Recognizing Our Need: The Significance of Holy Week

Stephen shows them very simply and very plainly that they've never understood it, that they are in trouble, that they're rejecting Jesus Christ because they're blinded and indeed what he sets out to show them is less that they in rejecting Jesus Christ and the preaching of the Apostles concerning him was simply repeating what these foolish blinded views have been doing throughout the centuries. [00:03:45]

The world is still rejecting the savior of the world if we meet together and on Sunday evening here we are facing what people call Holy Week here we are facing God Friday Easter Sunday what is all this what's the meaning of these words these terms these days what are they stem for what do they represent what do they mean to the average person in this country tonight do they mean anything at all apart from the public holidays an opportunity for more pleasure so-called more enjoyment. [00:05:28]

The core issue is humanity's failure to recognize its true condition and deepest needs. People are often preoccupied with superficial matters, ignoring the spiritual realities that underpin their existence. This ignorance leads to a lack of interest in the redemptive work of God through Jesus Christ. The world is in turmoil because it does not understand its need for a Savior. [00:12:47]

God's message to Moses, "I have seen the affliction of my people," is a timeless declaration of His concern and compassion. Despite humanity's rebellion, God has not abandoned us. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to deliver us from sin and its consequences. Jesus' life, death, and resurrection are the ultimate expressions of God's love and the means by which we can be reconciled to Him. [00:27:28]

The gospel is a message of hope and deliverance. It assures us that God sees our suffering and has acted decisively to save us. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we can experience forgiveness, freedom, and the promise of eternal life. This is the true significance of Holy Week, a reminder of God's unchanging love and His plan for our redemption. [00:35:18]

God has not forgotten or abandoned this world if I had nothing more to say to you that's more than you'll ever hear anywhere else God has not forgotten God has not abandoned this world if I didn't believe that I wouldn't be in this pocket I'd have no message I would be the pessimistic pessimist here's my message that God does not abandon the way he says he announces that himself. [00:18:42]

God is the god of the carnal God is the God of the price what do I mean by this well what I mean by that is this and this you see is the whole message of the Bible yeah we are in this world in trouble and in pain and suffering in agony what the what's the story what's the explanation of it all as it offers been like this are we just gradually emerging out of some agony and arriving at perfection by some evolutionary process no it's the exact opposite. [00:20:00]

God's purpose God's plan for redemption for salvation of the universe and what he's telling Moses it as that that's who I am I haven't forgotten you see he is the unchanging God the same as he was in the days of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob the everlasting the eternal God he calls himself he reveals himself to Moses in the name Jehovah he says I have spoken before in my name of Jehovah. [00:22:00]

God has got a plane and the platters for this moment you see this is the thing that the world doesn't know about the world listens to the philosopher listens to the station one time it's the states you know are our idols then we can begin to see through them and read their autobiographies and they're rather despised by now it's the philosophers now well the Philosopher's are writing their autobiography is also and I think after we've read them we think it'll be less of them the roof shall we turn to them here we are you see no hope but God. [00:24:00]

God's promise in action what is it well it is this he's going to deliver he says I have heard of her I have seen I have seen the affliction of my people and I heard their clothing and come down to deliver them hunting's God in the glory in the hem is coming down he hasn't forgotten he hasn't abandoned he hasn't given up oh my dear friend if only you could see the hope that'll is for you in your distress in your despair if you're fairly linear unhappiness listen to this. [00:35:00]

God knows about it he's come down and he's been doing this ever since men went astray you leave the third chapter of the book of Genesis you'll find it Adam and Eve sinned with a rebel against him and then suddenly they hear the voice of the Lord God the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the evening it come down Eenie what they done he knew their unhappiness the moment that sins they were unhappy you cancel and remain happy it's impossible it's an absolute law this you will suffer if you sinned it follows us the night today and the world is unhappy because of this sin but God you see. [00:36:00]

God has sent His only Son into the Egypt of our life look at him look at his weakness helpless little babe all things were made through him he sustains everything is born in abject weakness laid in a manger completely helpless indeed he is covered the likeness of sinful flesh look at the poverty into which he was born they couldn't afford a lamb two turtledoves only abject poverty born in a stable laid in a manger the son of God he's come down here it is his self humbling his self humiliation. [00:40:00]