1 00:00:00,100 --> 00:00:04,200 Here we are, it's Easter Sunday, we had a wonderful time on Good 2 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:07,600 Friday, I'm terrible with numbers but I think there was 3 00:00:07,600 --> 00:00:12,500 maybe 90 maybe 90 people here, as we spend an hour, just 4 00:00:12,500 --> 00:00:18,300 meditating and thinking through the reality, the historical 5 00:00:18,300 --> 00:00:20,900 Reality, by the way, you know, it's documented outside of the 6 00:00:20,908 --> 00:00:26,000 Bible, Jesus is life of what he did on the cross for us, but 7 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:28,200 it's always good. Is it not to come on a Sunday 8 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:29,900 and celebrate the coming out of the other end? 9 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:32,800 End of that where Jesus rose again and you know it is 10 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:36,700 traditional for us all to say something wanted to study if 11 00:00:36,700 --> 00:00:37,900 that would have it on the screen now. 12 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:44,800 There's pop this up. Let's try that again. 13 00:00:46,100 --> 00:00:48,600 It sees the 20:23, right? I'll tell you what it is and 14 00:00:48,608 --> 00:00:52,200 then we can figure out getting the slide up and I say, 15 00:00:52,500 --> 00:00:57,800 hallelujah Christ is risen You say you don't need a slide. 16 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:00,300 You know what you're doing. Exactly. 17 00:01:00,300 --> 00:01:02,500 That's what we do. So who's up for doing that 18 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:04,800 right? Okay, I'll start then. 19 00:01:04,900 --> 00:01:10,100 Alleluia Christ is risen. Bro. 20 00:01:13,500 --> 00:01:15,400 That was good, but it wasn't great. 21 00:01:16,500 --> 00:01:18,800 I don't need to feel condemned, but, you know, I'm sure you've 22 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:21,000 got more in your lungs, so we can do that one more time. 23 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:23,100 Plus, I want to make sure we use this slide. 24 00:01:24,300 --> 00:01:25,700 Are you ready? I don't know. 25 00:01:25,700 --> 00:01:30,600 Your Christ is risen. Hallelujah. 26 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:34,400 Thank you Lord. Oh, so good. 27 00:01:35,300 --> 00:01:38,300 Now, why is it so important for us to celebrate? 28 00:01:38,300 --> 00:01:41,300 The fact that Christ is risen because that is the good news of 29 00:01:41,300 --> 00:01:43,700 East amina's. Paul, the Apostle Paul said, if 30 00:01:43,700 --> 00:01:46,400 Jesus has a risen from the dead, we might as well go home. 31 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:49,700 I mean, clearly there's a paraphrase, but the point is, we 32 00:01:49,700 --> 00:01:52,100 wouldn't be here. If the fact was, you know, Jesus 33 00:01:52,100 --> 00:01:54,000 was a good man and a good teacher. 34 00:01:54,100 --> 00:01:56,800 And he died on the cross and that was it. 35 00:01:57,400 --> 00:01:59,800 What would we would be ridiculous if we came here every 36 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:02,200 Sunday and through the week celebrating Jesus, wouldn't we? 37 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:07,800 But the reality is that he rose again and that is the good news, 38 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:10,699 you see? Because death could not hold him 39 00:02:10,900 --> 00:02:14,800 and wait for the punchline. It means, death can't hold you. 40 00:02:16,900 --> 00:02:18,800 You see, that's the mind-blowing. 41 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:23,500 Amazing thing about Jesus is that the, the resurrection 42 00:02:23,500 --> 00:02:28,300 power, the rose Jesus from the dead is the same resurrection 43 00:02:28,300 --> 00:02:32,300 power that lives within us. Those that say yes to Jesus. 44 00:02:33,500 --> 00:02:35,700 And that is the good news. You see when we think about 45 00:02:35,700 --> 00:02:39,000 Easter. Of course, we think about the 46 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:42,500 universal consequences of what Jesus did on the cross. 