Ruined or Resurrected | Easter Service 2023
EASTER
Ruined or Resurrected
Luke 24:6a (ESV) 6 He is not here, but has risen.
Romans 6:10-11 (NLT) 11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
“Our old history ends with the cross. Our new history begins with the resurrection.” Watchman Nee
“I am the bread of life, I have the words of eternal life, whoever finds me finds life, whoever believes in me has eternal life, and whoever believes in me his name will be written down in the lamb’s Book of Life.” Jesus Christ
John 11:25 (NIV) 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.
SOUL TATTOO: What was once ruined, can be resurrected by Jesus.
Ruined: having been irreparably damaged or harmed.
Resurrected: the state of one risen from the dead.
Isaiah 61:1-4 (NIV) 1The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. 4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.
4 Keys to Being Resurrected:
- We’re not dead yet.
“Easter is death working backwards.”
Isaiah 61:1 (NIV) 1The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners…
John 11:25-26 (NIV) 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
- We need to begin to rebuild.
Isaiah 61:2-3 (NIV) 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
“Grace will meet you where you are, but it will never leave you where it found you.” Chris Hodges
- We are believers, not doubters.
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV) 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
Isaiah 61:3c (NIV) They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
- We need to come to life.
Isaiah 61:4 (NIV) 4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.
“Jesus did not come to make bad people good, He came to make dead people alive.” Leonard Ravenhill
Where do I go from here?
John 14:6 (NIV) 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
1.) The truth is, that all of us have sinned.
Romans 3:23 (ESV) 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
2.) The truth is, that all of us are loved.
Romans 5:8 (ESV) 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
3.) The truth is, that all of us can have life.
Romans 6:23 (ESV) 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John 10:10 (ESV) 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
4.) The truth is, that all of us can believe and receive.
Romans 10:9-10 (ESV) 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Ephesians 1:19-20 (NLT) 19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.
5.) The truth is, that all of us can be saved.
Romans 10:13 (ESV) 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
SOUL TATTOO: What was once ruined, can be resurrected by Jesus.