Sunday, May 27, 2007

Part 2 - What is Salvation

INTRODUCTION TO SERIES

God has led me to this series focusing on the Commission of Christ to us. We will examine over the next few weeks true conversion, some parables of Christ, and what exactly we as His followers are supposed to be doing.

Today we are looking at Salvation and what it is.

PRAYER FOR HOLY SPIRIT AND UNDERSTANDING

SCRIPTURE READING

Acts 13:47-49

“For this is what the Lord has commanded us:
”‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'" 48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. 49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.”

INTRODUCTION TO SERMON



WHAT IS SALVATION?

Salvation – Greek #4991 : sõteria = Rescue, Save

In seminary, this term was entitled “Soteriology”, or the study of our salvation.

Salvation – Hebrew #3444 : Yeshooaw = Save, saving. Where we get Joshua.

1. The plan of Salvation is of the Lord.

Demonstrated with Adam & Eve (Genesis 3:21)

Demonstrated through sacrifice for sins in the Old Testament

Illustrated through Jonah (Jonah 2)

Illustrated through Abraham & Isaac (Genesis 22)

ILLUSTRATED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT AS WELL

Lazarus raised from the dead (John 11)

2. There are elements to Salvation NOT steps!

Steps imply a guarantee of salvation

Steps imply salvation is a process of your works

Salvation is a free gift from God offered to all

ELEMENTS TO SALVATION

1. Recognize your need for forgiveness

This was the point for the Law and 10 Commandments

God gave the Law to Adam, Adam broke the Law, was penalized as God said he would be, and then given the means to Salvation by God.

Adam was told by God why he needed this redemption.

We must recognize that we are already condemned, Jesus said so. He came so that we could be rescued from this condemnation. Once rescued, we help others recognize their need for God’s forgiveness.

2. Ask for forgiveness through confession to the Lord

We MUST ask the Lord to forgive us.

Just because you recognize your sin, doesn’t mean you have been forgiven of it.

You must confess that you are sinful and ask the Lord to forgive you of your sins.

Without confession, there is no forgiveness.

3. Repent of those sins you’ve recognized

To be forgiven, we must stop doing that which we have asked forgiveness for.

We will still sin, but we must not LIVE in that sin.

SLIDE 2

Recognize the sin + Confess the sin + Repent of the sin = Forgiveness

If you leave any part of the equation out, it will not equal forgiveness!

Recognize the sin + Confess the sin + Repent of the sin = Living in sin

Recognize the sin + Confess the sin + Repent of the sin = Living in sin

Recognize the sin + CAN’T Confess the sin + CAN’T Repent of the sin = Living in sin

When you live in sin, you are in a state of unrighteousness, and God cannot hear your prayers, nor can He bless you, protect you and you miss out on all of the benefits of living in the Kingdom of God.

The Kingdom of God is here and now, and if you are living in sin, you cannot take part of the kingdom!

To prevent living in sin, we must read God’s word, have a relationship with the Lord through prayer and meditation on His word, and listen to the Holy Spirits leading on matters in our life.

When we recognize a sin, we should immediately confess it, ask for forgiveness, repent and be freed from that which is causing us to live in sin & a state of unrighteousness.

We repent, or turn away from that which is sin because we know that whatever is sin causes us to break our relationship with the Lord, and lose our place in the Kingdom of God and all the benefits that come along with it, including our prayers being heard.

You can recognize your sin through other believers, reading of God’s word, as well as revelation from the Holy Spirit.

If you recognize sin, confess it to the Lord asking to be forgiven, repent, or stop doing the sin, then you are forgiven, the Word of God promises that!

This is what Jesus told the disciples in Matthew 28, after He told them to “GO”, He instructed them to “TEACH ALL NATIONS”, what are they teaching? How to be saved! They are teaching Salvation!

He then instructed them that after they taught those HOW to be saved, Jesus said Baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

So Jesus instructed we should be baptized.

Is this necessary to be saved?

The thief on the cross wasn’t baptized. (But you are not on a cross!)

