THE END OF THE BEGINNING OR THE BEGINNING OF THE END!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (If you cover each point this is a several part lesson. Of course you could condense the material.)
IN THE BEGINNING GOD… GOD SPOKE LIGHT INTO EXISTENCE. FROM THAT DAY GOD’S ENEMY HAS DESIRED SIN AND EVIL TO SNUFF OUT GOD, LIGHT AND GOOD… GOD HAS A PLAN FROM THE BEGINNING… TO BRING AN END TO THE SATANIC GOAL… GOD WILL BRING AN END TO THE BEGINNING OF SIN… JESUS IS COMING…
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Genesis 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
God has a plan to put an END TO THE BEGINNING.
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
The law is the start of the end of the beginning… BUT GOD’S PLAN WILL BRING ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF THE END ON A HILL CALLED GOLGOTHA JUST OUTSIDE OF JERUSALEM’S CITY LIMITS. JESUS SUBMITS AND SAYS FATHER YOUR WILL BE DONE. Jesus will build a BRIDGE TO CROSS THE DEEP AND WIDE CHASM BETWEEN LOST HUMANITY AND GOD.
JESUS GATHERS HIS BOYS AROUND HIM FOR WHAT WE CALL “THE LAST SUPPER.”
The enemy knew he could never hurt God. But he knew how God loved his creation and people. So the way to hurt God was to take people that God so loved to HELL. But there was a GOD PLAN OF DELIVERANCE. The satanic plans are to force the end and to destroy mankind. Jesus is getting ready to put an end to the beginning of SIN and the satanic forces trying to hurt God. The Father and His Son knew the CROSS WILL BE THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR EVIL AND SIN.
IN THE GARDEN JESUS PRAYS… HIS HEART HURT AND WAS BROKEN WHILE THE BEST OF THE BEST SLEPT THROUGH PRAYER… BUT THEY HAVE ONE LAST MEAL TOGETHER… BUT JESUS REFUSES TO PARTAKE, HE WAITS FOR US AND THE MEAL IN HEAVEN…
Matthew 26:29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
THIS BREAD REPRESENTS MY BROKEN BODY…
THIS CUP BEARS MY BLOOD WHICH WAS SHED FOR MANY…
GOD HAS A PLAN FROM THE BEGINNING TO PUT AN END TO SIN, DISOBEDIENCE AND REBELLION.
History records for us IN THE BEGINNING WAS GOD… GOD SAID: LET THERE BE LIGHT AND THERE WAS LIGHT. From the beginning there has been a terrible war between LIGHT and darkness. Our eternal enemy has tried from the foundation of the world to SNUFF OUT THE LIGHT. The enemy from the beginning knows his days are limited. The author of the SIN and CONFUSION is doomed.
Matthew 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. 6 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? 47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. 48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. 49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. 54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
THE CROSS OF JESUS WILL BE A PARADIGM SHIFT ---HOW CAN WE CALL GOOD FRIDAY GOOD FRIDAY? UNLESS WE UNDERSTAND GOD IS GOING TO PUT AN END TO THE BEGINNING OF GOD’S ETERNAL ENEMY AND HIS DARKNESS.
Somewhere around 2,000 years ago some mean Roman soldiers nailed God’s only son to an old rugged cross just outside the city limits of Jerusalem. It was the darkest day in the history of the human race. God’s enemy and all the demonic host mocked and laughed and claimed to have defeated God. Haman’s plan failed to destroy the promise and many other demonic plans failed. BUT THIS TIME IT APPEARS THAT SATAN HAS WON.
The cry of the people was HOSANNA TO THE KING. The religious leaders told Jesus can’t you settle this emotion driven crowd down?
Luke 19:39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
THE PLAN: THE END OF THE BEGINNING OF SIN IS AT HAND… WAIT THE CRY OF THE CROWD IS MANIPULATED: CRUCIFY… THE ENEMY IS NOT WILLING TO GIVE UP HIS DOMINION OF SIN.
Release Barabbas and give to us that Jesus.
Luke 23:44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
The day was so difficult and hard that God turned off the sun and God could not stand to watch. Jesus cried Father why have you forsaken me? God had to turn his eyes away from the cruelty of the Jewish nation. Jesus came and lived, He traded streets of gold for dusty dirt roads.
GOD’S PLAN WAS TO BRING AN END TO THE REIGN OF SIN AND INVITE EVERY PERSON TO KNOW JESUS AS THEIR PERSONAL SAVIOR.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Jesus did not come to die just for the good religious people. Jesus’ journey focused far beyond wonderful, rule keeping individuals… Jesus came to live and die for WHOSOEVER WILL… Jesus loved so much he looked beyond racial barriers, beyond religious traditions and practices, sexual differences, misunderstandings, and if we just knew… ???
HOW CAN WE CALL GOOD FRIDAY GOOD FRIDAY? What is hell? The torment? The pain? The smells? Think about Calvary… Jesus’ time on that old rugged cross was HELL for him. JESUS CHOSE TO BRING GLORY TO EARTH THROUGH SUFFERING. GOOD FRIDAY is the beginning of the end of fleshly pleasure ? Think about Calvary… Jesus’ time on that old rugged cross was HELL for him.
THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF THE REIGN OF SIN WAS A LESSON FOR MARY AND MARTHA. MARTHA LOVED TO SERVE, MARY LOVED TO BE AT JESUS’ FEET…
John 11:39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
Jesus had a practice run with the RESURRECTION POWER… MARY SAYS JESUS MY BROTHER HAS BEEN DEAD 4 DAYS… DON’T YOU KNOW HE STINKS BY NOW? … Jesus said: LAZARUS GET UP and COME OUT. It has been suggested that if Jesus had not said: LAZARUS COME FORTH… if Jesus just said COME FORTH, maybe all those graves would have opened.
