Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / April 23, 1987, edition 1 / Page 12
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„ introduction P <^rning^.Talem aWoke t0 a dismal procession go mg to CBWBry. While word was spreading and crowds gath ered, Jesus was nailed to a cross and lifted up to die. Scarce was the sun up on the first day of the week when Mary Magdalene raced gnef-stricken to tell Peter and John that - i?8us wa8 Bone. They checked and found it was true Meanwhile other women were telling other disciples about • fngels who said Jesus had risen. Then came Mary Magda - „ne agau?.- hfr grief transformed to joy. She had seen Jesus! He was alive! Not much later the other women were report •r ing ^ had «««" Him, too. The disciples listened pa tiently, or perhaps impatiently; but they did not believe. No these tales were simply beyond belief. LESSON BACKGROUND No doubt the women were still spreading their news and meeting disbelief everywhere, when two disciples, known to us only from their brief record, left Jerusalem to go to Em jar maus. THE LESSON <jn that same day two of Jesus' followers were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusa lem, and they were talking to each other about all the things that had happened. As they talked and discussed, Jesus him self drew near and walked along with them; they saw him, but somehow did not recognize him. Jesus said to them What are you talking about to each other, as you walk along?' They stood still, with sad faces. One of them named Cleopas, asked him, 'Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn't know the things that have been happening there these last few days?’ 'What things?’ he asked. This man was a prophet and was considered by God and by all the.j>eo Ple to be powerful in everything he said and did.' And Jesus explained to them what was said about him in all the Scrip tures, beginning with the books of Moses and the writings of all the prophets. As they came near the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther; but they held him back, saying, 'Stay with us; the day is almost over and it is getting dark.’ So he went in to stay with them. He sat down to eat with them, took the bread, and said the bless ings; then he broke the bread and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him but he disap peared from their sight. They said, Wasn't it like a fire bummg in us when he talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?* They got up at once and went back to Je rusalem, where they found the eleven disciples gathered to gether with the others and saying, 'The Lord is risen indeed! He has appeared to Simont* The two then explained to them what had happened on the road, and how they had recognized the Lord when he broke the bread." Th®re is no doubt that the two on the road to Emmaus were tilled with despondency. The recent events concerning Je sus had left them in a state of depression; but when Jesus met them on the way and talked with them, the experience turned them around. It turned them from the despondency they had known to a burning excitement for the Word of God and fi nally to the joy of knowing that Jesus was alive. Each of us has opportunities to talk to those who are lonely, discouraged, confused, and lost. We can pass them by or we can turn to the living Christ and the life He offers. Suddenly Jesus was standing in the midst of the group speaking the familiar greeting, "Peace to you.” But at first His appearance brought no peace. Though they had begun to believe He was alive, sheer terror gripped them. They thought they were seeing a ghost. But Jesus was not a ghost. He encouraged the frightened disciples to touch Him and be assured that they were looking at a body of solid flesh and bone. This was the very body that had died on the cross. The prints of the nails were in His hands and feet He took a bite of food and ate it as they watched. Ghosts do not eat solid food. There was no longer room for doubt. Jesus was alive. He was there. How breathlessly the group must have listened as Jesus re peated the long lecture He had given on the road to Emmaus! One by one He explained the prophecies that had not been un derstood. "Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day." What had happened was not only what Jesus had foretold; it was what the prophets had been foretelling since the days of Moses! Now the apostles knew; and with knowledge came a task, a duty. "Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Je rusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things," (Luke 24:47, 48). So Jesus finished His personal mission in the world, and His people began theirs. Read about it in the second chapter of Acts. Nobly they carried their testimony to Jerusalem, to Judea and Samaria and out toward the uttermost part of the earth. They knew it would not be easy to convince the world, for they themselves had disbelieved. But at the risk of their lives they gave their testimony and they lost their lives be fore all the world was won. We have from them the truth, and so we also have the task, the duty. What shall we do about it this week? VISIT LIFE BAPTIST CHURCH Temporarily Holding Service* At Shamrock Drive Baptist Church 4901 Shamrock Drive Rev. David E. Glover, Pastor Office: (704) 537-0604 Home: (704) 535-4926 Counseling By Appointment Now Id* School 1:00 WonNp8«rvtoee2:1S Rev. Glover A New Church In The Community Where Christ Is Molding Families" In Memory Of Rev. Ellis, U.s. Chaplain Special To The Post Rev. Leon Allen Ellis, son of the late John W. Ellis and Lula J. Ellis, departed this life Sunday, April 12, 1987 at the Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, Neath