Jesus - The True Passover

Since yesterday was Passover, let's take a look at the Lord's Supper.

"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, 'Take eat; this is My body.' Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.'" Matthew 46:26-28

The verses posted above serve as the reason why many churches celebrate the "Lord's Supper" (Communion). God's Word goes on to tell us that as often as we eat the bread and drink the cup that we are remembering the Lord's death until He returns.

It's no coincidence that Jesus instituted this form of worship during the Passover celebration. While many Jews were remembering their deliverance from Egypt and how the death angel passed over them when the blood was applied to the doorposts - God was busy preparing another Passover Lamb.

The bread represents the broken body of Jesus. The cup represents His shed blood. It's only through the broken body and shed blood of Jesus that we are forgiven of our sin. The "original Passover" was temporary. The Jews may have cheated death for a season, however, one day death will come knocking on the door. But the follower of Jesus has found a way to overcome death! Jesus Christ died on a cross. His body was broken - His blood was shed - He was placed in a borrowed tomb - He rose again. "What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus! What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!" When we place our faith in Jesus' death, burial and resurrection - we are SAVED. Saved from the power of sin, the penalty of sin, and the payment of sin. Jesus Paid It All!

The Good News is that this payment for sin is for everyone who believes. This atonement wasn't just for the Jews but for the Gentiles as well. "For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13

I have been encouraging you this week to go out and share your faith in Jesus. There are people in your family, at your work, in your school and communities that do not know Jesus. If we don't tell them about God's precious gift of salvation who will? We cannot expect them to go to church and hear about it. We cannot hope that someone will come along and share. Folks, statistics prove that only 2% of professing believers actually share their faith. If we want to see them saved then we need to become an active part in God's plan.

I'm not going to guilt you. Just ask the Lord to give you a true compassion for the lost around you. Let Him give you the courage to share. Then go with Him and share that Jesus became the payment for their sin. Help them to understand that God is not willing that any should perish but that all come to repentance. Tell them that Jesus became the True Passover Lamb for all of those who will believe.

Sharing Your Faith During Easter

I found this article in today's Baptist Press. Bill Fay, author of "Share Jesus Without Fear" shares his thoughts on sharing your faith during Easter.

With Easter just days away, wouldn't it be wonderful to see the Lord enter the hearts of family and friends and people that we love?

There is not a conversation that you cannot turn into a spiritual test-point to see if God is at work. Let me give you a simple example.

You could be talking with someone about sports and simply say, "What is your favorite sport?" They may reply, "football." Just say, "I am just curious: Did you ever notice that so many pro athletes destroy their lives no matter how much money they're making? I'm just curious, do you think there's a heaven and hell?" You can go from football to heaven in one simple question.

I was in a restaurant the other day and a server came to my table. I simply said, "I love the cross you're wearing. Have you figured out when you die, where you're going?" She broke down crying. She had lost her 21 year old son to cancer and her mother had died. She was in church with me the next day.

One of my favorite questions is, "Do you have any kind of spiritual belief?" I don't ask someone if they believe in God. The second question I like asking is, "To you, who is Jesus?" If they have a relationship with Christ, they'll say, "My Lord, My Savior."

I really like asking someone, "When you die where will you go?" Most people will say, "I hope heaven." I then ask, "Why would God let you in?" If they give a works answer -- for instance, "I'm a really wonderful person" -- I ask, "If what you're believing is not true, do you want to know?"

I want to give you a challenge before your family and friends arrive at your home for Easter. Start to pray and think about one person you could go to and just ask these questions. You will experience how open people are. A lost person doesn't have any answers in this world of chaos, but the Christian does. If you're a born-again Christian, you have the only answer that's possible, and that is the risen Christ.

Monday - Gospel Kickoff

Palm Sunday was the kickoff to a great week in the lives of most believers. This is the time of year when we celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. With that in mind, I'm issuing a challenge to all my PBC Voice readers.

Make this your week of EVANGELISM!

The hearts of many people are open to the events of history. This week provides an exceptional opportunity to share Jesus with those around you. A great majority of Americans believe in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Although some of them haven't personally accepted Him, they are willing to talk about it.

Here's some tips:
#1 - Ask them if they are going to church this Sunday.
Many people (lost and saved) will be attending service somewhere on Sunday. It's a great ice-breaker.

#2 - Ask them if they have seen the "Passion of the Christ" movie by Mel Gibson.
This movie was a blockbuster in the eyes of Hollywood. Chances are that your friends have watched the movie. If so, you may ask them what they thought. If not, ask them if they would be willing to watch it in honor of this week.

#3 - Ask them how they celebrate Easter in their home.
Most people celebrate Easter. It may be nothing more than marshmallow peeps and chocolate bunnies but you can begin a spiritual discussion with anyone based on how they choose or do not choose to celebrate.

I feel a sense of urgency this week which is why I am blogging on Monday. Let's kick it off the right way. Talk to someone that you know is not a believer. Use the opportunity to give them the Gospel. You may not be able to issue a personal invitation but you can at least plant the seed. Who knows...you might even see a harvest!

Great Verses to Use: Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9-10, 13

Another great tool is the "Way of the Master." Use the 10 Commandments as a springboard into a Gospel presentation.
- Ever told a lie?
- Ever stolen anything?
- Ever use God's name in vain?
- Ever looked at someone with lust?
These are all common sins among us. Show the individual through the commandments that each of us have "fallen short of the glory of God." Ask them if God judged them by the 10 commandments if they would be innocent or guilty. Then ask them if they are guilty (which we all are) whether they would go to Heaven or Hell. Then proceed to tell them that what we celebrate this week {Death, Burial & Resurrection of Jesus} is the means by which each of us are saved.

