2020-04-12-LIVE OAKS
Got it. We are celebrating something that actually can't be fully grasped. Our minds can't really hold on. We can't really get ahold of of what this beans Jesus that you came out of the Grave that you came out of the Grave. We can understand it completely. I pray that you would give us two ears to hear though what we need to hear this morning about that singular miracle. all of all of history points to it time itself hinges on it life itself is dependent on it. Show us God I'm asking that you would show us. Thank you. Jesus. May your Holy Spirit God be present speak through me. If you can around me. If you have to please speak and give us ears to hear it in your name we pray. Revelation 21:5, and he who was Seated on the throne said behold I am making all things new.
No, I don't know about you, but the words that has been on my mind lately last few weeks has been the word normal. We have talked about the word normal a lot in our country and our culture and our world and our family about if things could just go back to normal. It's been changing everyday and we remember this mythical era before now when we could just go to the grocery store and buy the thing we needed an and we wouldn't all look like surgeons come and get a fresh out of the mask. And we would we just want a little bit of normal back. How many of us have found ourselves thankful for things we used to take for granted or or or see former conveniences is actually like Necessities like we were really really miss those things or how many of us are now longing for things that that used to just be overlooked. We just didn't didn't think about him at all. We took them for granted and now they're gone and we miss them and if things were normal that would be just fantastic before the the virus as Juda says whatever something doesn't you know is a little off-kilter in our house or we he wants to do something and we can't wants to go to school and we can't he goes on the bike. Yeah, Judah because of the virus buddy. We can't do that before the virus came my wife and I we were just a few signed pieces of paper away from doing a whole refinancing of our first and our second mortgage and credit card debt. We are going to be able to to combine those into one of our monthly payment is going to be fantastic. We're really excited about it and then a couple weeks ago. I got an email saying that they were having to re-evaluate things.
it was going to be so refreshing normal was actually going to be really kind of sweet when we could go to our bank online and we wouldn't be like immediately assaulted with all the money that we still owe like that freedom was going to be fantastic wellsfargo.com
nice to see you today instead of like, you know.
Normal is going to be great. So that that unnamed green and purple Credit Union you're making a mistake, but I get it. I understand things aren't normal. I remember as a as a 10 11 12 year old.
talking to doctors and Specialists about this learning disability that we were just starting to to comprehend.
You know a lot but as we learn more and more and more about the challenges that I was facing. Remember many times just crying out God why couldn't you just make me normal? God why can't I just be normal? Normal is so comforting. It's so reassuring.
Revelation 21:5, and he who was Seated on the throne said behold I am making all things normal.
Said no savior ever.
He says I am making all things new.
from Matthew 28 starting in verse 1 How can we celebrate Easter without reading this passage?
Now after the Sabbath tour the dawn of the first day of the week Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, how'd you like to be the other Mary?
Went to see the tomb and behold there was a great earthquake for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning in his clothing white as snow and for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women do not be afraid for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified he is not here. For he has risen. As he said come see the place where he lay, then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead and behold he is going before you to Galilee there. You will see him see I have told you so they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples and behold Jesus met them and said greetings. And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them do not be afraid go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee and there they will see me.
How about from Acts chapter 2 starting a verse 1? When the day of Pentecost derived they the disciples all together in one place and suddenly there came from Heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind and it filled the entire house where they were sitting and divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and arrested on each of them and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the spirit gave them utterance. Now they were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews about men from every nation under heaven and at this sound the multitude came together and they were bewildered because each one was hearing them speak in his own language and they were amazed and astonished saying are not all these who are speaking galileans. How is it that we hear each of us in his own native language?
Parsons Mead coelomates residence of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia pontus in Asia Pragya pamphylia Egypt and parts of Libya Beyond Cyrene and visitors from Rome both Jews and prostatitis cretins and Arabians. We hear them telling in our own language is the mighty works of God and all were amazed and perplex saying to one another what does this mean? This is not normal.
After that in there I can imagine him saying that. but others mocking said they're filled with new wine.
given Down 2 verse 36 let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain. That God has made him both Lord and Christ. This Jesus whom you crucified. Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles Brothers. What shall we do? And Peter said to them repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the Forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the holy spirit for the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off everyone whom the Lord Our God calls to himself. And with many other words, he bore witness in continued to exhort them saying save yourselves from this crooked generation. So those who received his word were baptized and there were added that day three thousand Souls normal.
