WEBVTT 00:00:06.069 --> 00:00:14.669 Hallelujah. Hallelujah. God is so good, amen. 00:00:16.690 --> 00:00:21.050 He's so faithful and he's so true and kind. If 00:00:21.050 --> 00:00:22.769 you have your Bibles, turn with me to Matthew's 00:00:22.769 --> 00:00:30.489 Gospel. Chapter 28, Matthew 28. And for you Bible 00:00:30.489 --> 00:00:35.850 readers, yes, that's post -resurrection. Amen, 00:00:35.869 --> 00:00:45.570 but it's declaring the fact. Beginning in verse 00:00:45.570 --> 00:00:50.509 1. Again, let me just say thank you for being 00:00:50.509 --> 00:00:52.549 in the house of the Lord today and entering into 00:00:52.549 --> 00:00:57.329 worship. And I'll not tell your pastor if you 00:00:57.329 --> 00:01:03.549 don't. From Cahutta to Knoxville, I'm on somebody's 00:01:03.549 --> 00:01:10.640 hit list today. But thank you so much for being 00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:14.060 in the house of the Lord. And I trust, as I have, 00:01:14.140 --> 00:01:15.920 you've already encountered the presence of the 00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:19.299 Lord through your worship as we lift our voices 00:01:19.299 --> 00:01:26.500 to the Lord. Verse 1 reads in 28 Matthew. In 00:01:26.500 --> 00:01:29.819 the end of the seventh, as it began to dawn toward 00:01:29.819 --> 00:01:32.500 the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene. 00:01:34.159 --> 00:01:37.780 And the other married to see the sepulcher. And 00:01:37.780 --> 00:01:40.859 behold, there was a great earthquake. For the 00:01:40.859 --> 00:01:43.599 angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came 00:01:43.599 --> 00:01:47.659 and rolled back the stone from the door. And 00:01:47.659 --> 00:01:54.019 I love this. Sat upon it. We don't have time 00:01:54.019 --> 00:01:58.420 to go there, so let's move forward. His countenance 00:01:58.420 --> 00:02:02.319 was like lightning and his raiment white as snow. 00:02:03.300 --> 00:02:05.840 And for fear of him, the keepers did shake. The 00:02:05.840 --> 00:02:09.620 guards are still on post. And became as dead 00:02:09.620 --> 00:02:13.039 men. And the angel answered and said unto the 00:02:13.039 --> 00:02:18.039 women, Fear not. For I know that you seek Jesus, 00:02:18.159 --> 00:02:27.300 which was crucified. He's not here. There it 00:02:27.300 --> 00:02:31.099 is, yeah. We would put it like this. He ain't 00:02:31.099 --> 00:02:43.379 here. For he is risen as he said. Come see the 00:02:43.379 --> 00:02:52.979 place where the Lord lay. Go quickly, tell his 00:02:52.979 --> 00:02:55.840 disciples that he is risen from the dead. And 00:02:55.840 --> 00:02:58.360 behold, he goeth before you into Galilee. And 00:02:58.360 --> 00:03:03.280 there shall you see him. Lo, I've told you. In 00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:06.819 other words, I've delivered my message. And they 00:03:06.819 --> 00:03:09.819 departed quickly from the sepulcher. with fear 00:03:09.819 --> 00:03:13.039 and great joy, and did run to bring his disciples 00:03:13.039 --> 00:03:17.080 word. And as they went to tell his disciples, 00:03:17.159 --> 00:03:25.460 behold, Jesus met them, saying, all hail or rejoice. 00:03:26.919 --> 00:03:32.500 And they came and held him by the feet, worshipped 00:03:32.500 --> 00:03:36.860 him. Then said Jesus unto them, be not afraid. 00:03:37.800 --> 00:03:41.259 Go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, 00:03:41.400 --> 00:03:45.740 and there shall they see me. I want to try to 00:03:45.740 --> 00:03:48.060 bring to a little bit of a conclusion last week's 00:03:48.060 --> 00:03:57.280 message on those five stages of the drama. And 00:03:57.280 --> 00:03:59.180 we're talking about the drama of creation, of 00:03:59.180 --> 00:04:03.280 course. And today, I want to preach to you on 00:04:03.280 --> 00:04:06.819 the thought, the resurrection is the resolution. 00:04:09.030 --> 00:04:14.849 The resurrection is the resolution. Amen. I'll 00:04:14.849 --> 00:04:18.850 pray for you. And together jointly, if you would 00:04:18.850 --> 00:04:21.810 pray, Lord, help him stand up, speak up, and 00:04:21.810 --> 00:04:26.449 shut up. We'll get out of here before 1230. If 00:04:26.449 --> 00:04:29.230 you'll pray for me, I'll pray for you. Father, 00:04:29.290 --> 00:04:30.850 I love you today. Thank you so much for your 00:04:30.850 --> 00:04:33.430 goodness. Lord, I thank you for each one that's 00:04:33.430 --> 00:04:36.050 in this house of worship today. For truly, we've 00:04:36.050 --> 00:04:39.199 come to worship you. In spirit and in truth. 00:04:39.579 --> 00:04:43.000 Such a beautiful body of people today. And Lord, 00:04:43.019 --> 00:04:46.980 we've assembled on this celebration of resurrection 00:04:46.980 --> 00:04:51.759 day. Speak to our hearts and minds. Lord, as 00:04:51.759 --> 00:04:54.420 we have sung and lifted our voices, we have put 00:04:54.420 --> 00:04:57.399 our hands together to give you the praise that 00:04:57.399 --> 00:05:02.040 you so, so deserve. But yet in all of our attempt, 00:05:02.220 --> 00:05:06.420 it's not adequate enough. Hear my heart today. 00:05:06.970 --> 00:05:10.189 As you speak in our lives, we love you and adore 00:05:10.189 --> 00:05:14.050 you. Amen and amen. Amen. You can be seated this 00:05:14.050 --> 00:05:16.949 morning. The resurrection is the resolution. 00:05:19.589 --> 00:05:24.170 We are living in an awesome time. Amen. It's 00:05:24.170 --> 00:05:28.790 an awesome time to be alive. Somebody's thinking, 00:05:28.889 --> 00:05:34.009 really? The world's upside down. Wars are going 00:05:34.009 --> 00:05:39.620 on everywhere. behind -the -scenes tension within 00:05:39.620 --> 00:05:42.279 our own nation, and you can just feel there's 00:05:42.279 --> 00:05:44.759 a rub going on somewhere, somehow, something's 00:05:44.759 --> 00:05:47.160 happening, and you really want to say that it 00:05:47.160 --> 00:05:49.740 is the most wonderful time ever to be alive? 