Third Day - Best Day!
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Handout
Happy Easter & Happy Resurrection Day!
Even though this particular day or calendar date may not not ACTUALLY be the day of the resurrection of Jesus Christ - it is never a bad thing to set a day aside to celebrate such a wonderful day!
If the death of Jesus Christ was a “Good Friday”, then this is a “GREAT Sunday!”
I find it interesting that we refer to the most difficult and painful day of Jesus’ life as Good Friday!
Was it a good day for Jesus, personally?
What was good about it?
The pain, the suffering, the ridicule, being stripped naked and beaten, being falsely accused?
Is there anything that could be redemptive about a painful experience that was filled with death & loss?
Have you ever had a day that was full of pain and death and loss?
Emotionally
Physically
Financially
Relationally
- I personally know many of you who have.
Is there anything that could be redemptive from a painful experience in your life?
Can anything good come from a place of abject brokenness and despair?
Jesus’ resurrection gives us the answer - A resounding, victorious, YES!!!
54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
Resurrection Day is a celebration of ultimate victory despite brutal events!
What if Jesus’ Death Was the End?
What if Jesus’ Death Was the End?
Every religious leader in human history, including Jesus, died.
If Jesus Hadn’t Overcome Death, Hell & the Grave:
1. We would have no hope for eternal life (John 3:16)
2. The New Testament/Covenant would not have begun (Hebrews 9:12,16)
3. We would not have hope that we can, like Jesus, overcome sin & it’s consequences (1 Peter 2:24)
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.
12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
16 For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
Jesus’ death isn’t the best part of His ministry - His resurrection is.
What’s the Big Deal About Jesus’ Resurrection?
What’s the Big Deal About Jesus’ Resurrection?
The big deal is that Jesus took everything Hell could throw at Him and still won the victory through His resurrection-comeback!
What this means for us is that:
If anyone has become a Christian, our lives are meant to be a living, breathing, accurate representation of Jesus’ life.
Christian = (lit.) Little Christ ; Little Anointed One
This accurate representation includes the ability to come through the worst hell has to offer and secure the victory!
The devil brings hard things to pass in our life - often through those around us - in order to crush us and our God-given destiny.
20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
Jesus works with us and in us to make that demonic crushing press out new wine in place of death.
8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
Hard things don’t define us, but they give us opportunities to be defined.
Don’t let the crushing make you bitter - let it, through Jesus, make you better!
Jesus makes us better through the Holy Spirit that gives us resurrection-life victory that will come out of your life.
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.
The bottom line of it all is that:
Our life should be a current-demonstration, to ourself and others, that hard things will happen - but in our weakest times, God’s grace is more than strong enough when we lean on it!
9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Hard things are going to happen in this life, but God doesn’t want those things to be pointless or debilitating in your life.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
God can & wants to make all things (even the rough ones) work together for good in your life because you are called by God for a purpose!
It’s not only about what happens to us, but what happens in us that matters!
“The same boiling water that hardens an egg softens a potato”
Just One Thing:
Just One Thing:
Follow Jesus & you are GOING TO WIN!!!
24 The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil. 25 “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, And the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you.
Discussion Questions:
Discussion Questions:
When was the most inappropriate time you busted out in laughter?
It has been said about hard things - 1) They have already happened to you. 2) They are happening to you right now. 3)They are going to happen to you. - In light of that thought where are you on this list & what did you glean from this sermon that might help you when hard things come?
Please read 2 Corinthians 12:9 and share what this passage means to you and how you can apply it practically in your life.
What was the most encouraging/strengthening thing you heard in this message? Share a little bit about that.