Messiah is Coming

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This sermon is based on Isaiah 7:10-17 and Malachi 3:1-3.

Messiah Is Coming!

Isaiah 7:14 (NKJV) Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV) For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Introduction:

The well-known pastor and radio preacher, Chuck Swindoll, shares the following perspective:

Take the year 1809. The international scene was tumultuous. Napoleon was sweeping through Austria; blood was flowing freely. Nobody then cared about babies. But the world was overlooking some terribly significant births.

For example, William Gladstone was born that year. He was destined to become one of England's finest statesman. That same year, Alfred Tennyson was born to an obscure minister and his wife. The child would one day greatly affect the literary world in a marked manner. On the American continent, Oliver Wendell Holmes was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. And not far away in Boston, Edgar Allan Poe began his eventful, albeit tragic, life. It was also in that same year that a physician named Darwin and his wife named their child Charles Robert. And that same year produced the cries of a newborn infant in a rugged log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky. The baby's name? Abraham Lincoln.

If there had been [international] news broadcasts at that time, I'm certain these words would have been heard: "The destiny of the world is being shaped on an Austrian battlefield today." But history was actually being shaped in the cradles of England and America. Similarly, everyone thought taxation was the big news--when Jesus was born. But a young Jewish woman cradled the biggest news of all: the birth of the Savior.

Certainly the birth of Christ was the greatest event at that time, even though not many people were aware of it, and not many understood the significance of His coming until years and even centuries later. The birth of the Messiah has changed the history of the world and more importantly, the destiny of mankind.

The season of Advent is the time when we anticipate the celebration of Christmas. During this time we try to imagine some of the details of events leading up to His birth. What does it mean to say, “Messiah is coming?”

To help us in our understanding I will endeavor to share some details about messianic theology in the OT, then I want take the remainder of our time to speak about some of the mistaken notions about the coming of Messiah and apply them to our contemporary Christian culture.

I. Messiah in the OT

Most of us have heard so many messages about Christmas and about the Messiah that we can usually quote at least portions of many OT prophecies and their fulfillment described in the NT.

It is sometimes hard for us to remember that the truths about the Messiah were revealed through the prophets over a period of many years. But even more than that, the full realization of their meanings was not understood until the NT authors rendered more complete explanations in light of who Jesus was and what He accomplished.

Let’s notice some of the information the OT reveals about the Messiah.

(International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) The term most closely associated with the word Messiah is used in the Old Testament of kings and priests, who were consecrated to office by the ceremony of anointing. It is applied to the priests … and kings; …. Similarly in the Psalms the king is designated "mine," "thine," "his anointed." Thus also even Cyrus (Isaiah 45:1), as being chosen and commissioned by Yahweh to carry out His purpose with Israel.

It is to be noted that [the actual word] "Messiah" as a special title is never applied in the Old Testament to the unique king of the future, unless perhaps in Daniel 9:25f (māshīaḥ nāghīdh, "Messiah-Prince")….

Daniel 9:25 (NKJV) "Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times.

The Messiah is the instrument by whom God's kingdom is to be established in Israel and in the world. … The Jews were a nation who lived in the future…. No nation ever cherished such strong expectations of a good time coming, or clung more tenaciously amid defeat and disaster to the certainty of final triumph over all enemies and of entrance upon a state of perfect peace and happiness….

1. The Messianic King:

The chief element in the conception of the Messiah in the Old Testament is that of the king.  Through him as head of the nation Yahweh could most readily work out His saving purposes…. The passage on which the idea of the Messianic king who would rule in righteousness and attain universal dominion was founded is Nathan's oracle to David in 2 Samuel 7:11ff.  

2 Samuel 7:11-16 (NKJV) ¹¹ ... Also the LORD tells you that He will make you a house. ¹² "When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom….¹⁶ And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever." ' "

The immediate focus of Nathan’s prophecy centered on Solomon, but verse 16 indicates the permanent nature of this promise.

In contrast to Saul, from whom the kingdom had passed away, David would never want for a descendant to sit on the throne of Israel.  

(1) Isaiah.

Isaiah is the first of the prophets to refer to an extraordinary king of the future….  

Isaiah 7:10-17 The kings of Syria and Israel having entered into a league to dethrone Ahaz … Isaiah announces to the king of Judah that while, by the help of Assyria, he would survive the attack of the confederate kings, but for his disobedience, Yahweh would bring devastation upon his own land the same nation who helped him survive the attack from Syria and Israel.

Isaiah 7:14 (NKJV) ¹⁴ Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

But the prophet's lofty vision, though limited … to his own time, reaches beyond Judah's distress to Judah's deliverance. To the spiritual mind of Isaiah the revelation is made of a true king, Immanuel, "God-with-us," who would arise out of the house of David…. [When taken with] Isaiah 9, would seem to point to the identity of Immanuel with the Prince of the four names, "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9:6-7 (NKJV) ⁶ For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ⁷ Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

A similar description of the Messianic king is given by Micah, Isaiah's younger contemporary, who emphasizes the humble origin of the extraordinary ruler of the future, who shall spring from the Davidic house…. (i.e. a ruler who comes forth from Bethlehem.)

(2) Jeremiah and Ezekiel.

….By Jeremiah the Messiah is called the "righteous Branch" who is to be raised unto David and to be called "Yahweh (is) our righteousness”…. In Ezekiel he is alluded to as the coming one "whose right it is" (Ezekiel 21:27), and as Yahweh's "servant David" who shall be "prince" or "king" forever over a reunited people (Ezek. 34:23f; Ezek. 37:24).  

(3) Later Prophets.

After Ezekiel's time, during the remaining years of the exile, the hope of a preeminent king of David's house naturally disappears.  But it is resuscitated …. In prophecies such as Zech. 9:9, who pictures the Messiah as coming not on a splendid charger like a warrior king, but upon the foal of a donkey, righteous and victorious, yet lowly and peaceful, strong by the power of God to help and save.  

