SUNNY THOUGHTS FROM SUNSET 4-5
What an Easter Sunrise celebration we had at the Sunset church on Sunday! Felders Chapel Pastor Randy Shipman brought the resurrection message, and many from Percilla Community Church joined in the worship with us. Christ is risen!
Pastor Shipman brought a sunrise message that Christ is Faithful, He is Forgiving, and we have Fullness in Him. At 11:00 the Sunset pastor continued the resurrection theme in a message, “Christ, our Ever-living Intercessor.” The pastor proclaimed (1) the Sacrifice of the Son, (2) the Sufficiency of the Son, and (3) the Service of the Son.
The text was from Hebrews 7:25: Christ is “able to save completely … because he always lives to intercede” for us.
The main point: God is always coming to us to help us. Jesus is our ever-living intercessor. If you ever think God has left you, I’m here to say that God is always available to you, and Jesus is always on your side. Even after he left the earth in the ascension, Jesus always lives to intercede for you.
(1) The Sacrifice of the Son. V27: “He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.” Unlike the high priests of the Old Covenant, who had to offer recurring sacrifices to remind them of their fallen relationship with God, we no longer offer dead sacrifices because Jesus is the only offering we need. He offered himself, on Good Friday, once and for all, for all of our sins.
The sacrifices pleasing to God today are the living sacrifices of our service to God. Paul urged (Romans 12:1): “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship.” When you employ your body in a holy manner in the service of God and your neighbor, God is pleased. He smiles on you.
Christ’s sacrificial death on Good Friday in taking all of our sins on himself is what bought for us eternal life in this life and the life beyond.
(2) The Sufficiency of the Son. V 24: “Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.” The old priests of the former covenant lived and died, and so there were many high priests who came and went. But Jesus is permanently installed, and he meets all of our needs.
V26: “Such a high priest meets our need — one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.” There’s no sin in heaven, and Jesus has no sin. Therefore, He is our perfect representative, the pure Son of God who’s always in harmony with his Father. There’s never an argument in heaven between the Father and the Son. So, what is Jesus doing as he sits “exalted above the heavens”?
(3) The Service of the Son. Jesus continues to serve. He came to the earth to serve, and He continues to serve those for whom he died. V25: “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”
Intercession is prayer. It’s when one speaks up on your behalf to an authority. Jesus is our mediator — the only one we need.
Hebrews 8:1: “We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven.” Jesus today sits at the right hand of our Father in heaven. It’s good for us that he does.
When you fall short in this life, and the devil accuses, the Son, sitting at the Father’s right hand, speaks to his Father: “Yes, Father, I see, and you know that’s why you sent me to the earth — I died for that.” Praise the Lord.
Our Sunset Music Director Jerry Hinson sang the beautiful song “Rise Again” on Sunday. Thank you Jerry.
We rejoice also at the wedding on March 30 of Johnnie Johnson and Nelda (Lakadosch) at Sunset. May the Lord richly bless them.
“He is not here; he has risen.” [Matthew 28:6]
May you live in resurrection power this week and always — our prayer for you from your friends at Sunset Christian Church.