back to indexBerean Community Church Evening Devotions 4/12/2022
00:13:10.600 |
so that we can walk through the life of Christ, 00:13:17.100 |
Jesus enters into Jerusalem riding on a donkey 00:13:20.440 |
and preparing for what he's been telling his disciples 00:13:30.340 |
And the cleansing of the temple does two things. 00:13:36.760 |
for his Father's house was gonna consume him, 00:13:43.720 |
And so it left an impression not only on his disciples, 00:13:48.100 |
how important worship was and how important worship is. 00:13:52.100 |
But the other aspect of what the cleansing of the temple did 00:14:00.840 |
and as he said, by the hands of the leaders of Israel, 00:14:06.400 |
And he basically challenged them in their home, 00:14:10.900 |
in their comfort zone, where their power relied on, 00:14:20.060 |
of the people who were taking advantage of that. 00:14:23.560 |
He was basically publicly challenging the leaders 00:14:27.940 |
And so as a result of that, they know exactly where he is. 00:14:35.720 |
but for the first time, he's in their territory, 00:14:42.800 |
that's going to eventually lead him to the cross. 00:14:45.620 |
Tuesday is a day where he spends teaching his disciples 00:14:51.140 |
So we could say that this was sort of his last sermon 00:15:04.840 |
that Jesus does this week is very purposeful, 00:15:11.100 |
prepare everyone who has come, and even us today, 00:15:14.800 |
as we ready our hearts, that we step through these seats, 00:15:17.640 |
and not just to observe it as something that happened 00:15:27.520 |
So imagine what he must have been going through 00:15:29.400 |
knowing that the crucifixion is coming in just a few days, 00:15:40.880 |
and that his own father that he loves so dearly, 00:15:44.000 |
that he's gonna be hanging on the cross and crying out, 00:15:48.200 |
And so, as we follow the footsteps of Christ, 00:15:51.480 |
that we don't, again, just look at the superficial things 00:16:06.560 |
that we would have had the whole week to think, 00:16:10.000 |
and step by step to lead us there as Christ did. 00:16:13.060 |
So let me pray for us, and then we'll take time to worship, 00:16:19.200 |
and then we'll walk through Jesus's life on Tuesday. 00:17:03.780 |
and all the while being worried, Lord God, for us, 00:25:15.560 |
and I've been at Brian for the last two and a half years 00:25:26.040 |
and just on what God's been teaching me this past year. 00:25:40.560 |
because this year has been especially painful. 00:25:58.320 |
'cause she had such a vibrant and youthful spirit about her. 00:26:01.680 |
And she would have been one of the funniest people 00:26:10.840 |
And so I'm thankful that my mom was a believer 00:26:16.240 |
But my brother and I do kind of struggle a lot with, 00:26:29.640 |
God has been encouraging me with three different truths 00:26:38.080 |
and he is my ultimate comforter in this pain. 00:26:40.760 |
There's a lot of, yeah, I was doubting a lot. 00:27:00.080 |
And God has answered that so much through you guys. 00:27:04.760 |
I feel like the church family has been such the hands 00:27:13.720 |
yeah, my brother and I and my dad were just so stressed out 00:27:23.120 |
whether it was to help us with taking pictures 00:27:32.840 |
And during the week leading, even the whole month, 00:27:43.240 |
and we had a lot of Korean food, boiling crab. 00:27:46.400 |
And at a certain point, and my dad especially loved 00:27:57.880 |
"Can you tell your friends to stop bringing food? 00:28:00.720 |
So just really that love that came from you guys 00:28:04.640 |
is just a reflection of there's Christ's love 00:28:07.520 |
I was also encouraged by just all the messages that we got 00:28:11.920 |
and all the cards and just being so encouraged 00:28:28.120 |
and it really came a lot more alive during this time. 00:28:42.040 |
and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 00:28:52.520 |
This verse has comforted me and it's a powerful reminder 00:28:56.920 |
that during the season, even though the world 00:28:59.800 |
will throw a lot of trials upon you that you don't expect, 00:29:03.920 |
I'm strengthened that God, through Jesus Christ, 00:29:06.920 |
he loves me and he has given me eternal comfort 00:29:11.880 |
The second thing that God has been encouraging me with 00:29:14.400 |
is that he has been wanting me to long for heaven. 00:29:18.520 |
When I lost my mom, I had this whole, and I still do, 00:29:24.120 |
And I started thinking a lot more about heaven. 00:29:32.840 |
