It’s the week after Easter and I’m already feeling down and overwhelmed (again). For a post Easter pick-me-up, I’ve summarized my entire Easter sermon in 350 words (minus the Scripture). I pray it encourages you today!
Three reasons why the resurrection still provides us with unshakable hope:
Reason #1: The Resurrection of Jesus offers you God’s Peace
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Jesus offers us lasting peace in the midst of our troubles. Jesus says, “my peace I give you” and “in me you may have peace”. True peace, real peace, according to Jesus, only comes from him, the peace giver. This peace calms our hearts and our fears. This peace is permanent. This peace is not dependent on circumstances. This peace is accessible whenever you need it. But you can’t have peace without the Prince of Peace.
Reason #2: The Resurrection of Jesus offers you God’s Presence
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b
If you carefully look through the entire Bible, “God with us” is one of the primary themes. All of the events found in the Old Testament, were leading up to God himself, putting on flesh, and living among us in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus is God with us. Through his life, death and resurrection, Jesus offers us his presence forever. Jesus essentially says, “Give me all of your sin. I’ll give you my presence. And we’ll call it even.”
Reason #3: The Resurrection of Jesus offers you God’s Power
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms” Ephesians 1:18-20
“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” Philippians 3:10
The problem with religion or self-help, is that you are told to do lots of things without any power to do them. Will power is not really power at all because it’s limited. And yet all throughout Jesus ministry you see his power over disease, nature, evil, and even death. Here’s the kicker to Christianity: This same power is available to you. Power that can heal your diseases. Power that can calm the storms in your life. Power over all evil that plagues you. And even power over your death! But, you need to receive God’s power in order to use it. Without the power of Christ, living in you, you cannot have unshakable hope.
God’s peace, God’s presence and God’s power are all available to you because of the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus offers you unshakable hope.
Respond by trusting and following Jesus today. When you do that, you’ll receive his peace, presence and power. You’ll live with unshakable hope!
Photo by Karolina Bobek ✌ on Unsplash
Pastor Rob Hall 