April 16 2017 Easter Means It's A New Day Of Mercy

EASTER MEANS IT’S A NEW DAY OF MERCY

Scandalous: The Miracle of Mercy – Part 1

Matthew 28:1-10 Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.” The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”

Luke 1:78 (GW)“A NEW DAY will dawn on US because our God is LOVING AND MERCIFUL.”

MERCY: undeserved forgiveness & unearned kindness

WHEN DO I NEED GOD’S MERCY?

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I ACCEPT IT?

1. ASHAMED: I need God’s mercy when I’ve messed up.

A HUMILIATED WOMAN: JOHN 8:2-11

“One day Jesus was teaching a crowd outside the Temple, and some Pharisees brought a woman who was CAUGHT in adultery. They put her on display in front of the crowd, then said to Jesus. ‘This woman has been CAUGHT in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. So what do YOU say?’ They were trying to TRAP Jesus into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and started writing in the dirt with his finger. They kept badgering Jesus, demanding an answer. Finally, Jesus stood up and said, ‘Here’s my answer: If any one of you has never sinned, then you may throw the first stone.’ Then he stooped down again and continued writing in the dirt! When the accusers heard this, they began to slip away, one by one, beginning with the oldest, until it was just Jesus and the woman. At that point, Jesus stood back up and quietly said to her, ‘Where are your accusers? Is there no one left to condemn you?’ ‘No one, Lord,’ she said. Then Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you! Now go on, and leave your sinful ways.’ ”

• GOD’S MERCY forgives me and frees me.

Isaiah 61:1 “I was sent to announce freedom to all held captive and forgiveness to all who’ve been imprisoned.”

John 12:47 (LB)(Jesus) “I have come to save the world and not to judge it.”

Psalm 86:5 (LB)“O Lord, you are so good and kind, so ready to forgive, so full of mercy for all who ask your aid.”

Hebrews 4:15-16 (CEV)“Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin. So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will receive mercy and find the grace to help us in our time of need.”

2. AFRAID: I need God’s mercy when facing death.

A DYING MAN: LUKE 23:39-43

“One of the criminals being executed on a cross beside Jesus ridiculed him saying, ‘If you’re supposed to be the Messiah, why don’t you save yourself . . . and us too!’ But the second criminal rebuked him, ‘Man, don’t you even fear God when you’re dying? We deserve to die for our evil deeds, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong!’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.’ And Jesus replied, ‘I guarantee you that today you will be with me in paradise.’ ”

• GOD’S MERCY will save me for eternity.

John 11:25(Jesus) "I am the resurrection and the life! Whoever believes in me, even though he dies, will live again!”

Acts 2:21 (LB)“Anyone who asks for mercy from the Lord shall have it and shall be saved.”

Isaiah 30:18 (CEV)“The Lord God is waiting to show you how kind he is and to have mercy on you. The Lord always does what’s right and he blesses those who trust him!”

April 16 2017 Easter - The Foundation For Happiness

EASTER, THE FOUNDATION FOR HAPPINESS

Col. 1:14 – Christ bought our freedom with His blood.

John 10:10 – Jesus said, “I come to give you life to the full.”

Matt. 28:5 - He is not here, He has risen.

Psalm 146:5 – Happy is he whose hope is in the Lord.

Happiness is Possible:

1. Because Christ can free you from guilt.

Eph. 1:7 – By the death of Christ we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven.

Col.2.14 – He has cancelled every record of the debt

we owed. Christ has done away with it by nailing it to the cross.

Rom 8:1 – There is no condemnation awaiting those who belong to Christ.

2. Because Christ can free you from worry.

I Peter 1:2 – God’s Spirit has been at work in you heart through Jesus Christ. May God grant you increasing freedom from all anxiety and fear.

Ph. 4:13 – I am ready for anything through the strength of Christ who lives in me.

3. Because Christ can give you purpose.

Eph. 2:10 – We are God’s work of art, created in Christ Jesus to live the good life as He meant for us to live it.

Acts 20:24 – Life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus.

4. Because Christ can give you a home in heaven.

Col. 2:20 – Christ has set you free from following the world’s ideas of how to be saved by doing good and obeying various rules.

