New Day
by Darrell W. Johns
April 9, 2023 · Atlanta West Pentecostal Church (Lithia Springs, GA)
Kind: sermon
Scripture: Matthew 28:1-6, Mark 16:9, Luke 8:2, John 20:7, Acts 2:38-39, Romans 8:11

Source: https://acts238.life/repository/sermons/darrell-w-johns--new-day
Published by Acts 2:38 Life from the sermon transcript on that page.
Free to copy and share with attribution.

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Matthew 28 1. in the end of the Sabbath as it began to Dawn toward the first day of the week Came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to the Sepulcher from this text I want to speak on the subject a new day they came to the Tomb at the dawning of a new day God bless you please be seated now in case you missed it in Matthew 28 21 there was Mary Magdalene and the other Mary now I study the Bible most of my life but sometimes these Mary's mix me up was a popular name in Bible times there are five women that we know of whose name were Mary Mary the mother of Jesus Mary Magdalene Mary of Bethany Mary the wife of cleophus and Mary the mother of Mark there were several Mary's in the biblical record not to be more confusing but two of these Mary's were in this story and they went to the tomb to pay homage to Jesus Christ to put spices on his body as was the custom of the Jews now Mary Magdalene is first named in Matthew 28 1. we know from the writings of Mark and Luke in the New Testament we have Matthew Mark Luke and John those four gospels that tell us the life story of Jesus Christ of the words he spoke and the words he performed those are the gospel records the good news of Jesus Christ and Mark and Luke teach us that Mary Magdalene was not such a good woman when she found Jesus Christ or when Jesus found her she was full of the devil Seven Devils to be exact Mark 16 9 tells us that Jesus appeared to her Mary Magdalene out of whom he had cast Seven Devils Luke tells us that there were women who were healed of evil spirits and infirmities and then it names Mary Magdalene out of whom what went Seven Devils now we don't know exactly the nature of the Devils that possessed Mary they could have been Devils of immorality Devils of infirmity they could have been Devils of self-hatred like the man of godera who lived in the tombs and cut himself and tried to kill himself we don't know the nature it would really not be fair to Mary Magdalene to say that she was full of immoral Devils but suffice it to say that when she came to Jesus she was pretty messed up she was full of devils now these women that have been healed of infirmities out of devils have been cast were generous supporters of the ministry of Jesus Christ the Bible says that they minister to him of their substance and it's notable that when Mary Magdalene met Jesus Christ he delivered her and forgave her that it was a new day for her it changed her life forever now Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James are joined according to the Book of Mark in this story of bringing sweet spices that they could anoint the body of Jesus Christ I want to make a special note today that among the devoted Disciples of Jesus Christ are named and referred to numerous women they were loyal faithful followers of him they were among the last at the cross where he was crucified they were the first at the tomb a woman was the first to see the resurrected Savior Jesus Christ Mary and Mary and Salome were dedicated Disciples of Jesus Christ he was crucified placed in a tomb and they were distraught they had forsaken all to follow him they supported his ministry he had forgiven them and delivered them but now he's in a tomb and the fog of confusion that messed up their mind between his death and his resurrection was troubling for sure they were disturbed by the doubt of these of events that it happened they were consumed by lots of questions they wanted to recover but they lost when Jesus said it is finished they were engulfed in the greatest grief that they had ever known in their lives that they lost their treasured friend teacher master and savior and it was more than they could bear because some of them watched him die he was murdered martyr it was unfair I have a feeling that they battled feelings of disillusionment and even anger toward those Jewish leaders who authorized his death and the Romans who carried out that execution I've learned in my life when things perplexed me or confuse me when things don't add up it has a way of fogging the windshield of your life where you really can't see clearly how to make a good decision how to proceed into the future tears of grief will blur your vision and these two Mary's might have been coping with all of that disillusionment perhaps some anger a lot of wonderment like Jesus said that he would live forever and now he's dead he said he would come back to life but with that promise ever be validated and I think they were shaking their heads in regret on this third day early in the morning long before daylight they're working on these spices they're thinking about how they're going to get to him they're not imagining a resurrection they're imagining going into a tomb and seeing a dead body and anointing it with these spices as was the custom of the Jewish people their world was rocked by what had happened