The Day that Changed the World | Easter Sunday Message

Everybody Greg Laurie here. You're listening to the Greg Laurie podcast and my objective is to deliver hopefully compelling practical insights and faith culture and current events. From a biblical perspective to find out more about our ministry. Just go to our website harvest.org so thanks for joining me for this podcast everybody on Greg Laurie welcoming you to a special edition of our visit home.

This is our Easter service just for you in a few moments, to be sharing the message with you with the title, the day that changed the world. So Easter what you think about during this time of the year.

Well, we think of pastel colors Easter egg cons Easter Bunny of cards cute little chicks I member when I was a kid. You can actually buy for Easter little bunnies and little chicks which doesn't seem like a great idea.

About three months later when your house is overrun with rabbits and full-grown chickens. But a lot of people don't even know what Easter is all about.

I remember as a little boy going to my mother and actually asking her mom what is the meaning of Easter and her answer was I don't know she knew she was raised in the church. She had been running from the Lord for years and I think went out of her way to try to keep me from knowing anything about God or the Bible.

And then I ended up becoming a Christian becoming a preacher so a lot of people don't know the meaning of Easter I heard a story about Sunday school teacher was talking to her class on Palm Sunday. She said okay kids. Does anybody know what the meaning of this day is a little girl raised her hand and the teacher called on her and the little girl said today is Palm Sunday.

The teacher said right. What is the meaning of the little girl said that is the day that Jesus rode into Jerusalem of the back of the donkey and they laid palm branches.

Before his feet and cried out, hosanna the teacher was very impressed. She said that is exactly right. Then the teacher said of the class. Can anyone tell me what next Sunday as same little girl raised her head teacher called on her. Yes, what's next Sunday. That's Easter Sunday. The little girl said the teacher said and what is the meaning of Easter Sunday little girl said that is the day that Jesus rose again from the data before the teacher could congratulate her. The girl continued on and said, but if he sees a shadow yes to go back underground for seven more weeks. I think she got confused with Groundhog Day. Yet we get a little confused but let me just say this in case you don't know Easter is the day where we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead that one of talk about what the resurrection means to you in this message for very important things you need to know. But of course before there can be a resurrection there at the first be a crucifixion.

Jesus Christ was arrested on false charges. He was ultimately brought before the Roman governor Pontius pilot who immediately knew he was innocent because Pilate had tried hundreds and hundreds of criminals and he knew an innocent man what he saw him, and he really did not want to condemn Jesus to death, but the religious leaders were pressuring him. So we tried to find a way to satisfy what they wanted and not send Jesus to be nailed to a cross. So Pilate ordered Christ to be scourged.

The scourging was called the halfway crucifixion, then the beaten, bloodied, Jesus was brought before the crowds by Pilate and he said, behold, the man hoping that would satisfy them but no they still wanted a crucifixion, but of course this is all fulfilling God's ultimate purpose, because Scripture said not only would Messiah be born in a manger in Bethlehem. Not only would he live a perfect life but he would go to a cross and he would specifically be crucified.

Hundreds of years before crucifixion was even invented. It was said prophetically in Psalm 22, they pierced my hands on my feet. So Jesus was sent to the cross is shredded back pressed against it. The cross hung up where everyone could see with the cross on each side with criminals crucified on them and from the cross. Jesus gave seven statements, seven significant statements.

Even the order of them is significant statement number one was father forgive them for they know not what they do. Statement number two was in response to a statement from one of the criminals today you will be with me in paradise. Statement number three looking toward his mother. He said woman behold your son. Then he said, son, behold your mother then presumably the sins of the world were poured on Jesus Christ, causing him to cry out, Eli, Eli Lama suboptimally which means my God, my God, why have you forsaken me. Then he said I thirst.

Then he said it is finished. And finally he said to the father, into your hands I commit my spirit.

The first statement of Jesus from the cross was father forgive them for they know not what they do.

While it would always make more sense of his first statement was my God, my God, why have you forsaken me, or even, I thirst.

But father forgive them for they know not what they do. This reminds us that no one is beyond the reach of God.

