Feeling a bit disconnected in your walk with Christ?
Well, Pastor Greg Laurie has a great new book called What Every Growing Christian Needs to Know that'll help. Let's say you're feeling lethargic and tired. You know, if you have a diet of social media and you don't take time for the Word of God, this is going to have a damaging effect.
So this is just one of the things we talk about in this new book called What Every Growing Christian Needs to Know. Available at harvest.org. Hey there, thanks for listening to the Greg Laurie Podcast, a ministry supported by Harvest Partners. I'm Greg Laurie, encouraging you. If you want to find out more about Harvest Ministries and learn more about how to become a Harvest Partner, just go to harvest.org.
Let's pray. Lord, we're glad to be here today in your house with your people, ready to open your word because your word is truth. And we need truth in this crazy world that we live in now.
So many. Untruths, half-truths, outride lies, and we can rely on scripture, especially when we talk about the most historical, important historical event in human history: the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. And help us, Lord, see how it relates to us, how important it is to us personally in our day-to-day living.
So we commit this time of Bible study to you now. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. You can all be seated.
Well, good afternoon, everybody. Wow, I had quite an adventure driving to church this morning. We're on the 91 freeway. in the fast track lane. And I got a little message on my dashboard: your tire pressure is low.
Now I've gotten that before, and it's no big deal.
So Jonathan was with me. I said, don't worry about that. Then another one comes up. You're having a flat tire. Oh, give me a break.
It'll be fine. When we get to church, we'll look at it. And all of a sudden, thump, thump, thump, thump. Oh, no, I'm having a flat tire. But I kept driving, because I'm in the fast track lane.
There's nowhere to pull over. Thump, thump, thump. And then the thump was gone. And it was the sound of a metal wheel.
Now look, I watch these guys run from the police with no tires left. And they still move, I think, I think I can still make it. No. And so we had to pull over on the shoulder in the fast track lane again, which there's no room in. Awkward moment.
We call AAA. And hey, can you help us? Yeah, we'll be there in an hour. This isn't gonna work.
So we changed the tire.
Well, I didn't change the tire. Jonathan and Mark, another guy that came to help us change the tire, I watched. I did take a picture though. And hey. Then I got to church and then I lost my notes.
I left them at home, so I didn't have notes for my sermon. You're probably surprised they even have notes. And then my contact lenses, I didn't bring them, so I'm wearing my glasses today.
So what do you think of these glasses? What do you think? I don't feel that was that enthusiastic. I like them, but I... Prefer to not wear glasses, but I have to get a little bit used to it.
So today, here we go. Are you ready?
Okay, I wanted to announce a new series. And the man who made these glasses is sitting right here in the front row. Larry made these glasses. Very good. Thank you, Larry.
Okay, so we're starting a brand new series, not this Sunday, but the following. Not this Sunday, we're wrapping up the Gospel of Luke that we've been in for quite a while. Pastor Jonathan's going to teach on one of my favorite passages in the Bible, Luke 24, the story of Jesus and the disciples on the road to Emmaus. What a great story that is. And then the following Sunday, we start a brand new series called The Holy Spirit in You: Finding Your Spiritual Gifts.
You know, there's a lot of misunderstanding about who the Holy Spirit is. What the Holy Spirit does. The work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and the gifts of the Spirit. I believe that the gifts of the Spirit are given by God to us today. I think it's very possible you're using a gift or multiple gifts, and you may not even know what they are, what your gifts are.
I want to help you discover that from the pages of Scripture. It's a brand new series starting in a couple of weeks: the Holy Spirit in you. But the title of my message today is: I got a flat tire on my way to church. I think, no, it's not. The title is Two Words That Change Everything.
And we're going to be in Luke 24 and John chapter 20.
So turn to Luke 24 and then maybe pull one of those ribbons over to. John 20, if you have a Bible with multiple ribbons.
So when I wrote this message, I start with a question: Have you ever faced a bleak situation?
Well, I had a slightly bleak situation, not too bad. But uh But then there are things far more serious than what we dealt with today. you know, serious problems. that we may deal with, the breakdown of a marriage. The death of a loved one.
A crisis or an earth-shaking event that seems like it's the end. You feel like it's the end of your world.
Well, I have good news for you. God can take what seems like an ending. and turn it in to a new beginning. Because God will always have the last word. What could be more bleak?