to Jesus Christ so as they're on their way to the tomb and the pre-dawn hours they're talking about the obstacle that stands between them and the dead body as they thought of Jesus Christ they asked themselves a question who will roll the stone away so we can get inside the grave to anoint the body of Jesus Christ Jesus was buried just outside the city walls this is the custom they're working on this they're walking toward him I thought about this story again many of us have read this over and over most of our lives but these ladies were not afraid of the Roman soldiers they didn't just say they didn't say how are we going to get past those guys with Spears I have a feeling they're thinking we can talk them into anything but that stone that's a problem it's big and heavy and they were told to make the grave site as secure as possible so it has now been sealed with concrete essentially so nobody can get inside not even the Roman soldiers can get inside the grave they're thinking about this they're wondering about how or who is going to roll the stone away and the soldiers who are guarding the grave have been told don't let anybody in you see there is this fear among the Jewish leaders that some of the Disciples of Jesus would sneak in in the middle of the night roll the stone away you always had a stone but was it always cemented they would steal the body of Jesus and then they would go tell everybody that he had raised from the dead and then that would be worse than the first they said the deception they thought so that's why the soldiers that's why the seal and the women know that this is a really big problem now the Bible tells us what happened on this day early Sunday morning the new day's Dawning Mary Magdalene the other Mary went out to visit the tomb and when they got there the surprise of their lives the stone is rolled away the tomb is open it sounds like great news they get there meticulously prepared spices they go inside the grave but the body is missing now in this moment you would think that they would have remembered that Jesus said he would rise on the third day but they're not thinking that they're wondering he took them away John records Mary saying they've taken my Lord away and I don't know where they've laid him she thought the bad guys have come taken his body out of the Tomb moved into some undisclosed location so the disciples cannot come and minister to the body of Jesus Christ but Matthew 28 goes on to tell us what really happened that day Matthew 28 2 and behold there is a great earthquake an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back to Stone of the door and sat on it I think that's kind of cool that an angel sitting there like hey his countenance was like lightning his clothing as white as snow and the guards those strong muscular Roman guards with Spears in their hand and swords on their side shook for the fear of a single Angel and became like dead men I want a pose to say right now that whatever you bring in the natural is so no match for what we bring into spiritual that God has power over all the power of the enemy I don't know what is coming against you today in your life but I can tell you that God has power over that power he has power over government over sickness over sin over whatever may be plaguing you God has more power [Applause] and Roman soldiers faint the angel sits there the women in the Tomb once they get inside they don't find the lifeless body of Jesus Christ verse 5 but the angel answered and said to the women do not be afraid for I know that you seek Jesus who is crucified he is not here they didn't just move his body he is risen as he said come see the evidence come see the place where the Lord lay I'm glad that those original disciples who feared for their life now had faith and they did not fear for their life they were willing to be martyred not for a myth but because of the miracle of the resurrection of Jesus Christ the evidence is clear that he is not here he is risen as he predicted as he said come see where he lay the Bible tells us that the grave clothes were there now if you would have stolen his body you'd have taken him grave clothes and all but the grave clothes are there as they have been wrapped around his body and the cloth that was covering his face was folded and laid at a separate spot I thought of this all you parents that are trying to get your kids to make their beds in the morning that when Jesus got up on Easter Sunday morning he folded the napkin or an angel did it was very neat but it is a little more amazing than that John 20 and 7 tells us about this evidence of the folded napkin that his body was not hastily stolen from the grave but when God came he showed the miracle and the women could see the clothes and the cloth that was about his faith faces evidence of a resurrection it is true he is not dead he is risen as he said I'm glad today that we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ he lives to die no more he is not here he is not in a tomb you can find the tomb of every other religious founder but our savior is alive today his presence is in this house that's why when Praises go up his power comes down thank you praise God this news sounded too good to be true but it was true and it was the dawn of a brand new day