WHAT’S REALLY IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS EVENT
CALLED THE RESURRECTION!
On March 9th, 1996 George Burns died and a few days later was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park next to his wife and sidekick, Gracie Allen, who died of a heart attack in l964.
George Burns has gone down in the history books as one of the greatest entertainers of our day!
Milton Berle said, “I have lost one of my dearest friends...I figure George is probably up there in heaven speaking to St. Peter and doing some one-liners on him.”
People would ask George, “George? You’re drinking martinis, smoking cigars, what do your doctors think?” He would say, “They don’t say anything . . . they’re not alive.”
His real name wasn’t George, it was Nathan, Nathan Birnbaum! One of the things George/Nathan will always be remembered for is that he lived to be 100 years old. Even though he lived to be 100, he still died!
Years ago, and I’m sure some of you, if you’re a baseball fan, will remember this, on a Monday afternoon major league umpire, John McSherry, who had planned to see a doctor the next day, collapsed 7 pitches into the Cincinnati Reds opening day baseball game at Riverfront Stadium. He wasn’t 100 years old. He was 51.
There he was, umpiring a baseball game. He calls “time out,” turns, takes a few steps and in front of 53,000 people he falls to the ground, face first. He never regained consciousness.
On a Tuesday evening in 1996, I was playing in a softball game in Elizabeth City. It was a great night to play ball, it was clear, warm, and the ball was just jumping off of the bat. I was standing in the coaches box on first base. One of my teammates, Waymoth Stafford was up to bat. The pitch was delivered and Waymoth swung and he absolutely crushed the ball. I remember watching the ball as it cleared the 300 ft. fence by 30 feet, and then I turned back to congratulate Waymoth as he ran past me, but when I turned back all I saw was Waymoth hitting the ground with a heart wrenching thud. Where he fell is where he died . . . 53 years old, and in seemingly great health.
Folks, last time I checked the records, the death ratio in America was still 100%.
We don’t all die...when we’re umpiring a baseball game.
We don't all die...while playing softball games.
We don’t all die...when we’re 100 years old.
BUT WE ALL DIE!
When we come face to face with the one enemy against whom every person is completely powerless...is it any wonder we look to our only source of hope...the resurrected Jesus?
There’s something about death that cuts through externals.
Death reminds us of what really is important!
The only thing that matters when you die is NOT...
The star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
How many Grammys or Oscars you’ve won
How many dollars you’ve earned
How many birthdays you’ve celebrated
Or what your real name is
THE ONLY THINGS THAT MATTER ARE...the 2 things I want to talk to you about today:
#1 Do you believe Jesus died on that cross? I want to ask you, “Do you believe with all of your heart that Jesus died?”
#2 Do you believe with all of your heart that Jesus resurrected?
Let’s look at that first question. Do you believe that Jesus died? I want you to look at the death of Jesus.
In Ephesians 1: 7 & 8 Paul says, talking about Jesus, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.”
Look there in Ephesians 2:13. It says, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.”
What that’s saying is that in and of ourselves, our sin separates us from God. My sin separates me from God. Your sin separates you from God. But the blood of Christ is what unites us with Christ it’s what brings us near to God and gives us unity and peace with God.
Go over to Ephesians 5:25-27 and read that with me. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”
Friends, Jesus Christ loved the Church so much that He was willing to die so that she might have everlasting life. Now folks, I believe that the death of Jesus Christ is one of the most important truths that we need to believe in. When He died He died for you and for me. He shed that blood for the forgiveness of our sins.
Let me share with you a list of THINGS I WILL NEVER HEAR: I will never hear these things.
I will never hear Ed McMahon say, “Congratulations you’ve won the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes.” I’ll never hear that.
I will never hear a call from Nashville to cut a music video. That’s never going to happen.
I will never hear my wife say, “Gee, honey you’re absolutely right, how could I have been so wrong?” I’ll never hear Teresa say that.
I will never hear this, “Mr. Cuthbertson, we here at the IRS are not that interested in accuracy, we’re here to help you!”
And to be honest, sometimes knowing that I will NEVER hear these statements sometimes depresses me a little bit.
But when I look at the BIG PICTURE of what’s REALLY important, there’s only ONE thing that I’m glad I’ll never hear:
And that’s on the day of Judgement standing before the Lord God of this universe I will NOT hear, “Chris Cuthbertson, you are the most insincere, worthless, despicable, reprobate I have ever encountered in the entire history of humanity! YOU SICKEN ME!”
