Take Jesus With You

Take Jesus With You

Introduction

Today is Resurrection Sunday 2024.

As we celebrate Christ’s resurrection, we stand in the shadow of the cross and the light of the empty tomb.

Let’s remember that Jesus has resurrected.

Through Him, we can reclaim healing and salvation by relying on His deliverance.

Today, you may feel like you are running around in circles with nowhere to go.

Maybe you have been looking in the mirror and no longer recognize the person you see.

Were you a dreamer, and now you don’t believe?

Are you in a broken lock and have now lost the key?

Have you lost your way?

Do you feel ashamed?

If that is you, you have come to the right place today.

Today, I want to introduce you to someone that loves who you are.

His name is Jesus!

If you only knew the treasure you are and could understand the measure of the Father’s heart, you would acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord of your life and take Jesus with you everywhere.

Look at someone and say, “Take Jesus With You.”

Matthew 28:20b: And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Jesus said He would be with us always.

How is it possible for us to take Jesus with us everywhere we go?

Well it’s possible through:

I. Christ’s Resurrection and Redemption

Today, we find ourselves standing at the foot of the cross, gazing up at the empty tomb.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not just a historical event but a transformative reality that changes everything.

It is the ultimate demonstration of God's power, love, and grace.

It is the cornerstone of our faith, our hope, and the source of our redemption.

The resurrection is a testament to the power of God.

It is a declaration that through Christ, death is defeated, sin is defeated, and true life is found.

It is a proclamation that God's love is stronger than death, His grace is greater than sin, and His power is mightier than the grave.

The resurrection is not just about what happened to Jesus but about what can happen in us and through us because of Jesus.

The resurrection is also a testament to God's love.

It demonstrates God's relentless pursuit of us, His unwavering commitment, and His unyielding love for us.

John 3:16 says, For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

The resurrection is a testament to the grace of God.

It is a display of God's unmerited favor, His undeserved kindness, and His unconditional forgiveness.

It is a sign that God does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

The resurrection is not just about God's grace towards Jesus but God's grace towards us.

Next, the resurrection is a testament to the redemption found in Jesus Christ.

It is a proclamation that we have been repurchased from the power of sin and death, that we have been set free from the bondage of sin and guilt, and that we have been given a new life in Christ.

Finally, redemption is a testament to the hope in Jesus Christ.

This reminds us that we are a new creation in Christ; the old has gone, and the new has come.

Redemption is about our hope in Christ and our life in Christ.

As we reflect on the resurrection, we are reminded of the redemption found in Jesus Christ.

Redemption is a word that speaks of being repurchased, set free, and made new.

It is a word that speaks of the transformative power of God's love and grace.

It is a word that speaks of the hope found in Jesus Christ.

We are reminded that in Christ, we are more than conquerors; we are children of God and citizens of heaven.

We are reminded to be loved, accepted, and redeemed in Christ.

We can take Jesus with us and have Healing and Salvation.

II. Through Christ, Salvation and healing was reclaimed

Moving on, we find ourselves drawn to the healing and salvation the Gospel promises.

This is not a mere promise but a divine guarantee, a sacred covenant God has made with His people.

It is a promise as old as time and yet as fresh and vital as morning dew.

It is a promise that has been fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and it is a promise that continues to be fulfilled in the lives of believers today.

The healing that the Gospel speaks of is not just physical healing, though that is undoubtedly part of it.

It is a holistic healing that encompasses every aspect of our being—body, mind, and spirit.

It heals from the inside out, transforming us from the inside out and making us whole and complete in Christ.

The salvation the Gospel speaks of is not just a future event, something we look forward to in the afterlife.

It is a present reality, something that we experience here and now.

It is a salvation that frees us from the power of sin and death and enables us to live lives of freedom and joy in Christ.

Greek word study #1.

The Greek word for "healing" in the New Testament means to cure, to make whole, to restore to health.

It is used in passages such as Matthew 8:8, where the centurion asks Jesus to heal his servant, and Luke 17:15, where one of the ten lepers healed by Jesus returns to thank Him.

In each of these instances, the healing spoken of is physical, spiritual, and emotional.

It restores wholeness and completeness, bringing about transformation and renewal.

Greek word study #2.

The New Testament's Greek word for "salvation" means deliverance, preservation, safety, and salvation.

It is used in passages such as Acts 4:12, where Peter declares that there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved, and in Romans 1:16, where Paul declares that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.

In each of these instances, the salvation spoken of is not just the future but also the present.

It is a salvation that delivers us from the power of sin and death and enables us to live lives of freedom and joy in Christ.

In Matthew 28:20, "healing" and "salvation" have even deeper meanings.

They are not just promises but divine guarantees.

They are not just words but powerful truths that transform our lives and shape our destinies.

Transition.

