumped out at me. It is found in Jeremiah 47:6-7, and it says this:
“Ah, sword of the Lord! How long till you are quiet? Put yourself into your scabbard;
rest and be still! How can it be quiet when the Lord has given it a charge?”
This chapter is speaking of the Lord’s judgment against the Philistines. But the phrase from verse six just grabbed me: “Sword of the Lord, how long till you are quiet?” I’m sure that many of you reading this are familiar with the word of God being compared to a sword, as found in Hebrews 4:12:
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Although the context in Jeremiah 47 is a little different, the truth that grabbed my attention is absolutely true indeed: THE SWORD WILL NOT BE SILENT! What I mean is simply this: the word of God is indeed alive, powerful, and will absolutely accomplish what it says. It will not be silent, and it will not be silenced. The Bible contains both instructions and commandments, with accompanying blessings for obedience and judgment for disobedience. And the sword – the word of God – will NOT be silent. It will absolutely do what it says it will do.
Time and space do not permit me to speak of all of the blessings contained within the pages of the word of God. Suffice to say that as a child of God, those promises are “yes and amen” to all who will receive them, and I rejoice in the fact that what He has promised He will indeed fulfill. Likewise, I am not intimidated by those who deny and reject the truth of God’s word. Throughout history many have tried to “silence the sword,” and 100% of those efforts have proved to be futile. Jesus said it best in Matthew 24:35:
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.”
I have said all of this to simply make this point: each one of us has the choice to accept or reject the truth of the word of God. And each one of us will stand responsible for the decision we make. I simply remind us all of this simple but eternal truth: Heaven and earth will pass away, but God’s word will never pass away.
The sword will not be silent.
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