Hello Everyone!

 

What a glorious Easter week!!  I have to say that this was one of the most special Easters that I have had in my life.  I believe that the Holy Spirit was working in a great way during all of our services.  I am so humbled by God's grace.  Thank you, Jesus.

 

Sunday began out at Gaston Memorial Cemetery for the Easter Sunrise Service.  I was amazed at the people who came.  It was a real community outreach as over 100 people were there, many from outside the church.  Thanks to Jeff Owen and any others who helped to publicize it.  What a beautiful morning it was!  Andy Holland began the service with a solo of "Were you there?".  We then sang other songs, had prayer time and Mark spoke.  He focused on Peter looking into the tomb on Easter Sunday and how the angels peek into salvation the same way.  It is a marvelous mystery to them as no angels will ever be redeemed.  We have been chosen as a special people to proclaim the wonderful message of salvation.  The blood of the Lamb has redeemed us from eternal judgment.  As the sun rose on the horizon, we applauded the SON who rose and gave us new life.  It was an unforgettable service.  I go ahead and vote for it to be there next year and in the years to come.

 

We then celebrated the Lord's resurrection at Gaston Day School.  Our worship area was packed full of members, family and visitors.  We started the worship time in song as usual.  As you would expect, our songs of praise centered on the glorious resurrection and our risen Lord now sitting on His throne.  Andy Holland blessed the Lord with a rendition of "They Could Not", focusing first on people's inability to truly understand Jesus as God and then on their inability to keep Him in the grave.  He is risen!  He is risen, indeed!

 

It was an added joy to see the ter Kuile's baptize their daughter, Mollie.  Pastor Mark held her while he anointed Mollie with water, praying the Lord's covenant promises and hope of salvation for her.  He had the church members stand as a show of commitment to support the ter Kuile's in raising Mollie in a Christian environment.  It was great to have David's and Liza's parents and friends with us as well.

 

Mark then preached his sermon titled "With God, Salvation is Personal", using 1 Corinthians 15 as the main scripture text.  He reiterated his point from Thursday night that God wants to be with us more than we know, and more than we want to be with Him.  However, because God is holy, He could not be with us.  There was an impossible separation between us and God.....but nothing is impossible with God!  So He sent His Son to die for our sins and be raised from the dead to make a way for us to know God and have communion with Him.  WOW!

 

Mark asserted that the resurrection of Jesus from the dead is more than a historical fact; there are some important facets to the gospel:

 

(1)  The gospel is Christ-centered - It is all about what He did and the finished work on the cross.  His resurrection proved He was who He said He was and that He did what He said He did.  Our debt to God is paid for and we have a new life of peace and joy with God in Jesus.  Don't try to do what has already been done.  Believe God and receive all that He has promised you.

 

(2)  The gospel is theological - Christ didn't just die, but "Christ died for our sins".  God really raised Christ from the dead.  God initially made creation and it was good.  However, because of sin entering creation from Adam's sin, we all die.  Because of the sin nature that you are born with, you are not going to make it.  So God has to do something and He did.  He did it all in Jesus.  He resurrects you in Jesus and makes you a new creation, eternally alive in God.

 

(3)  The gospel is biblical - "According to the Scriptures" is quoted several times in reference to the gospel.  Jesus' death and resurrection was predicted in the Old Testament as God's way to save His people.  He fulfilled all prophecy and He fulfilled the law.  He did it all in perfect accordance with Scripture for He was and is and always will be "the Word made flesh".

 

(4)  The gospel is apostolic - the people who knew Jesus, wrote about Him and witnessed about Him.  They are eyewitnesses of the truth.

 

(5)  The gospel is historical - Jesus' death and resurrection really did happen.  It is a historical fact.  To us, that may be an obvious comment.  However, to the many unbelievers who don't believe it really happened, it is anything but.  There are many great testimonies of attorneys who accepted Christ based solely on the solid evidence.  Lee Strobel, now a minister, is one of them.  (His testimony is great.  I recommend you look it up.)

 

(6)  The gospel is personal - It sets out a way for personal salvation.  You won't be saved because your parents were Christians or you have hung out with Christians, but because, at some point, you repented and believed the gospel.  Then Jesus became your personal Lord and Savior.

 

(7)  The gospel is universal - We will worship for all eternity with people from all tribes, tongues and nations.  All who call on the name of the Lord Jesus will be saved.  There is no racism in the gospel.

 

(8)  The gospel is eschatological (meaning "end times") - There will be a day when people are literally raised from the dead.  What we have known by faith will find its fulfillment in time and space.  God will finish what He has started and the church, the bride of Christ, will spend eternity with her Bridegroom.                    
(Note from Mark T., these 8 points are derived from D.A. Carson's commentary on 1 Cor. 15)

 

For all of these reasons, we can have great confidence and assurance in the gospel ("good news").  As Romans Ch. 8 states, "Who will separate us from the love of Christ?".  When we know Jesus and His great love for us, we can stand strong in the face of adversity.  However, we must do it in His strength.  Mark ended with a great illustration.  He pulled out a little flashlight that Vince Quinn gave him Sunday morning (in case it was too dark at the cemetery).  He said, "This is a pretty powerful little flashlight.  I looked straight at it and almost got a migraine.  However, if I go out in broad daylight and shine it, people will hardly see it.  Why?  Because of the overwhelming power of the sun.  So, are we going to shine our little flashlights at people for Jesus or will we be like a mirror, trusting in the Son to reflect Jesus to those around us".  Let's trust in the SON!

 

Have a great week and remember - we can celebrate Easter every day of our lives!  He is risen!!  He is risen, indeed!!!

 

Your brother in Christ,

Deric Smyre