WEBVTT 00:00:13.320 --> 00:00:16.039 Welcome to Hub City Vineyard. To get connected 00:00:16.039 --> 00:00:20.059 or to give online, go to connect .hcv .church 00:00:20.059 --> 00:00:23.839 or give .hcv .church. If at any point during 00:00:23.839 --> 00:00:26.000 this message you feel called to make a change 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:30.899 in your life, text CHANGEME to 9700. Thank you 00:00:30.899 --> 00:00:35.159 and enjoy the message. Happy Easter. We're so 00:00:35.159 --> 00:00:39.960 glad you made it. If you need a seat, there's 00:00:39.960 --> 00:00:46.079 couches in the cafe. What a morning! So it began 00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:49.299 last night at about 10 o 'clock when I was rudely 00:00:49.299 --> 00:00:52.299 awoken by a storm that I thought was literally 00:00:52.299 --> 00:00:56.740 going to blow my bedroom off the roof to be quickly 00:00:56.740 --> 00:01:01.340 informed at 5 a .m. that we had no power. Fast 00:01:01.340 --> 00:01:05.640 forward to now 10 .30 a .m. and we are celebrating 00:01:05.640 --> 00:01:13.849 Easter together as a community of faith. So if 00:01:13.849 --> 00:01:16.310 this is your first time joining us, please bear 00:01:16.310 --> 00:01:19.969 with us. As we planned on having a morning gathering 00:01:19.969 --> 00:01:22.370 at 825 that would alleviate some of the seating 00:01:22.370 --> 00:01:25.810 issues, and that was lost because we had no power. 00:01:26.010 --> 00:01:28.769 So here we are together celebrating all that 00:01:28.769 --> 00:01:31.329 God is doing in our midst. And just like you 00:01:31.329 --> 00:01:34.750 saw on our announcements, for those of you who 00:01:34.750 --> 00:01:37.129 didn't know, we had a Good Friday worship and 00:01:37.129 --> 00:01:44.269 baptism this past Friday night. Where 56 people 00:01:44.269 --> 00:01:48.090 declared that they are now following Jesus and 00:01:48.090 --> 00:01:52.810 were baptized. I even got to baptize Andre the 00:01:52.810 --> 00:01:55.969 Giant, which was just a personal and incredible 00:01:55.969 --> 00:01:59.829 experience for me. So I'm just thankful that 00:01:59.829 --> 00:02:02.790 you all made it and that you're here. I would 00:02:02.790 --> 00:02:04.349 like to invite you all, if you would please, 00:02:04.450 --> 00:02:10.289 could you please stand? And I would simply like 00:02:10.289 --> 00:02:14.870 to read. Luke chapter 24, verses 1 through 12, 00:02:15.050 --> 00:02:19.949 which is the reason that we gather this morning. 00:02:22.090 --> 00:02:25.430 But very early on Sunday morning, the women went 00:02:25.430 --> 00:02:28.289 to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 00:02:29.129 --> 00:02:31.169 They found that the stone had been rolled away 00:02:31.169 --> 00:02:33.509 from the entrance, so they went in, but they 00:02:33.509 --> 00:02:37.310 didn't find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they 00:02:37.310 --> 00:02:39.509 stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared 00:02:39.509 --> 00:02:42.590 to them clothed in dazzling robes. The women 00:02:42.590 --> 00:02:44.770 were terrified and bowed with their faces to 00:02:44.770 --> 00:02:48.009 the ground. Then the men asked, Why are you looking 00:02:48.009 --> 00:02:52.610 among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn't 00:02:52.610 --> 00:02:56.949 here. He is risen from the dead. Remember what 00:02:56.949 --> 00:02:59.090 he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of 00:02:59.090 --> 00:03:02.129 Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful 00:03:02.129 --> 00:03:04.710 men and be crucified, and that he would rise 00:03:04.710 --> 00:03:08.000 again on the third day. Then they remembered 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:11.340 that he had said this. So they rushed back from 00:03:11.340 --> 00:03:14.219 the tomb to tell his 11 disciples and everyone 00:03:14.219 --> 00:03:17.840 else what had happened. It was Mary Magdalene, 00:03:17.960 --> 00:03:20.240 Joanna, Mary, the mother of James, and several 00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:22.759 other women who told the apostles what had happened. 00:03:23.400 --> 00:03:26.400 But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, 00:03:26.500 --> 00:03:29.939 so they didn't believe it. However, Peter jumped 00:03:29.939 --> 00:03:33.439 up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he 00:03:33.439 --> 00:03:36.060 peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings. 00:03:36.669 --> 00:03:42.169 Then he went home again, wondering what had happened. 00:03:42.969 --> 00:03:47.129 Holy Spirit, come. God, we're just thankful for 00:03:47.129 --> 00:03:48.949 the morning where we can gather to celebrate 00:03:48.949 --> 00:03:53.409 all that you do for us. Overwhelm us, change 00:03:53.409 --> 00:03:59.129 us, and allow us, God, to become new, fresh, 00:03:59.389 --> 00:04:04.330 and just full of your Spirit. In Jesus' name, 00:04:04.469 --> 00:04:13.550 amen. You may be seated. So Jesus, he only has 00:04:13.550 --> 00:04:17.350 40 days. He's risen from the dead. He's resurrected 00:04:17.350 --> 00:04:22.410 just like he said he would do. He has the keys 00:04:22.410 --> 00:04:25.790 to death, hell, and the grave. He defeated the 00:04:25.790 --> 00:04:29.230 devil when the stone was rolled away. He is risen. 00:04:29.470 --> 00:04:33.250 He is risen indeed. The women went to the tomb. 00:04:33.829 --> 00:04:37.490 It's Sunday morning and they brought some spices, 00:04:37.610 --> 00:04:40.370 but they quickly learned that they would not 00:04:40.370 --> 00:04:42.870 need them because the angel said to the women, 00:04:43.050 --> 00:04:47.310 why are you looking among the dead for someone 00:04:47.310 --> 00:04:51.170 who is alive? Now notice the women were searching 00:04:51.170 --> 00:04:55.089 for Jesus, but he was no longer where they thought 00:04:55.089 --> 00:04:58.790 he was. And if we're honest, I believe quite 00:04:58.790 --> 00:05:01.680 often in our everyday lives. we find ourselves 00:05:01.680 --> 00:05:05.860 searching for the presence and the power of God, 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:10.620 but we miss it because we search for it in all 00:05:10.620 --> 00:05:14.220 the wrong places. See, we look for the living 00:05:14.220 --> 00:05:19.120 among the dead, and Jesus is not there. He's 00:05:19.120 --> 00:05:23.339 risen. Why do we look for a living God in dead 00:05:23.339 --> 00:05:27.720 places, like a dead relationship or a dead career? 