47 00:02:42,700 --> 00:02:46,600 But did you know that Easter is a personal invitation to New 48 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:49,200 Life? And often times when we 49 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:55,100 celebrate Easter, we can forget that personal invitation And 50 00:02:55,100 --> 00:02:57,200 that is what we want. I want to look at in the brief 51 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:00,500 time that we have today. Together is the personal 52 00:03:00,700 --> 00:03:03,900 invitation. Now, as I said, Jesus died on 53 00:03:03,900 --> 00:03:07,200 the cross and he rose a day gain as a fact. 54 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:11,400 But why did he do that? Have you ever wondered Have you 55 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:13,400 ever asked the question? Why on Earth did Jesus go 56 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:17,100 through all that for me? Well, a very famous verse, which 57 00:03:17,100 --> 00:03:20,900 I'm sure, you know, John 3:16 Says this for God. 58 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:25,800 So loved the world that he sent his only son, that whoever 59 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:32,100 should believeth in him will not perish but have see that's it. 60 00:03:32,700 --> 00:03:35,800 The same power that was in Christ to raise him from the 61 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:39,000 dead is the same power. That is in those who believe in 62 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:41,300 Jesus, that will raise us to New Life. 63 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:45,900 You see, death is not the end, it's the entrance into eternity 64 00:03:45,900 --> 00:03:48,000 with him. That is the good news. 65 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:50,800 And as I said, you know, there is a personal invitation and I 66 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:53,200 love reading these two story. We going to do that together, 67 00:03:53,700 --> 00:03:56,900 and what I'd like to do from this as I'm going to just 68 00:03:56,900 --> 00:04:00,700 briefly pick out four or so thoughts. 69 00:04:00,900 --> 00:04:04,400 Around the notion of this personal invitation Easter. 70 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:07,600 So if you have your Bibles, why do you turn with me to John 71 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:11,800 chapter 20 verses 1 to 18 is going to be on the screen? 72 00:04:12,100 --> 00:04:15,400 And if you're a home, welcome by the way, it's great to see you. 73 00:04:15,900 --> 00:04:17,800 It's going to be on your devices as well. 74 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:21,000 Let's read the resurrection story together on this 75 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:25,800 Resurrection Sunday. Now, on the first day of the 76 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:29,100 week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early while it was still 77 00:04:29,100 --> 00:04:33,200 dark and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 78 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:37,000 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, 79 00:04:37,300 --> 00:04:40,500 the one whom Jesus loved. That is Apostle, John and said 80 00:04:40,500 --> 00:04:43,900 to them, they have taken the Lord out of the Tomb and we do 81 00:04:43,900 --> 00:04:46,400 not know where they have laid him. 82 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:50,200 So, Peter went out with the other disciple and there were 83 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:54,100 going toward the tomb, both of them were running together. 84 00:04:54,100 --> 00:04:57,900 But the other disciple, outran, Peter, and reached the tomb, 85 00:04:57,900 --> 00:05:02,200 first and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying 86 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:08,600 there but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came following 87 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:12,100 him and also went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloth lying 88 00:05:12,100 --> 00:05:15,700 there. And the face cloth which had 89 00:05:15,700 --> 00:05:19,700 been on Jesus head not lying with the linen cloths, but 90 00:05:19,700 --> 00:05:24,900 folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple who had 91 00:05:24,900 --> 00:05:28,900 reached the tomb, first also then went in and he saw and 92 00:05:28,900 --> 00:05:32,500 believed for as they did not understand the scripture that he 93 00:05:32,500 --> 00:05:36,700 must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to 94 00:05:36,700 --> 00:05:41,200 their homes. But Mary stood weeping outside 95 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:44,800 the tomb. And as she wept, she stooped to 96 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:48,900 look into the tomb and she saw two angels in white sitting, 97 00:05:48,900 --> 00:05:53,200 where the body of Jesus had Lain, one of the head and one at 98 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:59,700 the feet. they said to her woman, why are you weeping? 99 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:05,100 She said to them. They have taken away my Lord, 100 00:06:06,100 --> 00:06:07,900 and I do not know where they have laid him. 101 00:06:09,500 --> 00:06:12,900 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, 102 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:15,400 but she did not know that. It was Jesus. 103 00:06:16,300 --> 00:06:21,200 Jesus said to her woman. Why are you weeping? 