Embracing the Transformative Power of the Resurrection

Ladies and gentlemen , beloved , look at the atmosphere in the United States of America right now . Pay attention to the dissemination of hate , evil , the political bickering . Right now , families are concerned with politics in America more than they are with Christ , and I don't mean that as a generalization . I mean that is happening in our country right now .

Some people are waiting for Donald Trump to save them , to bring back a so-called theocratic institution , so to speak , a man sent or ordained by God . But remember the words of Christ render to Caesar's what is Caesar's and render to God's what is God's . Whose face is on the coin ? Beloved , institutions of man are institutions of man .

We will not get our solution from a earthly king , from an earthly president , whether it's a democrat like joe biden , whether it's a republican like donald trump . Why do I bring that up ? Well , ladies and gentlemen , I bring that up .

Well , ladies and gentlemen , I bring that up because I want to let you know we have a king that's not human in the sense of a fallen human . He is 100% God and he's 100% man . But , thank God , the kingdom of heaven is not of this world , and I've seen families break apart . I've seen people get into arguments and miss the beauty of the gospel .

Ladies and gentlemen , we can deal with our anxiety , our loss of hope , our depression , our loss of hope , our depression , our fallen nature , by giving everything to God and letting God heal us . Ladies and gentlemen , because the crucifixion is sweet .

And I want to say another thing and I want to point something out , and I don't want a lot of you to be offended by this , but I've noticed that we have Easter and we call Resurrection Sunday Easter . I prefer to call today Resurrection Sunday . Can I get an amen ?

And the reason why is I've noticed in a lot of churches that have made Resurrection Sunday synonymous with Easter and call it Easter pretty much a lot all the time , that there's a lot of Sunday messages that don't have anything to do with the resurrection of Jesus Christ .

This should be the day around the world where we proclaim the glory of God , we proclaim the Messiah , we proclaim the resurrection . We , as Christians , proclaim to the masses our king has conquered . Conquered what , ladies and gentlemen beloved ?

Conquered the demonic forces , conquered the failures of humanity , conquered the rebellion of Adam and Eve through the Garden of Eden , through the New Covenant , the Messiah Covenant , through Jesus Christ , that gave us the Holy Spirit freely .

Ladies and gentlemen , and I want to start off by reading chapter 8 in the book of Matthew and I was doing a genealogical discussion on my previous show , but I want to read to you about the demons and what they knew to a and the conquering of our Lord and Savior , jesus Christ . Are you ready , ladies and gentlemen beloved ? I want to talk about Jesus .

When he crossed the countryside and he went to the country of the Gadareans and the demons asked him an important question . I want to start off on chapter 8 in the book of Matthew , on verse 28 , where Jesus heals two men with demons . Verse 28 where Jesus heals two men with demons .

And when he came to the other side , to the country of the Gadareans , two demon-possessed men met with him coming out of the tombs , so fierce that no one could pass that way . I want you to think about that .

These men were so consumed and overcome by demonic possession that no one , no force , no Roman , no Jew could pass that way , because they fell so far from God and they become overcome , I should say , with evil . And behold , they cried out . What have you to do with us , o Son of God ?

These two men , these demons , see the majesty of Christ , the power , the Son of God , and they cry out what have you to do with us ? Leave us alone , let us torment the world , let us torment this man , o Son of God , let us do what we're doing .

And they ask a question have you come here to torment us before the time , ladies and gentlemen , what time are these demons talking about ?

The time , the end , the lake of fire reserved for Satan and his demons , a place of torment , a place where the rebelliousness individuals go , where there's weeping and gnashing of teeth , where you never find peace , where it's absent hell , that is , of God's love , of God's mercy , of God's truth , of God's paradise , of God's wholeness and the dwelling with Him as

the Father . And that's why the demons are saying have you come to torment us before the time , the time of our judgment , the time of our destruction . Now , a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them and the demons begged him . That is Christ saying If you cast us out , send us away into the herd of pigs Beloved .

If we read the Old Testament and we read the ceremonial laws and what Jews could eat , they were forbidden to eat pork . They were forbidden to eat pigs . They were unclean animals , a representation , you can say , of the Gentile nations around them . They were disgusting . They would eat anything . And so Jews looked at pigs as an abomination .

And the Messiah , the Jews of all Jews , was asked a question . The demons begged him , saying If you cast us out , send us into the herd of pigs , because it's better to punish us that way before the time of the time . And he said to them Go , all Jesus has to do is speak to conquer , to show his presence , to conquer .

That is the Messiah we serve and this is before the crucifixion beloved . So they came out , went into the pigs and behold , the whole herd rushed down to the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters . And I want you to think about this act . Christ said go , cast them out of the men that went into the pigs , signifying .

