Services | Jesus’ Ascension

Bulletin

May 9, 2021

“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and truth.”
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Praise and Worship
SCRIPTURE READING – Psalm 122:1
“This is Amazing Grace”​​
“Raise a Hallelujah”

Proclamation of the Word
Message by Pastor Joe
“The Earthly Life and Ministry of Jesus the Messiah”
“Jesus’ Ascension”

PRAYER TIME / Time of Reflection
“We Believe”
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Giving of Selves and Our Offerings
“Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
OFFERTORY PRAYER
SPECIAL MUSIC – By Pru Hungate

Continued Praise and Worship
“Glorious Day (Passion)”
“Love Has Won”

Benediction “Egypt”

Acknowledgements and Announcements

Sermon Notes
Acts 1:1 - 3 Jesus presented Himsel alive by many convincing proofs for 40 days
Acts 1:4 & 5 They were ordered to stay in Jerusalem until baptized by the Holy Spirit
Acts 1:6 & 7 They still wanted to know about the time of the restoration of the kingdom – nome of their business
Acts 1:8 You will receive power and be My witnesses
Acts 1:9 Jesus lifted up into the clouds
Ats 11:10 & 11 Why are you still looking up. He will return the same way

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Scritpures

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Transcript of Service

When we left.

The story.

Of the life and Ministry of Jesus. It was on a day of preparation.

They crucified him.

At the time that they were also sacrificing the Lambs for Passover.

After he had died.

Joseph of arimathea.

Ask for the body of Jesus.

And buried in his own tomb, which was in a garden tomb nearby. The place of the crucifixion and all of this had to be done quickly, because Passover was at hand and they could not defile the Passover.

And so the burial of Jesus was done.

Quickly, but not completely.

But the problem with.

Attending to the final preparations of his burial was that after the day of preparation was Passover.

Which was a high holy day?

Or no work could be done.

The day after Passover is the Feast of Unleavened bread. The first day is again a high holy day and a day where no work was to be done.

And then came Saturday the Sabbath, which no work could be done and I'm sure.

That those of his disciples who loved him.

Have lots of time to think during those that time.

Especially during Passover, because they had celebrated a form of the Passover a day early.

And he had instituted the Lord Supper, and broke bread, and declared that was his body broken for them.

Something that at the time they quite didn't understand that the Cup was his blood. The New Covenant, and that is often they were eat and drink. They would do that to declare his death until they came, and those were all just words.

Without particular meaning, I'm sure during these days of rest they had lots of opportunity.

Consider that along with I'm sure their own fear about what would happen next to them.

Because as Jesus said, when the Shepherd is struck, the sheep are scattered and they weren't sure what their next move was. And after all they had devoted the last three and a half years plus of their lives to this rabbi. To this one they had forsaken their families, and they had followed him.

And now he was dead. And even though he had talked about things they quite had in grasp it.

Probably like when we read certain books of the Bible like Revelation. Everybody says that those are.

To be taken allegorically or their symbolic, then we expect it to be allegorical and symbolic rather than real, and I'm sure that's kind of what they're coming to grips with.

And the women that followed Jesus, who ministered to him and provided much of the financing.

They followed him and I'm sure.

They felt a duty.

We care for his body in the way that he is, their teacher and the one who had loved them like no other.

That they wanted to at least honor him to provide for his daughter properly. So they had to wait these three days for that to happen.

And they didn't wait.

Until the sun got up.

They waited as long as they could and they started making preparation for the preparation of the body and started calling to the tomb before it was even light, and we're going to go back and forth between Matthew 28 and John 20, 'cause I think it gives the most.

Systematic.

Approach of what's happening during this time, I'm going to go back and forth.

And then at the end we're going to look at Luke 24.

And so Matthew 28 says.

Now for the Sabbath. And again, that's Saturday.

As it began to dawn toward the first day of the week Sunday.

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave, and behold, the severe earthquake had a curd, or an Angel. The Lord descended from heaven, and came in and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it.

So we're told.

And they still the women's name.

Are there an? They've come provide an. We will see later that that there is this kind of discussion. How is it that we're going to tend to the body? 'cause there's a stone? How we're going to roll it back? And we may need help. And so these two women at least have come.

On Sunday.

