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Deeper
A deeper conversation about Sunday’s message at FBC Powder Springs.
Deeper
How the Resurrection Changes Your Life's Direction | Matthew 28:1-15
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Easter Welcome and Introduction
Speaker 1Well , happy Easter . First Baptist Church , powder Springs . Everybody , put your hands together . If you're excited to be in church this morning , it is good to see everybody here . We're thankful for everybody online . Go ahead and turn to somebody next to you and tell them happy Easter right now . Go ahead and tell them happy Easter Now . Turn to the person on the other side of you that you don't like as much because you didn't choose them first , and go ahead and tell them just make it up to them . Say it looks like you've lost weight . Go and tell them that right now , it looks like you've lost weight . So it is great to have everybody here , everybody tuning in line .
Speaker 1Easter is my favorite Sunday . It's my favorite time of the year . Man , god is so good . We get to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus together . I want to remind you that calories don't count on Easter . Amen , calories don't count . So you make sure and go all in today , man , we love having fun here , we love laughing , we love having a good time . We think people ought to have more fun going to heaven than the world going to hell , and so I just want you to relax , I want you to have a good time together , and I want to encourage everybody to grab one , everybody . If you're a first-time guest or a long-time member . Everybody grab a Next Step card if you can during this service , and I want everybody to get one so that we're all just a shared experience together . I want you to be filling it out during the service as you're able , and it might be a great way for us just to make sure we have all the correct information . But I'm going to walk through that next step card with you . I've got some questions for you this morning . I need some feedback from you .
Speaker 1But first , I heard a story this week of a redneck by the name of Bubba . Everybody say Bubba , redneck by the name of Bubba and Bubba . He went to a funeral one day and he walked up to the casket of his good friend with two of his other good friends . They looked at their good friend and Bubba looked over at friend number one . And Bubba said you know , one day you're going to be in that casket . What would you like for us to say about you ? And Bubba's friend number one said well , I just want y'all to tell everybody that man , I love my family , I love my wife , I love my kids and they love me and Bubba said that's real nice , that's real nice . And he turned to friend number two and he said well , what do you want us to say about you ? Friend number two said you just tell them I love Jesus , I love my church . Man , I love going to Sunday school and man I love giving and all that man I just love to say look , he's moving . Right , I like that , I like that he's moving , he's moving , he's alive . And aren't you thankful that Jesus is alive today ? Jesus is moving . Can I get an amen ? Jesus is moving . I pray he's moving in our church .
Speaker 1Do you realize how Jesus is moving around the world ? Have you been watching the news right ? Sometimes you got to read reports because the news won't even tell you . Did you know that today , on Easter Sunday , there's going to be some 2.6 billion people gathered together to worship Jesus for his resurrection ? Can I get an amen ? 2.6 billion ?
Speaker 1Did you know that the church of Jesus Christ , all the Christians put together , that we are the largest organization of people in the entire earth ? Did you know that we are larger ? All the Christians put together , we are larger than China plus Europe , plus all of America 2.6 billion Christians . Did you know that God is moving so much right now across our planet that in the United Kingdom in England , of all places that has been so atheist for so long that it has grown the church attendance has grown by more than 50% in the last six years . In the last five years , bible sales have grown hear me , 87% . Did you know that here in America , commitment to Jesus is on a 10
Jesus is Moving: Global Church Growth
Speaker 1year high , higher than it's ever been in the last 10 years ? There are 30 million more adult Americans claiming to follow Jesus today than just back in 2021 . And , hear me , the majority of those that are experiencing revival right now across our country and across our planet are in their teens and in their 20s . Put your hands together right now for what God is doing . God is so good .
Speaker 1I remember when I was 20 years old right , I remember actually going through a Bible study and I remember I came to the Bible study about the resurrection of Jesus and I really remember thinking to myself like I get his birth and I get his life and I get his suffering and I get his death and I get his burial . But I remember thinking to myself at 20 , I don't really even understand the resurrection Like why did he have to be raised from the dead and what difference does that have to make in my life ? Well , I'm here to tell you this morning , as we're in this series together , the passion of Jesus . Everybody say passion , the passion of Jesus . You understand that Jesus is passionate about you . Look at somebody and tell them right now , jesus loves you . Go and tell them that right now , tell them Jesus loves you , jesus is passionate about you . So what I want you to see today , I want you to see today how Jesus's resurrection actually changes your life's direction .
