2024.05.26 Sermon Notes. Memorial Day. One Gave All for us all
William Akehurst, HSWC
BIG IDEA: Living HE loved me, dying HE saved me, buried HE carried my sins far away, rising HE justified, freely forever, One Day HE’s coming, oh glorious day!
Memorial Day, we remember those who gave their lives for our freedom.
FREEDOM! (ref. Braveheart)
Some of JESUS’ Final Words on the Cross, FATHER FORGIVE THEM…FATHER FREE THEM…FATHER, FREEDOM!
Memorial Day, we remember those who gave their lives for our freedom. Our world has been at war somewhere for all of time, with fighting for freedom and differences. There is a right and wrong side to both parties. Conflict is everywhere. We celebrate those who fought for our freedom and ideologies. But, are we always right?
We rise up for freedom for our own people and for the rights of others.
I am reminded of the freedom speech by William Wallace in Braveheart, and his final word at his death, crying out FREEDOM.
We all desire freedom, from war, oppression, conflict, etc. But what is the real root of freedom?
Peace. Freedom comes through Peace.
Peace. Ultimately, our desire is for peace. And THAT PEACE comes from the LOVE of GOD towards all mankind.
Our Spiritual Freedom comes through Peace, and Peace comes from the LOVE FATHER GOD, through JESUS, by HOLY SPIRIT.
Peace, Freedom, Love
John 14:25-27 (NKJV)
25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the Helper, 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.
27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Peace. Ultimately, our desire is for peace, but to receive that peace, goes back to the Greatest Commandments. Love the LORD YOUR GOD, Love your neighbor as yourself.
Scriptures: John 14:27, John 3:16, John 15:9-13, Romans 5:8, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 2 Timothy 3:12, Matthew 14:1-12, Acts 7:54-60, Luke 23:34, Luke 23:46, John 14:25-27, John 19:30, Galatians 4:6, Ephesians 1:11-14, 2 John 1:3-5, Revelation 22:12-13
Hymn #41 One Day, J. Wilbur Chapman
1. One day when Heaven was filled with His praises,
One day when sin was as black as could be,
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin,
Dwelt among men, my example is He!
• Refrain:
Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried, He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever;
One day He’s coming—oh, glorious day!
2. One day they led Him up Calvary’s mountain,
One day they nailed Him to die on the tree;
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected:
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He!
3. One day they left Him alone in the garden,
One day He rested, from suffering free;
Angels came down o’er His tomb to keep vigil;
Hope of the hopeless, my Savior is He!
4. One day the grave could conceal Him no longer,
One day the stone rolled away from the door;
Then He arose, over death He had conquered;
Now is ascended, my Lord evermore!
5. One day the trumpet will sound for His coming,
One day the skies with His glories will shine;
Wonderful day, my beloved ones bringing;
Glorious Savior, this Jesus is mine!
That day will be glorious, when JESUS comes for the Church.
Revelation 22:12-13 (NKJV) 12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”
When JESUS described HIS coming as “quickly”. We misunderstand in relation to time. There were many prophetic sayings that had to be fulfilled and finalized. If we think of quickly as “Suddenly”, it makes more sense. As in, the twinkling of an eye, or as a “thief in the night”. Quickly, without warning. Although we have been given the warning signs and must heed the call of HOLY SPIRIT to turn our hearts to the LORD.
I heard it explained this way. Time is short. The puzzle pieces are all coming together and the picture is coming together with the few remaining pieces to be placed on the board.
The charge (dynamite) has been set, the fuse laid, and there’s a guy standing just 5 feet away, ready for word to strike the match.
Its time now to be ready and at Peace with GOD.
John 3:16 (KJV)
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.
John 15:9-13 (NKJV)
9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
Romans 5:8 (NKJV)
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
(BBE Bible in Basic English) 8 But God has made clear his love to us, in that, when we were still sinners, Christ gave his life for us.
(NLT New Living Translation) 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (NKJV)
14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (NLT)
14 Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.
15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.
2 Timothy 3:12
Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
Matt 14:1-12 John the Baptist Beheaded
1At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus 2 and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.” 3 For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. 4 Because John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
6 But when Herod’s birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. 7 Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.
8 So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, “Give me John the Baptist’s head here on a platter.”
9 And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her.10 So he sent and had John beheaded in prison. 11 And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
Acts 7:54-60 Stephen the Martyr
54 When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Just as Stephen was martyred for his faith, the Disciples received their deaths remaining faithful to CHRIST who they witnessed as alive after the cross. Even while threatened with their lives, they remained strong in their faith. That says a lot about our Savior, and our faith. We haven’t seen JESUS, but have experienced HIM to the point that should cause us to remain faithful.
Luke 23:34a
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
FATHER, forgive them. Forgive them, Free them, Love them despite their own actions.
It is FORGIVENESS that provides for OUR PEACE! All because of the FATHER AND THE SON’s Great Love for you and me.
Luke 23:46 (NKJV)
46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last.
John 19:30 (NKJV)
30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
CHRIST PAID IT ALL, FINISHED THAT TRANSACTION OF PEACE BETWEEN GOD AND MAN, BUT IT REQUIRES US TO BELIEVE. John 3:16
YOUR CHOICE. BELIEVE and RECEIVE to Life, Peace, Freedom, or Not to Perish from GOD’s Wrath.
John 1:12 NKJV But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
That same Spirit…
Galatians 4:6 (NKJV)
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
Sealed with THAT SAME SPIRIT
Ephesians 1:11-14 (NKJV)
11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
PEACE WITH GOD, through JESUS, Sealed by HOLY SPIRIT WHO leads us in all Truth and the Love of GOD the FATHER.
2 John 1:3-6 (NKJV)
3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
4 I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father. 5 And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. 6 This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.
It all comes down to Love.
Freedom is through Peace.
Peace comes through Love.
Our Peace, our Freedom begins with GOD’s Love…
For GOD loves you so much, that HE gave His Son JESUS, so that if you would simply believe that JESUS accomplished your provision for Peace upon the cross. Rising again to new life. Whoever believes, trusts and has faith in HIM, would no longer be at “war” or in conflict with GOD, but have CHRIST’s Peace with GOD for all eternity.
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,
Bill
