The Power Of Easter, Part 1

Today on the Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ mind's eye right now just to think for a moment.

I say Jesus Christ as her image in your head, Jesus Christ. If there is I'm here to tell you I'm almost sure as long redundant. Ever since the Renaissance.

We have this emasculated sort of skinny hair around her shoulders image of Christ. We think about him as sort of this sort of emaciated, sad parent who has a real tender heart is really and that's Jesus. That's not all just join up today on this additional Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana going pastor go get her now again he shows us how God's word meets happy Easter.

I would imagine that some of you are a little disappointed say we didn't have any Easter egg hunts, and that there was no Easter Bunny in the lobby.

You know that's not funny because churches all right country, including evangelical churches, just like ours for the last five years or so had been tirelessly advertising that you would come the church. Your kids can meet the Easter Bunny on Easter Sunday that could be an Easter egg hunt.

What amazes me about all this is that what is going on in their thinking to do such a thing. I could actually see that kind of reasoning, and other Sundays. This Easter. This is the day that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead. Now if that's not enough.

You see, if you need marshmallow peeps you know that's what you need to get people to come was kind of sad amazes me that we would rather use the lore of the fertility goddess a start to try to keep people's interest in coming to church on Easter Sunday. Why do we do that, I think it's because we underestimate the power of Jesus Christ.

We really underestimate him. Once you in your mind's eye right now just to think for a moment when I say Jesus Christ dessert image in your head of Jesus Christ and at the risk I'm here to tell you I'm almost sure it's wrong with.net. Ever since the Renaissance.

We have this emasculated sort of skinny hair down to his shoulders. Image of Christ and some of the paintings even has really light brown hair and blue eyes. He's Jewish. Okay doesn't have lives but we think about him as sort of this is sort of emaciated, sad character who has a real tender heart and is really me and that's Jesus that's not Jesus that's not all.

Jesus Christ is powerful beyond measure. Powerful Easter Sunday commemorates his power. That's with us about. So what I want to do this morning.

I'm a Serbia book and just give you an idea that Jesus Christ, the things he did in the things he said words and works of unparalleled power of what he does.

Open your Bibles to Matthew chapter 4 Matthew chapter 4 in verse 10 Jesus is just beginning his ministry is been led by the Holy Spirit out into the wilderness very is tempted by Satan himself while he was in the wilderness before the temptations Jesus fasted for 40 days show hand how many of you have fasted for 40 days 40 hours 40 minutes Jesus Christ fasted for 40 days and at the end of the soul. Verse eight says again, the devil took him to a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said all these things are given to you. If you bow down and worship me. And then Jesus spoke to him imperative mood in the great gall say talking to the devil he said go Satan, for it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God and serve him only, and then the devil left him, and behold the angels came and began to minister to them. Go Satan speaks like that name someone else never spoke like that to Satan himself. But Jesus goes me to Matthew five now verse 20 he is given the sermon on the Mount, and he decides in the sermon on the market is going to say something very important to these people as he gets into the sermon in verse 20 of chapter 5. He says this he says, for I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you have a chance in heaven now understand what you just said the scribes and Pharisees are by a mile. The most respected religious leaders of Israel, he said, unless your righteousness exceeds theirs. You have a chance to draw a parallel, if the if the only Christianity would exist in the world was Catholicism and somebody went to Rome to the Vatican and there's a huge crowd of people we speak into any starts out he says this unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Pope and the Cardinals.

You have no chance of going to heaven. How would people respond see how would you respond to that these people had to be sent. What how could that possibly be who talks like this we know that Jesus does chapter 7 of Matthew verse 13.

Here are two of the most politically incorrect verses in the entire Bible. Americans would like this at all. Jesus says this he said enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow the lease the life and only a few find it.

Who would say that would speak those kind words how unpopular they'd be in America more pluralistic society.

The average American says every road leads to God doesn't matter what you believe everybody gets the going and everybody's going. Jesus speak in Israel.

He's not even including the Gentiles are using and what broad is the way that leads to destruction. Almost everybody finds it narrow is the way that leads to life see how I would say words like that even sees not trying to win friends and influence people at all pieces speaking the truth because of who he is. Chapter 8 verse 23.

