1 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:08,119 Thank you for listening to Riverbend Churches Podcast. 2 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:11,560 To find out more about this message or Riverbend Church, 3 00:00:11,680 --> 00:00:14,920 connect with us online at Riverbend Church dot live. 4 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:22,360 Thank you so much for being here with us this morning. 5 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:23,640 Incredible. Incredible. 6 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:27,320 Day that we get to celebrate. We got to kick it off Friday. 7 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:29,000 Night with our good. Friday service. 8 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:32,759 Had an incredible time with our Easter volunteer service. 9 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:35,880 Last evening, So, so excited about. 10 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:37,000 This morning and everything that. 11 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:39,280 God has in store. For us and everything that he's 12 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:42,080 going to do, I do want to kind of bring some things to your 13 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:44,840 attention, though, just kind of put them on your radar. 14 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:50,000 Here on Easter Sunday. Several things #1 Next week we 15 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:53,200 we invite you back. We have a baptism service and 16 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:55,880 both services. Actually 9:30 and. 11 be able to 17 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:59,000 celebrate new life. Through baptism, always an 18 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:03,000 incredible, incredible Tom also family and. 19 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:07,600 Child dedication is is. Coming up soon, family and child 20 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:09,360 dedication. Let me probably the easiest way 21 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:10,920 I can. Explain it is it's the 22 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:16,000 opportunities for for for the family to dedicate raising the 23 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:19,320 child in the home that. That loves Jesus and is going to 24 00:01:19,320 --> 00:01:22,760 commit. To to to raising that child in a 25 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:25,200 home that. That loves Jesus loves the. 26 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:26,640 Church is going to do everything to. 27 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:28,720 Point that child to. Jesus, and it's an opportunity. 28 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:31,120 For us as a church to dedicate ourselves to. 29 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:33,480 Being that type of. Church that your kids. 30 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:37,320 Will want to grow up into and your kids kids will want to grow 31 00:01:37,320 --> 00:01:41,240 up into The reason I bring that up is coming up in a few weeks, 32 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:42,760 but. Today is the, is the. 33 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:44,760 Deadline for registration for that. 34 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:47,560 And then Speaking of registration, one last thing 35 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:48,960 before we dive into this morning. 36 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:51,960 VBS is actually just. Around the corner Vacation 37 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:52,760 Bible. School. 38 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:56,760 And then that registration, it was going to open up today. 39 00:01:56,960 --> 00:01:58,720 We decided to open it. Up last night. 40 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:02,720 As you came in, there's the little Flyers on your chair. 41 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:04,680 Here's one of the things that we would encourage you to do. 42 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:08,160 Take that flyer, put it on your put it on your refrigerator. 43 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:10,160 Mark those dates off on your calendar. 44 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:13,440 If you see some around you, some of the little Flyers handouts 45 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:16,040 around you, feel free to take as many as you want. 46 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:17,480 Just. To hand out to the people. 47 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:20,840 That you come in contact with and it's just going to be an 48 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:24,800 awesome, awesome time together. But this morning, we're going to 49 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:27,360 continue on. We're actually closing out a. 50 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:30,640 Series that we started about. Four weeks ago, and whether 51 00:02:30,640 --> 00:02:33,400 you're new to Riverbend or maybe just new to the series, let me 52 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:35,360 kind of give you the. Overall gist of where we've. 53 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:37,600 Been. The series is called Borrowed. 54 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:40,440 And the reason it's called borrowed is when we whenever we. 55 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:42,960 Read about the life of Jesus in the. 56 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:46,520 Bible whenever you want to find out about how he lived and how 57 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:48,600 we treated people and what he did. 58 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:51,760 The four books of the Bible. That we could look into. 59 00:02:51,920 --> 00:02:54,840 Or should explore. Would be Matthew, Mark, Luke and 60 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:56,520 John the four. Gospels very first. 61 00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:57,960 Four books of the new. Testament. 62 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:00,840 In the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John about. 63 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:03,160 The life of Jesus. God thought that it was going to 64 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:05,320 be so. Important for us to know that 65 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:08,720 there were five items that during his earthly ministry 66 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:10,320 during the time that. Jesus was here. 67 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:14,240 With us, walking among us. On this earth, Jesus borrowed 5 68 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:17,240 items. And one of the main questions 69 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:18,960 we've been asking is. What is it about? 70 00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:21,040 These five things what? Is it about these 5? 71 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:24,520 Items that were so important that God deemed it worthy. 72 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:26,720 For us to be. Able to know about them and read 73 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:30,600 about them and actually look further into them over 2000. 74 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:33,240 Years later, the five items. Were. 75 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:33,920 He. He. 76 00:03:33,920 --> 00:03:36,240 He borrowed a boat. He borrowed some bread. 77 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:38,800 He borrowed borrowed a donkey, he borrowed a room. 78 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:40,160 And this morning, we're going to take a look. 79 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:42,480 At the at the 5th. And final thing that Jesus 80 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:46,280 borrowed, and it's the very reason that we're here this 81 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:49,320 morning, he, he borrowed. He borrowed a tomb. 82 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:53,720 Before we go any further, I do want to invite us just kind of 83 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:55,480 go into a time of. Prayer. 84 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:56,960 I want to invite us to pray. Whether. 85 00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:00,760 Again, in the room downstairs overflow with us online. 86 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:03,800 Just to ask God to prepare our hearts for what He has prepared 87 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:06,720 for us this morning. God, we love you and we thank 88 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:09,000 you. God, we're so reminded. 89 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:13,840 Of your love for us on this day, God, when we reflect. 