Romans 154: Romans 5 - THE LORD'S SUPPER CELEBRATION The Spiritual Progression Stage Called DestinyWelcome To BARAH MINISTRIES a Christian Church Rory Clark Pastor-Teacher
Good Morning!
Welcome to Barah Ministries…a worldwide Christian Church based in Mesa, AZ…my name is Pastor Rory Clark.
Today is our monthly celebration of gratitude, The Lord’s Supper, a time when as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we look back to the Cross to remember the ultimate sacrifice that the Lord accomplished in service to us. When you look back at the Cross, what do you see?
<SLIDE: JESUS CHRIST ON THE CROSS>
I see a DESTINY. In our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, those of us who are “in Christ” have a past…Luke, Chapter 22, Verse 19…
LUK 22:19 And when the Lord Jesus Christ had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to His apostles, saying, “This is My body which is given instead of you; keep on doing this in remembrance of Me.”
Our past reminds us of the Lord Jesus Christ’s sacrificial and unconditional love for us. In our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, those of us who are “in Christ” have a present… Luke, Chapter 9, Verse 23…
LUK 9:23 And the Lord Jesus Christ was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, some of you will and some won’t, he must deny himself, and take up his cross DAILY and follow Me.”
In our present, right now, on this day, we are to enjoy the tribulation the Lord has given us for our benefit. As believers in Christ we are not looking for comfort, because comfort is our enemy. Instead we are looking for tribulation, the pressure the Lord gives us that helps us grow. The Lord laid down His life for us, conquered death for us, conquered sin for us, so that we can live right now. We believers in Christ are children of the living God…Job, Chapter 19, Verse 25…
JOB 19:25 “As for me (Job), I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth.”
Our present reminds us to embrace the turbulence of the tribulation in our lives because it is part of being a Christian. In our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, those of us who are “in Christ” have a future… Luke, Chapter 22, Verse 20…
LUK 22:20 And in the same way the Lord Jesus Christ took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.”
Our future is dictated by a blood oath, and by the Lord’s promises that all of us believers in Christ have a DESTINY…John, Chapter 6, Verse 40…
JOH 6:40 “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life (the resurrection life), and I Myself (the Lord Jesus Christ) will raise him up on the last day.”
Our future includes a glorious resurrection from the dead and a wedding feast with the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, who takes away the sins of the world. Welcome to the celebration of our past, our present and our future…the monthly celebration of our DESTINY in union with the Messiah…the Lord Jesus Christ.
MUSIC AND REFLECTION Be Occupied with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ Enjoy the Singing of His Praises
When I Say I Love You
As God prepares our memories for reflection, let’s hear June Murphy worship our Lord in song. The opening song is WHEN I SAY I LOVE YOU. OPENING PRAYER
Let us pray...
We’re grateful Heavenly Father for the privilege of studying the absolute truth...the Word of God…
Help us to remember you today…and continue to teach us the significance of being “In Christ” …
We ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit...in Christ’s name... Amen.
THE LORD’S SUPPER CELEBRATION The Spiritual Progression Stage Called Destiny
What is the spiritual progression that Jesus offered us through His Cross?
THE LORD’S OFFER OF SPIRITUAL PROGRESSION <REVEALS>
Design
Death
Destiny
Dearth
Divine
We continue our look at the five stages of spiritual progression in our Lord’s Supper Celebration. If, as you look back to the Cross, you’re really thinking about all the things that Jesus Christ and His Cross have done for us, you’ll see this spiritual progression and the five different stages in the Lord’s offer to His creatures…DESIGN, DEATH, DESTINY, DEARTH, and the DIVINE…and within each of these stages, you will see a death followed by life. In this Lord’s Supper Celebration, we’ll look at the Lord’s provision of a DESTINY as part of our spiritual progression.
But first a few announcements…
BARAH MINISTRIES ANNOUNCEMENTS
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! The Next Lord’s Supper Celebration January 11, 2015
Is it the new year already?
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! NEXT WEEK! Afternoon Lesson The Christmas Celebration December 21, 2014 2:00PM – 3:30PM MST
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! We WILL Have Face-to Face Teaching December 28 One Lesson 9:00A to 10:15A
VISIT THE VETS December 28 1:45P
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Happy Birthday! December 15
One of the most valued members of the Barah Ministries community… <SING how old are you now?> Okay…just kidding.
THE OFFERING Deacon Denny Goodall
Let’s take the offering. This is the time when you get to make a sacrifice on behalf of all the people around the world that can’t afford to pay to study the Word of God. Your generous contributions make it possible for them to learn about the Lord Jesus Christ free of charge via the internet or via face-to-face.
Let’s remember to give with the motivation suggested in Scripture
2CO 9:7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful (grace oriented) giver.
Let’s welcome up Deacon Denny Goodall.
THE OFFERING Deacon Denny Goodall
Barah Ministries Financial Policy
Even though we are sanctioned by God to charge for the many things we provide so you can worship God, we choose not to exercise our right. Therefore no price appears on any material from Barah Ministries so that anyone who desires biblical teaching may have it free of charge.