Jesus is praying for the very perpetrators the very men responsible for kneeling him to this cross and he's asking the father forgive them, reminding us that no one is beyond the reach of God to know somebody right now that you cannot imagine being a Christian. You cannot even imagine in your wildest dreams hearing them say and say, praise the Lord. Listen, no one is beyond the reach of God. But Jesus is saying.

Father, they have committed a sin that is so bad, so incomprehensible, forgive them for they know not what they do and we need to as followers of Jesus should forgive people who have sinned against us because forgiveness is easy to talk about. It's a lot harder to do is in it. It was CS Lewis that one said forgiveness seems like a lovely idea until you have something to forgive." And that's true. There was a study done in forgiveness.

The revealed 75% of those for Paul believe that God forgave them of their past and so that's good and also it said 52% said they have forgiven others so a lot of them believe that God forgive them but they were unwilling to extend that same forgiveness to others Houston we have a problem if you been forgiven by God as his follower because you put your faith in Christ, then you will in turn should be giving other people listen to this forgiven people should be forgiving people. The Bible commands us to forget were told in the book of Ephesians decline tenderhearted toward one another, forgiving one another as God in Christ has forgiven us know. Listen to this extending forgiveness doesn't mean you're condoning or dismissing a person's bad behavior because things are done to us, that should not have been done. So we say will will a five forgive them. There like getting away with it. It's not about what they're getting away with this is about you. Jim forgive means that you surrender your right to get even a means were not going to pee that person back though they may deserve it.

One person put it this way and I quote the first to apologize is the bravest, the first of forgive is the strongest the first of forget the happiest suitors Jesus surrounded by two criminals. Any offers. Forgive this sounds fascinating to look at these three men facing death, all of them are facing death, let me say a word about these criminals we call them the thieves on the cross. They actually were guilty of a far more serious crime than the Romans did not crucified. People who stole actually these men were probably insurrectionist. We might call them terrorists today to dedicated their life to the overthrow of Rome so they probably had murdered people so these are serious hardened criminals and initially they join the chorus of mockery coming from the people at the foot of the cross where there is saying he saved others, let him save himself if he is the son of God. How ridiculous is that of course Jesus could have saved himself. The fact is because he wanted to save others. That means you and me.

He did not save itself. But something happened that got the attention of one of those criminals are first, these monkey Jesus all of a sudden he changes his tone what happened while I don't know exactly, but I have an idea. I think it's when Jesus said those words father forgive them for they know not what they do. The hardened heart of this man suddenly softened, which shows as conversion can happen in an instant. In a moment. Father forgive them. They don't know what they're doing. This man can't believe Jesus would say such a thing and so he turns to Jesus and he says Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom, bringing us to the second statement of Christ from the cross, when he says truly, truly, I say to you today you will be with me in paradise well talk about being at the right place at the right time.

This guy got in right under the wire. My speaking to somebody who's on their deathbed.

My talking to somebody right now that doesn't have much life left to live. You can come to put your faith in Christ. It's never too late to believe I mentioned my mother a little bit earlier my mom. I was married and divorced seven times so I do full time ministry sharing the gospel with my mom's former husband's. Her last husband was named Bill and he never was really very open to the gospel and so my mom died and thankfully my mom recommitted her life to Christ. A couple of months before she died. So we were thankful for that. But I really kind of lost contact with Bill and does someone called me and said Bill is really sick he's in hospice care.

You should go visit him while I was on my way to the airport for a speaking engagement, I said I'll tell you what I'll call as soon as I land that is I'm on my way to the airport. I'm telling you God spirit just spoke to my heart, and he directed me to go see Bill so I did a U-turn drove over to the house for my mom used to live with Bill. He walked in very was in this hospital bed set up in his den and you could see he was not long for this life. I said Bill I I've shared the gospel with you many times but I want to share with you one more time and I told him Jesus did. Jesus died on the cross for his sins if he would turn from his sin. Jesus would forgive him and he could have all of his sins removed and have a relationship with God and go to heaven. I said Bill, do you want Jesus to come in your life, and he said yes and I said pray this prayer with me and I let him in a prayer just like I'll leave you with at the end of this message. Aparna was Christ to come into his life after we are praying I said God bless you and I'll call you when I landed I went back and made my flight and landed in as soon as I got my phone out I got a text that said Bill just past or I'm so glad I took the time to go back and spend a little time with Bill and share the gospel with them.

