n today’s sermon, with text taken from Romans 6: 10-11, Pastor Victor makes it clear that Jesus Christ’s blood shed on the old rugged cross will never lose its power. In the scripture’s passage the apostle Paul reveals to the Christian church at Rome that Jesus died to sin by an extraordinarily painful execution. However, our resurrected Savior was alive to God. It is important for us to truly grasp what he was conveying in his letter because it is just as meaningful to us today.

Jesus died on the cross to wash away the sins of all humanity. We know that His death was for the forgiveness of our sins because Christ is without sin. It is of great comfort to know that His one death was enough. We do not have to physically die for our own salvation. The scripture also tells us that Jesus lives to God, and therefore an abundant life can be ours. There is nothing tying us to a wrongful past, and we are liberated to choose a new path and live to please the Lord.

Although there is an ongoing archeological debate, it does not matter if the crucifixion took place on a vertical and horizontal cross or an X-shaped configuration. The holy cross sets us free from our baggage and burden of guilt. Jesus died so that we could have a relationship and get right with our Father in Heaven. We who trust in Him are emphatically dead to sin and alive to God because of Christ Jesus. The blood that Jesus shed on that cross has power that is everlasting. He died one death to save us all, and now we are free to live a full life for God’s glory.

With the spring equinox fast approaching and Holy Week a mere five weeks away, Pastor Victor poses a question in his new sermon series, “What is at the Center of Christianity?” Perhaps there is no better place in the Bible to consider this query than in Apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth. In the text, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, it is apparent that the Christian story can be difficult to fully grasp because it is both problematic to the non-believer and filled with divine possibility for those who are saved.

The cross is nonsensically problematic to those without faith and simultaneously the holiest of symbols that believers look to as affirmation of humanity’s salvation. To the former it does not make sense that God in the flesh, our beloved Jesus Christ, born of a virgin, had to lose His life in such a gruesome, tortuous manner. From the perspective of those who are perishing the cross is indeed an unscalable stumbling block and they only see death. They have no sense of hope. However, from the entirely different angle or perspective of the latter, those whose minds are open with an optimistic nature and outlook, the cross represents humanity’s greatest hope and our salvation.

The cross truly presents a paradox in which the perishing perceive only impossibility and nonsense, while the faith-filled believe in our salvation because He died at Calvary on that old rugged cross. During this sacred season we often express our gratitude through a favorite gospel song. With hearts full of hope and love, we sing these words, “Jesus would not come down from the cross just to save Himself. He decided to die to save me.”

Thank God Jesus rose from that watery grave on the third day. Thank God Jesus decided that humanity was worthy of salvation. Thank God He sent His Son to serve as our steppingstone to life that is everlasting.

Today our pastor hones in on the summary clause of scripture from Nehemiah 11:1, which reads, “At the time, I was cupbearer to the king.” In this autobiographical memoir of the praying Nehemiah, we find he is in service to a Persian king and therefore uniquely located in a position to gain the king’s favor to help his people in his hometown of Jerusalem. Pastor Victor’s timely and moving sermon brings to our attention four pertinent aspects of location.

The first aspect of location is that we are all temporally located. Every one of us live in a chronological period and we need to recognize that our time is a precious gift from God. Nehemiah understood that his location at the time in the royal palace was not just an individual privilege, but an opportunity to help his native Jerusalem. Our moments are to be used to help others by doing the Lord’s work. Every minute, every hour, of every day is an opportunity to do something worthwhile, to do something good.

The second aspect is that we are situationally located. We are a product of the time in which we live. There is no need to look back longingly for what is behind us, for that was not our time. Although this time is fraught with political divisions, a global pandemic, violence and brazen racism, the Lord placed us here for such a time as this. He designed us to endure and is counting on us to live faithfully and boldly during our given days.

The third aspect is being professionally located. Though our work may be difficult or even risky at times, we are located right where God needs us, for there He can use us to expand His kingdom. Like Nehemiah, in our professional location we may have access to the powerful and those in authority. There we have the opportunity to influence others and change hearts and minds. Wherever we are we can serve as witnesses of God’s goodness in our lives. We can be a blessing even in the workplace environment.