00:05:49.980 --> 00:05:52.959 Well, yes, I do, because it's our time. It's 00:05:52.959 --> 00:05:55.540 your time. Amen? It's the time that the Lord 00:05:55.540 --> 00:05:58.339 has given for us to be alive, and as we are a 00:05:58.339 --> 00:06:02.139 part of this drama of creation that we began 00:06:02.139 --> 00:06:06.259 talking about last week. you've got to stop and 00:06:06.259 --> 00:06:11.439 realize some things. It could be worse. You know, 00:06:11.480 --> 00:06:14.399 it actually could be worse. The reality of life 00:06:14.399 --> 00:06:17.980 could be worse than what it actually is. It can 00:06:17.980 --> 00:06:21.660 get a whole lot worse. Know this, it would be 00:06:21.660 --> 00:06:25.720 worse had Jesus, our Lord and Savior, not risen 00:06:25.720 --> 00:06:28.660 from the grave. It would be worse. It would be 00:06:28.660 --> 00:06:32.079 worse if there weren't stripes to heal. Come 00:06:32.079 --> 00:06:35.300 on. It would be worse if the cross wasn't bloodied. 00:06:35.319 --> 00:06:37.980 Why? Because we would still be in our sin. It 00:06:37.980 --> 00:06:40.660 would be worse if someone hadn't taken possession, 00:06:40.819 --> 00:06:44.019 and that someone being Christ, of the keys to 00:06:44.019 --> 00:06:47.740 death. Hell and the grave. It would be worse. 00:06:47.819 --> 00:06:50.220 It would be worse if that happened to us, if 00:06:50.220 --> 00:06:52.759 the advocate wasn't in heaven today, if Christ 00:06:52.759 --> 00:06:54.839 wasn't at the right hand of the Father. It would 00:06:54.839 --> 00:06:57.420 definitely be worse. It would be worse if there 00:06:57.420 --> 00:07:00.180 weren't the comforter to come alongside of us 00:07:00.180 --> 00:07:02.660 and walk with us and be with us and grant us 00:07:02.660 --> 00:07:05.379 the peace. It would be worse if there wasn't 00:07:05.379 --> 00:07:08.220 a day that we could be looking for, for this 00:07:08.220 --> 00:07:10.300 trumpet to sound that we've been singing about 00:07:10.300 --> 00:07:13.079 that brings so much joy. There may be people 00:07:13.079 --> 00:07:14.930 who may hear that sound, song this morning think, 00:07:15.089 --> 00:07:17.009 well, that just don't do anything for me. Well, 00:07:17.189 --> 00:07:20.170 let me just break that one down for you. If the 00:07:20.170 --> 00:07:22.870 trumpet sounding doesn't do anything for you, 00:07:23.009 --> 00:07:26.029 then you've not been to Calvary. Because if you've 00:07:26.029 --> 00:07:28.389 been to Calvary, what does that mean? If you 00:07:28.389 --> 00:07:31.810 have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your 00:07:31.810 --> 00:07:35.089 personal Savior and the sacrifice of his life 00:07:35.089 --> 00:07:37.610 and the shedding of his blood to wash you of 00:07:37.610 --> 00:07:40.029 your sins, then no, it's nothing for you to get 00:07:40.029 --> 00:07:42.689 excited about. But for all of us who've been 00:07:42.689 --> 00:07:45.569 to Calvary, Amen. There's something that begins 00:07:45.569 --> 00:07:48.350 to stir. It could be worse if I had not heard 00:07:48.350 --> 00:07:51.490 and accepted and received that good news. But 00:07:51.490 --> 00:07:54.649 I heard it and I accepted it and I surrendered 00:07:54.649 --> 00:07:58.370 to it. And so with joy I stand before you today. 00:07:58.490 --> 00:08:05.470 It could be worse. There's no other celebration 00:08:05.470 --> 00:08:09.529 day that we celebrate more critical than that 00:08:09.529 --> 00:08:12.089 in our Christian faith than what we celebrate 00:08:12.089 --> 00:08:16.269 today. Oh, we get all torn up at Christmas. Amen. 00:08:16.329 --> 00:08:18.509 We're not just a few months, four months past 00:08:18.509 --> 00:08:21.370 that. We really all, we just get caught up in 00:08:21.370 --> 00:08:24.370 the nostalgia of the manger scene. And we get 00:08:24.370 --> 00:08:26.529 caught up in the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes. 00:08:26.790 --> 00:08:29.029 But let me tell you something. That was crucial. 00:08:29.189 --> 00:08:32.330 But the most critical day was the day he surrendered 00:08:32.330 --> 00:08:35.850 on Friday at 9 a .m. As he stretched himself 00:08:35.850 --> 00:08:38.789 there and he gave himself willingly so that you 00:08:38.789 --> 00:08:41.690 and I could come in early on the first day of 00:08:41.690 --> 00:08:44.929 the week. begin to lift up and glorify him because 00:08:44.929 --> 00:08:50.429 of who he is and what he's done? No day more 00:08:50.429 --> 00:08:52.669 critical than today. You have to remember that 00:08:52.669 --> 00:08:56.090 at any point on Calvary, at any point as he's 00:08:56.090 --> 00:08:58.389 on that cross suspended between heaven and earth, 00:08:58.429 --> 00:09:03.730 at any point he could have called, he could have 00:09:03.730 --> 00:09:07.830 asked for and received. All of heaven's host, 00:09:08.009 --> 00:09:11.309 not just a few angels, not just one, but all 00:09:11.309 --> 00:09:13.830 of heaven would have emptied and come to Golgotha's 00:09:13.830 --> 00:09:16.889 heel and took him down from that cross. But you've 00:09:16.889 --> 00:09:19.970 got to realize he didn't. He didn't. He didn't 00:09:19.970 --> 00:09:22.769 call. He bore it as the will of the Father, and 00:09:22.769 --> 00:09:25.590 he gave himself so that you and I might be ready. 00:09:25.669 --> 00:09:28.629 It could be a whole lot worse. And so today, 00:09:28.809 --> 00:09:31.690 let me stir you to some type of applause. Let 00:09:31.690 --> 00:09:34.690 me stir your heart to some type of accolade and 00:09:34.690 --> 00:09:37.809 give him the praise. that is due his holy and 00:09:37.809 --> 00:09:39.850 mighty. Just go ahead. Just give him a praise 00:09:39.850 --> 00:09:43.049 that is due his holy and mighty name. We must 00:09:43.049 --> 00:09:45.149 stir. You say, well, I just don't believe in 00:09:45.149 --> 00:09:47.730 that emotionalism stuff. Well, you will if you 00:09:47.730 --> 00:09:50.009 don't accept him. You're going to get awful emotional 00:09:50.009 --> 00:09:52.769 one of these days when you stand before him. 00:09:53.490 --> 00:09:59.250 So I choose to be emotional now. Amen? When we 00:09:59.250 --> 00:10:02.539 think about... The resurrection. We started this 00:10:02.539 --> 00:10:05.539 five -stage plot plan of every drama. If you 00:10:05.539 --> 00:10:08.779 remember, it begins with the exposition. The 00:10:08.779 --> 00:10:10.580 story's laid out. The characters are introduced. 