Romans 160: Romans 6 - THE LORD’S SUPPER CELEBRATION The Spiritual Progression Stage Called DEARTHWelcome 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.
What is faith? FAITH A gift from God that allows you to use your free will to place your complete trust and your complete confidence in someone or something
Ephesians, Chapter 2, Verses 8 and 9…
EPH 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that faith is not of yourselves, it is the gift to you from God…
EPH 2:9 …and that faith is not as a result of your works, so that no one may boast.
As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we have expressed our faith…we think that Jesus Christ is God…we have placed our complete trust and complete confidence in Him. Hebrews, Chapter 11, Verse 1 describes faith…
HEB 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for…faith is the conviction of things not seen.
The bible describes believers in Christ as “righteous ones” … in Romans, Chapter 1, Verse 17… and reinforces that there is a difference between believers and unbelievers…
ROM 1:17b …as it is written, “But the righteous ones (believers in Christ) shall live by faith.”
So I have a question for you…
QUESTION FOR REFLECTION
In whom or in what do you place your faith?
Where you place your faith is where you place your confidence. Do you have confidence in yourself? Are you an advocate of the … “If it’s to be it’s up to me?” … philosophy? Are you and advocate of the Victorian philosophy highlighted in a poem by William Ernest Henley, Invictus, which boasts, “I am the master of my fate and I am the captain of my soul?” Or do you place your confidence in the Sovereign of the Universe, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?
Today is our monthly expression of gratitude, The Lord’s Supper Celebration, a time when believers in the Lord Jesus Christ look back to the Cross, to remember the ultimate sacrifice that the Lord accomplished on our behalf. When I ask you to consider…<USE THE PREVIOUS SLIDE>
QUESTION FOR REFLECTION
In whom or in what do you place your faith?
…the Lord Jesus Christ is the “whom” in which Christians place faith…His Work at the Cross is the “what” in which Christians place faith…and today we celebrate with absolute confidence and with great joy, stirring ourselves up by way of reminder, to look back at the Person and the Work of the Lord Jesus Christ at the Cross. He died there for us and He rose from the dead three days later for us, to prove that He is who he says He is. We worship and celebrate Him today.
Welcome to a place where you can remind yourselves that there is no better Person in whom to place your faith and no better work in which to place your faith than the Lord’s work at the Cross.
MUSIC AND REFLECTION Be Occupied with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ Enjoy the Singing of His Praises
Demonstrated Love
As God prepares our memories for reflection, let’s hear June Murphy worship our Lord in song. The opening song is Demonstrated Love.
OPENING PRAYER
Let us pray...
We’re grateful Heavenly Father for the privilege of studying the absolute truth...the Word of God…
Thank you for inspiring in us a willing heart…thank you for inspiring in us a grateful heart…and thank you for the gift of faith…thanks for rewarding our faith in Your Son for all eternity…thank you for using Your Son to pave the way for our “so great salvation…”
As we remember Your Son’s Person and His work today, remind us to keep obedience to Him and to His Word at the forefront of every thought, of every action, of every decision…
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 DEARTH
When you look back at the Cross, what do you see? Today, I see the spiritual life stage called DEARTH. It’s a gift that is more powerful than emotions and much too deep for words. It’s a pleasure to be able to share the bible’s thoughts on how the Lord uses DEARTH to perfect us.
What is the spiritual life progression that Jesus Christ offered us through His Cross? His Cross gave all who wanted it a spiritual life…a chance for each of us to learn about Him and about all He has done for us since the beginning which was not a beginning…we continue our look at the five stages of spiritual progression, in our Lord’s Supper Celebration, that began three months ago. If, as you look back to the Cross, you’re really thinking about all the things that the Lord Jesus Christ and His Cross have done for you, you’ll see this spiritual life progression in your mind’s eye, and you’ll see the five different stages in the Lord’s spiritual life offer to His creatures: DESIGN, DEATH, DESTINY, DEARTH, and the DIVINE. 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 DEARTH as part of our spiritual life’s progression.
THE LORD’S OFFER OF SPIRITUAL PROGRESSION <REVEALS>
Design
Death
Destiny
Dearth
Divine
But first a few announcements…
BARAH MINISTRIES ANNOUNCEMENTS
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! The Next Lord’s Supper Celebration February 8, 2015
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Garage Sale January 23
Prayer Meeting January 18 Right After Services 11:30am
Ask the Pastor Resident Congregation January 19 7:00PM MST
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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 by means of internet teaching or by means of face-to-face teaching.