What could appear more hopeless? Than the murder of Jesus Christ to his first century followers. You see, They spent every waking hour with Jesus. They looked forward to what was going to happen tomorrow. What are we going to do with Jesus tomorrow?
What's he going to teach us? What miracle will he perform? Do you think he'll walk on the water again? I love that. They could hardly wait.
Imagine what a privilege it would have been to walk with Jesus every day. And they knew that one day he would establish a kingdom and he would drive out the Romans and they would rule and reign with them, or so they thought. But then he kind of went off script, at least in their minds. with this talk of crucifixion. And resurrection, what on earth?
What is he talking about? you're gonna be crucially and he spoke about it frequently. And every time he spoke about his crucifixion, he also spoke about his resurrection. But it went right over their heads. It was like.
Water off a duck's back. And then it happened. Then he was betrayed by one of their own. Then he was beaten. Then he was nailed to a cross, and he had been so beaten prior to that.
And his body so traumatized, we're told you couldn't even tell who he was. And their world as they knew it ended. Their best friend was dead right in front of them. Those two disciples on the Emmaus road summed it up best when they were joined by Jesus, not realizing it was Jesus. Who asked them what had been happening lately?
And they spoke about what happened to Christ on the cross. And they said, we had hoped he would have been the one to deliver Israel, but it's been three days since this happened. Hoped, past tense. Hope was gone. But everything was going to change.
Everything was going to turn around. And I love what Luke 24, verse 1 says, but Very early on Sunday morning, the women went to the tomb. But... There was a divine interruption, but it was all part of God's plan. It's not like this caught God by surprise.
As Peter pointed out on the day of Pentecost, speaking of the death of Jesus, this was God's well-ordered plan. It was always what God had intended. I love that, but early Sunday morning. Just a few words can make a difference, can't they? How about dinner's ready?
Those are happy words. And my wife says, dinner's ready. I'm happy because I'm going to have another wonderful meal made by Kathy Laurie. Or I do, that can change the course of your life. as you stand at the altar.
And give your vows to your husband or wife to be. I won't. That can keep you on the right course of life. I'm sorry. Oh, those words can diffuse an argument.
Some assembly required that can strike terror into a parent's heart. as they're trying to get that toy built for Christmas morning. And now we have but very early. on Sunday morning. A few words change the narrative in their lives and ours.
And I have two words for you now that can change everything for you. And the words are simply this, but God. But God. God will always have the last word. Take the story of Joseph.
His world changed overnight. He was like any other teenager. He liked to sleep in. He had a really beautiful coat his father made for him. He was favored by his father over his brothers.
They grew resentful of this. One day they decided to sell him to some traveling slave traders, and his life just went from crisis to crisis. He was betrayed, he was lied about. He was falsely accused of raping a woman as horrible as that could be. And then he was sent to prison.
But it was all part of a plan that God had to elevate him ultimately to become the second most powerful man in the kingdom over the food supply because he interpreted the dream of the Pharaoh. And that resulted in his brothers appearing before him, and they did not know that it was their brother Joseph making the decision. He didn't look like the old Joseph. He'd grown older. Probably had a shaved head.
He had guy liner, Egyptian style.
Now he walked like an Egyptian. Dated reference, if you laugh, you're pretty old at that, by the way. That was a song once, children. And what could have been the ultimate version of Taken Five, or however many versions there are of that movie, you know, with Liam Neeson? I have a particular set of skills, that guy?
He could have had all of his brothers summarily executed on the spot, but instead he said these amazing words in Genesis 50-20, You intended to harm me, but God. There are those words, but God. intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Two words that changed everything, but God. Paul reminds us that we're all following our sinful desires and headed to judgment, but then he writes in Ephesians 2:4.
But God, who is rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, He gave us life, raising Jesus from the dead. Again, the Apostle Paul. Was describing a situation so severe, he said, We despaired even of life. But God Who raises the dead delivered us. And then there's the story of Peter thrown in prison for preaching the gospel.
James, one of the apostles, had already been put to death. It looked like the end. What did the church do? They prayed. And I love what Acts 12 says.
But constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And Peter was sprung from the prison cell. But God, God can intervene in your situation, no matter what it is you're facing. If God could turn Joseph's set back into a setup and Peter's prison into a platform, what makes you think he can't work in your situation? But now we come to the greatest but God moment in human history.
The resurrection of Jesus. Let's read about it. Luke 24, did y'all bring your Bibles with you? Could I see your Bibles, please? Prove it.
