EASTER 2020
Notes
Transcript
WELCOME
WELCOME
Welcome to our Easter Service
We are so glad you could join us
Out of all the options you had today, you are with us, and that makes me feel special.
NORMALLY
NORMALLY
We would have invited you to join us in person
We would have had a blast worshipping Jesus, celebrating His Victory, and enjoying a tasty lunch
Your kids would have had a great time with the bounce house, face painters, and easter egg hunt.
TODAY IN LIGHT OF ALL THAT HAS HAPPENED IN OUR WORLD
TODAY IN LIGHT OF ALL THAT HAS HAPPENED IN OUR WORLD
We will still gather
We will still worship Jesus
We will still look at the scriptures
And the best thing you can do to participate, is to share this post
To invite people to hear the good news of the Resurrection.
If you’re with me, hit that share button, let people know you are watching and interact with each other in the comment section.
RECESS
RECESS
NOW, DURING OUR TRADITIONAL GATHERINGS WE NORMALLY HAVE A TIME OF GETTING COFFEE, GOING TO THE REST ROOMS, GETTING OUR WIGGLES OUT, SAYING HI TO ONE ANOTHER ETC.
SO TAKE THE NEXT 2 MINUTES TO SAY HI TO ONE ANOTHER AND ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS IN THE COMMENT SECTION.
THIS IS WHERE YOU PARTICIPATE, READY?
ARE WE READY?
ARE WE READY?
THESE LAST FEW WEEKS HAVE BEEN EVENTFUL
One thing I realized is that we have less control than we thought
Normally we can count on our jobs, our education, our bank accounts, etc
But when all that has the potential to go away
When all that you trusted can abruptly stop
YOU RECOGNIZE THAT MAYBE THE THINGS YOU TRUSTED WERE SECONDARY TO A GREATER SOURCE
But today, now more than ever, I’ve realized that the only thing I can count on is JESUS
We don’t know what this looks like for us as a city, a state, a country, the world
THOUGH THIS IS FOREIGN TO US
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THE DISCIPLES WERE DEALING WITH
LET’S LOOK AT THE RESURRECTION STORY AND THEN LOOK AT HOW SOME INDIVIDUALS RESPONDED
1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ”
8 And they remembered His words. 9 Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.
PRAY
1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
THIS EVENT HAD THE POTENTIAL TO BE DEVASTATING
IMAGINE PURCHASING AND PREPARING SPICES TO GIVE JESUS A PROPER BURIAL
YOU’RE INVESTED IN THIS
YOU GET UP EARLY IN THE MORNING WITH YOUR SQUAD AND YOU HEAD TO THE TOMB
ON THE WAY THERE, THE MOOD IS SOMBER
YOU ARE PRAYING THAT SOMEHOW YOU CAN REMOVE THE STONE TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU SET OUT TO DO
YOU HAVE BEEN MOURNING SINCE FRIDAY AFTERNOON
YOU ARE MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY, PHYSICALLY EXHAUSTED
BUT YOU GET UP EARLY, AND BY EARLY IM TALKING LIKE 4AM
IT IS NOW SUNDAY MORNING
AND YOU SET OUT TO DO THE RIGHT THING
AND AS YOU APPROACH THE TOMB YOU ARE THANKFUL THAT GOD ANSWERED YOUR PRAYERS
THE STONE HAD ALREADY BEEN REMOVED
AS YOU GET CLOSER, YOU START TO WONDER WHO ELSE IS THERE
YOU LOOK IN THE TOMB
AND YOU ARE DEVASTATED
JESUS’ BODY WAS NOT THERE
4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.
FRIENDS HAVE YOU EVER FELT LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN SUCKER PUNCHED
LIKE DEFLATED OF ALL LIFE
CONFUSED
DISORIENTED
NOT KNOWING HOW TO RESPOND OR HOW TO REACT
IN THE MIDST OF THOSE FEELINGS, GOD ANSWERS
CHURCH, THE GOD OF THE BIBLE DRAWS NEAR TO THE BROKEN HEARTED
HE IS OUR EVER PRESENT HELP IN TIME OF NEED
WITHIN THE CONFUSION
IN THE MIDST OF GREAT PERPLEXITY
GOD SENDS HIS MESSENGERS
TWO ANGELS TO GIVE CLARITY
5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ”
CHURCH, HERE IS A PRACTICE THAT I’VE LEARNED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS THAT HAS REALLY HELPED IN THE RELAITY OF TODAY
BEFORE YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE ANGELS SAID, WE MUST TAKE NOTE OF WHAT THE WOMEN DID
THIS IS SUCH A GREAT PRACTICE
IN OUR FEAR
IN OUR CONFUSION
IN GREAT PERPLEXITY
MAY WE LEARN TO PROSTRATE OURSELVES BEFORE A MIGHTY GOD
MAY WE LEARN TO POSTURE OURSELVES IN A WAY THAT SHOWS REVERENCE TO GO
AND PLACES US IN A POSITION TO RECEIVE CLARITY FOR THE CURRENT SEASON
CHECK OUT WHAT THE ANGELS SAID THO:
“WHY DO YOU SEEK THE LIVING AMONGST THE DEAD?”
CHURCH THIS IS SUCH A POWERFUL QUESTION
ASK YOURSELVES
HAVE YOU EVER GONE SOMEWHERE TO SEEK ANSWERS, BUT YOU LEAVE MORE CONFUSED THAN AT PEACE?
