Easter

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A few months ago I talked about how I used to be in a band

there was a lot of screaming and thrashing and head banging going on in our music but I loved it, but I also had a secret that I held on to for almost 20 years after leaving the band, something that I felt would make everyone look at me differently and I was so scared to tell anyone, for almost 20 years I heard this secret inside until one day I could not handle it anymore and I came clean, I like country music, heres the crazy thing, nobody cared

But in our faith have you ever felt

Have you ever felt like your past is just to much?

or a sin that just is to bad?

sometimes you doubt your faith?

Well first off you are not alone

Let’s talk about The day that changed everything

John 20:1–10 NIV

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

Jesus conquered death, we know have salvation and the ability to have a relationship God, this is so amazing and the tomb was empty

Now Jesus comes to his disciples

John 20:19–20 NIV

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

But there was one disciple that wasn’t there Thomas

John 20:24–25 NIV

Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Thomas doubted that Jesus had really risen

Maybe you have been in a similar situation

It’s too good to be true

There is no way God would forgive me

How can God love me

how can anyone love me

nothing good will ever happen to me

See Thomas right now is depressed, and lost. his whole life just gotten thrown upside down probably does not want to get his hopes up, so he was content to stay where he was.

How many of us have been there? we just don’t want to get our hopes up?

like we want something real

we want the joy and the peace

we want hope

But we just don’t want to be hurt, or let down?

Jesus meant Thomas where he was

John 20:26–29 NIV

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

If you are feeling this way today, I do not believe that you are here by mistake

God wants you to know that you can put your trust in Him, He is meeting you where you are and saying that He loves you and wants you to come to Him

This does not meant that everything is going to be perfect in your life

All of the disciple did not lead peaceful lives,, BUT they had peace, the only peace that you can have with God

They all had Joy, the only Joy that can be found in Christ

They all had hope, the only Hope that Jesus can give.

You see the nails couldn’t hold Him down

Death could not Stop Him

The rock could not trap Him

the guards could not keep Him contained

Jesus did the impossible and we think that our issues are to big for Him

We think our sin is too much

We think our past is unforgivable

We think that God couldn’t love us

We think our doubt is too much

I can tell you that these are lies, lies that will keep us in bondage away from Him

Give all of this to Him, ask the questions

Ask for the forgiveness that only He can give

Nothing is too big, no doubt that He cannot handle.

He willingly gave Himself up to be the perfect sacrifice to pay the price of our sin

Romans 6:23 NIV

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Its time, time to step out and let Him be the Lord of your life