Relate Community Church
Relate Community Church
e’s Not Finished: Easter at Relate Church
It’s Easter Sunday at Relate Church, and Pastor Sean Mooney brings a hope-filled message straight from Luke 24 and the road to Emmaus. Whether you’re celebrating on a mountaintop or walking through a tough season, this episode is a reminder that God is not finished with you yet. Join us as we explore how the resurrection meets us in our discouragement, why God’s promises are stronger than our pain, and how a simple act of inviting Jesus in can change everything. No matter how far you’ve wandered or how dark things may seem, there’s a miracle waiting just around the corner. Don’t miss this uplifting and practical Easter message!
Thank you for listening to the Relate Community Church podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. If today’s message spoke to you, share it with a friend or leave us a review to help spread the word. To learn more about Relate Community Church, visit us at www.relatecommunity.com. You are always welcome here, and remember—you are loved
We'll be right back. Remove the mountains.
Speaker 2:Told the wind and waves be still.
Speaker 3:You cast out demons.
Speaker 2:And bid the empty soul be filled. And now there's breakthrough. Now there's freedom. In your name, you gave us power and the keys to do the same. You hold redemption. No-transcript. Let's put our hands together because the King is in the room.
Speaker 1:Come open the doors and make way. The King is in the room.
Speaker 2:The King is in the room.
Speaker 4:It's time for strongholds to break Cause. We know what you can do.
Speaker 1:We know what you can do.
Speaker 2:We're gonna see lives changed, souls saved, broken hearts made new. The King is in the room. Lord, we am from you and all are free. The king is in the room. There's freedom and life anywhere you may. Jesus, we bow only to you. We're laying down all of our crowns. The King is in the room. Come on. Come see all the captives run free. He's tearing down the walls. He's tearing down the walls. There's great shifting power when we say the name above it all, the name above it all. The King is in the room. Lord, we invoke you upon our praise. The King is in the room. There's freedom and life anywhere you pray. Jesus, we bow Only to you. We're laying down all of our crowns. The king is in the room. Come on.
Speaker 4:He has to flee. She has to leave Before the king, before the king, before the king Chains have to break Dry bones awake, repair the way.
Speaker 2:Fear has to flee, shame has to leave. Before the king, before the king, before the king. The king is in the room. Lord, we have brought you Upon our bridge. The king is in the room. Lord, we invite you upon our praise. The King is in the room. There's freedom in life, anywhere you live. Jesus, we bow only to you. We lay down all of our crowns. The king is in the room. The king is in the room. The king is in the room. The king is in the room. The king is here. Prepare the way, prepare the way he's in the room, prepare the way, prepare the way he's in the room. Hallelujah, come on, let's worship. Good morning, good morning, good morning.
Speaker 3:How are you today? Come on, let's worship. Yes, good morning, good morning, good morning. How are you today? Well, welcome to Relate on Resurrection Sunday. Amen. We serve a risen king, hallelujah. My name is Pastor Susan and I just want to welcome you all here this morning. We are thrilled from the bottom of our hearts that you chose to come into this house of worship today. It is not by accident, it is on purpose. Amen. Are you ready for a word today? We want you to get ready, but we're going to continue to worship and I want you to make sure that you feel at home in this place today. Let's continue to worship, falling down in worship To sing the song of angels to the Lord.
Speaker 2:All upon the face, all the way in the air, to sing the song of angels to the Lord. Your name is the highest, your name is the greatest. Your name stands above them all, all thrones and all kingdoms, all paths and positions. Your name stands above them all and the angels cry Holy. All creation cries Holy. You are lifted, high, holy. You are lifted high, holy, holy forever. If you've been forgiven, if you've been redeemed, sing the song forever to the end. And if you walk in freedom and if you've been redeemed, sing the song forever to the end. Oh, we'll sing the song forever and amen to the land. Holy you are lifted, high Holy, holy forever. Hear your people sing.
Speaker 2:Holy to the King of kings, holy. You will always be Holy, holy forever, jesus, because your name is the highest, your name is the greatest. Your name stands above them all, all goals and dominions, all powers and positions. Your name stands above them all. Jesus, your name is the highest, your name is the greatest. Your name stands above them all. All fruits and dominions fall out in position. Your name stands above them all and the angels cry holy. All creation cry holy, holy, all creation hath. Holy you are lifted, high, holy. You're holy forever and your people sing Holy to the King of kings. Holy, you will always be Holy. You're holy forever. You will always be holy, holy forever.
Speaker 1:Sing it out Holy, holy, forever. I love you, lord. Oh, your mercy never fails me. All my days I've been held in your hands From the moment that I waver Until I lay my head. I will sing of the goodness of God. Oh, my life, you have been faithful.
Speaker 2:Oh, my life. You have been so, so good, with every breath that I am able.
Speaker 1:Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God. I love your voice. You have led me through the fire In darkest night. You are close like no other. I've known you as a Father. I've known you as a friend. I have lived in the goodness of God All my life. You have been faithful. You are so faithful. All my life you have been so, so good. With every breath that I have made, I will sing of the goodness of God. Your goodness is running after is running after me. Your goodness is running after, is running after me. My life paid out. I surrender now. I give you everything.
