Time of Grace With Pastor Mike Novotny

The resurrection of Jesus changes our lives. It gives us peace in the knowledge of our own resurrection someday and motivates us to share that peace with others. It is God’s plan for each of us to keep the Easter message in motion for all to hear.

The Pharisees and chief priests saw Jesus as a threat. They knew that if he kept preaching and doing miracles, many would believe in him. Jesus taught that all were sinful, needed forgiveness, and that he was the way to heaven. Jesus’ opposition didn’t believe this and felt that if they were rid of him, their way of life would stay intact. Caiaphas the high priest prophesied that the death of Jesus would mean freedom to their nation. Little did he know how true that was—Jesus, the one man, died to save the whole world.

God has a plan for growing his kingdom. He works through trials and persecution, through groups and individuals. We have the peace of knowing that he is in control, his will is always done, his Word will be spread, we need not fear, and our reward is in heaven.

God used the persecutions in the time of the early Christian church to spread his Word farther and farther. Those who were told to leave an area took God’s Word elsewhere. Even when the Jews rejected Jesus, God used it to bring his Word to the Gentiles. We too are part of God’s plan. He will provide opportunities in our lives to share the gospel, and he promises to be with us as we do so.

When we go out and tell others about Jesus, it is the Holy Spirit that works faith. Our witness opportunities may be big or small, but God’s power is behind what we say, and he changes people’s hearts and their lives.

Like Onesimus and Philemon, we are often called to take on some difficult things in life. But these difficulties are opportunities for us to show others that we are changed because of Jesus. As children of God, we serve others out of love and thankfulness and through our difficulties can help to spread God’s Word in the lives of other people.

Connected to Jesus Christ we have forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Knowing that our eternity is secure, we then go out and tell others about Jesus so that they, too, can be brought to faith by the Holy Spirit and have life in heaven with their Savior.

Children aren’t born knowing their Savior, and God has given us the important job of teaching his Word to them. We are to show them that they were designed, that their Savior loves them, and that God has a plan for them so that they in turn will pass on their faith legacy to their children.

Because of Christ we are changed, and the forgiving love of Christ flows through our lives and changes how we think and talk and act. In marriage that means that we treat our spouse and family with love and compassion, not letting unkind words come out of our mouths but using our words to build up and encourage instead.

God gave us the plans and guidelines for marriage, but our marriages aren’t made in heaven—meaning they won’t work out on their own. We need to do some work to build great marriages. If we are filled with the Spirit, we will be able to live lives with God’s will in mind. Women will yield and build up their husbands, and husbands will be servant leaders.