But again, the story reminds us that no one is beyond the reach of God and it's never too late to come to Jesus standing at the foot of the cross was the mother of our Lord. Mary, what a unique relationship she had with Jesus. She both bore the son of God, the Messiah in her womb, and later invited Jesus into her heart but won't.

He was singing on the cross very was in English. His body was so beaten and so traumatized. Isaiah says you couldn't even tell he was a man, but Mary knew who we was that was her boy, her son Jesus to the mother ever loved a son more than Mary love Jesus and no parent ever wants to outlive their child. You know, at 33. Most people say it is beginning but Jesus at that age was saying it is finished in her heart broke because Jesus was while he was the perfect son was in the always respectful, always doing whatever Mary needed him to do.

She loved him with all of her heart. Can you imagine being one of the siblings of Jesus and having the measure up to him. I wonder if Mary or Joseph ever said to the other kids. And yes, Jesus did our brothers and sisters. The Gospels are clear and that's one of the said kids. Why can't you be more like your big brother Jesus would say mommy like perfect never does anything wrong. He was perfect and there was her son hanging on the cross, dying in her heart was broken and that brings us to the third statement of the cross is found in the Gospel of John were it says in chapter 19 Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing by know that's John. He's referring to. John Wood referred to himself in his gospel as the disciple whom Jesus loved, and Jesus said to his mother woman behold your son and then to John he said son behold your mother. I think he was basically saying to John, I want you to take care of my mom from this point on, Jesus was the firstborn that means he would bear the primary responsibility of caring for his mother later in life without Jesus had fulfilled his purpose is always thinking of his mother, a very beautiful gesture on his part.

Now suddenly the sky turns dark this moment has been described as the crucifixion in the crucifixion. This is the moment when all of the sin of the world, past, present and future is going to be poured upon the one who would never sin.

He who was holy would bear all that was unholy all the wicked sin of the world, causing Jesus to give his next statement from the cross, which is run over in Mark 1533 it's is as darkness fell across the whole world at 3 o'clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, Eli, Eli Lama suboptimally which means my God, my God, why have you forsaken me no fiction writer would have their hero make such a statement, but the Bible is not fiction.

The Bible is telling us the truth and the reason Jesus said, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me is because momentarily the holy father turned his face away as Christ was very literally all the sins of the world. There's never been a lonelier man to walk this earth in Jesus at that moment. See up to this point everyone had basically forsaken him a Judas had betrayed him for 30 pieces of silver. Peter had denied him his disciples had abandoned him, but he always had the father there to call upon Jesus even said the father has not left me alone in a yes.

The hour is coming when everyone will be scattered, but the father will be with me and I'm not alone but now for a moment. Even the father has to an effect leave him alone and this is something that reminds us that Jesus was forsaken, so I don't have to be Jesus entered the darkness so I could walk in the light. Jesus was forsaken for God by a time for a time, rather so from the six-hour to 3 o'clock in the afternoon everything goes dark.

Lights out, probably for planet Earth. Some historians record of worldwide lockout back in this day and this is when the sin of the world was placed upon Jesus Christ as he was dying on the cross for us and bearing our sins statement number four from the cross, Jesus cries out my God my God why have you forsaken me, Eli, Eli Lama suboptimally while no fiction writer would ever have their hero make a statement like this. But the Bible is not fiction friend. It's true, why did Jesus say, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me. Many theologians believe this was the moment the sin of the world was placed upon Christ, no. If this was not the actual moment it happened at some time. When he died on the cross and this seemed like this is probably when it happened because of this statement is seen.

This was a horrible moment for Jesus. There was no lonelier man was ever walked the earth. And Jesus at this moment he had been her sake it by his own followers. They mean Judas betrayed him for 30 pieces of silver. Peter denied him his disciples effectively with the exception of John of the foot of the cross had abandoned him, but he always had the father he always either father was with him no matter what he was going through. But now even the father momentarily has to turn his face away.