Even though that statement might be extremely accurate I’ll hear instead the most beautiful sound from my FATHER IN HEAVEN saying, “YOU’RE FORGIVEN, YOU’VE RECEIVED YOUR PARDON BECAUSE YOU’RE UNDER THE BLOOD OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.”
I know this happened quite a few years ago, and I’m hesitant to even bring it up, but I’m still bothered by the entire O.J. Simpson trial.
I don’t know how you felt in those moments leading up to the reading of the verdict. I found myself getting nervous. I could tell O.J. was nervous. He stood to face his judgement...and the verdict was read. In a moment of great drama...
“In the matter of the people of the state of California vs. Orenthal James Simpson, case number B.A. 097211, we the jury find the defendant NOT GUILTY of the crime of murder in violation of Penal Code 187a, a Felony, upon Nicole Brown Simpson.”
Can you imagine if you were in his shoes??? The rest of your life and your future is going to be determined by the next few words that come out of the mouth of those jurors while you’re sitting in that Judgement Seat?
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, is this your verdict? So say you one, so say you all?
And all of a sudden, it HIT ME!!! That’s exactly what’s going to happen to EVERY ONE OF US. One day we’ll stand before a Holy God and we’ll face judgement. You talk about being nervous!! Because we know, beyond a shadow of a doubt...
That we’re guilty
That we’re sinners
That we’ve done wrong
WE KNOW IT!!!
And we better have a good defense attorney and guess what the good news is? We do have a good defense attorney.
The book of Hebrews says that Jesus Christ is our advocate . . . the Bible says that Jesus is our defense attorney. And He stands before God. And Jesus is going to say to God, “God, I’ve already paid the penalty for Chris’ sin through my death, sacrifice and blood.”
Chris’ sins are WASHED, ERASED, FORGIVEN, ABSOLVED, PARDONED, ABOLISHED, ACQUITTED, REMOVED, CANCELLED, BLOTTED OUT, NULLIFIED, DELETED, CLEARED, GONE.
And all God’s people said...AMEN!
That’s what believing in HIS death means!
Now, what about this RESURRECTION thing? What’s that all about?
Listen...I have a strange theory. We normally equate the death of Jesus Christ with our sins being removed right now and they are. And we equate the resurrection of Jesus Christ with something that happens after we die. Jesus Christ came out of the tomb, so we equate the resurrection with something that happens when we die. They throw us in that grave and someday we know that because Jesus came out of the tomb, our lives are going to resurrect. Is everybody with me? Over here we have the death. We equate that with our sins being washed. We equate the death as having something to do with the here and the now. We equate the resurrection with something that’s going to take place after we’re gone from here and we die . . . that’s what the resurrection is all about.
Today I want to FLIP-FLOP those two things. I want you, in your mind, to know that when Jesus died on that cross to wash away our sins, I want you to equate that with the next life. I want you to equate the fact that your sins are washed as what enables you to go to heaven. Because no one gets to heaven unless their sins have been washed away. So I want you to equate death with the next life. Death means you get to go to Heaven when you die.
I want you to equate the resurrection with right now, with the here and now . . . April 16th, 2000. Don’t equate the resurrection with something that takes place after you’re dead. I want you to equate it with something that happens right now in your life. The resurrection deals with the here and now.
Ephesians 1:18 - 23 says, (READ!) That power that brought Christ out of the tomb . . . the Bible says that that power that allowed Christ to defeat death . . . the Bible says that that power that enabled Christ to defeat sin . . . the Bible says that that power that enabled Christ to defeat Satan . . . that same power is in us! We have that same resurrection power once we become an immersed believer. God equips us with the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8 says that you will be given power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. Can somebody say Amen!
My friends, this power is real . . . this power is in you and me . . . this power enables us to do God’s will in our daily lives.
So remember that the death has to do with what gets us into heaven, but the resurrection power is something that’s inside of us right now. And we have to understand that Jesus coming out of that tomb . . . it’s not just an historic event! It has to be something that’s personal to you . . . it’s a daily thing!
This power has to do with
How you feel when you get up in the morning
It has to do with how you treat your spouse
It has to do with how you treat your children
It has to do with how you treat your neighbors
It’s the power of the Resurrection, through the Holy Spirit of God, that lives in us, that makes it possible for us to live the way God wants us to live!