00:05:28.649 --> 00:05:32.209 Or dead social media scrolling? Maybe it's a 00:05:32.209 --> 00:05:36.069 dead habit. Why do we look for the living God 00:05:36.069 --> 00:05:41.230 in dead religion? Or a dormant religion? See, 00:05:41.269 --> 00:05:44.310 Jesus is alive and he's real. And the presence 00:05:44.310 --> 00:05:48.589 of God is not meant to be an add -on or an accessory 00:05:48.589 --> 00:05:53.029 or a bonus. See, the presence of God should be 00:05:53.029 --> 00:05:56.740 the fuel or the source of life for anyone. Who 00:05:56.740 --> 00:06:00.339 is in a relationship with Jesus? See, Jesus is 00:06:00.339 --> 00:06:05.800 risen from the dead. That marked the most important 00:06:05.800 --> 00:06:08.639 event in the history of the world. The cornerstone 00:06:08.639 --> 00:06:11.939 of our faith. Now think about it. He's got to 00:06:11.939 --> 00:06:15.120 get the message out because he's only got 40 00:06:15.120 --> 00:06:18.339 days. He's about to be taken up to heaven and 00:06:18.339 --> 00:06:21.319 seated at the right hand of the Father where 00:06:21.319 --> 00:06:24.600 he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. 00:06:25.370 --> 00:06:28.970 Jesus has to get moving. He has to show the world 00:06:28.970 --> 00:06:33.610 that he's alive. That they'll believe the proof 00:06:33.610 --> 00:06:37.649 of the power in his resurrection. What should 00:06:37.649 --> 00:06:41.389 Jesus do first? I mean, if he wants to reveal 00:06:41.389 --> 00:06:43.449 himself to the world and let them know that he 00:06:43.449 --> 00:06:45.750 is the son of God, that he is risen from the 00:06:45.750 --> 00:06:50.439 dead, where does he go? What does he do? Maybe 00:06:50.439 --> 00:06:53.180 he could gather the disciples together and host 00:06:53.180 --> 00:06:56.240 a resurrection reenactment event at the Coliseum. 00:06:57.420 --> 00:06:59.779 He definitely needs to get it out on social. 00:06:59.819 --> 00:07:03.540 Maybe it will go viral. Maybe he'll go old school 00:07:03.540 --> 00:07:07.980 and schedule an interview with Fox News. What 00:07:07.980 --> 00:07:11.980 does Jesus do on the day he defeats sin and death? 00:07:13.300 --> 00:07:15.779 I believe that all of us might actually be surprised 00:07:15.779 --> 00:07:19.250 because what he does next. Is he simply takes 00:07:19.250 --> 00:07:23.269 a walk. And this morning I'm going to invite 00:07:23.269 --> 00:07:27.310 you to take a walk with me. And not just me but 00:07:27.310 --> 00:07:30.670 to take a walk with Jesus. Because see on the 00:07:30.670 --> 00:07:33.389 day of his resurrection. The day that we celebrate 00:07:33.389 --> 00:07:36.490 this morning. With only 40 days to tell the world 00:07:36.490 --> 00:07:39.670 that he is God. And convince them with many signs 00:07:39.670 --> 00:07:43.350 and proof. He simply appears to two travelers. 00:07:44.189 --> 00:07:49.769 Whose names we have never seen. I mean, Jesus, 00:07:49.910 --> 00:07:52.689 at least go talk to James and John. I've heard 00:07:52.689 --> 00:07:56.329 of them. But these two travelers, see, they were 00:07:56.329 --> 00:08:00.410 just like you and me walking along on the road 00:08:00.410 --> 00:08:03.949 of life. These two travelers were headed toward 00:08:03.949 --> 00:08:07.329 a village called Emmaus. And what's interesting 00:08:07.329 --> 00:08:10.350 about this town as I was studying is that no 00:08:10.350 --> 00:08:14.170 one exactly knows where Emmaus is today. It was 00:08:14.170 --> 00:08:18.519 such an insignificant place. in its day, that 00:08:18.519 --> 00:08:21.100 there's no archaeological evidence that it ever 00:08:21.100 --> 00:08:27.500 existed. So why would Jesus go to a place that 00:08:27.500 --> 00:08:30.579 wasn't even significant enough in Jesus' time 00:08:30.579 --> 00:08:36.200 to be pinpointed on our map today? Well, see, 00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:38.659 I believe it's a reminder, which leads us to 00:08:38.659 --> 00:08:41.720 our first thought here on Easter Sunday, that 00:08:41.720 --> 00:08:46.840 the resurrected Jesus, see, he pursues us. See, 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:50.279 let's take a walk and join Jesus on the road 00:08:50.279 --> 00:08:53.259 to Emmaus as we read in Luke 24, 13 through 17. 00:08:53.799 --> 00:08:58.000 That same day, two of Jesus' followers were walking 00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:00.639 to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. 00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:03.899 And let's just simply pause there for a minute 00:09:03.899 --> 00:09:08.039 and just highlight that they're walking toward 00:09:08.039 --> 00:09:12.460 Emmaus. And remember, Jesus died in Jerusalem. 00:09:13.550 --> 00:09:15.649 Jerusalem was, of course, the place where the 00:09:15.649 --> 00:09:18.789 Passover feast had just been celebrated. Jerusalem 00:09:18.789 --> 00:09:21.129 was the place where the promised Holy Spirit 00:09:21.129 --> 00:09:25.710 was to come. But Jesus leaves that place where 00:09:25.710 --> 00:09:30.090 the Spirit is coming to follow two people, and 00:09:30.090 --> 00:09:33.070 we don't even know who they are. Let's continue. 