Friends, Brothers and Sisters in Christ, and Messengers of the churches composing the Oregon State Association of Missionary Baptist Churches.

I count it an honor and great privilege to serve as your moderator for this fiftieth annual session. This is my second opportunity to be your moderator; I had the same honor exactly 20 years ago in 1987.

This fiftieth meeting is the culmination of half a century of cooperative work of the Oregon State Association of Missionary Baptist Churches. Fifty years of combined efforts in supporting missionaries and mission endeavors around the globe. Fifty years of working together building up churches in the State of Oregon and 50 years of fellowship among brethren.

As the History and Archive Committee labored this year to compile a history that records our heritage, the stories I encountered of the men and women whose toil and sacrifice resulted in this very association often reminded me of the heroes of faith we find in Hebrews 11.

Hebrews 12:1

1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

During this meeting we will have the opportunity to reflect and reminisce on some examples of the great faith displayed by a cloud of witnesses, those brethren of the past 50 years who sacrificed and served their Lord to make this association what it is today.

But for this Moderator’s Address I want to call your attention to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 12:2-3a

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider him…

The first part of verse two tells us what Jesus has done for us, (…author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down…).

The second part of verse two tells us where he is today, (…at the right hand of the throne of God.). What is he doing sitting there at the right hand of the throne of God?

Hebrews 8:1-3

1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;

2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.

In heaven Jesus is a minister, which means he has a job to perform. We as pastor are ministers. In your job as minister do you just sit around doing nothing? I have talked with enough of you to know just how busy you are ministering. Likewise, or actually even more so Jesus is currently busy about his job as minister.

Jesus has something to offer or to contribute. Shakespeare contributed to English Literature, Mozart contributed to classical music, and Einstein contributed to science. These fields would be very different without the contributions of these men. Jesus not only contributes to heaven, what He offers there is necessary.

Let’s talk about 2 of the ministries that Jesus is performing in this current age, at this present time.

I. First, He is ministering for us as individuals.

• By presenting the sacrifice for our atonement and by forgiving us of our sins

Hebrews 9:24

24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

1 John 2:1

1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

In Luke 15 Jesus gives 3 parables that involves the recovery of what was once lost and concludes with the fact that there is rejoicing in heaven at repentance. (Lost sheep - lost person, lost coin –lost values, prodigal son – lost inheritance).

Luke 15:7, 10, 23

7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

B. By hearing our prayers

Revelation 5:8

8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

Revelation 8:3-4

3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

Hebrews 4:14-16

14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

II. A second current ministry of Jesus is to His Churches

A. He is in our presence. He is actively involved.

Matthew 18:20

20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Revelation 1:12-13

12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

Revelation 2:1

1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

• We worship Him and we worship with Him.

He sang with his disciples

Matthew 26:30

30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

What do you think they sung? Maybe a Psalm? Who are the psalms written about? They are written about God. Who is Jesus? He is God. There he was right there in the midst, with them, He was singing with them, and they were singing about Him.

As we worship we sing with Jesus in our midst, and we worship with Jesus and our worship is directed toward Jesus.

III. Conclusion

In conclusion, let us always be looking to Jesus, considering Him.

In His Service,

Jeff Harlan, Moderator