25 years ago today, this church family allowed
me to become the pastor of this church on April
Fool's Day. That's noteworthy to me. Can you
imagine a congregation voting for somebody to
be their pastor? And the vote was very strong.
In fact, it was unanimous. And then they're thinking,
that guy's probably a pastor. I didn't know anything
about pastoring. April Fool's Day. And so as
some of you recall, and I will just share a few
things, I'm trying to build a case for how powerful
the cross is, and I think you'll see that pretty
soon. This is not just nostalgia, but as some
of you may recall, after I'd been here for five
years or so, I said, well, that would be about
someone in kindergarten. So if you're expecting
a good pastor, just know your pastor is in kindergarten.
And so you go on through there. After 18 years
or so, I graduated high school as far as pastoring
goes. In fact, I would assume I got left back
a couple of years. so probably closer to 20 when
I graduated. And, of course, there are some vocations
where you can get out into the world after high
school, and some people do very well. But there
are also some ways of working that you've got
to go for a lot more education. I have found
that to be the case for pastoring. You are always
learning. And I feel like I have more to learn
today than I ever have before because the world
has changed dramatically in the last 25 years.
So as much as I am celebrating 25 years and thankful,
I'm also aware that I'm just getting started.
Tragically, I probably only have about 10 years
left if the Lord tarries, so I hope those next
10 years are really good years. The Bible says
we're only promised 70 years, so that's just
the way it goes. And so we've got to do our best
while the Lord blesses us. But I want you to
consider, and this is a little bit personal,
but I think right now you can latch a hold of
it in your own life. I want you to consider the
many changes that have happened in our world
in just the last 25 years. Do you know when I
was starting as pastor in this church, There
were no iPhones. Now, some young people just
passed out. They can't imagine a world without
iPhones. The iPhone didn't come in until about
2007. No Facebook. No YouTube. No Instagram.
No TikTok. Most of you don't know what that is.
No Netflix streaming. How could anybody survive
in a world without Netflix? iPhone 2007, Facebook
2004, YouTube 2005, Netflix 2007, Instagram 2010,
and TikTok in 2016. And whether you are someone
that is engaged in any of those activities or
apps or you just use your phone as a phone, there's
probably two people in the crowd this size that
still use your phone for just a phone. But the
reality is over the last 25 years, everything
competing for our attention didn't exist 25 years
ago. And so I am so thankful for the privilege
to say that 25 years ago, there were people that
gave me the opportunity to serve. And I'm grateful
for all of that. But I'm thankful that there's
still a few people here. Because the way our
world is going and all of the things that pull
for our attention and our time and all the rest,
it is amazing that there's still people that
find time for church and find time for worship
and find time for prayer and find time for Bible
study. I'm going to show you in just a moment
that you're a rare breed. You're a rare breed
in this world. You need to know it's a big deal
that you still look to the cross and you still
feel like everything that Jesus purchased with
his blood was so valuable that you're going to
give yourself to him with all your heart. It's
not that people have rejected God. It's just
that there are so many other voices that have
replaced God. And it has come into our culture
to such a degree that even if you're never on
TikTok, or that'll be the first time I say that,
but not the last time. And we hope you're on
TikTok, to be honest with you. That's a message
for another day. But if you aren't even on TikTok
and if you even aren't on YouTube and you don't
even know what Netflix is, all of us have been
pulled by this culture into every single direction
and distraction. And if we're not careful, we
fail to realize what a miracle it is that we're
all still listening for the voice of God. He
said, my sheep know my voice, and a stranger
they will not follow. It's a big deal that people
are still listening for the voice of God. And
I testify in preparation of communion that it's
the cross that makes the difference in all of
our lives. In 1999, 70 % of Americans belonged
to the church. That was just a couple of years
before I became pastor, 2001. So in 1999, 70
% of Americans belonged to church. In 2020, only
47%. belong to church. So those distractions
have taken a toll. Those voices have taken a
toll. That does not mean that people are evil.