There are many other aspects of the messianic hope that is expressed in the OT such as: “prophet” and “priest,” but we will move on to talk about a couple of spiritual lessons or applications that stood out to me as I recently read in the prophets.

II. Spiritual Lessons

A. Judgment rather than blessing and rescue.

See Is. 7:14-17

In the same context with the promise of a miracle birth, a reference to a coming King, the prophet announces judgment for the sins of Judah.

Malachi 3:5 (NKJV) And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness Against sorcerers, Against adulterers, Against perjurers, Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, And against those who turn away an alien-- Because they do not fear Me," Says the LORD of hosts.  

Somewhat similar truth is given by the prophet Amos to the nation of Israel (the northern kingdom).

Amos 5:18 (NKJV) Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD! For what good is the day of the LORD to you? It will be darkness, and not light.

The “day of the Lord” is a different emphasis than the promises about Messiah, but the point is this…

The people of Israel and Judah longed for the rescue from their enemies and the sought God’s intervention, but they apparently weren’t willing to abandon their wickedness and idolatry. There was gross immorality and a multitude of ways that they had abandoned God’s will and His ways, yet they expected God to continue to pour out His blessings.

(See Amos 2:4-12)

We see the same kind of conditions in the church world today. People long and cry for the coming of Jesus. But far too many professing Christians have abandoned the principles of righteousness and biblical faith. They want God to intervene in this messy world, but they give the impression that they don’t want God to require them to change the way their living.

It astounds me at times how many people talk spiritual, and about how much they love God, but their life styles are full of cheating, lying, fornication, adultery, self-centeredness, etc., etc. God will answer our prayers, but it may not be in the way we expect.

B. God expects His people to act

Many of the prophets who gave glimpses of hope for the coming King, the Messiah, not only denounced the evil that was prevalent among them, but they admonished the people of God to start practicing the laws of God in a positive way.

Some weeks ago I remember pointing out that the law of God provided as a covenant with the people of God, demonstrated that God cared very much for the weak, the poor and the disadvantaged.

Listen to some of these verses:

Isaiah 56:1 (NKJV) Thus says the LORD: "Keep justice, and do righteousness, For My salvation is about to come, And My righteousness to be revealed.

Jeremiah 21:12 (NKJV) O house of David! Thus says the LORD: "Execute judgment in the morning; And deliver him who is plundered Out of the hand of the oppressor….

Ezekiel 45:9-10 (NKJV) 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Enough, O princes of Israel! Remove violence and plundering, execute justice and righteousness, and stop dispossessing My people," says the Lord GOD. ¹⁰ "You shall have honest scales, an honest ephah, and an honest bath. [not a tub for washing!]

Zechariah 7:9-10 (NKJV) "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Execute true justice, Show mercy and compassion everyone to his brother. ¹⁰ Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. Let none of you plan evil in his heart against his brother.'

The point that I get from these messages is this:

Even though these prophets I’ve mentioned all had something to say about the coming Messiah, yet they all proclaimed the word of the Lord concerning the responsibility of the people to carry out the deeds of kindness, compassion and justice that God cares about. They were not expected to “wait until the Messiah comes to set everything straight.” They were expected to be actively involved in correcting the terrible abuses that had become common in the society.

I believe we can apply this same thought to our culture and our context today. There are plenty of people who claim the name of Christ that are longing and pining for Jesus to return to straighten out the mess we are in. Well, I certainly agree that our world and our society will never be perfect until the Prince of Peace does return and establishes His kingdom of righteousness. However, I also believe that God wants His people to be actively involved in changing the culture and having a positive influence everywhere we can until He does return!

Conclusion:

As we move closer and closer to the day we celebrate the birth of the Messiah, I trust that we will remember these spiritual truths we have talked about today.

Remember that the prophets not only held out the prospect of hope for the future when God’s Anointed One would come, but they also admonished the people of God to rid themselves of all the actions and behaviors that were clearly in violation of God’s standards of righteousness.

Remember that the prophets urged the people of God to be proactive in the reforms and renewals that the nation needed so much.

We too must live with these attitudes as we anticipate the return of the Messiah as the King of kings and Lord of lords.

The song I’ve chosen to close with this morning is,

In His Time    

Jesus came the first time in God’s perfect timing, and He will come the 2^nd time at His time. While we wait, let us live righteous lives and follow His will.

Taking a Stand

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This is a sermon that was given in recognition of the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. It speaks about the responsibility believers have to stand with their brothers and sisters who are persecuted for their faith.

Written Excerpts:

2 Timothy 3:12 (NKJV) Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

Introduction:

Since today is designated as the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, I wanted to bring a message today that relates to that issue. We may think that the persecution and suffering is not affecting us, so it’s not really our problem. However, I would beg us to take a deeper consideration of the subject.

I believe that it does affect us in at least two ways: 1) things are rapidly changing in our own country in ways that indicate we may be facing some kinds of persecution right here in the USA; 2) we are part of the body of Christ and the Bible makes it clear that when one part of the body suffers, we all suffer.

For a short time (hopefully) this morning I want to talk to you about what the Bible has to say about “taking a stand” in the face of persecution.

I want to consider two primary aspects of this subject. The first one is to discuss the principles and values that we must stand for, and support. The second one is to discuss the people that we need to take a stand with because of what they stand for.

1.   Things we stand FOR

When Jesus was preaching and teaching during his earthly ministry, he made it clear that those who followed him and became true disciples would have opposition and have enemies. He promised his followers that they would be hated, persecuted, imprisoned, and even put to death.

Matthew 10:16-22 (NKJV) ¹⁶  "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. ¹⁷  But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. ¹⁸  You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. ¹⁹  But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; ²⁰  for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. ²¹  Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. ²²  And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.

Why would Jesus make these kinds of statements? Because He knew that there were people who hated the principles and values He taught and if the disciples obeyed and followed His teachings, then they would be hated also.