Carolina. In 1933 he received the A.B. de gree from Johnson C. Smith Uni versity. In the fall of 1933 he en tered the Theological Seminary from which he received the B.Th. degree in 1936. He did graduate work in Religious Education at r ' i * ’ * Union Theological Seminary. He served as College Pastor of Mary Aller) Junior College, Crockett, Texas, from 1936-1942. He served Rev. Ellis as Director of Boys and as School Pastor of Harbison A&I Institute, Irmo, South Carolina, from 1942 1943. In 1944, Rev. Ellis enlisted in the United States Army as a Chaplain. He served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater. He received the Bronze star for Northern Solomons Cam paigns; Asiatic-Pacific Medal; World War II Victory Medal Army Occupation Medal (Japan); National Defense Service Medal and Armed Forces Reserved Med al and was discharged June 16, 1960 with the Rank of Major. In 1966 Rev. Ellis was called as pastor of Davidson Presbyterian Church. He eerved this churcb;19 years. During his stay, he en deared himself to the people of the entire town and community. Rev. Ellis was affectionately called the minister of the town. His retire ment celebration in 1985 was a most memorable occasion. He leaves to cherish his memo ry three sisters: Mrs. Eloise Ander son, Mrs. Johnny Ruth Pruitt, both. of Due West, S.C., and Mrs. Ver meil L. Chase of Maryland; one brother, Robert E. Ellis of Ashe ville, N.C. He is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. -Prophets Column "Time Runnin g Out” Part II By J.M. Little If the Lord should come today, next Sun day the average church and its leaders and officers would meet as usual. That is a stag goring truth, but it is true. Why? 'So Christ was once ofTered to bear the sin of many AND UNTO THEM THAT LOOK FOR HIM SMALL HE APPEAR THE SECOND TIME without sin unto salvation,* (Heb. 9:28). The Lord Jesus Christ is only coming the second time for those who are looking for Him. The great majority of our religious leaders are not looking for Him. That is why you will meet the next Sunday as usual. Now you can make fun of these messages all you want to. That shows you are not saved. The sermonottea coming out of the pulpits today can be rightly described as drugs to lull a sinner deeper and deeper in his death sleep. Did you know that every sinner apart from the awakening of the Holy Spirit is in the death sleep? It doesn't matter whether you are in the world or the pulpit, apart from Holy Spirit conviction (Jn. 7-11) you are asleep in the lap ofSatan! (1 Jn. 6:13). If you have never been awakened to your lost condition (Eph. 2:1) you are still asleep in the lap of Satan and on the road to Hell and don t know it. Our preachers have gone through the Bible schools and seminaries without every having been awakened to their loot condition, therefore they don’t know how God saves a poor, lost sinner. You don't understand an awakened sinner be cause you have never been there! You let an awakened sinner go in the average church and tell the pastor he is awakened to his lost condition, and that pastor will try to got him out on a profession in ten minutes. But when the sinner refuses your suggestions you are J. M. Little frustrated and end up getting mad with the sinner. You are embarrassed, you don't know what to do with the awakened sinner. Now, that is the sad condition in the mini stry today; our preachers don't understand awakened sinners. Before any sinner can be saved, he must first be awakened to his lost condition. You preachers have missed that great truth. But after a sinner is awakened to his lost condition, he can t bring himself to Christ, and cither can you, preacher. That is the work of the Holy Spirit Only the blessed Holy Spirit can bring a sinner to Christ. And when God saves that sinner, it is the Holy Spirit who REVEALS Christ to his heart through the Word of God. The written Word of God isn’t salvation, a promise isn't salvation, quitting your sins isn't salvation, living the best you can isn't salvation, repen tance isn't salvation! Now someone in des peration will ask. "Bro. Little, then tell us what is salvation?" All right, listen as Tor eternity: "CHRIST, REVEALED TO YOUR HEART IS SALVATION." You are not saved until Christ is revealed to your heart. You cannot know Him until He is re vealed to your heart. And in that revelation comes faith to believe on Him to the salva tion of your poor, lost soul. I'll stake my hope or Heaven on this one truth. Christ and Christ alone is my salvation. Is He yours? Do you know Him? Did you get to Christ or just a dream? Awakened sinner, time is running out on you. Are you turning to Christ? Are you? Some of you who claim to be awakened are trifling with your soul. If you are truly awakened, you realize you are under judg ment. and you muat nee to Christ or perish I know it was so in my case. Once I was tru ly awakened to my lost condition, there was no turning back! My sou! w.. hanging ,n the balance, what did it matter about the re ligious world making fun? But there are some of you who are afraid to come out and take your place as a lost sinner because of the ridicule that follows. What about your sins following you to Hell? If you don t turn to Christ, your sins will follow you and tor ment you in Hell forever and forever. The Prophet's Colurae Is A Paid Advei tenement THE ROSARY SOCIETY OF OUR LADY OF CONSOLATION CHURCH ANNUAL CHICKEN DINNER APRIL 26,1987 • 12:30 - 6:00 PJVI. BAKED OR FRIED CHICKEN $3.50 Per Plate
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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April 23, 1987, edition 1
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