INTERESTING FACTS : Charles Finney, born Aug. 29, 1792, Warren, Conn., U.S. died Aug. 16, 1875, Oberlin, Ohio

 

American lawyer, president of Oberlin College, and a central figure in the religious revival movement of the early 19th century; he is sometimes called the first of the professional evangelists[1]

 

"[T]he time has come that Christians must vote for honest men and take consistent ground in politics or the Lord will curse them. . . . Christians have been exceedingly guilty in this matter. But the time has come when they must act differently. . . . Christians seem to act as if they thought God did not see what they do in politics. But I tell you He does see it - and He will bless or curse this nation according to the course they [Christians] take [in politics]."[2]

 

Daily Reading : LUKE 23 - 24

 

TEXT : Luke  24:13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.  24:14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.  24:15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.  24:16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.  24:17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?  24:18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?  24:19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:  24:20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.  24:21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.  24:22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;  24:23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.  24:24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.  24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:  24:26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?  24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.  24:28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.  24:29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.  24:30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.  24:31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.  24:32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?  24:33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,  24:34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

 

THEME : The Holy Scriptures

 

Luke 23 

 

This chapter carries on and concludes the history of Christ's sufferings and death. We have here,  I. His arraignment before Pilate the Roman governor (Luk_23:1-5).  II. His examination before Herod, who was tetrarch of Galilee, under the Romans likewise (Luk_23:6-12).  III. Pilate's struggle with the people to release Jesus, his repeated testimonies concerning his innocency, but his yielding at length to their importunity and condemning him to be crucified (Luk_23:13-25).  IV. An account of what passed as they led him to be crucified, and his discourse to the people that followed (Luk_23:26-31).  V. An account of what passed at the place of execution, and the indignities done him there (Luk_23:32-38).  VI. The conversion of one of the thieves, as Christ was hanging on the cross (Luk_23:39-43).  VII. The death of Christ, and the prodigies that attended it (Luk_23:44-49).  VIII. His burial (Luk_23:50-56).  (Matthew Henry)[3]

 

Luke 24 

 

Our Lord Jesus went gloriously down to death, in spite of the malice of his enemies, who did all they could to make his death ignominious; but he rose again more gloriously, of which we have an account in this chapter; and the proofs and evidences of Christ's resurrection are more fully related by this evangelist than they were by Matthew and Mark. Here is,  I. Assurance given by two angels, to the woman who visited the sepulchre, that the Lord Jesus was risen from the dead, according to his own word, to which the angels refer them (Luk_24:1-7), and the report of this to the apostles (Luk_24:8-11).  II. The visit which Peter made to the sepulchre, and his discoveries there (Luk_24:12).  III. Christ's conference with the two disciples that were going to Emmaus, and his making himself known to them (v. 13-35).  IV. His appearing to the eleven disciples themselves, the same day at evening (Luk_24:36-49).  V. The farewell he gave them, his ascension into heaven, and the joy and praise of his disciples whom he left behind (Luk_24:50-53).  (Matthew Henry)[4]

 

TRUTH FOR TODAY : "GOD MUST OPEN YOUR EYES." 

 

There is an exceptionally important truth found in Luke chapter 24.  It is so vital it is accented twice.  In fact, this truth is somewhat stunning to the intellect.   Namely, the Holy Scriptures, seemingly plain enough and clear in its statements, in reality, must have God the Holy Spirit working in the mind and heart of those who read the Bible in order to understand it.  Once again, this truth is not apparent on the surface.  Nor do too many people grasp this significant principle of God.  Yet, without it people either remain ignorant of the truth, or they do not "rightly divide" the word of truth.  Even when a study of the Scriptures is required, one still needs the Holy Spirit to illuminate the mind.  (2Ti_2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.)

