Zion Hill Baptist

On this Easter Sunday we remember essential doctrinal truths about Jesus Christ. He was born of a virgin, He is God, He is the atonement for our sins, and He physically rose from the dead conquering death as the first fruit. The resurrection was not spiritual or a untrue event, it is the corer stone to our hope and the justification for our salvation. God that can conquer death is a God who can do anything and is to be worshiped. His resurrection fulfilled prophecy and validated scripture. It provided irrefutable evidence He is who He claimed to be--the Son of God. It demonstrated the power of God. If Jesus didn't rise, then we of all people are to be pitied and are preaching in vain. But, He did rise from the dead after three days and today we worship Him!

Shoes are an important part of our clothing. They help us with balance, protect our feet, give us comfort and more. But when we come before God we must be wiling to take them off and stand exposed before Jesus Christ with reference, humility, submission, and purification. It was true for Moses and Joshua and true for us today. Will we allow Him to change us? And for those who have been brought from death to life, are you shoes fitted with the Gospel of Peace and ready to be used?

As we hear Easter we begin to focus, rightly, on the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Here, in John we give pause as we see several Greeks who desire to see Jesus after his Triumphal entry into Jerusalem just before Passover. Who are these men? How are they different from the Scribes, Pharisees, Hebrews, Romans, and others? We see that Christ is glorified by God explains that he must be lifted up so that the whole world is drawn to him. Praise the Lord he is the God over everyone regardless of race, age, sex, bloodline, pedigree. Jesus Christ is the King of all and wants to save everyone from their sins.

At the conclusion of this series we ask an important question, what is our goal and how do we know if we have reached it. Many Christians and churches have erred in this question either relying on earthly metrics while shunning the spiritual or often wandering without direction spiritually. In this sermon we attempt to layout areas we need to spiritually assess our health (community, family, church, and ourselves) while providing practical analysis of our progress. Are you closer to the Lord Jesus Christ than you were this time last year?

Who are you? What is your identity? Society is focused on 'me' and the identities we take on; wife, husband, child, parent, republican, democrat, student, tall, short and so on. We take on many roles and identities in life, but the primary question is at my core, who am I? If you've been saved by God then you are a child of the king, a new creation, a friend of Christ, an heir of the kingdom. We must have this be at the core of who we are and layer our other duties and identities on this base. However, for those who do not know Him, the scriptures tells us we are the enemy of God. Do you know who you are? Does the the world know who you are by the way you act?

Most people don't get the rest their bodies need. This leads to all types of problem (impaired cognitive functions, stress, anxiety, depression, & weakened immune systems). But it is often the same with the spiritual nature of our lives. We don't 'rest' in Him often enough. While we are not under the law and not required to keep the Sabbath the practice of devoting a time of rest that is Holy to the Lord is very beneficial to us. Chris told us, 'The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.' Will you entered into the Sabbath rest that Christ finished and entered into some day? Until then, will you take the time to rest with the Lord content in Him?

Dehydration effects 75% of us and most of us don't even realize it. The impact leads to fatigue, foggy memory, irritability, seeking salty food, and looking for the problems with the way we feel in all the wrong places. Spiritually, we are often the same way. When we quench the spirit that has given us a soft heart in place of the rock and fail to have allow the holy spirit to renew us, we find our selves in a dry land dehydrated spiritually.

To avoid muscle atrophy (weakening) and to be able to do all the things we want to do in life, we must exercise. That is not always a pleasant experience and we would rather stay like we are. But, dynamic equilibrium tells us that we never say in a consistent state, we are either growing or declining. The same is true for us spiritually. We are either pressing on, contending, growing, workout, being strong and courageous, and standing; or we are weakening. How strong are you spiritually today? Are you working out your own salvation? Are you more active in your faith than you were last year or last month? No matter our age or station in life, we all have ways we need to be stretching and working out ourselves--spiritually.

Do you have spiritual nourishment? Jus as we must eat the right type and amount of food to help us live, we also most intake spiritual food. We do that through 1) scripture, 2) prayer, 3) fellowship with other believers, and 4) thinking on what is good. Too many of us fill out lives with junk food and things that are not food for us. Many many not even realize they are hungry, empty or malnourished until it's too late. What are you filling your life with? Don't go hungry seek the lord, be full and taste and see the Lord is good!

Obedience and Submission are not synonymous. Obedience is following orders or commands externally out of a sense of duty--can can be done unwillingly (like when we pay taxes or follow certain laws). Submission is yielding to power or authority internally out of a sense of respect--that is done willingly out of respect and love. We are to be both obedient and submissive to God! Christ molded this perfectly for us through obedience to death on a cross and by perfect submission to His Father 'not by will, but thine be done." Are you obedient and submissive to the Lord?