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Honoring Sacrifice

5/26/2018

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A LIVING MEMORIAL
Terry R. Baughman

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship” (Romans 12:1).

Beautiful monuments and celebrated memorials are scattered across our nation to commemorate war heroes and notable individuals who have contributed to great causes or sacrificed greatly to preserve freedoms and our way of life. Washington D.C. is perhaps the most decorated region as our nation’s capital provides host to numerous sites where veterans and notable leaders are venerated. From the Lincoln memorial to the Washington monument past presidents and brave leaders are celebrated. The veterans of various wars are honored and landmarks of history are memorialized in museums and architectural tributes. Collections are curated by the Smithsonian Institution and a vast collection of published works are cataloged in the Library of Congress. The sense of history is everywhere. There are so many memorials it is easy to miss the immense value of the sacrifices and the reasons for the existence of the memorials. 


From ancient history in biblical days great value was placed on the construction of memorials. Joshua was instructed by the Lord to place memorial stones on the banks of the Jordan to match those that were placed in the river bed when the people of Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground. The Lord miraculously stopped the water and prepared a path for his people to enter the land of promise. For years to come there was a memorial of stones to remind future generations of the miraculous hand of God that brought them into the land and prepared the way before them. When children would ask, “What do these stones mean?”, there would be an opportunity to share the story of conquest and the great deliverance by the hand of the Lord. “Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever” (Joshua 4:7)

After the resurrection of Christ there may have been those who desired to create monuments and memorial stones commemorating the events of recent history. However, it was not Christ’s intention to memorialize holy places or make sacred the natural elements of new significance. He instituted living memorials as the last rite at the conclusion of supper and shortly before His arrest in the garden. He took normal elements of the meal, the most basic bread and drink, and gave them spiritual symbolism. ‘Take eat,” He said, “This is my body. Drink. This is my blood of the New Covenant.” (See Matthew 26:26–28.) Jesus desired to take normal, natural things and to make them relevant, importance, and symbolic. 

The sacrifices of ancient rites and offerings of Temple worship were replaced with new significance. Rather than bulls and goats, Jesus desires living sacrifices. Instead of the deadness of rituals and performance of routine ordinances, Jesus calls us to live our our worship and declare the resurrection in victorious living. Here is the way to honor His memory; live out His teaching. This is the path of Christ’s example; love one another.

The Old Testament prophets spoke of God’s distain for rituals and sacrifice that had become a meaningless mockery. “I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them…” (Amos 5:21-22).

Memorials are more than sculpted granite monuments, polished marble, or rusting relics of former events. Memorials are born in the heart and shared from one generation to another. God’s desire is for meaning; His intention is that we may have authentic worship and a living declaration of our faith. He does not desire monuments, but a movement of faith-filled believers living out His life in the world!
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Scripture:
“… So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the Lord And who meditate on His name” (Malachi 3:16).


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Fire from Heaven

5/19/2018

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CELEBRATING PENTECOST
Terry R. Baughman

“Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:3–4).

Pentecost Sunday is an annual observance of the phenomenon of the initial outpouring of God’s Spirit on the Day of Pentecost in Jerusalem around the year AD 33. Fifty days after Passover, Jews gathered to celebrate the Feast of Weeks. It was also on this very day, the Day of Pentecost, that Jesus came in the power of the Spirit to fill the lives of every believer. About 120 were waiting in the upper room where they anticipated the arrival of the Spirit. Just about a week before, Jesus ascended up into heaven and out of sight. Angels appeared with a prophetic announcement, “This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). 

Remembering the instruction of the Lord, “Tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high,” they returned to the city to await the Promise of the Father (Luke 24:49). This initial experience was accompanied with supernatural signs and unusual demonstrations of power. First, there was a “sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind” that filled the room where they had gathered (Acts 2:2). Then there was the appearance of “tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them” (Acts 2:3). Finally, “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4).

While the signs of the Spirit were likened to these elements of wind, fire, and ecstatic speech, the miraculous event defied explanation and those who sought to describe it groped for an adequate comparison in the natural realm. Jesus also compared the birth of the Spirit to the wind. He said, “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes” (John 3:8).


In a prophetic sense fire is often associated with judgment in Scripture. Even in the announcement of the coming Messiah by John the Baptist there was accompanying judgment with His arrival. John proclaimed a message of repentance. He said, “Every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” When Messiah appears, “He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:10, 12). 


While the fire of Pentecost may have the effect of judgment, dividing uncleanness from godliness, there is also the positive elements of fire that were associated with the Spirit’s baptism. Fire produces light, energy, and enables new growth where the dead has been removed.


When the Holy Spirit was poured out from heaven, it arrived with the sign of tongues as of fire. It was powerful. It was demonstrable. It was visible, producing an immediate reaction. John said of Jesus, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11). 


May the fire from heaven ignite passion in our souls, purge out the dross of impurity, kindle a desire to pursue God, shine the light of the Gospel through us, and inspire a burning love for the mission of Christ. Let the fire from heaven fall again this Pentecost Sunday as we are baptized anew with His Spirit.

Scripture:
“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, … they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1, 4).