90 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:16,399 Back and when we really think about who we really really 91 00:04:16,399 --> 00:04:20,680 meditate upon and when we dive deeper and explore Lord 92 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:23,840 everything that. Jesus went through God. 93 00:04:23,840 --> 00:04:26,680 We're amazed at the fact that. He went through all of. 94 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:31,400 It for us because he loves us to to give us the. 95 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:34,640 Opportunity and to to give us the chance and to give us the. 96 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:37,520 Choice. Whether or not to to follow him 97 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:41,240 or not. So God I. 98 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:44,320 Pray that you would just continue to to work in our 99 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:45,800 midst. God, I pray that you would 100 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:48,560 continue to open our hearts. Open our minds as we open your 101 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:51,400 word. God, I pray that you would bring 102 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:53,680 it to life in and through us. This. 103 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:56,760 Morning it's in. Jesus name that we pray. 104 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:00,120 Amen. So we're going to start. 105 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:04,240 Kind of in a. Kind of in a strange place for 106 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:08,440 an Easter Sunday. When we start looking at Jesus 107 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:13,040 borrowing a tomb, we're actually going to start not. 108 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:16,280 Quite at the resurrection. We're going to start a little 109 00:05:16,280 --> 00:05:17,680 bit. Before the resurrection. 110 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:22,160 And what we're going to read the account of the burial of. 111 00:05:22,280 --> 00:05:25,440 Jesus is actually recording. All four gospels, Matthew, Mark, 112 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:27,160 Luke and John. And this morning we're going to 113 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:30,520 take a look at John's account in John's writing of. 114 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:33,120 The burial of Jesus so. If you have a Bible with you, I 115 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:36,120 want to invite. You to find John chapter. 19 And 116 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:37,720 if you don't have a Bible with you, then no. 117 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:39,200 Worries the passage is going to be. 118 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:43,040 On the screen and it's also on the note sheet that you received 119 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:45,480 on your way in. So here's what I want to do. 120 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:48,720 I want to go ahead dive in verse 38 and we're going to start 121 00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:52,280 looking at why is it so important that God knew God 122 00:05:52,280 --> 00:05:54,720 wanted us to know that Jesus borrowed a tomb. 123 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:58,160 Here it is after these things, Joseph of Arimathea. 124 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:02,480 Now we're going to come back to. That phrase after these things, 125 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:03,680 because that, that's just that's. 126 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:06,360 Loaded with context after these things. 127 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:09,280 Joseph of Arimathea. Who was a disciple of Jesus, but 128 00:06:09,280 --> 00:06:11,240 secretly for fear of the Jews asked. 129 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:14,480 Pilate that he might take. Away the body of Jesus and 130 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:17,520 Pilate gave him. Permission So Joseph came and 131 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:21,800 took away Jesus body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had 132 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:25,680 come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and. 133 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:28,360 Aloes about 75 lbs. In weight. 134 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:30,880 So they took. The body of Jesus and bound it 135 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:33,840 in linen. Clothes were the spices, as is 136 00:06:33,840 --> 00:06:37,320 the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was. 137 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:40,480 Crucified, there was a garden. And in the garden, a new tomb in 138 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:43,000 which no one. Had yet been laid. 139 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:45,000 So because of the Jewish. Day of. 140 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:47,120 Preparation since the tomb was close at. 141 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:51,840 Hand they laid Jesus there. So 5th and final item. 142 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:55,320 That we're told that Jesus borrowed was a tomb. 143 00:06:55,800 --> 00:07:01,040 And it was the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea now a lot of times. 144 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:02,440 And we talked. A little bit about this. 145 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:05,680 If you were with us Friday night for a Good Friday service, I 146 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:07,120 believe that probably the greatest. 147 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:09,160 Danger that you and I. Face. 148 00:07:09,280 --> 00:07:11,400 Whether you've grown up in church or you've just lived in 149 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:15,640 the Bible Belt for any amount of time is we become so familiar 150 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:18,280 with like the. The quote UN quote Jesus story. 151 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:21,720 My guess is that there's very few of us in the room in 152 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:25,400 overflow with this online that what we're going to unpack. 153 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:28,240 And what we're going to. Walk through about Jesus dying 154 00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:32,000 on a cross and being buried and raised again on the third day. 155 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:34,120 My guess is you've. Heard that? 156 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:38,200 Before and I think the greatest danger facing us, I know it's 157 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:42,120 the greatest danger facing me, is what I call being inoculated 158 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:45,040 to the gospel. We become so familiar with it 159 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:47,320 that we become desensitized to it. 160 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:51,880 For example, the phrase borrowed a tomb. 161 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:55,960 Does that not strike us as being a weird phrase? 162 00:07:56,440 --> 00:07:57,600 That's a really. Weird. 163 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:01,800 Phrase like if you don't believe me, go to the Funeral Home 164 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:04,400 closest to you or go to the cemetery and go, hey, listen. 165 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:06,280 I would like to borrow. A tomb. 166 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:09,080 I'd just like to rent one. Be like. 167 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:14,160 That's not how it works. You don't borrow a tomb. 168 00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:17,640 Jesus did. Jesus did. 169 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:19,320 Why did he borrow to borrow a tomb? 170 00:08:19,320 --> 00:08:21,040 Because he only needed. It for three days. 171 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:24,160 The very reason? That we are here this. 172 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:27,240 Morning celebrating. What we're celebrating is that 173 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:31,040 tomb is empty. And it was Joseph of Arimathea 174 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:33,200 that Jesus borrowed that tomb from. 175 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:35,480 And even though that tomb is still empty. 176 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:38,159 I would argue. This morning that that empty 177 00:08:38,159 --> 00:08:39,559 tomb. Has. 178 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:41,400 Three important lessons to teach. 179 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:43,400 US. This morning, so if you're 180 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:45,400 taking notes. With us, here's the first. 181 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:47,920 Lesson that I believe that a borrowed tomb is speaking to us 182 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:49,360 this morning. Here it is. 183 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:54,960 Is a personal or relationship with Jesus is personal but never 184 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:55,960 meant to be? Private. 185 00:08:56,720 --> 00:09:00,880 A relationship with Jesus is personal but never meant. 