Easter 2021

Man, amen. I'm gonna go to the word of God today. And I was thinking to myself: no better place to start than in the beginning. Let's go to Genesis chapter one, verse number one. Now, don't get nervous. I'm not gonna preach the whole Bible today. Somebody be like: man, why wouldn't we start like Revelations, get through there first? But I feel as though the Lord does have a word for us today, and I'm excited to hear that.

I was uh — listening, and I heard a story the other day about a family that went on vacation. They were touring the homeless, the Holy Land. And while they were there — it was the entire family — while they were there, the mother-in-law passed away. Very unfortunately, very sad. And they were trying to make arrangements to get the body back to the States. And they were checking into some pricing, and it was going to cost five thousand dollars to get the body back to the United States. And so the — the husband said: well, I mean, how much would it cost to get them buried in the Holy Land here? And they're like: well, we probably could do it for a little bit cheaper. So they got to check in, and they could end up burying there for 300. So through this, he began to think to himself: well, should we do this or not do this? So we got to asking a few people around. Someone got to tell them some stories. And he came back and to the family, said: you know what, we're just going to ship her home. They said: why? It's so much more expensive to ship her home. He said: yeah, but I just heard a story that they buried a guy here a few years back, and three days later, he rose again. I'm not willing to take that chance. That ought to make somebody smile today.

Genesis chapter one, verse number one: "In the beginning, God." I like how it just establishes that: "In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light. And there was light." For just a little while and preach on this Easter Sunday: everything changed. Everything changed. I love this, that God just steps onto the scene in — in the midst of nothingness. He speaks and created all that we know, everything that we see, everything that we feel. Everything changed. We say that with me: everything changed. One more time: everything changed. When God said, "Let there be light," light came traveling out of the mouth of God at 186 000 miles per second, for that is the speed of light. That's so fast that a beam of light could circle the earth seven times every second.

I know about you — sometimes I stand fascinated at God's creation, what He has done. Overwhelmed when I try to process all that God is, and all that He allows me to be a part of in my life. When I think about the earth, and I think about our solar system, I think about the galaxies, I get fascinated by studying some of this stuff. And I'm by no means an expert in this field. But I find myself oftentimes standing out in the evening, on a clear night, looking up at the stars, and thinking to myself just how small I really am, and the fact that God is concerned with me. I get overwhelmed with that.

I think about the subdivision that you and I live in. It's called the Milky Way. And it's so big that we have to measure it in terms of light years. Light goes 500 5.88 trillion miles in one year. That's how you measure a light year. These — these numbers stagger my mind. The Milky Way, we know, consists of billions of stars. According to the experts who've been studying this, scientists say that if you were to compare the — the Milky Way, which is where — excuse me — the solar system that we live in, the sun and the earth and Mars and all the little planets that make up our solar system, and he was to put that inside the Milky Way, it would be the equivalent of taking a quarter and setting it inside the United States. I don't know about you, but that makes me feel really, really small. Itty-bitty. But yet, in all of that vastness, God is still concerned with you and I. He knows our comings and goings. He's — He's concerned with the smallest minute details of our life. In fact, the word of God even says He knows a number of hairs that are on our head. Think about that for a minute: that a God who created all these things, by simply speaking out the words, "Let there be light," and light started shining — as He began to create things, things have continued to be created from that day forward. They have not stopped, because He has not given a command yet for them to stop. I love that our God is personal. The psalmist had it right when he said: when I look at Your heaven, and the moon and the stars that You've set in place: what is man, that You are mindful of him, God? Well, I pale in comparison to all Your creation. Yet I have come to understand that, of everything that He has created, we are His prized possession. Can you believe that? You and I, we are His prized possession. Out of all the beautiful, and the majestic, and the mighty things that God has created, above all of those things, there's you and I. And He prefers us above all of that.

In the beginning, God spoke those first words, and everything changed. In fact, if we go back to Genesis chapter 1, verse 31, it says: "And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good." God looked around and said: you know what, I'm not — I'm not half bad at this. I love the fact that He took the time to form man. He didn't speak us into existence, but He did something a little bit different when it came to mankind.

