RHAPSODY OF REALITIES

SUNDAY, MARCH 30TH

                    PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME

THE REGENERATION IS NOT OVER

Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

(Matthew 19:28)

The positioning of the punctuation in our opening scripture is somewhat misleading. The translators used their prerogative to place a comma after "...ye which have followed me...." It should have come after the word "regeneration" to read, "...ye which have followed me in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

You might ask, "What's the difference?" The difference is huge. Jesus wasn't referring to the regeneration as something that would happen in the future, but as something that was happening already. The translators must have thought Jesus was talking about reconstitution. Reconstitution may be synonymous with renewal, but they're not the same. In Acts 3:21, the Bible gives an instance of reconstitution, "Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began." The reconstitution, restitution, restoration, rebuilding, or putting together again of all things is futuristic. The regeneration however is a rebirth, a renewal, not a restoration.

When you were born again, you were given a new life. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Titus 3:5). Jesus came to begin this regeneration with His disciples, hence, His reason for saying to them,
"...ye which have followed me in the regeneration...." His disciples will receive a reward in future for following Him in the regeneration, but it surely isn't over.

We're still preaching, and carrying out the work of regeneration today. We're with Him in His project of bringing men into a new birth of the Spirit; we also shall have our reward for following Him in this regeneration.

PRAYER

Dear heavenly Father, I'm so glad to be chosen of you to be a part of this great ministry of reconciliation, carrying out and carrying on the work which the Lord Jesus began, both to do and teach. I recognize my responsibility as a minister, and I keep at it, spreading the good news and bringing many to righteousness, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY

2 Corinthians 5:18-19(Amp)
But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him]. It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor).

2 Timothy 4:2(Amp)
Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.] And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching.

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING

1 Year Bible Reading Plan

Luke 8:22-39, Joshua 5-6

2 Year Bible Reading Plan

Romans 4:11-25, Psalm 102