104 00:06:22,500 --> 00:06:27,700 Whom are you seeking? Supposing him to be the gardener 105 00:06:27,700 --> 00:06:30,900 she said to him, sir, if you have carried him away, tell me 106 00:06:30,900 --> 00:06:35,100 where you have laid him and I will take him away. 107 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:43,000 Jesus said to her, Mary. she turned and said to him in 108 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:49,100 Aramaic rabboni which means teacher Jesus said to her do not 109 00:06:49,100 --> 00:06:53,100 cling to me for I have not yet ascended to the father, but go 110 00:06:53,100 --> 00:06:56,100 to my brothers and say to them, I am ascending to my father and 111 00:06:56,100 --> 00:06:59,700 your father to my God and your God. 112 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:03,600 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples. 113 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:08,400 I have seen the Lord. And that he had said these 114 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:15,400 things to her, what an amazing account you can just imagine 115 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:18,500 that moment and I've been to their Garden in Israel. 116 00:07:19,100 --> 00:07:21,100 I've been to the tomb. I've been to the Garden of 117 00:07:21,100 --> 00:07:22,800 Gethsemane. What a place it is. 118 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:27,400 And as I said to you, what I want to do this morning in the 119 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:30,900 brief time that we have together is as I want to Zone in on this 120 00:07:30,900 --> 00:07:35,600 story and look at four aspects of this story that speak to a 121 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:38,700 personal invitation to each one of us. 122 00:07:39,700 --> 00:07:42,500 There are many more by the way, but we do not have the time to 123 00:07:42,500 --> 00:07:44,800 do. So let me just start with the 124 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:49,200 first one. I find it interesting that Mary 125 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:52,700 went to the tomb but Jesus was not found in the Tomb. 126 00:07:54,700 --> 00:07:57,100 He was found where Mary was at in the garden. 127 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:02,700 You see this in what I love about this story is the 128 00:08:02,700 --> 00:08:06,700 invitation that we can meet Jesus wherever we are at. 129 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:12,000 We don't have to go to a place to find the Risen Lord. 130 00:08:15,100 --> 00:08:17,900 You know, Mary where was she at? Well, I mean she was full of 131 00:08:17,900 --> 00:08:22,300 fear for the despair. I mean you can just imagine 132 00:08:22,300 --> 00:08:24,700 right, the pain. I mean, you, we read about the 133 00:08:24,700 --> 00:08:27,900 two disciples Russian in. Where is Jesus has disappeared. 134 00:08:28,500 --> 00:08:31,700 What's going on? They would have been fearful 135 00:08:31,700 --> 00:08:35,700 full of Despair and you see him was in that place. 136 00:08:36,100 --> 00:08:41,100 The Jesus found her And why is this interesting for us this 137 00:08:41,100 --> 00:08:42,900 Easter? Because I think for many of us 138 00:08:43,700 --> 00:08:45,300 and you don't need to put your hands up for this but who 139 00:08:45,300 --> 00:08:49,400 identifies with Mary We are a Mary. 140 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:54,300 We haven't got it sorted. We might be full of Despair. 141 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:57,700 We might be full of fear. We might be anxious about the 142 00:08:57,700 --> 00:09:00,100 future. We might be confused about the 143 00:09:00,100 --> 00:09:04,500 presents. But you see just that like Mary 144 00:09:04,500 --> 00:09:09,500 in that place, Jesus finds us in that place, we don't have to go 145 00:09:09,500 --> 00:09:14,600 looking for him in an empty too. And you know, let's think about 146 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:16,700 that too. Let's just extend this metaphor 147 00:09:16,700 --> 00:09:18,100 slightly if you would bear with me. 148 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:21,200 What are those metaphorical tombs that we go and try and 149 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:23,400 find Jesus? Or maybe you're not even find 150 00:09:23,500 --> 00:09:25,300 going to find Jesus. You're just trying to find 151 00:09:25,300 --> 00:09:26,900 someone that's going to save you from this. 152 00:09:27,700 --> 00:09:31,100 Maybe your metaphorical tomb is religious activity. 153 00:09:31,100 --> 00:09:34,000 Devoid of any Devotion to Jesus and just tradition. 