The Living Hope: Why Christ’s Resurrection Changes Everything

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:00:00] O Lord God, Lord, we do thank you for your salvation. Lord, we thank you that you are the one who rose from the dead to save us, to give us life, and Lord, that we might know you, that we might follow you and cling to you, and Lord, so that you would make us new creations, and Lord, that you would give us your purposes to live for, and so Lord, we ask that you would be with us now, and Lord,
[00:00:30] that you would move in all of our hearts by the holy spirit that you would draw us close to yourself lord we pray for pastor joseph as he preaches lord we ask that that you would anoint
[00:00:45] him and preach through him by the power of the holy spirit lord we ask that you would be with us as we come to the table and lord that you would help us to truly confess our sin to you
[00:00:59] and Lord knowing that this is this is why you went to the cross and this is why you rose from the dead so that we could be forgiven as made and made as white as snow Lord we ask that that you would be with the the needs of people
[00:01:20] here those in our congregation and Lord for for everyone here people and situations that are on their hearts Lord please minister to them and Lord God them according to Your will and what is pleasing to You.
[00:01:36] Lord, we pray for that You would bring healing and encouragement.
[00:01:42] And Lord, that You would show Your mercy. Lord, we pray for our nation in this time.
[00:01:48] And Lord, ask that You would be with our President, with all of our leaders. Lord, we do give You thanks for the servicemen that were rescued from Iran.
[00:02:00] And Lord, ask that that you would be with all of our servicemen and women.
[00:02:06] Lord, that your protection would be over them.
[00:02:08] And Lord, that you would help this to come to a godly resolution and end soon.
[00:02:18] Oh Lord, but Lord, we pray for that people would come to know you, the Lord Jesus, as Savior all around the world.
[00:02:26] Lord, from all cultures, nations, nationalities, and even other religions.
[00:02:30] Lord, that they would see that you are the only way of salvation, that they would come and bow to you.
[00:02:38] So, Lord, we pray for our missionaries.
[00:02:40] We pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world.
[00:02:45] And, Lord, ask for your protection on them.
[00:02:48] And also, Lord, that you would be with those who are suffering for your name.
[00:02:54] Lord, we ask that you would direct our hearts to you and to your word and to your great salvation and we pray all of these things in your name Lord

[00:03:05] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:03:05] Jesus amen amen if you would turn to the gospel of Luke chapter 24 as you're turning there yes we do welcome all visitors some of you I know some first-time visitors we have visitors here today all the way from South Africa
[00:03:32] so praise God we welcome you in the name of the Lord truly as we have communion every born-again believer no matter where he is on earth is one one in the body of Christ we'll be talking about that today talking about the life that
[00:03:49] Christ gives to all who would believe and as we heard the gospel just a moment ago beautifully and eloquently put forth in song and in readings we know about Christ on the cross on Friday but then Sunday the first day of the week the
[00:04:05] glorious resurrection and we'll focus on that message today and I'll say this message is relevant for all of us some of you born-again believers very strong in the faith some of you knew some of you may be here a little skeptical maybe
[00:04:17] there's someone here who's not a Christian listen this message is relevant to each and every one of us it's relevant to anyone who is currently alive because we all have something in common we're all going to die we're all
[00:04:32] going to die unless the Lord returns first and sooner or later you will have to deal with jesus christ you must deal with jesus christ and praise god he's already dealt with death and he has the answers and here we find it in luke chapter 24 this wonderful sabbath morning
[00:04:48] resurrection sunday the day that the reason that we worship on sundays is right here in luke chapter 24 beginning in verse 1 let's pray before we read dear heavenly father now open our ears and hearts
[00:05:03] and minds, to the working of your spirit, as we hear your holy word, that we might be changed from glory to glory into the image of your precious Son, Christ Jesus, in whose name we pray.
[00:05:13] Amen.
[00:05:14] Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared and certain others with them.
[00:05:24] And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher, and they entered in and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. And as they were afraid and bowed down their faces
[00:05:40] to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen. Remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of Man must be
[00:05:53] delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words and returned from the sepulcher and told all these things unto the eleven and to
[00:06:04] all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women that were with them which told these things unto the apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle
[00:06:17] tales and they believed them not. That sounds like a lot of the world today. Then arose Peter and ran into the sepulcher and stooping down and beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves and departed wondering himself at that which was to come to pass. And behold, two of them went that
[00:06:34] same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about three score four longs. And they talked together of all the things which had happened. And it came to pass while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were
[00:06:50] holding that they should not know him. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as you walk and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering, said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem,
[00:07:05] and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers
[00:07:19] delivered him to be condemned to death and have crucified him, but we trusted that it was he that had been, should have redeemed Israel. And beside all this, today is the third day since these
[00:07:32] things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulcher, when they found not his body, they came saying that they had seen a vision of
[00:07:43] angels which said that he was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulcher and found it even so as the women had said, but him they saw not. Then said he unto them, O fools
[00:07:57] and slow of heart to believe, all the prophets have spoken. Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself and they drew nigh
[00:08:16] unto the village whither they went and he made as though he would have gone further but they constrained him saying abide with us for it is toward evening and the day is far spent and he
[00:08:26] went in to tarry with them and it came to pass as he sat at meat with them he took bread and blessed it and break and gave to them and their eyes were opened and they knew him and he vanished
[00:08:41] out of their sight and they said one to another did not our heart burn within us while he talked with us by the way and while he opened to us the scriptures and they rose up the
[00:08:51] same hour returned to Jerusalem and found the eleven gathering together and them that were with them saying the Lord is risen indeed and hath appeared unto Simon and they They told what things were done in the way and how he was known of them in breaking bread.
