It is essential that we never forget what transpired the final week of Jesus’ life. It was a lifetime of ministry condensed into just a few days. The events of this one week in time changed life for everyone living then and who would ever live since then. The week begins at dinner on Saturday when a woman broke an alabaster box at His feat. Sunday He enters Jerusalem triumphantly. On Monday He cleans out the tabernacle of all the money changers and begins to heal the sick and lame. Tuesday was His last day in the temple. He shares parables and teaching. It is here that He says the greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all your heart. Wednesday was a quiet day at Bethany. Thursday is the preparation for the passover, He shares the last supper and takes the fruit of the vine and the bread and gives the spiritual analogy of what He is about to do. He foretells His betrayal and then goes to the garden of Gethsemane and the agonies there. Finally there is the betrayal, and Peter’s denial. Friday, early in the morning began the first of six trials. Finally the road to the cross, the gambling for His garments, day turned to night and His last gasp of “It is finished.” Saturday He is in the grave. Then Sunday is resurrection day. This brief recounting of the events of the week, we see an unparalleled set of examples for living under pressure. How He reacted, or didn’t react when things were said or done are some of the greatest life lessons that can be described. Listen to what He said, or more importantly what He did not say. Look at what He did, or more importantly, what He did not say. The principles of who we are are the things that will keep us in the end. All of us will live under pressure at some point. How we respond to that pressure is indicative of who we are. All of us will have to suffer in some measure in life things that are not fair or not right. All of us at some point will suffer betrayal, lost of trust, loss of friendship and being forsaken. We will all have to learn to live with loneliness and at some point we will ask God why?

Even under all this pressure there were certain things that Jesus did not abandon. These things were key to the victory. He had to see beyond the crucifixion and we have to see beyond our problems. How we die and how we suffer is telling. It is in death that we find a person’s true character. This does not have to be a physical death. When we watched Jesus die, He taught us how to do it and how to do it victoriously. How He viewed Himself through this week is telling. He did not become a victim of His circumstances. He gave His life, they did not take it. How He responded to betrayal, to the failure of His own disciples, to the false accusations and attacks on His character.

Here are the life principles that Bro. Hughes oberserves from this week.

First from Saturday to the end of Friday He moved with purpose. He was driven by the problem, but led by His purpose. Secondly, He spoke of the cross as His glory. He did not view the cross as something negative, it was the fulfillment of all of God’s promises. When we learn to view our crosses in that way, we are positioned to become what God intended us to be. Third, He prayed. That sounds too easy, but it is important to pray when under pressure. Forth are the things that He said and the things that He would not say. He could have called 10,000 angels; but He did not. He had the power to wipe them all out, but He chose to leave it alone. A real test of character is what you do not do when under pressure. Finally He refused to be brought down to their level. They said things to taunt Him and malk Him. He did not respond to them in any way. When He did speak, He addressed the issues, He did not attack the individuals who were attacking Him.

It is essential that we never forget what transpired the final week of Jesus’ life. It was a lifetime of ministry condensed into just a few days. The events of this one week in time changed life for everyone living then and who would ever live since then. The week begins at dinner on Saturday when a woman broke an alabaster box at His feat. Sunday He enters Jerusalem triumphantly. On Monday He cleans out the tabernacle of all the money changers and begins to heal the sick and lame. Tuesday was His last day in the temple. He shares parables and teaching. It is here that He says the greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all your heart. Wednesday was a quiet day at Bethany. Thursday is the preparation for the passover, He shares the last supper and takes the fruit of the vine and the bread and gives the spiritual analogy of what He is about to do. He foretells His betrayal and then goes to the garden of Gethsemane and the agonies there. Finally there is the betrayal, and Peter’s denial. Friday, early in the morning began the first of six trials. Finally the road to the cross, the gambling for His garments, day turned to night and His last gasp of “It is finished.” Saturday He is in the grave. Then Sunday is resurrection day. This brief recounting of the events of the week, we see an unparalleled set of examples for living under pressure. How He reacted, or didn’t react when things were said or done are some of the greatest life lessons that can be described. Listen to what He said, or more importantly what He did not say. Look at what He did, or more importantly, what He did not say. The principles of who we are are the things that will keep us in the end. All of us will live under pressure at some point. How we respond to that pressure is indicative of who we are. All of us will have to suffer in some measure in life things that are not fair or not right. All of us at some point will suffer betrayal, lost of trust, loss of friendship and being forsaken. We will all have to learn to live with loneliness and at some point we will ask God why?

