EASTER THOUGHT

 

Ephesians 1:17-23 – April 12, 2009 – Easter is not just a Bunny.

 

Intro:  I just read the origin of the Easter Bunny traditions.  Unfortunately, Easter has become just that a celebration of a Bunny and the eggs he brings.  We know that Easter is so much more.  It is the event that changed the course of human history, destiny and eternity.

 

1.  Easter is the event that settled the battle of the ages.  Sin, hell, the grave and the devil

     Were defeated at Easter.  The question of man’s separation from God was settled at

     Easter.  The broken body, the shed blood, the death, burial and resurrection settled

     Once and for all God’s demands and man’s inability to meet those demands.  God

     Himself dealt with this. 

2.  Easter is the time where we focus on who Jesus is, what He did and why He came.

     It is a time where the Church worldwide focuses on our mission, destiny and future.

     It is a time to help challenge our apathy, partial surrender, inabilities and excuses.

     It is a time to refocus and retool for the next season of God’s will.

 

3.  So with that in mind this morning there are three questions we need to ask ourselves

     Today.

 

Did Jesus rise from the dead?

 

a.  We must be vitally concerned about this question. 

 

1.  Christian theology is based on this question. 

2.  Our faith rests on this question.  In 1 Cor 15:14, Paul says, “If Christ is not raised from

     The dead, our preaching is useless and so is our faith.”

3.  Jesus veracity and claims rests on this question.  John 2:19-22.  Jesus talk about how

     His body would be raised up in three days.

 

b.  There is evidence that He did rise from the dead.

 

1.  The precautions taken by His enemies.  Matt 27:62-65, 28:11-15

2.  The testimony of the women.  Mark 16:1-7

3.  The biblical lists of eyewitnesses.  Matt 28:16-18, Mark 16:9, John 20:19, 26, 21:1 &

     1 Cor 15:6-8

4. The change in the disciple’s attitude from fear to boldness.

5.  The content of New Testament preaching.  Acts 2:32

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is there life after death?

 

a.  What evidence is there to consider?

 

1.  Science can only bring as far as the grave.

2.  Philosophy can offer only speculation.

3.  There are many testimonies of those who have had death experiences.  T

    

 

b.  What Jesus said about life after death. 

 

1.  To the thief on the cross.  Luke 23:43

2.  To the Jews of His day.  He told them in John 5:25-29, that the dead will hear His

     Voice and will come out of the grave.  Many did when He died.

3.  He told them many would sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of

     Heaven.   Matt 8:11

 

What does one do to prepare for life after death.

 

a.  Many attempt to answer this question.

 

1.  Some advise living an honest upright life.

2.  Some advise joining their religious group.

 

b.  What did Jesus say?

 

1. Believe in Him.  John 3:14-18

2.  Come to God through Him.  John 14:6

3.  Confess and believe.  Rom 10:9-10

QUOTES FOR MAY 21, 2026

 

TAKING CHARGE

 

Deut 31:5-8 – Moses’ Charge to Take the Land

 

Intro:  This message is very fitting for a summer season.  Right now we are resting yet also preparing ourselves for the fall season.  Deuteronomy was a book that was written at the end of 40 years that Israel had spent in the wilderness.  This book actually covers a time period of only 2 months.  It is written in the style of what is called the vassal treaty style.  This was a document set up between two nations after one had been subjecated by another.  It has six parts, the preamble, a history of the Lord in dealing with Israel, a call to whole hearted allegiance to the Lord, detail laws for Israel to follow, the Lord witnesses the covenant and lastly the blessings and cursing that will result in obedience or rebellion to this agreement.

 

1.  The background to this passage, is Moses is 120 years old, the Lord has told him he

     Cannot lead them or cross the Jordan because of his disobedience.  He struck the rock

     Instead of speaking to it.  Now, some would say that God was too harsh but you must

     Understand the closer you are to God the greater expectation He has have in this

     Relationship.  The greater the responsibility, the greater cost when something goes

     wrong.  Talk about the recent fall of the leader of the evangelical in the states.

 

a. Moses reminds them in vs. 3, the Lord Himself would lead the people across the

     Jordan into the promised land.  The Lord would destroy their enemies as He had

     Done previously.

b.  Today, I am speaking about the 236^th  & 237^th  promises of the Bible.  Moses tells

     Israel, that God is going to deliver their enemies and the land into their hands.  A new

     Era of responsibility is about to begin for Israel.  The time of preparation is over. 