Jesus did not receive the Holy Spirit until He was baptized.

Why do you need the Holy Spirit? Gifts, Fruits, to understand and teach the word of God. The thief had no need for the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit is for our service here in the Body of Christ. The thief was saved, but was not going to serve in the Body of Christ, therefore there was no need for him to have the Holy Spirit.

But we NEED to be baptized if we are going to serve in the Body of Christ.

Jesus then told the disciples, After you have taught them how to be saved, and you have baptized them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, they will be ready (because they have received Salvation and the Holy Spirit) to be taught all the Jesus has commanded.

Until that point and time, they would not understand the teachings of Jesus because they did not have the Holy Spirit.

WHY DO WE NEED SALVATION?

Without it, we are already condemned.

Condemned to what? Eternal fire; Gehenna, where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth, and the worm that dieth not who will devour you for eternity.

We are instructed by Jesus to be a light to the Gentiles!

HOW ARE WE TO BE A LIGHT TO THE GENTILES?

Bring Salvation to others!

Teach them WHY they need to be saved.

Teach them HOW to receive the FREE gift of Salvation.

Encourage them to be baptized so they too can receive the Holy Spirit and serve in the Body of Christ to save others!

Either teach them yourself, or make sure they attend a Bible believing, Christ centered church so that they too can understand the teachings of Christ and be part of the Body of Christ.

CLOSING

Have you recognized the need for forgiveness in your life?

Do you recognize your sin? If so, have you confessed to the Lord?

Have you asked for His forgiveness?

Have you been Baptized so that you too can have the Holy Spirit?

Without the Holy Spirit, you cannot serve in the Body of Christ, you cannot receive the Spiritual Gifts God has for all believers, you cannot understand the Word of God, you NEED the Holy Spirit.

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Part 1 - The Sower & The Seed

INTRODUCTION TO SERIES

God has led me to a series focusing on the Commission of Christ to us. This will begin with a few sermons about what salvation is, true and false converts, and how to ensure that we are right with God so we can fulfill the commission given to us. We will then have a series on witnessing salvation to others.

PRAYER FOR HOLY SPIRIT AND UNDERSTANDING

SCRIPTURE READING

Matthew 13:1 – 9 The Sower and the Seed

1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.”

INSTRODUCTION TO SERMON


Seed: Word of God.

I. The Seed is the Word of God

Word of God is the Seed

The Good News

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

The Gospel of Salvation

Sower: Jesus / Disciples / Us

II. The responsibility has been passed

Jesus was a Soul-Winner

a) Christ Jesus came into the world to rescue sinners… (1 Tim 1:15)

b) …the Son of man has come to seek and save that which was lost…” (Luke 19:10)

The Great Commission in Matthew 28

a) “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men…” (Matt 4:19)

b) “Daily in the Temple and in every house, they never stopped teaching and preaching Jesus Christ. (Acts 5:42)

c) Matthew 28 – Jesus says, “GO, Teach them how to be saved, baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, THEN, teach them to obey all that I commanded.

Matthew 28 – GO out and get them!

Field: Those we share the Word with.

III. The Mission Field

The Harvest is Great (Matthew 9:37)

The Laborers are few (Matthew 9:37)

We must fish where they are!

“Go to the highways and the byways and compel them to come in!” (Luke 14:23)

The Wayside: Worldly Distractions.

IV. What is in our way?

Family – Luke 14:26 “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.”

Hate – mis-eh-o : means “to love less than”

Work – Luke 16:13 “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (wealth).”

Hobbies

Sinful Living

Selfishness

V. Fouls of the Air: Devils from the spirit world.

Ephesians 6:11 – 12 “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

High places – ep-oo-ran-ee-os – heavenly realm, or sky.

Ephesians 2:2 “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:”

We see from scripture that the devil is the “prince” of the power of the air, air being a reference to the spirit world, as we saw in the previous scripture that this is where the evil we battle, demons who attack us, dwell, of which Satan is the prince.

The analogy Jesus uses in this parable is the birds of the air devouring newly planted seeds, or devils attacking new Christians.

