Before the
fall
|
After the
fall
|
3 steps of progress for our salvation
1st step of progress: Justification
Romans 3:24
Being justified freely by His Grace through the Redemption that is
in Christ Jesus:
2nd step of progress: Sanctification and Transformation
II
Peter 1:4
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises:
that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having
escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
God
created us, male and female, in His Image, but our nature was corrupted, our
spirit was separated from the Lord which is the spiritual death and our
physical body became mortal because of our sin.
3rd step of Progress: Glorification
I John 3:2
2
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall
be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall
see him as he is.
I. Jesus' Resurrection
A. Jesus' First Visitation
1. to Mary Magdalene
1) Now after He had risen early on the first day of
the week,
2) He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from
whom He had cast out seven demons.
Mary
was with other women from the beginning, she ran away at first but returned, or
she was one of them who visited Jesus' Tomb at different times than other
women. early in the morning.
They
saw an angel and he announced the good news to those women that Jesus has risen
and He would meet His Disciples in Galilee. So these women knew Jesus has
risen, however, they ran away and not able to report the News to anyone right
away because of the fear of the Lord at the same time. They were not expecting
this amazing news and encounter with an angel, even when they found themselves
in a great joy.
But
to Mary Magdalene, however, it seemed that she did not know anything about
Jesus' Resurrection, and she was not frightened. So it is very likely that she had
come to the tomb early in the morning, but she was not with other women at the
time. She might not have been one of those who fled, or possibly she came back
to Jesus' Tomb after the women fled.
She
was there and was weeping for Jesus and at the same time she saw two angels in
the tomb, but she was still looking for Jesus' body. And then she turned around
and met Jesus, but she did not realize that it was Him until He called her
name.
She
met Jesus face to face and was cling to Jesus after the real and physical Resurrection.
She had no doubt that He had Risen from the dead.
She
had thought that Jesus had surely died just seconds ago, only to find that she
was wrong and Jesus had really resurrected from the dead and He was standing in
front of her.
She
was one of them healed by Jesus' ministry. 7 demons were cast out by Jesus.
She
had been following and serving Jesus since her healing by Jesus.
The
experience of the healing by Jesus brought changes in her life which also made
her committed to follow Jesus fully and faithfully even after she had witnessed
Jesus passion, the cross and the tomb.
Her
heart was focused on Jesus, and she did not care about any besides Him
including any imminent dangers.
Now
even more since she had encountered with Jesus who had risen from the dead, and
she had a great conviction that Jesus is surely the Son of God, the Lord and
the Savior.
We
need many Mary Magdalene who simply follow Jesus alone among us.
I
personally want to see many likes of Mary Magdalene in One Glory Church.
2. She went and reported
1) to those who had been with Him,
while they were mourning and weeping.
2) When they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her,
3) they refused to believe it.
She
could not hold this Good News, so she ran to His Disciples and reported it to
them. She had told them, more than likely, to stop mourning and weeping,
because she just met Jesus after His Resurrection. She emphasized His Resurrection
to them, and His instruction to His Disciples of meeting them in Galilee. However, not only they did not believe her undeniable testimony but they even treated
her as if she was out of her mind.
The
11 disciples not only had listened to Jesus prophetic word of the Resurrection
from Jesus directly, but they were upset when Jesus prophesied about His
Passion, Sacrifice on the Cross and the Resurrection as a bad news for them,
because they were shocked when they heard the Prophetic Word from the Lord
before it actually happened. It not only was very significant word but shocking
moment to them as well.
To
me in this case it was not the case of being forgetful easily, but Jesus'
disciples did not remember His Words, did not take it seriously and did not
understand it totally.
So
the personal encounter will have an impact on your own life for the better, and
never for the worse.
My
experience may not have an impact in many people’s hearts, but it always brings
the conviction of the Lord in my personal life deeply. At the same time,
however, our experience of the encounter with the Lord brings the people’s
attention to Jesus, so they all have desires to encounter with the Lord
personally too.
Andrew met Jesus, and he
gave his testimony to his brother Simon, but it did not have any impact on Simon’s
life when he introduced Jesus to him. Andrew’s testimony brought Simon’s
attention. And finally, his life had the major turning point when he was encountered
with Jesus at the first time.
Philip did to Nathanael
exactly the same way. Nathanael did not believe Philip’s testimony, but as soon
as he had encountered with Jesus directly and personally, he had a great
conviction right away and he confessed that Jesus was the Son of God and the
King of Israel.
