1 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:11,480 Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Love Quest International 2 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:14,600 Church Podcast, where we seek to love all nations, equip the 3 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:17,560 church, mobilize the equipped, and serve all. 4 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:21,080 We're super glad you're joining us from whenever and wherever 5 00:00:21,080 --> 00:00:23,800 you're at in the world. Welcome to the family to get 6 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:26,480 your Bibles ready, get some water, get some coffee, maybe 7 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:28,680 some tea, and get ready to receive. 8 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:40,360 Let's get into it. What a great day to be in this 9 00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:43,800 place. Looking good, good to see you. 10 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:49,760 Great to be here and we're excited today. 11 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:53,600 I don't know if you heard it's Resurrection Sunday. 12 00:01:03,830 --> 00:01:06,990 I want to thank Pastor Terrence and Pastor Julia for the 13 00:01:06,990 --> 00:01:10,550 incredible honour it is to be able to share on this Easter 14 00:01:10,550 --> 00:01:15,390 Sunday. And thank you so much for this 15 00:01:15,710 --> 00:01:19,470 opportunity, but also thank you so much for what you've done in 16 00:01:19,470 --> 00:01:24,920 establishing, building and equipping a people in this 17 00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:28,520 house. We thank you for everything you 18 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:34,680 put into us today. We celebrate. 19 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:47,680 We remember Jesus resurrected in John chapter 20 and verse one. 20 00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:53,280 It says early on Sunday morning while it was still dark, Mary 21 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:57,560 Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been 22 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:03,040 rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter 23 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:06,240 and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. 24 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:11,640 She said they have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb and 25 00:02:11,640 --> 00:02:14,080 we don't know where they have put him. 26 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:17,520 Peter and the other disciples started out for the tomb. 27 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:20,880 They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and 28 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:24,640 reached the tomb first. That's John just claiming 29 00:02:24,640 --> 00:02:30,040 victory in that way. He stooped and looked in and saw 30 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:39,040 the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn't go in. 31 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:42,680 Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. 32 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:46,760 He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the 33 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:51,400 cloth that had covered Jesus head was folded up and lying 34 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:55,720 apart from the other wrappings. Then the disciple who had 35 00:02:55,720 --> 00:03:01,200 reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed, for 36 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:04,840 until then they still hadn't understood the scriptures that 37 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:06,880 said Jesus must rise from the dead. 38 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:11,160 Then they went home. Mary was standing outside the 39 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:16,480 tomb crying, and as she wept she stooped and looked in. 40 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:22,680 She saw 2 white robed angels, one sitting at the head and the 41 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:26,920 other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been 42 00:03:26,920 --> 00:03:31,720 lying. Dear woman, why are you crying? 43 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:35,880 The angels asked her. Because they have taken away my 44 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:38,840 Lord, she replied. And I don't know where they have 45 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:42,800 put him. She turned to leave and saw 46 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:49,480 someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn't 47 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:54,960 recognize him. Dear woman, why are you crying? 48 00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:59,600 Jesus asked her. Who? 49 00:03:59,920 --> 00:04:05,040 Are you looking for? She thought he was the gardener, 50 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:10,000 Sir, she said. If you have taken him away, tell 51 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:16,440 me where you've put him and I will go and get him, Mary, Jesus 52 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:19,959 said. She turned to him and cried out 53 00:04:19,959 --> 00:04:22,720 Rabbini, which in Hebrew is Hebrew. 