Speaker 2:Your goodness is running after is running after me. Your goodness is running after is running after me. Your goodness is running after, is running after me. With my life is laid down, I surrender now. I give you everything your goodness is running after is running after me.
Speaker 1:All my life he has been faithful. All my life he has been so, so good. With every breath that I have made, oh, I will sing of the goodness of God. I'm gonna sing, yeah, all my life.
Speaker 2:I've been praying, see, all my life. He've been faithful. All my life I've been so, so good. Every breath I'm able, I will sing Of the goodness of God. I will sing of the goodness of God.
Speaker 5:I will sing of the goodness of God. Hallelujah, come on, I will sing of the goodness of God, especially this morning. I want to read you a scripture. It says why are you looking for the living among the dead? He is not here, for he is risen. Turn to your neighbor and tell him he is alive. He is not dead and no longer am. I have a seat, rest your body, go ahead, find your seat. I just want to give you one announcement and then give you a heads up about what's about to happen On this Resurrection Sunday, on the best day of the year in my opinion.
Speaker 5:I cannot let you go home without giving you an opportunity that we don't often give you. Next Sunday is Baby and Child Dedication Sunday, where we continue the blessing that God gave us to our generations, to our children, where your pastor will lay his hands on your children and command blessing on their life. I don't know who could not want that. If that's something that you need in your family, make sure you sign up, make sure that they are blessed and dedicated to the Lord. My children are sitting on the front row and I remember 20 years ago when I dedicated them to the Lord, and we are just now seeing the harvest of that seed planted. Come on somebody. It doesn't matter how old they are, let's get them dedicated, don't let it pass.
Speaker 5:Next Sunday, second service, 11 am. I also want to let you know that you should have received a card that looks like this. This card is, I think, one of the best things that Relate does, because it lets you tell us what you want your church to look like, what your family needs. How can we cater this church to your spiritual growth? What do you want to see on small groups? What do you want to hear pastor preach on? All of those things are so important to us because guess what? This is your church. We are the servants of this house. We are your family's servants and we are honored to serve you. But we want to hear from you. So make sure you have this card, have it ready, and at the end of the service, pastor is going to walk through it with you because it's very important to our easter traditions here. So make sure you have one. There's a bunch in the foyer. We are about to do one more worship song and I want to show you some miracles that are here in the house.
Speaker 2:When I look back, I didn't think that I would make it. I was sinking and the shame came like a wave. I just knew that I was too far gone. Then you showed up On time. God, you love the impossible On time. God, you love doing miracles. I see it all now how your hand is always working, giving in to what you would take. You were faithful, never failing. Even when I thought the darkness won, you showed up.
Speaker 2:This one, you shall love, on time now. On time. Now. You have the impossible On time. Now you are doing miracles. You can never do it. You can never do it. You're never too late. Nothing's too far gone for the on time God. On time, god. You're all the impossible On time. God, you're all doing miracles. You're never too late. You're never given. Nothing's too far off All the time. Now you always show up. You always show up.
Speaker 2:My heart is knowing that my God is holding To hold me here. My life, your story is, is my God is holy. Tomorrow it will be my life, your story. You're my vision With me. Yeah, come on, come on With me. Yeah, come on, come on, Finish with me yet. Finish with me, yet Finish with me. Yet. Keep watch, keep waiting, keep up, keep praying, keep watching. Yeah, keep watching, keep waiting. Keep your eyes on the garden, keep on, keep praying, don't turn away. Keep watching, keep waiting, keep praying, don't turn away. You're not finished. Keep praying, I promise you he will do it. Keep hoping, keep praying, cause you're not finished with me yet. You're not finished with me yet. You're not finished with me yet, finished with me, yet You're not finished. I give you glory and the praise For all of the years your love and kindness kept me safe. I know that those storms will always come Home, but even when the devil's on your way, that's when you show up. Oh, I'm God. You love the impossible. Oh, I'm God. You love doing miracles. You never give up. Nothing's too far gone. One time, god, you always show up All time. God, you love the impossible. All time, god, you love doing miracles. You never give up. Nothing's too far gone. You're never too late. You never give up. Nothing's too far gone. You're never too late. You never give up. Nothing's too far gone for the old time, god, you always show up. Come on, let's praise Him in His hand. He always shows up. Amen, hallelujah, yes, why don't you turn to somebody? Tell them you were so happy to see them this morning. Tell them Happy Easter that you love them and welcome to Relate, I'm sorry, all right.
Speaker 6:Welcome to church everybody. How many of you are excited to be here today? It is good to be in the house of the Lord and it is good to be able to look around and see all you guys in the house. Man, I am so glad we did three services or we would be in big trouble. I am so glad we did three services or we would be in big trouble. I am thrilled, thrilled, thrilled, that not so long ago we were packed into the movie theater and today we get to be in our own house on Easter Sunday. What a blessing. It's awesome to be able to look around and see some faces that I haven't seen for a few weeks. And, man, it just means the world.