the long night of grief was over the long decades and centuries in Millennia all the way back to the original sin in the Garden of Eden it was over from that prophecy that a descendant of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent it came true at the birth of Jesus Christ and in his cross when he said it is finished it was not the Cry of a painful dying man it was the sound of victory that death was defeated in his death that sin was thankless and the price was paid in full it is finished but when he rose from the dead everything he died to do became possible for you it was a new day a new day amen a new day like no other day not just you know his mercies are new every morning when the sun comes up not just the dawning of the first day of the week it was the dawn of a new day of Grace that God would pour out his Spirit on All Flesh and he would save Sinners Like You and Me While these women came to pay homage to death instead they found Hope of eternal life they came to honor the past but they found a future of promise and this is the message of Resurrection Sunday this is the Easter story that he is alive he is risen from the dead and because of his resurrection death is defeated and sins are forgiven the chains of addiction are broken and captives are set free broken hearts are healed and the fear of the future is conquered amen the love of God displaces the self-hatred that you have been battling and hatred surrenders to forgiveness you do not have to leave today Broken you do not have to leave Harding you do not have to leave laws but because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ every addiction that has you bound can be broken he destroys the Yoke that binds people he will set you free today it doesn't matter what your past might be it doesn't matter where you came from or what you've done today is a new day for you [Applause] it's a new day free of depression it's a new day free of addiction it's a new day [Applause] Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead so we could just marvel stand in awe of him he conquered death so we can live through him he was rich but for our sakes he became poorer that we through his poverty might be made rich he was had everything and gave it all up he emptied himself that he would come and die the perfect death pay the sacrifice that no one else was worthy to pay because to substitute for us where we deserve all of us to die for our sins but Jesus died in our place buried in the Tomb resurrected the third day that's why we're excited because we know what we used to be but the Bible says you don't continue to be that it says such were some of you in this room today are people who were addicts they weren't drunkers they were immoral but now they have been Justified they have been Sanctified they have been set free for the power by the power of God in this room are hundreds of testimonies of people who can tell you I used to be this but I am that no more Jesus Christ has made me free I been resurrected by the power of Jesus Christ [Applause] Jesus conquered death so we can live with him so I want to slow down and say it again that the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ pay the price to give us the hope of eternal life and it is life and life more abundantly and eternal life it is not a worse life it's a better life it's a life of true spiritual freedom under the lordship of Jesus Christ amen now the Bible is very clear that Jesus died was buried resurrected on the third day and it's only fitting and I preached about this a few weeks ago that the process of Salvation follows the pattern the gospel that means good news of Jesus Christ that when we turn from our sins in Repentance we die to our old life and we die like Jesus died when we turn from our sins of repentance Jesus was buried the Bible says that we are buried with him for those who might come from a different Church background it doesn't say we're buried with them it says we're buried with him that's why today when brother William baptized three people and four people in the name of Jesus Christ they were baptized like this I now baptize you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins preparing with him by baptism that's why we call that name his name is above every other name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven things in Earth things under the Earth that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God that's why that's why we say his name and when you're buried go all the way under the water when you're immersed in the water in Jesus name it literally draws a spiritual line between your past and your future that'll pass as dead and repentance dead and burial the Bible says that you rise to walk in the newness of life a brand new life Jesus said I make all things new he makes us a new creation the word in the Greek is like species no other word can describe the change that happens when a person is filled with the baptism of the Holy Spirit but you're a new species something different that Humanity can never do I know some of you have been to programs that have steps and you've tried behavioral modification and thank God for what every person does in the professional world to help you change but to change that Jesus does is from the inside