Latest / Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago / The Budding of Aaron’s Rod & Christ’s Resurrection | Easter Sunday | Pastor Daniel Batarseh

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The Budding of Aaron’s Rod & Christ’s Resurrection | Easter Sunday | Pastor Daniel Batarseh · Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago

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This afternoon, I want to draw your attention to a story from
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the word of God that at first, may seem totally irrelevant to
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the very subject and the reason why we are celebrating today and
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it could be for some that what you are about to hear is
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something familiar to you while for others.
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I wouldn't be surprised if it's the first time you've ever heard
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the story shared from the Bible. And they count that.
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I'm speaking of as, you know, is found here in the Book of
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Numbers in the 17 chapter and what you're going to read here
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with me is one of the most Monumental Miracles that has
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taken place in Israel's history. Monumental because the outcome
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of this Supernatural occurrence was asked of the people to be
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preserved and guarded. As a testimony for future
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Generations. There was something being
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communicated through this miracle that had to be held and
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remembered for the ages to come. But before you and I expound on
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what this miracle is. And what it is saying, we have
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to have a simple background behind it.
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We have to understand the context of and here it is.
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And God wanting to deliver the nation of Israel from the
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tyrannical oppression of pharaoh.
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He raised up to men. These two men were brothers,
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their names, Moses and Aaron, He sent them with Assurance of his
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power and of his presence that they would be successful and
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seeing the people of Israel released from captivity and
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after a series of amazing powerful glorious interventions
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from God eventually Pharaoh gave in.
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And the people of Israel were, in fact, released, they were
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sent out and not only were they sent out, they went through the
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Red Sea and they were brought safely Into the Wilderness.
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Des, but the Wilderness was not the final destination for this
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people. There was a land that God had in
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mind. There was a broad place that the
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Lord had promised and prepared for this people group a place
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flowing with milk and honey. A place filled with joy and
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security. It was theirs.
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He had sought it out for them and he had given them the exact
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blueprint of what to do when they got there.
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But unfortunately, The student of the Bible knows that the same
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people who were saved from slavery.
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Through a series of events, disobeyed and rebelled against
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the very same God who saved them one.
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After the other different episodes, different tests of
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Faith were were failed because of their stubbornness and
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because of their unbelief and one of the most serious
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offenses, one of the most stumbling decisions that they've
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ever made, were here in this neighborhood of the book of
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numbers. And this is what happened.
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At some point, unfortunately, you had a group of men within
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the camp who had prominent positions by the way.
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That allowed jealousy to take over their hearts and Vita rise
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up. And they begin to challenge The
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Authority, that God established over them through Moses and
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Aaron. And so this, this band of rebels
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attempted to cause an uprising and they specifically
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challenged, the Priestly Duty that has been exclusively
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assigned to Aaron, and his descendants, only Aaron and his
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descendants were called by God. God to be the mediators between
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the people and God himself. They were the connecting factor
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between these two parties and and these men Cora and others
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were disturbed by that. And so they attempted to bring
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division within the camp and it wasn't very soon after God
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intervene in a very frightening way toward these instigators and
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their supporters. What did he do?
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He opened up the Earth beneath them and And swallow them alive.
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Now you would think after witnessing such a spectacle,
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such a terrifying ordeal that, that would convince you that God
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is really backing up. Backing up.
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This aaronic priesthood and we have no right to challenge.
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God, we're going to trust God, and we're going to be content
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with whatever Lottie is assigned to us.
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But know the Israelites are like you and me, we're stubborn no
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matter how many warnings God gives us, no matter how many
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sermons we hear. No matter how many Social events
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occur to get our attention. We're still headstrong head
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towards our will. And so what does God do, while
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he brings another event of judgment?
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And there is still believe it or not, murmurings in the camp, you
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still had people talking whether or not Moses and Aaron were
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really the ones who are called by God, we're holy to, we're
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called people too. So how is the Lord going to
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settle this dispute? How is he going to put this to
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rest, while he's going to do something that we're going to
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read here number 17, instead of coming in judgment, he's going
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to provide another miracle. But oh, he's going to come and
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great gentleness and though it is going to be a gentle
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demonstration of his power, it is nonetheless, powerful.
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I want you to read with me. The first few verses number 17
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verse 1, the Lord spoke to Moses saying, speak to the people of
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Israel and get from them. Staffs one for each father's
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house from all their Chiefs, according to their fathers
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houses, 12 staffs right. Each man's name on his staff and
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right Aaron's name on the staff of Levi's.
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For there shall be one staff for the head of each father's house.
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Then you shall deposit them in the tent of meeting before the
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testimony. Where I meet with you and the
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staff of the man whom I choose shall Sprout.