[00:09:10] Let's stop right there.
[00:09:11] May God add his blessing and understanding to the reading of this, his holy word.
[00:09:17] Why seek ye the living among the dead?
[00:09:20] This is a problem that we face today.
[00:09:23] It sounds a lot like that old country song.
[00:09:26] Maybe some of you have heard it.
[00:09:28] Looking for love in all the wrong places.
[00:09:31] People are looking for life out of death.
[00:09:33] people are looking for the answers we all know it's the elephant in the room death is coming those of us who are very young yeah not so much of an idea as we get a little bit older we begin
[00:09:43] to think of it and i can only imagine what you 70 and 80 year olds are thinking because because we know we know what's coming right but praise god the real question is do you know what's after death
[00:09:56] and if you're a believer you can say amen because of christ because what christ has done for us you You know, it's interesting that none of his followers seemed to expect the resurrection that day.
[00:10:08] They were surprised.
[00:10:11] You know, the women come, not, I wonder, you know, he said he was going to rise on the third day, let's look and see.
[00:10:17] No, no, they brought hundreds of pounds of spices to anoint the body.
[00:10:21] They weren't expecting the resurrection.
[00:10:24] What about the disciples?
[00:10:26] When the women came, the paraphrase is, ah, that's just women, what do they know?
[00:10:31] that's basically said hey these are idle tales the disciples didn't even believe the women and then peter says to himself maybe i better go look and then when he looks they're trying to figure out what's happened what's happened and then uh these other disciples heard all of
[00:10:48] this evidence and now they still don't believe that christ has raised you know the only people that we seem to think may have believed or had a notion that christ was going to raise you know who they were the very unlikely group turned to Matthew 27 very
[00:11:07] interesting in Matthew 27 you know you can't keep a good man down that was the sermon last Easter and you know these people were so afraid of Jesus that they wanted to make sure he stayed dead because they had known that Jesus had
[00:11:24] raised the dead just recently he raised Lazarus right he raised Lazarus and and And they were so concerned, the Jewish leaders, about this guy who's raised the dead.
[00:11:33] As a matter of fact, we find that they plotted to put Lazarus to death again so that they would take away the evidence of Jesus.
[00:11:41] And guess what they did with Jesus?
[00:11:43] Well, they were really concerned.
[00:11:45] Here in Matthew 27, verse 62, we're talking about now Saturday.
[00:11:50] Christ dies on Friday.
[00:11:52] Then Saturday, the Jews come to Pilate.
[00:11:55] Matthew 27, verse 62.
[00:11:57] Now the next day that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver, he's talking about Jesus, said while he was yet alive, after three days I'll rise again.
[00:12:13] Boy, they remember better than their disciples.
[00:12:16] Command therefore that the sepulcher be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night and steal him away, and say unto the people, he is risen from the dead.
[00:12:27] so the last era shall be worse than the first and of course Pilate gives them a watch they actually believed that it might happen they were afraid it would happen the disciples seemed to be clueless as a matter of fact already
[00:12:41] two times in Luke you'll find in Luke chapter 9 where Jesus had already told them once what was going to happen you find it in Luke chapter 9 verse 22 and in the parallel Gospels this is when he has to rebuke Peter and tell him get
[00:12:56] behind me satan jesus asks who people think that he is whom do you say that i am and they tell him and uh then jesus says in luke 9 22 the son of man must suffer many things and be rejected of
[00:13:08] the elders and chief priests and scribes and be slain and be raised the third day who'd he say that to the disciples apparently they didn't get it look again in luke chapter 18 verse 31
[00:13:21] Jesus says to the disciples, Folks, this is unfortunately the picture of unbelievers, those who have not yet been born again.
[00:14:00] They hear the gospel, but it acts like they're blind, like they're deaf.
[00:14:03] They're not listening, they're not interested.
[00:14:05] God has not opened their hearts, and these disciples are interested, and they're trying to figure it out.
[00:14:11] They haven't yet received the Holy Spirit.
[00:14:14] These things are hidden to them, but when Christ rises from the dead, and God opens their understanding, there is this great revelation.
