The Passover: A New Beginning - I

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God don't want to hear from you.

Would you consider emailing me you can reach me at greg@harvest.org again that's greg@harvest.org and you can also make me one of your friends on Facebook and drop me a comment putting God first in all things, and he will bless you that all sentient washers planned for walk with God Pastor Greg Laurie is concerned that many times we don't put God first and were surprised when our lives. What about we give our second week of her left overs ago. We should bring our very best to God not all of the put God first in your best because he gave his very best in his symptom which days this year.

Trillions of dollars lost in days so managed to weather the storm.

You even have again. What's the difference will were to invest what investments are sure thing today of a new beginning.

Pastor Greg Laurie points out, we should invest our lives in our relationship with his plan. That's a plan that never devalues Windows would appreciate today were studying the life of Moses before it was a Christian, I always had an interest in Jesus Christ.

I was fascinated by him other was a portrait that hung on my grandparents also. They lived with them for a number of years of Jesus and I would just sit there was a little boy look out Ensign and wonder about Kim. I knew he existed at one time.

I never thought of him as someone I could enter into a relationship with them pretty much everything I knew about Jesus. I learned from movies. For instance I discovered from movies about Jesus. This is of my childhood that he had blonde hair and blue eyes. Then looking at religious art.

I learned other things about Jesus. I learned that Jesus often walk around carrying a lamp. I'm not really sure why Woody often to clams up and just carry them around. I don't know what he did with them afterwards would you carry them. I also learned that he sometimes all a limb and carried a staff as well. So that's how you knew who Jesus was. He had a lamb and a staff and then finally had a special hand gesture you did. I'm not sure what it was just little fingers.

Not quite the peace sign yet is a little sign that if K what's up here. I have it on. I think some people maybe sort of thought of Jesus as the original shipping you know.

Peace and love and good vibes and and always had a kind word for everyone in it. It is true with peace and love, and it is true that he had the greatest teachings that were ever given. And I believe that as a kid, but the part I didn't like about a story about a guy that why doesn't someone make a movie about Jesus and change the unity I hated the ending of the Jesus story. I didn't like the part of him being crucified. I know he rose again from the dead, but I do like the part I wanted to just watch the front end of the story and edit out the last part of the story, it made no sense to my little brain. At that time, but it was not until I became a Christian I realize it was all about that part of the story.

It was all about the cross and also discovered that it's very doubtful. His eyes were blue and that his hair was blonde. He was Jesus of Nazareth, not Jesus of Sweden.

He was somatic. His hair would've been dark. His skin would've been dark. His eyes would've been dark, but that's not really important. Is it because nowhere in the Bible.

Do we have a physical description of Jesus Christ and of the God thought we needed one.

He would've put one in their so the real issue is why did he come. Why was he born in the manger. He was born in the manger in Bethlehem to ultimately die on the cross outside of Jerusalem. The incarnation was for the atonement, the birth of Jesus was so there would be the death of and the resurrection of Jesus because his death on the cross was not an afterthought on the part of God the father. In fact, it was the Lord's purpose and plan from the very beginning, because in Revelation 13 eight.

Jesus was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. What is that mean to me for four there was a solar system before there was a planet called Earth before there was a garden called Eden, and a man named Adam and a woman named Eve before sin entered the human race. A decision was made in the councils of eternity, a decision made by the father son and the Holy Spirit that the sun would come to this earth on a rescue mission. God would become a man, and walk among us and live the perfect life and then ultimately die the perfect death in the Lord even announced that there in the book of Genesis to the serpent, Satan after he deceived Adam and Eve became Satan fair warning. There is coming one will crush your head, but you will bruise his heel and that is why the cross is so important to us as Christians. That is why Satan hates the message of the cross. Why because it spells is doom and defeat.

He doesn't want us to think about it. He doesn't want us to talk about it. Why because there's power in the message of the death of Jesus on the cross.

