Hope Today 030 - What difference does the Resurrection make?

A program of word and music featuring an eclectic mix of christian music and teaching by Pastor Tom Cullen and Brian Evans.  Mac Wigfield starts the program with southern gospel classics.

Produced at Straight Path Studio in Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada.

Christian Artists featured are:

Dave McVay

Sisters

Bledsoes

Matt Boswell

Steven Curtis Chapman

Latifah Makuyi

Amen Choir of the First Baptist Church

Owl City

David Vaters

Ali Matthews

Keith Green

Thank you for listening to HOPE TODAY. This is a program developed at Light & Life Programming, a registered charity. We are listener supported. If you would like to help with this ministry, donations can be made through our website at www.lightnlife.ca.

Transcript

Tempo: 120.0

SPEAKER_01 0:05

We are so glad you have joined us for Hope Today this Easter time. We look forward to sharing with you some inspirational music and teaching about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In fact, the question of the program is, what difference does the resurrection make? Pastor Tom Cullen will be providing answers in this edition of Hope Today. But first, Mac Wigfield will get us started with music. Sit back and be encouraged over these next few moments.

SPEAKER_10 0:37

Well, good morning. It's that time of year when we will have some thoughts to share today on the resurrection. But to have a resurrection, the Lord Jesus had to take the cross. Here's Dave McVeigh.

SPEAKER_18 0:51

Embrace the Father took me. Compelled by love to be the sinner's friend. His sacrifice at Calvary, the highest cause. He prayed for gi. He took the cross.

SPEAKER_04 1:23

He took the trust.

SPEAKER_10 4:36

Not according to the gospels. It says he began to teach his disciples, the Son of Man must suffer many things, be rejected, be killed, and after three days, rise again.

SPEAKER_06 5:08

The day will come when you will see because I no power on earth can tie me down. Yes, I'll rise again. Death can't keep me in the ground.

SPEAKER_07 5:46

My love for you is still the same. But very soon I will be free because I'll rise again.

SPEAKER_06 6:12

Ain't no power on earth can tie me down. Yes, I'll rise again. Death can keep me in the grass.

SPEAKER_07 6:57

Go ahead, try to hide the sun, but all will see that I won't go.

SPEAKER_06 7:32

Come to take my people back. Come to take my people back.

SPEAKER_07 7:48

Come to take my people back.

SPEAKER_10 7:58

Hey, guess what? He rose and he lived.

SPEAKER_09 8:09

Jesus the crucified Savior died there on Calvary's tree. He gave his life for a ransom. The lost souls of men to redeem. Then on a Jerusalem hillside, he was buried in a borrowed two. Two days passed and it was hopelessly quiet. It's over.

SPEAKER_13 8:39

Sunday the stew. Then that gave away to the tall feet of the third day. What in a refield? Well, that old turn where they laid him is T out.

SPEAKER_02 9:55

I think of it still. I'm a hard gun.

SPEAKER_00 10:00

I'm so glad you're with us on this wonderful Easter day. Christians around the world are celebrating the truth that Jesus rose from the dead, just as he promised he would. Which brings us to an important question on hope today, and that is what difference does the resurrection make? I mean, who cares? In the whole scheme of life, what difference does it make that Jesus rose from the dead? Stay with us as we explore the question. Matt Boswell sings of the incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection of our Lord in Come behold the wondrous mystery.

SPEAKER_17 10:34

Come behold the wondrous mystery, in the dawn of the key. He the theme of heaven's praises, robed in frail hue, manity in our longing, in our darkness, now the light of life has come. Look to Christ who condescended, took on flesh to ransom us. He, the perfect Son of Man, in his living, in his suffering, never trace nor stain of sin. See the true and bitter Adam come to save the hellbound man, Christ the great and sure fulfillment of the Lord Him we stand Come behold the wondrous mystery, Christ the Lord upon the tree in the stead of ruins, hangs the lamb victory. See the price of our redemption, see the fathers plan unfold, bringing many sons to glory, grace under love until slain by death of life, no brave restrain. Christ in the resurrected, as will be when he comes. Come behold the wondrous mystery, slain by death, the God of life, but no grave could restrain him. Praise the Lord.

