November 13 Friday: Luke 24:45-49 (*Last Entry)

***To all our readers of T@TT,

As announced in October (and also mentioned in one of our earlier blog comments), from the beginning of these week-day-ly sermon-based devotionals,  we decided that we would try out a 30-day trial run.  IF we had significant response (about 10% of our congregation logging on) all throughout, then we would continue.  Unfortunately, the response was still lacking, and so today will be our last entry for this season.

In the future, we will plan to re-launch our T@tT site.  We will plan to have a team of devotional “writers,” each representing our EC demographics.  We’ll also try to add some more features, Lord willing.  But please feel free to email us with any feedback/suggestions by contacting me (PJ) at johncha@opendoorpc.org.

In the meantime, thank you all for your encouraging comments, and enjoy our last entry.

PJ

⁴⁵Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

After Jesus gives His commission, He ascends to heaven.  It must’ve been an incredible and glorious sight.  But as He disappears in the clouds, the disciples are probably left standing together, eventually lowering their heads and their eyes, looking at each other –  What next?  What should the disciples do?  (What should we do?)

Luke gives us some insights in his Gospel as to what happens next.  Read Luke 24:45-49.l  Jesus instructs the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they “have been clothed with power from on high” (24:49).  What is this power?

Luke explains what this power is in his book of Acts.  Acts 1:8 tells us  ⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The power from on high is the Holy Spirit, and the disciples so desparately need this power.

The task seems impossible, overwhelming and daunting.  How will the church stand against the most powerful army, the empire of Rome.  How will they triumph against the Jewish religious rulers?  How will they fight Satan and the dominions of evil?

They receive power, the Holy Spirit.  And as we see in history, they triumph and win out — in a BIG way!

• Take time this morning to remind yourself that you have been given the Holy Spirit.  Like the disciples waiting for the Holy Spirit, “wait” and depend on Him for this day and for all that God has purposed for you.  You and I have no power to carry out the Great Commission with human words and effort.  We need God’s power!  Pray that the Spirit would give you the power to live out the Gospel and the Great Commission in your workplace, campus, neighborhoods, and your relationship with others.  With His Spirit’s power operating in our lives, all things are possible.  Amen.

 

 

November 12 Thursday: Matthew 28:18-20

¹⁸Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Jesus ends His commission by promising us that He will always be with us, to the very end of the age.  A lot of times, when we remember the Great Commission, we just remember the “go” and “make disciples” parts.  We forget that His commission to us ends with a wonderful promise.  Jesus wants us to know that He really will be with us.  These words must’ve provided so much comfort and encouragement to the disciples.  (*And we know they did, when we consider how the disciples were faithful in “going” to new countries and regions, in persecution, in imprisionment, and even in death).

So what does this promise of His presence mean to us?  We’ll spend some time unpacking this.  How is Jesus really with us?

• Jesus would be with us in that He is now in heaven and is now capable of being anywhere (not just physically in one location as He was on earth; see Acts 9 when Jesus appears to Saul)
• He would come alongside of us by his Holy Spirit and would now reside IN us through His Spirit
• Even in suffering, He fellowships with us (Philippians 3:10)
• Nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39)
• Through His body, the church, He is with us (Ephesians 1:23)

This promise of His presence are not just words, but they point to a reality, one that’s meant to embolden us as we live out His commission.

• As we are taking steps towards His commission, do we feel alone?  When we find ourselves in unfamiliar situations (conversing with a co-worker about Christianity for the first time, moving to a new country, relating to people different from us, going beyond our comfort zone, etc.), do we feel stranded?  Take time today to envision Jesus really being with us.  He is not far away and uninvolved.  He is with you.

November 11 Wednesday: Matthew 28:18-20

¹⁸Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

As Jesus announces the authority to make His commission, He now presents the commission itself.  The two go together — authority and commission.  “Therefore! Because I am King over all other kings and have authority over all authorities, I say …

[... and now the commission]  Go, make disciples, baptizing and teaching them to obey.

There are many actions/verbs in His commission, but according to the Greek structure/grammar, the main action is making disciples.  Going, baptizing and teaching are aspects of making disciples.

So what does it mean to make a disciple?  It literally means to make “a learner,” a student.  We use today’s equivalent term “follower,”  a life-long student whose life takes on their master’s teaching and life.  To be a disciple is not just about head knowledge and information.  It is life-on-life relationship from the Teacher to the Student.  As a Christian, to be a disciple is not just about programs and “making converts” or people saying “Yes” to altar calls.  It’s about teaching people “to obey”  (not just “know”) God’s desires and His ways.

