Our Sunday morning sermon, brought to us by Associate Pastor Ryan Crawford, was entitled "Shall I Not Drink?"
We stood for the reading of God's Holy Word. Then Brother Ryan led us in an opening prayer.
The message was taken from John 18:2-11.
Here is a passage that many of us are aware of. It is where Jesus and His disciples are in the Garden of Gethsemane. It's the moment that Judas betrayed Him to the Pharisees. Keep in mind that this was not something that Jesus was unaware was coming. It was a cup that was determined for Jesus and Jesus alone. It was a cup that we could not drink. It was not meant for you or me. It was planned from the beginning of time.
He was the only one that could drink that cup: Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
He was the only one that could properly drink from the cup because it was predetermined; it was predestined as well: Acts 2:23-24 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
It was planned. Isaiah 53 "It pleased God to bruise Him."
This was not a cup that was easily born. This cup was dreaded by Jesus. Yet no one else was able to bear this cup, nor were we fit to bear it: Luke 22:40-46 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, and said unto them, Why sleep ye? Rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.
Here, Jesus had gone up into the garden to pray. He cautioned them to pray so that they are not tempted or weakened spiritually. But this cup is a heavy burden for Jesus to bear, so he prays himself to be released from the burden of this cup. It wasn't the dread of the cross that He would be hung from nor the curse of the cross. He did not dread the brutal treatment from his jailers. What Jesus dreaded was the weight of the sins of the world. Jesus also dreaded the point, when bearing the sins of the world, that God would turn away from Him (God can not look upon sin/iniquity/lawlessness). It was a cup of suffering. Yes, Jesus Christ was a Supernatural God, but he was also an Incarnate man. He would feel and bear and experience all the weight of sin, iniquity, and lawlessness.
Fortunately for you and me, Jesus drank from that cup. In drinking from that cup, Jesus gained victory over suffering, sickness, and sorrow. He took the sting of death away. He took away the grave's victory. He took on the fullness of God's judgment against sin.
John 20:1-5 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
Hebrews teaches us that by one sacrifice, Jesus disposed of sin and its affects. Jesus died, was buried and rose on the third day.
You know, we celebrate faithfully on Easter day with packed pews, but what about the Sundays leading up to and after Easter? Even though it is several weeks past Easter, there is no reason not to look at the Resurrection at other times. This is the reason we preach, we sing, we praise, we love and we live. Because He first loved us.
Join us every Sunday morning at 8:30 for Early Service, 9:45 for Sunday School, and 11 a.m. for Regular Worship Service. Sunday Night worship is a 6 p.m. On Wednesday night, you can join us at 7 p.m. for Bible Study.
Our potluck will be the second Sunday, and we are planning on celebrating the Ordination of Brother Wade Mitchell as our new Deacon.
Sunday, May 29, we will be having a baby dedication ceremony. Please follow our post for further updates and more notifications.
Awanas will be coming to a close Wednesday, May 11. All parents are encouraged to come and attend the awards ceremony that night.
Senior Pastor Brother Larry Crawford's birthday was Wednesday, April 27. Let's all wish him a happy and healthier birthday. We are keeping you in our hearts and prayers.
Saturday, the adults of the church enjoyed fellowship in Fayetteville, Ark., at Locomotion, after dining together at Cici's Pizza for dinner. It was a wonderful time for all. We are looking forward to when we can enjoy an outing like this again.
Religion on 04/28/2016