Joint Impact by Pastor Abidan Shah

October 12, 2018 By in Christian Life, Church, Together, Uncategorized, Unity Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

JOINT IMPACT by Pastor Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson

Joint Impact

Introduction: Back in the summer, several of the men in the church asked me if they could come by and help me with my yard. I was ecstatic! I’m not much of a yard guy. I can mow the grass but that’s about it. One Saturday morning, a bunch of them and even a couple of ladies descended on our house and took down trees, dug up roots, trimmed the hedges, hauled away all the limbs, spread out the mulch, cleaned the gutters, and more. It seemed as if everyone who came had a different talent and ability. They did in 4 hours what I could not have done in 4 years! It was unbelievable! I’m hoping they’ll come back next year! The point is that it was a joint impact. So also, when people in the church come together, they can make a joint impact which is far greater than anything we can do on our own. In fact, that’s how God has designed the church. It brings glory to God when we work together through Christ in worship, nurture, and witness.

Ephesians 4    11“And He Himself gave someto beapostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. . . 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

Question:What is your role in this church body? What gift has God given to you? Are you saved? If so, what’s holding you back from jumping in?

Context: This is again one of those messages that we prayerfully decided should be preached in the first few weekends in this new sanctuary. One of the foundational beliefs at Clearview is that God has given each of us in this church body a particular gift through Christ that is meant to help us grow together in Christ and win the world to Christ. Until each of us actively seeks, recognizes, and uses the gift as God has intended it to be used, we will never live to our full potential as a church. The passage we just read comes from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Let me say something that will help you understand this passage better. Scholars have long argued over what is the true purpose behind Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Is it to clarify some misunderstood doctrine? Is it to confront a particular sin? Is it to bring unity between the Jewish and Gentile believers? Is it to warn against evil powers in the heavenlies? In some sense, all of those things but none of them in particular. His purpose was to call the Ephesians to come together as a body with Christ as the head and work together in ministry and so bring glory to God and make a joint impact in worship, nurture, and witness. In this passage, Paul does this by reminding them of:

I. OUR COMMON BOND – We stand upon a 7-layered foundation:

  1. “There is one body…” We belong to One Universal Church but this could be applied to a local church as well.
  2. “…and one Spirit…” The same OneHoly Spiritindwells you who indwells me.
  3. “…just as you were called in one hope of your calling…” We have One Expectationthat God will work out his plan for us and this world and Christ will ultimately come for us (the blessed hope and glorious appearing).
  4. “one Lord…” We have One Master, the same second person of the godhead who became man and died for us and rose again on the third day. He alone is our Master and King.
  5. “…one faith…” There is One Faith, one settled body of truth which Judecalls 3“…faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” For us, they are the foundational doctrines coming from the Word of God. Read our Statement of Faith.
  6. “…one baptism…” This refers to the One Baptism Paul talks about in Romans 6 where we “were baptized into His death,”“buried with Him through baptism into death” and raised with him to “walk in newness of life.” The water baptism is the demonstration of this inward spiritual baptism.
  7. “one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Through Christ we have One God and Father and we belong to the same family. The Lord’s Prayer is not “my father” but “our father.”

If you are willing to stand on this 7-layered foundation, we can work out any other disagreements we may have. If we step off any of these layers, no amount of pretend niceness is going to hold us together whether as a universal church or a local church.

Application: Are you part of a local body? Do you appreciate other local bodies?

II. OUR INDIVIDUAL GIFTS – We each have received a particular gift/gifts from Christ. Don’t confuse gifts with talents. Gifts are supernaturally given by the Holy Spirit but talents are natural through genetics, experience, and training. God may use your talents but there will be an extra element of his grace that will bring him glory. In Ephesians the gifts are also the office but there are many other gifts. See Romans 12and I Corinthians 12. Also, there is no comprehensive list. Ephesians 4 7“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift…11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, (established churches along with signs and wonders and miracles. Today we don’t have this gift but we do have missionaries) some prophets, (communicated the divine revelation of God. Today we don’t have this gift because we have the New Testament but we do have revivalists) some evangelists, (preach and explain the good news of salvation like Philip the evangelist to the Ethiopian eunuch but today Billy Graham) and some pastors and teachers 12 for the equipping (katartismos = “mending” restoring, putting things right) of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 

Each of us has a gift. What is your gift? Unless you seek that gift from the Lord, recognize it through His Word, and start using it, we as a church will only move along on a donut tire. We will move but it won’t be fast, far, efficient, or safe. Unfortunately, many churches are content with moving along on a donut tire. In fact, they feel that if they get the donut replaced with the right tire, it may go too fast, get farther than they want it to go, and actually reach the destination! If I could subtitle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, it would be “How the church can get its donut fixed.”

