WEBVTT 00:00:26.019 --> 00:00:27.060 Well, good morning. 00:00:27.300 --> 00:00:28.339 Happy Easter. 00:00:28.500 --> 00:00:29.780 Happy Resurrection Day. 00:00:29.859 --> 00:00:32.500 It is so awesome to see all of you here worshiping with us today. 00:00:32.660 --> 00:00:40.980 I'd like to welcome you here at our Bonnie Oaks campus, but also like to welcome all of you at all of our campuses and all of our venues and those of you that are worshiping with us online. 00:00:41.380 --> 00:00:44.179 If I haven't had a chance to meet you personally, I'm Tony Walliser. 00:00:44.420 --> 00:00:48.820 I'm one of the pastors here at Siverdale, and I have the privilege today to share with you God's Word. 00:00:49.060 --> 00:00:55.299 So we study the Bible, and so I encourage you, if you have your Bible, go and open it up to the very last book of the Bible. 00:00:55.380 --> 00:00:58.980 It's the book of Revelation, Revelation chapter one. 00:00:59.460 --> 00:01:02.100 We're going to look at just two verses here today. 00:01:02.259 --> 00:01:13.219 And then also, hopefully, all of you received one of these whenever you came in, these worship guides have a Bible study outline on it so you can follow along and take notes as we study God's Word together as well. 00:01:13.460 --> 00:01:16.980 Today we're going to be talking about Jesus Christ and his power. 00:01:17.219 --> 00:01:25.219 If it is true that Jesus Christ rose from the dead and conquered sin and death and hell, then he has power like no one else. 00:01:25.460 --> 00:01:33.140 Now it's been studied that the average American will look down at their phone a hundred times a day. 00:01:33.460 --> 00:01:42.340 But there is one time during the day that we will look down upon it and suddenly we'll be overwhelmed with shock, and that is whenever you see the low battery image, right? 00:01:42.500 --> 00:01:44.180 You go, oh no, what am I going to do? 00:01:44.260 --> 00:01:46.739 You begin to scan the room and you're looking for an outlet. 00:01:46.820 --> 00:01:50.260 You're looking, somebody have a charger, you know, can I make it to the car? 00:01:50.420 --> 00:01:50.739 Why? 00:01:50.900 --> 00:02:00.980 Because you know that even though your phone may be expensive and sleek and have high technology, yet without power, it's just dead weight. 00:02:01.219 --> 00:02:03.540 Um, we all know we need power. 00:02:03.780 --> 00:02:06.500 Several years ago, there was a major power outage. 00:02:06.579 --> 00:02:15.460 It started with a transformer explosion, and then suddenly, you know, the power grid went down and an entire city went black. 00:02:15.620 --> 00:02:21.139 I mean, can you imagine whenever you know you're at traffic lights and suddenly they don't work? 00:02:21.379 --> 00:02:24.740 You're on an elevator and it stops halfway. 00:02:24.980 --> 00:02:31.300 You have homes were silent, businesses were shut down, the the city came to a standstill. 00:02:31.379 --> 00:02:31.699 Why? 00:02:32.019 --> 00:02:34.180 Because there was no power. 00:02:34.419 --> 00:02:44.180 Now we know the importance of power, not just with cell phones and lights, and that's true in the physical realm, but we need power in the spiritual realm. 00:02:44.419 --> 00:02:50.819 The realm of how do we live life through the stresses of life that we have, how do we live not just in this life, but the next life? 00:02:50.979 --> 00:02:52.979 Where do you have the power to do that? 00:02:53.140 --> 00:03:01.060 Well, today we're going to discover that what the resurrected Christ does is he gives us his power to experience those things. 00:03:01.300 --> 00:03:03.780 Now, let's be honest at the very beginning. 00:03:04.180 --> 00:03:17.780 If Jesus Christ is just an ordinary man and he lived 2,000 years ago, and maybe had some great teachings, and maybe did some great signs, but he died, and that was the end of his story. 00:03:18.020 --> 00:03:20.659 If that's the case, then let's go home. 00:03:20.819 --> 00:03:23.620 Because he can't do anything for us today. 00:03:23.939 --> 00:03:35.539 But if the scriptures are true and he was God with us, and he conquered everything that this world could throw at him, then guess what? 00:03:35.699 --> 00:03:38.900 That means the impossible is now possible. 00:03:39.060 --> 00:03:42.659 Think about all the different ways that Jesus Christ demonstrated power. 00:03:42.819 --> 00:03:46.819 Jesus had power over gravity when he walked on water. 00:03:47.140 --> 00:03:52.900 Jesus had power over sickness whenever he healed every disease known to man. 00:03:53.140 --> 00:03:59.060 The lame walked, the blind could see, the deaf could hear, the lepers were cleansed. 