Many years ago a young woman was being attacked in a nightclub. While others stood by, her life was forever changed. The onlooking crowd could have intervened, but they chose to walk away. The laws were challenged that day concerning the bystanders. States adopted new directives, which imposed a legal duty to act in some situations. Vermont’s law states that a person must render assistance if they know someone is in grave danger of physical harm. The penalties are not great, but the precedent has been set.

A similar instance occurred with a neighborhood house fire. Authorities say that there was sufficient time for bystanders to help those trapped inside, but the gathering crowd never opened the door. Those standing outside were holding their camera phones, recording the scene. They never thought that they would be found as defendants for those who died.

Jesus took up the matter with His parable of the Good Samaritan. A priest and Levite passed by the wounded man. Those with heritage and Temple service walked by “on the other side.” They had the means to help the man of whom the Bible says was “beaten and half dead.” The parable is a view of the church juxtaposed against the wounded in every era. Jesus said, Luke 10:33 “But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was.”

There is work to be done in the “temple.” There are duties, activities, and all manner of service to be rendered. However, the people will not be helped if we do not go to where they are. The Great Commission does not say, Come. It says, Go! We must go and reach! Go and heal! – go talk – go teach – go compel – go help – go feed – go love! The danger for us is that we love the activities of the “temple” and we forget about the wreckage sin has made on our city.

Lives are in need and we must open the door. People are in grave danger and we have the answer. The end time church must not turn away. Our salvation may hinge on what we do with what we have. Jesus said, Matthew 25:42-43 “For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.”

Recently a Ukrainian leader made this plea. Upon seeing the hundreds of lifeless people sprawled out on the ground, he called out to the world: “Please, Don’t look away.”

Pastor Jeffrey Harpole

Passover-Easter-Sunday. This is the Day of Resurrection! Easter is the day when we celebrate a Risen Savior Who loved us enough to die for our sins and powerful enough to rise from the grave. He redeemed us with His own Blood and gave us the victory when He rolled back the stone.

However, from the time of Moses until that first Resurrection morning, Sunday was not the day of observance. The Sabbath was observed beginning on Friday evening and concluded on Saturday evening. When Jesus rose from the grave, He set in motion a new observance that the early church followed. They came together to hear the preached Word with singing and rejoicing on Sunday!

Acts 20:7 “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them…”

All four gospels record the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the First Day of the Week.

John 20:1 “The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.”

Luke 24:1 “Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.”

Mark 16:9 “Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.”

Matt 28:1 “In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.”

While many of the unbelieving Jews reverted to the Law of Moses and their traditions, the disciples were found worshiping on the day of the Lord’s resurrection. This was a hard break from the custom of their past. Their gathering served as a significant sign that indeed the Messiah had come and that the grave could not keep Him. The early church allowed the first day of the week to be the outward sign in keeping the new Sabbath, while giving witness to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Jesus was our sacrifice and He has became our Redeemer.

Pastor Jeffrey Harpole

A preamble is referred to as the introduction to a subject or event. The broader thought is that the preamble encompasses the spectrum or future of what shall be told. There is purpose found in its hand; a forecast echoing from its voice, all of which declaring things to come.

Scholars have long considered the command of Moses given to the Children of Israel on the night of the Passover as a Type of Jesus’ death. Egypt was encased in the effects of the previous plagues. The tenth was on its way. Moses told them to kill a lamb and wipe its blood on the doorpost of their homes. They were to eat all of it and then remain inside throughout the night. Judgement was on the way and the only salvation was the sight of the blood and their obedience.

The night of Israel’s escape was the preamble to the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ and our redemption. He was taken to the base of the hill of skulls; His blood spilling on the cobblestone streets of Jerusalem. John called Him, “The Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” He was the sacrifice for the whole of humanity!

The image of a suffering Christ seems lost on our generation. Jewel encrusted crosses sparkle. Crosses made of silver are pressed into lapels of suits. Jewelry of all kinds are molded into the emblem with little attention to the reality of His shame. In all, the American church has scrubbed His blood, sinew and flesh clean. His death does not appear as it was. His sacrifice now fits into a more palatable frame. Yet, The Bible gives a more descriptive scene which demands our attention.

Psalms 22:14-16 “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.”

Matthew 27:26 “…when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.”

Matthew 27:28 “And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.”

Matthew 26:67 “Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands.”

Pastor Jeffrey Harpole

Ecclesiastes 1:3 “What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?”

Within the text, Solomon repeatedly uses this appellation to refer to himself. He has gained all that the world has to offer. He sits in the most unique seat ever offered to the mortal man. The nations bend to his wisdom. His wealth and authority are revered all over the world. Yet, toward the end Solomon writes of the futility to both labor and gain. He calls it meaningless.

This is a far cry from the American dream. The mindset of our nation is to gain, keep, and enjoy the fruit of our labor. We have been conditioned to believe that our self-worth is tied to our self-wealth. The early church, all of which were pentecostal in experience, did not live for the moment. They were not enamored with a healthy retirement or a vacation spot. Rather, the early believers set out on a mission to spread the Gospel. Their convictions entailed the Harvest of souls. They believed it to be their personal responsibility.

There is an allure to this world. The offerings of it include good times and laughter. The Lord has not withheld these elements from us, though they are temporal in nature. However, as the church moves from economy to economy, politician to politician, and as we become worldly wise, there is a loss felt in the work of The Kingdom. We are meant to be ambassadors of the name of Jesus. Our purpose is to teach the only saving Gospel which is the message of Acts 2:38.

We are commanded to submit to the words of the Lord. Our homes must become spiritually healthy, which only comes through prayer and an open Bible. Our lifestyle must be in alignment with godly living. And finally, we are commanded to reach the lost!

I pray that our lives will not be consumed with labor. I hope we are not living to pay bills, buy cars, fix up houses, go on trips, or find a comfortable place. There must be something more than this temporal life. Jesus is coming soon and we must find people – souls – and bring them to Christ. The Cause and the Purpose of our lives is greater than jobs, homes, or money. In the end, none of those things will matter. Only what you do for Christ will last.

Pastor Jeffrey Harpole