RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE

JOHN 20:19-24 (NKJV)   

Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” 24Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.

So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. Nehemiah 4:6

Then Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is failing, and there is so much rubbish that we are not able to build the wall.” Nehemiah 4:10 

But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Matthew 14:24

In the evening of that first day of the week, the disciples had met together with doors locked for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood 

right in the middle of them and said. “Peace be with you!” John 20:19 (J.B. Phillips Translation)

RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE, CALMED BY… 

HIS PRESENCE  

For He Himself is our peace. Ephesians 2:14

HIS WORDS Jesus… and said. “Peace be with you!” John 20:19  

“SHALOM”  

HIS WOUNDS

“...He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad…” John 20:20   “exultant joy”   (Amplified Bible) 

“Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” Luke 24:39

HIS MISSION

So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”  John 20:21      

Here they crucified him, and with him two others - one on each side and Jesus in the middle. John 19:18

Last At The Cross, First At The Tomb - Mary Magdalene

Mark 16:1-7 
1When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” 4But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. 6“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”

Colossians 2:15
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. 

Luke 8:1-3  

John 20:1-18    
1On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2So she ran to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put Him!” 3At that, Peter and the other disciple went out, heading for the tomb. 4The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and got to the tomb first. 5Stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, yet he did not go in. 6Then, following him, Simon Peter came also. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. 7The wrapping that had been on His head was not lying with the linen cloths but was folded up in a separate place by itself. 8The other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, then entered the tomb, saw, and believed. 9For they still did not understand the Scripture that He must rise from the dead. 10Then the disciples went home again. 11But Mary stood outside facing the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb. 12She saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet, where Jesus’ body had been lying. 13They said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “Because they’ve taken away my Lord,” she told them, “and I don’t know where they’ve put Him.” 14Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not know it was Jesus. 15“Woman,” Jesus said to her, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Supposing He was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve removed Him, tell me where you’ve put Him, and I will take Him away.”  16Jesus said, “Mary.” Turning around, she said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!”—which means “Teacher.” 17“Don’t cling to Me,” Jesus told her, “for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to My brothers and tell them that I am ascending to My Father and your Father—to My God and your God.” 18Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what He had said to her.

How Can We Have An Epic Easter 

1. SHE SHOWED GRATITUDE      
2. SHE SHOWED RESILIENCE   
3. SHE SHOWED HER WORK      
4. SHE SHOWED THE WAY   
5. SHE SHOWED COURAGE    
6. SHE SHOWED EMOTION    
7. SHE SHOWED HER TRUE COLORS   

John 20:13   

From The Demons To The Angels

Philippians 2:10, 11 

ACTS 2:41-47

 41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.  

42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 

43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 

44All the believers were together and had everything in common.  

45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.  

46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. 

46b  …They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 

47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. 

47b…And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. 

 I. HEALTHY THINGS GROW

 41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.  

 II. GROWING THINGS CHANGE

• All Growth is Change, but not all Change is Growth… 

42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 

Ill. CHANGE CHALLENGES US

• What is the Challenge of Change? – THE CHALLENGE is THE NEED!!!  

43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 

• CHOICE… YOU can fill the need – or – GOD can fill the Need… 
• Secret: YOU FILLED with the  WORD of GOD & SPIRIT of GOD = POWER of GOD 

IV. CHALLENGE FORCES US TO TRUST GOD

44All the believers were together and had everything in common.  45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.  

V. TRUST LEADS TO OBEDIENCE

46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. 

Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men!  Acts 5:29 (NIV) 

VI. OBEDIENCE MAKES US HEALTHY

The Chief Cause Of Failure And Unhappiness Is Trading What You Want Most For What You Want Right Now.  -  Zig Ziglar

46  …They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. 

“As all those who sat on the High Council looked at Stephen, they found they couldn't take their eyes off him--his face was like the face of an angel!”   Acts 6:15 (The Message)   

VII.  HEALTHY THINGS GROW

47b…And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. 

Mustard Seed Faith

Matthew 17:14-21 (NASB)

And when they came to the multitude, a man came up to Him, falling on his knees before Him, and saying, 15“Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic, and is very ill; for he often falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16“And I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him.” 17And Jesus answered and said, “O unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured at once. 19Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you. 21[“But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”]

WHAT IS "LITTLE" FAITH?

Little Faith Seeks Little Ends. 

Little Faith Trusts In Little Resources.

Little Faith Seeks To Preserve Little Egos.

What Is The Difference Between "Little" Faith And "Mustard Seed" Faith?

Jesus says, "if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you" [Matthew 17:20, Luke 17:6]. Jesus promises "it will move" [Matthew 17:20]; "it will be done" [Matthew 21:21]; it "shall come to pass" [Mark 11:23]; and it will "obey you" [Luke 17:6].                                        

BIG God… Big Resources… NO Ego!  

Mustard Seed Faith Says “Yes” When Everyone Else Says “No.”

Mustard Seed Faith Is Not About Faith’s Quantity, But The Quality Of Pure Faith Untainted By Doubt.

Mustard Seed Faith Doesn’t Focus On The Size Of The Seed, But On The Purity Of The Soil.  Faith IN Jesus! 

Mustard Seed Faith Goes The Distance No Matter How Difficult Or How Long It Takes.  

Mustard Seed Faith Wakes Up Every Morning And Says, “Today Is The Day!”  