Speaker 1I heard it said one time that if you ever are come to a fork in the road and you don't know which way to go and there's two men that are there and one is dead and one is alive , you ask the guy who's alive . You know what I'm saying . So , in other words , jesus is alive . Do you know that Jesus is the only one who has come from heaven ? Jesus is the only one who has lived life on earth . Jesus is the only one who has died . Jesus is the only one who has raised from the dead . Jesus is the only one that has gone back to heaven . Jesus is the only one that is coming back again . Jesus is the only one that has lived eternal life , that has done all those things . In other words , if you get confused about life , like I do , the person we should always ask is Jesus . If you believe that , say amen , here we go . Here's what I want you to see . We're gonna talk very quickly together .
Speaker 1You can open up in your Bibles to Matthew , chapter 28 . Matthew 28, . How does Jesus change your life's direction ? I believe that he changes your expectation , your ambition , your affections and your questions . So let's check that out together if you're ready and say let's go , let's go , here we go , let's go . Number one . Number one is this Jesus's resurrection changes your expectation .
Speaker 1What is your expectation in life ? You know , some people are really positive . Some people are really negative . It's funny . I've never met a person that has ever said man , they are so negative . I just love spending time with them , I just love being around them . I just love negative . Nancy , nobody ever says that right .
Speaker 1But did you know ? The Bible neither tells us to be positive or negative . Rather , the Bible tells us to be hopeful . Did you know that the word hope in English means to wish ? Like man , I hope that's going to happen . We typically say that , meaning I wish that's going to happen . But did you know that the Bible uses the word hopeful to mean a confident expectation of the future ? Meaning because we have hope in Jesus , we are confident that God is going to work everything out according to his will . We see that in Matthew ,
Resurrection Changes Your Expectation
Speaker 1chapter 28 , verse 1 . It says now , after the Sabbath , toward the dawn of the first day of the week , mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb , the tomb of Jesus .
Speaker 1Notice that this happens on a Sunday , the first day of the week , and that's why we have Easter Sunday together every year . That's why we come together and we worship Jesus and we worship his resurrection . But I want you to know that we don't just do this on Easter Sunday . We worship Jesus for his resurrection every Sunday , because he died , he rose from the dead and he can save you . And guess what ? If you die and rise from the dead , we're going to give you your own day of the week too . Right , jesus gets his own day . We call it the Lord's Day . Every Sunday we get to come together and worship Jesus . So I want to encourage you , if you don't have a church , that you to encourage you if you don't have a church that you call your home , if you don't have a church that you call your family . We don't want to just be a church in your life , we want to be a church for your life . We want to be here and help you navigate life in all that it is to have direction in life following Jesus . We see here that there were two Marys at that time . Mary and Mary went to the tomb .
Speaker 1I just asked our little girl . We've got a little six-year-old girl . Her name's Brooklyn . We got a two-year-old son . His name's Cruz . We got an 11-month little baby girl , eliana , and our little girl , brooklyn , brooklyn . We adopted her out of the delivery room . We were actually there when she was born and , man , what an honor it is to be her daddy and for Michelle to be her mommy . And just around the one year mark she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy , so you can tell her real easy . She's the one just whipping around in a wheelchair everywhere , right ? So watch your toes . And , man , she is awesome , she's just a light . And I asked her the other day she's as smart as all get out . And I asked her . I said Brooklyn .