VI. Stony Places, Not Much Soil: Poor Foundation, no roots, no water (Holy Spirit).

Foundation other than Christ

Foundation weak for lack of study

No relationship with the Lord

No reading of God’s Word or Praying

Without roots you cannot take in water

VII. Thorns: The Lost & Carnal.

Thorns can be your friends

Your family

Your co-workers

VIII. Good Soil: Foundation of Christ and the teachings of the Prophets & Apostles.

Christ IS the foundation

His Virgin birth, His being God, His sacrificial Death, and His resurrection is believed.

The confession of sin, repenting of that sin, and asking for forgiveness of that sin.

The reading of the Word of God, Prayer and a relationship with the Lord.

IX. Produces Crops: Bearing Fruit, return for investment of gifts by Holy Spirit.

Naturally produce fruit when Spirit filled.

Using Spiritual Gifts to achieve God’s will.

The harder you labor in your gifts, the more fruitful your gifts become.

X. He who has ear let him hear: Not all will understand this teaching.

Only those with the Holy Spirit understand this teaching.

Only those with the Holy Spirit can accomplish this teaching.

Only those with the Holy Spirit can produce Spiritual Fruit.

Only those with the Holy Spirit can have Spiritual Gifts.

The Foundation is Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Prophets and the Apostles

The water is the Holy Spirit

True Conversion is the fruit from the seed

That fruit SHOULD bear more fruit

There are two kinds of people in the Church, those who are true converts and those who are false converts.

Next week we will take a look at the difference.

CLOSING

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Resurrection Day 2007

INTRODUCTION

Resurrection Day, what is the significance of today, Passover and the promise of God?

PASSOVER

We are going to take a look at the Passover, and see how God was preparing His people for recognizing the Messiah when He came.

  1. What is Passover?

    1. Judgment

Found in Exodus 12, The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, and gave the description of the Passover, which is a perfect picture of Christ, the true Passover Lamb!

The Lord proclaims THIS MONTH SHALL BE THE BEGINNING OF MONTHS.

IT SHALL BE THE FIRST MONTH OF THE YEAR TO YOU.

This means so much.

Christ is the beginning of life.

Christ is the beginning of the New Covenant.

Christ is the beginning of the Resurrection, the First Fruit of the Dead.

This marks the beginning of the feasts, and the beginning of God’s plan for the redemption of man, heaven, earth, and Jerusalem.

    1. Blood – Covering of Sins

Your Lamb shall be without blemish…Christ was without blemish, and when He arrived in Jerusalem during that last Passover, He was confronted in town by the religious leaders of the day, and no fault could be found in Him.

And you shall take the blood and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the house…This represents the shed blood of Christ. We are covered in His atoning blood when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

    1. Obedience


For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast: and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord…Why the firstborn? Because this represents Christ, God’s only begotten Son, the firstborn.

And the blood shall be a token upon the houses you are in and when I see the blood, I will pass over you…On judgment day, when we stand before the Lord, He will look to see if our houses we were in (our bodies) have the blood of the sacrifice upon us. If so, His judgment will pass over us.

    1. Remembrance to teach of Messiah

And this day shall be for you a memorial, and you shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations, you shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever…

  1. Last Supper (Passover)
    1. Passover with Jesus and the Disciples

This is the Passover week; Jesus spent it with the Disciples.

    1. New Covenant

Jesus explains the significance of the Passover, and that He is the Passover. This New Covenant was promised in scripture, that the Messiah would come and make things new, restoring that which was lost because of the fall.

    1. Blood – Removal of Sins

He explains to the disciples that the bread and the wine represent His body and blood, which was broken and spilled for sin.

He was the Lamb of Passover, and was going to be slain for this purpose.

    1. Do this in remembrance of Jesus – to teach of Salvation

As the Lord in Exodus commanded this feast should be kept forever, Jesus reminds the disciples to take communion on this feast day in remembrance of Him, thus keeping the command to observe Passover for ever.

  1. Resurrection

Resurrection day begins with Passover. But there are seven feasts the Lord gave us, and each has significance in the timeline of God.