00:03:59.300 --> 00:04:04.819 Jesus had power over creation when he would speak to the wind and the waves and they would obey him. 00:04:05.300 --> 00:04:11.379 Jesus had power over the spiritual realm whenever he would cast out demons and send them to hell. 00:04:11.620 --> 00:04:16.259 Jesus had power to multiply food, to feed the masses. 00:04:16.419 --> 00:04:20.180 I mean, Jesus had this incredible power, this power to predict the future. 00:04:20.419 --> 00:04:23.699 He predicted how and when he was going to die. 00:04:23.779 --> 00:04:28.259 And then he said, You destroy the temple of this body in three days I will rise it up. 00:04:28.419 --> 00:04:29.539 Now that's power. 00:04:29.699 --> 00:04:38.019 In fact, I would submit to you that the greatest power is someone who can take something that is dead and bring it back to life. 00:04:38.180 --> 00:04:40.659 That is our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:04:40.899 --> 00:04:44.980 And so what we're going to do today is we're going to study just two verses from the book of Revelation. 00:04:45.139 --> 00:04:48.100 And Jesus is speaking to one of his closest disciples. 00:04:48.259 --> 00:04:49.860 His name is John. 00:04:50.580 --> 00:04:58.179 And this is Jesus Christ in his resurrected, glorified body, speaking these words. 00:04:58.419 --> 00:05:03.139 Look at what the Bible says in Revelation chapter 1, beginning verse 17. 00:05:04.340 --> 00:05:09.139 When I saw Christ, I fell at his feet like a dead man. 00:05:09.460 --> 00:05:13.139 He laid his right hand on me and said, Don't be afraid. 00:05:13.299 --> 00:05:15.940 I am the first and the last and the living one. 00:05:16.179 --> 00:05:23.220 I was dead, but look, I'm alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades. 00:05:23.620 --> 00:05:25.700 Now you may go, what's going on here in this passage? 00:05:25.860 --> 00:05:28.259 Well, this is written by the Apostle John. 00:05:28.419 --> 00:05:30.419 He's now 90 years old. 00:05:30.659 --> 00:05:33.539 It's been 60 years since he's seen Jesus. 00:05:33.700 --> 00:05:34.019 Okay? 00:05:34.580 --> 00:05:37.139 He has been arrested by the Roman Empire. 00:05:37.379 --> 00:05:41.539 He's put on this desolate island called the Isle of Patmos. 00:05:41.860 --> 00:05:44.820 It's about 40 miles off the coast of Turkey. 00:05:44.980 --> 00:05:49.779 And there he's been in exile, waiting for possible execution by the Romans. 00:05:49.940 --> 00:05:53.539 And Jesus comes and he appears to him. 00:05:53.940 --> 00:05:55.620 Now here's the amazing thing. 00:05:58.820 --> 00:06:01.220 In fact, John and Jesus were so close. 00:06:01.379 --> 00:06:07.460 When Jesus died, Jesus gave John the responsibility of taking care of his mother Mary. 00:06:07.620 --> 00:06:13.299 And yet, whenever John sees Jesus, he doesn't run up to him, give him a hug, give him a high five. 00:06:13.460 --> 00:06:13.700 No. 00:06:13.860 --> 00:06:17.860 The Bible says he falls on his face as a dead man. 00:06:18.179 --> 00:06:18.820 Why? 00:06:19.460 --> 00:06:22.259 Because he's never seen Jesus like this. 00:06:22.419 --> 00:06:24.580 This is not Jesus meek and mild. 00:06:24.740 --> 00:06:27.700 This is Jesus mighty and undefiled. 00:06:27.860 --> 00:06:32.500 This is Jesus with his resurrected, glorified, heavenly body. 00:06:32.659 --> 00:06:41.860 And the Bible says his eyes are like flames of fire, his voice is like thunder, no wonder John fell at Jesus' feet. 00:06:42.100 --> 00:06:48.259 But here's the amazing thing Jesus gives John these words of encouragement. 00:06:48.419 --> 00:06:57.620 And if you are a follower of Jesus Christ here today, the same words of encouragement that Jesus gives John, Jesus gives to you. 00:06:57.860 --> 00:07:02.659 And so if Christ has conquered death, then here's the promise for you today. 00:07:02.820 --> 00:07:03.059 Ready? 00:07:03.220 --> 00:07:03.700 Jot this down. 00:07:03.860 --> 00:07:05.379 First of all, is this jot this down. 00:07:05.620 --> 00:07:07.539 Jesus can calm your fear. 00:07:07.860 --> 00:07:10.899 Jesus can calm your fear. 00:07:11.460 --> 00:07:17.220 Now, fear, anxiety, worries, those are some of our strongest emotions. 00:07:17.460 --> 00:07:22.100 And yet the last decade can be described as an age of fear. 00:07:22.259 --> 00:07:22.659 Why? 00:07:22.820 --> 00:07:26.019 Because we are constantly bombarded with a lot of information. 00:07:26.179 --> 00:07:28.659 Our smartphones have made us a lot dumber. 00:07:28.820 --> 00:07:36.659 And we're constantly being informed with stuff from our echo chamber and you know, things that affirm our greatest fears, right? 