154 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:37,400 Maybe you think that's going to save you, but you discover, it's 155 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:41,400 just an empty too. Maybe your empty too. 156 00:09:43,700 --> 00:09:48,400 Is alcohol. Self-medicating to make the pain 157 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:50,000 go away. Maybe that's your place where 158 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:53,600 you think you'll find your savior, maybe it's in your bank 159 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:56,800 balance that you feel safe. When the bank balance is full, 160 00:09:56,800 --> 00:10:00,300 you feel safe for the future. I mean these are all real 161 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:04,900 metaphorical tombs. Are they places that we go to 162 00:10:04,900 --> 00:10:08,900 look for a savior? Maybe yours is spiritualism. 163 00:10:09,300 --> 00:10:13,500 Maybe you're operating under the lie and I hand him my heart on 164 00:10:13,500 --> 00:10:20,500 this but Not always lead to God. Jesus said, I am the way the 165 00:10:20,500 --> 00:10:25,900 truth and the life, he who comes through me, Well, access the 166 00:10:25,900 --> 00:10:27,500 father. So maybe your tomb. 167 00:10:27,500 --> 00:10:31,500 Is this notion that it doesn't matter about who I worship as 168 00:10:31,500 --> 00:10:33,000 long as it's? Some kind of God. 169 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:34,800 I'd be saved. I'm sorry. 170 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:37,500 That's not right. You can't say that. 171 00:10:38,500 --> 00:10:40,500 I can, I show my pastor of a church. 172 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:45,500 I have to, I preached the word, I know we don't like to think of 173 00:10:45,500 --> 00:10:47,800 Truth is absolute in this culture today. 174 00:10:48,100 --> 00:10:50,400 Truth is a very subjective thing, but I gotta be honest 175 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:52,900 with you, you want some objective, some truth. 176 00:10:53,100 --> 00:10:56,000 It's in the Bible, and Jesus is the only way. 177 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:58,700 And so, what I want to say to you this morning is that we are 178 00:10:58,700 --> 00:11:03,500 a bit like, Mary, we go to our empty tombs and we tried to find 179 00:11:03,500 --> 00:11:06,900 someone that will save us. But what I love about this is 180 00:11:06,900 --> 00:11:10,000 that she didn't find Jesus there, Jesus found Mary where 181 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:14,800 she was at However you feel this Easter time, whatever you've 182 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:20,200 done, whatever you've said Jesus is there to meet you and find 183 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:23,400 you where you're at. Listen, you don't need to 184 00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:27,300 smarten up, you don't need to straighten up, you just need to 185 00:11:27,300 --> 00:11:32,200 look up. Christianity is not a religion 186 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:36,300 about performance and works. If you are here and you and 187 00:11:36,300 --> 00:11:38,300 you're wondering what on Earth is Christianity thing is about, 188 00:11:38,300 --> 00:11:40,400 let me just give you something here. 189 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:43,100 Every other religion will tell you that. 190 00:11:43,100 --> 00:11:46,100 If you can act good and add better, then you will attain 191 00:11:46,100 --> 00:11:49,600 some kind of Godlike position and then you'll be saved. 192 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:51,700 Did you know? Christianity is the only 193 00:11:51,700 --> 00:11:55,900 religion that says the otherwise, You don't need to be 194 00:11:55,900 --> 00:11:58,700 good to be save, you don't need to be great, you don't need to 195 00:11:58,700 --> 00:12:03,000 perform, you just need to believe in Jesus because he did 196 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:06,900 it all for us on the cross. That is the truth of the gospel. 197 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:10,600 And when you fully comprehend that truth, there's a freedom in 198 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:14,400 that it's a freedom that you can turn up here and be your real 199 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:16,100 self and say, you know what, I am struggling. 200 00:12:16,100 --> 00:12:24,100 Actually life sucks. And so, Mary was in that broken 201 00:12:24,100 --> 00:12:25,900 place and yet Jesus went and found her. 202 00:12:25,900 --> 00:12:28,400 And I want to say to you this morning, if you were here and 203 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:31,500 you still like a merry and you fit, you feel like I've got a 204 00:12:31,500 --> 00:12:33,100 shaping up. I got to straighten up. 205 00:12:33,100 --> 00:12:35,500 I've got a smarten up, otherwise, Jesus won't accept 206 00:12:35,500 --> 00:12:36,700 me. I want to tell you, that's just 207 00:12:36,700 --> 00:12:39,600 a lie. You just come as you. 208 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:43,700 Are you come as you are now. I'm not going to minimize good 209 00:12:43,700 --> 00:12:45,700 works. I'm not going to say that we 210 00:12:45,700 --> 00:12:47,700 should meet Jesus and then be Rogues. 