00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:13.120 Where does that happen for us? You go back to 00:10:13.120 --> 00:10:14.799 Genesis 1 and 1, and you see in the beginning 00:10:14.799 --> 00:10:17.659 God, and the story and the plot is laid out. 00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:20.299 The script is written. The script is given, and 00:10:20.299 --> 00:10:23.279 we begin to make our way through it. That second 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:26.120 stage is the rising action where something begins 00:10:26.120 --> 00:10:30.129 to happen, and something begins to evolve. conflict 00:10:30.129 --> 00:10:32.950 enters in. And we know what the conflict is. 00:10:33.090 --> 00:10:35.570 The conflict is sin. The conflict enters. The 00:10:35.570 --> 00:10:37.730 third phase that we talked about last week was 00:10:37.730 --> 00:10:40.889 that stage of the climax where the protagonist, 00:10:41.110 --> 00:10:44.269 the hero in the story has to come about and cause 00:10:44.269 --> 00:10:47.250 a turn in the situation. And that's where we 00:10:47.250 --> 00:10:50.110 find Calvary. Amen. Christ came when appointed 00:10:50.110 --> 00:10:53.250 time and he was born in a manger. But the appointed 00:10:53.250 --> 00:10:56.570 time also for him to go to Calvary, he made his 00:10:56.570 --> 00:10:59.840 way. And as he makes his way, he enters in and 00:10:59.840 --> 00:11:02.320 causes a turning point. And now we're in the 00:11:02.320 --> 00:11:05.379 falling action. What is that? The aftermath of 00:11:05.379 --> 00:11:07.840 the climax. And that's where you and I find ourselves 00:11:07.840 --> 00:11:10.820 living. And we are made our way into the fifth 00:11:10.820 --> 00:11:13.320 and final, the fifth and final stage of this 00:11:13.320 --> 00:11:16.519 drama of creation, which is the resolution. Oh, 00:11:16.519 --> 00:11:19.039 the climax has been, the turning point was introduced. 00:11:19.179 --> 00:11:21.799 God gave his son and his son surrendered his 00:11:21.799 --> 00:11:24.659 life so that you and I might have life forever 00:11:24.659 --> 00:11:27.899 and ever and be with him. That is the climax. 00:11:28.299 --> 00:11:30.539 Now there's the falling action. We've got to 00:11:30.539 --> 00:11:33.779 make our way to the ending. We are now in the 00:11:33.779 --> 00:11:36.240 last act, and we're fulfilling it and coming 00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:38.980 to the finalization of the ending scenes of this 00:11:38.980 --> 00:11:41.620 drama. And can I tell you, the curtain call is 00:11:41.620 --> 00:11:45.929 almost ready to begin. I'm trying to behave this 00:11:45.929 --> 00:11:47.889 morning. I'm trying to contain myself, but I 00:11:47.889 --> 00:11:50.710 just can't hardly contain myself because I don't 00:11:50.710 --> 00:11:52.889 know about you. I'm sick and tired of living 00:11:52.889 --> 00:11:55.789 in this old fallen world. I'm sick and tired 00:11:55.789 --> 00:11:58.909 of seeing how evil humanity can be against each 00:11:58.909 --> 00:12:00.629 other, red, yellow, black, and white, green, 00:12:00.669 --> 00:12:03.070 purple, or anybody else. I'm sick and tired. 00:12:03.110 --> 00:12:06.009 My heart is aching, but I know we're in the resolution 00:12:06.009 --> 00:12:09.970 phase. I know the last act has already been given. 00:12:10.009 --> 00:12:12.830 I know that according to the script in the last 00:12:12.830 --> 00:12:32.669 day, saith God, I'll pour out my spirit. Let's 00:12:32.669 --> 00:12:37.450 breathe together. I don't want to cause any alarm 00:12:37.450 --> 00:12:41.029 to anybody. But I'm about to come apart up here. 00:12:50.919 --> 00:12:52.720 Some of you balcony folk may be glad you're in 00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:56.500 the balcony today. Some of you folks may not 00:12:56.500 --> 00:12:58.299 have been this close to somebody that kind of 00:12:58.299 --> 00:12:59.960 gets this wound. It's going to be all right. 00:13:01.080 --> 00:13:03.059 I may come back there, but I won't touch you. 00:13:06.200 --> 00:13:15.100 Maybe. The curtain call may be coming at any 00:13:15.100 --> 00:13:20.000 moment. See, we are in Matthew 28. The Lord has 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:22.980 already risen. He's already up and about. You 00:13:22.980 --> 00:13:25.139 do know that it's in Matthew 28 where we get 00:13:25.139 --> 00:13:28.039 the great commission after the resurrection. 00:13:28.159 --> 00:13:31.159 It wasn't before. It was after. It was after. 00:13:31.220 --> 00:13:33.799 It's the end of chapter 28. When he tells them 00:13:33.799 --> 00:13:35.639 to go into all the world. Why? Because now they 00:13:35.639 --> 00:13:37.940 have a message in which to carry. He is alive. 00:13:38.259 --> 00:13:41.000 Hallelujah. He is alive. He is alive. The Christ 00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:44.120 whom you crucified, he lives. He lives forevermore. 00:13:44.139 --> 00:13:47.159 Why? We saw him. Amen. You go to Acts chapter 00:13:47.159 --> 00:13:50.039 1, you'll see that there are many infallible 00:13:50.039 --> 00:13:53.370 people. Proofs of his resurrection. At one time, 00:13:53.370 --> 00:13:57.370 over 500 people saw him. They witnessed him. 00:13:57.529 --> 00:14:00.389 They beheld him. They listened to him. There's 00:14:00.389 --> 00:14:03.549 proof. Josephus, who was not even a Christian, 00:14:03.730 --> 00:14:07.389 gives off and takes education. I'll get it out 00:14:07.389 --> 00:14:10.029 in a minute. He authorizes and he finalizes. 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:14.340 And he stabilizes the fact that Christ has risen 00:14:14.340 --> 00:14:16.840 from the dead. And you see, that is the whole 00:14:16.840 --> 00:14:19.620 key. That is the resolution. The resurrection 00:14:19.620 --> 00:14:22.740 is the resolution of our faith. So what is this 00:14:22.740 --> 00:14:28.720 resolution? It's something that happens in our 00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:31.200 life. The resolution becomes the final scene 00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:38.379 that closes the story and resolves all remaining. 