R1213 The Journey From the Cross

The Bible tells us that one of the ways in which you know that you belong to Jesus Christ, is if you my friend use it on the things of God. I let me read this to you it's it's amazing let's go to verse five of chapter 8 of the book of Romans for those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the spirit, focusing the mind on the things of the flesh is dead but to see the mind on the Spirit is life and peace for the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God and it does not submit to God's Lord. Indeed, it cannot those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You ever pulsated on, not in the flesh but in the spirit and now we have this incredible picture of these ladies. Jesus was dated, but I didn't understand but hurt that they were surrounded by anger and foreclosures.

They were surrounded by political upheaval that was surrounded by the rattling of nuclear warheads in North Korea. They were surrounded by the bank failures of a little island called Cyprus in the Mediterranean.

They were surrounded by their own stock markets and the rise in full thereof, but bike and I worshiped him because when someone knows this, Jesus. They mind is going to leave them with an unbelievable almost me pouring into the heart of God. Welcome to a wonderful time of encouragement from the Bible, God's Encouraging Word with our teacher Dr. Don Wilton today. Dr. Wilson continues in our thinking about both the journey to the cross and now his message.

The journey from the cross reopen God's word together know the rigor for you. We love to pray with you to connect with the right resources we can do that keyboard to keyboard on our website@theencouragingword.org The Encouraging Word.org or this phone number down start yourself. 866899 word is the number that's 86 689-996-7324 hours a day. We stand ready to talk to listen to pray and to connect with great resources at 866-899-9673.today's message with Dr. Wilson. Father, we are coming before you today bowing in your presence worshiping you thanking you praising you adoring your magnificent wonderful work lifting hi the name of Jesus today, for there is hope. This resurrection, for without the resurrection. There is no gospel. There is no hope. This is our faith.

This is who we all it's all because of Jesus who died conquering sin and death and the grave and was raised by the power of God. On the third day, and is alive. This Jesus is alive and he lives in all who believe on his name and we worship you today. As we come into your presence in Jesus name we pray together.

A man what a day of worship. I'm going to ask you to open your Bibles to Luke chapter 24 you need to have your Bibles open the way I've been praying for you today my wife and I prayed for you this morning and I came to church early met with all the ministry team and others we prayed for you.

I'm praying for you today. I wish in a way that that I had some means to be able to save you and forgive you but I don't. I really do. I am very concerned about some of you and and I want you to know that I'm praying for you not I want to really invite you to give your heart to Jesus today. Turn your life over to him. It's time and and as as I take you for a very quick journey from the cross. I believe because we are praying for you that the spirit of God is going to speak to your heart. He's going to do that you got a sense that in your heart and in just a moment I'm going invite you to give your life to Christ. Turn your life over to him, trusting you see when we talk about the journey from the cross.

There are so many wonderful things that we could talk about and and II just want to just just think about it yet.

They went in by took Jesus into custody took him and they nailed him to the cross and they foisted that cross and there he wants between two thieves so you can think about the thieves. I love the story about the toothy journey from the cross and what I love about it is here. Is this absolute raw school.

These men were guilty just like me and just like you and your Jesus turned to one of those people, just like he turns to you today and he says listen, today you will be with me in paradise. What that tells me is because of these events.

You can be forgiven completely. Some of you going to say to me will cost again. I've committed adultery. You can be forgiven, something you say. Well I got into the Guyana homosexual lifestyle. You can be forgiven. Some use, I will. I'm guilty of stealing. You can be forgiven. Some of you say. Well, I've had wrong thought.

You can be forgiven. Sin is sin. God doesn't categorize sin and and in the Bible say is this. This is a great word. All of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God. That's what old people are welcoming God's house. This is not a century for science. This is a house way sinners come to encounter the living Lord Jesus Christ.

This is why this is such wonderful news.

This is God's Encouraging Word.

That's why I'm sharing God's truth with you because you are not already. Desperate people in the district will I need Jesus.