[00:14:21] then of course at the end of Luke he says and now wait in the city of Jerusalem until you be endued with power from on high and that power changes them the Holy Spirit and I pray that each and every one of you understands that power
[00:14:35] and knows the Holy Spirit because this is the true life we think we're alive we move we breathe but true life is not physical it's spiritual that's why we die and so the only true spiritual life comes from Jesus Christ the one who yes
[00:14:50] defeated death the one who overcame the grave the one who overcame satan and the punishment of sin in his glorious resurrection why seek ye the living among the dead looking for love in all the wrong places most people either believe jesus is dead or they act like he's dead
[00:15:13] you say well you know i believe jesus yeah yeah he raised from the dead how does that change your life look Jesus does things for his own glory but the greatest thing that gives him glory is for his life to be multiplied in you and what kind of life
[00:15:28] is that eternal life full life life greater than you can hope ask or think everyone here on earth is looking for something to fulfill my life looking for fulfillment looking for advancement looking to accomplish certain things
[00:15:42] maybe a bucket list if you're older I don't know but God is true life he is the author of life you haven't tasted life you haven't experienced life you've experienced nothing except death unless you experience God's life inside of you
[00:15:58] and that's what God offers to us by believing in Jesus Christ that is the confidence that death is not going to overcome us but that Jesus gives us eternal life not when we die but when we are born again we'll see that in the passages following
[00:16:16] jesus tells john john sees jesus in revelation chapter one has jesus died yes is he dead when he talks to uh john no he's alive look what he says in revelation chapter one john sees the
[00:16:33] risen lord verse 12 and i turned to see the voice that spake with me and being turned i saw seven golden candlesticks and the one in the midst of the seven candlesticks like unto the son of man
[00:16:44] clothed with a garment down to the foot and girt about the paps with a golden girdle his head and his hairs were like white wool as white as snow his eyes like a flame of fire and his feet like
[00:16:56] undefined brass as if they burned in a furnace and his voice is the sound of many waters he had in his right hand seven stars out of his mouth when a sharp two-edged sword and his countenance was
[00:17:06] like the sun that shineth in his strength and when i saw him i fell at his feet as dead and he laid his right hand upon me saying unto me fear not i am the first and the last look at verse 18.
[00:17:19] i am he that liveth and was dead and behold i am alive forevermore praise god that's the kind of life we need everlasting life as a matter of fact the life of christ is so intimately intertwined
[00:17:37] with life for us turn back to first john if you're in revelation and just look at a couple verses the life of christ without the life of christ we have no life first john chapter 5 listen to these
[00:17:52] few verses very explicit verse 11 through 13 and this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his son he that hath the son hath life and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life these things
[00:18:15] have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God. This is rather bold, isn't it? If you have the son, you have life. If you do not have the son,
[00:18:28] you do not have life. I can't imagine what God can do for me. After all, remember the 1960s, if you're alive long enough, God is dead. Remember that movement? God is not dead. He is surely alive
[00:18:43] and he reigns in heaven right now. And Christ is not up there twiddling his thumbs because when he ascended up on high, God said to him, sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy
[00:18:54] footstool. And so there is a great spiritual war that's going on right now. And Christ's kingdom is advancing. The church continues to grow worldwide every day. Satan is fighting to blind and keep in blindness and in spiritual death all of those who have not yet believed and to convince
[00:19:12] them that there's nothing to this Christianity. And yet Christianity, that is Christ and his eternal life is the only answer it is the only life it is the only way isn't that what jesus said
[00:19:26] i am the way the truth the life not a choice a lifestyle choice i am the life no man comes to the father except by me how can you get there how can you go to heaven only through the way
[00:19:46] Not one of the ways, the only way, Jesus Christ.
[00:19:48] Folks, look, every other prophet is dead.
[00:19:51] Muhammad's dead.
[00:19:52] His bones are in Medina.
[00:19:53] Buddha's dead.
[00:19:54] His bones are in some kind of golden bowl over yonder somewhere.
[00:19:57] And Joseph Smith, as I understand, is dead.
[00:20:00] All of the prophets of the Old Testament of the Judaism are dead.
[00:20:06] Except, of course, Elijah, who went up.
[00:20:09] And he's the one who came back with Moses to visit and attest to Jesus what he was going to do in front of his disciples and in that vision on the man of transfiguration they disappear and the voice from heaven comes this is my
[00:20:24] beloved son hear ye him he in him I am well pleased because he gives life Elijah and Moses needed life from God we need life from God you think that we are okay we don't think about our next breath but our next breath is a gift
[00:20:40] from God physical life comes from God spiritual life comes from God eternal life comes from God and the only place to find it is in Jesus Christ a parallel passage to that first John chapter 5 John also wrote the Gospel of John which
[00:20:56] should come as no surprise to us that's why it bears that name and just look at this verse John chapter 3 verse 36 all of you know 316 right for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should
[00:21:13] not perish, but should have everlasting life." That's where life is in Christ, in Him alone.
[00:21:21] But you don't often hear 3.36 quoted, 3.36, He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.
[00:21:30] He that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth upon him.
[00:21:38] This is strong language.