Speaker 1Who was the first person to see Jesus after he rose from the dead . She said Mary it was a popular name back then and I didn't even know that . Right , I have a doctrine . I didn't even know that and I was like how do you know these things ? And so you've got Mary and Mary , and the gospel of Mark actually tells us that they were taking spices to the tomb to give Jesus a proper burial because he had not been properly buried yet . I heard one pastor say Mary and Mary were the first spice girls . They were the first spice girls right there on the scene . If you're not 40 years old , you don't know what I'm talking about , you know . And so Mary and Mary says in verse two it says and behold , there was a great earthquake , for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it . The angel's appearance was like lightning and his clothing was white as snow . So here you got Mary and Mary , and they're taking the spices to the tomb , and Mark also tells us that they don't even have a plan , right ? I mean , these are tough women , these are fearless women . It says that this earthquake happens and they still go .
Speaker 1God often used earthquakes back in that day , not to hurt people , but to announce that he was doing something that would shake the earth . God would often send angels to show people that what I'm doing is eternal , that as these angels come down from heaven , he says this one his appearance is like lightning and his clothes are white as snow , just like we are in the presence of God . When you really get in the presence of God , he makes you different . Can I get an amen ? You can't get in the presence of God , you can't know Jesus , you can't believe in him , you can't spend time with him , you can't be worshiping him and not be different from other people around you . In the same way , this angel was different like lightning and like white as snow because he had come from heaven and he had been in the visible presence of God .
Speaker 1It says in verse four . It says in fear of him , fear of the angel , these Roman guards , so the Romans they would send . They sent the guards to Jesus's tomb because his death and his crucifixion was such a big deal . Historians tell us that there would be somewhere around 12 to 16 different guards . I mean , these are big , armed , trained , massive , strong , fearsome guards , and the Bible says that these guards when the angel came down from heaven , the earthquake .
Speaker 1The angel rolls the stone away , sits on the stone . Why does the angel sit on the stone ? Because he wanted a front row seat to the resurrection . Gotta get him in right . So I love it , by the way , when our worshipers come and sit on the front row . If you are a part of our church and you love to worship and you love to sing and you love to raise your hands , I want you on the front rows , I want you to lead the way .
Speaker 1And so here's what we see these
The First Witnesses at the Empty Tomb
Speaker 1men strong , trained , massive , fearsome . It says that they trembled and they became like dead men . They played like possum . Right , they're laying there because they are experiencing , they're encountering something finally greater than them . They're encountering the glory of God . And there is something about your life that you need to encounter , someone , something greater than you , so that you can know , first of all , who you are , but also , most importantly , so you can know who he is , and his name is Jesus . And when you encounter Jesus , you can't help but know that he is far greater than you and that your life is worth living for him . These ladies are so tough . Are you kidding me right now . They just killed Jesus .
Speaker 1The disciples are all hiding together behind locked doors in an upper room at this time . These ladies go to this tomb , where it is guarded by all these Roman guards . They are literally risking their lives . These are fearsome , fearless ladies . This is like Sporty Spice and Scary Spice . You know what I'm saying . And so they're coming to the tomb . If you're not 40 , you don't get it , it's fine . They're coming to the tomb and they are . They come to see Jesus . Why ? Because they love him . I wanna give them a proper burial .
Speaker 1I just wanna give a shout out this morning to all the ladies , because , as a pastor , I meet so many people and they often tell me the same story . If it wasn't for my mom , who was always praying for me , if it wasn't for my grandmama , who was always praying for me and who was always witnessing me , if it wasn't for whoever in my life that was always inviting me to church , I have so many people say I would not be saved . Today there are so many moms in this room , grandmoms in this room , aunts in this room , sisters in this room , ladies in this room , that you are holding down the fort spiritually and we just want to honor you this morning . Put your hands together for all the ladies in this room . We're so thankful for what you do . And we have Mother's Day . Coming up and hear me , we're gonna give a free rose to every single female , if it's a baby girl up to a grandma , because we want to honor womanhood , because we believe the world won't honor womanhood but the church should . Can I get an amen ? So we want you to come back for Mother's Day and every female gets a rose because we honor you . But also I wanna give a shout out to the men up in this room here today as well , and here's what I want the men to know Men , all those revivals that I've been telling you about typically revivals in the past we could see like women leading the way .
