© www.123rf.com Neil Armstrong (the first man to set foot on the moon) said, as he took his first step on the moon, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” As we look back to this monumental accomplishment for the human race, we remember the incredible effort it took to make this happen – the well thought-out plans, engineering and physical labor were astonishing. Man left earth to set foot on a separate heavenly body (the moon) in the summer of 1969. But the greatest leap of all mankind – past, present, future, and for all eternity – actually occurred over 2,000 years ago. In the small town of Bethlehem, Jesus was born. God incarnate stepped down from the heavens. “‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ – which means, ‘God with us.’” (Matthew 1:23) “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) This is what God did for this world because He loves us so much. Today, man needs to take a leap of faith on his journey to salvation and seek out the Face of God through Jesus Christ. If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS.
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© http://www.123rf.com It’s not about money or time…it’s about YOU. Giving all to Jesus is what everyone needs to do to develop spiritually. Beware, it will not come naturally, and it will cost you everything. This Christian life is anything but a boring life for sure…sacrificial, but not boring. To have Jesus scour the landscape of your life and weed out, and sometimes tear out, all that is unclean and profane is a task of love and honor. No, I’m not crazy–it’s the love of God that propels Him to do it and the honor of mankind to receive it. So it’s not what you DO–it’s who you ARE in Christ. Being surrendered to God means you constantly put aside what you think, what you feel and what you want. You’re not left an empty void, though…by putting away YOU (the lower), you get God (the Higher). When you do that, you get God doing the thinking, wanting and feeling. So give it all to Jesus…He’s waiting for you. “Look at the new thing I am going to do. It is already happening. Don’t you see it? I will make a road in the desert and rivers in the dry land.” (Isaiah 43:19 NCV) LISTEN TO AUDIOIf you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS.
© www.livinglifephoto.com You are a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way; but sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies ahead. The “swimming hole” of life is filled with peril, and we often forget that the enemy is waiting there to attack. God loves you, but Satan wants you suffering and in pain. And when God sees that Satan has hold of you, like an attacking alligator, that's when the tug-of-war begins. God has promised to never let go and fights to pull you back to safety. So if some of you have scars, be very, very grateful. Those scars are because He did not and will not ever let you go. [Scripture References: Proverbs 20:30, James 1:2-3, Psalm 119:71-72, Genesis 50:20, Romans 5:3-4]
Prior to the morning's message, Pastor Mark opens the floor to life testimonies. It is great encouragement to hear how the Lord is working in each of our lives.
Can we really comprehend what Jesus actually did for us? The King became the servant…that NEVER happens! What king would leave the splendor of the palace to go out and start scooping manure in the barn? And it’s not just that Jesus lowered Himself to our level that is important…it is why He did it that gives us some greater understanding. We know why He came (to restore us to God by His death), but do we know why He came as a babe in a manger? Well, how could God have us love Him and have an intimate relationship with Him if we were always turning away in fear and groveling at His feet in His awesomeness? Instead of coming in His splendor and majesty, He made the ultimate sacrifice…He came as lowly man. He made an appearance in a form that did not frighten—what could be less scary than a newborn? The Jews, of course, were quite confused in this. The big problem for them was that they conjured up what they thought God was like and what THEY wanted God to do. That is dangerous territory to be in. By doing that, they actually missed Him when He did come. Do you do the same? Do you suppose what God is, what He is supposed to do, and how He is supposed to act and respond to the things that happen in your life and the lives of others? Then, when He doesn’t meet YOUR measure, you are disappointed. Have we forgotten who He is…what He has done for us? He came in a form that we could get close to. God doesn’t want suffering, retribution, payback, or a robotic, slave-like, religious group of followers that He booms out orders to and will fry them like a bug hitting a hot gas grill if they disobey. NO. NO, and NO again! Coming FIRST as human allowed God, for the first time in all of the history of mankind, to walk among men without having to say to them, “Don’t be afraid of Me.” He actually did it for YOU…the Word became flesh! Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of message and/or download mp3 file.)
(This is the final message in the series on the Jewish Feasts. The supporting information to which Pastor Linda refers in the audio is included in the Study Guide below.) Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of message and/or download mp3 file.)
Quick Access to Previous Messages on the Jewish Feasts and Offerings:
We have been studying some of God’s “visual aids” of religious laws and rituals. But let’s not forget that God wanted them to eventually put away the physical symbols and enter into the depth of the spiritual reality they represented…just as He does for us today so that we may not inadvertently substitute ritual TO Him for relationship WITH Him. The transition from physical to spiritual was made in the person and work of Jesus. The temporary or “imperfect” was to be put away once the permanent or “perfect” came. In studying the physical and imperfect, though, we can see how God used them to teach both the Jews (who were the “first”) and the Gentiles (who are the “last”) in knowing and understanding the New Covenant which brings us direct access to God! Studying the Jewish Feasts will continue the broadening of our understanding. God established seven Feasts. These were not “food feasts” as we might think of the word use today, but rather, they were holy convocations of God’s people, the Jews, who were to meet in a special way in order to “meet with God”. I personally thank God that I do not have to travel to Jerusalem for a Feast in order to meet with God, but can now meet with God through Christ right where I am. Why we study the Feasts:
Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of message and/or download mp3 file.)