See Luke 21:7-17

Apostles also preached the same kind of message to their audiences.

See Acts 14:22; 2 Tim. 3:12

We don’t have the time today to speak about all the core Christian principles that we believe are worthy of standing for in face of opposition and persecution. But, even to believe in Jesus and being willing to stand up and say, “Jesus is the only Lord,” was enough for the early Christians to be hunted, tortured and put to death. Rome would not tolerate any subjects “swearing” allegiance to any other king or Lord other than Caesar.

We have been hearing for many years now that there are religious leaders and political systems all around the world even today who will not tolerate or permit citizens to pledge their loyalty and allegiance to Christ alone.

Just as our brothers and sisters in other lands, we may soon discover that we too must decide what we are willing to die for, or what we are willing to lose our jobs for. We may have to decide whether we are going to keep surrendering our principles and our convictions or are we going to take a stand for truth and righteousness and end up losing property and other things that seem so valuable to us.

The Bible

One other brief example of a principle or Christian value that we ought to be willing to take a stand for is the conviction that the Bible is the written revelation of God to humanity. We ought to be willing to lay down our lives for the authority and reliability and uniqueness of the Bible as God’s Word.

2.   Those we stand WITH

Get your bulletin insert and take a look for a moment at some of the verses we read earlier in the responsive Scripture reading.

These passages clearly teach some of the implications that go along with the whole concept of the church acting as the body of Christ. Our Christian brothers and sisters, wherever they may be, are part of the same body that we are. Those early Christians were instructed to care for, pray for and defend one another. We must carry on the same principles today.

Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God… and the second greatest commandment is to love our neighbor as ourselves. How can we claim to love our neighbor if we do not at least pray for the plight of those Christian brothers and sisters who suffer today only because they love Jesus and try to live according to His Word?

Let us conclude our service by singing the closing song: Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus   # 730

The Believer's Source of Joy

(To download an mp3 file of this sermon, click on the title above. To listen now, click on the play button of the audio player here.)

This is a sermon based on Psalm 16:11 and it discusses the source of joy and pleasure God can be for the person who truly has an intimate relationship with Him.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

Some young people want life, liberty, and an automobile for the pursuit of happiness. — The Complete Book of Zingers

This verse in Psalms grabbed my attention several weeks ago as I read it during my devotional time with the Lord. I’ve read the verse many times and I’ve heard it quoted repeatedly over the years, but it truly spoke to my heart as I read it recently. As I read it, the question immediately rose in my mind, “Do I truly find fullness of joy in the presence of God?” If not, why not?

To you, dear friends, I ask the same question, “Do you really find full joy in the presence of God?”

St. Augustine, a church leader who lived in the 4^th century, had lived a wicked, immoral life before coming to faith in Jesus Christ and experiencing transforming grace. His conversion did not happen quickly, but was a process that developed over time as he gradually became more and more enlightened with the truth. At one point in his journey to faith and salvation, he penned these words directed to God, “I was astonished that although I now loved you… I did not persist in enjoyment of my God. Your beauty drew me to you, but soon I was dragged away from you by my own weight and in dismay I plunged again into the things of this world….” (John Piper, The Legacy of Sovereign Joy)

Augustine was still fighting an inward battle – complete abandonment to God, the source of genuine joy, vs. continuing indulgence in fleshly lusts, the source of passing pleasures. Thankfully, he reached the point in his journey that he did totally abandon the temporary pleasures of fleshly lusts and found the saving grace of God to be what his soul truly longed for. Augustine has introduced us to the concept that true fullness of joy can only be found in a relationship with God because we were made for Him and without Him genuine joy cannot be fully realized.

Transition: For the rest of our time today I want to seek the help of God’s Spirit as we explore together the concepts of joy, happiness and pleasure as they relate to spiritual life in Christ.

Proposition: I hope to explore this theme today by defining terms that relate to joy, by discussing some barriers to joy, and by challenging all of us to seek the joy that only comes from God.

I.     Terms that relate to joy

Joy – In the Old Testament: Besides joy in a general sense, as the response of the mind to any pleasurable event or state (1 Kings 1:40; Esther 8:17, etc.), joy as a religious emotion is very frequently referred to in the Old Testament. Religion is conceived of as touching the deepest springs of emotion, including the feeling of exultant gladness which often finds outward expression in such actions as leaping, shouting, and singing.

In the New Testament: The element of joy in religion is [even] more prominent in the New Testament. It is the appropriate response of the believer to the "good tidings of great joy" which constitute the gospel (Luke 2:10). In the four Gospels, especially Luke, this element is conspicuous. It is seen in the [songs of Mary, Zacharias, and Simeon recorded in] Luke 1 and 2.… (The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.)

Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. The [Hebrew] root [word] denotes being glad or joyful with the whole disposition as indicated by its association with the heart (cf. Psalm 19:8 ^(NKJV) The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart), the soul (Psalm 86:4 ^(NKJV) Rejoice the soul of Your servant, For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.); and with the lighting up of the eyes (Proverbs 15:30 ^(NKJV) The light of the eyes rejoices the heart…).

Taking all these definitions together we conclude that joy is a deep emotion that entails all elements of personhood; heart, soul, mind and body.

Happiness – Similar to idea of joy, but usually with the distinction that happiness at any given time is dependent on present circumstances, while joy can be present even in unhappy circumstances.

Pleasure – a sense or feeling of elation or even euphoria that occurs when certain chemicals are released in a specific area of our brain as we experience specific events.

Contentment – a sense of satisfaction; nothing is lacking.

All of these terms are related and often used synonymously. When considered as a whole, they seem to express what the Hebrew word, “shalom” intends to convey: i.e. the overwhelming sense of well-being and rest; all is as it should be producing harmony and peace.

The Psalmist is essentially saying that our deepest feelings of joy, happiness, pleasure and contentment are found in a relationship that brings us into the very presence of God, our Creator and our heavenly Father.