Oh, whoa, whoa, wow, wow, wow. I love that. That's a lot of nice Bibles.
Well, open your Bible to Luke 24. I'm reading from the New Living Translation. Very early on Sunday morning, the women went to the tomb taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.
So they went in and didn't find the body of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they stood there puzzled. Two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn't here.
He's risen from the dead. Remember, he told you back in Galilee that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day. Then they remembered he had said this.
So they rushed back from the tomb to tell the 11 disciples and everyone else what had happened. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, mother, or excuse me, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn't believe it.
However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping in, he peered and saw the empty linen wrappings, and he went home again, wondering what had happened. I'll stop there. An amazing series of events transpired before what we just read. First of all, the Bible says Darkness covered the whole area.
From 12 o'clock at noon to 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
Some historians believe that was a global darkness. It could have been the moment when all the sin of the world was poured upon Jesus Christ is sinless Son of God. Then mysteriously, the veil in the temple that separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of it was torn from top to bottom. By the way, that was not a thin sheer veil. That was interwoven, thick material, almost like a wall.
It was ripped. No man could have done it. And it wasn't ripped from bottom to top as though man was doing away with it. It was ripped from top to bottom because God was saying, it's a new covenant, folks. You can now come into the inner sanctum.
You can have access to me. And then. Interestingly, one gospel tells us dead people were walking around on the streets. There's only one verse about this. There are dead people walking around on the streets.
What on earth? It was like a preview of things to come. Because that will what will happen in the resurrection.
So you're looking around going, didn't we just bury Uncle Harry two days ago? He's getting a cappuccino downtown. I see dead people. More dated references to old things.
Okay, but You know, it was just a random event, but not random at all. It's like God was saying, I'm bringing the dead back to life again. And then there was a great earthquake.
So now they come to the tomb. and they realize it's empty. And we read in verse 4: Two men suddenly appeared to them clothed in dazzling robes. These weren't men at all. They were angels.
You know, funny thing about angels, we always think of angels as feminine.
Well, see, she's as pretty as an angel. We never say of a man, he's as handsome as an angel. News flash angels are always men. They always appear as men.
Sorry, girls. I was doing a little Bible study when my granddaughters are very little. Three of them are sitting here. I don't know if you remember. I told you that angels are always men and one of you said, it's not fair, Papa.
They didn't like that.
Sorry. That's the way it goes, girls. But These angels appear. And angels were actively involved in the life and ministry of Jesus from beginning to end. An angel Gabriel announces conception to Mary.
An angel appeared to Joseph and told him, She was carrying the Messiah. Angels announced the birth to the shepherds, keeping watch over their flocks by night. Angels ministered to Jesus after his temptation in the wilderness and during his struggle in Gethsemane. And angels are ready to defend him after he was arrested. And angels are present here at the resurrection.
And angels will accompany him at his return.
So from Bethlehem to the empty tomb, from the empty tomb to the ascension. From the ascension to the second coming, the angels are there. And their job is to point us to Jesus. And guess what? Angels are involved in your life too.
The Bible says the angel of the Lord encamps around those that fear him. The Bible also says angels are ministering spirits sent to minister to those who are heirs of salvation. It's entirely possible. In fact, I would say it's almost certain. that there are angels among us right now.
So for the angels out there Hey. Um We don't know where they are. They could appear as a man sitting next to us. Not be seen by us at all, dwelling in the unseen. realm how would we know if they're here is there like Pieces of angel food cake laying around on the ground.
An occasional feather? No, I don't think so. But they're working behind the scenes as God's secret agents. But now we have the disciples responding and I love how Matthew 28, 8 What's it? They went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy.
Have you ever experienced fear and great joy at the same time? Maybe you ride in a roller coaster. You're going up. Oh, this is fun. This is gonna be so good.
And then the drop starts, and then it is pure terror and misery.
So, remember Space Mountain.
Well, it's still there, Space Mountain at Disneyland. I rode the inaugural. ride in nineteen seventy seven. I was 24 years old. I thought it was pretty fun.
But I thought it's not scary enough. I just wrote it again at 73. Pure misery. And nausea. You know, they take the little picture as you're coming off of the ride, and I went and looked at it.
I'm too cheap to buy one. It's up there on the screen. I took a picture of the screen. Everyone's having fun, hands in the air, and I'm just like. Like dying.