186 00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:05,280 To be private, we see. This playing out in the life of 187 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:07,920 Joseph of Arimathea. By the way, this guy. 188 00:09:07,920 --> 00:09:10,800 Joseph of Arimathea. He's mentioned in all four 189 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:14,400 gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, but he's mentioned 190 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:19,000 nowhere else in scripture outside of the burial account of 191 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:21,360 Jesus. So he's mentioning all four 192 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:24,440 accounts of Jesus burial but nowhere. 193 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:28,400 Else there so. There's not a whole lot known. 194 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:31,240 About this guy Joseph of. Arimathea But there are some 195 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:34,680 things that can be known, like for example, Joseph of Arimathea 196 00:09:34,680 --> 00:09:36,400 was a very, very influential man. 197 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:40,040 And what I mean by influential? Is he was a part of a select 198 00:09:40,040 --> 00:09:43,400 group of Jewish leaders. Called the Sanhedrin. 199 00:09:43,640 --> 00:09:47,040 The Sanhedrin was think. About think of it as the Jewish 200 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:50,040 Supreme Court. Of its day and it consisted of 201 00:09:50,040 --> 00:09:53,680 71 members. Joseph of Arimathea was one of 202 00:09:53,680 --> 00:09:57,360 those 71 he had. Incredible influence over the 203 00:09:57,360 --> 00:10:00,920 lives and the the rhythms of the of the Jewish people of his day. 204 00:10:01,560 --> 00:10:05,560 We we also know we can also conclude by the little that's 205 00:10:05,560 --> 00:10:07,320 given to us about. Joseph of Arimathea. 206 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:10,240 Is he was a he was a man. With a lot of connections. 207 00:10:12,240 --> 00:10:14,320 Scripture kind of indicates to. Us that he had a. 208 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:16,320 Direct pipeline to Pontius Pilate. 209 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:21,480 I mean, he wasn't, he wasn't having to to dial like the Roman 210 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:24,560 government hotline and, you know, having to be put on pause. 211 00:10:24,560 --> 00:10:26,560 Push 9 if you want, Pontius. Pilate. 212 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:29,080 And then get his secretary. No, he had a direct. 213 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:32,040 Pipeline to Pontius Pilate. The Roman governor at the time. 214 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:35,840 To where? He asked Pilate hey can I take 215 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:40,120 Jesus body down and bury it and by the fact that. 216 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:42,560 Joseph of Arimathea owned his own. 217 00:10:42,560 --> 00:10:47,720 Tomb of freshly cut rock just outside the old city wall gate. 218 00:10:47,760 --> 00:10:51,360 In Jerusalem, would indicate. That he was a very, very 219 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:52,920 wealthy. Man. 220 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:57,600 But John's account of Joseph of Arimathea is different from 221 00:10:57,600 --> 00:11:00,040 Matthew, Mark and Luke's John's account. 222 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:03,440 Gives us that little detail. Joseph of Arimathea. 223 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:07,920 Who was a disciple of Jesus, but in secret, now a disciple of 224 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:09,280 Jesus. Doesn't mean that he was one of 225 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:11,840 the original. 12 It just simply means that he was a follower. 226 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:16,840 And here's the thing, only Joseph of Arimathea could make 227 00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:18,200 the. Choice for Joseph of. 228 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:21,680 Arimathea on what to do with. Jesus, do you know the same 229 00:11:21,680 --> 00:11:25,040 thing is true for us? Only you can make the decision. 230 00:11:25,040 --> 00:11:28,640 For you as to what you do with Jesus, I'll go ahead and tell 231 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:30,880 you I wish, I really, really wish that I had the. 232 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:34,040 Ability and the capability to make that decision for every 233 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:36,320 single. One of us I would I. 234 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:38,520 Would make the decision for every single one of us that we 235 00:11:38,520 --> 00:11:42,360 would all be true. Authentic, genuine followers of 236 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:45,080 Jesus. But I can't do that. 237 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:46,560 And by the way, nobody else can do. 238 00:11:46,560 --> 00:11:49,160 That for you? You have to make that. 239 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:52,360 Decision for you. Which tells us this. 240 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:54,360 It's a reminder. Relationship with Jesus is 241 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:55,880 personal. It's not private. 242 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:58,120 That's kind of a reminder. To us that your decision. 243 00:11:58,120 --> 00:12:00,480 To follow Jesus. Again, it's your decision. 244 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:04,160 It really has nothing to do with your with your grandparents or 245 00:12:04,160 --> 00:12:06,760 your mom or your. Dad or your family lineage? 246 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:10,160 And and listen if your mom or your dad or your grandparents 247 00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:12,320 if. If if they're all followers of. 248 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:14,880 Jesus and and maybe your, your, your, your. 249 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:16,240 Peepaw or your Paul? Paul. 250 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:19,720 Was a pastor man God bless. That's awesome. 251 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:22,600 Praise God for that. But I got to tell you, heaven 252 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:26,480 doesn't have a family plan. Your decision to follow Jesus is 253 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:29,280 your decision on the flip side of that coin. 254 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:32,760 You may be in here this morning, you may be with us this morning, 255 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:36,160 and you may say, well then there's nobody in my family. 256 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:37,800 That that's a that's a follower of Jesus. 257 00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:42,560 I'm the only one who's. Actually giving Jesus a shot. 258 00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:45,080 Listen, I got good. News for you that. 259 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:49,320 You're not destined to repeat the same mistakes as those who 260 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:50,560 went before you. Why? 261 00:12:50,560 --> 00:12:53,680 Because your. Decision to follow Jesus is your 262 00:12:53,680 --> 00:12:57,320 decision. Speaking of decisions, the 263 00:12:57,320 --> 00:12:59,320 second thing that we see out of the life of Joseph. 264 00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:01,800 Of Arimathea. Is this a real faith? 265 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:06,000 Refuses to stay hidden. Did you pick that point up and 266 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:07,400 you can look at the top of your note sheet? 267 00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:08,440 To where it says Joseph. Of. 268 00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:11,480 Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus. But in secret. 269 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:15,160 For fear of the Jews. You see at some point in time 270 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:18,440 because of his. Great influence and his 271 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:20,960 connections. I can imagine that Joseph 272 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:23,600 probably thought, man, I don't what are people going to think 273 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:25,720 or what are people going to say if they realize that I'm. 274 00:13:25,720 --> 00:13:29,280 Actually a follower of Jesus. Especially when they tried him, 275 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:31,960 and they and and and they, they beat him, and they, they, they 276 00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:34,560 crucified him. What are What are people? 277 00:13:34,560 --> 00:13:38,960 Going to think and and I can just imagine that Joseph of 278 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:42,800 Arimathea probably justified it to himself. 