Don't you without him I'm nothing you know you can think about what happened on the cross.

Look at the crowds. Jesus had to deal with the crowds or with the crowds that they were there. I've often thought about the crowds. Did you know that I really believe there were four groups of people who were in the crowd there were those who came to worship him. I'm one there were those who came to crucify him number two there were those who came to look at him and stared him number three and there were those who came just because it was the happening place to be, by the way, when Jesus was crucified. It was a happening event. Some of us think sometimes when Jesus was crucified.

This was unusual. It it was the event Amy may have a newspaper to read the computers to gun consulting and go surf the Internet.

This was a happening event. Jesus had to deal with all of these people. That's what he's doing right now he's dealing with us.

He sees us exactly the same ways he sold them what you think about think what Jesus said. He said it's finished, he turned to the father.

He said father forgive them what happened in this journey from the cross, by the way, he said, father, into thy hands I commend my spirit is just a question but I'm full of questions. Yet Jesus was crucified, but they also kill God. I think not to see the Trinity, God the father, God the son God the Holy Spirit. That's very much a part of our faith.

Three in one.

We understand that the Godhead God in Christ Jesus reckoned solving the work will to himself and Jesus said, father, I commend my spirit into your hands.

He wasn't saying I'm putting my business into your data hands. He was talking about the everlasting father, the one by his very power at the power to raise sees only begotten son from the grave, conquering sin and death and the gray is an incredible story. The journey from the cross. But here is what I want you to see this so much I want to talk you about the curtain. I love to talk to about the good you know. By the way that this passage tells us that when Jesus died, that the curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom. The significance of that back in those days you couldn't get to God unless you were the high priest, only the high priest could get into the holy of holies. But Jesus gave his life and when Jesus gave his life he became the way the truth and the life, so that people can come to the Father through him so that separation that curtain that means you no longer have to go through your preacher to get the guard you don't go through the priest you don't go through the Pope.

You don't go through the Bishop you can go directly to God you can do that right now you can talk to him right now because of the empty tomb, you can say to him you can cite dear God, my heavenly father. I am a sinner. I'm guilty.

I confess my sin to the Lord Jesus Christ and I repent of that sin and because Jesus Christ is alive.

I know that in him.

I am made alive.

I just want you to get this now, don't you, there is a sense in which we in the grave clothes because of our sin are saying through Jesus. Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. You know what later on. Jesus said I sit on the resurrection and the life.

So what does this journey from the cross present us.

This is where it's going to ready get to you and me. This is just what I want to fire. First of all it presents to us and act of worship and act of worship.

This great passage that I read to hear him. In chapter 24 begins with an act of worship that says there that on the first day of the week early known that this group of woman went to the tomb taking the spices that they had.

Fantastic the empty tomb.

The journey from the cross away from the crosswalk followed the cross presents to us an act of worship. I think worship is the key thing to show you something if you got your Bible you go to do this quickly. Go to Romans chapter 8 everybody turned Romans chapter 8, you know me by now like to look at what the Bible says I Bible talks about you and me and the Bible say is that you're either full-bodied, or you're against God. So please beg my pardon the fight I just want to say this to you today there are one of two people in this room they wanted to people worshiping the Lord right now.

You either belong to God or you don't. I love that about my Christian faith and that's because of the empty two.

The Bible says that you either belong to him or you don't and the Bible tells us that one of the ways in which you know that you belong to Jesus Christ is if your mind is set on the things of God.

I let me read this to you it's it's amazing let's go to verse five of chapter 8 of the book of Romans for those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the spirit foot to seek the mind on the things of the flesh is dead but to sit the mind on the Spirit is life and peace for the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God and it does not submit to God's Lord. Indeed, it cannot those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

You ever pulsated on, not in the flesh but in the spirit and now we have this incredible picture of these ladies. Jesus was dated they didn't understand they hurt that they were surrounded by anger and foreclosures. They were surrounded by political upheaval that was surrounded by the rattling of nuclear warheads in North Korea. They were surrounded by the bank failures of a little island called Cyprus in the Mediterranean. They were surrounded by their own stock markets and the rise in full thereof, but I worshiped him because when someone knows this, Jesus. They mind is going to leave them with an believable he pouring into the heart of God. You're listening to Dr. Don Wilton here The Encouraging Word broadcast in just a moment.