00:14:41.389 --> 00:14:47.549 And then we live out the closing act. And that's 00:14:47.549 --> 00:14:50.629 where we're finding ourselves as the scene closes 00:14:50.629 --> 00:14:55.450 down. In this last act. How do you know? Because 00:14:55.450 --> 00:14:59.009 the script. Read the script. The Bible. Read 00:14:59.009 --> 00:15:02.090 the script. How many know 24 comes before 28? 00:15:03.029 --> 00:15:05.629 You go back up before the crucifixion. Jesus 00:15:05.629 --> 00:15:08.129 said this is what's going to happen in the end. 00:15:08.860 --> 00:15:10.440 This is what you've got to start looking for, 00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:13.840 wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes and strange 00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:17.639 places, right? Pestilence, all these things going 00:15:17.639 --> 00:15:20.980 on. nation against nation, brother against brother, 00:15:21.080 --> 00:15:23.899 all these intricacies of the last days. Does 00:15:23.899 --> 00:15:26.000 that not look like the scene in which you and 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:28.919 I are living as unfolding before our very eyes? 00:15:29.100 --> 00:15:32.480 Didn't the script say keep your eyes on his people, 00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:35.059 that little nation of Israel? Didn't he say watch 00:15:35.059 --> 00:15:38.299 them and look out and be ready? Did he not declare 00:15:38.299 --> 00:15:40.879 that? And that's the scene in which you and I 00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:43.120 are living. So why is that important to me? Because 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:46.539 the power of the resurrection is what solidifies 00:15:46.539 --> 00:15:50.000 the resolution. for you and I. It closes it all 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:52.799 out. There's the acceptance that we have. Understand 00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:56.379 that the resurrection of Christ is the resolution 00:15:56.379 --> 00:15:59.840 of Scripture. It finalizes it all. 1 Corinthians 00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:02.620 15, 1 through 4. Moreover, brethren, I declare 00:16:02.620 --> 00:16:04.860 to you the gospel which I preached to you, which 00:16:04.860 --> 00:16:07.879 also you received, and in which you stand, by 00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:10.600 which also you are saved. Are you hearing me 00:16:10.600 --> 00:16:13.820 this morning? If you keep, if you hold fast in 00:16:13.820 --> 00:16:16.559 memory what I preached unto you, unless you have 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:19.659 believed, in vain for I delivered unto you first 00:16:19.659 --> 00:16:23.000 of all that which I also received how that Christ 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:26.559 died for our sins according to the script which 00:16:26.559 --> 00:16:30.320 is the scripture and that he was buried and that 00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:33.340 he rose again the third day according to the 00:16:33.340 --> 00:16:37.320 scripture. Every aspect of the Easter story as 00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:40.179 we enter into the last scenes when the climax 00:16:40.179 --> 00:16:43.019 come on the triumphal entry to the resurrection 00:16:43.019 --> 00:16:47.740 was foretold in the script. The triumphal entry, 00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:51.500 Zechariah 9, 9. Betrayal for 30 pieces of silver, 00:16:51.659 --> 00:16:54.740 Zechariah 11, 12. The scourging and the beating, 00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:58.700 Isaiah 53. The crucified with criminals, Isaiah 00:16:58.700 --> 00:17:02.399 53, 12. The piercing, Zechariah 12, Psalm 22. 00:17:02.740 --> 00:17:06.299 No broken bones, Psalm 34. Buried with the rich, 00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:10.740 Isaiah 53. Raised from the dead, Psalm 16, 10 00:17:10.740 --> 00:17:13.940 through 11. For thou wilt not leave my soul in 00:17:13.940 --> 00:17:16.930 hell, neither wilt thou. suffer, thine holy one, 00:17:17.089 --> 00:17:20.789 to seek corruption, thou wilt show me the path 00:17:20.789 --> 00:17:25.130 of life. In thy presence is fullness of joy. 00:17:25.809 --> 00:17:30.349 At the right hand are pleasures forevermore. 00:17:31.549 --> 00:17:37.990 It's in the script. Read it. Resurrection is 00:17:37.990 --> 00:17:43.769 the resolution that you and I long for. It is 00:17:43.769 --> 00:17:49.490 how we live out the falling action. It's how 00:17:49.490 --> 00:17:53.309 we live from the climax of his crucifixion to 00:17:53.309 --> 00:17:58.329 his return. Amen. It's the resurrection. Psalm 00:17:58.329 --> 00:18:01.210 49, 15. But God will redeem my soul from the 00:18:01.210 --> 00:18:04.230 power of the grave, for he shall receive me. 00:18:05.230 --> 00:18:09.450 Selah. That little word, selah, just means pause 00:18:09.450 --> 00:18:12.779 a minute. It means take a break right there. 00:18:14.279 --> 00:18:16.920 If you would, I'd say that'd be the place to 00:18:16.920 --> 00:18:22.500 take us a little praise break. Selah, hold on 00:18:22.500 --> 00:18:31.670 a minute. Let's shout about that. Amen. You do 00:18:31.670 --> 00:18:34.490 realize that in between that 22nd Psalm that 00:18:34.490 --> 00:18:36.190 we've talked about and then you go over to the 00:18:36.190 --> 00:18:38.089 24th Psalm where it said, Lift up your head, 00:18:38.150 --> 00:18:40.750 O ye gates, and the King of glory shall come 00:18:40.750 --> 00:18:44.670 in. Who is this King of glory? You see him in 00:18:44.670 --> 00:18:47.349 the between in the 23rd Psalm where the 23rd 00:18:47.349 --> 00:18:49.930 Psalm declares him, The Lord is my shepherd and 00:18:49.930 --> 00:18:53.369 I shall not read the script. I shall not want. 00:18:53.650 --> 00:18:56.029 Why? Because what he does for me in the meantime 00:18:56.029 --> 00:18:58.569 while I'm awaiting the closure of the resolution, 00:18:58.950 --> 00:19:04.910 he gives me peace. He anoints my head. Secondly, 00:19:05.069 --> 00:19:08.410 the resurrection of Christ not only validates 00:19:08.410 --> 00:19:10.210 Scripture and brings about that resolution, but 00:19:10.210 --> 00:19:13.670 it validates the plan for redemption. If you 00:19:13.670 --> 00:19:16.490 remember, we talked about last week, the plan, 00:19:16.549 --> 00:19:21.089 the purpose, and the promise. And what were they 00:19:21.089 --> 00:19:23.269 all three? The same thing, redemption of humanity. 