00:07:36.820 --> 00:07:39.379 And so next thing you know, we have this anxiety. 00:07:39.620 --> 00:07:40.980 Do you remember what happened? 00:07:41.139 --> 00:07:43.299 The pandemic of 2020, right? 00:07:43.539 --> 00:07:47.220 Now nobody's ever experienced a pandemic before, so nobody knows exactly what to do. 00:07:47.299 --> 00:07:50.259 So everybody is freaking out and responding in fear. 00:07:50.500 --> 00:07:52.899 The answer, shut everything down, right? 00:07:53.059 --> 00:07:55.059 Let's close the churches, okay? 00:07:55.220 --> 00:07:56.659 No sporting events. 00:07:56.899 --> 00:07:57.940 Uh, you know what? 00:07:58.019 --> 00:08:01.059 Um, kids go on spring break, it's gonna last for months. 00:08:01.220 --> 00:08:02.179 I mean, people, right? 00:08:02.419 --> 00:08:04.259 They started hoarding toilet paper. 00:08:04.500 --> 00:08:05.700 What in the world? 00:08:05.940 --> 00:08:06.820 What was happening? 00:08:06.980 --> 00:08:15.940 I'll tell you what was happening is that people, fear swept our culture, and the pandemic was more like a panic every minute. 00:08:16.340 --> 00:08:17.299 Why is that? 00:08:17.539 --> 00:08:22.179 Because normal concerns suddenly became irrational fears. 00:08:23.779 --> 00:08:29.940 The studies tell us that 85% of the things that we worry about never happen. 00:08:30.179 --> 00:08:36.179 We worry about all these things, but they never come true in our lives, and yet those anxieties control us. 00:08:36.500 --> 00:08:50.820 Jesus is speaking to his fearful disciple who's facing possible execution and saying, look at it again, verse 17, he laid his right hand on me and said, Don't be afraid. 00:08:51.379 --> 00:08:54.340 Now, John has heard this voice before. 00:08:54.659 --> 00:09:09.299 When John and the disciples were in, you know, a boat in the Sea of Galilee, there was a storm, and they were being swamped by this storm, and they think they're going to drown, and then suddenly Jesus comes walking on the water to them. 00:09:09.539 --> 00:09:19.379 Jesus has under his feet the things that is terrorizing them, and Jesus says to them, Don't be afraid, it is I. 00:09:19.860 --> 00:09:21.620 And so Jesus speaks this word. 00:09:21.779 --> 00:09:24.179 Hey, John, you don't have to be afraid. 00:09:24.339 --> 00:09:25.860 But then he does something amazing. 00:09:26.019 --> 00:09:27.459 Jesus lays his hand on him. 00:09:27.620 --> 00:09:28.980 Look at it, verse 17. 00:09:29.139 --> 00:09:32.019 He laid his right hand on me. 00:09:32.500 --> 00:09:38.100 Human touch is powerful, especially whenever you're fearful, especially whenever you're grieving, right? 00:09:38.339 --> 00:09:46.419 John, it's probably been months since he's had any human touch, and the Lord himself touches him and says, Don't be afraid. 00:09:46.659 --> 00:09:49.299 Well, let's make this real to you and I today. 00:09:49.939 --> 00:09:55.860 Where in your life right now are you anxious and worried and maybe even fearful? 00:09:56.740 --> 00:10:01.459 Will you hear the word of the risen Lord to you if you're his follower? 00:10:02.100 --> 00:10:03.620 Don't be afraid. 00:10:03.860 --> 00:10:05.299 You don't have to worry. 00:10:05.539 --> 00:10:06.740 I've got this. 00:10:06.980 --> 00:10:08.500 Don't be afraid. 00:10:08.740 --> 00:10:17.299 In fact, did you know the command for us to not fear is found in the Bible 366 times in the Bible? 00:10:17.539 --> 00:10:25.379 That means you have a command from the Bible for every day of the year, and including an extra one for leap year, okay? 00:10:25.620 --> 00:10:27.139 Don't be afraid. 00:10:27.299 --> 00:10:30.579 Don't be controlled by your fear and anxiety. 00:10:30.899 --> 00:10:43.939 I once read this funny story about this um chicken farmer in Tennessee, and um he believed that a fox was getting into his hen house because he was missing some, you know, some eggs and missing some hens. 00:10:44.259 --> 00:10:49.939 And so he determines he's gonna stay up one night with this loaded shotgun by his bed. 00:10:50.019 --> 00:10:53.539 And if he hears a ruckus, he's going to um, you know, go investigate. 00:10:53.620 --> 00:10:58.500 And so, sure enough, in the middle of the night, he hears this noise out in the hen house, and so he gets up. 00:10:58.659 --> 00:11:16.179 He goes out in the dark with a shotgun, all he's got on is his nightshirt, and he's making his way to the hen house, and as he is, you know what, he's about to enter into the entrance of the hen house, and suddenly he has this thought Well, what if the fox attacks me? 00:11:16.500 --> 00:11:18.259 Or what if it's not a fox? 00:11:18.419 --> 00:11:19.699 What if it's a bobcat? 