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A Promise for All

5/12/2018

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CELEBRATING PENTECOST
Terry R. Baughman

“I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy” (Acts 2:17–18).

Among the crowd assembled in the upper room were men and women, old and young. Little did they realize the importance of the diversity of this group that waited in anticipation of what was to come. This was not lost on Peter when he stood up to address the crowd that gathered when the Spirit baptism spilled out of the upper room and into the outdoor courtyard of the Temple in Jerusalem. He said, “This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel” (Acts 2:16 and above). As he quoted from the words of the prophet, the prediction included sons, daughters, young, old, male and female servants; … all were to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The ancient prophecy was fulfilled before their eyes and Peter recognized it as the sovereign move of God in their generation. 

Jesus’ own mother, along with other women, were waiting in the upper room for the fulfillment of the promise Jesus left with them. Perhaps she recalled the cryptic words, “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). 

Jesus’ final words contained a commission and a command. The commission was, “Go therefore and make disciples, preach the gospel to every creature” (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15). His promise was, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;” and His command was, “You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

The power demonstration was always conjoined with the expectation of expansion, “be witness to me,” “teach all nations,” “preach to every creature.” There is no limit to the reach of the Gospel and no qualification to those who would embrace the promise, other than faith. The promise was always given to faith-filled followers. Mark said, “These signs will follow those who believe” (Mark 16:17).


The promise was all inclusive. Before the Book of Acts was closed there were notable outpourings of the Spirit on the Samaritans, the Gentiles in Cornelius’ household, and then to people in other places throughout the Mideast and beyond. The prophetic words of Peter brought greater and more rapid expansion than had ever been imagined, “For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:39). The promise to those “afar off” grew greater than the promise to “your children,” as multitudes of Gentiles responded positively to the preaching of the Gospel of Christ. Paul and Barnabas were embraced by the Gentiles of Antioch in Pisidia. They expressed their calling and commission from the Lord Jesus, “I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.” There was a joyous response, “When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord” (Acts 13:47–48).

From the beginning of the church age and the initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost there has been an indiscriminate and pervasive promise to all who come to faith in Christ Jesus. The Gospel has been proclaimed to the far-reaches of civilization and has found acceptance by many in every nation. Jesus predicted, “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations” (Matthew 24:14).

The Gospel is still being preached. The promise of the Holy Spirit is continually proclaimed. This promise is still for ALL.
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Scripture:
“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, … they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1, 4).

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Counting the Days

5/6/2018

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CELEBRATING PENTECOST
Terry R. Baughman

“Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).

Exciting events and momentous occasions are often marked on the calendar and passing time is checked off day by day. If anyone asks, there is a quick response of how many days remain before the big day, “Only twenty-three days until …!” Whether it is Christmas, a wedding, or graduation, big events are anticipated and celebrated with anxious expectation. 


The Day of Pentecost was such a celebrated feast day in Jerusalem. Annually, crowds would come from miles around to participate in the religious observance of offering thanks to God for the first fruits of harvest and the celebration of bounty as meals were shared with family and friends who gathered. On the calendar it was to be observed fifty days after Passover. It was commanded in the Scripture, “Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the Lord” (Leviticus 23:16). 


Passover became a memorial of the deliverance from the visit of the angel of death that came to the Egyptian households. Every other house where the doorway was marked with the blood of the lamb was spared the curse of death to the firstborn. This annual observance became a celebration of victory over death. 


The festival of weeks (seven weeks plus one day) was a celebration of provision and a symbol of continuing sustenance. Its arrival was marked by the Day of Pentecost (meaning fifty in the Greek) and the annual celebration of renewal. From death to life, Jesus brought new meaning to these symbols. Much in the same way that at the Last Supper Jesus gave meaning to the bread and drink representing His body and blood; He now gave new meaning to these ancient celebrations of life. Jesus, our Passover lamb was sacrificed for us that we might have everlasting life. He has also promised us the gift of His Holy Spirit abiding with us in our own personal Pentecost. Because of His gift, we too are given victory over death, hell, and the grave. 


It was more than an observance, more than an annual ritual, Christ promised a powerful experience when He commanded His followers to, “Tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). They counted the days. Jesus observed the Passover meal with His disciples, was crucified and buried before another sunset, but three days later He appeared as the resurrected Savior. He continued meeting with His followers for the next forty days before His spectacular ascension in the presence of a crowd of over 500 people. (Acts 1:2–3, 9; 1 Corinthians 15:6.) 


In obedience to Christ’s instruction, they returned to the city and assembled in an upper room waiting for, “the Promise of the Father,” that Jesus promised when He said they would be, “baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:4–5). As they waited they were counting the days. They realized that something great was about to happen, no doubt sensing the alignment of this new spiritual experience with their ancient celebration of harvest. After prayerfully waiting for another seven days, the fiftieth day arrived, “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, … they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1, 4).


Today, we rejoice in the experience of Pentecost and we live with the promise of His second coming, “This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). We don’t know how many days until His return, but until He comes we will count the days!


​Scripture:

“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, … they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1, 4).

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    Author

    Terry R Baughman is Lead Pastor for LifeChurch in Gilbert, AZ.  See his complete bio at trbaughman.com 

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