Speaker 6:If you don't know me, my name is Pastor Sean Mooney. I have the honor to be the lead pastor here at Relate Church and our team. I can promise you, every week we're excited to meet and just hope to see what God can do when we all get together in the same place. But Easter is like that, plus some Easter is like the Super Bowl, almost. It's like we just have such high expectation for what the Lord can do. In this moment, our faith is higher. In fact, for the last few weeks six weeks we've been in a series called God of Miracles, just raising our expectation, raising our faith. So if you came today with low faith, I hope that you're going to leave with your faith boosted, with the presence of God in your life, like he hasn't been, maybe, for a long, long time. I also want to say that if you're new, if you are visiting or checking it out, or if you're one of those people who's just kicking the tires trying to figure out what is this all about, I love that we're a church that you can do, that we have a no-hassle guarantee, meaning that nobody's going to show up knocking at your door asking you to give or do any of those things. You step in at your own comfort level and just see where God will take you. Because when you meet with the Lord, I hope that you meet, meeting the presence of God today in this service, and that His Spirit, more than anything, I say that the Holy Spirit would just speak to you today and lead you where you need to be. And, with that said, we're going to dive into what will be the finale of this series.
Speaker 6:God of Miracles, week number six Are y'all ready? Okay, some are ready and we don't usually have the fill in. Usually we have fill in the blank notes, but on Easter Sunday we aren't doing that and I just I will point out one thing that the Easter survey. At the end of this message, I'm going to ask you to pull it back out. We're going to do something together with those and right now I want us to look.
Speaker 6:Every week we've been looking at one or a few of Jesus' 37 recorded miracles in the New Testament Matthew, mark, luke and John and unpacking them and carrying them with us, and today is no different. I hope that you'll take the message and the story of the miracle that happens in the story that we're going to read today, which is obviously resurrection. Obviously, it's the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday, but we're going to take it a little bit further than that and make it personal and take it with us so that our faith is raised, so that we can believe God for miracles and signs and wonders in our own life. Also, I'm having a little bit of feedback up here. I'm getting a little weird sound, so I'm going to ask the sound guys they do an awesome job. Can we give it up for the production guys dream team. Jesus did miracles then, and so that we know that he can do them now in our lives as well. So that's why this series exists, that's why we're diving into them.
Speaker 6:Today's message if you need a title for your notes is called he's Not Finished. Tell somebody next to you, he's not finished. Not only is he still doing miracles, he rose from the dead over 2,000 years ago and he's still bringing the dead back to life. So, with that idea in mind, I want us to look at a concept and look at something that I think is very relevant and I think it's something that we all deal with on a normal basis, and that we don't see. The reality or our reality is not God's reality or our reality. The thing we think is happening is not what's actually happening, and I'll prove it to you throughout this message. So he's not finished. Let's think about that for one second.
Speaker 6:Angela and I if you guys don't know, my lovely wife Angela was up here earlier and greeted you guys, but her and I are very, very, very, very differently. We watch movies differently, we read books and we're a little bit different. So sometimes at night we'll start a movie, but I'll just tell you that she goes to bed very early and I go to bed very late. So sometimes we'll start a movie and I won't tell you what time late is, but sometimes I think it's still wait. We got plenty of time. Five minutes into the movie, 10 minutes into the movie, she's out. I'll finish watching it because it's not finished yet. It's not time to go to bed yet. I'm going to finish this movie. And the thing is, I know when it gets to the end of the movie sometimes it's like do you want to delete this? Are you done with it? And the answer is no, because I know she's going to come back later and want to watch it. The story's not over for her, she still has to finish it.
Speaker 6:And there are to me there's something that happened. It's kind of like that in the passage today Luke, chapter 24, we're going to look at where there are people who haven't finished the story yet. There are people who the miracle's happening but they're not quite on board yet and so they don't know that it has happened. And I believe this story in Luke, chapter 24 gives us, it shows us this great window into God's character and how much he cares for us and what we mean to him and the extent that he will go to to make sure that we're a part of it. So we're going to look at Luke, chapter 24. If you've got your Bible, you can open it up. Otherwise it's going to be on the screen for us and if you're watching online you'll be able to see that as well.
Speaker 6:And here we go, chapter 24, verse 13. Now, that same day. What does that mean? That is referring to the fact that at the beginning of this chapter, the first 12 verses give us that Jesus. Pastor Angelo read part of it earlier that early on the third day, a couple of women went to the tomb. He wasn't there. They ran back, told the disciples, peter ran to the tomb to figure out where is. If he's not there, where is he? And he ends up meeting back with them and their minds are blown and Jesus is resurrected and celebrate right. Yet here we are in verse 13. Now, that same day, two of them, two of the disciples, were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles. Now we know that this is the greatest day. It says that same day, this day, the greatest miracle, not just of the 37 that are recorded for Jesus throughout the New Testament that we've been studying for the last few weeks, but also the greatest day in history, all of history up to this moment, from creation forward, and since. There's no greater day, there's no greater moment than this morning. Jesus has conquered death, hell and the grave for all of us.
Speaker 6:And something else is happening that same day. Something else is happening where two disciples have left Jerusalem because of all the terrible things that are happening. I can only imagine what they're thinking about. But they're leaving saying I'm done with this, I'm getting out of here. They're looking for us. They're looking, they've tried, they arrested Jesus, they tried him, they crucified him, and now they're looking for us. I'm out of here, I'm going to Emmaus, crucified him, and now they're looking for us. I'm out of here. I'm going to Emmaus, about four miles away. I'm sure they're processing and thinking how could this happen? The average person walks about three miles an hour, so I imagine it probably took them six or seven hours, probably took them a while to get from Jerusalem.
