WEBVTT 00:00:02.899 --> 00:00:06.799 Hallelujah. If you have your Bibles, turn with 00:00:06.799 --> 00:00:18.160 me to Luke's Gospel. Luke 24. Thank you for being 00:00:18.160 --> 00:00:20.059 in the house of the Lord today. Happy Easter. 00:00:21.879 --> 00:00:24.699 Happy Easter Sunday morning. What a beautiful, 00:00:24.899 --> 00:00:31.019 beautiful day that the Lord has made. Amen. Good 00:00:31.019 --> 00:00:33.020 to see some of you out of your comfort zones 00:00:33.020 --> 00:00:36.700 this morning. Moved around, front row Christians 00:00:36.700 --> 00:00:39.820 now. Thank you for those of you that got here 00:00:39.820 --> 00:00:43.979 before they did. Got their seats and made them 00:00:43.979 --> 00:00:48.600 have to look for another place to light. I love 00:00:48.600 --> 00:00:57.719 it. Hallelujah. It is Easter Sunday. Amen. I 00:00:57.719 --> 00:00:59.500 just want to say thank you for being in the house 00:00:59.500 --> 00:01:01.079 of the Lord. If you're visiting with us today, 00:01:01.280 --> 00:01:05.920 you only get to be a visitor one time. And after 00:01:05.920 --> 00:01:07.760 that, you just have to find a place to fit in. 00:01:08.560 --> 00:01:12.500 Be one among us. So thank you for choosing to 00:01:12.500 --> 00:01:15.459 be at the Hopewell Church of God today to worship. 00:01:15.560 --> 00:01:17.599 I know there are some pastors that are looking 00:01:17.599 --> 00:01:23.319 for some of you. And I'll tell them where you 00:01:23.319 --> 00:01:29.560 were. He's a friend of mine. And he's like myself. 00:01:29.620 --> 00:01:32.420 He's a shepherd that knows where his regular 00:01:32.420 --> 00:01:35.680 sheep are and when they're not there. And so 00:01:35.680 --> 00:01:37.819 if we could all get a group photo, we'll just 00:01:37.819 --> 00:01:43.420 send it to him. They're shaking their head, though. 00:01:43.420 --> 00:01:53.280 We ain't doing that. Luke 24. I'm going to start 00:01:53.280 --> 00:02:01.719 reading verse 1. Now upon the first day of the 00:02:01.719 --> 00:02:06.719 week, very early in the morning, they come into 00:02:06.719 --> 00:02:09.060 the sepulcher bringing the spices which they 00:02:09.060 --> 00:02:16.199 had prepared and certain others with them. And 00:02:16.199 --> 00:02:20.139 they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher. 00:02:22.159 --> 00:02:27.020 And they entered in and found not the body of 00:02:27.020 --> 00:02:31.159 the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they 00:02:31.159 --> 00:02:36.280 were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men 00:02:36.280 --> 00:02:41.099 stood by them in shining garments. And as they 00:02:41.099 --> 00:02:43.939 were afraid and bowed down their faces to the 00:02:43.939 --> 00:02:49.879 earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living 00:02:49.879 --> 00:02:54.280 among the dead? He is not here, but is risen. 00:02:55.280 --> 00:02:58.840 Remember how he spake unto you? When he was yet 00:02:58.840 --> 00:03:02.919 in Galilee. Saying the son of man must be delivered 00:03:02.919 --> 00:03:05.139 into the hands of sinful men. And be crucified. 00:03:05.620 --> 00:03:10.860 And the third day rise again. And they remembered 00:03:10.860 --> 00:03:17.599 his words. And they remembered his words. I won't 00:03:17.599 --> 00:03:19.979 speak to you for just a little while. Probably 00:03:19.979 --> 00:03:23.639 going to conclude our countdown series. The countdown 00:03:23.639 --> 00:03:30.629 reset. The countdown reset. Living in a Good 00:03:30.629 --> 00:03:37.689 Friday world like it's Sunday morning. Well, 00:03:37.849 --> 00:03:42.169 hallelujah. If you pray for me, I'll pray for 00:03:42.169 --> 00:03:44.030 you, and I'm going to try my best to get this 00:03:44.030 --> 00:03:49.610 done by 12 -ish. Father, we love you. We thank 00:03:49.610 --> 00:03:51.189 you for your goodness and your mercy and your 00:03:51.189 --> 00:03:54.610 grace. On this day, Father, I pray, let me be 00:03:54.610 --> 00:03:59.669 expedient. Lord, to speak what thus saith the 00:03:59.669 --> 00:04:01.590 Lord, what you would have us to hear and what 00:04:01.590 --> 00:04:04.530 would be encouraging and uplifting to the saints 00:04:04.530 --> 00:04:08.009 of God. For each one that is here today, we have 00:04:08.009 --> 00:04:11.810 hope in the resurrection. And we're so grateful 00:04:11.810 --> 00:04:15.050 and so thankful. This beautiful, beautiful congregation 00:04:15.050 --> 00:04:18.050 that is assembled together today to worship you 00:04:18.050 --> 00:04:21.829 in the power of your resurrection. Help us now, 00:04:21.949 --> 00:04:23.930 Father, to hear what the Spirit would say to 00:04:23.930 --> 00:04:27.009 the church. To you be praise forever. In Christ's 00:04:27.009 --> 00:04:30.509 name, the church said, amen. Tell your neighbor, 00:04:30.649 --> 00:04:39.329 live it like it's Sunday morning. Our countdown 00:04:39.329 --> 00:04:46.529 series that we've been in, we began Palm Sunday, 00:04:46.629 --> 00:04:49.569 the week before Palm Sunday. It started with 00:04:49.569 --> 00:04:53.620 the last month or so of Christ's life. We've 00:04:53.620 --> 00:04:56.579 been walking through his last few weeks upon 00:04:56.579 --> 00:05:02.620 the face of the earth in his fleshly body. Holy 00:05:02.620 --> 00:05:07.720 Week has concluded. The shouts of Hosanna have 00:05:07.720 --> 00:05:12.540 faded and have been replaced with crucify him. 00:05:14.720 --> 00:05:20.660 The week past, this Holy Week, passed with the 00:05:20.660 --> 00:05:23.699 cleansing of the temple. In the declaration, 00:05:24.019 --> 00:05:28.160 my house shall be called a house of prayer. This 00:05:28.160 --> 00:05:32.180 week has passed with the healing of the sick. 00:05:32.399 --> 00:05:37.519 Blinded eyes have been opened. The holy week 00:05:37.519 --> 00:05:41.680 has passed with Christ daily in the temple teaching, 00:05:41.899 --> 00:05:50.500 leaving final instructions. The instructions 00:05:50.500 --> 00:05:54.920 of... The widow's mite took place in this last 00:05:54.920 --> 00:05:58.740 week of Christ's life. As he's sitting, resting, 00:05:58.899 --> 00:06:03.000 no doubt after a morning session, and it come 00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:06.839 time for offering, and he and his disciples are 00:06:06.839 --> 00:06:10.500 sitting away from the collection, and he's watching. 00:06:11.720 --> 00:06:14.220 He's seeing how some come in, and they bring 00:06:14.220 --> 00:06:17.019 their exorbitant gift, and they make a show of 00:06:17.019 --> 00:06:21.660 the presentation. But he hasn't said anything 00:06:21.660 --> 00:06:27.899 about the showy presentation. But he sees a widow 00:06:27.899 --> 00:06:33.759 woman come with the smallest amount. And he draws 00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:38.439 his disciples' attention to the offering of what 00:06:38.439 --> 00:06:41.579 we know as the widow's mite. And how that she 00:06:41.579 --> 00:06:44.459 had given more than all that had preceded her. 00:06:45.259 --> 00:06:47.600 It wasn't the last teaching that he would do 00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:51.959 concerning money. The Pharisees would come and 00:06:51.959 --> 00:06:54.199 they would be gouging and poking at him so that 00:06:54.199 --> 00:06:58.120 they may find somewhere and some wit to condemn 00:06:58.120 --> 00:07:03.800 him. Is it lawful to give money unto Caesar? 