Doc will be back with so much more from this message of the journey from the cross, but Doc wants us to remind you we stand ready to connect 24 hours a day where here for you at 86689 were the number were jotting down available 24 hours a day stored in your cell 86 689-996-7324 hours a day. We would love to pray with you and pray for you baby connect with resources that help you grow in your faith. Hello my dear friends, I want to speak to you personally today from my heart to yours. I don't think there is ever a better or more important time for us to respond to our world by standing up for righteousness. We living today in a day and age in the crossfire of multiple crosscurrents that you and I know full well or challenging the very fabric of our faith. We must stand strong in our conviction The Encouraging Word cost ministry is doing just that.

And we are supported by viewers and listeners just like you who want to make a difference in our world for Christ. So please call the number on your screen and request my life-changing message standing strong in the crosscurrents. As a result, you will be empowered and blessed.

Thank you for requesting my message. Your financial support enables us to continue to shake God's truth without searching will Palestine back in today's message with Dr. Don Wilton. By the way, this just by the way, have you wondered how you really know whether you belong to the Lord Jesus ask yourself whether or not you feel compelled to go and worship him. Ask yourself whether every Sunday that comes around that you just you can't explain it. It doesn't matter. You know you know this is just right because I love athletics and sport med but you know it can be raining cats and dogs. In fact, the snow can be coming down like a dozen Minnesota you nonstop crowds from going to their favorite bowl game.

So what is it that stops us from worshiping the Lord.

Seek the journey from the cross presents to us in him presents to us an act of worship the Lord.

There are so many times that I've said to myself you know I just don't know if I'm saved anymore. Wonder if I belong to Jesus and then one of the things that I God causes me to say is do you really have a desire to worship me and I have to say yes. I'm not trying to be a poodle just because I'm the pasta I tell you, folks, I want to worship the Lord. It's in my heart is in your heart if it's not in your heart. Please give your heart to Jesus because you don't know him. If you have to be dragged kicking and screaming to go to church.

You don't know presents to us an act of worship present stress and empty two. That's what the Bible says you're in these great verses in Luke's gospel. I mean, I love the story about these angels is here with these women that came to Monty's body and guess what, the tomb was empty and and perhaps the most wonderful statement is all is this why do you seek the living among the dead, he's risen to live. It's the distinguishing point about Christian faith.

That's why want you to give your life to Christ because when you trust Jesus Christ you receive his life see when Jesus conquered sin and death and the grave and came to live.

He did so in order to enable us to conquer sin and be in the grave.

I want anybody to raise your hands. You. Anyone have a thought about death. Another one of my subjects. By the way, hundreds of questions. What am I gonna look like how's it going to happen while I go through when I die. How do I know these things.

I mean it just goes on and on. You ever wondered, don't you, Therese. Have you ever wondered what happens to you when you die.

I have you not. The Bible says because of the resurrection.

I have no fear of death, you have no fear of day as you been made alive. Do you know the instantaneous moment that you take your lost breath just like it just like it. You're in the presence of the Lord Jesus. I firmly believe you don't know that you died because the Bible says that not one person who ever has ever died is dead.

You and I have a battle because we there in that hospital room we holding the hand of a very precious friend of parent or those things are, so they just grab our hearts don't but not them.

