POST PUNISHMENT PRAISE

PROCLAMATION

“In that day you will say: ‘I will praise You, Lord.  Although You were angry with me, Your anger has turned away and You have comforted me.’”  Isaiah 12:1 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

Chapter eleven of The Bible Book of Isaiah is a continuation of the prophecy which began in chapter seven.  Chapter eleven presents a prophetic view of the coming of The Messiah to establish His kingdom and it describes some aspects of the kingdom. (Isaiah 11:1-16)  The  prophecy in chapter twelve reveals the post tribulation period of singing, praise, and worship which will occur during the Kingdom Age. (Isaiah 12:1-6)   

APPLICATION

“In that day,” after we have had our spanking for messing up, we all will have been forgiven and all will be right with the world.  The remnant of believers who survived the Tribulation will be gathered from the four corners of the earth (Isaiah 11:12) and join up with those of us who were caught up in the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) and the joyous time of singing and praising The Lord in the Kingdom Age will begin.  This is what we have in front of us to look forward to in the future.  We cannot even begin to imagine how great things will be when this happens. (1 Corinthians 2:9)  However, this will only be for those of us whose names are written in The Lamb’s Book of Life.  Whosoever is a non-believer will not have their name written in this book and they will spend eternity in hell. (Revelation 20:15)

WHEN THE RAPTURE OCCURS DON'T BE LEFT BEHIND

Proclamation:

“Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed … For The Son of Man in His day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other.’ … ‘It will be like this on the day The Son of Man is revealed … I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left.  Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.  Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left’”  Luke 17:20-36 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, as recorded by Luke, the physician, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In this chapter Luke continues to record the words which Jesus spoke to the crowd which included His disciples and the Pharisees.  First, He said that things will come that will cause His people to stumble and sin, but woe be unto them through whom those things come to His people. (Luke 17:1-2)  Then, after telling about them forgiving those who sin against them (Luke 17:3-4) and having faith, (Luke 17:5-6) He told them how they treat the servant who does his duty. (Luke 17:7-10)  Leaving there, as He continued on His way to Jerusalem, Jesus healed the ten men who had leprosy and noted that only one of them returned to thank Him. (Luke 17:11-19)  Then, in response to a question from a Pharisee, Jesus gave them a lengthy description of what it will be like when The Son of Man returns. (Luke 17:20-35)

Application:

When The Son of Man returns He will be visible in the sky to everyone like lightning in the clouds. (Luke 17:24 and Revelation 1:7)  He will come in all His power and glory.  With a great sound of a trumpet, He will gather His elect from the four corners of the earth. (Matthew 24:30-31)  We refer to His gathering of “the church” as the rapture, when we will caught up and meet The Lord God in the air. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)  There are those who believe that when we are taken up, our clothes will be left behind.  People will be going about their normal daily activities when the believers will be instantly taken up while those that we were with at the time will be left behind. (Matthew 24:40-41 and Luke 17:34-36)  Don’t be like the people in the days of Noah who were left out of the ark, or the people in Sodom when Lot left the city. (Luke 17:26-29)  Confess, believe, and repent while there is still time.

JESUS THE CHRIST IS THE WAY AND THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE

Proclamation:

“Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we don’t know where You are going, so how can we know the way?’  Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to The Father except through Me.’”  John 14:5-6 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were recorded by the Apostle John under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In this chapter, John records what Jesus, The Christ, said to comfort His disciples after telling them that He was going away. (John 14:1-31)  He said that He was going to prepare a place for them so that they could be with Him. (John 14:2-3)  Then He said, “You know the way to the place where I am going.”  It was this statement which prompted Thomas to ask his question, and the reply which Jesus gave him. (John 14:5-6)  Jesus later tells them that He will ask The Father to send The Holy Spirit to abide with them. (John 14:16-18)  The Holy Spirit will teach them and remind them of all of the things that He had said to them. (John 14:26)

Application:

When Jesus, The Christ, said, “I am the way …” He was not merely referring to Himself as the leader, or one who points out the right direction to them.  He was not pointing to His doctrine of salvation but to Himself as the way to salvation.  Not only is what He says true, but He is truth itself.  He is also the giver of life, natural, spiritual, and eternal life.  The only way that we can get to God, The Father, and the kingdom of heaven is through our belief in Jesus, The Christ, The Son of God. (John 3:16)  For The Father, The Word, and The Holy Spirit are one. (1 John 5:7)  The Word is Christ Jesus who became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:14)

Live By And Walk In The Spirit

"So I say, live by The Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.  For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to The Spirit, and The Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.  They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want ... The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.  I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.  But the fruit of The Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."  Galatians 5:16-23 (NIV)

In his letter to the believers in Galatia, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, the Apostle Paul wrote to them saying that the sinful nature of man is in direct conflict with The Spirit.  Those who live their lives gratifying the desires of their sinful nature, will not see the kingdom of God. (Romans 8:8)  However, those believers who live their lives exhibiting the fruit of The Spirit, will inherit the kingdom of God.