Speaker 6:Later in the story it tells us that they make it almost all the way to Emmaus, and so I thought why not today, on Easter that same day. Why don't we go for a walk together? So I'm going to invite a couple guys up. You guys, jackson, jake, why don't you all help me? And we're going to go for a little walk today. You're going to have to bear with me for just a second.
Speaker 6:I know this is weird to do on an Easter Sunday morning. I'm going to try not to hurt myself, but it could happen. That might be all right. Let's see Right up here. All right, here we go. So I thought we'd go for a walk today, maybe. All right, here we go. So we're going to walk and we're going to pretend like we're walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus with the disciples as they talk and kind of process what happened. I know this is weird, so just stay with me. We're also going to make it a little bit more realistic. So help me out, guys. I thought this would bring us in. Listen, I know it's kind of stupid. I just want you to remember this when you leave.
Speaker 6:Verse 14, it says they were walking with each other about and talking with each other about everything that had happened. So they're just discussing it. Imagine if we were walking. It's probably the same. It's not something supernatural happening here. This is these two guys discussing all the things that remember when Jesus healed all those people Remember whenever he healed the lame man and the blind man.
Speaker 6:I couldn't believe it. When I saw my mind was blown, probably back and forth like that, and then thinking and when they came for him in the garden, I thought he was gonna, I thought Peter was gonna kill that guy. I couldn't believe they were arresting him. I can't believe they did. And when they were, they put him on trial in the middle of the night. How could they do that? And then they beat him. I thought angels were going to show up all this time. Miracles, signs, we've seen so many things. How could this happen? I thought there's no way they can kill him. And now they're looking for us for hours. They're probably, it says.
Speaker 6:By the time they got almost to Emmaus, they were still downcast. They were still thinking and processing about all that had happened to that point Thinking he's been in the grave three days now. All the things we thought we thought he was going to come back. We thought that God was going to stop him from being arrested and then stop him from being crucified, and then stop him Like all that still, how nothing we could do could stop this. We thought everything was going to be okay, but now it's too late. They didn't know a miracle was happening back in Jerusalem, where they had just left, where they were running away from, and they're frustrated. All of their hope has been dead and buried. And maybe today you're walking away from the miracle. Maybe today you're frustrated and discouraged and you're heartbroken and you feel like nothing can fix the problem. And you had so such high hope for what God could do and we prayed and we believed. And now it's too late and we're walking. Maybe you're that one. Maybe in marriage you're walking. Maybe in your relationship, maybe it's too late and we're walking. Maybe you're that one. Maybe in marriage you're walking. Maybe in your relationship, maybe it's a financial thing or a health thing or there's some heavy weight on you that you thought it was going to be okay because you put it all in God's hands. And the problem is now you're walking away from a miracle that's trying to happen back in Jerusalem.
Speaker 6:It says, as they talked and discussed these things with each other, jesus himself came up and walked along with them. So here's the two disciples that are walking away from something, the biggest moment in history, god's plan and God's purpose unfolding. They have no idea. And here's Jesus walking with them, it says, but they were kept from recognizing him. And then Jesus asks the two disciples that just keep walking away from the miracle what are you discussing together as you walk along? Like he doesn't know. They stood still, their faces downcast. So think about this. Jesus asked them hey, what are you guys doing? What's up, guys? He says they stopped walking. They stood still with their faces down, almost like they were shamed, like, I think, a lot of us.
Speaker 6:This is the reason we're having this discussion today is because I think there are so many of us who God is tapping us on the shoulder or knocking on the door saying, hey, what's going on? We're walking away. We're caught in our own discouragement and frustration and the issues that are heavy on us. It's not to say that they're not heavy. I'm not saying that they're not troublesome, that they're not crushing and heartbreaking. I am saying that the answer could be knocking at the door. The answer could be standing right beside you and Jesus is asking them hey, what's going on? So we have to step off, step away from this track that we're on. You could write it down this way in your notes Discouragement is dissatisfaction with the past, distaste for the present and distrust for the future.
Speaker 6:It becomes this lens that everything I look at, every situation that I look at now has to do. I can imagine those disciples walking down that path. If someone comes down the way saying hey guys, it's a good morning, it's not a good morning. The weather's nice in Emmaus Morning, top of the morning. To you guys, it's not top of the morning, it's a terrible day. And they're downcast and they're sullen and broken. And that's how we get. So. How many of us today in this room or watching online, just feel discouraged?
Speaker 6:Discouragement has stolen our ability to see reality. In fact, what happens often is that our expectation doesn't line up with reality. I had a hope for this, I wanted it to be this way, and it didn't happen the way I thought it should. And so now I'm living in between. I'm living in the middle. Maybe it's what your marriage looks like, maybe it's what you thought it would look like to have kids, or what you thought your job would look like, or what you thought your health would look like, or your age would look like.
Speaker 6:Our expectations don't often line up with our reality. I'll give you some really practical examples. I've been talking with some of you guys about your vacation plans and where you're going. I love to hear about traveling and trips, and I saw a picture for visiting the Blue Lagoon in Iceland. It looked amazing, like imagine going to this pristine, beautiful wilderness place. This is the expectation. And when you get there, what does it actually look? Sad, I'm not getting in that water with you guys. I want my pristine, beautiful wilderness lake. Or if you want to visit Mount Fuji, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You're going to see an amazing sight. And then when you actually get there, what do you see? I spent all this money to get here and now there's clouds and I can't see anything. Or if you thought you know, I'm going to get the best pet ever and I'm just going to get a fluffy little cat. And then when you actually get your cat, what does it look like? It's not that at all, because cats lie.
