Can You Reach God
Lesson Five: by turtle

Working on this weeks lesson it is important to remember what we are discussing. Can we reach God? Many people think they
can reach God through their own methods. Yet through the last four lesson one can conclude we really divide ourselves from
God. Often we divide even human relationships. And yet even with every division, there is usually a bridge that can be made.
However are we trying to build the bride or are we allowing God to build the bridge. God is not a God that gives up on us so
readily. He might turn us over to sin and wickedness, yet He still provides a way to bridge between our hearts and Him. We
understand the division more clearly when personal relationships are divided because of faith. Yet even so faith might be a
division there often other things people agree on. However without agreement of faith, there is still a division. Either one is
right and one is wrong or one is wrong and one is right. Middle ground can be reached if both agree on the based of who God
is. However beyond the fact that God is a creator and also a God of love their are many other divisions. Some do not believe
who Jesus is beyond the fact He is God’s Son. Some never see the equality of God and His Son. And for this matter there is a
division. One thing I hope this study does is break down some of the Biblical disagreements on who Christ is. According to
scripture not based on any doctrine, but God’s word. What God’s word claims. As we look at the close of Chapter one of
Hebrews we need to note that the Hebrew author is speaking of angels saying at any time did God? With that let us finish
Hebrews one out.

Hebrews 1:13-14 KJV
(13)  But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
(14)  Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

1 Corinthians 15:24-28 KJV
(24)  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put
down all rule and all authority and power.
(25)  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
(26)  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
(27)  For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted,
which did put all things under him.
(28)  And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things
under him, that God may be all in all.


Here is the dividing rod so to speak concerning scripture. Some believe in only a spiritual resurrection. Some believe in a
physical and spiritual resurrection. Truth is early this week in preparation to do this lesson, this had not even crossed my mind
to bring this out. A few years ago on a documentary, I was appalled at what I heard. A minister was claiming only a spiritual
resurrection. Did the one doing the documentary twist the ministers word, maybe. Or maybe the minister was caught up in
studying on the spiritual side of the resurrection. I will never know. I do not even know if I could find the documentary now.
However the words were etched as something is wrong when the church no longer believes in the physical resurrection of
Christ.  When did Christ take the throne. It was prophesied. When did Christ take the throne or are we still waiting for Christ
to be King?

God gave Christ rule at the time of his ascension. There were two ascension, one in Acts 1 where Christ return is mentioned.
Then we have the ascension that happened when He arose from the grave. Some do not believe this ever happened. However
I am going to back with scripture. Do not take my word on it read the scripture for yourself.

Acts 2:30-36 KJV
(30)  Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according
to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
(31)  He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see
corruption.
(32)  This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
(33)  Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he
hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
(34)  For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right
hand,
(35)  Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
(36)  Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both
Lord and Christ.

Psalms 110:1-5 KJV
(1)  A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
(2)  The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
(3)  Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast
the dew of thy youth.
(4)  The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
(5)  The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.

In Acts 2 the disciples declared they were witnesses to the resurrection. What did the disciples witness. One needs to go and
look into the gospels to know exactly what they witnessed concerning the resurrection.

Matthew 27:50-56 KJV
(50)  Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
(51)  And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks
rent;
(52)  And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
(53)  And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
(54)  Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were
done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
(55)  And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:
(56)  Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.

Here we see the veil ripped in the temple and the dead in the tombs rising and walked into the Holy city. The Holy city
meaning Jerusalem. It is such a small verse and no other reference is made in the gospels to this event, yet many seen it. Even
the Romans. Imagine for a moment when Christ return’s what will people’s reaction truly be. There will be weeping and
wailing the scriptures says. Have you ever asked how come. No doubt that day will be similar to the dead bodies coming forth
out of those graves and walking into the Holy city. No one could believe it. The day of Christ return will be a day where many
who thought they were saved will be in shock that their Lord returns. When you compare the resurrection that the Jews had
hope for, no wonder many went into their homes and shut the door. However the religious leaders where fit to be tied. Angry
perhaps not, but wanted everything to be verified. So the religious leaders went to the government and asked for verification by
reminding what Christ had said about His own resurrection. It was not enough for the dead to be walking around Jerusalem.
They were determined that Christ who they felt was a deceiver would not come out of the tomb. Even going to the extent of
making sure the tomb was sealed.

Matthew 27:63-66 KJV
(63)  Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
(64)  Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him
away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
(65)  Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
(66)  So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

However most know the story Christ broke the seal and came right out of the tomb on the third day. However I wonder if they
talked to the deceased scripture does not say. Then on the third day Christ arose. Mary would see Him and would speak of
ascending to the Father. Now note after Christ ascends they could touch Jesus.

John 20:17-19 KJV
(17)  Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I
ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
(18)  Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
(19)  Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were
assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.


Now this is one ascension but not the ascension that speaks of Christ return. Two different time periods.


John 20:26-29 KJV
(26)  And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and
stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
(27)  Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my
side: and be not faithless, but believing.
(28)  And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
(29)  Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and
yet have believed.

Truth there are few passages that speak of the ascension of Christ and the fact he descended to hell and then went to heaven.
However there is a passage in Ephesians.

Ephesians 4:8-10 KJV
(8)  Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
(9)  (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
(10)  He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)


Also one in Corinthians.

Acts 13:29-31 KJV
(29)  And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.
(30)  But God raised him from the dead:
(31)  And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the
people.


1 Corinthians 15:3-8 KJV
(3)  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
(4)  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
(5)  And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
(6)  After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but
some are fallen asleep.
(7)  After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
(8)  And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

No we know Paul seen Christ on the way to Damascus this is a totally different sighting of Christ then what the original twelve
disciples seen. Need more proof.


John 21:1-2 KJV
(1)  After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
(2)  There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of
Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.

Acts 1:1-11 KJV
(1)  The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
(2)  Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles
whom he had chosen:
(3)  To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and
speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
(4)  And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the
promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
(5)  For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
(6)  When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom
to Israel?
(7)  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
(8)  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in
Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
(9)  And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
(10)  And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
(11)  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.

Now we know Christ sits on the throne beside His Heavenly Father, waiting for the day of His return. God is a good God and
everything He says to our hearts He speaks to us in scripture as well. May God’s word speak to you today and not mine. May
God word speak truth to those who hear and not mine