What A Difference Easter Makes

“WHAT A DIFFERENCE EASTER MAKES”

Acts 10:39-43

In 1957, a song, entitled ‘What A Difference A Day Makes’ sold more than two million copies. When I think of of that song title, I realized that could apply to many dates and events.

But the greatest day in history was the day that Jesus Christ came forth from the tomb. That was the first Easter.

We come to Church because Sunday is the day of His resurrection. Ever since Jesus burst out of the grave having conquered death and hell, Christians have worshiped on Sunday, the first day of the week.

Philip Henry used to call the Lord’s day the queen of days, the pearl of the week, and observed it accordingly. His common salutation of his family or friends, on the Lord’s day in the morning, was that of the primitive Christians--"The Lord is risen, He is risen indeed;" making it his chief business on that day to celebrate the memory of Christ’s resurrection; and he would say sometimes, "Every Lord’s day is a true Christian’s Easter day."

But I want to ask you a question today. What difference does Easter mean to you? Has it made a difference

In your life?

What a difference a day makes, the day of resurrection of Jesus Christ. Thus I want to share with you several ideas about where Easter make the difference.

I-EASTER MAKES A DIFFERNCE IN ENTHUSIASM:

Notice what the two disciples said after Jesus had appeared to them on the Emmaus Road in Luke 4:32

When you understand what the resurrection means, you will not have to work up excitement, for it will be natural as a day following night.

We see Peter going from a coward at the fire to a bold preacher in Acts 2:14. Why did it happen? Because, Peter knew Jesus was alive.

Easter can make a difference in you enthusiasm for life. Without it, our life would be one gloomy , dark, dead-end street.

Years ago, a policeman saw Billy Sunday kneeling on a street corner. He thought he was drunk but found out that he was praying and celebrating His Lord and Savoir, Jesus Christ. The policeman then said, Billy, you keep it up, I will keep the Crowd away until you finish.

When I think about Jesus coming out of that grave and that He’s alive today, I can’t help but get excited about His glorious work.

This past month we had the final four in college basketball. It was called final four excitement. But I tell you real excitement is “Jesus excitement”.

II-EASTER MAKES A DIFFERNCE IN ENDURANCE:

These disciples were not roman rocket Christians. They didn’t start with a bang and then fizzle out. But they endured until the end of their life. Many of them were faithful even unto death.

I remember watching Jim Brown playing football for the Cleveland Browns. But I was shocked when he retired at an early age of 29. He said, he was just burned out on football.

You and I are not to burn out or rust out for the Lord, but we are keep running the race for Jesus.

I was visiting a man once several years ago while I was in revival. I asked his was he a Christian? He replied, I guess you can call me an off and on Christian. I found out later, it was mostly off.

But Easter can make you a “on “ Christian not a “off” Christian. Easter should make you faithful not just on Easter but every Sunday during the year.

We should be like the Woman who I read about in the Alabama Baptist several years ago who honored for going 36 years without missing a Sunday Service.

Fanny Crosby wrote over 500 gospel songs despite being blind from birth. A preacher told her that he wanted to pray for her that she might have her sight. She told him, don’t ask God to heal me for the first sight I want to see is the face of Jesus when I get to heaven.

She endured because Jesus had made a difference her life.

III-EASTER MAKES A DIFFERCNCE IN EVANGELISM:

When we read about Paul experience in the jail in Acts 16, we see him singing, praying and witnessing. Why? Because he had somebody to sing about, someone to pray to, and somebody to witness of.

Someone has said, the world has not rejected Jesus, but we have kept him a secret.

Cal Chappell said that in France, there 100 of cities and town which have no Christian witness. One out if twelve persons in Paris have never held a Bible in their hand. They are ripe unto harvest if someone will go in the name of Jesus and evangelize them.

Easter has made a difference in our life. Thus we need to proclaim Jesus to the world. We have to tell them that Jesus can save them , can cure their failing marriages, can give them power to kick the alcohol and drug habit, can enable them to get the garbage out of their life.