THE only PERFECT SACRIFICE that is “new” EVERYDAY!!

Mal 3:6 (NKJV) "For I AM THE LORD, I DO NOT CHANGE; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.

            Our God is very methodical. He has an order that cannot be violated.

Heb 13:8 (NCV) JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER.

----------------------------------------------


            The Bible gives us great “examples” - acted-out stories - that were physically lived out and experienced through the children of Israel. In fact, the LAW was a ‘type’ and ‘shadow’ of things to come. The children of Israel - through Moses’ leadership - acted out what we’re supposed to experience! Heb 10:1-7 (NKJV) FOR THE LAW, HAVING A SHADOW OF THE GOOD THINGS TO COME, AND NOT THE VERY IMAGE OF THE THINGS, CAN NEVER WITH THESE SAME SACRIFICES, WHICH THEY OFFER CONTINUALLY YEAR BY YEAR, MAKE THOSE WHO APPROACH PERFECT. 2 FOR THEN WOULD THEY NOT HAVE CEASED TO BE OFFERED? FOR THE WORSHIPERS, ONCE PURIFIED, WOULD HAVE HAD NO MORE CONSCIOUSNESS OF SINS. 3 BUT IN THOSE SACRIFICES THERE IS A REMINDER OF SINS EVERY YEAR. 4 FOR IT IS NOT POSSIBLE THAT THE BLOOD OF BULLS AND GOATS COULD TAKE AWAY SINS. 5 THEREFORE, WHEN HE CAME INTO THE WORLD, HE SAID: "SACRIFICE AND OFFERING YOU DID NOT DESIRE, BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME. 6 IN BURNT OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES FOR SIN YOU HAD NO PLEASURE. 7 THEN I SAID, 'BEHOLD, I HAVE COME; IN THE VOLUME OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME; TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD.'"

            Listen: you create a shadow by shining a light across some object. In the Old Testament, Jesus is the Light of God’s glory that causes the shadow. What is the shadow? The Tabernacle and the Old Testament Law. Our God is very precise and He never changes. He has given us rules and examples that we’re expected to follow. In fact, He is so precise He instructed us through types and shadows regarding things to come through Moses. That’s why Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land. Moses hit the rock twice! The first time the Lord told him to “smite the rock”, Moses hit it and water came gushing out of the rock. (The “Rock” represented Jesus; the “Water” represented the Holy Spirit). The 2nd time he was told to “SPEAK TO THE ROCK”. BUT, IN ANGER, Moses hit the rock twice (Nu. 20:8-12). He was mad with the people and he took his anger out on the rock. But, see, here’s why that would never work: 1 Corinthians 10 tells us that the “Rock” that followed them was the Lord Jesus, Himself; and that Jesus was struck or smitten ONCE! Once and for all time He put away the penalty for sin through His perfect Sacrifice. He will NEVER be ‘struck’ again!

------------------------------------------

            People of God, we have a mandate from the Father to carry out His commands precisely! That means you’re not supposed to make up your own rules! We are expected to offer God glory. How do you do that? By creating the aroma of incense through our praying that attracts God to our “scent”! When we pray correctly, a fragrance goes upward and God makes us ‘at one’ with Himself. The priest offered all the substances in the anointing oil on the alter saying, -in type - “I give You my hurt, joy, hopes, and my fears - the good and the bad. 1 Th 5:18 (NKJV) IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS; FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS FOR YOU.

            I don’t believe we pray correctly very often. In fact, it’s probably quite rare! Oh, we’ve learned how to ASK for things. And asking for stuff is simply one ingredient to real prayer. Because “real” prayer - like the incense the apothecaries of the Law made - is a compound substance. We must (as they were required) have an equal amount of each ingredient in order for it to be acceptable to God as a sacrifice! When that happens, a fragrance goes upward and God inhabits our praises - and yes - our requests. THEN every time you pray - every time your lost son or daughter is carried before the Throne of God, it is remembered; it “COUNTS”! That’s what the incense represents and is a ‘type’ of!

---------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------



            Now, there is another “type” that I want us to talk about tonight: THE BRIDE PRICE.

            In Biblical times, the Jewish people were married according to an established order that was not questioned. It was adhered to implicitly.


            Anyone with knowledge of the bible knows that Jesus performed EVERY SINGLE ITEM of this Jewish law and custom to perfection! Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Hebrews 8:8-12 tells us about the new contract that includes us as part of the Bride of Christ. And the 13th verse of that chapter says that the ‘old’ is now obsolete! Hallelujah! And THIS contract says all the Bride’s sins are forgotten!