I have to be truthful with you today. And that is that my heart today is very heavy. And in a sense I almost have a broken heart here today. There are so many problems that we face, so many struggles that we come up against, so many burdens to carry, and to be honest I’m not sure that I’m capable of holding up.
Now don’t get me wrong the Easter season is a thrill to me. It’s a thrill to preach today on Palm Sunday. Preaching is the highlight of my life. My whole life I’ve dreamed of preaching the Word. People have been praying everyday for weeks for the revival we just had, and for the Easter cantata, and for the church in general.
And I’m excited about everything that’s happened so far and I’m excited about Easter Sunday, but my heart is heavy for many who are here today or will be here next week and the whole resurrection thing to you is just showing up here at church once or twice a year. There are so many people who will visit because it’s the Easter season, and yet won’t step foot in the church for another year.
You see religion in America for many has been reduced to going to church 2 times a year, Christmas and Easter. And most people don’t go at Christmas any more. People have taken the whole resurrection thing, “Oh, we’re going to get to go to heaven some day.” And they’ve reduced it down to, “Well, let’s go to church today. We won’t go the rest of the year, but we’ll go today.”
You see my friends, showing up on Easter Sunday only proves you’ve been told the Easter story. It only proves that at some time in your life, someone told you the story of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. But if you live . . . if you live 365 days a year with your heart on fire for God it proves that you believe in the RESURRECTION!!!
I heard about an unusual event that happened at the Passion play in the Ozarks years ago. A local man, playing the part of Jesus, carried his cross through the streets. He was hounded by a heckler in the audience. The actor became so irritated that he dropped the cross, stormed over to the heckler and punched him out!
The director of the play, of course, was stunned! After the drama the director took the actor off to the side and said, “Look, you’re playing the part of Jesus Christ. He never retaliated. Even though a tourist may taunt you, you cannot respond. It destroys the image we’re trying to project.”
The next night the same heckler was back, hurling insults left and right. So Jesus did the same thing he had done the previous night. He dropped his cross and headed over to the heckler intending to clean his clock, and he had to be restrained. The director said, “The next time you do that I’m going to have to replace you.”
So the next night. Jesus was carrying his cross down the street and the same heckler was mouthing off again. Jesus kept his head down and just gritted his teeth. He wanted so bad to go over smack this loud mouth, but he kept his cool. When he came to where the heckler was standing he paused looked over at him and said, “I’ll meet you after the resurrection.”
Don’t you see? If we claim to believe in the RESURRECTION and we REALLY BELIEVE IT, it will CHANGE US:
IT WILL CHANGE . . .
THE WAY WE TREAT PEOPLE
OUR VOCABULARY
OUR HABITS
OUR CHURCH ATTENDANCE
THE THINGS WE LOVE
OUR VALUES
OUR PRIORITIES
Here’s the point...WE HAVE TO GET THIS! THE RESURRECTION POWER OF Jesus IS in us WHO BELIEVE, BOTH YOUNG AND OLD ALIKE.
The Holy Spirit, the power of the Holy Spirit is in us!
And if you KNOW that the RESURRECTION is real...you won’t worry about....
Interest rates or inflation rates
You won’t worry when the doctor says we need to run some more tests
You won’t worry for fear of persecution for sharing your faith
You won’t worry when you come to a situation where it seems as though there’s no way out. You’ll know that somehow with God’s help there is a way out, and through the power of the Holy Spirit you’re going to find that way out.
If it’s real and it’s really in you, the power, you’ll live a changed life.
I want you to look at one more verse of Scripture.
You say, “Are we supposed to desire power?” Yes, but it’s not for you, it’s for HIM!
We already have the power, it’s already in us.
“I feel too weak”
Well, quit walking by how you’re feeling!
Start walking by what He says!
He says you’re powerful!
Yeah, but I say I’m weak”
Believe Him
Don’t believe you.
Look at Ephesians 3:20, this is such a great passage. This is the last verse we’ll look at today. “Now to Him who is able (everybody say that) to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to (what?) His power that is at work within us.” And here’s what that tells me. That tells me that here are the things we ask for, right down here. We ask for these things, the Bible says that God is able to do immeasurably more than what we ask or imagine. You see, we’re asking for the wrong things. Our vision is too low. Our standards are too low. Our vision of what God can do through the church, through you, through me.