279 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:47,080 Hey, listen, I think I could probably do more good for God if 280 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:50,080 I kind of stayed Incognito. If I kind of. 281 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:52,400 Stayed like. But but behind. 282 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:54,280 Behind the curtain a little. Bit that I didn't. 283 00:13:54,280 --> 00:13:56,680 Quite go public with my faith, I could be kind of like a. 284 00:13:56,680 --> 00:14:00,720 Secret agent for for God and and. 285 00:14:00,760 --> 00:14:02,800 And maybe. There's some of us in here. 286 00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:06,680 With us this morning that. You know your relationship with 287 00:14:06,720 --> 00:14:08,560 Jesus is. Personal, but you consider. 288 00:14:08,560 --> 00:14:10,640 It private. Because you've been justifying 289 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:12,320 your. Faith walk with. 290 00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:14,720 Jesus, the same way that. Joseph of Arimathea did over 291 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:17,680 2000 years ago. So, So what? 292 00:14:17,680 --> 00:14:20,600 Changed in Joseph's life. I. 293 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:24,800 Believe that it was this. I believe when he looked at 294 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:25,960 Jesus hanging on the. Cross. 295 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:30,440 Because Joseph of Arimathea, he knew something then that we 296 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:35,440 don't quite know now, because crucifixion is is not a common 297 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:39,680 practice. But in Joseph's day, the Roman, 298 00:14:40,160 --> 00:14:43,120 the Roman military, the Roman government. 299 00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:48,040 Perfected the art. Of excruciating pain, of a long 300 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:53,320 drawn out death. And and actually when when 301 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:55,240 someone was crucified, they didn't. 302 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:59,160 Die because they bled out. They they died of. 303 00:14:59,160 --> 00:15:00,880 Asphyxiation. They. 304 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:03,760 Died because like they would. Constantly like just be pulling 305 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:07,000 themselves up on the. Cross to get another breath. 306 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:08,760 And every. Time they pulled, of course, 307 00:15:08,760 --> 00:15:11,120 like. The places in their hands. 308 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:13,200 That are wrists that were. Pierced by nails and their. 309 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:16,960 Feet would would just being fiery agony. 310 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:18,560 And their muscles would eventually. 311 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:21,840 Seize up. It's about a three hour process. 312 00:15:22,360 --> 00:15:23,640 It's the most. Excruciating. 313 00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:27,240 Most humiliating form of death humanity has ever known. 314 00:15:27,920 --> 00:15:31,240 But to make matters. Worse after the victim of 315 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:34,440 crucifixion. Would die the Roman government? 316 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:37,000 Would typically keep those bodies on the cross. 317 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:39,960 They would keep the bodies on the cross so that the birds 318 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:41,440 could eat the flesh of the bodies. 319 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:43,560 And so. That it would be a deterrent to 320 00:15:43,560 --> 00:15:45,360 all that walked. By going hey, don't. 321 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:48,160 Mess, don't step out of bounds because this could happen to you 322 00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:50,720 too. I believe that Joseph of 323 00:15:50,720 --> 00:15:53,160 Arimathea when he saw Jesus. Body hanging on the. 324 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:55,720 Cross. The thought of him leaving his 325 00:15:55,720 --> 00:16:02,200 Savior's body on the cross was so crushing that something 326 00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:05,720 happened and it was where his love for Jesus. 327 00:16:05,920 --> 00:16:11,240 Began to outweigh the. His fear of his peers listen. 328 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:16,320 When true love for Jesus really takes over our lives, it has a. 329 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:19,360 Way of pushing out. Fear of what other people think. 330 00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:21,880 Or what other people may. Think of us. 331 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:24,240 I'm. So thoroughly convinced that God 332 00:16:24,240 --> 00:16:27,280 never saves a single person, just a sit in secret. 333 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:31,360 I believe that he saves every single person to live out that 334 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:35,440 transformation that only he could bring in a public way as a 335 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:37,080 way of saying. Listen my. 336 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:39,960 God did this for me. And in me and through me. 337 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:42,880 And He can do it in you, and through you and to. 338 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:44,920 You as well. He can bring out transformation 339 00:16:44,920 --> 00:16:48,240 in you. Speaking of transformation, 340 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:50,600 second lesson that an empty cross. 341 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:53,400 Or an empty grave wants to teach us this morning. 342 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:58,280 Is this proximity to Jesus? Is not the same as being 343 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:02,160 transformed by. Jesus proximity or closeness to 344 00:17:02,160 --> 00:17:04,160 Jesus? Is not the same as being 345 00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:07,319 transformed. By Jesus, so Joseph. 346 00:17:07,319 --> 00:17:10,960 Of Arimathea goes and asks the Roman governor for the. 347 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:13,800 Body of Jesus Roman governor complies. 348 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:18,720 Joseph then takes the body down, starts to transport it to his 349 00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:21,640 personal empty. Tomb, but did you notice there 350 00:17:21,640 --> 00:17:23,160 was? Another guy that was with Joseph 351 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:25,520 in this passage that we just read in John. 352 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:29,680 There's a guy by the name of. Nicodemus and and and. 353 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:32,160 Maybe. Maybe you know who Nicodemus is. 354 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:32,800 You. You remember. 355 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:36,880 Who Nicodemus was and. Maybe you're maybe you're new to 356 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:38,560 church. And maybe you're like I. 357 00:17:38,680 --> 00:17:40,720 Think I may have. Heard that name, I just don't 358 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:44,360 know where to place it. We first encounter this guy by 359 00:17:44,360 --> 00:17:48,120 the name of Nicodemus when he had a conversation. 360 00:17:48,120 --> 00:17:51,160 With Jesus, you see Nicodemus like Joseph, he was. 361 00:17:51,160 --> 00:17:53,880 He was a member of Sanhedrin. So very, very influential. 362 00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:56,680 Very. Powerful Jewish religious 363 00:17:56,680 --> 00:17:58,920 leader. He has a conversation with 364 00:17:58,960 --> 00:18:01,200 Jesus. He comes to Jesus at night and 365 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:02,880 basically. Ask Jesus this question, hey? 366 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:06,720 Jesus, how can a person be made? Right with God. 367 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:08,720 And then Jesus tells him. You have to be. 368 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:11,160 Born again. And then that just blows 369 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:14,080 Nicodemus's mind. How in the world can I be born 370 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:16,160 again? Can I crawl up in my mother's 371 00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:18,440 womb? And Jesus begins to unpack that. 372 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:20,600 He's not talking about a. Physical birth. 373 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:22,600 He's talking about a spiritual birth. 374 00:18:23,160 --> 00:18:28,680 And it's in that context that Jesus gives him the very famous 375 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:31,080 phrase, probably the the deepest. 376 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:34,440 The greatest passage in all of scripture to where it says for 377 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:37,520 God so loved the world. Hey, Nicodemus, listen God. 378 00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:40,040 So loved the world. That he gave his one and only 379 00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:41,920 son, that whoever believes in him should not. 380 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:45,240 Perish, but have eternal life. We know that verse. 