Author: Rick Henderson

Re:Verse passage – Acts 2:1-13, 36-47 (day seven)

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. vs 1

Pentecost was a Jewish feast held 50 days after Passover. It celebrated the firstfruits of the wheat harvest. Jewish tradition also taught that Pentecost marked the day when the Law was given to Israel. Was this a coincidence or was God planning this all along? Was He really putting all those pieces together to bring the nations to Jerusalem for this very moment for His Spirit to be outpoured and put on display? He gave us the Law to point us to Jesus. He gave us Jesus to fulfill the Law and point us to the Holy Spirit. He gave us the Holy Spirit to help us understand that Jesus is the God of the Old Testament.

Today we encounter that Same God. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. What will we see today? Will we see tongues of fire? Will we see baptism with the Holy Spirit? Will we see God move in our midst? We will! Because He is the Same God! How will you respond to the Holy Spirit today?

Re:Verse passage – Luke 24:45-53 (day seven)

Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. vs 45

Before they could go and preach the Gospel, Jesus helped them remove the barriers that were clouding their understanding. All of a sudden, Scripture came alive. They were remembering and understanding all that Jesus had taught and done. It was an “aha!” moment. Should it be a surprise that what followed was joy and obedience? Should it be a surprise that they began worshipping with boldness?

Yes, encountering the risen Christ and watching Him ascend into heaven had a big part to play in these things, but when Scripture comes alive in our hearts and minds we truly begin to change.

The unfolding of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple. Psalm 119:130

We were not present to see Him ascend into heaven, but we all have had those “aha!” moments where Scripture comes alive and we encounter the risen Christ through His word, with His Spirit. When we do, we cannot help but begin to change. Through Scripture we can find joy. Through His Word, we will become more obedient. With His Spirit we will worship with boldness.

Holy Spirit Come!

Re:Verse passage – John 16:5-16 (day seven)

But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away. John 16:7

W.W.J.D. took over the 90’s Christian Merch and Book Stores. Everyone had one of these bracelets, and I bet you did too! It was an easy way for us to ask ourselves “What Would Jesus Do?” It was intended to help us apply Jesus to every scenario of our day. It might be easy to poke fun at this trend, but it was a great tool to use for evangelism and personal growth. However, what we may or may not have recognized in the 90’s was that this whole concept has more to do with the Holy Spirit than it does Jesus as a person. It is only possible for us to walk like Jesus because He left us and sent His Spirit to guide us. When we rely on the Holy Spirit in every aspect of our life, it will appear as though we were doing what Jesus did as it makes us more like Him. Us asking “What Would Jesus Do?” is actually a sanctifying encounter with the Holy Spirit.

Maybe we should bring the fad back!

Re:Verse passage – John 21:1-19 (day seven)

And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.” John 21:17b

Today we honor over two dozen graduating seniors. You, church family, have loved them and poured into them to get them to this point. That is a part of why we honor them. We want you to celebrate with them in all that they have accomplished in their time with us.

Train up a child in the way he should go,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

The other part of this day, and maybe most important, is we are commissioning and sending these students out into their next stage of life to spread the Gospel to all the world. We have trained them so that they don’t depart from Him, but we also have trained them so they know the expanse of who Jesus is and will hear His calling to “Tend My Sheep!” Pray with me that they answer that call. Pray that they stay close to Jesus in the days ahead. Pray that they will be a part of revival!

Re:Verse passage – Luke 24:36:-43; John 20:26-29 (day seven)

And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?” Luke 24:38

Why do you doubt? It can be easy for us to try to pile it on the disciples. I often want to shout through the pages, “How can YOU be doubting? You walked with Him for years! Were you not watching? Were you not listening?” Yet, if I am honest, they had more reason to doubt than I do. They watched Him die. They were still expecting a political messiah. They did watch and did know He had the power to overcome death, so I’m sure they expected Him to stop the crucifixion. Also, can you imagine the emotions that they were going through? Anger, sadness, fear, anxiety, depression, and compound that with sleeplessness. They had reason to doubt.

This should be an encouragement to us. Jesus helped them process their doubts. Doubting is natural and expected in our faith journey. Even the people closest to Jesus doubted who He was, but because they had encountered the risen Messiah, He brought them back. You probably have had moments where you had doubts, questions, or concerns in your faith. Jesus is always faithful to help you process your doubts, but have to be open to Encounter Christ in the midst of your doubt. He will show you who He really is!

Re:Verse passage – Luke 24:13-35 (day seven)

But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. vs 16

I am posting this live at 2:00 am after a full weekend of Fiesta Festivities. I am thankful for a church that loves young people and understands the importance of their role in the church. I am thankful for youth and parents who know how important it is to work hard and generate income for our church and ministry. I am thankful that salvations will take place at Impact Camp because of the work we did this week. God is always at work! Even when our eyes don’t recognize it.

It is easy to find ourselves consumed by our own emotions and our own ideas that we don’t recognize the work of Jesus right in front of us. These guys had walked with Jesus before, they had been with Him in his ministry, but even they missed Jesus right in front of them. Where was Jesus at work in your life this week? What were the moments that you didn’t expect Him to be in, but that He showed up? Where could those places be this week?  Ask yourself these questions on a regular basis, and you might just see Jesus show up more often than you think. You need to train your eyes to recognize Him, because He is always at work!

Now I need sleep! See you in a few hours church family!

Re:Verse passage – John 20:1-18 (day seven)

The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first. vs 4

This line always cracks me up. John, in the middle of the most important story in the history of the universe, makes it a point to rub it in Peter’s face that he won the race to the empty tomb! We can assume based off Peter’s actions in other places in scripture that he is a hot headed, competitive individual. Of course John, the youngest of the disciples, is going to take his shot.

Don’t let it get lost in this humor, that John and Peter ran to the empty tomb! It probably wasn’t close by, and they ran the whole way. They understood that if the tomb really was empty, this was going to change everything! Unhindered, unashamed sprint to see Jesus… or the lack thereof… for now…

Does the empty tomb propel you to run? When you feel the world closing in around you and you need something to turn to, do you run to Jesus? When you run to Jesus, you will find that He is always good and faithful. So run, unhindered and unashamed!

Re:Verse passage – Luke 24:1-12 (day seven)

he went away to his home, marveling at what had happened. vs 12

Will you marvel today?

Will you marvel when praise fills the earth

as the sun breaks through?

When you see the flowered cross

and the empty tomb?

When sound of laughter and chatter

begins to resonate?

When the Word is opened and to you

the Spirit speaks straight?

Will you marvel when we all respond

in unison: He is Risen indeed?

Will you marvel tomorrow?

Will you marvel when there is no service

to point it out to you?

When you are back in the grind and just

trying to make it through?

When you find yourself at the mercy of

the tyranny of the urgent?

When the little things become big and

disciplines enter into deferment?

Will you marvel and find a way to respond

in unison: He is Risen indeed?