I'm just dying, right? That's how I felt. We experienced fear and joy recently. We were up in LA and I said to Kathy, I think there's a really good sushi place here. Remember, we went there years ago?
What was the name of that place? We couldn't remember, so we're trying to figure it out. And I said, I think that's the one. We found it on Google and we read a good Yelp review. Yeah, that's got to be the one.
So we pull into this place. You would never go to this sushi place in a million years. Literal hole in the wall, no signage. Oh, you wouldn't eat there. We walked in.
I think this is the place. And we sat down at the counter there. And I start with my normal order. I'll have a spicy tuna hand roll or whatever it was. And the guy says, no, I won't do that.
Oh? No, you eat what I make you. Oh. It went from joy to fear. Will it be moving still?
But we went along with it, and it was the best sushi I've ever had in my life.
So then it went from fear to joy again. Fure to great joy. That's what the disciples were experiencing. And there's what I find fascinating is Jesus did two extraordinarily. Ordinary things after he rose.
Extraordinarily ordinary. Number one, The way he greeted them. This is found over. In Matthew's Gospel 28. We read that Jesus met them saying, rejoice.
And they held him by the feet and worshiped him. It's hard for us to get what was really going on in that translation, but The word rejoice just means hello. It was a common greeting of the day.
So they're walking along and there's Jesus and they're seeing the risen Lord. If I was Jesus and I just rose from the dead, my first words would have been: ta-da. Or at least I told you so. How many times did I tell you guys I would rise again, but instead he says, Hi. That's a fact I'll believe what it said.
Hi. You know, if you're in the South, it's hey, hey. How y'all doing? If you're from Australia, good aye, good aye. Or if you're from Hawaii, how's it, brah?
If you're in New York, they just insult you. Maybe assault you, I don't know. Depends. But Jesus just gives him this common greeting. Hi, hello, how's it?
Good day, what's up? It was so normal-ish. And they're stunned and they worship him in appropriate response.
So that was the first thing he did. And the second thing is, he said, I'm hungry. Do you have anything to eat? He's there in the room with the disciples, and he asks for food, and they bring him a piece of broiled fish. And it's fascinating because in Luke 24:42, it says they gave him a piece of broiled fish and he ate it as they watched.
They're like, wait, is this real? Is he really here? Is this really Jesus? Are we going to see the fish? Is he translucent?
What's going on here? He was in His risen body Which was similar to To his other body. It was the same Jesus. On another occasion, he said, It's I. Not someone else.
It says me, guys. He still had the marks of the crucifixion, which he will also have in heaven, by the way. We beheld him as a lamb who had been slain. reminding us how we got up there in the first place. But he was giving to us a sense of what is coming.
for each and every one of us as well. Jesus, in effect, was a prototype in his resurrection body of what our resurrection bodies will be like. Colossians 3 says, when Christ who is your life appears, you will be like him. Paul calls Jesus the first fruits of those who have died.
So what do we learn from this? That we will have a resurrection body. We will still be us, not another person altogether. But another cool thing is we read that, we learn from this that we will eat. In the afterlife, And in the new earth.
And I'm happy about that. Are you happy? Do you like to eat? How many of you like to eat food? Raise your hand.
How many of you don't care about food? There are people like that. They literally don't care. You want to get something for dinner? I don't care.
What are you gonna order? I don't know. I know this one girl, she eats like Those little protein bars. What are you gonna have for dinner? I'm gonna have a protein bar.
Seriously? Dinner's a big deal. as is lunch and breakfast. And so I'm glad that we'll enjoy that in the next life. Mary Magdalene is mentioned in verse 10.
She was the first at the tomb. She stood at the foot of the cross. And now she's just standing there. She points out that when she was there that she goes there and John and Peter Go to the tomb. They run ahead of her.
And John records this in this gospel. And I love how John points out. And in the foot race to the tomb, He beat Peter.
Now why would you say that? Because boys will be boys. And one of the privileges of writing the gospel is you throw that in. Yes, I'm writing inspired by God, but. I did beat Peter to the tomb, just saying it.
They see the tomb is empty. John immediately believes. Sees the empty tomb, Jesus is risen. Peter's still not sure what is going on.
So there stands Mary. She doesn't know what to do. She doesn't know where to go. She owed everything to Jesus. He had changed her life.
