Using the Revised Standard Version (RSV) Bible.
Visual Aids are used in this talk.
A Cross is made of textile material large enough to accommodate items on the following list.
Bird
Picture of Mary and Jesus
Picture of Jesus feeding 5,000
Bible (small bible)
Picture or wooden cross
Picture of Tracker Watch
Praying hands
Picture with Newspaper article
Picture of Toybox Logo
These are placed inside the cross.
Each one is pulled out in turn and its significance explained.
The verses of scripture can be handed out and read at the appropriate time.
Material large enough to accommodate the largest object.
(An A3 piece of paper would be quite large enough)
A piece of cloth is cut to form two crosses and then sewn together along the dotted lines.
Leave open the four ends to enable the objects to be placed inside the cross and pulled out at the appropriate time.
The cross a place of change, a cross roads.
Life is often described as a journey and at some point we may be challenged to take a step of faith in the direction of Jesus.
Faith
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow or reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” Matthew 6: 25, 26
Christians are called to live by faith in Jesus and in God’s promises to us. These promises are found in the Bible. The greatest promise is given to us that we shall come to know God through faith in Jesus.
Jesus the Son of God
The Virgin Birth.
In 1978 Louise Joy Brown was born, she was the first test tube baby. It seemed incredible at the time. Drs Steptoe and Edwards made medical history when they developed the means were they were able to plant Leslie Brown’s fertilised egg into her womb. We take these breakthroughs in medical science for granted now, but I remember a comment at the time, ‘scientists were playing at being God.’
God intervened in human affairs when Mary gave birth to Jesus the Son of God.
Angel Gabriel had given her the message that she had been chosen, highly favoured by God to bear the Son of God. The Holy Spirit would overshadow her, God fertilised the egg in Mary’s womb, without her flesh being touched. Mary gave Jesus his humanity; God the Father of Jesus gave him his Divinity.
To have faith in the Virgin Birth is to believe that all things are possible with God. When a person receives healing through prayer, God heals within the body, without touching the flesh.
Angel Gabriel gave to Mary a prophesy that God would give Jesus the throne of his father David, and that he would reign over the house of Jacob for ever.
Even the angels were not aware that Jesus had to die on a cross, be raised from the dead and ascend into heaven, and come again before he could take up the throne of King David and reign over the house of Jacob for ever.
Jesus the Son of living God
Jesus had the words of eternal life; the words he gave his disciples have been recorded by them in the Gospels. “Jesus said to Philip, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me; or believe me for the sake of the works themselves.” John 14: 9 – 11
Jesus the only Son of God. It is recorded by eye witnesses at the time that he raised the dead, changed water into wine, manufactured bread and fishes, created new flesh were the person’s flesh had been ravaged by leprosy; Jesus healed all kinds of sickness and disease. He walked on water.
Jesus manifested God’s love in his involvement with people; he loved them, showing so much compassion for the ordinary person of any age. A lot of the people in his day suffered from ill health and they came to him in there thousands for his healing touch upon their lives. So many people were healed that he couldn’t go anywhere without the crowds following him.
There were also great miracles; the first one is recorded by John when Jesus was at a wedding. Just like most weddings something goes wrong. I remember being half an hour late for my wedding. At this wedding Jesus’ mother Mary came to him for his help because they had run short of wine. He didn’t send the servants out to the vineyard, but instead he told them to fill six stone purification water jars with water, each one accommodating 20/30gallons. Jesus then told the servant to draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast. A glass of it was taken to the steward of the feast, as he tasted it he exclaimed, “Every man serves the good wine first, and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.”
John 2:1-11
Jesus transformed the nature of the water to wine. Through faith in him he is able to transform the nature of our hearts from knowing about God, to knowing God personally.
Bible
Jesus the Son of God came to fulfil the laws of Moses.
Jesus fulfilled the original laws of Moses and ignored any additions made by the Pharisees.
“Jesus said, “The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice. They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger.” Matthew 23: 1 -4
“The Messiah’s Secret.” page 42
Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.
Jesus asked the Pharisees the question: “Was it lawful to do good on the Sabbath, or to do harm, to save life or destroy it?” The Pharisees were furious. On another occasion the Pharisees said to the people there are six days on which work maybe done, come on those days and be healed and not on the Sabbath. Luke 6: 9
Jesus called them hypocrites, as they untie and lead their ox and ass to water on the Sabbath.” Which meant they too were breaking the law.” Luke 13: 11 – 17.”