[00:21:40] This idea that people who are not born again are dead in their sins is something that the unbelieving world laughs at, scoffs at, dead, ha ha, I can talk, I can walk, I can do all
[00:21:52] these things, I'm not dead, just wait till you die, and then you'll understand what death is.
[00:22:00] There's only two kinds of people in the world, one is the one who is born once and dies twice.
[00:22:07] The other is the one who is born twice and dies once.
[00:22:11] Which one are you?
[00:22:12] For the unbeliever, they are born once and they die physically and then there is a spiritual second death.
[00:22:20] For the born again believer, we are born physically and then we are born again.
[00:22:25] We have a physical death, but that is merely a translation into glory.
[00:22:30] And that's why Jesus tells us, I am the resurrection and the life.
[00:22:35] Chapter 9, verse 11.
[00:22:37] doesn't say I give the resurrection and I give you life he says I am verily verily before a very very I said you before Abraham was I am why does he use these I am constructions because God when he reveals himself first to his
[00:22:51] people through Moses in the burning bush and Moses is going to proclaim him to his people he says who should I tell him sent me tell him I am sent you Jesus says i am in john chapter 11 he's about to raise from the dead martha and mary's brother lazarus
[00:23:12] and he says unto martha in verse 25 of john 11 i am the resurrection the life he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live we are in born in spiritual death but when we believe
[00:23:26] we have new life life in christ and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die Believest thou this?
[00:23:34] Ha, ha, Pastor Joseph, you don't think you're going to die.
[00:23:37] Listen, folks, this body may die, yes, but that's all right, because it's just the real me, the spirit, will immediately be with the Lord.
[00:23:46] For to be absent from the body, for the believer, is to be present with the Lord immediately.
[00:23:50] And so we are not to fear death.
[00:23:52] We're not to fear those who can kill the body and that's it.
[00:23:55] We're only to fear him who, after the body is killed, can cast the soul into hell.
[00:23:59] If we've been born again, we have eternal life from the time we're born again, until eternity. It doesn't have a hiccup at death. Eternal life and God are not in a quandary when we die. No, we are immediately conveyed into his very presence by the angels because we have life
[00:24:17] eternal. Why? Because Christ is life and he gives it to all who would truly believe. This idea of the resurrection is so key. First Corinthians chapter 15 tells us that without Christ raising from the dead we have no salvation because it is in that resurrection that life is victorious
[00:24:38] everyone here everyone on earth is afraid of death look at the pandemic and how fear caused people to change their lives even to give up going to church and and to give up if you will their
[00:24:50] religion and all sorts of things because of the fear of death but christ came according to hebrews chapter 2 to take away from us the fear of death because it says the fear of death Satan who used the fear of death kept keeps us as slaves keeps us in
[00:25:05] bondage to this fear but we have released from this fear when we understand that Christ has defeated death and that he raised up into the right hand of the Father and he gives us this glorious resurrection too if we
[00:25:19] will believe on him now Jesus in heaven is as I say occupied doing what Hebrews chapter 7 verse 25 tells us that he ever liveth there to make intercession for us again Romans 8 34 says the same thing he is actively at the right hand of the
[00:25:38] Father right now alive doing what if you're a believer praying for you I wonder if Jesus prayers get a chance of being answered we should trust in the lord we should understand that our christ is alive it's one thing for us to be orthodox christians
[00:25:55] and theology and say oh yes christ is alive sure he raised from the dead it's another thing to have his life in us day by day walking by faith and not by sight and living that supernatural life of god
[00:26:09] inside of us now we are not gods but if you've been born again you have god inside of you the The Holy Spirit of God is every bit as much a person of the Trinity
[00:26:24] as is the Son, as is the Father.
[00:26:27] And this is what God gives us.
[00:26:29] We are the body of Christ.
[00:26:31] But if we're the body, who's the head?
[00:26:34] Jesus.
[00:26:35] Have you ever thought about how important your head is?
[00:26:40] You know, you can't get nourishment to the rest of the body if you don't have a head.
[00:26:45] You need a mouth, right?
[00:26:46] Those of you who have been fasting, you understand that, right?
[00:26:50] We need a mouth.
[00:26:50] The head is so important, it gives life to the rest of the body.
[00:26:54] The head also gives direction to the rest of the body, right?
[00:26:58] The head gives life, the head gives direction, the head gives nourishment.
[00:27:04] And that's why it says in Ephesians 4, chapter 4, verses 8 through 16, in the context of Christ's resurrection, taking captivity captive and giving gifts unto men and giving pastors and apostles and teachers and prophets
[00:27:19] to build up the saints of God into the head, which is Christ Jesus.
[00:27:24] And so he is the one who gives us life.
[00:27:27] And that life is abundant life.
[00:27:30] He says in John chapter 10, Jesus is the good shepherd.
[00:27:33] Jesus lays down his life for the sheep.
[00:27:35] And he says, the thief cometh not but to steal, kill, and destroy.
[00:27:39] There's a lot of that going on in the world today, isn't there?
[00:27:42] This is not of Christ, ultimately.