00:19:23.789 --> 00:19:27.609 The plan was to save His creation. The purpose 00:19:27.609 --> 00:19:30.150 of sending His Son was to save humanity. His 00:19:30.150 --> 00:19:32.710 creation. The promise to come get the creation 00:19:32.710 --> 00:19:38.029 that he saved. Well, there it is. Amen. There 00:19:38.029 --> 00:19:43.569 it is. To come and receive to himself those in 00:19:43.569 --> 00:19:46.990 whom are redeemed. 1 Corinthians 15, 17. And 00:19:46.990 --> 00:19:49.329 if Christ be not raised, your faith is in vain 00:19:49.329 --> 00:19:52.269 or it's futile, and you are yet in your sins. 00:19:52.589 --> 00:19:55.829 But Christ is risen. Isn't that what the angel 00:19:55.829 --> 00:20:00.539 said? He ain't here. Christ is risen, and we 00:20:00.539 --> 00:20:04.119 used to declare risen indeed. Amen. Risen indeed. 00:20:04.220 --> 00:20:06.400 He lives, and he lives forevermore. And because 00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:09.779 Christ lives, you and I can also come in free 00:20:09.779 --> 00:20:13.460 pardon, cleansing, purifying of our sins because 00:20:13.460 --> 00:20:17.299 of the sacrifice that he made on my and your 00:20:17.299 --> 00:20:22.730 behalf. Christ's resurrection validates and puts 00:20:22.730 --> 00:20:26.130 God's seal of approval on everything Jesus did 00:20:26.130 --> 00:20:31.390 prior to the cross and on the cross. His resurrection 00:20:31.390 --> 00:20:35.789 means that God the Father accepted His Son as 00:20:35.789 --> 00:20:43.150 the sacrifice for our sin. Colossians 2 and 14 00:20:43.150 --> 00:20:46.970 reads, blotting out the handwriting of the offense. 00:20:48.839 --> 00:20:53.079 That was against us, which was contrary to us, 00:20:53.119 --> 00:21:00.079 and took it out of the way, nailing it to his 00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:05.279 cross. As he bore that within himself, Romans 00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:08.880 4, 23, 5 through 5, 2 says, Now it was not written 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:11.279 for his sake alone. Are you hearing me? What 00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:13.220 was written for his sake, for the joy that was 00:21:13.220 --> 00:21:16.279 set before him, he endured the shame of the cross. 00:21:17.740 --> 00:21:20.890 Why? so that your and my redemption could be 00:21:20.890 --> 00:21:23.589 made possible. Now it was not written for his 00:21:23.589 --> 00:21:26.369 sake alone that it was imputed to him, but for 00:21:26.369 --> 00:21:30.809 us also, to whom it shall be imputed if we believe 00:21:30.809 --> 00:21:33.950 on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the 00:21:33.950 --> 00:21:37.130 dead, who was delivered for our offenses and 00:21:37.130 --> 00:21:40.490 was raised again for our justification. What 00:21:40.490 --> 00:21:43.029 does that word mean, pastor? It means justified, 00:21:43.029 --> 00:21:48.839 never done it. That's about as simple as I can 00:21:48.839 --> 00:21:53.819 make it for you. Therefore, being justified by 00:21:53.819 --> 00:21:56.980 faith, we have peace with God through our Lord 00:21:56.980 --> 00:22:03.180 Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by 00:22:03.180 --> 00:22:07.960 faith into His grace, wherein we stand and rejoice 00:22:07.960 --> 00:22:12.140 in hope of the glory of God. I don't mean to 00:22:12.140 --> 00:22:13.940 bore you with Scripture this morning, but that 00:22:13.940 --> 00:22:18.890 is the point of it all. It was placed on him 00:22:18.890 --> 00:22:27.609 instead of you. He gladly received it. He was 00:22:27.609 --> 00:22:29.910 raised from the dead on account of our justification. 00:22:30.029 --> 00:22:33.829 It proved and validates that Christ was worthy, 00:22:34.029 --> 00:22:42.490 a worthy sacrifice to secure our salvation. Understand 00:22:42.490 --> 00:22:45.890 that Christ is risen and he lives forevermore. 00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:54.319 The song writer penned it well, because he lives, 00:22:54.480 --> 00:23:00.099 I can face tomorrow. Because he lives, all fear 00:23:00.099 --> 00:23:08.779 is gone. Because I know. Do you know for sure 00:23:08.779 --> 00:23:16.559 this morning? I know who holds the future. And 00:23:16.559 --> 00:23:24.970 life is worth the living. Just like you need 00:23:24.970 --> 00:23:29.990 anything else. Like we need anything else to 00:23:29.990 --> 00:23:34.509 make life worth living. It's worth living just 00:23:34.509 --> 00:23:41.069 because He lives. Right? Because He lives. For 00:23:41.069 --> 00:23:42.990 no other reason. You say, well, I don't have 00:23:42.990 --> 00:23:47.650 much to be happy about. Who said be happy? Don't 00:23:47.650 --> 00:24:00.769 worry. Be happy. It's not Akuma Matata. Pumbaa 00:24:00.769 --> 00:24:10.289 might sing it. Because he lives, life is worth 00:24:10.289 --> 00:24:17.970 the living. Not everything we acquire, not the 00:24:17.970 --> 00:24:21.230 things that we accomplish, but because he lives. 00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:29.859 Life is worth the living. It's worth it. Because 00:24:29.859 --> 00:24:32.700 he lives, I'm forgiven. Because he lives. Because 00:24:32.700 --> 00:24:35.619 he was that spotless lamb who conquered sin and 00:24:35.619 --> 00:24:38.640 death. His blood has not only covered, but has 00:24:38.640 --> 00:24:43.700 washed. I said, some of you, some of you. If 00:24:43.700 --> 00:24:51.319 you've asked Christ to forgive you. If you've 00:24:51.319 --> 00:24:54.559 repented sincerely, look up here at me just a 00:24:54.559 --> 00:24:55.779 minute. Y 'all look down here just a minute. 00:24:57.519 --> 00:25:10.180 He did. He did. Because he did, you can stop 00:25:10.180 --> 00:25:14.660 worrying about the punishment for that. For our 00:25:14.660 --> 00:25:19.470 sins are removed as far. As the east is from 00:25:19.470 --> 00:25:22.630 the west, you can travel either direction through 00:25:22.630 --> 00:25:31.130 infinity and never meet. So if he took your sins 00:25:31.130 --> 00:25:34.789 west and mine east, I'll never catch up to him 00:25:34.789 --> 00:25:38.549 if I head west. And I'll never pass yours if 00:25:38.549 --> 00:25:42.869 I go east, and neither will you. They are removed. 