Speaker 6:The reality is that our lives don't line up with our expectation of life. I thought that I'd be married by now. I thought I'd have my house paid off by now. I thought that I wouldn't have the kind of bills that I have right now. I thought I'd be able to do this or travel, or I thought I'd be done with school by now. I'm still trying to get my degree. I thought when I started this diet that I'd be down 20 pounds, and I'm up 30 pounds.
Speaker 6:Our expectations don't line up a lot so often with reality. Often with reality. I wrote it down this way If the enemy can discourage you, he will ultimately defeat you. If the enemy can see that you're discouraged and that your expectation of reality aren't lining up, he'll step in and lie to you and tell you hey, it's never going to be what you think. You're never going to get. You're never going to be satisfied. Nothing can satisfy you. It's going to be this you think You're never going to get. You're never going to be satisfied. Nothing can satisfy you. It's going to be this way forever. You might as well just leave Jerusalem and head out. You're in trouble. You can't fix this. All is lost. The story's over. Might as well, go to Emmaus. Might as well quit. Might as well, change gears, start all over. Leave this marriage, this marriage. Might as well break this relationship. Throw it all away and start over, and then you'll be able to find happiness.
Speaker 6:Watch what happens with these two disciples. One of them, named Cleopas, asked he. Asked him are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days? They're asking Jesus like he doesn't know what just happened, because he was just crucified and resurrected. Imagine how we pray to the Lord and we say God, you don't understand what I'm going through. How could you leave me in this situation and imagine Jesus thinking you're missing it. Dude, I didn't ask you to go to Emmaus, you already missed the party. What things he asked About Jesus of Nazareth? They replied he was a prophet powerful in word and deed. Before God, they're telling Jesus the story of Jesus. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death and they crucified him.
Speaker 6:But we had hoped. That resonates with me. I had hoped. I hoped that things would go differently. I had hoped that this would not turn out this way. He was the one who was going to redeem Israel. He was going to fix everything.
Speaker 6:But now it says and what's more, it's the third day since all this took place. In other words, now he's already dead and buried and gone and it's too late. There's no fixing it Now. He was a God of miracles. We know he was capable of miracles, but now, like, come on, it's too late now.
Speaker 6:So today, the time that I have left, I want to give you just a quick three things that we can do, that we should do when we get in discouragement, when we find ourselves in the middle of frustration and we find ourselves like good Friday, how can this have happened? This is the darkest day of my life. Everything's wrong, it's too late, can't be fixed, all is lost. This is that moment, because I know that there's people in the room who are there. What do we do? Number one we need to remember God's promises. Just because it's Friday doesn't mean Sunday's not coming. But when we're living on Friday and Saturday and Sunday morning before we've heard the news, we still feel like all is lost.
Speaker 6:But the disciples should have known better, why? Because they knew the Old Testament. In fact, they were just talking about. Hey, the prophets foretold of him. Don't you know the story of Jesus and all that has happened? They knew what was possible. In fact, jesus himself told them.
Speaker 6:Jesus told the disciples on three different occasions that are recorded. I'm going to die and then I'm going to be raised. And yet when he dies, somehow all the disciples forget that the pressure comes on them. The law is looking for you and now, all of a sudden, I've got to get out of town and we're running away from the miracle, because in the middle the enemy lies. So you have to decide today. When you're in discouragement, when you're in frustration, you have to decide am I going to let my pain lead me or am I going to let God's promise lead me? Am I going to be led by the pain and my emotions that I know lie and that I know that will lead me off and make me give up everything and make me give up too early, or am I going to hang on to God's promise and let God's promise lead me? Verse 25,.
Speaker 6:He said to them how foolish are you and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken. In other words, jesus is trying to tell them. You know what the prophets say. You know that the prophecies say this. You know you call them the Messiah. You know what the prophets say. You know that the prophecies say this. You know you call them the Messiah and you know what the prophecies of the Messiah are how slow are you? So I'm not going to ask you that question, but I want to. Okay, I will. How slow are you? How slow am I that when God's working, we gave up so early on that we completely miss it, that we give up on our marriage, we give up on our health, we give up on people around us because we think this is a lost cause. I'm done, I can't do this anymore and we decide to go for a walk. How many of us are feeling frustrated and forgotten, like God? How could you do this?
Speaker 6:Here's what faith is. Faith is trusting what God has said, even when it doesn't line up with what you currently see. Faith is hanging on to that promise and saying this promise is more important and powerful and truthful to me than anything I feel and anything that I see to me, than anything I feel and anything that I see the Bible's full of. If you don't know how many and you're trying to figure out, well, what are those promises Let me just tell you that there are over 8,000. So 8,810 promises from God that I can hang on to and put my feet on when things don't feel right or look right, and I'll give you a few of them. So get your camera ready if you don't want to write them down.
