Saturday, April 10, 2010

Life and Time

Gtcotr/ss041110

There is a reason why life and time move forward … God designed it that way.

Ephesians 5
14 Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light."
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

The Apostle Paul admonishes every believer to shake off the apathy, rise from your lethargy, and walk in the light, making the best use of our time in these desperate days.

In other words: Don’t just sit there and waste time … get up, get going, go forward and do something that counts while there is still time.

Time is a paradox – The faster we move the longer we live.

As we move faster time seems shorter, but we actually live longer.

The best theory suggests that people who move faster age slower.

For example, if one could move at the speed of light, aging would cease and time would stop … at least for the person who was moving that fast. While others who were moving at the regular speed would continue aging at the normal pace of life along with everyone else except for those who were moving at a much slower pace of life, these would theoretically, of course, age more rapidly.

I don’t wish to bog you down with theory or push your thoughts down endless rabbit trails, but suffice it to say that:

God is so wise and so merciful to us and, it is He who has graciously limited our natural access to time.

Can you imagine how confusing it would be if people could access the past? How would it be if they could stop, pause, jump ahead or rewind time … Do things differently, do things over – never do them at all?

Sure it might be ok if you were the only one who had that access to the past and the power to go back and change things, do things over or fix those things that went wrong … but … give that power and access to everyone and you might be the one they went back and fixed, and the changes they made which affected you might not be something you could live with, if they allowed you or your children to live at all.

Both life and time are designed by God to move forward and without life moving forward or, when life is not moving at all, it is not life as God intended, not life as God designed.

Your best life moves you forward … And for those who are moving forward – your greatest day is yet ahead!

We are admonished to get up, get engaged in life, move forward and make the most of our time, while we still have time.

We are encouraged to make the most of the day we have instead of worrying about the days gone by or those things we might have messed up or missed out on.

It can be difficult to move forward when we are too worried about the future or too focused on the past. Listen to what the prophet Isaiah said about time past:

Isaiah 43 NKJV
18 "Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old.
19 Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.


Life and time are designed by God to move forward. They move forward to embrace all the new things which have not yet been birthed, all of the new joys that have not yet been experienced, all of the tomorrows not yet lived.

Your best life cannot be lived in regret of the past or in fear of the future. We can do nothing about time … God can, but we can’t.

God can pause, God can rewind, God can fast forward, and He can even delete time and, on occasion, when He has been requested to, He has done it. Such was the case in Joshua 10 when God put time on hold.

Joshua 10
12 Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel: "Sun, stand still over Gibeon; And Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon."
13 So the sun stood still, And the moon stopped, Till the people had revenge Upon their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day.
14 And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the LORD heeded the voice of a man; for the LORD fought for Israel.

Not only did God once put time on hold but He also turned back the hands of time for King Hezekiah as a sign the king had been granted 15 additional years of life after it was appointed unto him to die.

This occurred 713 years Before Christ as best we can figure. It seems
King Hezekiah fell sick even unto death and Isaiah the prophet paid a visit to this King and said to him:

“Get your house in order; for you shall die and not live.” (2 Kings 20:1)

King Hezekiah prayed earnestly and wept bitterly before the Lord and God sent the prophet Isaiah back to extend his life 15 more years. However, the king was concerned if Isaiah was telling him the truth or not and so he asked the prophet for a sign.

Isaiah 38:8 Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward. So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down.

Isaiah replied, “Shall the Lord make the shadow on the sun dial to forward ten steps or backward ten steps?” “Backwards”, Hezekiah said. And so the Lord caused the sundial of Ahaz to mark a reversing in time. Some say it was but 5 hours while others say 10. It really doesn’t matter ... however:

Without regard as to the details, suffice it to say that Hezekiah believed and did live to see another 15 years, years by the way which were perhaps the worst, the most selfish and destructive years, in Hezekiah’s lifetime. You can read the historical account of the son born to Hezekiah 3 years into his extended lifetime and how he became a curse to all Israel.