Just as God instructed in Exodus to keep the Passover feast, He also instructs in Leviticus of the 7 Feasts to be remembered.

Just as Passover was prophetic and represented Christ, each of the seven feasts of the Lord have significance and should be remembered so as to tell us where we are in the timeline of God, and what is next.

    1. The 7 Feasts of the Lord

1. Feast of Passover (The first month)

2. Feast of Unleavened Bread

3. Feast of First Fruits

4. Feast of Wheat Harvest

5. Feast of Trumpets

6. Feast of Atonement

7. Feast of Tabernacles

    1. What they represent in time

    1. What has been fulfilled

Passover, Unleavened Bread, Feast of First Fruits, Wheat Harvest.

    1. Where we are at right now

Waiting for the feast of Trumpets

    1. What is next?

Sunday, May 6, 2007

Palm Sunday 2007

INTRODUCTION

SCRIPTURE READING

Luke 19:28 - 44

Luke 19:29 – 31

29As Jesus approached Bethpage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30“Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ”

PRAYER

Our story begins on an early Sunday morning as Jesus was walking toward Jerusalem.

Jesus stops along the way and sends two of his disciples ahead of Him into a nearby village to carry out a special errand.

The two disciples must have wondered about what Jesus had told them to do, because we know that no where else in the scriptures does it tell us of Jesus riding any animal to get from one place to another.

He must have walked hundreds of miles up and down the land now called the “Holy Land”, but there is no mention of Him ever riding, except in a boat across the Sea of Galilee.

But now, He gives this unusual command to go into the village to get a colt that had never been ridden, and to bring it to Him.

It must have seemed a strange command.

It is obvious though that Jesus knew what He was going to face in the city of Jerusalem.

So His decision to go must have been difficult.

But He knew His fathers will, and He lived it.

To ride into a city on a colt or a donkey, rather than to walk into it as He had often done before, must have also seemed strange to the disciples.

Because riding a colt into a city was a public declaration that was reserved for a King.

In times of war the conqueror would ride a prancing stallion. But in times of peace, the King would ride a colt to symbolize that peace prevailed.

For Jesus to ride a colt into Jerusalem, He was declaring He was a King, and that peace prevailed.

How would the people respond to that notion?

Would they recognize that His kingdom was not of this world?

That it was a spiritual kingdom and He was a spiritual King?

Not likely, because He had been teaching them this for 3 ½ years already and they still had not learned that lesson.

I imagine the scene that day as Jesus rode the colt into Jerusalem.

Perhaps some of them would greet Him with laughter?

Maybe they would be amused by what Jesus was doing? After all, it was rather a ridiculous picture.

Here is a carpenter declaring Himself to be a King!

Perhaps some would think, “He is a lunatic, living in a world of fantasy – imagining Himself to be a King!” And they would laugh.

Others would greet Him with anger – upset because they would interpret His riding into the city as arrogance and blasphemy against God.

Of course, many would hail Him with joy, welcoming Him as an earthly King, come to reestablish the throne of David and overthrow the Roman Empire.

They were ready and eager to place a crown upon His head.

Perhaps among the crowd there would be people He had healed.

Some may have been among the thousands He had fed.

Many more had seen he miracles, and listened as “He spoke with authority.”

They had listened and their lives had been changed.

Jesus knew all of this. He knew that just over the horizon was the cross, looming like a monster waiting to consume Him.

But in spite of all of this, Jesus still “…set His face steadfastly to go to Jerusalem.”

Jesus rides on.

As Jesus rides down toward the gate of the city, the crowds are growing, and there is a festive air, for it is Passover and pilgrims are gathering from far and near for this greatest of all Jewish holidays.

Jews from all over are coming with their traditional sacrifices for the Passover feast on this day, to bring them to the high priests to be examined for blemish before their sacrifice.

Most of them unaware that the true sacrifice had arrived!

The perfect Lamb without blemish that all of the traditions and scriptures had pointed to for generations.

The only one who could make things new.