II.    Barriers that hinder our joy

A. Misplaced expectations

Some people have never truly experienced genuine joy because they have only sought for it in things that cannot produce it. I read the transcript of an interview that was once given by Pastor Ravi Zacharias, who is a pastor of a church near Cleveland, Oh.

In answer to one of the questions he gave this reply, There is always the sense that one more digit in my pay check will make a difference. One added home. One added car. One added excursion. One other vacation. We think by the simple act of change we will alter everything on the inside. So it has that lure to it. But at the same time pleasure, when it has delivered what it can, definitely does leave you empty. [Nowhere is this] more obvious than in the Hollywood world: the breakup of relationships, the breakup of homes, and the breakup of commitments.

He later went on to describe the relationship between happiness and joy. I remember in Bangkok once walking out of my hotel, and this guy was standing there announcing “Happy hour, happy hour.” So I stopped and said to him, “Are you only happy for one hour?”

Do I think [pagans / non-Christians] are truly happy? I think they have punctuated moments of happiness. I do not think true happiness is ultimately found unless you’ve got a relationship that is the [foundation] from which everything else is explained. And I don’t think ultimately [any] relationships will stand without that relationship with God. … So I would say there are moments of happiness. But as G.K. Chesterton said, they can be happy because the peripheral questions are answered for now, but they ultimately can’t have joy because the fundamental questions are not answered. So happiness is possible but it is not [complete].

Peripheral questions = employment/income, food, housing, entertainment, etc.

Fundamental questions = Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going? These are the questions that can rob us of deep joy if we have no clue about their answers.

So, we learn that one of the barriers to possessing real joy is the fact that people look to the wrong things to provide it. True joy is only found in the bond of a deep relationship with God that provides meaning and fulfillment for all the rest of life.

B. Exhausted by pleasure

(G.K. Chesterton) Meaninglessness does not come from being weary of pain. Meaninglessness comes from being weary of pleasure.

Some people have been unsuccessful in finding true joy because they have diligently and even feverishly sought for pleasures until they’ve reached the point that nothing brings any genuine pleasure anymore. Life becomes dull, depressive, and meaningless when little or nothing produces real pleasure.

In my reading and preparation for this message I came across an article by a clinical psychologist on the faculty of Fuller Theological Seminary, Dr. Archibald Hart. In his article he explores the problem of how the constant pursuit of pleasures, excitement and thrills can actually desensitize the pleasure center in our brain that biologically gives us the feeling of pleasure.

We believe that joy comes from the Lord, but we need the “pleasure center” of the brain to appreciate the joy. But the pleasure center can be over-stimulated to the point that we can have difficulty finding real joy in anything.

Dr. Hart named three things that rob us of pleasure: depression, stimulating drugs, and over-indulgence in stimulating behaviors. He says that depression is often brought on by the breakneck pace of life that produces too much stress and leaves little or no time for meaningful rest and simple pleasures.

The use of stimulant drugs short-circuits the brain and sends an abundance of chemicals to the pleasure center, which produces an insatiable desire for more.

(Hart) The problem is, faced with the stress of modern life and the continuous flow of stimulation, we are "pushing the pleasure button" too frequently. So the pathway becomes obstructed, as if someone is building a barrier.

It is the same problem we used to talk about in addiction treatment. When someone takes a drug (alcohol) long enough their body builds up a tolerance to it and it takes more and more of the substance to produce the desired effects. Apparently the same principle works with the pursuit of pleasure. When we constantly seek after entertainment for  pleasure, we discover that it takes more and more stimulating experiences to provide the excitement and happiness we used to gain by the simple gifts in life.

The author warns parents and youth leaders against constantly pushing our children to pursue more and more pleasure-seeking activities. It not only robs them of the time to seek after God, but it builds up barriers against true pleasure until even the prospect of knowing God seems too boring and unexciting for them.

So we have learned that there are at least two things which can block out our joy: seeking joy in the everyday pleasures of life rather than in a relationship; and overloading our minds with a constant pursuit of pleasures (both legitimate and illegitimate).

III.  Seeking fullness of joy in God Himself

A. Creatures made for God

We human beings are creatures that were made by God for fellowship with God. We read in Genesis that Adam and Eve communed with God and walked with God. This fellowship and joy in knowing God was part of their “DNA.” When creatures that were created to fellowship and enjoy communion with their Creator seek to fill that need with all kinds of other pleasures, there can never be a complete sense of joy.

Chorus: If you want joy, real joy, wonderful joy, Let Jesus come into your heart. (repeat)Your sins He’ll wash away, Your night He’ll turn to day, Your life, He’ll make it over anew. If you want joy, real joy, wonderful joy, Let Jesus come into your heart.

B. Satisfying the spirit

The Bible tells us that joy is a fruit of the Spirit. If joy is a fruit of the Spirit, then it is something that is experienced in the spiritual realm rather than the realm of the flesh or material. It should be possible to be completely satisfied and full of joy in your spirit without relying on outward physical stimulation.

Spiritual truths and experiences can only be fully realized by the spirit. Material and fleshly stimuli cannot fully communicate spiritual realities. I think that this relates to a problem we talked about earlier.

Dr. Hart, whom I quoted earlier, said, I think the church is actually contributing to the problem. There has been a subtle shift in the last decade or so towards more of a stimulant-driven spirituality.

This also seems to be the point expressed by Dr. Ravi Zacharias.

When he was asked, “Do you think that worship can also be an escape for some?” He responded, Yes, I think the way we worship can be an escape. Sometimes I wonder about the evangelical world where worship to us has become so much noise. I often wonder how much that really couches the most important thing: for you to be still.

One of the problems that I think can result from various styles of worship is the clamor for things that are visible and exciting; things that stimulate and excite physical or fleshy desires.

Is your spirit sensitive enough to just enjoy the presence of God without outside stimulations or distractions? Can you find joy in knowing your relationship with Christ is real and up-to-date?