Speaker 1Did you know that revivals that are happening today around the world , in our country and others , that's happening in the lives of teenagers , the lives of 20s and those who are older ? Did you know that today that men are leading the way , spiritually , in those revivals , that God is awakening the hearts of men and we have a bunch of godly leading men here who lead their church , who love their families , who lead their families . Can we put our hands together for the men this morning , for godly men that God is raising up ? Did you know that if a kid gets saved , there's a 3.5 statistical chance that the whole family's gonna get saved ? Did you know , if a mom gets saved , there's a 17% chance that the whole family's gonna get saved ? Did you know , if a dad gets saved , there's a 93% chance that the whole family's going to get saved ?
Speaker 1Man , we're praying for men to believe . We're praying for men to lead . We're praying for men to step up . We're praying for men to follow Jesus . Amen . That's why , on Father's Day , we're going to give every male a slice of bacon . Amen , we're going to give everybody a slice of bacon . That's what we did last year . Everybody loved it . We're gonna do it again this year , right ? And we're gonna give every boy , all the way to every granddad , a piece of bacon . Why ? Because there's something true of all of us guys we all love bacon and all God's men said Amen , let's go . We gotta keep moving . Man , y'all ain't listening fast enough . Here we go Mother's Day together , and I want you to know that Jesus's resurrection changes your life's expectation into hope . Everybody say hope . Take that next step card right now On the back , pastor James already told you . The large box at the bottom write down your greatest prayer request . It is our honor as your staff to pray over that prayer request for you this week . On your behalf . We want to take your prayer request to God's throne . Here's why Because we want you to turn that expectation you have into hope that God is going to work it out .
Speaker 1I just recently heard one of my favorite pastors who's dead . I heard a video . Someone videoed him right before he died . His name is Tim Keller . They said Pastor Tim . They said tell us about the resurrection of Jesus . What does the resurrection of Jesus mean to you ? You have a terminal illness . You're about to go see him . What does the resurrection of Jesus mean to you ? And here's what Tim Keller said . One of the smartest men alive . Tim Keller said this If Jesus rose from the dead and I believe he did Tim Keller said If Jesus rose from the dead and I believe he did Tim Keller said then I believe that everything's going to be okay . If you believe that Jesus rose from the dead , then no matter what is happening in your life , everything is ultimately going to be okay .
Speaker 1Number two Jesus' resurrection changes your ambition . Everybody say ambition . What is the ambition of your life ? What do you define as successful ? What do you really want to happen in your life ?
Speaker 1Verse five says but the angel said to the women do not be afraid , for I know that you seek Jesus , who was crucified . Do you know ? The word seek means to crave . These women craved to see Jesus . Why were they seeking him ? Why were they craving to see him ? Here's why Because they've never been loved like that , because Jesus' love for them was pure . Jesus' love for them was selfless . Jesus' love for them was safe . And Jesus' love for them , hear me , was unconditional . They didn't have to earn his love , jesus just loved him . And so people just wanted to be around him . They even just wanted to go and be around his dead body to give him this proper burial . And so the angel said why are you searching for the living among the dead ?
Speaker 1In verse six , the first part of verse six , he says he is not here
From Ambition to Mission
Speaker 1, for he has risen . Just as he said Heard a story about a little boy who was in an Easter pageant , a little Easter play . He only had one line he's not here , he has risen . He practiced it for months . He practiced it with his parents , he practiced it with his drama team , he practiced it with his teachers .
Speaker 1Sure enough , sunday Easter Sunday came around . He's on stage , the play's happening . It's his time to shine the spotlight's on him . He stands there and he freezes and he forgets his line . The little teacher in the front row mouths it to him . He's not here , he's risen .
Speaker 1The kid looked back at the teacher like he'd never heard the line before . She said say it . The kid said he's not here , he's in prison . Right , messed it up right there . Well , aren't you thankful that Jesus wasn't there ? Because Jesus wasn't there at the tomb . Jesus is here with us today . Can I get an amen ? Aren't you thankful that Jesus is with you ? Whether you're online , if you're at home , if you're in the car , if you're in prison , right now , jesus is with you . Whether you're online , if you're at home , if you're in the car , if you're in prison right now , jesus is with you . Why ? Because he wasn't there . So Jesus is here , or Jesus is with you wherever it is that you are .
