April 2022
Dear friend,
Greetings to you in the wonderful name of the Lord Jesus Christ! The Bible tells us there is a season for everything, and a time for every purpose under heaven. For example, the Scripture says, “…a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted…a time to break down, and a time to build up…a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing” (Ecclesiastes 3: 2, 3 & 5).
We also go through “seasons” spiritually. There are times of blessings and times when we think nothing will ever work again for us! There are “seasons” of wilderness and “seasons” of walking in the light of God’s Word. Whatever season you are passing through today, just remember that the Lord is guiding your steps and His will shall be accomplished!
This month we are celebrating the resurrection from the dead of our Lord Jesus Christ. How exciting is that? But the season prior to His ascension to heaven was marked with loneliness, sufferings untold, people’s misunderstandings, grave injustice, physical tortures, and death. But He endured it all, “…for the joy that was set before Him (Jesus) endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). Just as the Lord Jesus had joy set before Him so even do we. Sometimes we forget what the Word of God said, but nonetheless, the Lord is bringing us into the joy of His presence, which He set before each of His children!
Because the Lord Jesus had no sin, death could not hold Him down. After His resurrection He appeared to the disciples many times for forty days, showing them that He had indeed rose from the dead. For example, two of His disciples were leaving Jerusalem for their home in Emmaus, a small village about 7.5 miles away. As they were walking and talking about what had happened in Jerusalem that weekend, the Lord Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But they didn’t recognize Him. He asked them why they were so sad. They asked Him why He didn’t know the things that had happened to the Lord in Jerusalem. And the Lord answered them, “What things?” Sometimes we misunderstand all the doings of God and we question Him. Sometimes in order to get to mature faith in God we also go through difficulties, sometimes even tragedies. But all things still do work together for good! Endure the cross. The Lord will never forsake you in your burdens. As a matter of fact, He said to cast all your care upon Him, because He cares for you!
These two disciples were followers, not apostles. They were just “regular” believers. But the Lord was very concerned about their faith. He cares about you and your faith as well! He began at the writings of Moses, and expounded all things he wrote, along with the prophets, concerning Messiah. When they reached their destination, they constrained Him to, “Abide with us…” Did you ever ask the Lord to earnestly abide with you? Did you ever plead with Him to let you feel His presence and not depart as you knew that you had His ear? He stayed with them, and broke bread with them. It was only then that they recognized Him! His fellowship was familiar to them. They had done that before!
As soon as they recognized Him He vanished out of their sight. And they said, “Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the Scriptures?” When we feel His presence while hearing the Word of God, we, too, have our hearts burn within us. In His dynamic presence, a fire begins to burn within, and we want to tell everyone that He is risen! If we stray from that, we need to become refreshed in His presence. No matter what you are facing today, lift up your eyes to the Lord Jesus Christ. He will touch you and strengthen your faith! May God bless you!
Sincerely,
Rev. Daniel Bossidy
P.S. I invite you to our Sunday morning service at 10 am. We will also be live streaming the service on Facebook Live if you can’t attend. Also, Sunday night at 7 and Wednesday night at 7:30 we invite you to join us on Facebook Live.
fglchurch.org 