[00:27:44] stealing killing and destroying are from the thief and who's the thief but I have come cry that you might have life and have it more abundantly who doesn't want that the problem is I want my life I don't want the life he's got planned out
[00:28:01] for me that is a dead life that is a life that is born in death and will end in death but God has given us eternal life how could we say no to such a
[00:28:13] a sublime and perfect gift purchased with the most valuable thing that we could even even if you don't believe in christianity what could be theoretically greater than the blood of god and that's how much god loved you when he gave himself and his own blood and the bible tells
[00:28:33] us in leviticus that the life is in the he gives unto us life the very what kind of life the life of god the life that will never end in romans chapter 6 verse 9 we see that we know that christ
[00:28:52] has been raised from the dead he dies no more death has no more dominion over him for in that he died he died once to sin but in that he liveth he liveth unto god likewise reckon ye sell you
[00:29:05] yourselves also to be dead indeed unto sin but alive unto god through jesus christ our lord let's turn for a moment to Colossians chapter 3 a great picture of this doctrine of the life of God in us in Christ just four verses Colossians 3
[00:29:24] verse 1 through 4 if you then be risen with Christ risen with Christ oh yes remember Ephesians chapter 2 verse 1 tells us that we were all at one time dead in our trespasses and sins we were walking around just like the rest of the
[00:29:39] world trying to find things make you know you know there's another song that I used to hear years ago I still haven't found what I'm looking for that's the world folks that's the world and guess what you never will until you
[00:29:58] bow the knee to the king of kings and Lord of lords who did all of this work for you not for himself for you for you that you might receive everlasting life Colossians 3 if you've been risen the idea Ephesians 2 2 1 says we're dead and
[00:30:17] our sins and trespasses but if we are believers it says if we've believed Ephesians 2 5 & 6 he has quickened us he's made us alive yes and even verse 6 and he has raised us up spiritually already done hath he's already raised us
[00:30:32] up and made us to sit in heavenly places in christ jesus pastor joseph lives in morrisville no i don't i live at the right hand of the father in jesus christ so i don't believe that i can see you right
[00:30:44] here i don't walk by sight i walk by faith singing is believing nope nope if you've been risen have you been risen say well you know i guess i'm a christian i didn't have you been risen and here's
[00:31:01] that life don't tell me you're a christian and then just walk around oh it's just so miserable i just don't know what i'm gonna do oh he or this that and the other thing lord have mercy no
[00:31:12] no you have been given a life that is above far above all principality and power and might and dominion above satan above the demons above every spiritual force above every force of nature above every force of earth and politics everything that has ever been created thrones and dominions you
[00:31:30] if you are born again have been raised infinitely higher because you're at the right hand of god seated in heavenly places in christ jesus now that should make you live a little different the life of god inside of us if you've been risen with christ seek those things which are above are
[00:31:50] you living up there have you really got a place up there then that's what we should be focused on where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God set your affection on things above not on things on the earth listen for ye are dead Christian and your life
[00:32:08] is hid with Christ in God your life is tied up and bundled up in God I don't understand it completely but that's what the word says and I give him praise for for it and when Christ who is our life don't miss that when Christ who is our
[00:32:29] life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory hallelujah the life of God there is no other way brothers and sisters Jesus says that he's gone to prepare a place for us you know that passage John
[00:32:47] chapter 14 they used to tell it at the funerals now they don't seem to have funeral services anymore i don't know but let not your heart be troubled you believe in god believe also in me
[00:32:59] in my father's house are many mansions if it were not so i would have told you i go to prepare a place for you what's jesus doing up there another thing is he has preparing us a place and if i go
[00:33:12] and prepare a place for you i will come again and receive you unto myself that where i am there you may be also heaven the sweet by and by but that is life to the climax fully manifested this life that
[00:33:26] we have here even as christians is bit of a shadow it's a life of grace but when we get to heaven is magnified and exploded into life eternal life to the full life pure life
[00:33:40] no death in the presence of God it's all thrown into the lake of fire there is no death there is no sin there's no sadness there's no disappointments there's no lies there's no sickness there's no ambulances if you live in Mooresville
[00:33:56] that'd be a great thing no ambulances you know there is no doctors there's no lawyers praise god i mean and by the way pastor andy and i pastor andy and i'll be out of job
[00:34:07] i don't dare preach in front of jesus and we're gonna be on our knees just praising and worshiping him how wonderful how great life life eternal it's all bundled up in jesus christ and that's
[00:34:20] what we see in the gospel of john chapter six if you want to turn there now the feeding of the 5,000 if you've ever seen one of the Jesus films of course here in the
[00:34:31] scripture we find we have to imagine with our minds and hearts the joy the joy of these people these 5,000 out in a desert place they're hungry they're not starving but they're hungry they don't have enough food Jesus takes just a
[00:34:50] couple fish and a few loaves five loaves and a couple fish he prays to God and there is this wonderful miracle and he feeds 5,000 people and there's many baskets left over he was how this is weird this is strange I don't know no
[00:35:05] no what is he giving them he's giving them life the bread of life when you fast like I have the last couple days and a few others you begin to realize how frail you are how long will it take for you to start getting weak if you
[00:35:20] eat anything didn't take me very long and i haven't fasted but a couple days you know but that bread that is life that is life that god is is doing he's miraculously multiplying and and to eat that bread and to eat that fish that is life giving to the body but that is a picture
[00:35:42] of something far greater before we come to the table here in john chapter 6 i want you to see in verse 26 remember they were if you remember the story we don't have time to read it all just
[00:35:56] give you a quick backdrop uh he gives he feeds the 5 000 and guess what they want to do let's make him king you know sounds like a good communistic scheme we don't have to work
[00:36:08] we just get free food you know whatever maybe he'd go well in new york city but yeah i don't know but the point is that uh they now they really want him to be king and they're about to take
[00:36:20] him by force and make him king and what does he do one day i'm going to write a little booklet how jesus had a mega church and gave it away he had 5 000 people followed him and and what's he do
[00:36:34] when they want to make him king he runs up into the hills he goes up to a mountain to pray he He gives them the slip, if you will.