Then lastly, we are socially located. Nehemiah in his social location as servant to a king had a unique position and access to ask for the favor of the king to help his people. Though we may feel like the least, God can elevate us to a position of leadership where we can serve Him best.

We are temporally, situationally, professionally, and socially located to do great things for the Lord. Do not languish for we must optimize the gift of chronological time that He has given to us. Be assured that we are built for this time, and when we pray to a listening God as Nehemiah did and align ourselves with His plan and purpose all things are possible. So, my beloved, at present you can say, if I knew then what I know now, I have no reason to worry about anything for the Lord will always work it out.

In this Sunday’s passage, with text taken from Ezra 3: 10-13, builders are laying the foundation for a second temple since the first had been destroyed during the occupation. The formerly exiled Israelites witnessing the construction of the structure released shouts of joy and shouts of mourning. The young folks were excited by the prospect of a new temple, while the elders were saddened because the temple will not be as grand as the former. Because of their age they also contemplated the possibility of not being alive to see the temple’s completion. While their incongruent shouts were indistinguishable to listening ears, Pastor Victor tells us that God heard and responded to the blended shouts.

Our preacher has us reminisce about cherished duets’ sweet sopranos paired with tenors and baritones to make beautiful music together. These blended vocal ranges are quite pleasing to our ears. He goes on to have us reflect on these last two years of living in a pandemic, witnessing racial injustice, disastrous weather events, and legislators determined to thwart our nation’s progress toward equality. For some the pandemic has basically left them unfazed, watching their investments grow, working from home, enjoying more family time and long-awaited vacations. Their shouts are filled with joy for they feel they have made it through, even prospering during the pandemic.

Conversely, countless others have suffered the heartbreaking passing of loved ones, ill-health, job and property losses, or economic insecurity during this pandemic-impacted, tumultuous time. Some people are experiencing depressing social isolation, and still others, for example, those in the medical field, essential staff, educators, and caregivers in nursing homes have daily exposure to the virus due to their line of work. They are shouting because of their pain, hardship, feelings of hopelessness and weariness.

My beloved, no matter the source of the shout be very sure that God hears our blended cries of joy and pain. He hears us and He will act in response. The Lord is with us in the dark of night and the light of day. He will see us through every situation. Our struggles, our despair, and our sorrows are no match for the sovereign power of our living God. Praise the Lord at all times for when praises go up blessings do come down. So, raise your voice in a blended shout to the heavens, for God is always listening. God is always moving, and He is doing a new thing.

On this fifth Sunday in October, Pastor Victor concludes the enlightening sermon series, “The Evolution of a Henchman: The Spiritual Transformation of the Apostle Paul.” A completely converted Paul is now nearing the end of his life and is in confinement and restrained under house arrest. The reason? He is being held for hoping and believing in the promise of God. We learn from the text, Acts 27:17-22, although Paul is bound his spirit remains free. In this sermon the question before us is how does one experience liberation although confined? Of course, our preacher will provide to us the answer.

The first thing our pastor tells us is surely there is freedom when you honor God. An unbreakable connection to the Holy One allows a liberation that is not affected by current circumstances or situations. Honoring God has more sway than statutes and rules enforced by this world’s institutions. Secondly, honoring your authentic self prevents you from allowing others to have control over you. Being genuine means you are truly free from external forces that attempt to restrain you or toss you about. Finally, being true to one’s calling is liberating as well. We of the Christian faith have an assignment and a purpose to serve the Lord by sharing our unique gifts, and as long as we are heeding our call, we can live freely.

We experience complete and transcendent liberation by honoring our Creator, honoring ourselves and staying on the ordered path by honoring God’s call on our life. My beloved, our work is to understand and be faithful to the assignment our Lord and Savior has just for us. Therefore, even when earthly shackles do their best to bind us and our bodies are held in chains, our spirit and our mind cannot be constrained, and we continue to experience and live in a state of constant and unrestrained sweet freedom.