If joy is something that is truly communicated spiritually, and if it is a gift of the Spirit, then any experience that is accompanied with the anointing of the Holy Spirit should produce profound joy in our hearts, whether that is expressed in a lively and stimulating way through songs, and demonstrations of praise, or in an overpowering sense of awe and wonder that is expressed by a “holy hush” in which no one moves or speaks.

2 Chronicles 7:1-3 ^(NKJV) When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. ² And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD'S house. ³ When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying: "For He is good, For His mercy endures forever."

I don’t know about you, but I believe that this experience filled their hearts with a sense of awe and holy joy. It probably wasn’t the kind of joy that resulted in jumping and shouting, but a deeper knowledge that God had accepted their sacrifice and He was in their midst.

God has a level of joy available for each one of us that we’ve never known before if we can train our minds, our hearts and our entire being to seek its contentment in Him and Him alone. If we really believe v. 11 in Psalm 16, we understand that it is only in His presence that we can have fullness of joy.

When we possess an intimate relationship with God and have the abiding knowledge that His grace has freely forgiven us and His blood has covered all our sins, then enduring joy is bound to be the result.

Let us close the service by singing the chorus: In the Presence of Jehovah

Giving Like God

(To download an mp3 file of this sermon, click on the title above. To listen now, click on the play button of the audio player here.)

This is a sermon on the subject of Christian Stewardship, especially as it pertains to Christian attitudes toward financial giving to the Lord.

Written Excerpts:

2 Corinthians 9:7 (NKJV) So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

Introduction:

If you’re a first-time visitor or occasional visitor here this morning, this sermon might confirm what you’ve always suspected about church – i.e. “churches are always talking about money.” For those who are regular attenders, you might recognize that this may be the first or second sermon I’ve given on this topic since I came here six years ago.

I do not feel led to discuss this topic because our finances are in trouble here at Wayside. In fact, I’ve often thanked you all for the generosity this church seems to have, and I’ve been grateful for the generosity you’ve shown to Kris and me. I felt led to preach this sermon for a couple of reasons.

First, I recently was reviewing some articles that I had filed away for future reference and came across one article that was a critique of church giving in America in recent years, and I thought it was important for all church attenders to have a biblical view of charitable giving.

Secondly, I felt that this would be an appropriate time to talk about this subject because of our missions’ conference that is taking place next weekend – when we will be asking you to participate in giving funds for worldwide evangelization and charitable ministries.

Transition:

I would like to speak to you today regarding some of the reasons why people fail to give like God.

I.    They fail to realize the difference between ownership and stewardship.

(R. Paul Stevens, Regent Univ., The Complete Book of Everyday Christianity, ed. by Stevens and Banks.) The Greek word for steward (oikonomos, from which we get our word economy) means “one who manages a household.” Years ago persons called stewards, rather than huge financial institutions, were employed to manage the financial affairs and households of wealthy people. Their management included not only money but everything that makes a household thrive, not unlike the vocation of homemaking but on a large scale. A biblical example is Joseph’s work as steward of Potiphar’s house; his master did not “concern himself with anything in the house” (Genesis 39:8).

Stewardship is a term theologically related to service or ministry (diakonia). If service denotes the motivation for ministry—undertaking God’s interests for the pleasure of God—stewardship suggests the purpose of ministry: to manage God’s world in harmony with the owner’s mind.

Psalm 24:1 (NKJV) ¹  The earth is the LORD'S, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.

Psalm 50:9-12 (NKJV) ⁹  I will not take a bull from your house, Nor goats out of your folds. ¹⁰  For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills. ¹¹  I know all the birds of the mountains, And the wild beasts of the field are Mine. ¹²  "If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine, and all its fullness.

The subject of stewardship is one that we could preach an entire series of sermons on because it entails far more than just money or finances. We obviously don’t have time today to cover every aspect of the subject. But, I would propose that anyone who has a basic knowledge of the Bible probably has come to realize that God essentially owns everything. What we may possess is only loaned to us as His stewards to use for His purposes.

(Now, He doesn’t force us to use our possessions strictly in ways that glorify Him, and there are some people in the world that do not intentionally use any of their wealth or possessions for God’s purposes.) So the concept that all our possessions “belong” to us and we can do whatever we please with them is not a concept that should exist in the mind of a Christian or disciple of Jesus.

I certainly believe the Bible endorses the concept of personal property because the 8^th commandment says, thou shalt not steal, which implies a person in some sense has ownership. But… if you believe you are the ultimate “owner” of all your possessions, then whose will they be the minute after you die? And whose will they be when the new “owner” dies?

We only have our “things” for the short period that we live on this earth, then we’re done with them. Every Christian should be concerned about obeying God in every area of life including the area of stewardship. Every Christian should exhibit a desire to use their finances and possessions for the glory of God and to fulfill God’s purposes.

Many years ago I came across this little “parable.”

Once upon a time there was a man who had nothing, and God gave him ten apples. He gave him 3 apples to eat. He gave him 3 apples to trade for shelter from the sun and rain, and He gave him 3 apples to trade for clothing to wear. God also gave him 1 apple so that he might have something to give back to God to show his gratitude for the other 9 apples.

The man ate the 3 apples for food; he traded 3 apples for shelter from the sun and rain; and he traded 3 apples for clothing to wear. Then he looked at the 10^th apple, and it seemed bigger and juicier than the rest.

He knew that God had given him the 10^th apple so that he might return it to Him out of gratitude for the other 9. But the 10^th apple looked bigger and juicier than the rest, and he reasoned that God had all the other apples in the world… so the man ate the 10^th apple and gave back to God… the core.

I know that there are many people in the world who do not even give God the “core” of their “apple.” But sadly, this parable describes the behavior of many Christians who profess to love God and want to be considered as faithful stewards. (By the way, I think I know how to keep the 10^th apple from looking bigger and juicier than the other 9. Give it to God first before you even use up the other 9.)