You can see a double uncleanness , an infinite uncleanness . And they rushed down to the sea . And the Jews knew that the sea and the waters was a place of turmoil , could not be controlled , of darkness , of oblivion . Once you drown in the dark waters you never come back . And the demons begged Christ to let the pigs and the water take them .

The herdsmen fled and going into the city , they told everything . These herdsmen watched by , they watched their economy go downhill , so to speak . That was their means of living . They witnessed a miraculous event the Gadareans , christ exercising these men , putting him into pigs and drowning them .

So the herdsmen fled , going down the city , told everything , especially what happened to the demon-possessed men . And behold all the city came out to meet Jesus and when they saw him they begged him to leave their region . Beloved , the Messiah came , performed a miracle , cast out the demons , rendered them to pigs and drowned them .

And the city came out and begged Jesus to leave the region . They didn't want the Messiah . They had no oil in their lamp , they were concerned with pork and pigs and what they had to eat in their lamp .

They were concerned with pork and pigs and what they had to eat in their economy more than the one , the only one , the Messiah , the Savior , that can heal them of all sickness , all fears , everything , and that is the personification of love , because he is love and they asked him to leave , beloved .

There are people today that Jesus is knocking at the door and they ask him to leave because they simply are concerned more with the pigs , sin , wickedness , than being healed by the love of Christ Beloved . If that's you today , I pray that you will open your heart and accept Jesus and confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Christ can save you .

Ladies and gentlemen , let's listen to the story that we just read .

Leave us , jesus . Leave us now . Leave our city . We no longer want you here . We don't want any more problems from you . Look what you did to our livestock . Look what you did to our livestock . Look what you did to our food supply . Jesus , just leave . Please go now . We no longer want you here . Go away , don't come back .

Look what this guy , jesus , did to us . Look what he did to our farms , our pigs , our community . Go away , jesus . Do not come back and disturb us . We no longer want you . My God , please forgive them . You created such a miracle for me .

When the Son of man comes in His glory , and all the angels with Him , he will sit on His glorious throne . All the nations will be gathered before Him and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats . He will put the sheep on His right side and the goats on his left .

Then the king will say to those on his right come , you who are blessed by my father , take your inheritance . The kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world . God has prepared an inheritance for us if we just accept him , accept his crucifixion , resurrection and be born again by belief .

And I like how Wesley put it when it came to the graces , prevenient grace . This is God setting a grace for each one of us before our birth . And then we got that convicting grace , the grace that convicts us when God illuminates our mind and searches us out .

And then we have that cooperating grace where we can say , father , I choose to confess you with my mouth and believe in my heart . Or one can say , I rather be rebellious and run .

But for those that accept and cooperate with the grace , we have sanctifying grace and we can go on to look more like Christ , our Messiah that saved us by shedding his blood at Calvary . Saved us by shedding his blood at Calvary . And let's continue on , ladies and gentlemen , verse 34 . Then the king will say to those on his right Come you who are ?

blessed by my father , take your inheritance . The kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world . For when I was hungry , you gave me something to eat . I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink . I was a stranger and you invited me in . I needed clothes and you clothed me . I was sick and you looked after me .

I was in prison and you came to visit me . Then the righteous will answer him Lord , when did we see you hungry and feed you , or thirsty and give you something to drink ? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in , or needing clothes to clothe you ? When did we see you sick or in prison and go visit you ? The king will reply truly .

I tell you , whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine , you did for me . So Jesus equates showing love in his name , the seal of redemption , pouring out charity and helping people in prison need to be clothed and taking the stranger in . But look what Christ says to those on the left .

What Christ says to those on the left , then he will say to those on his left depart from me . You are cursed into the eternal fire , prepared for the devil in his angels . Lord , have you come before the time ? Do you remember that the place prepared weeping and gnashing of teeth ? For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat .

I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink . I was a stranger and you did not invite me in . I needed clothes and you did not clothe me . I was sick and in prison and you did not clothe me . I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me .

Then also will answer Lord when did we see you hungry or thirsty , or a stranger , or needing clothes , or sick or in prison , and did not help you ? And the Lord will reply to them . You and the lord will reply to them .

Truly , I tell you , whatever you did not for one of the least of these , you did not do for me , then they will go away to eternal punishment , but the righteous to eternal life . Ladies and gentlemen , the reason why I brought up the politics , the divisiveness , the hate , the anger in this world is because it's dragging people to hell . Don't get up .

Don't get caught up with politics , don't get caught up with all of these earthly things that are gonna weigh you down . Grab on to the hem of the messiah's garment and experience his power and his love , mercy , accept the gift at Calvary , the one that was crucified for us . No-transcript , because he is such an amazing Savior .