00:11:20.259 --> 00:11:39.459 And while all these fearful thoughts were swirling around in his head, at that very moment, his faithful hound dog blue came up behind him and cold nosed him right underneath his nightshirt, and he goes, Woo! And then suddenly, baboom! Nine hens lost their lives that night. 00:11:40.019 --> 00:11:44.980 But um, it wasn't because of the shotgun, it was because of fear. 00:11:45.779 --> 00:11:48.419 Fear can control us if we'll let it. 00:11:48.579 --> 00:11:50.339 Jesus said, Don't let it. 00:11:50.579 --> 00:11:58.500 I want you to hear a story of one of our members who went through an incredibly traumatic and fearful experience. 00:11:58.819 --> 00:12:06.659 And in that moment, he cries out to his Lord Jesus, and the Lord gives him the peace that he needs to make it through it. 00:12:07.139 --> 00:12:08.899 Check out the story of Andrew here. 00:14:55.699 --> 00:15:01.699 Now, the truth is that most of us have never experienced something that traumatic or fearful, right? 00:15:02.179 --> 00:15:18.500 But if the risen Lord could give Andrew the peace that he needed in that moment, and that God's will would be done in a glorifying way in his life and family, then don't you think that whatever you're walking through right now, the Lord can do that for you as well. 00:15:18.899 --> 00:15:26.500 And so here is the Lord Jesus who is risen, and he's saying to his followers, Hey, you don't need to be afraid. 00:15:26.579 --> 00:15:27.459 I'm with you. 00:15:27.699 --> 00:15:29.379 But then he gives us a second promise. 00:15:29.539 --> 00:15:30.579 I want you to jot this down. 00:15:30.659 --> 00:15:33.379 Secondly, Jesus has conquered death. 00:15:33.779 --> 00:15:36.339 Jesus has conquered your death. 00:15:36.659 --> 00:15:41.699 I mean, the fact is in the Bible, the Bible describes that death is our enemy. 00:15:41.860 --> 00:15:42.259 Why? 00:15:42.500 --> 00:15:44.100 Because we're all gonna die. 00:15:44.339 --> 00:15:50.179 I mean, every year, 62 million people will die on planet Earth every year. 00:15:50.419 --> 00:15:54.100 About three million will die here in the United States. 00:15:54.339 --> 00:16:00.819 And did you know that for every second that ticks, there are two people who die, right? 00:16:01.220 --> 00:16:04.819 As a second ticks by, two people die. 00:16:05.779 --> 00:16:06.980 Two more people. 00:16:08.100 --> 00:16:11.620 Two more people, two more people. 00:16:11.939 --> 00:16:16.019 And one day it's going to be you and it's going to be me. 00:16:16.980 --> 00:16:27.059 But the Bible says that Jesus Christ came to live a perfect life that we could never live, and then die our death for us. 00:16:27.299 --> 00:16:31.459 Now I know the Muslims they'll say, well, no, no, no, no, Jesus didn't actually die. 00:16:31.620 --> 00:16:33.379 They just thought he was dead. 00:16:33.620 --> 00:16:35.459 Well, what does Jesus say about that? 00:16:35.620 --> 00:16:37.620 Look again what it says in verse 17. 00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:41.860 Jesus says, I am the first and the last, the living one. 00:16:42.259 --> 00:16:43.299 I was what? 00:16:43.539 --> 00:16:48.740 I was dead, but look, I'm alive forever and ever. 00:16:49.220 --> 00:16:53.539 One of humanity's greatest fears is to be buried alive. 00:16:53.779 --> 00:16:56.980 Well, Jesus was buried, but he wasn't buried alive. 00:16:57.220 --> 00:17:07.059 No, they took his lifeless body off of the cross, they wrapped it in grave clothes, they put it into a tomb, closed it up tight with a huge stone. 00:17:07.299 --> 00:17:10.660 And the apostle John was an eyewitness to all those events. 00:17:10.900 --> 00:17:18.819 This had to be one of the saddest days of John's life to see his Lord suffer and die and then be buried. 00:17:19.140 --> 00:17:26.819 But then his sorrow was turned into joy because three days later he saw Jesus alive. 00:17:26.980 --> 00:17:30.019 Jesus came out of that tomb alive. 00:17:30.420 --> 00:17:35.379 Jesus said, I was dead, but look, I'm alive. 00:17:35.779 --> 00:17:39.859 Now, if you're dead for three days, you're dead. 00:17:40.099 --> 00:17:40.500 Right? 00:17:41.059 --> 00:17:42.420 You're dead, dead, right? 00:17:42.500 --> 00:17:44.180 You are really dead. 00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:49.539 So how does someone who is dead for three days come back to life? 00:17:49.940 --> 00:17:55.299 If you go to the hospital and suddenly the patient's heart stops beating, what happens? 