Jesus said in John 1632, the hour has come in now is here when you will be scattered each will go to your own way, you'll leave me alone, but I'm not alone because of father is with me. Another father had to turn away, his face white because God is so holy he cannot look at sin CW first seeking of God is the consequence of sin for a person to feel that forsaken this, if you will, is the penalty then naturally follows what you do when you say that the repercussion of it but but Jesus had not forsaken the father Jesus are not done anything wrong, but he's bearing the sin of the world was the best Jesus was forsaken, so I don't have to be. Jesus said I will never leave you or forsake you. You will never be forsaken by God because temporarily Jesus was forsaken by the father as he bore your senseless end of this, Jesus entered the darkness that I might walk in the light. He did all of this for us because he loved us and he was bearing the sin of the world.

Isaiah 53 says, he was bruised for our iniquities and the punishment for our peace was upon him.

I love the way Paul summed it up when he said he loved me and he gave himself for me.

That's will look at the fifth statement of Jesus from the cross and by the way, it was the first statement of a personal nature. The fifth statement of Jesus from the cross was I first let's review. First, he said. Father forgive them for they know not what they do. Then he turned to the thief who said remember me when you come in your kingdom and gave a second statement which was truly, truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.

Looking at the foot of the cross. He saw his mother.

He said woman behold your son and then looking the Johnny said son behold your mother. Then he bore the sin of the world and cried out my God my God why have you forsaken me. So, the worst of it is past and by the way, I believe this was Jesus most painful moment. You might say all know the most painful moment was the scourging or the crucifixion itself as bad as those things were. I don't think they were the most painful moments for Jesus is most painful moment was when he was temporarily separated from the father bearing the sin of the world.

But now that he's done that.

He says I thirst.

You know, experts tell us that severe thirst is worse than anything else, he's completely dehydrated and he is just an absolute turmoil. So Jesus says, I thirst in a courageous soldier gives them something to drink a little sponge extended on a pole up to the lips of Christ. What a privilege that was to do that for the Lord to alleviate his suffering, even if only for a moment and remember, you can still do this today is a woody lever that will. Jesus said, you know, when I was thirsty, you gave me water and when I was hungry you gave me food and when I was in prison, you came and visited me and his disciples the Lord.

What will you hungry and when we do Thursday and when we you in prison.

He said if you did it to the least of my brothers, you did it for me. But now we come to the battle cry of the cross and now for the sick statement of the cross. It's actually one word in the Greek it's the Greek word to tell us thought translated it is finished. These were not the words of a defeated man.

These were not the words of a victim. These were the words of a victor would accomplish his purpose.

It is finished can be translated it is completed, it is done it is fulfilled actually was a phrase that was used by common people in that day you might frame a house and one was completed, he would say to tell us thought it is finished or you build a beautiful table or serve a fine meal to tell a sty it is finished. Silver Christ to use the phrase is interesting because he is not fulfilled everything he has come to do it is completed on by the way, one of the gospel says he said it without loud voice.

This is a man who is been discouraged. This is a man who is been beaten. This is a man who was born the sins of the world.

Yet, this is a man with a loud voice who cries out to tell a�ai it is finished. It is completed. Finished his sins stranglehold on you finished is the rule and reign of Satan running amok in every person's life finished is the work that Jesus had come to do. I'm sure these words reverberated the hallways of heaven is one of the core doors of hell.

I think Kevin rejoiced. It is finished and the demon shuddered because they knew. Ultimately, they were finished and now we come to the final statement of the cross statement number seven, recorded in Luke 2246, when he says the father, into your hands I commit my spirit.

It's done now is same father I've completed the work you've called me to do now into your hands I commit my spirit. You know it's interesting that Jesus addressed the father at the beginning and the end of the crucifixion, his first words were father forgive them for they know not what they do.

A prayer's final words were in your hands I commit my spirit. Jesus addressed the father the beginning the middle and the end we should do the same in our youth, we should call in God my talking to a young person now you want to live a happy, fulfilling, purposeful life.

Give your life to Jesus Christ. Don't waste your time chasing after the empty things this world offers. Maybe I'm talking to somebody at middle-age. You should be calling on the Lord as well.

Maybe reach a lot of your goals and maybe you are taking a lot of time now and leisure. Hey, don't forget to call on God and to turn to God. Maybe I'm talking to somebody that is almost at the end of your life call on the Lord then as well.

Jesus called on the father in the beginning the middle and the end and we should do the same because one they were going to breathe our last breath on earth, arugula leave this world and so Jesus called on the father, into your hands I commit my spirit.