Not in the least.
The last thing Jesus came for lived for died for was resurrected for is normal. Jesus did not come to put things back to normal. As chaotic indifferent as things are right now.
Let's not call Salvation. Just things back to normal. Is what if they don't? What if they don't go back to normal?
What did Israel want the Messiah to do? In the messiah's coming. What do they want him to do Israel wanted things to go back to normal, you know. Glory of King David in the Splendor of King Solomon Israel as it's meant to be not this weird occupied.
Normal is real please Messiah save us make us great again. Make us normal again. The way things are supposed to be the problem was the problem with normal. It is the bias that we used to establish the Baseline of normal. Write the normal is different for everyone, isn't it?
I've been to a few different countries. Believe me. They would they would love our not normal. They would love our normal to be there out of the ordinary.
To Israel things that this is normal. This is what day should have. This is who they should be Jesus make things normal again.
They didn't know that the kingdom of David and the Splendor of Solomon were just sermons of things to come.
Problem with normal as we grow accustomed to it and then decide that we deserve it. We deserve things to be this way.
Hopper many Fridays the Shelton family has celebrated pizza night on Friday. We procure pizza from an establishment. We bring it back. We we picnic it up in the in the living room. We we watch something broadcast in one way or another or movie and and we partake we break bread and sauce and pepperoni and cheese together. I used to be Little Caesars but now because of my salary here we've moved up in the world and our little slice of normal comes courtesy of as a papa. And Dodge Eliza always wants to bake any is peace because we get bacon on the pizza. And that's normal for her is to get the bacon ESP stand if that is out of the ordinary. She's not super thrilled. I think Dad should get the piece of the most bacon. I had son didn't you know that that's I think that should be normal, but I don't
On Friday, we experiencing our normal pizza night and I'm standing there in front of the Box Lego Masters is on the slightly flickery 50-inch 4K TV would like the app to to change because that normal is not good enough cuz it's it flickers slightly bothers me some standing there. enjoying my less than most bacon is piece. I looked out the box and their slogan now is the pizza you deserve. Don't like standing there eating this pizza watching the show House full of children.
Is this the pizza I deserve.
Do we deserve anything?
I don't deserve that or any delicious pizza.
We certainly don't deserve any slice of normal. If if that's how we Define it.
We cry out for a return to normal. But though this we do not deserve it and if we ever country people Nation Church. If we ever get back to normal, it will be by the grace of God.
not because that's the way things are supposed to be not because we deserve it to be so but because the grace of God
Decided to bless us with a little bit of normal that little bit of normal would be amazing.
If the grace of God brought us back to normal perhaps that unnamed green and purple Credit Union wood would look back at their stock of recently declined applications and they would take a new look at the good folks. The really really good folks that were like right on the bubble. And I'll say you know what? Because things have gotten back to normal will take on all your debt and will let you live in that house until you pay it all off. We love it. I would love that little bit of normal. I would love it. And I love the idea right we can if we get if we get back to that kind of normal we can we can leverage our assets to to pay off debt. That would be fantastic.
the resurrection of Jesus it's so much more than that. Don't don't don't let me lose you here. That's what we think. The resurrection was. We think the resurrection was Jesus making something fantastic possible. And that's normal if we then he because he's now made it possible. If if we are all really sorry if we try really hard if we are really really dedicated if we're really really committed if Jesus would just allow us to come to an arrangement where we could bake like a minimum payments. Yeah, but by the time you know that by the time that day came we will have been able to to work out something with Jesus to where he could allow us to be with him. Oh, I I see you did sign on the line here Tommy. So yes, according to the rules you're not allowed into the kingdom. I made this possible.
What's not slime out the gospel by looking at the resurrection through that garbage lens? Jesus did not come to make something possible. He came to make something.
