Bible Study 19 May

Hi hi, just to sum up the latest BS. =)

Well,

Deut 34
7Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished.

Wow! 120 years old and he died with perfect eyesight and an agile body! Ain't that amazing? =) how did he do it? Paul explains in Hebrews...

Hebrews 11
24By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in[e] Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
27By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.

Moses endured life seeing Him who is invisible! To him, the spiritual promises were more real than what he saw around him. For it was Moses who spoke those words as God parted the Red Sea for Israel:

Exodus
13And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. 14The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace."

He says see the 'salvation' of the Lord, correctly translated as 'Jesus' (Yeshua). Moses really meant what he said when he told the ppl of Israel to keep their eyes on Jesus. By beholding the glory of Yeshua, the Lord will fight for them.

So, how to see Jesus? Now that He's died, been buried, and been resurrected, and now sits at the right hand of God Most High... so pastor expounds on the story behind the Road to Emmaus ('warm bath') and we watch as the 2 travellers experience a warm bath of love from Jesus:

Luke 24
13Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.

Christ at this moment has already risen. This was resurrection morning. The Lord, having great wisdom, restrained the eyes of the 2 travellers.

17And He said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?"

They were sad at how the events turned out as we will see later on.

18Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?"
19And He said to them, "What things?"
So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see."

They were 'hoping' He was the Christ! But were disappointed that Jesus ended up crucified. But what's more astonishing is that His body appears to have disappeared...

25Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" 27And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

If only, if only they had read the Scriptures concerning the Christ! (Read Isaiah 53). Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory? Yes He ought! Jesus, in His grace, expounded the Scriptures to the 2 travellers beginning from the first 5 books of Moses to the books of the prophets of the Old Testament. All the types and signs pointing to His death burial and resurrection.

28Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. 29But they constrained Him, saying, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." And He went in to stay with them.
30Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.

Notice that the travellers recognised Jesus only after they broke bread. =) Wow. Tremendous insight. Jesus was there physically with them all the time! But it's more important for them to recognise Jesus from the Scriptures! Rather than relying on His physical presence! Wow. the final act of the Holy Communion-remembering Jesus' death for us-and the promises He fulfilled and the blessings that are already given!! It's more important for us to see Jesus in the Scriptures folks.

32And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?" 33So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" 35And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.

And yup, that's how the Lord bathed them with love. They left with 'burning hearts'. Ever felt that? God is for You. God IS for You.

1 Corinthians 1
30But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-- 31that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD."

It was His plan for us to be IN Christ. For Christ in me is my wisdom, righteousness, justification and redemption! I do nothing! For Christ in me does everything.

Col 1
26the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Abraham could see Him in the stars; Noah could only see Him from inside the ark; Isaiah could only see Him in a vision; the Prophets could never really understand what they prophesied. All the types pointing to the Seed of Abraham. which came FOR US! And guess what, He lives now IN US! whatever He demands, He fulfils in me. Something profound and wise about this: right believing does lead to right living! By faith, every need i have is met at the cross, for Christ is in me to supply ALL i lack! For God has also freely given us ALL things! What great encouragement folks!

Pastor closed the service telling us why God made woman-to show man how much God loves us! Via the intimacy experienced between husband and wife, Christ had that love for us, magnified a million times more! times infinity in fact. We just cannot fathom the depths of His love for us. We cannot. Pastor reckoned worship to be that kind of experience. As we lift our hands to the Lord, His Spirit and ours mingle to become one, very much the intimate act of love-making. It's so beautiful... and when we have kids, the love we have for our kids will remind us of the love our Father has for us, times infinity. =) Think about that, and let it sink in.

Be blessed!