Now, I've talked a lot about creation in my first five minutes here, about all that is there. And — and I'll have to admit, there are times when I feel and experience a little bit of heaven here on earth. I've stood, and there's been times when I've seen something so beautiful, so overwhelming, that it caught me, it captivated me in the moment. And I'm like: man, this is amazing. God, You are so wonderful, for me just to be here and experience this in my life. Has anybody else ever experienced just a little bit of heaven here on earth? Yeah, it's there. But I've also experienced a little bit of hell, also. See, Satan, our enemy, the adversary, so desperate in his efforts to try to annex this earth into the kingdom of darkness. He does all he can. He sends his demons and his imps into every known part of the planet. He has an imperial design upon the earth, that he wants to shift things to where he thinks they need to be. He wants this to make it an extension of hell. And sometimes, in some places, it looks like it. It feels like it. It acts like it. It smells like it. It has been there. I have experienced those things myself.

I'll tell you a truth today, on this Easter Sunday: redemption's cord cannot be severed. It doesn't matter how bad the circumstances are. It doesn't matter where you are in your life. It doesn't matter what kind of personal hell you have been going through. I'm here to tell you: redemption's cord cannot be severed. That should be good news for an apostolic church. I shouldn't have to cheerlead you guys today into being excited about the fact that you have redemption that's available to you today. That's some good news. That's some good news. At least I ought to get one amen.

God has a vested interest in our lives. It was on this place. It was on this planet that Jesus Christ shed His blood for our salvation. And with that act, ladies and gentlemen, everything changed. Everything changed. The divine sacrifice that was made at Calvary — it was made over there in Palestine. It was not made on Venus. It was not made in Mars. It was made right here. The cross was planted on this earth. The open tomb is here. And we celebrate that today. I know that the promise was kept, and it was not broken at Calvary. Had it been true, there would be a much different outcome that you and I would be dealing with today. But because of what He did, because He had the ability to keep His word, because He didn't back down when He had an opportunity — instead, He pushed forward, even when He inside Himself was agonizing with the reality of what He was going to have to deal with. He said: nevertheless, not my will, but Thy will be done. Because He pressed forward, and went to Calvary's hill, willingly laid down His life. No one took it from — from Him. But He said: I give my life, and I'll take it up again. Because of all those things, you and I have hope on this Easter Sunday. We have hope that no matter what comes my way, no matter what I face on this earth, no matter what the government's trying to do, no matter what pandemic I'm going to face — I don't have hope here, but my hope lies on the other side of things. Why? Because there's an empty tomb today. Oh, for the love of God, how thankful are you for God's love in your life? Anybody in here thankful for God's love? Yes. I'm so thankful for His love. But I also know that there's a force at work, a design that speaks good and attacks evil. I know, I have seen it. I have felt it. God's power is here on this earth. And it's here for a reason: to give you and I the ability to overcome the circumstances we face in our life. Without it, nothing else makes any sense. What other explanation could you possibly give, other than that God is reaching and searching for mankind. He is relentlessly pursuing you and I. This book, the Bible, God's word — it's a love story from the beginning to the end. It's a story of betrayal, and the story of someone coming after, and willing to pay any price, go to any lengths, go to — go to any area that he can reach, and let you know just how much he loves you. I love how much God loves us.

You have the opportunity to now — to — to believe what I'm preaching today. If you would accept the benefits of redemption, which God offers not just me, but everyone here. Every man, woman, and child that has ever lived, God's grace is available to you today. Salvation is a gift that He paid for. It's not something you have to pay yourself. But it's already been paid. Repentance, baptism in His name, the infilling of His Spirit awaits those who are willing to receive it. You cannot deny it. You can say it don't exist. You can say it — it's not real. But I'm here to tell you: it doesn't matter what you say about it. You cannot stop it. It doesn't matter whether or not you believe it, you can't stop it. It doesn't matter what you try to pose against it. You cannot stop what God has said in motion. Because when He did what He did, everything changed in this world. We are not the same. God extends to excel Himself in my life and yours. Calvary means no less.

