R1112 The Hope of Easter, Pt.1

God has an encouraging word for you and me today to the Bible-based teaching of Dr. Don Wilton on this edition of The Encouraging Word. All we are continuing to find a way of Easter. Easter Sunday with such a great celebration and we continue now with more teaching from Dr. Don Wilton well-known author evangelist seminary professor and pastor is today.

Dr. Don talks about the hope of Easter. These next two days will be talking about this hope that not just we celebrate just a few days ago, on Easter Sunday.

But today we continue to see how to change our life if we apply it every single day of our life know that we're here for you connecting on our website right now. TW online.org that's tewonline.org he or you can call us anytime at 866899 word 866-899-WORD 9673 is a lot praise the Lord, what a wonderful, wonderful baby together like this in the house of God. I want you to know that the Lord Jesus Christ has an encouraging word, just for you today. What of what a blessed truth.

What an incredible truth to know that the Lord Jesus loves us. He loves you he loves you and he sent his son, the Lord Jesus Christ to die on a cross so that you and I might have life, we might have life full and complete life meaningful life. Purposeful life.

You know my friends that everywhere all across the world.

People are discovering the hope of Easter everywhere. People are discovering the hope of Easter. It's an amazing world in which we live is I don't have time to get into a lot of detail, but did you know that the Bible tells us that we are living in the lost days. By the way, did you know that the Bible teaches us that when the Bible talks about God's truth. The truth is, according to God's word that the lost days all the time between the birth of Jesus, which we celebrate at Christmas time and when Jesus comes back the second time to establish his kingdom.

At time at which we going to live with him forever and forever and forever those of the lost days will living in the lost days. You know that the Lord Jesus could come back at any moment. In fact the world is really beginning to look a lot more and more like the lost days that the Bible describes for us in the world is in turmoil, but I've got some wonderful news today.

You can discover the hope of Easter because the Bible tells us that in these lost days that God will pull out his spirit.

You see, when Jesus rose from the dead yet. Over 500 and he showed people like you and me. What we going to look black. Often we die.

He gave us a very clear picture about so when we least of all can even begin to imagine what we going to look black and what we going to do because most of us are convinced that when you die that you did. The Bible tells us that not a single person who has ever died is dated discover the hope of Easter.

I've got some incredible news for you. Jesus ascended to be seated at the right hand of the father and when he departed he saved himself. He came back in the person of these Holy Spirit.

We read about it in the book of acts. In chapter 2 we call that time Pentecost when God by his spirit came back to the server and the prophet Joel many years before the coming of Jesus foretold of that time when during the lost days that God himself would be among us, and he would be the one to help us to discover the real hope of Easter. I want to read this to you, I invite you to open your Bibles to the book of acts. In chapter 2, the book of acts. In chapter 2.

I'm going to read just a few verses for you today, but this is a marvelous story. You see, I want to invite you to discover the hope of Easter.

I want you to know that even in this world in which we live right there in the midst of those struggles that you're having in your marriage. I want you to know even right there in the middle of the disappointments that you're having. Perhaps with your own children. I've got good news for you today. This is God's Encouraging Word I want you to know even in these lost days with so many have lost their jobs when gas prices are going through the ceiling where there is real pain at the pump where we living in political turmoil when even our own Congress is divided one from the other where it's becoming increasingly so difficult to get a consensus of opinion with public opinion rules the streets about society whereon the accuracy has caused us to actually believe that we are the only hope of our own so I get God's Word tells us otherwise that we can look to him because Jesus came forth from the grave and he's alive. That's the real hope of Easter and a next chapter 2 of this preacher, Peter was trying to explain to a group of people what was going on because this incredible event took place. Jesus laughed and he ascended seated at the right hand of the father and then in acts chapter 2 in verse one, following the spirit of God came down there were people there from every walk of life. Can you imagine I think it was a gathering of the United Nations organization Bible tells us that came from everywhere.

If you read in verse eight and following that came from every nation, from the ends of the world and all of a sudden God arrived the spirit of God came and because the spirit of God came those who had a personal relationship with him, who had already discovered the real hope of Easter began to speak in other tongues in the exact languages of those people who'd come from other places and all of these people who couldn't understand one another, began to hear the hope of Easter in their own language, but again, I understand you see, that's the hope of Easter because when Jesus hung upon the cross, he labeled the playing field. He doesn't have any coloring designs.

He has no consideration of culture all nationality. He doesn't look down and see bio and female he told us not a male nor female, is neither bond nor free Jews and Gentiles. God is not impressed by the great divide which rips us apart.