381 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:48,160 We know that statement as the verse John 316. 382 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:51,440 It was that conversation that Jesus and Nicodemus. 383 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:53,680 Had is recorded to for us in the early. 384 00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:57,840 Chapters of John But here's the thing about Nicodemus. 385 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:01,960 We are never told that Nicodemus was a true. 386 00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:05,600 Follower of Jesus. As a matter of fact, I would 387 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:07,520 argue that the way that. John. 388 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:12,360 Describes Joseph of Arimathea. Joseph, a follower of Jesus, a 389 00:19:12,360 --> 00:19:14,640 disciple of Jesus, but in secret, but it says nothing 390 00:19:14,640 --> 00:19:16,720 about. Nicodemus I think that that's 391 00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:19,360 pretty damning. When it comes to Nicodemus. 392 00:19:20,120 --> 00:19:22,040 So what are we? What are we to? 393 00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:25,160 Do with that. I want to show you again taking. 394 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:27,520 Notes with us jot. This down it is possible to know 395 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:29,080 the things of God and not know God. 396 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:33,840 It is possible to know the things of God and not know God. 397 00:19:35,600 --> 00:19:39,920 Now I would argue that there were very few, if any, that were 398 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:43,720 smarter than Nicodemus. The the guy was just an absolute 399 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:45,000 genius. He he, he was a. 400 00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:47,160 He was a master. Of the Jewish law he. 401 00:19:47,160 --> 00:19:52,680 He knew Scripture backwards and forwards, yet salvation. 402 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:55,520 Is not based on intellect. I would also. 403 00:19:55,520 --> 00:19:58,920 Argue that very few, if any, actually did more for Jesus. 404 00:19:59,960 --> 00:20:01,960 Remember in the passage. That we just read about how 405 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:04,760 Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, they they they took. 406 00:20:04,760 --> 00:20:08,080 Jesus Body and. They Nicodemus brought 75. 407 00:20:08,080 --> 00:20:10,800 Pounds of of myrrh and. Aloe. 408 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:16,320 To to to anoint the body of. Jesus the the initial like 409 00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:20,520 burial process 75. Pounds of myrrh and aloe is the 410 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:24,000 modern day equivalent of 150,000 to 200,000. 411 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:29,720 Dollars all in one shot. Very few, if any, did more for. 412 00:20:29,760 --> 00:20:32,240 Jesus than Nicodemus. Yet here's the deal. 413 00:20:32,240 --> 00:20:35,000 Salvation is not. Based off of what you do for 414 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:37,680 Jesus. You know, when it comes to 415 00:20:37,680 --> 00:20:43,840 Nicodemus, I'm reminded of of a statement that Jesus made back 416 00:20:43,840 --> 00:20:46,320 in back in Matthew. This is what Jesus said. 417 00:20:46,320 --> 00:20:49,760 Back in Matthew he says, listen, not everyone who says to me, 418 00:20:49,760 --> 00:20:52,880 Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but the one 419 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:54,800 who does the will of my. Father who is. 420 00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:56,600 In heaven, in other words, you can call Jesus. 421 00:20:56,600 --> 00:20:59,160 Lord doesn't mean that he is Lord. 422 00:20:59,320 --> 00:21:01,680 You can have the right name for Jesus, but not everyone who says 423 00:21:01,680 --> 00:21:04,280 to me, Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom of heaven on that day. 424 00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:07,400 Many will say to me, Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in your 425 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:09,840 name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty 426 00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:13,760 works in your name, and then I will declare to them the most 427 00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:16,040 bone. Chilling phrase in all of 428 00:21:16,040 --> 00:21:17,560 Scripture. The most bone chilling? 429 00:21:17,560 --> 00:21:22,840 Phrases ever been uttered and all of creation I and then I 430 00:21:22,840 --> 00:21:26,240 will declare to them, I never knew you Depart from me, you 431 00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:30,600 workers. Of lawlessness, you see, it has 432 00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:34,200 nothing to do. With how much you know about 433 00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:36,000 Jesus, it has nothing to do with all the good. 434 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:38,440 Things that you do for Jesus it has. 435 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:42,160 Nothing to do with how. Moral or how virtuous you are, 436 00:21:44,280 --> 00:21:45,920 it has to do with something else. 437 00:21:46,520 --> 00:21:49,000 Check this out the. Beginning place of 438 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:52,720 transformation is surrender. Surrender. 439 00:21:52,920 --> 00:21:55,800 Is the pathway to true transformation. 440 00:21:56,760 --> 00:21:58,040 Now what? What does that mean? 441 00:21:58,200 --> 00:22:01,880 It means surrender means that I realize that I need to be 442 00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:03,960 forgiven. Of my sins that but. 443 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:07,000 I can't do that on my own. In other words, like. 444 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:10,320 I need Jesus to forgive me of my sin because I can't take that 445 00:22:10,320 --> 00:22:13,440 weight off of me. I can't get rid of that shame 446 00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:16,760 and that guilt on my own, so I need Jesus. 447 00:22:17,240 --> 00:22:21,920 I need Jesus to come into my life and to guide me in life 448 00:22:21,920 --> 00:22:24,920 because I can't do life on my own. 449 00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:27,560 I I need. Jesus to give. 450 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:32,480 Me, the hope of heaven when I die, because there's nothing 451 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:35,240 that I can do here in this life. To. 452 00:22:35,360 --> 00:22:38,200 Earn eternity with God in heaven. 453 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:41,040 That pathway is only through Jesus. 454 00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:43,560 Listen, Jesus is not. Just a way. 455 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:49,480 To forgiveness and and or even the best way to to to to, to, to 456 00:22:49,560 --> 00:22:52,800 to new. Life, he is the only. 457 00:22:52,800 --> 00:22:57,440 Way. He's the only way, Jesus himself 458 00:22:57,440 --> 00:22:59,880 said I am the way. The truth and the life no. 459 00:22:59,880 --> 00:23:01,960 One comes to the father. Except through me. 460 00:23:02,120 --> 00:23:04,960 Surrender is the pathway to transformation. 461 00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:06,800 This is something that Nicodemus didn't get. 462 00:23:07,880 --> 00:23:10,560 I believe that Nicodemus. Was very, very close to Jesus 463 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:11,840 as. Physically close to. 464 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:16,800 Jesus as you could possibly be. I would even argue that 465 00:23:16,800 --> 00:23:20,880 Nicodemus in that in that initial staging of the burial. 466 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:25,560 Process with a with a. With a myrrh and the aloe, I 467 00:23:25,560 --> 00:23:27,760 believe that Nicodemus. Had the blood of Jesus. 468 00:23:27,760 --> 00:23:30,840 On his hands. Literally had the blood of. 469 00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:34,040 Jesus on his hands, yet he never surrendered. 470 00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:36,640 To Jesus in his heart. Man, how? 471 00:23:36,640 --> 00:23:41,800 Tragic is that Listen. Here's what transformation 472 00:23:41,800 --> 00:23:45,920 Here's what what Jesus wants to do in and for us, He wants to 473 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:48,520 take. You where you are as you are. 474 00:23:48,720 --> 00:23:52,040 And to mold and shape and develop you into who He created 475 00:23:52,040 --> 00:23:55,360 you to be. But that can't start with just a 476 00:23:55,360 --> 00:23:58,480 head knowledge of Jesus. And it certainly can't start 477 00:23:58,480 --> 00:24:00,280 with trying to earn the favor of Jesus. 