Paul wrote in first Corinthians 118 for the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God, and that's from a Greek word do them is that means the explosive power of God that message across the blood of Jesus that was shed it's arresting this controversy will it's offensive and it is the truth and sometimes in the church it's neglected. We don't talk about the cross may be as much as we used to sometimes in our attempt to cross over. We don't bring across over and if you don't have the message of the death of Jesus in your preaching is a minister or representative of Christ, you're missing the key element that's the essence of the very gospel presentation I bolded this before, but years ago I was having lunch with Billy Graham and I asked him a question. I was in my 30s when I asked this this is five years ago and a few warriors.

I said Billy, if an older Billy could speak to a younger Billy. What advice would you give yourself Billy's response was I would preach more on the cross and the blood of Christ because that's where the power is and I took note of that and I've tried to practice that as well so I bring that up because now in this message. Were going to talk about the cross in the blood in the Passover celebration and also in communion but kind of picking up in our story.

Remember that the Lord is told Moses to go to the Pharaoh and demand the release of the Jewish people. The Pharaoh dug in and he flat out refused, saying that Exodus 5 to who is the Lord that I should obey his voice to let Israel go.

I don't know the Lord nor will I let Israel go. It's almost as though the Pharaoh said all yeah you are the Lord lender's thinking Pharaoh. Let's see what he's got, God may bring it Lord thing seriously, bring it on. The Lord was very gentle with them. In some ways he did send plagues each gaining in intensity over the one before it.

To get the Pharaoh's attention, but the Pharaoh's heart.

As we discovered got harder and harder. The Bible teaches that God takes no delight in the death of the wicked.

I think sometimes he will think the Lord just up in heaven waiting to strike out into bring judgment. It's the very opposite. God does not want to bring judgment, but he will because his word is true and he tells us there are penalties and repercussions to disobedience of the Lord gave Pharaoh chance after chance to cooperate in the Pharaoh resisted in his heart got harder so a series of 10 plagues or judgments came upon Egypt's and the Pharaoh was finally worn down by them and then tried to mislead and deceive Moses through a series of compromises which thankfully Moses did not give in to send others one final judgment that would be the of the firstborn of Egypt the death of the firstborn. Now when we hear about this. Some might see it is cruel and harsh and extreme on the part of the Lord, let me say that for all practical purposes, the Pharaoh decided his own fate. Humira's rowhouse so will Moses worn Pharaoh that he would be treated the way he treated the Jews. Let me say that again Moses worn Pharaoh. He would be treated the way that he treated the Jews back to this for 22 the Lord said say this to the Pharaoh thus says the Lord Israel is my son, my firstborn so I say to you, let my son go, that he may serve me, but if you refuse to let them go. Indeed, I will kill your son, your firstborn Lord is very clear. Listen, you're messing with my son Israel there. My son and if you do this is going to come back on you as the Bible says what goes around comes around. The Bible doesn't say that. Actually I was wondering what really wears a but the Bible does say don't be deceived, God is not mocked whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap. Jesus said in Matthew seven, you will be treated as you treat others the standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged okay Pharaoh, I'm responding to what you're doing, Pharaoh drowned the Jewish baby boys. So God drowned the Pharaoh's army had no one to blame but himself destroyed human a wicked man came up with a plot to kill all the Jewish people exterminate them from the face of the earth, but he had a special hatred for amending Mordechai a Jew any build a giallo to hang Mordecai on what happened in that story he made himself hung on the giallo design. Mordechai and of the same way with Pharaoh. I want to wipe these people out and instead the judge it came right back on him or Greg Laurie will have the second half of this message in just a moment, everybody Greg Laurie here inviting you to join me every weekend for what we call Harvest at Home. It's a church service.

It's a worship service. It's a Bible study and its wherever you wanted to be in your home in your car sitting on a beach walking down the street watching it on your phone wherever you are taking with you and be minister to every weekend.

Join us for Harvest at Home@harvest.org what we been following the confrontation between Moses and Pharaoh and pastor Greg takes us to the Lord's instructions to Moses about Passover. Let's continue until the Lord leveled his judgments against the false gods of Egypt, effectively showing them that their gods have no power because their gods are not real.