Application:What gift has God given you? Are you using it in the body?

III. OUR JOINT IMPACT

13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

To summarize, our joint impacted is reflected in our Joint Worship, our Joint Nurture, and our Joint Witness. Our candle lights together are far brighter than our individual candle lights. Are you part of the body? Are you saved? Are you serving?

Beyond Conscience by Pastor Abidan Shah

October 5, 2018 By in Christian Life, Conscience, Holy Spirit, John, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

BEYOND CONSCIENCE by Pastor Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson

Beyond Conscience

Introduction: What movie does this line come from? “What’s a conscience! I’ll tell ya! A conscience is that still small voice that people won’t listen to. That’s just the trouble with the world today.”It’s from Pinocchio. Jiminy Cricket says those words to Pinocchio after the Blue Fairy brings him to life. Then he sings that song – “When you get in trouble
And you don’t know right from wrong, Give a little whistle! Give a little whistle! When you meet temptation And the urge is very strong, Give a little whistle! Give a little whistle! Not just a little squeak. Pucker up and blow And if your whistle’s weak, Yell Jiminy Cricket. Take the straight and narrow path And if you start to slide, Give a little whistle! Give a little whistle! And always let your conscience be your guide.” Some people think that’s the Christian life – just listen to your conscience. Of course, they replace the word “conscience” with the Holy Spirit. Today’s message will help us understand that the Holy Spirit is far beyond any conscience. He is a person whose purpose is much more than to help you take the straight and narrow path and you can’t call him by whistling.

John 16    7Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.”

Question: Do you have the Holy Spirit? If you’re saved, you do. Are you submitted to the Holy Spirit? Are you grieving or quenching him in your life?

Context: As I mentioned last week, when we began planning for the first few weekends in this new sanctuary, we prayerfully decided that the first few messages should be on the foundational beliefs of Clearview Church. With that in mind, I’ve preached on Prayer, on Unity, on the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Christ, on the Word of God, and today I am preaching on the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit’s role is primary to the success and the growth of our church.In this message, I want to clear up some confusions regarding the Holy Spirit and layout his true mission.

I. CLEAR UP SOME MISCONCEPTIONS

2 Misconceptions regarding the Holy Spirit: Jiminy Cricket or Spiritual Genie

Background:We’re going to read some passages from what is known as the “Farewell Discourse of Jesus” in the Gospel of John. It extends over five chapters from John 13-17. The disciples of Jesus were troubled and grieved because he was talking about leaving them. So, he said all this to comfort and reassure them that he was not going to abandon them. In fact, his going away was going to make things even better! John 14:12“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greaterworksthan these he will do, because I go to My Father.” Jesus’ departure will not close shop but greater things will come. Some people think that the greater works mean greater miracles. That’s not all true if you look at the context.Listen to the next verse – 13And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do,(1stcondition of greater works is that they should be asked in Jesus’ Name, as if Jesus were approving)that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (2ndcondition of greater works is that they should bring glory to the Father) 14If you ask anything in My name, I will doit.(Another reminder that our will should align with the will of Jesus)15“If you love Me, keep My commandments. (3rdcondition of greater works is loving obedience)16And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.” Don’t miss this. The Greek word is “Paraclete.” There’s a lot of debate over how to translate it. It has a legal tone to it. It implies someone who is “called alongside” to lead, to guide, and to make appeal for you. The best translation is “Advocate.” He is called the “allon parakleton” or “Another Advocate.” Who is the first Advocate? Jesus.

Illustration: Imagine a branch manager of a business is being transferred. Before he leaves, he calls his team that he has been working with for a while. They love him. Things have been great under him. But, he has to go and take charge of another branch. So, he tells them, “Guys, I have to go. But, my going is a blessing in disguise. You are going to make more profit when I am gone because there’s no new branch manager coming. I have personally chosen him. He is amazing! The owner is sending him. You are going to thrive under him!”