478 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:02,400 It has to start. With a surrender to. 479 00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:05,240 Jesus, Jesus, I. Need you to forgive me of my 480 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:07,920 sins. Jesus, would you please come 481 00:24:07,920 --> 00:24:10,000 into my life and take control of my life? 482 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:12,400 And Jesus, I commit to following you for the rest. 483 00:24:12,400 --> 00:24:15,840 Of my life, that surrender. That's surrender. 484 00:24:15,920 --> 00:24:18,520 Surrender is the pathway to transformation. 485 00:24:20,040 --> 00:24:22,840 But the third lesson? That an empty tomb has for us 486 00:24:22,840 --> 00:24:25,360 this morning. Is actually the greatest news. 487 00:24:25,600 --> 00:24:29,760 That you and I, whether you came in here or stepped on step foot 488 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:33,200 on this campus anticipating this or logged in and you're with us 489 00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:38,760 online, the greatest news that you and I could ever imagine is 490 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:40,600 the third. Lesson that an empty tomb has 491 00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:42,000 for us this morning. Here it is. 492 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:45,760 The empty tomb is your invitation to a new life. 493 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:48,920 The empty tomb is your invitation to a new life. 494 00:24:49,720 --> 00:24:53,400 On your note sheet I put Matthew chapter 28 verses one through 495 00:24:53,480 --> 00:24:54,840 10. We're not going to take time to. 496 00:24:54,840 --> 00:25:00,600 Read all of it. But I do want to highlight the 497 00:25:00,600 --> 00:25:04,280 most joy filled verse I think in all. 498 00:25:04,280 --> 00:25:07,360 Of Scripture. And let me kind of set it up, 499 00:25:07,360 --> 00:25:09,800 give you some context. You have the women that were 500 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:11,600 following. Jesus that were very close to 501 00:25:11,600 --> 00:25:13,200 Jesus. They're absolutely devastated. 502 00:25:13,200 --> 00:25:16,160 They're wrecked. They're grieving and they're 503 00:25:16,160 --> 00:25:19,760 making their way before the sun comes up on Sunday morning to. 504 00:25:19,760 --> 00:25:22,920 Finish the burial process of. Jesus. 505 00:25:22,920 --> 00:25:25,320 And you got to imagine that they're probably sitting there 506 00:25:25,320 --> 00:25:26,400 talking. Who's? 507 00:25:26,400 --> 00:25:29,880 Going to roll that stone. Away so that we can bury. 508 00:25:29,880 --> 00:25:33,040 Jesus so that we can apply the. More of these oils and ointments 509 00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:35,920 on the body of Jesus and and will the Roman guards who were 510 00:25:35,920 --> 00:25:39,600 stationed there to guard the entrance of the tomb, will they 511 00:25:39,880 --> 00:25:41,440 are they going to turn us away or. 512 00:25:42,280 --> 00:25:45,440 Will they actually help? Us roll that stone away. 513 00:25:46,960 --> 00:25:50,560 But that Sunday morning, over 2000 years ago, they turned the 514 00:25:50,560 --> 00:25:53,360 corner and they saw something. That they never expected to see 515 00:25:53,360 --> 00:25:54,920 the. Stone was already rolled away 516 00:25:55,080 --> 00:25:57,320 and then panic immediately. Starts to set in. 517 00:25:57,480 --> 00:25:59,600 Somebody's stolen the body. Of Jesus. 518 00:26:00,400 --> 00:26:02,440 This is where Matthew chapter 28. 519 00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:05,120 Picks up, he says. There's an Angel, There was an 520 00:26:05,120 --> 00:26:08,200 Angel there at the entrance of the empty tomb, he says. 521 00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:11,240 The Angel said to the women, Do not be afraid, for I know that 522 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:13,200 you seek. Jesus who was crucified. 523 00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:16,480 Verse 6. Most joy filled verse in all 524 00:26:16,480 --> 00:26:18,360 scripture. The very reason that we are here 525 00:26:18,360 --> 00:26:20,320 today. The very reason that you and I 526 00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:23,440 can live in hope. He is not here, for He has 527 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:26,080 risen. As he said. 528 00:26:26,080 --> 00:26:31,000 Let me kind of translate that. Hey, Jesus called his shot when 529 00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:33,960 he walked among you. He told you that he was going to 530 00:26:33,960 --> 00:26:37,600 die, He was going to be buried and he was going to resurrect 531 00:26:37,600 --> 00:26:40,560 himself from the dead. Listen, I don't know about you. 532 00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:43,680 There's probably so many of us in this room or downstairs in 533 00:26:43,680 --> 00:26:46,360 overflow or online. Listen, intellectually you're a 534 00:26:46,360 --> 00:26:49,080 lot smarter than I am, but here's all I know. 535 00:26:49,280 --> 00:26:52,600 The guy that calls his shot and raises himself from the dead. 536 00:26:52,760 --> 00:26:55,360 I'm with that guy. I'm going to follow that guy. 537 00:26:56,240 --> 00:26:59,920 He is not here, just he is risen from the dead, just as he. 538 00:27:00,520 --> 00:27:01,600 He said. But. 539 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:03,600 Check out the last thing that the Angel said to him. 540 00:27:04,160 --> 00:27:07,040 Come see. The place where he lay. 541 00:27:08,120 --> 00:27:09,880 Come see. The place where he lay. 542 00:27:10,080 --> 00:27:12,920 Do you see that invitation? Listen. 543 00:27:14,520 --> 00:27:17,640 One of the one of the most tragic things that you and I. 544 00:27:17,640 --> 00:27:20,480 Can do is to. Come here on a Sunday morning 545 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:23,760 and to read. The words of Scripture to read 546 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:27,000 God's Word and go. Man, empty tomb. 547 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:30,360 Awesome. Awesome. 548 00:27:31,360 --> 00:27:33,600 Jesus rose from the dead. Incredible. 549 00:27:34,600 --> 00:27:36,760 Cool. What's for lunch? 550 00:27:39,520 --> 00:27:40,280 A lot. Of times it's. 551 00:27:40,280 --> 00:27:42,800 Very easy for us to. Stand back and admire. 552 00:27:42,800 --> 00:27:47,960 The empty tomb for for. For some some of us that are 553 00:27:47,960 --> 00:27:49,880 very analytical. It's easy for us to. 554 00:27:50,120 --> 00:27:51,720 To kind of stand back and wanted. 555 00:27:52,040 --> 00:27:53,520 To analyze the empty. Tomb. 556 00:27:54,040 --> 00:27:56,040 I want to study more about the empty tomb. 557 00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:58,080 I want to. Analyze the empty tomb. 558 00:27:59,280 --> 00:28:01,720 Can I tell you this, the empty tomb this morning is not 559 00:28:01,720 --> 00:28:04,920 something for us to just admire and something for us just to. 560 00:28:05,200 --> 00:28:06,320 Analyze. It's actually. 561 00:28:06,320 --> 00:28:09,640 Something for us to step. Into and here's. 562 00:28:09,640 --> 00:28:14,960 Here's what I mean as we kind of. 563 00:28:15,720 --> 00:28:17,440 Head down the home stretch this morning. 564 00:28:17,880 --> 00:28:19,920 Because the tomb of. Jesus is empty. 565 00:28:19,920 --> 00:28:22,840 There's two. Great pieces of hope because the 566 00:28:22,840 --> 00:28:25,640 tomb is empty. I can now be forgiven. 567 00:28:25,640 --> 00:28:28,320 Set. Free, born again and secure. 568 00:28:29,960 --> 00:28:33,240 Because the tomb is empty, because Jesus defeated death and 569 00:28:33,240 --> 00:28:36,400 the grave, I can now be forgiven. 570 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:40,960 And for the person that's with us this morning that you're 571 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:46,440 sitting here thinking, if he only knew what what I've done, 572 00:28:46,920 --> 00:28:49,800 if he only knew what I think about where, where my mind 573 00:28:49,800 --> 00:28:51,360 automatically drifts. To. 574 00:28:52,360 --> 00:28:53,680 If he only knew my. Past. 575 00:28:53,960 --> 00:28:55,600 If he only knew my. Struggles. 576 00:28:55,800 --> 00:28:57,280 Surely he wouldn't say that to me. 577 00:28:57,400 --> 00:29:00,000 To me, absolutely. I'd say that to you. 578 00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:04,520 Listen, do not miss this. Point everything that Jesus went 579 00:29:04,520 --> 00:29:06,040 through on the cross. He went through for you. 580 00:29:07,600 --> 00:29:10,160 He knows you backwards. And forwards, inside and out, 581 00:29:10,160 --> 00:29:12,000 there's nothing. Hidden from him and yet. 582 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:15,600 He still chooses to love you, as we talked about last week. 583 00:29:15,600 --> 00:29:17,880 I believe that there are so many people that have convinced 584 00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:21,280 themselves, they've convinced themselves that if. 585 00:29:21,280 --> 00:29:24,040 Jesus just knew what they had done or what they think. 586 00:29:24,040 --> 00:29:26,440 About or what they struggle with, Jesus would. 587 00:29:26,440 --> 00:29:28,640 Find them too gross. And too offensive. 588 00:29:28,640 --> 00:29:29,840 And too. Unlovable to love. 589 00:29:30,640 --> 00:29:34,760 And I can assure you that that is not the case at all because 590 00:29:34,760 --> 00:29:36,800 of the empty. Tomb you can be forgiven. 591 00:29:36,880 --> 00:29:38,280 You can also be set. Free. 592 00:29:38,800 --> 00:29:40,760 It doesn't mean that you're. Bound by the chains. 593 00:29:40,760 --> 00:29:42,240 That you were once bound. By Why? 594 00:29:42,240 --> 00:29:43,960 Because. Not because you have greater 595 00:29:43,960 --> 00:29:46,080 willpower, but because. You now have God power. 