THE EVANGELICAL CHURCH WINNING ALL
(ECWA)
5007 SOUTHSIDE DRIVE
LOUISVILLE, KY 40214
(502) 375-1904
www.ecwalouisville.org, www.ecwausa.org,
ecwaky@gmail.com
THEME: When the Curtain Opens For You
TOPIC: He Died at the Right Time
TEXT: John 13: 1-10
Rev. (Dr.) Stephen K. Awoniyi
INTRODUCTION
On Sunday, April 21st, we talked about a father in the Middle East of Baghdad who sent his beloved son to a market place to run an errand. When his son completed the assignment entrusted into his care and wanted to return home, he saw a beautiful lady whose face so much frightened him. The son ran home and reported the story to his father. The father took a horse, ran to the market place, and said to the lady, “why did you frighten my son this morning?” The lady said she didn’t intend to stare or frighten his son but that it was his son that frightened her. The lady continued saying, she was surprised to see his son in the Middle East of Baghdad because she supposed to have an appointment with him (the son) that day.
It was also indicated that each one of us have an appointment somewhere. This appointment could be because of cancer, accident, or different types of diseases that devour us today. Be aware that death awaits us as the concrete floor awaits the falling light bulb. Nevertheless, when you fall into different categories of sadness, sorrow, and disappointment be assured that the almighty Father is there for you. In today’s story the following steps will be viewed:
Step 1. Jesus Christ Died for the Right Purpose
Brethren, I wish you understand that the Lord’s death is not the tragic end of a beautiful life, but rather, for the will of God. This means His death accomplishes a great redemption for the people whom our Almighty Father has chosen. That is, those whom the Father has given Him which is recorded in the Scripture thus:
I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, [a] that they may be one as We are. 12 While I was with them in the world, [b] I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; [c] and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.
14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth (John 17: 9-17 (NKJV).
Behold Your Mother
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.
It Is Finished
28 After this, Jesus, knowing[a] that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” 29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit (John 19: 25-30 (NKJV).
Be assured that our death does not accomplish redemption, but it is the means by which we experience the redemption that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplishes for us. Death is the doorway by which we can leave the limitations and pains of this world in order to enter into the heavenly kingdom. I wish you understand that the day of our death is the day of our glorification; therefore, death is the grand entrance and the door that swings into eternity.
Step 11: Jesus Christ Died with the Right Commitment
Brethren, be assured that death is known as a time of trust in God’s deliverance. As our Lord Jesus Christ was still on the Cross He said thus;
46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’”[a] Having said this, He breathed His last.
47 So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!” 48 And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned. 49 But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things (Luke 23: 46-49 (NKJV).
Be assured that our Lord Jesus Christ died by entrusting Himself to His Father whom He loves so much. Therefore, you and I can also die by committing our lives into the hands of our heavenly Father, who is in heaven, who loves us so much. This reminds me the story of the Apostle Peter who said:
8 I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. 9Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. 10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. 11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore (Psalms 16: 8-11 (NKJV).
25 For David says concerning Him: ‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. 27 For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence (Acts 2: 25: 28 (NKJV).
CONCLUSION
What do you think that the Lord Almighty requires of you, and how perfect do you have to be in order to enter into heaven? The answer is not difficult; you ought to be perfect as the Lord is perfect. If you are not as perfect as the Lord Almighty, you can never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. When Jesus Christ died on the Cross of Calvary, He made an atonement or sacrifice for we sinners. Even-though He was righteous and perfect, but His Father made Him legally guilty for our sins. The Scripture says;
Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5: 20-21 (NKJV).
The above statement could be interpreted thus, our Lord Jesus Christ was regarded as a sinner when He bore our sins, and we are regarded as saints when we receive His righteousness. In order words, we are regarded as the righteousness of God. Therefore, we must transfer all of our trust to the Lord as our sin-bearer; and believe in Him as the only person who did all that we will ever need to stand in His holy presence. Finally, the Apostle Paul encouraged his followers thus:
Preach the Word
I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at[a] His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Paul’s Valedictory
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing (2 Timothy 4:1-8 (NKJV).
How are you going to put what you have learned today into action? Be assured that the Lord has chosen you in order to seek for the lost and to bring them to faith in Christ Jesus. I hope you will do this faithfully, honestly, and obediently. God bless you!
