The Unleavened Bread With My Morning Coffee

Well, brethren, every morning this week, I personally ate an 11-bread with my coffee. I don't know how many of you did the same. Now, I haven't had a lot of carbs with my coffee for a whole week, every day in a long time, probably not for a year, since the last days of an 11-bread. I'm trying to maintain my weight or even lose a pound or two, and all those carbs every morning are not so good, if that's your goal. But this week, I thoroughly enjoyed some homemade unleavened bread that my dear wife Barbara made. She made it with cinnamon, it was really tasty, I liked the texture of it. It was great with a cup of coffee. So, each morning, during unleavened bread, until I ran out on Friday, later I found out that my wife had actually hidden some of the men. Does your wife ever do that? Does she hide things like desserts or unleavened bread? Anyway, I ran out on Friday, so I had to settle for matzos that day. Now, this was usually around four o'clock in the morning because I get up early, and I was doing my daily Bible study and prayer, which I normally do at that time, and I was drinking my coffee and eating my unleavened bread, and I was eating the good stuff that Barbara made most of the week. And this was a wonderful object lesson for me this week, as it made me more mindful of the necessity to put Jesus Christ into my life every single day of my life, and starting the day each day this past week in this way was especially meaningful to me. I did think about it a lot as I was eating the unleavened bread with my morning coffee. In fact, if you wanted a title for this sermon, I guess the unleavened bread with my morning coffee is as good as anything else I have. So for me, I personally need to stay focused. I need to stay single-minded. I unleavened bread with my coffee every morning, but more importantly, unleavened bread with my daily Bible study and my prayer, that gives me spiritual strength. And throughout the day, I can reflect back on what I studied and what I prayed about in the morning, and if I bring Jesus Christ into my life early every morning, how much better will I be spiritually throughout the day? I believe that works. Now, I also had unleavened bread with every other meal, I think. Mostly matzos, though. We didn't have enough of the good stuff, but matzos are okay. It was the onion-flavored type, and actually I do enjoy it for a week. Not sure I'd want to do it all the time, but it was good.

Today, I'd like to encourage all of us to focus on putting on and putting in Jesus Christ every morning. Let's make this a goal for us from now on. Whether we drink coffee or not, whether we actually have literal physical unleavened bread or not, but let us focus on Jesus Christ and us because Jesus Christ in us is the hope of glory.

What does that mean? How is Jesus in us the hope of glory? How is Jesus in us? You know, a lot of the disciples were confused about Jesus when he told them to drink his blood, to eat his flesh. Well, that's basically what we're going to be talking about today. What is the hope of glory? You know, back in ancient Israel, even at Jesus' time and certainly before that, the unleavened bread was basically out of the country. You know, they didn't have donut shops that they could swing in and have a big donut. They got the leaven out of their homes and their quarters and their places. They weren't tempted nearly so much as we are when we go about everyday life when there's so many bakeries and donut shops and just pita bread that we had to refuse at lunch today. There's many, many ways to be tempted to eat leavened bread or at least to forget that we're even keeping the days of unleavened bread and to slip up. Probably some of you slipped up this week. I don't know if any of you did. I won't ask you to raise your hand. I think I did not this year. At least I'm not aware of it. So, I believe I was unscathed these days of unleavened bread. Let's go to Colossians chapter 126 for a moment. So, the point I'm making is the children of Israel got the leaven out and so their focus was putting the unleavened bread in. Throughout that week, that was their focus. Eat unleavened bread. Put it in. That's what we're going to talk about. Colossians chapter 1 verse 26. There was a book written about this first verse that we're going to read. I think many of you will remember the mystery of the ages. It was a book written some years ago that was very inspiring to me as I was newly called and coming into God's church around that time. Colossians chapter 1 verse 26. The mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to us saints. So, Paul refers to himself and to his compatriots as saints, called out ones, sanctified ones. We are also saints. To them, God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles because God was certainly opening the door to the Gentiles as well. Paul was a special vessel to go to the Gentiles, even though Christ had already done so. We've talked about that in recent sermons.