What he does as he comes because he's alive and he says I love you and when you trust me and you receive me into your heart and live. I'm label your playing field and I'm going to give you meaning because I am the one who will forgive you give you real purpose and write your name in the Lamb's book of life. So we read in verse 22 Peter saved men of Israel, listen to this Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles by wonders and by signs which God did among youth through him, as you yourselves know this man Lord Jesus was handed over to you by God's sake, purpose, and foreknowledge, and you with the help of wicked man put Jesus today by nailing him to the cross. But God raised Jesus from the day freeing him from the agony of their because it was impossible for dad to keep its hold on him. Let's go down to verse 31 seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of Christ that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to live and we are all witnesses to that fact. Exalted to the right hand of God. He has received from the father, the promised Holy Spirit, he has now pulled out for what you now see and hear. I want to explain what is happening in your heart right now you are sensing something you're feeling something on there's a connection all of a sudden, God has your attention. I want to explain what's happening to you the spirit of God is speaking to you. That is the most precious thing in all the world, God is speaking to you my friend, this is God's time for you. He's knocking at your heart's door, you're not listening today by accident. God purposed that to happen because he loves you.

You are discovering the hope of Easter all over the world. There are people looking for hope. People everywhere.

People want to know people want to have purpose. People want more to life than what this life gives because so much of what we do in life has a moment of joy.

It's like a great bowl game. I love to go to great bowl game, don't you, but I go to a great bowl game and I getting to that stand and I cheer on my team and I enjoyed being with my friends and by the next morning it's gone. It's just moment for its temporary comes and then it just goes and the hope of Easter is lost and what Peter is saying is that you can discover the hope of Easter and the hope of Easter, according to what God's word tells us this is truth, I'm privileged today my dear friend to present to you.

Absolute truth, I'm not telling you something that a politician have to say I'm not telling you something that a preacher have to say I'm I'm I'm not telling you something that Aristotle have to say I am not sharing something with you other than God's truth. This is God's word.

I'm sharing God's truth with you because you are not living in. I searching will wrongfully men, women, boys and girls, and the hope of Easter, according to what God's word says means four things. Number one, it means that the Lord Jesus Christ has paid the price for our sin. That's the hope of Easter.

The Bible says that all of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

I wrote in my letter to you this morning that you can read off to lunch today I save these words. One of the things that I love about First Baptist Church and I trust this is true of all congregations who love the Lord Jesus, that the only difference between the best of us in here and the worst of the mouth. They is the grace of God, a man you see the hope of Easter means that Jesus Christ paid the price for my sin on the sin I was born in sin. The Bible says that I was conceived in sin.

I'm a sinner by nature and I'm a sinner by choice. In fact, the Bible says that because of the sin of Adam all the people have sin and come short of the glory of God and because of my sin and your sin. We can have no fellowship with a holy and a righteous God. There is no way I cannot give enough money I cannot do enough works. I cannot go on enough mission trips. I cannot take care of enough Haitians. I cannot build enough images. I cannot be enough wells for people to drink. I cannot issue enough Bibles I cannot obtain church did not. I cannot preach enough. I cannot do anything enough except give my heart and life to Jesus because he's the only one who can remove the barrier of sin from my life which separates me from God. That's why Jesus teaching you have been listening to Dr. Don Wilton don't go away will be back with more of this great teaching in just a moment when we think about that concept of the word barrier. Is there a barrier between you and God. Today, one of our choice personally and corporately as a team at The Encouraging Word is praying for God to break down some strongholds to give you a breakthrough in your life. Our prayer ministry is available 24 hours a day you can type it in will meet your keyboard to keyboard on our website@tewronline.org that's TW online.org but in this particular day and age we have discovered that sometimes the most powerful opportunity we have is to go a little old-school pick up the phone and have a conversation on our prayer at 86689. That's 866-899-9673 not only to to talk and pray together but also connect with resources that will help deepen your faith grow your faith and perhaps understand Easter in a fresh way for more details on our website TW online.org that's TW online.org. Now back to today's great teaching with Dr. Don Wilton at the hope of God by his power raised Jesus from the Jesus Christ paid the price for my sin. But you know my dear friends the hope of Easter means number two that the Lord Jesus prayed the price for outdated problem not just for my sin problem, but for my day for outdated problem. We got a problem with Dick. This is all around us. I'm sad to tell you that in fact it's not a happy subject. Some of my best friends in all the world died when I was in senior in high school I had a best friend in all the world, Graham Clark. He and I used to race motor cars together. We used to do all kinds of things together.