00:09:33.429 --> 00:09:35.970 As they walked along, they were talking about 00:09:35.970 --> 00:09:38.110 everything that had happened. As they talked 00:09:38.110 --> 00:09:40.850 and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly 00:09:40.850 --> 00:09:44.470 came and began walking with them. But God kept 00:09:44.470 --> 00:09:46.470 them from mechanizing him, and he asked them, 00:09:46.610 --> 00:09:51.110 what are you discussing so intently as you walk 00:09:51.110 --> 00:09:57.070 along? So picture this with me. Jesus, he's just 00:09:57.070 --> 00:09:59.950 trampled sin, hell, and the grave. He made a 00:09:59.950 --> 00:10:03.029 complete mockery of Satan, and suddenly he walks 00:10:03.029 --> 00:10:06.649 up to these two unnamed people and asks them 00:10:06.649 --> 00:10:10.950 a simple question, a question he knows the answer 00:10:10.950 --> 00:10:15.730 to. And listen, you may be here this morning 00:10:15.730 --> 00:10:19.649 and you think that you can only go on this journey 00:10:19.649 --> 00:10:23.570 if you're perfect and without sin. You might 00:10:23.570 --> 00:10:25.549 think that you can only go on this journey if 00:10:25.549 --> 00:10:28.870 your life is profound and meaningful. That God 00:10:28.870 --> 00:10:32.509 can only use somebody that other people know. 00:10:33.629 --> 00:10:36.330 But listen, don't believe that lie because our 00:10:36.330 --> 00:10:39.649 culture unfortunately worships the idol of fame 00:10:39.649 --> 00:10:44.179 and importance. But the famous one, the name 00:10:44.179 --> 00:10:47.940 above every other name, meets these two previously 00:10:47.940 --> 00:10:51.200 unnamed travelers. And I believe this morning 00:10:51.200 --> 00:10:54.259 he wants to meet you. It doesn't matter what 00:10:54.259 --> 00:10:57.019 you believe, what you've done, what you've said, 00:10:57.299 --> 00:11:00.100 where you've gone, or where you're even headed. 00:11:01.159 --> 00:11:06.360 Jesus is with us right now. He's with us when 00:11:06.360 --> 00:11:09.039 we're wrong. He's with us when we're moving forward. 00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:12.299 He's with us when we're stuck. He's with us when 00:11:12.299 --> 00:11:15.399 we're celebrating. He's with us when we're strong. 00:11:16.100 --> 00:11:19.220 He's with us when we're weak. He's with us when 00:11:19.220 --> 00:11:23.240 we're defeated. And notice that all these two 00:11:23.240 --> 00:11:27.899 were doing was walking. They didn't invite Jesus 00:11:27.899 --> 00:11:31.440 to join them. They didn't pray to Jesus. They 00:11:31.440 --> 00:11:33.460 didn't go to church. They didn't sing a hymn. 00:11:33.659 --> 00:11:36.559 They didn't pray a prayer. They didn't even memorize 00:11:36.559 --> 00:11:39.399 a verse. I mean, heck, they weren't even a part 00:11:39.399 --> 00:11:42.120 of a growth group. Even though you should be, 00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:47.740 they weren't. All they were doing was walking. 00:11:48.440 --> 00:11:51.179 And they were walking toward a village called 00:11:51.179 --> 00:11:55.960 Emmaus. And if we look at our own lives, isn't 00:11:55.960 --> 00:12:00.679 it true that daily we walk through life? We raise 00:12:00.679 --> 00:12:04.259 our kids. We go to work. We go to school. We 00:12:04.259 --> 00:12:09.330 travel to the store. We cook dinner. And I believe 00:12:09.330 --> 00:12:12.190 that Jesus wants us to see that he's walking 00:12:12.190 --> 00:12:17.230 with us. And here's the crazy thing. These two 00:12:17.230 --> 00:12:21.450 were walking the wrong way, which leads us to 00:12:21.450 --> 00:12:23.350 our next thought. You see, the resurrected Jesus 00:12:23.350 --> 00:12:27.269 meets us in our despair and our disappointment. 00:12:28.250 --> 00:12:31.710 Remember, they're going away from Jerusalem toward 00:12:31.710 --> 00:12:34.769 an unnamed town that can't even be marked on 00:12:34.769 --> 00:12:38.159 our maps today. And if they really believed Jesus 00:12:38.159 --> 00:12:41.100 was going to be raised from the dead, they would 00:12:41.100 --> 00:12:45.100 have stayed in Jerusalem. But they didn't. And 00:12:45.100 --> 00:12:49.220 God followed them anyway to this wrong destination 00:12:49.220 --> 00:12:53.700 because God wants us to see that grace chases 00:12:53.700 --> 00:12:57.340 us down. Let's continue our story, Luke 24, verses 00:12:57.340 --> 00:13:02.120 17 to 24. They stopped short, sadness written 00:13:02.120 --> 00:13:05.500 across their faces. Then one of them, Cleopas, 00:13:13.900 --> 00:13:17.379 And let's pause there again and recognize. Most 00:13:17.379 --> 00:13:20.360 scholars believe that these two people were husband 00:13:20.360 --> 00:13:24.480 and wife. We learn that the man's name was Cleopas. 00:13:24.759 --> 00:13:28.519 So we have Jesus and we have Cleo. Because that's 00:13:28.519 --> 00:13:31.980 what his friends call him, right? Cleo. And notice, 00:13:32.039 --> 00:13:34.529 we don't even get the woman's name. Because in 00:13:34.529 --> 00:13:37.669 biblical times, people didn't treat women very 00:13:37.669 --> 00:13:41.230 well. They were overlooked. They were forgotten. 00:13:42.789 --> 00:13:45.350 But we quickly see that that's the kind of people 00:13:45.350 --> 00:13:48.269 that Jesus likes to hang out with. The people 00:13:48.269 --> 00:13:52.590 who are overlooked and forgotten. I mean, remember, 00:13:52.789 --> 00:13:55.269 he worked a miracle with a little kid's lunch. 00:13:55.970 --> 00:13:59.169 In their minds, kids didn't count. But in Jesus' 00:13:59.330 --> 00:14:02.669 eyes, they were what was needed for multiplication 00:14:02.669 --> 00:14:07.389 to happen. When people walked past them, he saw 00:14:07.389 --> 00:14:11.950 them as the ones that would produce life. Jesus 00:14:11.950 --> 00:14:16.210 pursues the forgotten. Let's continue. What things, 00:14:16.330 --> 00:14:18.809 Jesus asked? The things that happened to Jesus, 00:14:18.970 --> 00:14:22.090 the man from Nazareth. Remember, they're talking 00:14:22.090 --> 00:14:25.929 to Jesus. They said, well, he was a prophet who 00:14:25.929 --> 00:14:28.149 did powerful miracles and he was a mighty teacher 00:14:28.149 --> 00:14:30.669 in the eyes of God and all the people. But our 00:14:30.669 --> 00:14:32.549 leading priests and our other religious leaders 00:14:32.549 --> 00:14:34.549 handed him over to be condemned to death and 00:14:34.549 --> 00:14:37.649 they crucified him. We had hoped he was the Messiah 00:14:37.649 --> 00:14:41.210 who would come to rescue Israel. This all happened 00:14:41.210 --> 00:14:46.450 three days ago. Then some women from our group 00:14:46.450 --> 00:14:48.389 of his followers were at this tomb early in the 00:14:48.389 --> 00:14:50.710 morning and they came back with an amazing report. 00:14:51.559 --> 00:14:54.220 They said his body was missing, and they had 00:14:54.220 --> 00:14:57.480 seen angels who told them Jesus is alive. Some 00:14:57.480 --> 00:14:59.600 of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his 00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:04.059 body was gone, just as the women had said. Why 00:15:04.059 --> 00:15:08.039 would Jesus make one of his first resurrection 00:15:08.039 --> 00:15:12.919 appearances to two unnamed people headed toward 00:15:12.919 --> 00:15:17.259 a place that was away from the Holy Spirit toward 00:15:17.259 --> 00:15:23.179 a place that no one could even remember? Why? 00:15:23.179 --> 00:15:28.799 Because Jesus is pursuing us. He comes after 00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:33.220 us, even when we're walking in the wrong direction. 00:15:33.779 --> 00:15:37.379 And notice, Cleo and his wife, they're talking 00:15:37.379 --> 00:15:39.940 about all the things that had happened. How the 00:15:39.940 --> 00:15:42.059 Romans had crucified the one that was supposed 00:15:42.059 --> 00:15:45.399 to be the deliverer, to free them from the oppression. 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:49.799 And remember, the Jewish... believers, they thought 00:15:49.799 --> 00:15:51.779 that Jesus was going to set them free from Rome. 00:15:52.460 --> 00:15:55.720 They didn't see him as setting them free from 00:15:55.720 --> 00:15:57.779 the sin, death, and destruction from just Rome. 00:15:58.559 --> 00:16:01.500 So they were downcast, and they were sad, and 00:16:01.500 --> 00:16:06.700 they were walking away from Jerusalem. And apparently, 00:16:06.799 --> 00:16:11.220 Jesus, he stops with them in their sadness, and 00:16:11.220 --> 00:16:15.320 he steps into their sadness. And they start explaining. 00:16:16.330 --> 00:16:19.830 to the one that they just happened to, how it 00:16:19.830 --> 00:16:23.870 was supposed to turn out. Then in verse 15, as 00:16:23.870 --> 00:16:26.029 they talked and discussed these things, you know 00:16:26.029 --> 00:16:28.669 these life events, what they had just walked 00:16:28.669 --> 00:16:31.570 through, you know the divorce, the job loss, 00:16:31.830 --> 00:16:35.289 the financial struggle, the wasted relationship 00:16:35.289 --> 00:16:37.830 that you didn't really know how to handle, that 00:16:37.830 --> 00:16:42.350 stressful day, that disappointing outcome. They're 00:16:42.350 --> 00:16:46.500 talking about all these things with Jesus. They 00:16:46.500 --> 00:16:49.659 talked about the death and what they had put 00:16:49.659 --> 00:16:53.100 their expectations on, their hope. And they're 00:16:53.100 --> 00:16:56.200 right there in the middle. As they're explaining 00:16:56.200 --> 00:16:59.340 all these things, Jesus doesn't even ask to join. 00:16:59.419 --> 00:17:04.940 He just walks right in. He walks right beside 00:17:04.940 --> 00:17:08.819 them. Have you ever felt like God wouldn't leave 00:17:08.819 --> 00:17:13.279 you alone? Even if he wanted him to, like, get 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:16.289 away from me, God. Like you tried to turn off 00:17:16.289 --> 00:17:20.809 your conscience and you still felt bad smoking 00:17:20.809 --> 00:17:24.470 it or drinking it or looking at it. You tried 00:17:24.470 --> 00:17:26.970 to turn it off, but you still feel really bad. 00:17:27.009 --> 00:17:32.509 You're like, God, just get away. And it's one 00:17:32.509 --> 00:17:36.009 of those things where Jesus walks right up to 00:17:36.009 --> 00:17:39.630 us. I mean, that's what he does. That's what 00:17:39.630 --> 00:17:43.299 he did here. He walked right up to it. But the 00:17:43.299 --> 00:17:46.160 scriptures say that they were kept from recognizing 00:17:46.160 --> 00:17:50.160 him. And I believe that's a reminder for all 00:17:50.160 --> 00:17:54.079 of us that quite often we don't recognize the 00:17:54.079 --> 00:17:57.980 resurrection that's right in front of us. See, 00:17:58.039 --> 00:18:02.079 we often look to God in the dramatic. But this 00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:04.599 is a reminder that he shows up in the everyday 00:18:04.599 --> 00:18:11.420 details. He takes a walk with us. But Jesus, 00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:13.880 you don't have time for this. You've only got 00:18:13.880 --> 00:18:16.339 40 days. You've got people to meet. You've got 00:18:16.339 --> 00:18:20.559 to get the good news out. But Jesus says, yeah, 00:18:20.599 --> 00:18:22.960 I've got to get the good news out to Cleo and 00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:28.660 his wife. I've got to show myself to them. But 00:18:28.660 --> 00:18:33.039 again, they were kept from recognizing it. It 00:18:33.039 --> 00:18:36.259 didn't say that he didn't recognize him. It says 00:18:36.259 --> 00:18:40.390 that they were kept from recognizing. And how 00:18:40.390 --> 00:18:42.430 many times have we been kept from recognizing 00:18:42.430 --> 00:18:45.809 what God is doing right in front of us? How many 00:18:45.809 --> 00:18:48.069 times have we been kept from recognizing the 00:18:48.069 --> 00:18:51.490 ordinary moments of joy because we were waiting 00:18:51.490 --> 00:18:55.109 for the perfect? How many times have I missed 00:18:55.109 --> 00:18:58.930 a miracle because I saw the mess? How many times 00:18:58.930 --> 00:19:01.769 have I missed the opportunity to give something 00:19:01.769 --> 00:19:04.430 to someone else, but we're so self -centered 00:19:04.430 --> 00:19:09.650 that we don't give it away? And God is inviting 00:19:09.650 --> 00:19:15.990 us this morning, Easter Sunday, to change. Yes, 00:19:15.990 --> 00:19:20.210 he's pursuing us, but what if we began to pursue 00:19:20.210 --> 00:19:23.630 him? They didn't recognize it. They didn't see 00:19:23.630 --> 00:19:29.369 him. And for so many of us, we don't even recognize 00:19:29.369 --> 00:19:32.170 that our kids are growing up too fast because 00:19:32.170 --> 00:19:36.779 we're so busy working with life. We don't recognize 00:19:36.779 --> 00:19:40.599 that God gave us a faithful partner to love and 00:19:40.599 --> 00:19:44.200 commit to and we get tired of the ordinary and 00:19:44.200 --> 00:19:48.980 suddenly we're in fights that mean nothing. We 00:19:48.980 --> 00:19:50.759 don't recognize that the people we're hanging 00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:54.859 out with are leading us down a path that is not 00:19:54.859 --> 00:20:00.119 abundant but is destructive. See, resurrection 00:20:00.119 --> 00:20:02.559 begins in your life when you ask the question, 00:20:02.839 --> 00:20:06.119 what is keeping me from recognizing the presence 00:20:06.119 --> 00:20:09.859 of God that is right here beside me and inside 00:20:09.859 --> 00:20:14.019 of me? Proverbs 3, 5 through 6 says, trust in 00:20:14.019 --> 00:20:16.519 the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on 00:20:16.519 --> 00:20:19.380 your own understanding. Seek his will in all 00:20:19.380 --> 00:20:21.099 you do and he will show you which path to take. 00:20:21.740 --> 00:20:23.880 See, when we try to search for God with our own 00:20:23.880 --> 00:20:26.529 understanding, And we say, well, I'll start my 00:20:26.529 --> 00:20:28.930 journey when I understand. Listen, you're never 00:20:28.930 --> 00:20:31.470 going to understand. That's just not how God 00:20:31.470 --> 00:20:36.690 works. Resurrection begins when we acknowledge 00:20:36.690 --> 00:20:40.730 that God is in control. And we stop looking past 00:20:40.730 --> 00:20:43.029 all the incredible blessings that we're given 00:20:43.029 --> 00:20:46.950 each and every day. And we recognize that Jesus 00:20:46.950 --> 00:20:50.609 is walking right along with us. Which leads us 00:20:50.609 --> 00:20:53.660 to our next thought. The resurrected Jesus meets 00:20:53.660 --> 00:20:57.099 us in the scriptures. Continuing in Luke 24, 00:20:57.299 --> 00:20:59.440 then Jesus said to them, you foolish people. 00:21:00.299 --> 00:21:03.579 So not only does Jesus not invite himself on 00:21:03.579 --> 00:21:07.180 the walk, but now he listens to them and he calls 00:21:07.180 --> 00:21:10.279 them out. You foolish people. You find it so 00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:12.420 hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in 00:21:12.420 --> 00:21:15.099 the scriptures. Wasn't it clearly predicted that 00:21:15.099 --> 00:21:17.059 the Messiah would have to suffer all these things 00:21:17.059 --> 00:21:20.180 before entering his glory? Then Jesus took them 00:21:20.180 --> 00:21:22.980 through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, 00:21:23.180 --> 00:21:25.779 explaining from all the scriptures the things 00:21:25.779 --> 00:21:30.059 concerning himself. So Jesus quickly, and not 00:21:30.059 --> 00:21:32.119 necessarily quickly, because a seven -mile walk, 00:21:32.259 --> 00:21:36.599 that's a long walk, walks them through the scriptures. 00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:40.660 He begins with Moses. He goes into the prophets. 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:45.869 And he's explaining to them and us. That this 00:21:45.869 --> 00:21:48.809 entire book that we're to read every single day 00:21:48.809 --> 00:21:55.430 all points to Jesus. From the beginning to the 00:21:55.430 --> 00:22:01.210 end. It's all about Jesus. And now he's standing 00:22:01.210 --> 00:22:06.569 right in front of us. He broke it down. He broke 00:22:06.569 --> 00:22:09.410 it down in a way that allowed them that as they 00:22:09.410 --> 00:22:12.390 walk this journey, as we walk through life together, 00:22:12.650 --> 00:22:15.869 we can see our story in the midst of this book 00:22:15.869 --> 00:22:19.650 that we read every single day. But it requires 00:22:19.650 --> 00:22:25.230 faith. And it requires for you to jump in the 00:22:25.230 --> 00:22:28.650 story. As you jump in the story, as you step 00:22:28.650 --> 00:22:31.390 out in faith, as you hope and desire more of 00:22:31.390 --> 00:22:34.930 God in your life, you grow as you go. Notice 00:22:34.930 --> 00:22:37.589 these two unnamed travelers that Jesus chooses 00:22:37.589 --> 00:22:40.950 to meet with. They begin to grow and change as 00:22:40.950 --> 00:22:44.490 they walk down this seven mile dirt road to a 00:22:44.490 --> 00:22:47.470 no -name town that isn't even on our maps today. 00:22:48.190 --> 00:22:50.789 And my challenge to you this morning on Easter 00:22:50.789 --> 00:22:54.509 Sunday 2025 is keep searching for the presence 00:22:54.509 --> 00:22:59.809 of God. Every single day. And as you search for 00:22:59.809 --> 00:23:03.309 it, as you read the scriptures, allow the scriptures 00:23:03.309 --> 00:23:07.609 to change and make you new. Hebrews 4 .12, for 00:23:07.609 --> 00:23:10.650 the word of God is alive and powerful. It is 00:23:10.650 --> 00:23:12.650 sharper than the sharpest two -edged sword, cutting 00:23:12.650 --> 00:23:15.130 between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. 00:23:15.190 --> 00:23:17.029 It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 00:23:17.970 --> 00:23:20.509 I mean, the Bible that we read is alive and active. 00:23:22.230 --> 00:23:24.789 It will make you scream. It will make you wince. 00:23:24.890 --> 00:23:28.170 It will convict you. It will make you wonder. 00:23:29.130 --> 00:23:32.730 I mean, just listen. Just listen to the book 00:23:32.730 --> 00:23:37.349 of Deuteronomy. It will make you wonder. But 00:23:37.349 --> 00:23:40.230 as we wonder and as we second guess, God, why 00:23:40.230 --> 00:23:44.170 is all this in the Bible? Why, why, why? Remember, 00:23:44.349 --> 00:23:48.910 it all points to who? Jesus. When the word of 00:23:48.910 --> 00:23:52.420 God is alive in you. When Jesus shows up on the 00:23:52.420 --> 00:23:54.779 road and meets you in your sin, your choices, 00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:58.039 your mistakes, it frees you from your sin and 00:23:58.039 --> 00:24:01.079 it makes you celebrate. Which leads us to our 00:24:01.079 --> 00:24:03.859 final thought. See, the resurrected Jesus makes 00:24:03.859 --> 00:24:09.980 himself known to us. Luke 24, 29 and 32. Jesus. 00:24:10.680 --> 00:24:12.759 acted as if he was going on, but they begged 00:24:12.759 --> 00:24:14.500 him, stay the night with us since it is getting 00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:18.279 late. I mean, as you read through this section 00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:21.660 of the scriptures, as Luke tells us this story, 00:24:22.059 --> 00:24:26.299 I mean, it's just amazing to think what was going 00:24:26.299 --> 00:24:28.940 through Jesus' mind. It's like he's playing games 00:24:28.940 --> 00:24:31.579 with these two. He wasn't even going to stop 00:24:31.579 --> 00:24:34.039 and meet with them. He acted as if he was kept 00:24:34.039 --> 00:24:35.940 on going, but they begged him, no, don't leave. 00:24:37.079 --> 00:24:40.490 And see, as we... our interests, as we read the 00:24:40.490 --> 00:24:42.950 Bible, as we step out in faith, as we pray for 00:24:42.950 --> 00:24:45.789 others, our faith only grows but we have to be 00:24:45.789 --> 00:24:48.549 willing to step out. We have to be willing to 00:24:48.549 --> 00:24:52.490 go on the journey. So he, meaning Jesus, went 00:24:52.490 --> 00:24:54.950 home with them and as they sat down to eat, he 00:24:54.950 --> 00:24:57.130 took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke 00:24:57.130 --> 00:24:59.029 it and gave it to them and suddenly their eyes 00:24:59.029 --> 00:25:01.410 were opened and they recognized him. And at that 00:25:01.410 --> 00:25:06.130 moment, he disappeared. And they said to each 00:25:06.130 --> 00:25:09.430 other, didn't our hearts burn? Now notice, Within 00:25:09.430 --> 00:25:11.589 us as he talked with us on the road and explained 00:25:11.589 --> 00:25:16.109 the scriptures to us. Didn't our hearts burn? 00:25:17.509 --> 00:25:21.130 Burning hearts. So Jesus goes in and stays with 00:25:21.130 --> 00:25:24.690 them. He sits down. And remember, he's the same 00:25:24.690 --> 00:25:28.509 God who sent the angels to the tomb. Right? And 00:25:28.509 --> 00:25:31.210 told the women, he's not here. He's the God of 00:25:31.210 --> 00:25:33.809 the dramatic. But he's also the God of the details. 00:25:34.450 --> 00:25:36.910 Because we learn that Jesus walks with us everywhere 00:25:36.910 --> 00:25:39.839 we go. The Bible says that while he was at the 00:25:39.839 --> 00:25:43.160 table with them, he took bread, right? And he 00:25:43.160 --> 00:25:48.920 broke it. And as he broke it, right? As he's 00:25:48.920 --> 00:25:50.960 in the midst of our conversations over dinner, 00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:55.500 as he's in the midst of our conversations with 00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:59.940 our coworkers, right? Jesus suddenly is there 00:25:59.940 --> 00:26:04.339 with them and their eyes are opened. Their eyes 00:26:04.339 --> 00:26:06.359 are open. And I believe that as we step out in 00:26:06.359 --> 00:26:08.940 faith, as we talk about God, as we reflect on 00:26:08.940 --> 00:26:12.539 the spiritual side of us, God makes himself known 00:26:12.539 --> 00:26:14.740 to us. But so many of us are afraid to talk about 00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:16.259 God because we don't think we know the Bible. 00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:19.240 You don't have to know the Bible. You just have 00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:22.119 to read it. You have to apply it to your lives. 00:26:22.180 --> 00:26:25.960 You have to allow it to change you. Jesus takes 00:26:25.960 --> 00:26:29.890 bread. He breaks it. And many scholars point 00:26:29.890 --> 00:26:32.349 this to, now remember, these two unnamed disciples, 00:26:32.710 --> 00:26:34.470 they wouldn't have been in the upper room, they 00:26:34.470 --> 00:26:36.690 didn't see the Last Supper, but scholars believe 00:26:36.690 --> 00:26:39.390 that these two were probably either at the feeding 00:26:39.390 --> 00:26:43.690 of the 5 ,000, right? And they saw when Jesus 00:26:43.690 --> 00:26:46.309 broke the bread and multiplied it, suddenly their 00:26:46.309 --> 00:26:49.349 memory was kind of urged, like, whoa. But ultimately, 00:26:49.390 --> 00:26:52.250 scholars point to, when he reached out and handed 00:26:52.250 --> 00:26:55.029 them the bread, they saw the marks in his hands. 00:26:58.960 --> 00:27:00.500 And you say, well, why didn't they recognize 00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:03.299 the marks or the beaten body as they were walking 00:27:03.299 --> 00:27:05.380 on the road? Because you have to remember that 00:27:05.380 --> 00:27:07.319 this is Jesus' resurrected body. We just read 00:27:07.319 --> 00:27:10.160 about him disappearing. He goes to and from. 00:27:10.400 --> 00:27:12.359 We're going to learn quickly later in Luke that 00:27:12.359 --> 00:27:14.339 he just appears to the 12 disciples out of nowhere. 00:27:14.500 --> 00:27:19.920 Hi, guys. Then he walked through a door. That's 00:27:19.920 --> 00:27:25.539 our resurrected bodies. But as he takes pride 00:27:25.539 --> 00:27:28.519 and he hands it to him and he blesses it. Suddenly 00:27:28.519 --> 00:27:31.480 they recognize him and they realize that Jesus 00:27:31.480 --> 00:27:35.200 has been walking with them all along. Their eyes 00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:38.720 were opened. This is very similar to what happened 00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:41.640 in John chapter 20, verse 14 to 16. She turned 00:27:41.640 --> 00:27:44.460 to leave and saw someone standing there. It was 00:27:44.460 --> 00:27:47.059 Jesus, but she didn't recognize him. Dear woman, 00:27:47.160 --> 00:27:50.259 why are you crying? Jesus asked her. Who are 00:27:50.259 --> 00:27:53.279 you looking for? She thought he was the gardener. 00:27:54.899 --> 00:27:57.000 Sir, she said, if you have taken him away, tell 00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:59.579 me where you have put him and I will go and get 00:27:59.579 --> 00:28:01.980 him. Mary, Jesus said, she turned to him and 00:28:01.980 --> 00:28:04.640 cried out, Rabbani, which is Hebrew for teacher. 00:28:05.319 --> 00:28:10.220 And notice when Mary recognized him, Jesus called 00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:16.900 her by name. Jesus calls us by name. And not 00:28:16.900 --> 00:28:18.779 only does he call us by name, but he pursues 00:28:18.779 --> 00:28:22.420 us. He pursues us. When we're walking in the 00:28:22.420 --> 00:28:25.099 wrong direction, away from God's call in our 00:28:25.099 --> 00:28:27.500 life, away from God's abundance in our life, 00:28:27.559 --> 00:28:29.960 not only does he pursue us, but he calls us by 00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:34.619 name, and the Holy Spirit desires for transformation 00:28:34.619 --> 00:28:37.680 to take place. And unfortunately for many of 00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:43.019 us, it's unexpected. I mean, let me be honest 00:28:43.019 --> 00:28:47.400 with you. Two hours ago, I was sick on my stomach, 00:28:47.559 --> 00:28:51.970 ready to cancel all of these gatherings. Literally, 00:28:51.970 --> 00:28:56.089 I was recording a video that said our Sunday 00:28:56.089 --> 00:28:58.549 morning gatherings were canceled on Easter. But 00:28:58.549 --> 00:29:00.029 remember, we're the hippie church. We're going 00:29:00.029 --> 00:29:04.029 to celebrate Easter next Sunday because a calendar 00:29:04.029 --> 00:29:07.269 doesn't tell us when to celebrate Easter. I was 00:29:07.269 --> 00:29:10.009 all planning on celebrating Easter next Sunday. 00:29:10.089 --> 00:29:12.170 And then Rhett ran out the front door as I was 00:29:12.170 --> 00:29:15.470 about to speak. And he said, the lights are on. 00:29:17.410 --> 00:29:25.730 Right? So for those of you seated here this morning, 00:29:25.750 --> 00:29:29.950 I want you to know Jesus desires to make himself 00:29:29.950 --> 00:29:33.069 known to you. And it doesn't matter if you're 00:29:33.069 --> 00:29:37.450 running in the wrong direction. It doesn't matter 00:29:37.450 --> 00:29:40.630 the choices you've made. It doesn't matter if 00:29:40.630 --> 00:29:45.269 you don't even believe. He is pursuing you. And 00:29:45.269 --> 00:29:48.750 he desires to make himself known to you. And 00:29:48.750 --> 00:29:51.210 when he makes himself known to you, the transformation. 00:29:52.359 --> 00:29:56.140 It's incredible, Luke 24, 33 to 34. And within 00:29:56.140 --> 00:29:59.299 the hour, they were on their way back to Jerusalem. 00:29:59.779 --> 00:30:02.079 There they found the 11 disciples and the others 00:30:02.079 --> 00:30:04.519 who had gathered with them who said, the Lord 00:30:04.519 --> 00:30:07.819 has really risen. He appeared to Peter. So think 00:30:07.819 --> 00:30:09.720 about it. These two unnamed travelers, which 00:30:09.720 --> 00:30:11.920 many scholars believe the husband and wife, Cleo 00:30:11.920 --> 00:30:15.299 and Mrs. Cleo, they had just walked seven miles 00:30:15.299 --> 00:30:18.799 to an unnamed town that's not even on our maps 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:22.250 today. But as soon as they recognized that Jesus 00:30:22.250 --> 00:30:24.289 was alive, what did they do? Within the hour, 00:30:24.309 --> 00:30:26.410 they quickly turned around, and I believe they 00:30:26.410 --> 00:30:30.349 ran back to Jerusalem. And understand this, because 00:30:30.349 --> 00:30:35.529 it's not written here, but this is truth. Returning 00:30:35.529 --> 00:30:37.569 to Jerusalem in the middle of the night was probably 00:30:37.569 --> 00:30:39.390 the most dangerous trek they ever could have 00:30:39.390 --> 00:30:44.170 taken. From wild animals to thieves. to death 00:30:44.170 --> 00:30:47.569 and destruction facing them, it didn't stop them 00:30:47.569 --> 00:30:51.990 from going and sharing the good news. Jesus makes 00:30:51.990 --> 00:30:54.769 us uncomfortable. And my question to you this 00:30:54.769 --> 00:30:57.690 morning, are you willing to experience the resurrection, 00:30:57.950 --> 00:31:01.369 even if that means following him somewhere that 00:31:01.369 --> 00:31:06.130 doesn't make you feel comfortable? Which leads 00:31:06.130 --> 00:31:09.490 us to our simple action steps this morning, experiencing 00:31:09.490 --> 00:31:13.819 the resurrection. Our first step in experiencing 00:31:13.819 --> 00:31:16.440 the resurrection is, church, you have to acknowledge 00:31:16.440 --> 00:31:19.720 his power. Philippians 3 .10, I want you to know 00:31:19.720 --> 00:31:24.140 Christ and experience the mighty power that raised 00:31:24.140 --> 00:31:27.759 him from the dead. Are you willing to step out 00:31:27.759 --> 00:31:30.440 in faith and experience the abundance that God 00:31:30.440 --> 00:31:32.819 has for you? My challenge to you this morning 00:31:32.819 --> 00:31:36.359 is stop putting God in a box. Open your eyes 00:31:36.359 --> 00:31:39.180 and your ears to the reality that Jesus is pursuing 00:31:39.180 --> 00:31:42.000 you. And not only is he pursuing you, but he's 00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:45.099 right beside you walking every step of the way. 00:31:45.180 --> 00:31:48.140 Ephesians 3 .20. Now all glory to God who is 00:31:48.140 --> 00:31:50.119 able through his mighty power at work within 00:31:50.119 --> 00:31:53.880 us to accomplish infinitely more. than we might 00:31:53.880 --> 00:31:57.160 ever ask or think, which leads us to our next 00:31:57.160 --> 00:32:00.019 step. We have to seek him through worship, prayer, 00:32:00.220 --> 00:32:03.380 and scriptures, Colossians 3 .16. Let the message 00:32:03.380 --> 00:32:07.420 about Christ in all its richness fill our lives, 00:32:07.599 --> 00:32:10.119 right? Fill our lives. How do our lives get filled? 00:32:10.259 --> 00:32:12.460 By reading and understanding the scriptures, 00:32:12.599 --> 00:32:15.039 by applying it into our lives. Teach and counsel 00:32:15.039 --> 00:32:17.599 each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing 00:32:17.599 --> 00:32:20.420 psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with 00:32:20.420 --> 00:32:23.369 thankful hearts. Now, why would we do that? Why 00:32:23.369 --> 00:32:25.329 would we sing psalms and hymns and spiritual 00:32:25.329 --> 00:32:27.670 psalms to God with thankful hearts? Because that's 00:32:27.670 --> 00:32:30.809 when this presence of God is active and moving 00:32:30.809 --> 00:32:35.490 amongst us. He's changing lives. He is drawing 00:32:35.490 --> 00:32:38.210 us close to him. But my challenge to you this 00:32:38.210 --> 00:32:40.730 morning is we're about to sing psalms and hymns 00:32:40.730 --> 00:32:43.309 and spiritual psalms back to him as we celebrate 00:32:43.309 --> 00:32:45.450 Easter this morning. Are you willing to let go? 00:32:46.869 --> 00:32:50.569 Are you willing to let go and step out? And quite 00:32:50.569 --> 00:32:54.549 possibly head towards an unnamed town on an unnamed 00:32:54.549 --> 00:32:58.809 journey, pursuing Jesus and desiring the best 00:32:58.809 --> 00:33:00.509 for him, which leads us to our next step. You 00:33:00.509 --> 00:33:04.009 got to surrender to his power, 1 Peter 5, 6 through 00:33:04.009 --> 00:33:06.970 7. So humble yourselves under the mighty power 00:33:06.970 --> 00:33:08.869 of God. And at the right time, what's he going 00:33:08.869 --> 00:33:12.410 to do? He lifts you up in honor. Give all your 00:33:12.410 --> 00:33:15.490 worries and cares to God, for he cares about 00:33:15.490 --> 00:33:19.039 you. you are you willing to lay down your cares 00:33:19.039 --> 00:33:22.700 and concerns of this world to pursue the presence 00:33:22.700 --> 00:33:25.799 of God in your life see when we lay down the 00:33:25.799 --> 00:33:28.500 cares and the concerns and the worries and the 00:33:28.500 --> 00:33:30.640 doubt and the frustration and the negativity 00:33:30.640 --> 00:33:34.759 and we allow God's spirit to wash over us then 00:33:34.759 --> 00:33:38.259 we truly become the people that he desires but 00:33:38.259 --> 00:33:42.349 it's a choice It's a choice to turn around and 00:33:42.349 --> 00:33:45.769 go the other way. It's a choice to pursue him 00:33:45.769 --> 00:33:48.309 and desire the best for your life, which leads 00:33:48.309 --> 00:33:50.670 us to our final step. Church, you need to expect 00:33:50.670 --> 00:33:54.829 the impossible. Matthew 19, 26, Jesus looked 00:33:54.829 --> 00:33:57.250 at them intently and said, humanly speaking, 00:33:57.509 --> 00:34:03.269 it is impossible. But with God, everything is 00:34:03.269 --> 00:34:05.650 possible. And let's not take that out of context, 00:34:05.750 --> 00:34:08.610 church. Hold on. Let's not take those words out 00:34:08.610 --> 00:34:13.960 of context. Those words spoken by Jesus were 00:34:13.960 --> 00:34:17.159 challenging the people that even the richest 00:34:17.159 --> 00:34:20.539 people can make it into the kingdom of heaven 00:34:20.539 --> 00:34:27.440 if, if, if they choose to follow him. If they 00:34:27.440 --> 00:34:30.519 choose to surrender. If they choose to lay it 00:34:30.519 --> 00:34:33.480 down. If they choose to pursue him. And it's 00:34:33.480 --> 00:34:35.719 the reminder, because quite often it's about 00:34:35.719 --> 00:34:40.059 us pursuing him. It all starts with Jesus pursuing. 00:34:41.070 --> 00:34:44.849 He is pursuing you this morning and desires to 00:34:44.849 --> 00:34:48.210 be in a vibrant, everlasting relationship with 00:34:48.210 --> 00:34:50.150 you. Will you stand with me this Easter Sunday? 00:34:53.230 --> 00:34:55.869 Now, as many of you know, we pray a simple prayer 00:34:55.869 --> 00:34:58.750 here in our community of faith every single Sunday 00:34:58.750 --> 00:35:00.889 because we believe God brings people into our 00:35:00.889 --> 00:35:03.449 midst that are distant and far from Him or of 00:35:03.449 --> 00:35:05.889 walking away from Him. Maybe some of you can 00:35:05.889 --> 00:35:09.230 identify with Cleo and his wife and you're walking 00:35:09.230 --> 00:35:12.769 in the wrong direction. Jesus is pursuing you 00:35:12.769 --> 00:35:15.710 and inviting you to come back to Him, to turn 00:35:15.710 --> 00:35:18.690 around and to run towards the Spirit so that 00:35:18.690 --> 00:35:20.650 you'll be filled with the Spirit at that day 00:35:20.650 --> 00:35:24.250 of Pentecost. Amen? So pray with me, church. 00:35:24.550 --> 00:35:29.610 Jesus, I'm broken. I'm full of doubt, shame, 00:35:29.909 --> 00:35:35.849 regret, sin. Change me. I believe you're God's 00:35:35.849 --> 00:35:40.610 son. I believe you died for me. Make me new. 00:35:40.969 --> 00:35:46.190 Set me free. Fill me with your spirit. Help me, 00:35:46.210 --> 00:35:51.789 God, to serve others and pursue you in Jesus' 00:35:51.849 --> 00:35:55.340 name. Amen. Now listen, if you prayed that prayer 00:35:55.340 --> 00:35:57.099 for the first time, let me know on your way out. 00:35:57.119 --> 00:35:59.500 High five me, hug me so that I can encourage 00:35:59.500 --> 00:36:02.980 you and give you some next steps. But here is 00:36:02.980 --> 00:36:07.199 your opportunity to experience the presence of 00:36:07.199 --> 00:36:10.780 God. We're going to sing back to Jesus and be 00:36:10.780 --> 00:36:13.980 thankful for all that he did for us, that he 00:36:13.980 --> 00:36:16.619 pursues us even when we're headed in the wrong 00:36:16.619 --> 00:36:21.059 direction because his power is resurrecting me. 00:36:21.530 --> 00:36:21.849 Amen?