Embracing Christ's Sacrifice: A Call to Commitment

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we delve into the profound significance of communion and the transformative power of Christ's sacrifice. As we hold the bread and cup, we are reminded of the graphic and sacrificial nature of Jesus' death. His body was broken, and His blood was shed for the remission of our sins. This act of remembrance is not merely a ritual but a vivid reminder of the price paid for our salvation. Jesus foretold His suffering, death, and resurrection, emphasizing that His victory over death is the source of our hope and joy. Without His sacrifice, we would be burdened by the fear of death and the weight of our sins. Instead, we can rejoice in the assurance of eternal life and the promise of resurrection.

The story of Dr. Nathan Barlo, a missionary who dedicated his life to serving others, exemplifies the impact of living a life fully committed to God's calling. His selfless acts, such as sucking poison from a dying boy's chest, demonstrate a profound love and dedication to the people he served. Dr. Barlo's life challenges us to consider the depth of our own commitment to God's work and the eternal rewards that await those who faithfully serve Him.

As we reflect on the miracles of Jesus, such as healing the blind man and raising Lazarus from the dead, we are reminded of His power and authority. These acts not only affirmed His identity as the Messiah but also stirred the hearts of those who witnessed them, leading to His triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The spiritual blindness of the disciples and the need for God to open our eyes to spiritual truths is a central theme. We are challenged to seek God's will and allow Him to illuminate our understanding, even when it requires us to confront uncomfortable truths about our lives.

Key Takeaways:

- Communion is a powerful reminder of Christ's sacrifice. It is not just a ritual but a vivid representation of His body broken and blood shed for our sins. This act of remembrance calls us to reflect deeply on the cost of our salvation and the hope of resurrection. [16:12]

- The story of Dr. Nathan Barlo challenges us to live a life fully committed to God's calling. His selfless dedication to serving others exemplifies the impact of a life lived for Christ. We are encouraged to consider the depth of our own commitment and the eternal rewards that await us. [22:47]

- Jesus' miracles, such as healing the blind man and raising Lazarus, affirm His identity as the Messiah and demonstrate His power over life and death. These acts stir our faith and remind us of His authority and the hope we have in Him. [26:09]

- Spiritual blindness is a condition we all face, and we need God to open our eyes to spiritual truths. This requires a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths and seek God's will for our lives, trusting that His path will bring us the greatest joy. [28:19]

- The challenge to seek God's will is a call to action. We are invited to pray and ask God to reveal what needs to change in our lives according to His perfect will. This requires courage and a willingness to trust that His plans are for our ultimate good. [33:05]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[15:54] - The Significance of Communion
[18:20] - Jesus' Sacrifice and Resurrection
[19:46] - The Joy of Eternal Life
[20:19] - Dr. Nathan Barlo's Legacy
[22:47] - Acts of Selfless Love
[24:38] - Jesus' Miracles and Authority
[26:09] - Raising Lazarus
[27:18] - The Triumphal Entry
[28:19] - Spiritual Blindness and Illumination
[30:05] - Seeking God's Will
[32:00] - The Challenge of Commitment
[33:05] - Prayer for Change
[34:35] - Closing Reflections

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 - This passage discusses the significance of communion and the remembrance of Christ's sacrifice.
2. John 11:25-26 - Jesus declares Himself as the resurrection and the life, affirming His power over death.
3. 1 Corinthians 2:14 - This verse speaks about spiritual blindness and the need for God's Spirit to understand spiritual truths.