Rom 4:4 – You don’t earn the right to heaven, no, for being saved is a free gift. If a person could earn it by being good, then it wouldn’t be free, but it is.

Rom. 6:23 – The free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.

A Prayer That Leads to Happiness: Dear God, I believe Jesus Christ was who He claimed to be, Your Son, and that He proved it by rising from death. Jesus Christ, thank You for dying for me on the cross. I want You to forgive my sins and I want to know You personally and experience the freedom You offer. As much as I know how, I ask You to come into my life and be my Lord and Savior. Amen.

March 27 2016 The Foundation For No Fear Living

THE FOUNDATION FOR NO-FEAR LIVING

Matthew 28:5 – Don’t be afraid.
Matthew 28:10 – Do not be afraid.

Ephesians 3:12 – In Christ we can come before God with freedom and without fear.  We can do this through faith in Christ.

How To Establish Your Foundation

Accept God’s Love For Me.

1 John 4:18 – Where God’s love is, there is no fear, because God’s perfect love drives out fear.

Romans 8:39 – Nothing in all creation is able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.

Luke 12:7 – God even knows how many hairs you have on your head.  Don’t be afraid. You are worth much.

Believe Christ Died And Rose For Me.

Hebrews 2:14-15 – By embracing death, Jesus destroyed the devil’s hold on death and freed all who cower through life scared to death by death.

Hebrews 2:15 – Only in that way could He deliver those who through fear of death have been living all their lives as slaves to constant dread.

Romans 10:13 – Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.

Commit My Fears And My Life To Christ.

1 Peter 3:14-15 – Don’t be afraid of anyone and don’t worry.  But have reverence for Christ in your heart and honor Him as Lord.

1 Peter 5:7 – Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.

Romans 8:15 – This resurrection life you’ve received is not a timid, brave tending life.  Instead, it’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike, ‘What’s next, Papa?’

Isaiah 54:7 – With deep love I will take you back.

March 27 2016 Daring To Believe - Breaking Free (part 1)

DARING TO BELIEVE

John 3:16 “God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever BELIEVES in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

John 6:29 (NLT) "This is what God wants you to do: BELIEVE in the one he has sent!"

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “BELIEVE IN JESUS”?

Turn everything over to Jesus.

Romans 10:9 “IF you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is my LORD," and BELIEVE in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved!”

Relax in his love.

Romans 8:38-39 (NLT) “Nothing will ever be able to separate us from his love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels can't, and demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Whether we’re high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Use my life to serve God by serving others.

Romans 6:13 (LB) “Give yourselves completely to God--every part of you--for you’ve been saved from death and you want to be tools in the hands of God, to be used for his good purposes.”

Ephesians 2:10 (TEV) “God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good works, which he has already prepared for us to do.”

Suffer for doing what’s right.

Philippians 1:29 (NLT) “For you have been given not only the privilege of BELIEVING in Christ but also the privilege of SUFFERING for him.”

1 Peter 3:14 (NLT) “But if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don't be afraid and don't worry.”

Trust what He says.

Psalm 33:4 (NLT) “For the word of the Lord always holds true, and everything he does is worthy of our trust.”

Hebrews 6:18 (Mes) “God can't break his word. So we who have trusted our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go!”

John 1:12 “To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, Jesus gave the right to become children of God.”

March 13 2016 The Word Of Victory

THE WORD OF VICTORY

John 19:30-37

Verse 30 – It is finished.

1. The Work of Christ as Prophet ended.

John 6:38 – I came down from Heaven, not to do my Own will but the will of Him who sent Me.

John 3:34 – My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me.

John 14:9 – He that hath seen Me has seen the Father.

Romans 5:8 – While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

2. The Work of redemption was completed.

John 1:29 – Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.

Several Things To Remember

• The suffering of Christ had ended.
• Separation was ended.
• The power of sin was broken.

Hebrews 10:24 – By one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.

• His death satisfied the law.

Colossians 2:14 – He canceled the record that contained the charges against us.  He took it and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ’s cross.

Romans 10:4 – Christ ended the law so that everyone who believes in Him may be right with God.

3. The Way to God was opened up.

Matthew 27:51 – At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

1 Timothy 2:5 – For there is one God, one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6 – I am confident of this one thing, He that hath begun a good work in you will bring it on to completion in the day of Christ.