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
ROM 6:1-2 What shall we believers in Christ say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?//May it never be! How shall we believers in Christ, who died to sin, still live in it?
OFFERING SONG Lord We Lift Your Name on High
THE LORD’S SUPPER CELEBRATION The Spiritual Progression Stage Called DEARTH
When you look back to the Cross, what do you see? Today, I see the spiritual life stage called DEARTH. What is DEARTH?
DEARTH An inadequate supply…a scarcity…a lack
Part One of the Lord’s spiritual life progression is DESIGN. Design always demands a designer, and God the Father has designed a perfect, personal plan for His imperfect creatures. A plan is a set of decisions. The Lord Jesus Christ made a set of decisions concerning you that are shaping your DESTINY. One of those was the decision to die so that you could be saved.
DESIGN God has a personal plan for your imperfect 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 life progression is DEATH. All of us are born “In Adam” … therefore all of us are spiritually dead at the moment of physical birth and condemned to the Lake of Fire. “No fair! I didn’t even do anything!” You’re right! But your human father, Adam, the federal head of the human race did do something, and you received the benefit…First Corinthians, Chapter 15, Verse 22a…
1CO 15:22a …all are born “in Adam” and all are set to die the second death (from the moment of physical birth)…
First, human beings must learn about, and then accept their condemned fate from physical birth. Next, they must hear the gospel message, which makes it clear that there is a way out of spiritual death and condemnation. Then they must accept or reject a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ as a provision from God the Father for conquering death…Jesus is the way out. The Lord Jesus Christ, at the Cross, made “the old man pass away.”
Part Three of the Lord’s spiritual life progression is DESTINY. The believer’s DESTINY can be summed up in two words…“In Christ.” As a believer in Christ, you are completely sufficient “In Christ.” Second Corinthians, Chapter 5, Verse 17…
2CO 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in union with Christ, and all believers are, he is a new creature; the old man things passed away; behold, new man things have come.
“In (union with) Christ” you are powerful beyond measure.
Part Four of the Lord’s spiritual life progression is DEARTH. After God makes it clear that He has a plan for us, after He shows us that we are born “in Adam,” after He makes an offer of salvation through the gospel message, after we accept the salvation offer by believing in Christ, after God the Holy Spirit places us into union with Christ through the baptism of the Spirit, God allows us to experience DEARTH. What is DEARTH?
DEARTH An inadequate supply…a scarcity…a lack.
In short, the Lord allows us to experience our inadequacy…the scarcity, the lack in our humanity. After we enjoy the elements, you’ll hear more about the grace gift of DEARTH given to us by God.
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 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…
1CO 11:24 …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.
When we drink the cup, we remember THE WORK of the Lord Jesus Christ. First Corinthians, Chapter 11, Verses 25 and 26 say…
1CO 11:25 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.”
1CO 11:26 “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”
As you enjoy the bread and the cup, enjoy the memory of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as well. Now and always, as the Lord’s Supper song reminds us...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 DEARTH
What is dearth?
DEARTH
DEARTH is something God allows, more than something God gives. God allows us to experience “the world” … God allows us to experience “the flesh” …and in so doing allows us to see the inadequacy, the scarcity, and the lack that resides in our humanity. In essence, God allows us to see all the things that are unacceptable about the world and about ourselves. As for “the world” … here is what the Lord says of you believers in Christ who are in “the world” … John, Chapter 15, Verse 19…
JOH 15:19 If you believers in Christ were of the world, and you are not, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but (instead because) I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.
As for “the flesh”… here is what the Lord says of you believers in Christ through the apostle Paul in Romans, Chapter 7, Verse 18…
ROM 7:18a For I (Paul) know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh…
And through the apostle Paul in his letter to the believers in Galatia, Chapter 5, Verses 19 to 21…
GAL 5:19-21a Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,//idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,//envying, drunkenness, carousing…
God allows us to see the DEARTH of our true selves…and we certainly don’t like what we see…what God wants us to do as a result of our experience with “the world” and with “the flesh” is to detest it, while simultaneously desiring something different. The something different is the life that only He can provide.
In “the world” there is bitterness…with the Lord there is sweetness. In “the world” there is hunger…with the Lord there is spiritual food. In “the world” there is thirst…with the Lord there is refreshment. In “the world” there is tribulation…with the Lord there is character. In “the world” there is death…with the Lord there is the resurrection life.
There is much more to say about DEARTH, and we’ll pick it up in our next Lord’s Supper Celebration. We’ll use scripture to take you on a tour of this spiritual life progression called DEARTH.
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 How Great Thou Art
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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