The Bread of Life is the key to…

                                                          

Luke 24:1-3; 13-43

                                                                

Text Verse:31

Intro

Cleopas and his companion had the privilege of hearing the incarnate Word, Christ the risen Word, explain the written Word.

However, they did not recognize Him until Jesus broke the bread and gave it to them.

Their “spiritual eyes” only opened at that time. 

They did not recognize Jesus as He walked with them nor as He talked to them.

Why were they kept from recognizing Jesus?

1.       Emancipation

·         Real freedom originates in the inner man and is not dependent on external circumstances.

·         The people of Israel (including the disciples) expected Jesus to bring them freedom from a worldly system.

·         Their wrong expectation prevented them from recognising Jesus as the true Emancipator/Liberator.

Romans 6:5-7,14

2.       Enlightenment

·         Jesus is the main subject of Scripture because He is the Triune God’s plan of salvation.

·         This plan was in place long before Adam and Eve’s sin because God is omniscient/all-knowing.

·         The Plan was revealed through Scripture but humanity did not understand it.

·         The plan then came in human form through Jesus but humanity still did not recognize Him.

·         The only way to gain insight /understanding into spiritual mysteries is through salvation and revelation through the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2 :14

                                    

3.       Eternity

·         There is only one way to eternal life-Jesus Christ.

·         He has power over death as witnessed through His resurrection

·         He has the power over sin that separated humanity from a Holy God.

·         He also has power to reconcile humanity to the Father as Mediator.

John 3:35-36

Conclusion

The entire Bible finds its unity in Jesus.

He is the fulfilment of Scripture

Jesus is the Messiah Who brought redemption to Israel.

He is the only One Who can give freedom and deliverance.

Worldly systems do not have the power to give lasting and true freedom.

The mystery of the spirit world is wrapped up in Jesus and the understanding thereof is

brought about by the Holy Spirit living inside of His followers/disciples.

Keep the fire burning because the hour is near…

                                                Keep the fire burning because the hour is near…

                                                            Matthew 27 :27 -54

Intro

The Crucifixion’s commemoration spans over 20000 years.

The Intensity & passion of the Narrative can be lost if it’s head knowledge only.

The death & resurrection of Jesus becomes alive and intense as your relationship

with Him develops-heart knowledge.

In the Parable of 10 Virgins/Watchmen, Jesus laid emphasis on remaining watchful & prayerful.

Guard against making the Crucifixion & Resurrection season-Tradition; will lead to complacency.

Jesus died to pay the ultimate price for our redemption.

He is returning again for a spotless Bride…soon

He is the Son of God as attested by the significant events that happened during His crucifixion:

1.       The 3 hour darkness over the land ( Habbakuk 1:13)

·         -God turned His face on Jesus because of the sin that He embodied

·         Change in the pattern of creation

·         Life without God would mean total darkness

2.       The temple curtain tore in 2 from top to bottom (Hebrews 6:19-20)

·         Free access

·         Curtain was a barrier 60 feet in height;30 feet in width;4 inches thick

·         It served for humanity’s protection (so that people do not enter it carelessly or without reverence)

3.       The earth shook and the rocks split (Psalm 148:3-5)

·         Creation felt the pain of its Creator

·         Nature recognized Jesus

·         Humanity did not recognize Him and they still don’t

4.       The tombs broke open & many holy people were raised to life (Hebrews 12:1)

·         Great cloud of witnesses watching us

Conclusion

The Centurion and those who guarded Jesus missed an opportunity to commit their lives to Jesus.

They realized too late Who He was.

The 5 foolish virgins/bridal watchmen missed out on the Feast too.

Don’t YOU miss out too

Keep the fire of the Gospel burning in your heart because the hour is near!!

A double-fold act of gratitude

                                                                

                                                John 12 :1-11

Introduction

Nard oil is an extraction from the plant Nardostachys Jatamansi, which is from the plant family

Valerianacae.

Common name: Spikenard oil

The plant only grows in the Himalaya Mountains of India and Nepal.

Uses of nard oil:

·         Fungal infections

·         Remedy for bacterial skin infections

·         Used in fertility drugs/medication

·         Constipation

·         Relief from various types of inflammation

·         Relief from stress, insomnia, anxiety

·         Used in the treatment of varicose veins, blood circulation; allergies, healing of wounds

·         Used as a  fragrance 

·         Mixed with olive oil, it was used for the consecration and dedication of utensils in the Temple

This oil was in all likelihood equivalent to Imperial Majesty-world’s most expensive perfume today

(17 ounces =$215 000  )

1 .Sacrificial Giving       

2 Corinthians 8 :12

A gift or offering becomes acceptable to God when it’s done so with love and willingness of heart.

A R10 is worth far more to God than a Million Rand given grudgingly or for the wrong reasons.

Giving is more than just Money.