00:17:55.460 --> 00:17:57.460 Suddenly there's urgency in that room. 00:17:57.700 --> 00:18:04.819 Nurses and doctors rush in, somebody grabs a defibulator, puts it on the patient whose heart has stopped beating, and what do they say? 00:18:04.980 --> 00:18:10.019 They say, clear, and boom, a jolt of energy goes into that body. 00:18:10.180 --> 00:18:15.139 And sometimes that flatline heart starts beating again. 00:18:15.539 --> 00:18:16.019 Right? 00:18:16.180 --> 00:18:16.579 Why? 00:18:16.819 --> 00:18:21.460 Because power, energy is surged into that dead body. 00:18:21.700 --> 00:18:25.299 Well, there was no defibulator in Jesus' tomb. 00:18:25.539 --> 00:18:30.500 So how did someone who's dead come back to life three days later? 00:18:30.819 --> 00:18:37.379 Well, Jesus tells us, Jesus said, I had the power to bring myself back to life. 00:18:37.619 --> 00:18:40.740 Look at how Jesus puts this in John 10. 00:18:41.460 --> 00:18:44.420 Jesus says, No one takes my life from me. 00:18:44.660 --> 00:18:46.819 I give it up willingly. 00:18:47.220 --> 00:18:52.899 I have the power to give it up, and I have the power to take it back again. 00:18:53.220 --> 00:18:54.500 Can I tell you something? 00:18:54.740 --> 00:18:56.180 That's power, folks. 00:18:56.420 --> 00:18:59.299 The power to give up your life, okay, I get that. 00:18:59.619 --> 00:19:05.779 But the power to take it back again, that is power like no one's ever had power before. 00:19:06.019 --> 00:19:12.980 Now you can go around this planet and it is littered with graves and tombs of dead people, right? 00:19:13.139 --> 00:19:18.019 I can take you to the Middle East and Medina and show you the tomb of Muhammad. 00:19:18.259 --> 00:19:22.099 I can take you to Sri Lanka and show you the tomb of Buddha. 00:19:22.339 --> 00:19:27.220 I mean, you can go to Egypt and see the pyramids or India and see the Taj Mahal. 00:19:27.539 --> 00:19:29.539 Those are just fancy tombs. 00:19:29.779 --> 00:19:38.099 I can take you 31 miles northeast of Beijing, and there are 13 tombs of the 13 first emperors of the Ming dynasty. 00:19:38.180 --> 00:19:38.899 But guess what? 00:19:39.059 --> 00:19:41.859 They're all filled with dead men's bones. 00:19:42.180 --> 00:19:55.460 But I can also take you to a garden tomb that's about a hundred yards from Skull Hill, where Jesus Christ was crucified, and I can show you a tomb that I've looked into and it is empty. 00:19:55.779 --> 00:19:57.619 Jesus Christ is alive. 00:19:57.859 --> 00:19:59.940 He has conquered death. 00:20:00.339 --> 00:20:06.819 Now, Jesus predicted this and the influence and impact it would have for his followers. 00:20:06.980 --> 00:20:09.059 Notice what Jesus said in John 14. 00:20:09.299 --> 00:20:22.099 Jesus said, in a little while, the people of this world won't be able to see me, but you will see me, and because I live, you will live also. 00:20:22.579 --> 00:20:30.180 Not only does Jesus come back to life, but now Jesus promises to give us life after death. 00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:41.940 There is a story of this mom who took two of her kids to a park, her son and her daughter, and they're just playing in a local park, and suddenly there's a bee that comes by and is buzzing the boy. 00:20:42.099 --> 00:20:45.859 And the boy tries to swap the bee away, and the bee stings him. 00:20:46.019 --> 00:20:53.139 And immediately he starts to scream and cry, and the mom is trying to comfort him, and it's gonna be okay, you're gonna be alright. 00:20:53.299 --> 00:20:57.859 And then suddenly the bee starts buzzing around the daughter, the sister. 00:20:58.019 --> 00:21:01.700 And she starts screaming, the bee's gonna sting me, the bee's gonna sting me. 00:21:01.859 --> 00:21:02.579 And then you know what? 00:21:02.660 --> 00:21:05.940 So she's trying to, mom's trying to calm down the daughter as well. 00:21:06.099 --> 00:21:09.940 And eventually she says, Look, sweetheart, you don't have to be afraid of that bee. 00:21:10.259 --> 00:21:12.099 Look at your brother's arm. 00:21:12.259 --> 00:21:17.139 You can see there is the stinger of the bee still in your brother's arm. 00:21:17.379 --> 00:21:19.619 That's something that you need to know about bees. 00:21:19.859 --> 00:21:24.339 Bees can sting you once, but after that, all they can do is buzz you. 00:21:24.819 --> 00:21:29.299 Well, folks, that's what death is to a follower of Jesus Christ. 00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:34.339 Death can buzz around us, but it doesn't have the sting anymore. 