Revelation 5 starting in verse 6 and between the throne in the four living creatures and among the elders. I saw a lamb standing as though it had been slain with seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the Earth and he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who is Seated on the throne and when he had taken the scroll the four living creatures and the 24 Elders fell down before the lamb each holding a harp. and golden bowls full of incense which are the prayers of the Saints and they sing a new song saying Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open it seals for you were slain and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language in people and nation and you have made them a kingdom and Priests to our God and they shall reign on the Earth.
Jesus in his life and in his death and his resurrection here and some people and made it Kingdom. He didn't make a people possible and make a kingdom support.
If we leverage our good deeds and leverage our good behavior and leverage are good desire all of our assets.
He doesn't make it possible for us to leverage those things to gain something. Maybe possibly he came and he lived and he died and he rose to make us his own. We were Bots. Didn't make the transaction possible. That was the transaction he on the cross dying for his people dying for his church dying for his kingdom dying for his bride. He came and he did it.
John 19:30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said it is possible.
No, he said it is finished and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
And the work that he finished. Was a whole lot more.
Then just bringing things back to normal.
He didn't come to bring things back to normal. You know how I know that.
We're not standing shamelessly naked in a garden.
Jesus did not come to bring us back to normal.
Normal for Mara and I meant that refinancing our debt was possible.
Jesus didn't come. To make the paying of debt possible. He came to pay the debt. .
Peyton List I Is the Greek word? It means paid in full.
Leave it. There is no more debt for you to pay.
There's no more debt for you to pay. It's been paid. It's been done. It's finished. It's not possible. It's finished.
I wouldn't call that normal.
Would you all call that normal the paying off of dead is that normal? Is it normal for your creditors to call you to Hound you until you finally pick up the phone or the trick you with caller ID or something and you pick up the phone and said hello. This is a debt collecting agency. We just want to let you know it's been paid. That's not normal. Is it not normal for me? I get a different kind of call from Skype.
That's not normal. I'd call that better. Amen. I'd call that called better normal would be the unnamed green and purple Credit Union saying okay, you will hold on to your debt will let you live in our house till you can pay it off later. He's been calling me and saying we've reconsidered we with we've paid off all of your debt. The house is your's. That's better.
That's better.
So, there you go. There's an Easter sermon for you. It's relevant. I live in my own life experience right art are dead of sin and the ended in the dead of money that I owe to the house in the refinancing The Coming to Terms whole bit. Did you get that? I thought I hope you got that right in the fact that our debt is paid. I mean that has an Easter Sermon all men. Let's go eat.
Problem. Is that Jesus? Doesn't make things better.
Jesus didn't come to make things better.
I spent a little bit of time a few days ago researching diphtheria as one is known to do.
This is right quote within two to three days diphtheria. May destroy healthy tissues in the respiratory system the dead tissue forms a thick gray coating. That can build up in the nose or throat. This thick gray coating is called a pseudomembrane. It can cover tissues in the nose tonsils voice box and throat making it very hard to breathe and swallow. That is how I feel when I order the sentence Jesus makes things better.
disgusting to me Jesus didn't die and rise to make things normal. He didn't die and rise to make things better. He died in a rose to make things new.
And the new he is making is glorious. Now I need you to put on your big-boy listening pants.
Here we go.