The one who would face those very same high priests in the courtyard, and be examined for fault before His sacrifice, and be found to be without blemish or fault.

Even before Jesus arrived, the news has spread that Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. You can imagine the excitement.

“Have you heard the news? Lazarus died, and was buried in a tomb so long that the body was starting to decay. But this teacher from Nazareth called, ‘Lazarus, come forth’ and Lazarus came forth!

He actually walked and breathed again! Surely only the Messiah – only the Son of God could do that!

The news travels, until finally when Jesus is ready to enter the city, great crowds had collected on both sides of the road.

They had cut palm branches and were shouting, “Hosanna to the King!”

Excitement prevailed through the whole city.

Then Jesus looked over His waiting audience.

He looked at the mixture of expressions upon their faces.

There were those who loved Him, perhaps Bartimaeus was there, the man who received his sight, no longer in beggar’s rags.

Maybe Zacchaeus was there as well? He paid back his debt to society, and had made peace with God.

Maybe some of the lepers whose skin had been cleansed now rejoicing for the healing that the Lord had given them.

There were also sinister faces in the crowd, faces with squinting eyes, waiting for Him to say one wrong word – to make one mistake.

The Sadducees and Pharisees were there. They were supposed to be keepers of the law, the spiritual leaders. But Jesus had gained so much popularity that they felt threatened. So, full of jealousy they watched Him.

The Romans were there, fearing revolt and watching for any sign of rebellion against Rome. They were ready and watching to crush any uprising.

Jesus listened to their “Hosanna’s,” knowing that soon the sinister voices would drown out the voices of love.

He knew that those crying for Him to be King would soon be crying, “Crucify Him!” or simply standing aside, saying nothing at all.

Now Jesus is descending along the road from the Mt. of Olives, across the brook, toward the gate, the crowds surrounding Him.

I wonder how the apostles were reacting to all of this.

Judas was probably ecstatic – basking in the reflected glory – perhaps wanting an earthly kingdom more than the others.

Peter with his chest out enjoying the cheers of the crowd, maybe with one hand on his sword just in case something went wrong.

Thomas a bit skeptical about it all, and wondering what was going to happen next.

Andrew overwhelmed with the size of the crowd, being used to bringing those to Jesus one by one.

James and John thinking about Jesus being crowned King so they could sit at His right and left hand in positions of authority and power.

They were all in Jerusalem – loving faces, sinister faces, anxious apostles.

Crowds trampling almost one upon another – when suddenly – the whole procession stopped.

I can almost hear the yelling now, “What’s going on up there?” “Why are we stopped?” “Get moving!”

Like rush hour traffic, everyone at a stand still.

But the people closest to Jesus could see – and they realized that it was He who stopped the parade.

Then they saw His body begin to shake. Maybe at first they thought He was laughing.

Laughter would seem to be natural – for everybody else was laughing, and joy prevailed.

But then they saw His face, and they saw no evidence of laughter.

Rather, they saw sorrow & tears. He was not laughing. He was crying.

He looked at the city of Jerusalem. He saw the mixture of faces and the masses of humanity crowding there and He saw the emptiness of their lives.

They had not heard the message of peace.

They did not understand the purpose of His coming.

They were lost, and most didn’t even realize it.

This broke Jesus’ heart.

Luke 19:41 – 44

41As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace–but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you.”

The suffering they were going to endure because they did not recognize God’s coming, and Jesus’ sacrifice. Because they rejected Christ and what He had done, they had to endure the what was to come.

They had eyes, but they didn’t see.

They had ears, but they didn’t hear.

They missed the whole point of the message that God had given them.

They missed that the scriptures they so loved, what we now call the Old Testament, all pointed to Christ and His sacrifice for our redemption.

The fact that they waved their palm branches showed that they didn’t understand, because that is exactly what they did when the Maccabees overthrew the Syrian oppressors and reestablished worship in the Temple.

By waving palm branches they were showing that they expected Jesus to be another warlord – another general of the armies – one who would lead them to overthrow the Romans.

They were saying that they were ready to pick up their swords and shields and go to war if He would lead them!

