The disciples said to each other how their hearts burnt while Jesus was explaining the scriptures to them. Jesus is still the same. When He is speaking through a person, the hearts of the disciples will always burn within them. Jesus doesn't speak through every person who stands in the pulpit. Many people don't have God backing them up as they preach mostly because of three things.
1. They are living in sin in their private lives.
2. They are not faithful in the use of money. Luke 16:11
3. They are careless in the way they use their tongue. Jer 15:19. They make promises which they don't intend to fulfill, they hurt and criticise and judge others with their tongues; they don't mean what they say.
God will never back up such people. It is said about Samuel that God did not let any of the words He spoke fall in the ground. 1Sam 3:19.
They returned to Jerusalem and explained that Jesus rose from the dead and as they spoke, Jesus stood in their midst.
This is a good picture of how God backs up His faithful servant. While they speak, Jesus goes to the consciences of the people listening and tells them that what the preacher is saying is from Him and gives them a deep assurance in their hearts. Long the Jesus would back you up even in the ordinary conversations.
The very first words that Jesus spoke was, "Peace Be with you". It is the same today; God speaks peace in our hearts first of all. If you hear something in your heart which you not sure it's God's voice, you just need to ask yourself whether there peace in it. The more you think about it, if it's God's voice the more peace and assurance there will be in your heart. Let the peace of Christ guide you in all the decisions you make. Col 3:15, Ps 85:8.
Jesus showed His hands and feet and they touched Him and felt His flesh and bones and assured them He was not a ghost for they were afraid. He also ate broiled fish. He then opened their minds to understand the scriptures what was written from Genesis to Malachi how He would suffer and be killed and rise again from the dead.
We learn that We have to be in a position of peace in our hearts for for God to open our minds for us to understand the scriptures.
He said that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name to all nations.
It's so unfortunate today that the message of repentance is no longer preached today. The only thing people hear today is "believe" and thus we have many unconverted people in the church today who believe themselves to be saved just because they repeated the sinners prayer though they never repented. Many also are baptized who have not said goodbye to the world and sin. We have immunised people against salvation by giving to people who have not repented and there is no regeneration in their lives.
A person who is born again becomes a new creature. He has new desires and new longings. He is married to Christ and have made a total commitment to live for Him. He has said no to the world and sin. God has become a child of God. He longs for the milk of God's word. See Gal 5:24, 2Cor 5:15,17, Rom 6:2, Eph 2:1-6, 1Pet 2:2.
We can be sure that someone who has no longing for God's word is not born again though He may have lived in the church for years. The normal child after being born into the world always cries for the milk wherever they are in any part of the world. The longing for milk is not influenced by the location. If you are truly born again not matter where you are wherever church you attend, you will always have a hunger for Gods word. If not, the only reason is that you are not born again.
He told them to be His witnesses but before that, they must wait for the promise of the Father.
We see that God does not expect us to Him serve in our own strength. We have to be filled with the Holy Spirit. It's interesting to see that in the early church, for one to be given the responsibility of serving food, they were to be full of the Holy Spirit. How much more should you even in the smallest of God's work you do. YOU MUST BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT BEFORE YOU DO ANY SERVICE FOR GOD EVEN IF ITS SERVING FOOD. Acts 6:3.
Jesus lifted His hands and blessed them and ascended to heaven. They worshipped and returned to Jerusalem with great joy and were continually in the temple praising God.
They didn't started serving immediately. They waited to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
How seriously have you taken the command to be filled with the Holy Spirit before you begin serving.
Just in passing....
God shapes us before He uses us
*S* -Spiritually
*H* -Heart-
*A* -Abilities
*P* -Physically-
*E*-Experiences
Spiritually is our spiritual education and experience and knowledge of His word,
Heart refers to our attitudes, motives and will
Abilities refers to I natural abilities and talents and spiritual gifts
Physically refers to our wellbeing, height, and physical strength
Experience refers to our past experiences both good and bad.
The above are the ways God is seeking to shape us for His service.
You are blessed to be a blessing
Feel free to share
@Blessed Mshindi Mambo
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