It does not mean that people don't believe in
God. But we need to take notice that if you're
ever going to cling to the cross, now is the
time to let your life be focused on the reality
that there is a Savior. His name is Jesus. And
I'm going to give my life to him because he gave
his life for me. And so while the church membership
across America has declined about 33%, Heaven
View has grown by over 150%. So thank you for
serving. Thank you for coming. Thank you for
loving each other and others. It's a big deal
in the world that we live in. that you have remained
focused on the cross. I don't think God's finished
with the church. I don't think God's finished
with this church. I think God has a plan for
the church in these last days. He said, Thou
art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my
church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it. I think the only reason why God could
call someone to pastor a church that's never
pastored before is because he's not relying just
on that person. He's relying on what he can do
for people that will say, here I am, Lord. I'm
going to cling to the cross. I'm going to give
my life in service to your will. And people are
hungry for something in these last days. People
are searching for something in these last days.
I am part of the church that Jesus purchased
with his own blood. And so even though the world
has changed dramatically, I believe that God
is still looking to his church to be praying,
to be giving, to be serving. We had outreach
Saturday. It was probably one of the biggest
crowds in. You know why? Because there's people
in the sanctuary that realize the church is still
the church. We've got a work to do. There's still
a Savior that went to the cross. And so we're
going to give our lives to serving Him. I cling
to this promise from the Lord. I've said it before.
I like to say it every now and then so you don't
think I've forgotten. And I like to make sure
he knows that I have not forgotten either. God
has promised us a much bigger building with many
more people that are hungry for him. And I'm
here to tell you today, if we're going to celebrate
that promise, it's because we cling to the cross.
that Jesus died for every single person on the
planet, everybody you and I might see at the
market, anybody you work with or go to school
with. No wonder he's given us a promise like
that because he shed his blood that whomsoever
will could come into the family of God. Anybody
raise your hand for just a moment and say, Jesus,
thank you for saving me and thank you for using
me. to reach somebody else. Praise the name of
the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord. The world
has changed dramatically in just 25 years. But
truth has not changed. God has not changed. And
his plan for his church has not changed. It may
change the way we do certain things. But you
know what? He's still God. He's still God. His
word still works. Sometimes we start to think
that if we change enough things and maybe we'll
be able to be more attractive to people. Can
I tell you something? If the cross is not enough
to rescue the perishing, nothing we do to polish
up the church is going to make a difference.
We might get a crowd, but we're not going to
get disciples. I say we just cling to the cross.
And if anybody has anything good to say about
our church, let's point them to the cross. whole
lot of bad to say about our church. Let's just
get to the cross ourselves and say, Jesus, I
want the power of the blood to work in me and
through me because if we're going to be the church
that you have called us to be, it's going to
be because of the cross. Praise the name of the
Lord. So April Fool's Day, 25 years later. and
attention spans are so much shorter, and people
are fragmented in their thoughts, and identity
is shaped digitally, and truth is crowdsourced.
You know what that means? If you want to believe
something's true, There's a tendency to go on
social media and just follow after the largest
opinion or the loudest opinion, and so truth
is crowdsourced. There is a reduced depth in
spiritual disciplines because so many things
are pulling at us. In other words, it's harder
to pray. It's harder to read your Bible. It's
harder to seek the Lord and be in church faithfully.
Why? Because there's so much that pulls at us.
Discipled not by the church or by the pastor
or even by the Bible. We are discipled by algorithms
and influencers and viral narratives. We are
discipled by podcasts. I'm telling you, we need
to get back in the Bible. We need to get back
in a place of prayer and say, Jesus, I know for
25 years the world is being pulled away from
the basics of the Bible, but I'm not going to
find my identity. in the world. I'm not going
to get formed spiritually by the world. I'm going
to get in the word of God and I'm going to become
what God wants me to be. Praise the name of the
Lord. Can you imagine, can you imagine that in
our day, identity is formed by the internet?
Let me explain that. 25 years ago, It mattered
what grandma thought. It mattered what mom and
dad thought. It mattered what pastor thought.