00:07:06.519 --> 00:07:09.519 In his teaching, he says, does anybody have a 00:07:09.519 --> 00:07:14.699 coin? Well, yeah. Somebody digs up a coin. He 00:07:14.699 --> 00:07:16.779 says, whose inscription is on the coin? Well, 00:07:16.899 --> 00:07:21.579 it's Caesar's. They said, well, you do know it's 00:07:21.579 --> 00:07:26.500 Caesar time, by the way. Render unto Caesar that 00:07:26.500 --> 00:07:31.699 which is Caesar's, and render unto God that which 00:07:31.699 --> 00:07:33.680 is God. And they left scratching their head. 00:07:33.800 --> 00:07:36.759 That's a good answer. They thought, hmm, thought 00:07:36.759 --> 00:07:39.259 we had him there, but that's a real good answer. 00:07:42.639 --> 00:07:45.100 Money's still not the end. That teaching is not 00:07:45.100 --> 00:07:48.490 the end of where... Money would play a role in 00:07:48.490 --> 00:07:53.790 the last week of Jesus' life. For you see, it 00:07:53.790 --> 00:07:57.189 would proceed on down to where Judas would barter 00:07:57.189 --> 00:08:01.310 the life and the betrayal of Christ for 30 pieces 00:08:01.310 --> 00:08:06.930 of silver. We don't think about all these things 00:08:06.930 --> 00:08:09.569 going. We think that some of that other money 00:08:09.569 --> 00:08:12.970 talk was way back in the early years of Christ. 00:08:13.009 --> 00:08:16.540 No. He's teaching on it all in this last week. 00:08:17.740 --> 00:08:22.259 Judas has betrayed him, sold him out. In this 00:08:22.259 --> 00:08:28.220 week, the supper has been instructed. The room 00:08:28.220 --> 00:08:33.039 had been secured. They would proceed from supper 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:36.379 after he washing their feet and breaking bread 00:08:36.379 --> 00:08:40.809 and instituting the new covenant. He would hand 00:08:40.809 --> 00:08:42.769 them the cup and say, this is my blood, drink 00:08:42.769 --> 00:08:46.730 you all of it. From there he proceeds to the 00:08:46.730 --> 00:08:49.769 garden. There those prayers are offered until 00:08:49.769 --> 00:08:53.090 his sweat becomes as great drops of blood. Then 00:08:53.090 --> 00:08:56.570 he surrenders the fleshly will to the will of 00:08:56.570 --> 00:09:03.909 the Father. Hymns are sang. He who had been sold 00:09:03.909 --> 00:09:10.309 out now is called upon. The soldiers are there. 00:09:12.169 --> 00:09:14.529 One of the gospels tells us when they come for 00:09:14.529 --> 00:09:20.750 him to actually take him, his power, again, Brother 00:09:20.750 --> 00:09:22.690 Jeff, he had to restrain himself, but he lost 00:09:22.690 --> 00:09:25.710 restraint for a moment, and they're all knocked 00:09:25.710 --> 00:09:30.470 over. It is in that night at this very occasion 00:09:30.470 --> 00:09:33.169 that the zealous one, Peter, would take a sword 00:09:33.169 --> 00:09:36.470 and cut off the ear of one of the guards, one 00:09:36.470 --> 00:09:39.470 of the soldiers. And it was there that Christ 00:09:39.470 --> 00:09:42.769 again displayed his powers. He picked up the 00:09:42.769 --> 00:09:46.210 old boy's ear and stuck it back on his head. 00:09:48.070 --> 00:09:50.070 If it would have been me for spite, I'd have 00:09:50.070 --> 00:09:57.370 put it on crooked. I'd have put it back. But 00:09:57.370 --> 00:09:59.850 it had been sideways so that he would never forget. 00:10:03.470 --> 00:10:06.009 But that's not Jesus. He just put it back on. 00:10:08.779 --> 00:10:12.500 All these things are transpiring. The days that 00:10:12.500 --> 00:10:17.039 would follow that night would be dark. They lead 00:10:17.039 --> 00:10:18.960 us to what we know and celebrated the other day 00:10:18.960 --> 00:10:22.740 as Good Friday. And the only good from it is 00:10:22.740 --> 00:10:27.059 for you and I. For you see, it would be there 00:10:27.059 --> 00:10:29.580 that the stripes would be laid upon his back. 00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:33.440 It would be there for now what we can go and 00:10:33.440 --> 00:10:35.899 follow through the seven stages of the Via Della 00:10:35.899 --> 00:10:39.629 Rosa. The walk. the last walk of the Christ. 00:10:39.950 --> 00:10:42.809 And you can stop at every station, and you can 00:10:42.809 --> 00:10:45.129 reminisce, and you can let your mind be caught 00:10:45.129 --> 00:10:48.909 up. I've been there. It's very solemn for a believer. 00:10:50.129 --> 00:10:52.789 Others can walk the Via Dolorosa and just look 00:10:52.789 --> 00:10:55.909 at the pretty sights and take pictures of the 00:10:55.909 --> 00:10:59.649 architecture. But for a born -again child of 00:10:59.649 --> 00:11:03.009 God who knows, as the song said, who we were 00:11:03.009 --> 00:11:07.379 and who we are because of who he is. You can't 00:11:07.379 --> 00:11:09.580 walk down through there without looking through 00:11:09.580 --> 00:11:14.899 the glimmering of tears. I cried for 11 days 00:11:14.899 --> 00:11:19.379 when I was over there. Couldn't hardly see the 00:11:19.379 --> 00:11:21.820 countryside and the sights because I was always 00:11:21.820 --> 00:11:29.139 looking through tears. Humbled and somewhat ashamed. 00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:38.370 The Holy Week is concluding. The cross has been 00:11:38.370 --> 00:11:46.070 selected. The spikes have been chosen. The one 00:11:46.070 --> 00:11:48.870 to help him bear it to Calvary had been pulled 00:11:48.870 --> 00:11:54.730 from the crowd, Simon of Cyrene. And now they 00:11:54.730 --> 00:12:04.429 drive them. He's on the cross to be lifted as 00:12:04.429 --> 00:12:09.690 the... Serpent was the brazen serpent. Back in 00:12:09.690 --> 00:12:12.889 Moses' day when the people transgressed God. 00:12:15.830 --> 00:12:20.049 Bitten by fiery serpents and dying. Moses is 00:12:20.049 --> 00:12:23.490 instructed. We had a couple of our EMTs in here 00:12:23.490 --> 00:12:25.710 with us this morning. Glad they made it prior 00:12:25.710 --> 00:12:29.190 to their shift. But it's the insignia for healing 00:12:29.190 --> 00:12:34.370 and for help. Still in our culture today. The 00:12:34.370 --> 00:12:36.789 ceiling of healing and help. Christ said, if 00:12:36.789 --> 00:12:39.929 I be lifted up, I'll draw all men unto me. So 00:12:39.929 --> 00:12:42.129 he is now suspended between the heaven and the 00:12:42.129 --> 00:12:47.929 earth. The sun is hidden by darkness. And he 00:12:47.929 --> 00:12:57.950 cries those fated words. It is finished. Reset 00:12:57.950 --> 00:13:11.350 the countdown. The last grain has fallen through 00:13:11.350 --> 00:13:15.950 the hourglass of time. Sand is now settled. Turn 00:13:15.950 --> 00:13:21.669 it over. Reset the countdown. And sand of time 00:13:21.669 --> 00:13:25.090 begins to filter through the will and the promise 00:13:25.090 --> 00:13:28.990 of God. The countdown has been reset. The declaration, 00:13:29.269 --> 00:13:33.870 it is finished. Not he is finished. It. It. What 00:13:33.870 --> 00:13:37.700 is it? Sin's dominion and domain. It. It is finished. 