RESTORING

THE

TEMPLE: MIND, BODY, & SOUL

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. [1st Corinthians 6:19-20]

The Reverend James C. Simmons, M.Div., Senior Pastor

HOLY WEEK GUIDE

RESTORING THE TEMPLE: MIND, BODY, AND SOUL PASSION WEEK DEVOTION Holy Week or Passion Week is the week that precedes Resurrection Sunday. This week chronicles Jesus final days on earth that initiates with His triumphant entry into Jerusalem to the following Sundays dawn when two Galilean women discover His empty tomb. These Scriptures chronicle Jesus steps and invites readers to experience this transformative journey with Him. Sunday, March 25, 2013: Jesus Triumphal Entry Matthew 21:1-11 Mark 11:1-11 Luke 18:28-44 John 12:12-19 Monday, March 26, 2013: Clearing of the Temple Matthew 21:10-17 Mark 11:15-18 Luke 19:45-48 Tuesday, March 27, 2013: Day of Controversy and Parables Matthew 21:23-24;51 Mark 11:27-13:37 Luke 20: 1-21:36 Wednesday, March 28, 2013: Day of Rest The Scriptures do not mention this day, but the counting of the days (Mark 14:1; John 12:1) seems to indicate there was another day which the Gospels record nothing about [NIV Study Bible] Thursday, March 29, 2013: The Last Supper Matthew 26:17-30 Mark 14:12-16 Luke 22:7-23 John 13:1-30 Friday, March 30, 2013: Crucifixion [Good Friday] Matthew 27:1-66 Mark 15:1-47 Luke 22:66-23:56 John 18:28-19:37 The Baber Family will continue to pray each morning at 6:15am as we study these Holy Week Scriptures. Monday-Friday 6:15am Prayer Line (605) 475-4000 Access Code: 862191# Dont miss these other spiritual growth opportunities. RESTORING THE TEMPLE REFLECTION SERVICE FRIDAY, MARCH 30 12:00NOON The Baber Family will break the fast together in a service of praise and thanksgiving

Monday, March 25, 2013 Richard Henry Moran, Jr. Meditation in Fiction Jesus hung upon the cross, the life draining from his human body. He looked to the heavens again and saw one thousand angels in the sky with swords drawn, ready to charge in at Jesus' command. The Jesus heard one of the Roman soldiers break the legs of one of the thieves. He heard a deep, disgusting, guttural sound as the first thieve died. He heard the soldiers conversing as the moved to the other thief - the anticipation made every pain coursing through Jesus' scourged skin and punctured hands and feet, his pricked scalp of thorns, ache and sting ten times ten. He heard the legs break on the second thief - Jesus opened his eyes wide to heaven, and with all the strength he had left, let out a dry gasp of a command, "Charge." The angels one by one swooped down from the heavens, trumpets sounded the charge, Jesus lifted his head. Blazing light radiated out of his eyes, his wounds glowed with the same intensity - the onlookers screamed in terror as they saw the angelic advance and Jesus step down off the cross. The Pharisees and Sadducees trembled in fear as Jesus looked through them with his blazing eyes. One by on angles flew in like birds of prey, slaughtering the Roman soldiers and authorities one by one. Several groups of angels swooped in attacking the Pharisees and Sadducees ripping them from limb to limb. Sounds of metal on metal, punctured and ripping bodies, and screams of men and woman filled the air. Whoever had not run for their lives had fallen to their knees in worship of Jesus. The army of angels flew through the city burning and destroying everything Roman, and any remnant that ever opposed Jesus. Buildings and people burned. Then the ground began to shake, and the sky turned to blood, the rivers gushed and oozed with sludge and pitch. A laugh...a terrifying brassy laugh of utter victory reverberated in every ear. People pressed the heels of their hands against their temples and over their ears to endure the pain of the shrillness of Satan himself. Satan walked out of the crowd, of gigantic height, and muscular girth, walked up to Jesus and lifted his arm with his arm in victory. Jesus looked as if he was merely a a puppet, controlled by the devil's strings, the will of the enemy of enemies. Israel rose to conquer the world, all under the direct dominion of Satan himself. Where there was love there is now only lust. Men and woman think they have fallen in love only to find one or the other has taken another, ejecting the other into the cold street with no treasure

of the home, not contact with the children, no where to go, but on the streets where people die of hunger and disease every day. This happen so often that by the children are reared they are not even left with one biological parent. As children grow up they begin to realize what there financial worth is to the family, either in their work or in their entertainment value - people become bored quickly, so children learn to reinvent their worth on regular basis. Any infractions are met with stiff and severe punishment. This societal norm pervades all of society, as teachers, policeman, news anchors, politicians, CEOs, are murdered on as a matter of normal business so that others may have their chance in that position. Everything is cold, almost everything hurts, everything smells, everyone is alone, suicide turns people into the walking dead. For every person you spit on and ridicule, twice as many do it to you. Beauty turns to ugliness as soon as beauty is recognized. There is no trust, no stability, and no rest. High in the sky everyone, from every nation, can see the Gates of Heaven. Everyone knows they will never be opened to this dead world. People ache to cry out to the Lord but feel a pain around their lips like someone has just sown them shut by hand. Worried, beaten, and empty eyes gaze to heaven.