SPEAKER_00 13:45

What difference does the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ make to you and to me? I have often thought it strange that we spend little time thinking about the truth of the resurrection in comparison to the truth of the incarnation and the crucifixion of our Lord. We have whole seasons devoted to those two truths. So today, and for the weekend, let's linger over the great truth. And as we will discover, it makes a world of difference. Here is Stephen Curtis Chapman singing of our Lord's victory through his death on the cross and resurrection from the dead.

SPEAKER_11 15:25

I heard an old, old story, how a savior came from glory, how he gave his life on Calvary to save a wreck like me. I heard about his groaning of his precious bloods at toning, and I repented of my sins and won the victory.

SPEAKER_16 15:53

Oh victory in Jesus, my savior forever. He sought me and loved me with his redeeming blood. And all my love is due him. How he made the lame do all good and cause a blind to see. And then I cried, dear Jesus, come and heal my broken spirit. And somehow Jesus came and broke to be the victory. Oh victory, Jesus, my Savior forever. He sought me and bombed me with his reading me. And on the love is to him. He plunged me to victory. Be the claims.

SPEAKER_12 17:43

He has built for me in glory. And I heard about the streets of gold beyond the crystal sea. About the angel sin the old redemption story. And some sweet day I'll sing up there the song of victory.

SPEAKER_16 18:08

Oh victory, Jesus, my savior, forever. He's on me and bump me with his beating up. And on the love with punch me to victory.

SPEAKER_00 18:50

What difference does the resurrection make? Well, for one thing, we know that death is not final. Listen to the good news. What does that mean? Christ is the first fruit. The resurrection of Jesus Christ makes all the difference in how we do that. Here is Latifa McCoy singing our Lord's Victoria's return, and we will sing glory, glory to the king and our redeemer.

SPEAKER_01 24:52

Originally known as the hymn for Easter Day, Christ the Lord is Risen Today was written by Charles Wesley in 1739 to be sung at the first service in the new Wesleyan Chapel in London, England. This chapel was in a deserted iron foundry converted into a place of worship and became known as the Foundry Meeting House. It was initially written with eleven verses, but the hymn was later reduced to six stanzas. In the early 19th century, the joyous Alleluia was added at the end of each line by an unknown editor who wanted to ensure that the hymn fit the tune and message of Easter. As dark as the Easter story is, the sunrise on the third day, when it is discovered that our Lord and Savior has risen from the dead, is a wonderful cause for celebration. Hallelujah! The popularity of this hymn is due in part to the fine and uplifting tune that drives the message. Although there are a few tunes used, the most common one is called the Easter hymn. Christ the Lord is risen today has been widely accepted in almost every denomination and often used as a processional song of praise and worship during Easter remembrances. May we be lifted to praise as we listen now to the Amen Choir and National Philharmonic Orchestra.

SPEAKER_00 29:19

But Christ's resurrection tells us that we need not fear death. Scripture tells us that death came through a man, and we know that to be true. There was no death in the Garden of Eden. But Adam rebelled against God, and as a result, death was introduced into creation. We are all part of a family. What are we going to do? I'm going to be adopted by another family. And into another family that didn't die. That's not my original idea. That's exactly what God does when we place our faith in Jesus Christ and say, God, I rebelled against you and deserve to die for my sin. Forgive me. God does forgive us. He is able to forgive us because Christ has died for our sin, and we're taken out of the family of Adam and put into God's family. And guess what? There's no death in God's family. Death is not a family trait in God's family. He's not dead, so you also will not die. Here is Owl City with my everything.

SPEAKER_08 30:52

When my hope is lost, and my strength is gone, I run to you, and you alone.

