Summary: At Easter, we celebrate the life, death and especially the Resurrection of Jesus. This is a series leading up to Easter, through the Triumphal Entry & Passion. *HANDOUT INCLUDED*

Easter Gives Us Access to God

“And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split...” (Matthew 27:50-51)

And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, "Truly this Man was the Son of God!" (Mark 15:37-38)

Now, at home I have some curtains that you could rip pretty easily. But this was no ordinary curtain!

The Jewish historian Josephus said the veil was four inches thick, and that horses tied to each side could not pull the veil apart.

What was this veil? Let me give you a short explanation:

- The veil was placed at the entrance to the “Most Holy Place” – the place where God’s presence was in the ancient temple.

- Only one man, the high priest, could enter there, and then only once a year, only for a few moments. He would take the blood from a lamb, and sprinkle it out in the presence of God, symbolizing the forgiveness of people’s sin.

- If anyone else tried to walk through that veil, they were immediately struck dead by God.

- For almost 1,500 years, this veil in the temple had stood for the separation of man and God – it was a big sign saying “no access.”

Now, imagine that you were in the temple in that Friday as Jesus died. . . and you knew the rules. If I go through that curtain – that veil – I’m a dead man! Suddenly, that curtain that had stood for 1,500 years ripped right down the middle from the top to the bottom! No one was near it, you didn’t see anyone, but it just ripped right in two!

You would know – something POWERFUL just happened!!!!

What was happening? God was giving us a powerful picture that shows us this:

Jesus death and resurrection gives us access to God.

“Members Only” - Backstage Pass

Imagine that you had a ticket to a concert of your FAVORITE artist. You decided that, since you’re here, you’d like to go talk to him or her. So you headed toward the backstage area. Guess what would happen? Two big guys in sunglasses would step up in your way about the time you got to the entrance. They would ask to see your backstage pass – and if you don’t have one, you might as well forget going backstage, because YOU don’t have ACCESS!!

1. Through Jesus, we have access into God’s presence.

Heb. 10:22. let us go right into the presence of God, with true hearts fully trusting him. For our evil consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

JFK Jr. Playing in the Oval Office. One of the most famous pictures of president’s children is the one of JFK Jr. playing under the desk in the Oval Office while JFK was working. That’s the picture of a Christian. . . we’ve got that kind of access! Any time, any where!

It’s not about income level. . .

It’s not about race. . .

It’s not about background. . .

It’s not about religious training. . .

Maybe because of these factors, you feel like you’re a LONG WAY OFF from God! If that’s you, you need to hear this verse!

Eph 2:13, 18 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. . . For through Him we both have access... to the Father.”

The veil, which symbolized man’s separation from God, has been ripped in two – we have ACCESS!

VOICE MAIL

While we have a direct access to our Heavenly Father, imagine

if He had one of those computer-answering devices. It might be

something like this:

As we begin to pray we hear...

Thank you for calling your Heavenly Father’s house. Your call

may be monitored for quality assurance. Please select one of

the following options:

Press 1 for prayer requests

Press 2 for prayers of thanksgiving

Press 3 for prayers containing complaints

Press 4 for all other prayers

I’m sorry; all of our angels are busy helping other sinners

right now.

However, your prayers are important to us and will be answered

in the order received, so please stay on the line.

If you would like to leave a voice mail message for:

God (The Father) Press 1 now

Jesus Christ Press 2 now

The Holy Spirit Press 3 now

If you would like to hear the King David Singers sing a Psalm

while you are holding, please press 4 now.

Our computers indicate that you have already prayed once today.

Please hang up and try again tomorrow. This office is closed

on weekends, and any State or Federal holiday. Please pray

again between 9:30 AM and 4:30 PM Monday through Friday (except

holidays). If you need emergency assistance when this office

is closed contact your local pastor.

THANK GOD WE HAVE UNLIMITED ACCESS AT ALL HOURS

TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER!

2. Through Jesus, we have access to God’s forgiveness.

Romans 5:2 “Through Jesus we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

Grace = undeserved kindness.

“It’s a powerful idea, grace. It really is," the U2 lead

singer Bono tells Launch.com. "And, you know, we hear so much of

karma and so little of grace. Every religion teaches us

about karma and, well, what you put out you will receive.

And even Christianity, which is supposed to be about grace,

has turned, you know, redemption into good manners, or the

right accent, or, you know, good works or whatever it is. I

just can’t get over grace—[it’s] so hard to find."

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2001/142/52.0.html

http://music.launch.com/read/news.asp?

Grace means that God doesn’t look at you and say, “Get your life in order, and then we’ll talk about forgiveness.” He says, “Bring me your messed-up past, let me forgive, then let me work on putting your life in order!”

