The Intermission

Hi this is breathing welcome to the Salvation Army's words of life.

Many doesn't pick and choose when there's so much to fight against. Thanks for when others flee reverence toward and when darkness prevails. Love remembers the strength of 156 years Salvation Army has left all for lost your help will never stop welcome to worship lifetime Bernie day and I welcome back Cheryl.

Good to see Bernie and welcome back to all of you listening to us where ever you find the broadcast.

We hope you enjoy this series we just finished last week. We believe was an 11 week series studying the doctrines of the Salvation Army. Their statements of faith, and that was brought to us by Lieut. Col. Dan Sterrett if you missed any of those episodes. Be sure to go to Salvation Army sound cast.org to get caught up and Cheryl, I don't know if you remember this but a little group that we produce here in Atlanta called transmission did an album all the way back in 2014 called.

We believe it's great nice to listen to today 11 songs Each one of them. Number one is for doctrine wanted number 11's for doctrine 11. It's a great way to get excited about what it is that we believe and not just us Salvation Army people, but as Christian people we believe the word of God is true and we want you to be encouraged by Mulberry this week we're launching our five-week Easter series with Maj. Ruth Prieto nail incredible speaker and preacher of the word, but also being bilingual. She is doing the same series in Spanish for words of life's Spanish counterpart Pallotta asked Davey that very cool.

We hope our specialist will check that out. Be sure not only to listen to the series yourself, but share Pallotta's labia with your friends and family as well. Visit Salvation Army sound cast.org to learn more and listen well. I'm a major in the Salvation Army currently working with adult rehabilitation Center programs is an honor and pleasure to be able to share with you the word of God as I did with Rita.

So the same series will be doing for Easter is also found in Spanish in our podcast. Like I said words of life into the theater play in opera, ballet, sometimes in the middle of the program the curtains close and the lights come on contract or intervention has arrived in which attendees rush to the bathroom or take the opportunity to drink a soda and perhaps it is this short time between the shows two acts gives the audience a chance to take a breather and emotionally prepared for the story's conclusion, which often ends in tragedy. Initially, directors use this time to show a musical number that had nothing to do with the work itself or the orchestra played a melody compose precisely for this pulse. However, a couple of 18th-century French art critics Sunday intermission as a period in which the action of the play did not stop, but continued offstage the interval. They said is a break for the spectators for the action. So when we look closer to the last week of Christ. The events between his triumphal entry in his death on the cross seem like kind of an interlude.

Let's read a couple of passages in the Gospel of John chapter 13 versus 3 to 5 we read Jesus knew that the father had put all things under his power and he had come from God and was returning to God, so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him and in John 13 versus 12 to 17 when he had finished washing their feet. He put on his clothes and returned to his place. Do you understand what I have done for you. He asked them, you call me teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am now that I your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have sent you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

Very truly I tell you no servant is greater than his master.

That is a messenger greater than the one who sent him another you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them and finally the passage from Matthew 26 versus 36 to 46 then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane and he said to them seated here while I go over there and pray he took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, along with him. He began to be sorrowful and troubled that he said to them, my soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of � stay here and keep watch with me going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed my father if it is possible made this cup be taken from me.

Yet not SI well but as he will that he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping you men keep watch with me for an hour. He has Peter watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

Went away a second time and prayed my father if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it. May your will be done when he came back he again found them sleeping because their eyes were heavy so he left them and went away once more and prayed the start time saying the same thing. Then he returned to the disciples and said to them you still sleeping and resting look the hour has come and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Bryce, let us go.

Here comes my betrayer. If we compare these events to an intermission, we can say that the church of Christ is also in a kind of interlude between the first coming in the second coming of Jesus. We all Christians are waiting anxiously and sometimes fearfully for his second appearance. How then should we conduct ourselves as we await the conclusion of God's perfect plan.

These passages have the answer. So while we wait we serve with love when Jesus finished washing the feet of the disciples, he said to them if your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set an example for you so that you do the same as I have done with you Christians. While we await the return of Christ, we must serve one another sometimes as church members. We forget that this is our supreme duty to serve God and others and love in his book the purpose driven life pastor Rick Warren writes the last thing many believers need is to go to another Bible study. They already know far more than they're putting into practice what they need is serving experiences in which they can exercise their spiritual muscles. I totally agree. Listen what two and Jesus said the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.

How much more should we pull all our salvation to his act of humility, serve others. While we wait, we pray without ceasing. In the passage from Matthew we see how in the middle of a crisis when Jesus enemies where on the way he decided to pray, and he prayed and he prayed some more. Next expand on this a bit at the end of the Passover meal. Jesus left the CD with his disciples through the seeing gate which in Jesus time was also called the Ida Benito across the Kidron Valley and arrived at the garden of Gethsemane right at the foot of the Mount of olives crossing the valley we can imagine the scene best described by author William Barclay. He writes the number of lamb sacrifice for the Passover was in man's from the altar.

There was a channel that went down to the Kidron Brook and through that channel ran the blood of the Passover lambs.

By the time Jesus crossed the brook, it would still be red with the blood of the lambs that had been sacrificed as he did so the thought of his own sacrifice. We surely would have been vivid in his mind, let us imagine Jesus then he's mind and heart filled with anguish of the events that were to take place knowing of his suffering, culminating in death and the burden of all our sins upon him and doing all that stress and agony.

He decides to pray, what tremendous examples. Jesus always gives us of how to behave as children of God, serve and pray pray without ceasing.

The apostle Paul would dry years later in his first letter to the Thessalonians is found in chapter 5, verse 16.

Perhaps instead of running to the latest self-help book looking at the horoscope were asking the wrong person for advice. Let us run to the throne of God were grace, comfort, help and strength await us and finally, while we wait. We watch and attention. Finally, the Lord advises us that we be alert while we wait for his return.

He asked his friends to stay awake three times and three times they let their guard down.

The Peter learned his lesson in one of his letters he writes to the churches. Be alert and sober mind.

Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

That is found in first Peter 58 and Paul also warns his listeners be on your guard, stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. That is found in first Corinthians chapter 16 verse 13. As Christians we sometimes forget that we are at the center of the battle against soon. And as in any war there can be loss as if were not alert to the enemy's attacks. We must remember that, as Paul writes our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms, but that's war assures us that with the power of prayer on our side and the armor of God.

After you have done everything will be able to stand. Ephesians 612 and 13.

So how about you how are you waiting here and earth have you dedicating your life to the service of God and others. Or do you live your life only for yourself. Do you turn to God in prayer amid difficulties you alert and watch over your salvation with fear and trembling. My prayer is that the Lord will show you service opportunities and and you will have the courage to come to him day and night for peace and strength make that fill you with blessings today and always, the Salvation Army's mission doing the most good means helping people with material and spiritual needs become a part of this mission every time you give to the Salvation Army visit Salvation Army USA.org to offer your support and love to hear from you.

Email us radio USS.Salvation Army.org or call 1-800-229-9965 Ribas PO Box 29972 11 GA 30359 tell us how we can help share prayer request or share your testimony. Would love to use your story here. You can also subscribe to our short-lived favorite podcast store and surely give us a rating search for the Salvation Army's life always on social media for the latest extended and if you don't have a church home. We invite will be glad to see you next time for the sub