This is the mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. So, again, what does this mean? This hope of glory? I think we know what it means for the most part. We who have been around, we know that when Christ returns, those who are the saints, the called out ones, who are faithful, those who have endured to the end, they will be changed. In a moment, if they're alive, they'll be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. They'll be changed to spirit. They will be like Jesus Christ. They will be unleavened completely at that time. And there's tremendous glory in being unleavened from a spiritual standpoint. And we know that Jesus Christ is unleavened. Verse 28 that we read, it says, we didn't read verse 28, but let's read it. Him we preach. We preach Jesus Christ, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Jesus Christ. And that's what Mr. Myers was talking about in the earlier sermon today, is that we are justified through our Savior Jesus Christ, who died for us. And when we do fall short, when we slip, when we sin, Christ's righteousness is imputed on our behalf, our sins are forgiven, and we're on our way to being glorified, made perfect at Christ's return. So that's something that, you know, you just can't overemphasize what that means, to be glorified, to become like Jesus Christ, to have eternal life, to be given salvation. It doesn't get any better than that. At least, I don't think so. That's as good as it gets, but that's really good. That's awesome. And what all that entails, we don't know, but we will see one day.

Now, of course, the Jews at the time didn't understand this glory of the mystery. They rejected Jesus Christ. They crucified Him.

But we have been called out and chosen to understand the truth at this time. You know, Colossians 1.29 concludes, Paul says, To this end I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily. So as has been mentioned a number of times, we do need to move forward. We need to do our part to keep going, but we know that it's Christ working in us that does the works and does it mightily in us as we yield to Jesus Christ. Even though most people do not fully comprehend who Jesus is, in fact, none of us, I don't think we really fully comprehend the fullness of Christ, the stature and the fullness of Christ. But God has revealed His Son to us in a very, very special way. He has called all of us now to be firstfruits, and He has revealed His Son to us again in a very special way, a number of ways. For example, we realize that Jesus Christ is still Lord of the Sabbath, and that He is pictured in every Sabbath and in every one of His annual Holy Days. Today's a double Sabbath. I mentioned that already. It's a regular weekly seventh-day Sabbath, but also a very special high day. It's the last day of Unleavened Bread. In seven days, we will observe the Sabbath again, and we will observe the Sabbath for five more weeks, and then on the fiftieth day, we will observe another high day, the day of Pentecost, right after we observed the seventh, seventh-day Sabbath, actually starting from last Sabbath this year. Seven times seven is 49 plus one, counting inclusively from the wave sheaf offering to the fiftieth day. So we're on a countdown to Pentecost now. We know that Christ is our Passover. In the Old Testament, the blood of the Lamb shed and spread upon the lintels and the doorposts of all Israelite homes symbolize the coming Messiah, the Savior, the true Lamb of God. In the New Testament, the Passover wine symbolizes the shed blood of our Savior. We drink that wine in faith, believing in our Savior, and our sins are forgiven in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. And we know the unleavened bread that we eat at Passover symbolizes Christ's body that was sacrificed for us. So we are called in a very special way to grasp and to understand these things. Christ is still Lord of the Sabbath. The Sabbath is still a sign between God and his called out ones, his chosen. And it is important that we observe these days as God commanded. This is one of the Ten Commandments to be here on the Sabbath, to observe it, to look to Jesus Christ, the Lord of the Sabbath. We know in John chapter 6 and verse 44 that no one can come to Jesus Christ unless the Father draws him. So the Father has drawn each and every one of us to his Son, Jesus Christ. Christ is the unleavened bread that came down from heaven to make all of this possible. What we're talking about today, salvation in Jesus Christ, being glorified, the hope of glory. When we allow Jesus to live in us, we get a glimpse of what it shall be like to be glorified forever. Think about that for a moment. When you make good decisions, godly decisions, right decisions, especially for the right reasons, then we get a glimpse of what it shall be like to be glorified forever. Jesus is pure, unsullied, perfect in heart, soul, and mind. When we behave like him, we do get a glimpse of eternity, a glimpse of what that means to be purified, to be blameless, to be perfect. Now it's a far cry from what we're going to see, obviously, when we're glorified and when it's our very nature at that time, divine nature. Now we have human nature and that gets in the way, an awful lot. And we have Satan the devil who's trying to tempt us at every turn.