00:25:48.039 --> 00:25:49.980 That's why we should go back and sing some of 00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:54.000 them older songs of the past. I'm redeemed by 00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:59.140 love divine. Glory, glory. Christ is mine all 00:25:59.140 --> 00:26:04.759 to him. I now resign. Oh, I have been, I have 00:26:04.759 --> 00:26:08.440 been redeemed. Why? Because I'm justified because 00:26:08.440 --> 00:26:19.740 he took it in himself. Let the past go. Aren't 00:26:19.740 --> 00:26:24.220 you so glad you're not what you were? I know 00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:26.619 I am, and there's a lot of people that are glad 00:26:26.619 --> 00:26:33.579 too. They're glad that Brother Cliff Waters has 00:26:33.579 --> 00:26:37.420 been redeemed. Because unredeemed, his friend 00:26:37.420 --> 00:26:42.759 list was short. Smart aleck, hard to get along 00:26:42.759 --> 00:26:49.680 with. You did not amen that. Did you say amen? 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:56.019 Well, it was true. But I'm not that fellow anymore. 00:26:58.059 --> 00:27:01.140 And you're not what you were when Christ found 00:27:01.140 --> 00:27:04.460 you and saved you and cleansed you. So don't 00:27:04.460 --> 00:27:07.059 worry about what you were. You've heard it said 00:27:07.059 --> 00:27:09.240 and mentioned this morning. Think about what 00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:13.160 you are and who you are and whom you belong to. 00:27:14.299 --> 00:27:18.960 Because the resolution is life. It's life because 00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:21.259 of the life that we have in Christ. Listen to 00:27:21.259 --> 00:27:23.819 this poem. Some of us stay at the cross and some 00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:27.039 of us wait at the tomb. Quickened and raised 00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:30.299 with Christ yet lingering still in the gloom. 00:27:31.940 --> 00:27:35.559 Some of us bide at the Passover feast with Pentecost 00:27:35.559 --> 00:27:40.500 all unknown. The triumphs of grace in the heavenly 00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:44.359 place that our Lord has made his own. If the 00:27:44.359 --> 00:27:47.400 Christ who died had stopped at the cross, his 00:27:47.400 --> 00:27:50.950 work. had been incomplete. If the Christ who 00:27:50.950 --> 00:27:53.829 was buried had stayed in the tomb, he had only 00:27:53.829 --> 00:27:57.930 known defeat. But the way of the cross never 00:27:57.930 --> 00:28:01.029 stops at the cross. And the way of the tomb leads 00:28:01.029 --> 00:28:05.049 on to victorious grace in the heavenly place 00:28:05.049 --> 00:28:09.410 where the risen Lord has gone. That's Annie Johnson 00:28:09.410 --> 00:28:12.130 Flint. Isn't that powerful? What are you saying? 00:28:12.630 --> 00:28:17.940 Get on away from the tomb. It's okay. You can 00:28:17.940 --> 00:28:20.779 leave the foot of Calvary. There's a feast awaiting. 00:28:22.059 --> 00:28:25.960 We better just stick with the resurrection for 00:28:25.960 --> 00:28:29.279 right now. If I get off on that feast of the 00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:36.579 tabernacle, it's on. The validation, the resolution 00:28:36.579 --> 00:28:39.779 brings because of the resurrection. The last 00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:42.980 point, and I'm closing, and looky here. It's 00:28:42.980 --> 00:28:49.509 7 to 12. The resurrection brings about the resolution 00:28:49.509 --> 00:28:58.170 for your and my hope. It brings a validity to 00:28:58.170 --> 00:29:04.589 it. It brings an exclamation point to my hope. 00:29:05.470 --> 00:29:07.990 What does the scripture say? If in this life 00:29:07.990 --> 00:29:11.970 only you have hope in Christ Jesus, we are of 00:29:11.970 --> 00:29:21.480 all men most Bible readers. But my hope is beyond 00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:25.900 this life. And that is the resolution. That is 00:29:25.900 --> 00:29:28.460 the promise. The totality of the promise is not 00:29:28.460 --> 00:29:30.460 only that Christ will be raised from the dead, 00:29:30.619 --> 00:29:36.420 but that we who believe in him will also be raised 00:29:36.420 --> 00:29:45.910 with him. He who was the first fruit. We follow 00:29:45.910 --> 00:29:54.410 him. Solidifies my hope. In revealing himself 00:29:54.410 --> 00:29:59.130 to people, Jesus was the restorer of hope. Hope 00:29:59.130 --> 00:30:07.490 is a partial list of those who trusted him and 00:30:07.490 --> 00:30:10.990 that he revealed himself to that confirms the 00:30:10.990 --> 00:30:14.559 hope that we have. In our text today, Mary and 00:30:14.559 --> 00:30:17.319 the other Mary who made their way to his tomb. 00:30:21.359 --> 00:30:25.799 The earth shook when the angel descended, rolled 00:30:25.799 --> 00:30:33.480 the tomb stone and sat on top of it. You do realize 00:30:33.480 --> 00:30:35.660 that Saturday wasn't as silent as many would 00:30:35.660 --> 00:30:40.180 like for you to believe. The battle wasn't going 00:30:40.180 --> 00:30:43.390 on the earth. On Saturday, it was taking place 00:30:43.390 --> 00:30:49.509 in the heart of the earth. For you, for me. Philippians 00:30:49.509 --> 00:30:52.869 4, go read it. Before he ascended, yet he first 00:30:52.869 --> 00:30:54.730 descended into the lower parts of the earth. 00:30:55.730 --> 00:31:00.490 And he went and he preached hope. And he took 00:31:00.490 --> 00:31:10.730 captivity captive. And he made a spoil. Of the 00:31:10.730 --> 00:31:14.809 enemy openly. I don't understand that. Well good. 00:31:14.890 --> 00:31:16.250 I want to explain a little bit of that to you. 00:31:18.630 --> 00:31:22.490 While the disciples are in fear. Behind doors 00:31:22.490 --> 00:31:31.130 and locked rooms. The Lord. Went to hell. He 00:31:31.130 --> 00:31:38.549 didn't ask permission to go. He just went. And 00:31:38.549 --> 00:31:42.000 he goes. to that double compartment. He goes 00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:43.880 over here to the side where the Rochester kept 00:31:43.880 --> 00:31:46.619 and that place called Paradise and he says, here 00:31:46.619 --> 00:31:51.099 I am. I'm the one that you've been heard about. 