211 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:52,400 What is in that place of relationship with Jesus that the 212 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:54,600 works. Come because works are a fruit. 213 00:12:54,700 --> 00:12:58,200 They're not manufactured, they come from when we abide in 214 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:00,700 Christ. And then the fruit comes in last 215 00:13:00,700 --> 00:13:03,800 week, we looked at that. We looked at what Holiness is, 216 00:13:04,100 --> 00:13:07,300 and if you miss that, you can catch up online on YouTube. 217 00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:09,700 If you're watching on YouTube, hit that subscribe button and 218 00:13:09,700 --> 00:13:11,100 click that bill to get notifications. 219 00:13:11,100 --> 00:13:14,100 When new content release bang said it. 220 00:13:14,700 --> 00:13:17,000 I love doing that is great. Thank you very much for your 221 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:20,900 courage want Melanie. I told you four things so in the 222 00:13:20,900 --> 00:13:22,900 interest of time I'd better speed up number two. 223 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:25,500 What else do we learn on this story? 224 00:13:25,500 --> 00:13:30,700 Jesus seeks out the outcast. Now in I know you know this but 225 00:13:30,700 --> 00:13:35,800 I'm Not Jesus. however, if I were I wouldn't have done what 226 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:39,200 Jesus did in the story. Bear with me on this one. 227 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:43,000 I'm not about to land in some heresy, I'm just going to 228 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:45,600 process for us. If I was Jesus, I'd be risen 229 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:47,500 again and go, right? Let me get my list out. 230 00:13:48,300 --> 00:13:49,400 Who am I going to say? I told you. 231 00:13:49,408 --> 00:13:52,900 So first, well Pilots going to be one of them. 232 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:56,100 And those Pharisees. They've got to come into them. 233 00:13:56,700 --> 00:13:58,900 Any kings around. I mean, you know, think about 234 00:13:58,900 --> 00:14:00,800 it. He just risen from the dead and 235 00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:03,600 yet, who is the first person that he sees? 236 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:11,900 Mary. a woman and in those days, The woman wasn't in the center 237 00:14:11,900 --> 00:14:15,400 of things and not any other woman Mary Magdalene who had 238 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:18,700 seven demons. Released out of her. 239 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:25,300 And yet Jesus went to her first. You know, Jesus said it before, 240 00:14:25,300 --> 00:14:26,800 didn't he said, I've come for the sick. 241 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:29,000 I've come for those that know. They need a doctor. 242 00:14:29,700 --> 00:14:31,800 Haven't come for those. I think they don't need me. 243 00:14:32,900 --> 00:14:34,500 I've come for those that are seeking. 244 00:14:34,500 --> 00:14:35,700 I've come for those that are hurt. 245 00:14:35,700 --> 00:14:38,900 I've come for those that are broken and that's the good news 246 00:14:38,900 --> 00:14:41,200 of this gospel. You might be sitting here right 247 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:42,600 now. So, mark, would you please stop 248 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:44,800 talking. You don't know how angry I am? 249 00:14:44,900 --> 00:14:47,500 You haven't got a clue on a tell, you the God's come for you 250 00:14:47,500 --> 00:14:52,400 too. It's come for you too and you 251 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:56,400 see in this story that personal invitation is the Jesus sought 252 00:14:56,400 --> 00:14:58,500 out the Mary. He didn't seek out the King's 253 00:14:58,500 --> 00:15:00,500 first, and I think that's something so beautiful. 254 00:15:00,900 --> 00:15:03,900 The speaks to the heart and the love of Jesus. 255 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:08,900 Number three. What else we read in this story? 256 00:15:10,300 --> 00:15:13,200 What's fascinating about this story is that g Mary didn't 257 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:15,300 realize, it was Jesus until a particular moment. 258 00:15:15,300 --> 00:15:19,100 What was that moment? So, is this? 259 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:25,200 Thank you, Vanessa and Jesus said her name. 260 00:15:35,700 --> 00:15:38,200 Rabbi. It's you. 261 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:42,700 Do you know that Jesus is speaking each one of our names? 