54 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:25,960 For teacher. Don't cling to me, Jesus said, 55 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:29,960 for I haven't yet ascended to the Father, but go find my 56 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:34,920 brothers and tell them I am ascending to my Father, and to 57 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:38,360 your Father, and to my God and your God. 58 00:04:39,280 --> 00:04:42,640 Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, I have 59 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:48,160 seen the Lord. Then she gave them his message. 60 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:52,440 That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind 61 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:55,320 locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. 62 00:04:56,280 --> 00:04:59,800 Suddenly Jesus was standing there among them. 63 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:05,800 Peace be with you, he said. As he spoke, he showed them the 64 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:08,960 wounds in his hands and his side. 65 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:14,840 They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord again. 66 00:05:14,840 --> 00:05:16,320 He said. Peace be with you. 67 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:27,760 As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you his reason. 68 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:34,880 What a wonderful reality, what a wonderful and powerful truth 69 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:44,120 Jesus has risen and what a friend we have in Jesus, This 70 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:47,840 friend Jesus. You know, it's interesting. 71 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:54,680 Mary didn't recognize Jesus until he said her name. 72 00:05:56,120 --> 00:06:02,720 Mary, dear friends and family members, and they say your name 73 00:06:02,720 --> 00:06:07,560 like no one else says your name. And you know it's them. 74 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:11,560 You know that they are the ones who are calling your name. 75 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:18,440 My mum used to say Brett. Or she used to say Brett. 76 00:06:18,440 --> 00:06:20,880 Where's the Rodway? Come here. 77 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:24,240 Has anyone else heard that or is that just me? 78 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:26,080 OK. Just I want to make sure there's 79 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:26,760 a few. Yeah. 80 00:06:26,840 --> 00:06:30,240 Full name. Full name means yeah, yeah, 81 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:32,320 that's right. It means it means attention, 82 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:36,760 right. But Jesus, when he calls Mary, 83 00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:44,400 there's this connection of how that name rang, how his 84 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:47,920 inflection connected with her heart, how she had heard that 85 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:55,920 voice, how she connected. Now that's Jesus, not a 86 00:06:55,920 --> 00:07:01,600 gardener, not just somebody, but that's Jesus my friend. 87 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:15,850 In John chapter 15 we read in verse 12, This is my 88 00:07:15,850 --> 00:07:20,890 commandment, that you love and unselfishly seek the best for 89 00:07:20,890 --> 00:07:23,850 one another, just as I have loved you. 90 00:07:25,250 --> 00:07:28,650 No one has greater love nor stronger commitment than to lay 91 00:07:28,650 --> 00:07:30,570 down his own life for his friends. 92 00:07:30,770 --> 00:07:37,080 You are my friends if you keep on doing what I command you. 93 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:41,280 I do not call you servants any longer, for the servant does not 94 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:46,680 know what his master is doing. But I have called you my friends 95 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:51,520 because I have revealed to you everything that I have heard 96 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:54,640 from my father. You know, there's a difference 97 00:07:54,640 --> 00:08:02,160 between somebody who gets instruction to do a thing if, if 98 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:06,040 there's a, a boss who is instructing it, maybe hey, go, 99 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:08,960 go clean that table. All I know is go clean that 100 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:11,440 table. I'm, I'm, I'm responding to the 101 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:14,280 request. I'm responding to that action. 102 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:21,040 But when I'm a close friend, he says, see if I can get all of 103 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:25,280 these things working. Well, my plan is to have ten of 104 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:28,320 these around the city and then we're going to bring all that 105 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:30,960 money in and then we're going to be able to develop this this 106 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:34,679 real estate over here. And then I can then from there, 107 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:37,559 I can give money back into the community, but also take care of 108 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:39,400 my parents. And I can do this and I can do 109 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:42,200 that and I can do the other. Now I've got a whole story of 110 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:44,800 the why. And So what Jesus is saying here 111 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:49,240 is I'm no longer just telling you go do this thing, but rather 112 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:53,360 he's saying now I can trust you my friend. 