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Thus, I will make to cease from me, the grumblings of the people
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of Israel, which they Grumble against you.
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Trust me, this is going somewhere.
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The instructions are straightforward, are they not
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God tells Moses to call for each chief of the tribes to bring
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forth a staff, a staff, with the name of the chief on the staff
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itself and when it came to the tribe of Levi, Aaron was to put
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his name on his Rod. Now, why would the Lord demand
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these kind of instruments? Because again, if you're
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familiar with the Bible, you understand that a staff, a rod
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was a symbol of authority. You see it being exercised
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throughout the Exodus where many, many of the Miracles were
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used through what Moses would wield when that was the staff
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and God honored that and even the staff early on, in The
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Exodus Journey or at least the attempt to bring about an exodus
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swallowed up, the other staffs of the Servants of pharaoh.
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And so you see, this picture in the context of The Wider
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context, that our staff speaks of dominance and superiority,
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you see it even in some of the Psalms the famous Psalm Psalm
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23. With a Shepherd, has a staff and
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that staff also speaks of authority of leadership
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comforting and guiding the Sheep.
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You read, also in prophecies in a different examples and
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scenarios where there are rulers and commanders of Clans and
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kingdoms who had a scepter and that scepter again speaks of
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authority. So this was not a strange thing
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for the Lord to request from these leaders of these Twelve
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Tribes. He was asking to bring these
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emblems of authority to bring about a demonstration.
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That would prove which Each one was in fact chosen by him to be
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the Priestly line. And so they come forward with
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these staffs and before exploring that concept further,
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let's understand the nature of these staffs their branches.
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They weren't very sophisticated, but they were a part of a Life
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Source at one point in obviously, they were cut off
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from that Life Source. They dried up, and they
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withered, and they were used as as these kind of instruments.
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So in essence, when you realize, what these staffs are, they're
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just dead sticks, but they hold so much representation
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especially in this moment. And so these sticks are going to
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be brought and they are going to be in the presence of God and
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overnight. We hurt rear.
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It. The Lord will choose one of
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those staffs to sprout and the one that would Sprout would
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indicate his will his consecration his purpose for
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this nation. Now, you're beginning, hopefully
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to see the universal application of this true though.
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It is a unique incidents. Essentially what the Lord is
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saying. To this nation is I'm going to
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take a rootless sapless, lifeless stick And I'm going to
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resurrect it. And when I bring it back to life
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then you will know. My will you will know whom I
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have chosen. And though, God raise the dead
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on many occasions. Throughout the word of God.
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There is something about this particular Resurrection doesn't?
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It doesn't seem like there's a connection.
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It seems insignificant. It seems like a random Miracle
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but no, it points to the resurrection that you and I are
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singing and celebrating about today.
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Would you believe it? Yes.
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Christ is the theme of The Bible and look here again in chapter
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17 verse 6. Moses spoke to the people of
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Israel and all their Chiefs gave him staffs one for each Chief,
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according to their fathers houses, 12 staffs and the staff
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of Aaron was among their staff eyes.
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I love that phrase. The staff of Aaron was among
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their staffs. It's not very difficult to see
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how this points to some measure of the nature of our Lord Jesus
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Christ. That Jesus the one that we
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worship. The one that we adore became
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like one of us and physically dwelt among us, he was in our
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midst and what the people saw with Aaron's Rod at this point
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as well. Most men witness and be held
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while Jesus was on the earth a Jewish man.
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Who carried the physical features of of a human who
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operated as a true man. Who ate, who grew who worked?
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Who is weary? Who thirsted?
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Who eventually died? And he had no former Majesty
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that we should look at him and he was tempted in every respect
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though without sin. But Christ, not only had a human
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life Christ, actually died a very human death.
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He was nailed with real nails, and it penetrated real flesh.
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He did sweat. He did shed blood.
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He was bruised, he was beaten and eventually he was laid
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bodily in a real tomb. And so, like Aaron's Rod among
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the other stash, the physical expiration of Christ's body was
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not really perceived as any different of someone else's.
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His greatest enemies and his most faithful followers really
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believe that that he died. That he died until a short
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amount of time has passed come here and read what happens in
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verse 7 of this chapter and Moses deposited the staffs
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before the Lord in the tent of the testimony.
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Remember that was the place of worship that did not have an
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open entrance for just anybody to come in know, there were
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priests who can come in only and among the priests.
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There is only the high priest who can go to the most holy
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Place, Moses takes these staffs. These dead dry withered. 6.
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And he brings them into the very presence of God as close as he
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can get, and he just laid them there.