That's how we discovered as young people who
we were and what God called us to be. But all
of you are aware that now there's quite a move
against children and young people being influenced
by their parents. Who are your parents to confirm
your sexual identity? Who are they? No, no, no,
no, no. Your identity is now informed by the
Internet and by social media and by social influencers.
And so that formation that was so valuable 25
years ago, people would be in church. People
would be in prayer. People would be in their
Bible. All of that has been stripped away. I
just want to say thank you for sticking it out.
Thank you for still being here. Thank you for
still reading your Bible. Thank you for still
praying, trying to pray every day. Thank you
for still realizing my identity is in the cross.
Who I am was purchased by the blood of Jesus.
In fact, we still believe that we are bought
with a price. So we live to glorify God. We heard
it today. We are his sheep. We do what he calls
us to do. Why? Because we recognize our identity
is now. Not formed by the internet. Praise God.
Praise God. But the world has changed. We now
believe in terms of our culture. That our identity
is defined by our internal feelings. And not
by external authority. Think about that. What
I feel I am. is the best indicator of what I
am. I'm not trying to be unkind because some
people are being devastated by these philosophies.
And so I'm going to make a statement just to
let you know that's how real it is, but please
don't take it as unkind. There are places right
now, schools, where if you identify as a cat,
they'll have a kitty litter box for you in the
restroom. so that you can be who you feel you
are. That's what all of this technology and philosophy
has done to shape our identity. I'm just saying,
mom and dad, if you still have any influence
over your sons and daughters, thank God for the
cross. Thank God for the blood. Grandma, grandpa,
if your kids and grandkids will still look to
you and say, tell me about Jesus. Tell me about
how to find the will of God for my life. And
you can point them towards the Bible. You can
point them towards a prayer room. You can point
them towards a pastor. You've done something
supernatural in these last days. Praise the name
of the Lord. Because in the last 25 years, America
has not simply become more resistant to God.
We have become more independent from God. I got
church and God all figured out. So now I live
my own life. And I may frequent the church or
God in some form or fashion when it's convenient.
But that's not how I determine who I am and what
I'm going to be. That's the spirit of our world.
Just a few shifts in the philosophy of our culture
over the last 25 years. We have moved from an
emphasis. on authority to an emphasis on autonomy.
So that means back in the day, 25 years ago,
we used to say, what is true? But now we say,
what feels true to me? That's the spirit of our
age. Sometimes we become elevated in our spirituality,
and as we drift away from the church, We think,
man, I have really tapped into some higher understanding
of how to walk with God. What you've tapped into
is the philosophy of this world. I don't have
to cling to the truth of the Word of God. I don't
have to worry about spiritual authority. Autonomy
is now the true indicator of my spirituality
as long as I'm doing what feels right to me.
Oh, we need the cross in this generation. We
need a revelation of the blood that was shed.
We need to know that life is not how I feel about
it. Life is what the Bible says about it. And
I've got to find a way to find my way back to
the cross. Oh, Jesus, when I take the bread and
when I drink the cup, give me a fresh revelation
of the cross. Some of you that live for God over
25 years, you will absolutely understand. This
next statement. We have moved 25 years ago from
duty to now desire. What does that mean? 25 years
ago, we were responsibility driven. Now, we are
emotionally driven. 25 years ago, you get all
kinds of people to sign up for Martha ministry.
Because it's just their responsibility. Now if
I feel like serving, I'll serve. But if I don't
feel like serving, I'm not driven by duty, I'm
driven by desire. And that's the spirit of our
world. And we need to be careful because when
you look to the cross, that is not an idea that's
perpetuated by the cross. That's a philosophy
that has crept into the world, maybe into the
church over the last 25 years. And so it's no
longer what we need to do. It's what we want
to do. That is not the spirit of the scripture
that says, I must decrease so that he can increase.
That is not the spirit behind. the scripture
that says, not my will but thine be done. That's
why we look to the cross. That's why we stay
in a church that focuses on the cross because
every now and then we can be challenged. Whether
I like it or not, I'm going to be obedient. I'm
going to be prayerful. I'm going to be submitted.