Barah Ministries Financial Policy
Even though the materials we provide are free of charge, they are not free of cost. We appreciate it when the Word of God motivates you to give financial support so as to provide biblical teaching, both for yourself and for others. Please be generous in your support of God’s work through this ministry.
OFFERING VERSE
PHI 3:10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
ROM 6:5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection…
OFFERING SONG In Your Presence
THE LORD’S SUPPER CELEBRATION The Spiritual Progression Stage Called Destiny
When you look back to the Cross, what do you see? I see a DESTINY.
Part One of the Lord’s spiritual progression is DESIGN. Design always demands a designer, and God the Father has designed a perfect and personal plan for His imperfect creatures. DESIGN means that a billion years ago, God the Father crafted a plan for your life. He has always had you in His mind by name, and there never was, nor will there ever be a time when He doesn’t. I wonder how often you call that to mind in the midst of tribulation.
DESIGN God has a plan for your life
ACT 2:23 …this Man, Jesus Christ, was delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God the Father, and you nailed Him to a Cross by the hands of godless men (unbelievers) and put Him to death.
Part Two of the Lord’s spiritual progression is DEATH. God the Father allows little deaths to conform us to the image of His Son, just as He allowed His Son to be crushed on our behalf at the Cross. Isaiah, Chapter 53, Verse 10…
ISA 53:10 But the Lord (God the Father) was pleased to crush the Lord Jesus Christ, putting Him to grief; if He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the Lord (God the Father) will prosper in His hand.
Part Three of the Lord’s spiritual progression is DESTINY. Our DESTINY can be summed up in two words…“In Christ.” What is your DESTINY as a believer in Christ? You are completely sufficient “In Christ.” Do you ever feel worthless? Do you ever feel powerless? Do you ever feel helpless? Good! When you feel that way, you aren’t just responding to Satan’s accusations that you are worthless and powerless and helpless…although Satan does send those messages hoping to bring you down…you are also in touch with, at that moment, your true self…for you ARE worthless and powerless and helpless in the flesh…are at least you WERE, until the Lord Jesus Christ gave you a DESTINY “in Christ.” Watchman Nee, a bible teacher, established churches throughout China to train bible students and church workers. Following the Communist Revolution in China, Nee was imprisoned for his faith, and spent the last twenty years of his life in prison. Here’s his prayer in tribulation…calling on the power of being “In Christ…”
THE POWER OF BEING “IN CHRIST” Watchman Nee
“Lord, I am faced with a situation today that I cannot possibly meet. My enemy the Devil has brought it about to set up my downfall, but I praise You that Your victory is an all-inclusive victory, and covers this situation, too. I praise You that I have already full victory in this matter.”
“In Christ” we are completely sufficient and powerful beyond measure. Today you’ll hear more about why you have a DESTINY from God in this Lord’s Supper Celebration.
THE LORD’S SUPPER CELEBRATION Enjoying the Elements
Following God’s request, we keep on celebrating CHRIST and His Cross on a regular basis…we eat to remember who He is…His PERSON…we drink to remember His WORK, the voluntary sacrifice He made at the Cross on our behalf…and we are grateful for what God has done for us. First Corinthians, Chapter 11, Verses 23 and 24 say…
1CO 11:23-24 For I, Paul received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus Christ on the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is, and keeps on being My body, which is broken for you; keep on doing this celebration for the purpose of remembering Me.”
When we eat the bread during the Lord’s Supper celebration, we remember THE PERSON of the Lord Jesus Christ.
First Corinthians, Chapter 11, Verses 25 and 26 say…
1CO 11:25-26 In the same way the Lord Jesus Christ took the cup after supper, representing His death on the Cross, saying, “This cup is a new testament forged with My blood; keep on doing this celebration, as often as you drink it, for the purpose of remembering Me.For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”
When we drink the cup, we remember THE WORK of the Lord Jesus Christ.
As you enjoy the elements, the bread and the cup, enjoy the memory of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as well. Give thanks to the Lord, now and always, as you listen to the Lord’s Supper song...Give Thanks.
LORD’S SUPPER SONG Give Thanks
Take a five-minute break.
BREAK Somewhere over the Rainbow
THE LORD’S SUPPER CELEBRATION The Spiritual Progression Called Destiny
At the Cross, the Lord Jesus Christ had to deal with three things on behalf of all us, who were all born “In Adam.” He handled THE PERSON, THE PLANT, and THE PRODUCT.
Who is THE PERSON the Lord handled at the Cross?
The Old Man
EPH 4:22 …that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old man, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit…
The Old Man is your human nature…it’s also know as the Adamic nature…and although the Old Man is dead for believers in Christ…he still makes noise. Yet at the Cross, the Lord Jesus Christ rendered the Old Man powerless by putting him to death. Colossians, Chapter 3, Verse 9…
COL 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old man with its evil practices…
You are now The New Man, and he is your new DESTINY. Second Corinthians, Chapter 5, Verse 17…
2CO 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, and all believers in Christ are, he is a new creature (a new spiritual species); the old man things passed away; behold, the new man things have come.
What is THE PLANT the Lord handled at the Cross?