Jesus is the god being that is most revealed in scripture. Now we also understand that. We have a better understanding, I think, than any other group that I know of when it comes to the pre-existence of our Savior Jesus Christ. We know that Jesus came to reveal the Father because the Father had first sent him as Yahweh, as his divine messenger, to interact with Abraham, with Isaac, with Jacob, with humanity, with numerous prophets and teachers, bringing his word that is preserved for us. We have the Bible. These are God's words. And Jesus came, initially, the pre-existent Christ, came to inspire and to mold all of this together for our sakes. So, another truth most professing Christians don't really understand is the pre-existence of Christ. Now, some people do have some glimpse of that. They talk about it. They write about it. But I've never seen anyone go into it with as much depth as the Church of God does. And our understanding seems to be rather unique, really, when it comes to who Jesus Christ was, who he is. Now, we know he was the one who created all things. The Father sent him to create things. Of course, they did it together. So, this being the one who became known as Christ was the one who initially sent manna from heaven to feed and to nourish the children of Israel in the wilderness. The one who became Jesus fed them and sustained them with this bread and miraculously as well, their clothes didn't deteriorate. You know, their shoes didn't fall apart. Better than any Nike you could find. Much better shoes. This being has always performed mighty miracles. So, manna sustained them in the wilderness for 40 long years. The one who became Jesus sustained them. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And we can always count on Jesus Christ. We can have faith in Jesus Christ. Now, it's also interesting to note that Jesus, the one who became Jesus, did not send manna on the Sabbath day. Not surprising. He didn't send manna on the Sabbath day. It was very clear which day was the Sabbath because there was no manna that day. And when they went out and tried to collect it, well, they would collect more than... Wait, how did that work? When they went out to collect it, then it would stink. There would be worms and that sort of thing. So, otherwise, it would carry on. It would be preserved. And so that showed that Jesus was truly the Lord of the Sabbath even then. And then, of course, the law was codified soon after that. So, Jesus knew who he was also from an early age when he walked this earth. He was 12 years old in Luke 2 verse 49. Luke chapter 2 verse 49. Jesus said to them, Why did you seek me, talking to his parents? You know, the parents were looking for him because he had disappeared. And they were wondering, where was they? They went back to the temple. He said, Why do you seek me? Did you not know that I must be about my father's business? So, he knew at a very early age, I believe he was 12 years old at this time, he knew that he was the Son of God. He was coming to a greater understanding. We don't... doesn't tell us exactly all of that, but we know that he was understanding that this was his calling to be about his father's business.

Jesus was aware of the many prophecies also about himself in the Old Testament. He had inspired them. One of those prophecies is found in Isaiah chapter 61 verse 1. So, we're going to look at some of the things that Jesus did when he walked this earth as a human being. And the purpose is to emulate Jesus Christ. What did Jesus do when he walked on this earth?

First of all, Jesus healed the brokenhearted. Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted. Isaiah 61 and verse 1. Isaiah chapter 61 verse 1 is a prophecy about Jesus Christ.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Eternal has anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor. The Father sent him to preach good tidings to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to those who are bound. And then in Luke chapter 4 verse 18, this prophecy is quoted with just a little bit of a change. Luke 4 verse 18. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted to proclaim liberty to the captives. And in addition here is, and recovery of sight to the blind. That was not a part of the initial prophecy, but recovery of sight to the blind. In other words, to open the eyes of the blind and to set at liberty those who are oppressed. So Jesus came for many, many reasons. One was to heal the brokenhearted. That should be a goal for us.