I'm going to be involved. Whether I feel like
it or not, I'm going to do what God has called
me to do. Praise the name of the Lord. We have
moved in the last 25 years from what sociologists
call truth to narrative. And 25 years ago, it
mattered what truth was. It was valued. But now,
our personal story is prioritized. Well, you
don't know what I've been through, so you don't
know why I am the way I am. If you're not sensitive
to that. You're not going to be able to help
me. So truth is not the point. What really matters
is my story. And thank God that at the cross,
our story intersects with his story. But oh,
I tell you right now, there are churches that
used to be filled. that now are mostly empty
because the spirit of the world has crept into
the church. People have begun to believe that
these philosophies, because they're a little
bit newer, they're a little bit more appealing
to the flesh, well, let's just go that direction.
It does not last. The only church that's going
to last is the church that clings to the cross.
The only Christian that's going to last is the
Christian that clings to the cross. 25 years
have passed. I've learned a little bit, and I've
got a whole lot more to learn, but I can tell
you right now, you can pick out of the crowd
the people that are living near to the cross.
You can pick out of the crowd the people that
have said, though none go with me, still I will
follow. I know it sounds old -fashioned, but
when you take the bread, when you drink the cup,
could you ask the Lord, cleanse my mind from
every philosophy that is of this world, connect
with the cross. Let me connect with the cross.
We have moved from submission to self -expression.
Submission is viewed as a weakness in our culture.
If you are just submitted, then you're just a
weak person. But if you are someone that is self
-expressive, in other words, you serve the Lord
on your own terms, what we would call self -directed
Christianity. You know what we call that in our
day? Authenticity. What a deception. I can move
away from any accountability. I can move around
from any submission to authority and say I'm
just being authentic. I want to get in the cross.
I want to get in the cross. And I want to get
in the Bible. And I want to say, my goodness,
you know, 25 years ago or 40 years ago or 50
years ago, I know it sounds crazy, but if it
was good for grandpa, it's good enough for me.
I know that sounds crazy. I know people don't
believe in that. If it was good for Paul and
Silas, it's good. Come on, that's the way they
used to believe back then. Some of us were raised
by people that believed that. And it served us
pretty well. to raise our kids and our grandkids
with all these philosophies that have been spewed
out by the technology of our generation. I'm
just saying let's get back to the cross. Let's
get back to saying Jesus I want to stay submitted
to your will and to your way. Praise the name
of the Lord. All of these changes. All of these
changes. can make old -time religion seem kind
of foolish. All of these changes can make the
Bible seem quite irrelevant. All of these changes
can make the church seem unnecessary. And here's
what blows me away. God allows it to be so. This
is not his first tango with the wisdom of this
world. This is not his first attempt to save
people that thought they could be more sophisticated
and that would get them closer to God. That didn't
start with us. That started a long time ago.
In fact, in the time of Jesus Christ, the whole
world was sucked into Greek philosophy. They
were sucked into all of these things that still
chase themselves around in our day. And the response
of God to all of this is found in our scripture
passage that I read at the beginning of this
message. I want to read it from the New Living
Translation because it makes it so simple to
understand. 1 Corinthians 1 and verse 18. The
message of the cross is foolish to those who
are headed for destruction. But we who are being
saved know it is the very power of God. As scripture
says, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and
discard the intelligence of the intelligent.
So where does that leave the philosophers, the
scholars, and the world's brilliant debaters?
God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish.
How'd he do it? Well, since God in his wisdom
saw to it that the world would never know him
through human wisdom, he has used our foolish
preaching to save those who believe. Preaching
seems like a fool's errand, but it is still the
Father's answer for a world that needs to be
saved. The church seems like a fool's errand,
but it is still the Father's answer for the body
of Christ on the earth. The cross seems like
a fool's errand, but it is still the Father's
answer. Could you close your eyes and just thank
the Lord for the cross. Thank the Lord for the
church. Thank the Lord for every opportunity
we have to hear the preaching of the Word of
God. I know that preaching now seems so foolish.