113 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:58,600 I can trust you, my friend, I can share with you all the 114 00:08:58,600 --> 00:09:00,800 things the Father has shared with me. 115 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:08,400 I can trust you with this great plan and you will be my friend 116 00:09:11,520 --> 00:09:16,600 Jesus. Jesus is a friend who 117 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:23,280 understands. In Hebrews chapter 4 it says so. 118 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:29,200 Then since we have a great high priest who has entered heaven, 119 00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:35,040 Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 120 00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:41,440 This high priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for 121 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:47,400 he faced all of the same testings that we do, yet he did 122 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:50,680 not sin. So let us come boldly to the 123 00:09:50,680 --> 00:09:56,240 throne of our gracious God and there we will receive his mercy 124 00:09:57,000 --> 00:10:01,280 and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. 125 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:04,640 You see, Jesus is a friend who understands. 126 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:08,800 He understands your situation. He understands the challenges. 127 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:14,920 He grew up and he had to work. He actually had to submit to a 128 00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:27,240 mum and dad and and and do the chores and he had to engage with 129 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:32,520 people. He had to he had to work through 130 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:35,440 the difficult situations as a Carpenter. 131 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:38,680 He probably hate people who are wanting a thing a certain way. 132 00:10:38,680 --> 00:10:40,360 And now I want my table to look like this. 133 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:42,280 No, no, I want to look like this. 134 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:43,320 No, no, I'm going to change my mind. 135 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:47,720 I want to look like this. No, I think change that leg do 136 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:51,320 this anybody. It's I see some nodding heads. 137 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:54,080 Yes, we've we've had clients that have maybe have changed 138 00:10:54,080 --> 00:11:00,800 their mind a few times. You see, Jesus understands the 139 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:07,160 weaknesses of humanity because he came to earth as human. 140 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:13,720 He came like you and me. God made flesh, Emmanuel, God 141 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:16,400 with us, God who engaged with us. 142 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:19,960 And so he understands the difficulties. 143 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:21,760 He understands what it means to be hungry. 144 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:25,520 He understands what it means to be tired. 145 00:11:26,720 --> 00:11:29,400 It tells you in the Gospels he was tired. 146 00:11:29,880 --> 00:11:32,160 He's like, OK, that's a long day. 147 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:38,160 And then the disciples said, we've got more people who want 148 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:44,320 to be prayed for. Let's go, let's go, let's go. 149 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:50,600 He understands our weaknesses. He understands the temptation. 150 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:58,320 There's a whole section in the gospel where Satan comes and 151 00:11:58,320 --> 00:12:02,920 tempts him and says, OK, get some food for yourself. 152 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:05,840 You've been, you've been fasting for 4040 days, you must be 153 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:07,040 hungry. Just make some food. 154 00:12:07,640 --> 00:12:08,960 Jesus didn't say I can't do that. 155 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:12,040 He said no man shall not live by bread alone. 156 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:15,400 Well, OK, OK, all right. Then Satan comes and he says, 157 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:20,760 hey, look, look, why don't I show you everything out here? 158 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:24,040 I can give you all of this glory, all this riches. 159 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:26,800 We can just jump straight to it. You can have it all. 160 00:12:26,800 --> 00:12:29,600 Just worship me. No, you shall worship the Lord 161 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:35,880 God and only him. And then he, he tempts him with 162 00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:38,320 scripture. He says, hey, you can jump off 163 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:39,960 here. And the Scripture says you 164 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:42,120 won't, you won't get hurt if you fall. 165 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:47,520 And Jesus says you shall not tempt the Lord your God. 166 00:12:49,280 --> 00:12:53,760 He was tempted. He was, He was enticed with 167 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:55,640 resource, He was enticed with glory. 