I wish somebody would understand and recognize today just how close heaven is. We're not that far away. It's right there, close where you are. But you can also experience and taste hell here, right now. The torment, the consequences, the bondage, the bankruptcy, the ashes of a misspent life, the sense of abandonment and separation from God. Addictions, depressions, anxieties, lies, deceit, violence, broken homes, broken marriages, broken kids, and more things that I can't even say today from this pulpit are present in this room, where we are right now. But none of those things negate God's love. None of those things can stop His mercy from being a part of your life. It doesn't matter what you brought in this room with you. I'm telling you, there's a love here today, present for you, that will take all those ashes of your burned-out life, and He'll make something beautiful out of them, if you are willing to surrender those things over to Him today. Oh, what better thing could you experience on Resurrection Sunday, than the fact that: my life has been changed. I'm no longer the same. My God has loved me, and He reached down, and He found me, and He set my feet on solid ground. When He spoke those words — when He said, "Let there be light" — the light shone into the darkness.

Material things do not make it a heaven or hell. But the absence, or the presence, of God in your life makes all the difference. Oh, it's interesting, the things that we try to fit into our life to bring happiness, joy, and peace, only to find out that only brings more chains and bondage. That — don't get me wrong, I'm not against you having nice things. If — if I am your pastor, you've heard me say this multiple times. I'm not against you having great things. I'm not against you prospering in this life. I'm not. But be very careful that you don't become so entangled in your stuff, that what you see is great and grand benefits of life become — end up being things that weigh you down and cause you to have more grief, because you're afraid to lose them. You're not going to carry your stuff with you. This is not a new statement to me, but you don't ever see a U-Haul truck following the hearse to the graveyard. Because when you're dead, everybody else is going to take pickings of your things. You don't carry that stuff with you, even if you have them buried with you in the ground. You're not going anywhere. This is going to rot in the ground.

I think one of the greatest lines in all the Bible are the words that say, in Genesis chapter 3 15: "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, in between thy seed and her seed. It shall bruise thy head, and thou shall bruise his heel." God confers upon the woman, who had the disgrace of introducing sin, and the future honor of introducing deliverance at the same time, because everything changed when God set something in motion. See, there's a greater fact. There's a bruising battle that's taking place, and earth is the arena of the eternal combat. God and the devil are slugging it out right here, where you and I live. Satan chose to dispute God's word here. And John says it the best, I think, in First John chapter 3, verse number 8: "He that committeth sin is of the devil. For the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifest, that He might destroy the works of the devil." See, it doesn't matter what kind of strategy the enemy comes up with. It's already been stated in holy Scripture that he's going to lose that fight. Now, where the real battle takes place is inside of you and I, each and every day. For we can be easily convinced that we — we can be overwhelmed by our circumstances. But I'm here to tell you that that is a lie, that has always been a lie, that will always be a lie. If you trust in God, regardless of what you're going through, I promise you this: He will get you from where you are to where He desires you to be. And I promise, if you trust in that, He will take you to heaven one day. But we get so caught up in the temporary things of this world, that we think, just because things aren't going how I plant it right now, that God doesn't care anything about me. That could be so far from the truth. For He knows where you are. His word says: we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but within every way was tempted, just like you and I have. He understands what we go through. He experienced some of the same exact things that you and I experience in our life. Yet He managed to do it without sin, to show us that that same power that got Him through is available to you.

