Alvin L. Reyes MD

THE PREOCCUPATION OF ALL THINGS

• Christ is the center of human existence, of history and the center between God and nature.• Dietrich Bonheoffer. Christ the Center

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. John 5:39

Everything in the visible Creation is an image of Jesus.

"For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, heavens and on earth, visible and invisible,

whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created by Him

and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.“ Colossians 1:16-17

First DayLight (Genesis 1:3)

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, I am the light of the world.

2nd DayFirmament. Genesis 1:6

John 7:37 If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

3rd Day: Waters/ Dry land Genesis 1:9

And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 1Corinthians 15:4

4th Day Plants

Genesis 1:11

John 6:35 I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger;

John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

Gen 1:14 Sun, moon & stars

Malachi 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings.

Revelation 22:16 I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

Fifth Day: Fishes and birds Gen 1:20

The four also had the face of an eagle. Ezekiel 1:10 (compare Rev 4:6,7)

Sixth Day Animals Gen 1:24

Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29

• Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David. Revelation 5:5

Sixth dayMan Gen 1:26

The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 1Corinthians 15:47

7th Day: Sabbath.

Genesis 2:2

• For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbathday. Matthew 12:8

• "All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into apart from Him nothing came into

being that has come into being.“ John 1:3

• Jesus is prefigured in Creation!

JESUS IN THE WILDERNESS OF THE ISRAELITES

• The story of Israel is the story of the Messiah, Jesus.

• Christ is the new Israel, the new Jacob.

Jacob had 12 sons.

Jesus chose 12 disciples

Israel was tempted in the wilderness for 40 years.

Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days.

• The same temptations that Israel experienced in the wilderness were experienced by Jesus.

• Food

• Worshipping Idols

• Tempting God

To combat them Jesus used the words of Moses to Satan.

That he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that

proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. Deuteronomy 8:3

Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name. Deuteronomy 6:13

Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah. Deuteronomy 6:16

All the major & minor prophets point to Christ.

JESUS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

Jesus is the subject of the 4 Gospels.

"For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote of Me. But if you do not believe

his writings, how will you believe My words?“ John 5:46-47

• …and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before. Acts 3:20

• The Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them. Acts 8:5

• Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. Acts 9:20

• And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. Acts 5:42

• The disciples were consumed by Christ. He was their message, their teaching, their

proclamation, their very life.

All of them died for Christ.

THE MINISTRY OF PAUL

• Colossians 1: 30 references to Christ

• Ephesians 1: 26 references

• Philippians 1: 20 references• Philippians 1: 20 references

• Romans 1: 11 references

• 1 Corinthians 1: 13 references

How many times did you hear the name of Jesus mentioned in the last sermon you heard?

Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Matthew 12: 34

Paul was consumed with his crucified, risen and reigning Lord. His heart was occupied by Christ,

and Jesus poured freely from his lips and pen.

• To me who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. Ephesians 3:8

• For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord. 2 Corinthians 4:5

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me: Galatians 2:20

The Bible from Genesis 1:1 to

Revelation 22:21 is preoccupied with

Jesus.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATION 1:

WHAT IS PREACHED IN OUR PULPITS?

WHAT’S BEING PREACHED IN OUR PULPITS?

• Mark of the beast and Sunday law

• How to live by faith

• Spiritual warfare

• Evangelism & witnessing• Evangelism & witnessing

• The 10 Commandments

• Spirit of prophecy

• The Sabbath

WILL THESE SAVE YOU?

The tragedy of our times is that countless preachers, teachers and messages relegate

Jesus to a footnote.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATION 2:

WHAT OCCUPIES YOUR HEART?

SO WHAT IS YOUR PRE OCCUPATION IN LIFE &MINISTRY?

• Material things

• Evangelism

• Prophecy• Prophecy

• Medical Missions

• Health & Natural Healing

• Theology

WILL THESE SAVE YOU?

• All these things are just “things” when our • All these things are just “things” when our preoccupation should be a “Him”.

• Many times Jesus is pushed to the corner as a side dish and he is rarely the main course.

IMITATION VERSUS IMPLANTATION

• Can you imitate Paganini on the violin?

• Can you imitate Paderewski on • Can you imitate Paderewski on the piano?

• Can you imitate Amorsolo on the canvas?

Can you really really imitate Jesus?

“ WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?”VERSUS

“WHAT IS JESUS DOING THROUGH ME?

The gospel is not the imitation of Christ.

It is the implantation and impartation of Christ in our lives.

• Have the mind of Christ. • Have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2: 16

• In Him we live breath and have our being. Acts 17: 28

I no longer live, but the Messiah lives in me, and the life that I am now living in this body I live by the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved

me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2 :20 ISV

THIS IS THE ESSENCE OF CHRISTIANITY.

Christ is all, Christ is in all. Colossians 3:11

• The good news is that Jesus doesn’t want us to • The good news is that Jesus doesn’t want us to be “like” Him. He wants to share His life with us.

• He doesn’t want us to imitate Him, He wants to live in and through us.

What preoccupies

your life?

JESUS BLESS YOU.