The Holy Spirit is not some spiritual genie of the lamp who gives you whatever you want. He is not a spiritual force or power source that you can use on demand. You’re not in charge. The Holy Spirit is and he does greater things than Jesus because they work together. What they are, we’ll see soon.

Something else: Listen to verse 17the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” The Holy Spirit is not Jiminy Cricket who comes to you when you whistle. He is not just your conscience, that still small voice that talks to you when you “start to slide.” The conscience is in every person but not everyone has a Holy Spirit. The conscience is the basic moral code in every human being that comes because we are made in the image of God. But, it can be subdued and retrained.

Illustration: Conscience is like the baby gate. It keeps the baby from getting outside the room and falling down steps or putting their hands in the fire place. But, as the baby grows, the gate cannot stop him/her. If he/she wants to, they can hurt themselves.

Application:Are you living by your conscience or the Holy Spirit? There’s a world of difference!

II. LAYOUT HIS TRUE MISSION. 

If I were to talk about everything the Holy Spirit is and does, we will be here for months. I only want to focus on what Jesus told his disciples about him in his Final Discourse:

  1. The New Advocate has come to point us back to Jesus and his words.

John 14:26“But the Helper (Advocate), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

  1. The New Advocate has come to bear witness of Jesus before the world.

John 15   26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 27And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.”

  1. The New Advocate has come to convict the world of what Jesus has done.

John 16    7“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” The word for convict is “elegcho,” which means to convince or to correct. The difference between witness and convict is that witness is passive and convict is active. Listen to the breakdown of each – 9of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. The Jewish disciples of Jesus were familiar with all 3 terms but Jesus redefined them: Sin is rejecting Jesus; Righteousness is what God the Father has done for Jesus; Judgment is what Jesus did by his death and resurrection.

  1. The New Advocate will complete what Jesus has begun and now directs.

John 16   12“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bearthemnow. 13However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His ownauthority,but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declareitto you. 15All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declareitto you.”

Application:How do you view the Holy Spirit and his work? If it does not draw you to focus on Jesus, his work and his words, you have a different Spirit.

Questions:

  • How do you see the Holy Spirit? Is he a spiritual genie or Jiminy Cricket?
  • Is he just a still small voice that guides you or is he the Advocate who points you to Jesus and his words?
  • Do you love Jesus more and obey him more because of your understanding of the Holy Spirit?
  • Do you have the Holy Spirit? Are you saved?

The Greener Grass Syndrome (Article) by Abidan Paul Shah

October 4, 2018 By in Discouragement, Doubt, Encouragement, Jeremiah, Patience, Resentment, Suffering, Testing, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

THE GREENER GRASS SYNDROME (Article) by Abidan Paul Shah

(Published in the newspaper Daily Dispatch, Henderson on August 18, 2018)Greener Grass Syndrome,

Have you ever driven past a herd of cows grazing in a lush green field and seen that one cow sticking its head through the fence, nibbling in the pasture next to it? Why is it doing that? Is there not enough grass in its own field? Is the grass any greener on the other side? Is the grass any tastier? None of the above. The cow is falsely assuming that the grass must be better on the other side. Humans do the same thing but worse. We buy into the myth that our lives are not as good as others’. We say things like: “I can’t wait to get outta here and move somewhere else,” “It was so much better back home,” “If only I looked like her, I would be so much happier,” “If only I had him, life would be so much better.” We see the perfect selfie and conclude that the person’s life must be better than ours. When in reality, that photo was retaken twenty times and tested by multiple filters. This delusion has become magnified in recent years with the rise of social media. As a result, some people have become paralyzed in self-defeat and some have slipped into the abyss of depression. Others have even walked away from a good job or a marriage, with tragic consequences.

So, how do you combat this “greener grass syndrome?” We can follow the example of God’s people in the book of Jeremiah. They were in exile in Babylon, pining to go back home to Jerusalem. They had forgotten that it was their sin that had caused them to be driven out of the land. Instead of repenting and seeking God’s will, they were wallowing in self-pity and longing for the “greener grass” back home. God sent Jeremiah to tell them to “bloom where they were planted.” Listen to Jeremiah 29:5-7 “Build houses and dwellin them;plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and beget sons and daughters…and seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive…” In other words, “Make yourself at home. Dig some foundations. Get your hands dirty in the Babylonian soil. Become a productive member of the society. Make the place better by your presence.” At first, the people did not want to hear this but God warned them that things would not change for the next seventy years. But, if they were obedient to plant themselves where God had placed them, then his promise to them would be“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11) People often quote this promise but neglect to realize that it was contingent on them flourishing where God had sent them.

