Hebrews 2:14-15 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
1 Corinthians 14:54-55 Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where O death, is your victory? Where O death, is your sting?
pray
Motivated by Love
Profound Love
death cannot conquer the self-sacrificial love that is revealed on the cross
When Jesus died on the cross… an explosion of light into darkness abolishes the kingdom of darkness
Colossians 2:14-15 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us;
Colossians 2:14-15 he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
when Jesus was nailed to the cross: every accusation that stood against us every wrong that we’ve ever done every crime we ever committed was nailed to the cross with Him
Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
1 John 4:18 Such love has no fear, perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.
GRACE changes everything If we believe this… this changes everything
Hebrews 2:14-15 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
[the fear of death] is the single most driving force in our life and it always drives in a wrong direction
scarcity mindset
“Gotta get as much as possible and hang onto it”!
In bondage to the fear of death
the scarcity mindset makes us self‐centered
Living with a scarcity mindset… Dulls our capacity to care about others Short-circuits the call to live with generosity Prevents us from living the good life now
living the life God created me to live Thegoodlife living the life God created me to live
John10:10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
If only
only a person who is free can love the way Jesus calls us to love Only a person who has gotten free from the need to scramble
the resurrection means that the one who holds the power of death has been defeated & the power of death has been destroyed
1 Corinthians 15:54-57 “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Free from fear Free to love Free to live Totally set free from that which then frees us to be able to love
When you die… …you live When you let go of stuff… …you acquire what is important
the self-sacrificial love that is revealed on the cross looks like weakness but is powerful
Resurrection is stronger than… …the devil …sin …accusation …blame …shame …the grave …guns …tanks …bullets …bombs …jets …military …laws …threats …vengeance …hatred …ISIS …terrorists
Resurrection is the strongest force… …unconquerable …undefeatable …unassailable …indestructible …insurmountable …invincible …inextinguishable …unshakable …unassailable …unbreakable …unparalleled …unequalled …unrivaled …can’t be measured against anything …utterly unsurpassable
John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.
Think of… …a time when you felt as though you let God down …a decision you made that you feel doesn’t deserve forgiveness