The word pit usually means an undesirable place or condition. A pit is not a place where we want to spend any time. The Psalmist says a pit is a place where God cannot hear your cry. Isolation is horrible, and we must remember that we are never truly alone because God is with us. Brother Long uses stories of people who found themselves in a pit to teach us how to survive life in the pits.

Tonight Brother Long teaches from this subject: Disrupting Families.

Tonight Brother Long teaches from this subject: Disrupting Families.

Tonight Brother Long teaches from this subject: Disrupting Families.

The discovery of the Empty Tomb has meant more that mankind than any other discovery in history. After all the disciples had witnessed, the empty tomb was almost beyond their understanding. Jesus had told them what would happen, but seeing it in person baffled them. They believed in resurrection but could not comprehend that it would happen now. Jesus left four things in the grave that are notable. First, our text from Matthew describes the sealed tomb. The seal guaranteed that no one tampered with the grave under penalty of law. But that morning, Peter and John discovered that Jesus had risen despite the efforts and guarantees of the government. Jesus can break any seal or binding that life may have on us. The second thing to note is that Jesus left the tomb empty. The pyramids have bodies of deceased pharaohs and kings. Westminster Abby has the remains of many notable people. The Taj Mahal was built to hold the body of the ruler’s wife. But the tomb we recognize today was empty. He is not here, just like He said, He has risen. The third thing to note is that the grave clothes were there. The Bible describes how they were arranged and folded in detail and that they retained the body's shape. The only difference was that Jesus was not bound up inside them. The final thing left behind was the spices. The burial custom at the time was to wrap the body in linens and then would lay the spices (up to 100 lbs) on top of the body to help preserve the body and embalm the body as best they could at the time. These spices have a particular smell that reminds us that our lives should have a distinct aroma that separates us from the world.

The discovery of the Empty Tomb has meant more that mankind than any other discovery in history. After all the disciples had witnessed, the empty tomb was almost beyond their understanding. Jesus had told them what would happen, but seeing it in person baffled them. They believed in resurrection but could not comprehend that it would happen now. Jesus left four things in the grave that are notable. First, our text from Matthew describes the sealed tomb. The seal guaranteed that no one tampered with the grave under penalty of law. But that morning, Peter and John discovered that Jesus had risen despite the efforts and guarantees of the government. Jesus can break any seal or binding that life may have on us. The second thing to note is that Jesus left the tomb empty. The pyramids have bodies of deceased pharaohs and kings. Westminster Abby has the remains of many notable people. The Taj Mahal was built to hold the body of the ruler’s wife. But the tomb we recognize today was empty. He is not here, just like He said, He has risen. The third thing to note is that the grave clothes were there. The Bible describes how they were arranged and folded in detail and that they retained the body's shape. The only difference was that Jesus was not bound up inside them. The final thing left behind was the spices. The burial custom at the time was to wrap the body in linens and then would lay the spices (up to 100 lbs) on top of the body to help preserve the body and embalm the body as best they could at the time. These spices have a particular smell that reminds us that our lives should have a distinct aroma that separates us from the world.

The discovery of the Empty Tomb has meant more that mankind than any other discovery in history. After all the disciples had witnessed, the empty tomb was almost beyond their understanding. Jesus had told them what would happen, but seeing it in person baffled them. They believed in resurrection but could not comprehend that it would happen now. Jesus left four things in the grave that are notable. First, our text from Matthew describes the sealed tomb. The seal guaranteed that no one tampered with the grave under penalty of law. But that morning, Peter and John discovered that Jesus had risen despite the efforts and guarantees of the government. Jesus can break any seal or binding that life may have on us. The second thing to note is that Jesus left the tomb empty. The pyramids have bodies of deceased pharaohs and kings. Westminster Abby has the remains of many notable people. The Taj Mahal was built to hold the body of the ruler’s wife. But the tomb we recognize today was empty. He is not here, just like He said, He has risen. The third thing to note is that the grave clothes were there. The Bible describes how they were arranged and folded in detail and that they retained the body's shape. The only difference was that Jesus was not bound up inside them. The final thing left behind was the spices. The burial custom at the time was to wrap the body in linens and then would lay the spices (up to 100 lbs) on top of the body to help preserve the body and embalm the body as best they could at the time. These spices have a particular smell that reminds us that our lives should have a distinct aroma that separates us from the world.

God’s people have a desire for spiritual things. They try to satisfy this in many ways, but one characteristic is missing from many people that will keep them from having true spirituality. 1 Corinthians 13 describes this one thing: Love. It is easy to love someone when they are lovable, but the real test of love is how we react when people are difficult to love. Our human nature does not want to turn the other cheek. Our world teaches us that we love people if they treat us with respect. That is contrary to the word of God. God says to love. No conditions. No prerequisite. Just love. Tonight, Dr. Hughes teaches on A More Excellent Way: Love.

God’s people have a desire for spiritual things. They try to satisfy this in many ways, but one characteristic is missing from many people that will keep them from having true spirituality. 1 Corinthians 13 describes this one thing: Love. It is easy to love someone when they are lovable, but the real test of love is how we react when people are difficult to love. Our human nature does not want to turn the other cheek. Our world teaches us that we love people if they treat us with respect. That is contrary to the word of God. God says to love. No conditions. No prerequisite. Just love. Tonight, Dr. Hughes teaches on A More Excellent Way: Love.

God’s people have a desire for spiritual things. They try to satisfy this in many ways, but one characteristic is missing from many people that will keep them from having true spirituality. 1 Corinthians 13 describes this one thing: Love. It is easy to love someone when they are lovable, but the real test of love is how we react when people are difficult to love. Our human nature does not want to turn the other cheek. Our world teaches us that we love people if they treat us with respect. That is contrary to the word of God. God says to love. No conditions. No prerequisite. Just love. Tonight, Dr. Hughes teaches on A More Excellent Way: Love.