596 00:29:46,720 --> 00:29:49,680 Living in you, you can be set free. 597 00:29:49,920 --> 00:29:53,320 You can also be born again. One of the things that we 598 00:29:53,320 --> 00:29:55,720 constantly. Hear in our culture is well, 599 00:29:55,800 --> 00:29:58,000 that's. Just who I am and that's what my 600 00:29:58,000 --> 00:30:00,840 mom struggle with and my dad struggle with come from a long 601 00:30:00,840 --> 00:30:02,440 history. Of like people that just. 602 00:30:02,440 --> 00:30:04,960 Fly off the handle. I was. 603 00:30:04,960 --> 00:30:07,640 I was born with these. Struggles and we go. 604 00:30:07,640 --> 00:30:09,320 OK, we get that. With all. 605 00:30:09,320 --> 00:30:12,720 Love and grace and compassion. I get that. 606 00:30:13,080 --> 00:30:14,520 You know what the call of Jesus is? 607 00:30:15,720 --> 00:30:19,960 Be born again because the tomb is empty. 608 00:30:19,960 --> 00:30:21,800 You and I, we can be born again. We can also. 609 00:30:21,800 --> 00:30:24,120 Be secure. Secure is. 610 00:30:24,120 --> 00:30:28,520 The is the peace of knowing that when we close our. 611 00:30:29,120 --> 00:30:32,720 Eyes to go to sleep at night. We know that no matter. 612 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:36,280 What happens if that's the last? Time that. 613 00:30:36,280 --> 00:30:42,760 We ever close our eyes? That we will spend eternity. 614 00:30:42,760 --> 00:30:45,440 With God in heaven. Man, that's a hope that you 615 00:30:45,440 --> 00:30:48,280 cannot. Put any type of money or figure 616 00:30:48,280 --> 00:30:50,400 on. But it's only if you. 617 00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:52,080 Surrender your life to. Jesus, because the tomb is 618 00:30:52,080 --> 00:30:54,760 empty, I can be forgiven, set free, born again and secure. 619 00:30:54,760 --> 00:30:56,360 And some of us are sitting here thinking, well, Ben. 620 00:30:56,800 --> 00:31:00,520 I have surrendered my life to Jesus and I'm glad that the 621 00:31:00,520 --> 00:31:02,360 empty tomb does. That, and I'm not saying that. 622 00:31:02,800 --> 00:31:06,280 Tritely or flippantly or glibly? At all. 623 00:31:06,960 --> 00:31:10,480 I'm glad that the tomb is empty. But but. 624 00:31:10,600 --> 00:31:12,640 What is an empty tomb saying to me? 625 00:31:13,720 --> 00:31:16,000 I'm glad you asked. The empty tomb. 626 00:31:16,200 --> 00:31:18,320 Because the tomb is empty, that means that nothing is 627 00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:20,920 impossible. That means that nothing is 628 00:31:20,920 --> 00:31:22,520 impossible. Let me kind of tell you 629 00:31:22,520 --> 00:31:24,440 something that you don't. It's not that you don't already 630 00:31:24,440 --> 00:31:26,280 know. I'm going to reinforce something 631 00:31:26,280 --> 00:31:28,760 that you already know just because you give your life to 632 00:31:28,760 --> 00:31:29,920 Jesus. And surrender your life to. 633 00:31:29,920 --> 00:31:31,400 Jesus, that doesn't mean that you won't have. 634 00:31:31,400 --> 00:31:33,800 Hardships, heart breaks and hard times. 635 00:31:35,400 --> 00:31:37,440 And some people will go. Amen. 636 00:31:37,960 --> 00:31:40,480 Been there. And if you don't know that. 637 00:31:41,080 --> 00:31:42,400 I would go ahead and prepare yourself. 638 00:31:42,400 --> 00:31:44,480 I'd go ahead and. Anticipate the fact that you're 639 00:31:44,480 --> 00:31:46,040 going to have. Hardships, hard times, heart 640 00:31:46,040 --> 00:31:48,720 breaks. Go ahead and expect it. 641 00:31:49,800 --> 00:31:54,040 But here's what we do, and maybe this is just me in the midst of 642 00:31:54,200 --> 00:31:57,200 those trials and those seasons and those storms. 643 00:31:58,000 --> 00:31:59,840 It's so easy. For us to just get. 644 00:31:59,840 --> 00:32:03,000 Beaten down. To where we start to. 645 00:32:03,000 --> 00:32:08,080 Accept a new normal and we start to think, God, I know that 646 00:32:08,080 --> 00:32:11,720 you're the great physician. But that, that, that diagnosis 647 00:32:11,800 --> 00:32:15,760 that I just got, I thought, I don't think there's anything 648 00:32:15,760 --> 00:32:18,560 that you can do about that. God, I know. 649 00:32:18,560 --> 00:32:21,040 That you're the great physician. But what just? 650 00:32:21,040 --> 00:32:23,880 Popped up on the patient. Portal the test results. 651 00:32:25,320 --> 00:32:28,320 God, I'm I'm not really sure that you're even interested in 652 00:32:28,320 --> 00:32:32,240 healing that. God, I know that you. 653 00:32:32,240 --> 00:32:35,360 Love me and I know. That you that you created 654 00:32:35,360 --> 00:32:37,400 marriage and instituted marriage. 655 00:32:37,400 --> 00:32:41,080 But God, I don't. I don't think there's any. 656 00:32:41,080 --> 00:32:45,400 Hope for us anymore. I think this is beyond 657 00:32:46,120 --> 00:32:49,960 restoration. God, the relationship that I 658 00:32:49,960 --> 00:32:52,920 have with family, the estranged relationship, I believe it's 659 00:32:52,920 --> 00:32:54,920 beyond. I know that you can do all 660 00:32:54,920 --> 00:32:58,040 things in theory, but. I believe it's way too big for 661 00:32:58,040 --> 00:33:02,120 your reconciliation, for the power of your reconciliation. 662 00:33:03,160 --> 00:33:06,560 Can I tell you this? Because the tomb is empty. 663 00:33:06,560 --> 00:33:08,920 Do you know what? God is shouting from heaven. 664 00:33:09,880 --> 00:33:15,360 Impossible is now off the table. Impossible is now off the table. 665 00:33:18,400 --> 00:33:20,120 Here's. What I want to do when? 666 00:33:20,120 --> 00:33:23,160 We talked about how the. Tomb is not. 667 00:33:23,160 --> 00:33:25,200 The empty tomb is not. Just something for us to admire 668 00:33:25,200 --> 00:33:27,640 or something for us to stand back and to analyze or something 669 00:33:27,800 --> 00:33:30,400 for us to step into. I want to give us the 670 00:33:30,400 --> 00:33:34,760 opportunity this morning to kind of step into that empty tomb and 671 00:33:35,000 --> 00:33:35,840 we're. Going to do it kind. 672 00:33:35,840 --> 00:33:38,240 Of in a. In a in a way that we typically 673 00:33:38,240 --> 00:33:40,840 don't. On a on a Sunday morning because 674 00:33:40,840 --> 00:33:42,880 we have so many people here this morning. 675 00:33:43,520 --> 00:33:46,080 I want to invite you wherever you are in the room, if you're, 676 00:33:46,520 --> 00:33:49,080 if you're in the in the room. With us now or? 677 00:33:49,080 --> 00:33:50,480 Down in. Overflow, I want to invite you 678 00:33:50,480 --> 00:33:55,000 to take this connect card out, that every single one of us take 679 00:33:55,000 --> 00:33:57,440 this connect card out, and I want to point your attention to 680 00:33:57,440 --> 00:34:00,360 something. In the middle of that connect. 681 00:34:00,360 --> 00:34:02,600 Card there. There are three small boxes. 682 00:34:04,520 --> 00:34:07,760 The first one says I'm new to. Riverbend and if you are new to 683 00:34:07,760 --> 00:34:10,679 Riverbend, man, we're so. Glad that you're here. 684 00:34:11,360 --> 00:34:14,679 If you're if you're checking us out for the first time online, 685 00:34:15,040 --> 00:34:18,639 we're so glad that you're here. And you know. 686 00:34:18,679 --> 00:34:21,199 As a matter of fact, if you are. New, you know. 687 00:34:21,199 --> 00:34:23,560 Check that box pass on. Whatever info you feel 688 00:34:23,560 --> 00:34:25,880 comfortable passing on, we look forward to getting to know you 689 00:34:25,880 --> 00:34:28,560 and connecting you. With some other relationships 690 00:34:29,080 --> 00:34:30,760 here in the church, just because we know how important 691 00:34:30,760 --> 00:34:33,600 relationships are to us if you're with us online and you're 692 00:34:33,600 --> 00:34:34,239 new. Just drop a. 693 00:34:34,239 --> 00:34:38,320 Comment in the comment section new here and we'll follow up 694 00:34:38,320 --> 00:34:39,480 with. You, but that's not really the 695 00:34:39,480 --> 00:34:41,639 one that I'm. Most interested in this morning. 696 00:34:42,040 --> 00:34:44,280 It's actually the second two, the. 697 00:34:44,280 --> 00:34:46,719 First one says I'm placing. My faith in Jesus. 698 00:34:48,560 --> 00:34:50,600 Can I ask you A? Question this morning just 699 00:34:50,600 --> 00:34:52,639 being. Really, really, really real and 700 00:34:52,639 --> 00:34:54,679 really, really honest with yourself about yourself. 701 00:34:57,800 --> 00:35:01,200 When I was talking about. Nicodemus did. 702 00:35:01,360 --> 00:35:03,720 Was there a part of you that identified with him? 703 00:35:06,880 --> 00:35:08,480 You may know a lot about Jesus. You may. 704 00:35:08,480 --> 00:35:11,040 Know a little about Jesus. You may have done a ton for 705 00:35:11,040 --> 00:35:11,760 Jesus. You may have. 706 00:35:11,760 --> 00:35:13,920 Grown up in church. This may be one of your first 707 00:35:13,920 --> 00:35:15,040 few. Times in church. 708 00:35:15,760 --> 00:35:19,280 But here's what you do know. You can be close to the things 709 00:35:19,280 --> 00:35:21,480 of God and not give your heart to God. 710 00:35:24,240 --> 00:35:26,200 Has there been a point in time in your life? 711 00:35:26,200 --> 00:35:28,200 To where? You have come to. 712 00:35:28,200 --> 00:35:30,840 Jesus and said, Jesus, I need you to forgive me. 713 00:35:31,120 --> 00:35:33,200 I need you to come. Into my life, take control of my 714 00:35:33,200 --> 00:35:35,600 life, and I commit to following you for the rest of my life. 715 00:35:36,360 --> 00:35:38,320 Has there been a point to? Where you've surrendered your 716 00:35:38,320 --> 00:35:42,280 life to Jesus. If not, if you know that you 717 00:35:42,280 --> 00:35:45,920 haven't, I mean encourage. You to take a bold step, just 718 00:35:45,920 --> 00:35:49,440 check that box and that lets one of our pastors know to follow up 719 00:35:49,440 --> 00:35:51,200 with you. And if you're on the fence, If 720 00:35:51,200 --> 00:35:52,440 you're iffy? About it, you're like I. 721 00:35:52,440 --> 00:35:53,760 Don't know, but I really want to know. 722 00:35:53,760 --> 00:35:56,960 I really need to know. Check that box. 723 00:35:57,520 --> 00:35:59,040 One of our pastors will follow up with you. 724 00:36:00,040 --> 00:36:04,080 We'd love to help you in your faith journey, even if it's at. 725 00:36:04,080 --> 00:36:05,600 The very. Beginning of your faith journey 726 00:36:09,040 --> 00:36:11,800 second question when I. Was talking about Joseph of. 727 00:36:11,800 --> 00:36:15,240 Arimathea about how he was a disciple of Jesus. 