Jesus spent 40 days with His disciples teaching them and opening up their understanding of the Scriptures. After His ascension, they followed Jesus’ instructions and tarried 10 days making it 50 days total from Passover (the day of His death) until the Day of Pentecost. What was He teaching?
Luke 24:22-27 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, who were early at the sepulcher; 23 And when they found not His body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that He was alive. 24 And certain of them who were with us went to the sepulcher, and found it even so as the women had said: but Him they saw not. 25 Then He said unto them, O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself. (NKJ)
Luke 24:44-53 And He said unto them, These are the words which I spoke 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 was fit for 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 you are witnesses of these things. 49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry you in the city of Jerusalem, until you are endued with power from on high. 50 And He led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up His hands, and blessed them. 51 And it came to pass, While He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
Matthew 28:16-20 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17 And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him: but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (NKJ) tēros, “a guard”) – properly, maintain (preserve); (figuratively) spiritually guard (watch), keep intact.
Mark 16:14-20 Afterward He appeared unto the eleven as they sat at table, and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them who had seen Him after He was risen. 15 And He said unto them, Go you into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be condemned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20 And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. (NKJ)
Acts 1:1-9 The former book have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen: 3 To whom also he showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, said He, you have heard of Me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. 6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying, Lord, will you at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And He said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in His own power. 8 But you shall receive power, after the Holy Spirit has come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 9 And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight. (NKJ)
To do anything less than what you were created to do will bore you. You have a purpose. He has a plan.
Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, in which is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; (NKJ)
Most Christians struggle to believe everything in the Bible is true because they’ve seen many things in the natural world which seem to contradict God’s promises. They’ve seen tithers go broke. They’ve seen sick Christians fail to receive healing. The devil is a deceiver – a thief, murderer, and destroyer (John 10:10). He is the father of lies and the truth is not in him because he speaks of himself (John 8:44). From the very beginning, he tricked people into believing God’s Word is not true. He wants you to believe God’s word won’t work for you. (Example of sawing a person in half)
All you need to do to cause your harvest to fail is nothing. If a farmer neglects his field, the weeds will take it over.
Proverbs 8:23 Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. (ESV) Neglect = avoid, dismiss, refuse, or ignore.
Psalm 119:16 I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect (*forget) your word. (NIV) *KJV
Hebrews 2:3-4 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him; 4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? (NKJ)