We should also strive to heal the brokenhearted. There are many in this world who are brokenhearted in various ways. So whenever we can, we should try to reach out whenever it's possible for us.

And I know we can only do so much, and there's a whole lot that we can't do. But we ought not make excuses if God has put us into a place to help someone who's brokenhearted.

At least listen. Take some time. Try to help them. Isn't that what Jesus would do? Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted. Jesus also came to heal the crippled, the maimed, the diseased, the blind, as I already mentioned. In Matthew 11, verse 5, John the Baptist had sent some of his disciples to determine whether or not this was truly the Christ. And so Jesus answered in Matthew 11, verse 5, he said, the blind see and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

So this was evidence that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, that he healed the crippled, the maimed, the diseased, that he even raised up the dead. Remember Lazarus? No, Jesus did this type of miraculous work and also the poor have the gospel preached to them. So as much as we're as much as we can, we should also strive to heal the crippled, the maimed, the diseased. In any way that we can, maybe we can have more faith as a people. Maybe as a people, we can have greater faith, which will make us stronger.

As a people, when we anoint people, more people may be healed. I believe Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. I know he has the power. There's no question that he has the power. It could be, timing could be a part of it. And I understand that. I realize that now may not be the time for all of these miraculous healings.

On the other hand, maybe God would show us more. Show us more of his power if we really did have faith, if Jesus really lived in us completely and fully as much as possible. In Luke 6, verse 17, and he came down, talking about Jesus, he came down with them and he stood on a level place. I mean, Luke chapter 6, verse 17. And he came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon.

So from all around, this was a large area, they came from all around to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Jesus was good at drawing a crowd. If we had someone that could heal like Jesus healed, they would also withdraw a huge crowd.

So again, the timing may not be right for all of this, but nevertheless, Christ asked, when I return, will I find faith on the earth? He says, oh you of little faith, will I find faith on the earth? In Luke chapter 6, 18, it says, as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits, he cast out evil spirits and they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch him, for power went out from him and it healed them all.

And we know of an instance in the Bible where it talks about power going out, power of the Holy Spirit, healing a woman, in that case, and even Peter's shadow at a time, at the beginning of the early church, his shadow would pass by and some people were healed. Miraculous things were happening in the early church to establish that this truly was the church of God. So what else did Jesus teach? What else did he do when he walked on the earth? Well, Jesus taught us to love even our enemies. He taught us to love even our enemies.

Matthew chapter 5 verse 43. Now we're talking about Jesus living in us. So if you want Jesus to live in you, then learn to love even your enemies. Matthew 5 verse 43. Matthew chapter 5 and verse 43. You have heard that it was said, you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. Now that's not really in the Bible, but I'm sure people said it. But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven, for he makes his son rise on the evil and on the good.

You know, God is amazing, isn't he? That he allows so much to go on.

He gives people opportunity to change, to repent, and he pours out his reign and his love on all people, even when they're doing wrong at times. Now sometimes they do pay a price for it, but at other times, God is very gracious. He says, he makes his son rise on the evil and on the good. He sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore, you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. I and my Father are one. Both are perfect, and we are to become like them. We are to become unleavened like the Father and the Son. What else did Jesus teach? He taught us to forgive one another. Jesus taught us to forgive one another.

If you want Jesus to really live in you, then learn to forgive others. Learn to really, really forgive others as Jesus forgives. Luke 17, verse 1. Now after six days, Jesus took Peter, James, and John, his brother. Oh, I'm in Matthew, aren't I? Yeah, let's go to Luke instead. Luke chapter 17. Something did not seem quite right there. All right, Luke 17, verse 1. Then he said to the disciples, it is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to you through whom they do come. He said, people will offend, but don't you be the one to offend. Be careful how you conduct yourself. It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, then that he should offend one of these little ones. And in one sense, we're all little ones, aren't we? As God's children. So we need to be careful not to offend anyone. Take heed to yourselves if your brother sins against you, rebuke him. And if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you saying, I repent, you shall forgive him. Now you may question just how sincere that repentance is, but God says if he comes back to you and he says, he repents seven times, forgive him. And it does say that we'll be forgiven in the same manner that we learn to forgive others. And I know we want all of our sins to be forgiven. We want all of our wrongdoings to be washed away in the blood of Christ. Should we not do the same?