00:21:34.579 --> 00:21:35.139 Why? 00:21:35.379 --> 00:21:39.940 Because Jesus, our Lord and Savior, has taken the sting of death for us. 00:21:40.259 --> 00:21:46.180 That's why the Bible declares that death has been swallowed up in the victory of Jesus Christ. 00:21:46.339 --> 00:21:50.660 The Apostle Paul declares, Oh, death, where is your victory now? 00:21:50.819 --> 00:21:52.500 Oh, death, where is your sting? 00:21:52.579 --> 00:21:56.980 It's gone because Jesus Christ has conquered death. 00:21:57.539 --> 00:22:00.259 There was a British mathematician years ago called G.B. 00:22:00.420 --> 00:22:05.700 Hardy, and he was an agnostic and somebody wasn't a follower of Jesus Christ. 00:22:05.940 --> 00:22:08.899 But over time he eventually became a follower of Christ. 00:22:09.059 --> 00:22:13.940 And he said, what convinced him was that he began to examine all the religions of the world. 00:22:14.099 --> 00:22:19.220 And he said, so what I did, I just decided that I would just examine them and then ask two questions. 00:22:19.460 --> 00:22:23.539 One question is okay, did this person conquer death? 00:22:23.700 --> 00:22:25.460 And secondly, did they conquer? 00:22:26.259 --> 00:22:28.339 Death, allow me to conquer death. 00:22:28.500 --> 00:22:35.619 And he says, as I looked around at all the religions and all the leaders, there's only one who conquered death, and his name is Jesus Christ. 00:22:35.700 --> 00:22:38.579 So I decided I'm gonna give my life to that man. 00:22:38.819 --> 00:22:39.779 It's true. 00:22:40.019 --> 00:22:44.420 You see, if Christ has really risen again, then guess what? 00:22:44.579 --> 00:22:48.019 If you're his follower, you don't have to live in fear and anxiety. 00:22:48.259 --> 00:22:51.779 Secondly, he has conquered death for you. 00:22:52.180 --> 00:22:54.500 But there's a third thing that you need to know as well. 00:22:54.740 --> 00:22:56.180 Jot this on your outline. 00:22:56.420 --> 00:22:59.299 Jesus now controls your eternity. 00:22:59.619 --> 00:23:02.259 Jesus controls your eternity. 00:23:02.740 --> 00:23:06.019 See, I have a simple question to ask all of you here today. 00:23:06.339 --> 00:23:07.619 Simple question. 00:23:08.819 --> 00:23:15.779 When you die, and you will, because we all die, when you die, will you go to heaven? 00:23:16.099 --> 00:23:18.099 Will you go to heaven when you die? 00:23:18.339 --> 00:23:18.819 Right? 00:23:18.980 --> 00:23:20.500 Now most people will answer that question. 00:23:20.579 --> 00:23:21.779 They'll say, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:23:21.859 --> 00:23:24.420 I believe I'm gonna go to heaven whenever I die, yeah. 00:23:24.579 --> 00:23:28.980 And then you have a follow-up question, okay, why do you think you're gonna go to heaven when you die? 00:23:29.139 --> 00:23:32.180 And typically people say, well, you know, because I'm a pretty good person. 00:23:32.339 --> 00:23:32.899 I'm a good person. 00:23:32.980 --> 00:23:34.099 Good people go to heaven, right? 00:23:34.180 --> 00:23:35.539 And so I'm a good person. 00:23:35.779 --> 00:23:41.859 And somehow in our minds, we just imagine that there are these um scales up in heaven, right? 00:23:42.019 --> 00:23:44.740 And God is somehow keeping this score here. 00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:47.299 And we'll look at this and say, you know what? 00:23:47.379 --> 00:23:50.019 I know in my life, sure, I sin. 00:23:50.099 --> 00:23:51.220 I'm not perfect, you know what? 00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:52.660 I've done things that I regret. 00:23:52.819 --> 00:23:54.819 Sure, okay, I've sinned, right? 00:23:54.899 --> 00:23:58.579 And so that's on one side of my scale, and that doesn't look very good. 00:23:59.220 --> 00:24:01.460 But I'm a good person, right? 00:24:01.539 --> 00:24:03.779 And I've done some good things in my life. 00:24:03.859 --> 00:24:09.460 And so if I put my good on the other side of the scale, well, then surely I'm gonna be going to heaven. 00:24:09.539 --> 00:24:12.740 And you know, the fact is, is that I've really got a good heart. 00:24:12.819 --> 00:24:16.259 I don't always show it, but I got a good heart, and that's what matters most, right? 00:24:16.420 --> 00:24:21.859 And so whenever we measure ourselves with ourselves, we're like, okay, yeah, I think I'm pretty good. 00:24:21.940 --> 00:24:23.379 I think I'm going to go to heaven. 00:24:23.619 --> 00:24:25.059 Well, what does the Bible say? 00:24:25.299 --> 00:24:29.460 The Bible says this about our sin, that it carries a great weight. 