And we're told that there is a large earthquake. This very earthquake and the stone has been rolled away. Now going to John Chapter 20. It says on the first now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb while it was still dark and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb.

And she ran and came to Simon Peter into the other disciple whom Jesus loved and said to them they have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and I do not know where they have laid him.

Mary Madeline loved Jesus and Jesus had loved Mary and I'm sure she made an assumption that we all tend to make.

The stone's been rolled away his body's not there. Therefore somebody must have stolen the body and I need to tell someone so we can find his body to prepare it the way it ought to, and to treat him as his dignity requires.

And Mary Madeline is very much like us.

Rather than waiting for the God to reveal things to us, she took action.

I need to find help and she took off to tell Peter that the Lord's body had been moved.

If she had just waited a few moments with the other ladies.

She would have heard the Angel speak.

But instead of that she took off, which means that her grief is going to last longer.

Because she's still uncertain where the body of Jesus is.

But the women we're going to see who remained at the tomb are going to be told by the Angel.

And so going back to Matthew 20. Verse three, it starts describing the Angel and his appearance was like Lightning and his clothing as white as snow.

The guard shook for fear of him and became like dead men.

The Angel said to the women, do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who has been crucified. He is not here, for he has risen just as he said, come and see the place where he was laying.

Now.

The women are told by an Angel.

He's not there.

And he tells them he's not there, not because the body's been stolen, but because he is risen from the dead, like he said he was going to do. And the Angel said, see here's proof.

Now.

Earlier, we're told that there was a large earthquake, a severe earthquake, and the stone rolled away and the Angel said upon it.

The earthquake didn't happen and the stone was not rolled away because Jesus needed to get out of the grave.

The stone was rolled away so that everyone could see that Jesus wasn't in the grave.

He didn't need because we will see later that he appears and disappears through walls. He did not need the help.

Of the Angel to move the stone.

As a matter of fact.

Wait, we kind of joke sometimes because there's a lot of churches and it is good and I'm not criticizing. I'm just.

Having a little fun that there is.

Sunrise services to declare the resurrection.

My little joke is the women went to the tomb and he wasn't there.

So why should I bother going?

So I'll go later.

I truly believe I may be wrong, but I truly believe that Jesus rose at the beginning of what is called first fruits, because the Scripture says the the set the day after the Sabbath after Passover is first fruits and the scriptures tell us that Jesus is the first fruits of the resurrection.

Now.

On Saturday at sundown, when the sun goes down that for the Jewish calendar is Sunday and the High Priest would wait and he would have a a handful of of sheaf of grain and he would wait until the last beam of the sun shone, which now declared it to be Sunday and he would waive that chief before the Lord.

As an offering declaring in faith that this is the beginning, the first fruits of the harvest.

I think that's when Jesus rose from the grave.

Maybe it was.

Free.

Am neighbors 5:00 AM.

But I think that's when he rose from the dead. But then we needed to have the stone rolled away so that we might know that he's not there.

But the Angel says something, not only is not there, he is risen, just as he said. And I want you to go check it out. Go look at the tomb. But I want you to do something. I want you to. In Verse 7, gold quickly. Don't take your time. Go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead. Behold, he is going ahead of you into Galilee, and there you will see him the holes I have told you. So the Angel says I've got a mission for you.

You've seen that the body is not here, that he is risen like he said, and I want you to go tell his disciples and that the plan was he's going to meet you in Galilee.

So what are you doing?

One of the reasons that you know that the scriptures are reliable.

Is it during this day and age?

Women were not.

Competent witnesses.

They could not testify as to anything it required. The testimony of two or three men to confirm something.

And women were incompetent to testify. And yet the scriptures say the very first people who discover that Jesus isn't there are women.

Shows you how high regard the Lord holds women.

They are the ones to declare that he's not there.

Is resident.

And they're the ones that tells the disciples. Hey guys, get your act together. He didn't just talk, he meant it.

And the Angel said not only that, but when all these things happen, when you go see him physically.

Remember I told you?

And they left the tomb.

Quickly with fear and great Joy, Ann Randall reported to his disciples.

Behold, Jesus met and greeted them, and they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.

Then Jesus said, then do not be afraid. Go and take the word to my brother.

Should leave for Galilee.

And there they will see me.

So Jesus again confirms what the Angel is said. Go to my brethren.