When we understand this commission in this light, we realize that all this really does require a new birth.  People have to be born again.  A new mind.  A new heart.  New passions.  New desires.  This is impossible for us to humanly create or engineer or design.  It is the Spirit giving birth to spirit, the wind blowing as it wishes (John 3).

• Take some time today to admit our need for God this Missions Month.  Let’s confess that His commission is not just about earthly efforts (thought it will require hard work, no doubt).  But it’s about God’s saving and transforming work in the lives of the people in this world.  And lest we feel overwhelmed, let’s remember His authority, and let’s remember that the fruit is lasting and eternal!  Let’s also rededicate ourselves to one another, that we would want to see genuine disciples (learners of Jesus!) growing in our church body.

November 10 Tuesday: Matthew 28:18-20

¹⁸Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.“

Before He gives His commission, Jesus tells His disciples that all authority has been given to Him (v. 18).  This is an authority that is “in heaven and on earth.”  In other words, there are no boundaries nor limitations on the nature and extent of this authority — not on earth AND NOT IN HEAVEN!  His authority is especially established and secured as Jesus has just conquered over sin and death (the last two remaining “enemies” to be vanquished) through His death on the cross and His resurrection.

It’s helpful to remember that back then, the authority of a ruler was absolute, supreme and unquestioned.  Nowadays, we have a bit more “watered down” version of authority (one that can be questioned, limited, renounced depending on rights, democratic processes, checks and balances, etc).  But back then, authority was one way and final.

What implications does His authority have?

For the disciples, v. 18 means that Jesus now has authority over the Jewish leaders and the Roman empire.  He is still in control during seasons of persecution and hardship (*Remember that Jesus had warned them of this all throughout their years with Him).  His authority is over Satan, His demons, sickness and all the “fall out” from sin.  These are the first words of the commission, words of authority.

• What does His authority mean for you today and this week?  Where do you need to be reminded of His authority over your life?  How can this authority embolden and encourage you to align your life to His Great Commission?

November 9 Monday: Matthew 28:16-17

¹⁶Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.

This week, as we continue our November Missions Month, we’ll be devoting our weekday devotionals around Jesus’ Great Commission.  We’ll also be covering this passage during our small groups.

Before the disciples receive their Commission, several things happen in Matthew 28.  First, two women witness Jesus’ resurrection and are told to pass the news to the disciples, instructing them to go to Galilee where they will see Jesus (vv. 1-10).  Secondly, with the missing body of Jesus, there are now fabricated rumors/news that the disciples have stolen Christ’s body (vv. 11-15).  Through these details and through what we know of the cross, we can gather that the disciples are experiencing a “mixed bag” of emotions and thoughts …

• Fear of the Jewish establishment and leaders who have just murdered their Master
• Anxious regarding the feeling and mood of the average Jew.  The “Messiah” has just been crucified.  They’ve been duped.  The average Jew probably is resentful and distrusting of all Christ-followers
• Doubtful as to whether or not the resurrection really occurred (v. 17)
• Anticipation and excitement — “Could it be true?  Did He rise from the dead?”
• Shame that they had abandoned Jesus prior to the crucifixion
• Uncertainty of what lies ahead for them

All this to say that the Great Commission was not originally given to highly confident, skilled, experienced people. These followers had mixed feelings, doubts and lingering questions.  And yet, in light of what Jesus says and promises (this week and next), these radical men and women would eventually change the entire world.

• How are you feeling about this Missions Month?  What are your honest struggles and questions about His misson for your life?   Are you wrestling with fears?  Questions?  Doubts?  Come honestly before God and let Him address your questions and reasons for holding back.

Friday November 6: Ephesians 2:8-10

⁸For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

This is the power of our God’s love and grace:  He can take dead, chained up, sin-addicted objects of wrath and turn us into His workmanship, created to do works that will bless others and bring glory to Him.  What change!  What transformation!  And we  become more and more the people created and intended to be as we live by faith (see yesterday’s entry).

But the substance of what we do is works.  In the original Greek, reference to “works” is brought up 3x, once in v. 9 (in a negative tone)and twice in v. 10 (both in a positive light).  Works is important to Paul.  Let’s not be confused.  Christians are to be about works.  We are to do and are to work, but we are not defined by works or derive worth from works, BUT we see God at work in us AND we see Him work through us.  We don’t work to fill a lacking need in ourselves (i.e., to create an identity, find security, seek approval from others, etc.).  Rather, we work from an overflow and fruitful abundance of all He has done in us (i.e., an overflow of love, an overflow of undeserved forgiveness, etc.).