The Egyptians worshiped the Nile River as a goddess, so it was turned to blood. The Egyptians worshiped the desert so it turned the lights they worshiped the frog don't ask me why. So God give them more frogs to worship frogs everywhere in the judgments, and finally the Pharaoh gives in and says all right go now the Lord is going to give Moses detailed instructions on something they were going to do. From that day forward, called the Passover and the Passover is very important to both Jews and to Christians in here are God's instructions for observing the Passover. Let's read them in Exodus chapter 12 a reverses 1 to 5 and reading from the new living translation while the Israelites are still in the land of Egypt, the Lord give the following instructions to Moses and Aaron. From now on this month will be the first month of the year for you announce to the whole community of Israel and on the 10th day of this month.

Each family must choose a lamb or a young goat for a sacrifice. One animal for each household for families too small to eat a whole animal. Let them share with another family in the neighborhood, divide the animal. According to the size of each family and how much they can eat the animal you select must be a one-year-old male, either a sheep or goat with no defects.

There so the Passover as I said is important to the Jews. This is to remember what God did for them that he passed over them in his judgment upon Egypt because they observed this and did what he told them to do but Passover is important to believers as well. Christians because Jesus celebrated Passover with his disciples because he knew it pointed to him.

Everything in the Old Testament points to what is fulfilled in the New Testament, Christ is concealed in the Old Testament he's revealed in the New Testament so all of these feasts, and other things that they did were pointing to Messiah and that is why Paul writes in first Corinthians 57. Indeed, Christ our Passover lamb was sacrificed for us. That's why John the Baptist pointed to Jesus said the old, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Jesus was the fulfillment of the Passover lamb soap person take away points in the Passover that apply to you if you're taking notes here is point number one. The Passover was to be a new beginning. The Passover was to be a new beginning.

Verse two from now on this month will be the first month of the year for you. So God starts by making this a new beginning for the nation Israel right in the middle of the year God gives to the people and new beginning. And in the same way. It doesn't matter if it's June October or March or whatever you ask Christ to come into your life and ask for his forgiveness. You can have a fresh start as well. Jesus says in Revelation 21 five behold I make all things new. So point number one. The Passover was a new beginning number to the Lamb that they were to offer was to be the very best.

It was to be carefully chosen and examine the very best we should bring our very best to God that are left over heard the story of an old farmer. He was known to be very stingy. You know only stingy people. How many of you know a cheapskate raising a new note how many of you are a cheapskate raising since some of you have a cheapskate at so you're the guy that mysteriously disappears into the bathroom of the bill, right of the check comes, or you can reach her wallet for some reason you left it in the car. Whatever we all know cheapskate so the farmer you know is very cheap and that's why the minister was a prime when the farmer came and said preacher.

I just had to Come in to give one to the Lord. And so the browser said will which one even to give this to Joe farmer said, haven't decided that yet so little bit of time constant. One of the calves got sick and died. And then that old farmer showed up at church the following Sunday with it.

Dead Draped over his arms and said I bad news faster. The Lord's calf just died.

Yet it he chose the one that died.

While I don't need it anymore. I'll give it to God. And sometimes we do the same thing we give our second-best to God, we give our leftovers to God.

How many of you like to eat leftovers, raise your hand. How many of you are stingy and like to eat leftovers are not. Maybe there's a connection.

My wife loves left over so I love leftovers, let's just reheat that. All I do want to reheat, you know, especially pizza somethings don't reheat well do that and she loves leftovers. I don't but imagine for a moment. If you would, if Jesus showed up at your house after church today.

How would you know Molly is blonde hair and blue eyes. You have a lamb) is that chemist up there as well that we know he would look like that would like to say for the sake of an illustration. Jesus is on your porch when you got home and you were like what Jesus we were just worshiping you in church because he is great. So what have you been doing here standing on my porch uses. Behold, I stand at the door and I knocked that any man hear my voice, and open the door. I'll commit old you want to commit yes I do okay.

Come on now you have an opportunity to make some food for him. Are you hungry Jesus. Yes, I have when you get a feeling we can given the devil's food cake. I just would more than doubled eggs. We sill of the angel food cake what you feed Jesus leftover pizza though you make them something fresh. Martha knew about this because Jesus would often show up at our house unannounced.

Would 12 of his buddies wanting a meal and she would create wonderful meals for the Lord.

