Scripture Reading: Isaiah 46:9, 10

Page 1 of 3

Christs Final Instruction.

{Explain briefly about the Sealing & waiting for the Outpouring of the Latter Rain.} We have heard this possibly hundreds of times. What is lacking in the church today is What are some of the answers you have heard? Probably the most fundamental answer is a closer walk with Christ. This is a true statement, but I think we need to take a closer look at what this means. How do we achieve this closer walk with Jesus? Reading the Bible and prayer are definitely great answers, but we need to consider some things. The disciples walked and talked with Jesus for 3 years. That is a lot better than being able to read the Bible and pray, right? Was their close walk and talk with Jesus before His death enough to convert them and to equip them, making them effective missionaries? Consider their actions: they fall asleep and run away; cutoff an ear and deny Him? Why were they so sad when Christ had accomplished His mission? Did the disciples see what really set Jesus apart from all other spiritual leaders that ever existed in the past or would ever come up in the future? Lets turn together to

Luke 21:7-9. This, Christs final recorded conversation with the disciples before the Last Supper, provides evidence of His concern. Notice Jesus concern that they not be deceived and follow the return of a false Christ. READ. I believe Jesus stayed on earth after His resurrection for a very good reason. Consider the response of the disciples to the news that Jesus had risen: Luke 24:10, 11. You can tell that Jesus knew the disciples did not get the full picture. READ. For forty days Christ remained on the earth, preparing the disciples for the work ahead of them and explaining the things that until then they had not been able to understand. What did they not understand? Let me give you something important to consider. Remember that after Jesus was raised from the dead, He was no longer confined to circumstances, as a man among men, as He was before His death. His actions, His revelations to His disciples are very deliberate, with great meaning and implications for us today. Now lets consider our first story. Remember Cleopas and his companion on the road to Emmaus, the day Jesus arose from the tomb. Did these two disciples recognize Jesus when He joined them on the road? Lets look together at Luke 24:15-16. READ. [Their eyes were restrained.] (Verses 17-19) How does Cleopas refer to Jesus; what does he call Him? [A Prophet]

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 46:9, 10 Read verses 20-24. Ok! Here comes the important part. Pay attention to what Jesus says. (Verses 25-27) What does Jesus call these disciples who have walked and talked with Him? [Fools] Why does He call them fools? Here is our first main point. Through His actions, Jesus shows that it is more important for His disciples to understand Himself through the prophecies than for them to see and know Him personally by their side. Now, lets go to the second point of contact Jesus made with His disciples. Turn with me to Luke 24:44-45. READ. By the prophetic writings of Moses and the other prophets Christ himself clearly proved the identity of Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah, which means the Anointed One. He showed that from the days of Adam it was the voice of Christ that had been speaking through the patriarchs and prophets. Christ explained to them the prophecies of His advent, His rejection by the Jews, and His death, showing that every detail of these prophecies had been fulfilled. He told them that they were to consider this fulfillment of prophecy as a guarantee of the power that would support them in their future work. Now, continue reading verses 46-48.

Page 2 of 3

Now, which prophecy does Jesus refer to here directly saying, Thus it is written? Where can we find this Old Testament prophecy Jesus is referring to? I will show you what the Lord has led me to understand. Some argue that the Old Testament Prophets writings, which anciently applied to very literal events, cannot apply prophetically to events surrounding Jesus first or second coming. However, in the passage Jesus was actually referring to Jonah 1:17. This is a very literal text with a literal meaning, but it is also a prophecy. Scholars would argue against it as a prophecy if it were not for the fact that Jesus Himself confirms it in Matthew 12:40. So, from this we learn a second main point that Jesus presents to us. Prophets can be writing about literal events which occurred in ancient times, and at the same time be prophesying events pertaining to Jesus first or second coming. Forty days with Jesus as the prophecy instructor imagine what an experience that would be. What did such an experience do for the disciples? All that three and a half years living with Jesus could not. During those days that Jesus spent with His disciples, they reached a new level in their Christian experience. Their faith in Him was made completely secure as they heard the Scriptures explained; each event that had happened was put in its proper place in the prophetic time-line. The disciples reached the place where they

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 46:9, 10 could say the words, "I know whom I have believed." as we find recorded in 2 Timothy 1:12. Jesus left His disciples with one simple instruction after giving them His lessons on prophecy. We find it in our final verse, Luke 24:49. READ. Here we see that once Jesus had ensured that His disciples had a clear understanding of prophecy, there was nothing left but to wait together in unity. Remember, Jesus had said that the fulfillment of prophecy is the guarantee of the power that would support them. With faith in Christs words, they only had to await the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, in its Early-Rain power, which would seal them for their work. For years I have heard people asking, What do we need in order to receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and to be sealed? I have heard many sermons and read many articles where people are saying, What is lacking is this or that. A closer walk with Jesus is definitely needed. So is prayer and reading the Word and even the inspired writings of Ellen White. They are all great things. But, what did Jesus point out as the lack of His disciples that kept them at a lower level of Christian experience? Think about it; they walked with Him, talked with Him, prayed with Him, and even worked miracles in His name. How could anything be lacking? What could possibly be lacking?

Page 3 of 3

Well, here we are waiting to be seal with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in its Latter-Rain power so that we can finish the final work. What is lacking? >>> The fact is that the only thing that sets true Christians, who are following the true Christ, apart from all other imitations of true religion is prophecy. We must be following the true Christ of Prophecy, and not some cosmic christ of the world, as is popular in today, even in most churches. In conclusion, what are the two points Jesus wishes for you to learn before the sealing is complete? 1. It is more important for you to understand Christ through the prophecies than for you to see Him, or to know that He is personally by your side. 2. You should study the Prophets writings considering that literal historic events may, at the same time, be prophesying events pertaining to Christs first or second coming. [If any hear today would like join a group to study the prophecies together, please come to the front as where I will offer a prayer for the Holy Spirits guidance. Then we will make plans to accomplish the instruction.]