God gave His one and only Son to die on a cross for the sins of humanity. It's only through His shed blood that adequate payment for our sins have been made. And only when we seek His forgiveness, turn from our sin ruled life, and make Him Lord and Savior can we be set free from the penalty of sin.

I pray that God will use you to lead someone to Jesus Christ this week. May God give us a compassion to reach the lost around us. The kickoff has begun - now get in the game!

Holy Spirit - Breathe On Me

The story of Nicodemus going to Jesus is one of the most popular in the New Testament. In the Gospel of John - Chapter 3 - we read about the discussion that this religious leaders had with the Messiah. This past Sunday, I shared with our congregation an interesting find in their conversation. After studying the words of Jesus for myself, I felt confident in sharing the interpretation. I want to expand the teaching to you.

John 3:8 (most translations reads similar to this), "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

You might notice that I put certain words in bold letters above. These are the words that I want to focus on.

#1 "Wind" - the word used for wind in most of the NT is ἄνεμος "anemos". You will find a couple of different words especially when the Bible speaks of the "south wind" and in James when he speaks of being driven by the wind. Outside of those few verses the word for wind is always the same. However, in verse 8 of John 3, the word that was translated "wind" should be translated "Spirit". The word here is πνεῦμα "pneuma" and it is always translated "Spirit". If you look up verse 6 of John 3 in the original language you find that Jesus said, "...that which is born of Spirit (pneuma) is spirit (pneuma). The idea of the Spirit always carries the thought of the wind but it is clear to me that Jesus was speaking of the work of the Holy Spirit. {It's all about context}

#2 "Blows" - This comes from the Greek word πνέω "pneō" and it means to breathe hard. You may notice that it comes from the same root as Spirit. One could say that the Spirit spirits but I believe that this text is teaching that the Spirit breathes where He chooses.

#3 "Hear" - ἀκούω "akouō" - This is where we get our word acoustics. It's all about hearing.

#4 "Sound" - φωνή "phōnē" - Ever hear of phonetics? This word denotes more than just a sound. Most of us don't just pick up a phone to hear sounds but rather to hear a voice! In Revelation 1:10, John said that he was in the Spirit on the Lord's day and he heard a loud "phōnē" - a loud voice.

Why is this important? This is important because it give us greater understanding about being born again and the work of the Spirit of God in our lives. In the Hebrew you will find that the word for "wind" and "spirit" are the same רוּח"rûach" but it's not so in the Greek. If I am being true to the original text rather than religious tradition, I must interpret the words of Jesus much like what we see in the Literal Bible Translation: "The Spirit breathes where He desires, and you hear His voice; but you do not know from where He comes, and where He goes; so is everyone having been generated from the Spirit."

For every person that is "born again" (accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior of their life) the Spirit of God has breathed upon them and they are able to hear His voice!

This ought to change your life. This should change your approach to how you read and hear the Word of God. This truth can change your "Christian" experience into a living reality.

I pray that you hear the Voice of the Spirit of God today. The good news: You Can!

Will You Not Revive Your People?

Revival - strange and sovereign work of God in which He visits His own people - restoring, reassuring, and releasing them into the fullness of His blessing.

On Tuesday I shared with you what I believe we need to see in the Southern Baptist Convention. Although I understand the thought process behind the "Great Commission Resurgence" - I'm afraid that we are getting the cart before the horse.

Psalm 127:1 says, "Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain."

Zechariah 1:3 the Lord tells Israel that if they will return to Him then He will return to them. Later on in 4:6 He says that it's "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit..."

My point in all of this is that true and genuine change doesn't come because we do something different. True and genuine change comes when we submit every aspect of our lives to God. We can focus on the Great Commission and still miss a Great Awakening!

Unfortunately, revival is a foreign thing to the people of God. We have heard about it, thought about it, prayed about it, and maybe even sought it. However, many of us have never EXPERIENCED it! We can list many reasons for this but I'm just going to share a few of them with you.

Reasons Why We Don't Experience Revival:
1) We Don't Think We Need It
- Someone has said that if the Holy Spirit was taken out of the average church that 95% of the programs would keep right on going.
2) We Really Don't Want It
- What will happen to our churches if God shows up? I'm afraid that we are much like the Pharisees and would simply be disturbed by the presence of God.
3) We Don't Believe It Can Happen Today
- It's very evident that most of our churches budget, plan, and operate as if God isn't going to do anything supernatural.
4) We Aren't Willing To Pay The Price To Get It
- Revival is not instantaneous, costless, or painless.
- Most churches want gain without pain, the joy of new life without the travail of labor pains, healing without surgery, joy without mourning, and the power of the resurrection without the agony of the cross. We want our schedules and programs to stay intact. We want minimum disruption of our plans or interferences with our traditions.

I'm sure that some people will think that I'm too hard on the church. Please understand my motive. I love the church. God's calling on my life is to shepherd the people of God. I still believe that at her worst the church is the Bride of Christ. However, we cannot expect great things from God unless we are willing to walk in the greater works of Christ.

I don't share these things with you because I believe they won't happen. The truth is that I am sharing them with you because I sense that the sleeping giant (the church) is starting to wake up! It's my prayer that the words that I type will simply serve to shake us out of our sleep and awaken us to the reality of what is going on.

May we see the strange and sovereign work of God in our generation. May He visit His people once again - restoring, reassuring, and releasing us into the fullness of His blessing.