John 11:43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
GRACE, AMAZING GRACE WAS THE END OF THE BEGINNING OF MAN’S FAILURES AND SINS.
Good Friday opened the AMAZING GRACE that would be extended to the whole of humanity.
THE LIVING WATER DIED THIRSTY…
THE ETERNAL LIGHT OF THE WORLD DIED IN TOTAL DARKNESS.
GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN TO GIVE HIS LIFE… JESUS ‘ LIFE WAS NOT TAKEN, HE GAVE HIS LIFE.
John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
THE WORSE PUNISHMENT OF HELL IS THE TOTAL ABSENCE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD… GOD IS PUTTING AN END TO THE BEGINNING OF SIN BY TURNING HIS BACK… JESUS HAD ALWAYS BEEN WITH HIS FATHER…
Matthew 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
THE HOLY OF HOLIEST WAS PERMANENTLY CLOSED TO THE AVERAGE MAN… ONE MAN ONCE A YEAR WAS ALLOWED TO ENTER THE HOLY OF HOLIES.
Matthew 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
For several thousand years there was a great veil that stood between man and God… The veil in the temple was woven from blue, purple, crimson and white. It was beautiful art work. The veil separated the holy place from the MOST HOLY PLACE. The veil was a separator to shield the people from God. DO YOU KNOW WHAT JESUS DID? JESUS RENT THE VEIL OF SEPARATION.
What happened that forced this separation of God and mankind? SIN! SIN! WILLFUL CHOICES TO IGNORE RIGHT AND WRONG. GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT GOD RENT THE VEIL FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM… God opened the holy place so all could personally know Him.
WHY IS IT GOOD FRIDAY? PRAISE GOD! All around the area the graves and sepulchers gave up those that that had been dead for years. THE LAST ENEMY was defeated, forever and ever… DEATH WHERE IS YOUR STING? While Jesus was taking his last breath there was a MIRACLE POWER RELEASED… Imagine with me as the graveyards gave up those and the dead people walked into Jerusalem again. Talk about a miracle, just imagine GRANDPA and GRANDMA knocking on the door and visiting their families?
THE END OF SIN WILL COME BY BUILDING ON THE ROCK…
Matthew 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
THE ROCK OF AGES… The rock that provided water in the desert… THE RELIGIOUS CROWD WARNED JESUS TO QUIET DOWN THIS CROWD, THEY ARE ALL WORKED UP INTO AN EMOTIONAL FRENZY.
Good Friday? We know we have the choice to build on the sands of time… and when the rain, the floods, and the wind storms blow… but the HOUSE ON THE ROCK STOOD FIRM. There was such of a move at Jesus’ death that the STONES OF JERUSALEM SHOOK. The shaken of the ROCK revealed even the ROCKS cried out in VICTORY.
ALL SUCCESSFUL FAMILIES, CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES MUST BE BUILT UPON THE ROCK OF AGES… THE FOUNDATION.
The sure foundation. The T&P FOUNDATION. Jesus is tried and proven. We can’t afford to remove the ancient landmarks…
Today many refuse the LIVING WATER, AS THEY THIRST FOR PLEASURE AND MATERIALISM. GOOD FRIDAY? THE VIRGIN BIRTH, THE DEATH, BURIAL AND THE RESURRECTION ARE THE GLUE OF SOUND DAILY LIVING….
THERE WAS A POWERFUL ROMAN SOLDIER THAT WAS ASSIGNED TO GOLGOTHA DUTY.
Killing criminals was ordered by the court and these soldiers had probably watched many criminals die on this hill just out of Jerusalem’s city limits.
THE PLACE OF THE SKULL WAS A LESSON ON GOOD FRIDAY… This man was a leader. He had over 100 men under his command… Never at a crucifixion had the SUN GOT DIM? Never had this commander felt an earthquake? In all his cruel treatment of people this Centurion’s perspective had changed.
Matthew 27:54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
TOO LATE? THE END OF THE BEGINNING IS OVER… TRULY THIS IS THE SON OF GOD…
THE END OF THE BEGINNING OF SIN…JESUS BROUGHT THE END OF THE BEGINNING… THE WATER OVER THE BACK OF THE ALTAR SHOWS THE OFFERING, THE SACRIFICE HAS BEEN ACCEPTED AND GOD HAS ACCEPTED THE SACRIFICE.
Tradition at crucifixions was to break the leg to insure a quicker death. Not so with Jesus.
John 19:31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: 34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
When the priest was finishing with the daily sacrifices the blood of the offering had to be washed off the altar. To leave the blood exposed would be dangerous both physically and spiritually. The priest would take water and pour and clean the altar. When the people were standing behind the altar and saw the water coming over the back of the altar they knew the sacrifices had been accepted.
Thus the water signifies the offering is finished.
John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
CONCLUSION: BILLY GRAHAM WAS TEACHING ABOUT THE POWER OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST. Billy said the power of the enemy would be like a B.B. gun fighting a huge armor tank. Billy went on to say enough blood to cover the point on a pin could run every demon and evil spirit around the world.
The cross was the END OF THE OF THE BEGINNING OF THE LAW… WE NOW WALK TOWARD THE BEGINNING OF THE END. Jesus is coming… Jesus went away to PREPARE A PLACE… JESUS SAID: I COME TO YOUR HOUSE TO PREPARE A WAY FOR YOU TO COME TO MY HOUSE…
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
(This is at least two part lesson. Or you have to just take the high lights and move quickly.)