Your
testimony may not have any impact in the hearts of people right away, but your
testimony will stay in them and sooner or later your testimony will grab their
attention, and some of them will have a personal encounter with the Lord.
We
really need to have an encounter with the Lord directly.
We
need to come to the Lord humbly with our open hearts to the Lord without any
doubt, then you will encounter with the Lord at various degrees.
Some
one might have the physical encounter with the Lord, others might have the
encounter with the Word of God while reading the Word of God, during the
service time or other times.
The
encounter that one had may not be the same encounter on others. Please do not
pursue for other’s experiencing of encounters, because you are very unique in
the Lord. Jesus will visit you in very unique way as many times as possible.
We
really need to pursue the Lord alone.
We
are not any source that will have the impact in people’s heart, but only Jesus and
Jesus alone.
Our
obligation is to share the truth with people whether they believe in Him or
not.
My
experience is not the source that will make any changes in someone’s life, but it
had great impact in my own personal life on the relationship with the Lord. So
I ask the Lord to provide great impact on your hearts and let you have
experience on the personal encounter with Jesus.
The
encounters with the Lord or the Lord’s visitation bring the major
transformation and the major turning point in our lives.
Our
misunderstanding about the encounter with God or God’s visitation:
People
expect that the supernatural way of their own box concept like such as the one
that of Apostle Paul’s encounter with the Lord. You will have the encounter
with the Lord experience in very special and very unique way if you break your
own box concept of visitation or encounter.
Last
Friday night I had a wonderful testimony from James and Julie.
While
he was doing his business some small particle has gotten into his right eye,
and his eye continued to being irritated and painful too. It was very unusually
that the particle stayed in his eye, and there was no easy way of removing them.
He quickly thought that prayer was not going to work for his problem. Julie,
however, kept on praying for his eye.
Thursday
night he had a clear dream that a small size of particle came out from his
right eye, and he woke up and checked his right eye, and it was gone and no
more problem.
On
his way to work, suddenly his tear came down from his eyes, because he realized
God’s Grace over him even when he had a negative thought about the prayer. His
heart leaped with joy of the Grace of the Lord because of this experience.
He
realized the Lord’s mercy, grace and love in his deep heart. We could see that
the transformation happened in him for the certain areas in his life.
He
saved money and the time, since he did not need to go to doctor; additionally,
he received better terms and more for his business right after he had an encounter
with the Lord’s Grace in his life, and all the more his spirituality was shifted
up.
I
could see that not only in his physical states, but also God increased His gift
of the Holy Spirit, and his business financial blessings to boot.
This
is the true and real encounter with the Lord. His spirit had an experience of
the Grace of the Lord, and brought changes in him with the joy of the Lord.
My testimony:
1971
Jesus spoke to me clearly about my calling and the purpose of my life on earth
through Matthew 28:
I
have been serving the Lord since the Lord had called me.
God
confirmed me of calling into His Ministry through Isaiah 49: like as His Voice
during 1980s.
1999
the Holy Spirit touched me in a very special way to shift to the new dimension
of my life.
My
life has had numerous encounters with the Lord until today.
Jeremiah 29:13
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with
all your heart.
We
have to seek Jesus only, because He has risen and He is with us. We need to
repent our life from our trust that is not aligned with the Lord. We believe in
the Living Jesus who is the Resurrection and the Life.
Jesus is here with us.
B. Jesus' Second Visitation
1. Two of them
1) After that,
2) He appeared in a different form to two of them
3) while they were walking along on their way to the country, Emmaus.
2. These returned and reported it to
the rest;
1) but they did not believe them either.
Luke 24
These
two disciples did not believe Mary Magdalene and other women's testimonies,
because they were among them at the time. At the time they did not believe
Jesus' Resurrection, and they left from Jesus' Disciples and on the way to
different city, Emmaus.
Even
after these women had testified to Jesus' eleven Disciples they did not believe
His Resurrection until Jesus' Visitation.
How
so ignorant are they.
My
experience cannot be the source of impact in people’s life.
Only
the multiple and overlapping testimonies can prove the miracles, wonders and
signs to people, and still not impact until they experience their personal
encounter with the Lord.
After
the Resurrection, Jesus constantly visited and showed Himself to His People
that He is Resurrected and proved that He is the Resurrection and the Life.