00:24:29.700 --> 00:24:33.619 The Bible says that the soul that sins will surely die. 00:24:34.019 --> 00:24:42.019 And the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans that the wages of our sin is death, meaning that the weight of our sin is pretty heavy. 00:24:42.339 --> 00:24:44.420 It equals death. 00:24:45.059 --> 00:24:48.899 We are more sinful than what we will even imagine. 00:24:49.700 --> 00:24:58.420 In fact, the Bible also says this: that if you're going to go into the presence of a holy, perfect God in a perfect place called heaven, then you gotta be perfect. 00:24:58.500 --> 00:25:00.819 And you go, well, wait a minute, nobody's perfect. 00:25:00.980 --> 00:25:10.660 That's right, and that's why the Bible says that our righteousness and good works is like filthy rags to a holy God. 00:25:10.899 --> 00:25:11.940 What does that mean? 00:25:12.259 --> 00:25:17.220 Pastor Tony Walliser on his best day, filthy rags. 00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:24.899 Even all the good that I think I have, it's really not all that good compared to a holy God. 00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:30.660 Now, folks, if we're doing the scale, we're in a desperate place, right? 00:25:30.980 --> 00:25:37.299 But here's the good news of the gospel: God sent his only son, Jesus Christ, in this world. 00:25:37.859 --> 00:25:39.859 Emmanuel, God with us. 00:25:40.099 --> 00:25:42.019 And he lived a perfect life. 00:25:42.180 --> 00:25:44.740 Everybody that was with him said he was sinless. 00:25:44.899 --> 00:25:50.500 Even the governor that condemned him to death said, I find no fault in him. 00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:55.220 Jesus Christ perfectly fulfilled all the demands of the law. 00:25:55.379 --> 00:25:58.819 He lived the perfect life we couldn't live, and then what did he do? 00:25:59.059 --> 00:26:01.859 He died the death we deserve to die. 00:26:02.180 --> 00:26:05.940 He died on the cross in our place and for our sins. 00:26:06.339 --> 00:26:07.299 I mean, think about it. 00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:14.899 If the very essence of sin is us replacing God with ourselves, I want to be my own God, I don't want you to be my God. 00:26:15.059 --> 00:26:16.500 That's the essence of sin. 00:26:16.899 --> 00:26:21.700 Then the essence of salvation is God replacing you with himself. 00:26:22.099 --> 00:26:24.899 And that's exactly what Jesus Christ did on the cross. 00:26:25.220 --> 00:26:32.180 He took your place on the cross and bore all your sin and guilt and shame and punishment for your sin. 00:26:32.339 --> 00:26:36.339 And to prove that happened, God raised him up from the dead. 00:26:36.579 --> 00:26:49.779 And now the Bible says that if you and I will repent and believe in Jesus as our Lord, that God credits to our account the righteousness of his son, Jesus Christ. 00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:54.420 And folks, Jesus outweighs all of our sin. 00:26:54.660 --> 00:26:55.299 Amen. 00:26:55.859 --> 00:26:57.139 That is the gospel. 00:26:57.299 --> 00:26:58.500 That's what happens. 00:26:58.660 --> 00:27:04.980 And because Jesus Christ conquered death and hell, he has forgiven us of our sins. 00:27:05.299 --> 00:27:09.139 But more than that, he now controls our future. 00:27:09.379 --> 00:27:11.700 Look at what it says in verse 18. 00:27:12.259 --> 00:27:16.259 And I hold the keys of death and Hades. 00:27:16.740 --> 00:27:17.700 So here's Jesus. 00:27:17.859 --> 00:27:20.980 Jesus says, I now hold the keys. 00:27:21.460 --> 00:27:23.139 You know what keys for? 00:27:23.379 --> 00:27:25.059 Keys represent authority. 00:27:25.299 --> 00:27:27.460 Keys represent access, right? 00:27:27.619 --> 00:27:30.980 If you got the keys of the car, you determine who's going to drive it. 00:27:31.299 --> 00:27:34.980 You got keys to the house, it gives you access to the house, right? 00:27:35.379 --> 00:27:38.420 If somebody gives you the keys to the city, what does that mean? 00:27:38.660 --> 00:27:42.180 That means, okay, you have special privileges and access, right? 00:27:42.420 --> 00:27:44.899 Jesus says, I have the keys, right? 00:27:45.139 --> 00:27:51.059 I mean, if you sign a contract and say, okay, I'm going to buy this house, they say, here's the keys, right? 00:27:51.220 --> 00:27:56.019 Or you sign the dotted line and you buy a new car and they go, here's the keys, right? 00:27:56.259 --> 00:27:59.379 Jesus says, I now have the keys. 00:27:59.539 --> 00:28:00.740 The keys of what? 00:28:01.059 --> 00:28:03.700 The keys of death and Hades. 00:28:04.019 --> 00:28:05.379 You go, what is that? 00:28:05.619 --> 00:28:07.700 Well, death is the event. 