There may be times when you have to change locations or jobs in order to improve your life. This is not “the greener grass syndrome.” Rather, it’s moving from a famine infested land to a fertile valley. But, just remember, bad habits don’t disappear by changing zip codes or job descriptions. Unless, the old nature has been transformed by Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, you will still be you even if you move to the other side of the moon! So also, being inspired and motivated by the successes of others is not always bad as long as it doesn’t trap you into envy. There is a fine line between copying and coveting. King Saul crossed that line when he began to despise young David and his successes. It launched him into a horrible depression and provoked within him the desire to kill God’s Anointed.

Ultimately, the challenge to all those seeking the “greener grass” is to make sure that what they think is a better place is not actually astroturf or a septic tank. But, if we let God guide our lives, our Babylon may turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

The Exalted Word by Pastor Abidan Shah

September 27, 2018 By in Bible, Books, Church, Doctrine, Hermeneutics, Psalms, religion, scripture, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

THE EXALTED WORD by Pastor Shah, Clearview Church, HendersonThe Exalted Word

Introduction:Kids come with a degree in psychology. They know the difference between our nature and our instructions. Nature is who we are. Instructions is what we tell them to do. One of our kids understood that difference more than the others. She loved to explore and check things out. We would tell her not to touch the electrical socket but she would look at us as she stretched her little finger towards it. We gave her some books of her own but she loved to get into my books. Of course, we would pop her hand but it did not stop her. Somehow, she knew that we weren’t going to sell her to some Midianite traders. So she trusted our nature but disobeyed our instructions. So also, in the Christian life, there is God’s nature and there is God’s instructions. They are both very important. In fact, they are inextricably linked. His instructions proceed from his nature. Having said that, one is exalted over the other. His Instructions, his Truth, his Word. He does want us to trust him but he really wants us to obey him.

Psalm 138    A Psalmof David. 1I will praise You with my whole heart; Before the gods I will sing praises to You. 2I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.

Question: God’s name is his nature. It is who he is. God’s word is what he expects us to do. Trust God’s nature, but obey his Word. Do you obey God’s word, the truth? Have you received the Truth of God? Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Background:When we began planning for the first few weekends in this new sanctuary, we prayerfully decided that one of the messages should be about the importance of the Word of God at Clearview. Our desire is to build this ministry on this book. The psalm we just read tells us that God has magnified his Word above his name.That’s an odd statement. Scholars have long disagreed over its meaning. Some have suggested that there must be some grammatical mistake in it. Others have proposed some alterations to make it sound better. The more I have studied it, the more I have concluded that there is nothing wrong in it. The problem is in our failure to grasp the true value and seriousness of God’s Word.

Context: To start with, this is a psalm of David, i.e. composed by David. Besides being the shepherd boy who killed the giant Goliath and later became the great King of Israel, Davd was also a great song writer. In fact, as many as 76 out of the 150 psalms in the book of Psalms were written by David. That’s half of all the psalms! But he was more than just a song writer. In fact, listen to how the Word of God records David’s last words in 2 Samuel 23:1“Now thesearethe last words of David.Thussays David the son of Jesse;Thussays the man raised up on high,The anointed of the God of Jacob,and the sweet psalmist of Israel.” Now listen to the first line of the final words of David –2“The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, and His wordwason my tongue.” Meaning: David was the human instrument of God’s truth. In I Samuel 13:14, God reciprocated by calling him a “man after his own heart.” In other words, his words should not be taken lightly. They are God’s inspired, infallible, and inerrant words to us.

Before we begin in verse 1, let’s first go to verse 3 to get the context:“In the day when I cried out, You answered me,andmade me boldwithstrength in my soul.” Meaning: The context of this song is a time of trouble in David’s life. We don’t know for sure what that trouble was. Maybe Saul was chasing him through the Wilderness of Ziph. Maybe the Amalekites had taken their women and children as captives. Maybe Absalom had just declared his revolt against his father David. Nonetheless, this was a tough time.