I mean, every day I'm like, what is she doing up there? 00:29:39.480 |
and we went through Thessalonians Bible study last year, 00:29:42.240 |
that I really didn't have a longing for heaven. 00:29:46.240 |
It was just a very pie in the sky concept for me. 00:29:49.640 |
And it felt like something I knew in my heart, 00:29:55.520 |
of heaven explained, I definitely long for heaven 00:29:58.520 |
a lot more and I look forward to being reunited 00:30:06.320 |
a lot during the season is 1 Corinthians 15, 54 through 57. 00:30:11.320 |
It's kind of long, but it's a really powerful passage. 00:30:23.880 |
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 00:30:34.000 |
I kind of struggle a lot with the concept of death, 00:30:37.600 |
even though we know where we go after we die, 00:30:40.240 |
and even the word funeral, 'cause it just made it sound 00:30:49.600 |
that death is definitely a consequence of our sin 00:30:56.320 |
But as Christians, it's more of a homecoming. 00:31:10.560 |
So that's really comforted me and has made me 00:31:20.900 |
The third truth that God has been teaching me 00:31:31.200 |
God has also teached me that while I'm living 00:31:32.960 |
is to live for Christ alone, as Philippians 1:21's mentioned 00:31:39.240 |
So there's a lot of thoughts during this time 00:31:46.240 |
Do I wanna take a break from ministry or church? 00:31:51.320 |
So there was just so many different thoughts, 00:31:55.880 |
with taking a break, I was processing with people like, 00:32:00.160 |
I'm gonna just sit by myself and think about myself, 00:32:07.560 |
to continue just to serve and continue to focus 00:32:10.760 |
on God's calling, and honestly, that's been the strength. 00:32:24.000 |
So that's prevented me from getting into areas 00:32:26.400 |
like depression or darkness because God's love 00:32:32.000 |
I just wanted to close with what we've been learning 00:32:38.600 |
but it hasn't been perfect, but 1 Peter 1, 6-7 is, 00:32:42.760 |
in this you rejoice, and what we're rejoicing 00:32:55.440 |
so that the tested genuineness of your faith, 00:32:58.080 |
which is more precious than gold, which perishes, 00:33:00.840 |
though it's tested by the fire, may be found to result 00:33:11.560 |
to look like at this time, especially during a time of trial. 00:33:15.500 |
And for those of you guys, if any of you guys 00:33:19.160 |
it might look differently from what I've been going through. 00:33:25.360 |
and he is our living hope, and because of him, 00:33:32.280 |
So have a blessed Passion Week, and thanks for listening. 00:33:43.840 |
If you can turn your Bibles with me to Matthew chapter 23, 00:33:53.460 |
and I'm gonna read chapter 24, verses one, two, and three. 00:34:06.900 |
the whole point of this Passion Week is to remind us 00:34:11.220 |
of the hope that we have of the resurrection of Christ. 00:34:14.540 |
And so as we celebrate the resurrection on Sunday, 00:34:17.220 |
we're reminded that even though, and not just Jenny, 00:34:25.940 |
and I know there's quite a few people in our church 00:34:38.380 |
is that Jesus Christ came and died and was resurrected 00:34:42.300 |
to give us hope that death for Christians is not final, 00:34:46.820 |
that in the end, we will be reunited with our loved ones 00:34:51.020 |
So again, it's a very fitting testimony for us this evening 00:34:55.460 |
to remind us of what it is that we are celebrating. 00:35:05.300 |
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones 00:35:09.620 |
How often I wanted to gather your children together 00:35:11.940 |
the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, 00:35:16.940 |
Behold, your house is being left to you desolate, 00:35:22.900 |
blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 00:35:25.700 |
Jesus came out from the temple and was going away 00:35:28.100 |
when his disciples came up to point out to the temple 00:35:37.940 |
will be left upon another which will not be torn down. 00:35:59.660 |
the last sermon that Christ gave to his disciples 00:36:04.180 |
that our life, our mind, our heart may belong to you 00:36:11.440 |
You know, I often, and I think this is true of most pastors, 00:36:17.340 |
and the older I get, the more prominent that this thought is 00:36:20.820 |
if I had one last sermon to give, what would I preach? 00:36:25.220 |
If I had that opportunity, if I knew for sure 00:36:38.740 |
My father, who passed away about 17 years ago, 00:36:51.020 |
The doctor actually told him that if you make this trip 00:36:56.740 |