So Jesus taught us to forgive one another.

And also, Jesus' disciples passed along Jesus' teaching as well. For example, Paul, in Ephesians 4, verse 32, Ephesians 4, verse 32, Paul says Ephesians 4, verse 32, Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another. Paul was a disciple of Jesus Christ. He paid attention when he was taught for three years, for sure. And even before that, he knew much of what Jesus was teaching. Forgiving one another, even as God in Christ, forgave you. So we are to forgive in the same manner, knowing that God in Christ forgave us. And then in Colossians chapter 3, verse 12, Paul says, Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, bearing with one another, and forgiving one another. If anyone has a complaint against another, even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. You know, it says that we need to be willing to forgive anything. That's hard, I know. Especially in some cases, it's very, very difficult. But we should strive to do that. We should strive to be more like Christ. Colossians 3, verse 14, But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. God is love, and above everything else, we need to learn to be love. That's truly being unleavened when we are love. God is love, we are to be love.

Another thing Jesus taught was to lay down our lives for each other. Jesus taught you to lay down your life for the person sitting beside you or across the way from you. People in this room, as well as really anyone, Jesus taught us to lay down our lives for one another. John chapter 15, verse 13, John chapter 15 and verse 13, Jesus said, greater love has no one than this than to lay down one's life for his friends.

And we should try to call everyone a friend if at all possible, if they would allow us to call them friends, to be willing to lay our lives down for them. Jesus Christ, we know, laid his life down for us. He set us that example. As Mr. Meyers said, he is our role model. We follow him. If you want Jesus Christ to live in you, then learn to do that. Learn to lay down your life for others. Jesus also taught us what loyalty and faithfulness and submission are all about. And that's not always easy, is it, to be submissive. Goes against the grain, against human nature. Luke 22, Luke chapter 22, Luke 22, verse 41. And brethren, I know that none of this will save you. None of these teachings I'm talking about will save you in themselves because none of you will keep them perfectly, as the earlier sermon talked about. But we know we should still follow Christ, right? And we should let Jesus live in us and work in us in miraculous ways. So Jesus taught us what loyalty and faithfulness and submission are all about. Luke chapter 22, verse 41. And Jesus is about to die. He's about to die. He's on the stake. Luke 22, verse 41, actually was...

No, he's actually praying at this point. He's praying. He's with his disciples. He's in the garden of Gethsemane. It says in verse 41, Luke chapter 22, and he was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw. And he knelt down and prayed, saying, Father, if it is your will, take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done. Jesus knew that he was about to be crucified. And he said, not my will, Father, but your will be done. So he showed us what real submission is all about. He showed us what real loyalty and what real faithfulness is all about.

Jesus also taught us to care, to really care for one another. And that obviously goes along with love. If we love others, then we will care for them. But Jesus really did have a special sort of compassion that he shows us. Matthew chapter 20, we'll read one example of the compassion that Jesus had. When the disciples were not willing to have so much compassion, Jesus was. Matthew chapter 20 verse 29, now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed them. So the disciples are together. Jesus is there in their midst. And behold, two blind men, sitting by the road when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, son of David, have mercy on us. Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet. Be quiet. Don't bother Jesus. But they cried out all the more. So maybe that tells us we should be persistent as well. Saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, son of David. So Jesus stood still and called them and said, What do you want me to do for you? What do you want me to do for you? They said to him, Lord, that our eyes may be open. We're blind. We want to see. So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately, their eyes received sight. And they followed him. Now, Jesus is unlike anyone else, isn't he? Who else do we read about that did all these things? Jesus claimed to be the son of God. Right? He was not bashful about that. He said, I am. I'm the one who was there with Abraham, with Isaac, with Jacob. I was there at the burning bush. I am the son of God. I am God's messenger. I'm here to reveal the Father to you, to all of you. So Jesus said he was the son of God, but you know, a lot of people just say he was a good teacher. He was a great teacher. These things that I'm talking about today, it's just he was a good teacher. Now, he taught some good things. If Jesus was just a good teacher, Jesus was a liar. Jesus was a charlatan.