00:31:51.200 --> 00:32:00.079 I'm he. Then he approaches Satan. And I love 00:32:00.079 --> 00:32:33.930 it and I've illustrated it before. He holds that 00:32:33.930 --> 00:32:39.150 over us. Why? Because he ruled over that until 00:32:39.150 --> 00:32:50.269 the climax. And the resolution demands the keys. 00:32:52.069 --> 00:33:00.890 I love it. With one foot on his neck. I want 00:33:00.890 --> 00:33:09.799 to tell you something. He moved not one thousandth 00:33:09.799 --> 00:33:16.500 of an inch. He did not move when he put his hand 00:33:16.500 --> 00:33:23.059 out for the keys. You know how sometimes you 00:33:23.059 --> 00:33:25.519 say, tell one of you youngins, hey, my keys are 00:33:25.519 --> 00:33:27.099 laying in there on the counter. Go get them and 00:33:27.099 --> 00:33:29.640 bring them here. They'll get about halfway and 00:33:29.640 --> 00:33:31.980 maybe throw them at you. Hope you catch them. 00:33:34.399 --> 00:33:40.440 Once. Yeah, we'll go there. Once. And the next 00:33:40.440 --> 00:33:42.140 time they'll come dangling them, maybe it's there 00:33:42.140 --> 00:33:45.960 running by you and you try to grab them. Right? 00:33:47.059 --> 00:33:49.099 Or before you can actually get a good grip on 00:33:49.099 --> 00:33:50.759 them, they let their grip go and they fall and 00:33:50.759 --> 00:33:52.700 you've got to actually waste a bend and go down 00:33:52.700 --> 00:33:57.099 there and get them. Pick them up. At this point 00:33:57.099 --> 00:33:59.180 in life, every bend matters. I've been learning 00:33:59.180 --> 00:34:02.200 that. You can't afford to waste a bend because 00:34:02.200 --> 00:34:05.089 your kid wasn't. Slow down long enough to use 00:34:05.089 --> 00:34:07.670 the keys. That's one later. I need that back. 00:34:10.570 --> 00:34:16.409 Let me tell you, when Jesus demanded the keys, 00:34:16.710 --> 00:34:18.989 he didn't even have to raise his voice to get 00:34:18.989 --> 00:34:30.250 them. Oh, Lord. He made a spoil of the enemy 00:34:30.250 --> 00:34:32.650 openly. What's that mean? Before all his imps, 00:34:32.650 --> 00:34:36.010 wimps. demons, whatever he's got down there, 00:34:36.170 --> 00:34:41.829 every one of them saw him. You know, he huffs 00:34:41.829 --> 00:34:43.909 and he puffs and he blows like he's this, all 00:34:43.909 --> 00:34:46.849 that. And he's pretty powerful. We're no match 00:34:46.849 --> 00:34:52.269 for him. Right? Don't get me wrong. We face a 00:34:52.269 --> 00:35:02.710 powerful enemy. But he's not all powerful. And 00:35:02.710 --> 00:35:04.469 the rest of them knew it, too, because they'd 00:35:04.469 --> 00:35:06.550 come from where he came from. They got kicked 00:35:06.550 --> 00:35:12.730 out when he did. But just to remind everybody, 00:35:13.010 --> 00:35:17.630 he just made an idiot out of him in front of 00:35:17.630 --> 00:35:25.309 everybody in hell. And he took those keys, and 00:35:25.309 --> 00:35:27.449 he didn't leave by himself. He swung back through 00:35:27.449 --> 00:35:31.309 paradise and took everybody with him. You see? 00:35:32.400 --> 00:35:36.159 That's the hope. That's the hope that we have. 00:35:37.619 --> 00:35:39.639 That the enemy that's trying to defeat you and 00:35:39.639 --> 00:35:43.400 destroy you, stand with me, I'm quitting. Stand 00:35:43.400 --> 00:35:50.460 with me. We live in a world which God will have 00:35:50.460 --> 00:35:59.940 the last word, the final say. Whatever's going 00:35:59.940 --> 00:36:04.940 on in your life, The resolution is Christ lives. 00:36:07.280 --> 00:36:10.280 And whatever stone is rolled in the doorway of 00:36:10.280 --> 00:36:15.380 your hope, he's able to remove it and then sit 00:36:15.380 --> 00:36:23.920 on it like it's a lounge chair. Whatever is holding 00:36:23.920 --> 00:36:30.460 your hope captive, he's able to free it. Why? 00:36:30.519 --> 00:36:38.610 Because it's written so. The disciples on the 00:36:38.610 --> 00:36:41.130 Emmaus Road after the crucifixion in Luke's Gospel 00:36:41.130 --> 00:36:46.550 24, to those who have given up, he walked with 00:36:46.550 --> 00:36:52.150 them. And then when realization finally took 00:36:52.150 --> 00:36:56.150 them, they said, my, our hearts burned within 00:36:56.150 --> 00:37:06.030 us. Peter's little fishing trip after the crucifixion. 00:37:09.449 --> 00:37:11.849 To those who may seemingly fail as old, that 00:37:11.849 --> 00:37:17.030 you've failed him. Peter's on the boat fishing 00:37:17.030 --> 00:37:21.550 with the others that went with him. When he realized 00:37:21.550 --> 00:37:26.510 the significance of casting his net on the right 00:37:26.510 --> 00:37:34.809 side, he said, it is the Lord. It is the Lord. 00:37:35.610 --> 00:37:38.489 And then, doom, he's head over and swimming to 00:37:38.489 --> 00:37:41.969 the bank. Y 'all get the boat. I'm going over. 00:37:44.949 --> 00:37:49.949 For the Apostle Paul in Acts 9. You may feel 00:37:49.949 --> 00:37:57.949 like him. He fought against the Lord. But he 00:37:57.949 --> 00:38:01.769 would declare, he revealed to me as one born 00:38:01.769 --> 00:38:06.590 out of time. He revealed himself. Or even maybe 00:38:06.590 --> 00:38:11.099 like Thomas. When they came back with the reports 00:38:11.099 --> 00:38:13.159 and the Lord had appeared to them, he was out 00:38:13.159 --> 00:38:16.840 somewhere around town. He gets back. They're 00:38:16.840 --> 00:38:18.719 not sitting over in the corner pouting. They're 00:38:18.719 --> 00:38:20.579 all excited. Well, what's going on? Well, the 00:38:20.579 --> 00:38:22.199 Lord was here today. Well, I don't believe it. 00:38:22.840 --> 00:38:26.159 I do not believe it for one minute. No, didn't 00:38:26.159 --> 00:38:29.340 happen. And then he, like we would do, he said, 00:38:29.460 --> 00:38:32.239 let me tell you what, boys. I won't believe it 00:38:32.239 --> 00:38:34.960 unless I can stick a finger in the hole in his 00:38:34.960 --> 00:38:39.150 hand. And put my hand in that hole in his side. 00:38:39.250 --> 00:38:40.869 I ain't going to believe it. And then here comes 00:38:40.869 --> 00:38:46.570 the Lord. Look, life is overwhelming sometimes. 