Revelation 21 verse 1
then I saw a new Heaven and a new Earth for the first Heaven and the first Earth had passed away and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city New Jerusalem New Jerusalem coming down out of Heaven from God prepared as a bride adorned for her husband and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying Behold The Dwelling Place of God is with man. He was well with them. They will be his people in God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and Death Shall be no more neither shall there be morning nor crying nor pain anymore for the former things have passed away and he who was Seated on the throne said behold. I am making all things new and he said write this down for these words are trustworthy and true and he said to me it is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega the beginning and the end to the Thirsty. I will give from the spring of the Water of Life without payment. The one who conquers will have this Heritage and I will be his God and he will be my son. That's for the Cowardly the faithless the detestable as for murderers, the sexually immoral Sorcerers idolaters are liars. Their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur which is the second death. Then came one of the Seven Angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me saying come I will show you the bride the wife of the lamb and he carried me away in the spirit to a great high mountain and showed me the Holy City Jerusalem coming down out of Heaven from God having the glory of God. It's Radiance like and most rare Jewel like like a Jasper clear as Crystal. They had a great high wall with 12 gates and the gates 12 angels and on the gates the names of the 12 tribes of the son of Israel were inscribed on the East three gates on the north three gates on the south three gates on the west three gates and the wall of the city had 12 foundations and on them were the 12 names of the 12 Apostles of the Lamb. And the one who spoke with me had a measuring Rod gold to measure the city and its Gates and its walls the city lies Foursquare. It's link the same as it's with any measured the city with its Rod 12,000. Stadia. It its length and width and height. Sorry cool. We also measured its walls a hundred and forty four cubits by human measurement, which is also an angels measurement the wall was built of Jasper while the city was pure gold like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of Jewel. The first was Jasper the second Sapphire the third a gate 4th Emerald V Onyx the C6 Cornelius 7th crichlow site. Whatever that is the 8th of April 9th to go past the 10th chryso phase 11th at Jason the 12 amethyst. And The Twelve Gates were twelve pearls each of the gates made of a single Pearl and the street of the city was pure gold like transparent glass. And I saw no temple in the city. For its Temple is the Lord God the almighty and the lamb and the City. Has no need of sun or moon to shine on it for the glory of God gives it light and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nation's walk in the kings of the earth will bring their Glory into it and it's Gates will never be shut by day and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nation's but nothing unclean will ever internet nor anyone who does what is detestable or faults? But only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Then the angel showed me the river. of the Water of Life brightest Crystal flowing from the Throne of God in the lamb through the middle of the street of the city also on either side of the river the Tree of Life with its 12 kinds of fruit yielding its fruit each month the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the Nations. No longer, will there be anything accursed but the Throne of God and the lamb will be in it and his servants will worship him. They will see his face and his name will be on their foreheads and night will be no more. They will need no lights of lamb for son for the Lord. God will be there light and they will reign forever and ever.
The normal we deserve is hell.
The normal we think we deserve is the opportunity to leverage that leverage our assets to pay off our debts.
better Is our house in our debts paid for? glorious Is a new house altogether?
John 14 1 through 3
a Good Shepherd said let not your hearts. Be troubled. Church let not your hearts be troubled. believe in God
believe also in me
In my father's house are many rooms. If it were not so. What I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and I will take you to myself that where I am. You may be also.
The glory of Easter is the glory of a home. not built with human hands but the hands of almighty God touching the leper listings Elaine making mud for the blind handing bread to the hungry
the hands of almighty God outstretched on a cross
rolling away a stone Then using the hammer and nails that pierced him. To build us a home. So that we may abide with him forever. It's not normal. That's not better. That's glorious.
He came to make things new. Indu is glorious. He is glorious. What spray?
It's the same prayer that we began with father. We cannot comprehend.
What happened? When that stone was rolled away. We can't measure its it's Brett week. We can't Plum its depth. We can't reach its height.
Our peripheral vision is not sufficient to see it all laid out in front of us. We can't comprehend the glory. That is your Resurrection Jesus.
We can't comprehend that the the total Victory on the cross over our sin over death over hell over the enemy we can't comprehend it. But yet it's there. Outstretched on the cross and walking out of a tomb it's there. Father give us the eyes to see it Spirit. Give us the eyes to see it. Maybe maybe just a bit of it. Maybe just enough of it to bring us to our knees and confess our need of you to make things normal not to make things better. But to make things glorious in the only way that's possible. Is you in and through us
Rooting out everything that's wicked.
Showing that to us and bringing us to repent of it.
That you might die for it and you might bury it in a tomb and walk out without it.
May we be clothed?
by you
not by the grave clothes
Those are old are not new.
Clovis in you Lord, Jesus in your righteousness in your victory
And Your Glory? Thank you Jesus abide with us. And that's with you. In your name we pray I'll men.
Don't forget to continue our time and worship by the giving of his ties in our offerings there online. We had some beautiful checks get brought by the church and I just received them. We received them just as worship. Which we just praise the Lord. For what he does to his kingdom for his kingdom for his glory. So don't forget to give as an act of worship celebrate today with your family.
lifting up the name of Our Risen Lord Thank you for being a part of his church today for being his church today. Be his people this week in your name. We pray in his name. We pray. Amen.