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He walked out, look what happens in verse 8 on the next day,
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Moses went into the tent of the testimony and behold the staff
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of errand for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth Buds
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and produce blossoms and it bore ripe almonds.
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What was Moses face like? When he realized that early
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morning, that there weren't just Little Sprouts that came out,
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but you had the full maturation of an almond Branch right there,
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fully developed in one night. And yet, you see here that these
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branches were brought into the tent of the meeting. and in
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secret in seclusion and intervention of God took place,
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No I beheld it, there is no external elements, that
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influenced it and in like manner, when Christ was buried
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and sealed from the outside world, the exact moments of
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Animation entering into his frame.
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The precise details of him, removing those burial cloths.
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Him standing up from that slab that they placed him on was not
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observed by any human eye, though.
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The evidence of his resurrection was perceived very clearly
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afterwards. All that the people knew with
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those rods that entered in is that those rods went in as dead
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rods and one came out back to life.
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And someone already observed The God Who worked in the sanctuary
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to bring life to this staff is the same God who worked in that
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tomb to bring Jesus back to life.
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Resurrection Life. Is there more to say about this
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miracle? Oh, you better believe it.
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Out of all the manifestations that could have occurred out of
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all the fruits and of all the vegetation.
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We are told to very plainly and clearly that it bore ripe,
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almonds almonds. And if you come here on Friday,
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you know, that there's no detail in the Bible, that's by
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accident. I've looked at this and I
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thought almonds, I've all things almonds and there's a scriptural
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evidence of what that reveals but want to go a little deeper
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and think almonds of all things, why almonds?
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So I decided to look up, almond, trees, and I realized that
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almond trees and I confirmed it with Pastor Daniel who's very
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familiar with the agriculture there in Israel.
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That the Almond Tree was special in this, that it would Blossom
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very late into the winter. The Almond Tree was in essence,
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one of the first plants that would reveal life.
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In a very unusual time of the year and on average, you would
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see the almond trees, begin to show their beautiful white and
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pinkish colors in February of all times of the year.
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And this has become for many of the Jews and assemble an ancient
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symbol of Hope. Because what this almond tree
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would do is bring about some reminder that spring is soon
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coming. That this, this harsh and cruel,
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winter is soon over, and that there is something to come and
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there is something to look forward to and there's something
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to anticipate and the joy that this almond tree would bring was
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not just the obvious fruit that it would offer at some point.
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But it's very presence in the midst of again, a very Bleak and
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gloomy time of the year. The almond tree at that time.
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And in this time, even not part of the world was God's natural
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signpost. That spring is on its way.
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You can endure a little longer. You can believe that there is
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more to come. And do you think that the
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resurrection of Jesus has a different message?
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It has the very same message for you and I first Corinthians
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15:20, Paul tells us this but in fact Christ has been raised from
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the dead. The first fruits of those who
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have fallen asleep. That's that's the Holy Spirit
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giving language to a very practical thing that we should
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adopt in our own thinking the first fruits.
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Of those who have fallen asleep, meaning what, that Jesus dying
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and Rising again. Should create the same kind of
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anticipation that Israelite would know when they would begin
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to see the first fruits of their crop in their Harvest.
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And they've been called by God in the law to bring that first
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fruits to the house of God and to dedicate it to recognize God
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for it. But also in faith to believe
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that there is more to come, that there is a harvest to be
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expected and they would celebrate God for that.
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And this is the language that the Holy Spirit has given Paul
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to ascribe to Jesus. Resurrection.
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His resurrection is The first fruits.
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And so you and I also have to understand that when we meditate
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and rehearse and reflect and sing about the resurrection, we
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are also believing for something to come for something to arrive.
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And what is it? That is arriving.
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Well, again the firstfruits predicted and pledged a harvest
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to come and it is no different for Resurrection Life.
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Jesus died and rose again. Indicating what?
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There is a great Resurrection to arrive.
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Bye. Among whom the redeemed.
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And so here's the thing, we look at the resurrection, we hear
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about the resurrection, we preach the resurrection not as a
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past event, But also as a promise for something tomorrow
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and in the same way that almond tree.
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Promised. During a cruel time of the year.
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A wet time. Very difficult time for just
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even daily activity promised. There is a season coming spring
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is coming. Christ's Resurrection promises
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in Eternal spring. Christ's Resurrection assures us
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that there is a Time coming in which you and I will be able to
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escape the brutality of this broken world that this long
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chapter of human history. Will eventually come to an end
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and we will enter into a new age with new bodies and we will be
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delivered from all time. And for all time the very things
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that we try to whether an indoor day after day that is what
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Christ's Resurrection does. And so when you see this concept
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of an almond tree, you are seeing something that these
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people would have been very familiar.