     Now it is time to take hold of the possession and promises spoken about.  I believe

     This truth holds true for Hay River and the church in Canada.  Most of us have spent

      A lifetime getting ready, now it is time to take the land. 

c.  The Canadian church, has heard so many prophecies about the coming revival.  God

      says, this morning, these prophecies are over, I have prepared you.  Get ready, the era

      of preparation is over.  God will not hear any more excuses such I am not ready, not

      trained, have a family, I’m investing in my future, have a house payment.  God says,”

      now is the time to shed those things or refocus and put on your battle clothing and go. 

      If you don’t go, others will get what was yours, you will miss the blessings and live

      With the knowledge and regret of an opportunity missed and your rewards given to

      Another.

d.   Moses tells the people and us, that we must do all that the Lord has commanded.

      For Moses and Israel it was to utterly destroy the inhabitants.  For us it a much more

      Pleasant work.  We are told in Matt 28:19-20, to go and preach the gospel, making

      Disciples or teaching them about Christ.  We are to baptised them in the name of the

      Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Help them to testify and make a public choice for

      Christ.

e.  Mark 16:15-18, reminds us that we are to go into all the world and preach this good

     news to all creation.  Mark states, that whoever believes will be saved and whoever

     does not will be condemned.  He also says that signs will follow those who believe.

 

f.   This our promise church.  In His name we can drive out demons, speak in tongues,

      pick up snakes, drink deadly poison and not it hurt us.  This by the way is only a

      reminder of protection.  Talk about the snake churches in the states.  We can lay

      hands on the sick and they will recover.  If you wondering what this message this

      morning is about.  It is about refocus, about getting our armour, weapons and lifestyle

      ready for the move of God that is about to sweep over our community, nation and

      world’s.  Things are about to change church.  It never going to be the same again.

      Tarrying time is over, the Holy Spirit has come, you got everything you need to take

      Your world.

 

2.  Moses in Vs 6, gives a fourfold statement.  First, to be strong and courageous.  The

     Strength and courage will not be your own but the Lord’s.  Remember, Phil 4:13 says,

     We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.  Paul again states in Rom

     8:11 & 37, we have resurrection power in us and that we are more than conquerors..

     The devil in reality is more afraid of us than we should be of him.  Jesus already

      Secured the victory and destroyed his works.

a.  Secondly Moses says to not be afraid or terrified of your enemies.  2 Tim 1:7, says,

     God has not given us a spirit of fear but of love, power and a sound mind.  Church the

      inner Resources are there.  His strength and courage are there.  We just have to apply

      it.  I ‘m not giving another motivational talk.  I am relating biblical truth.  David

     defeated Goliath, Elijah the prophets of Baal, the Hebrew children overcame the fire,

     Daniel survived the lions den, Peter walked out of prison and Paul shook off the snake

     Because they knew in Christ no fear or any thing allied to it, can defeat us.

c.  Why is that church?  Because as Moses said thirdly, the Lord goes with us.  One man

     wrote, “The will of God will never take us where the grace and protection of God

     cannot keep us.  Talk about Patrick taking the nation of Ireland.  God is with us

     church.  In your family, job and situation, God is with you.  Moses lived this.  He said

     to God, if your presence does not go with us, we will not go. 

d.  Fourthly, the Lord will never forsake or leave us.  He is not a fair weather God.  Jesus

     made the same promise in Matt 28:20.  This promise is again stated in Heb 13:5.  We

     also have inside us the resident Holy Spirit.  He gives us power, anointing, authority,

     enablement, wisdom, clarity & boldness.  He gives us gifts and produces in our lives

     fruit that remains.  The Lord is with us Church.

 

3.     In Vs 7-8, Moses brought Joshua before the people.  His task was to go in with the 

People & conquer the land and divide it as their inheritance.  He then gives Joshua the same command and promise.  These promises I have talked about are both for the

      individual believer and the corporate church.  Back in 1994, Carmen stated in a song

      that the world has had it chance, now it is time for the church to arise and take back

     what  is ours.  Hay River Pentecostal Chapel, the churches of Hay River, must arise. 

     Or someone else will come and receive our inheritance, rewards and blessing and as

     far as I am concerned for me and my house that is not going to happen.  I pray it will

     be your resolve as well. 

WHAT IS CHRISTMAS

Dec 20^th 2009 – What is Christmas  - Isaiah 9:6

 

Intro:  Christmas is observed by billions around the world.  For many Santa will be the central figure, giving gifts will be the main activity and good will to all will be the primary meaning.  But what does Christmas reason mean?  For some it is anticipation, preparation, recreation, frustration, prostration and recuperation.