[00:36:42] And he's up there praying.
[00:36:44] They don't know they're looking, because what do they want?
[00:36:46] I got a free meal ticket.
[00:36:48] All-you-can-eat buffet, eternal.
[00:36:49] This is wonderful.
[00:36:50] I don't have to go to Golden Corral anymore.
[00:36:53] And so they're looking for this, and they can't find him.
[00:36:56] Jesus, his disciples depart over the sea.
[00:36:58] He walks in the night over the sea, meets them.
[00:37:00] They get to the other side.
[00:37:02] These people are still looking for the free meal ticket.
[00:37:04] Finally, they figure out that he's gone over there.
[00:37:06] Let's go.
[00:37:07] There goes our meal ticket.
[00:37:08] Let's get him.
[00:37:09] and and so here John chapter 6 you go back and read it to make sure I'm giving you a good understanding verse John 6 verse 26 the people show up and they say Oh rabbi when did you come here he says verily verily I say unto you you seek me
[00:37:28] not because you saw the miracles but because you did eat of the loaves and were filled labor not for the meat which perisheth but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life which the son of man shall give unto you for him
[00:37:41] hath God the Father sealed then said they unto him what must we do that we might work the works of God Jesus answered and said to them this is the work of God that you believe on him whom he hath sent they said therefore unto
[00:37:55] him what sign show us thou then that we may see then you just see the feeding of the five thousand and believe what does not work in other words here's an idea Jesus. Our fathers did eat manna in the desert, as it is written. He gave them bread from heaven
[00:38:11] to eat. They're stuck on this free bread, aren't they? Can you do another one of those? This is the attitude. Jesus says, verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven,
[00:38:24] but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven and giveth what life unto the world praise god that's jesus christ look a little
[00:38:38] further in verse 47 in the same chapter verily verily i sound you he that believeth on me hath everlasting life here's another i am statement in john i am the bread of life just as bread gives us physical life he is the one that gives us spiritual life he is remember
[00:38:57] the manna that came down from heaven he is the manna that came down from heaven that typologically foreshadowed christ being sent down from heaven and as he comes down he gives life to all who
[00:39:08] receive him he says in verse 49 your fathers did eat man in the wilderness and are what dead this is the bread which cometh down from heaven that a man may eat thereof and not die
[00:39:21] i am the living bread which came down from heaven if any man eat of this bread he shall live forever and the bread that I will give is my flesh which I will give for the life of
[00:39:31] the world now we start to think of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus what does it represent brothers and sisters life keep that in mind before we come to the table here in just a moment continue reading in verse 53 then Jesus said of
[00:39:53] them verily verily I said unto you except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood you have no life in you who so eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath
[00:40:02] life hath eternal life i will and i will raise him up at the last day for my flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed he that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and i
[00:40:17] in him as the living father has sent me and i live by the father so he that eateth me even he shall live by me this is the bread which came down from heaven not as your fathers did eat man and
[00:40:34] are dead he that eateth of this bread shall live forever up until the preparation for this sermon have observed this wonderful sacrament in the mode of the Passover because it was ordained in the Passover Jesus was eating the Passover lamb the pattern he
[00:41:02] is our Passover lamb sacrifice for us and here we do remember his death undoubtedly the scripture tells us that but when we partake of the bread symbolizing the body and we partake of the fruit of the vine symbolizing his
[00:41:18] blood do we partake of a dead jesus do we partake of a crucified dead savior you know there's some churches that have jesus still on the cross how many of you know he's not there anymore he's risen
[00:41:38] why seek ye the living among the dead brothers and sisters we partake of a savior that is alive And these elements, not physically, but spiritually, are filled with the very life of God.
[00:41:56] And that is why Pastor Andy and I warn you, if you do not know Christ, not to partake.
[00:42:03] But if you do know him, oh, what a joy, what a privilege.