This is when he got into the boat. His disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm in the sea and the boat was being covered with waves. Jesus is asleep in the whole.

Please understand the context. These men are fishermen and allayed many times in many storms in a way that a mall but this one's different. It's worse and they came to him in a welcome they said save us Lord are perishing.

The other gospel counts as Lord don't you care that were perishing here and he's asleep, and he said to them, why are you afraid you men of little faith that he got up, he rebuked the winds and the sea and became perfectly call.

Does that doesn't calm perfectly call, looks at them, so why are you such little faith noticed the men were amazed and they said what kind of man is this, that even the winds of the sea obey him. Who does that name anybody that can do that no one can do that Jesus Christ doesn't just simply says we call says the Sigma go says the religious leaders are not enough wrong notice then if you go over to chapter 8 chapter 8 2928 2090 says this he says when he came to the other side of the country of the guardians.

Two men were demon possessed and they met him they were coming out of the tombs and they were so extremely violent. No one could pass that way. These are two scary guys. The demon possessed. Everybody know about him. Everybody was terrified of Jesus while Perry walks up and they cry out to him and they say what business do we have with each other, son of God. Have you come here to torment us before time some agreements this is what weight, why are you here already you come to torment us the visa demon possessed people and the demons are speaking to Jesus. It's interesting, as is now there was a herd of many swine feeding at a distance from them and the demons began to entreat him and said if you're going to cast us out, send us into the herd of swine and Jesus told them go and they came on. They went into the swine. The horror swine went on a steep bank and into the sea, and perished in the waters and the herdsmen ran away and they went to the city and reported everything including what happened to the money acts in the whole city gave a parade and said hallelujah Jesus no. So what it says says behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus when they saw him they implored him to leave the region.

They all know the money acts were well terrified of why because Jesus is bad for business.

These are smugglers smuggle pork in Israel so they make a living just of a whole herd of pigs put a minute see Jesus is bad for business all ignore his power. Never think about that because he is bad for business. Some of us think that way we do business in a certain way. I don't really want to live my life up Jesus and be a follower. I like to do business in the real world. The world way, the way I like to do so we never really been Jesus in chapter 9 it says getting into the boat Jesus Christ over the sea and came to his own city and they bottom brought him a paralytic sitting lying on a bed and seeing their faith. Jesus said to the paralytic, take courage, son, your sins are forgiven and some of the scribes and themselves at this fellow blasphemes and Jesus knowing their thoughts, is why are you thinking evil in your hearts, which is easier to say, your sins are forgiven, get up and walk, but so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority and earth to forgive sins and then he said to the paralytic, get up your bed to get up and go home and he went up and he went home to says the crowd saw this and they were awestruck. Mrs. if there is a God in the end everyone have to be justified before that God is not correct. God is the one who would judge God is the one will decide it is only God that can forgive sins.

That's why the scribes were upset and would you say your sins are forgiven. I can forgive us see who talks like that nobody talks like that you don't talk like that I don't talk like that your sins are forgiven. I can forgive your sins. That's the power of Jesus Christ that he has in the things that is able to accomplish chapter 10 verse 26 we put these together.

I hope you start seeing a different image of who Christ is present in verse 26 therefore do not fear them to those persecuting them is a do not fear them. There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in darkness speak in the light. What you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim the open house tops. Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul though for people to could kill you of what's this, but fear him who is able to destroy both the soul and the body in hell. Jesus saying here. Don't fear that fear me, you want to fear someone you fear me and take your life in your soul. You can't do that, who talks like that Jesus Christ you see who talks like that but him. It's an amazing thing when you start seeing how he reveals his power like this over and over again. He says in verse 32. Everyone, he says.

Therefore everyone who confesses me before men, I will confess before my father is heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I will deny him of my father is in heaven. He's a do nothing that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law he said in a man's enemies will be members of his household. He loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.

He who loves daughter more than me is not worthy of me. He does not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me who speaks like who else would talk like that, he says, look in that on a certain level what income to bring peace about a sword I separate people there so many of you that know this. You come to Jesus Christ and his ministry men in a relationship with your family or friends.