168 00:12:55,720 --> 00:13:01,560 He is enticed with the flesh, He was enticed with food. 169 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:07,680 He was enticed by the enemy, but he was without sin, and that's 170 00:13:07,680 --> 00:13:13,120 why he understands US. Jesus understands the challenge. 171 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:16,760 He understands the tiredness. He understands the walk. 172 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:20,240 He understands disappointment. He was rejected. 173 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:28,640 One of his own 12 betrayed him. If you've ever been betrayed, 174 00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:33,800 Jesus understands. If you've ever had people walk 175 00:13:33,800 --> 00:13:38,960 out of you, Jesus understands, he said to the thousands who'd 176 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:42,240 kept coming to hear his word, He said, Hey, if you want to be 177 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:44,200 part of me, you've got to take my body and my blood. 178 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:46,280 You've got to be part of me. You've got to engage with me. 179 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:48,800 It's a deeper walk. And they left him because it's 180 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:52,480 too much. He was abandoned. 181 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:57,760 But Jesus was not without. He was. 182 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:02,920 He was without sin, but he understands you. 183 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:07,680 Jesus, a friend who fights for us. 184 00:14:10,560 --> 00:14:13,440 Jesus fights for you. In Romans 8 it says no. 185 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:17,840 Despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours 186 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:22,520 through Christ who loved us. Overwhelming victory. 187 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:26,240 I like that. Overwhelming victory. 188 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:32,400 Jesus fights with us. He fights for us. 189 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:40,400 He's a friend who's got your back and your front and your 190 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:44,320 sides. Not just you're 6, you're 12, 191 00:14:44,440 --> 00:14:46,480 you're 9, and you're three. OK. 192 00:14:46,480 --> 00:14:48,400 And for those who do digital, I can't help. 193 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:55,600 You only know the analogue, OK? But he fights for us. 194 00:14:55,760 --> 00:15:02,440 He's a friend who fights for us. Have you ever thought about God 195 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:06,200 and thought, does he just want all from me? 196 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:10,720 No, no, no. He came that you might have full 197 00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:16,520 life, a full life to fight for you. 198 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:29,680 Jesus, a friend who hears us. I love this because he's a 199 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:35,920 friend who doesn't just hear what we think we want, he hears 200 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:41,040 what we need. In First John Chapter 5, it says 201 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:47,400 this is the remarkable degree of confidence which we have, which 202 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:53,800 we as believers are entitled to have before Him, that if we ask 203 00:15:54,000 --> 00:16:00,520 anything according to His will that is consistent with His plan 204 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:11,480 and purpose, He hears us. You ever wondered if your prayer 205 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:15,400 was hitting a ceiling? You ask if God was just not 206 00:16:15,400 --> 00:16:21,480 getting through. The scripture says He hears us. 207 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:29,200 He hears us in our cry. He hears us in our desperation, 208 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:32,600 that He hears us when we're calling out. 209 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:41,440 He hears us. In that quiet but hopeful call 210 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:44,360 on His name. He hears us. 211 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:53,720 He is the God who hears. When we pray, when we come to 212 00:16:53,720 --> 00:17:03,000 Him, He hears our cry. He understands and He hears us. 213 00:17:05,599 --> 00:17:10,599 In that quiet moment when no one's around. 214 00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:15,839 You're with your thoughts and you call out to God. 215 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:25,630 He hears you. He hears. 216 00:17:26,990 --> 00:17:33,560 Our concerns. He hears our fears, He hears our 217 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:39,440 hopes, He hears when we call on him. 218 00:17:42,360 --> 00:17:51,400 Verse 15 And if we know, if we know for a fact, as indeed we 219 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:59,360 do, if we know, if we know that He hears us and listens to us in 220 00:17:59,360 --> 00:18:06,440 whatsoever we ask, we also know with settled and absolute 221 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:11,320 knowledge that we have granted to us the request which we have 222 00:18:11,360 --> 00:18:16,640 asked from Him, there's a knowing we can have in God, a 223 00:18:16,640 --> 00:18:24,480 faith that knows, a cry that knows, a calling out of the 224 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:38,260 heart that knows. He hears us, perhaps. 