Study Guide: (Download file to print Study Guide for message or view embedded file below.)
The Trespass Offering was distinctly different from the Sin Offering. It was not offered for the general sin nature of man, but rather for the specific sins committed. We can see, then, that Jesus was offered not only for sin itself (as a Sin Offering), but He was also wounded for our transgressions (as a Trespass Offering). Remember, these offerings were for the sins of man against man. But because the sin was also against God’s standard, they were also a sin against God. Man could pay back his sin to his fellow man, but there was no way he could pay back God. That is why God’s grace thought of His only Son, Jesus, as the acceptable sacrifice to Him to make the slate clean—justice served and the restitution complete! This offering was also different because it added another level—the offerer not only had to pay back to his fellow man for his sin, he also had to pay a fifth more in addition to that. God did that too...with Jesus’ sacrifice, sin was not only paid for but we also get to have God dwell within us. We don’t just get to “walk” with Him in fellowship as Adam did; we have the added gift of having Him actually “dwell” within us. We become the walking holy of holies with the presence of God as our guide, our wisdom, our self-discipline, our all in all for every single person, place and thing. Boy, are we without excuse! Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of message and/or download mp3 file.)
Personal Testimony: Occasionally, prior to the message, Pastor Linda will open the floor to life testimonies. It is great encouragement to hear how the Lord is working in each of our lives. Tonight, Carolyn and Ted Marshall give praise to God for His provision of a need in their lives. (Click the forward button below to play the personal testimony of Carolyn Marshall and/or download mp3 file.)
Study Guide:(Download file to print Study Guide for message or view embedded file below.)
The Peace Offering This is the last of the three “sweet savor” offerings. It was an animal offered up for sacrifice, but this offering was a little different from the Burnt Offering and the Meat Offering we studied last week. With the Peace Offering, the offerer, the priest and God all received some of the sacrifice; whereas, with the other two, only God and the priest partook. What a great word picture of a “peace” offering—God, man and priest (who was the mediator between God and man, at least until Jesus came), all in communion together indicating the restoration between God and mankind. This is a great tutorial to express that the Christ who was to come, and to be that sacrifice for us, would not be just an avenue to some vague acceptance or a relief from God’s wrath—no, no—His offering has purchased for us an inheritance, one in which we enter with Him into peace with God. One in which God takes great delight, and gives unbroken fellowship and revelation to us...oh, sweet, sweet Jesus! The Sin Offering The last two of the five offerings are the Sin Offering and the Trespass Offering. They are the offerings in which the offerer comes as sinner for repentance and atonement. The “sweet savor” offerings were not offered for sin, but as worship and acceptance before God, thus making these last two completely different in scope and meaning. They specifically addressed sin and the sin nature—two different thing, thus two different offerings. In both of these offerings, atonement for sin was made. The animal offered was offered outside the camp to show the shame and rejection from sin. Even though rejected, the animal still had to be blameless and spotless...the precursor of Jesus, our spotless Lamb of sacrifice. When Jesus bore our sins, He was judged for us and, thus, justice satisfied—so we who believe have already been judged in Christ and God forgives us. This is similar to our modern day “double jeopardy” rules...you can’t be tried twice for the same crime! Nor in Christ can we be tried for our sins again—they have been tried and judged already, and I am free, adjudicated for eternity! “He has forgiven us all trespasses.” (Colossians 2:13) We have no need to continue the offerings of the Old Testament. All is now fulfilled in Jesus Christ who was foretold in all the Law and the Prophets. Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of sermon and/or download mp3 file.)
Study Guide: (Download file to print Study Guide for sermon or view embedded file below.)
The Old Testament contains many promises in the Law and the Prophets looking forward to the future salvation of the Jews, but that is only half the story. The Law and Prophets were never intended to be the complete and finished communication of God to the world. The New Testament and Jesus complete the story. In order to better understand and further confirm the New Testament, we must study the Old, for in it we see it is really Christ who is the key that unlocks the riches of those writings. In looking closely, we can see that the whole of the Old Testament has a consistent focus on Jesus, His death and His resurrection. It sets up the framework and description of Jesus, His mission, His life, and His eternal gift of salvation. The Old Testament constantly points to Him, speaks of Him and symbolizes Him. In studying its writings, we see again and again that God patiently spoke to the Jews about Christ in symbols and shadows that were appropriate to them back then and also allows us today to gain a fuller understanding of what God meant about Jesus through the Jewish offerings and feasts. In our study of the Jewish Offerings and Feasts, we shall see how Jesus is the sum of both of them and how that fact applies to our lives today. Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of sermon and/or download mp3 file.)
Study Guide: (Download file to print Study Guide for sermon or view embedded file below.)
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