Great is the Mystery

Congratulations to all the Graduates

I know it is a relief to be wrapping it all up and looking forward to the future....@ SAGU, we’re getting ready for the fall and receiving applications and tours every day.

SAGU offers more than 70 associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees on campus or online.

We’ve also recently lowered our online tuition.

We have a very robust business and accounting program, music and education. We also have a full complement of degrees in psychology, counseling and social work.

There’s a phrase we like to share about SAGU… “The sun never sets on a Southwesterner”

SAGU is a unique experience. At Spring Break, you’re likely to hear of students going on missions trips around the world. Sometimes I’ll just ask, “what are you doing for Spring Break” and get responses like “I’m going to India, Taiwan, Honduras, Germany

Every Wednesday in chapel is Missions emphasis where we here from missionaries and missions leaders from all over the world.

In addition, I have this app on my phone called “Operation World” where it lists a different country to pray for every day. In EACH CLASS,

Army Chaplain story (maybe)

The Sun Never Sets on a Southwesterner

I’ll be glad to visit after church and of course through email when you have questions.

Table in the back, fill out a card to get emails from us.

Let’s get into his word

Prayer.....

Introduction:

To be a Christian is to believe a mystery, A thinker might say....Show me proof, show me reason.

There is proof and reason, as you graduates have learned, about the world of science, mathematics, world events, and literatuer. There is also a logic that talks about God’s existence. The reality of the resurrection is tied to history and a fact claimed by the Apostles....and yet God calls us to believe....THIS MYSTERY

In fact, Thomas a Kempis said:

Were the works of God really understandable by human reason, they would be neither wonderful nor unspeakable

THIS is a mystery THAT HAS BEEN revealed. The New Testament tells us that the mystery of the coming Messiah is unfolded in Christ.

We just celebrated that glorious event this past Easter.

Tozer stated:

The account of the life of Jesus Christ is the only biography know to man that does not end with death and burial----the only record of a human life that joyfully hastens on the the next chapter after the last!

This is the capstone of our faith… that must be lived out each day. ....We must BELIEVE the mystery

says “Great indeed, we confess is the mystery of godliness:

1 Timothy 3:16 CSB

16 And most certainly, the mystery of godliness is great: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

Why did the apostle say this mystery was great? Because what had been hidden for thousands of years was now revealed in Christ!

Tyndale commentary states:

The Christian hymn contained in this verse is introduced by a formula intended to intimate something of the grandeur to follow. The adverb tanslated “Beyond all question (homologoumenos) means by common consent, which drawas attention to what all Christians hold There is no room for maneuver regarding the basic facts of the faith (Tyndale)

He Was Manifested in the flesh,

During the ministry of John the Baptist, many came out to hear his challenging message: Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Even Herod Phillip would come to hear the preaching of John. One day, while John was baptizing.....Jesus came....and John announced to his hearers:

Behold the Lamb of God! who takes away the sin of the world

He was manifested in the flesh

Felix Medelsohn wrote the melody we sing at Christmas, John Wesley wrote the words:

Veiled in Flesh..the Godhead see

Halil Incarnate Deity

Pleased as a man with men to dwell

Jesus Our Emmanuel

Jesus calmed the storm with the words “peace, be still” and his disciples said “who is this? that even the winds and sea obey Him.

True it was, when John wrote

John 1:14 CSB

14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Vindicated by the Spirit

Romans 1:4 ESV

4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,

The author of Mere Christianity and the Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis …made radio speeches in England in WW2 said this:

Jesus has forced opne a door that had been locked since the death of the first man. He has met, fought, and beaten the King of Deaht . Everything is different because He has done so.

Seen by Angels

It was an angel that appeared to Elizabeth (who was barren) about little John the Baptist being born to them....and then to Mary and said.....Hail you who are highly favored

And then to the shepherds…we bring you good tidings of Great Joy which shall be to all people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord....

Too

Yes.....Angels announced to the women at the tomb....

Matthew 28:5 CSB

5 The angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.

Matt 28:

Origen stated: Behold the Savior’s greatness. It extends to all the world....Go up to the heavens. See how he fills the celestial reginsns. “He appeared to the angels

Go down in your mind to the nether world. See he appeard there too.

Paul said to the Colossians:

Colossians 2:15 CSB

15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.

Colossians 2

proclaimed among the nations

listen to the words of Jesus to HIs disciples before He ascended:

Matthew 28:19–20 CSB

19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

This gospel is being proclaimed around the world....graduate…I ask you what part will you play in proclaiming the gospel around the world

church member, visitor.....

Believed on in the world

Gordon Jensen wrote: Angels never knew the joy that is mine, for the blood has never washed their sins away. Though they sing in heaven there will come a time, when silently they’ll listen to me sing Amazing Grace

Holy is the Lord, the angels sing, all around the throne of God continually for me to join their song would be a natural thing, but they JUST wont’ know the words....to Love Lifted me

It’s a song holy angels cannot sing. Amazing Grace....how sweet the sound...

I once was lost, now I’m found

This preaching has been effective

Christians remained the largest religious group in the world in 2015, making up nearly a third (31%) of Earth’s 7.3 billion people, according to a new Pew Research Center demographic analysis.

Taken up in glory

Let us go to the Mt. of Olives, after the resurrection, Jesus gave His grat commission and then ascended on high.....

the angel said to the women:

Acts 1:11 CSB

11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven.”

The angel

Ephesians 4:8 CSB

8 For it says: When he ascended on high, he took the captives captive; he gave gifts to people.

Peter, full of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost refleted on that great ascension....

Acts 2:33 CSB

33 Therefore, since he has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, he has poured out what you both see and hear.

This mystery was seen in the burning bush, in the Holy of Holies, in the Person of Christ, notice here the relationship of God to The Son----

To the Flesh, “Manifested”

To the Spirit, “Justified”

To the Angels, “Seen by Them”

To the Gentiles, “Preached”

To the World, “Believed In”

To the Glory, “Received up”

How then?? Believer Do you call THIS MYSTERY GREAT?

THIS RELIGION IS TRUE.....ALL OTHERS ASK YOU TO WORK FOR IT

Don’t make the mistake that Christianity is about performance....for there is one who HAS PERFORMED ON YOUR BEHALF....

THIS GODLINESS iS PRODUCED BY THE ONE INSIDE YOU.....

There is a REDEEMER who takes away your sin

It is the Great Physician who heals your body

It is Emmanuel who replaces your fear with courage

It is Christ who replaces your anxiety with Peace

The Living Lord is the One who is coming back again

BELIEVE THE MYSTERY

Peter would say in his last letter to the church:

1 Peter 1:8 CSB

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy,

Charles Spurgeon said:

Have Your heart right with Christ and He will visit you often, and so turn weekdays into Sundays, meals int sacraments, homes into temples and earth into heaven

ALTAR CALL