225 00:18:38,260 --> 00:18:40,660 You've thought, but I don't know that he hears us because it 226 00:18:40,660 --> 00:18:42,140 didn't turn out the way I was thinking. 227 00:18:44,820 --> 00:18:49,700 He hears us. He hears us. 228 00:18:53,460 --> 00:18:58,340 Jesus is a friend who hears your call, hears your cry of heart, 229 00:19:00,380 --> 00:19:08,440 cares for you, He hears us. And Jesus is a friend who prays 230 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:12,000 for us. The other part of the way I 231 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:15,000 could have written this is Jesus is a friend who intercedes for 232 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:22,360 us first John 2 verse one, it says, my dear children, I'm 233 00:19:22,360 --> 00:19:27,560 writing this to you so you have that you will not not sin, but 234 00:19:27,560 --> 00:19:31,960 if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case 235 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:35,640 before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who 236 00:19:35,640 --> 00:19:39,840 is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that 237 00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:45,040 atones for our sins and not only our sins, but the sins of all 238 00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:47,920 the world. That's pretty encompassing. 239 00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:50,520 It's a big place in the world. I haven't been everywhere yet. 240 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:55,520 It's a pretty amazing place, the whole world. 241 00:19:59,320 --> 00:20:07,400 But he's an advocate for us. He's positioning us. 242 00:20:08,280 --> 00:20:11,200 For those who are here in the 9:00 AM experience, they will 243 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:17,960 remember Elder John had four men up here representing. 244 00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:22,640 There's the Father, there's Jesus the Son, and then those 245 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:24,720 who know him and those who are yet to know him. 246 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:32,040 And it was looking through Jesus, our advocate, the one who 247 00:20:32,040 --> 00:20:34,320 advocates, advocates on our behalf. 248 00:20:35,480 --> 00:20:37,480 He speaks on our behalf to the Father. 249 00:20:37,800 --> 00:20:42,920 He speaks in a way that advocates our position, but He 250 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:46,320 can advocate because He has atoned for our sin. 251 00:20:48,040 --> 00:20:50,680 He has made the way available through his death and 252 00:20:50,680 --> 00:20:57,800 resurrection to deal with the sin problem in our life, to deal 253 00:20:57,800 --> 00:21:08,040 with that thing that separates us from God, to deal with that 254 00:21:08,040 --> 00:21:16,760 missing the mark that has created a gulf between us 255 00:21:16,760 --> 00:21:19,520 knowing Him, knowing Almighty God. 256 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:24,960 Jesus is the advocate. Jesus is the one who stands to 257 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:28,480 advocate on our behalf. And here he's talking to those 258 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:31,000 who believe. He says we have an advocate who 259 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:33,880 pleads our case before the Father. 260 00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:51,240 He is Jesus on our behalf. When we have sin in our life, He 261 00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:57,880 stands and he says my blood was shed for this one. 262 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:04,480 So forgiveness is our legal duty. 263 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:16,200 Forgiveness is the right of those who have received Him. 264 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:29,440 His blood was shed, His blood atoned and makes way so we can 265 00:22:29,440 --> 00:22:35,360 have relationship with Almighty God in a few minutes. 266 00:22:36,080 --> 00:22:40,680 If you're here today and you haven't made a decision for 267 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:46,360 Jesus to receive him in your life and the complete work that 268 00:22:46,360 --> 00:22:50,920 he did at the cross, I'm going to give you an opportunity to 269 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:54,720 respond. You see, Jesus is one who 270 00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:59,400 advocates on your behalf. He is one who is moving on your 271 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:03,040 behalf. He's representing you to the 272 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:06,560 Father. Jesus said I am the way, the 273 00:23:06,560 --> 00:23:08,960 truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but 274 00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:14,360 by me. One way Jesus. 