Jesus'
Disciples received the testimony of Jesus' Resurrection, but they did not
believe His Resurrection
C. Jesus Third Visitation
1. Jesus visited on the day of His Resurrection
Women, Mary, mother of James, Salome, who visited Jesus' Tomb.
Mary Magdalene
2 disciples who were on the way to Emmaus from Jerusalem
Jesus' 10 Disciples (without Thomas)
2. Jesus visited on the 8th day of His Resurrection.
Jesus' 11 Disciples (Thomas was there)
Finally
Jesus visited His stubborn Disciples, and rebuked their harden heart.
Jesus rebuked 2 areas of His Disciples.
- their
unbelief (lack of faith) - ignorance
- hardness
of heart (stubborn refusal) - rejection
These
are our major hindrance of our life.
Jesus
visited various people many times after His Resurrection. I believe that there
were many people had seen Jesus that were not recorded in the Bible just as
Jesus' entire power ministry is not recorded in the Bible in its entirety, but
just a small part of It according to John.
It
means that Jesus' Resurrection is undeniable truth.
Jesus is the Lord of the lords and the King of kings.
Jesus is the Living Son of God.
Our
God is the only Living God, and there is none like Him.
Jesus is the Way, the Life and the Truth.
We
are able to hear tremendous testimonies about Jesus' Visitation even today,
because Jesus has risen.
One
of the amazing testimonies that I heard in 2006 was the Egyptian girl and a
baby who were buried live with their dead parents
I’ve
had encounter with the Lord in various ways. Some of you have had encounters
with Jesus in tremendous ways. All of you had encounters with Jesus in many
ways you without realizing the encounter.
If
you start understanding the world of God in your spirit and along with impact in
your life, then you had encounter with the Lord in deeper level. Many people
look for the supernatural ways. The greatest miracles, wonders, signs and the
will of God through my experience are the Salvation.
Jesus said that about us 2000 years ago about the greatest
miracle in the Kingdom of God.
John
20:29
Jesus said unto
him, “Thomas, because you hast seen Me, you have believed: blessed are they
that have not seen, and yet have believed.
Also
Paul mentioned about the Power of God.
Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the Power
of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and
also to the Greek.
This
is the supernatural power of God, so please remember that the healing is not
the only greatest one, but it is a part of the Power of God and miracles.
What
is the benefit for you if you do not believe in Jesus even after you had received
a great healing from the Lord?
What
is the benefit for you if you do not believe in Jesus even you had received the
greatest miraculous financial blessing from the Lord?
The
healing and the financial blessings with all others are important in our life,
but those are also just temporary things on earth, but the Salvation and the
spiritual rewards are eternal matter.
The
purpose of every miracles, wonders and signs are for the salvation and to build
up His Kingdom, meaning the Gospel must be preached to the people and the
nations.
We
have to look for the Lord Jesus, not just the signs and wonders.
The
Christian basic foundation is the Gospel that is Jesus' Cross and Jesus' Resurrection under God's Love. Without this foundation all of them are in vain.
II. The Power of the Resurrection
Our
enemy tries to defile the Gospel so many years, and twisted the truth of the
Lord Jesus Christ.
We
could see those lies around us such as The Da Vinci Code among many others out
there.
You
could hear more about the New World Order from now on from the US government and throughout the world.
And
there will be more lies that will be released against Christ our Lord and the
Christianity.
So
we need to guard our heart from the decisiveness, because we are living in the
edge of the ending time.
Matthew 24:24
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall
show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they
shall deceive the very elect.
General
Lew Wallace wanted to research about the Resurrection of Jesus, and his intention
of this research was not for Jesus Christ, but to disprove the Resurrection of
Jesus.
The
result of his research - he wrote "Ben Hur"
even
he wrote "Life of Christ."
Our
faith is standing on the strong foundation of Jesus' Sacrifice and the Resurrection
that is the Power of God and the Love of God.
Jesus' Cross and His Resurrection
1. To destroy the works of the devil
I John 3:8
He who commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the
beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy
the works of the devil.
2. To Judge and destroy the devil who is known satan
Revelation 20:10
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and
brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented
day and night for ever and ever.
3. The victorious life of God’s Children
1 John 5:4
For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the
victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.
Conclusion
I Corinthians 15:50-58
50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood
cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit
incorruption.
51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all
sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last
trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible,
and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and
this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on
incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be
brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is
thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength
of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which gives us the
victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast,
unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that
your labor is not in vain in the Lord.