Speaker 1And the angel said come see the place where he lay . Go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead . I want you to see four words very quickly Come . Everybody say come . There are some people here today that all you did today was come . Somebody asked you to come . Maybe you didn't wanna come , but you're here and I want you to know that God brought you here for a reason to hear something that is the most important thing that you could hear in your life .
Speaker 1And then the angel said see . Everybody say see . That you could hear in your life . And then the angel said see . Everybody say see . The angel wanted them to see for themselves . Why do we want you to be here ? Because it's so important that you see for yourself . You see with your own spiritual eyes . May God take the blinders off of everybody's eyes so that they can see Jesus for who he is , that he's your Lord , that he's your savior , that he's died for your sin , that he's risen from the dead and he can give you life . If you believe that , say amen . And everyone say go . The angel said go . The angel said go . What does go mean ? Go doesn't just mean to leave . It means to leave with a purpose . It means to go and to do ministry and to love other people . And the angel said to tell Everybody . Say tell . Tell means to go and tell people what Jesus has done for you so that he can do the same for them . I want you to take that next step card and there on that first blank at the top , that first box on the back at the top , I want you to write down is there somewhere that we can go and be a ministry to ? Is there some place ? Is there some agency ? Is there some people ? Is there some location ? Is there someone in need or a business in need , or whatever it might be , that we can go and be a ministry to ? Because First Baptist Church Powder Springs wants to minister to Powder Springs and all of our surrounding communities . You write that down so that we can read that and we can know opportunities that we have .
Speaker 1But did you know , did you know , that Christians have told researchers for a long time now that we are all , as Christians , a little scared to share their faith ? How many of y'all admit you're a little scared to share your faith ? Raise your hand . My hand's up , my hand's up . You're scared to raise your hand right now is what you're doing . I get it . Every single Christian is a little scared to share their faith . Did you know , though ? The same Christians say but if someone would just teach me what to say and how to share my faith , just how to share Jesus with others , I would love for someone to teach me so I could do it more Next Sunday . Everybody say next Sunday , next Sunday , we're gonna be man , it's strong up here . We're gonna be starting a new series called Made for More , and you're gonna learn about how you can share Jesus with other people , because God has made you for the mission , it says .
Speaker 1They departed quickly . The women left the tomb with fear . That means with worship . With great joy , they ran to tell the disciples why ? Because Jesus's resurrection changes your life ambition . To his mission , to his mission . Jesus has a way of saying look , your mission , your ambition , as long as it's not sinful , it's fine , but it should never be greater than mine . My mission that I want to do in you and my mission that I want to do through you .
Speaker 1Number three , quickly , jesus's resurrection changes your affection . Who do you love most in life ? What do you love most in life ? He says in verse nine . And behold , jesus met them . He met the ladies , mary and Mary , and he said to them greetings , which means hey , everybody and the ladies came up and they took hold of his feet and they worshiped him . I love how Jesus came to them and they came to him . That's what that relationship looks like that Jesus comes to them and they came to him . That's what that relationship looks like , that Jesus comes to you and he says I love you , believe in me , give your life to me . And when we go to him and say , jesus , I believe in you , I will live my life for you , that's what starts a salvation relationship together . That word worship the Greek word there in the text is proskuneo . Proskuneo literally means to worship , to fall on our knees and to be in submission of the one who is Lord . And that's what they did . When they saw Jesus for who he is , the resurrected Lord and Savior they fell on their knees , they grabbed his feet and they worshiped him .