275 00:23:17,480 --> 00:23:28,280 Jesus is a friend who loves us. Jesus is a friend who loves us. 276 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:41,720 Jesus is a friend who loves us. Jesus is a friend who loves us. 277 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:57,880 Jesus is a friend who loves us. In Romans chapter 8 it says, and 278 00:23:57,880 --> 00:24:01,920 I am convinced, that nothing can ever separate us from the God's 279 00:24:01,920 --> 00:24:09,880 love. Neither death nor life, neither 280 00:24:09,880 --> 00:24:14,320 angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries 281 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:20,760 about tomorrow, not even the powers of hell can separate us 282 00:24:20,760 --> 00:24:23,880 from God's love. Nothing can separate us from his 283 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:28,840 love. It's so encompassing, it's so 284 00:24:28,840 --> 00:24:36,560 great, His love for you. No power in the sky above or in 285 00:24:36,560 --> 00:24:41,280 the earth below, Indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be 286 00:24:41,280 --> 00:24:45,480 able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in 287 00:24:45,480 --> 00:24:52,680 Christ Jesus our Lord. Nothing, nothing can separate 288 00:24:52,680 --> 00:25:01,000 you from the love of God. You see, God so loved us that he 289 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:03,960 sent his Son while we were so far away from Him, while we were 290 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:07,120 still rejecting Him, while we were yet sinners, Christ died 291 00:25:07,120 --> 00:25:08,960 for us. That's the kind of love. 292 00:25:09,480 --> 00:25:13,400 It's the love that comes first, the one who loves first. 293 00:25:15,560 --> 00:25:21,680 In a simple way, it's like a couple who are dating and it's 294 00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:24,280 the awkward tension of who's going to say it first, Right. 295 00:25:27,120 --> 00:25:29,480 And so sometimes you you hear stories. 296 00:25:30,560 --> 00:25:36,720 It's not what I did, but you hear stories of people say I 297 00:25:36,800 --> 00:25:38,080 love you. Pardon. 298 00:25:38,160 --> 00:25:41,160 Oh, no, I didn't say anything. I was just just just testing the 299 00:25:41,160 --> 00:25:47,850 waters. Just just check. 300 00:25:47,850 --> 00:25:50,330 Just checking because I don't want to be the first one, you 301 00:25:50,330 --> 00:25:55,290 know, How will that go? I love you. 302 00:25:55,810 --> 00:26:05,760 Thank you. Right, Elder Stacey knows that 303 00:26:05,760 --> 00:26:19,080 one now. But Jesus, confident, 304 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:32,400 declarative, certain, with full strength, the voice declares to 305 00:26:32,400 --> 00:26:39,560 you, I love you, I love you, I love you. 306 00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:49,040 Before you respond, before you have a chance, in fact, while 307 00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:53,200 you are away from me, I want you to know I love you. 308 00:26:57,160 --> 00:27:10,640 Jesus, the friend who loves. I listened to a message from my 309 00:27:10,640 --> 00:27:13,000 grandfather. It was actually just a few weeks 310 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:15,000 before he passed away back in 77. 311 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:19,720 I was not yet 2 and he was actually sharing a message on if 312 00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:23,120 I had but one sermon to preach. He was 57 years of age, had been 313 00:27:23,120 --> 00:27:28,840 in ministry for 38 years, and there's this one line that 314 00:27:28,840 --> 00:27:36,680 captures my attention, He says. I have just begun to understand 315 00:27:37,240 --> 00:27:45,400 the throbbing heart of love that God has for US. 38 years in 316 00:27:45,400 --> 00:27:49,000 ministry, 38 years studying the Bible and saying there's this 317 00:27:49,120 --> 00:27:52,600 incredible love. I want you to know this love. 318 00:27:55,640 --> 00:27:59,640 I want you to get a revelation of the great love of God, the 319 00:27:59,640 --> 00:28:06,040 great heart of God for you, this great heart that says I love 320 00:28:06,040 --> 00:28:11,040 you. I want you to be with me. 321 00:28:12,040 --> 00:28:21,460 I want you to know me. Are we sometimes too glib, too 322 00:28:21,460 --> 00:28:25,340 too quick, too quick to roll over these parts in the 323 00:28:25,340 --> 00:28:27,820 scripture where he talks about His love for us? 324 00:28:28,720 --> 00:28:32,680 This great love, this great love that that he poured out in our 325 00:28:32,680 --> 00:28:35,880 hearts? This great love that He calls us 326 00:28:35,880 --> 00:28:47,920 to the great love of a father's heart who so wanted to be in 327 00:28:47,920 --> 00:28:51,520 relationship with you, so wanted to connect with you, so wanted 328 00:28:51,520 --> 00:28:58,360 to be your father that he said Jesus at the right time. 329 00:28:59,800 --> 00:29:07,400 He said Jesus because he wanted you he wanted you to know him 330 00:29:08,600 --> 00:29:19,280 and he wanted to know you. The great love Scripture says 331 00:29:19,280 --> 00:29:23,080 it's too wide. It's too high. 332 00:29:23,080 --> 00:29:25,760 It's, it's too deep, it's too long. 333 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:28,360 You, you can't even try to comprehend this love. 334 00:29:28,480 --> 00:29:31,440 You can't even get to the edges of the love of God. 335 00:29:33,600 --> 00:29:41,040 It's too big to understand. This is the love of God that's 336 00:29:41,040 --> 00:29:50,590 been poured out for us and nothing can separate us from 337 00:29:50,590 --> 00:29:56,520 this love. No physical person can hold you 338 00:29:56,520 --> 00:30:01,200 back. No, no demon can hold you back. 339 00:30:01,320 --> 00:30:03,640 No, no, no obstacle can hold you back. 340 00:30:04,680 --> 00:30:11,840 This love of God to Jesus, a friend who loves but but his 341 00:30:11,840 --> 00:30:19,280 love is so great. You might think, oh, but I've 342 00:30:19,280 --> 00:30:23,080 done too much. I've, I've strayed too far. 343 00:30:25,480 --> 00:30:29,760 That's a lie. You can't get too far from his 344 00:30:29,760 --> 00:30:31,120 love. I just told you. 345 00:30:31,120 --> 00:30:32,840 You can't get to the fringes of his love. 346 00:30:33,240 --> 00:30:35,760 You can't get you can't get away from his love. 347 00:30:40,440 --> 00:30:43,440 Perhaps fear has held you so long. 348 00:30:43,880 --> 00:30:47,800 It's been too long. I've been away too long. 349 00:30:49,920 --> 00:30:51,960 There's there's too much that's gone through. 