 

1.  For Isaiah looking at it 700 years before the event it looked like this. 

 

a.  For unto us a child born, unto us a son is given.  Isaiah saw this child as a gift, for himself and all mankind.  Do you view Jesus and the salvation as a gift?  A gift you did not deserve and could never have earned.  You know what the best Christmas gift is, “it is being in the presence of a family all wrapped up with one another.”   He saw Jesus as the Son.  Matthew saw Jesus as the Son of God.  Luke and John Saw Him as the Son of Man.  The Father saw Him as a beloved Son in whom He was well pleased, which He testified at Jesus’ water baptism, transfiguration and in the temple just before Jesus died.

b.  Christmas is a testimonial.  It testifies of man’s need, that we have a sinful condition

and our need for a saviour.  We could not save ourselves so Jesus became our substitute.

c.  Christmas is a testimonial to God’s love.  John 3:16 is the succinct statement of what Christmas means. 

d.  Christmas is God’s love responding to man’s need. 

c.  It is a testimonial to the obedience of Jesus Christ. 

 

2.  Isaiah saw the future as a time when, the government will be on His shoulders.  When Christ is truly Saviour and Lord.  There is a new King on the throne of our hearts.  A new sheriff in Dodge, a new potentate in our world.   Who sits on your throne?  It will be shown by how you think, speak, act and live.  What is real exciting that not to far in the distance future this government will be here on earth.

 

a.  Christmas it a tribute of the saving power of Jesus Christ, 

 

1.  People of every generation have celebrated Christmas. 

2.  People of countries around the world celebrated Christmas.   

3.  People of every generation and country have been saved, because Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.  Heb 13:8

 

b.  It is a tribute to the keeping power of Jesus Christ.  This is my 35^th Christmas. 

 

1.  We can trust Jesus to face us.  John 1:12.

2.  We can trust Jesus to keep us.  John 6:38-40 and 1 Pet 1:4-5

Christmas was the time where God shock the world with a babe and not a bomb.

 

3.  Isaiah saw this person as the Wonderful Counselor.  We can go to Jesus with anything and He can guide through the Holy Spirit.  James says if we lack wisdom we can ask of God who gives it to us liberally.  He will help us.

 

a.  Jesus is the Mighty God.   Mark presented the deity of Jesus Christ and proving by what He did.  John presented His deity and then explained it as Jesus being God with a face.  Jesus being 100% God and man.  The perfect mixture and balance of humanity and deity. 

b.  Everlasting Father. Jesus is the author of salvation.  He is integrally connected with the Father.  When you see the Father you see Jesus and vice versa.  The trinity is a mystery.  Yet there are so many illustrations for it, water as a gas, liquid and solid.  Body, soul and spirit, earth, water sky, past, present and future.  He is the Head of the Church, First Born among the Resurrected, Father of Salvation.

c.  Lastly, Isaiah saw Him as the Prince of Peace.  One who gives peace that the world can’t give and the world cannot take away.  E.C. Mckenzie wrote.  “Christmas carollers sing about Peace on Earth, but they don’t tell where to find it.”  My response to that statement is in the arms of the Prince of Peace.  He is the giver and administrator of peace.  Jesus is also known as the Prince of Life.  The irony of  Christmas can be that it is a time to celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace by giving our children replicas of bombs, guns, rockets, machine guns, video games that glorify killing and tanks.

 

4.  Lastly Christmas is a time of thanksgiving. 

 

a.  We should be thankful for God’s provision.  Christ came to save sinners.  1 Tim 1:15 

 

1.  The Holy Spirit came to reprove sinners.  Jn 16:8

2.  The gospel is given to direct sinners.  Rom 1:16

3.  The church is called out to call sinners to Christ.  Matt 28:19-20

 

b.  We should also be thankful for the freedom.

 

1.  To preach the gospel.  There are dozens of countries around the world that do not allow this.  In many in fact it means deportation, imprisonment and even death. 

2.  To respond to the gospel.  In many countries and cultures to become a Christian is an offence punishable by imprisonment, seizure of property, loss of family and again death.

3.  So let us thankful today.  Remember showing good will towards all men is the spice of Christmas.  Also remember how you spend Christmas is more important than how much you spend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOPE

 

May 21 – Hope - Isaiah 29:22-24

 

     One cannot study this book without seeing the personality of the prophet throughout the book.  The zeal, fervency of the Lord burns in his heart.  He offered himself to be a mouthpiece for the Lord.  His desire for justice, mercy and fairness for the innocent is crystal clear in the presentation of this book.  God never divorces our unique gifts and view from the narrative.  Instead, he uses it to deliver an impactful message to exhort the hearers to a deeper and more exciting walk with the Lord. 