And tell them I risen, and let us be.

We're going to go back to John Chapter 20.

For three, so Peter and the other disciple, and whenever you're reading John and talks about the other disciple, it means John.

And so Peter and the other disciples went forth, and they were going to the tomb.

And the two were running together and the other disciple ran faster ahead faster, so John Sain.

My time in the 100 yard dash is much faster than Peters and I got there ahead of him and so I ran.

And stooping down and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings line there, but did not go in.

You see, probably, and I believe how the two must know that there you had the.

The tomb hewn out of rock, and then they would have a ledge where the body would lay, and John looked in.

And then see a body. But he saw linen wrapping.

Which is a very important clue that we'll talk about in just a moment.

And so, Peter Simon Peter also came following him an entered the tomb.

So Peter doesn't stop. He keeps running all the way into the tomb.

John hesitates and looks in no nobody there, just some linen wrappings. But Peter goes into the tomb.

Anne saw the linen wrappings lying there.

And the face cloth which had been on his head, not lying with the Lenin wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself.

Now, why is this an important clue?

'cause if somebody had stolen the body they would steal everything.

They would steal the linen wrappings, they would steal everything why? Because Jesus's body was a bloody mess.

He had been scourge, he had been crucified. He had been nailed, piercing his hands and his feet and his side. He had bled both blood and water. He was a bloody mess.

And blood if you touched it, not only touch it, but a dead body. You were considered unclean, so they would not bother unwrapping the body if they were going to steal it, they would take everything with them.

Jesus rose from the dead. Now there are those who say.

An in.

And I don't dispute it. That is significant that the Headcovering was rolled up.

Some say it's because I'm done and I'm leaving it there.

Another saying.

Jesus is leaving the tomb and it did so.

Not in haste.

But orderly.

And Graverobbers certainly wouldn't roll up the face path and leave it there.

So there are clues.

Birth date so the other disciple who had first come to the tomb again. John then also entered and saw an believed.

All of a sudden, Jesus had been telling them teachers have been teaching him.

But after they saw the linen wrappings, and after they saw the face covering role, that is when John believed, it was. And when the women told him he was gone, it wasn't that the Angel told the women that he was risen, but when John saw the empty tomb, he.

Believe.

Or yet, as yet they did not understand the scripture that he must rise again from the dead. So the disciples went away again to their own homes. They're not too sure what to do, but I find this interesting. It says that the disciples go to their own homes.

Well, what was it that Jesus told him to do? What was it the Angels told him to do? It was to go to Galilee, and I'll meet you there.

But again, isn't that like us?

Jesus wants to meet us. He wants to to walk with us. He wants to be our Lord and our Savior and our so often we say I'll do it later.

Yeah, I'll do it later.

She said go quickly to Galilee so that I might be with you and we're saying, huh?

I'll take my time.

Going back again to John Chapter 20, verse 11, but Mary again. Mary Madeline was standing outside the tomb, weeping, and so as she wept, she stood and looked into the tomb.

So we see Mary and that's why I'm going back and forth. So now Mary is gone and reported it to the disciples that somebody must have taken the body and she's gone back. Why? Because that's where she's hoping maybe the body might be and she doesn't know what to do in her. Grief has overcome her, so she went back to the scene of the crime. If you will trying to figure out what's going on and she's weeping.

And little German lisaw

'cause she hadn't heard.

The word.

She made an assumption.

And she saw two Angel.

Which means if there are two Angels, there are one Angel.

So the scriptures aren't contrary.

But she saw two Angels in White sitting one.

At the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been lying.

So one was sitting on a rock on a zone and now these two are sitting where Jesus had would have been and where his feet would have been.

And they said to her woman.

Why are you weeping?

And she said to them, because they have taken away, my Lord and I do not know where they have laid him.

You see that she's saying because there's been a crime, they.

It wasn't enough that they crucified him. It wasn't enough that they, scourge him. It wasn't enough that they didn't allow us to have time to prepare the body. But now is the last resort they have.

Desecrated his body by taking it.

And when she had said this.

She turned around and saw Jesus standing there.

And did not know that it was Jesus.

And Jesus said to her woman.

Why are you weeping?

Whom are you seeking?

The Jesus asked 2 questions.

Why is it you crying?