Mark’s gospel records Jesus upholding the law. Jesus healed the man of leprosy and so he was instructed by Jesus to go and show himself to the priest and make an offering for his cleansing as Moses commanded in the law. Not one dot of the law would become void. God’s presence within the temple, ‘the Holy of Holies’ made the law holy and the people who kept the law righteous.
“The Messiah’s Secret” page 158
“Jesus lived up to the expectation of the Messiah regarding his miracles, but the leaders rejected his signs because he broke the Sabbath and other laws that were sacred to the Jews. The laws demanded obedience with ritual washings and sprinklings of water and sacrifices and punishment for breaking them. The Sabbath Day alone had hundred of rules over the centuries the leaders of the Sanhedrin had added their own rules to the laws given to Moses by God, because they were zealous they earned their righteousness under the law. These extra laws meant that the poorest people in Jewish society would not be able to afford the offerings that were necessary as atonement for breaking the law. The Pharisees called these people sinners. Jesus was accused of consorting with sinners and outcasts. In response he said that he had not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance, as those keeping the law were made righteous through keeping the law whilst God’s presence was dwelling in the midst of his people in Jerusalem.”
Jesus the Son of God and High Priest
Jesus was as a descendant of King David from the tribe of Judah. They were not of the priestly line under law. Jesus the Son of God did not exalt himself to be made high priest, he was not self appointed but was appointed by God as high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
The writer of the letter to the Hebrews gives us insight into the resemblance between Melchizedek and Jesus.
“Another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not according to a legal requirement concerning bodily decent but by the power of an indestructible life.”
Hebrews 7:15,16.
“So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee” as he also says in another place, “Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
“Being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 5: 5, 6, 10.
“Melchizedek is without father or mother or genealogy, and has neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.” Hebrews 7: 3
Abraham (Abram) rescues Lot
The King of Chedorlamer and the three kings in allegiance with him conquered Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot and his family who lived in Sodom were taken captive by them. They took them north towards Damascus. One of Lot’s family escaped he went and told Abraham what had happened. Abraham gathered 318 his trained men and pursued them. They routed the enemy and brought Lot and his family back to Hebron.
Abraham having rescued his nephew Lot and His family brought them back to the Promised Land of Canaan. Abraham was given bread and wine and blessed by Melchizedek the high priest of God. Genesis 14: 12 – 20.
Melchizedek’s resemblance with Jesus.
The gospel of repentance had been preached by Jesus and his disciples throughout the whole of Israel. In doing so they rescued those lost to the law and brought them back into the fold. The disciples received the bread and the wine from Jesus the high priest of God. Mark 14: 22, 23
The incident between Melchizedek and Abraham took place before the law was given to Moses. Abraham’s faith in God was counted as righteousness.
Under law the Jews earned their righteousness by keeping the law
Jesus being a high priest of the order of Melchizedek. It is through faith in Jesus we are counted righteous before God.
The cross
“Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and being made perfect he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 5: 8-10
“The Messiah’s Secret – Jesus is the High Priest and Shepherd.” page 143“Jesus fulfilled the office of high priest when he offered himself as the sacrifice, the ‘Passover Lamb’, the burnt offering, the sacrifice of atonement for the priesthood and for all the people. When he breathed his last breath, the curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom, an act of God. It was customary for the high priest to enter the Holy of Holies once a year and sprinkle the blood of the sacrificed animal onto the mercy seat as atonement for the sins of himself, his family, the priesthood and for all the people of Israel. The offering brought for sacrifice was slain by the high priest at the door of the tabernacle. Leviticus 4: 4.
Jesus is the shepherd and he is the door by which the sheep must enter the sheepfold. John10: 9 The way to the door is through belief in him, belief in what he taught, and a way of life that love fulfils the laws of God. Jesus opens the door; his life laid down for our reconciliation with the Holy God of Israel, the cross, the sacrifice of himself puts us right with God.”
Jesus’ death a stumbling block to the Jews, they did not believe that the Messiah would become the high priest and the actual sacrifice of atonement even though their prophets had prophesied that he would. God himself had hidden it from their understanding.