I know it's been undermined by all of these philosophies,
but God has chosen through the foolishness of
preaching to save them that believe. I wonder
if you could say, Jesus, thank you for helping
me believe. Thank you for helping me believe.
You say in Jesus' name. I love to preach about
the cross on April Fool's Day. I love it because,
you know, the devil was pretty fooled by the
cross. This passage from 1 Corinthians 2, I won't
read the whole passage, but I want to point out
a few things because we see Satan in this passage.
1 Corinthians 2, verse 2, for I determined, Paul
said, not to know anything among you except Jesus
Christ and him crucified. Verse 5, that your
faith should not be in the wisdom of men, but
in the power of God. And he speaks of the wisdom
of God, and he says, we speak the wisdom of God
in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained
before the ages for our glory. Here's Satan right
in here, verse 8. Which none of the rulers of
this age knew, for had they known, they would
not have crucified the Lord of glory. I believe
that satanic forces were behind every attempt
to grab a hold of Jesus Christ and put him on
that cross. There was this sense from the devil
that if I can defeat him, if I can destroy him,
I'm going to win the day. April Fool's Day, devil.
You thought the cross was your greatest victory,
but it was your greatest defeat because Jesus
said in Revelation, I am he who lives and was
dead. And behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen.
And I have the keys of Hades and of death. Come
on, the message of the cross is foolishness to
those who are perishing. But to those who are
saved, we look to the cross and we're reminded
I was going to die. I was on my way to hell.
But Jesus died in my place. And so when the devil
thought he was winning, he became the biggest
loser because there at the cross, through his
death, through his sacrifice, he paid the price
for my salvation. Praise the name of the Lord.
You may be seated. No matter how crazy the world
gets, the cross still works because the blood
still works. No matter how scary Satan gets,
The cross still works because the blood still
works. Your worst day can be your best day because
of the cross. If you'll just cling to the cross.
Because how many of you know, even in suffering,
he uses that to draw you nearer to him. There's
some things you know about your relationship
with God that can only be born out of suffering,
out of taking up your cross. Don't run from the
cross. Run to the cross and recognize the cross
still proves that God has a plan for my life.
On my worst day, I'm going to cling to the old
rugged cross when everything else around me Around
me doesn't make sense, and not just you and I,
but God has a plan for every man, every woman,
every boy, every girl, because God was in Christ
reconciling the world unto himself. It may sound
crazy, but that's the way that Jesus chose to
save us all. When we take the bread, when we
drink the cup, let's celebrate. Let's remember
it's the cross. It's the blood that makes a difference
in our lives. Using the cross to bring salvation
to a lost world. It seems like a fool's errand.
That's crazy. Why that way? My goodness. Our
Savior was so humiliated. Our Savior was so persecuted.
Our Savior was so reviled. And our Savior was
so crucified. And that's how you're going to
save us? It's not a fool's errand. It's our Father's
answer. Because God came to this earth as a man.
Because there's only one mediator between God
and man. That is the man, Christ Jesus. God couldn't
die for our sins because you can't kill God.
But as a man, he could open those arms wide on
that cross. And with every nail that pierced
his body and the spear in his side and the crown
of thorns upon his head, it looked like a fool's
errand. But it was our God's answer to every
sin, every circumstance. that separates from
God even to this day. Our hope is in the cross.
The world is unraveling. Let's cling to the cross.
People are searching for satisfaction. Let's
lead them to the cross. Loneliness is increasing
even though we have a gazillion followers on
social media. Let's meet people at the cross
and let's meet Jesus at the cross because people
still need a purpose for getting up in the morning.
Let's let them know the best life is living for
Jesus, living for the cross. Praise God. So we
take the bread, we drink the cup, and we remember
our Father's answer has always been the cross
as the musicians come. The Bible says in John
chapter 3, As Moses lifted up the serpent in
the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be
lifted up, that whoever believes in him should
not perish but have eternal life. What was that
lifting up? That was Jesus Christ. being lifted
up on the cross. Why? For God so loved the world
that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever
believes in him should not perish but have everlasting
life. I know it looks like a fool's errand, but
it's our Father's answer. If you're here today
and you have put your faith in Jesus, I want
you to cling to the cross, repent of your sins,
be baptized by immersion in Jesus' name. We got
the water ready. We even have robes so you can
get baptized here tonight. Why? Because when
you repent, you're identifying with the death
of Jesus. And when you're baptized, you're immersed.