Even under all this pressure there were certain things that Jesus did not abandon. These things were key to the victory. He had to see beyond the crucifixion and we have to see beyond our problems. How we die and how we suffer is telling. It is in death that we find a person’s true character. This does not have to be a physical death. When we watched Jesus die, He taught us how to do it and how to do it victoriously. How He viewed Himself through this week is telling. He did not become a victim of His circumstances. He gave His life, they did not take it. How He responded to betrayal, to the failure of His own disciples, to the false accusations and attacks on His character.

Here are the life principles that Bro. Hughes oberserves from this week.

First from Saturday to the end of Friday He moved with purpose. He was driven by the problem, but led by His purpose. Secondly, He spoke of the cross as His glory. He did not view the cross as something negative, it was the fulfillment of all of God’s promises. When we learn to view our crosses in that way, we are positioned to become what God intended us to be. Third, He prayed. That sounds too easy, but it is important to pray when under pressure. Forth are the things that He said and the things that He would not say. He could have called 10,000 angels; but He did not. He had the power to wipe them all out, but He chose to leave it alone. A real test of character is what you do not do when under pressure. Finally He refused to be brought down to their level. They said things to taunt Him and malk Him. He did not respond to them in any way. When He did speak, He addressed the issues, He did not attack the individuals who were attacking Him.

Our text tonight is often used to introduce a new plan, proposal, or course of action. Many churches have a vision. However, our text is about more than a program or project. The word vision in the original Hebrew means a dream, but it also means a revelation. Bro. Morris, after much study came to the conclusion that the vision is actually the Word of God. The Word of God is a vision. The Word of God is a revelation. Without this vision, the people cast off restraint. Without this vision, the people perish. We all need this vision and restraint in order to protect us. In 1 Samuel we read about Samuel teaching a young man named Eli. Samuel was the last of the Judges and there was an absence of leadership at that time. The bible tells us that the Word of God was rare and because if that, there was no vision. There was no revelation. The second chapter of Samuel is referred to as Hanna’s song. She spoke prophetically and the Lord spoke through her. How rare was the word of God at this time, Bro. Morris’ research showed it had been over 125 years since there had been a word from God. During these many years, the leadership had moved away from God. Where there is no vision, there is no restraint. Bro. Morris asks, are we being restrained by the Word of God? Are we in the grip of the restraining, saving word of God? The purpose of the vision is to keep us from transgression and sin. Are you in the grip of the vision?

Our text tonight is often used to introduce a new plan, proposal, or course of action. Many churches have a vision. However, our text is about more than a program or project. The word vision in the original Hebrew means a dream, but it also means a revelation. Bro. Morris, after much study came to the conclusion that the vision is actually the Word of God. The Word of God is a vision. The Word of God is a revelation. Without this vision, the people cast off restraint. Without this vision, the people perish. We all need this vision and restraint in order to protect us. In 1 Samuel we read about Samuel teaching a young man named Eli. Samuel was the last of the Judges and there was an absence of leadership at that time. The bible tells us that the Word of God was rare and because if that, there was no vision. There was no revelation. The second chapter of Samuel is referred to as Hanna’s song. She spoke prophetically and the Lord spoke through her. How rare was the word of God at this time, Bro. Morris’ research showed it had been over 125 years since there had been a word from God. During these many years, the leadership had moved away from God. Where there is no vision, there is no restraint. Bro. Morris asks, are we being restrained by the Word of God? Are we in the grip of the restraining, saving word of God? The purpose of the vision is to keep us from transgression and sin. Are you in the grip of the vision?