#### Observation Questions
1. What does the act of communion symbolize according to the sermon, and why is it important to remember the graphic nature of Christ's sacrifice? [17:51]
2. How did Dr. Nathan Barlo's life exemplify a commitment to God's calling, and what specific actions did he take that demonstrated this? [22:09]
3. What miracles of Jesus were highlighted in the sermon, and how did they affirm His identity as the Messiah? [25:54]
4. How does the sermon describe spiritual blindness, and what is necessary for us to see spiritual truths? [28:19]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that communion is more than just a ritual? How does it serve as a vivid reminder of Christ's sacrifice? [17:51]
2. How does Dr. Nathan Barlo's story challenge the listener to evaluate their own commitment to God's work? What eternal rewards are mentioned as a result of such dedication? [23:42]
3. What is the significance of Jesus' miracles, such as raising Lazarus, in the context of the sermon? How do these acts stir faith and hope in believers? [26:09]
4. How does the sermon explain the process of God opening our eyes to spiritual truths? What role does the Holy Spirit play in this process? [28:52]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your personal experience with communion. How can you make this act of remembrance more meaningful in your spiritual life? [17:51]
2. Consider the depth of your commitment to God's calling. What specific actions can you take to live a life more fully dedicated to serving others, as exemplified by Dr. Nathan Barlo? [23:42]
3. How do Jesus' miracles, such as healing the blind man and raising Lazarus, inspire you to trust in His power and authority in your own life? [26:09]
4. Identify an area in your life where you may be spiritually blind. What steps can you take to seek God's will and allow Him to illuminate your understanding? [28:52]
5. The sermon challenges us to pray for God to reveal what needs to change in our lives. What specific area of your life are you willing to ask God to transform according to His perfect will? [33:05]
6. How can you cultivate a deeper trust in God's plans for your life, even when they require confronting uncomfortable truths or making significant changes? [32:51]
7. Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually enlightened. How did that experience change your perspective or actions, and how can you seek similar moments of clarity in the future? [29:37]

Devotional

Day 1: Communion as a Living Reminder
Communion is a profound act of remembrance, not just a ritual. It vividly represents Christ's body broken and blood shed for the remission of our sins. This sacred practice calls believers to reflect deeply on the cost of their salvation and the hope of resurrection. As we partake in communion, we are reminded of the graphic and sacrificial nature of Jesus' death, which He foretold as part of His victory over death. This victory is the source of our hope and joy, freeing us from the fear of death and the weight of our sins. [16:12]

"For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." (1 Corinthians 11:26, ESV)

Reflection: As you prepare for your next communion, how can you make this act a more personal and profound reminder of Christ's sacrifice in your life today?


Day 2: Living a Life Fully Committed to God's Calling
The story of Dr. Nathan Barlo challenges us to live a life fully committed to God's calling. His selfless dedication to serving others exemplifies the impact of a life lived for Christ. Dr. Barlo's actions, such as sucking poison from a dying boy's chest, demonstrate a profound love and dedication to the people he served. His life encourages believers to consider the depth of their own commitment to God's work and the eternal rewards that await those who faithfully serve Him. [22:47]

"And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward." (Matthew 10:42, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific way you can demonstrate selfless love and commitment to God's calling in your life this week?


Day 3: The Miracles of Jesus Affirm His Authority
Jesus' miracles, such as healing the blind man and raising Lazarus, affirm His identity as the Messiah and demonstrate His power over life and death. These acts stirred the faith of those who witnessed them and led to His triumphant entry into Jerusalem. They remind believers of His authority and the hope they have in Him. The miracles of Jesus are not just historical events but are meant to stir our faith and remind us of the power and authority of Christ in our lives today. [26:09]

"Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, 'Take away the stone.' Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, 'Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.' Jesus said to her, 'Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?'" (John 11:38-40, ESV)

Reflection: How can you allow the miracles of Jesus to stir your faith and remind you of His authority in a specific area of your life today?


Day 4: Overcoming Spiritual Blindness
Spiritual blindness is a condition we all face, and we need God to open our eyes to spiritual truths. This requires a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths and seek God's will for our lives. The disciples themselves struggled with spiritual blindness, and it is only through God's illumination that we can truly understand His truths. Believers are challenged to seek God's will and allow Him to illuminate their understanding, trusting that His path will bring the greatest joy. [28:19]

"Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law." (Psalm 119:18, ESV)

Reflection: What is one uncomfortable truth about your life that you need to confront, and how can you ask God to open your eyes to His spiritual truths today?


Day 5: The Challenge to Seek God's Will
The challenge to seek God's will is a call to action. Believers are invited to pray and ask God to reveal what needs to change in their lives according to His perfect will. This requires courage and a willingness to trust that His plans are for their ultimate good. Seeking God's will involves a commitment to prayer and a readiness to embrace the changes He calls us to make, trusting that His path will lead to the greatest joy and fulfillment. [33:05]

"Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!" (Psalm 143:10, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to seek God's will more earnestly, and how can you begin to pray for His guidance and direction today?