These verses found in Old Testament
“The Lord had sworn and will not change his mind. You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” Psalm 110: 4
“Yet it was the will of God to bruise him; he has put him to grief; when he makes himself an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand; he shall see the fruit of the travail of his soul and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many righteous; and he shall bear their iniquities.” Isaiah 53: 10, 11.
Rebuild the Temple
When Jesus said that he would rebuild the temple in three days; he meant the temple of his risen body. God raised Jesus from the dead. The apostles witnessed his resurrection and we read in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians 15: 6 over 500 people saw Jesus during the 40 days before his ascension.
Jesus had fulfilled the law in the temple of his risen body.
“The Messiah’s Secret” Part Five: Fulfilment of the Laws in the Messiah page 92
Chapter 3: Love Fulfils the Law page 97
“St Paul writes to the Romans that love has fulfilled the law, “Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbour has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, you shall not kill, you shall not steal, you shall not covet,” and any other commandment are summed up in this sentence; “You shall love your neighbour as yourself. “Love does no wrong to a neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” The cost of loving is demanding because it takes away self-interest, serving and caring for others. Paul stating that love has fulfilled the law does not mean that the commandments are no longer in force, the Holy Spirit writes the commandments into the heart of a Christian. Christ in you means that we have the nature of God dwelling within. The Holy Spirit transforms us we feel as God feels about sin, it is aberrant to us.”
Jesus had promised that both he and his Father would come and make their home within the believer, our bodies becoming the temple of God. He would send the Holy Spirit into the world, to equip the believer with his gifts.
The temple of Christ's body.
“Do you not know that your God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians 3: 16
“Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not on your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
1 Corinthians 6: 19, 20
Christ in You
My daughter uses a GPS Tracker when she goes our running. It is much bigger than a watch, and is worn on the wrist. Through the Tracker she is able to monitor her heart beat, pulse, steps, calories, speed, distance and a map of her route that she had taken. It is amazing technology. In a race she wears a tag which enables me to follow her on her route on my computer via the satellite link.
Christ in us is like wearing a tracker, it shouldn’t be surprising to us when the Lord knows our every movement, our thoughts, and he knows the condition of our body and our planned route the schedule of events in our life.
We put our faith in technology because we can operate it ourselves; we can control it.
In our relationship with the Lord, we are called to walk by faith. It means being reliant upon God to respond to our prayers. For us to listen to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit for guidance and to act on his promises to us.
This amazing relationship develops as we learn more about Jesus. Ever since I came to know Jesus personally, the Holy Spirit has shown me Jesus in the scriptures. I’ve had such a hunger and thirst to learn about Jesus and it has not diminished over time. In 1988 when we moved house, I found out that the store room in our old house was called the Bible room. I got such a surprise, for me it was a quiet place, near the kitchen.
We all need a quiet place where we can read, meditate on the Bible and pray.
Jesus High Priest of an eternal priesthood
Spending time in prayer, in conversation with God.“Consequently Jesus is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it is fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens. . . . appoints a Son who has been made perfect for ever.” Hebrews 7: 25- 28
We direct our prayers to Jesus who intercedes for us before God
When we pray we revere or Father God’s name as we seek to fulfil his will every day for our lives: we trust in his care for us, as he provides for our needs, like the birds and all his creatures.
To ask for forgiveness were we have grieved the Holy Spirit or were we have failed to love and offer to forgiveness when we have been wronged, or hurt by others.
For the Lord’s conviction if we are tempted to look to ourselves for inspiration, guidance in order to fulfil the Lord’s call upon our lives and for protection when the evil one comes near. We earnestly desire our lives to reflect the glory of the Lord’s kingdom here on earth.
God hears our prayers because we are in him and he is in us, it is not about status or how long we’ve been a Christian. It is simply praying through faith in our Lord from our heart.
Prayers of thanksgiving and prayer for our family, our extended church family and community. For the sick and lonely, our nation and currant world affairs. Seeking always for guidance from the Holy Spirit even speaking in the language of the Holy Spirit speaking in tongues. All things working for good to praise his name. The name above all names, Jesus Christ.
Newspaper Report on the ‘Man who had everything.’
