JESUS OUR ALMIGHTY SAVIOUR
Acts 5:31
Morning Meditation 12/7/14
"Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."
I would like to take this text and examine our Lord's strength. Is He able by His own strength to save and keep us? The answer to this question is one of the most important one's that the Christian can find an answer to. There is great encouragement and comfort if the answer to this is positive. But if one is not for sure, he will be afraid of dying and afraid of living.
THE EXALTED ONE
Our text says, "Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour." The word "exalted" translates "hupsoo" and means, "to lift up on high, to exalt, to raise to dignity, honour and happiness." It is an aorist active indicative verb and means, "to raise at a point of time once and for all." We know when the resurrection took place. We also know when He was exalted. The apostles stood gazing into the heavens and he was taken up before their eyes. Acts 1:11 says, "Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."
This is a truth the apostles never forgot. They looked for His return all the days of their earthly lives. The early church was taught the truth of the rapture when our Lord would return and we would be reunited with our loved ones.
There is a motivation to holiness in the preaching and believing this truth. 1 John 3:1-3, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." The main application of this truth is stated in the words in verse 2 where John says, in 1 John 3:3, "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." This is a universal truth. It says, "And every man that hath this hope in him." Now that's not difficult to understand. It says, "And every man." He does not say, "In the faithful." Or, "In a certain church. It is for every man. If you are saved and He has made His mark on you, there will be no mistakes in the rapture. I'll tell you one thing He won't do in His bestowal of His everlasting mercy and grace, He will not descrimate in that day. If you are saved you will be lifted with a strong grip toward heaven! Someone hold my mules!!! Hallelujah!!!
God has exalted Him to be a Prince and a Saviour over the Nation of Israel. The word Prince translates, "archegos" and means, "the chief leader, prince, one that takes the lead in any thing and thus affords an example." The word "Saviour" archegos the chief leader, prince. One that takes the lead in any thing and thus affords an example, a predecessor in a matter, pioneer. The name was given by the ancients to deities, esp. tutelary deities, to princes, kings, and in general to men who had conferred signal benefits upon their country, and in more degenerate days by the way of flattery to personages of influence
All authority belongs to Christ. This is brought out in Matthew 28:18, "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." He said this at the time He was giving them the great commission. He wanted them to know that they had the authority from Him to preach the gospel and baptize the converts. And He wanted them to know that they were not forsaking their earthly responsibility when they gave themselves wholly to the ministry of the Word and prayer.
THE SOURCE OF THE CHURCH'S POWER
Psalms 40:2-3 says, "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD."
First the Psalmist tells us what He did. "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit." This is illustrating Him power to deliver. What did the Writer in the psalms say about what the LORD did for him? "He brought me up . . . out of an horrible pit." He possesses all power. He can speak the word and new worlds could come into existence. But it is not His Father's will to create new worlds. It is his will to subdue the world that we live on.
We neglect the most powerful weapon that we have against the enemy. Prayer is talked about and books are written about it but very little praying with results is being seen today. Jesus is the source of power for the Church. We do not pray with faith. And most of the time our prayers are hindered because we feel unworthy. Do you realize that we are given the opportunity to pray in Jesus name and we are promised results? Jesus said in John 14:13, "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." That is a great prayer promise. There are many others that I could mention but one is enough. Let's just admit, the world has distracted us so that our faith has been damaged to the point that we do not exercise faith. Most of the time we are surprised when God answers prayer.
