Time Alone With God

           
This past Sunday, we celebrated the greatest
event ever…the resurrection of Christ! I would like to take some time in
Matthew 28 this week, to look a little more in detail of what that
resurrection meant and means style="mso-spacerun: yes">  for today.

style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Read
href="http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?passage=Matthew+28%3A+1-4&NIV_version=yes&language=english">Matthew
28: 1-4 (Later referred to as Mat.)

           
If you will remember, the stone was rolled in
front of the tomb and guarded to keep the followers of Jesus away from Him.
Those stones usually weighed 1-2 ˝ tons and would be rolled into a rut in
order to keep the stone there. It literally would take numerous people to move
the stone. Re-read verse 2. The angel of the
Lord rolled back the stone and style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">sat on it!

           
I remember as a child wrestling with my older
brothers until someone would defeat the other by sitting on them, not letting
them up until the one on the bottom yelled, "Only Thou Art Great" style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">." The
key to victory was sitting on the opponent. In the same manner, God has
defeated that which separated the disciples from Jesus by sitting on the
object. For Mary and the other followers, they saw the stone as a barrier,
while God saw it as a place to sit for the angel.

           
God can take any " style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">barrier"
in your life and use it for whatever He wants! It does not have to continue to
be a barrier in your life. In fact, read this great promise: style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Romans
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">8:28
style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">And style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> we know that in all
things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been
called according to His purpose. 

style="mso-tab-count: 1; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">           
Close your style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Time Alone class="GramE">With God by giving your " style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">stone" to
God and asking Him to use it to style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">His
glory! Ask Him to bring good out of the situation. Remember, that if you want
God to bring good out of the " style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">barrier"
in your life, you must love Jesus, and seek to please Him in that particular
situation. The tendency is to seek to please ourselves and what we think would
be the most beneficial for us. This is not what style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Romans
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">8:28
tells us. Spend some time in prayer asking God to take over those areas in
your life that you seem to want to control. style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">

 

style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> face="Arial">Day Two

           
If you are like me, when times are rough it
doesn't take much for me to share those times with others. All someone needs
to ask me is how things are style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">really
going for me. The problem comes when I fail to share how God works out the
situation for me later. It sure is easy to talk about the difficult times and
then forget to let others know how God has answered my prayer concerns.

style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Read
href="http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NIV&passage=Mat.+28%3A+4-10">Mat.
28: 4-10

           
There were several things that took place after
the stone " style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">barrier"
was removed. style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">First, the
women were asked to personally see how God had worked in that situation. It is
a fact that you can't give away what you don't have. How in the world can
you share about the love of Christ when you have not experienced it? How can
you tell others about the peace of God when you are not experiencing it? How
can you tell others about the power of God's Word in your life when you are
not reading it? style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Second, the
women were told to tell other people about the miracle of God. It was style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">not
simply suggested that they think about telling others! To tell others was an
imperative. When God works in our lives, we are obligated to share the news
with others. You may not know what an encouragement you may be to someone when
you share what God has done in your life! This is why it is style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">so
important that you invest in the lives around you. The tough times you are
going through can be used to help others. style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">2 Cor. 1:3-7
style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Praise be to the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of
all comfort,  [4] who comforts us
in all our troubles, so that style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">we can comfort those
in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. style="mso-spacerun: yes">  [5] For just as the sufferings of
Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. style="mso-spacerun: yes">  [6] If we are distressed, style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> it is for your
comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">it is for your comfort,
which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. style="mso-spacerun: yes">  [7] And our hope for you is firm,
because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in
our comfort. 

           
I don't know if you've given much thought
to the fact that the difficult times that you've gone through could be used
to help others, style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">but you have the
potential to be a strong force of God in bringing healing and comfort to
others. style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Third, God
goes style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">before us
in all of our lives. style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Deut. 31:8 class="GramE"> style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> LORD Himself goes
before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do
not be afraid; do not be discouraged." style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> Hebrews
6:19 style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> It enters the inner
sanctuary behind the curtain, 

style="mso-tab-count: 1; font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">           
Both verses communicate that Jesus can be counted upon to stay with
us and to be our strength. You may have noticed in verse 8 that the women left
filled with joy and yet were afraid. I think that may be a natural response to
the unknown, style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">but there was no
reason for them to be afraid. In fact, notice what happened in
verse 9. style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Jesus revealed Himself
to them! He did not have to reveal Himself to them for He was there
with them anyway, but He knew what their needs were.

           
Go back and look at the three points of this
study again and see if any of them need applying to your life. Have you been
guilty of trying to share something with others when you really don't
possess what you're attempting to give away? Have you been guilty of sharing
the bad times but not sharing when God meets your needs? Do you need to share
with others what God has been doing in your life. style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Three, have
you been feeling that you are all alone and that God is not aware of your
problems? Maybe you need to thank Him for His constant presence in your life
even when you can't see Him. style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">

 

style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> face="Arial">Day Three

           
Over the past couple of days we've been
looking at the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. What is incredible to
me is that even back then, people were devising a
plan to try to " style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">explain away"
the miracle of Christ's resurrection.

style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Read
href="http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NIV&passage=Mat.+28%3A+11-15">Mat.
28: 11-15

           
The story that was concocted is unbelievable!
Back then, when soldiers were guarding something, 4 men would stand back to
back while eight other soldiers would sleep at their feet getting ready to
take their turn at guard. Also, if what they were guarding some how slipped
away from them, they would be put to death. There was much pressure put upon
the soldiers. Keep in mind that the disciples had pretty much disappeared at
this time. There is no record that they were closely watching the grave. Plus,
I would question how much confidence they had at this time. We read later on
before Jesus appeared to them that they were meeting in a locked room afraid
of being seen. Now that doesn't sound like a group of men who could take
over 12 trained soldiers in order to steal a body does it?