Quotes


as you hold the bread and cup in your hand he says when you take the bread you know when he did that with his disciples he broke it because he wanted to give a graphic example of how his body was going to be broken torn apart for them and he says this is my body that was broken for you and when you take of this bread I want you to remember my flesh that was torn apart for you so as you take of the bread and stick it in your mouth just remember his body was torn apart for you [00:15:39]

and the cup was to represent his blood that was shed for you because the Bible teaches that without the shedding of blood there's no remission of sins that you can't be forgiven without the shedding of blood and he says when you take of this cup think of it as more than just a cup of juice or a cup of wine this is to represent the blood that was trickling down his feet from his wrist think about that as you take the cup [00:16:36]

Jesus told his disciples this is what's going to happen he says they will mock him insult him spit on him flog him and kill him but then he says but on the third day he's going to rise he says they're going to do this to me I'm going to take it I'm going to sit there and I'm going to take it and they're going to spit on me they're going to mock me they're going to nail me to a cross they're going to stick me in a tomb but then Watch What Happens 3 days later I'm going to get up out of the Tomb and I'm going to walk around and then the whole world would know this guy is who he claimed to be [00:18:18]

and not only did he die for our sins but he defeated death and showed that he had power over death and there's a rejoicing that takes place in this at the end of the story is a good one and that's why the sting of death has gone because of what Jesus did for us not only did he pay for because if he didn't do that we would be sitting in this room going hey we're going to die any day and then God's going to punish us for everything we did wrong [00:18:58]

instead we can sit here and say Jesus took it all for us he paid for it for us that's where our joy comes from you know and we can look forward to that day when we resurrect and we don't have to fear death in fact yesterday yesterday was one of the greatest Memorial Services maybe the greatest in my lifetime um last Saturday a guy died and I I say this one of the most glorious deaths it was one of our missionaries one of the missionaries that you guys support died last Saturday [00:19:36]

Dr Nathan Barlo he was the missionary to Ethiopia who helped the people in the mossif foot region remember the pictures I showed you the people whose feet would swell up their legs would swell up and all the infected and and uh he died last Saturday and I say what an awesome death because he was 90s something years old and had devoted his life to this his life in fact let me just read some things from his uh his memorial folder that was given out at the the service [00:20:12]

stories were told yesterday you know one about this family that brought their little boy in and and and it was not unusual for this guy to see about 80 patients a day he's the only one there just caring for the people loving them and sharing the gospel with them and and this family talks about this this little boy that was brought in that was dying of pneumonia and his whole chest was filled with mucus and poison and and he was choking to death right there before him [00:21:48]

so he quickly asked for one of those suction things those tubes that that you would stick down in the chest you know it's kind of a primitive way of sucking the stuff out but they didn't even have that they said the US hasn't sent us anything like that and so without a thought he just stuck his mouth to that that boy's mouth and sucked all the poison out of his chest cavity just you know just all the Flem and spit it out repeatedly and they saw and they watched this boy breathe again come back to life [00:22:48]

Jesus heals a guy who's blind okay and it is significant and here's why is is he's going down to Jerusalem right and and and so are a lot of other people a lot of a lot of devout Jews are making the Trek down to Jerusalem because it's Passover and so when Jesus is heading down he's probably got a caravan of people that he just he walks and there'll be all sorts of people walking and there's already been a lot of talk like oh that's the guy you know that was doing Miracles or you know they've been already there just buzz about Jesus [00:24:46]

The Story of Lazarus takes place he gets that certain part where they go hey Jesus I wish you had been here a few days earlier you know last has died and he's been dead for 3 days and his body's already decaying it's in the Tomb and I wish you had been here sooner you know but you're too late and Jesus says no I'm not you see I'm the resurrection and the life he who believes in me will never die and then he says Lazarus come forth speaks into a tomb it says Lazarus come forth and this man walks out of the Tomb [00:25:52]

the Bible teaches that all of us are born spiritually blind okay just like that man was physically blind we're spiritually blind that we as natural people in our own human flesh in my my my you know Skin and Bones you know blood me I can't understand in this head I cannot get spiritual truth it says the natural man cannot understand spiritual things 1 Corinthians 2 you can read about it there and so what has to happen is that God has to open my eyes to actually see the spiritual truths and actually get them [00:28:10]

do you really want to know how much of your finances I really want do you really want God to tell you exactly what you ought to be giving do you really want to know how much of your time should really be spent sharing your faith do you really want to know from God's mouth how much you ought to be serving others and caring for people and how little you should be spending for yourself do you really want to know do you really want to know exactly where on the earth you ought to be right now and what you ought to be doing [00:31:00]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?