Alive - When Hope Is Gone
Alive - Easter 2019 • Sermon • Submitted
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· 21 viewsWhen even hope is gone, Jesus is there.
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Introduction:
Today we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. We celebrate LIFE because we believe Jesus rose from the dead and defeated death. But the resurrection of Jesus could not have taken place if it was not for that one hopeless Friday.
On that Friday, the disciples of Jesus scattered in fear and shame. Only John, the mother of Jesus and a couple other women were brave enough to watch the execution of Jesus.
That Friday was the day when all hope was lost.
Hope in Jesus as the savior of Israel
Hope in Jesus as the savior of the world.
That Friday was the day all the dreams, aspirations and hope for the followers of Jesus died.
Me -
Me -
I have had some hopeless moments in my life.
Being fired from my first real job as a newly wed.
My middle son having a large growth behind his ear that was in the same place my brother had developed cancer and died.
The sudden and unexpected death of my brother-in-law
The moment I found out that my eldest was being bullied to the point of severe depression and feeling as though I could not fix the problem.
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You -
You -
I know many of you have faced times of hopelessness.
Cancer - divorce - addictions - the loss of a career - the loss of a child.
Maybe here today some of you are trying to celebrate life but you find your heart and mind buried in hopelessness.
That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. But God kept them from recognizing him.
He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?”
They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.”
“What things?” Jesus asked.
“The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago.
“Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said.”
Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on, but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So he went home with them. As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!
They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?”
Luke 24:
We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago.
Luke 24:
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Interlude -
Just one week earlier they had watched Jesus enter Jerusalem as a king.
Celebrated, cheered by the people, and welcomed as the Messiah - the savior
And then on Friday they watched their hopes be crucified and buried.
And then on Sunday afternoon they encountered the resurrection of Jesus.
On Saturday
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This morning I want to share three things with you; and the first is this.
When you lose hope because you have lost your way, Jesus is with you!
When you lose hope because you have lost your way, Jesus is with you!
Question. Where are you? Spiritually, in life’s journey, where are you?
If you find that question hard to answer you are not alone.
Many wake up along their life journey and wonder where am I. This is not who I planned to be. How did I even get here in life?
Dante in his “Divine Comedy” wrote
Midway upon the journey of our life, I found myself within a forest dark, for the straightforward pathway had been lost.
Ah me! How hard a thing it is to say
What was the forest savage, rough and stern
I cannot well repeat how there I entered,
So full was I of slumber at the moment
In which I had abandoned the true way.
It is very possible that you may feel this way.
You find yourself is a place you had never intended.
You have found yourself lost in this life journey.
Here is what I want you to know.
Whether you recognize it or not - Jesus Christ is with you.
Whether you recognize it or not - Jesus Christ is with you.
He is with you to help you find your way in life, and he will if you will trust in Him.
Professor Mary Poplin -
As a young woman dedicated to self discovery, only to find herself very lost.
She was attracted as a young woman to radical ideologies -postmodernism - deconstructionism - Marxism - and sexual revolution.
She gave herself to a life of alcohol and drugs as well as many sexual partners.
She believed she was aiming her life towards freedom of human tyranny.
In the midst of her fog she was able to get a glimpse of herself.
She wrote -
“I could see glimpses of who I really was. I was not growing freer. My heart was growing harder, my emotions darker, and my mind more confused.”
She was lost but not alone.
She had a dream - Last supper - Jesus put his hands on her shoulder - I love you.
Even though she had never recognized Him, Jesus loved her.
She called a friend who took her to church on Sunday and there she was found,
found in Jesus.
Dream - last supper - Face to face with Jesus- Aware of her sin - Hands on shoulders - I love you.
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Maybe today you are like Mary Poplin -
Lost and confused.
You are in a place in life you never intended - Jesus is with you.
And He desires to lead you towards life, joy, beauty, and peace.
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Second,
When you lose hope because of guilt, Jesus is with you.
When you lose hope because of guilt, Jesus is with you.
Upper room - full of men who had failed Jesus - hiding afraid they could be killed next.
Jesus appears in physical form before them
Shame - guilt
Peace be unto you
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What have you done that has made you feel guilty and ashamed?
What have you done that has made you feel guilty and ashamed?
What have you done that you think God has rejected you?
I want you to hear this:
Jesus Christ is alive today and he is still walking into lives full of shame and guilt and his message is still the same - Peace - I forgive you.
Jesus Christ is alive today and he is still walking into lives full of shame and guilt and his message is still the same - Peace - I forgive you.
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I wonder if you know the name Joe Eszterhas?
Screen play write - Jagged Edge, Basic Instinct, Sliver, Show Girls.
Highest paid Screen write in Hollywood - 3 Million per script
Wrote a book called Hollywood Animal - Describes his sexcupaids and many ego driven battles with Hollywood Executives.
He was wealthy - powerful- and in demand -
The only problem? It was not working.
5th of Gin every day - 4 packs of cigs a day
Diagnosed with throat cancer - 80% lyrinix removed.
1 month after his surgery - Angry, depressed, no peace
Goes outside to think and bugs begin to circle around his tracheotomy
Falls to the ground in tears
He then begins to hear a voice - Praying - God forgive me - I don't deserve it- forgive me.
It was there, that Esterhause, found peace and strength.
Why did God save the life of a man who had trashed, lampooned, and marginalized Him most of his life? Why did He take the time and trouble to save me?
I didn’t at first understand why He did. I didn’t deserve His help…I was unworthy. I ignore Him for forty years and then suddenly I ask Him to help me and He does? It took me some time to understand that God helped me because He loves me. Because even though we don’t deserve God’s love, God loves us-all of us.
Today you will find Joe carrying a cross in the worship procession at his local church, every Sunday.
What ever you have done God has seen it before
And God has forgiven it before.
Today through Jesus God offers you peace and forgiveness.
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Here in just a minute we will take communion and if you are ready to find that peace with God, we will have a few people up front and in the back ready to pray with you.
Today could be your day to hear Jesus say to you - Peace - You are forgiven.
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Finally, I want you to know;
When you lose hope because of life’s problems, Jesus is there.
When you lose hope because of life’s problems, Jesus is there.
You may feel overwhelmed today by the problems you face.
You may feel alone, hopeless, helpless and if your honest afraid.
Hear me - You may not recognize Him or feel Him but, Jesus is with you.
Hear me - You may not recognize Him or feel Him but, Jesus is with you.
Story of Vella White and the loss of her three boys.
Loss of three boys, divorce, poverty, pain -
But her faith continued to grow -
She was a broken woman - a woman of many faults -
But she understood one truth
Jesus would never leave her or forsake her.
Today this little lady is resting in the presence of Jesus.
She will one day be rewarded for her faith in the midst of suffering.
Resurrection - united with all her boys, including her youngest 0 me.
Where was Jesus in those dark hours of Vella’s life?
She would answer - Right beside her, holding her up right, helping her to carry on.
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Hear me today!
You may feel alone, hopeless and drowning in your circumstances but, Jesus is there and He want to carry you through it all.
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You -
You -
Today you may feel as though all Hope is gone.
Maybe you feel as though you have lost your way.
Jesus is there and he wants to lead you back to life, if you will allow him.
Maybe you feel hopeless because of your guilt.
No matter what you have done, Jesus wants to give you peace and He is offering you His forgiveness - All you have to do is accept it.
Maybe you feel hopeless because of life’s problems.
Jesus is there in the midst of your chaos and He desires to carry you through it if you will allow him.
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