As we reflect on the healing and salvation promised in the Gospel, remember that these are abstract concepts and concrete realities.

They are not just words on a page but powerful truths that can transform our lives.

They are not just promises but divine guarantees that God will never leave or forsake us and will always be with us, even to the very end of the age.

When we take Jesus with us, we can rely on His constant deliverance.

III. Relying on Deliverance

As we move forward, let's focus on Relying on Deliverance.

This is a significant part of our faith journey, as it is through deliverance that we experience the fullness of God's love and grace.

Deliverance is not merely an event but a process, a continual experience of God's saving power in our lives.

Let's first consider the nature of deliverance.

In the biblical context, deliverance often refers to God's rescue of His people from danger or oppression.

It's a theme throughout the Scriptures, from the Israelites' exodus from Egypt to the ultimate deliverance from sin and death through Jesus Christ.

Deliverance is integral to God's character and His relationship with His people.

But deliverance is also about transformation.

When God delivers us, He doesn't just change our circumstances; He changes us.

He frees us from the power of sin and enables us to live in the freedom of His grace.

This transformation is not a single event but a lifelong process.

As Paul writes in Philippians 1:6, "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Now, let's consider the implications of deliverance for our lives.

First, deliverance reminds us of our dependence on God.

We cannot save ourselves; we need God's saving power.

This is a humbling truth, but it is also a liberating one.

It frees us from the burden of trying to earn our salvation and allows us to rest in God's grace.

Second, deliverance calls us to a life of faith and obedience.

As we experience God's saving power, we are called to respond in faith, trusting in His promises and obeying His commands.

This is not a passive faith but an active one that seeks to live out God's love and grace daily.

Listen, God does not love us because we are good but makes us good because He loves us!

God is our deliverer, and His deliverance is not about what we do but what God does for us and in us.

How do we respond to God’s deliverance?

First, we can respond with gratitude.

Gratitude is a natural response to God's grace.

It's a way of acknowledging God's goodness and expressing our love for Him.

It's also a way of reminding ourselves of God's faithfulness, remembering how He has delivered us in the past, and trusting that He will do the same in the present and the future.

Second, we can respond with service.

As we experience God's deliverance, we are called to share His love and grace with others.

This is not just about doing good deeds but about being instruments of God's deliverance.

It's about participating in God's mission, about being part of His redemptive work in the world.

Transition.

So, as we reflect on Relying on God’s Deliverance, let's remember that we receive and live deliverance.

It's not just about being rescued but about being transformed.

It's not just about being saved but about being sent.

And as we live in the light of God's deliverance, let's respond with gratitude and service, trusting in His promises and participating in His mission.

Conclusion

As Jesus hung on the cross suspended between heaven and Earth, he summoned four creations: love, mercy, grace, and peace.

He told his creations that he would die for the world's sins.

He explained that he would send them out through the ages of time, and they would reach every man, woman, and child.

Love, mercy, grace, and peace did not want to leave their creator, but Jesus told them that this was his way of sending himself to all of mankind so that, in turn, mankind could take him with them on their journey through life.

Still confused, love, mercy, grace, and peace questioned again why they had to leave their creator.

Jesus told them that for every tear, heartache, loss, abuse, loneliness, anxiety, stress, hopelessness, and abandonment mankind would experience, there would be love, mercy, grace, and peace to help them.

After Jesus sent his creations out, the devil came to him thinking that he had Jesus and soon he would be no more.

The devil questioned Jesus as to why he sent out love, mercy, grace, and peace to all mankind.

Jesus, knowing all that, knew that the devil thought he was now weak.

Jesus answered the devil, saying you cannot comprehend what I have done and what I will do.

I have given myself to them through mercy, grace, love, and peace.

They will be able now to take me with them wherever they go.

The devil, realizing that he had underestimated Jesus, fled in fear.

Let’s be the light of Christ, shining brightly in a world that so desperately needs it.

As we do that, remember that we are not alone; we can take Jesus with us.

The promise of our Savior's presence, "I am with you always," is not just a comforting thought but a reality we can cling to.

We're loved beyond measure, guided by His hand, and called to a life of purpose and obedience.

God's love for us is not a fleeting emotion but a steadfast commitment.

His goodness is not a mere concept but a tangible reality we experience daily.

His love is a word, an action demonstrated most profoundly on the cross.

So, as we move forward, let's keep this truth in our hearts: we are deeply loved by a good and gracious God.

Let's live in a way that reflects His love for the world around us.

Let's be Jesus' hands and feet, serving others with compassion, kindness, and humility.

Let's be the light of Christ, shining brightly in a world that so desperately needs it.

Now all around this building today, Jesus has been placed everywhere.

I want you to pick one up and make sure to Take Jesus With You.

Take one or two and give them away to someone else so they can Take Jesus With them.