• How do we know when we are slipping into the sinful, legalistic side of work?  What are some warning signs/red flags?   Are there any areas of our lives where our works are becoming toxic and damaging to our spiritual health?  How can we redeem this particular “work” so that we can once again bear good work for God?

Missions Month is continuing throughout this Sunday.  Let’s ask God to show us the “good works” that He has set apart in advance for us to do.

Thursday November 5: Ephesians 2:8-10

⁸For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Having received His great love and now alive in Jesus, what next?  How should we live this new life in Christ?  We live in light of His grace “through faith.”  We live by faith in His grace.  We trust Him.  Today, we want to take some time to further unpack this life of faith.

Faith is profound.  God wants us to trust in Him — but not be passive.  Isn’t it so tempting to say that “I trust God; therefore, I shouldn’t try or risk, strive or do”?!  God doesn’t want us to be passive and aimless (see v. 10) in our life of faith.  He wants us to be active.  At the same time, however, God wants us to trust Him and not work in our own effort or else we will boast (see v. 9).  He doesn’t want us to be performance or talent driven.

But then, how does this work?!  How can we be active (all in!) and yet not be performance-based (which leads to us being boastful and self-absorbed and self-dependent)?  How can we be trusting and yet not be passive ?  The answer is faith.  Trust in Him.

Faith is most active.  Read Hebrews 11 to see examples of actions “by faith.”  Yet, at the same time, faith places all the glory and credit to Him.  When we trust someone, we actively do and wait, but all the credit goes to the one we’re waiting on and trusting in.  And the greater the act of trust, the more glory that goes to the one being trusted in.  That’s how we live by faith.  So we actively steward our money, but in light of God’s promises in our lives.  So we treat our friend or spouse lovingly, but because we trust in God’s work in our relationship.  This is the new life we have in Jesus.  It’s the life in response to His love as expressed by His kiss on the cross.

And so, apostle Paul reminds us in Galatians 2:20 ²⁰I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

• How can you express faith today and this week?  How is God calling you to actively trust Him?  Through work?  Academics?  Family?  Friendships?  Ministry or finances?

November 4 Wednesday: Ephesians 2:4-7

⁴But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

On Monday, we saw our lives BEFORE we met Christ — dead, under Satan’s control, craving sin, objects of God’s wrath.  Today, we look at our lives SINCE we met Christ.   We are alive in Him (v. 5) — thinking, feeling, seeing, loving, hoping, relating, listening/talking, running, dancing, everything!  And we are raised up with Him and are seated with Him (v. 6).  “Seated with Him”?!  Of course, this does not mean that we are physically with Him now in Heaven, but it means that as far as God is concerned, we really are with Him.  Our future now lies with Him.  Our identity lies in Him.  In God’s sight, with regard to our righteousness and standing, we are with him.  Our values and worth are governed and defined by Him.  Our desires can only be met by Him.  As this generation often says, we are “ruined” and “wrecked” for Him.  Our hearts are with Him.

Colossians 3:2-4 says,²Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Why?  What’s the purpose behind us now being alive in Jesus?  What’s the end goal?  This is where God pulls all the stops.

V. 7 says that all this is heading towards a single end … that in the “coming ages” (which means our time in Heaven and all the years of Heaven — i.e. eternity) that God will show the incomparable riches of His grace, shown in the life and kindness of Jesus.  That’s what we are looking forward to!  That’s what the rest of eternity will look like for us.  We’ll be overwhelmed over and over again as God’s wondrous waves of grace wash over us — forever.

All this, simply from the cross of God, when He kissed a guilty world in love.  What love!

• Let us live this day, not as those defined by our earthly circumstances — as stressful and urgent as they are.  We live as those whose identity and future are secured in Jesus.  Our ultimate End lies with Him above and throughout all eternity.  We have nothing to lose, but only everything to gain in Christ.  Rest in His love for you.