SPEAKER_04 31:08

I run to you, and you alone Is your my light in the door And I sing with all my home I love everything When I'm plagued with pain and filled with fear, I run to you, and you alone When my days are few and death is near, I run to you, and you alone.

SPEAKER_08 33:24

This is all wow!

unknown 33:37

By the grace of God of all.

SPEAKER_00 33:42

The story is told in Brazil about a missionary who discovered a tribe of natives in a remote part of the jungle. They lived near a large river. The tribe was friendly and in need of medical attention as a contagious disease was ravaging the population and people were dying daily. An infirmary was located in another part of the jungle, and the missionary determined that the only hope for the tribe was to go to the hospital for treatment and inoculation. In order to reach the hospital, however, the people would have to cross the river, a feat that they were unwilling to perform. The river, they believed, was inhabited by evil spirits to enter the water amended certain death. The missionary had set about a difficult task of overcoming the superstition of the tribe. He walked out into the water and the water on his way. Having proven that the power of the river was a farce. The missionary punched a triumphant into the air. He entered the water and the people broke into tears and followed him across. Jesus Christ sees how we are enslaved by the fear of death. But he goes before us and dies. And having paid the price for our sin, he rose again on the third day. And in a sense, he punches a triumphant fist into the air, defeating death's power over us. We need only believe in him and no victory over our fear of death. David Vader sings Mansion in the Sky.

SPEAKER_15 35:36

It's always hard to leave your home when you leave behind good friends and family. So it's good. Take the time, the time to find out what you'd really like to do. Social ladders to climb, searching for the perfect rhyme. These old familiar dreams, nothing new. Give your life eternally. So it's hard. Leave your home, but it won't be hard to leave this world behind. But Jesus paid the price, you know, ain't it kinda nice? To know you've got a mansion, to know you've got a mession, to know you've got a mansion in the sky.

SPEAKER_00 37:56

Welcome back to Hope Today on this Easter Sunday. Here is Allie Matthews with This Cross.

SPEAKER_05 38:03

Deep in the hollow of your heart, I can hear the emptiness calling. The dreams that you once held now they're all torn apart. And darkness is falling. So you sit along there in your wonder, wonder how well show you the beauty, and who will I wear your name? Tell me who's gonna carry this cross wearing your name, wearing your name. You never made it across them all. Hopefully intentional. How quickly you lost them. I can see that you're broken hard. Tell me who's gonna carry this crust wearing your name, wearing your name. Mercy is full. And he will show you the pain. Yes, and he will wipe away your pain. He has already carried this cross, bearing your name, wearing your name.

SPEAKER_00 41:50

She helped them off with their clothes, and their two little pile of clothes were there, and into the bath they went, and out of the bath they came, and into their night clothes, and into their bed, and the stories were told, the prayers were said, and she had her finger on the light switch when the eldest one said with a note of urgency in his voice. Yes, Daniel, she said. Oh Michael, I will be like this. We're going to have to worry about the world.

SPEAKER_01 44:08

Hear the bells ringing the singing That you can be born again Hear the bells ringing the singing Christ is risen from the dead The angel upon the tombstone said he has risen just as he said Quake Elena God tell his disciples that Jesus Christ is no longer dead Joy to the world He is reason hallelujah Hallelujah Hear the bells ringing they're singing That you can be healed right now Hear the bells ringing they're singing Christy will reveal it now The angels They all surround us and they are ministering Jesus' power now reach out and receive it But this could be your glorious eye to the world What a great time today Thank you for coming along with us Hope Today is produced at Straight Path Studios and is brought to you by your friends if you have comments we would love to hear from you if you email to listener at hopeToday-lp.ca. Christ the Lord is risen today. Hallelujah. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the reason that we can have real and eternal hope. May this be your celebration today as well. Please invite your friends to join with you next time for Hope Today.

SPEAKER_03 46:44

Upon the tombstone, said He has risen. Just as He said, Quick lay now. God tell His disciples that Jesus Christ is no longer dead.

SPEAKER_04 47:05

Joy to the one He has restored