Easter 2016: Remember

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 (NIV) Message Title:  “Remember” So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.  I think it is right to refresh your memory…  2 Peter 1:12-15 (NIV) And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things. 2 Peter 1:12-15 (NIV) Leaving that region, they traveled through Galilee. Jesus didn’t want anyone to know he was there, for he wanted to spend more time with his disciples and teach them. Mark 9:30-32 (NLT) He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but three days later he will rise from the dead.” Mark 9:30-32 (NLT) They didn’t understand what he was saying, however, and they were afraid to ask him what he meant. Mark 9:30-32 (NLT) On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.  They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. Luke 24:1-48 (NIV) While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.  In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them… Luke 24:1-48(NIV) …“Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” Luke 24:1-48(NIV) Then they remembered his words. Luke 24:1-48(NIV) When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others.  It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. Luke 24:1-48(NIV) But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Luke 24:1-48(NIV) Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened… Luke 24:1-48(NIV) While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” Luke 24:1-48(NIV) They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. Luke 24:1-48(NIV) He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?  Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. Luke 24:1-48(NIV) And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence. Luke 24:1-48(NIV)  He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. Luke 24:1-48(NIV) He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  You are witnesses of these things. Luke 24:1-48(NIV) The Old Testament POINTS to God… the Gospel is the WAY to God… the New Testament teaches  us how to WALK with God. REMEMBER THE EMPTY GRAVE Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel… 2 Timothy 2:8 (NIV) That Jesus LIVED, means little… That Jesus is ALIVE, means everything.  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. Romans 8:11 (NLT) Jesus didn’t give His life to take you from bad to good… but from death to LIFE! REMEMBER MERCY Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. Psalm 51:4 (NLT) Your darkest moment… couldn’t overshadow He did for YOU. REMEMBER LOVE Love = living for the other person’s good For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NLT) It was not nails that held Him on that cross… it was His love for you. No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. Romans 8:37-39 (NLT) And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. Romans 8:37-39 (NLT) No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39 (NLT) Your biggest mistake… doesn’t change the way He sees you.