And this is the church that he planted when he was young. 00:36:59.940 |
And so the church was going through, I think, 00:37:05.860 |
but he fell so ill that even just walking across the street 00:37:09.540 |
he would faint because he didn't have enough oxygen. 00:37:12.380 |
So the doctor told him that if you take this trip 00:37:34.100 |
And so he said, "Even if I die, I want to go." 00:37:36.900 |
And so packed up his bags, and I think it was Phillip 00:37:43.460 |
who basically took him there and had to kind of 00:37:50.240 |
because he was barely able to stay standing for a while, 00:37:53.520 |
but somehow he made it, and then he got up on the pulpit. 00:37:56.380 |
And while he was on the pulpit, you could never tell. 00:38:01.420 |
and sure enough, when he came back, his health failed him. 00:38:04.740 |
And I think within a year, a year and a half of that, 00:38:09.100 |
But he was so determined, and we could not stop him 00:38:11.340 |
because we knew that this was so important to him, 00:38:14.980 |
that knowing that he was going back to the church 00:38:17.140 |
that he planted, and a lot of the people who were there, 00:38:21.620 |
or the ones who invited him, he worked together with, 00:38:24.300 |
and so some of the closest people that he knew 00:38:31.300 |
Well, today, Tuesday, is where Jesus is giving 00:38:42.160 |
So you can imagine, there is not a single thing 00:38:47.840 |
But imagine if you know that what you've been preparing 00:38:54.600 |
and that he's been warning them and telling them 00:38:58.340 |
and preparing them that where I go, you cannot come. 00:39:14.400 |
that he has with his disciples is well calculated, 00:39:39.360 |
saying, "In a few days, that's where I'm headed." 00:39:42.400 |
And so he tells them, and so the primary thing 00:39:53.440 |
of his last part of Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24 00:39:57.120 |
is a warning against the trials that's coming. 00:40:01.120 |
So obviously, this was heavily on Jesus' heart, 00:40:07.000 |
that after he leaves, that the wolves are going to come 00:40:11.640 |
So Matthew chapter 24, four through six, he says, 00:40:18.980 |
"saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many. 00:40:22.540 |
"You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars, 00:41:00.220 |
"For false christs and false prophets will arise 00:41:04.600 |
"so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect." 00:41:08.920 |
Meaning that this delusion is going to be so powerful, 00:41:13.600 |
that even the people who grew up in the church, 00:41:22.040 |
even the people who may be preaching on a regular basis, 00:41:27.080 |
and they may be led astray, even the elect, if possible. 00:41:31.400 |
He said, "Behold, I have told you in advance, 00:41:33.340 |
"so if they say to you, 'Behold, he is in the wilderness,' 00:41:36.280 |
"do not go out, or 'Behold, he is in the inner rooms,' 00:41:40.440 |
Again, I'm not picking and choosing certain verses 00:41:45.800 |
This was his final discourse to his disciples. 00:41:49.380 |
And you can tell that this is weighing on Jesus' heart, 00:41:54.140 |
that after he leaves, that this is what they're going to face. 00:41:57.800 |
They're going to come, they're going to deceive you, 00:41:59.880 |
they're gonna be quoting me, that it's not going to be me. 00:42:02.320 |
They're gonna be telling you that this is from me, 00:42:04.560 |
but it's not going to be me, so pay attention. 00:42:14.400 |
obviously the Pharisees and Sadducees are agitated, 00:42:23.680 |
Jesus turns the table around, and he tells them, 00:42:29.160 |
"Well, I'll answer your question if you answer me." 00:42:46.560 |
But if they say, "Well, he must have been from God," 00:42:55.980 |
Jesus turns the table on them, silenced them, 00:43:02.280 |
They were concerned about their own position. 00:43:06.080 |
And so Jesus turns around, and not only does he 00:43:09.980 |
challenge them at the temple, he turns around, 00:43:13.000 |
and the harshest rebuke that we see in the Bible 00:43:28.960 |
And I'm just gonna highlight just a few of them, 00:43:46.940 |
"from people, for you do not enter in yourselves, 00:43:50.120 |
"nor do you allow those who are entering to go in." 00:43:56.360 |
You're gonna see that term, scribes and Pharisees 00:43:59.340 |
and hypocrites, repeated over and over again. 00:44:06.080 |
he was primarily concerned about the leaders. 00:44:17.760 |