(Illustrations Unlimited.) There was a knock on the door of the hut occupied by a missionary in Africa. Answering, the missionary found one of the native boys holding a large fish in his hands. The boy said, "Reverend, you taught us what tithing is, so here—I've brought you my tithe." As the missionary gratefully took the fish, he questioned the young lad. "If this is your tithe, where are the other nine fish?" At this, the boy beamed and said, "Oh, they're still back in the river. I'm going back to catch them now."

II.  They fail to cultivate biblical attitudes about giving.

There are several concepts presented in Scripture that characterize appropriate attitudes we should have about giving.

Generously – 2 Corinthians 9:6 (NKJV) ⁶  But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Notice the contrast between the words “sparingly” and “bountifully.”

Proverbs 11:24-25 (NKJV) ²⁴  There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty. ²⁵  The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.

Proverbs 22:9 (NKJV) ⁹  He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor.

There is something about giving generously that is contrary to popular belief or opinion… The more generous a person is, the more God seems to bless them and they never seem to be in need or want.

Sacrificially – Luke 21:4 (NKJV) for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had."

It is possible for someone to be generous in their giving without being sacrificial. Someone has said that sacrificial giving is not measured by how much one gives, but by how much one has left.

Purposefully – 2 Corinthians 9:7a (NKJV) So let each one give as he purposes in his heart….

Cheerfully – 2 Corinthians 9:7b (NKJV) … not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

The reason these kinds of attitudes are encouraged and even commanded for the followers of Christ, is because they describe what God has demonstrated and displayed toward all of us. God is generous! God is intentionally good and gives blessings to us! Who can number all the generous blessings that God bestows upon all people, especially His children?

God gives sacrificially! What greater sacrifice has anyone given, than the sacrifice God gave when He sent His only begotten Son into the world for our salvation? God does all that He does with grace and favor, not “grudgingly.” God is a cheerful giver, so we should be too!

An organization named, Empty Tomb, Inc. does an annual report on church giving. In 2012, the latest year for which the numbers are available, church giving dropped to 2.2 percent of member’s incomes, the lowest percentage since 1968. (That’s definitely like giving just the core of the apple back to God.)

But, individual people are not the only ones who fail to live up to biblical attitudes about giving.

“Sylvia Ronsvalle, Empty Tomb’s executive vice president, told Religion News Service, ‘Churches on the whole are continuing to spend more on current members and less on the larger mission of the church and cutting back on missionaries.’” Ronsvalle says that this decline in outside giving is having devastating affects on poverty alleviation and other humanitarian services.

Churches are also guilty. As a church, we can become so preoccupied with our own wants and desires for comfort and security, that we fail to follow all of God’s will in funding the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ like we should. Churches and other religious organizations can become more interested in self-preservation than in outreach, if we abandon these biblical attitudes that God has given.

I’ve been pleased with the general attitude among our own church board members who have often expressed the idea, “God has blessed us so that we can be a blessing to others.” But, I want God to show us if we need to be even more generous and more sacrificial in our giving as a church.

III. They fail to properly appreciate all God has given to them.

I truly believe that another reason some people fail to give back to God in the same way God has given to them is because of a lack of appreciation or the sin of ingratitude.

I’m sure the whole “ownership” vs. “stewardship” issue comes into play here, but I don’t understand how someone can be stingy and fail to be generous if they really were thankful and appreciated the wonderful blessings they have received from God.

One biblical example of a person who demonstrated ingratitude is the story of the servant who was forgiven a huge debt that was owed to his master, then he refused to forgive another fellow servant of a small debt, and had him thrown in prison until the debt could be paid. (Matthew 18:23ff)

It seems to me that it would be a natural thing for a person to be generous, sacrificial and cheerful about giving to others and to the Lord if they were truly thankful for all God had provided for them.

IV. They fail to believe that God can use them or their gift(s) to bless others and advance His kingdom.

I’m convinced that many of us simply do not give generously to the Kingdom of God because we do not really have the faith to believe that our gift matters, or that God can use us to accomplish big things. If you have studied the Scriptures very much you know there are numerous passages that illustrate the things we miss because of a lack of faith.

One clear example that comes to my mind is the reference in the Gospels describing the visit Jesus made to His home town of Nazareth. Mark 6:5-6 contain these words, “He could do no might work there… He marveled at their unbelief.”

May the Lord help each one of us individually, and help all of us corporately to faithfully live as stewards who will one day give account to the Master Owner for how we used the possessions and funds He has blessed us with to glorify Him.

Let’s stand and sing our closing song: # 671, Something for Thee.

Prepare for Battle

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1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

1 Timothy 6:12 (NKJV) Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Introduction:

Several people in our congregation have gone to see the Christian film that came out recently: “War Room.” I don’t know about you, but I’ve seen the movie twice, and I think I would like to see it again! It truly stirred my heart and there was something inside of me that resonated with the message that the film proclaims. If you haven’t seen the movie, I highly recommend it.

There is a theme portrayed in it that all Christians in our country need to embrace – i.e. getting fully engaged in the spiritual conflict over our families, our schools our churches our communities and our nation.

There is one thing for certain – the arch-enemy of our Lord, who is also the primary enemy of every child of God, is not taking a vacation and is not on retreat. The Devil is in full battle mode and thoroughly intent on taking down every person, every family, and every church.

Having been inspired by the war room movie, I wanted to take this sermon to look at what the Bible has to say about our responsibility to be involved and engaged in spiritual warfare and to encourage us who may be weary and weak. With the help of the Lord, I want to talk to you about some things that are important for us to know in our preparation to engage in spiritual battle.

I.    Battle preparation includes a heightened awareness of the enemy.

When soldiers are trained and briefed for an upcoming mission or battle, it necessarily includes information regarding the tactics and methods the enemy has historically used and is likely to use in the present conflict. The same principle applies in the spiritual realm.

