WELCOME Resurrection Sunday Lets acknowledge and welcome the

WELCOME Resurrection Sunday

Let’s acknowledge and welcome the Presence of the LORD.

“Living and Loving Like Jesus”

Inviting Others to Do the Same

Current Events & What are we to do?

Love God!!!

Love Others!

We will Prevail !

Resurrection Sunday Reality NO Crucifixion NO Resurrection

John 12: 24 -25 “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ”

The typical American dream is quite the opposite: “the Quick win” “the Quick fix”

It comes in many forms: “Go for the Busto” Get rich quick-Win the lottery “You’re Worth it!” Instant Gratification. Diet schemes

I was raised more toward: -Suck it up Buttercup -No Pain, no Gain -Pain is weakness leaving your body

Continued… -What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger (Nietzsche )

Continued… -Life is Hard, then You Die -There Are No Free Lunches

Continued… -John Wayne’s Rugged Individualism -Pull yourself up by your boot straps

Both World Views “Miss the Mark”

Jesus said

“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. ”

Without Good Friday’s Death/Crucifixion…

there can be no Sunday Morning Resurrection

People desire the “Good Life”, the “Abundant Life”

“Everybody wants to go to heaven, BUT no one wants to die” My Spiritual Dad--Pastor Wood

I was in a meeting once…

A person cannot experience the “abundant life” without first experiencing “death to self”

Luke 9: 23 -25 "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? ”

Humanity’s basic issue/instinct is SELFCENTEREDNESS

Jesus teaches the opposite

The Antidote Deny One’s Self…

“…take up your cross daily…”

Daily Reckon Oneself Dead to Sin (keeping short accounts)

Daily Ask Holy Spirit to Crucify Self

Romans 6: 6 the “Old Man” has been crucified. Our battle is against our flesh and sin!

Daily Ask the Holy Spirit to fill and flow through us

Result The Holy Spirit & Jesus abiding in & flowing through us!

Follow me…

Mimic Jesus by inviting the Holy Spirit to fill & flow through us.

Practical Aids (Baby Steps)

Admit you need help (prayer)

Daily Invite the Holy Spirit to take up residence in His Temple (Your body)

Practice “being still” with Jesus

Ask Jesus to meet you as you read & study the Scriptures

Expect Jesus to be present!!! (Without faith it is impossible to please God)

REMEMBER There can be no abundant life without

Daily Dying to Self

Daily Be being filled with the Holy Spirit

PARADOX “A truth standing on its head to get one’s attention. ” Dr. Pindell

“The way Up is Down”

May we always Remember

Jesus’ Death Burial & Resurrection was ultimately to bring us to God

1 Peter 3: 18 a “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous,

to bring us to God…”

We have Good News!!!

Prayer

Communion

Benediction

Table Talk (Discussion Question)

What do you think about “no death--no resurrection”? How do you personally “deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow Jesus”?

What do you think about “the way up is down”?