            We are now awaiting the “shout” that the Bridegroom is coming. At that time we’ll go into the Judgement Seat of Christ in heaven (2 Cor. 5:10) where the veils will be removed and all secrets are made known. Our works done in Him and rewards given take place in that chamber.

            We’ll wear fine linen representing the righteousness of the saints. Rev 19:7-8 (NKJV) "LET US BE GLAD AND REJOICE AND GIVE HIM GLORY, FOR THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB HAS COME, AND HIS WIFE HAS MADE HERSELF READY." 8 AND TO HER IT WAS GRANTED TO BE ARRAYED IN FINE LINEN, CLEAN AND BRIGHT, FOR THE FINE LINEN IS THE RIGHTEOUS ACTS OF THE SAINTS.


            And just as the bride and groom would leave his father’s house after the marriage supper and set up housekeeping on their own, so we’ll accompany our Lord to live with Him in His Kingdom. Why? Because we ARE the Bride of Christ! And the 9th verse of Revelation 19 says, “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE CALLED TO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB”


Rev 21:1-7 (NKJV) NOW I SAW A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH, FOR THE FIRST HEAVEN AND THE FIRST EARTH HAD PASSED AWAY. ALSO THERE WAS NO MORE SEA. 2 THEN I, JOHN, SAW THE HOLY CITY, NEW JERUSALEM, COMING DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN FROM GOD, PREPARED AS A BRIDE ADORNED FOR HER HUSBAND. 3 AND I HEARD A LOUD VOICE FROM HEAVEN SAYING, "BEHOLD, THE TABERNACLE OF GOD IS WITH MEN, AND HE WILL DWELL WITH THEM, AND THEY SHALL BE HIS PEOPLE. GOD HIMSELF WILL BE WITH THEM AND BE THEIR GOD. 4 "AND GOD WILL WIPE AWAY EVERY TEAR FROM THEIR EYES; THERE SHALL BE NO MORE DEATH, NOR SORROW, NOR CRYING. THERE SHALL BE NO MORE PAIN, FOR THE FORMER THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY." 5 THEN HE WHO SAT ON THE THRONE SAID, "BEHOLD, I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW." AND HE SAID TO ME, "WRITE, FOR THESE WORDS ARE TRUE AND FAITHFUL." 6 AND HE SAID TO ME, "IT IS DONE! I AM THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA, THE BEGINNING AND THE END. I WILL GIVE OF THE FOUNTAIN OF THE WATER OF LIFE FREELY TO HIM WHO THIRSTS. 7 "HE WHO OVERCOMES SHALL INHERIT ALL THINGS, AND I WILL BE HIS GOD AND HE SHALL BE MY SON.



SAINTS OF GOD: JESUS NOT ONLY WAS THE PERFECT SACRIFICE — HE STILL IS!!!

            And tonight is your “perfect” time to give everything over to Him!

------------------------------------


I would like everyone to stand tonight. We’re at the precipice  of a very New Time.

Tonight is the “time” for everyone of us to make life-changing decisions.

YES - we continually come to this church, where we’re all loved and appreciated.

And YES - we, at some point, made the decision to follow Jesus.


But, I believe, in my heart, that each and every day that you wake up, put your feet on the floor, and begin another day - and quite often take for granted that because you made the decision to follow Jesus when you were anywhere from 8 or 9 years old to 50, 60, or 70 years that everything’s “hunky-dorey”...........and that’s not necessarily “true”!


You see: the “TRUTH” is we should renew our love, worship and solemn promise to serve Almighty God EVERY, SINGLE DAY! And, I’m certainly not suggesting that you’re “lost” if you’ve asked Jesus into your heart. I’m saying that the enemy of your soul will take EVERY OPPORTUNITY to distract you so that if you listen to his rhetoric long enough – he’ll convince you that all this “church talk” is UNNECESSARY!!


Well - the exact opposite is: EACH AND EVERY DAY IS A NEW DAY. TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BEGIN A NEW WALK WITH JESUS. AND YOU’LL FIND THAT LIFE IS MORE PEACEFUL, YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH FAMILY IS MORE WONDERFUL. TRUTHFULLY, EVERYTHING IS BETTER.


I know you’ve heard the saying, “everything’s better with Blue Bonnet on it”!


NEWSFLASH: EVERYTHING’S BETTER WITH JESUS’ BLOOD COVERING IT!!!

                        If you agree with me: Let me hear an “AMEN”!


Let’s pray together - in agreement - that we -from this moment - walk in Jesus’ Footsteps!