In an article in ‘Evangelism Today’ by Keith Kelly he reported on the outcome of a house and its’ contents sale in Malawi. The first item in the sale was a painting of the late owner of his son. His son had died some years before his father. It wasn’t a good painting but it showed a resemblance of him. No one wanted it except the previous owner’s house keeper, she said, “I’ll take it, I want it, I loved the father and the son. This will remind me of the happy times we had together.” Everyone laughed at her. The auctioneer brought his hammer down. “Sold to the lady over there.” Then the auctioneer did a strange thing, he said, “The sale is now finished.” Gaps broke out all over, “What did he say?” “Finished,” “Why?” The auctioneer said, “The house owner left a message in his will that whoever wanted the picture of his son could have everything else free of charge.” So the housekeeper became rich for only 50 tambala and a little bit of love.”
If we want God’s Son everything else comes free as well. The abundance of God’s grace in coming to know Jesus as our Saviour and that God is our Father and that we have an extended family across the world. Those who through faith in Jesus have become children of God too.
“To all who receive him, who believe in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who are born, not of blood nor the will of the flesh nor the will of man, but of God.” John 1: 12, 13.
Love one another
Toybox is a Children's Charity set up in 1996 to rescue the street children of Guatamala. It works in conjuction with Los Ministeries de El Castillo, Christians working on the streets supported by "Toybox" Amersham, Bucks, HP6 5YT www.toybox.org
A word I was given on 30th May 1996 was that, “The disciples were setting up the kingdom in at the beginning of Acts.” It was as I understood to be in preparation for his return with the angels of God. Mark 8:38
“The Messiah’s Secret” page 110
The Apostles expected Jesus to Return within their life time“The apostles were setting up the kingdom in preparation of Jesus’ return. They had been told by Jesus to be awake, watching, looking for his coming within their life time, to be about their master’s business.”
Jesus taught his disciples about his return through parables.
“The Messiah’s Secret” pages 53, 54“Jesus was expressing his desire to find the disciples busy at his work preaching the message of the kingdom. To love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, strength and will. To love your neighbour as yourself, to repent and believe in Jesus, the risen Christ, the Messiah. Jesus had told them that he would be returning with the angels and all the company of heaven, the King of Kings, Lord of Lords. One can only imagine the splendour of his coming. It is amazing to think of Jesus in all his splendour, his majesty, the governor of the people of Israel, greeting his disciples and gathering them together around the table in his kingdom, and having them sit as he waits upon them like a servant. The humility of God, he suffered was mocked, scourged and crowned with thorns, crucifixion a violent death, and still he comes and serves. The disciples were not to be complacent; they were to be vigilant and must not think that he was delayed in his coming. Demands would be made of those who accepted the message of the kingdom and more would be required from them to prepare for the kingdom on earth, starting at Jerusalem in anticipation of his return.” Luke 12: 35-41
There are several parables were Jesus was concerned that the disciples should be looking for his return. Luke 12: 42-48.20: 18. Matthew 24: 44. 25: 13. Mark 4: 25. 13: 33.In some of these parables the ruling rod of the kingdom is evident.
“The Messiah’s Secret” page 108
“God was calling his people to repentance. Peter had told them that the rulers and people had acted in ignorance when they crucified Jesus; he had to die to accomplish the plan of Salvation for the Jews and for the world. If they would repent and acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus would return. The times of refreshing, after his coming he would restore the throne of King David, an everlasting throne and Kingdom, and the restoration of the land given to Abraham by God for an eternal possession. Those who were expecting, waiting would see the Kingdom come with power. Jesus the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”
Saviour of the world
Peter confirms to them that Jesus is the one that the prophets had spoken of. “And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came afterwards, also proclaimed these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God gave to your fathers, saying to Abraham, “And in your posterity shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you in turning every one of you from your wickedness.” Acts 3: 24 – 26.
As these words were being said the temple guards arrived and arrested Peter and John.
The Apostles were preparing for Christ’s return, but the leaders of Israel didn’t accept Jesus as their Messiah.
Approximately thirty years later, Paul invited local Jewish leaders to his house in Rome where he was under house arrest. “When they had appointed a day for him, they came to his lodging in great numbers. And he expounded the matter to them from morning till evening, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the law of Moses and from the prophets. And some were convinced by what he said, while others disbelieved. So, as they disagreed among themselves, they departed, after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: You shall indeed hear but never understand, and you shall indeed see but never perceive . . . Let it be known to you then that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.” Acts 28: 23 - 28
