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.

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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.

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You Can't Get There From Here!

My son, Jonathan and I took a father and son trip to the out west to visit Zion Park and the Grand Canyon. We flew into Las Vega and rented a car. We were following a map in our attempt to get to the Grand Canyon and we decided to take short cut, but ultimately got lost. We stopped at a small country store to ask an elderly gentleman how to reach our destination and his response was a simple, yet profound one: You can’t get there from here.

Before you can begin your journey, you must have direction to arrive at your destination. Without direction you will only waste valuable time and money trying to go somewhere without understanding how to get there. There is nothing as frustrating as going somewhere to find out later, that you cannot get there from here.

When a captain of a ship starts out he is not expected to sail the exact course he has drawn on the chart. The sea is not that accommodating. He knows there will be unexpected events on the voyage. We all have had to take a detour from the main road to get to our destination while traveling. Life can be very challenging and unpredictable at times. If we plan to be successful in life and in min­istry, we need direction to help guide us through the difficult times we will undoubtedly encounter.

When you don’t know where you are going any road will do. Most people go throughout life without a clue of what to do or where to go.  The question that most people are asking is: How do I get there from here. There will always be detours, unforeseen crises and interruptions in life, but we must stay on course.

Your core values are like guardrails on the highway of life. They not only help you stay on the right path, but they also help guide you to what is really important.

What are your core values? What are the things that are most important to you? Your faith, your family, your church, and your relationship with your God are the values that will guide you through difficult situation in your life

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Somethings Are Just Priceless

There are some things in life you cannot place a price tag on, because their value is well beyond price.  These things are so precious that you are not willing to part with it for any amount of money.

In Matt 13:44-46, Jesus tells a parable of the priceless treasure and pearl that was found.

 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” NIV

A parable is a short, simple story designed to communicate a spiritual truth, religious principle, or a moral lesson. Frequently parables use a manner of speech in which truth is illustrated by a comparison or example drawn from everyday experiences. In this way, a parable is often no more than an extended metaphor.

We learn to understand the deep things of God by studying the word of God just as a miner digs for silver and gold or a diver plunges into the depths of the sea for its hidden treasures.  Most great truths do not lie upon the surface but must be brought into the light by patient toil.

In this parable, Jesus is emphasizing the supreme worth of the kingdom of God and the fact that in the Christian life, there is no partial exchange. One must sell out to obtain the kingdom or be willing to sacrifice everything to serve the Lord. Often when people think of the kingdom of God, they don’t realize the great price one must pay in order for one to obtain it.

The Bible clearly states that when it comes to living the Christian life you're either in or you're out. So ask yourself: Are you holding anything back? Is your life fully submitted and surrendered to Christ? Nothing you are hanging onto is worth an inkling of the value of what you're missing out on in the Kingdom if you aren’t completely submitted. Jesus says we must give to Him what He was willing to give for us -- everything.

All too often, the priceless value of the kingdom is muted because our lives are saturated with the things of this world.  We cannot truly appreciate the beauty and value of the kingdom until it is all we have; and we will not comprehend its greatness until it is all we want – until we are willing to give everything in exchange for it.

I hope that you will take inventory of your life today and recognize the great treasure that we all possess that is our salvation. There are some things in life that money, material possessions and prestige cannot purchase.

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Playing Church!

 As the signs around us increasingly point to the fact that we are living in the end-times, the church must remind people that the Lord is coming soon by sending a resounding message.

The Bible says that in the last days:

 “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  without  love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power”.  (NIV)

The writer point out that people will have a form of godliness. That means that people will look the part but are not living the part, as Saints of God.

As a child, did you ever "play church?"   Were you a worshipper pretending to dance and shout to the music?  Or perhaps you played the role of the preacher delivering the Word from the pulpit?

 

When we "play church" we are mimicking a very real experience and going through the motions of what it looks like. But in order to make it to heaven, we are going to have to put aside the pretense and get serious about our salvation.

 It is time to stop playing church.  We can no longer look and dress the part as Christian, but we must live what we preach.  Matt 5:13

 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.” 

That means being authentic and consistent in your walk with God.

 

From the outside we may look like all is well. We come to church, praise, run and loudly proclaim the blessings of God. But how are we living when no one is looking? Are you only a Christian on Sunday?  But then living how you please from Monday to Saturday?

 

Rest assured that God sees all. He knows the truth of our hearts and lives. The fifth chapter of the book of Acts tells the story of a couple who thought they could get away with playing at being true Christians.

 

Ananias and Sapphira sold a piece of property and then held back some of the money. To compound their sin, they then lied about turning all of the money over to the Apostles.  Both paid with their lives for attempting to deceive the men of God. Could you imagine what might happen today if the Lord struck us down for our hidden sins?

 

Let us pledge to move forward with a very real relationship with our Savior.  It is better to do the work of the Kingdom than to play at living a submitted life.  Jesus is coming back for Christians who are real and about the business of His kingdom.

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Thank You Solid Rock Family

Dear Solid Rock Family,

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude and thanks for a tremendous Pastoral Anniversary Celebration! I was deeply moved by your acts of kindness and by the services that were held! Each message preached held a special value for me! I want to especially thank the speakers, Pastor Phil Brooks, Sis. Stephanie Curry, Pastor Carlos Mina, Pastor Dave Henry and the Pastoral Committee for the messages and effort put into the celebration! I cherish your prayers and your spirit of generosity toward me and my family! May God continue to bless each and every one of you and the ministry! I look forward to the blessings and growth that God has in store for us!

Be Blessed,
Sr. Pastor Alonzo Terry & Family

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