Application:Tough times come but be careful about creating doctrine based on what you are facing. Don’t let your experiences decide your beliefs.

Now let’s look carefully at what David wrote in Psalm 138:1“I will praise You with my whole heart.” Meaning: David declares his desire to give thanks and praise to God from the bottom of his heart for all he has done for him. A good way to bounce out of discouragement and defeat is to praise God with all your heart for what he has already done for you.

Application:Do you ever thank God and praise him for all he has done for you? Do you do it with your whole heart?

Then David says,“Before the gods I will sing praises to You.”Don’t misunderstand this. David is not saying that there are other gods in this world. He is just boldly declaring before the watching world and the pagan nations that there is no other god before the Living and True God of Israel.True boldness is not telling God what to do but telling the world that you are not ashamed to declare the praises of God and share his gospel.Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 2:2“we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.”

Application: Do you shy away from declaring the name of God in public? Are you bold regarding your faith?

David continues– 2“I will worship toward Your holy temple…” Keep in mind that the temple has not yet been built but David has solid confidence that one day it will be. “and praise Your name for Your lovingkindness…” Don’t miss this. When the psalm writers and even David mention the name of God, they are not talking about a title of God. They are referring to the nature of God. They are declaring that his name reflects his lovingkindness. By the way, the word “lovingkindness” in Hebrew is “chesed” which does not have one single English word that adequately translates it. It can be “goodness,” “kindness,” “mercy,” “love,” “steadfast love,” “unfailing love,” and “lovingkindness.” In fact, everyone of God’s names reflects his lovingkindness towards us.

Application: Do you ever give God thanks and praise for his name, for his lovingkindness towards you? Do you ever thank God for being the faithful and loving God?

But David adds something more to God’s “lovingkindness.” 2“I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth.” Meaning: Inherent in God’s name and nature is not only his kindness towards us but also his truthfulness for us. The Hebrew word for truth is “ameth.” David is teaching us something here. He wants us to see God more than just a loving God. He wants us to see him as a truthful God.

Now he says – “For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.” The word for “word” means God’s commands and his promises. Because God is also a truthful God, he will not just sit back and love you and do the best he can to help you, he also wants to speak to you. He has something for you to do and to obey. For you to be able to get the seriousness of his commands and his promises, he has magnified them even above his name, his character. No matter the circumstances, always let the Word of God win.

Application: Don’t compromise your morals and don’t justify your experiences.

Was this a problem for David? Of course not. 3“In the day when I cried out, You answered me,andmade me boldwithstrength in my soul.” Don’t think of God’s Word as a burden. Instead, it brings boldness in our soul. When you obey God and do things his way, you are able to stand against whatever comes your way.

Listen to what follows – 4“All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O LORD,when they hear the words of Your mouth.” Once again David extolls the Word of God. 5Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the LORD,For greatisthe glory of the LORD.6Though the LORDison high,Yet He regards the lowly;But the proud He knows from afar.7Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me;You will stretch out Your handagainst the wrath of my enemies,And Your right hand will save me.8The LORD will perfectthat whichconcerns me;Your mercy, O LORD, enduresforever;Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

Listen carefully: God’s name is his character. His character is one of lovingkindness towards us. He will take care of us. But, his character is also one of truthfulness. Because of his truthfulness, he will always give us the right instructions. The Bible is God’s instruction for us. He expects us to obey him. Obedience to his word is now the standard for the proper understanding of his character.

Luke 6    46“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? 47Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. 49But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”

Question:

  • How important is this book for you?
  • Is it the final authority on all your understanding about God?
  • Do you use the Word to justify your morals and your experiences?
  • Do you obey his Word no matter the cost?
  • Do you know the Word of God, Jesus?

John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Episode 8: Helping the Helpless (ft. LeAnne Peoples)

September 27, 2018 By in Uncategorized Leave a comment
Episode 8: Helping the Helpless (ft. LeAnne Peoples)

In this episode, the Clearview Church staff sit down to talk about helping the helpless and how it can be done in the community. Guest starring LeAnne Peoples, the Executive Director of ACTS in Henderson. If you have any topics you’d like us to discuss, be sure to email us at carpemanana@clearviewbc.org!