MAYBE YOU HAD A HUMBLE POSTURE
MAYBE YOU DID PROSTRATE YOURSELF
BUT MAYBE THE SOURCE YOU KNEELED IN FRONT OF WAS NOT AS POWERFUL AS THE GOD OF THE BIBLE
MAYBE THE SOURCE YOU WENT TO LET YOU DOWN BECAUSE IT NEVER HAD THE POWER TO RAISE YOU UP
FRIENDS WE HAVE TO STOP SEEKING LIFE, ABUNDANCE, PROSPERITY, ANSWERS, AND POWER FROM SOURCES THAT PRESENT A FRACTIONAL ANSWER
AND HERE IS THE RADICAL THING, GOD PRESENTS HIMSELF AS THE ANSWER TO YOUR GREATEST QUESTIONS
AND IF ALL WISDOM, HONOR, AND POWER BELONG TO HIM, WHY WOULD WE GO ANYWHERE ELSE
WHY WOULD WE WASTE OUR TIME WITH SUB PAR SOURCES.
WHY SHOULD WE CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR THE LIVING AMONGST THE DEAD?
FRIENDS, I BELIEVE THAT WHEN THINGS ARE STRIPED AWAY, WE HAVE THE TENDENCY TO GO BACK TO THE TRADITIONAL
WE HAVE A TENDENCY TO FORGET ALL THAT GOD HAS SAID
WHEN CALAMITY STRIKES, WE GO BACK TO HOW WE KNOW HOW TO CONTROL THINGS
FORGETTING ALL THAT GOD HAS SPOKEN TO US IN TIMES PAST
YOU WOULD THINK ONE OF THE DISCIPLES WOULD HAVE STOOD UP AND REITERATED WHAT GOD HAD SAID
YOU WOULD THINK ONE OF THE TWELVE WOULD HAVE REMINDED THE PEOPLE TO NOT LOSE HEART
I BELIEVE THE EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL EXHAUSTION PLAYED A PART IN THIS
THRICE IN LUKE, ONCE IN MATTHEW AND ONCE IN MARK JESUS HAD SPOKEN ABOUT THIS EVENT
22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”
32 For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. 33 They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”
7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ”
34 and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”
19 and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.”
FRIENDS, THIS IS OUR TENDENCY
THIS IS OUR PROCLIVITY
IN THE DISTRESS
IN THE DOUBT
IN THE PANDEMIC
WE FORGET WHAT JESUS HAS SAID AND DONE
BUT THATS NT WHERE THE STORY ENDS FOR THIS GROUP OF WOMEN
CHECK OUT VERSE 8
8 And they remembered His words.
C’MON CHURCH
CAN WE JUST REST HERE FOR A MINUTE
THERE IS SO MUCH POWER IN THIS VERSE ALONE
FRIENDS THE BEST ADVICE I HAVE FOR ALL OF US FOR EVERY SITUATION LIFE THROWS AT US
“REMEMBER WHAT HE HAS SAID”
REMEMBER WHAT HE HAS SPOKEN
REMEMBER THAT HE SAID THAT HE WOULD NEVER LEAVE US ORPHANS
REMEMBER THAT HE SAID THAT HE WOULD NEVER LEAVE US NOR FORSAKE US
REMEMBER WHAT HE PROMISED
WHEN THE WORLD ASKS WHERE IS JESUS?
2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
WHEN THE WORLD ASKS WHY IS THERE SO MUCH EVIL
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
WHEN YOU FEEL RIPPED OFF?
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
WHEN YOU FEEL UNLOVED?
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
WHEN YOU FEEL POWERLESS:
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
WHEN YOU NEED A SAFE PLACE:
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
The righteous run to it and are safe.
WHEN YOU NEED HELP
1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
WHEN YOUR HEART IS BROKEN:
18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
WHEN YOU LACK COURAGE:
24 Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart,
All you who hope in the Lord.
WHEN YOU ARE ANXIOUS:
25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
IF YOU’RE SCARED OF DEATH
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
FOR EVERY FEAR
FOR EVERY CONDITION OF THE HEART
FOR EVERY SITUATION
FOR EVERY BLOW LIFE HITS US WITH
THE WORDS OF JESUS STAND UNSHAKEN
THE CHARACTER OF GOD STANDS PROVEN
HIS LOVE FOR YOU AND FOR ME CAST OUT EVERY FEAR
TODAY WE CELEBRATE THE GREATEST VICTORY TO THE GREATEST BATTLE EVER FOUGHT ON THIS EARTH
TODAY WE CELEBRATE JESUS
THE CONQUERING LION
THE VICTORIOUS ONE
THE UNDISPUTED SAVIOR OF THE WORLD
FOR HE HAS DEFEATED EVERY LIE
HE HAS DEFEATED SIN, DEATH, AND THE DEVIL
HE HAS PROCLAIMED THE VICTORY OVER EVERY ENEMY EVERY WEAPON EVERY STRONGHOLD
AND TODAY, HE INVITES US INTO HIS VICTORY
HE INVITES US INTO THE RESURRECTED LIFE
TODAY WE CAN HAVE THIS LIFE
AND CHECK OUT WHAT HAPPENS:
NOT ONLY WILL YOU RECEIVE POWER FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT
THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL DWELL IN YOU
AND IF HE DWELLS WITHIN YOU
CHECK OUT WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS:
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
TODAY HE GIVES YOU LIFE
TODAY HE CHANGES YOUR STORY
IT IS ALL AVAILABLE THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO DWELLS IN YOU