Jesus said, “I didn’t come for that purpose. I came to show you a more excellent way. I came to show you the way of love.”

He said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. If someone wants your coat, give him your shirt as well. If they command you to carry their pack a mile, go two.”

Those listening must have thought, “Beautiful words Jesus, but surely you don’t mean Rome?” You don’t expect us to love Rome? Only a mad man would command you to love Rome! We can’t love Rome.”

But don’t you see – that was exactly what He was saying.

“Love even Rome – because Rome with her mighty army has seen the power of the sword. But Rome has not seen the power of love. Show them love!”

The nation of Israel had the opportunity to show Rome something new and different. But because they didn’t understand Jesus – because they completely misunderstood His mission – Jesus wept over them because the opportunity would be taken away and they would never have it again.

Just one more time God’s people did not seize and opportunity to do God’s will.

These were God’s people – God’s chosen people. God had loved them and led them across the wilderness and into the Promised Land.

But they did not understand the Messiah when He walked in their midst.

Because of that, Jesus wept.

As Jesus sits upon His beast of burden, He sees the towering Temple of God silhouetted against the sky. But beyond that – in the years immediately ahead – He sees the armies of Titus surrounding the Holy City. He sees the Temple stones being taken down and the whole city leveled.

He sees bodies in the streets and blood running in the gutters and hundreds of thousands of people crying because they are starving to death while Titus waits for Jerusalem to surrender.

All of this, because they didn’t recognize the Messiah when He came.

In Matthew we read that Jesus looked at the city and said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem. How many times would I have gathered you together as a hen gathers her chicks beneath her wings. But you would not come.”

Today, just like the city of Jerusalem, we find ourselves in the presence of Jesus.

I wonder what He finds when He looks into our faces?

Does He see people concerned about so many things – worried about income taxes – worried about job security – worried about their health or lack of?

Does He see people who are so busy doing things here and there – so busy that they never bother to consider those things that are eternally important?

Does He see people who recognize Him for who He is?

The Messiah, the Christ, the Son of God?

When He turns and looks into our lives, I wonder, will He weep once again because of what He sees?

Or will He see the joy that passes all understanding as we respond to His outstretched arms and hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”

Jesus entered the city at the same time the Jews were preparing for the Passover.

He entered the same gate as the rest of the sacrifices.

He will also be examined by the high priests just as the other sacrifices were.

Examined for blemish or fault by the relentless barrage of questioning about God and His Holy Word.

And just like the other approved sacrifices, He was found to have no fault or blemish.

Tomorrow at sunset Passover begins and lasts until the 10th, and Jesus spent Passover with the disciples.

Passover was one of the 7 Holy Days given by God to the people to be passed down from generation to generation, to teach a spiritual truth through an outward expression.

To mark a place and time in God’s calendar of time and events.

Passover was to remember that the people of God were in bondage.

Bondage of Egypt.

The sacrifice of a lamb was needed to protect God’s people from the coming judgment.

The first born of each household had died for whoever did not follow God’s instruction.

And then God’s people were delivered through the desert, and having passed through the water of the red sea, escaped destruction from Egypt’s armies.

They then entered the promise land.

Jesus on the night of Passover revealed the Spiritual truth behind the outward expression of the Passover feast to His disciples.

We too are born into bondage, the bondage of sin.

The sacrifice of the perfect lamb without blemish is needed and fulfilled through Jesus Christ, the first born Son, and the cross to save us from what is coming, the final judgment.

And through accepting this sacrifice, and having passed through the waters (in baptism) as another outward expression of a Spiritual truth within us, that we have accepted Christ’s sacrifice and have been washed clean by His redeeming blood, we too will escape the destruction from sin and the devils armies.

We too shall enter into the Promised Land.

But to escape the final judgment, you have to have a sacrifice.

Today is Palm Sunday; do you have the sacrifice needed for the Passover?

Do you have what is needed for the removal of your sins?

Have you received Jesus Christ as your Passover sacrifice? That’s the only one that counts!

INVITATION

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