Speaker 6:God's promises for your life. Hebrews, chapter 13, verse 5. God says I'll never leave you, never will I forsake you. So whenever I feel like God, where are you? Why do you feel so far away? Why does it feel like I'm out here all alone? You forgot God's promise and he said I'm not going to leave you. I'm with you the whole time. He's walking beside you. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. He's with me. But when the enemy tells me he ain't with you, he's far away. He don't care about you. Why don't you just walk to Emmaus? Psalm 34, 18.
Speaker 6:The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. And when I feel like man, I'm so brokenhearted. God is far from me. My life is ending. Why? What's the point of even going on? Why am I even here? Why do I? Why does it matter if I even wake up tomorrow? The truth is that god is near the brokenhearted and even though I don't feel like it, he's there. Even when it doesn't look like it, he's there. Romans 8, 28,.
Speaker 6:I know that all things God works for the good of those who love it and have been called according to his purpose. That means when things look like everything has gone wrong and this situation is here to hurt me and to destroy me, god's going to use it to bless me. Just tell your neighbor, tap them on the shoulder. If they're not paying attention. Just tap them right on the knee or the shoulder and let them know. God's going to use that thing, that bad report, that bad circumstance, that obstacle, that mountain that's standing in front of you, that Goliath that's out there pointing at you and shouting at you and mocking you. God's going to use it because it's not over yet, he isn't finished. Just because Goliath is standing out there mocking the God of Israel, just because he's pointing everybody out and calling you out, doesn't mean that the story's over. John 16, 33,.
Speaker 6:Last one I'm going to give you today. Jesus said I have told you all these things so that in me you'll have peace In this world. You will have trouble. What if we stopped right there? He's not finished. You're going to have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world. What is your trouble today? What is the struggle? What's the thing that's caused you to walk the wrong direction. He says that thing. Take heart, because I've already overcome it.
Speaker 6:Corrie Ten Boom says this when a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away the ticket and jump off the train. You sit still and trust the engineer. So we hang on to God's promises. We remember them. And number two in dark, painful, frustrating, discouraging seasons, what are we going to do? We're going to recognize God's presence. That's one thing that the disciples don't do is Jesus walks right up on them in their discouragement. Their heads are down, their faces are down and Jesus is with them. They cannot even see it. But I'll prove to you that sometimes we just don't see what's actually going on.
Speaker 6:It happens to me all the time. So about once every couple of weeks, I set my keys in the wrong place, or I can't figure out where they're at, or I'm in such a hurry, probably, or someone moved them. That's probably more likely the case. It's not my fault. I can't find my keys. So I tell Angela hey, help me find my keys. I'm in a hurry. I hate being late. If you know anything about me, I hate being late. And so what I'll do is say, angela, can you help me find my keys? And so she trying to help me. What's the first thing she asks have you checked your pockets? And I just roll my eyes and say, if they were in my pockets I wouldn't be asking you for help. And so I'll just slowly put my hand in my pocket and then I'll have to just I'm gonna go check in the other room because it actually was in my pocket. Or even worse, what happens is how many of you are looking for your phone? I can't leave without my phone. It realizes it's actually in your hand.
Speaker 6:This is what happens with the disciples that they're looking for an answer and running away from a problem and the solution is standing right next to them. The greatest miracle in history has happened, and they don't even know it. And he's standing right next to them. Is it possible that in your frustration and in your discouragement, that you become blind to what God is doing? You become blind to the solution and the miracle that's literally standing right next to you? Sometimes God sends an answer and we're so blinded by the emotion and by our heartbreak that we can't see what God's trying to do around us. I wrote it this way don't be so consumed with what's happening to you that you miss who is with you. The same Jesus that was walking with them was the same Jesus that raised from the dead. The same Jesus that had a plan for their lives and all of Israel and all of us. And the same Jesus is walking beside us today. Watch what happens in verse 28.
Speaker 6:As they approached the village to which they were going, emmaus Jesus continued on as if he was going further. In other words, it's like okay, guys, I'll see you later. Something in them, it says. But they urged him strongly stay with us, for it is nearly evening, get this. They don't recognize that it's Jesus yet, but something about this guy.
Speaker 6:Sometimes you're in a situation where maybe you don't understand everything I'm saying to you right now, because your frustration has made you blinded. It's crushed you, it's crushed your spirit. It's put you into a mindset that you know I'm not thinking clearly, I'm not. I know I'm not healthy, my own thoughts are toxic. But in the middle of that, like these disciples, something about this guy. There's something about this story. There's something about that name. There's something about this story. There's something. I've got to hang on to this. So they asked Jesus, even though they don't know it's Jesus. Hey, stay with us for a little while, for it's nearly evening and the day is almost over. So they went in. So he went in to stay with them. They didn't recognize him.
Speaker 6:Yet I want to tell you today, in the room, wherever you are in life, wherever you are in your frustration, there's a difference between being interested in Jesus and inviting him in. There's a difference between walking with him for a little while and meeting up on a Sunday morning, say, hey, jesus, high five. And then there's the moment where you say, hey, I need you to come into this situation with me. I don't want to let go of this. I'm going to bring it with me and we invite him into it. They invited him into the house and then they began to have dinner, and Revelations 3.20 describes, I think, this same thing in all of us.