Tragic, horrible event but yet in the event that fulfilled the very purposes of God. The Bible says and please the father to bruise him. That does not mean that God took pleasure in the crucifixion, but it does mean the father was pleased by what the crucifixion accomplished and what did the crucifixion accomplish what it did was it was that event, we hear sins were paid for. So you no longer have to be under the power of sin, but listen to this.

If Jesus stayed there on that cross. Then everything we believe is not true. He had to rise again.

Jesus said he would be betrayed.

He said he would be beaten.

He said he would be crucified, and he said three days later he would rise again and I want to talk to you about that day the change the world. The day that Jesus rose again from the dead.

They took Jesus down from the cross of Calvary, there was a man named Joseph of our Masao then came to take the body of Jesus and place it in his tomb. Joseph was a wealthy man and he had a large tomb available for Christ. I've been to Israel many times and I've been to what is called the garden to many believe this could be the very tomb that Jesus was laid in after his crucifixion.

If it's not the actual tomb at the first century tomb so you get a sense of what it would look like. But when you step into this tomb. There is a a bed if you will carved out of the rock Jesus was tightly abound with bandages and almost like a mummy -like shape laid there and they put Roman soldiers on guard. That's interesting to me because Jesus said he would rise again in one of the disciples do they going to hiding their devastated one of the Romans do. They said put extra guards on the two because the deceiver there words said he would rise again from the dead.

They said maybe the disciples or try to come and steal the body that was in the real concern they thought he might rise again from the dead and we need to stop it from happening you can stop God from fulfilling his promises. Three days later exactly as Jesus said, he rose again from the dead. The stone was rolled away from the opening and he was not there, the disciples came to anoint his body got Marion some of the other ladies in and they found the tomb empty and the angel said why do you seek the living among the dead. He is risen as he said he would rise go to Galilee and he'll meet you there and they were filled with great joy carrying that amazing news on the way from the tomb. We read in Matthew 28 these words as a went to tell the disciples. Jesus met them saying, rejoice, and they came and held him by his feet and they worshiped him. This is really interesting is phrase met them at used here in Matthew, it could be translated that it was a common greeting. Let me explain their seeing the risen Lord. There were overcome with emotion and joy in happiness and and Jesus just create some almost like a you know you think Jesus was a Todd noted that sort of like hey how you doing, you know, in different parts of the country.

We greet each other in different ways. If you're from the south to go a how y'all doing. If you're from Australia. You might say a good day good day mate if you're from or why you might say how's it a little and if you're from New York. You say, what are you looking at me right but it was a casual greeting which I find very interesting.

Jesus said yeah I fulfill the prophecy here I am, greetings to you and they were so excited to see the risen Lord. Again now Mary stays at the tomb. She has nowhere to go.

She still has not seen the risen Lord. Remember, this is Mary Magdalene because seven demons out of this woman. We can even imagine how tormented her life was to be possessed by seven demons.

But she loved Jesus everything that you the experience happen because of Jesus she followed him. She supported him financially, but he was gone. And then we pick up this beautiful account of what happened early Easter morning in the Gospel of John, chapter 20 and I'm reading. Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb and saw two angels sitting one of the head, the other at the feet were the body of Jesus had lain.

They said door woman.

Why are you weeping, she says, because they've taken away my Lord but I don't know where they laid him when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said door woman, why are you weeping whom are you seeking she's thinking he was the gardener said sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you've laid him and I will take him away and Jesus says Mary. Oh, she recognized the intonation of his voice.

The familiar way he spoke her name Mary she so excited she cries out a bona fide, which means teacher, Jesus turned and went said don't cling to me forever now descended yet to my father and your father, but I will ascend the my father and your father in the my God in the your God while her persistence paid off than that. There she was meeting the risen Lord Jesus says to Mary, don't touch me and it can be translated. Don't cling to me now this is interesting because in the upper room. He appeared to Thomas who had said all believe what I can put my hand on the wound to the side or touch the wounds in his hands and Jesus appears and basically says go ahead touch me. Thomas takes hold of him and says, my Lord and my God get to Mary. He says don't touch me or cling to me.