      The Lord has a message to the redeemed of Abraham and descendants of Jacob.  They will not be ashamed or pale.  There is going to be a new generation who will serve and do the works of God.  Household salvation is coming.  This next generation will be holy and stand in awe of the God of Israel.  They will mirror the Lord’s essence, character, and nature in the way they live.  The wayward will gain understanding and the complainer will accept instruction.   What a promise.  What a blessing and benefit.  There is hope and a future.

UNUSUAL CHILD

 

Dec 1 – An Unusual Child

 

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

 

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: 

 

This is a work of the Lord.  Creator of the Universe.  God of the ages.  Jehovah Jireh is going to provide.  This is a sign for all.  You will not miss this.  When man refuses to take responsibility for our own actions and ways.  God will provide a way.  Ahaz would not believe or ask the Lord.  You have not because you ask not.  The Lord gives signs to point to something He is doing.  He did not want you to miss His will.

 

The virgin will be with child:  This was going to be a supernatural event.  Nothing like this has happened in history and it will not be repeated or duplicated. 

 

Why is the Virgin Birth Important?

 

1. One reason for Jesus' virgin birth is that it identified Him as the Messiah.  Isaiah     prophesied that a virgin would be with child.
   
   
2. Another reason for the virgin birth is that having a biological father would have annulled Jesus' deity. He could not have been the son of Joseph and the Son of God at the same time. Every person born of man has inherited Adam's sin nature (Romans 5:12,17,19). It was only as God that Jesus could be the perfect sacrifice for sin, so it was the Holy Spirit who conceived Jesus (Luke 1:35).
3. The virgin birth is also a picture of our role in salvation: acceptance. Joseph had no part whatsoever in the conception of Jesus. Mary's role was passive; she merely accepted God's gift. As Ephesians 2:8-9says, the work of salvation is done by God alone. Neither holiness nor salvation can be brought about by the effort of man.
4. Those who reject the virgin birth also reject the deity of Jesus, the sin nature of man, and the inspiration of the Word of God. Therefore, a denial of the virgin birth is antithetical to the Christian faith. God is all-powerful. Jesus is God. The Bible is God's Word.
5. It is the see of the woman who will crush the head of the serpent

 

And will give birth to a son.  His gender was known.  Jesus would carry the heir ship of His family.  As a male He would have the glory of the family and the right of the first born.  It was predicted that the Messiah would be male.  First,

 

1.      Jesus Christ had to come as a man to rule on the throne of David, the first king of Israel.

2. Jesus Christ became a man to reveal the Father (John 1:14, 18). The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (literally placed His tent among us). No man has seen God in all His glory except the very unique, special Son who has a special relationship with the Father, and He has clearly explained Him. The writer of the New Testament book of John declares we have seen, touched, and held the very Son of God who became a man to reveal the Father (1 John 1:1).

3.      Jesus Christ had to become a man to redeem mankind. Jesus had to have a body in order to pay

4.      the penalty for sin (Hebrews 10:1-18). Without the shedding of blood there is no removal of sin. Jesus had to be a man to pay the penalty for sin, but He must be God to satisfy God’s perfect demands for sin.  Therefore, Jesus became a man to rule, to reveal, and to redeem.

And will call him Immanuel. There is no name more significant than "Immanuel". This name, which Matthew refers to in his Gospel (Matthew 1:23), was first given to Jesus by the prophet Isaiah 700 years before His birth (Isaiah 7:14). Matthew tells us, means "God with us." Jesus Christ is Immanuel, "God with us," 

The birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem, Immanuel, "God With Us," takes on a whole new meaning. For in the person of baby Jesus, God is "with us" not merely to bless us. Nor is He with us in the sense that He is going to merely work through Jesus to help us, protect us, and guide us. No-the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay is "God with us" because He is God.  St. John the Evangelist under the inspiration of the Spirit would write the perfect commentary on the Christmas events. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; and all things were made through Him and apart from Him nothing was made which was made...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:1-3, 14).

The true message of Christmas is one to stagger the imagination: The Second Person of the Trinity, the only begotten Son of the Father, the eternal Word, our Creator wills to clothe Himself in our nature, and to become man, our brother, one of us. God Himself lies in the manger, completely human, completely Divine.

 

The Lord has done this.  It is His work,  What we need to do it live in the reality of this and consider what we have heard as we celebrate communion.

 

 

QUOTES FOR MAY 20, 2026