 It comprises of your Time, Talents, Treasure (whatever you value close to your heart) 

2. Pay Honour

The washing of feet –sign of hospitality during Jesus’ time.

She paid honour to Him for the miracle of Lazarus’s resurrection from the grave

She also fully understood Jesus’ three times repeated statement of His death and resurrection.

How can you pay honour to Jesus for your deliverance/healing/restoration/salvation?

Not only did she use such an expensive perfume, she used her HAIR to dry Jesus’ feet.

Hair is a woman’s natural crown

3. Shallowness of faith

The disciples did not grasp the importance of Mary’s action.

They did not fully understand what Jesus meant when He spoke about His death and resurrection. Why?

Their minds and hearts were still very short-sighted.

They lived in denial.

They clearly lacked the insight of how His death would impact and benefit humanity in this life and the life to come.

Closing

Mary’s gift was a rare imported product in Israel.

She gave a gift fit for the King that Jesus was and still is

She did not regard it as a waste of money because she understood Who Jesus was.

Nothing done for the Kingdom of God is ever wasteful.

No value can be placed on what Christ has done for humanity.

She consecrated and dedicated Him for the BiGGEST task yet that he had to complete-the

repentance of Humanity’s sin.

She consecrated the Lamb of God for the offering.

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me Reflecting Jesus

Heb 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Only holiness of heart and life will enable us to be comfortable in His presence. (B.W.Downing).



The CotN differs from nearly every other Christian church.

Holiness is the main doctrine, not only of this church, but this doctrine belongs to everyone who becomes a child of God; every born again Christian.


This blessing does not belong to the CotN. We are the ones who must spread the full Gospel which includes the doctrine of holiness, and not just the Born-again teaching.
“If I be lifted up”.

We as human beings, are created by God for one very special purpose: to worship Him in the beauty of His holiness:

Ps 96:9 Worship the LORD in the splendour of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.


To be effective evangelists, we need to be reflecting His beauty within our souls.

Entire sanctification is enacted the moment we consecrate ourselves which is of vital importance as holiness is a major component of our salvation.

We need to emphasise the importance of the actual experience and ensure that God’s people (every person who claims Christianity), understands and desires the experience. (Matt 1:21).
1. Make every effort.

Heb 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.


This sounds like something we must do!

Obedience leads to righteousness.

a. Study … the Scriptures.

b. Be obedient to whatever God says to you, personally through His Word (the Bible).

c. Be in harmony with the pastoral ministry through God’s chosen leaders.


Pastoral ministry:

Acts 20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.


Your leaders also need your prayers. They are normal human beings who have been given a special calling by God.


Heb 13: 7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.


Eph 6:19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.


Heb13:16,17 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Live in peace with all men

To fulfil this command will require a constant infilling of the Holy Spirit and a refill of the Fruit Of The Spirit.

And to be holy

Heb 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.


Sanctification is the Biblical term that brings about this promise of God.

Holiness is simply the purification of the polluted human soul.

This experience belongs only to the born-again believer. It is an instantaneous experience that progresses in Christ-like development.


Being holy is the work of the Holy Spirit

2Thess 2:13,14 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Importance of holiness

Heb 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

There are at least two ways of understanding what is meant here.

If you are not yet entirely sanctified, the Lord is still standing outside your heart (soul) waiting for your invitation (Rev3:20). Bear in mind the context of this text which is referring to the Church; to born-again believers. . .

a. no one will see the Lord in you . You are reflecting yourself

b. it could also mean that without holiness (the indwelling Holy Spirit) no person can enter God’s presence.

c. Matt 5:8 The pure in heart are those of us in whom the Holy Spirit has cleansed our hearts for Him to dwell within, which makes us holy.

conclusion

We are preparing ourselves to GO and make disciples as Jesus commissioned us.

Being led by the Spirit of God, we need to make sure that we are entirely sanctified; that we are anointed for the purpose of evangelising our part of the world; of bringing people into the kingdom of God; of doing the work that God expects from those in whom His Holy Spirit is active.


Holiness is not private nor for mutual admiration, but for a display of Christ-likeness in fragile human nature (cracked pots).



To live a holy life is too difficult to live alone; we need each other!



Restoration of Christ-likeness in human nature is God’s highest objective.





ITS NO LONGER I THAT LIVETH

BUT CHRIST THAT LIVETH IN ME (x2)

HE LIVES! HE LIVES!

JESUS IS ALIVE IN ME

ITS NO LONGER I THAT LIVETH

BUT CHRIST THAT LIVETH IN ME






SONG 526

LET THE BEAUTY OF JESUS BE SEEN IN ME

ALL HIS LOVE AND COMPASSION AND PURITY

OH, THOU SPIRIT DEVINE;

ALL MY NATURE REFINE

TILL THE BEAUTY OF JESUS IS SEEN IN ME.





HYMN 208

I WANT TO BE LIKE JESUS.