It's as if you're buried in water. You are identifying
with the burial of Jesus Christ. And then when
he fills you with his spirit, you are connecting
with the resurrection power of Jesus Christ.
I know it looks like a fool's errand. In this
crazy world. But 25 years ago, it was the only
answer. And many, many years before that, it
was the only answer. And I ask you, please don't
drift away from the cross. We read the famous
story of the prodigal son. We know he took every
blessing. every revelation, everything that he
had gained from his father. He said, I want what's
mine. I'm out. I'm leaving the father's house.
I'm going to do it my way. What did the father
do? I know it sounds like a fool's errand, but
every day he went to the edge of the house, maybe
even to the edge of the city, and said, maybe
today my boy's coming home. Maybe today he'll
come to himself. It looks like a fool's errand.
Come on, Dad. You know, when he took that inheritance
from you in that culture, he was literally saying,
I wish you were dead. And here you are, standing
at the edge of the gates of the city, thinking
he's coming home today. Oh, what a fool. It wasn't
a fool's errand. It was the father's answer.
That's all it was. Yeah, we know the boy may
never come to himself. We know that son may never
come back home. But my goodness, every child
that returns to the father when he sees the cross,
it's a big welcome home. It don't matter what
you've done. It don't matter where you've been.
It doesn't matter that you walked away from God
or you walked away from the church. When you
come back home, welcome home. That's the Father's
answer, and it has not changed. Praise the name
of the Lord. We don't do a lot of running after
people that leave the Father's house because
until they come to themselves. It's just futility.
In fact, some of you would have a real hard time
with a scripture that says sometimes you've got
to give somebody up, even to Satan, that they
might be saved. We don't believe in that. You
know why? Because the philosophies of this world,
we cling to them instead of the cross. Oh, I'm
telling you. when somebody comes to themselves,
when somebody makes it back home to the Father's
house. Oh, my God, let's get the robe. Let's
kill the fatted calf. Let's throw a party. Why?
Because that's always been the Father's answer.
Always been. Let's take the bread. Let's drink
the cup. Let's remember the cross today. Brother
Mark has helped us. with some elders that are
going to get us ready for communion. I want them
to come take their places right now. I came across
a passage about the cross today. It's just about
six verses. When I read it, it just screamed
at me. Man, if you didn't believe in the cross,
you would think this is so foolish. But you know
what? It was God's answer thousands of years
ago, and it's still God's answer today. Isaiah
53, who has believed our message? To whom has
the Lord revealed his powerful arm? My servant
grew up in the Lord's presence, like a tender
green shoot, like a root in a dry ground. And
this is the part that kind of catches my attention.
There was nothing beautiful or majestic about
his appearance. Nothing to attract us to him.
Until you've experienced the cross, you have
to look at how God came to earth as a baby and
then grew up to be a man. And you have to say,
if he really wanted to save everybody, why didn't
he come as a king? with a royal entourage of
angelic hosts, and he could ride into the big
city and say, it's the king, it's God. Oh, you
would have saved everybody. That's what our flesh
wants. That's not the answer of the Father. He
said when they looked at him, there was no beauty
that they should desire him. Just a fool's errand.
But look what was happening. Verse 3, he was
despised and rejected. A man of sorrows acquainted
with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him
and we looked the other way. He was despised
and we did not care. Just a fool's errand. But
it was the father's answer. Because the next
verse says, Yet it was for our weaknesses he
carried. It was our sorrows that weighed him
down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment
from God, a punishment for his own sins. But
no, that's not what it was. He was pierced for
our rebellion. He was crushed for our sins. He
was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped
so we could be healed. It looked like a fool's
errand, but it was the Father's answer. It's
not going to be popular. It's not going to make
sense. It's not the way the who's who would have
done it. But it's the way he did it. It's the
way he set up his kingdom that we would glory
in the cross. Any good thing that happens, any
miracle that happens, we wouldn't point to all
the polish. We wouldn't point to all the prestige.