1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

“sober” – compound word meaning “of sound mind”

This word seems to imply a state of heightened awareness of the enemy and his strategy. Being of “sound mind” means that we are not deceived about the capabilities of our enemy.

It is imperative that we understand Satan wants to “devour” everyone that he possibly can (“because your adversary, the devil, walks about…”).

Ephesians 6:11-12 (NKJV) Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

“…we wrestle not against flesh & blood” – We often find ourselves in conflict individually with other people. We find ourselves in conflict collectively as a body of believers with other people or organizations. But, we must remember that those people and organizations are not the enemy. Satan is the enemy and he will use every possible resource he can to “divide and conquer” the people of God.

Both of these passages emphasize the fact that our enemy is cunning; strong; and vicious.

2 Corinthians 2:11 (NKJV) lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

This verse concludes a section of Scripture where Paul urges the Christians in Corinth to reaffirm their love for a fellow member that Paul had instructed them to discipline in his first letter. Paul seems to have a concern that Satan would use the situation to drive a wedge between the church and the Apostle.

In Ephesians Paul tells us that the real battle is being waged in the heavenly realms and that means it can only be won by spiritual warfare.

II.  Battle preparation includes a heightened sense of urgency and diligence.

I’ve never been in the military, but I think I’m absolutely correct in saying that, in the mind of every soldier, there is a huge difference between the mindset one possesses in basic training vs. the mindset one possesses when being deployed and entering a combat zone.

“be vigilant” – carries the idea of constantly watching; i.e. alert.

One of the greatest dangers for a soldier in combat is to become careless and complacent. One of the greatest dangers for Christians engaged in spiritual combat is to become careless and complacent.

In the movie “War Room” – There is a scene near the beginning of the movie where the young woman (Elizabeth) who is a real estate agent is meeting with an elderly lady (Clara) who is trying to sell her home. Clara gets to talking with Liz about spiritual matters and asks her how her prayer life is… hot or cold. The answer she receives from her is, “Well, not hot, but not cold either. It’s somewhere in the middle.”

While this conversation is going on, Clara is getting coffee ready in the kitchen and she brings a cup of lukewarm coffee back for Liz right after she has just described her prayer life as “not hot but not cold.” Liz takes one sip and says, “Miss Clara, do you like your coffee room temperature?”

Miss Clara replies as she lifts her own cup, “No, mine’s hot!” You can tell by the look on Liz’s face that she got the message. The message for her and the message for us from God’s Word is this: It’s time for Christians to wake up and quit “playing church,” and settling down into a nice comfortable, complacent life.

Too many of us are afraid to “rock the boat” or offend anyone or challenge the status quo around the church world or around the community. We’re not really “hot” for Jesus, but we pride ourselves that we’re not too “cold” either. We forget that being neither hot or cold puts us in the same condition as the Laodicean church in Revelation, which Jesus said made Him want to spew them out of His mouth. (Makes Him sick.)

We need to be more passionate than ever about living out what we say we believe. If we say that God is more important to us than anything else, then we need to act like He is. If we say that prayer is our most important spiritual weapon to overcome darkness and evil, then we need to pray like it is. If we believe that God designed the body of Christ as the single best organism for the work of His kingdom on earth, then we need to be actively involved in the church; not AWOL.

There is a point in the War Room movie when Ms Clara asked Elizabeth if she attended church. Liz answered that they attend occasionally. (Clara responded) “Is that because your pastor only preaches occasionally?” She already knows the answer to her question. She asks so that Liz gets the point.

Clara is acting as if she can’t understand why someone who says they love the Lord wouldn’t want to be taking advantage of every opportunity to learn more about the Bible and God’s will for His people.

I believe the New Testament makes it clear that the church (defined as the body of Christ) is expected to carry out the kingdom of God on earth to the extent that Jesus taught us to pray = “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

I don’t think anyone can honestly and sincerely read through the New Testament without seeing that the norm for Christians back then was a passionate pursuit of Jesus and their desire to be used by Him to influence more and more to come into a relationship with Him.

It seems to me that the content of the NT focuses on several basic themes, such as:

·     All those passages describing how to truly know Jesus;

·     Passages that describe the normal behaviors of those who know Jesus (not speaking so much here of instructions from leaders, as just the record of what Jesus-followers did);

·     The instructive and corrective passages for those who know Jesus but may be getting sidetracked.

There are probably other general themes I could mention, but I think these 3 themes cover a lot of the content.

Conclusion:

The Lord has been speaking to my heart about being more passionate in His work and not being content with the “status quo.” I need to be using prayer more as a weapon to tear down and destroy the schemes of the devil instead of just praying enough to fulfill my duty.

I am hoping and praying that the same will be true about everyone in our congregation.

Our closing song has a verse in it that I want to emphasize before we sing it.

Am I a Soldier of the Cross?

V. 2     Must I be carried to the skies

            On flowery beds of ease

            While others fought to win the prize

            And sailed through bloody seas?

Let us sing this hymn with spirit and with understanding.

Your Sins Are Forgiven

(To download an MP3 file of this message, click on the title above. To listen now, click on the play button of the audio player shown.)

This is a message that was given for the worship service on 9/27/15 in which the sacrament of communion was administered.

Written Excerpts:

Ephesians 1:7 (NKJV) In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

Introduction:

As you already know, we are going to be sharing the emblems of communion this morning in obedience to our Lord’s command. When I was thinking of an appropriate passage of Scripture and theme to use for the message on this occasion, my mind was drawn to the words of Jesus when He initiated the Eucharist at the last supper with His disciples.

Those words are, “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Matt. 26:28 (KJV)

As I pondered those words, I recalled some other words of Jesus that were directed to specific individuals. To the paralytic man brought to Jesus He said, “Son, be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven.” Matt. 9:2 (NKJV) And, to the woman who anointed his feet, “Your sins are forgiven.” Lk. 7:48 (NKJV) Therefore, I have chosen these words of Christ as the title for the message today, “Your sins are forgiven.”