00:13:38.059 --> 00:13:41.679 Sin's authority and sin's rule and the devil's 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:45.759 rampant unchecked action. It is finished. It 00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:49.740 is over. He yields up his life. Remember, he 00:13:49.740 --> 00:13:53.809 said, I lay it down. You can't take it. Pilate, 00:13:53.809 --> 00:13:57.269 you can't take it. No one else can take it. The 00:13:57.269 --> 00:13:59.929 army and the soldiers that came into Gethsemane 00:13:59.929 --> 00:14:02.750 that night realized they couldn't take it as 00:14:02.750 --> 00:14:05.009 they were getting up off of the ground because 00:14:05.009 --> 00:14:07.669 of his spoken word. They realized they could 00:14:07.669 --> 00:14:11.250 not take his life. Had he not desired to surrender 00:14:11.250 --> 00:14:15.289 it, it would have never been taken. My God. And 00:14:15.289 --> 00:14:17.769 even while he suspended between the heavens and 00:14:17.769 --> 00:14:20.970 the earth, the legions of angels upon his summons 00:14:20.970 --> 00:14:24.110 would have come and delivered him. But no, no, 00:14:24.210 --> 00:14:27.009 he said it's time to reset the countdown. My 00:14:27.009 --> 00:14:30.309 God, it's time to turn it over. Redemption is 00:14:30.309 --> 00:14:34.330 coming to humanity. It is finished. Sin no longer 00:14:34.330 --> 00:14:52.889 has dominion over God's creation. In his own 00:14:52.889 --> 00:14:54.429 way, what I say, well, I've about had enough 00:14:54.429 --> 00:14:59.470 of this. How many of you? Well, I'm over this. 00:15:02.929 --> 00:15:07.350 Reset the countdown. You see, we live in a continuum 00:15:07.350 --> 00:15:11.169 of a Good Friday world. You see, Good Friday 00:15:11.169 --> 00:15:15.210 was filled with pain and suffering. Good Friday 00:15:15.210 --> 00:15:19.190 is all about the power that sin had over the 00:15:19.190 --> 00:15:24.409 world. Huh? Good Friday is about despair. Good 00:15:24.409 --> 00:15:28.049 Friday is about depression and oppression. Good 00:15:28.049 --> 00:15:31.970 Friday is about darkness. And we live in the 00:15:31.970 --> 00:15:35.830 continuum of a Good Friday world. People being 00:15:35.830 --> 00:15:39.309 overburdened and overwhelmed by the cares of 00:15:39.309 --> 00:15:43.190 this world. And even though, I want you to mark 00:15:43.190 --> 00:15:47.289 this now, even though we live in a Good Friday 00:15:47.289 --> 00:15:52.309 world, We're in this Good Friday world, but the 00:15:52.309 --> 00:15:56.490 redeemed are no longer of this Good Friday world. 00:15:57.509 --> 00:16:01.649 So my encouragement to you is... That Christ 00:16:01.649 --> 00:16:04.429 died that you may live. We've sung about it this 00:16:04.429 --> 00:16:08.129 morning. He died that you may live in spite of 00:16:08.129 --> 00:16:11.509 a Good Friday world. He died that you might live 00:16:11.509 --> 00:16:14.210 in spite of the darkness that shudders across 00:16:14.210 --> 00:16:18.289 the face of this earth. He died that he may rise 00:16:18.289 --> 00:16:21.990 again and let the glorious light and the power 00:16:21.990 --> 00:16:25.710 of his resurrection. Hallelujah. I am in a Good 00:16:25.710 --> 00:16:28.889 Friday world, but I live every day like it's 00:16:28.889 --> 00:16:31.700 Sunday morning. you've got to understand the 00:16:31.700 --> 00:16:35.220 declaration on that first day of the week. Early 00:16:35.220 --> 00:16:38.460 in the morning, amen, when they went to the place 00:16:38.460 --> 00:16:41.080 where he was laid and the stone was rolled and 00:16:41.080 --> 00:16:44.820 the seal was placed, he, I love what the angel 00:16:44.820 --> 00:16:48.600 said, why seek ye the living among the dead? 00:16:48.860 --> 00:16:53.460 He is not here. Do you not remember what he said? 00:16:58.220 --> 00:17:00.580 I'm in this thing, but I'm no longer of this 00:17:00.580 --> 00:17:04.619 thing. I spent my time living out the Good Friday 00:17:04.619 --> 00:17:11.640 life. How about you? I spent my time allowing 00:17:11.640 --> 00:17:14.119 sin to have dominion over my life, but no longer. 00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:22.900 I endeavor to the best of my ability to live 00:17:22.900 --> 00:17:29.769 without sin. I do. I said endeavor. To live without 00:17:29.769 --> 00:17:33.430 sin. As long as I'm in this world and there's 00:17:33.430 --> 00:17:35.730 a devil going out to steal, kill, and destroy, 00:17:36.029 --> 00:17:39.670 the potential for me to fall and the subjection 00:17:39.670 --> 00:17:45.809 of me to fall is always in play. So you thought 00:17:45.809 --> 00:17:52.549 I was going to tell you I was perfect. That ain't 00:17:52.549 --> 00:17:56.650 so. But you know what the old songwriter said, 00:17:56.730 --> 00:17:58.210 it's hard to be humble when you're perfect in 00:17:58.210 --> 00:18:04.750 every way. The perfection of my life is Christ 00:18:04.750 --> 00:18:08.730 who is in me, who is my eternal hope of glory. 00:18:09.349 --> 00:18:11.410 And if there's any perfection in you as well, 00:18:11.509 --> 00:18:14.089 it's Christ that lives in you and dwells within 00:18:14.089 --> 00:18:16.250 you. That is the perfection that we proclaim. 00:18:16.410 --> 00:18:19.549 It's Christ. And we totally always surrender 00:18:19.549 --> 00:18:22.029 ourselves to the perfection and the will of Christ 00:18:22.029 --> 00:18:24.490 and allow the authority of the power of His Spirit 00:18:24.490 --> 00:18:26.829 to move and to reign, to lead, and to guide, 00:18:26.970 --> 00:18:37.190 and let His Word dictate our actions. So, live. 00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:43.660 Like it's Sunday morning. Live in this Black 00:18:43.660 --> 00:18:48.500 Friday world, Good Friday's actions of Christ's 00:18:48.500 --> 00:18:53.240 surrender like it's Sunday morning. Why? Because 00:18:53.240 --> 00:18:57.279 Sunday morning brings about joy. And we must 00:18:57.279 --> 00:19:00.720 remember that Christ died in order that we may 00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:05.329 live like it's a Sunday morning. Because we know 00:19:05.329 --> 00:19:08.049 that we are in this mess, but we're not out of 00:19:08.049 --> 00:19:11.130 this mess. And as I've told you before, this 00:19:11.130 --> 00:19:14.509 is as bad as it's ever going to get for you. 00:19:15.740 --> 00:19:19.079 Hey, what are you saying? If you are redeemed 00:19:19.079 --> 00:19:21.880 by the blood of the Lamb, if your sins are forgiven, 00:19:21.940 --> 00:19:24.779 if you have repented and invited Christ into 00:19:24.779 --> 00:19:27.700 your heart, whatever this old world has is as 00:19:27.700 --> 00:19:30.759 bad as it's going to get for you. It's not going 00:19:30.759 --> 00:19:32.759 to get any worse than a sickness or a disease 00:19:32.759 --> 00:19:34.799 that devours your body. It's not going to get 00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:38.079 any worse than that. This is as bad as it's ever 00:19:38.079 --> 00:19:40.140 going to get for you. Whatever the enemy can 00:19:40.140 --> 00:19:42.960 come against you with is all he's got. It's the 00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:45.240 only effort that he had because there is a hope. 00:19:45.349 --> 00:19:49.230 in eternity for you and I. You better take your 00:19:49.230 --> 00:19:52.210 best shot now, devil, because this is as good 00:19:52.210 --> 00:19:55.029 as it's ever going to get. It's as bad as it 00:19:55.029 --> 00:19:58.049 ever will be because when I'm even here, he has 00:19:58.049 --> 00:20:00.509 no authority. He has no dominion over you other 00:20:00.509 --> 00:20:02.789 than which you surrender to him because when 00:20:02.789 --> 00:20:05.589 you are here on the resurrection, on that first 00:20:05.589 --> 00:20:09.029 Sunday morning, he has given you and I authority 00:20:09.029 --> 00:20:13.869 and power to live like every day is a Sunday 00:20:13.869 --> 00:20:25.240 morning. Resurrection Sunday is a day of new 00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:31.240 beginning. It's a day of renewed hope. It's a 00:20:31.240 --> 00:20:36.680 day of refreshed joy. That first Sunday morning 00:20:36.680 --> 00:20:41.440 was a great day. People say, well, why don't 00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:43.640 we worship on Sabbath day? Because I'm not a 00:20:43.640 --> 00:20:49.940 Sabbath day Adventist. And I am not of the Jewish 00:20:49.940 --> 00:20:56.490 faith. That's why we gather on Sunday morning, 00:20:56.650 --> 00:21:00.990 early on the first day of the week. They went, 00:21:01.089 --> 00:21:04.750 the stones rolled away, and he is living evermore. 