This short teaching -11 minutes- on the Christian practice of fasting was presented by invitation at the Iftar -evening breaking of the Ramadan fast- Interfaith gathering at the Ahmadiyya -Muslim- Mosque in Allen, Texas. Within the presentation is embedded a presentation of the gospel. About 60-70 men and boys were in attendance.

This great -apostolic benediction,- as it is often called, reveals some crucial points regarding the Christian declaration that God is Triune, i.e., he is one God eternally existent in three persons- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This verse informs us that the three Persons -within the one being of God- are equal in deity and in the spiritual resources needed to minister to God's people. Further searching in the NT also reveals that each of these three salvation benefits - grace, love, and fellowship - are actually ministered to us by each person of the Trinity. And these great benefits are our personal possession and experience from the beginning and throughout the Christian life. Thus -the Christian life is a continual relationship with the three persons of the one God.- We should embrace this reality and as we have been embraced by it.

In its immediate historical context, this passage appears to be a prophecy to the Jewish exiles in captivity in Babylon of their restoration as a nation who will be allowed to return to their homeland. The passage is clear that all of this restoration, revival of life is only the result of the sovereign breath -l.e., the Spirit- of Yahweh.--The awakening of the nation from the dead is also a prophecy of the great work of the Spirit in awakening dead sinners whose would perish everlastingly in their sins had not Yahweh mercifully intervened to give them spiritual life by his Spirit. Thus our salvation is all a result of the initiative and work of the LORD and his Spirit, and all glory and thanks are due to him alone. His sovereign breath brings life from the dead.

I see three main ideas in these two verses---I. The Ascended Christ has taken the seat of victory and has been made cosmic ruler over all authorities and powers in this age and the age to come. --II. The Ascended Christ has been given by the Father as Head of the church.--III. The Ascended Christ fills the church, his body, with himself.----In summary- The Ascended Christ is the head of every aspect of the Church's life and he fills her up completely with himself.

Anointed with the Spirit, Jesus launches into his public ministry, astounding the crowds with both the authority of his teaching and the authority he had to cast out unclean spirits. Indeed, setting people free from ignorance and from oppression and enslavement by wicked spiritual forces were among the prominent accomplishments of Christ's Messianic ministry. As the resurrected Lord, he continues by his Word and Spirit to instruct his people and deliver them from the evil powers of the universe.

The five paragraphs in this passage can be reduced or summarized in the following 5 statements---I. We are frail, mortal people who reveal God-s power and the life of Jesus. --II. We have faith that the raising of Jesus will result in all of our own resurrections for God-s glory. --III.Present afflictions are preparing us for the eternal and glorious things of God. --IV. Our longing to live in our immortal bodies is a hope guaranteed by our possession of the Spirit.--V. We walk by faith to please Christ as we await being in his presence and appearing before his judgement seat. ----And so we conclude -in summary----1. We are frail, mortal people who reveal God's power and the life of Jesus.--2. We have faith that the raising of Jesus will result in all of our own resurrections for God-s glory.--3. Present afflictions are preparing us for the eternal and glorious things of God. --4. Our longing to live in our immortal bodies is a hope guaranteed by our possession of the Spirit. --5. We walk by faith to please Christ as we await being in his presence and appearing before his judgement seat.

The Resurrection is the apex of the gospel message, though this would include also Christ's incarnation, death, ascension, and return. This gospel needs to be proclaimed not only to the world but in the church also. Christians need initial grace to come to Christ but they also need continual grace. God, for example, uses the equipping of the pastor-teachers to extend his sanctifying grace to his people -Ephesians 4-. In the struggles and failures in our Christian lives we need the grace that flows from Christ's resurrection from the dead. As we look to the resurrected Christ we receive that needed grace.

This is the second short sermon this Lord's Day morning in memory of Brother Leonard Lyons, followed by the previous sermon by Pastor Jeff, Christian Life in the Church. In the present sermon Pastor Mark uses three key texts which center on the truth that we wait -Until the Resurrection- for the return of Christ and the resurrection of all those who've died in Christ. In spite of the hardships and griefs of this life, there is certain hope for all of us who are in Christ. Because he defeated death, he will also raise us and all his people to join him at the Resurrection. The future is bright and guaranteed. We shall see Leonard again.

This is the first of two short sermons for this Lord's Day morning in memory of Leonard Lyons, a church member who passed away the previous week. The second sermon is -Until the Resurrection- by Pastor Mark Bahr.--In the present sermon I show how the truth and love of God was experienced by this man, who was in great need of these things, through the ministry of our local church. It is a story of the gracious and sovereign love of God for one of his sheep.

As in many of the Psalms of David, he facing an enemy and his response is to trust in the LORD. David's trust in God is based on His faithfulness, that is, He can be depended to do all He has said He'll do. What God would have David do has already been revealed in His Word- David asks God for enablement to do what He would have him do. The LORD is always true to Himself, and He has a record of delivering His people when they call upon Him. Even though our past sins may burden us, it is the cross of Christ that demonstrates God's love and mercy. The LORD is good and upright and can always be trusted to act and deliver according to His character.