Mitch of Crown Jesus Ministries
Mitch spoke at a Good Friday service in Fahan Presbyterian Church. He is a part time fireman, Belfast and an evangelist with Crown Jesus Ministries.
A summary of th talk by Mitch is displayed below. It covers in a thought provoking way the Easter weekend of Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday.
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Below is a summary of the recording.
Good Friday Sermon Notes/Outline , used in Fahan, Donegal
Read the Easter story from the Gospel of John (Chapter 19: verse 1 - 30 )
The Easter message of Jesus has three basic ingredients:
The Cross
The Tomb
The Heart of mankind.
On Friday the heart of man was at its worst and most empty; the tomb had yet to play the leading role and was therefore empty. But the cross was full.
1, The cross was full of love - 2 Cor 5 :19 God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.
Since God is love, we can see that 'Agape' Love was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself.
Reconciling. Definition: To restore relationship, to make things right which have been broken.
Five times scripture uses this word when speaking of the life, death and Resurrection of Jesus.
The Cross was full of love as Jesus died to 'make things right which have been broken.'
There is no more powerful a symbol of love than the cross. The bible says, greater love has no man than this; than to lay down his life for his friends.
2, The cross was also full of forgiveness - Luke 23:34 Jesus said on the cross 'Father forgive them for they know not what they do.'
If I know nothing else of Jesus but this one prayer - if I know nothing of his teaching but this matchless plea for mercy, I must adore him.
Why did Jesus die on the cross? The forgiveness of sin (Is 53:6+7)
Jesus died on a cross to take upon Himself the sins of the world. The heart of man was empty, the tomb was empty but the cross was full.
On Saturday the heart of man is still empty, the cross now stands empty and the tomb is full.
1, The tomb is full of expectation. Jesus said 'Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days so shall the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth' (Matt 12:40)
Jesus, referring to himself said he would rebuild the temple in three days. The prophets of old had also spoken of a day of hope and a new beginning...
There was great expectation in the tomb.
2, The tomb is full of preparation. This was not the end of Jesus, this was not a time of rest but of preparation. The Spirit of God was moving over the corpse... All of heaven was in that tomb... Sunday's comin'!
On Sunday the cross is empty, praise God the tomb is empty and man's heart can be full.
He has risen! Christ has risen, He no longer dwells in a tomb but the heart of man. Jesus Christ will be in one of two places in your life... He is either knocking the door of your heart, or He is in your heart!
Jesus bring with Him love, forgiveness, expectation and preparation and places them in our hearts.
We can know the love of God - a love that surpasses anything the world can offer. Our value system is no longer based on how the world thinks of us but how we are deeply loved and valued by God. God's love for me defines who I am.
We can know the forgiveness of Jesus - you can be forgiven - your sins cancelled out and a new start in your life because of the cross. Jesus 'paid in full' for every sin.
We can have our hearts filled with expectation - Phil 1:6 says 'He that begun a good work in you is faithful to completion.' God hasn't finished with you yet! That's good news. Today there is joyful expectation in our hearts... what has God got in store for us today?
Our heart should be filled with preparation - this same Jesus who died on a cross is coming again. Next time He will not enter the world in a manger, ride a donkey nor wear a crown of thorns. When Jesus returns he will enter in victory, ride a white horse, and be crowned with many crowns - Rev 19 :11-16.
Our hearts should be filled with preparation for that day. Jesus tells a parable in Matt 25 of the wise and foolish virgins. Five of them had made no preparation while the others had their lamps trimmed and oil ready for the coming of the bridegroom.
It's Sunday, the cross is empty, praise God the tomb is empty and my heart is full.