Speaker 1I remember being in a church one day and this church they were doing this play , this drama , this production , and we would walk from room to room . And so the first room we walked to it was kind of a room where , like , they were trying to picture a guy who wasn't living for Jesus and so kind of walked from room to room where he was like partying and doing all this sin and all this bad stuff , whatever . And we get to the last room and the last room is all painted black . It was supposed to be hell , right . So the room's black , everything's dark . There's somebody really
Changing Your Affection and Questions
Speaker 1weird , strangely dressed , like the devil over the corner , like with a creepy laugh , and they had space heaters all plugged in . It was like 93 degrees , like you break a little sweat in hell , no big deal . And so we followed his life . And then we followed another guy's life room to room and we saw this guy was . He wasn't cool , he wasn't popular , right , whatever . But you walk into a room and you experience when he gives his life to Jesus . It was very moving . Go to the last room In the last room of the whole thing was heaven , and I'll never forget the room because it was all painted white .
Speaker 1This church had pillows hanging down from fishing line . I think it was supposed to be clouds . They had people walking around in like angel Halloween costumes , which was really creepy , right . And then they had us all line up shoulder to shoulder , just right , next to each other , and in come walking through the door was some I lived in Alabama at the time , some redneck in a fake beard and a white bathroom walking . It was supposed to be Jesus , right ?
Speaker 1And so Jesus walks up to the first person and he whispers something to their ear and he gives them a hug . He walks up to the next person , whispers something to their ear and gives them a hug . Next person , next person Getting closer to me . I'm thinking I have a personal rule in my life Rednecks don't whisper in my ear and give me a hug . It's just man code . I got right . So he gets right up in front of me . He looks me square in the eyes Fake redneck Jesus , white bathrobe and he says well done , my good and faithful servant . I love you . I , my good and faithful servant , I love you . I've been waiting for you . Welcome into my kingdom . And I don't know what happened . But I beat fake redneck Jesus to the hug , right . I wrapped my arms around him and I squeezed him in and he was starting to feel awkward . He's pushing away and I just had like a moment of the day that I'm gonna get to see Jesus face to face and eye to eye .
Speaker 1So let me ask you , how are you going to respond when you see Jesus ? Here's what's going to make the difference whether or not you believe in him in your life . When you get to see him , you're either going to worship him , you're going to love him , or you're going to fear him because you never gave your life to him . And today is your opportunity , your life is your opportunity to give your life to him . Jesus' resurrection changes your affection to him . You can love other people , you can love other things , but we should never love other people and love other things more than we love him . And I'm done . Last one Jesus' resurrection changes your questions . Everybody say questions . Stick with me for this last moment . This is so important .
Speaker 1While they were going , behold , some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priest everything that had taken place , that Jesus had risen from the dead , the angel , all that . And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel , they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and they said they said tell people , tell everybody . His disciples came by night and stole him away while they were asleep , time out . If you're asleep , how do you know they came and stole him ? Who knows Time in Okay , verse 14 . And if this comes to the governor's ears . We will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble . So they took the money and did as they were directed , and the story has been spread among the Jews to this day .
Speaker 1Can I just be honest for a second ? Just be transparent . As a pastor , I have a lot of questions in my life for God . I have a lot of questions in my life for God , and I'm sure you do too . We don't understand everything and we won't understand everything , but hear me , maybe you're here today and you have major questions about the resurrection , so much so that you have objections . I want you to know that there are five major objections to the resurrection .
Speaker 1Number one people say , wait , what if his body was just stolen ? Okay , well , let's just think that out for a second . You're telling me 12 fishermen that Jesus called are going to go and fight , 16 armed , trained Roman soldiers . Win the fight , roll a two-ton stone away , grab the body of a dead man , take it out , not show it to anybody , and it's going to result in 2.6 billion people on the planet believing in Jesus . Some people say , well , maybe Jesus really didn't die , maybe he was just passed out , maybe he was just in a coma . Let's chase that down for just one second . These are trained Roman executioners who scourged him , who crucified him , and even history tells us that they thrust a spear into his side which said that water and blood came out , meaning that even the fluid around his heart had ruptured . And you're telling me he went into a coma
Addressing Objections to the Resurrection
Speaker 1and he went into a grave for three days with no food , no water , and he is able to move a two-ton stone and by himself , fight 16 Roman soldiers . I still want to believe in that guy . Amen , but he died . He rose from the dead .