SIN A Manufacturing Plant of Evil
Sin is the authority that reigns over the unbeliever. Romans, Chapter 5, Verse 12…
ROM 5:12 Therefore (the spiritual plan of salvation by one single Redeemer is based on the same principle as the human plan)…just as through one man, Adam, sin entered into the world, and death entered the world through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all men were considered by God to have sinned when Adam sinned…
Romans, Chapter 5, Verse 17…
ROM 5:17 For if by the transgression by the one, Adam, death reigned as king through the one, and it did, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign as king in the resurrection life through the One, Jesus Christ.
We are born with the burden of Adam’s sin. It’s not our fault, but it is our circumstance at physical birth. Yet the work of Christ at the Cross put sin to death for all mankind once and for all time, but especially for believers in Christ, who have decided to take advantage of Christ’s work at the Cross. Romans, Chapter 6, Verse 14…
ROM 6:14 For sin shall not be master over you believers in (union with) Christ, for you are not under law but you are under the sphere of grace.
What is THE PRODUCT the Lord handled at the Cross?
The Flesh The Product Produced by the Manufacturing Plant of Evil
The visible manifestation of sin is personal sinning…from the flesh…it is the product of the self-life…it is a choice we make on a moment-by-moment basis. Galatians, Chapter 5, Verse 19…
GAL 5:19 Now the DEEDS OF THE FLESH are evident…
The Galatians verse goes on to give a list of the deeds of the flesh…and even though, as believers in Christ, we are dead to the flesh…we can do the deeds of the flesh…Romans, Chapter 8, Verses 8 to 10…but it’s not what God wants us to do…
ROM 8:8 …and those who are in the flesh (unbelievers) cannot please God.
ROM 8:9 However, you believers in Christ are not in the flesh but you are in the Spirit, if indeed the Holy Spirit of God indwells you, and it does. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ (indwelling him), and some don’t, this person does not belong to God (he is “in Adam” not “in Christ”).
ROM 8:10 If Christ is indwelling you, and for believers in Christ He is, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
Ephesians, Chapter 2, Verse 3…
EPH 2:3 …we believers in Christ, too, all of us, formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the desires of the mind, and all of us were, by nature, children of wrath...
Romans, Chapter 7, Verse 18…
ROM 7:18 For I (Paul) know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing (to not do good) is present in me, but the doing of the good is not (present in me).
By dealing with these three monsters, the Old Man, SIN and the flesh, the Lord Jesus Christ gave all who want it a DESTINY called “In Christ.” And through His Word, He is teaching those of us who want to learn, all the things that are already ours “In Christ.”
We are complete “in Christ” … Ephesians, Chapter 3, Verse 18…
EPH 3:18 …and to know the unconditional love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
We are filled up. There is no need for you to help God with your works. There’s a really good reason why it’s fantastic that the Lord does not allow you to earn your salvation…why He does not allow you to save yourself. That’s because your salvation is no better than its source. The source of your salvation is the Lord Jesus Christ. Titus, Chapter 3, Verse 5…
TIT 3:5 The God who is our Savior (the Lord Jesus Christ) saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in self-righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and by the renewing through the agency of God the Holy Spirit…
We are alive “in Christ” … Colossians, Chapter 2, Verse 13…
COL 2:13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God the Father made you alive together with Christ, having forgiven us all our transgressions…
We are made new “in Christ” … Second Corinthians, Chapter 5, Verse 17…
2CO 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, and all believers in Christ are, he is a new creature (a new spiritual species); the old man things passed away; behold, the new man things have come.
We bear fruit “in Christ” … John, Chapter 15, Verses 4 and 5…
JOH 15:4-5 As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.I (the Lord Jesus Christ) am the vine, you (believers in Christ) are the branches; he who abides in union with Me and I in union with him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
Your DESTINY “in Christ” is a cross…your DESTINY “in Christ” is tribulation, leading to a life of hope. Romans, Chapter 5, Verses 3 to 5…
ROM 5:3 And we not only exult in these things (our past…righteousness and justification…our present…peace…our future…glory), but we also keep on being exulted by God the Father in our tribulations that are given to us by God the Father, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance…
ROM 5:4 …and perseverance brings about proven character; and proven character brings about hope…
ROM 5:5 …and hope does not disappoint, because the unconditional love of God the Father has been poured out within our hearts through God the Holy Spirit who was given to us by God the Father.
Father, thanks for Christ…Your indescribable gift…and DESTINY in Him.
The Promises of the Lord Jesus Christ
When God makes a promise… it’s a guarantee!
EXO 14:13 “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today…”
ISA 40:29 He gives strength to the weary, to him who lacks might He increases power.
1PE 5:6-7 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God the Father, that He may exalt you at the proper time,casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
CLOSING SONG DESTINY
CLOSING PRAYER Let us pray...
THANKS INTERCESSION PETITION
And we pray that You continue to shape the messages from this pulpit that are an accurate reflection of Your unconditional love, Your person, Your thinking, Your work, and Your essence...we ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit, in Christ’s name, Amen.
Thanks for coming! Thanks for watching! Thanks for listening!
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