00:28:07.940 --> 00:28:09.539 We're all going to die. 00:28:09.940 --> 00:28:13.139 Hades is the place where you go after you die. 00:28:13.220 --> 00:28:15.139 It's the realm of the dead. 00:28:15.460 --> 00:28:18.660 Jesus said, I control death. 00:28:19.220 --> 00:28:24.180 I control the access of those who come out of death, and I control Hades. 00:28:24.500 --> 00:28:31.139 So if I don't want to face judgment and go be sent to Hades one day, I better what? 00:28:31.379 --> 00:28:33.940 Go to the man with the keys, right? 00:28:34.259 --> 00:28:38.500 I mean, in fact, death is no longer the jailer. 00:28:38.660 --> 00:28:39.460 Jesus is. 00:28:39.619 --> 00:28:39.940 Why? 00:28:40.019 --> 00:28:47.059 Because Jesus went into death, conquered it, came out with the authority and the keys of death and Hades. 00:28:47.379 --> 00:28:49.619 And now, here's my advice. 00:28:49.940 --> 00:28:51.940 You want eternal life with Jesus? 00:28:52.180 --> 00:28:53.859 Go to the one with the keys. 00:28:54.099 --> 00:28:55.379 You want to conquer death? 00:28:55.619 --> 00:28:57.779 Go to the one who has the keys over death. 00:28:58.019 --> 00:29:01.460 You want to get past Hades, then you better go to Jesus Christ. 00:29:01.779 --> 00:29:05.700 He holds the keys of hell and death. 00:29:06.019 --> 00:29:11.859 And so, in fact, Jesus makes this incredible promise to those of us who are followers of Christ. 00:29:12.180 --> 00:29:15.460 Notice some what Jesus says in John chapter 11. 00:29:15.700 --> 00:29:19.940 Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life. 00:29:20.180 --> 00:29:25.379 The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. 00:29:25.619 --> 00:29:31.220 And everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. 00:29:32.019 --> 00:29:33.299 Do you believe this? 00:29:33.539 --> 00:29:35.059 Do you see what Jesus is saying? 00:29:35.220 --> 00:29:39.379 Jesus says, if you believe in him, if you're his follower, then guess what? 00:29:39.700 --> 00:29:41.859 Death is not the end for you. 00:29:42.420 --> 00:29:49.299 Death happens, and at the moment you die, you go from this plane of existence to another plane of existence. 00:29:49.460 --> 00:29:51.059 Jesus said, guess what? 00:29:51.379 --> 00:29:52.980 You will never die. 00:29:53.779 --> 00:29:57.859 But that's only for those who believe in Christ. 00:29:58.019 --> 00:30:00.420 Now you may go, what does it mean to believe in Christ? 00:30:00.660 --> 00:30:04.899 Does it mean that, okay, I have this head knowledge information about Jesus? 00:30:05.059 --> 00:30:06.980 It's got to be much more than that, right? 00:30:07.139 --> 00:30:09.460 No, no, it means that you have faith. 00:30:10.019 --> 00:30:12.819 You're trusting Jesus with your life. 00:30:13.220 --> 00:30:21.299 You have the information, yes, but in your heart, you have truly trusted your life in the hands of Jesus Christ. 00:30:21.539 --> 00:30:27.539 You said, Jesus, I'm trusting you with the control of my life as my Lord. 00:30:27.940 --> 00:30:31.220 I read a funny story about this student pilot. 00:30:31.379 --> 00:30:41.619 He was learning to fly, and his instructor was with him, and they were coming in for a landing, and they were in their small single-engine airplane, and it was coming in crooked, and the landing was terrible. 00:30:41.779 --> 00:30:44.740 It bounced a couple of times and then finally straightened out. 00:30:44.819 --> 00:30:48.899 And the instructor looks at the student and goes, That is the worst landing you've ever done. 00:30:49.139 --> 00:30:50.660 And the student goes, Me? 00:30:51.059 --> 00:30:53.059 I thought you were landing the plane. 00:30:53.299 --> 00:30:55.299 Well, that's uh sad, right? 00:30:55.859 --> 00:31:02.259 Well, the fact is, is that's why pilots are trained to actually affirm who's in control. 00:31:02.740 --> 00:31:08.259 A pilot will say, I have control, and the co-pilot will say, You have control. 00:31:09.460 --> 00:31:12.819 Well, we've got to affirm the same thing in our lives. 00:31:13.139 --> 00:31:16.180 We've got to affirm who's really in control of our lives. 00:31:16.420 --> 00:31:19.460 You see, the sad reality is we want to be in control ourselves. 00:31:19.539 --> 00:31:21.059 We want to be our own God. 00:31:21.379 --> 00:31:25.379 But Jesus said, No, I'm the one with the keys, I'm the one with the authority. 00:31:25.619 --> 00:31:30.019 And so we have to affirm and say, Okay, Jesus, I'm giving you the control. 00:31:30.660 --> 00:31:37.619 See, this passage started off with the Apostle John falling down at Jesus' feet like a dead man. 00:31:38.099 --> 00:31:41.220