00:21:05.569 --> 00:21:11.289 So we worship on Resurrection Day. But can I 00:21:11.289 --> 00:21:15.329 tell you, every day is a resurrection day for 00:21:15.329 --> 00:21:18.069 a child of God. Victory was accomplished through 00:21:18.069 --> 00:21:20.829 the cross and by the power of the resurrection. 00:21:21.049 --> 00:21:24.609 Never... ever only put your hope in the cross 00:21:24.609 --> 00:21:28.359 of Calvary. Never, ever. You need to hear me 00:21:28.359 --> 00:21:31.619 now. Never allow the cross to be elevated above 00:21:31.619 --> 00:21:36.240 an empty tomb. The cross was necessary. It was 00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:38.980 the judgment that was required. His blood had 00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:41.279 to be poured out. But remember the words of the 00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:45.119 Apostle Paul. If Christ be not risen, then is 00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:48.519 your faith in vain. It's the empty tomb. Hallelujah. 00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:51.880 It's the resurrected Lord that gives validity 00:21:51.880 --> 00:21:54.799 to your faith and hope in the resurrection and 00:21:54.799 --> 00:21:57.000 the power that also you need. You know this, 00:21:57.099 --> 00:21:59.839 the same power that raised Christ from the dead 00:21:59.839 --> 00:22:05.000 will also raise your mortal bodies. Hallelujah. 00:22:05.180 --> 00:22:08.880 It's the hope we have. Live every day like it's 00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:20.440 Sunday morning. Jesus went to Calvary and then 00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:24.420 rose from the dead. He accomplished a great victory. 00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:29.480 Not only for himself, but for all of humanity. 00:22:31.859 --> 00:22:34.400 As we look at some things this morning that bring 00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:38.059 about the benefits of how and why we live like 00:22:38.059 --> 00:22:41.299 it's Sunday morning. Not as though we are condemned 00:22:41.299 --> 00:22:45.420 in a Good Friday world. It's because of the resurrection 00:22:45.420 --> 00:22:51.140 of Jesus Christ. Had he not risen, he would be 00:22:51.140 --> 00:22:56.890 no different than Mohammed. He would be no different 00:22:56.890 --> 00:23:02.710 than a Buddha, a Hare Krishna, a Sun Yung Moon, 00:23:02.990 --> 00:23:08.089 a David Koresh. Trying to get in one you might 00:23:08.089 --> 00:23:16.430 recognize. The other's bones are still bleaching 00:23:16.430 --> 00:23:28.319 in the earth. But his. above the heavens beyond 00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:34.460 the galaxies of this world. He sits at the right 00:23:34.460 --> 00:23:37.640 hand of the throne of God. So live like it's 00:23:37.640 --> 00:23:47.019 Sunday morning. You say, well, I thought he had 00:23:47.019 --> 00:23:49.680 a spirit body. Well, he told Thomas, stick your 00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:56.019 finger here, indicating the hole. Because you 00:23:56.019 --> 00:23:58.420 remember Thomas in his doubting because he was 00:23:58.420 --> 00:24:02.279 absent from church. Oh, did I say that? He was 00:24:02.279 --> 00:24:04.660 absent from the gathering of the other disciples. 00:24:05.799 --> 00:24:09.559 After the resurrection and Jesus comes in, says, 00:24:09.660 --> 00:24:12.559 peace, y 'all be peaceful. Just, I'm here now. 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:16.480 Thomas wasn't there and they said, you missed 00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:24.000 Jesus. How'd you look? Like that little kid. 00:24:24.839 --> 00:24:28.660 who was sick on Palm Sunday. Dad comes home. 00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:30.900 Mom stayed home to take care of the sick young 00:24:30.900 --> 00:24:34.400 'un. Dad comes home bringing a palm branch. You 00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:37.619 know, they got one that Sunday. He said, here. 00:24:38.500 --> 00:24:40.500 The little kid said, well, what's this? He said, 00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:45.559 well, they waved these when Jesus came into town. 00:24:45.819 --> 00:24:47.200 The little kid grabbed it and went to the room 00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:48.940 and said he would show up the day I can't go. 00:24:56.079 --> 00:24:58.700 What are you saying? It's important to show up. 00:25:01.500 --> 00:25:12.000 I just did that, didn't I? As we take a look 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:16.559 at the benefits of the resurrection over the 00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:26.109 next 13 minutes. Why live like it's Sunday? Because 00:25:26.109 --> 00:25:34.470 Sunday people are a forgiven people. Sunday people 00:25:34.470 --> 00:25:38.910 are a forgiven people. Through the power of the 00:25:38.910 --> 00:25:41.529 resurrection, we have been given access to the 00:25:41.529 --> 00:25:47.490 greatest victory, the victory over sin. Romans 00:25:47.490 --> 00:25:50.349 6, 4 -7 says, Knowing this, that our old man 00:25:50.349 --> 00:25:53.170 was crucified with him, that the body of sin 00:25:53.170 --> 00:25:56.690 might be done away with, that we should no longer 00:25:56.690 --> 00:26:01.430 be slaves to sin. How does that happen? It happens 00:26:01.430 --> 00:26:03.910 through the Roman road of salvation. That you 00:26:03.910 --> 00:26:07.170 find in Romans 10 verses 9 and 10. Where it declares 00:26:07.170 --> 00:26:09.990 that with the heart man believes. And with the 00:26:09.990 --> 00:26:13.509 mouth he makes confession. Amen. And when we 00:26:13.509 --> 00:26:15.970 confess our sin and we believe in our heart that 00:26:15.970 --> 00:26:19.490 Christ is Lord. And that he rose from the dead. 00:26:19.650 --> 00:26:22.710 So that our sins may be purged and sin may be 00:26:22.710 --> 00:26:25.970 taken away. Then we are no longer slaves to the 00:26:25.970 --> 00:26:28.390 power and the authority of sin. And you live 00:26:28.390 --> 00:26:30.609 that way. You live as though sin doesn't have 00:26:30.609 --> 00:26:34.289 dominion over your life. Christ in you who is 00:26:34.289 --> 00:26:38.109 the hope of glory. And we find ourselves in this 00:26:38.109 --> 00:26:41.190 condition. If we are of all men, if only we have 00:26:41.190 --> 00:26:44.789 hope in Jesus for eternity, then we become most 00:26:44.789 --> 00:26:47.690 miserable. My hope is not simply for eternity. 