GLOBAL COMMUNION SERVICE SUNDAY, 1ST APRIL , 2018 WITH PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME
Words mean what we say they are. So if we as Christians have chosen to call the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christmas and Easter, the commemoration of the resurrection during the passover, then fine because we understand the words.
There are two passovers; the Passover of the Jews and the Passover of Christians.
What is the meaning of passover?
Exodus 12:2-13
_”…And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.”_
The Word passover means to skip over.
John 2:13
_”And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem” _
John 6:4
_”And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.”_
John 11:55
_”And the Jews’ passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.”_
John’s Gospel cleared several grey areas that were found in the other Gospel writers. And at the time John was writing, he was an old man and the church was already on.
The Jewish passover was just like the feast of the unleavened bread (Acts 12:4).
Luke 2:41
_”Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.”_
Luke 22:1
_”Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.” _
Luke 22:16
_”For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”_
The blood of the passover was a sign pointing in a direction. Jesus Christ was typified by a lamb several times in the bible.
Recall when God instructed Abraham to take his son and offer him as a burnt sacrifice… (Genesis 22). An ordinary person would say this instruction couldn’t have been from God because it was God that gave the blessing in the first place. However, Abraham trusted God to the fullest because he was convinced that God was able to raise Isaac from the dead.
Genesis 22:17-18
_”That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 22:18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.”_
Genesis 22:14
_”And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.”_
What shall be seen?
The Lamb of Substitution. Abraham prophesied.
John 1:29
_”The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”_
Levi was the house of the Priest and a Levi would have to lay hands on the sin bearer. And that was why John was to baptise Jesus. This was significant with the practice of old, where the Levi offered sacrifices for the children of Israel with a lamb.
John 1:30-36
_”…And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!”_
1 Corinthians 5:7-8
_”Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”_
The unleavened bread I’d sincerity and truth is God’s word. Christ our passover has been sacrificed for us. Christ is my passover. When Christ died, we died with Him and when He rose, we rose with Him. Hallelujah!
I’m full of life!
I’m full of glory!
Up from the grave He arose
With a mighty triumph o’er his foes;
He arose a victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!
My Hope is built on nothing less…
The blood of Jesus is our exemption. John 3:16 says, _”…that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”_
1 Peter 1:9-11
_”Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.”_
Easter isn’t a period to mourn but to celebration. Easter is a dispensation of glory. When a Christian isn’t aware what dispensation the church is, he’s bound to misbehave and probably live in the past.
It’s not just that Jesus arose; He arose to give us life. When we minister to people, we are not trying to get life from heaven to them, we have been made life in Christ Jesus because Jesus said, out of our bellies flow rivers of living waters. So when we talk, the Holy Spirit is ministering.
*APRIL, THE MONTH OF INFLUENCE*
We will only be influenced by the Holy Spirit and the Word of the Lord but each one of us will be an influencer.
You’re going to experience the Wisdom of God. You’ll be a vent for God’s wisdom, for His manifestation. Everywhere you’ll go, you’ll show forth His wisdom.
God’s going to use you this month to change lives, to do remarkable things for Him. You’ll be an influencer of men. The Holy Spirit is going to work through you. Hallelujah!