Resurrection Sunday 2015 We Need to Take Hold of Our Joy

Jesus lives. our lives are wonderfully transformed if we live everyday knowing, believing and resting on this truth Jesus lives.

Desert Dry, hot, lifeless – sometimes life taking place you might want to visit but not live interesting but not a lifestyle we would want.   Garden cool, colourful, full of life place you easily enjoy place that says …..”stay a while” huge contrast.

If you follow the world – you’ll end up in the desert   If you follow God - you end up in the garden

Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, The LORD is angry with all nations; his wrath is upon them ……….All the stars of the heavens will be dissolved and the sky rolled up like a scroll; all the starry host will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree.

The desert & the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice . Like the crocus flower, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy….. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened & the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.…..But only the redeemed will walk here, and the ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Satan has two methods of attack He is a deceiver – he fools people – he tricks them   He is a thief - robs people of the truth – he makes the garden feel like a desert.

Satan changes his character for Christians his main focus now is to become a thief. He still deceives ……but his goal in life is to rob you of your joy. He does this by robbing you of the truth.

Christ lives and because of that we are Ch 35 people – we live in the garden

don’t need God – follow the world – it will lead you to the garden Satan the deceiver don’t need God – follow the world – it will lead you to the garden but this is a lie, follow the world and its all desert.   Satan the thief robs us of our joy – you think because you’re following God, it will all go well with you no problems at all satan says can’t believe GOD

He convinces us that our desert times will last forever.  

Satan’s lie – following the world brings great eternal joy It Doesn’t

In Christ, deserts may come along but we end up in the garden.