00:26:47.970 --> 00:26:51.009 My hope is that I have victory here and now. 00:26:51.170 --> 00:26:54.089 And so I live in accordance to the victory that 00:26:54.089 --> 00:26:58.509 he has brought through Calvary by raising from 00:26:58.509 --> 00:27:06.740 the dead. The angels really couldn't understand 00:27:06.740 --> 00:27:08.799 why they didn't believe what they had already 00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:11.380 been told. What are y 'all doing here? You didn't 00:27:11.380 --> 00:27:17.180 really expect to find him. He told you. You know, 00:27:17.180 --> 00:27:21.460 angels, they don't doubt what he's saying. They 00:27:21.460 --> 00:27:23.180 don't doubt what he says. They know who he is. 00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:29.019 It just takes you and I a little bit longer to 00:27:29.019 --> 00:27:31.119 figure out really who he is. I'm going to let 00:27:31.119 --> 00:27:36.130 that just sink in. Ephesians 2 and 8 says, For 00:27:36.130 --> 00:27:39.930 by grace are you saved through faith. That not 00:27:39.930 --> 00:27:43.190 of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Titus 3, 00:27:43.230 --> 00:27:46.990 5 says, According to his mercy he saved us. Romans 00:27:46.990 --> 00:27:49.269 8, 10 through 11 says, And if the spirit of him 00:27:49.269 --> 00:27:51.809 who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, 00:27:51.950 --> 00:27:54.109 he who raised Christ from the dead will also 00:27:54.109 --> 00:27:57.710 give life to your mortal bodies through his spirit 00:27:57.710 --> 00:28:02.339 that dwells in you. Sunday people are forgiving 00:28:02.339 --> 00:28:05.099 people. Secondly, Sunday people are victorious 00:28:05.099 --> 00:28:09.140 people. Through the wonder of the power of the 00:28:09.140 --> 00:28:13.099 resurrection, we have been given access to great 00:28:13.099 --> 00:28:17.099 power and victory over the enemy who intends 00:28:17.099 --> 00:28:21.220 to destroy our life and our soul. You and I simply 00:28:21.220 --> 00:28:24.299 have to accept it, and we have to believe it. 00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:27.440 Remember, I told you last week, faith is not 00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:30.380 as much about receiving as it is about believing. 00:28:30.940 --> 00:28:33.319 Because if you can believe, then the receiving 00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:36.559 just comes next in natural order. You have to 00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:39.339 believe. What? Everything that he said. Everything 00:28:39.339 --> 00:28:41.880 that he proclaimed. You first have to believe 00:28:41.880 --> 00:28:44.480 that you, without him, are lost to a devil's 00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:48.839 hell. Which leads to the believing with him and 00:28:48.839 --> 00:28:51.920 through him, heaven will be your eternal abode. 00:28:55.049 --> 00:28:58.609 Sunday people are victorious people. Ephesians 00:28:58.609 --> 00:29:01.069 1, 18 -20 says, And what is the exceeding greatness 00:29:01.069 --> 00:29:04.329 of his power toward us who believe, according 00:29:04.329 --> 00:29:06.230 to the working of his mighty power, which he 00:29:06.230 --> 00:29:08.269 worked in Christ when he raised him from the 00:29:08.269 --> 00:29:10.569 dead and seated him at his right hand in the 00:29:10.569 --> 00:29:13.700 heavenly places? John 4 and 4, 1 John 4 and 4 00:29:13.700 --> 00:29:16.160 says, You are of God, little children, and have 00:29:16.160 --> 00:29:19.420 overcome the world because greater is he that 00:29:19.420 --> 00:29:23.799 is in you than he that is in this world. Greater 00:29:23.799 --> 00:29:27.440 is he that is in you than he that is in this 00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:31.599 world. Greater is he that is in you than he that 00:29:31.599 --> 00:29:33.680 is in this world. Live like it's Sunday morning. 00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:36.319 Live like you have been given the authority and 00:29:36.319 --> 00:29:39.839 the power, oh, from Christ himself. Has he really 00:29:39.839 --> 00:29:41.660 done it? He's done that for us. Well, let's see 00:29:41.660 --> 00:29:49.220 what the book says. People act like the devil 00:29:49.220 --> 00:29:51.440 just has free reign in their life and they have 00:29:51.440 --> 00:30:01.200 no way to stop him. Hogwash. He wreaks havoc 00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:06.359 in your life because you permit the havoc. Okay, 00:30:06.500 --> 00:30:10.960 Luke 10, 10. Jesus said, behold, I give you the 00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:14.700 authority to tread on serpents and scorpions 00:30:14.700 --> 00:30:19.279 and over all the power of the enemy and nothing 00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:26.519 shall by any means hurt you. How about this one? 00:30:27.660 --> 00:30:32.019 Resist the devil and he might leave you alone. 00:30:32.660 --> 00:30:38.079 Huh? Sound pretty good? If that's the way it 00:30:38.079 --> 00:30:42.099 were. It would, but that's not the way it declares 00:30:42.099 --> 00:30:45.740 it. Submit yourself unto the mighty hand of God, 00:30:45.900 --> 00:30:50.740 that he may exalt you when the time is right. 00:30:52.059 --> 00:30:58.420 Resist the devil, and he will, he shall, not 00:30:58.420 --> 00:31:01.900 might, not maybe, not possibly, he will flee. 00:31:02.759 --> 00:31:05.940 The key to the fleeing of the enemy is the subjection 00:31:05.940 --> 00:31:08.359 of yourself and submitting yourself unto the 00:31:08.359 --> 00:31:11.160 mighty hand of God that the greater is he that's 00:31:11.160 --> 00:31:14.079 in you, exercises through you by the working 00:31:14.079 --> 00:31:16.859 of the power of your faith, and the devil will 00:31:16.859 --> 00:31:24.880 leave you alone. Well, don't get too sad for 00:31:24.880 --> 00:31:33.589 him. He's coming back to try again. If you miss 00:31:33.589 --> 00:31:37.829 his company, hold on, he'll come back. He did 00:31:37.829 --> 00:31:43.250 Jesus three times. He'd fasted for 40 days. You 00:31:43.250 --> 00:31:45.430 don't get more prayed up than fasting for 40 00:31:45.430 --> 00:31:51.750 days. He's no respecter. The devil's no respecter 00:31:51.750 --> 00:31:53.549 if he'd come back and tempt Jesus three times. 00:31:53.690 --> 00:31:55.910 Don't you think he's coming back when you put 00:31:55.910 --> 00:32:00.710 him to flight? What do I do? Run him off again. 00:32:05.319 --> 00:32:07.720 Through the authority that's been given to you 00:32:07.720 --> 00:32:11.380 as a born again, blood -bought child of the living 00:32:11.380 --> 00:32:21.380 Jesus Christ. The power that works in you. Live 00:32:21.380 --> 00:32:28.799 like it's Sunday morning. Too many people like 00:32:28.799 --> 00:32:33.859 to dwell at the foot of the cross. They just 00:32:33.859 --> 00:32:35.319 like that. That's as far as they want to get. 00:32:35.460 --> 00:32:39.660 Oh, the cross. Well, yeah, the cross. It's shameful. 00:32:41.579 --> 00:32:43.920 But that wasn't the end result. The cross was 00:32:43.920 --> 00:32:46.099 not the end. I know he said it's finished, but 00:32:46.099 --> 00:32:48.940 I told you he didn't declare that I am finished. 00:32:49.960 --> 00:32:54.400 He said it was finished. Reset the countdown. 00:32:59.519 --> 00:33:02.319 I said now a little. Message to some folks on 00:33:02.319 --> 00:33:05.940 Saturday. They call Saturday after Good Friday 00:33:05.940 --> 00:33:11.579 the day of silence. As though he's just taking 00:33:11.579 --> 00:33:16.700 a nap in the tomb. Like he's just laying there. 00:33:19.279 --> 00:33:21.319 Waiting on the first day to get here so he can 00:33:21.319 --> 00:33:26.700 get up. Folks, you need to read the book. You 00:33:26.700 --> 00:33:28.119 don't have to try to figure out what's going 00:33:28.119 --> 00:33:29.819 on in between the lines. He tells you what's 00:33:29.819 --> 00:33:33.599 going on. Paul put it this way, before he ascended, 00:33:33.599 --> 00:33:38.500 he first descended into the lower parts of the 00:33:38.500 --> 00:33:42.299 earth. And what he did on that silent Saturday 00:33:42.299 --> 00:33:45.359 when disciples are whining and pouting, hiding 00:33:45.359 --> 00:33:49.009 in a room somewhere. Why the women are running 00:33:49.009 --> 00:33:51.690 around trying to get spices ready and together 00:33:51.690 --> 00:33:54.710 so they can get there early before he starts 00:33:54.710 --> 00:33:58.509 to stink. All they had time for on that Friday 00:33:58.509 --> 00:34:00.490 evening was just enough time to put a little 00:34:00.490 --> 00:34:03.529 ointment on him just to say that he'd been anointed 00:34:03.529 --> 00:34:06.250 and wrapped up real quickly and put in a borrowed 00:34:06.250 --> 00:34:08.809 tomb. And so, man, they were just panicking. 