But none of this is true... because Jesus stayed on the cross. Tuesday, March 26, 2013 Richard Henry Moran, Jr. A Question I have Scripture Focus: John 19:17-22 17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).18 There they crucified him, and with him two othersone on each side and Jesus in the middle. 19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH , THE KING OF THE 20 JEWS. Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. 21 The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, Do not write The King of the Jews, but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.

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Pilate answered, What I have written, I have written.

This writer remembers the first time he read John 19:17-22. I was overcome with wonder curiosity about what I had witnessed in the Word of God. "Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written." I found commentary on the verse that explained, that driven by Pilate's general distaste for the Jews, he was mocking the Jewish authorities by writing that Jesus was the king of the Jews. I will not claim to be an authority on the Word, but I will merely convey to you, the reader, that this verse did not fall into my spirit that way. Two possibilities continue to challenge that part of my spirituality that wants to know that the answer in bigger than antisemitism. Could Pilate, even for a few moments come to know Jesus, believe that Jesus was the Son of God, the King of Kings. We know he did not believe Jesus was guilty. Even in Pilate's political cowardice to set Jesus free - could Pilate know Jesus for who he was? What went on behind the eyes of Pontius Pilate? The second possibility may be even more fantastic. Had the Father in Heaven for a few moments set Pilate aside, and move Pilate's own hand write,"Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews," and answer the Jewish priests directly, using Pilate's mouth, "What I have written, I have written." Jesus is the Word. Whatever the answer, the moment is recorded in the Bible. Imagine the scene, the people, the noises, the sights, the chatter, the movement of those preparing for the crucifixion. Wednesday, March 27, 2013 Anonymous Morning Prayer Good morning Jesus, Good morning Holy Spirit, Good morning God. You are a great and mighty God. According to your word I present my body, Holy and acceptable in your sight. I confess all sin youve shown me and by the power within me I turn away from those sins. Thank you, Father, for forgiving me of all my sins and cleansing me of all unrighteousness. Now Father, I put on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness and put on my feet the Gospel of Peace, but above all I take the Shield of Faith whereby I may be able to quench all the firey darts of the wicked one. I put on the helmet of salvation which is the word of God. Now heavenly Father I praise and thank you for the armor you have provided for me this day. Now I am completely covered now in the name of Jesus and I resist the devil and he shall flee from me. Ive built my home, my family, my life on Jesus and His word and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.

The Lord is my Shepard I shall not want. He provides all my needs according to His riches in glory and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I cast all imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself above the knowledge of God and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. I cast all my care on you because you care for me. Thank you Father for showing me how to walk in divine health , for you are the God who heals all my diseases and by your stripes I am healed. This is the day the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it. Thanks be to God who gives me the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Father, Ive prayed according to your word and You said you would watch over your Word to perform it. Please God let others see Jesus in me because, He is the Lord of my life and I love Him. Amen. Thursday, March 28, 2013 Robert Dubose There must be a renewing of ones mind to live right and to do good. We must have the mind of Christ in our lives. In Him we have redemption through His blood. In Him we have the forgiveness of sins. In Him we find power to renew our mind and experience the fullness thereof. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Just as Christ presented His body as a living sacrifice, we must do likewise. We must present our bodies to God clean and holy. In conclusion, I would like to highlight the words from Paul in Ephesians 5:15-20: Be very careful, then, how you live not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lords will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Friday, March 29, 2013 O.B. Wynn Cutting Off The Head Of Sin What is sin? There are many definitions for sin and what constitutes it. For me, when I think of sin I visualize and compare it to Goliath standing before David on the Battle Field. Now here

stand David the puny Teenage Shepard Boy facing this Enormous Giant that he must defeat to save his people. In 1st Samuel 17:46, David said to Goliath This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and Ill strike you down and cut off your head. Now to assure himself of not having to face this giant again, David would separate the body of Goliath into two parts by cutting the head off the body. Now, I kind of view sin as an enormous giant that should be killed, cut off the head as David did Goliath in hopes that its dead and will not return into our lives ever. As we draw near the beginning of our Lenten Season many of us will be joining in efforts of "Restoring the Temple: Mind, Body, & Soul by removing some giants from our lives. The bodies we possess are not ours, they belong to God and they are his Temples and He only dwells in places that are holy and free of sin. Therefore for me, a renewing of the mind must take place before considering the restoring of the Temple. First I must acknowledge the need for the restoring and how to accomplish it. I believe the renewing of the mine should consist of things that will keep me focus and continually striving to live in the Fruits of the Spirits and by fasting to make sacrifices and denying myself of things that will remind me of the sacrifice Christ made for me. In our efforts to of "Restoring the Temple: Mind, Body, & Soul we will face Giants in our lives (drugs, alcohol, gambling, lying, cheating, backbiting ect) just as David faced Goliath but if we trust and let God fight our battles we to can defeat and overcome these giants Just as David was able to overcome his giant. Finally, let us search our minds and ask ourselves, what must we do to restore Gods Temple in us? Again for me, this Lenten Season my focus and efforts will be on Living in The Fruits of The Spirits, prayer, Fasting and fellowship in hopes these things will make my relationship a more personal one and at the end my soul will be His.