Ladies and gentlemen, hell's a real place. You don't hear this preached about a lot. Especially don't hear about it preach too many times on Easter Sunday morning. But I'm here to tell you, you can deny it all you want, but it's real. Just like heaven is real, hell is a real place. And the Bible does not paint a happy picture concerning it. Matthew 13 and 42: "And shall cast them into the furnace of fire, and there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." That doesn't sound like a vacation destination. You don't see that on Airbnb. Hell was never created for mankind. It was never a place that we were supposed to go. It was for rebellious Lucifer and the fallen angels. It was never meant for you and I. Lies, and deceit, and manipulation, and misrepresentation is what caused sin to enter into paradise that God created. It was a lie. And it was the fallacy that they could be gods. What really happened when they took that fruit in the garden, from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, was that they themselves would think that they had the right to determine what was good, and what was evil. I'm going to say that again. People often misunderstand exactly what took place there in that garden. But I promise you, ladies and gentlemen, if you study the Scriptures — and I've spent pretty much the majority of my life studying this book — I'll show you one thing that is a truth. God has always had something that has been set aside, separated unto Him. It started in the garden. Everything in that garden you can enjoy. Everything that is there is for you to benefit from. Enjoy. But there's one thing — one thing God said belongs to Me. You don't go over there and take of that fruit. Because God always has something set aside.

Well, that doesn't seem fair to me. It doesn't seem right. Why wouldn't God just put everything — or why did God put that there? Because God is always going to establish His lordship. He did, from day one. He is always going to establish His lordship. He did it in the garden. I am God. I made you. I created you. This you don't touch. The enemy came in and spread the lie, and said: go, did — did God say? Always taken the word of God, and spin it in such a way that makes us think that sounds kind of close, right? For the enemy knew this: that if they would take of the fruit, then they themselves would feel like they had the right to determine what is good, and what is evil. That lie hasn't changed. It's still today. And our world is still here. It's still something that you and I fight, and something we battle each and every day. We see it in our world. We see it running rampant. We struggle each and every day to make sure that we keep God Lord of our life. And you've heard me say, if you've been at this church any time: He's either Lord of all, He's not Lord at all. He's not going to be Lord apart. He's not going to just take a piece. He — He's kind of acts like God in this way, and says: I want all or nothing. I don't want to just be an occasional acquaintance in your life, but my desire is to truly be the Lord of your life. And if you'll let Me be the Lord of your life, there are benefits that come along with Me being Lord. You may not understand, or even comprehend, all of those things in the initial moment. But if you give Me enough time, I will prove to you that I am a good, and I'm a faithful God. I will walk with you in ways, and take you to places you could never imagine and never dream. But God does this. He's never a quick work, at least not usually. There are times He comes in. There are times when He will immediately heal. He will immediately deliver. But more often times than not, God is about the long haul. He's about showing you what He would love to do with your life, if you'll allow Him.

Eve's decision, and Adam's consent to give in — well, led to a separation. Separation from what? Separation from God's presence. They got to walk with Him in the cool, the more in the evening, each and every day. But He comes in after that decision, He says: where are you? That wasn't a geographical location question. God knew exactly where Adam and Eve were. But He's saying: where are you, because you are absent from My presence. Your decision, your disobedience, your taking of what I told you not to take, has caused you to be separated from Me. Adam, where are you? Where did you go? Because that's what sin does, ladies and gentlemen. Sin separates us from the presence of God. One decision caused a separation. And one decision caused sin to enter the world of man. And sin brought with it a price. For something had to die. Romans 6, verse number 23: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Sin had a price tag. Something had to die. Something had to pay the price and the penalty. It was there. But God, being God, knew that the price, and He knew how much that price was. And He had a plan in place. Are you thankful that God had a plan? Are you thankful that God had a plan? I'm thankful at least there's a plan. If there's a plan, that means I can apply the plan to my life. I'm not lost. I'm not by myself. There's something that I can do. He had a plan.

There are several passages where Jesus was explaining Himself and His purpose. But I want to read the passage in the gospel of John for us today, that I believe that is fitting for this moment in this service. John chapter 12, verse number 23: "And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour has come that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall to the ground and die, it abideth alone. But if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it, and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve Me, let him follow Me. And where I am, there shall also My servant be. If any man serve Me, him will My Father honor. Now is My soul troubled. And what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour. But for this cause I came unto this hour. Father, glorify Thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. The people therefore that stood by and heard it, said — said that it thundered. Others said, An angel spoke to him. Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of Me, but for your sake. Now is the judgment of the world. Now shall the prince of the world be cast out. And if I be lifted up from earth, will draw all men unto Me."