00:34:08.889 --> 00:34:11.150 They were trying to get the spices. There was 00:34:11.150 --> 00:34:13.530 a certain amount and a certain kind. All this 00:34:13.530 --> 00:34:15.190 stuff, the women were running around trying to 00:34:15.190 --> 00:34:17.590 get all that together. They got aggravated. because 00:34:17.590 --> 00:34:19.550 Peter and the rest of them wouldn't even get 00:34:19.550 --> 00:34:21.750 up early enough to go with them. Come on, somebody. 00:34:22.289 --> 00:34:24.429 All these things are going on. Peter and the 00:34:24.429 --> 00:34:25.650 rest of them say, what are we going to do now? 00:34:25.849 --> 00:34:27.769 I really thought he was the Christ. I thought 00:34:27.769 --> 00:34:30.429 he was the one. Oh, did somebody just say, well, 00:34:30.429 --> 00:34:31.789 didn't you see him put that ear back on that 00:34:31.789 --> 00:34:35.469 old boy's head? What happened with that? Just 00:34:35.469 --> 00:34:40.010 two days ago, he healed blind Bartimaeus. What 00:34:40.010 --> 00:34:42.699 are we doing? Why are we so puzzled? He told 00:34:42.699 --> 00:34:44.500 us that they're going to tear this temple down, 00:34:44.639 --> 00:34:46.420 but just give me three days, baby, and I'm going 00:34:46.420 --> 00:34:48.400 to raise her back up. And he gave us a great 00:34:48.400 --> 00:34:50.619 illustration of the prophet Jonah. He said, as 00:34:50.619 --> 00:34:52.579 Jonah was in the belly of the whale, three days 00:34:52.579 --> 00:34:54.639 and three nights, so must the Son of Man be in 00:34:54.639 --> 00:34:56.360 the heart of the earth. But then he's going to 00:34:56.360 --> 00:34:58.579 be spewed out like Jonah was spewed out. The 00:34:58.579 --> 00:35:00.559 earth couldn't hold him. You heard it this morning. 00:35:00.579 --> 00:35:02.380 The earth didn't want him. The earth couldn't 00:35:02.380 --> 00:35:05.960 contain him. So the stone of its own accord rolled 00:35:05.960 --> 00:35:19.579 away. Why? Because it's Sunday morning. well, 00:35:19.579 --> 00:35:22.320 what much does I like Luke 10 and 10? I just, 00:35:22.340 --> 00:35:27.599 just this morning, put Luke 10 and 10 with John 00:35:27.599 --> 00:35:33.559 10 and 10. I thought, huh, that's pretty good. 00:35:35.119 --> 00:35:38.340 Never put that together. Never put them two together. 00:35:39.449 --> 00:35:41.449 Luke 10 and 10, Jesus said, behold, I give you 00:35:41.449 --> 00:35:44.210 the authority to tread on serpents and scorpions 00:35:44.210 --> 00:35:46.289 and over all power of the enemy, and nothing 00:35:46.289 --> 00:35:48.789 shall be any means hurt you. And John 10 and 00:35:48.789 --> 00:35:51.789 10, Jesus said, the thief cometh not but to steal 00:35:51.789 --> 00:35:55.849 and to kill and to destroy. He said, I am come 00:35:55.849 --> 00:35:59.630 that you might have life and that you might have 00:35:59.630 --> 00:36:02.650 it more abundantly. If you ever want to memorize 00:36:02.650 --> 00:36:05.489 two, put them two together. When the devil comes 00:36:05.489 --> 00:36:08.170 at you, say, look. devil, I've been given authority 00:36:08.170 --> 00:36:11.130 over you. I may have to endure some of the consequences 00:36:11.130 --> 00:36:14.829 of this world, but it'll hardly upheld in everybody 00:36:14.829 --> 00:36:18.309 else before I let you in my ear and in my head 00:36:18.309 --> 00:36:21.650 and make me suffer in my mind while I may have 00:36:21.650 --> 00:36:24.469 to suffer in my body. I may be suffering in my 00:36:24.469 --> 00:36:28.130 body, but you're getting out of my head. Come 00:36:28.130 --> 00:36:30.849 on, somebody. You take authority. You've got 00:36:30.849 --> 00:36:33.530 to remember this flesh is subject to the diseases 00:36:33.530 --> 00:36:36.349 of this world because of the curse of sin. You 00:36:36.349 --> 00:36:39.329 may have to endure through some hard stuff, but 00:36:39.329 --> 00:36:42.550 the peace of mind, let this mind be in you that 00:36:42.550 --> 00:36:50.670 was also in Christ Jesus, the authority. Happy 00:36:50.670 --> 00:36:58.170 Easter. I got one minute. It's not going to happen. 00:37:04.730 --> 00:37:10.559 Sunday people. Thirdly, no longer have the fear 00:37:10.559 --> 00:37:14.400 of death to rule over them. You do know that 00:37:14.400 --> 00:37:18.340 death had authority over man until the reset. 00:37:20.320 --> 00:37:24.840 Until the countdown got reset. Because while 00:37:24.840 --> 00:37:28.280 people think he was silent, on Saturday, no, 00:37:28.360 --> 00:37:31.980 he was at work. He was in the heart of the earth. 00:37:33.579 --> 00:37:35.760 Went to that place called Paradise and Sheol. 00:37:42.940 --> 00:37:49.440 He went into the devil's domain to get the keys. 00:37:53.840 --> 00:38:02.219 The keys of death, hell, and the grave. Until 00:38:02.219 --> 00:38:07.650 then, Until the reset, the old devil wielded 00:38:07.650 --> 00:38:13.869 the keys at his discretion. But while it was 00:38:13.869 --> 00:38:16.849 silent on the earth, I told him the other day, 00:38:16.929 --> 00:38:22.590 inside the earth was in turmoil. You've got demons 00:38:22.590 --> 00:38:29.530 screaming. Why? Because the king of kings, the 00:38:29.530 --> 00:38:36.980 Lord of lords, the son of God, He who was from 00:38:36.980 --> 00:38:40.219 the beginning, spoke their creation into being, 00:38:40.340 --> 00:38:48.500 is in town. He's come to hell. What does he want 00:38:48.500 --> 00:38:52.559 down here? What belongs to him. He's come for 00:38:52.559 --> 00:38:57.389 the keys of death, hell, and the grave. That's 00:38:57.389 --> 00:39:00.650 why the declaration of old Paul to the Corinthians 00:39:00.650 --> 00:39:02.690 in that 15th letter, he said, behold, I show 00:39:02.690 --> 00:39:05.510 you a mystery in the 15th chapter. We're not 00:39:05.510 --> 00:39:11.530 all going to sleep. He rolls on down and he tells 00:39:11.530 --> 00:39:15.210 them, says, old grave, where is your victory? 00:39:15.489 --> 00:39:20.329 The sting of death is sin. I hope you've been 00:39:20.329 --> 00:39:24.289 paying attention. The sting of death is sin, 00:39:24.289 --> 00:39:29.599 but now. The reset sin no longer has dominion. 00:39:30.179 --> 00:39:33.820 Death in the grave no longer has the power over 00:39:33.820 --> 00:39:37.639 all of humanity. Why? Because he is risen. He 00:39:37.639 --> 00:39:41.679 is risen indeed. The second man Adam has taken 00:39:41.679 --> 00:39:54.039 authority and he's came for the access. The Germans 00:39:54.039 --> 00:39:56.480 were screaming because the Bible says he went 00:39:56.480 --> 00:40:03.340 and made a show. Openly. What does that mean? 00:40:03.579 --> 00:40:06.219 He went to hell, kicked butt, and took names. 00:40:13.599 --> 00:40:18.619 I debated on that phrase about .3 milliseconds. 00:40:21.519 --> 00:40:25.420 But it made my point so well. And some of you, 00:40:25.500 --> 00:40:27.719 I about have to wait until we get half carnal 00:40:27.719 --> 00:40:33.019 for you to understand what I'm saying. How many 00:40:33.019 --> 00:40:36.420 of you understood that statement? There you go. 00:40:38.039 --> 00:40:40.179 Thankfully, through the foolishness of preaching, 00:40:40.320 --> 00:40:47.539 it pleases God. I don't know how, but if it causes 00:40:47.539 --> 00:40:51.619 you to wake up, And to know that he was not silent 00:40:51.619 --> 00:40:57.559 on Saturday. He was going to take authority. 