The Lambs weren't invisible on Passover

As we prepare for one of the most important weeks in Christianity, we need to understand the importance of the Passover and how our lives are impacted by our relationship with a Holy God. The word Exodus is defined as a “going out” or “a mass departure.” The book of Exodus is about redemption, it reveals that our relationship with God is based on redemption which includes our worship and fellowship with a Holy God. Redemption is essential to our relationship with God. In fact, He gave Israel the Law, which convicted them of their sin, and provided guilty people a way of forgiveness, cleansing and restoration so that they were able to fellowship and worship the God of Creation.

The Passover was the beginning of months for Israel.  Though the Jewish calendar had October as the first month of the year, God knew the importance of what He was doing, so He changed the yearly calendar to begin in April (April in Latin means “to open” or blossom). The Passover was the foundation of their experience with God; the New Birth is the beginning of the New Covenant relationship (see John 3:5).

In Exodus 12:3-6 the lamb was kept for four days. God commanded Israel to take a lamb on the 10^th day and set it aside until the 14^th day of the first month.  The Lamb is a type of Christ--Jesus enters Jerusalem on the 10^th day and was slain on the 14^th day. When Adam sinned, God’s plan was to set aside His Lamb (who as Jesus Christ), He was foreordained to die. From Adam to Christ was the 14^th day or 4,000 years.

When Jesus lived, lambs were a central part of the spiritual life of Israel. If you were Jewish, there was no need to explain the significance of something so commonplace. For centuries, lambs had died for the sins of the nation. Inside the walls of the Temple two lambs died every day (see Exodus 29:38-41); one at 9a.m. and the other at 3p.m. When the lamb died, a priest would sound the shofar, a ram’s horn, and even people who had not witnessed the event would know that a lamb had just died for the sins of the people. It was a sacrifice marked by blood, for the literal meaning of “sacrifice” in Hebrew is “to slit the throat.”

In addition to the twice-a-day sacrifice of lambs, there would have been countless lambs dying on the major Jewish holidays. It happened year after year, century in, century out. How many hundreds of thousands of lambs had died for the sins of the people? Did they number in the millions? As shocking as a single sacrifice might be from our perspective, could there have been an opposite impact 2,000 years ago? Could the death of a lamb become so common that it had lost its punch? Could the fast work of preparation at the Temple have made the entire process too clean, too professional, and even too far removed from the people? Could so many lambs have become – in a sense – invisible to the people who were so used to religion?         

The Lambs weren't invisible on Passover

Maybe that’s why Passover was such an important holy day for the people. This was the most personal connection between people, just like us, and the blood sacrifice God required for sin. For only a few days, every family in Israel would have a lamb, and every person in that family knew that the lamb in their home would have to die for sinful choices he or she had made.

This is why salvation is a personal matter.   Jesus died for every individual on the planet earth. He was the perfect sacrifice.

1 Peter 1:18-21 explains, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.”

Thank God for the Blood!

Traveling Down Rough Roads

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Diversity in a Church is not an Accident

In the book “The World is flat” by Thomas Freidman, he states that our world is becoming more global every day. He also states that technologies such as email, websites, and fiber optics have leveled the playing field with the business world. The same is true within the church.  America is more global and culturally diverse than ever before.  America has become more than just a melting pot, but a stew pot where each ingredient maintains its identity.

In John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

That the Lord loves the world - He loves the nations in the world and He loves the people of every nation. God’s heart beat is the world. If God had a Global view and inclusive mentality, the church also must adopt a global view and the mentality of inclusiveness for all people. God always does things with purpose and intention!

The church must be connected with the inclusive focus of the Great Commission. We have been given a mandate in Mathew 28:19 to evangelize the world which consists of diverse cultural groups.

Next major revival will be in the ethnic community.

According to the US census report since year 2000 to 2010

           

            Asia’s population increased from 10.6 to 14.million

            African American population increased from 35.7to 39.6 Million  

            The Spanish population increase from 35.3 million to 48.3 Million

           

It is estimated by year-2020

            Asia’s population will be 18.5 Million

            African American population will be 41.5 Million

            Spanish population will be 55.2 Million

We must also remember the other nationalities and ethnic groups from other countries plus the biracial categories will increase all the more!

Jesus said, Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

How do we prepare for the greatest influx of Soul? We cannot just hang a sign outside of our church that says everyone is welcome. There must be a strategy in place to harvest the influx of soul. To plan for Diversity, we must look at the biblical model. We must realize that culture is an important component of Evangelism.

HwHow

Culture encompasses values, lifestyle, and social norms. It also includes different communication styles, mannerisms, and styles of dress, family structure, traditions, time orientation, response to authority, and more.