When you know Jesus Christ just like that it's not there you transported in the presence of God is an act of worship is an empty tomb is also a powerful reminder powerful reminder. You know what happened here. In response, these angels save you need to remember something and and and the Angels quote in and it's an amazing quote in verse seven that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful man and be crucified, and on the third day rise again because the issue folks is that word must wait. We all love that word must darkly I must, I just must nominally show you something because this is what the angel said the angel said I want you to get this, that the Son of Man must the journey from the cross, nor any presents us with an act of worship and an empty tube at a powerful reminder of the mustiness. The fact that God determined that you and I would be forgiven of our sin would be reconciled to him know that we're going to heaven to spend eternity that the mustiness of what God did, and when Jesus came out to play God in the same from the throne, and said you last be for you.

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth once in a while your salvation. So there's one more just drop it in here. The journey away from the cross presents us a wonderful hope you know that latter part they are not.

I particularly love reading verse nine of chapter 24 and returning from the two. They told all these things to the 11 and get this lost one and all the other people they told these things. What about children that the resurrection is the gospel. Jesus is alive.

He is our hope, precious friend, listen today. Listen, there is hope there is tomorrow. I want you to know on the authority, the hope of Christ, the risen Savior's your hope it's my hope, it's hope.

It's America's hope it's the world's hope this this resurrection is about the fact that people like you and me can be forgiven. All of us every one of us can be forgiven of arson can be reconciled to God can have our names written in God's book in him every single one of us. Can you imagine that you want to trust him today.

I've prayed for you so many others have your mom your dad your friend your neighbor's son, your daughter, your husband, your wife, people are praying for you today.

You know that Jesus is praying for you is interceding on your Baja you'd say to me today pasta. I want to trust Jesus.

Would you pray this prayer with me right now. Dear heavenly father, I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for me. I know that he rose from the dead by the power of God and that he's alive. I can face my sin to you and Ira Pinto. That's by faith. I give my life to you today leaving in my heart that you will forgive me and save me is hard to believe hard to imagine God is ready to write your name in that same book to be reconciled to God is something that sounds so difficult. But it's so simple. Just saying yes to Jesus right now you could do that is by opening your heart and praying with us right now.

A simple prayer like this, Lord God, I realize that I am not reconciled. I'm not close to you and I realize it's because my sin has separated me from you so Lord today.

I confess that I want to turn away from my sin and turn to you, Jesus, Jesus, I believe you died on the cross of Calvary for my sin so I could be restored to you. So Lord help me today to live my life for you in Jesus name, amen and we stand ready to help you do that very thing. If you made a commitment to give your heart to Christ. Or maybe to come back to Jesus. We have resources that will help you in the next step of that commitment, including finding a church home where you can plug in the minister to and where you can begin to develop your ministry as well.

Let's connect at 866899673 at 866-899-9673 or online@theencouragingword.org before get away closing thoughts from Dr.you know before we go today.

What a day of worship. We've had you know you and I have in the middle of our hearts, our beloved nation. Don't we how much I love America.

I'm so proud to be an American.

You know this bold cost is seen by so many of our Armed Forces across the world and we hear from many, many of them and we love them with my then we respect them. They are our real heroes and I want you to join with me as we are praying for them that God would protect them and their families and loved ones, let's do that right now shall we just before we got wanting to join with me, Lord Jesus, I'm joining with thousands of people right now on prying for our members. Our brave, brave members of our community and our world who are in uniform any overseas in strange and difficult places families left behind.

Lord Jesus less than keep your hand upon them in every way.

In Jesus name, amen. I wanted just personally speak to you for a minute today from my heart to yours.

I hope you having a great day today.

I don't think that there's ever been a more bitter, or perhaps important time for us to respond to this wound, by standing up for righteousness. I know that you will agree with me. In fact, with this in mind, I'd like to invite you to become and encourage a ministry partner with me. Together we can impact lives, both now and for all eternity. The daily Encouraging Word is a viewer and listener supported ministry and to know that you are standing with me financially, enables me to move forward with God so the number provided the boss and say I want to be and thanks so much and that number Dr. Don Minton is 866-899-WORD 866-899-WORD 9673 know how my family day I gave my heart you on the radio. Number one, and I think God human