00:40:58.559 --> 00:41:03.099 He went to hell, Hades, Sheol, whatever you want 00:41:03.099 --> 00:41:05.840 to call it, wherever the throne of the prince 00:41:05.840 --> 00:41:09.739 of darkness reigns. He went there, never said 00:41:09.739 --> 00:41:14.179 a word, held out his hand. I like to think of 00:41:14.179 --> 00:41:17.659 it like this. He just done this first. What's 00:41:17.659 --> 00:41:25.000 that mean? Get down, boy. Right here. And I love 00:41:25.000 --> 00:41:28.079 to think, this is waters parallel, hope it was 00:41:28.079 --> 00:41:31.300 this way. I love to think after he points his 00:41:31.300 --> 00:41:36.380 finger, and old Lucifer, old slew foot, prostrates 00:41:36.380 --> 00:41:40.880 himself in the middle of hell. Right before all 00:41:40.880 --> 00:41:45.019 the fallen demonic angels and evil spirits. And 00:41:45.019 --> 00:41:57.119 Jesus just gently puts his heel. Here's why I 00:41:57.119 --> 00:42:03.159 think it was so. Way, way, way back. Way back 00:42:03.159 --> 00:42:12.710 in the garden. After the fall. Here's what is 00:42:12.710 --> 00:42:20.469 stated. The seed of woman, his heel's going to 00:42:20.469 --> 00:42:25.070 get bruised, but your head's going to get mashed. 00:42:27.929 --> 00:42:31.989 Talking to the devil. So I can just, in my mind, 00:42:32.030 --> 00:42:35.789 let me see it the way I see it. You see it the 00:42:35.789 --> 00:42:43.420 way you see it. I can just see the Lord. even 00:42:43.420 --> 00:42:46.840 have to say a thing. They know. The Bible declares 00:42:46.840 --> 00:42:49.860 that the devils, they are in fear and trembling 00:42:49.860 --> 00:42:52.380 because they know. I told you a week or so ago, 00:42:52.519 --> 00:42:54.260 he just walks down the street and they start 00:42:54.260 --> 00:42:58.340 screaming out, what are you here for? Well, there 00:42:58.340 --> 00:43:01.800 was no question of what he was there for. So 00:43:01.800 --> 00:43:05.880 with his foot on the head, grinding that heel 00:43:05.880 --> 00:43:15.489 just a little bit. See the old devil trying to 00:43:15.489 --> 00:43:20.010 reach up out of the corner of his eye. Reach 00:43:20.010 --> 00:43:23.150 a little higher. I'm not stooping for nothing. 00:43:23.250 --> 00:43:28.349 You will put them in my hand. I stooped all I'm 00:43:28.349 --> 00:43:34.230 going to stoop when I let them spit on me. I 00:43:34.230 --> 00:43:36.190 stooped about as far as I was going to stoop 00:43:36.190 --> 00:43:37.889 when they beat me until my lungs were showing 00:43:37.889 --> 00:43:41.579 out my back. I stooped as low as I was going 00:43:41.579 --> 00:43:43.880 to stoop when I stood there and permitted them 00:43:43.880 --> 00:43:48.260 to pierce my brow with that crown of thorns mocking 00:43:48.260 --> 00:43:52.139 me. I stooped as low as I was going to stoop 00:43:52.139 --> 00:43:56.179 allowing them to pluck my beard from my face. 00:43:57.380 --> 00:44:00.860 I stooped as low as I would allow as they shamed 00:44:00.860 --> 00:44:05.800 me, stripped me of my clothing. I'm not stupid. 00:44:06.940 --> 00:44:21.099 You stretch. were placed in his hand. And then 00:44:21.099 --> 00:44:26.639 across the chasm he goes where the righteous 00:44:26.639 --> 00:44:34.860 folk are watching the scene. Woo! Huh? Grind 00:44:34.860 --> 00:44:45.219 it for me, said Noah. So he spans the chasm. 00:44:45.639 --> 00:44:53.380 to paradise. And there he preaches. He preaches. 00:44:54.619 --> 00:44:58.300 What's he preach? Good news. I am the Christ. 00:45:05.139 --> 00:45:08.420 I'm the one you've been waiting on. Come on, 00:45:08.440 --> 00:45:14.059 let's go. What happened? I'm glad you asked. 00:45:17.099 --> 00:45:25.280 When he took captivity, captive, they just left. 00:45:30.280 --> 00:45:37.920 The gospels record on the resurrection day that 00:45:37.920 --> 00:45:43.780 the dead burst out of the tombs and shouted in 00:45:43.780 --> 00:45:50.150 the streets. He took captivity captive and went 00:45:50.150 --> 00:46:00.590 back the way he came. So you don't have to worry 00:46:00.590 --> 00:46:03.309 about death. Don't be afraid of it. It's coming 00:46:03.309 --> 00:46:07.070 to us all. Unless the Lord comes back, how many 00:46:07.070 --> 00:46:12.269 is waiting on that train? Me too. Me too. I just 00:46:12.269 --> 00:46:16.300 assume we all go at the same time. Right? We 00:46:16.300 --> 00:46:17.940 can meet them other folks in the middle of there 00:46:17.940 --> 00:46:21.139 and we can just all get together and go on. I'm 00:46:21.139 --> 00:46:24.840 good with that. You've heard that, how many of 00:46:24.840 --> 00:46:25.760 you want to go to heaven? Everybody raise your 00:46:25.760 --> 00:46:26.960 hand. How many of you want to go today? Nobody. 00:46:29.599 --> 00:46:33.880 If we all go, let's go. But until then, I like 00:46:33.880 --> 00:46:37.659 doing what I'm doing. Enjoy life. I don't enjoy 00:46:37.659 --> 00:46:45.329 some of the effects of a Good Friday world. But 00:46:45.329 --> 00:46:53.110 I'm living like it's Sunday. Let's see. Revelation 00:46:53.110 --> 00:46:55.690 118 says, do not be afraid. If you'll stand, 00:46:55.789 --> 00:46:59.230 I'll run through the last page real quick. Do 00:46:59.230 --> 00:47:01.070 not be afraid. I'm the first and the last. I 00:47:01.070 --> 00:47:03.250 am he who lives and was dead. And behold, I am 00:47:03.250 --> 00:47:06.630 alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys 00:47:06.630 --> 00:47:10.449 of death and hell. Just so you know, I wasn't 00:47:10.449 --> 00:47:19.719 making that up. Revelation 1 .18. This stuff's 00:47:19.719 --> 00:47:24.639 so good you don't have to make it up. You don't 00:47:24.639 --> 00:47:27.500 have to add to it at all. Just preach it the 00:47:27.500 --> 00:47:34.860 way it is. 2 Timothy 1 .10 declares God's purpose 00:47:34.860 --> 00:47:37.440 has now been revealed by the appearing of our 00:47:37.440 --> 00:47:40.900 Savior Jesus Christ who has abolished death and 00:47:40.900 --> 00:47:44.420 brought life and immortality. To light through 00:47:44.420 --> 00:47:50.760 the gospel. Lastly, Sunday people have a hope. 00:47:53.519 --> 00:47:58.699 You and I have hope. Not the way the world sees 00:47:58.699 --> 00:48:02.239 hope. But the hope that we have is out of this 00:48:02.239 --> 00:48:10.780 world. Amen. I'm going to read something to you 00:48:10.780 --> 00:48:16.699 in just a minute. Through the power of the resurrection, 00:48:16.940 --> 00:48:24.280 we've been given a living hope. 1 Peter 1, 3 00:48:24.280 --> 00:48:27.539 and 4 says, We have been begotten to a living 00:48:27.539 --> 00:48:32.179 hope and given an inheritance, incorruptible 00:48:32.179 --> 00:48:37.480 and undefiled, and fadeth not away. Reserved 00:48:37.480 --> 00:48:41.639 in heaven for each one of us as we set our hope 00:48:41.639 --> 00:48:45.349 on Jesus Christ. Through the power of his resurrection. 