 

In Remembrance by Pastor Abidan Shah

September 22, 2018 By in 1 Corinthians, Church, Communion, Family, Lord's Supper, Passion Week, Passover, Sacrifice, Salvation, theology, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

IN REMEMBRANCE by Pastor Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson

In RemembranceIntroduction: How many of you would agree that smells can trigger a memory from the past? You’re at a hotel swimming pool and the smell of chlorine reminds you of playing in the pool as a kid. You smell apple pie and it takes you back to grandma’s house. Every fall when Nicole smells leaves burning, it takes her back to when she would help her dad in the yard as a little girl. For me, it’s the smell of leather that takes me back to when I would polish my dad’s shoes as a little boy. For each of these flashbacks to work, you have to be there in the past. In today’s message, we’re going to have a flashback to a meal 2000 years ago. I’m talking about the final meal that Jesus ate with his disciples before going to the cross! You’re thinking, how can I remember a meal from 2000 years ago when I wasn’t there! If you have received Christ as your Savior and King, you were there. Let the word jog your memory. Let the scriptures override your senses.

1 Corinthians 11    23For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the samenight in which He was betrayed took bread; 24and when He had given thanks, He brokeitand said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25In the same mannerHealsotookthe cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drinkit,in remembrance of Me.” 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

Question: Do you remember what happened 2000 years ago? Can you see Jesus passing the bread and the cup to you? Has there been a time in your life when you asked him to be your Savior and your King? Are you saved?

Context: If there’s one subject that Christians disagree over more than any other, it’s probably the Communion. It’s right up there with Baptism. Just think of the many names we have for it, just in English: Holy Communion, The Lord’s Supper, The Lord’s Table, The Eucharist, The Mass, The Sacrament of the Altar, The Blessed Sacrament, The Breaking of the Bread, The Bread and the Wine, and so on and on. One major reason for these disagreements is that through the centuries people have taken Paul’s words in I Corinthians 11out of its Jewish setting.This was not just any ordinary meal. It was a Passover Meal. Even though John tells us in his gospel that the Passover was the next day, I believe that Jesus knew that he was going to die on that Friday as God’s Passover Lamb and so he chose to celebrate Passover on Thursday evening with his disciples. We mistakenly think that all the lambs had to be butchered at the temple. By the time of Jesus, there were so many pilgrims coming to Jerusalem for the Passover that it was impossible to do that. So, people slaughtered their own Paschal lambs.

When we examine this meal carefully, it has all the markings of the Passover Meal.In verse 25 it says,“In the same manner He also took the cup after supper. . .” What is the cup after supper? There were 4 cups at the Passover Meal: 1. The first cup was poured as the Father recited his blessing over the wine and over the day. 2. The second cup was poured and the son asked questions about the special food of the meal. 3. The third cup was poured after the supper as the Father recited grace after the meal. 4 The fourth cup was poured and the Father recited the Hallel and the blessing over the song. Guess which cup is being referred to in I Corinthians 11:25? The third cup. This was the Cup of Blessing, which Jesus recast as the Cup of the New Covenant in his blood. Can you imagine how this must have puzzled the disciples?

By the way, let me say very quickly – Jesus did not drink the final fourth cup with them. Listen toMatthew 26    29“ ‘But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.’ 30And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” Why did he not drink the 4thcup?Two reasons: First, he still had to shed his blood as the Passover Lamb; Second, he wanted all of us to join him around the table in his Father’s Kingdom.

Application:Are you looking forward to that banquet table? Many of us grew up in homes and families where people did not get along. You wish you could have one of those Norman Rockwell family get togethers with everyone around the dinner table. People in your family are at odds with each other over things that happened 30 years ago or 3 days ago. There is coming a day when all disagreements will be put aside and it will be the banquet of eternity! Will you be there? Only if you know Christ as your Savior.

There’s something more. Go back to verse 23“. . . the Lord Jesus on the samenight in which He was betrayed took bread; 24and when He had given thanks, He brokeitand said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you. . .” This bread was the unleavened Passover Bread. It commemorated the night of the Passover in Egypt when God told them not to waste any time to let the dough rise. Deuteronomy 16:3refers to it as “the bread of affliction.”Jesus did not give the typically explanation of the meaning of the bread but he changed its representation to himself and told them to eat it saying in verse 24 “. . . do this in remembrance of Me.” Why did he do this? Jesus was pointing back to Exodus 12:14 “So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance.” The memorial was not just for the first generation but for all generations. The Mishnah (Oral Torah) tells us how they understood the word “memorial” – “In each and every generation a person must view himself as though he personally left Egypt. . .” By the way, the name of the Rabbi who said that was Gamaliel, the mentor of Paul.