[00:42:10] I close with this passage, considering Christ.
[00:42:14] actually I will close with this but I want to read to you the end of the end of my passage as well second Peter 1 remember Peter denied the Lord and when did he and he also was rebuked of the Lord get behind me Satan and why did
[00:42:35] Jesus say that because when he asked Peter who he was he said you're the Christ the Son of the Living God and at that point we find from the other gospels jesus says ah the son of man is going to jerusalem he's going to be betrayed he's going to
[00:42:50] be uh persecuted by the chief priest he's going to be scourged mocked spit it on he's going to be crucified and the third day he's going to rise from the dead he says no no lord may this not be
[00:43:02] unto you peter is seeking the living among the day he he doesn't understand he's looking for life I can figure it out I can make it happen I've got this Jesus says Peter you you
[00:43:19] hadn't got a thing the night when he is in this poignant night before he's on the cross and he's he's giving them the institution of this beautiful sacrament and giving to them his very life blood and Peter says and he says one of you
[00:43:36] don't deny me Peter says I'll never did I know everybody else denies you I'll I'll never deny you.
[00:43:42] Jesus says, listen, listen, Peter, before the cock crows twice this night, you'll deny me three times.
[00:43:51] I can do it myself.
[00:43:52] No, you can't.
[00:43:54] But he has done it for all of you who would believe and trust in him.
[00:43:59] And what has he done?
[00:44:01] He's given us life eternal.
[00:44:03] Here are just these first few verses of 2 Peter chapter 1.
[00:44:07] Simon Peter, the one who denied his Lord, the one who rebuked the Lord, the one who later was turned again and became a champion of the faith knows better than all of us to speak by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit these
[00:44:25] three verses here these four Simon Peter a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ grace and peace be multiplied unto you through
[00:44:38] the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord listen brothers and sisters if this if you're a Christian, this is yours. According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto what? Life and godliness through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory
[00:44:58] and virtue. Listen to verse 4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises that by these, you, Christian, you, and if you're not a believer yet, listen what is offered to you.
[00:45:13] Listen to what you're missing.
[00:45:15] The time is short.
[00:45:17] The night is at hand.
[00:45:17] Look what God's laid out for you and is calling you that you might be partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
[00:45:30] Partakers of the divine nature?
[00:45:32] Partakers of God and life eternal?
[00:45:36] Yes, brothers and sisters.
[00:45:37] There is no higher calling, there is no greater gift, and here today you're going to be invited in just a moment to partake, not physically, but spiritually, of the divine nature, the very life of God that was poured out on the cross so that you and I and all who would
[00:45:57] believe might enjoy.
[00:45:59] Now we do end where we began, the Gospel of Luke chapter 24.
[00:46:04] Let's read the end of the chapter before we come to the table.
[00:46:13] Christ has appeared to the disciples that Sunday evening after the two walked to Emmaus and have returned.
[00:46:22] Verse 36, and as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
[00:46:30] Do you have peace today, brothers and sisters?
[00:46:31] Christ can give it to you.
[00:46:33] But they were terrified and affrighted and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
[00:46:36] And he said unto them, Why are you troubled?
[00:46:38] And why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
[00:46:40] behold my hands and my feet that is I myself handle me and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as you see me have and when he had thus spoken he showed them his hands and his feet and while they yet beheld believe not for
[00:46:55] joy and wondered he said unto them have you here any meat they gave him a piece of broiled fish and of honeycomb he took it and did eat before them verse 44 and he said unto them these are the words which I spake unto you while I was yet
[00:47:08] with you that all things must be fulfilled which are written in the law of moses and in the prophets and in the psalms concerning me then he opened their understanding that they might understand the scriptures instead of them thus it is written and thus it behooved christ to suffer and to rise
[00:47:25] from the dead the third day and that repentance and remission of sin should be preached in his name among all nations beginning at jerusalem and ye are witnesses of these things and behold i send the promise of my father upon you but tarry ye in the city of jerusalem until ye be endued
[00:47:44] with power from on high have you been endued with power from on high you can only receive it if you have first believed in christ and received eternal life eternal life is a life it is the high life the true high life it is the life of god it is the life
[00:48:09] that belongs only to the divine nature and it is the life that god gives to us by the giving of life on the cross for you and for me god calls us to live a life far more exciting
[00:48:23] far more wonderful far more glorious than anything this world has to offer We are called to be partakers of the divine nature.
[00:48:34] Behold, life set before you.
[00:48:37] Yes, Christ died.
[00:48:39] His body was broken.
[00:48:41] Yes, his blood was poured out so that we might have life.
[00:48:44] But let me tell you, brothers and sisters, right now he is alive in heaven and he calls you to himself.
[00:48:52] to bow the knee in faith, to trust in him, to receive everlasting life, and live a life that's far greater, more wonderful, exciting, but even greater than that, eternal and God-pleasing, then you can even begin to understand or imagine.