He was absolutely my best friend Graham Clark when I was a senior in high school, I mean we did everything together and I went off to the Army and I was in another country is a tanker monitoring. I was far away and suddenly I got called in the headquarters and the Sgt. major and the commodity officer were there and they told me that my best friend had died. There was nothing I could do. I remember how sad I was never forgotten him. That was many years ago Davies is all around us. This is a great collection. I mean, what can I say to you about how you describe CDF is so final. It's something where will you know were all headed Elizabeth Taylor died, did you know that she did. She was the queen of the screen. Queen of marriage to. He was an expert by the way, I would've loved to have met Richard Burton arming that guy. He was kind of like a man's man, did you know that he's dead dances. It's it's a mystery. And it's a it's a puzzle and it's perplexing and we try to explain it to actually remember it's kind of talk and it's an and the hope of Easter. When you discover the hope of Easter watchlist.

Folks, this is this is what this day is all about.

I just love this. I just couldn't wait to tell you this, the hope of Easter means that Jesus Christ paid the price for all my dear problem, he took the problem away from me because he conquered day that word by the way that Peter uses means that he literally obliterated day be removed. He might be possible for me to stand here and turn that there's not a single person is ever died. That is the such a powerful and encouraging truth about the fact that life goes on. You are an eternal creation of God, and that could also be frightening. If you don't know what it's like to be secure in your faith to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you would see Jesus if he return the skies today for the whole world would be wiped out, or maybe just you and I lose our own lives today.

Are you confident that you know Jesus Christ as we been talking about this teaching you need to know were available to speak with you and pray with you anytime 24 hours a day 866-899-WORD feel free to call us at 866899673 but perhaps the call that you need to make is not when you need a phone for open your heart now is Dr. Don shares with you about what could be the most important choice of your life. Are you ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. I'm so happy to hear that. Why don't you pray this prayer with me to hear God.

I know you love me very, very much and I know that the Lord Jesus Christ came died on the cross so that I might be forgiven of my sin. Today I repainted myself. I confess my sin to you, and I invite you to come into my heart into my life by faith in Jesus name I pray.

If you pray that prayer, let me be the first want to welcome you to the family of God.

This is one I hope that you know how much I'm going to be praying for you and how very important this is for me. Call us so we can talk to you connect to the right ice you can begin this wonderful journey. And in just a moment I'm in a come back with the final just gave your life to Jesus Christ, praying with Dr. Wilson will be dedicating your life. We are so excited for you. Dr. Wilson wants to pray for you and want you to have some free resources we have available right now if you'll just call us 866-899-WORD is the phone number that's 866-899-9673. We would love to get these resources in your hands right away.

You could even contact this keyboard to keyboard on our website@twonline.org that's TW online.org the place you will discover great resources like this. Hello everybody you know my friends know me as Don Wilton pasta friend, neighbor, dad, husband, grandpa, and I'm going to tell you people all around the world just like you know it or not Danny five, Dr. Billy Grimes is that man gone reach so many people around the Jesus Christ.

I had the privilege of knowing Mr. Gray very personal, intimate, both as his friend and as he supposed. In fact, for many years I drove up to his Montreat, North Carolina and visited with him every Saturday just like frames due everywhere we sat together to give the war talk. We discussed politics frames cases people we loft our kids will we did everything one could possibly that's why I wrote this wonderful Saturdays it's all about a personal relationship and I pray Saturdays with will be a blessing to you will and spine and will encourage just as Mr. Graham encouraged my change my just one of many great books from Dr. Don Wilton. One of them called. See you at the finish line is you give to someone graduating high school, it's all about beginning with the end in mind powerful teaching from Dr. Don I can find it on our website TW online.org it's called seeing you at the finish line before you do a closing thoughts of our pastor and chief encourager Dr. Don Wilton you know these are such special times together so rightful my friends that we can worship together like this. The Encouraging Word rolled because you such a part of God's doing and I just love you and I want you to know that you know this ministry goes on 24 hours around the clock all the time. We want to be involved in your life and we want to continue to pray for you. You can call us at any time you can partner with us all the time through prayer and through you giving. We know that you are 100% team gauge as we are in sharing God's truth without searching will that's what this is all about. We need Jesus. Don't God is doing a great work and I love you today. Thank God for you, pray for you. God bless you. My times gone today but were staying connected on our website@twonline.org.

The hope continues the hope of Easter as a matter fact even though we celebrated Easter last Sunday we continue to see how God is using the truth of Easter to make a powerful impact in our lives every moment of every day I get would love to connect with you on our website TW online.org that's tewonline.org oh Archie