Not just crying, you're weeping. You are obviously emotionally distraught at this situation. So why are you weeping and for what are you looking for? Who you looking for?

And supposing him to be the gardener.

Again, another assumption.

And I'm not.

Throwing rocks at her, 'cause that's what we all do.

We all make assumptions.

Assuming that he was supposing him to be the gardener, she said him, Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him and I will take him away. So she says, look, maybe if while you were mowing though, or cutting the branches are doing whatever you do is Gardner. If you move the body, let me know where you did it and I'll and I'll take care of it.

And Jesus said to her.

Mary

he just he just said her name.

Mary

I bet the way he said her name.

Cost her to realize.

Just the way he had said her name before.

Mary

she turned and said to him in Hebrew Rabone which means teacher.

And Jesus said to her, stop clinging to me, or I have not yet ascended to the father.

So Mary is so grateful that she is just grasping at his feet, won't let him go because she lossed his body once they crucified him, he died and now he's alive and I'm not letting you go.

Oh, that we wouldn't let Jesus.

And then he says, stop clinging to me or I'm not yet ascended now.

This doesn't mean that Jesus didn't go to heaven after his death. The scripture clearly teaches.

That he, after his crucifixion and led captivity captive and took the offering of his blood and place it on the Mercy seat in Heaven, and sat down.

When he says I have not yet ascended, he's talking physically.

And there will come a time soon that he will in his knew resurrected body ascend to heaven. But because he hasn't stopped clinging to me, 'cause there are still things I've got to do.

But go to my brother and and say to them, I ascend to my father and your father and my God and your God.

Notice Jesus doesn't reprimand her for her lack of faith as a matter of fact he rewarded says not only is the Lord by God, the Lord is your God.

Mary Magdalene came announcing to the disciples.

And I could just see.

The first time she came, she was weeping and being distraught, not knowing where the Lord was.

And now she comes to the disciples. I have seen the Lord, and they have. And he had said these things to her. She now satisfies.

Yeah, I saw the empty two. My assumption was.

Somebody stole the body, but I saw him risen from the dead.

I saw the Angels and they told me that he had risen from the dead, that he was in there an I am telling you.

The heroes.

From the dead.

Now intermittent.

Intervening time.

Going back again to Matthew 28, starting with verse 11, other things are happening.

Now, while they were on their way, some of the.

Of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief freeze. All that had happened, so they're going to say.

There was an earthquake.

The stone rolled away.

We saw an Angel sitting on the stone and we fell down his dead men.

And he's gone.

And when they assembled with the elders and consulted together, they can't. They gave a large sum of money to the soldiers.

Again.

These religious leaders, the ones who are supposed to be teachers of Israel.

Whenever confronted with the facts, always develop a lie.

They lie when they accused Jesus of saying. He said he could tear down the temple and we rebuild it in three days. Then later after the crucifixion they said, well, he told his disciples that he would die and then three days later arise. So let's put a guard there so that they can't steal the body.

They quoted him correctly then, but not during the trial.

The truth never matters to them.

And you would think that these religious leaders are.

As Jesus told your God and Michael.

I know.

There's no evil bounds in these.

So they bribed them.

Without a few coins like they gave to Judas, they gave them a large sum of money.

And said you are to say his disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.

The very reason that they were on guard duty was to prevent that.

Here's a bunch of.

In our dating a bunch of country bumpkins, nobody gave a lot of credit to galileans. They spoke funny. You could tell the way they spoke. Obviously, even in today, when we talk about whether Peter wrote first and second, Peter, they say, oh, his Greek is too good.

Obviously can't be Peter, is this Greeks too good?

So here they are accusing these bumbling.

Disciples

who couldn't even stand with Jesus during his trial.

They say they sold the body.

Wow guards were there Roman guards? Guards who were professional soldiers?

And if they should come to the governor's ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble. Yeah, you know what? The trouble is, execution.

It was oh, you got extra guard duty for next three months? No, though you die.

They said don't worry.

We've been able to manipulate manipulate pilot so far, will keep manipulating him.

Don't worry.

And they took the money and did as they had been instructed, and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day.

And there are still those who believe.

It is disciples stole the body.

I want you to turn to Luke Chapter 24. You started with verse 13.

There is another resurrection appearance.

And before we turn there out, I want you.

Understand something.