When she encountered Christ, he delivered her from seven demons. Seven evil spirits had taken residence in the heart of Mary Magdalene, and Jesus delivered her from them, and she was forever grateful, and she followed him everywhere. And she loved him so deeply, but now he was gone. And yes, it appears he's risen, but where did he go to? Where can I find him?
So we go over now to John 20, pick the narrative up in this gospel. Verse 11, Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping. As she wept, she stooped down, looked into the tomb, and saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head, the other at the feet. where the body of Jesus at length. He said to her, Woman, Why are you weeping?
She said to them, because they've taken away my Lord and I don't know where they've laid him. And when she said this, she turned around. And she saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, woman, Why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?
She, thinking he was the gardener, said to him, Sir, if you've carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away. And he said, Mary, She turned and said, Rabboni, which is to say, teacher. Jesus said, Do not cling to me, for I've not yet ascended to my father and to my brethren, and say to them, I'm ascending to my father and your father to my God. And you're God. I love this story.
She doesn't know who it is. and suddenly he says her voi her name as only Jesus would say it. Mary. Oh, Jesus. And she grabs him and he says, Don't cling to me.
Now, this is fascinating. Because Jesus never told anyone to stay away from him. And in the Greek, it's literally, stop clinging to me.
So was it because she grabbed him so tightly, it hurt? Like, ow, you're cutting the circulation off quickly. Crabbing me so hard. I doubt it. I think he was saying something deeper.
He was saying Mary? It's a new covenant. It's a new ballgame. Don't cling to me in the old way. I know before you could reach out and touch me.
But it's going to be better now, Mary. I won't just be walking with you physically. I'm going to live in your heart. And I'm going to ascend to my God and your God, and to my Father and to your Father. Do you realize what a revolutionary statement that was to a first-century Jew?
To think of calling God Almighty, whom they would reverence, who they would have awe for. To be called Father? It was Jesus who said, After this manner, therefore you should pray, Our Father who art in heaven. Mary, Jesus is saying. He's your father now.
Mary, You have access to him now because of what I've done at the cross. And the resurrection. There was no getting around it. Jesus was alive, and He appeared again and again over a 40-day period. He appeared personally to Peter and again to Peter at the Sea of Galilee.
He appeared to Thomas. He appeared to 500 at one time. He appeared to those two disciples on the Emmaus Road that we'll talk about next time.
So let me close with this. What does the resurrection of Jesus mean to you and me? I want to give you four practical truths that affect our lives every day. If you're taking notes, here's point number one: the resurrection of Jesus assures me that I am accepted by God. The resurrection of Jesus assures me that I am accepted by God.
This is called justification. Very important work. It's used multiple times in the New Testament. Romans 4:25 says, He was delivered over to death for our sins, and he was raised to life for our justification. Another way to translate justification is just as if it never had happened.
So, when you put your faith in Jesus Christ, He forgives you of every sin you have ever committed. But that's not all. He then forgets those sins as well. See, We might forgive someone we don't forget what they did to us. Maybe they hurt us.
And we kind of keep that in mind. I forgive you, but I still remember. God chooses to not remember. He doesn't have a lapse in memory. He chooses to not hold it against you.
That's justification. That means that when you become a Christian, you know that you have a right relationship with God because Jesus rose. I was watching a conversation between two individuals the other day, and the question was asked of one. Do you know you'll go to heaven when you die? And his response was, well, if I'm in a state of grace, I will.
What does that even mean? in a state of grace.
Well, does that mean you've given your confession to a priest, or you've received the sacraments, or you've done some other thing to be in that state of grace? What if you had a thought? That was impure or wrong. Are you out of a state of grace? Look, I know that I'll go to heaven not based on what I've done for God, but based solely on what God has done for me.
I'm living grace. I live in the grace of God. It's by Grace I'm saved through faith, not of works, lest any man should boast. I've been made acceptable in the beloved, the Bible says. On the cross.
God treated Jesus as if he had lived your life.
So he could treat you as if you had lived his life. It's on the screen. This is not original to me, it's a great statement. On the cross, God treated Jesus as if he had lived your life, so he could treat you as if you had lived his life. Justification.
The resurrection of Jesus assures me I am accepted by God. Number two, the resurrection of Jesus assures me. I have all the power I need to live the Christian life. This is called sanctification. We hear these words: sanctification, justification, justification.
Forgiven of your sin just as if it never had happened. Sanctification is different. I play a part in sanctification. This is where I'm seeking to live a holy life, you see? And I read over in Romans chapter 8, verse 11: The Spirit of God who raised Christ from the dead lives in you.