Our text is simple. We do not want to read more into it than is there, but we do not want to pass over what is said. The implication of what God is encouraging and commanding in this verse is powerful. It is a command; “LET the weak say, I am strong.” It is bold and a strong declaration about a mind that is made up. There is significance in each word. We must understand a two words: First is WEAK. The original Greek word is someone who is feeble, inadequate or ineffective. The other word is one that changes everything. That one word is SAY. Let the weak SAY I am strong. There is power in the word. It is the power of God’s word that changes everything. The literal translation of this word is to speak back to our situation. It is to challenged and repudiation. It is more than repeating something, but a declaration about a new beginning. It is available right now if we will speak to the challenge or trial in our life and declare that we are strong. This is not commanding God to do something, it it saying something so that God can do something. It is to transform a complaining and fault finding tongue into a one that is praising. If we will just say it, we will release God to act on our situation.

Our text is simple. We do not want to read more into it than is there, but we do not want to pass over what is said. The implication of what God is encouraging and commanding in this verse is powerful. It is a command; “LET the weak say, I am strong.” It is bold and a strong declaration about a mind that is made up. There is significance in each word. We must understand a two words: First is WEAK. The original Greek word is someone who is feeble, inadequate or ineffective. The other word is one that changes everything. That one word is SAY. Let the weak SAY I am strong. There is power in the word. It is the power of God’s word that changes everything. The literal translation of this word is to speak back to our situation. It is to challenged and repudiation. It is more than repeating something, but a declaration about a new beginning. It is available right now if we will speak to the challenge or trial in our life and declare that we are strong. This is not commanding God to do something, it it saying something so that God can do something. It is to transform a complaining and fault finding tongue into a one that is praising. If we will just say it, we will release God to act on our situation.

Fire is prevalent in the bible and often has great symbolic significance. In the Old Testament, fire served as a primary method that God manifested Himself to man. In the New Testament fire is vitally connected to our spiritual being. In the natural world, fire is important. It is a source of heat, cooking, and light. As wonderful as fire is, there is an undesirable and often disagreeable part of fire. Anyone who as ever sat around a campfire knows that smoke has a way of irritating. It gets in our eyes and our lungs and causes us discomfort. It is evident that whomever wrote the Psalm that is our text is going through things in life that he did not understand. We do not know what those things were, but he gives us a clue about how they affected him. He was hurting, he was afflicted, he was under duress. He describes an exhausted state of mind and body. He says that he has become like a bottle in the smoke. In biblical times, construction was crude. They did not have chimneys as we know them. Often the smoke from the fire that they used to warm themselves or to cook had no way to escape except from the doors and windows or through a hole in the roof. The smoke would coat things in the house. He declares that though he felt like he was coated with soot and dirt from the smoke, he still held fast to God’s laws and statutes. All of the effects of the smoke are on the outside of the bottle. It isn’t what is happening on the outside that will harm us, it is what we let inside that will cause us to fall.

The product of the blessing is often some type of adversity. The blessing of fire for warmth and cooking comes with the adversity of smoke. Smoke can only affect the outside. It cannot affect the inside. The literal thing the psalmist was saying was that the things that were happening to him was not affecting his soul. Historians say that these bottles that would be left in the smoke, would shrink. But this shrinking would only happen if the bottles were not full. The best remedy for our spiritual well being is to stay full of the Holy Ghost. It is only way that the smoke will have a negative effect on us is when we are less than full. Historians say that it was not uncommon to use fire to temper the bottles of fermented juice. The smoke would mellow the liquid and make it less bitter. Fire is necessary for many things.