Speaker 1Some people say , well , maybe they went to the wrong tomb . Okay , maybe Mary and Mary went to the wrong tomb . Maybe the disciples went to the wrong tomb . Maybe the Roman guards were guarding the wrong tomb . Maybe the disciples went to the wrong tomb . Maybe the Roman guards were guarding the wrong tomb . Maybe Joseph of Arimathea , who owned the tomb , who actually dug it out himself . Maybe he took the body of Jesus to the wrong tomb . Maybe the angel from heaven got the wrong directions and went to the wrong tomb , but still nobody could come up with the body from the right tomb .
Speaker 1Number four some people say , well , jesus' disciples , maybe they were hallucinating . Jesus appeared to over 500 people , people that were able to talk with him . They were eyewitnesses , they allowed people to come up and question them , people that talked to him , people that touched him , people that saw him , people that ate with him . And even if people have hallucinations , you don't have 500 people all seeing the same hallucination at the same time in all kinds of different places . Number five some people say , well , maybe Jesus's resurrection is just a legend . He appeared to 500 people . They all told their testimonies . Anybody could come and talk to them at any time .
Speaker 1And here's what I believe is the greatest witness of the gospel that this is true . This is what changes our life's questions into faith . This is where Jesus becomes the fulfillment of our expectations , our ambition , our affection and our questions . Here's what I need you to see . Did you know that every single one of those disciples died for their faith in Jesus ? Peter was crucified upside down because he said he was unworthy to die like Jesus . They crucified Andrew on an X-shaped cross . John was the only one of the 12 disciples who didn't die as a martyr , but they boiled him in a vat of oil and he survived . They banned him to an island with nobody there , and he lived . But Philip Bartholomew , matthew , thomas , james , thaddeus , simon and Matthias were all martyred for their faith .
Speaker 1And hear me , nobody dies for a lie . Every one of them died saying you can take my life , but you can't have my faith , because I saw him with my own eyes , I touched him , I heard him , I believed in him and he rose from the dead . And I'm telling you , when you come and see and you see Jesus for who he is , you can't help but go and tell so that other people can experience him , like you , with every head bowed and every eye closed this morning . I just wanna give you that opportunity . Maybe you're here this morning and I just want to give you that opportunity .
Speaker 1Maybe you're here this morning and you just came , didn't even want to be here invited , just wanted to be with family , and maybe God has spoken to you in a personal way this morning and God has helped you to see , and maybe this is your day where you just , you just gotta give your life to Jesus . You don't have any other choice . You get it , you see it , you believe it , you want it . So , right here , right now , I wanna encourage you just to pray and you can say dear Jesus , I love you , I need you and I believe in you .
Speaker 1You can say I believe that , jesus , you died on the cross for my sin and I ask you to forgive me of all my sin . And you can tell him . You say dear Jesus , I believe that you rose from the dead , I believe that you're alive and you're real . And , jesus , I call on you to be the Lord of my life , my master , my savior , my God , my all . The Bible says that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe with your heart , then you believe with your heart that he rose from the dead . You will be saved , jesus , we thank you for that promise . Thank you for saving anyone and everyone that prayed that prayer this morning and meant it with all of their heart , giving their life to you . We love you in Jesus' name . And all God's people said would you put your hands together for anybody that prayed that prayer this morning ? The Bible says that heaven rejoices every time a sinner repents and gives their life to Jesus . We are so thankful for all that God is doing and I just wanna encourage you right here , right now , that God is moving . Jesus is moving , jesus is alive .
Speaker 1Look at somebody and tell them Jesus is alive . Jesus is alive and that means that he can be alive in you . That means he's moving in you , that means he's moving among us and that means that we worship him . Can we stand right now and we're gonna worship Jesus , not just because he's alive . We're gonna worship Jesus because he wasn't there at the tomb . We're gonna worship Jesus because he's right there at the tomb . We're gonna worship Jesus because he's right here with us this morning . Can I get an amen church On this Easter Sunday ? Jesus is with us and we're gonna worship him like he's in the room , because he is . Let's worship Jesus right now together .