In 1830, a man named George Wilson was convicted of killing a government employee while robbing the U.S. Mail. He was tried and sentenced to be hanged. Andrew Jackson, then the President, issued a pardon for Wilson, but Wilson did a strange thing: he refused to accept the pardon and no one seemed to know what to do. The matter went to Chief Justice Marshall, perhaps one of the greatest Chief Justices we ever had, and he concluded that Wilson must be executed. “A pardon is a slip of paper,” wrote Marshall, “the value of which is determined by the acceptance of the person to be pardoned. If it is refused, it is no pardon. George Wilson must be hanged.” And he was.

SOURCE: George Maronge, Jr., Birmingham, Alabama. Leadership, Vol. 12, no. 3

You’ve got ACCESS into God’s forgiveness. Don’t let this day go by without using that pardon!

3. Through Jesus, we have access into God’s power.

NLT Jude 1:24. And now, all glory to God, who is able to keep you from stumbling, and who will bring you into his glorious presence innocent of sin and with great joy.

Grace = enabling power

Several years ago the Peanuts comic strip had Lucy and Charlie Brown practicing football. Lucy would hold the ball for Charlie’s placekicking and then Charlie would kick the ball. But every time Lucy had ever held the ball for Charlie, he would approach the ball and kick with all his might. At the precise moment of the point of no return, Lucy would pick up the ball and Charlie would kick and his momentum unchecked by the ball, which was not there to kick, would cause him to fall flat on his back. This strip opened with Lucy holding the ball, but Charlie Brown would not kick the ball. Lucy begged him to kick the ball. But Charlie Brown said, "Every time I try to kick the ball you remove it and I fall on my back." They went back and forth for the longest time and finally Lucy broke down in tears and admitted, "Charlie Brown I have been so terrible to you over the years, picking up the football like I have. I have played so many cruel tricks on you, but I’ve seen the error of my ways! I’ve seen the hurt look in your eyes when I’ve deceived you. I’ve been wrong, so wrong. Won’t you give a poor penitent girl another chance?" Charlie Brown was moved by her display of grief and responded to her, "Of course, I’ll give you another chance." He stepped back as she held the ball, and he ran. At the last moment, Lucy picked up the ball and Charlie Brown fell flat on his back. Lucy’s last words were, "Recognizing your faults and actually changing your ways are two different things, Charlie Brown!"

God can do something more for you than help you see that you were wrong – he can give you the power to change!

4. Through Jesus, we have access into God’s place/home for us.

And if I am going away to prepare a place for you, I will come again and will welcome you into my presence, so that you may be where I am. (ISV) (John 14:3)

My friend Dan Downing who faked his way backstage - you can’t “fake it” into access to God’s place! You’ve got to be real, and admit who you are!

A friend of mine, named Dan, faked his way into the backstage area to speak with George Beverly Shea, a famous Christian singer/songwriter who has sung to millions of people all over the world as the main singer at Billy Graham’s crusades.

How do I gain that access? Where do I get my membership card? VIP Pass?

INVITATION:

___________________________

HANDOUT

___________________________

Easter Gives Us Access to God

And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, "Truly this Man was the Son of God!" (Mark 15:37-38)

This was no ordinary curtain! The Jewish historian Josephus said the veil was _____ ___________ thick, and that horses tied to each side could not pull the veil apart.

Facts about the veil in the temple:

1. The veil was placed at the entrance to the “__________ Holy Place” – the place where God’s presence was in the ancient temple.

2. Only one man (the high priest) could enter there, and then only once a ___________. He would take the blood from a lamb, and sprinkle it out in the presence of God, symbolizing the forgiveness of people’s sin.

3. If anyone else tried to walk through that veil, they were immediately struck ___________ by God.

4. For almost __________ years, this veil in the temple had stood for the separation of man and God – it was a big sign saying “no access.”

God tore that curtain to show us these four truths:

1. Through Jesus, we have access into God’s ______________.

Heb. 10:22. let us go right into the presence of God, with true hearts fully trusting him. For our evil consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

It’s not about income ___________!

It’s not about __________!

It’s not about _________________!

It’s not about religious ______________!

Ephesians 2:13, 18 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. . . For through Him we both have access... to the Father.”

2. Through Jesus, we have access to God’s ________________.

Romans 5:2 “Through Jesus we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

Grace in the Bible means two things:

#1 - Grace = undeserved ___________________.

Grace means that God doesn’t look at you and say, “Get your life in order, and then we’ll talk about forgiveness.” He says, “Bring me your messed-up past, let me forgive, then let me work on putting your life in order!”

3. Through Jesus, we have access into God’s ___________.

“And now, all glory to God, who is able to keep you from stumbling, and who will bring you into his glorious presence innocent of sin and with great joy.” (Jude 1:24)

#2 - Grace = enabling ____________

God doesn’t just forgive us, He gives us power to be ______________!

4. Through Jesus, we have access into God’s __________ for us.

And if I am going away to prepare a place for you, I will come again and will welcome you into my presence, so that you may be where I am. (ISV) (John 14:3)