00:48:48.550 --> 00:48:54.889 There's power in that hope. Again, I say if in 00:48:54.889 --> 00:48:57.010 this life only you have hope in Christ Jesus, 00:48:57.170 --> 00:49:02.969 we become as all men most miserable. I live like 00:49:02.969 --> 00:49:05.130 it's Sunday morning because of the power that 00:49:05.130 --> 00:49:11.059 he's promised for me to live that way. I try 00:49:11.059 --> 00:49:12.800 to live that way every day of my life because 00:49:12.800 --> 00:49:15.480 I understand the devil has no authority over 00:49:15.480 --> 00:49:22.340 me. Doesn't mean he doesn't try. Doesn't mean 00:49:22.340 --> 00:49:26.699 he doesn't fight and war, lie and accuse, all 00:49:26.699 --> 00:49:29.539 that stuff. Look, folks, that's just typical 00:49:29.539 --> 00:49:34.619 in the life of a child of God. But what we do 00:49:34.619 --> 00:49:38.000 not permit and allow is the power of those accusations 00:49:38.000 --> 00:49:40.099 and lies and things to take power. power over 00:49:40.099 --> 00:49:45.039 our minds, thus defeating us spiritually, emotionally, 00:49:45.260 --> 00:49:56.119 and physically. It's the hope that gives us power. 00:49:57.840 --> 00:50:00.139 It's the hope that causes us to remain steady 00:50:00.139 --> 00:50:03.719 in our faith and belief. And even though we face 00:50:03.719 --> 00:50:05.980 the storms of life, it will cause us to grow 00:50:05.980 --> 00:50:11.269 and mature in Him and beyond. The effects of 00:50:11.269 --> 00:50:14.190 this world. Hebrews 6, 19 says, this hope we 00:50:14.190 --> 00:50:17.449 have is an anchor of the soul, both sure and 00:50:17.449 --> 00:50:21.650 steadfast, and which enters the presence behind 00:50:21.650 --> 00:50:32.070 the veil. Live like it's Sunday morning. The 00:50:32.070 --> 00:50:37.409 Easter before D. William Sangster passed away, 00:50:37.449 --> 00:50:40.340 he... painfully printed a short note to his daughter. 00:50:42.360 --> 00:50:48.059 Sangster was a revivalist, very deeply spiritual 00:50:48.059 --> 00:50:52.719 Methodist man. He'd been endeavoring in spearheading 00:50:52.719 --> 00:50:54.780 a renewal movement in the British Isles after 00:50:54.780 --> 00:51:00.940 World War II. Then his ministry, except for prayer, 00:51:01.139 --> 00:51:05.780 was ended by a disease which was progressively 00:51:05.780 --> 00:51:11.010 paralyzing his body. Even his vocal cords, he 00:51:11.010 --> 00:51:17.889 couldn't speak. But the last Resurrection Sunday 00:51:17.889 --> 00:51:21.230 that he spent on earth, still able to just barely 00:51:21.230 --> 00:51:27.929 move his fingers, he wrote a note. How terrible 00:51:27.929 --> 00:51:33.329 to wake up on Easter and have no voice to shout, 00:51:33.630 --> 00:51:43.550 he is risen. Far worse. To have a voice and not 00:51:43.550 --> 00:51:50.869 want to shout. Far worse to have a voice and 00:51:50.869 --> 00:51:55.329 not want to shout. I was going to take you to 00:51:55.329 --> 00:51:58.809 Revelation 19 and 21, but we don't have time 00:51:58.809 --> 00:52:05.449 to go there this morning. You're done. Live like 00:52:05.449 --> 00:52:12.179 it's Sunday morning. The beginning to living 00:52:12.179 --> 00:52:14.840 like it's a Sunday morning is repentance of your 00:52:14.840 --> 00:52:21.239 sin. For all have sinned and come short of the 00:52:21.239 --> 00:52:26.760 glory of God. You got it. You came in this world 00:52:26.760 --> 00:52:30.460 with it. And if you've not repented and asked 00:52:30.460 --> 00:52:32.579 Christ to cleanse you and forgive you, you're 00:52:32.579 --> 00:52:36.340 still dealing with it. But the good news on this 00:52:36.340 --> 00:52:39.630 Sunday morning. Is that he died so you don't 00:52:39.630 --> 00:52:43.710 have to deal with it. For you see the wages of 00:52:43.710 --> 00:52:45.710 sin is death. Well I thought you said we don't 00:52:45.710 --> 00:52:49.170 have to fear death. You do with sin in your life. 00:52:52.630 --> 00:52:54.909 Because there's a thing called the second death. 00:52:56.010 --> 00:53:00.349 Without sin being taken out. Where you'll be 00:53:00.349 --> 00:53:05.989 cast into outer darkness. Where there are flames. 00:53:07.050 --> 00:53:09.030 That are quenched not. In other words, they don't 00:53:09.030 --> 00:53:14.570 get put out. A very violent, dark place. But 00:53:14.570 --> 00:53:17.090 you don't have to go there. It wasn't prepared 00:53:17.090 --> 00:53:21.329 for humanity. It was prepared for those fallen 00:53:21.329 --> 00:53:28.230 angels. Father, I love you this morning. My heads 00:53:28.230 --> 00:53:33.510 are bowed all across this house. If you're in 00:53:33.510 --> 00:53:35.570 this building this morning and you do not know 00:53:35.570 --> 00:53:41.130 Jesus. As Lord and Savior. I want you to before 00:53:41.130 --> 00:53:46.510 you leave here today. Say well I'm not coming 00:53:46.510 --> 00:53:48.150 down there. Good. I'm not going to ask you to. 00:53:50.769 --> 00:53:52.869 I want to ask you to submit yourself right where 00:53:52.869 --> 00:53:56.530 you are. To humble your heart right where you 00:53:56.530 --> 00:53:59.510 are. That's how much Jesus desires to save you. 00:54:00.510 --> 00:54:03.630 Doesn't have to be down front. Can be. Has been. 00:54:05.070 --> 00:54:07.070 There have been just as many saved at a back 00:54:07.070 --> 00:54:09.250 door or on a back row or in the middle row or 00:54:09.250 --> 00:54:17.170 in a balcony somewhere. In the woods, at work, 00:54:17.349 --> 00:54:22.670 many places. For all those that call upon the 00:54:22.670 --> 00:54:27.789 name of the Lord, they shall be saved. I'm going 00:54:27.789 --> 00:54:30.110 to pray this sinner's prayer. It wouldn't hurt 00:54:30.110 --> 00:54:32.690 all of us just to recommit and refresh this morning. 00:54:35.389 --> 00:54:41.650 Jesus, I come before you today. Come into this 00:54:41.650 --> 00:54:46.369 world a sinner. Have been redeemed by your marvelous 00:54:46.369 --> 00:54:51.070 grace. Our sins have been crucified with you. 00:54:52.949 --> 00:54:59.889 Now I confess today that I am a sinner. In need 00:54:59.889 --> 00:55:03.630 of that marvelous grace. You may be here today 00:55:03.630 --> 00:55:06.210 and say, I'm a backslider. I used to serve and 00:55:06.210 --> 00:55:09.269 love and worship, but I've gone back to my old 00:55:09.269 --> 00:55:11.849 ways. Well, just pray that prayer again. Do that 00:55:11.849 --> 00:55:15.690 first work over again. Repent. Invite Christ 00:55:15.690 --> 00:55:18.429 back to the throne of your heart. Turn from your 00:55:18.429 --> 00:55:23.969 wicked ways and walk away. Lord Jesus, upon my 00:55:23.969 --> 00:55:28.110 confession that I am a sinner and that you are 00:55:28.110 --> 00:55:32.329 the Christ. I invite you into my heart as you 00:55:32.329 --> 00:55:37.110 cleanse me of my sin. According to your word, 00:55:37.190 --> 00:55:39.590 if I am faithful and just to confess my sins, 00:55:39.590 --> 00:55:42.889 you're faithful and just to cleanse me and to 00:55:42.889 --> 00:55:49.530 forgive me. I accept that today. Be Lord of my 00:55:49.530 --> 00:55:54.369 life. Now why don't we all just lift our hands 00:55:54.369 --> 00:55:56.869 toward heaven and thank him for his marvelous 00:55:56.869 --> 00:55:58.610 saving grace. Lord, I thank you for your saving 00:55:58.610 --> 00:56:01.340 grace this morning. all across this building 00:56:01.340 --> 00:56:04.360 in this room today, Lord. If there are those 00:56:04.360 --> 00:56:06.480 who have repented, I know you've done the work. 00:56:07.019 --> 00:56:09.219 If they sincerely prayed, and Lord, for those 00:56:09.219 --> 00:56:12.119 of us that have done a renewal, a prayer of renewal, 00:56:12.280 --> 00:56:15.159 a prayer of confession, renew our heart, renew 00:56:15.159 --> 00:56:19.280 our faith, renew our trust, renew our hope in 00:56:19.280 --> 00:56:22.659 you. Lord, we'll be quick to praise you for it 00:56:22.659 --> 00:56:26.760 all. In Christ's name, the church said, amen. 00:56:26.800 --> 00:56:28.380 Give the Lord a hand clap of praise for you.