April 1, 2010 Maundy Thursday

"My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." (NIV)

"O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." (KJV)

Good Maundy Thursday, to you my dear brothers and sisters, and today, April 1st, let us forget those April fool jokes and remember it is Holy Week. There is no joke about the love our Lord Jesus and His will to save us from our sins... And no joke that the weather is perfect. Thanks be to God. Today is family day on this line so we pray for families today and please remember to pray for The Family of God. Also today please pray for pastors that they preach the truth this Easter, no wishie-washie stuff, preach the truth AND THE TRUTH SHALL SET THEM FREE... (if they have faith and believe.) I need to ask you to pray for Carry The Light Ministries as we set forth on special service beginning today, and you are welcome to come to any and/or all of them... All services will be in the Pennsylvania Room at The Bridges at Bent Creek, 2100 Bent Creek Blvd. Mechanicsburg, Pa. 17050. Today, Thursday: 6:30 PM Maundy Thursday Service with anointing with oil and communion; Friday 2:00 PM Carry The Light in concert (starting our 17th year). Sunday Morning Easter service 10:00 AM. All at the service will receive a necklace cross, and the cross is made of nails.

Ok folks, we in Carry The Light need your prayers... Pam as you know has just had breast surgery, Dolores had a bad bout with double pneumonia and has severe back pain. Yesterday I found out I have broken my back and I truly do not know how I did it. I go to a surgeon tomorrow morning early. Cancel services... not even in the mix. None of the pain that the three of us are carrying right now comes close to the pain our Lord took for us when He went to the cross for us... And His pain goes on each day when we sin; we meaning all of us.

Maundy Thursday, Gethsemane: Matthew 26: 36 - Then Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with Him, and He began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then He said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." 39 Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed. "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." (NIV)

I want to stop here and talk about what has happened so far and bring out some very, very important parts of this message today. Gethsemane, which means Oil Press and this a place where oil is squeezed from the Olives... The place is also referred to as the Mount of Olives. Here we find Jesus taking all of His disciples along with Him, even the one who is going to turn on Him. After all, Judas had already cut the deal. He had even told Peter that he, Peter, would disown Him three times, and that would be three times before morning.

I also want to bring this out and I think we can learn from this. In our lives we have been overwhelmed from time to time, all of us, each and every one. Work, family issues, money problems, car problems, health issues, and I could go on and on. While I do not know a person stronger than our Lord Jesus, He, in His own words, tells Peter, and brothers James and John, that he is overwhelmed to the point of death. Now we see what happens next. When Jesus was overwhelmed who did He turn to... YES, HIS FATHER, our Heavenly Father. I want you to notice right here and now that Jesus did not turn to "booze, drugs, gambling, or any other vices". He turned to His Father, who is our Father in Heaven. Now why was He overwhelmed, thinking of the next day? Sure, but don't you think this was coming on and on as the sins of the world were piled on His back? Which do you think hurt the worst, the nails in His hands and feet, the thrones on His head, the sword in His side, the spitting on Him, the cursing at Him? The mocking of Him? All of the above, or, or, the daily sins of then and now? I think He was overwhelmed by all the sin of then and now.

Then let's look what happens. He goes to His Father in prayer asking to have the load lifted... Can you take it away, my Father? But before He heard an answer back, Jesus said, "Thy will be done." Where have we heard that before? Oh, in the prayer Jesus taught us to pray... The Lord's prayer... "Thy Will be Done." Hey, and here is one you can quote me for saying and I have said it before, "If it is good enough for Jesus, then it should be good enough for us" (us = you and me).
Then Jesus prayed it again...

Matthew 26:42 - He went away a second time and prayed. "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done." (NIV)

Then Jesus was arrested... Folks, I will be working on this tomorrow and Jesus going to the cross... Let's pray.

Father in Heaven... Your will for us this day is just fine with us. Lord, we pray for all on our prayer lists and for all those preaching and teaching these days that they teach and preach the truth as found in Your Word. Help us now to repent and to share our many blessings You have provided to us and may we do it all, according to Your will for us. In the name of Jesus, I humble myself in prayer. Amen.

Go forth now sharing the love of Jesus and some of your other blessings... love ya. Pastor Dan.

Carry The Light Ministries
16 Dewalt Drive
Mechanicsburg, Pa. 17050
Phones Home 717 691 8200 Cell 717 991 0754
icarrythelight4God@msn.com