Friday, February 16, 2018

February 17, 2018

"Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20

Running low on hope today?

I have days like that.

Probably everyone does.

That's why it is crucial to understand where hope comes from and how to restore it.

I have identified two sources of hope from this portion of Scripture already. First, there is the hope from the Resurrection! There are many tombs in Israel. Abraham and Sarah are buried there! Isaac and Rebekah are buried there! Jacob and Rachel and their twelve sons are buried there. Moses is buried there. King David and Solomon are buried there. You
 get the picture, right? But there is only one grave that is empty and that is the one where Jesus was buried! He is alive! He arose from the dead on the third day! Come see! Go tell!

Second, there is the hope from the Relationship! Leaving the empty tomb filled with joy and hope the women ran into the resurrected Jesus! Knowing that Jesus is alive is wonderful but living in relationship with Him makes it real! They embraced Him! The worshiped Him! The talked with Him! He was indeed alive! And after their intimate and inspiring moments of fellowship with joy fully restored Jesus said, "Go tell!"

Come see!

Go tell!

That is how hope is restored!

But there is one more reason for hope! There is the hope 

After the women went to tell the disciples of the Risen Jesus, they became hopeful but responded to the invitation to "Come see"! Going to Galilee with great anticipation they hoped to see their Risen Lord!

The third reason for hope the hope of revival!

Jesus met His disciples in Galilee and they worshiped together. They were strengthened in their faith and encouraged in their spirit as they realized everything He had told them and taught them as true! So everything He promised them was reliable! His Kingdom was coming! His will would be done!

So, after Jesus told them "come see" He told them "go tell"! They were commanded to go into all the world and tell what they had seen! He gave them all of the authority He had over every opposing spirits and assured them that many would believe in Him! And those who believed in Him were to learn obedience. These disciples were to literally reproduce their faith in the lives of those who believed their witness!

Luke gives further insight into this "come see" gathering with the resurrected Jesus:


"In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:1-8

There it is again, "Come see" - "Go tell!" And when done obediently and sincerely and in the Spirit "Come see" - "Go tell" brings revival! It results in reproduction!

Knowing Heaven awaits us gives us hope, but we need hope before Heaven! We need hope until Heaven! And we find that hope in four words - "Come see" - "Go tell"!