Bible Text: John 21 | Preacher: Pastor Steve | Series: Easter, Transformed Living
Matthew 28:2-6 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came 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 from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.  So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.
The stone was rolled away NOT to let Jesus out, but so the disciples (and us) could look in.
What you do matters!
Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.  But his delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
Today we declare that EASTER matters!
…that Jesus died on the cross
…that Jesus was put into a tomb
…that Jesus body was wrapped in cloths
…that a stone was place in the entrance of the tomb
…that the stone has been rolled away
…that the tomb is empty
…that Jesus appeared to over 500 eye witnesses
…that Jesus ascended into heaven
…that Jesus is in heaven seated on the throne
…that we believe and receive Jesus as our Savior and Lord
Happy 80th Birthday Abundant Life Foursquare Church!
In 1935, twelve people where sent out to plant a church; from 1935 to 1989: 784 people received Jesus.
In the past twenty-five  years, 1990 to 2015:  4047 people have received Jesus, and the church has grown from 12 people to 1164 people today!
PETER WHAT YOU DID MATTERS!
John 21:15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?
John 21:16-19 He said to Him, Yes, Lord; You know that I love You. He said to him, feed My lambs. He said to him again a second time, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me? He said to Him, Yes, Lord; You know that I love You. He said to him, tend My sheep. He said to him the third time, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me? Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, Do you love Me? And he said to Him, Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You. Jesus said to him, feed My sheep. Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish. This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, follow Me.
“Follow Me”
present tense imperative that means to keep on following
“Follow Me”
requires consistency, discipleship, passion and sacrifice.
“Follow Me”
means continuing with God’s work; God’s way; not our way!
What we do matters!
And like Peter, we often go back to our old way of living and WE RUN!
Life is not a dress rehearsal!
It is time to surrender yourself to Jesus, really give it up to Him—it is the only way.
Raise the flag of surrender!!
God will renew, restore and redeem!
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
God uses us, and it matters that we pray!
John 14:12 I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.
Do you need Power to overcome?
John 16:33 – take heart, because I have overcome the world!
Believe and Receive
John 11: 25-26 Jesus said: I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live even though he dies and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.  Do you believe this?
Confess
Romans 10:9 …that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Forgiveness
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Invite
John 1: 12-13 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.