So the warning is, in particular to the scribes 00:44:22.520 |
and the Pharisees, because they were the spiritual leaders, 00:44:35.640 |
They were talking about grace without knowing grace. 00:44:39.340 |
Matthew 23, 25, "Bow to you, scribes and Pharisees, 00:44:42.560 |
"you hypocrites, for you clean the outside of the cup 00:44:45.560 |
"and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery 00:45:13.980 |
The health of the church depends on the holiness 00:45:36.800 |
don't shrug it underneath the table or underneath the rug. 00:45:41.800 |
Because the primary rebuke comes to the leadership. 00:45:46.400 |
That's why it says not many of you should strive 00:45:48.760 |
to be leaders, because there will be stricter judgment 00:46:06.960 |
listen to what they say, but do not do what they do. 00:46:10.120 |
Matthew 23, 27, 28, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, 00:46:14.280 |
"hypocrites, for you are like whitewashed tombs, 00:46:19.720 |
"but inside they are full of dead men's bones 00:46:23.000 |
So you too outwardly appear righteous to men, 00:46:26.520 |
but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. 00:46:30.980 |
Matthew 23, 12, "Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, 00:46:36.880 |
"and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted." 00:46:55.060 |
They were more concerned about their reputation 00:47:06.540 |
first and foremost, what he is frustrated with 00:47:21.680 |
So he warns his disciples, first and foremost, watch out. 00:47:31.080 |
It is not safe for us to gain our theology from leadership. 00:47:41.300 |
And we're not saying that we shouldn't honor men 00:47:44.160 |
that we respect, but they are not the heralder of truth. 00:47:50.580 |
We need to be in the habit of quoting scripture. 00:47:53.300 |
We need to be in the habit of having our confidence 00:47:56.860 |
coming from the word of God that we're wrestling with. 00:48:34.180 |
To give them hope in the midst of tribulation. 00:48:43.700 |
It's gonna come to them directly as soon as he leaves, 00:48:53.100 |
but immediately after the tribulation of those days, 00:48:59.380 |
and the powers of the heavens will be shaken, 00:49:01.100 |
and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, 00:49:03.780 |
and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, 00:49:14.260 |
When he says persecution, pestilence, war is coming, 00:49:22.040 |
when you see that happening, you know Christ is near. 00:50:14.240 |
but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:50:16.800 |
who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep, 00:50:28.420 |
This is the reason why this week is so important to us. 00:50:46.660 |
maybe even this week, but for sure this year, 00:50:54.800 |
I know that there's not a single person in this room 00:50:57.840 |
who has not wept privately because of some sort of pain. 00:51:02.840 |
You may have lost somebody, may have been rejected, 00:51:08.200 |
had relational problems, maybe with children, 00:51:10.920 |
whatever it may be, living in this fallen world, 00:51:15.620 |
some sort of hardship, every single one of us. 00:51:21.100 |
though he is talking about the specific tribulation, 00:51:39.400 |
that all the crying, and there may be more crying, 00:51:43.960 |
and more weeping, and more sorrow ahead of us, 00:51:46.800 |
but all of that in the midst of all the pain, 00:51:50.560 |
remember Jesus' words, I am coming, I am coming. 00:51:56.200 |
Third and finally, he teaches them about a second coming 00:52:01.080 |
so that we may live whatever time that we have left here 00:52:17.580 |
but when the bridegroom came, the five were ready, 00:52:21.560 |
and so they came in, and then the five others did not. 00:52:25.540 |
And then he gives a parable of the five talents, 00:52:35.900 |
so that they can present what they have done, 00:52:38.380 |
and warned them not to be like that one talent, 00:52:52.400 |
Don't live like you're gonna be here forever, 00:53:03.440 |
and invest, and pursue, like you're gonna be here forever, 00:53:15.360 |
It may not be tomorrow, it may not be the next day, 00:53:30.900 |
but we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, 00:53:46.100 |
now she said that heaven didn't seem that real. 00:53:54.740 |
I don't believe heaven, but it just didn't seem real 00:54:07.820 |
is a reminder to us to be sober that he is coming, 00:54:16.060 |
not only with our loved ones, but with Christ himself. 00:54:30.320 |
as if that may be your last time you talk to them. 00:54:36.500 |
