The Well Church of the Nazarene

We have been studying how the Old Testament promises reflected in the Passover find fulfillment in Jesus Christ in the New Testament. And because the stone was rolled away, the tomb still empty, we can live our lives from a position of victory! God keeps his promises!

But whether we recognize it or not, we spend much of our time fighting, or reliving battles that have already been decided, living outside of those promises.  Drink of the fourth cup--the cup of praise! For death has been defeated. Jesus is ALIVE!

God has a plan for you, and we discover His plans for us when we drink from the third cup. The Cup of Redemption is found when we embrace our spiritual gifts. Doing so brings about awareness and empowerment to do something you might feel inadequate about or unsure of...but 87% of those who believe never get to this cup. You have been redeemed! Restored. Perhaps it is time to drink of the third cup and see yourself the way God sees you.

The second cup, the Cup of Deliverance, helps us deal with the issues (of body, of mind, and of spirit) that keep us from participating in the divine nature of Christ. But where the first cup, the Cup of Salvation, was instant, this second cup takes work. And 87% of those who profess to be Christians get stuck somewhere between the first cup and the second. They've been taken out "of Egypt," but the "Egypt" has not yet been taken out of them.

Our understanding of the four cups of the Passover changes how we approach and receive communion. We were created to participate in the divine. 

The Biblical word for promise literally translates: "to make a future guarantee." God's promises have a purpose! And just as He brought the Israelites out from under the yoke of the Egyptians, we too have been promised salvation. We are His people--set apart. Therefore, drink from the first cup, believe and be saved!

We have talked about the gods of succcess, pleasure, entertainment, love, self... but perhaps the most dangerous idol of all is that of religion, or the church. Our strongholds become walls, walls become fences, and we become gatekeepers instead of greeters. Let us tear down the altars in our lives, the idols we serve, and let God out of the box!

Daniel 4 is one of the most unique chapters in the entire Bible. Written using "reverse chronology," we're shown the end of the story first, with the author (King Nebuchadnezzar) praising God before we get into the story and see his transformation from self-worshiper to worshiping the one true God unfold. And, if a king like Nebuchadnezzar can receive grace, we too can remove ourselves from the throne of our heart and turn our eyes toward heaven.

Luke 18:18-30 shares the Parable of the Rich Ruler, who was faced with a choice--he could serve God or money, and he could not choose both. 

The gods of pleasure often begin as good gifts from the Lord God--food, entertainment, sex, relaxation, etc. These are good things God gave us out of his love, but too often we find ourselves living for these pleasures. They become what motivates us to get out of bed in the morning and go to work. They're what our relationships, our time, and our money often revolve around.

Without even realizing it, we find that we're worshiping the gods of pleasure instead of the God who has given us such gifts. Instead of having a throne in our hearts where God reigns, we often have a loveseat, where God is expected to share the space with something--or someone--else.

The gods of pleasure are a cheap imitation for what the Lord God has for us. They are at war within us, taking everything and giving nothing.

Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart."