His Resurrection Has Changed the World, How Has It Changed Your Life?

April 8, 2012

Luke 24

Introduction:

Ephesians 2:1, 2 – The reason we have a different outlook today is because of Jesus Christ and that is the only reason. We can look forward to tomorrow only because God sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins. We see and know people whose lives are a mess but they themselves cannot see it or seemingly feel powerless to change. Paul says our life was once like this and that we were going against everything God stands for. This world is screwed up. Why? Sin!

But GOD….He has changed the world. He took what was messed up and screwed up and marked for destruction and gives us His righteousness. Yet, the world is seemingly still screwed up. That’s because God’s righteousness doesn’t happen in a vacuum. God’s offers each and every person the choice to either receive or reject His righteous plan of salvation. Parents don’t like to give their children choices. They are afraid that their child won’t choose them, so they lock them in a box, (figuratively speaking). But eventually they have to let that child out. That is not what God does. He is not afraid of our choices. He therefore, gives us the means to get out of the box. In His Word, the Bible, God gives us the opportunity to live right, to be an original and not a copy. In today’s world we see a lot of copies. God wants us to be originals for Him and not copies of the world. In God we can belong to Him and still be an original, one of a kind as He has always intended us to be. But in the world we become a copy, always changing trying to figure out whom to follow next. God’s plans for us are freeing, He simply enhances who we are and enable us to be who He has designed us to be.

The calendar is a perfect example of how Christ has shaped the world. It is based on the birth of our Lord. The laws that govern our nation are based on the Word of God. If we take the Word of God out of the justice system we will be at the mercy of a man.

As we look at these verses in Luke chapter 24

V13-19: On the road Jesus is walking with two men and they did not know it was Him because they did not expect to see Him, they thought He was dead. When we don’t expect to see something or someone they can be right in front of us and we can miss it. With God we must learn to expect the unexpected especially when it is written in the Bible.

V22-23: They proceed to tell Jesus about what happened to Him still unaware of whom they are talking to, telling His story as a new reporter reporting an event yet doubting its veracity.

V24-27: Jesus asks them why they are surprised, Are the Word of the prophets not true? Isn’t God’s Word true? God’s Word is 100% true. Always has been, and always will be.

V28-32: When we sincerely spend a little time with Jesus we are not going to want Him to leave. We are going to ask Him to stay. We become accustom to and enjoy His company. Anytime someone sincerely spends time with Jesus, Jesus is going to change their life. When we spend time with Him we will get to know Him. We will also get to know our self and realize we are dependent on Him. We need to spend quality time with God, this happens when we read and study God’s Word, the Bible. Spending quality time in church is NOT quality time with Jesus. There are things that happen in church that are not of God. Spending time with God always brings us to a place of decision. The question asked is, “What will you do with Jesus?”

To the person who has not accepted Jesus as their Savior, I offer you God’s gift, Jesus Christ His Son: receive Him, trust Him, get to know Him, He will illuminate and enhance your life. . For the believer, let us be constant in the Word of God that we may grow deeper in the knowledge of our Lord.

Conclusion:

Psalm 118:19-21 Christ’s resurrection has (not if, but has) changed the world, how has it changed your life? His life, death and resurrection had the approval and acceptance of the One who sent Him, God. If we are doing that which is not acceptable to God, we are wasting of time.

This resurrection day God has answered. There was a cry from this land for salvation and God sent Jesus, His Son. If you have cried out for salvation, has God not answered you? Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. If we want access to the Father it is only through Him.

How has Jesus affected you life? Do you depend on Him for everything? Receive Him today.

Pastor Pete

Jesus You Are Welcome Here

April 1, 2012

Matthew 21:1-11

Welcome means… to receive with pleasure and friendliness into ones company or home; a welcomed guest.

In order to have the power to welcome one must be the owner of the house, the store or the body through which the guest comes. You also have to have the power to welcome someone into our lives. We can welcome someone superficially; when we are just being, as they say, polite. But welcome means to receive with pleasure and friendliness. True welcome comes from the heart and not the presentation of how you welcome the person. For the welcome to be true our heart must be sincere; we have to want them to be there. Often times those who we don’t want are the ones that make it their business to be in our business.

When Jesus dwelt among us were we welcoming Him or was He extending a welcome to us? Did the people in the crowd even know what was going on? It only took one in the crowd to start to the cheer, Hosanna, to get the rest of the crowd going. But the crowd did not know what was going on. We know this because days later when the cheer went out, Crucify Him, they cheered then too.

It wasn’t triumphant because we were welcoming Jesus but because He was welcoming us. God says I invite you to be a part of my group. In the Gospels, Jesus says no longer do I call you disciples but I call you friends. He welcomes us into His family with pleasure and friendliness. He doesn’t tell us to take our shoes off at the door. Our sin is not going to change if we take our shoes off at the door. He tells us to come as we are.  When you are ill, when you can’t settle things in your mind, He says just come.

After we receive His welcome we must welcome Him into our lives. Many people accept God’s welcome and walk in but never welcome Christ into their lives. It’s not about the presentation. The presentation of when God welcomed us was on a rugged tree, His hands outstretched, spear in His side, bleeding out. He wanted to open His arms wide and have us run to Him. But instead, it took two nails we put there because of our sin.

Revelation 3:20 –  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

We need to open our hearts and welcome Him in. This Word is powerful, sharper than any two edge sword. It shows what this world is like and that He overcomes all that happens in this world.

Today he wants us to welcome Him because he has welcomed us. As He has welcomed us with pleasure and friendliness into Him home He wants us to welcome Him with pleasure and friendliness into ours. Have you welcomed Him in? Will you let Him in?

Pastor Pete