Jesus was not just a good teacher. Jesus was the son of God. Yes, he was a great teacher, but he was the son of God. So anyone who tells you that he was just a good teacher, they obviously haven't read the book. They don't know the book. They don't believe the book.

Jesus has changed the world like no one else, not even close. We'll talk more about that as we go along. Jesus taught us to care for the poor and to take care of the poor. That's what Jesus taught. Matthew 19 verse 20. Matthew 19 and verse 20. Matthew chapter 19 verse 20. The young man said to him, this was a young man who had been keeping the commandments all his life. He asked, you know, what can I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus said, if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments. He said, look, I've been doing all that. And so Jesus said to him, if you want to be perfect, if you really want to be perfect, like Jesus is perfect, if you really want Jesus to live in you, try to do this. Try to understand what this means. If you want to be perfect, go sell what you have and give to the poor. I believe that's talking mostly about an attitude of willingness to serve, to help. I don't want to water this down. It's very powerful, isn't it? If you want to be perfect, go sell what you have and give to the poor. Now, I believe God would back up a person that had that faith and did exactly that. Went and sold everything and just gave to the poor, gave the rest of his life to the poor, to taking care of the poor. He says, if you do this, you will have treasure in heaven and come and follow me. So we are to follow Jesus Christ and we are to look to him for his guidance, his direction, for his inspiration so that we will know what to do. Jesus taught us to taught us to care for the poor and to take care of them, but people, are we not very spoiled in this room? Are you not very spoiled? Am I not really, really spoiled? I hope you're shaking your head. Yes, we are all extremely spoiled. God have mercy on us because we've grown up entitled, we've grown up spoiled, we didn't grow up in sub-haran Africa. You know, we have had it much better in many, many ways. It may be harder for us to grasp some of this because of it. Now, Jesus taught us to focus on the kingdom of God and upon his, upon his father and to lay up treasures in heaven, just as we read, not so much on, not so much on this earth. For example, Matthew chapter 6 verse 33, and I know we're pretty familiar with this, many of us are. Matthew 6, let's start reading in verse 30. Now, if God so closed the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Therefore, do not worry, saying, What shall we eat, or what shall we drink, or what shall we wear? For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. We don't need to worry. We do need to rely on God to put our trust in him, to take refuge in him, to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and know that God will take care of us and have that faith. And then in Matthew 6, verse 19, Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, Jesus taught, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. So it's good to give offerings. It's good to show where your heart is, at least to some degree.

That's a good thing. We should lay up treasures in heaven, not so much here on this earth.

Now, Jesus also taught us to give of ourselves in service to others.

One of the most powerful parables in the Bible or scriptures is in Matthew 25. This really struck me when I was being called into God's church many years ago. Matthew 25, verse 34, Then the king will say to those on his right hand, Come, you blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. So he's talking about us being glorified. Jesus Christ in us, the hope of glory. The king will say to those on his right hand, Come, you blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom that's been prepared for you from the foundation of the world, for I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me in. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you, you a stranger and take you in or naked and clothed you? Or when did we see you sick or in prison and come to you? And the king will answer and say to them, Assuredly I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.

So let us all be careful to do what we can when we see someone in need. And there are many needs around us, but let's consider what Jesus says here. This is what he taught. And if we want to allow Jesus to live in us, then we need to do what he says. We need to follow him, obey him, do what he says. Jesus taught us to give of ourselves in service to others. Now, we also know that Jesus did say in Mark 7, verse 7, In vain they worship me. In vain they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. People who put Jesus Christ to death, at one point, maybe they did worship him, but then they turned against him. They betrayed him. They crucified him. And the religious leaders of the day, they were envious and they were jealous of him.