I think he was see Mary everything's changed. Now to use the vernacular. It's a whole new ballgame is talking to be the way that it was Mary before I was here to speak to you. You could reach out and touch me, you can hear my voice, but Mary is going to be better. I'm in a come and live in your heart now because I am ascending to my God and your God, to my father and your father. We don't realize what a revolutionary statement that was to a first century Jewish person see the Jewish man or woman never addressed God, the holy one as father, but because of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Now we say, because the Lord taught us to our father Lord in heaven, hallowed be your name Mary, Jesus is saying I'm no longer going to be on the outside, to come and live inside of your heart. I was driving with a couple of my grandkids a number of years ago, Allie, who I think was around four. Maybe at that point in her little brother Christopher who was just a little guy just learning how to speak, actually I listen to what Ali was saying to Christopher, she said. Christopher Jesus is God and God is Jesus. That's very good, and she said in it. We believe in him one day he'll live in our heart and then she said he'll go and live in our stomach to and I'm thinking okay go to talk a little before, but I love that idea this little girl understood that Jesus would come and live in a person's heart. And that's exactly what takes place okay so I mentioned in the beginning that there's four points for things we need to know about the resurrection of Jesus is David change the world. What does the resurrection of Jesus mean to you what is Easter mean to you on this particular day number one. The resurrection of Jesus assures me that I am accepted by God, let me say that again, the resurrection of Jesus assures me that I am accepted by God. Romans 425 says he was delivered over to death for our sins, and raised to life for our justification. I bring this up because we get this mindset that says if I live a good enough lifestyle be pleasing to God.

Listen, I am pleasing to God right now, not because of what I've done because I feel over and over again I am pleasing to God because of what Jesus did. The Bible says these may be accepted in the beloved.

This is what was accomplished through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. There's no forgiveness from balancing records. There's only forgiveness from canceling them. Listen to this as one person put it, quote on the cross God we said again as one person put it, and I quote on the cross. God treated Jesus as if he had lived your life so he could treat you as if you had lived his life." The great let me say it again on the cross.

God treated Jesus as if he had lived your life so we could treated you as though you had lived his life. Number two, the resurrection of Jesus assures me that I have all the power I need to live the Christian life over and Romans eight verse 11 we read the spirit of God raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you and just as he raised Christ from the dead to give life to your mortal body. The same spirit living within you so Christian friends. You have no obligation to do whatever your sinful nature tells me you to do. Some people might say well I tried to live the Christian life and it's hard all listen is not hard. It's impossible without the help of the Holy Spirit, but because Christ died in the cross and rose again from the dead, and is places Holy Spirit in your life you all the power you need to overcome any addiction any vice, any sinful lifestyle. This was accomplished of the cross and the resurrection for you. Number three.

The resurrection of Jesus assures me I will live forever, and haven't. This is a big one when he restated this is the biggest one.

This is the most important thing of all, the resurrection of Jesus assures me as a Christian I will live forever in heaven.

Death died when Christ rose because Jesus rose, I too will arise because Jesus died. I will never die in that one sentence, the Christian doesn't die as a Gregory delusional, don't you know people are laid into graves every day one. Understand that, but I also understand what Jesus says.

He says I am the resurrection and the life he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live in this whoever lives and believes in me shall never die in first Corinthians 15, Paul makes the statement when our perishable earthly bodies have been transformed in the heavenly bodies that will never die, the Scriptures will be fulfilled, which say death is swallowed up in victory. So death, where is your victory over death, where is your sting. I was walking on the beach a while ago with my wife for some reason there were bees everywhere bees all over the beach.

My wife said careful Greg. You'll step in the B and I said I will not step on the ice up on the B and I screamed like a little girl I ran to the lifeguard. Why think was like 16 years old I was stung by a beard and it hurt but is this much that P had stung its last person the can only sting once Jesus took the sting of death on the cross of Calvary for each and every one of us to listen. The tomb is not the entrance to death, but for the Christian, it's the entrance to life the moment you take your last breath on earth you take your first breath in heaven. When you close your eyes on earth you open them in heaven. Number for the resurrection of Jesus Christ assures me that I will have a new body. Just like kids and if your body is starting to wear out a little bit you'll be really appreciative of the simple fact in others. Telltale signs of getting old right you know you're getting old when you bend down to pick up something and you wonder what else can I do while I'm down here you know you're getting old when it's time for your birthday. There's so many candles on your birthday cake.