We would look to the cross. Look to the cross.
We look to the cross. All of us like sheep have
strayed. All of us like sheep have strayed away.
We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet
the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. It looks
like a fool's errand, but it's God's answer for
every single one of us. Right where you're seated,
would you take a moment? And in your own way
of talking to the Lord, would you just cling
to the cross? You know what the scripture says,
that before we take the bread and drink the cup,
we should examine ourselves. We read about drinking
unworthily and we don't want to do that. So how
do we protect ourselves? We just put ourselves
on the cross. Jesus, empty me of this world's
philosophy. Empty me. of the philosophy that
appeals to my flesh. Empty me to every thought
that exalts itself against the knowledge of God
as I see in Jesus Christ. Oh, God, you have challenged
me. Let this mind be in us that was in Christ
Jesus. And so as we get ready to take the bread
and drink the cup, Lord, search our hearts. Search
our hearts. Search our hearts, God, and cleanse
us, prepare us to remember the cross today, to
remember the cross today, and to see it as our
answer for any sin, for any circumstance, for
any sickness, Lord, when I take that bread and
drink that cup. I'm running to the cross, and
I'm expecting the power of God. I'm expecting
the supernatural. I'm expecting the hand of the
Lord. I'm expecting you to meet me in communion
today, Lord, that I might enjoy every promise
that you have for me. Would you just take another
moment before we do anything else and just...
as you have responded to the presence of the
Lord. If you have gone through repentance, then
turn it into praise. If you're still letting
the Lord challenge you, then just yield to his
spirit. This is such an important part of communion
here. Jesus, when I take that bread, when I drink
that cup, I want it to be with a heart that is
tuned in to your presence, to the cross. all
across this sanctuary, we could stand and just
raise our hands and thank the Lord for the cross.
Thank the Lord for his blood that was shed. Thank
the Lord for the message of the cross that we
find in the pages of scripture, prophecies that
leap out of the Old Testament that point the
way to Jesus, the life and the gospels that we
read about his love and his plan and his purpose,
even some of those challenging portions of the
epistles. that speak to how we live and how we
think. Oh, Jesus, all of it is wrapped up in
the cross. I don't want just the cup and the
bread and a little bit of form of godliness.
I don't want just a little church attendance
every now and then. I want the cross. In the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you, Jesus.
Thank you, Jesus. I wonder if all across this
sanctuary, right where you're standing, you could
just pray in the spirit for just a few moments.
There's a miracle coming to us tonight. There's
a revelation coming to us tonight. There's a
connection and a communion coming to us tonight.
Almighty God, you are in this place. And you
are giving us an opportunity to take the bread
and drink the cup and cling to the cross, Lord.
Oh, God, thank you for changing our thinking.
Thank you for changing our perspective. Thank
you for changing our priorities. Oh, we want
a glory in the cross, God. We want to embrace
the cross, Lord. In the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ. Can you say in Jesus' name? I know we
have quite a crowd here this evening, and I want
to make sure, because there could be people here,
that you're new to Heaven View or you've never
been here for a communion service. Please know
that if you have put your faith in Jesus Christ,
whether you consider yourself a member of this
church or not, we want you to receive communion.
It's not about our church. It's about the cross.
So be aware of that today. Please be aware of
that. And if you brought young people or children
with you, but you know they understand what this
is about, then you can give them the courage
and confidence to take the bread and drink the
cup. We encourage you to do that tonight. We
encourage you to do that tonight. And so whether
you're a guest or whether you're maybe a small
or younger child, We want you to know that if
you understand what's going on and if you have
put your faith in Jesus, oh, let's all draw near
to the cross. Amen. What we like to do as we
begin to sing in just a moment, there's several
stations here. Actually, one here, two in the
center, and one on the side over here. Just choose
the aisle that seems to be moving quicker. Come
and take the bread, take the cup, and press in
along the sides, along the front as best you
can. Just hold the bread and the cup until everybody
has come up, and then we'll pray, we'll read
Scripture, we'll receive communion together.
