9 April 2023: We need the help of the Lord.

Worship

This Resurrection Sunday let us draw close to the Lord to discern His will, as we spend time in His word: “Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing all you who are upright in heart!” (Ps. 32:11).

Stella

Word

“They needed the help of the Lord” – Adam and Eve sinned and

The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

Gen. 3:21

Because …

… without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Heb. 9:22; Lev. 17:11

The people of Israel were in slavery in Egypt and the Lord God delivered them with

a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.

Deut. 5:15

In His love and forbearance the Lord provided a means by which He would forgive the sins of His chosen people even though

it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Heb. 10:4

The whole book of Judges may be summed up thus: Israel sinned, their enemies came against them and in their distress they cried out to the Lord

and the Lord raised up a deliverer for them.

e.g., Judges 3:9

Isaiah prophesied some 3,000 years before Christ died and rose again about Him the ultimate deliverer, the One who would free people from their slavery to sin; the One who would shed His blood for the forgiveness of sins, and then rise again:

He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces He was despised, and we held Him in low esteem. Surely, He took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God, stricken by Him, and afflicted.

But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away … For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people, He was punished. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, with the rich in His death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.

Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer, and though the Lord makes His life an offering for sin, He will see His offspring and prolong His days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in His hand.

After He has suffered, He will see the light of life and be satisfied; by His knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will give Him a portion among the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He poured out His life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.

Isaiah 53:3-12

In the light of these Scriptures all of us need the help of the Lord, whether we realise it or not. Today, we celebrate that Christ, having laid down His life for all our sins has risen from the grave and He is alive forevermore,

He placed His right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look; I am alive for ever and ever!

Rev. 1:17-18

Quote of the week

“You can always give without loving, but you can never love without giving.”

Amy Carmichael

Verse of the week

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

1 Corinthians 15:17-20

Let’s Pray

God and Father of our risen Lord Jesus, how we praise You for Your triumphant victory for to be sure He is risen, alive forevermore, and one day we shall see Him face to face and cast our crowns before Him lost in wonder love and praise. So, Lord, breathe Your loving Spirit into every troubled breast and finish Your new creation such that we Your church may be pure and spotless on that day in Christ Jesus, Amen!