The youth group comes in a forms a circle around you, and sings Kumbaya.

You know you're getting old when things are not working like they used to work. God promises is going to give to you a new body. One day in your new body will be like the resurrection body of Jesus Christ because the Bible says, when Christ was our life, shall appear, we will be like him will be like him. So when Jesus came back to life what happened. He walked among us. Was he physical or was he sort of a phantom could just see through them. No, he was in a body. In fact, he still bore the marks of the crucifixion, but he asked for something to we gave him a piece of fish so he was translucent any confusion physically.he was a physical body resurrected, but then he would appear the room without using a door, he ascended, which is another way of saying he flew heads and our new bodies will be able to do all of those things that will lead to, and I'm glad to hear that, aren't you as I love eating fungi bone eat, even in the after life. Yes, this is a great promise of God to all of us who are Christians.

Christians. This is only true for the person who is put their faith in Jesus Christ. Have you done that yet.

Have you met Jesus years ago when I was a young believer I'd really long hair parted in the middle.

Use your imagination coming down past my shoulders along beard sunset.

They look a little bit like Jesus. So I wanted to a mental institution.checked in as an inmate but visiting as a pastor with another friend of mine, the Mike we were talking to one of the patients and Mike said that the person have you ever met Jesus Christ without missing a beat. This guy takes hold of my hand and says Jesus it's good to meet you ever heard so much of value my responses on the Jesus and Greg, but here's the idea you can meet Jesus he can come and live inside of you is he being a Christian is not about being religious. I don't want to be a religious person. You might be saying what you're up preacher you're very religious. I hope not.

I have no interest whatsoever in religion and rituals.

I wanted a relationship with God when I was a 17-year-old kid. Christ came and lived inside of my heart because I invited him in. I was filled with doubt and I thought, this will never work for me because I'm not the religious type, but the good news is, as God is not looking for the for the religious type is looking for the sinner type like you and me because the Bible says we all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. None of us will ever live a good enough life to earn God's pleasure. We have become and admit to him were sinners and turn from our sin and put our faith in Christ to died on the cross for our sins and rose again from the dead, and I ask you this. In closing of US Jesus to come into your life.

You know you can know all about Jesus and not know him. Jesus is there's coming a final day, people will come to him and say, Lord, Lord, did we not because the demons in your name. Did we not do miracles in your name and Jesus will say, depart from me, I never knew you your workers of iniquity. Interesting. The phrase he uses therefore never knew you means I never knew you intimately. Maybe you know about God but do you know God do have a relationship with God. You have the absolute certainty right now that if you were to die, you would go to heaven if not, do you want it. The same Jesus who died on the cross and rose again from the dead stands right now at the door of your life, and he knocks and he says if you hear his voice and open the door on commit know he will come in your stomach like my young granddaughter said he'll come in living your heart and you will never be alone in life again. II mention how Jesus was forsaken for a time, so we will never be forsaken. You'll never be alone in life again.

Jesus will stand by you and guide you and help you and lead you and empower you and then one day you go and meet him in the afterlife go to heaven if you would like Jesus Christ to come in your life if you would like to be forgiven of your sin.

If you would like to know God in a personal way.

I want you to pray a prayer with me. It's a very simple prayer.

The fact that it would ask you to just pray it out loud after me if you would like. Or you could pray it quietly in your heart. Maybe your watching me in a room full of people. Maybe you're all alone looking at this message on the phone or a tablet or were you are. Just know this. Christ is just a prayer away. So if you want Jesus to come into your life if you want him to forgive you of your sin if you want to know that when you die you will go to heaven if you want your guild taken away. Pray this simple prayer with me right here right now just for these words or Jesus I know, I'm a sinner but I know that you're the Savior who died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead.

I turn from my sin. I'm sorry for it.

Forgive me, I choose to follow you from this moment forward in Jesus name I pray, amen. Everybody Greg Laurie here. Thanks for listening to our podcast in the learn more about harvest ministries. Please subscribe and consider supporting this show.

Just go to harvest.org and by the way, if you want to find out how to come into a personal relationship with God. Go to know God.org that's key NOW GLD.org