In vain they worship me. And some today, obviously, don't really know the real Jesus Christ in the fullest sense. They don't see him as the Lord of the Sabbath. They don't see him as one who still wants them to keep the Sabbath, even though it was made at creation, rested on the seventh day of creation. You know, so people do worship God in vain or Christ in vain, but as I mentioned earlier, what would this world be like without the influence of Jesus Christ? Or let's think about that for a moment. I said no one has impacted the world in the same way that Jesus has. Jesus stands alone. Even if people worship him in vain, nevertheless, the impact that he's had on this world is of great magnitude.

Jesus, again, is without a doubt the most well-known person since his human birth over 2,000 years ago. No one even comes close. Many religions, there are many, many religions out there, but no single person stands out and has had as much impact as Jesus Christ. Now, Buddha or Muhammad may be a distant second, but it is Jesus Christ who has really had the greatest impact and has changed this world so drastically. And I'm grateful because he's changed it for the good.

Even people without a full understanding of who Jesus is, if they pick up this book and they read about him and they believe his teachings and they follow Jesus, and they follow them to some degree, there will be blessings. And so, we are the recipients, and Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had many promises made to them. And so, the countries of Northwestern Europe, the United States, there are many, many blessings that have been handed down because of these promises that were made to Abraham. And many people have looked to Jesus to some degree. Again, not that they're converted, not that they fully understand, but God is gracious and merciful.

And I'm just very, very grateful that Jesus Christ has changed this world so badly. Let's think about it for a moment. The life and teaching of Jesus Christ has changed the world in more positive ways than anyone, by far. Religion. You know, those who believe in Jesus, their religion has probably had more impact than any other religion. You know, even if they're Protestants or Catholics or whatever branch they are, they've had a great impact on this world. What about the teaching of equality? You know, Jesus taught about not being a respecter of persons.

The Bible teaches about not being a respecter of persons and that we're all one in Christ. That has changed the world dramatically and drastically. So that's not to be minimized. Christ teaching on forgiveness. Now that's changed the world a lot. You know, people really take that to heart in forgiving one another. This world would be much darker and much uglier if people didn't have some inkling of the idea they need to forgive.

What about women? You know, women have not always been treated the very best, but Jesus really was different. He treated women with greater respect, with greater love. And Christianity, for the most part, is better than many other religions, right? When it comes to how women are treated, Jesus had a big impact on that. Western world governance, the governance of the Western world, again, promises to Abraham, the kings and the queens of England and France and various other countries, all these European countries, they were better rulers.

Leadership was better because people listened to what Jesus said, don't be like the Gentiles. Don't be like the Gentiles. Don't domineer and don't dominate over others. Certainly, care for the poor. What Jesus taught about caring for the poor, look at how many good things are done for the poor. You know, we're not the only ones who care for the poor, are we? I mean, many people do a great deal of service to the poor.

There are homeless shelters. There are shelters for unwed mothers. There are so many different programs and things out there because a lot of people are following Jesus' teachings, even if they're not converted.

Education around the world has been greatly affected. Lots of schools started by various religions. Lots of education. There's so much, so many books have been written espousing the teachings of Jesus Christ. I mean, we could fill this room with books about Jesus and about good things, really, a lot of good teaching going out there. Even wealth in this country. We're a wealth... we're wealthier nations because people listen to Jesus. If you don't... and it wasn't just Jesus, but Jesus' teachings. You know, Paul said, if you don't work, you shouldn't eat. You know, there's a principle there. Work hard, and God blesses those who work hard. And tithing makes a difference. Even if you're not a part of God's church, if you tithe, many people have been blessed because of it. So hard work and industry, it's all been affected by the teachings of Jesus Christ. Reason and science has been affected. Many scientists were religious in this world. We have a better understanding of the world because people cared enough to look into these things. And a part of it was because they were trying to follow Jesus.

