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4-17-2022 Weekly Message

Meditation of the Week: Psalm 91:1-16

Text: Acts 1:1-11

Sermon Title: Easter Message (The power of resurrection of Jesus to restore the kingdom of God  in heaven and earth)

       Only after Jesus died to take away the sins of the world (our sins) (John 1:29), was buried, went down to hell, and then rose again on the third day,  the earth that had been taken by the old serpent, the devil 6,000 years ago in the Garden of Eden to be restored in heaven and earth as his kingdom.. He stayed for forty days before ascending to heaven and taught his disciples about the restoration of the kingdom of God.

       Restoring the kingdom of God on earth means that because of the sin of the first man, Adam, the spirit of Adam and Eve died because of their sin, and their souls as living ones also lost their salvation and lost the image of God. But man shall be restored as the image of God again as well as all things that were cursed  because of Adam’s sin.

        God planned the earth to restore as the one created in the beginning  by taking away all sin, death and curses through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. For this, Jesus first had to die for the sin of the world. Apostle Paul testified of what Jesus has done by his death:

“And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” (Colossians 2:13-15).

         Jesus also  removed the curse that the old serpent the Devil brought to the world. Apostle Paul testified of this:

” Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:” (Galatians 3:13).

        It is not the shape of the cross that Jesus was crucified in the issue, but the fact that he died on a wooden cross is very important. It is because of the curse brought by Satan that those who commit suicide hang their heads on the tree.

        Finally, Jesus had to overcome death. The devil is the one who has the power of death, so after Jesus died and rose again, he had to overcome the devil, that has the power of death to give life. Apostle Paul testified of this truth:

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Hebrews 2:14-15).

        That’s right! To save those who have lost the image of God and become sinners, who are living as slaves under the devil, who has the power of sin and death. To restore man to the image of God, Jesus died according to the  scriptures for our sins and was buried and rose again the third day according to the scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:1-3).

        After his resurrection, Jesus made very important words to his disciples:

” These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.48 And ye are witnesses of these things.” (Luke 24:45-48).

         We have to understand the gospel contained in the words of Jesus that “repentance and remission of sins” should be proclaimed. In other words, people must first repent for not believing in Jesus who died and rose again for their sins, curses, and death. Before He died to save everyone in the world from the sins of all the Law, He foretold that the Holy Ghost will rebuke, ” Of sin, because they believe not on me;“ (John 16:9).

       Jesus gave the message to his disciples saying all sins shall be forgiven through repentance to believe in Jesus in all the heart upon hearing of Jesus who took away sin, death and curses.  

         Jesus said these things before he ascended to heaven, so that by giving the Holy Ghost to those who repent and receive forgiveness of sins, their souls shall be saved and their spirits shall be born again, so that the kingdom of God may come in the heart of man  in the Holy Ghost.

       The first thing Jesus spoke about the kingdom  of God is that the spiritual kingdom of God  that would come in them who are saved through repentance and remission of sins. The second one shall be coming when Jesus opens the gates of heaven and returns to the earth to establish His kingdom on the earth, the Kingdom of Christ that is the kingdom of heaven that will come visibly and physically in the land of Israel.

        At that time, the disciples knew only of the restoration of the kingdom in the land of Israel, so when he spoke of the coming of the Holy Ghost that is the Father’s promise, they could not understand the will of God who planned to spread the gospel of grace to all the earth for the coming two thousand years. Therefore they asked, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?“ (Acts 1:6).

         God had not revealed the gospel of grace to his disciples until he revealed it to  Apostle Paul. For this reason, Jesus said to the disciples, ” It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:7-8),

      Finally, on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Ghost came upon them, they received power and were able to speak the gospel of Christ boldly to the Jews. Peter, empowered, boldly preached the gospel to the Jews:

“Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:…. Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.…. Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.…. Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.“ (Acts 2:14, 22). ,23,24,27,38)

       Jesus called Apostle Paul and commissioned him to preach this gospel of the grace of Christ not only to Jews but also to all Gentiles:

” For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16).

        Apostle Paul also testified of what the kingdom of God would be like for those who repent and believe in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins:

” For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.” (Romans 14:17-19)

         Regenerated Christians, who have received the kingdom  of God in the Holy Ghost shall be taken up to the house of God the Father in heaven to meet him on the day of Christ’s appearance (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, 1 Corinthians 15). :51-54, Phil 4:20-21)

         Before the second coming of Jesus Christ, God will cast out the devil with his angels to the earth (Rev. 12:7-9) Jesus will cast the Beat that is the Antichrist as well as false prophet alive into the lake of fire(Rev. 19:20). The Lord Jesus will cast the devil into the bottomless pit for thousand years, and cast him into the lake of fire after the Millennium kingdom of Christ.(Rev. 20:3, 10).

        Then, the New heaven and the New earth shall be the kingdom of God forever (Rev. 21:1)

  New people shall dwell in Jerusalem on earth, and the church of God shall dwell in the New Jerusalem in heaven as the bride of Christ praising God forever.

Amen! Hallelujah!