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Sunday Morning Service, 4/12/09

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Message: An Easter Attitude

Pastor Thomas

Today I'm going to tell the Easter story:

Acts 2:22-28
  1. Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
  2. Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
  3. Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
  4. For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
  5. Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
  6. Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
  7. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

Doubters could not keep Jesus In in the grave.

Doubters were there. He was doubted by his own countrymen and his own disciples. One denied him; one betrayed him, and the rest were thinking of themselves. Through the three years of his ministry he said,

John 2:19
  1. Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

But they didn't understand. Jesus had taught them about all that would happen, and they were watching it take place, but they still ran and hid.

Skeptics couldn't keep Jesus in the tomb. Jesus has resurrected. We know that for a fact. People can question the resurrection; they can even cast doubt on the validity of him being the son of God. But none of that changes the fact that Jesus is risen. Neither doubters in Christ's day nor doubters in modern times can prevent Jesus. We know that he is alive.

Death had no power over Christ.

Death couldn't keep Jesus in the tomb.

Acts 2:24
  1. Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

God did away with the agony and the sting of death. We who are Christ's have a different viewpoint on death. We're going to die, unless Jesus comes first. But death for us is just a transition into a world without pain, a world of worship and joy. Can you imagine what it will be like when we gather with all the saints who have ever lived, making up a massive choir for God?

Jesus was not held to the form of death in this world. We believe that when a person dies in Christ, he's just waiting to be changed.

Matthew 27:62-66
  1. Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
  2. Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
  3. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
  4. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
  5. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

There were those who wanted to absolutely make sure that nobody would ever get to the body of Jesus and let him out. The haters of Jesus wanted to make it absolutely secure, so they not only rolled the stone in front of the door, they also sealed and plastered it and set a guard at the door. Mary was worried about how she would get to the body three days later to annoint it for burying. But when she got there, the stone was no longer in the way.

You don't have a problem that's greater than the stone and the cement they used to seal the tomb. If you trust God, he can roll your problem away and set angels on it, too. Containing Jesus: that's what I call "Mission Impossible." It's like holding hands and standing in front of a hurricane, expecting that we can stop it. Yet here are people who think they can contain something more powerful than a hurricane -- they tried to contain Jesus in the tomb. But if there is any laughter in the church, then it should be today, because death could not keep Christ in the tomb. Neither the death, nor the stone, nor the guards could prevent him.

Satan couldn't hold Jesus down.

He tried his very best throughout Jesus' life. He started a war with God and lot. Satan tempted Eve and started a separation between God and man. When Jesus was born, Satan tried to have Herod kill him. Herod calculated that if he killed every male child from two years old and under, then Jesus would be taken care of. But he was wrong, because God warned Mary in a dream.

Later on, Satan tried to tempt Jesus in his life. If you've watched The Passion of The Christ, you realize that these were not a gentle people. They were a people used to war, recently conquered by the Roman Empire.

Jesus acknowledged these things, and when he was in the garden, Satan was right there to say, "You can't deal with this. No one can take the sins of the world upon them." Jesus was in agony, and prayed to the father, "Let not my will but thy will be done."

The devil knew that Jesus was the son of God; he didn't mistake Jesus for a prophet. Satan knew that Jesus had more power than he would ever have, but nevertheless he tried. If Satan would do this to Jesus, what do you think he will try with us? He will try you just as he tried Jesus, but if you won't let him, he can't keep you down, either. We must know this and live like it. Satan is the defeated foe; all you have to do is walk by faith every single day of your life.

We know that there will come a day when Christ will return. In America, we don't always understand events in the Middle East. But the Muslims know about Jesus. They know the prophecy that Jesus will return through the Eastern gate. They know that Jews can't touch someone who is dead. So they have set up a burial site right in front of the Eastern gate. I find that very encouraging. It's another "Mission Impossible." No one can do anything to prevent the return of Christ.

For those of us who believe, our job is to live our lives so that when Christ does return, we will hear "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." The early church lived their lives this way every day, for two reasons:

  1. They were filled with the Holy Ghost.
  2. They had an attitude that nothing was impossible.

When the disciples stood there looking up at Jesus and the angel said, "Why stand ye here gazing? Go and be about your father's business," they did just that. They took the commission to preach the gospel to every creature and let it compel them. The very first message was heard by over three thousand people. Peter must have been really convincing. The Holy Spirit rested on that whole community of people, making them understand that what Peter had said was the truth.

Acts 2:37
  1. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Be willing to hear this message of Easter, that doubt can't keep the truth locked up. Doubt will never have victory; Satan will never have victory, as long as we don't let it.

Easter Attitude About Life

I'd like to leave you today with a challenge of having an Easter attitude, and attitude about life in general. Nothing is impossible with God. Death is not impossible; in the midst of persecution, sharing is not impossible with God. There's no problem when you put it in the hands of Jesus.

Easter Attitude About Death

The Easter attitude is also an attitude about death. We look at death differently as Christians. Death is just a transition to another life.

Here are some quotes from children about death:

  • When you die, they put you in a box and bury you in the ground, but you don't look so good.
  • Doctors help you so that you won't die until you pay their bill.
  • When you die, you won't have to do homework in heaven, unless your teacher's there, too.
  • A good doctor will help you so you won't die; a bad doctor will send you to heaven.

Jesus knows what he wants for you. For Christians, death holds no power. So change your thoughts about death; death holds no power over us. Of course, we don't look forward to it. I look forward to holding my great-grandchildren. But if that doesn't happen, I'm going to go to heaven. That's what's important to me, and it should be what's important to you.

Easter Attitude About God

An Easter attitude is an attitude about God. The resurrection of Christ is real. And if you'll just listen, just stop your business, you too can hear God call your name. You can hear and recognize God for who he is. Let him come into your life and establish a personal relationship with you that will last forever.

I want you to develop an Easter attitude, because it will bring a miracle into your life no less than the resurrection itself. God will bring a joy into your life that you cannot comprehend. The Bible says that it hasn't even entered into the heart of man what heaven will be like. All the artists in the world can't begin to portray it; they can't even come close.

God wants to give you far more than you've ever head or even thought possible. God has defeated death; he has defeated Satan, and he wants to live in your heart. Have a happy Easter.