"No U-Turns" Series

Signs 4 “No-U-Turns”

by Pastor Donny Granberry

This morning we return to our Summer Message Series, “Signs.”

Our thought of focus today is “No-U-Turns,” and we will be studying the ordinances of the church.

Ordinance – command, order, law, constitution, statute, standing order. (Greek – the New Testament was written in Greek) A configuration by God where provision is made.

There are two ordinances of the church, and each fit this description.

• Water Baptism

• Holy Communion

Let’s take a look at the two and their significance.

WATER BAPTISM

Matthew 28:18-20 NIV

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Mark 16:16-17 NIV

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Baptism – Greek word Baptizo

The clearest example that shows the meaning of baptizo is a text from the Greek poet and physician Nicander, who lived about 200 B.C.

It is a recipe for making pickles and is helpful because it uses both words. Nicander says that in order to make a pickle, the vegetable should first be “dipped” (bapto) into boiling water and then “baptized” (baptizo) in the vinegar solution.

Both verbs concern the immersing of vegetables in a solution.

But the first is temporary, but the second, the act of baptizing the vegetable, produces a permanent change.

• A wedding ring is an outward sign that a person is married.

• A military uniform is an outward sign that a person is involved in that particular branch of service.

• Similarly, water baptism is a symbol designed by God to identify a person as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Water Baptism is an outward sign of an inward experience.

ILLUSTRATION

Radio personality, Paul Harvey, said that even though he had received almost every reward possible for his broadcasting ability that he still felt empty inside.

Paul Harvey said this about his experience being water baptized.

The preacher had said there was nothing magic in the water. Yet as I descended into the depths & rose again I knew something life changing had happened - a cleansing inside out. No longer did there seem to be two uncertain contradictory Paul Harvey’s, just one immensely happy one. I felt the fulfilling surge of the Holy Spirit in my life.”

Paul Harvey went on, "The change this simple act made in my life is so immense as to be indescribable. Since totally yielding to Him in baptism, my heart can’t stop singing.

Tell the story about Johnny:

Driving past the church and read the sign, “Water Baptism Tonight.”

He thought, I have been baptized in water.

As a matter of fact, Johnny had never become a Christian.

He accepted Christ in the class, was baptized in water that night, and was filled with the Holy Ghost in the altar service.

• The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded by the Scriptures.

• All who repent and believe on Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized.

• Thus they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life.

SONG:

I’ll tell the world that I’m a Christian, I’m not ashamed His name to bear, I’ll tell the world …, and go with Him anywhere.

The second ordinance of the Church is …

HOLY COMMUNION

Luke 22:19 KJV

And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

To really understand Holy Communion, we must look at its past, present and future significance.

[PAST] What is the History of Holy Communion?

It comes from the Passover

• Israel had been slaves in Egypt for over 400 years, and they cried out unto the Lord for deliverance

• God sent a deliverer to Egypt, Moses and his brother Aaron.

• God brought 10 plagues on Egypt because of their treatment of Israel

• Pharaoh wouldn’t listen

• The last plague was the death angel that killed all the first born in Egypt

• God told Moses to put blood on the door posts of all Israelite houses to keep the death angel away

That night they were to have this feast in celebration of their deliverance the next day from Egypt

Exodus 12:17

"Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.