When Jesus told them to eat the bread and the bread was him and drink the cup and it was his blood, he was telling his disciples that they were sharing with him in his substitutionary existence. This does not mean that they were going to suffer and physically die along with him for their sins. They were only spiritually connected with him as he was dying for them. But, in the process, they were also dying. Same thing with the cup. By drinking, they were also sharing with him in his substitutionary existence. This does not mean that their physical blood was going to be shed for their sins. They were only spiritual connected with him as he was dying for them. But, in the process, they were also dying and being buried.

How does this apply to us? When Jesus said “do this in remembrance of me,” he wasn’t talking to just the first disciples. He was also speaking to us in every generation. Just like the Jewish Passover, where every person was to view himself/herself as if he/she personally left Egypt, when we partake of the Communion, we are to see ourselves sitting in the room 2000 years ago on the night before Jesus went to the cross. Listen to I Corinthians 10    16“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17For we, thoughmany, are one breadandone body; for we all partake of that one bread.”All this is to be done by faith.

Closing: There is no other religion like Christianity where the founder is connected beyond time to every person who has received him and every person who has received him is connected to each other. Baptism also does the same thing but it’s our individual identification with Christ and Communion is our corporate identification with Christ. Do you know Christ as your Savior and King? Are you connected with him right now?

United by Pastor Abidan Shah

September 15, 2018 By in Bitterness, Christian Marriage, Church, Community, Conflict, Family, Forgiveness, love, Psalms, Relationships, Relationships, Resentment, Revival, Uncategorized, Unity Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

UNITED by Pastor Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson

UnitedIntroduction: Have any of ya’ll ever walked into an establishment like a restaurant where the waiters or waitresses didn’t get along? The meal was good but the atmosphere gave you a heartburn! Have any of you ever been to someone’s house where the family members didn’t get along? The house was beautiful but it was not a home. Have any of you ever attended a church where the members did not get along? They shook your hand but you didn’t feel welcome. They sang but it was not worship. They preached but it was not a message. What was lacking? Unity was lacking. Something else was lacking. God’s blessing was lacking. Disunity negates God’s blessing in a business, in a family, and, especially, in a church. Unity invites God’s blessing.

Psalm 133     1“Behold, how good and how pleasantit isfor brethren to dwell together in unity! 2It islike the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. 3It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the LORD commanded the blessing—Life forevermore.”

Question: How is unity in your life, in your family? Are you promoting unity in this church body or are you eroding it? Are you part of the body of Christ? Are you saved?

Context: The psalm we just read is attributed to King David. Unlike some of his other psalms, this one is kind of unusual. It’s a song of worship but it reads more like a proverb. Although it talks about God, its theme is the importance of unity among God’s people. A few weeks back, when I was praying over what God would want me to preach after we get into the building, he laid this psalm on my heart. Clearview exists to magnify Christ but we cannot do it without unity in our church family. You can also apply this message to your family, your workplace, and your community. 3 things about unity:

I. UNITY IS UNCOMMON. 

1“Behold, how good and how pleasantit isfor brethren to dwell together in unity!

Background:The reason David says this is because it is natural for brethren not to dwell together in unity. Ever since the beginning of time, brothers have been fighting. Cain killed his brother Abel. Esau wanted to kill his brother Jacob. Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers. If it was David who wrote this psalm, his brothers hated him as well. It probably began when Samuel the prophet came to their home to anoint the next king of Israel. Samuel thought the oldest one, Eliab, would be the king but God told him in 1 Samuel 16:7“. . . Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him.For the LORDdoes notseeas man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” Six more brothers passed by in front of Samuel but God kept refusing them. Finally, David was called in from the field where he was keeping sheep. When he walked in, God said to Samuel in I Samuel 16:12“. . . Arise, anoint him; for thisisthe one!” Question: How do you think the brothers felt? We find the answer in the next chapter with the Goliath incident. David’s three brothers (Eliab, Abinadab, and Shammah) were on the battlefield and their father, Jesse, sent David with some food for them. When David got there, he saw Goliath the Philistine giant taunting the armies of Israel. David was filled with the Spirit of God and he asked the soldiers why somebody wasn’t doing something! Listen to what happens next – 1 Samuel 17:28Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger was aroused against David, and he said, “Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.”Wow! Talk about talking down to someone! Talk about resentment and bitterness! Talk about judging someone! When David wrote those words, his eyes probably welled up with tears.