 Jesus recognized the importance of Culture in John Chapter 4, when He met the Samaritan woman at the well. He knew there were relationship issues between the Jewish and Samaritan people. The Jews would walk around Samaria rather than walking through Samaritan, but Jesus became the connecting piece by intentionally going through Samaria Himself. He reached beyond cultural, racial, and gender barriers that so easily paralyzed others.

Jesus on the road to Emaeaus

Jesus walked with them, talked with them and ate with them. Jesus was proactive in developing relationship.

Remember that:  Real relationship are establish outside of church 

 

                           i.          Jesus listens, he asks questions, and he ate or drank with them.

                         ii.          Jesus was  intentional and transparent

                       iii.          Jesus earn the right to speak into the their lives

“Before you can ever reach another culture outside of your own, you must first earn the right to speak into their lives

We must be proactive in developing relationships with others

We must walk across the aisles, or walk across the rooms.

 The only way to reach cultures outside of our own is for it to be intentional.

 We must be the ones to pursue the relationship. Jesus initiated dialogue, which gave him the opportunity to share the good news. He didn’t allow tradition or the words and opinions of others to hinder him from establishing a relationship with the woman at the well.

There are many examples of Cross Cultural Ministry in the bible.

Ø  Daniel had a bilingual, bicultural ministry in Babylon and never compromised his integrity

Ø  Ruth, the cross cultural pilgrim who left her homeland to follow the God of Naomi

Ø  Jonah ran away from  cross cultural challenge

Ø  Ethiopian eunuch in Act Chapter 8

Perhaps you are working in a community that is of another ethic background.

One of the challenges in working with other ethnic groups is to aid them in feeling accepted and comfortable in church. As a minister of the gospel, we must create an atmosphere where all feel welcome.

Posted via email from Solid Rock

Diversity in a Church is not an Accident

Diversity in a Church is not an Accident

In the book “The World is flat” by Thomas Freidman, he states that our world is becoming more global every day. He also states that technologies such as email, websites, and fiber optics have leveled the playing field with the business world. The same is true within the church.  America is more global and culturally diverse than ever before.  America has become more than just a melting pot, but a stew pot where each ingredient maintains its identity.

In John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

That the Lord loves the world - He loves the nations in the world and He loves the people of every nation. God’s heart beat is the world. If God had a Global view and inclusive mentality, the church also must adopt a global view and the mentality of inclusiveness for all people. God always does things with purpose and intention!

The church must be connected with the inclusive focus of the Great Commission. We have been given a mandate in Mathew 28:19 to evangelize the world which consists of diverse cultural groups.

Next major revival will be in the ethnic community.

According to the US census report since year 2000 to 2010

           

            Asia’s population increased from 10.6 to 14.million

            African American population increased from 35.7to 39.6 Million  

            The Spanish population increase from 35.3 million to 48.3 Million

           

It is estimated by year-2020

            Asia’s population will be 18.5 Million

            African American population will be 41.5 Million

            Spanish population will be 55.2 Million

We must also remember the other nationalities and ethnic groups from other countries plus the biracial categories will increase all the more!

Jesus said, Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

How do we prepare for the greatest influx of Soul? We cannot just hang a sign outside of our church that says everyone is welcome. There must be a strategy in place to harvest the influx of soul. To plan for Diversity, we must look at the biblical model. We must realize that culture is an important component of Evangelism.

HwHow

Culture encompasses values, lifestyle, and social norms. It also includes different communication styles, mannerisms, and styles of dress, family structure, traditions, time orientation, response to authority, and more.

 Jesus recognized the importance of Culture in John Chapter 4, when He met the Samaritan woman at the well. He knew there were relationship issues between the Jewish and Samaritan people. The Jews would walk around Samaria rather than walking through Samaritan, but Jesus became the connecting piece by intentionally going through Samaria Himself. He reached beyond cultural, racial, and gender barriers that so easily paralyzed others.

Jesus on the road to Emaeaus

Jesus walked with them, talked with them and ate with them. Jesus was proactive in developing relationship.

Remember that:  Real relationship are establish outside of church 

 

                           i.          Jesus listens, he asks questions, and he ate or drank with them.

                         ii.          Jesus was  intentional and transparent

                       iii.          Jesus earn the right to speak into the their lives

“Before you can ever reach another culture outside of your own, you must first earn the right to speak into their lives

We must be proactive in developing relationships with others

We must walk across the aisles, or walk across the rooms.

 The only way to reach cultures outside of our own is for it to be intentional.