Manasseh, Hezekiah’s son was 12 years old when his father died and left him to begin his reign of terror. He attempted to wipe out the worship of Jehovah among the children of Judah and he instituted cruel punishments for any who would not accept the false gods he established in the land.

There is an old Jewish tradition which says that Isaiah was put to death during this time having been sawn asunder in the trunk of a tree. In 681BC Manasseh was taken captive to Babylon. It is told that the severity of Manasseh’s imprisonment brought him to repentance before God.

God heard Manasseh’s cry and restored him to his kingdom. You can further read about this in the book of 2 Chronicles 33. Manasseh abandoned his idolatrous ways and encouraged the people to worship Jehovah. But there was no lasting reformation during his lifetime.

Sometimes it’s real hard to build up what you worked so hard to tear down.

Manasseh ended up being the longest reigning king in the history of Judah, reigning 55 years in all. He is also remembered as one of the worst.

God not only knows the past but He can also see the future, and believe me when I tell you, you can trust Him.

There is a reason why life and time move forward. God knows it is best that way! Decide right now that you are going to move forward with God and make the most of the time you have. Make a living, life & difference!

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Resurrection Sunday

Gtcotr/ss040410

1 Corinthians 15 KJV
12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

Who among us said there is no resurrection?

Acts 23:8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit …

Sadducees = "the righteous"

* There is such pomp in the power to self-name, self-proclaim.

The Sadducees were a religious party among the Jews at the time of Christ. The Sadducees denied several doctrines including:

* Resurrection of the body
* Immortality of the soul
* Existence of spirits and angels
* Divine predestination

There is a reason why the Sadducees were sad … they had no hope for the future and that’s why they were – Sad- you-see?

But who among us, here today, says there is no resurrection? – Each believer who lives as though there is no future, no hope, no judgment day for the souls of man, no help from heaven, and no power over sin, sickness, death and the grave, denies the resurrection. Our life is a testimony as to what we believe – and our life speaks loudly!

Don’t live your life as though there were no help; no future – don’t live a life that others see as sad – don’t be a person who is sad, you-see/to-see.

There is hope, there is help from heaven. There is a future in this life and beyond. Here is the logic of the resurrection:

1 Corinthians 15
13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

What is the implication?

If God did not raise Jesus from the dead then Jesus of Nazareth, although a teacher of good moral principles, is no different than Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, Gandhi or Mother Theresa – just another good, well meaning person in a long list of wise moral teachers whom people still follow and often quote … just one in a long line of “special people”.

Special might be special, but being special, or being moral, or being a good teacher, can do nothing to take away the sins of the world. There is one and only one Messiah, Savior of the World, Son of God and the Perfect Sacrificial Lamb … His name is Jesus!

How do we know Jesus is that One? Because God set His seal on Jesus when He raised Him from the dead! The resurrection is God’s stamp of approval, God’s recognition upon the life, death, burial and finished work of Jesus, His Son, our Savior, and the forgiveness of sins. Only the Lamb of God can take away the sins of the world. And, if Jesus was not it … your sins have not been paid for and you are bound for hell today!

This is the importance and the reality of the resurrection! If Jesus was not raised from the dead … you have a reason to be afraid, very afraid – miserable in fact! If Jesus was not raised from the dead …

1 Corinthians 15
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

If all you have is all you have, and all you can get is in this life, if this life is it … life is miserable. But the resurrection confirms, “This life is not it … !”

The Truth!

1 Corinthians 15
20 ¶ But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
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.

John 5
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his, (God’s), voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

The cross gave sinners a Savior while the resurrection gives saints a future.

Do you believe in the resurrection?
1. The resurrection of Christ?
a. As victorious Savior and eternal Lord, the One Messiah

2. The resurrection of the dead at Christ’s coming?
a. A new body, incorruptible, undefiled, immortal, eternal

3. The resurrection of hope for your future?
a. A better tomorrow which begins today
b. A future that only Jesus can offer, & only you can accept

Embrace the resurrection and its power. Don’t live life as a sad-you-see!