SEARCH ME

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  24See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24
 |
   SEARCH MY HEART                     
~ REVEAL MY FEARS                                         
~ UNCOVER MY SINS                                                       
~ LEAD ME

SEARCH MY HEART.
Search me, God, and know my heart… Psalm 139:23a

The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? Jeremiah 17:9 NLT

REVEAL MY FEARS.
Search me, God, and know my, heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Psalm 139:23

What we fear the most reveals where we trust God the least.

UNCOVER MY SINS.
Other People’s Sins Accuse Others And Excuse Ourselves

See if there is any offensive way in me.... Psalm 139:24

What are others trying to tell me?
What have I rationalized for some time?
Where am I most defensive?

LEAD ME.
See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139: 24

Psalm 139:23-24
1. Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and 
2. know my anxious thoughts. 
3. See if there is any offensive way in me, and 
4. lead me in the way everlasting.

HOME FIRES BURNING

1.  ACCEPT REALITY
"I fasted and wept while the child was alive... But why should I fast when he is dead?  Can I bring him back to life?"  2 Sam. 12:16-23 

2.  CRY OUT TO GOD

"I cry out to the Lord; I plead for his mercy.  I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles.  For I am overwhelmed, and you alone know the way I should turn..."  
Ps. 142:1-6 (NLT)

• Seek God’s Comfort and Direction First – Why? So you don’t do something Stupid…
• Ask God… Never ASSUME it’s Over… 

3.  LISTEN TO GOD’S WORD 

"I am completely discouraged... Revive me by your word."   Ps. 119:25 (LB)

• Me… I Get Mean… Depressed…
  • I know why people drink and do drugs w/o GOD and HIS WORD…

"I stay awake through the night, thinking about your promises."  Ps. 119:148 (LB) 

• 2 Kinds of God’s Word Defined in Bible – LOGOS / RHEMA…
• 1 Peter 3  -  My RHEMA’S… ”Handle With Care”

4.  SEEK AND GIVE FORGIVENESS

"My guilt overwhelms me -- it is a burden too heavy to bear... But I confess my sins; I am deeply sorry for what I have done."  Ps. 38:4+18 (NLT)

• Are you sorry for what you’ve DONE…… Or just that you are in PAIN… 

"Get rid of all bitterness... forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you."  
Eph. 4:31-32 (NIV)

• Forgiveness:  Giving up Hope for a Better Past…   
•  Bitterness…  Get rid of Bitterness… 
• Have a Funeral for: “What Could Have Been”  
• “…just as in Christ God forgave you”  
  • We Want Forgiveness, but we don’t want to give forgiveness. 

5.  GET BACK ON TRACK

Put your heart right, reach out to God... then face the world again, firm and courageous.  Then all your troubles will fade from your memory..."           Job 11:13-16 (GN)

• 1 heart right… 2 reach out to God … 3 face the world again…  4 firm and courageous
• “Then all your troubles fade from memory…”
  • Why Fade?  New Life!   
    • Troubles will never fade until you start your new life!!!  GOD!!! 
  • Sometimes: Act yourself into a new way of feeling… 
  • How do you Forget?...  Getting New Memories… 

"God sometimes uses sorrow in our lives to help us turn away from sin and seek salvation."  2 Cor. 7:10 (NLT)

• God will use your Sorrows if you LET HIM!!! 
• He doesn’t barge in and take control of your life…

THREE WELLS 

"My people have committed two sins: 

They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” Jeremiah 2:13 NIV

“OH WELL” - Accepting a lifestyle of DRYNESS and THIRST.  Giving up because you believe it CANNOT BE CHANGED

Overwhelmed. | Needy.     | Passive.  | Victim. | Powerless. | No Choices. | Child.

“DO WELL” - Trying to do God’s WILL and produce God’s PLAN in your own TIMING with my own STRENGTH. 

Overdone. | Greedy.     | Aggressive. | Violator. | Powerplay | All Choices. | Parent.

“ALTAR WELL” -  John 4:5-15, 23-26 NASB

Knowing WHO you are, WHOSE you are, and WHAT you have FROM GOD.   RESTING and RECEIVING all you need from Heaven to fulfill all your calling on EARTH. 

Overabundance. | FREE.  | Active. | Valuable. | Powerful. | Some Choices. | Adult.

1 John 1: 8 - 9  If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.

JUST BREATHE: Learning to Constantly “Breathe Spiritually”

EXHALE Your Confession. Turn away from sin and back to God.  

INHALE His Forgiveness, Grace, and True Identity.  Begin immediately to live in joy and thankfulness.

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! — Isaiah. 55:1

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” 
. . . Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. — Revelation. 22:17

Revival Service

Beautiful

Matthew 26:6-10
While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. 
When the disciples saw this, they were indignant.  "Why the waste?" they asked.  "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."
Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me.

THERE’S NO LOVE WITHOUT LOYALTY

Ruth 1:16-17

1. Loyal love sticks with you through the TOUGH TIMES.

But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you.  Ruth 1:16
 
“Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.”
Proverbs 18:24 (MSG)
 
Tough Times  +  Long Time = High Value

Who’s Worst Day Do YOU Show Up On?

How do you get family and friends like this… By being that kind of friend first...  Then, wait and see…  Sowing & Reaping.

Tip: Never Say, “Let me know if there is anything I can do.”

2. Loyal love has COURAGE and gives ENCOURAGEMENT.

Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Ruth1:16

TED HAGGARD…   #1 Quality determined whether someone was come back was COURAGE.

A Little Different.

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
Matthew 7:13-14

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your  mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will."
Romans 12:2

"Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, "children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation." Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.
Philippians 2:14-16