And just as he raised Jesus from the dead, he'll give life to your mortal body by the same spirit living in you.
So, dear Christian friends, you have no obligation whatsoever to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. Get it?
Some people say, I've tried to live the Christian life, it's so hard. I disagree. It's not hard to be a Christian. It's impossible. No, seriously, it's impossible.
How can I love my enemies? How can I turn the other cheek? How can I go the extra mile? I can't do that in my own effort.
So it's impossible for me to live the Christian life in my strength and my ability. But the Bible says, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
So you need the help and work of the Holy Spirit to live the Christian life. And listen to this. There is no vice, there is no addiction, there is no sin. that has to control your life anymore. Because God has given you everything you need to live free in Christ.
So you might say, Well, I have a problem with gambling, or I have an addiction to porn, or I can't stop drinking, or I can't get away from these drugs. Yes, you can. And yes, you must. You can do it through the power of the Holy Spirit working in you. That's what Christ has done for you.
Applaud now. It's true. And if you will yield to the Holy Spirit, you will find for yourself that it is true. Whom the Son sets free is free indeed. Number three.
The resurrection of Jesus assures me that I will live forever in heaven. And it assures me I'll live forever in heaven. Death died when Christ rose. Because Jesus rose, I too will rise. Because Jesus died, I will never die.
He said, Greg, you're delusional. Of course you're going to die. Duck, you look half dead to me right now. See what you're saying. I'm not living in denial.
That's a river in Egypt, right?
Okay, so. Get the joke? I'm not living in denial. That's a river in Egypt. Denial?
Denial? The Nile?
Okay, forget it. When you have to explain the jokes, they fell flat. But the fact of the matter is Is yes, our bodies die. But in a sense death is not the end. It's not the end of the road, it's a bend in the road.
1 Corinthians 15 says, When our perishable earthly bodies have been transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die, then at last the scriptures will come true. Death is swallowed up in victory.
So, death, where is your victory? Oh, death, where is your sting? I heard the story of a father and a son who were driving in their car. And a bee got in, buzzing around. That's not good.
Who wants to get stung by a bee? How many of you have been stung by a bee? How many of you have never been stung by a bee? Oh, you be good, good. It's no fun, it hurts.
But with the little boy, it was even a little more. Threatening because he was severely allergic to bee stings. And in fact, if he was stung by a bee, he could potentially die.
So the little guy's in a complete panic. He's screaming as the bee is buzzing around. The father reaches out his hand, he grabs the bee and he puts it in his fist. And then he opens his hand. He says, Son, you don't have to be afraid.
You can see the bee has already stung me. I took the sting for you. That's what Jesus did on the cross. He took the sting of death so you don't have to fear it anymore. Isn't that great?
One last thing, because of the resurrection of Jesus, we will have resurrected relationships. I love resurrected relationships. You know, we all have different kinds of friendships. There's a There are high maintenance friendships. Dear friends, like that.
High maintenance friends. Why didn't you comment on my post? How long has it been up? One minute. What I don't live online.
Why didn't you call me back? Because I just ended a one-hour conversation with you, and you called me again, high-maintenance people. Then there are other people you've known them for years. And when you see them, you kind of pick up where you last left off. Maybe you haven't even talked to them for two years, but you get together, and it's like you were together the whole time.
That's what the resurrection of Jesus will do for us. We'll be reunited with loved ones that we have been separated from. How wonderful that is going to be. And it may happen sooner than we may think. Because there is a generation that will not see death.
There is a generation that will not have their bodies laid into the grave. There is a generation that will be caught up in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, into the presence of the Lord. It's sometimes called the rapture of the church. And I know it's fallen out of favor with some, and others may criticize it, but it's still in the Bible and it's still true, and I still believe it. Jesus is coming again, and He could come at any moment.
I really believe that. It could be ten years, it could be ten weeks, it could be ten minutes.
Well the Lord calls us to heaven. This by the way is called the first resurrection.
So what does it mean? It means when a Christian dies our spirit our soul goes into the presence of God. Our body is laid into the ground. At the first resurrection or the rapture of the church, from the Greek word harpazo, our bodies are resurrected, you see. And then we're reunited together.
That's why Paul says: in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, the dead in Christ will rise first. We will be caught up together with them. With them. With who? With Christ, yes, but who's the them?