It will take a few moments for everybody to move.
So while you're up here, just worship the Lord.
Just draw nearer to Him. We believe that supernatural
miracles can happen here tonight because of the
cross, because of the blood. Just begin to come.
Whatever aisle is closest to you, just begin
to come. Thank you so much. Thank you so much.
center section if some of y 'all want to move
over towards the center have a situation in your
life that you know only the cross can take care
of that, would you just begin to thank the Lord
for the power of the blood flowing into your
situation instantly. Let's believe the Lord for
instant, instant miracles today. For I have received
of the Lord that which also I delivered unto
you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which
he was betrayed, he took bread. And when he had
given thanks, he break it and said, take, eat,
this is my body, which is broken for you, this
do in remembrance of me. Lord Jesus, thank you
for your broken body. Thank you for every sacrifice
you made so that you could stand in our place.
Thank you, Lord, that we have the privilege of
being a part of your body in the earth in these
last days. The privilege of being a part of your
church around the world, God. And we know it
was because of the price that you paid. Thank
you for your body that was broken for us and
the privilege we have to be in your body in these
last days. We honor you for it, Lord, in Jesus'
name. Let's take the bread together. After the
same manner also he took the cup when he had
supped, saying, This cup is the New Testament
in my blood. This do ye as oft as you drink it
in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat
this bread and drink this cup, ye do show the
Lord's death till he come. Lord Jesus, thank
you for your blood that was shed for me and for
each one of us. Thank you for the cross, for
the agony, Lord of Gethsemane, for the crown
upon your head. The crown of thorns, the spear
that ripped through your side. Nails in your
hands and your feet, Lord. The way you were whipped
and bruised and beaten for my sin, Lord. And
then the reality that it was through those stripes
that you have given me access to healing. Physical
and spiritual and emotional healing, Lord, even
in this place today. Salvation, oh God, I know
it was the blood that saved me. Thank you for
it now in Jesus' name. Let's drink from the cup
together. Thank you, Jesus. I wonder if you could
just begin to thank the Lord for his blood. And
if you need anything in your life or in your
family, just begin to thank the Lord for it.
Thank the Lord for it. If you're struggling with
a sickness, just thank the Lord that he has purchased
your healing with his blood. If there is another
circumstance or some sort of addiction or struggle
of any kind of issue, just give it to the Lord
right now and say, thank you, Jesus. By your
stripes, Lord, I am healed. Because of your blood,
Jesus, I am healed. In the name of Jesus, if
you feel shame or there's some sort of sin that
seems to have you tripped up, would you thank
the Lord for the blood that covers that sin?
You've taken time over and over again to bring
it to the Lord. And just let Jesus know today,
I can turn from that tonight. I can move in a
different direction because the blood covers
me. The blood still has power. In the name of
Jesus Christ, God, by the authority of your word
and by the power of your shed blood, we pray
a blessing, Lord, upon every person that's here.
every family represented, all of our guests that
have come, every life, God, every life, God,
in the name of Jesus Christ. I wonder if a brother
can find a brother, a sister can find a sister,
and you can just thank the Lord for the power
of the blood that is working in their lives,
for the power of the blood that is ministering
to them and through them. Thank you, thank you,
brothers and sisters and church family for being
led by the Spirit right now. Thank you, thank
you, heaven view and guests for being led by
the Spirit right now. There is power in the blood.
There is power in the blood. There is healing
in the blood. There's salvation through the blood.
In the name of the Lord Jesus. right now, wherever
there is anxiety. this great church. Intercede
for our students. Intercede right where you're
standing. You don't have to go to anybody, but
intercede right now. Could you pray in the name
of Jesus, the Lord rebuke every unclean spirit
that would attack our sons and daughters.