She never gave him a second that she gave him her very best and we should give our very best to God as well but do we do it know when you get up in the morning you give the very beginning of your date of the Lord and open his word after I check social media and after I answer a couple of emails and after I watch a little television or whatever else. And so when we know what we should do. We we don't always do it as we ought to we know we should give our finances to the Lord with symptoms of sake I don't have any money left. The Bible says in Proverbs 39 on the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of your increase firstfruits. We need to it first before any thing else.

Listen, put God first in all things, and he will bless you in all things through verse Jesus said in Matthew 633 seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. What does he mean when he says all these things the context of that statement as Christ was talking about. Don't worry about what you can eat. Don't worry about what you're going aware. Don't worry about these things, but rather seek first the kingdom.

He's not saying don't think about them.

You should think about what you're going to eat. Think about what you're going aware but don't be obsessed with it. Don't worry about it, but instead put God first in your life. Listen to this put God first in your marriage and watch how it changed put God first in your finances a watch. Although change put God first and give him your best because he gave his very best, Greg Laurie great encouragement from our study today on the first Passover and there's more to come from this presentation here on the new beginning. But if you missed any part you can get a replay by going online to harvest.org. It's a message called the Passover a new beginning.

You can stream the study while you're online or download an MP3 for later or call us for a CD copy, 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 yesterday when you live in Southern California for a long time.

You'll experience earthquakes. True, you will they happen. That's right and it's a strange sensation to feel like you can trust the ground you're walking on you when we want to climb up on a ladder. We want to get on the ground where it's safe you know when were in a bumpy airplane. We can't wait to get on the ground where it's safe. But in an earthquake. The ground itself doesn't feel safe. Yeah well we all feel like the world we live in isn't safe flight and we need to be reminded of our solid rock. Don't worry, yes, we need a good foundation to build our lives upon Jesus concluded the sermon on the Mount by saying the wisemen built his house upon the rock.

And when the winds came in the storms came. It stood strong and the foolish man built his house on the sand and when the winds came in the terms came it collapsed and then as a life without Christ, but if you're built on him a relationship with him, trusting in him, even of things around you are shaking, you will remain firm and strong, and that lesson was played out in real time in the life of a young man named Jeremy He was a budding songwriter singer whose career was beginning to take off and he married his childhood sweetheart whose name Melissa and everything was looking great for them when tragedy struck and Melissa found out that she had cancer and so they fought the cancer and were hoping to overcome it. They did for a time, and they were married and it was wonderful but sadly Melissa went on to be with the Lord. It's not said she's with the Lord, but it said that their lives were interrupted like that. But this story was made into a book and now it's been made into an inspiring film and Jeremy date you literally just as mad turns addicts stage III cancer taken is only one question without this is a Christian love story. Let me explain what I mean. It is a love story of two people finding each other and falling in love, but it's a Christian love story because it's a story of two people finding each other and growing in love and find me up with love really is and who God really is because he sustained them through it.

Jeremy is now remarried to a wonderful girl name Adrian and they have these great kids. I had many meals with them and spent time with them. What a beautiful family but you know Jeremy and Adrian wanted to tell the story of what happened with Jeremy and Melissa, and how God took the story and used it and has used it to touch thousands of people around the world and now you can touch you in this beautiful film that is been released now on DVD in the title of the film is I still believe starring KJ up up Britt Robertson, Shania Twain and Gary Sinise and directed by John and Andy Irwin known as the Irwin brothers we want to send you a copy of this brand-new DVD. I still believe for your gift of any size and whatever you can send the support our ministry will be greatly appreciated and used that touch more lives with the message of the gospel with a message of hope. So get your copy immediately. Of. I still believe is one of those DVDs you watch again and again a sweet love story a message of hope and strong evangelistic content so will be glad to send you I still believed to thank you for your donation to help us reach even further teaching from God's word and sharing Christ with those who need to hear or is our mission statement puts it, knowing him and making him known writers today at a new beginning.

Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.for what can wash away our sin. Nothing but the blood of Jesus those are familiar lyrics criminal, but next time Pastor Greg points out, the reason Jesus was about redemption join us new beginning possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor grades free daily email, devotions at harvest.alert