Remember: Resurrection Sunday - Pastor Josiah Elias

“The work You did is finished

All of our sins forgiven

And now we get to live in

The wonder of the workin’ blood

The cross was Your decision

But death was not the endin’

You rose and now we’re risen

Oh, the wonder of the workin’ blood”

Tiffany Hudson

In worship, we sang about the blood. Then Pastor Greg read Ephesians 2:13 to us. “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (NIV) It is all about His willing sacrifice for us. He took the cup of God’s wrath on the cross so that He, the perfect Sacrifice, could give us the cup of redemption. It is all about the blood.

Next, we saw Junior’s testimony. For seventeen years he was addicted to cocaine; he joined a gang and was an alcoholic. Everyday was a struggle. Now he is a new man “thanks to the Lord,” he said. “My whole life has changed.” He invited people to go to God. “He will save you.”

Junior stated,”He was waiting for my yes.” He is waiting for your yes. Since his decision to accept the Jesus as his Savior and Lord, Junior has been baptized and is walking a new path.

Pastor Josiah and Ashley approached the stage, and Ashley reminded us,”You are not fatherless. He is your Father. Your child heart calls for the Father.” In humans, children do not have perfect parents, but in God the Father, we have the perfect Father. He will never leave us nor forsake us. Hebrews 13:5 What a blessing her words were.

After such a full morning, Pastor Josiah repeated FC’s mission which is to culture like Christ, and our vision is Jesus. Last week we reviewed the undeniable, powerful Palm Sunday and the Lord Jesus humbly riding on the donkey. Jesus did not come to overthrow the Romans. He came to wage war on sin and death. This week Pastor Josiah reviewed how we got to this point.

“Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation…Everything was created through him and for him.”

Colossians 1:15,16b (NLT) Adam and Eve had a perfect relationship with the Father, and they existed in the perfect garden. Mankind was created in relationship with God. But Adam and Eve let a doubt about the Father’s intention affect their thinking.

Mankind rebelled against God. “When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.” Romans 5:12 (NLT)

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 (NKJV) When we are disobedient to the Lord, we are actually obedient to satan, who wants to “kill, steal and destroy…” John 10:10a When we rebel and our allegiance is against the Lord, we pay a consequence and can chart a course for our lives if we continue in that choice. “For the wages of sin is death.” Romans 3:23 (NKJV) The pattern of sin upon sin upon sin stacks up, and it catches up with you. Pastor Josiah proclaimed that it was by the grace of God that he was caught so that he could repent and walk in freedom. For all of us when the Holy Spirit convicts

us of our wrong doing, if we respond, repent, and choose to follow in Jesus’ footsteps, we get to experience God’s amazing and transforming grace. If we remain in our sin and keep deciding to rebel, we are doomed, which means we are left in ruin.

However, as John 3:16 states “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (NKJV)

We have a chance at redemption through the blood of Jesus. “But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (NASB) That is the ultimate love that a man would lay down his life for others. Jesus laid down His life for us, unworthy sinners. He knew what He was going to experience, yet He rode to His death on a donkey so that we could have life. He gave His life so that we could live. Even further, 2 Corinthians 5:21 says,”He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so

that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (NASB) The perfect Savior became sin for us. That is unfathomable in my human mind, but God loves us that much.

To review, first we were made to be in relationship; we rebelled; now we have a role model.

The goal was always that His life would be the perfect role model for us to follow. As Christ followers, we should strive to be more like Him. Interestingly Jesus was countercultural; instead of being like the religious leaders and Pharisees who wanted the best seats and demanded to honor for their knowledge, position and religiousness, He humbly came to serve, to have the first be last, to surrender His will to His Father’s will.

“….the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a

ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28 (NASB) He came to love you. He gave His life as a ransom for each of us. He was led to the cross, “for the joy set before Him endured the cross…”Hebrews 12:2 (NASB) He took the betrayal and beatings for you and me. The fruit of the tree in the garden was sin. The fruit of the tree at Calvary was redemption.

“Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to

bottom; and the earthquaked, and the rocks were split, and the

graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen

asleep were raised….” Matthew 27:51 (NKJV)

The shaking of the earth was so intense that the one inch thick curtain separating the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place was torn in two from top to bottom. Only the High Priest once a year could enter the Holy of Holies, but because of Jesus’ death, that barrier to the Father was ripped open for all of us who believe in Him.

But that is not the end of the story. “He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.” 1 Corinthians 15:4 (NLT) After the Sabbath the women went to Jesus’ tomb, but He was not there. Instead two men appeared and asked,”Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive?”Luke 24:5 (NLT) We cannot find Jesus among the dead but the living. However, we were dead, and He went among the dead to make

us alive. Hallelujah!

“He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee….

Then they remembered that he had said this.” Luke 24:6,8 (NLT) How often do we forget what He has told us? The enemy wants the seed to land on bad soil. We need to cultivate the soil of our hearts to be ready for all He has for us in His Word, from the Holy Spirit, from other Christ followers.

In the Jewish culture they built altars of remembrance for what He did for them. They would celebrate festivals to honor and remember Him. They taught their children about Adonai. We cannot afford to forget all He’s already told us. Acts of God should be seared in our minds and hearts. You can prepare for what’s to come by remembering what already came. For me committing His word to memory helps me during challenging times. Even when I try to sleep

and my brain won’t turn off, I begin to say the 23rd Psalm. “The Lord is my Shepherd. I have everything I need.” Also the Lord also gives us a Helper, ”the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name. He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things I said to you.” John 14:26 (NKJV)

As we remember, we must choose to repent of our sins. In Acts 3:19 we are advised, “Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.” (NLT)

Communion helps us remember what He did for us on the cross. Bringing His sacrifice to the forefront reminds us what He thinks about us. We are His beloved. Pastor Josiah advised us, ”Fill your mind with Him instead of filling your mind with” social media, YouTube, shopping, sports. You can “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2 (NKJV)

We have a choice to make. We can choose to receive the free gift of salvation, found only in Jesus Christ. Jesus said,”I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6 Never lose sight what He modeled: love, surrender, and the empty tomb.

For those who are ready, it begins with a determined prayer. This prayer is a first step in a whole lifestyle change. For example, when you sign up to run a marathon you will not have run it yet. Your lifestyle needs to reflect your determination to run the race through diet, exercise, and consistency. In the same way becoming a Christ follower and praying to accept Him as your Savior and Lord is the first step in living the life as a believer. The powerful point is therefore, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things

have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) Hallelujah. The old is gone, and the new is here.

May we remember Him: our relationship with Him, our rebellion, that He is a role model, and how He rose from the dead to conquer sin and death. Because we remember, may we be salt and light in this dark world.

Calendar:

4/25-Men of God Movement

5/16-LBs potluck, worship, viewing The Forge

Submitted by

Larry and Annette Linthicum