Speaker 6:As Jesus says, here I am, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, what happens? He said I'll come in and eat with that person and they with me. Jesus is knocking at the door with that person and they with me. Jesus is knocking at the door, and it's easy to try and separate. Well, they were just guys on the road. This was 2,000 years ago. No, jesus says I'm knocking at your door and I know you're frustrated and I know things don't make sense and I know you're discouraged and not going in the right direction. But if you'll open the door and invite me in, notice it's not when they're walking with him, it's when they invite him in and sit down at the table and start having a relationship. Now they're committed to this thing. Now, all of a sudden, it says their eyes are opened. Watch in verse 31. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him and he disappeared from their sight. So there's this moment of recognition and realization.
Speaker 6:One of my favorite parts of this church is whenever people take a step of faith on a Sunday morning and they commit their life to God. Or on this first Wednesday night we're going to do baptism. Our brand new baptismal baptistry that we got will be set up right over here in this room and there will be a line of people down the wall who are saying I'm giving my life to Jesus and from this moment on it belongs to him. That is a beautiful, beautiful thing, because that's where he starts walking through life with you and he takes us on this spiritual journey. That's not just, and I'm kind of interested and I'm checking out what it's not like the moment this is. I'm committed. I'm taking this home with me. Watch what they said.
Speaker 6:They asked each other. Were not our hearts burning within us as we talked, as he talked with us on the road and opened the scriptures to us? In other words, I think in my mind here's my translation of this that they were telling each other I knew it was him. The whole time I felt it. It was something about him. I knew you didn't even recognize him, but I did. I knew it was him. That's why I invited. No, this is that moment where they're talking about. Something in me was stirring. I knew there was something about him and today there might be something in your heart stirring as the Holy Spirit is speaking to you like a spotlight into the darkness, showing you. This is the way you just got to respond to it. You just have to recognize and let your eyes be open that God wants to do something. And it's not when they're walking down the road and their hearts are stirred, it's when they invited him in. So can I just tell you this If you need a miracle, you need to invite the miracle worker into your life, because he's the one that can make the difference.
Speaker 6:Part of their story is not just what happens on the road and even when they're talking and their eyes are open with Jesus. A big part of their story is that they're in this together and so often for us we have this realization, this moment that impacts us, and we have something that starts in our heart, where my heart was burning within me and something happened with this man. But then, when it became a public thing, then it sustains us as we go and right relationships make a huge difference. Number three, and we'll close with this one when I think it's over, when I'm discouraged and frustrated and walking in the dark, what's the third thing I need to do? I need to respond to God's power.
Speaker 6:It's not enough to just know. It says that weren't our hearts stirred, burning within us as we walked? It's not enough to just be on the road hearing the story and man, I knew it, I knew it was him. It's not enough to just know. They had to invite him in, they had to respond, they had to. Some part of them had to say hey, I need you to go to stay, don't just go on, I need you to come with me Today. For you, it's not enough to just know yeah, that was a good message, pastor, another good one. A great Easter Sunday message Makes us feel great, makes us yes, it's not enough to just hear it and know. There has to be some kind of response.
Speaker 6:Watch what the two disciples did in our last verse here, verse 33 and 34. It says they got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. In other words, their eyes were opened In that moment, they knew that they had left the miracle. They knew that it was happening without them. So they stood up and they went back to Jerusalem immediately. To me, that's a perfect picture of what repentance looks like. I think we think repentance is I got to list out all my sins and make it's this exchange that happens Repentance.
Speaker 6:The definition of repentance is really a directional thing. When you look at the Hebrew word and the Greek words for repentance, what they actually mean is that I'm going one way and to repent, I turn around and go the other way. It's not lip service that I have to go down this list of things and make sure that God approved. No, this is me deciding, making a commitment in my heart. I was going that way. I've realized that I have made a huge mistake, just like these disciples. Let's get back to Jerusalem. I bet they got there a lot quicker than the road to Emmaus. I bet they were hustling back. And when they got there, it says that they found the 11 and those with them assembled together and saying it is true, the Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon. So they're back there having the very first Easter celebration. But they walked seven miles in the wrong direction. Then they found Jesus and went back.
Speaker 6:How far have you gone today in the wrong direction? How many miles have you been walking, frustrated, with your head down and just complaining and feeling like everything is lost and feeling like nothing can save this situation and feeling like you thought that it was going to be one way but it wasn't? And all along, god's saying wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. What's going on? He's knocking at the door. Can I present an opportunity for repentance today? Can I say that I feel like God's given all of us the opportunity, over and over and over, to have grace and for us to be brought back into his plan and his purpose and to remind us.
Speaker 6:Today, I feel like it's my job that a bunch of the disciples are together and we're celebrating Easter. It's amazing, it's the biggest day of all time, of all history, and yet there are those who are out on the edges, who are walking in the wrong direction, and it's my job to say hey, hey, hey, hey, come back. You've gone seven miles, you've gone two miles, you might have gone 20 miles. You've been walking for so long you don't even remember how you got where you are. Today's the day let's bring it back, let's walk back towards God's plan for your life. Just like the two disciples responded, it wasn't enough to just know they responded. I'm going to ask you to respond, and today's response. I won't ask you to raise your hands or come forward, but I am going to ask you to respond from your heart and make a decision today.
Speaker 6:And so now I'm going to ask you to pull out that Easter survey card. It's probably in the chair in front of you, or maybe you got it on your way in, and this is different than we all year long. We don't do it this way. Usually you get a connect card on your way in, but prayer requests. This is different. I would love for you to respond with that connect card or with the Easter survey.