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Her with there is something ahead.
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Something happened? Yes.
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But there's something also ahead.
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If you're in Christ, you can believe that.
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If you're in Christ, that's what the resurrection means to you.
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How can you say, you 66% of Americans that there is no
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practical implication of the Resurrection?
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It is the very anchor of your hope.
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It is the very source that you refer to Moment by moment saying
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this is not it, there is more to come.
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There is something that I have in terms of a future and a
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future that is secure and a future that delivers in a future
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that promises spring Paul uses this language.
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And so what you see here with number 17 is a miracle of
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Resurrection. Yes, of a staff but preparing us
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for a greater Correction preparing us for something more
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significant than an almond tree, promising, warm weather, and
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bright scenery. Now, there is heaven to come,
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there is a saving from this body that is fractured and broken by
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the fall. And where do we look to that?
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Not a staff. But A Savior Jesus Christ.
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But remember, God called for air and staff to be inscribed with
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his name. That represented the tribe of
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Levi for for a specific purpose and this context these people in
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every single tribe apparently were not content with one.
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What God had put them in, in terms of their position of
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leadership in terms of their service.
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And they wanted to use syrup they wanted what these men had
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specifically Aaron. And so God was coming to his
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defense because it wasn't about Aaron, it was about God's
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election over Aaron as a priest. And so God is doing this whole
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thing to authenticate the priesthood of Aaron as
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descendants. Now in reading into this and
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looking into this, I'm aware that we're now getting into
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deeper waters. So if you have questions, see
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Pastor Daniel after the service and he'll be more than willing
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to answer these questions. I feel like the author of
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Hebrews when he began to speak about what I'm about to speak
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about was hesitant because Again, we're now going into
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meat. This is not milk.
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So I will try to present it in the form of milk as milky as
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possible. But if you're going to get it,
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it will bless you. Remember, we see here that God
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wants to put his Mark of approval, on the priesthood of
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Aaron. And it worked, it worked you
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read at the end of it, you realize that these people were
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humbled, they were broken and they stopped with the Rebellion.
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They just they were satisfied with what they have seen.
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Okay. Aaron and his descendants, their
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priesthood. That's God's choice and that
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they were silenced and the murmuring ceased.
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But something happens as you read on throughout the Bible, as
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you progress throughout the narrative, you also see that
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there is greater divine revelation being granted to this
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people group called Israel. And one of the revelations
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that's given to this People. Israel is that there is another
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priesthood to come. As binding as they erotic
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priesthood. Was.
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This nation was told of a messiah to come.
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And they were told that a king would arrive on the scene and he
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would bring an eternal Dominion. But when you read and explore
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this in detail, you realize that this king would also be a
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priest. That was contradictory to the
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system. Here of Israel, you didn't have
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Kings who were priests or priests or Kings.
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You're either a priest or you're a king, and those are two
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different, two different roles all together.
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And yet, in Psalm 110, we are told about the Messiah and at
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one point in verse 4, we are told that he would be priest
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forever. Priest forever, according to the
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order of who not Aaron Melchizedek.
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Now, you see my struggle here. Now I got to tell you a
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Melchizedek is and have to keep you here.
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You're gonna have to miss lunch. I won't do that Melchizedek.
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Not a foreign idea to the Old Testament, though.
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His appearance is rare. It is absolutely significant.
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It held prophetic. Power and prediction after the
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order of Melchizedek, and I believe that God knew the
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difficulty that his own people. At this time, would have an
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embracing this idea of a priesthood apart from Aaron.
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I mean, this is the system that they've known for hundreds and
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hundreds of years, the Levites, this sacrifices, the offerings,
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the order the furnishings and now, God is telling us that
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there is a messiah to come and when This Messiah comes, he will
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not just sit on a throne but he will assume the role of a
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mediator. If you don't believe that there
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was a struggle, all there was a struggle because we have a whole
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book about that struggle. The book of Hebrews in the New
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Testament, the whole point of the book of Hebrews is you had
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Jewish Christians, who did acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah
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but we're being tempted, not to revert back to the judicial the
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Jewish system They wanted to go back to the law, go back to
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acknowledging Aaron as a superior priesthood, and they
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were experiencing persecution. And there is internal strife.
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And so this author inspired by the Holy Spirit comes in and he
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makes this glorious case in the book of Hebrews of why Jesus is
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greater than Moses. An amazing study.
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Maybe you didn't know this. I'll just throw it in there.
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People believe that the book of Hebrews was actually a sermon is
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actually a sermon and so if you read the book of Hebrews out
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loud it is estimated that you can complete it around 60
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minutes. When I learned that I was very
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comforted because I learned that I have 60 Minutes to preach a
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sermon, and nobody can say anything.