Justice. There's a lot more justice because people read the Bible and look at principles in the Bible. And they follow them. Missionaries have gone to various countries and have done some amazing things to improve those countries. Recently, I heard that Ghana had over two million professing Christians of one faith in the country of Ghana. I'm sure that country is much better off because they've had some people that are trying to do it Jesus way. Even if they don't fully understand. The printing press, the Bible, that was the motivation. You know, we need to come up with something so we can mass produce this word of God and get it out to the world.

Certainly, teachings on sacrifice, selflessness, humility, it's rubbed off to some degree and it's a better world because of it. What about abolishing slavery? If there weren't any people who believed in what Jesus taught, we would still have a lot more. I know there's a ton of slavery already, even in the world today. There's human trafficking. There's things that go on that are horrifying, that are wrong, that are awful. But William Wilberforce and John Newton, they were inspired to some degree by the teachings of Jesus Christ and the abolitionists They were instrumental in fighting against slavery. So there's been a great impact on the world because of Jesus Christ. This world is bearable. I'm saying this world is bearable because of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. It's bearable. I shudder to think how unbearable it would be without the teachings of our Savior, Jesus Christ, even if most people are not called now to understand the fullness of all of this. To me, I'm just super grateful that God has opened my heart and mind to this truth. It's a much richer existence because we understand these things. When we strive to be like Christ, we strive to be a better person in every way. In every way. We put Christ into our lives, then we learn to behave like Christ. We learn to think like Christ. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. By their fruits, you will know, the Scripture says, Christ's disciples will be known by their fruits, and the greatest fruit of all is love. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for each other. So, Sabbath is important. Holy days are important.

But it's love that really sets us apart. Not that we keep the Sabbath. That's important. That's important. We're here doing it, and I've done it for many, many years. So, we put Christ into our lives when we humble ourselves as He humbled Himself. We put Christ into our lives when we put on Christ. We begin to really look like Him spiritually. When we have His mind on things, we stop making excuses for our bad behavior, and we simply admit when we've been wrong and we've been sinful.

That's really what true repentance is about. Being able to admit that you sinned. Then your sins will be covered if you truly repent. Now, if you don't, if you can't admit it, there's no repentance. You know, there's no covering then. You've got to learn to see yourself. We do fall far short, don't we, of our perfect Savior, Jesus Christ. That's okay, because we're all in this together, and we all fall short together. And I smile because I'm okay with that. I mean, I don't like it, but I'm okay with it because I know I do have a Savior. I know He did lay His life down for me, and every single day of my life, I'm grateful for that.

Now, Peter also understood that I'm running out of time, so you'll have to check that out yourself. Peter taught these things, too. If you want to go to 1 Peter 4 and 5, there's a lot being said in there. It talks about being clothed in righteousness.

It talks about being glorified to some degree in 1 Peter 5. The God of all grace who called us to His eternal glory by Christ, Jesus, by His eternal glory, called us to His eternal glory. That is our destiny to spend forever with God and Jesus Christ. One last scripture, Galatians 2, verse 20. Galatians 2, verse 20. This has been a very important scripture in my life since God began to call me many years ago. Galatians 2, verse 20. And Mr. Meyers pretty much read up real close to it, but he did not read this part. Paul says, I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live.

If you've been crucified with Christ, you no longer live in one sense, but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith. Again, it is faith that justifies us, having faith in our Savior. I now live in the flesh. I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. Isn't that inspiring? He loved me and he gave himself for me.

Tomorrow morning, I may not be able to eat unleavened bread, although I think my wife hid enough of that that I just may be able to have a little more unleavened bread even in the morning. I do intend to continue to put Christ into my life every morning. I do intend to put on Christ, put Christ in me as the unleavened bread who lives in me. I do intend to remember Jesus Christ in me as the hope of being glorified along with him at the resurrection to eternal life. And I hope you also will do the same. So whether you drink coffee or tea or any such thing, make sure you take on the unleavened bread from heaven.