Christ took the sin of the world , became sin to deliver us , and he was crucified for us . Beloved , let's pick up and make a transition to John , chapter 19 , and just witness what Christ took on for us . Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him , and the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe .

They came up to him saying hell , the king of the Druze , and struck him with their hands . Pilate went out again and said to him see , I am bringing out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him . So Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe . Pilate said to him Behold the man .

When the chief priests and the officers saw him , they cried out Crucify him , crucify him . Pilate said to them Take him yourself and crucify him to them . Take him yourself and crucify him , for I find no guilt in him . The Jews answered him we have a law and according to the law he ought to die because he made himself the son of God .

But you see , jesus demonstrated that he was the son of God , freeing the demon-possessed men , breaking their chains , casting the demons into the pigs . And that went around the entire country . No doubt the Pharisees heard it , no doubt the Sadducees heard it , but they wanted him dead . When Pilate heard this statement , he was even more afraid .

He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus when are you from ? But Jesus gave him no answer . So Pilate said to him you will not speak to me . Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you ? Jesus answered him you would have no authority over me at all , unless it has been given to you from above .

Therefore , he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin . And Jesus was crucified for us . Hate , anger . They wanted an earthly Messiah . The people , the Gadareans , drove him out . They weren't looking with their spiritual eyes , they hardened their heart .

So , jesus , they took him and he went out , bearing his own cross , to the place of the skull , which in Aramaic is called Gilgatha . There they crucified him , and with him two others , one on either side and Jesus between them . Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross , and it read Jesus of Nazareth , king of the Jews .

Many of the Jews read this inscription , for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city and it was written in Aramaic , latin and Greek . So the chief priest of the Jews said to Pilate do not write the King of the Jews , but rather this man said I am the king of the Jews . Pilate answered what I have written , I have written .

When the soldiers have crucified Jesus , they took his garment and divided it into four parts , one for each soldier , also his tunic . But the tunic was seamless , woven into one piece from top to bottom . So they said to one another Let us not tear it , but let us cast lots so it could be one of ours .

This was to fulfill the scripture , which says they divided my garments among them and for my clothing they cast lots . Ladies and gentlemen , we worship god . They destroyed him , they beat him , they pierced his side , they killed him and our god was resurrected and we worship him because of his power and his glory . And he's the son of god and he resurrected .

Now , on the first day of the week , mary magdalene came to his tomb early , while it was still dark , and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb . So she ran and went to simon peter and the other disciple , the one whom jesus loved , and said to them , they have taken the lord . Out with the other disciple and they were going toward the tomb .

Both of them were running but the other went out with the other disciple and they were going towards the tomb , went out with the other disciple and they were going towards the tomb , but both of them running together .

But the other disciple outrun Peter and reached the tomb first and stooping to look in he saw the linen cloth lying there but he did not go in .

Then Simon Peter came following him and went into the tomb , he saw the linen cloth lying there and the face cloth which had been on Jesus' head , not lying with the linen cloth but folded up in a place by itself .

Then the other disciple , who had reached the tomb first , also went in and he saw and believed For as yet they did not understand the scripture that he must rise from the dead . And then the disciples went back to their homes . Ladies and gentlemen , I want to tell you believe , believe in this Christ . He's redeemed us and we glorify him today .

Jesus is beautiful , the only God , the only Messiah . I want to thank you for being with me today and I want to close in a prayer , if you want to bow your head and close your eyes with me . Prayer If you want to bow your head and close your eyes with me . Father , god , we thank you for sending your son , for satisfying your wrath .

We did not deserve your love . You were in perfect love , but you chose , out of your love , to love us . If anybody's listening to this podcast , I pray that you remake them , that they're born again when they accept you , that their heart becomes a heart of flesh , changed from a heart of stone , and that they leap like a deer in paradise .

I pray that you pour the Holy Spirit out across the nation and across the world and you proclaim your son's miraculous work of resurrection . In Jesus' name , amen , beloved . I want to thank you . I love you . Godspeed until we meet again

. This is Pastor Joshua on the Saints have Overcome Ministries .

Oh , how he loves us all . Oh how he loves us , how he loves us all . And he is jealous for me , loves like a hurricane . I am a tree , bending near the weight of His wind and mercy , eclipse by glory , and I realize just how beautiful you are and how great your affections are for me . Oh , how he loves , yeah , he loves us . Oh how he loves us .

Oh , how he loves us . Oh , how he loves us . Oh , how he loves , and we are His portion and he is our prize , drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes , drawn to redemption by the grace in his eyes . If his grace is an ocean , we're all sinking and heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss , and my heart turns violently inside of my chest .

I don't have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way , oh , how he loves us all . Oh , how he loves us , how he loves us , how he loves us all , how he loves .