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It's in the Bible. It's this Rich in-depth study
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where the author is using what they were understanding to be
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their Authority. And it is Authority the the
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Hebrew scriptures and he showed Jesus being Superior from the
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Hebrew scriptures and in this is one of the arguments he makes to
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persuade these Believers to be Concrete in their faith that
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Jesus, as their mediator sufficed.
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And not only suffice was Superior to any other
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priesthood. Hebrew seven.
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Look at this. In verse 22.
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All I want you to see it. Turn your pages there.
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Hebrews 7:22. Hebrew 7:22 reads, this makes
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Jesus the guarantor of a better Covenant.
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The former priest were many in number because they were
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prevented by Death from continuing in office but he
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holds his priesthood permanently because he continues forever.
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Yes Hallelujah indeed, I love the rumbling of your amens this
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afternoon. Is it not true?
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And why does Jesus continue forever?
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Because he has been raised to life I've never to die again.
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And so here's what the author is saying, why would you, you
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Jewish Christians go back to a system in which the priest
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cannot continue and hold office. When you now have in the New
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Covenant, a priest who Remains the Same priest?
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The same high priests with the one single offering sufficient
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for all of eternity. Why would you go back to that?
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Why And you see the connection that I'm trying to make here
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with number 17 in what way that God in this Covenant
27:23
authenticate to a skeptical and critical crowd that the ironic
27:28
priesthood was his choice. Resurrection.
27:33
He raised a staff to life and it's silence them.
27:37
And now we come to the New Covenant.
27:39
A covenant that was predicted in the old and Jesus.
27:43
Our God consistent with his ways.
27:48
Now looks to a skeptical crowd Jew and Gentile.
27:53
How am I going to authenticate that the priesthood of Jesus is
27:57
superior to that even of Aaron's Resurrection.
28:01
I've raised him from the dead and because he is risen, he is
28:07
greater than all and not just greater than the aaronic
28:11
priesthood. There are many staffs there are
28:14
many rods. There are many expressions and
28:17
ideologies and even faiths that attempt to challenge the
28:22
exclusive message of the gospel. And they are lay it out there
28:26
and many attempt to say look like Aaron staff.
28:29
He is numbered among others. They all look the same.
28:32
They all point to the same reality, they all share
28:34
Authority. But may I add this afternoon
28:38
boldly without fear with the courage that I have here in the
28:42
scriptures. And by the Holy Spirit, no
28:45
matter what kind of authority claims whatever they want, none
28:48
of them have risen from the dead not Muhammad.
28:54
Not Buddha. Not Joseph Smith, no one has
29:00
risen from the dead except our God, our Christ, Our Messiah
29:03
Jesus, so let them claim all they want their in the Tomb.
29:16
Still, they did not come out. Sprouting with life.
29:20
They did not predict their own death and not just their own
29:24
death but they're right. Rising from the dead and Christ
29:29
not only predicted. He says I have the authority to
29:31
lay it down and I have the authority to rise it up again,
29:35
that's our Christ. And so we see here that in the
29:38
same way this staff coming to life authenticated a priesthood
29:44
of the past that priesthood is now obsolete because a greater
29:47
Resurrection has taken place, the resurrection of our Lord and
29:50
savior, We look at this and we think this is glorious.
29:55
Yes, it is glorious. But there's even more we come
29:59
here to verse 10 of our text. And what do we read?
30:02
That's actually read verse 9, then Moses brought out all the
30:07
staffs from before the Lord, to all the people of Israel and
30:11
they looked. And each man took his staff.
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I love that. I love that the Holy Spirit
30:16
included that Moses goes in that next morning.
30:19
He gathers all these sticks and he brings it out and publicly
30:23
displays and before all the people and they all with their
30:26
own eyes recognized, as they looked at the names on each
30:29
staff, Aaron staff has come to life.
30:33
And we have our Christ who resurrected.
30:35
Yeah. Although it was secluded and the
30:38
immediate infusion of that animation and energy that
30:42
brought his body at up. Again, although that was
30:45
concealed. He came out.
30:49
And when he did come out, he showed himself publicly and when
30:53
he showed himself publicly, there was no denying, this is
30:56
the same man that I saw crucified.
30:59
This is the same man, that was buried in.
31:01
Joseph's, tomb, why did he lie? Care and staff?
31:05
Have his name inscribed on him? No, he had marks.
31:11
And he came to a doubting disciple and he says, put your
31:13
finger here. Touch my side.
31:18
And so these Apostles and many other disciples as Paul said,
31:22
500 at one time beheld him, he came out of the Tomb like how
31:27
Aaron came out? His staff came out of this tent
31:30
and there is no denying. This is God's choice.