This may be the last Easter that you may have 00:54:39.420 |
an opportunity to share with a non-Christian in your life. 00:54:53.600 |
I remember, and I've shared this story before, 00:55:03.620 |
who came to church and he fell away from faith 00:55:18.580 |
But he wasn't just interested in Christianity, 00:55:21.140 |
he was kind of poking at Christianity, Buddhism. 00:55:25.060 |
But his heart was starting to move toward Christianity, 00:55:29.140 |
and again, this is a very early part of our church, 00:55:31.500 |
and he said, "Pastor Peter, can I meet with you 00:55:43.620 |
and I had plans and cleared my schedule after Sunday 00:55:49.700 |
and I show up the next Sunday and he's not there. 00:55:52.460 |
I said, "Oh, he seems so excited, I wonder what happened." 00:55:56.820 |
And so I contacted his friend to see what happened 00:56:11.080 |
And him and his younger brother went clubbing 00:56:19.380 |
and literally, the exit that he was supposed to go off 00:56:26.100 |
he didn't make the turn that he was supposed to make, 00:56:35.660 |
so after a couple hours, he came back looking for him, 00:56:40.940 |
and his brother another 100 yards from there, 00:57:03.400 |
And you know what his father said at his eulogy? 00:57:21.760 |
"Don't live your life like an idiot like my son. 00:57:49.020 |
We don't know, the loved ones that surround us, 00:57:54.580 |
I can tell you stories after stories of people 00:57:57.340 |
that you would have never thought just lie down 00:58:08.700 |
we have a tendency to think that all our plans 00:58:42.620 |
Colossians 3, 4, 1 through 4, let me finish with this. 00:58:49.220 |
seek the things that are above where Christ is, 00:59:06.220 |
As we walk with Christ in the last day of his life, 00:59:09.660 |
and obviously, you guys have made it a priority 00:59:13.660 |
this week to come and walk along with Christ in each day. 00:59:18.660 |
Sometimes the way we practice our faith doesn't seem real. 00:59:31.400 |
the gravity of sin and hell is taken too lightly. 00:59:40.000 |
Don't live in such a way that if we died tomorrow, 00:59:56.420 |
And part of the reason why we're making a big deal 01:00:38.880 |
That our life may be lived in reasonable response 01:01:05.780 |
and Jesus' last words of encouragement and warning. 01:06:06.480 |
♪ You will reign forever, You reign forever ♪ 01:06:13.260 |
♪ You will reign forever, You reign forever ♪ 01:06:20.240 |
♪ You will reign forever, You reign forever ♪ 01:06:57.380 |
♪ Jesus, Jesus, Lamb of God, how great You are ♪ 01:07:40.520 |
Father, as we remember each day of the agonizing walk of Christ 01:07:52.720 |
in these last days, Lord, we pray for revival. 01:07:59.960 |
Lord, I confess we have become so comfortable, Lord, even to pray for revival. 01:08:19.800 |
The fear, Lord God, comes upon me, not knowing what You will do to bring this revival, not 01:08:27.760 |
wanting You to examine every part of my life. 01:08:36.520 |
Lord, as You warned us to remember the height from which we have fallen, to repent and do 01:08:50.440 |
the things that we did at first, Lord, we're gathered here, Father God, because we are 01:08:56.800 |
weak, because without Your Spirit's conviction and help and courage and faith, we can't just 01:09:11.680 |
by our sheer will bring revival in our own hearts, to soften hardened hearts. 01:09:21.240 |
I pray that each night we come and meditate and cry out to You, help us, Lord God, to 01:09:30.360 |
have a greater vision of who Jesus is, that the reality, Lord God, of Your second coming 01:09:36.800 |
would be more and more real to us, so that we would not place our hope here, we would 01:09:43.400 |
not place our hope in our marriages, in our children, in our future, our jobs, our bank 01:09:51.880 |
account, but we would live, Lord God, knowing that all this one day will disappear and all 01:10:01.680 |
that will remain, Lord God, are the things that You have ordained. 01:10:06.960 |
I pray that You would help us to see these things more clearly through this week, that 01:10:13.400 |
as Christ suffers on the cross, that we would not be indifferent, that we would cry out, 01:10:25.500 |
that we would fellowship in His pain, that we would walk in His shoes, and to know that 01:10:41.180 |
I pray that that reality would become real this week. 01:10:46.820 |
So we pray, Father God, You would help us, revive us, renew us. 01:10:55.260 |
May Christ's name and His name alone be adored this week.