           
If the disciples really did steal the body,
then in order to stop Christianity, all the religious leaders would need to do
would be to produce the body. That certainly could have been done over any
length of time.

           
If Jesus did not really rise from the grave,
and it was the disciples who stole the body, I believe that someone would have
told the truth before too long. One style="mso-spacerun: yes"> reason that I believe this is
that nearly all the disciples died a martyrs death. Can you imagine dying for
a lie? Would you give your life away for a lie? I don't think anybody would
withstand being tortured for something that was not true. It would be hard
enough to be tortured for truth.

           
Why would I spend all this time on this
matter? Because you need to be reminded that you have a God who has overcome
that which no one else has overcome - DEATH! We keep trying to avoid death,
and Jesus stood up to it and overcame it! Whatever you are facing, God can
overcome it! Close your style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Time Alone class="GramE">With God by thanking Him for His care in your
life and His ability to handle whatever you are facing.

 

style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> face="Arial">Day Four

 

Have
you ever found yourself thinking, " style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">if only I could style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> see
Jesus or style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">hear
from Him audibly, I would never doubt or question Him?" I am
not convinced that seeing or hearing Him would make any long term difference
to most people. Read about the disciples and think about their encounter and
response.

style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Read
href="http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NIV&passage=Mat.+28%3A+16-17">Mat.
28: 16-17

The
disciples were faithful to do what Jesus had told them to do and in the
process of being obedient, they saw Him. Maybe that statement needs to be read
again. It is in the process of being obedient that Jesus reveals Himself to
us. When the disciples saw Him, they worshipped Him! Let me pause for a moment
and ask you what was your last response to Christ when He revealed Himself to
you? That revelation may not have been an actual vision of Christ, but could
have been a health issue answered, or a relationship renewed, or a financial
need met, etc. The question is, " style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">how did you respond to
Christ when He met that need?" Maybe before we go any further,
you need to stop and confess your late arrival in thanking and worshipping
Him. It is so easy to forget to praise God for His work in our lives. We tend
to be very aware of the need for God in our lives when we have a need, and
then forget about Him when the problem is gone.

Reread
verse 17b. Even after Jesus had risen from the dead, even after He had
revealed Himself to the disciples, even after they had worshipped Him, there
were some who doubted Him! How could they? Now, before we come down too hard
on the disciples, let's think about our reaction/response in the last " style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">crisis"
we had. Did you trust that Jesus would meet all your needs without worrying
and doubting? The point I would like make is that style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Christ's devotion and
love to believers is not contingent style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">upon their
faithfulness to Him. He is faithful even when we are not!

I'm not
exactly sure how to close this style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Time Alone class="GramE">With God with you today. You may need to close
the time in praise of His faithfulness to you. Or, you may need to spend some
time in confessing your sin of forgetfulness and doubting before you worship
Him for His faithfulness. Aren't you glad that God remains faithful to you at
all times?

 

style="mso-tab-count: 1">                                                                      
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> name="5">Day Five

style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> face="Arial">
 

There
rarely is a week that passes by when I don't have someone ask me how they can
discover God's Will for their lives. What you will read about today is the
over arching will of Christ for every person.

style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Read
href="http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?language=english&version=NIV&passage=Mat.+28%3A19-20">Mat.
28:19-20

Jesus
begins by style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> commanding
not suggesting or pleading for believers to share their faith. The word " style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">go"
literally reads, " style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">...as you are going"
make disciples. The word " style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">make" is
an imperative. Wherever we go, we are commanded to make disciples! We are to
live and speak in such a way that people will see Jesus in us. Can this be
said about you? Are you letting others see Jesus in you style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">wherever
you go? Are you seeing the places you go on a daily basis as a God-sized
initiation to share your faith? Would the people who are around you be
surprised to know that you are committed to Christ?

Notice
what else Jesus commanded us to do. We are to style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">passionately
develop them to be fully devoted followers of Christ. We are
not let their growth in Christ be left to chance. We are to intentionally seek
to lead and equip people to follow Christ. Let me also say that there is no
age qualification put on this. As long as God sees fit to keep you here on
planet earth, your job is clear. You are to influence others for the

kingdom
of
God

.

If
God's only will for you and me was to spend eternity in heaven, then the
moment we accepted Christ into our lives we would be " style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">beamed"
up to heaven. But that is only a part of God's will. style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Matthew 5:16 class="GramE"> style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">In style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> the same way, let
your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your
Father in heaven. 

Close
your style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Time Alone class="GramE">With God by asking Jesus to help you see the
opportunities to talk to someone about Christ. Make it a goal to speak to
someone style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">today about
Christ. Maybe just sharing a style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Time Alone class="GramE">With God sheet with them might open up a
chance to talk about Christ.

style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Luke
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">12:12
style="FONT-STYLE: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> ...for the Lord will
give you the very words that you are to speak...