The Resolution

Hi this is breathing welcome to the Salvation Army's words of life.

Many doesn't pick and choose when there's so much to fight against. Thanks for when others flee reverence toward and when darkness prevails.

Love remembers the strength of 156 years Salvation Army has left all feel lost.

With your help will never stop. He is risen indeed welcome back to the words of life. I'm Cheryl, Gayla and I bury Dick happy Easter Bernie happy Easter to you and to all of our listeners.

How do you celebrate Easter, Cheryl oh wow and all my kids are there.

Of course, I mean we in the morning have their basket, but more importantly we all go to sunrise service together. We were playing in the band, or something to so there's an extra level of you know, it's exciting to be in an and a ban on Easter morning sunrise service. I don't want to confuse labor listeners, but like your idea of band that is what the Salvation Army calls its portable organ which we have generally have brass band yes but they also have worship bands praise and contemporary works good traditional sort of base drums, guitars, pianos, worship singers, and that's my favorite. I hope that wherever you find yourself this Easter you will celebrate the risen King as he is risen. We actually have one more episode next week in our Easter series, but it's been so good to have major Ruth new join us for the series is love her teaching she such a student of the word and I can explain complicated theology real clearly so were just so happy to have had her men seen behind this week's message is a phrase that we see over and over throughout the Bible, and it's a message we shouldn't ever tire of hearing do not be afraid if you're enjoying words of life we want to invite you to check out another show brought to you by the Salvation Army holiness podcast is a monthly Bible study with the tenant Col. Vern June. This shows a deep dive into the Scriptures, starting with the word of God says about holiness with each episode. There is also a corresponding study guide.

Listen whenever you get your podcasts visit Salvation Army's outcast a lot of material to cover today so let's dive writing today.

Selected passages Matthew 28 verses one through 10 after the Sabbath, and Don in the first day of the week, Mary Magdalena and the other Mary went to look at the tomb there was a violent earthquake friend angel of the Lord came down from heaven and going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on his appearance was like lightning, his clothes were white as now, the guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead man. The angel said to the women.

Do not be afraid, for I know that you're looking for.

Jesus was crucified. He's not here. He has risen, just as he said come and see the place where he lay and go quickly and tell his disciples he has risen from the dead, and is going ahead of you into Galilee.

There you will see him now.

I have told you so the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell the disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. Greetings. He said they came to him class his feet and worshiped him. And Jesus said to them, not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee.

They are, they will see me when we acknowledge that Jesus is God and come face-to-face with the risen Christ, we may experience certain emotions that make consumers shame, guilt, sadness or fear. Jesus understands our confuse and anxious hearts and made our fear, he tells us, do not be afraid. That is the first phrase from the lips of the angel of the Lord in verse five. Do not be afraid if we do a quick Bible Gateway search for the words do not fear will find about 30 verses that include this phrase is a common emotion of God encourages so many biblical characters with this words.

The most common instance is when God calls the story's protagonist to a particular mission in his first sentence is don't be afraid, for example, in calling a Brennan making a covenant with him that tells them innovation to not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield, your very great reward that also appeared to dissect and encourage them put this words I am the God of your father Abraham did not be afraid, for I am with you I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendents. For the sake of my servant Abraham then when Moses charged Joshua with the task of leading the people of Israel into the promised land. He told them the Lord himself goes before you and will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid to not be discouraged of the Lord comforted his people in exile in Babylon.

He encouraged them, do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. That beautiful verse is found in Isaiah chapter 41 verse 10 in a couple more verses when an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream. He said Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus called Peter to leave the fishnet and follow him. He told him don't be afraid. From now on you will fish for people. You see, God has a specific purpose for your life. He calls you today to follow and obey him. He told the women at the tomb. Don't be afraid everything will be all right. He says to you today and that your difficulties and or else. Don't be afraid I am with you everything will be fine Christ Elsa's, I am alive. How do we know that everything will be all right because Christ lives. Jesus is in life and he lives in our hearts to guide comfort and teach. The angel said to the women. Don't be afraid he's not here referring to the grave, for he has risen.

You now we can say that phrase of many people who claim to be divine in the history of humankind, because, well, they're all dead. We can find their graves containing the decomposed remains of their bodies, but there is no tomb containing the body of Christ, no death, or hell can hold him because he is truly God. The only God, leaving God and will him hallelujah the first and the last, the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end these truth is the core of the gospel.

The central message, as Paul tells Timothy remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead descended from David, this is my gospel. This powerful verse is found in second Timothy 28 to the women of the tomb experienced a massive moment of clarity as they learned that Jesus's entire body not just his spirit had been resurrected was a message of hope as they recognize that they too will rise with him one day in the future and it is a message of hope for us today will rise to the church in Thessalonica brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope for. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have falling asleep in him according to the Lord's word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left on till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have falling asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that we were still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with this words that beautiful passage was found in first Thessalonians chapter 4 verses 13 to 18 that's third message to us from the empty tomb is that Jesus goes ahead. Jesus goes first. Verse seven said they go quickly and tell his disciples he has risen from the dead, and is going ahead of you into Galilee, they are. You will see him now.

I have told you crisis marked the way for us to follow. He guy since he shows us the path crisis. The Northstar that drives us to heaven.

The Scriptures imply that after his resurrection, Jesus did not go to a throne somewhere far away from where he watches all that is happening on earth. No, the risen Jesus is present and alive in our lives that same Christ, once a relationship and friendship with you and me.

He's not far away. He's right here to guide close and tangible available to his creation. God has always desired an intimate, active and probable relationship with us.

We already mentioned the verse in Deuteronomy, where he tells Joshua the Lord himself goes before you and will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid to not be discouraged phrase again. The Lord walks in front of us.

He goes ahead, we are not alone. The Lord not only guides but he smooths the way in Isaiah 45 verse two we read. I will go before you and will level the mountains.

I will break down gates of Brahms and cod through bars of iron. When the Israelites fled from Egypt. We read by day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Again, we read that phrase when ahead of them. That is our God always close and available guiding and paving the path ahead of us that is aware of your present circumstances and at major emotions whether fear or doubts, disappointment or discouragement.

He offers you strength. He offers his precedents. He offers his guidance that tells you today to not fear, for I am with you to not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. May God fill you with blessings today and always, the Salvation Army's mission doing the most good means helping people with material and spiritual needs to become a part of this mission every time you give to the Salvation Army visit Salvation Army USA.org to offer your support and love to hear from you. Email us radio USS.Salvation Army.org or call 1-800-229-9965, write us at PO Box 29972 11 GA 30359 tell us how we can help share prayer request or share your testimony loved your story here. You can also subscribe to our short-lived favorite podcast store and surely give us a rating search for the Salvation Army's life. Also, social media for the latest extended and if you don't have a church home. We invite will be glad to see you next time for the sub armies