Easter Sunday

EASTER DAY 2014 Rock International Church.

Luke 14:25-35

Living Bible (TLB)

25 Great crowds were following him. He turned around and addressed them as follows: 26 “Anyone who wants to be my follower must love me far more than he does[a] his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, or sisters—yes, more than his own life—otherwise he cannot be my disciple. 27 And no one can be my disciple who does not carry his own cross and follow me.

28 “But don’t begin until you count the cost.[b] For who would begin construction of a building without first getting estimates and then checking to see if he has enough money to pay the bills? 29 Otherwise he might complete only the foundation before running out of funds. And then how everyone would laugh!

Bc cartoon.

”In Luke 14:25–28, Jesus talks about the cost of discipleship with some of the strongest language that he uses at any point during his ministry on earth. And he wants to be absolutely, brutally honest with us about what it means to truly be his disciple – a disciple of Jesus.

# One who believes in Jesus, worships Jesus, serves Jesus, follows Jesus, obeys Jesus. Yes, believes in Jesus, but doesn’t just believe in Jesus, lives a life in light of that belief.

Question..........Do I really want to be a disciple of Jesus?

THE ANSWER IS EITHER YES OR NO!!

Last week Chris gave us a very clear picture of Jesus that was agonizing over what was going to happen to him within the next few hours.

Egg n bacon..... chicken gave you an egg... bacon that pig gave everything.

For Jesus it was all or its nothing!!!

There are too many Christians giving so little to the one who gave so much!!

Isaiah 53:5 He was wounded for our sins…by his stripes we are healed. AND By His death We are set free, we are forgiven...given a new life, new destiny, new destination.

From the moment in John 13… Jesus knew the task before him.

Go to the cross in Jerusalem!!!

And the Cross....Not as a victim!!!....

Jesus was in full control...going to a place where it was quiet ...if he was arrested in the city that could cause a riot and people would die....

Goes to a place called the garden of Gethsemane that he would easy to find...away from crowds.

We know by history that it was a night of a (full moon) The police came with torches to search for him...

 Jesus is waiting of them…He openly admits who he is…He is not surprised.

Then the stupidity of the human race who has a tendency to get it wrong.  Peter. Starts a fight. He doesn’t understand....Doesnt see the BIG picture....

They take Jesus and kill Him. Oh the poor man.....

No nothing poor here!!!!

The story does not stop there.

HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD not by accident or by chance... not as a victim!!!

BUT VICTORIOUSLY. That’s what we are celebrating right now!!!

When I was 19 discovered the truth about a living Lord Jesus not a dead one.

Mary was at the tomb ready to visit the dead Jesus...

Luke 24:5. The angels said to Mary why do you search for the living among the dead?

We don’t have to find the answers to a dead Christ but answers to a living one....YES!!!

ONE OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE SENTENCES EVER UTTERED....

Pontius Pilot said; ‘what must I do with Jesus?’

That my friend is what we all must ask ourselves.

Christ died for me....I understand that.... I'm reconciled to God.

But now he is Risen and living! What does that mean for me?

Romans 5:10

New King James Version (NKJV)

10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Being reconciled (brought back) to God is one thing....but for the Christian there much more..

Its knowing the importance that we are saved by His LIFE..daily!!.

His death fixes the crisis of the moment...(door closed now open)

His risen life is a process of our lifetime that goes on into eternity!!

John 10:15 tells us… The son of man gave his life for many.

Not just the ones sitting in church right now.

But the ones sitting in their camping van OR CABINS with a hangover, ones who are stealing right now, and ones who are gossiping right now...the ones who never heard of Jesus.

Also died...The empty, the unattractive, and the ones you and I don’t like...

Isn't it wonderful that we don’t have to go to the church grave yard and place candles on the grave of Jesus.

The Muslims, They go to a grave to commemorate their dead leader, Mohammed.

The Jews, at the grave of Abraham.

Buddhists dead teacher tomb of Buddha.

We do not go to the place of Jesus burial because Jesus is not there. He’s alive. He’s risen. He’s ruling. He’s reigning. He is victorious. He’s saving. He’s serving. He’s forgiving. Hes praying!

He disarmed Satan and his powers making them a public example.  He triumphed…he was and still is the Victor ( champion, conqueror, defeater over them.)

Satan is mighty…BUT GOD but God….But God… Say it with me BUT GOD is ALL MIGHTY.

One day he will return. One day he will establish a never-ending kingdom. Death will be no more. Rebellion will be no more. Telen newspper will be no more.

Facebook will be no more...churches will be no more,

Sin and Satan and sinners will be no more.

And those whose faith is in him will rise to be with him. They will rise to be like him! They will rise to glorify him!

So on this fantastic day, I encourage you to give your sin...your worries, your old life to the risen Lord Jesus, and to receive his salvation, HIS LIFE to let this day, this glorious resurrection Easter Sunday, be the day that we celebrate His ressuerected life in you.

PRAY!!!

Today open your heart and your life and your mind and your eternity to the God who has loved you and loves you right now. His name is The Risen Lord Jesus.

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We live and then we die.  Christ died and now he lives.

Now go ….that is where the action is out there.

Now let us see where this adventure OF KNOWING THE RISEN LORD Jesus gets us!!