They are your departed loved ones who have died in faith.
So here's how it works. You could just be going about your day-to-day business, getting a flat tire on the 91. Karina Matcha. watching the waves break. On your way to work.
doing whatever it is you do. Maybe thinking about a loved one that has died that you miss. And suddenly So quickly you can't even measure it, you're there with them. Again. Reunited.
You say, but how fast?
Well, it says in the twinkling of an eye. That's even faster than the blinking of an eye. You're in their presence, and this is the promise of God. Because of the resurrection of Jesus.
Now, the title of this message is. Two words that change everything. I have two more illustrations and I'm done. One was a story of a rich man that Jesus told. They were so wealthy.
He had to get storage units to hold all of his stuff. And he actually said, I'm just going to sit back and say to myself, my friend. You have enough stored away for years to come.
Now take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry. Funny, people still say that today. Take it easy, man. That's what this guy was saying.
Take it easy. I've got everything I need. Not a care in the world. But Jesus says, But God said to him, You fool, you'll die this very night. Then, who will get?
It all. But God. There's another but God.
Now, the other but God illustrations were God intervening in difficult situations and turning them around for good. Like in the case of Joseph. or Peter in prison. But in this situation God was intervening in a situation this man thought was good, but actually was a problem. His sin was not being wealthy.
His sin was having no place for God. His sin was he had no thought about the afterlife. He only cared about this life. And God says, You fool. Your soul is required of you tonight.
What if this were your last night? Everyone's going to have a last night. They're going to have a last meal. What if Christ were to return today? Would you be ready?
I have one final bad God passage for you: Romans 5:8. But God demonstrated his love toward us. That while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, but God.
So. We're all separated from God by our sin. Christ died for our sin and rose again from the dead. If we'll put our faith in Him, we can be forgiven and know we'll go to heaven when we die. But God has intervened.
But you have to respond to that, you see. Jesus died, he rose. He's going to come back one day. But now he stands at the door of your life and he knocks and says, if you'll hear my voice and open the door, I will come in. And my question for you is, is Christ living inside of you?
If you were to die today, Do you know that you would go to heaven? If Christ were to come back today, Are you certain you would be ready to meet him? If not, Why live another day like that? Why live another moment like that? You can begin a relationship with the Lord.
Remember what Jesus said to Mary? I'm going to my Father and your Father. You can know God as your Father in heaven, and discover A relationship with him as he unveils his personal plan for you. You'll never be alone in life again. Whatever problems and struggles you have, you can bring them to your loving Father in heaven.
and you can live a guilt-free life. Because you've been forgiven by Jesus Christ. Why would you not want that? You don't need to spend another day addicted to anything. You don't have to spend another day with that big hole in your heart that you may try to fill with things this culture offers.
Instead, you can spend every day with Christ living in your heart. But only you can open that door, so to speak, and say Jesus. Come into my life and forgive me now. In a moment, we're going to pray. Excuse me.
I'm going to give you an opportunity to ask Jesus to come into your life. to be your Saviour and your Lord. If you've never done this yet, do it now. Don't put it off another day. You may never.
have another opportunity like this again. Let's pray now, Father. Speak to the hearts of those that do not yet know you. Help them to see their need for you, and Lord, help them to come to you now, we pray.
Now, while their heads are bowed, And our eyes are closed and we're praying. Is there someone here? That would want to ask Jesus to come into their life.
Someone here that. Once her sin forgiven, Someone here that wants to transfer. Their eternal address from hell to heaven.
Someone here That's ready to open the door of their heart. If so, I want to lead you in a simple prayer. If you want Christ to come into your life, Have you want him to forgive you of your sin? If you want to know you'll go to heaven when you die. I want you to pray this prayer after me.
In fact, I'm going to ask everybody to pray this prayer together out loud. As a show of support, for those who are praying it for the first time. All of you, pray after me if you would. Lord Jesus. I know that I'm a sinner.
I know that you are the Savior. Who died on the cross for my sin. I turn from my sin now. I repent of it. I choose to follow you, Lord.
From this moment forward. As my Savior and my Lord. is my God and my friend. Thank you for answering this prayer. In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen. God bless you. Hey everybody, thanks for listening to this podcast. To learn more about Harvest Ministries, follow this show and consider supporting it. Just go to harvest.org.
And to find out how to know God personally, go to harvest.org and click on know God. Mm-hmm.