There is a tendency during this day that some call Easter, some call Resurrection Sunday. I call first fruits, 'cause I believe that's a biblical name. But whatever you call it, there is a tendency to on this day preach about the resurrection and then next Sunday. We'd preach on something else.

And something else and something else.

You see, Resurrection Sunday was not the only day that Jesus was demonstrated that he had risen from the dead to his disciples and others.

As a matter of fact, he remained on this Earth after his resurrection for 40 days.

Demonstrating himself at various times to various groups to singles and multiple people at one time, as many as 500 men together.

And so over the next few weeks, we're going to talk about some of his resurrection appearances. 'cause I want you to understand it wasn't just resurrection Sunday and then we moved on.

He rose from the dead and presented himself alive for 40 days.

Luke Chapter 24, verse 13 says this.

And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village name, Emmaus.

Which was about 7 miles from Jerusalem.

And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place.

And while they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself approached and began traveling with them.

But their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.

I want you to notice how many times, both believers.

Have not recognized him.

So when your unbelieving friends don't recognize who Jesus is, don't be surprised.

Because it takes the Holy Spirit to.

Unveil our eyes.

And so they're talking, and they're discussing and they're walking. And Jesus is now walking with them.

And he said to them, what are these words that you're exchanging with one another as you're walking? And they stood still and looked sad not.

The scripture, sometimes we just reply. I want you to their walk into discussing. Probably having this lively debate and discussion of what's going on and all of a sudden they stopped dead still.

What do you mean you're asking this question?

It doesn't compute and so they kind of say that.

And one of them named Clay Office answered and said to him, are you the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here? Can wait a minute. Hey guy, you've been traveling from Jerusalem. We're on our way to Emmaus, so obviously you've been there.

And you're asking this question.

And he said to them, what things?

Jesus always he always asked the obvious question and the reason he asked the obvious question is comes times it's not so obvious and it starts to frame what the question is.

There's a lot of time. Our thinking is very muddled.

But when we speak, there are times when we kind of figured that was a dumb question. Or yeah, maybe it makes sense. So speaking sometimes allows you to organize your thoughts, so he said then, what things?

And they said that the things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a Prophet, mighty in deed and in Word in the sight of God, and all the people there, saying Jesus was the man, he was a Prophet, and not only that, God esteem him, but everybody around him thought he was pretty cool.

And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him over to the sentence is death and crucified him.

So those are what's happening, but I'll tell you what was going on inside, but we were hoping that it was he who is going to redeem Israel. Indeed. Beside all of this, it is the third day since these things happen.

They're gone.

These are the things that happened.

And our hope our dreams was that Jesus was the Messiah and he was going to establish Israel.

That was our hope. That was that's what's happening, and that's what's happening on the inside.

But also some of the women among us amazed us when they were at the tomb early in the morning, and they did not find his body. And they came saying that they had also seen a vision of Angels who said that he was alive.

Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women had also said, but him they did not see.

So they recount all the things that are happening.

Peter and John had run to the tomb. It was empty. The women had declared that the tomb was empty, but the Angels had declared that they.

Where to go to Galilee, where he would meet them there because he is not here he has risen.

And he, being Jesus said to them.

All foolish men and solve hard to believe in all that the prophets have spoken.

First, Jesus says.

You're supposed to be children of the book.

You are the carriers of the Oracle of God.

And you don't understand what's going on.

Because the scriptures are clear.

Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?

So we asked him a question, was it not necessary for this to happen?

You're confused, but was it not necessary?

I want you to understand something in the magnitude of things as well. In the minimal things of your life that you think are big.

Are magnet magnifying.

God can take evil of men.

And make it for his glory.

The religious leaders were determined to crucify Jesus so that they might get rid of him and they didn't care what the truth was.

And God took that evil.

And cause Salvation for you and me.

So if God can do that.

I can deal with the crisis in your life.

Then he did just leave it there, then beginning with Moses, and with all the prophecies explained to them, the things concerning himself in all the scriptures.

What are Bible study?

That wasn't just a Bible study that was theology 101 plus.

They have the one who wrote the scriptures. Who's about the scriptures to explain the scriptures?

And as they approached the village where they were going.

And he acted as though he was going off going further.

But they urged him, saying, stay with us, for it is getting towards evening, and the day is now nearly over. So he went and to stay with him.

