We are coming near the close of the Lenten Season, so I thought it wise to share how my pastor, Rev. Dr. James Coleman, exegeted the text to explain the Lenten Season to his members, especially since our church, the All Nations Baptist Church is hosting this year’s Seven Last Words of Christ, where seven dynamic preachers will give a short sermon, each will exegete his Word the way the Lord leads him.
Our Seven Last Words Service will be held at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church at 215 Rhode Island Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., where the pastor is the Rev. Dr. Terry Streeter. The service will begin at noon, followed by a luncheon in the church fellowship hall.
The Scripture Pastor Coleman shared with his congregation is Isaiah 58:5-7:
5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?
6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
The seven preachers for the services, in numerical order, are:
1st Word: “Father forgive them” by Pastor Paige A. Harris, Third Baptist Church
2nd Word: “Today you will be with me in paradise” by Pastor Bobby Livingston, Mt. Bethel Baptist Church
3rd Word: “Woman behold thy Son” by Pastor Gregory Sims, New Canaan Baptist Church
4th Word: “My God My God” by Pastor Tyrone Queen, Mt. Sinai Baptist Church
5th Word: “I Thirst” by Pastor Dexter Nutall, New Bethel Baptist Church
6th Word: “It is finished” by Pastor Terry D. Streeter, Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church
7th Word: “Father into thy hands” by Pastor James Coleman, All Nations Baptist Church
Pastor Coleman and his congregation will oversee the service. We invite you to come out to join us.
Here is what Pastor James Coleman shared with us: “Ash Wednesday is the first day of the Lenten Season which was Valentine’s Day this year, Feb. 14. Lent means a time of mourning, preparation, and repentance. Its purpose is to focus attention and heighten the significance of the Annual commemoration of Holy Week, which marks the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Ash Wednesday is designated as the start of the Lenten season and starts a time of sacrifices. The pastor applies ashes to the foreheads of Christians, which is a sign of mourning and repentance to God. The ashes symbolically come from the palms from the previous year’s Palm Sunday that were burned.”
He continued by providing the Scripture: “According to the Scriptures, Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert before the beginning of His public ministry, and during that time, He endured temptation by Satan. Ash Wednesday marks the 40-day period believers are to fast and pray. It is a designated time to give up luxuries and concentrate on the sufferings Christ endured on the cross. The key characteristic of the Lenten Season is that during this season, Christians pray, fast and sacrifice something perceived important to them.”
It is my prayer that you have been faithful to this Lenten Season, especially given all the unrest currently going on in this world. We pray that you, your family, friends and fellow church members are being blessed during this Lenten Season. Come out and join the All Nations Baptist Church. We are located at 2 Rhode Island Avenue NE in Washington, D.C. Invite your family and friends to join us next Friday, which is March 29, at noon. We hope to see you there!
Lyndia Grant is a speaker/writer living in the D.C. area. Her radio show, “Think on These Things,” airs Fridays at 6 p.m. on 1340 AM (WYCB), a Radio One station. To reach Grant, visit her website, www.lyndiagrant.com, email lyndiagrantshowdc@gmail.com or call 240-602-6295. Follow her on Twitter @LyndiaGrant and on Facebook.
