What Difference Does Easter Make - Pastor Kenneth Woolf

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New Life COTR
Sunday March 23, 2008 (Easter)
“What Difference Does Easter Make”

Matthew 12:38-40(NIV)- Turn and Read
These religious leaders were not coming to Jesus with a heart of humility but instead with a heart of arrogance. Show us a sign!
Really what they were saying was, You claim to be the Son of God, show us your credentials Jesus. We want you to validate who you are.
Prove to us that you are who you say you are!
Jesus says, “The only proof I’m going to give to you looks like the absence of proof.”
I’m going to die! “I’m going to be three days in the heart of the earth.”
When there’s an absence of proof that God loves you, God is about to prove to you He loves you.
When there’s an absence of proof that God will deliver you, He’s about to deliver you.
When there’s an absence of proof that God is going to provide for you, God is about to provide for you.
WHEN IT APPEARS GOD IS UP TO NOTHING, HE’S UP TO SOMETHING!
Matthew 16:13-21 Turn and Read
Absence of proof- Jesus Died.
Matthew 27:62-66- Absence of proof He was the Son of God
If Jesus was a deceiver and was not who He claimed to be why would they need to seal the tomb?
Proof- The Resurrection- Just like Jesus Said!
84% of people who never go to church believe that Jesus died and rose again. It’s a historical fact.
There are at least 15 historical references to Jesus meeting people, touching people, and talking with people. One time He cooked breakfast for a group of people. One time He talked to 500 people after He had risen from the dead!
TRANSITION: What does that mean today for you and me?

I. JESUS IS WHO HE CLAIMED TO BE
Jesus made some outrageous claims.
John 11:25- “Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me will live even though he dies.”
John 14:6- “Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

II. JESUS HAS THE POWER HE CLAIMED TO HAVE
John 10:17-18- “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down My life, only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again….”
Matthew 28:18- “All power in heaven and earth is given to me…”

III. JESUS DOES WHAT HE PROMISES TO DO
Matthew 28:5,6- “The angel said to the women, DO not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus; who was crucified. HE is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where He lay.”
TRANSITION: From the absence of proof Jesus proved He was who He claimed to be because He had the power He claimed to have and He did what He promised He would do.
Why does all this matter to us?

I. MY PAST CAN BE FORGIVEN
Have you ever been halfway through a project and wished you could start over?
Have you ever felt like you were going to have to spend the rest of your life sitting in the penalty box?
Colossians 2:13,14- “When you were dead in your sins and in the Uncircumcision of you sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; He took it away nailing it to the cross.”
Many people can’t get on with the present and the future because they’re stuck in the past.
Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross so I can stop nailing myself to the cross!
Romans 8:1- “Therefore there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
JESUS DIDN’T COME TO RUB IT IN HE CAME TO RUB IT OUT!

II. MY PRESENT PROBLEMS CAN BE MANAGED
Maturity is when you figure out that you can’t have it all figured out! BUT GOD CAN!
Ephesians 1:18-20- “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparable great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead…”
Philippians 4:13- “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”

III. MY FUTURE CAN BE SECURE
Everybody has a deep longing to know about the future. Not just the future of the is earth but the future of eternity.
People don’t like to talk about death but it’s inevitable.
John 17:3- “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”
1Peter 1:3-5- Turn and Read
Hope means you don’t have anything to fear. You don’t fear death anymore. YOU’RE NOT READY TO LIVE UNTIL YOU’RE READY TO DIE!
YOU CAN’T REALLY LIVE UNLESS YOU’RE NOT AFRAID TO DIE.
YOUR FUTURE CAN BE SECURE!

CONCLUSION: I think this is what God wants to say to you today. “You matter to me, I understand everything about your life. I know you. I made you, remember! You matter to me. I want to have a relationship with you. I sent my Son to die for you. I want you to get to know me.
1. Jesus is who He claimed to be.
2. Jesus has the power He claimed to have.
3. Jesus does what He promised to do.
1. Your past can be forgiven.
2. Your present problems can be managed.
3. Your future can be secure.