We ask for a new house (Home)
We ask for more money (Peace, Joy, Happiness, Contentment)
We ask for a Mercedes (Heaven)
But you see my friends, churches in America will never change until we first get our vision higher!
I want to share with you MY VISION, my vision for the church. Try not to laugh, and please don’t throw anything.
I have a vision for this church to change this community. And I know that it can happen because we serve a God who can change the world.
Here’s my vision: To have a church filled with people who love the Lord more than life itself.
For some of us, that may be too HIGH a standard. But you see Jesus’ standard is way up here. First we have to get our standard up to where His is.
Quit rationalizing
Quit making excuses
Quit pulling the standard down where it’s comfortable for you.
My vision is to have people who will sacrifice so that the world would hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ, even if it costs us our lives!
I have a vision of a church filled with single people who will be PURE until they marry or die, whichever comes first.
No matter how many billboards they’re bombarded with
No matter how many safe-sex sermons they’ve heard.
No matter how many people or so-called friends say it’s OK.
Single people, who will never lower their standard, not even for a one-night stand, or for a slip.
And if they fall, they need to get up, confess and have their intention to never, never, never do that again.
I have a vision of a church where men will love their wives and wives will love their husbands. And if the other person isn’t measuring up and may never measure up they still STAY MARRIED.
I have a vision to have a church filled with people who will never miss church.
I remember an NBA basketball player by the name of Cedric Ceballos. He missed two games and he was fined $57,000. You think we could incorporate that into church attendance? If you miss two Sundays you’ll be fined $57,000. You’ll have to take out a loan. I’m just kidding.
I have a vision of a church where young people love sports but it’s not their idol.
I have a vision to have a church filled with people who are more excited about what God is doing than which team is winning the pennant or which car is winning the race!
I have a vision of a church that is COLOR BLIND. To have a congregation that strives to break down the walls completely that divide us. Where no man or woman is judged by the color of their skin.
I’d love to have someone say, “You have black people and Hispanic people in your church.” so I can say, “Really, I didn’t notice.”
I have a vision of a church filled with people who declare that JESUS IS THE LORD OF EVERYTHING!!!
I guess that’s it . . . that’s my vision.
To him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.
Now folks, I’m not here to say to you...come on, get with it, do it, get in line, walk it...
I’m not here to do that! Because, to be honest, we can’t do it on our own. He is able to do it through us.
I’m simply here to say... Let’s get the vision. Let’s trust Him to do it through us!
I SEE IT! I CAN’T GET THERE BY MYSELF! I SEE IT! I WANT IT!
I WANT TO LIVE MORE SACRIFICIALLY!
I WANT TO LOVE MY WIFE MORE
I WANT TO LOVE MY CHILDREN MORE
I WANT TO LOVE YOU MORE
I WANT TO GIVE MORE OF MYSELF TO YOU
I WANT TO BE DEPENDENT LESS ON MY OWN MONEY
I WANT TO GIVE MORE
I WANT TO BE A MORE GENEROUS PERSON
I WANT TO BE A MORE HOSPITABLE PERSON
I WANT TO BE WISER, KINDER, HOLIER
I WANT TO SHARE MY FAITH MORE
I WANT TO BE MORE EVANGELISTIC
I SEE IT, But I CAN’T GET THERE BY MYSELF
HE CAN DO MORE...
The first step is seeing it (get the vision) and then TRUST that He will do it through HIS Spirit that so powerfully works in you and me.
A lady was teaching Sunday school class to kindergartners with a life-size picture of Jesus. She asked the kids, “Who can tell me who this is?” “That’s Jesus!” they responded. She asked, “Where does Jesus live?” One little boy said, “He lives in my heart.” The teacher said, “That’s very good. Where else does He live?” One little girl said, “He lives inside of me.” The teacher said, “That’s right.” One little kid there was visiting, hadn’t been to church before. He’s sitting there looking at this life-size picture of Jesus, listening to these kids saying that Jesus lives inside of them. He’s looking at this big picture and the little bodies of the kids trying to figure out how this big man lives inside of them. And so he raised his hand and he said, “Well, if He lives inside of me, he’s gonna be sticking out all over!”
And folks, that’s what the resurrection story is all about. If you believe that Jesus died and you believe that He was buried and you believe that He was resurrected . . . he’ll be sticking out all over. People will know that you’re a believer. They’ll know you’re part of His family. They will know that you are a part of His kingdom.