Speaker 6:On the back at the bottom, there are four letters and they represent different categories. And here's the truth. The truth is that all of us fit into one of those four categories A, b, C or D and I'm going to ask you to open your heart and think about where you are today. You might be in the A category. If you are, I'd ask you to check the little box that says A. The A category is I already know God personally. You feel like I'm those disciples back in Jerusalem that are celebrating. It is true, I know it. I've seen him. I know him. I already know God personally. B maybe you're in this category. I am beginning a real relationship with God today. Today's the day where I'm going to put things in order. Today's the day I'm repenting. Turn around. I'm going to put things in order. Today's the day I'm repenting. Turn around. I'm going to commit my life to him and from this moment on, I'm going to let him lead. I'm going to follow Jesus. That's everyone in category B.
Speaker 6:Maybe you're in C and C is I want to consider what God wants to do in my life. I'm not quite decided yet. I need to weigh my options. I don't understand it all yet, and so I need to gather more information. That's okay to be in that category. I think that's that place where you're kicking the tires, trying to figure out. What does it mean to follow Jesus? What is the Bible about? I love that you're in that place actually, and I'm going to let you, to the best of my ability. I'm going to let you make an informed decision and show you the evidence for what Jesus can do in your life, like every person who walked up on this stage with their sign to show that here's where I was, but here's where I am now. I think that can happen for you today or in the near future. And maybe you're in a category D and you're saying I don't ever intend to make that decision. Listen, if you check D and every year we do this Easter survey, people check D I'm not going to come to your house and say, hey, why did you check D?
Speaker 6:What can I do to get you over to C? I'm not going to do that. I'm going to just here's what I will do. I'm just going to pray for you. I'm going to believe, god, that something like what happened to those two disciples as they were on the road to Emmaus and Jesus showed up walking next to them, in their eyes. That's what I'm going to believe that somewhere in your life, on this walk that you're on that Jesus is going to show up and your eyes are going to be opened and, all of a sudden, everything's going to make sense and then you're going to go where he wants you to go. But until that day happens, I'm going to let you be who you are Again. It's a no hassle guarantee. But I would love for you to complete that survey.
Speaker 6:And now, before we close, I'd like to say a prayer for all of those, especially those who are in the B category, that you'd like to begin a real relationship with God. Today I want to say a prayer with you. So here's what I do I'll invite you to close your eyes and bow your heads right where you are. Would you say this prayer out loud with me and repeat these words God, today I give you my life, I'm walking on this road and I want to invite you in, so forgive me of my sin and give me a new life, and from this day forward. I will follow you in Jesus name. Amen, amen, let's put our hands together. I want to invite you to hold onto that card for just a second.
Speaker 6:The ushers are going to come forward and we're also going to prepare. If this is your home church, if this is your house and you're here on Easter Sunday morning, we're going to give in the offering. If you are a guest today, we don't expect you to give. We hope that this service and today is a gift to you is a blessing to you. Would you stand up on your feet? We gift to you is a blessing to you. Would you stand up on your feet? We're going to worship as we give. There are a few different ways to give, but please put the Easter survey in the bucket as it comes by. Let me pray for all of the gifts today. Lord, we thank you for blessing us. We ask you to multiply every gift to help to transform lives in our community and our families, to make us more in your image. Lord, we love you, we honor you and we worship you today In Jesus' name, amen. Let's give, let's give.
Speaker 4:Through the ages, thrones fall and kingdoms end. There's only one God who lives, there's only one God who stands Over nations, over rulers and above all things. There's only one risen King.
Speaker 2:There's only one risen King who is our strong foundation, the rock that will be moved.
Speaker 4:The hope of our salvation. Nobody, nobody but Him.
Speaker 2:He is the Lord Almighty. There's nothing he can't do.
Speaker 4:Nobody, nobody, nobody, jesus, nobody but him Come on y'all and I felt who is strong enough to heal our land? There's only been one who can. There's only been one who can. There's a been one who can. There's only been one who can. There's a power. There's a greater and exalted name. There's only been one who reigns. There's only been one who reigns. Come on everybody. Who is our strong foundation, the rock that won't be moved, no hope for salvation nobody, nobody but you. He is the Lord of mine.
Speaker 2:There's nothing he can't do. Nobody, nobody, nobody, jesus, nobody but you. Yeah, jesus, nobody but you. Come on y'all. There's only one name that saves us, only one name to call. There's only one name that stands above it all Jesus. There's only one name that stands above it all Jesus. There's only one name that saves us, Only one name to call. There's only one name that stands above it all. Who is our strong foundation? The rock that won't be moved, the hope of our?
Speaker 4:salvation.
Speaker 2:Nobody knows. Come on y'all.
Speaker 4:Come on y'all, jesus nobody but Him, nobody, nobody. Now this guy, I wanna meet that young.
Speaker 2:Now follow me. Nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody. Come on y'all. Nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody but you. Nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody, no, no, no, nobody but you, Jesus, nobody but you. Yeah, hallelujah, hallelujah.
Speaker 5:Jesus, we are so glad you joined us on this Easter Sunday. If you need prayer, our prayer team will be down here at the front. Have a wonderful week and we will see you next Sunday.