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Passover & Communion

The roots of Communion/the Lord’s Supper/the Eucharist and Easter – the death, burial and resurrection of the Lamb of God are in the feasts of Passover, Unleavened Bread and Point to First Fruits

(Please put all three of these points on one slide and show them one at a time as I mention them.)

1) Israel was commanded to celebrate 7 feasts in Scripture.
2) One is called “Passover” or “Pesach”
3) Communion’s “roots” are from Passover


-it is helpful, and, I think, important that as we approach the Table of the Lord or the Communion Table that we at least have a basic knowledge of some of the basic parts and meanings of a Passover celebration.

- We need to be able to view the taking of Communion from the context of Passover.

-This will give us greater understanding and application of why and how we celebrate communion and what it means for us.

- Passover is a 3500 year old festival.
- Israel was in bondage and slavery to Egypt.
- God sent Moses to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt and into the land of Canaan.
- Pharoah would not let the people go, despite he and his nation being afflicted with plagues of judgment.
- God was going to send 1 last plague – promising the death of all firstborn for all whose houses were not covered by the blood of a lamb or goat without defect, and with the blood of that sacrifice placed on the sides and top of the doors of their dwellings.
- The Lord told Moses and Aaron to tell the people that on the 10th day of the month, they were to set aside an unblemished lamb or goat. They were to roast the lamb, eat it all or burn the leftovers, eat it ready to leave, with sandals on their feet, with bitter herbs and bread made without yeast. (unleavened bread)
- They were to commemorate this night of deliverance and judgment throughout their generations.

Exodus 12:1 (NIV)
¶ The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt,
2 "This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. 3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household.
4 If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbour, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat.
5 The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats.
6 Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight.
7 Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the door-frames of the houses where they eat the lambs.
8 That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast.
9 Do not eat the meat raw or cooked in water, but roast it over the fire—head, legs and inner parts.
10 Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it.
11 This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD’s Passover.
12 "On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn—both men and animals—and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD.
13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
14 "This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD—a lasting ordinance.


The Lord also told them to celebrate the feast of unleavened bread for 7 days.

Then came the feast of First Fruits – waving a sheaf of barley before the Lord as a sign of rejoicing in the promised coming harvest and of the new life of resurrection.

Jesus entered Jerusalem on the donkey on the 10th of the month.

Jesus celebrated Passover (the Last Supper) and instituted Communion with His disciples before He was crucified.

Jesus was crucified on the cross on the 14th day.

Jesus is the Passover Lamb sacrificed for us:

John 1:29 ¶ The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

1 Corinthians 5:7 ¶ Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are. :8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

What does the blood of Christ, our Passover Lamb accomplish for us?

The Blood of Christ:
- takes away our sin:
Ro 3:25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement (propitiation), through faith in his blood. (completely satisfying God’s righteous demands for payment for our sins)

- redeems us and rescues us from a sinful way of life::
1Pe 1:18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

(The blood purchases us out of the slave market of sin)

- cleanses our consciences:
Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

- gives us bold access to God in worship and prayer:
Heb 10:19 ¶ Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus

- progressively cleanses us from sin:
1 Jo 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Rev. 1:5 …..Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood

- gives us the ground to conquer the accuser of the brothers:
Re 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

Re 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

WE CANNOT TAKE THE TIME TONIGHT TO GO THROUGH AND EXPLAIN THE ENTIRE PASSOVER CELEBRATION AND IT’S RICH MEANINGS.

WE DO KNOW FROM THE SCRIPTURES AND FROM THE MISHNEH (JEWISH WRITINGS OF ORAL TEACHING – THE MAJORITY OF ASPECTS OF HOW JESUS AND THE DISCIPLES CELEBRATED PASSOVER

The Mishneh was systematically compiled by numerous scholars (called Tannaim) over a period of about two centuries, and WRITTEN DOWN and codified CIRCA A.D. 200 BY RABBI JUDAH HA-NASSI, WHO RECEIVED THE ORAL TRADITION DATING BACK TO RABBI HILLEL WHO LIVED BEFORE CHRIST, DYING ABOUT 10CE.