There's a strain there's no other way to avoid and use that's right. That's what I accomplish.

He said and don't tell me nothing.

How politically incorrect this is if you want to draw a crowd. This isn't exactly marshmallow peeps and chocolate bunnies. Jesus says look up you love someone else more than you love me you're not worthy of me. While that's a great way not to draw crowd is the truth is the way Jesus speaks because of his power. I'll be the one who decides everything that's the way this is going to operate. That's the way this is going to work. Chapter 11 verse 20 is taken on the religious Christ taken on demons is taken on major he's taken on disease and now he takes on cities is going to take on cities. It says in verse 20 he began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles were done because they did not repent. He said well you cores and won't you best SATA for the miracles that occurred entirely inside which occurred knew they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Nevertheless, I say to you to be more tolerable for Tyree and Sidon in that day of judgment than for you. And he said in your Capernaum. He said will you not be you will not be exalted in heaven, will you he says you will descend into Hades.

For if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred knew they would repented the state. Nevertheless, I say to you better be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.

Notice the harshness of those words condemning whole cities, non-toxic Jesus Christ. Chapter 12 verse one.

He said at that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath and his disciples became hungry and they began to pick the heads of the grain and eat them. But when the furry saw saw this, they said to walk your disciples do what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath and he said to them, have you not read what David did when he became hungry. He and his companions how we entered the house of God, the tabernacle at that time and the eight. He said the consecrated bread which was not lawful for him to eat nor he said for those with him but for the priest alone or have you not read he said in the law that the Sabbath that the priest in the temple break the Sabbath and are innocent, but I say to you that something greater than the temple is here. He said if you would know what this means I he said I desire compassion and not sacrifice. He said you would not have condemned the innocent, then this statement the Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath. Don't tell me about the Sabbath.

I created the Sabbath on the Lord of the Sabbath. I created the Sabbath for man so that man would have to work seven days a week and you wounded you at all these nonsensical laws under the Sabbath and made it a religious activity is I am Lord of the Sabbath not I know a better way about the Sabbath. The Sabbath is mine. I'm the one he said who created this chapter 13 in verse 37 Jesus is explaining a parable and watch what he says. He said the one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man in the field is the world and he says. And as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom, and the tears of the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age and the reapers are angels. So, just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age, the Son of Man will send forth his angels, they will gather out of his kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and will throw them into the furnace of fire, and in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Then the righteous. He said will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their father.

He was eager to hear you listen to this song but hell just straight up. He said that's exactly what's going to happen send forth his angels will gather out of his kingdom all the stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness North Rome in the furnace of fire who can speak like is he who talks this way, Jesus's words is constantly reveal his incredible power that he has chapter 14 verse 22. Immediately, he made the disciples get into the boat, go ahead of him to the other side and he said the crowds away and at present the crowds away, he went up to the mountain by himself to pray and what was evening. He was there alone, but the boat was already a long distance from Lamb battered by waves for the wind was contrary. Again there on the storm on the Sea of Galilee in the fourth watch the middle the night he came to them walking on the sea when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified as it is a ghost and they cried out in fear and immediately spoke of his them take courage is I don't be afraid.

Now why did Jesus do this is showing off.

Just want to show off how many people want water medalists now is not showing off trying to teach them and something during a terrible storm and they're afraid to Jesus walked right on top of the storm on the water. I noticed there even recognize them because of their concern about the storm, you may be a ghost but notice what he said, take courage, it is I do not be afraid I can't tell you how many times in the Gospels, Jesus tells all of us, fear not to courage, fear not, take courage in your why because living on a cursed planet is sinful people we go through a lot of stuff and we see the circumstances when the circumstances are bad enough when the storm is difficult enough you when I have this tendency to pine away our faith and we panic and were afraid and were anxious and Jesus is look, I got teach you a lesson whenever the storm is raging about you. Don't look at the storm look at me I'm standing right here on the water. You see, don't let the circumstances change your life is trying to teach a lesson when you relate to me in the right way. He's telling us there's no reason to fear any purely total stone for those who do not fear I've overcome everything pastor broke apart on the radio ministry of fellowship Lord, if you ever missed one of our broadcast or maybe you just listen to the message one more time.

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