31:33
This is God's doing. This is a miracle from heaven.
31:37
We read on. And what do we see in verse 10?
31:39
And the Lord said to Moses, put back the staff of Aaron before
31:43
the testimony to be kept as a sign for the rebels that you may
31:48
make an end of their grumblings against me.
31:51
Lest they die. So, Moses was called to take
31:55
that one staff that miraculous rod and to return it into the
32:01
tent of meeting and to place it in the very presence of God and
32:07
it's not difficult to see how that applies to our
32:09
understanding of the Resurrection.
32:10
Does it? Yes, Jesus.
32:13
In a tomb hidden. New resurrection and Jesus left
32:19
that tomb and he showed his marks and people saw and
32:25
believed that he is indeed raised from the dead.
32:27
His identity cannot be mistaken. But Jesus, just like this Rod
32:33
returned into the presence of God.
32:37
And he did not just resurrect but he ascended on high and as
32:41
he ascended he entered into the very throne room of God and is
32:44
seated at the right hand of majesty and though he is hidden
32:49
from our sight, we believe he is coming back again and so we see
32:52
this staff. It goes back into the very
32:54
throne room of God at that time, which was the Ark of the
32:58
Covenant and it was in close. Proximity to him, isn't the
33:02
Bible amazing? But this is what I want to bring
33:06
your attention to in closing, something happens to these
33:10
people as they witnessed this miracle, what did they witness?
33:14
We read here. And the people verse 12 of
33:17
Israel said to Moses behold. We perish, we are undone, we are
33:23
all undone. Everyone who comes near, who
33:27
comes near to the Tabernacle of the Lord shall die.
33:30
Are we all to perish? And that's how the story ends.
33:39
And so you obviously see a Contrition here, there is a
33:42
humbling that's taken place with these Rebels.
33:44
That were very bold and accusing God and questioning his ways.
33:48
But after this particular miracle, They had this
33:53
overwhelming sense that they were going to be judged.
33:57
They realized their fault, they realized their mistake, they
34:00
realized their error and now they are living with this
34:03
anticipation. That God is going to do
34:07
something to us. And I want to make this point
34:12
and it might be contrary to what you might hear on Easter
34:16
weekend. This is not an unreasonable
34:19
reaction. Because there is an element of
34:25
the Resurrection that we must consider and that is the return
34:31
of Jesus in judgment. Now, that's not my own idea.
34:37
It's not because I love preaching judgment.
34:39
It's because in the minds of the Apostle, they could not
34:43
disassociate the doctrine of the resurrection and the reality of
34:48
a returning, King, who is come to vindicate.
34:53
Can I prove that to you in closing, meet with me here?
34:57
In Acts 17. And as you turn there, I want
35:02
you to see something that Paul preached to Gentiles and verse
35:06
30. Acts 17:30.
35:18
He's at the Apostle says, the times of ignorance God,
35:23
overlooked. But now he commands all people
35:27
everywhere to repent because he has fixed a day on which he will
35:32
judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed
35:38
and of this, he has given Assurance to All by raising him
35:43
from the dead. So, you understand here that the
35:49
the idea of a coming judgment is fixed and assured pain.
35:55
The resurrection So the disciples understood Christ,
36:00
Rising bodily. They've been promised, he's
36:03
returning bodily and he's not returning bodily to died for
36:08
sins again. He is returning Bali to judge
36:12
sin, especially the sin of those who have not repented when they
36:15
had the chance. So, here's how they're thinking
36:20
because the resurrection is true, you 66% of Americans who
36:25
don't understand the Practical implications, listen, because
36:28
the resurrection is true. Repentance is necessary.
36:34
That's the idea. So Easter is not about figuring
36:39
out that week. What kind of cute dress you're
36:41
going to wear for that Sunday? So what Easter is about some
36:43
about wearing bright colors, it's not about singing more
36:46
lively songs. It's not about having a special
36:48
Pollock after the service. No, because the resurrection is
36:51
true repentance. Must be declared And that's what
36:55
these men preached. Do we want to be like the New
36:57
Testament Church? We need to get back to the New
36:59
Testament Church. Okay.
37:00
Then, let's see how they preached.
37:03
This passage might ruffle some feathers, especially our
37:06
traditional view of what Easter is all about.
37:09
But Paul shares another dimension of what the
37:11
resurrection is proof of, and that is a future coming
37:15
judgment. The world both Jew and Gentile.
37:18
Small and great will be examined and evaluated in righteousness,
37:22
by a man whom God has chosen, and the evidence of this
37:26
Universal ruling being a certainty, is that God exalted
37:29
him and we'll be the judge of the Earth.