[00:49:11] Have faith, trust in Christ, receive the life of God, for he fought Satan, death, and triumphed the grave and all the rest for you and for me.
[00:49:24] and for all who would believe.
[00:49:26] Pastor Ed.

[00:49:27] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:49:27] The Lord Jesus, when He came, and when He proclaimed who He was to us, as Pastor Joseph has said in one of the examples from John chapter 6, He says, I am the bread of life.
[00:50:03] I am the one who gives you life.
[00:50:07] We see in John 6, 35, Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life.
[00:50:13] He that comes to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
[00:50:21] Now you can take this physically, but more importantly, you can take this spiritually.
[00:50:28] That you will never want or feel like there is no hope if you hold to Christ.
[00:50:38] If you come to Him.
[00:50:40] If you come to Him, you will never hunger.
[00:50:43] If you believe in Him, you will never thirst.
[00:50:48] It is very easy for people to say, Oh, sure, I believe in God.
[00:50:53] I believe in Jesus.
[00:50:56] Therefore, I am a Christian.
[00:50:59] Jesus does say, He who believes on me has everlasting life.
[00:51:04] But you also have to understand what the word belief, to believe is.
[00:51:09] It is tied to the idea of worship.
[00:51:11] It is tied to the idea of bowing yourself and prostrating yourself before Christ in the sense that He owns you totally, that you are subservient to Him, that everything in your life is for Him and by Him.
[00:51:30] That is what it means to believe in the Lord Jesus.
[00:51:35] So when Jesus says in John 3.16, when He says, for God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
[00:51:48] That you are worshiping Him.
[00:51:50] It is more than just a casual, oh, I believe in Jesus, I believe in God, therefore I am okay.
[00:51:59] That is why there is a caution that is given with coming to the table.
[00:52:06] that if you are not born again if you have not pledged yourself to the Lord Jesus and believed that he died for you that he rose from the dead for you and that you have received him by faith it is better for you not to partake because
[00:52:25] the Apostle Paul shows clearly that you will take damnation upon yourself you'll take the wrath of God upon yourself because this represents the sacrifice that brings you salvation and if anyone is walking in sin and is not ready to give that sin up and
[00:52:46] turn from it and repent and seek God's forgiveness right now whether it is everyday sin that we deal with or whether it is a sinful lifestyle if we are not willing to repent then do not partake
[00:53:03] because God says and knows and extends to us that if we come to Him and we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us, to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
[00:53:19] Do you believe that, brothers and sisters?
[00:53:21] Because if you do, then this table is for you.
[00:53:27] John 6.36, this picks up on what was just said.
[00:53:32] Jesus says, But I say unto you that ye have also seen me and believe not.
[00:53:40] If you are in that category, I pray that if you are not, or that if you have been in that category of believing not, that you will come to Christ today and be saved and repent of your sins in our risen Savior and He will forgive.
[00:53:57] I love John 6, 637.
[00:54:01] He says, all that the Father giveth me, all the people that the Father gives me shall come to me.
[00:54:09] And him who comes to me, I will by no wise cast out.
[00:54:15] Or Jesus says, I will never turn away.
[00:54:18] If you come to me in faith, I will not turn you away.
[00:54:22] Can anything be better than that?
[00:54:25] God saying that to you.
[00:54:28] This is how much he loves you.
[00:54:30] This is how much he wants you to come to him.
[00:54:32] And this is how much He is willing to transform you if you will receive Him by faith.
[00:54:39] And so, on the night that Jesus was betrayed, He took bread.
[00:54:53] And when He blessed it, He broke it.
[00:54:55] And He gave it to His disciples.
[00:54:58] And He said, Take, eat, this is My body which is broken for you, this do in remembrance of Me.
[00:55:06] In the same manner, after supper, Jesus took the cup and He said, this cup is the New Testament or the New Covenant in My blood.
[00:55:20] Do this as often as you drink this cup in remembrance of Me.
[00:55:24] For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.
[00:55:34] And so Jesus calls us to take the bread and the grape juice in representing His body and blood, representing in physical ways His salvation so that we will remember what He has done for us
[00:56:01] and so that we will feast on Him by faith and pledging ourselves to follow Him.
[00:56:09] Before we come to the table, let's look to Him in prayer.
[00:56:11] oh Lord God Lord we ask Lord that you will forgive us of our sins as we truly confess them to you Lord that you will forgive us as we pray in the name of Jesus who is our risen Lord who has conquered sin and death Lord that we
[00:56:33] might be made new creations that we might be made whole and Lord we ask that you will take these common elements of bread and juice and that you will use them for our spiritual nourishment lo we ask that you will use this to to bring
[00:56:50] us in to your presence for as it says in Colossians 3 if we have believed on Christ that we are risen with him and his life is hidden in us and we carry around God inside of us by believing and trusting in Christ and what he has done
[00:57:12] for us is represented here so lord please be with us now lord help us to humbly come before you and lord let us partake in faith of the salvation that that jesus has accomplished for us
[00:57:28] and we ask these things in the name of Jesus our Savior amen