out what's an alcoholic they say always an alcoholic but the gospel says New Creation all things passed away what you used to be you are no more that old identity is dead that all power has been buried in the waters of baptism when ye received the gift of the Holy Ghost the holy spirit of God it makes you a new creation death burial Resurrection We rise to walk in newness of life and today I'm just going to tell you now that we're prepared to baptize you in Water by immersion in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins it is not joining a church it is now not an outward sign of an inward Grace it is for the remission of sins to be buried with Christ and baptism so we have changing rooms clean warm water towels everything you need we don't schedule baptisms because we believe baptism is urgent if you want to schedule it we'll do it for you but we believe the Bible says here's water what does hinder you to be baptized if you've repented your next step toward God is to be baptized in the name of Jesus amen and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost the first day of the church first day of the church people receive the Holy Ghost for the first time spoke in tongues they had never learned those languages but the spirit gave them the utterance or the ability to speak so people gather and Peter preaches and the people say men and Brethren what shall we do about our sins you know and the Apostle Peter in Acts chapter 2 verse 38. pivotal verse in the Bible this is where the Plan of Salvation is declared for the first time then Peter said unto them repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost for the promise that Holy Ghost is a promise is unto you and to your children and to all better afar off even people that were not raised in church that have no religious background that seem like they have no hope this to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord Our God shall calling so let me pause right here some of you are kind of Shell Shocked by what you're feeling today you don't know how to respond to this but God is calling you to Salvation today and if he's calling you he will keep his promise to fill you with the spirit New Creation All Things New amen I was reviewing everyone who's come to God in our church in the last 15 months since the beginning of 2022 and I was thinking about how God makes us new and today as I was preaching in the first service I remembered what happened when I was a teenager there was a lady named sister Johnson and we picked her up for church every Sunday for about 17 years her husband hopped that's what we called him hop he would be sitting there in front of his black and white TV in his chair and he would never go to church that was until he was 95 years old they were old but somehow he got out of his chair came to church at the age of 95 was baptized in Jesus name received the gift of the Holy Ghost and it became a new creation at the age of 95. hey don't wait till you're 95 to get a new lease on life don't wait till you're so old that you don't have much life to give to the Lord today is the day of salvation today is a new day for you [Applause] now some of you are having an internal argument right now and Satan who is at work has lied to you and he's lying to you right now he'd like to tell you you're not worthy you're too bad Jesus cannot possibly forgive someone like you and change your life but I want you to just go ask Mary Magdalene out of him Seven Devils were cast who was the first at the tomb and the first human being that Jesus Christ appeared to was Mary Magdalene out of him Seven Devils were cast you're not too bad to be saved you may think some backsliders people who once serve God that you've gone too far you've done too much maybe you think you've committed the unpardonable sin that God will not forgive you but let me just tell you if you're here today and you're looking to Jesus for your savior as your savior you've not gone too far people who have gone too far have rejected the cross but if you'll come to Jesus today no one has gone too far to be saved some of you he's telling you you don't have what it takes you're not a church person you can never look like that act like that be like that you know you're destined to live your whole life you know as a sinner and you're just going to go to hell one day but the good news is you don't have to live that way your life can change today you don't need to have what it takes you need to have a willing heart and when Jesus gives you the gift of the Holy Ghost then you'll have what it takes to live an overcoming life you can look around and think there's just a bunch of good people here church people but I'm just telling you such were some of you this room is filled with people who used to be Sinners but are no longer like that they were changed by the power of God they did not have what it takes but Jesus had What it Took and here they are today here they are today saved by the power of God Satan wants to make you feel like you're stuck in a revolving life a door and nothing will ever change for you nothing will ever get better but I'm going to tell you today that that he's trying to dash your hopes he's trying to keep you from coming to Jesus just like those women we're afraid when they