April 11, 2010
Sermon #831
Part 2
The Mystery of the Four Cups
Introduction:
Last Sunday I presented the table and on it were four cups. There were four cups of wine at the Jewish Passover supper. The four cups are also symbolized at the Jewish wedding. The four cups correspond to the four expressions of redemption in Exodus 6:6-7.
Exodus 6:6 - 7 (NKJV) 6Therefore say to the children of Israel: 'I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.
7I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
- I will bring you out
- I will deliver
- I will redeem
- I will take you
On Easter, we poured the wine from two cups.
At Gethsemane, Jesus became sin.
Numbers 21:8 - 9 (NKJV) 8Then the Lord said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live."
9So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.
John 3:14 - 15 (NKJV) 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
15that whoever believes in Him shouldnot perish but have eternal life.
1st Cup – He brought us out in the Garden
Galatians 5:1 - 2 (NKJV) 1Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
2Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing.
2nd Cup – He delivered us on the Cross
Titus 2:14 (NKJV) 14who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
3rd Cup – Jesus promised to deliver us
2 Corinthians 1:10 (NKJV) 10who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us…
ILL: Pastor picks up third cup
The Mystery
1 Thessalonians 4:15 - 18 (NKJV) 15For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
18Therefore comfort one another with these words.
The Mystery of the Chuppah
1st Illustrated scene – The Groom enters followed by the carrying of the chuppah – attendants carry smoking torches
ILL:
Shout: "Behold the bridegroom cometh"Exodus 19:18 - 20 (NKJV) 18Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.
19And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice.
20Then the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
- The Agreement – Cup #1
Exodus 24:3 - 4 (NKJV) 3So Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the judgments. And all the people answered with one voice and said, "All the words which the Lord has said we will do." 4And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord. And he rose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars according to the twelve tribes of Israel.
- The Price Paid – Cup #2
Exodus 24:8 (NKJV) 8And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, "This is the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you according to all these words."
- The Ascension
Exodus 24:12 (NKJV) 12Then the Lord said to Moses, "Come up to Me on the mountain
- The Cloud – The Chuppah
Exodus 24:15 (NKJV) 15Then Moses went up into the mountain, and a cloud covered the mountain.
2nd Illustrated scene: The Bride Procession - comes to the Chuppah – walks around the groom three times
The Rapture of the Church (Pastor will minister as bridal scene is acted out)
Caught up together
1 Thessalonians 4:15 - 18 (NKJV) 15For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
18Therefore comfort one another with these words.- Jesus will come again (Groom)
Acts 1:9 - 11 (NKJV) 9Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
10And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,
11who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."
- He will remain in the air – never touching earth
1 Thessalonians 4:15 - 18 (NKJV) 15For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
18Therefore comfort one another with these words.
- There will be the declaration
Matthew 25:6 - 7 (NKJV) 6"And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!'
7Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.- The dead in Christ will rise
- The living will be changed
- It will be sudden
Luke 12:37 - 40 (NKJV) 37Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.
38And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
39But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he wouldhave watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.
40Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."
ILL: Illustration participants will move out and back into sanctuary
- The dead in Christ will rise
Old Testament Type in Exodus 19
Exodus 19:14 - 20 (NKJV) 14So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes.
15And he said to the people, "Be ready for the third day; do not come near your wives."
16Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.
17And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.
18Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, andthe whole mountain quaked greatly.
19And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice.
20Then the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
- Washing of Clothing
2 Corinthians 7:1 (NKJV) 1Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
- The Third Day
John 2:1 - 2 (NKJV) 1On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.
- The Trumpet Sounds
1 Thessalonians 4:16 - 17 (NKJV) 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
- The Cloud
1 Thessalonians 4:16 - 17 (NKJV) 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
- Comes in Fire
2 Thessalonians 1:7 - 8 (NKJV) 7and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,
8in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- The Lord Comes Down
1 Thessalonians 4:16 - 17 (NKJV) 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
- Moses Goes Up
1 Thessalonians 4:17 (NKJV) 17Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord."
Conclusion:
Misconceptions:
- All who say they are Christians will go…
Luke 21:34 - 36 (NKJV) 34"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.
35For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."
Hebrews 9:28 (NKJV) 28so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation."
There is one cup left on the table. – It is upside down – we will turn it over next Sunday.