00:38:47.690 --> 00:38:51.449 And doubts build, don't they? I love to tell 00:38:51.449 --> 00:38:56.309 you that I haven't had doubts. I have. Just like 00:38:56.309 --> 00:39:02.769 you. Just like Thomas. But when the proof was 00:39:02.769 --> 00:39:05.090 proven, I too, like Thomas said, no, Lord, I 00:39:05.090 --> 00:39:06.789 don't have to put a finger nowhere. My hand don't 00:39:06.789 --> 00:39:12.849 belong anywhere. Hallelujah. You can trust him. 00:39:13.730 --> 00:39:18.030 Father, I love you today. Lord, I thank you for 00:39:18.030 --> 00:39:19.610 your goodness and your mercy and the hope that 00:39:19.610 --> 00:39:26.829 we have. The resurrection clarifies my hope. 00:39:27.809 --> 00:39:31.619 Not does it just clarify it, but it... gives 00:39:31.619 --> 00:39:37.360 me resolution in my hope. Because my hope is 00:39:37.360 --> 00:39:43.699 the final reality of my faith. And Lord, for 00:39:43.699 --> 00:39:50.239 those who believe like me, our hope is not like 00:39:50.239 --> 00:39:53.800 any others, but our hope is in the Lord Jesus 00:39:53.800 --> 00:40:01.539 Christ. And what we celebrate today, Brings a 00:40:01.539 --> 00:40:11.139 solid reality to my faith. We have hope in you, 00:40:11.219 --> 00:40:20.019 Lord. The resurrection is the resolution. Ever 00:40:20.019 --> 00:40:24.199 had bowed? I told you our sins was nailed to 00:40:24.199 --> 00:40:30.880 his cross. He bore the sin of the world. But 00:40:30.880 --> 00:40:37.219 it falls upon every individual to personally 00:40:37.219 --> 00:40:41.179 repent and to accept Him as Lord and Savior. 00:40:42.599 --> 00:40:45.860 Not just be sorry, but repent and turn away and 00:40:45.860 --> 00:40:51.280 walk away from the actions of sin. And to accept 00:40:51.280 --> 00:40:59.110 Him as Lord of your life. That's on you. Where 00:40:59.110 --> 00:41:01.110 you're standing today, I'm going to pray a prayer. 00:41:01.289 --> 00:41:04.150 I'm going to pray a repentant prayer. And if 00:41:04.150 --> 00:41:05.909 you feel the Lord drawing in your heart today, 00:41:05.989 --> 00:41:10.409 I want you to pray it. Right where you stand. 00:41:10.510 --> 00:41:12.630 He can save you where you stand. Well, don't 00:41:12.630 --> 00:41:14.389 I have to go down front? Don't I have to go to 00:41:14.389 --> 00:41:16.550 the altar? You make where you're standing the 00:41:16.550 --> 00:41:22.929 altar. It's your heart. With our mouth according 00:41:22.929 --> 00:41:27.900 to the word of God, we repent. We confess. And 00:41:27.900 --> 00:41:32.940 with our heart, we believe. Lord Jesus, I come 00:41:32.940 --> 00:41:38.340 to you today knowing full well that I am a sinner. 00:41:41.000 --> 00:41:44.619 I confess that I am a sinner and I ask forgiveness 00:41:44.619 --> 00:41:54.519 for my sins. And I ask you into my heart to be 00:41:54.519 --> 00:41:59.880 Lord of my life. I believe that you were born 00:41:59.880 --> 00:42:04.179 of the Virgin Mary, that you died on Calvary's 00:42:04.179 --> 00:42:08.260 hill, you were placed in a borrowed tomb, and 00:42:08.260 --> 00:42:12.880 I believe that on the third day you rose again 00:42:12.880 --> 00:42:18.900 and you are Lord and are going to return for 00:42:18.900 --> 00:42:28.119 all who believe in you. Amen and amen. For those 00:42:28.119 --> 00:42:30.679 of you who may have your hopes in life feel like 00:42:30.679 --> 00:42:35.119 they're in a tomb, they're closed up, I want 00:42:35.119 --> 00:42:38.219 to pray over you. How many of you need a little 00:42:38.219 --> 00:42:40.619 hope? Things aren't just, it doesn't just look 00:42:40.619 --> 00:42:42.820 so good. I could just use a little hope, a little 00:42:42.820 --> 00:42:48.300 extra hope. Father, again, I approach your throne 00:42:48.300 --> 00:42:53.559 where we have been invited so freely. Your word 00:42:53.559 --> 00:42:55.639 declares that we come boldly asking, and Lord. 00:42:56.780 --> 00:42:59.280 I know for those who have raised their hand that 00:42:59.280 --> 00:43:03.480 hope seems to be fleeting away or it's being 00:43:03.480 --> 00:43:06.500 held captive and they can't seem to grasp it. 00:43:08.659 --> 00:43:11.719 The disciples were just like that, their hopes. 00:43:12.059 --> 00:43:15.000 That's the reason those Emmaus boys were so sad. 00:43:16.119 --> 00:43:18.539 They even ask you as you walk down the way, where 00:43:18.539 --> 00:43:20.659 have you been? Don't you know Jesus was crucified? 00:43:22.920 --> 00:43:29.889 We thought he was the one. Your hope is in He 00:43:29.889 --> 00:43:35.489 who is the one. So, Father, I ask today for those 00:43:35.489 --> 00:43:43.190 who may be feeling a sense of despair, hopelessness, 00:43:43.329 --> 00:43:49.670 reveal yourself as hope. Father, I ask that you 00:43:49.670 --> 00:43:53.090 reach out and touch each one today in the heaviness 00:43:53.090 --> 00:43:58.099 of their heart. Life is very conflicting. But 00:43:58.099 --> 00:44:04.119 the resurrection is my resolution and fixates 00:44:04.119 --> 00:44:09.039 my hope in you. So touch the hopeless today, 00:44:09.159 --> 00:44:15.019 Father. Encourage each one today in the lovely, 00:44:15.159 --> 00:44:20.679 lovely name, the name of Jesus. Amen and amen. 00:44:20.840 --> 00:44:22.480 Would you join me? Give the Lord a hand clap 00:44:22.480 --> 00:44:29.989 of praise, would you? Hallelujah. Hallelujah. 00:44:29.989 --> 00:44:31.929 Thank you so much for being in the house of the 00:44:31.929 --> 00:44:35.710 Lord today. If you prayed that repentant prayer 00:44:35.710 --> 00:44:39.309 with me, come let me know. Pastor Brian, let 00:44:39.309 --> 00:44:43.289 him know. Tell somebody that you accepted Jesus 00:44:43.289 --> 00:44:46.929 today. You've got to testify of it and carry 00:44:46.929 --> 00:44:49.289 on and walk out in that faith that is renewed 00:44:49.289 --> 00:44:51.789 in your life. Thank you so much for being in 00:44:51.789 --> 00:44:53.949 the house of the Lord today. Have a great remainder 00:44:53.949 --> 00:44:56.920 of your Easter Sunday. God bless. Go in grace. 00:44:57.159 --> 00:44:58.679 Go in peace. You're dismissed.