350 00:30:52,680 --> 00:30:59,120 Nothing, nothing, nothing shall separate you from the love of 351 00:30:59,120 --> 00:31:02,240 God. Nothing, nothing. 352 00:31:07,000 --> 00:31:13,560 Today, if you have yet to know this love, if you have not yet 353 00:31:13,560 --> 00:31:20,680 made Jesus your Lord, today that love is available for you and 354 00:31:20,680 --> 00:31:27,440 you believer. If you know Jesus, but you've 355 00:31:27,440 --> 00:31:33,960 been sitting on the fringes, today, that love of God is 356 00:31:33,960 --> 00:31:37,640 calling you in deeper, calling you higher. 357 00:31:41,200 --> 00:31:53,000 It's time to upscale your love. Upgrade that love to receive His 358 00:31:53,000 --> 00:32:09,000 love, to walk in his love to actually stop trying to do 359 00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:16,800 everything in your own strength and take the time to be loved. 360 00:32:22,480 --> 00:32:30,440 To receive the love of God, to let the love of God embrace you, 361 00:32:33,920 --> 00:32:47,880 to allow him to work in you. John chapter 3 and verse 16 in 362 00:32:47,880 --> 00:32:52,520 this part of the the the gospel or good news according to John, 363 00:32:54,880 --> 00:32:59,600 a man named Nicodemus had come to see Jesus and understand what 364 00:32:59,600 --> 00:33:02,000 are you here for? I've heard your message. 365 00:33:02,240 --> 00:33:05,800 I've heard you speak. There's something there, but I 366 00:33:05,800 --> 00:33:08,360 just need to understand what it's all about. 367 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:14,560 And Jesus says to him as part of his response. 368 00:33:15,400 --> 00:33:22,600 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, 369 00:33:24,040 --> 00:33:30,000 that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have 370 00:33:30,200 --> 00:33:35,320 everlasting life. For God did not send his Son 371 00:33:35,840 --> 00:33:41,520 into the world to condemn the world, but that the world 372 00:33:41,720 --> 00:33:49,440 through him might be saved. Motivation was God's love. 373 00:33:51,080 --> 00:33:55,760 The mission is to save a world that's separated from him. 374 00:33:56,840 --> 00:34:02,560 The mission is that the world through him would be saved, not 375 00:34:02,560 --> 00:34:05,840 condemned. No, that's that's not God's 376 00:34:05,840 --> 00:34:08,560 work. God's work does not condemn. 377 00:34:09,239 --> 00:34:14,679 God's work is to salvation, to relationship, to hope. 378 00:34:20,280 --> 00:34:26,360 In John Chapter 11 and verse 25 Jesus is talking to Martha and 379 00:34:26,360 --> 00:34:30,880 this is the the story about Lazarus who had died and was 380 00:34:31,639 --> 00:34:35,719 about to be resurrected. And in their discussion, Jesus 381 00:34:35,719 --> 00:34:43,080 told her, I am the resurrection and the life anyone who believes 382 00:34:43,080 --> 00:34:46,600 in me will live even after they die. 383 00:34:50,159 --> 00:34:55,440 Jesus is the resurrection. You know, he is a friend. 384 00:34:57,320 --> 00:34:59,080 But more than that, you know, it's interesting. 385 00:34:59,400 --> 00:35:01,680 It's John 15 where he talks about him being a friend. 386 00:35:01,760 --> 00:35:07,680 It's in John 20 we that we read at the beginning of this 387 00:35:07,680 --> 00:35:12,000 experience. And Jesus says to Mary, go tell 388 00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:15,560 my brothers. Go tell my brothers. 389 00:35:16,000 --> 00:35:22,320 Go to my brothers family. I did that work. 390 00:35:22,720 --> 00:35:28,720 The cross my blood was given. And now in atonement and in my 391 00:35:28,720 --> 00:35:31,040 resurrection, go get my brothers. 392 00:35:31,400 --> 00:35:33,680 They're family now. They're family now. 393 00:35:34,000 --> 00:35:38,120 They're family now. They're family now. 394 00:35:40,040 --> 00:35:44,920 Here he is saying to Mary, These are my brothers. 395 00:35:44,960 --> 00:35:51,440 Now we're we're, we're. Of one blood, one blood, one 396 00:35:51,680 --> 00:35:56,600 blood. He said he is my. 397 00:35:56,600 --> 00:35:59,720 Brother. And now today. 398 00:35:59,800 --> 00:36:03,800 Today if. You've received Christ. 399 00:36:04,320 --> 00:36:09,040 We're of one blood, the blood of Jesus, if you've. 400 00:36:09,040 --> 00:36:13,520 Received Christ today. We're of one family with one 401 00:36:13,520 --> 00:36:19,240 father. You are my brothers. 402 00:36:19,240 --> 00:36:23,440 And my sisters. Today, if you have. 403 00:36:24,400 --> 00:36:26,280 Not yet made. A decision to. 404 00:36:26,280 --> 00:36:35,120 Receive Christ. This is an opportunity to pray. 405 00:36:36,640 --> 00:36:43,000 And make a step, a decision. That Jesus. 406 00:36:44,440 --> 00:36:45,840 Will be Lord. Of your life. 407 00:36:47,080 --> 00:36:48,600 It is a. Decision to. 408 00:36:48,600 --> 00:36:53,840 Believe God. It is a decision to accept what 409 00:36:53,840 --> 00:37:01,680 Jesus did at the cross for you and to now walk a life in Him, 410 00:37:02,240 --> 00:37:07,000 with Him, empowered by Him, graced by Him, loved by Him. 411 00:37:10,080 --> 00:37:11,520 And so just in the moment, I'm going. 412 00:37:11,520 --> 00:37:14,280 To give you an opportunity if this if you've never made a 413 00:37:14,280 --> 00:37:19,320 decision to accept Jesus, we're going to pray a. 414 00:37:19,320 --> 00:37:20,960 Prayer together all. Of us. 415 00:37:24,040 --> 00:37:27,440 And I invite you. To pray this prayer. 