Application:Did you grow up in a home where people didn’t get along? Did you grow up in a situation where harsh words were spoken, grudges were held, and motives were judged? Don’t think that you are the only one. Disunity is natural. You have to work at unity. By the way, people bring the same attitudes to church and they spread the disease of disunity.

II. UNITY IS SACRED. 

2“It islike the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments.”

Background:To explain what unity feels like, David draws a word picture for us from the time of Moses and Aaron. It comes from Exodus 30   30And you shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that theymay minister to Me as priests. 31“And you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘This shall be a holy anointing oil to Me throughout your generations. 32It shall not be poured on man’s flesh; nor shall you makeany otherlike it, according to its composition. It isholy, andit shall be holy to you. 33Whoever compoundsanylike it, or whoever putsanyof it on an outsider, shall be cut off from his people.”In the verses following, God gave the exact concoction of this sacred oil and again warned against using it for anything else. In other words, this was a very sacred oil. Any abuse or corruption was punishable by banishment. Then in Leviticus 8the actual ceremony did take place when Aaron was anointed with oil. At the end of this 8-day ceremony, it says in Leviticus 9   23 “. . . Then the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people, 24and fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When all the people sawit,they shouted and fell on their faces.”

Why did David use this imagery to describe unity? Just like the sacred oil, unity should also be treated as sacred. Any abuse and corruption should also be punishable by banishment. Don’t mess with unity. There are people in church who say things and do things that are detrimental to the unity of the church family. We should think twice about doing that! Don’t misunderstand: We can have different opinions and ideas but let nothing, except for the truth of the Word of God, divide us.

Application:How sacredly do you guard the unity in this church family? How sacredly do you guard unity in your family, your workplace, your community?

III. UNITY IS A MUST FOR GOD’S BLESSING. 

3 It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the LORD commanded the blessing—Life forevermore.”

Background: Once again, David draws a word picture for us but this time from the climate and the land. Dew was and still is absolutely essential in Israel. From April to October there is little rain. So, dew is absolutely essential for the vegetation. What is dew? It is moisture condensed from the warm air by the cold ground. Mount Hermon sits on the North of Israel and its about 9000 ft high. The dew from Mount Hermon flows down and brings life to places all over Israel. It is the source of life. Without it, even Mount Zion would be barren. What is David saying? Just like the dew from Mount Hermon brings life and sustenance to the mountains of sacred Zion, so also unity gives God the opportunity to bless his people. The blessing is “life forevermore.” Show me a church that is lifeless and I will show you a church lacking in unity. Show me a family that is lifeless and I will show you a family where relationships are fractured. Show me a workplace, neighbourhood, or community that is lifeless and I will show you a place that does not have unity.

Application:Is there lifelessness where you are? Are relationships dying? Is growth struggling? Unity is the problem.

So, how do you achieve unity?

  1. Be discerning. Don’t get sucked into someone’s wrong agenda.
  2. Know the difference between unity and uniformity. Just look around.
  3. Love fervently. It will cover a multitude of sins.
  4. Focus on our common bond. What matters.

Ephesians 4    1“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,2with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,3endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.4There isone body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism;6one God and Father of all, whoisabove all, and through all, and in you all.”

Do you have this bond? Are you saved?

Episode 6: Remembering September 11th (ft. David and Evelyn Woodson)

September 12, 2018 By in Uncategorized Leave a comment
Episode 6: Remembering September 11th (ft. David and Evelyn Woodson)

In this episode, the Clearview Church staff and our special guest speakers (David and Evelyn Woodson) talk about the significance of September 11th. David and Evelyn were in the Pentagon during the attacks and witnessed first hand the events of that day.  If you have any topics you’d like us to discuss, please email us at carpemanana@clearviewbc.org!

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