262 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:56,600 Papa Alex, Stephanie Yasmin Mill, Andrea brendam. 263 00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:03,000 Chris he is speaking our names. The question is not, is he 264 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:05,000 seeking me in and saying my name? 265 00:16:05,300 --> 00:16:07,100 The question is, are we choosing to listen? 266 00:16:09,900 --> 00:16:12,200 What does that mean? Listen Mark well maybe you're 267 00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:14,100 here right now in your heart's beating really fast. 268 00:16:14,100 --> 00:16:15,600 You know, thinking, man, something's going on here. 269 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:17,500 There's something. There must be some something 270 00:16:17,500 --> 00:16:21,800 going on. Or maybe you've had situations 271 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:25,100 where you've had, what feels like a flutter of awareness that 272 00:16:25,100 --> 00:16:27,400 there must be a God. Can I suggest to you? 273 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:30,300 That in that moment, Jesus is Whispering at you and we have a 274 00:16:30,308 --> 00:16:32,600 choice to make in that moment. Am I going to press in? 275 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:36,100 And listen, while say now, there ain't no good. 276 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:42,800 It's a whole load of baloney. or if there was a good X, Y and Z 277 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:45,100 wouldn't happen or if there was a god, this that and the other 278 00:16:46,900 --> 00:16:50,100 But you see Jesus, you know you're says in the Bible that he 279 00:16:50,100 --> 00:16:54,800 knows the very number of hairs on our head. it says in the 280 00:16:54,800 --> 00:17:00,300 scriptures that he, We are fearfully and wonderfully made. 281 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:04,900 It says in the scriptures that we Are knitted together in our 282 00:17:04,900 --> 00:17:08,500 mother's womb. Listen, this is a God who is 283 00:17:08,500 --> 00:17:11,500 personal intimate. He didn't choose to save us for 284 00:17:11,500 --> 00:17:13,800 Easter. Isn't a celebration story of a 285 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:17,099 giant laser beam that came from heaven and buzzed us. 286 00:17:17,099 --> 00:17:21,599 All if I was God, this is twice. I've said this now I really got 287 00:17:21,599 --> 00:17:23,900 to be careful. I want to be like I'm not going 288 00:17:23,900 --> 00:17:27,500 to come down as a human, you know, and like empty myself of 289 00:17:27,700 --> 00:17:30,000 And then and then going across well I'm not going to do that 290 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:33,500 for them but no Jesus. Did he came? 291 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:38,700 He identified with us. That's a God who loves each one 292 00:17:38,700 --> 00:17:41,400 of you and I want to say this morning to you, Jesus is 293 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:44,200 speaking your name. Are you going to choose to live? 294 00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:47,100 Listen. And I said four. 295 00:17:48,500 --> 00:17:52,100 And this is the last one. Jesus will exchange your 296 00:17:52,100 --> 00:17:57,100 emptiness with his Joy. We read the Mary. 297 00:17:58,900 --> 00:18:03,200 I was feeling for the despair. She was obviously empty confused 298 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:08,900 and yet she left rejoicing. It says in Isaiah 61 3. 299 00:18:08,900 --> 00:18:12,700 God will provide for those who grieve to bestow on them. 300 00:18:12,700 --> 00:18:18,900 A crown of beauty instead of Ashes, the oil of Joy instead of 301 00:18:18,900 --> 00:18:23,300 mourning, and a Garment of Praise instead of a spirit of 302 00:18:23,300 --> 00:18:28,400 despair. Now, this first dozens, say that 303 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:31,800 all of the trials and troubles that we Face will disappear, 304 00:18:31,900 --> 00:18:36,200 does it? It says that in spite of the 305 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:41,300 trials and the troubles that we may experience in that we can 306 00:18:41,300 --> 00:18:45,700 experience a peace and a joy, I say a frequently but it's the 307 00:18:45,700 --> 00:18:48,800 same kind of peace that Jesus experienced when he was in the 308 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:52,200 boat with the disciples remembering the storm broke and 309 00:18:52,300 --> 00:18:57,800 Jesus is sleeping in there. Like hey there's a storm And 310 00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:01,400 you're sleeping. That's the promise. 