728 00:36:15,240 --> 00:36:18,120 He was a follower of Jesus, but in secret because he was afraid 729 00:36:18,120 --> 00:36:20,480 of what the people around him would think. 730 00:36:22,600 --> 00:36:24,960 Was there something in you that resonated with Joseph? 731 00:36:27,160 --> 00:36:29,400 Where you, you, you've, you've been saved. 732 00:36:29,400 --> 00:36:31,000 You surrendered. Your life to Jesus you've just 733 00:36:31,000 --> 00:36:34,800 never gone public with that decision you know God God 734 00:36:34,800 --> 00:36:38,040 instructs us in his word that the first step of obedience 735 00:36:38,360 --> 00:36:39,040 after. Giving. 736 00:36:39,040 --> 00:36:44,280 Our lives to Jesus is baptism. Let me tell you a quick story. 737 00:36:44,480 --> 00:36:48,880 My my story. I got baptized when I was really 738 00:36:48,880 --> 00:36:53,480 young, and then I gave my life to Jesus two years afterwards 739 00:36:54,280 --> 00:36:58,000 and I realized that wasn't baptism when I was really. 740 00:36:58,000 --> 00:36:59,520 Young that. Wasn't baptism that was just 741 00:36:59,520 --> 00:37:05,520 getting wet in front of people? Baptism is on this side of 742 00:37:05,520 --> 00:37:09,520 salvation, you know? I fought that. 743 00:37:10,240 --> 00:37:12,360 I was, I was like Joseph of Arimathea. 744 00:37:12,920 --> 00:37:17,560 I fought that from the end of the school year, my 4th grade of 745 00:37:17,560 --> 00:37:21,440 4th grade, all the way till I started the summer before I 746 00:37:21,440 --> 00:37:24,960 started college. Finally, I gave in, and I'll 747 00:37:24,960 --> 00:37:29,440 never forget that moment of surrender to where my love for 748 00:37:29,440 --> 00:37:33,800 Jesus really overwhelmed and outweighed the fear of what I 749 00:37:33,800 --> 00:37:35,360 thought people around me were going to think. 750 00:37:36,920 --> 00:37:40,520 To go back in time, I would. Not have wasted those years at 751 00:37:40,520 --> 00:37:43,400 all. Let me ask you a question. 752 00:37:44,040 --> 00:37:48,080 Have you gone public with? Your faith and followed Jesus 753 00:37:48,080 --> 00:37:52,720 and believers baptism. If you if you haven't, I'm going 754 00:37:52,720 --> 00:37:54,480 to encourage you to take a bold step. 755 00:37:55,760 --> 00:37:59,720 Just check that box. I would like to be baptized. 756 00:37:59,720 --> 00:38:03,440 If you're with us online, either one of those I'm placing my 757 00:38:03,440 --> 00:38:05,600 faith in Jesus, or I would like to be baptized. 758 00:38:05,600 --> 00:38:09,000 Just drop us a comment in that comment section and we'll have 759 00:38:09,000 --> 00:38:10,600 somebody follow up with you ASAP. 760 00:38:12,200 --> 00:38:15,280 You know, we, we have a baptism service next week and we would 761 00:38:15,280 --> 00:38:18,560 love to celebrate that public step of obedience with you. 762 00:38:18,960 --> 00:38:22,240 We just need to know how to connect with you and encourage 763 00:38:22,240 --> 00:38:25,600 you. Now there's a lot of us that 764 00:38:26,920 --> 00:38:29,920 we've surrendered our lives to Jesus and we've we have 765 00:38:29,920 --> 00:38:31,760 followed. Him and being obedient 766 00:38:31,760 --> 00:38:32,800 believers. Baptism. 767 00:38:34,400 --> 00:38:38,440 Yet there are certain situations in our lives that we have just 768 00:38:38,440 --> 00:38:39,720 accepted. A new normal? 769 00:38:41,080 --> 00:38:44,280 And we're doubting the resurrection power of God in our 770 00:38:44,280 --> 00:38:49,120 lives. For those of us that may be 771 00:38:49,120 --> 00:38:53,920 going through something really, really hard, and you were 772 00:38:53,920 --> 00:38:56,440 praying for something no less than a miracle. 773 00:38:56,440 --> 00:39:00,120 I want to encourage you to flip over on the back of that Connect 774 00:39:00,120 --> 00:39:06,480 card, that place where it says prayer request and just jot down 775 00:39:07,200 --> 00:39:12,200 something you you could jot down maybe my marriage, you could jot 776 00:39:12,200 --> 00:39:18,920 down work situation, family situation, maybe infertility. 777 00:39:20,960 --> 00:39:23,960 Maybe you're struggling mentally or or emotionally. 778 00:39:24,360 --> 00:39:25,880 Maybe you're struggling physically. 779 00:39:26,480 --> 00:39:29,320 Listen, we would love to pray with you and to pray for you, 780 00:39:31,480 --> 00:39:33,520 but our desires that. We would be. 781 00:39:33,520 --> 00:39:36,400 Reminded of the resurrection power of God. 782 00:39:36,600 --> 00:39:40,360 It was active then, and it's still active now because of the 783 00:39:40,360 --> 00:39:41,800 empty. Tomb and. 784 00:39:41,800 --> 00:39:45,440 Possible is now off the table. So here's what we're going to 785 00:39:45,440 --> 00:39:48,200 do. I want to pray over us and then 786 00:39:48,200 --> 00:39:49,000 we're. Going to have the. 787 00:39:49,000 --> 00:39:53,640 Opportunity to stand and just be able to praise God one more time 788 00:39:53,640 --> 00:39:55,960 through song together, if you want to. 789 00:39:55,960 --> 00:39:58,280 Come down here and pray. You can come down here and pray. 790 00:39:58,280 --> 00:40:00,920 If you want to come and talk with a pastor, you can talk with 791 00:40:00,920 --> 00:40:03,040 a pastor there. There are people stationed 792 00:40:03,040 --> 00:40:06,720 downstairs in our overflow to pray with you and to help 793 00:40:06,720 --> 00:40:10,520 counsel you. But my hope and my. 794 00:40:10,520 --> 00:40:12,600 Prayers that you put your yes on the table. 795 00:40:12,600 --> 00:40:14,760 And you go, hey, God. Whatever you want to do in and 796 00:40:14,760 --> 00:40:17,720 through me. God, would you remind me that 797 00:40:17,720 --> 00:40:19,160 the. Tomb, the empty tomb is not 798 00:40:19,160 --> 00:40:22,080 something for me just to stand back and admire is something is 799 00:40:22,080 --> 00:40:24,240 an invitation for me to step into. 800 00:40:25,280 --> 00:40:28,040 So would you pray with? Me God, we again thank you for 801 00:40:28,040 --> 00:40:29,880 your word. But most importantly, God, we 802 00:40:29,880 --> 00:40:33,960 thank you for the fact that you loved us so much, that you sent 803 00:40:33,960 --> 00:40:38,000 Jesus into this world to die in our place, to pay the price for 804 00:40:38,000 --> 00:40:44,360 our sins. God, I pray that you would just. 805 00:40:45,840 --> 00:40:49,040 Continue to bring us back. To a sense of. 806 00:40:49,040 --> 00:40:52,240 Awe and wonder at the realization. 807 00:40:52,240 --> 00:40:57,680 And at the fact that your son Jesus died on a cross, 808 00:40:58,760 --> 00:40:59,880 everything that he. Went through. 809 00:40:59,880 --> 00:41:01,960 He went through for us at. Any point in time he could have 810 00:41:01,960 --> 00:41:03,840 stopped it. But he didn't. 811 00:41:03,840 --> 00:41:07,280 Because of his love for us. But God he did not. 812 00:41:07,280 --> 00:41:10,200 Stay dead. He is not there. 813 00:41:10,200 --> 00:41:12,640 He rose from the dead. Just as he said. 814 00:41:15,040 --> 00:41:18,400 God in that empty tomb. Speaks volumes to us this 815 00:41:18,400 --> 00:41:22,840 morning. God, I pray that for. 816 00:41:22,840 --> 00:41:28,680 The man or the woman? Or the student this morning to 817 00:41:28,680 --> 00:41:30,640 God. You have brought them here. 818 00:41:30,640 --> 00:41:34,800 Because they are seeking forgiveness, they are seeking 819 00:41:34,800 --> 00:41:38,080 freedom, God. They're seeking new life. 820 00:41:38,520 --> 00:41:40,960 They're seeking hope. God, I pray. 821 00:41:40,960 --> 00:41:42,720 That you would just continue to press upon their. 822 00:41:42,720 --> 00:41:45,560 Hearts. That you are the only way. 823 00:41:46,840 --> 00:41:49,600 For all of those things to become a reality in their lives. 824 00:41:51,240 --> 00:41:52,640 God for others of us. God we. 825 00:41:52,640 --> 00:41:54,840 Thank you for the new life that you have given. 826 00:41:54,840 --> 00:41:58,160 Us, but God we also. Pray that you would remind. 827 00:41:58,160 --> 00:42:02,120 Us of the resurrection power. Of an empty tomb. 828 00:42:03,240 --> 00:42:06,440 God, it is still. Working this morning and God 829 00:42:06,440 --> 00:42:08,920 with you. Impossible is now. 830 00:42:08,920 --> 00:42:12,280 Off the table, So God. Whatever we're going through, 831 00:42:12,280 --> 00:42:15,120 whatever we're walking through, God, whatever we may have. 832 00:42:15,120 --> 00:42:17,360 Accepted as a new. Normal God, we. 833 00:42:17,360 --> 00:42:20,040 Pray that you would allow us to put those things back in your 834 00:42:20,040 --> 00:42:22,360 hands and and just ask. You and to. 835 00:42:22,360 --> 00:42:24,720 Plead with you to do. What only you can do. 836 00:42:26,040 --> 00:42:28,480 God, I pray that. You would continue to move. 837 00:42:28,480 --> 00:42:30,960 Among us and in US, and through US and us, in Jesus name that we 838 00:42:30,960 --> 00:42:36,880 pray, Amen. Thank you for listening to the 839 00:42:36,880 --> 00:42:39,920 Riverbend Church Podcast. Learn more about who we are as a 840 00:42:39,920 --> 00:42:42,600 church and how to connect, you can head over to our website, 841 00:42:42,880 --> 00:42:44,200 Riverbendchurch Life.