WEEKLY WORSHIP
JULY 13/14, 2024
{BL 548-28}
DECLARATION
For [we are not] ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. { Rom 1:16-17 KJV}
HOLY SCRIPTURE
Sabbath Meditations
"Chukat"; Degree
Num 19:1-22:1, Judges 11:1-33, Heb 9:1-28
Sunday Message
"The Love that God has for us"
1Jn 4:16, Ep 2:4-7, Jn 3:16, Ro 8:32, Ps 145:9, 1Jn 4:19,
Lk 1:45, Jn 21:14-17, Nu 6:24-26
OPENING PRAYER
Master of the Universe, Mighty Creator, Thank-You for gathering us together in Worship and Fellowship before Your throne. As it is written in Holy Scripture; "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst."-{Mat 18:20 NASB} My Lord, You are always welcomed to reach us and teach us in the great mysteries of Your unending Kingdom. Grant us open ears, hearts and souls to receive Your Word, and such wisdom and grace to understand and apply that which we learn from Your Servant Preacher, as he speaks Your will in the name of Jesus the Christ, AMEN.
MESSAGE
The LOVE that God has for us is almost impossible to define, or quantify. In 1Jn 4:15-19 NKJV Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. (16) And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
(17) Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. (18) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. (19) We love Him because He first loved us. What a profound portrait of the unending depth of His love for the very creation of His hands.
Eph 2:4-9 NKJV But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, (5) even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), (6) and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (7) that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (8) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, (9) not of works, lest anyone should boast.
In one of the most often recited verses in the Bible, we again see the evidence of an incredible display of Love by our Creator; For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. -{Joh 3:16 NKJV } WHO DOES THIS? A Human does not have this capability or even depth of thought, reason or emotion. Its the LORD, our God, Our Savior, our King! HE DOES THIS!
Rom 8:32 NKJV He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
Psa
145:9 NKJV The LORD is good to all, And His tender mercies are over
all His works. Guess
who His works are? ITS
YOU AND ME!!
APPLICATION & SUMMARY
God's incredible Love for His creation has no definable limits. We cannot "plumb the depth" because there is no bottom. We cannot determine the "altitude" of His Love since there is no ceiling.
The final gathering between Jesus and His Apostles before the crucifixion, was a celebration of His earthly/fleshly life. None of the attendees had any grasp of the magnitude of Jesus words and teachings. Gathering all of them to "eat" at the table, He had earlier washed their feet. He Taught them the method of sacrament by way of the Last Supper, encouraging them to do this as often as they eat in remembrance of Him. After singing hymns they departed Jerusalem heading to the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane. As they walked, Jesus told them in Mat 26:31 NKJV ; "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: 'I WILL STRIKE THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK WILL BE SCATTERED.'
Peter exclaimed that even if all the others "stumbled", that he would never do likewise. Jesus then told Peter, that before the Rooster crows this night, Peter would deny Jesus three times!! Peter did exactly what Jesus predicted. Peter was Crushed!
Often times, our biggest and toughest challenge comes from our inability to forgive ourselves even though the Lord has already forgiven and moved on. Peter was in that mode. Fishing was the only safe place where he could think, and suffer over what he had done.
After the resurrection, Lord Jesus made a number of appearances of His faithful. Lets join the morning scene on the beach when Jesus appeared again:
Joh 21:14-17 NKJV [Here we find the word LOVE , translated from the Greek but with two differing meanings of the depth and character of what we know as LOVE]
This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead. (15) So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" {AGAPE LOVE- As in do you LIKE ME more than these?}
[Peter] said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs." [Peter's response used a different Greek word, PHILEO, which is a much stronger and more intimate level of Love, as between husband and wife or brothers or close kin.]
(16) [Jesus] said to him again a second time, [using the AGAPE word], "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" [Peter responded to Him in PHILEO ] , "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep."
(17) [Jesus said to him the third time, but used the PHILEO expression] "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.
This beautiful exchange between Jesus and Peter shows clearly the deep Love Jesus had for Peter. Peter, like many of us, found it difficult to forgive himself when he went astray. Forgiving others for offenses seems much easier than forgiving our own stumbles. Twice Jesus asked Peter if he LIKED him better than these. Again if he liked Him directly. Then on third time, Jesus used the expression do you LOVE me using Phileo meaning the most intimate and sincere intent. It was in this moment, Peter finally realized that Jesus had truly forgiven him for his denials, and now it was time to forgive himself, opening the way for the Holy Spirit to guide and teach Peter all he would need to share the Gospel of our Lord, our Savior.
As the Bible tells us, "We love him, because he first loved us".
1Jn 4:19 KJV
CLOSING PRAYER
Holy Father, Mighty Lord grant us the wisdom and discipline in asking you to fill us to the brim with You. To be consumed by Your love and Holiness. As we go our way, passing through the carnal world, let us remain insulated against the wiles of Satan, let us hold firm that which we have until we meet again. Walking in the foot-steps and example of our Savior, in Jesus we pray, Amen
DOXOLOGY
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, Ye heav'n-ly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Amen
BENEDICTION: Num 6:24-26 The LORD bless you, and keep you; The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.'AMEN
Christ go with you now...until we meet again
Christ go with you now...keep praying on till then
It really doesn't matter what the weather...
Just as long as we all are TOGETHER...
Christ go with you now...Till we meet again!
WEEKLY WORSHIP
(Published every Friday evening)
CHRIST ETERNAL SENIOR MINISTRIES
HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?
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Amen!
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