Greetings,
Following the final Passover with his disciples, Christ took some time to talk with them and to explain the implications of the momentous events that were about to unfold. Christ was about to be betrayed and crucified. His death was going to make possible the receiving of the Holy Spirit, a process that had been blocked by sin from the time of Adam. At one point, Christ described the Holy Spirit as a Helper or Comforter (parakletos – an intercessor, consoler or advocate). Through the payment of the penalty of sin, man could be justified and reconciled to the Father. The Holy Spirit then flows from the Father to the reconciled person.
The Holy Spirit would have the effect of convicting the world of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:7-11). Spiritual understanding does not come from a natural mind. In other words, the Holy Spirit enables the mind to process spiritual truth. “And I pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, That it may abide with you forever, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees it nor knows it but you know it, for it dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17).
The view of the world that we have with this spiritual Helper or Comforter is absolutely unique. With it we are able to see the spiritual end or purpose of physical things and God’s law takes on spiritual form and shape. The apostle John put it this way: “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it taught you, you will abide in Him” (1 John 2:27). We can see through the eyes of Him who abides in us.
The need for this missing ingredient was driven home this week when reading about the death of the former Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kwan Yew. The New York Times noted: ”Mr. Lee was prime minister from 1959, when Singapore gained full self-government from the British, until 1990, when he stepped down. Late into his life he remained the dominant personality and driving force in what he called a First World oasis in a Third World region. The nation reflected the man: efficient, unsentimental, incorrupt, inventive, forward-looking and pragmatic.” This one remarkable man brought Singapore as close to the point of “a First World Oasis” as any man is capable of. Yet for all that, something was lacking. All the laws enacted to produce a clean, safe and wealthy environment could not produce the happiness and contentment that supposedly accompanies such things. And the reason for that is because man’s laws cannot convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. Man’s laws are physical and cannot change the heart and mind of man. Mankind is in need of another ingredient.
Man’s best efforts amount to more or less than nothing if God is not a part of the process. Mankind needs a helper – the Holy Spirit – to be able to address the inner heart. A millennial style environment requires the Holy Spirit in order to turn the law of God into a dynamic spirit power that convicts the heart.
As we contemplate the upcoming Holy day season, we can be very thankful for Christ’s sacrifice and the convicting power of God’s Holy Spirit.
Service Details
Passover:
The start times for the Passover service will vary according to sunset times. If attending one of the live Passover services please check with the local coordinator for the service time.
The service which will be streamed for the Eastern time zone will begin at 8:00 pm EDT.
The service streamed for the Western time zone will begin at 7:30 pm PDT.
These services will be available online in the same way regular services are available.
A pre-recorded service will be available online for listening or downloading from 1:00 pm PDT on Wednesday April 1st (this allows access for international areas who are a day ahead of the U.S.) Simply login and select “MEMBERS” the select the submenu “Passover Service”.
It will also be available by telephone on Thursday April 2nd at 1 PM PDT via the On-Demand telephone number normally used for Bible Study. Call (641) 715-3900 and enter the extension 369852#.
Days of Unleavened Bread:
On the first Day of Unleavened Bread there will be one service and that will be at the regular time of 11:00 am PDT. That service will originate from the Bay Area and the offering will be taken up during that service.
On the 7th Day of Unleavened Bread there will be two services.
Eastern – 10:00 am EDT (Streamed from New Jersey) and 2:00 pm EDT.
Western – 11:00 am PDT (Streamed from Denver and will include the offertory – all congregations will be online for this service), and 2:30 pm PDT (Streamed from the Bay Area).
Congregations in the different time zones will adjust their starting times accordingly.
All the best for a very profitable Passover and days of Unleavened Bread.
Warm Regards,
Brian Orchard