 

Thus, in the text above, you read of two disciples of Jesus walking on the road discussing all the events of Jesus' trial, beating, and crucifixion.  It is Sunday, or the Lord's Day, the first day of the week.  These men, were not only students of Jesus (a disciple is a "student" or "pupil"), but no doubt, students of the Scriptures as well.  Therefore, you would expect these men who traveled and listened to Jesus to have a full understanding of what the crucifixion meant.  However, this is obviously not the case.  These two disciples were distressed and perplexed.  Oddly enough, so were the Apostles.  You see this after Jesus' resurrection, when he appears to the Apostles.  Jesus does the same thing as he did to the other two disciples.  Jesus-"opened their understanding that they might understand the scriptures."

 

Luk 24:35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. Luk 24:36  And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. Luk 24:37  But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. Luk 24:38  And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Luk 24:39  Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. Luk 24:40  And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. Luk 24:41  And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? Luk 24:42  And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. Luk 24:43  And he took it, and did eat before them. Luk 24:44  And he said unto them, 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.

 

Therefore, you have been before you this fact.  You need to pray that God would grant you understanding of the Holy Scriptures that once again, seems so plain and clear on the surface.  Further, the Holy Scriptures are amazingly plain and clear.  However, sin has a way of affecting the intellect so that the intelligence and ability to understand is clouded.  Also, the Holy Scriptures are moral in nature.  That is, the Scriptures pertain to the holiness of God and the sinfulness of Man. Many people, have problems with the Holy Scriptures because of God's insistence on obedience and conformity to His standards, principles, and laws.  Also, in the New Testament, you read of God's plan in the New Covenant.  God is conforming His people (the Church) into the image of his Son Jesus Christ.  With this in mind, we see the principle of the need of the Holy Spirit to open the "eyes "of the understanding, since so many professing Christians do not know what God is doing in their lives; namely, conforming them into the image  of Jesus.  For instance, look at the statement of King David in Psalm 119:18.

 

"Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law." (Psalm 119:18)

 

One would think that the Law of Moses is apparent and straightforward.  However, the same Holy Spirit who inspired King David to write the 119th Psalm states that King David prayed to have his eyes opened.  (The designation of the word "eyes" refers to the eyes on the inside, or the "inner man." The spiritual man, or simply "the spirit," has eyes, ears, a tongue, etc. and so forth, and all the other faculties of the "outer man," or the physical body.) Again, this request may seem strange. Some people think, if you can see it with your physical eyes, then you can see it with your spiritual eyes.  Yet, as stated, there is a need for the Holy Spirit to help you understand. Therefore, the need for the elucidation and insight of the Holy Spirit is not strange all. Further, to request to have your spiritual eyes opened is not a foreign concept to those who (already) understand.  That is, to those who have had their eyes opened by God the Holy Spirit, they know-you know, this truth, by experience.   You already know how God enlightens the inner man, by his own power.  

 

How many times  have you read the same passage of Scripture until one day you " see" something that you read (" saw ") perhaps a thousand times before?  The verse of Scripture before you - the same words, in the same place, on the same page,  one day "jumps " off the page.  There is no change whatsoever in the Scripture or what it states. In all your prior readings, not a thing has changed.  Yet, when you saw the passage or passages in times past, the words somehow never made sense to you, or did not have the impact they did on the day the  Holy Spirit opened your eyes.  This is a common experience for every person truly born of the Spirit of God.  Thus, you can identify with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, as well as the Apostles.

 

For this reason, the Holy Scriptures must be approached with humility  meekness in order to be understood.

 

Jas_1:21b..."receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls."

 

As you read the Bible, pray.   Ask God as King David did to - "open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of your Book." God must open your eyes.  This is not the work of any man.  It is not the prerogative of the pastor, the evangelist, the apostle or prophet to open your eyes.  It is the work of God.  God must open your eyes.  Then, you will see Jesus - raised from the dead and coming again!  You will see Jesus as King of kings and LORD of lords!  You will understand the world around you, your place in it (that is, the reason you were born and what God has for you to do), and of Jesus as the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity.  Truly, God must open your eyes.  For the days in which we live clearly indicate - He is coming soon.  Even so, come LORD Jesus!