311 00:19:02,500 --> 00:19:06,000 The through the storms of life, I'm not say life is easy and we 312 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:09,900 see God breakthrough, we see healings, we do see the Lord 313 00:19:09,900 --> 00:19:11,200 breakthrough in many ways. Why? 314 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:13,900 Because what we call them here and they're not yet of the 315 00:19:13,900 --> 00:19:16,900 kingdom when Jesus came. And as we celebrate this Easter, 316 00:19:17,100 --> 00:19:19,500 when he said, it is finished. It meant the, his kingdom was 317 00:19:19,500 --> 00:19:21,700 inaugurated. It's a bit like the diffe, 318 00:19:21,700 --> 00:19:24,100 things to distinction between, D-Day and vido. 319 00:19:24,600 --> 00:19:27,200 Windy day happen in WWII. That was it. 320 00:19:27,300 --> 00:19:30,500 There was only one direction the wall was going to Victory, but 321 00:19:30,500 --> 00:19:32,100 there came a period of time before. 322 00:19:32,300 --> 00:19:36,100 It was consummated before it finished on vide, and that 323 00:19:36,100 --> 00:19:38,900 period of time is the same period that we are in right now. 324 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:41,300 The here and the not year of God's Kingdom. 325 00:19:42,300 --> 00:19:44,900 When he finished he said it is finished on the cross. 326 00:19:45,300 --> 00:19:47,300 That was when the kingdom of God was inaugurated. 327 00:19:47,300 --> 00:19:50,300 That was the D-Day. It was only going to go One 328 00:19:50,300 --> 00:19:54,200 Direction. And yet we wait for Christ's 329 00:19:54,200 --> 00:19:57,200 return when he will come again and he will establish his 330 00:19:57,200 --> 00:20:00,300 kingdom in full. And so we are in that period now 331 00:20:00,900 --> 00:20:05,600 but in that period of his grace we can experience joy, we can 332 00:20:05,600 --> 00:20:08,800 experience peace in spite of all we go through and that is the 333 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:14,000 promise Psalm 35. Five says this weeping may stay 334 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:16,300 for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. 335 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:20,500 That is the promise, and I know speaking to many of you, it is 336 00:20:20,500 --> 00:20:23,700 such a privilege being a pastor to pray with many of you to 337 00:20:23,700 --> 00:20:26,700 speak with many of you. I know that that scripture there 338 00:20:26,700 --> 00:20:32,100 is your testimony that there whilst there was weeping Joy 339 00:20:32,100 --> 00:20:36,700 came, but equally there's another part of this verse, you 340 00:20:36,700 --> 00:20:40,300 see, for those who believe in Jesus Christ and that put that 341 00:20:40,300 --> 00:20:44,300 faith in the saving Act of Jesus on the cross. 342 00:20:44,700 --> 00:20:49,000 We will be risen again in glory with Him that is the point of 343 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:51,600 Easter. We are reminded of the great 344 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:54,400 love of our father, like to invite the bander and the 345 00:20:54,400 --> 00:20:59,500 passion of Our Savior, Jesus New Life In Jesus can be ours and 346 00:20:59,500 --> 00:21:02,700 heaven-bound can be our final destination. 347 00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:08,300 And organize your question this morning, what does that new life 348 00:21:08,300 --> 00:21:11,600 look like for you? It looks like peace with the 349 00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:14,600 father relationship with a God who loves us. 350 00:21:16,700 --> 00:21:17,900 And so, let me ask you this question. 351 00:21:17,900 --> 00:21:23,900 Do you know this Easter time where you are bound for Are you 352 00:21:23,900 --> 00:21:26,400 going to just celebrate Easter with chocolates and I'm not 353 00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:28,400 putting a down or a Choppers. I'm a big fan. 354 00:21:28,900 --> 00:21:30,400 I have to hold myself back quite frankly. 355 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:35,100 But if your Easter just revolves around Shockers, there may I 356 00:21:35,300 --> 00:21:37,500 suggest to you that you've missed the point of it. 357 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:42,200 You see Easter is an invitation for you to say, will you accept 358 00:21:42,500 --> 00:21:46,100 the love of God and the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross? 359 00:21:47,100 --> 00:21:49,700 Because let me tell you, that is going to be the most important 360 00:21:49,700 --> 00:21:51,500 decision you've ever made in your life. 361 00:21:51,500 --> 00:21:55,300 That will have eternal consequences for God. 362 00:21:55,300 --> 00:21:58,400 So loved the world that He Sent His only begotten son, that 363 00:21:58,400 --> 00:22:00,900 whoever shall believeth in him will not perish. 364 00:22:01,900 --> 00:22:05,700 And have eternal life with him. Can we just add as I pray?