 We must be the ones to pursue the relationship. Jesus initiated dialogue, which gave him the opportunity to share the good news. He didn’t allow tradition or the words and opinions of others to hinder him from establishing a relationship with the woman at the well.

There are many examples of Cross Cultural Ministry in the bible.

Ø  Daniel had a bilingual, bicultural ministry in Babylon and never compromised his integrity

Ø  Ruth, the cross cultural pilgrim who left her homeland to follow the God of Naomi

Ø  Jonah ran away from  cross cultural challenge

Ø  Ethiopian eunuch in Act Chapter 8

Perhaps you are working in a community that is of another ethic background.

One of the challenges in working with other ethnic groups is to aid them in feeling accepted and comfortable in church. As a minister of the gospel, we must create an atmosphere where all feel welcome.

Posted via email from Solid Rock

Diversity in a Church is not an Accident

Diversity in a church is not an accident.docx Download this file

Posted via email from Solid Rock

Live The Life

              Jesus said in John 10:10 ;“That I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”. He came that we may live and not die. We are Justified by His blood.  That man was guilty and condemned to dead, but we were acquitted and declared righteous by his blood. We were redeem and justified which gave us the right to stand with God. It is through the Holy Ghost that man is regenerated and becomes a new creature in Christ Jesus.  Because we have this new nature, we develop a new attitude toward God and for the things that God loves. We are created to walk in true righteousness and holiness. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians  5:17 “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new Creature; old things are passed away, behold all things are become new”. It is the Holy Ghost in us that produces the fruit of the spirit, integrity, and honesty. We cannot produce the fruits of the spirit without the Holy Ghost. For us to live a victorious life over sin, we must have the baptism of the Holy Ghost . We can only live the life by walking in God’s grace each day.

 

            In Eph 4:1-3, Paul urges us to live a life worthy of the calling that we have received. That we are to be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love, and to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  We are to live a life that is worthy of being a Christian. We are to live a life that is above reproach whether we are at home, on the job, or just out shopping. We must represent Him everywhere we go. We are HIS PEOPLE  set apart for His glory. People must see a difference in our lives; how we talk, how we live,  and what we wear represents God.

 

            We must live the life at home. No one knows us like our family members. We must show respect toward one another, honor one another and show acts of kindness toward one another.  We are living in a world where Christians are not living up to the standard  of being Christ-like.  Those who are attending church are not representing the God they serve.

 

                 We must live the life on the job. People need to see the Jesus in us. We are his hands, his feet , and his mouth piece. Some people may never read the bible.  You may be the only bible some people may ever read. We must live out our of faith every day. People are always looking for transparency  in people who represent God on earth.  You must preach the word every day, and sometimes, use words to convey it.

 

            For 2012, let us live the life, of holiness, of godliness, wherever we go, whether at the grocery store, the mall or at home. We must live the life not just sometimes, but at all times.

Posted via email from Solid Rock

The Voice Of The Shepherd

In St. John, Chapter 10, Jesus spoke saying that He is the “Good Shepherd” and the “Good Shepherd” giveth his life for the sheep” and that “He is the door, by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved”.

At night the shepherd would lead his flock into the sheepfold. The sheepfold was usually an enclosure made of rocks, without a door opening. In order to protect his flock at night, the shepherd or a porter would guard the flock by lying across the opening. It was not unusual for several flocks to be sheltered together in the same fold. When the shepherds would come to gather their sheep, they would call their sheep to assemble them. Each sheep would recognize his own master’s voice.

Thieves and robbers could never enter through the door.  Instead, they would have to climb over the wall and enter the fold through deception. If they did get in, they would never get the sheep to follow them, for the sheep follows only the voice of their shepherd. Since false shepherds can never lead the sheep away, they must steal them away.

As a Christian, do you recognize the voice of your shepherd?  He is your Pastor. He is there to guide you and to help you navigate through situations and circumstances in your life. He will lead you beside the still waters and walk with you through the difficult valleys. When your Pastor speaks to you, recognize that it is he who is speaking and not another.

In this world that we are living in, there are so many different voices in the church. Everyone has their opinion regarding the direction that the church should go. The more we trust our Pastor, the more we will be able to understand and recognize when he is speaking.

As Christians, let’s develop an ear to hear our Pastor’s voice so that we may be blessed and prosper as we grow in Christ. This is why it’s important to submit ourselves to the leadership that the Lord has placed in our lives, so that he may give an account for our soul. When your Pastor speaks, you will distinguish the difference between your Pastor’s voice and others. A Pastor is one of the greatest assets that a church and the saints of God can have in their lives.

Posted via email from Solid Rock