November 3 Tuesday: Ephesians 2:4-5

⁴But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Because He loves us so greatly!  Because He L-O-V-E-S us so much!  — That’s why He saves us.  Many times, we try to divorce the heart from the theology.  We can’t do that — especially here.  God’s heart beats with love for us as He sends His own Son to the cross.  Every romantic poem, photo, song, drama, storyline are but faint, scant shadows of the Divine Romance played out by God towards us.  The ultimate attraction.  The ultimate expression.  The ultimate sacrifice.  The ultimate commitment.  He loves us — but not because we did anything right and not because of our background nor our performance.  He is simply a loving God who chooses to love us.  And He wants us to see this…

Notice that He chooses to love us when we are “dead in transgression” (v.4).   That way, He proves to us that we could never have evoked or drawn out His love for us.  How could we?!  We were dead.  This also means that we can never surprise God with our sinfulness and the consequences of our sins.  We can never out-sin God’s love.  IF he chose to love us — giving His absolute best (Jesus) — at our absolute worst, then there is nothing we can do that can disqualify us from His love.   He demonstrates His love once and for all through Jesus on the cross for our sins.

 

• Let’s spend this day worshiping Him for His great love!

 

Here is love, vast as the ocean
Lovingkindness as the flood
When the Prince of Life, our Ransom
Shed for us His precious blood
Who His love will not remember?
Who can cease to sing His praise?
He can never be forgotten
Throughout Heav’n’s eternal days

On the mount of crucifixion
Fountains opened deep and wide
Through the floodgates of God’s mercy
Flowed a vast a gracious tide
Grace and love, like mighty rivers
Poured incessant from above
And Heav’n’s peace and perfect justice
Kissed a guilty world in love

=============

Like a foolish dreamer, trying to build a highway to the sky
All my hopes would come tumbling down, and I never knew just why
Until today, when you pulled away the clouds that hung like curtains on my eyes
Well I’ve been blind all these wasted years and I though I was so wise
But then you took me by surprise

Like waking up from the longest dream, how real it seemed
Until your love broke through
I’ve been lost in a fantasy, that blinded me
Until your love broke through

All my life I’ve been searching for that crazy missing part
And with one touch, you just rolled away the stone that held my heart
And now I see that the answer was as easy, as just asking you in
And I am so sure I could never doubt your gentle touch again
It’s like the power of the wind

Like waking up from the longest dream, how real it seemed
Until your love broke through
I’ve been lost in a fantasy, that blinded me
Until your love, until your love, broke through

November 2 Monday: Ephesians 2:1-3

¹As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ²in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. ³All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

This month is our November Missions Month for our EC.  We’re excited to hear and see the work and leading of the Spirit during this month.

Yesterday, we’ve heard our sister Sara speak of being awakened by God’s love.  Throughout this week, we want to further explore and deepen in this awakening love that God has for us.

Sometimes, for us to fully appreciate the depth and nature of God’s rescuing love and grace, we need to remember what we were saved from.  Paul helps us to do this through his letter to the Ephesians.

Ephesians 2:11-3 describe our life before Christ.  This is who we once were before we met Christ…

• you were dead in your transgressions and sins Dead in transgressions.  D-E-A-D.  Not “very sick” nor “very lethargic” nor “comatosed” –  but dead.  Unresponsive.  A corpse.  I once went to an anatomy lab and saw a roomful of cadavers (reeking of formaldehyde, pale, wrinkled, cold and lifeless).  Paul describes you and me (– “pre-Jesus”) in the same way.  Spiritual corpses, not alive to God.
• when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. We are following this way of sin.  It’s our pattern, value-system, direction, and trajectory.  It’s bad enough that we are already dead in our sinful condition, but on top of this, Satan is at work inside of us, causing us to disobey God.  He is leading us by the chains.  We’re bound to him and his evil ways.
• gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. As if it’s bad enough that we’re dead in sin AND that we have Satan at work in us, leading us away from God, but now, we WANT it?!  We actually long for sin and are addicted to it.  We crave sin.  An alcoholic towards a can of beer.  A drug addict towards his/her next fix.  You and I towards sin.
• Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. Perhaps the worst news  is this one.  The ONLY One who can save us from sin is God — but, how does He view us?  As “objects of wrath.”  And it’s in our “nature” to be objects of wrath, meaning, can’t clean ourselves up to escape His wrath.  This who we are… we’re not sinners because we sin, we sin because we’re sinners (RC Sproul).

As we always emphasize and highlight the new life we now have in Jesus’ love and grace, we can sometimes forget who we once were in our sins.  It’s good to remember.  Taking time to fully take in the bad news makes our Good News sweeter.  It also keeps us humble, grateful, and also keeps us from judging others.

Take some time today to reflect on our lives before we met Jesus.  Let’s not forget what we were rescued from.  But let it not lead to further condemnation, frustration and doubts, but to a greater gratitude, worship and love for Jesus and the cross.

The Good News will come tomorrow in v. 4.