Now these guys may not have had a clue about the scriptures, but they know not yet who Jesus is, but they know they want to be around this guy.

Because he's teaching them like no one's taught them, and he is clearly expounded upon the scriptures, starting with Moses and all the scriptures. Why this had to take place.

Verse 30 and winning had reclined at the table with him. He took the bread and blessed it and breaking it he began giving it to them.

Then their eyes were open.

And they recognized him, and he vanished from their sight.

I can just see it all of a sudden now, just as at the Lord. Supper just says that that Passover celebration as he had broken the bread and said this body, my body is broken for you do this as often as you eat in Remembrance of me, and as he took the wine and shared it and blessed it and pass it around, saying, this is the blood of the new Covenant in my blood. Take it and drink it as often as you do. Do so to declare my death until I come.

And then their eyes catch and then they see who he is.

They leave.

And that's why I said he banishes. We will see later that he has a very physical body.

But it is a resurrected body.

And no longer the physics of walls.

Bother him.

And no longer does the physics of a stone tomb.

Bother him.

And then one of my favorite verses.

And they said to one another.

Bernard, our hearts burning with us within us.

While he was speaking to us on the way.

They said there was something different.

We didn't recognize it at the time, but after we.

There was something about being in his presence and him teaching, and our hearts burn within us.

I've had that same feeling.

I wouldn't call a feeling I've had that same experience.

When I see the Scriptures and Jesus teaches me something new that I hadn't realized.

There's something that burns in my heart.

There's a realization of who, how awesome our God is.

And even though I'm a Sinner, how much he loves me?

And my heart burns within me as I walk with him.

And I'm sure you have had the same experience. Those of you who are believers as you walk with Jesus.

Learning from him.

But your heart burns within you.

But you might ask, well Pastor Joe, how do I know that? It's that it's not pepperoni pizza?

How is it that I know that that you're just not having some kind of weird feeling? Because in today's culture feelings just control everything.

This is how I know.

Because that father.

Testified that he is the son of God the Messiah.

The son testified that he is the son of God and his ministry both in his life and his deeds, and his actions demonstrated that he is the Messiah. The Holy Spirit has testified that he is the Messiah. His entire life testified that he is the Messiah. His death on a cross testified that he is the Messiah. His burial in a rich man's tomb for three days testified that he's the Messiah.

The empty tomb testifies that he's the Messiah. The witness is both the women and his followers, and others testify that he's the Messiah, Paul, who wasn't even there who was an enemy of the church, ran into him and testified that he is the Messiah. An even later born than Paul Me. I testified because of the testimony of all of those.

He's the Messiah.

So it's not pepperoni pizza.

Because I followed the teaching of Moses and the scriptures.

And they testify of him.

And even if you think the test, the scriptures aren't inspired.

A witness is testifying.

The witnesses were reliable.

Even if you don't think the witness is reliable, the circumstances are reliable.

And the empty tomb.

Is reliable.

So we celebrate this day.

But we should celebrate every day.

His Resurrection Day as first fruits because he rose from the dead. And because he rose from the dead, my sins have been forgiven because he paid it on the cross and God confirmed it by his resurrection.

If Jesus did not raise from the dead, then we are.

Lawston our sins without hope, but the resurrection means that we have hope.

The resurrection means that we are not just observing his resurrection, but there is a hope that one day those of us who have lost loved ones who are believers, we will see them because they will raise from the dead not just as spirits, but in physical bodies.

And that we who are alive.

The loss will be raised whether it's from the dead.

Or while we're still remaining here.

This day

is a day of celebration.

In as a day of hope.

It is a day to declare.

The good news?

Of our God.

Because he's not dead.

He's alive.

He's alive in this world and he's alive. And believers hearts and he's alive by his actions. He's not a God of far off. He's still a God who ministers here and now.

No moment we're going to sing a time of reflection. Then we're going to sing some songs about the resurrection, but I want you to understand.

The world thinks.

By the crucifixion.

It's over.

The Lamb of God.

As Revelations will say.

Not just the Lamb of God, but he is a lion of Judah.

He did not go out with a whimper.

He went out with a roar.

And he has called us to be bold and to declare his resurrection.

Because we are in good company with the facts.

It's not all we believe because we hope it to be. We believe because he rose from the dead and all God's people said.