37:34
And that is why they emphasized the resurrection because it is
37:40
again, Inseparable from repentance.
37:41
That's the pattern of preaching throughout the Book of Acts,
37:44
they preached resurrection. And in the same breath they
37:48
could say Repent Christ is risen.
37:51
He is risen indeed. Now repent you don't hear that
37:54
second part usually but that's how they preached that's how
37:59
they preached. The grave is empty.
38:01
Hallelujah. So surrendered to the Lord who
38:04
has the keys of death and Hades. so, when we go about telling
38:09
others, Christ has resurrected, which we should.
38:14
We are also informing them. Of a returning judge.
38:23
And now we hear that and we think to ourselves and closing,
38:28
what are the practical implications of that?
38:31
Well, you heard it and unfortunately you're going to
38:33
get different responses to it. And I want to show you the three
38:38
different responses that Paul experienced when he preached
38:42
this very same message that I'm preaching to you.
38:44
So you're there in Acts 17 right now look here in verse 32. now,
38:51
when they heard of the resurrection of the Dead, some
38:55
mocked, Okay, pause some here. I'm fully aware though.
39:00
My prayer is not for this. I am a realist and I understand
39:05
that there are different soils and this place this afternoon, I
39:09
would not be surprised if leaving this place, some Will
39:13
Mock and maybe not outright blaspheme, but you're just,
39:16
you're indifferent to this. You could care less.
39:19
You see this as a silly myth, this is just a tradition, you're
39:22
just no different than any other religion with their High
39:24
holidays, in the year. So So yeah the resurrection okay
39:28
judgment men we've developed we're past that.
39:32
Okay, let's move on here, let's catch up with the times, raising
39:37
of the Dead, what are you? What are you speaking about?
39:41
So I'm fully aware that there could be some God forbid but
39:44
they can be some who will mock you will walk and leave right
39:47
out of here with no hint of conviction.
39:52
And you'll be just fine and you might show up again next year
39:55
and the same thing will happen but God forbid.
39:57
Some mocked look at the second part of the verse but others
40:00
said, we will hear you again about this.
40:04
So unlike the first crowd you had some where their interest
40:08
was sparked, huh? Resurrection from the dead, huh?
40:13
A coming judgment. Hmm.
40:16
Fascinating, you know, you have people like that today who are
40:19
were just caught up in philosophy and love debate and
40:23
and try to reason everything. And so they're intrigued by this
40:27
kind of conversation. And that's what you have here,
40:29
whether they were sincerely skeptical, or they were just
40:31
trying to be nicer than the first crowd.
40:33
I don't know. But here's the one thing, Thing
40:34
that I can say for certain this kind of attitude as much as it
40:38
is. More honourable than the former
40:41
is dangerous. Because it's a delay.
40:46
This is delaying. And as one person said,
40:49
procrastination is the recruiting sergeant of hell.
40:55
We will hear you again about this.
40:59
But here's the problem with that, as much as they intended
41:02
to have this conversation again conversations about your soul.
41:05
The truth about eternity may never happen again and that's
41:10
what happened here, verse 33. So Paul went out from their
41:13
midst. The preacher left town, he went
41:17
on, he moved out with his missionary Endeavors.
41:21
No indication that he came to the same group of people at all.
41:25
And so there is a sense in which people understand the urgency
41:28
and perhaps even in this time of History more than ever realizing
41:31
that all the promises of this life are in fact lies.
41:36
So there are existential questions, being asked.
41:39
And so may God use this weekend to really stir Hearts, but if
41:43
your heart is stirred, would you please not?
41:45
Leave this place. Delaying what this means for
41:49
your soul. Would you instead stay, would
41:53
you instead talk to the person who invited you?
41:55
That, you know, as a Christian would you meet with some of the
41:58
leaders here and and deal with those skeptical things and have
42:02
some clarity on where there might be confusion?
42:05
Because your soul is at stake. Your Eternal destination is at
42:09
stake? Not church membership, not you
42:12
doing something on Sunday, afternoon your soul, Your
42:16
Eternal Soul. And what do we see here?
42:21
Verse 34? But some men joined him.
42:26
And believed joined him and believed among whom were also
42:31
died. Nauseous and areopagite and a
42:34
woman named Damaris and others with them.
42:38
Some joined him. And believed Jesus said, I am
42:42
the resurrection and the life whoever believes in me though.
42:46
He die. Yet shall he live?
42:52
Do you want to be in that number?
42:55
Do you want to be able to look at the resurrection?
42:57
Not just, as some cultural American tradition, that 66
43:01
percent of people believe in and observe year-round.