got there there was not going to be a way to get to Jesus here's what I've learned you cannot save yourself but you can repent for yourself I can repent for myself and you can repent for yourself only you can ask God to forgive you of your sins other people have been praying for you to do it but if you will it is like the tour of the Tomb will be rolled away in your life when you say Jesus forgive me of my sins the power of God will come to you it will deliver you and it will save you same power we've read it once and sung about it already in this service Romans 8 11. but if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also Quicken to bring life shall Quicken your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you we sometimes think that that refers exclusively to the resurrection of the dead at the end but Romans 8 that chapter is all about the work of the spirit and the life of a Believer it's a spirit that raised up Jesus from the dead that we're celebrating on Easter Sunday if you will receive the Holy Ghost today the spirit of Jesus it will Quicken you it will give you power over all the power that has been working against you all your life they will search in the past 15 months I counted 123 people who have experienced water and or Spirit baptism in our church they are evidence that no matter your age or the experience you've had with sin that Jesus Christ can bring a new day of Salvation in your life JP I'm so glad to see you today we love you we thank God for what he did in your life when he saved you and transformed you Nathan and Mary they've been standing and preaching with me as I'm preaching thank God for what he's done in the Karns family by the power of the Holy Ghost thank God for what he's done for Mason white by the power of the Holy Ghost [Applause] thank God for what he did yesterday and hope Ministry Our Hope Ministry for almost 17 years they go downtown and they minister to the homeless population of Atlanta they have church service yesterday they received communion and after they received communion Clarence Adams Clarence Adams one of the mild-mannered friends that comes to Hope Ministry started praying he started praising the Lord and yesterday he was filled with the gift of the Holy Ghost and spoke in other tongues as the spirit gave him the utterance it doesn't matter if you're rich or poor if you own a home or you're homeless Jesus died for every soul and he will save you today if you've been transformed by the power of God would you thank him right now [Applause] Hallelujah we're going to pray right now he can be seated just for a few moments and after we pray we're going to come gather at the front of our church and call this the altar area in the Old Testament the altar was a place of death or sacrifices were you know what their lives were lost and the blood was shed the Bible said that we have an altar it's where Jesus Christ gave his life on the cross that's where we come to him and this is what we call our altar area God can change your life today when we have Easter Sunday I didn't say it in the 9 A.M service but my wife and I often think about what Easter means in our family and it was on an Easter Sunday that her dad who had been away from God for many years married a woman that didn't know anything about Pentecostal churches a little girl was Craig born then Craig Carol and Craig and Larry I'm sure it was not easy to go back to church but he went back to church on Easter Sunday and when he did he repented and God forgave him he lived for God till he passed away really at a young age 49. but that day so significant and I may not even know you today but I want that for you I want that for you we as a church want that for you that's really why we're here we're here for you to find New Life in Jesus Christ we're here for you to find a new day so right now we're going to take our first step toward God asking him to forgive us of our sins let's pray right now everyone everywhere which you ask Jesus to cleanse your life of every sin would you ask Jesus to give you hope of something new Jesus right now I pray like I did when I was a little boy got eight years old forgive me of my sins I've done many times before God since then forgive me of my sins God Wash Me thoroughly that I can be clean I pray Lord that you would take away everything in my life that is not like you Lord pray God that you would forgive me of my sins Lord I forgive other people who have done wrong to me God I release them from that hurt pray today God I pray for that person today Lord that has tried over and over and over to escape addiction Lord only to be pulled back down into the Vortex of that sin pray today Jesus that you would break that stronghold in their life I pray Jesus that you would let Hope come to their mind I pray against the lies of Satan who would love for them to believe that nothing can ever change I pray today Jesus that you would have mercy on a family that is hurting today family that may be fractured God and it looks like that family is going to dissolve Lord but today you can save that family I pray for that family Lord that has been headed in the wrong direction Lord that today they would turn around and reconsecrate their lives to you let this be a new day for them I pray in Jesus name amen