Believers are to live their lives in such a manner that their behavior exhibits the fruit of The Holy Spirit.  While belief in Jesus, The Christ, does not render the believer free from sin, but from the penalty of sin. (Romans 6:23)  It is the believers' love for Christ which causes them to want to please Him by obeying His word, and by following His commands. (John 14:15 and 1 Thessalonians 4:1)  Believers should strive to continually walk in The Spirit and not in the flesh. (Romans 8:1, Romans 8:4, Galatians 5:16, and Galatians 5:25)  When we walk in The Spirit, our lives demonstrate the fruit of The Spirit, and the world can see the light of Christ shine within us. (Matthew 5:16)

Spiritually Born Again

"Jesus answered, 'I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and The Spirit.  Flesh gives birth to flesh, but The Spirit gives birth to spirit.  You should not be surprised at My saying, 'You must be born again.' " John 3:1-7 (NIV)

The Apostle John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, recorded the reply that Jesus declared to Nicodemus, the Pharisee and member of the ruling religious council (John 3:1), "You must be born again." (John 3:7)  Jesus said that "no man can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." (John 3:3)

To be born again does not refer to a physical re-birth, it refers to a spiritual awakening, a spiritual birth.  We must undergo a change, a transformation, a regeneration if we are to enter the kingdom of heaven.  We must live a new life, become a new creature. (2 Corinthian 5:17)  We must obtain a new nature with new principles and new beliefs. (Ezekiel 11:19 and Ezekiel 36:26)  God must give us His divine nature if we are to enter heaven.  This change will not occur until we confess and accept The Lord Jesus as our personal savior and The Spirit of God indwells us. (Psalms 51:10 and  Ezekiel 36:27)  We must invite Jesus into our life and into our heart. (Revelation 3:20)

 

Salvation Acceptance Or Rejection

"One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Him: 'Aren't You The Christ?  Save Yourself and us!'  But the other criminal rebuked him.  'Don't you fear God,' he said, 'since you are under the same sentence?  We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.  But this man has done nothing wrong.'  Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.'  Jesus answered him, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise.' "  Luke 23:39-43 (NIV)

Luke, the physician companion of the Apostle Paul, recorded that there were two criminals who were crucified along with Jesus, The Christ. (Luke 23:32-33)  One of the criminals insulted Christ.  The second one rebuked the first one and then asked Jesus to remember him when He enters His kingdom.  Jesus told him that he would be with Him in paradise that day.

On that fateful day there were three crosses on the hill called Golgotha.  When all was said and done symbolically, the cross in the center, upon which Jesus hung, represented salvation.  The cross on one side of Him represented rejection, and the cross on the other side of Him represented acceptance.  They represent the choice which we all have with respect to what Jesus has to offer.  Either we will accept Him and receive salvation, or we will reject Him and spend eternity in torment.  We have a choice, please choose wisely.

Repent The Kingdom Of Heaven Is At Hand

"From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."  Matthew 4:17  (NIV)

As He began His earthly ministry, after being baptized by John the baptizer, but before He called His first disciple, Jesus preached.  His message was "Repent".  Repent because judgement day in coming.

Repentance from sin is very important.  It was the message of John, the baptizer.  (Matthew 3:1-2)  It was also the message in the first sermons of Jesus, The Christ.  We need to repent from our sins.  This is the gospel, the good news about the coming kingdom.  (Matthew 4:23)   We need to repent from our sins because judgement day in coming.  Not only do we need to confess our sins, but we need to turn away from them.  According to the disciple John, by repentance we give honor to God.  (Revelation 14:6-7) 

Seek Ye First The Kingdom Of God

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33

God knows all of our needs, for food, for drink, for clothing, for lodging, for health, and for everything else. In fact, He knows what we will need before the need exists, and He can supply all of our needs.

God wants us to put Him first, to seek salvation, to seek Him and His righteous ways above everything else. When we commit our lives to Him, He will give us everything that we need.

We need to continually strive to get our spiritual life in order and making that our first priority, and God will take care of our material and physical needs.