43:04
Do you want to go beyond that? And say, I want to see the
43:08
resurrection of Jesus as the first fruits of my future.
43:13
That even though I may die and I'll tell you this death is
43:16
promised to all of us. It is a plague with 100%
43:19
fatality rate. Though, that is my inescapable
43:23
future that will not be my final destination.
43:26
I'll tell you what you need to do repent and believe, that's
43:30
what you need to do. Say well what is demanded of me,
43:33
I'll tell you what's the matter of you give up, give up what?
43:37
Stop trying to make your way to heaven.
43:42
Release your self-righteous Tendencies and come to the foot
43:47
of the cross and surrender and acknowledge that what Christ has
43:50
done, he did on your behalf and that you cannot attain eternal
43:55
life by your own Merit but that you have been forgiven freely by
43:59
God that in his love, he extended his son to you to live
44:03
a life that you could not live and to die to death that you
44:06
deserve to die and you come into that place of faith and you
44:09
acknowledge my sin, put them on that.
44:12
Cross and yet, because he's on that cross his righteousness.
44:16
Can now be mine. That's the gospel.
44:19
It's not do this and hopefully you will make it to Heaven.
44:23
It's not in sha Allah. It's not.
44:25
I hope it's not maybe it's not when I stand there.
44:28
I'll figure it out. You will know, I am saved.
44:36
It's a free gift. It's a free gift unto eternal
44:40
life. And I want to extend that gift
44:43
to you today, you don't have to come to a priest, you don't have
44:47
to jump through hoops, you don't need to stand on your head, you
44:50
need to believe in your heart and confess with your mouth,
44:54
that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that God raised him from the
44:56
dead. And the moment that your heart
45:00
truly believes that God will justify you.
45:05
In that very second, you will be seen as forgiving the sight of a
45:08
holy God and you will have your name inscribed in the Lamb's
45:12
Book of Life, you will have a hope for tomorrow and even
45:16
though tomorrow is not promised, there is a promise for your
45:19
tomorrow and it is this that you will have eternal life with God
45:23
in Christ Jesus. That's it.
45:33
This is why we Christians call The Gospel.
45:36
Good news. It's not kind of good news, nor
45:39
is it old news. It's good news for today.
45:43
And I want to tell you this, that he has risen from the dead,
45:48
and he will return, but when he returns, will he find you?
45:54
Waiting for him. Will he find you expecting him?
46:00
Will he find you washed by his blood?
46:05
I pray that today. You would make that decision.
46:08
I want this Jesus to be my Lord, and my savior, I want to be
46:12
forgiven, I'm a sinner, I've done so much.
46:15
I've grieved God, I've grieved man, I've grieved the law of
46:18
God. I read the law of man, and I
46:20
know that if I were to stand before God, I would be judged.
46:25
no matter what, you've done name that sin and I can tell you with
46:30
confidence in return, it can be forgiven And you can be restored
46:35
and reconciled to a holy God where you walk with a no longer
46:38
as your judge. But as your father Can I pray
46:42
with you? Well, we thank you for the
46:52
Glorious. The Glorious gospel.
47:00
Even seeing a glimpse, a shadow. Of the Resurrection in Numbers
47:07
chapter 17. Lord.
47:12
We ask that the joy of our Salvation would not just be
47:19
renewed for this afternoon, but that it would be taken to a new
47:23
height that we can live in, and we realize That spring is
47:29
coming. That the warmth of your presence
47:34
over us will remain forever. And everything, all the pain,
47:40
all the scars, all the hurts, all the Betrayal.
47:43
All the trauma will be a memory of the past and a memory that
47:48
will not really haunt us anymore.
47:50
It will be swallowed up by the Bliss of Heaven.
47:53
The joy of your presence. Lord, we just ask that for the
47:58
believer, they would be strengthened again in their
48:01
faith. And that they would be anchored
48:04
in the truth of the first fruits of the Resurrection for the
48:08
person in this place that we are so happy as visiting.
48:12
But perhaps does not know you or have the Assurance of knowing
48:15
you may they not be like those first two groups who mocked or
48:21
delayed What to do with their souls in whose hand to place
48:26
their souls and may today, be the day of salvation.
48:29
And may, they realize that in your goodness, you have set them
48:33
up to be here to hear this news because you love them and you
48:37
want them. Lord, we sing to you Because we
48:40
believe this is true and we sing to you because you are worthy of
48:44
Glory. Give us eyes to see That you are
48:48
the resurrected King and that you are the returning judge to
48:52
redeem your bride and to vindicate, your name in Jesus
48:57
name. Amen.
48:59
Let's stand together and sing to the Lord.