Applying the Easter Message
Philippians 2:1-11
- What a fantastic day to be in God’s house!
-- Today, everywhere, Christians are celebrating the incredible gift God gave us
-- But why do we celebrate? Why is there joy to be in God’s house today?
- Simple: Jesus … is ALIVE!
- Today we not only celebrate Jesus’ glorious resurrection (most known story), but,
-- We also look to the Word of God to see how we can be more like His Son
-- This allows us to examine how we can change our lives to be more like Jesus.
- Read Philippians 2:1-11
- Pray
∆ Point 1 – How is your attitude? (Verse 5)
- Let’s ponder the question above … what a challenge to so many today!
- Often times we have issues relating to one another
-- Jesus never had a problem talking to people as He often spoke from the heart
-- He controlled his emotions and responded with what people needed
-- Sometimes, we seem to miss that He is the model we should live our lives by
- APP: Jesus’ attitude was in control, on time, and always ready with an answer
- This morning, many of may be facing life’s challenges with a heavy burden
-- Perhaps it’s made you feel that God has abandoned you?
-- Or maybe you’re convinced that God has forgotten about your troubles?
-- Or worse, you’ve even stopped praying because you don’t think He cares
-- Could it be … life’s events have affected your attitude regarding Easter?
- We know Easter is not about a bunny rabbit; it’s not about an egg hunt
-- Easter is the celebration of victory over death, hell, and the grave … for us!
-- When Jesus emerged from the tomb, He stepped into the role of Master!
-- He was no longer a servant, but as the only One with the authority to judge
-- APP: He went through the very gates of hell so we could believe Him and live
- He is the same Jesus that emerged from the tomb and comforted Mary
- He is the one who restored Peter after he denied Christ three times
- He is the one who appeared to Thomas to settle his doubts about Him
- He is the same Lord who called Paul on the road to Damascus
- He is the same one in Revelation Chapter 1 revealed to John
- He is the same Christ on the throne in Revelation 3 and 4 being worshiped
- He is the Lord who is promised to come back and redeem His church
- He is the great I Am …. He is worthy to be praised today!
- Because of Easter we ought to celebrate; but also ought to examine ourselves
-- We should be able to see where we need to change to be more like Him
- Today is not a funeral service … Today is not a day to be sad or glum
-- Today is a celebration that because Jesus paid the price for your sins
-- Because you are redeemed, you can be free and have victory over sin/death
-- It is a day to rejoice, and also a day to examine our hearts to be more like Him!
- TRANS: Perhaps this Easter we can examine our attitude and change. Why?
∆ Point 2 – Jesus’s attitude was also God’s Attitude (Verse 6-8)
- Jesus took on the form of Man, even though He was still fully God
-- Came to show us that even as the Son of God; serving others is most important
- He dwelt among us as flesh and bone; had experiences
-- He experienced the same things that we experienced; had emotions
-- But He was perfect; one without sin and who could pay for debt of ALL sin
-- IMP: But more than that, Jesus was always alive – He is eternal
- Turn to John 1
- John 1:1, “In the beginning the Word was God, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” From the very beginning, the Word of God was present
-- Everything that we need; or will need; comes from His Word and from Him
-- He is the provider and the one we should seek nourishment from each day!
- John 1:2, “He was with God in the beginning.”
-- When God said let us make man in our image, he was not talking to Himself!!
- John 1:3, “Through Him all things were made, without Him nothing was made that has been made.” He had knowledge of everything; His power is remarkable
-- Nothing on this Earth has been done outside of the knowledge of God
-- He created it all, and His creation exists because of who He is
- John 1:4, “In him was life, and that life was the light of men.”
-- This is critical: Jesus already was … and IS … life!
-- He was born, but not before He already was alive as part of the Trinity!
-- Because of His devotion to His Father, He left the glories of Heaven
-- This exemplifies Jesus’ attitude; one of submission to God’s plan for us
- IMP: Our faith must center on these basic tenants of the Christianity
- It does not center on our acts:
-- Coming to church is not what makes you a Christian.
-- Giving money or goods is not what makes you a Christian.
-- Working in the church is not what makes you a Christian.
-- Listen to Christian radio does not make you a Christian.
- APP: What makes you a Christian is accepting that Jesus died for your sins
-- Through Him we are forgiven (1 John 1:9), because of His obedience to God
-- His obedience offers us entry into the Kingdom of Heaven if we accept it
-- Jesus Christ was obedient to His Father, and our role is to be obedient to Him
- When we see His attitude, we see a servant, and we should we one also (v7-8)
-- Jesus’ servanthood is what took Him to the cross: this is our example to follow
-- We should be willing to celebrate His victory; to praise what He has done
- Even though Jesus was fully human (v8), He humbled Himself to God’s will
-- Dying on a cross is the most brutal death that anyone could face at that time
-- The Romans knew this, and they had dialed into a brutal manner of execution
∆ What is a Crucifixion?