Fire is prevalent in the bible and often has great symbolic significance. In the Old Testament, fire served as a primary method that God manifested Himself to man. In the New Testament fire is vitally connected to our spiritual being. In the natural world, fire is important. It is a source of heat, cooking, and light. As wonderful as fire is, there is an undesirable and often disagreeable part of fire. Anyone who as ever sat around a campfire knows that smoke has a way of irritating. It gets in our eyes and our lungs and causes us discomfort. It is evident that whomever wrote the Psalm that is our text is going through things in life that he did not understand. We do not know what those things were, but he gives us a clue about how they affected him. He was hurting, he was afflicted, he was under duress. He describes an exhausted state of mind and body. He says that he has become like a bottle in the smoke. In biblical times, construction was crude. They did not have chimneys as we know them. Often the smoke from the fire that they used to warm themselves or to cook had no way to escape except from the doors and windows or through a hole in the roof. The smoke would coat things in the house. He declares that though he felt like he was coated with soot and dirt from the smoke, he still held fast to God’s laws and statutes. All of the effects of the smoke are on the outside of the bottle. It isn’t what is happening on the outside that will harm us, it is what we let inside that will cause us to fall.

The product of the blessing is often some type of adversity. The blessing of fire for warmth and cooking comes with the adversity of smoke. Smoke can only affect the outside. It cannot affect the inside. The literal thing the psalmist was saying was that the things that were happening to him was not affecting his soul. Historians say that these bottles that would be left in the smoke, would shrink. But this shrinking would only happen if the bottles were not full. The best remedy for our spiritual well being is to stay full of the Holy Ghost. It is only way that the smoke will have a negative effect on us is when we are less than full. Historians say that it was not uncommon to use fire to temper the bottles of fermented juice. The smoke would mellow the liquid and make it less bitter. Fire is necessary for many things.

People have the best of intentions. A husband promises to work less and spend more time for the family. A mom promises to take the kids to the park. A child promises to clean his room. Sometimes these good intentions do not come to pass. These have come to be known as empty promises . Empty is devastating. There is usually nothing good about the word empty. It literally means nothing is there. To leave empty is to leave with a great sense of disappointment and hopelessness.

Easter is upon us. Often in the church we focus on the cross. The cross is important, but for many, the gospel story ends at the cross. As critical as Jesus’ death on the cross is, the empty tomb is even more important. In our text Mary Magdalene and the other Mary go to the tomb with spices to anoint the body of Jesus. If they had expected an empty tomb, they would not have brought any spices. The angel meets them and tells them that He is not here. That is the only time in history where the concept the Jesus is not here was something good! The tomb is empty so we have salvation. The tomb is empty so we have life. If He is still in the tomb, we are still lost. If He is still there, none of our sins are forgiven. If he is still there, we are hopeless. When we look at that empty tomb and realize that He endured all that He did for us, we have to rejoice and praise Him because empty never looked so good.

People have the best of intentions. A husband promises to work less and spend more time for the family. A mom promises to take the kids to the park. A child promises to clean his room. Sometimes these good intentions do not come to pass. These have come to be known as empty promises . Empty is devastating. There is usually nothing good about the word empty. It literally means nothing is there. To leave empty is to leave with a great sense of disappointment and hopelessness.

Easter is upon us. Often in the church we focus on the cross. The cross is important, but for many, the gospel story ends at the cross. As critical as Jesus’ death on the cross is, the empty tomb is even more important. In our text Mary Magdalene and the other Mary go to the tomb with spices to anoint the body of Jesus. If they had expected an empty tomb, they would not have brought any spices. The angel meets them and tells them that He is not here. That is the only time in history where the concept the Jesus is not here was something good! The tomb is empty so we have salvation. The tomb is empty so we have life. If He is still in the tomb, we are still lost. If He is still there, none of our sins are forgiven. If he is still there, we are hopeless. When we look at that empty tomb and realize that He endured all that He did for us, we have to rejoice and praise Him because empty never looked so good.