With the Lord’s help I want to talk about the subject of forgiveness and, more specifically, the remission of sins. I will attempt to do so by describing the meaning of some important words; by sharing some examples of forgiveness, and by stimulating our faith in Christ’s sacrifice.

I.    The Meaning of Some Important Words

There are many words used in the Scriptures that are related to the idea of forgiveness and remission, and therefore important to understand. Let’s consider a few of them now.

“Remission” – Two different words translated as “remission” in the KJV. One of them is only used once.

Romans 3:25 (KJV) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

In this verse the word carries more the idea of “passing over” or “putting aside.” This does not imply that God would bring them up again later for punishment, but that He treated them as forgiven based on the sacrifice of His Son that would come later.

(ISBE) Remission is exemption from the consequences of an offense, forgiveness; pretermission is the suspension of the penalty (Philippi, Ellicott, Trench (Synonyms, XXXIII), Weiss; compare Acts 17:30). Cremer (Lexicon of N T Gr) regards the meaning of the two words as identical, except that the one refers to the Old Testament and the other to the New Testament. Sins are remitted when the offender is treated as though the offense had never been committed.

“Forgiveness” – lit. to put or send away.

“Atonement” – in the English Bible (KJV) the word “atonement” only appears once (Rom. 5:11) and it carries the idea of reconciliation.

(The Intn’l Std Bible Encyclopedia.) The root meanings of the Hebrew words… are, to "cover," hence … cancel, placate; to "offer," or "receive a sin offering," hence, make atonement, appease, propitiate; "effect reconciliation," i.e. by some conduct, or course of action.

I’ve included the word “atonement” here because, as we will notice later, in the Bible, remission is not available without the shedding of blood for the atonement of sins.

II.  Some Examples of Forgiveness and Remission

A. The woman who washed Jesus’ feet

One of the prime examples of forgiveness is found in the passage from Luke that we read earlier. This story is one that I have used in a sermon a few months ago – the woman who came and washed the feet of Jesus with her tears, and she dried them with her hair, and she anointed them with costly oil.

She was described earlier in the story as a “sinner.” I mentioned before, that the very fact she is described as a “sinner” probably means that she was notorious sinner. Many Bible scholars believe that she was a prostitute. After she gave such a dramatic display of worship and affection to the Lord, Jesus says to the Pharisee, “…her sins which are many are forgiven.” And, He also says to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”

I’m reminded from our earlier study that the verb tense used here by the author, Luke, indicate that she had already been forgiven and the results or condition of being forgiven continued into the present. Previously a notorious sinner – now a forgiven disciple!

B. The executioners at Calvary

Another prime example of forgiveness is displayed in the record of the crucifixion. “Forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Lk. 23:34) Here the Lord prays (intercedes) to the Father that their sin be forgiven (remitted, dismissed, sent away).

Most scholars seem to think that He is thinking not only of the executioners, but also the Jewish leaders who were also responsible for His crucifixion.

Jesus is truly expressing the heart of the Father as He prays for their forgiveness in the face of the most horrific treatment and suffering. What Jesus prays for these is the epitome of what God offers to every sinner, who deserves nothing but judgment, but is offered pardon and mercy.

III.  Our hope in Christ’s sacrifice

Many of you may have heard this quote before, but it is certainly worth repeating. The author is Unknown.

If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist; If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist; If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior. (www.sermonillustrations.com.)

A. Remission is inseparably linked to the shedding of the blood; specifically the blood of Christ.

1 John 2:2 (KJV) And he (i.e., Jesus Christ) is the propitiation (atoning sacrifice) for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Hebrews 9:22 (KJV) And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

I’m so glad that God so loved the world that he gave his only Son! I’m so glad that Jesus died not only to forgive the sins of those individuals introduced to us in the pages of Scripture, but He died for my sins and for yours.

Listen to the words from a couple of verses in a hymn written by Charles Wesley:

He ever lives above for me to intercede;

His all-redeeming love, His precious blood to plead.

His blood atoned for all our race,

His blood atoned for all our race,

And sprinkles now the throne of grace.

Five bleeding wounds He bears, received on Calvary

They pour effectual prayers, They strongly plead for me

Forgive him, oh, forgive, they cry,

Forgive him, oh, forgive, they cry,

Nor let that ransomed sinner die.

The author, K. Koch, writes the following account of Martin Luther (Occult Bondage and Deliverance, p. 10.) – In a dream, Martin Luther found himself being attacked by Satan. The devil unrolled a long scroll containing a list of Luther's sins, and held it before him. On reaching the end of the scroll Luther asked the devil, "Is that all?" "No," came the reply, and a second scroll was thrust in front of him. Then, after a second came a third. But now the devil had no more. "You've forgotten something," Luther exclaimed triumphantly. "Quickly write on each of them, 'The blood of Jesus Christ God's son cleanses us from all sins.'" (www.sermonillustrations.com.)

B. Remission is also directly connected to repentance.

Mark 1:4 (NKJV) John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

Luke 24:46-47 (NKJV) Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Acts 2:38 (NKJV) Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

I know you have heard this many, many times in the past, but let me remind you again this morning that remission through the blood of Christ is only effective for those who have repented from their sins.

Conclusion:

In closing let me share one more quote with you that appears in a book by John R. W. Stott (The Contemporary Christian). – Not long before she died in 1988, in a moment of surprising candor in television, Marghanita Laski, one of our best-known secular humanists and novelists, said, "What I envy most about you Christians is your forgiveness; I have nobody to forgive me.” (www.sermonillustrations.com)

In direct contrast to this secularist who recognized that her lack of faith left her with no assurance of forgiveness, every one of us who have come to the cross and humbly confessed our sin, and trusted fully in the sacrifice of Christ, can say with confidence that His blood has remitted every sin and we are forgiven by grace.

What a wonderful reminder as we now prepare to share the emblems of our Lord’s suffering again!