416 00:37:29,600 --> 00:37:32,920 To make a step. To make a decision to move 417 00:37:32,920 --> 00:37:38,960 toward God. To respond to the love of. 418 00:37:38,960 --> 00:37:40,440 God, that's been poured out for you. 419 00:37:43,640 --> 00:37:48,960 To respond to this. Powerful life. 420 00:37:48,960 --> 00:37:53,360 Changing. Encounter with Jesus. 421 00:37:55,840 --> 00:37:59,440 And today if. You've made a decision before, 422 00:37:59,440 --> 00:38:00,960 but you feel like you've drifted. 423 00:38:01,520 --> 00:38:05,200 Your heart is far from God. Other things. 424 00:38:05,200 --> 00:38:08,600 Have caught up your. Attention, I invite you to make 425 00:38:08,600 --> 00:38:16,160 a decision today. To step towards him to 426 00:38:16,160 --> 00:38:20,960 rededicate. Your heart to come. 427 00:38:20,960 --> 00:38:24,360 To the Lord. Respond to His love. 428 00:38:25,520 --> 00:38:28,400 Respond to His working in your life. 429 00:38:31,520 --> 00:38:32,960 And so we're going to take a moment to. 430 00:38:32,960 --> 00:38:39,240 Pray again, everybody who's in this room, please pray with me. 431 00:38:39,800 --> 00:38:44,960 And for those, if it's your first time and you want to pray 432 00:38:44,960 --> 00:38:49,040 this prayer and make this decision, I invite you to pray a 433 00:38:49,040 --> 00:38:58,880 lot with us. Father God, thank you for. 434 00:38:58,880 --> 00:39:05,560 Sending Jesus. Thank you for your. 435 00:39:05,560 --> 00:39:07,960 Love that's been poured out for me. 436 00:39:12,960 --> 00:39:23,320 Today I make a. Decision to follow you I. 437 00:39:23,320 --> 00:39:26,520 Receive. Everything that you've done for 438 00:39:26,520 --> 00:39:32,240 me. That you have paid the. 439 00:39:32,240 --> 00:39:40,800 Penalty for my sin. And I received. 440 00:39:40,960 --> 00:39:45,520 Jesus. As the Lord of. 441 00:39:45,520 --> 00:39:51,080 My life. And I step into. 442 00:39:51,080 --> 00:39:59,680 This new relationship with you. Thank you, Father God. 443 00:40:01,880 --> 00:40:04,960 By the blood of Jesus, I am saved by the blood of Jesus I am 444 00:40:04,960 --> 00:40:11,560 saved. Thank you, Lord, Amen. 445 00:40:14,000 --> 00:40:15,480 So if you've. Made that decision. 446 00:40:15,480 --> 00:40:20,560 For the first time, I'd like to invite you to just in a moment, 447 00:40:20,800 --> 00:40:25,080 put up your hands. The reason for that is twofold. 448 00:40:25,080 --> 00:40:28,760 First of all, so we can celebrate with you and encourage 449 00:40:28,760 --> 00:40:32,280 you. And the second is so we you make 450 00:40:32,280 --> 00:40:35,040 a step of faith by putting up your hand. 451 00:40:35,040 --> 00:40:38,240 There's a statement of faith that yes, I received what Jesus 452 00:40:38,240 --> 00:40:41,640 has done for me. So if you've made that prayer 453 00:40:41,640 --> 00:40:43,760 for the first time today, would you raise your hand? 454 00:40:48,360 --> 00:41:08,920 Thank you. And if you, if you. 455 00:41:08,920 --> 00:41:11,120 Prayed this for the first time but you weren't comfortable 456 00:41:11,120 --> 00:41:13,520 putting your hand up. Come and see us just at the back 457 00:41:13,800 --> 00:41:16,360 you'll see some tables. It's our our first time 458 00:41:16,360 --> 00:41:19,280 attendees area. Come back there, we have some 459 00:41:19,280 --> 00:41:21,920 material for you. And if you're searching, but you 460 00:41:21,920 --> 00:41:24,800 weren't ready to make a decision today, we have some material 461 00:41:24,800 --> 00:41:27,640 that will encourage you and give you some more information on 462 00:41:27,640 --> 00:41:29,600 your journey that you're going through. 463 00:41:30,160 --> 00:41:33,200 So be a part of it. You know, and God is so good. 464 00:41:33,760 --> 00:41:40,680 And I tell you today, His love cannot be contained. 465 00:41:41,160 --> 00:41:46,160 His love cannot be blocked. His love is available for you. 466 00:41:48,920 --> 00:41:51,560 So let's pray together. Lord, thank you. 467 00:41:52,400 --> 00:41:57,240 Thank you this day, Resurrection Sunday, we're so excited, Lord, 468 00:41:57,240 --> 00:42:00,760 that you are at work. Thank you, Lord, today that we 469 00:42:00,760 --> 00:42:03,880 remember you, remember all that you've done. 470 00:42:04,000 --> 00:42:06,880 Lord, we remember the power of your resurrection. 471 00:42:06,920 --> 00:42:08,960 We remember that you've atoned for us. 472 00:42:09,040 --> 00:42:11,600 Lord, we remember that you're at work in US. 473 00:42:11,720 --> 00:42:16,720 And Lord, we praise you so much. You're a great God with a huge 474 00:42:16,720 --> 00:42:19,400 love for us. May we get a revelation of the 475 00:42:19,400 --> 00:42:23,120 love of God and may that revelation of your love pour out 476 00:42:23,120 --> 00:42:26,680 through us to show shine light to those around us. 477 00:42:26,800 --> 00:42:30,720 Lord, we praise you today, we rejoice in you today, and we 478 00:42:30,720 --> 00:42:34,600 thank you for this great day. Hallelujah. 479 00:42:34,680 --> 00:42:37,560 Amen. Give the Lord a shout. 480 00:42:37,560 --> 00:43:34,520 Hallelujah. Thank you so much for tuning 481 00:43:34,520 --> 00:43:36,480 into this. Week's sermon, we pray you were 482 00:43:36,480 --> 00:43:39,040 challenged, equipped and encouraged. 483 00:43:39,280 --> 00:43:41,240 Make sure to follow us on all platforms. 484 00:43:41,240 --> 00:43:45,320 That's love quest intl church. We out here for real. 485 00:43:45,400 --> 00:43:47,680 We're really doing it. That's Facebook, Instagram, 486 00:43:47,680 --> 00:43:50,880 YouTube and TikTok. You can find us anywhere you 487 00:43:50,880 --> 00:43:53,320 need to find us. But until next time you know the 488 00:43:53,320 --> 00:43:55,400 drill. You know the motto, get your 489 00:43:55,400 --> 00:43:57,640 love fixed man and we'll see y'all real soon.