The legionnaire feels for the depression at the front of the wrist. He drives a heavy, square, wrought-iron nail through the wrist and deep into the wood. Quickly, he moves to the other side and repeats the action, being careful not to pull the arms too tightly, but to allow some flexion and movement.
The left foot is now pressed backward against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees moderately flexed. The Victim is now crucified. As He slowly sags down with more weight on the nails in the wrists, excruciating pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain — the nails in the wrists are putting pressure on the median nerves.
As He pushes Himself upward to avoid this stretching torment, He places His full weight on the nail through His feet. Again there is the searing agony of the nail tearing through the nerves between the metatarsal bones of the feet. At this point, as the arms fatigue, great waves of cramps sweep over the muscles, knotting them in deep, relentless, throbbing pain. With these cramps comes the inability to push Himself upward. Hanging by his arms, the pectoral muscles are paralyzed and the intercostal muscles are unable to act. Air can be drawn into the lungs, but cannot be exhaled. Jesus fights to raise Himself in order to get even one short breath. Finally, carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and in the blood stream and the cramps partially subside. Spasmodically, he is able to push Himself upward to exhale and bring in the life-giving oxygen.
Jesus experienced hours of limitless pain, cycles of twisting, joint-rending cramps, intermittent partial asphyxiation, searing pain where tissue is torn from His lacerated back as He moves up and down against the rough timber. Then another agony begins -- a terrible crushing pain deep in the chest as the pericardium slowly fills with serum and begins to compress the heart.
The loss of tissue fluids has reached a critical level; the compressed heart is struggling to pump heavy, thick, sluggish blood into the tissue; the tortured lungs are making a frantic effort to gasp in small gulps of air. The markedly dehydrated tissues send their flood of stimuli to the brain.
The body of Jesus is now in extremes, and He can feel the chill of death creeping through His tissues. This realization brings out three words, possibly little more than a tortured whisper, “It is finished.” His mission of atonement has completed. Finally He can allow his body to die.
- TRANS: Always remember what Jesus did on Calvary to get to the resurrection
-- IMP: THAT is the message of Easter! He obeyed, and died, to redeem us
∆ Point 3 – What Jesus did – God rewarded! (Verse 9-11)
- THEREFORE (v9) … b/c Jesus was obedient, He was rewarded by the Father!
- Because Jesus obeyed the Father, God exalted Him to the highest place
-- He gave Him a name that would rise above every other name! (v10)
-- Because of the cross, a time will come when every knee will bow before Him
-- And every tongue (even those dead for ages) will confess that He is Lord (v11)
- This morning, Jesus is on the Throne of Heaven offering God’s forgiveness
-- He is no longer dead; this is not a funeral; He is alive!
-- And His forgiveness is offered to all those who would hear … and accept it
- This morning, like no other morning, we celebrate His resurrection
-- We celebrate the incredible price He paid for our sins because we are loved
- Jesus willingly did all the Father asked Him to do; with one thought in mind
-- IMP: You and I would love one another and show His love to all those in need
- On the night he was betrayed, Jesus told his disciples: John 15:9, “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Abide in my love.”
-- His final instruction to all would be that we would love one another
∆ Big Idea (Note the empty tomb on the slide)
- Easter offers us a tremendous opportunity to worship and humble ourselves
-- We have seen and heard what He has done for us; but do we love Him in return?
-- Do we worship, serve, exalt Him as we should? Or are we still our own gods?
- How’s your attitude? Are you lacking in faith? Do you need to be renewed?
-- Perhaps this morning might be an opportunity to renew that relationship
-- To come to Him for forgiveness OR to worship him for all that He has done
-- Maybe today is the first time you are ready to submit to Him as Lord?
- Whatever God may be saying to you, I want you to know you are not alone
-- There is no shame in reaching out; in seeking others to walk through life with
-- Jesus called us to love, and then He went and demonstrated His love on a cross
- Thank God, the story didn’t end there, and He rose three days later
-- He is risen to complete the Father’s plan, to defeat death, hell, and the grave
-- Why? On Mar 27, 2016 – you would be given one more chance to accept Him
- Won’t you lean into His love and mercy, and stop trying to do it on your own?
(Invite Jack) During our time of invitation we will also have communion
1 Corinthians 11:28-34 says, “A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.”
Please, do not partake of the Lord’s Supper with sins that are not confessed before the Lord. There is no other time that is more serious than right now, and your soul needs to be right before God. To take of the Lord’s Supper with sin on your heart is to open yourself up to God’s judgment. He is not interested in your religious actions – He is interested in your heart’s condition.
∆ Lord’s Supper
As we have this time of invitation – this is for you to prepare
If you need to pray with someone, I’d be more than happy to help any way I can
If you need to know Jesus, I’d love to introduce you to Him as your Lord
When you are ready, the communion table is open for you
Pray