IN FACT, PAUL THE APOSTLE’S USAGE OF THE TERM “CUP OF BLESSING” IN 1 CORINTHIANS IN REFERENCE TO COMMUNION IS REFERRED TO AS THE THIRD CUP IN in the Talmud, e.g. at Pesachim 119a.

1Co 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

At a Passover Seder, the cup of blessing is drunk by everyone present, and functions as the Third Cup.

The 4 Cups:

There are 4 special cups of wine during the Passover Supper:
Each cup corresponds to a passage in Exodus that describes the 4 promises made by God for the children of Israel:

Exodus 6:6-7

Ex 6:6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I [am] the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: Ex 6:7 And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

The 4 Cups are:
1) The Cup of Sanctification – “I will take you out from Egypt.”
2) The Cup of Deliverance – “I will deliver or rid you from Egyptian bondage.”
3) The Cup of Redemption – “I will redeem you with my power.”
4) The Cup of Restoration – “I will acquire you as My people.”

IN A PASSOVER SEDER, AFTER THE 1ST CUP OF WINE, HANDWASHING, DIPPING OF VEGETABLES IN SALT WATER, THEN THE BREAKING OF THE MATZA AND THE HIDING OF THE AFIKOMEN OCCURS.

AFTER THE FIRST TWO CUPS WERE DRUNK, THEN A MEAL WOULD BE EATEN.

AFTER THE MEAL, THE 3RD CUP IS POURED.

AT THIS POINT IN MANY PASSOVER SERVICES, THE MIDDLE BROKEN PIECE OF MATZO THAT WAS HIDDEN AWAY (BURIED) IN A LINEN NAPKIN IS FOUND BY THE CHILDREN AND BROUGHT TO THE FATHER, WHO WILL OFTEN GIVE THEM GIFTS.

IF YOU COME TO THE FATHER LIKE A LITTLE CHILD, AND BELIEVE, YOU WILL RECEIVE GIFTS FROM HIM BECAUSE YOU HAVE FOUND THE HIDDEN MANNA, CHRIST JESUS.

The Matzo is BLESSED, BROKEN AND GIVEN.

IT WAS AT THIS POINT THAT JESUS BROKE THE BREAD, BLESSED IT AND GAVE IT TO HIS DISCIPLES, SAYING, ALL OF YOU EAT FROM THIS, IT IS MY BODY BROKEN FOR YOU.

THE LAST OF THE UNLEAVENED BREAD IS BLESSED, BROKEN AND GIVEN.

WHY MATZO?
- Unleavened – no yeast – no sin - pure – like Christ
- Pierced – “they pierced my hands and my feet.”
- Striped – “by His stripes we are healed.”
- Broken – as the sacrifice for our sin

THEN THE 3RD CUP OF REDEMPTION IS PRAYED OVER AND DRUNK.

IT WAS AT THIS POINT THAT JESUS, “AFTER THE MEAL” TOOK THE CUP IN HIS HAND AND SAID, THIS CUP IS THE NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD

Luke 22:
19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.


THE CUP AFTER SUPPER IS THE 3RD CUP OR CUP OF REDEMPTION.
OUR COMMUNION SERVICE COMES FROM PASSOVER:
THE MIDDLE PIECE OF (FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT) OF UNLEAVED BREAD (MATZO) IS HIDDEN AWAY – “BURIED” – UNTIL THE THIRD CUP OF WINE, CALLED THE CUP OF REDEMPTION, IS BROUGHT FORTH. THAT IS OUR HOLY COMMUNION!

Matthew 26:26 ¶ While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."
27 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you.
28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
29 I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom."