Christians Together Haslingden

 Jesus the strong arm of God  

A  policeman stopped the young speeding motorist. “I’ve been waiting for you coming,” The young motorist said, “Well, I got here as fast  as I could.”                                                

The Policeman  as he gave him a speeding ticket said, “3 of these and you get a bycle.”                                                                                                           

The word the Lord gave me for today  Isaiah 63: 12 “The Lord who caused his glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses.” The strong arm of God held the rod in Moses’ hand. 

The rod was made of almond wood, and it was used to demonstrate the power of God in defeating the Egyptian gods and when he lifted up the rod the Dead Sea parted.                                                                                                                                                      

So the strong arm of the Lord is where God takes hold of a situation and uses his almighty power to bring victory.   

’The arm of the Lord,’ is one of a number of titles of the Messiah, “To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed,” Isaiah 53: 1

Jesus is the arm of God. 

He demonstrated his power over the spirit behind the idolatry, in the wilderness he was tempted by the devil to worship him. The devil offered him all the kingdoms of the world if he would fall down and worship him. Jesus responded, “Be gone Satan! “For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.” Matthew 4: 8-10. 

Jesus the arm of God has the power to heal, “And the crowd sought to touch him, for power came forth from him and he healed them all." 

The woman with a hemorrhage, it ceased when she touched Jesus’ garments. “And perceiving in himself that power had gone forth from him immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments.” Mark 5: 25-34. 

In saying that Jesus was the strong hand of the Lord, Isaiah wrote that the Christ would be gentle and kind. “A bruised reed he wouldn’t break.” In his ministry his power was used to witness that God’s hand was at work, to bear the fruit of love. But the Jews were expecting the Messiah to bring in the ruling rod of iron. 

Psalm 2: 8 “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron." 

Isaiah 11: 4 “He will smite the nations, with the rod of his mouth." 

Psalm 98: 1-9 “His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him." 

Due to this expectation the Jews were dubious about Jesus.”How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ tell us plainly.” John 10: 24. 

John quoted from Isaiah 53: 1 “Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed,” John 12: 38. 

The Messiah’s Secret Revealed. The Jews had not understood what Jesus was about, it was hidden from them. 
Paul wrote in his first  letter to the Corinthians 2: 7,8 “But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glorification. None of the rulers of this age understood this: for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." 

Jesus is the strong arm of the Lord; He was God’s means of victory over him who held the power over death, the devil. He bore all the sins of the world and was victorious in his death and resurrection.                                                                                                                                                   

The church the body of Christ, Jesus the strong arm of God lifts up the crucified church.  

The wooden cross like the rod of Moses has been used by God to do the most amazing thing that could happen to anyone. Through repentance and faith in Jesus crucified, we receive sins forgiven and the door to eternal life opens. The Holy Spirit is working in the world drawing people to hear the message of the cross.                                                                                                       

Lord, inspire us in ways that will bring people to faith in Jesus, open a window of opportunity to tell of his dying love, his faithfulness, his abundant blessings and our hope in eternal life. In Jesus name. Amen

Messiah’s Secret Revealed Continued 

The strong arm of God was seen in action in the life of the early church.  

On the evening of the day of his resurrection in the upper room Jesus breathed on his disciples the Holy Spirit and he gave them authority to retain or forgive the sins of any. John 20: 23. 

Sins retained was carried out by Peter when Ananias and Sapphira lied over the proceeds of the sale of the land. They had agreed to give the proceeds to the community at Jerusalem. They in turn came before Peter and fell down and died at Peter's feet. (Adam and Eve of the New Testament) Acts 5

Was this the ruling rod of iron? Jesus had left his servants in charge until he returned. Mark 13: 34 

The early church had this expectation that Jesus would return soon after Pentecost bringing in the kingdom of God taking up again with Israel and rule the nations with a rod of iron.  

Jesus had said, that there were some standing here who would see the kingdom come in power. He also said, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Mark 9: 1. 13: 32  

His return was dependent on Israel’s leaders accepting him as the Messiah after Pentecost. Peter standing outside the Gate Beautiful with John said to the crowd, that they and their rulers had acted in ignorance when they crucified their Messiah and if they would repent their sins would be blotted out and he would bring in the times of refreshing and the appointed Christ, Jesus. Acts 3: 17-21.                                                                                                                                                                                                   

The times of refreshing the restoration of the throne and kingdom of King David the year of the Jubilee.

The Jews today are in the year of Jubilee and are celebrating Passover this week.

Clearly the early churches expectation did not happen Jesus did not return within the life time of the apostles and the ruling rod of iron is not part of the churches ministry today. 

John in his book Revelation wrote of Jesus’ return accompanied with “The armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, followed him on the white horse. From his mouth issues a sharp sword with which he will smite the nations and he will rule them with a rod of iron.” Revelation 19: 14, 15.  This has yet to be fulfilled.