He was explaining the purpose and the reason that He came: that He had to die. Their price had to be paid. There was something that was there, that mankind could not do. We didn't have the ability to do it on our own. But God, in His infinite wisdom, knew: I have to do something for them. And since they are not able to do this, I will go and do this for them. I will pay the price they can't pay. I am willing to go and sacrifice. And He explains this. God confirms it. And then He says to themself: the way the enemy is defeated is when I am lifted up. But even the enemy didn't understand what was going on. You see, oftentimes this passage of Scripture, especially in the apostolic churches, gets used when it talks about praise and engaging in worship. And I'm not saying it's not appropriate to use it there. But if we do that, we can oftentimes misunderstand the real reason behind this verse. The passage has everything to do with the crucifixion. And we know this because verse 33 of that same chapter says this: "He said, signifying what death He should die." The good news is, God has already been lifted up once, and all at Calvary. And now He is doing the drawing. He is drawing all people. Because ever since Calvary, because ever since He went there, because He died, everything changed in that moment.

It was just this moment — excuse me, last night, as I was up here studying for this message, and I had most of it put together, that I decided I wanted to go back and read all the gospel accounts of the death, and the burial, and resurrection of Jesus. And I was going through there, reading those things, and I got emotional, thinking about the sacrifice that was paid, and the price He was willing to go, just for you and I, without any guarantee that we were ever going to live for Him, or not. He was still willing to go. And He was willing to pay that price. And it was in that moment that I began to think to myself: that's where it changed. As I was reading these words, I'm like: it changed right there. That — that's when stuff that was set in motion in the garden came to fruition. In that moment, when He was at the very end, when He was crying out: God, why have You forsaken me? As He was feeling, the first time in His life, that He was being separated from the presence of the Almighty God. The man Jesus was feeling the separation. The man Jesus was feeling the weight of sin. The man Jesus had drank that bitter cup. And He understood what was taking place. And He cried out: why have You forsaken me? And then He uttered those words, and the gospel of John is the only one that recorded it, when He said: it is finished. What was finished? He was able to do what no one else would ever be able to do. And that was to die, to pay the penalty for you and I's life. And in that moment, ladies and gentlemen, everything changed. In that moment, God, knowing the shape of mankind, knowing how our tendencies, knowing our enemy, He prepared that way of escape, to cover that penalty of death that was there. Jesus was lifted up. He was crucified. He died. He was buried in a borrowed tomb.

But I want to draw your attention to that verse again. John 19 and 30: "Jesus therefore received the vinegar, He said, It is finished. It is finished. It is finished." I wish somebody would grab a hold of me, the magnitude of that. In that moment, what He was saying is: sin no longer has the ability over you. Death no longer has the ability to worry you. Death no longer has the ability to worry you. We sang about it earlier, though. I don't have to worry about: oh death, where's thy sing? Grave, where is that victory? When I go, in my confidence, and my life lived well for Him, that whenever my time is to go away, I go off in peace. And understand that when my eyes close here, they'll open over there. It's a hope. You may think: well, you're just believing in something you don't know it's true. I'm telling you, I have every confidence that if I live my life according to His plan, according to His purpose, according to His word, that I have the confidence that whenever my time comes, I'm not worried about death holding me back. Death is the beginning of what God has for me.

That started long ago in the garden. That deceit, that deception, that lie, that decision to disobey, all had been taken away and taken care of, when He said: it is finished. The curse had been destroyed. The penalty, the price, had been paid in full. Those words that were spoken changed everything.

Colossians 2 13: "And you, being dead in your sins, and the uncircumcision in your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiving all trespasses, blotting out the handwriting of the ordinance that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, and nailed it to His cross."

Death was not the end. Death was not the end, ladies and gentlemen. Death is not the end. If you're worried about dying here today, I want to tell you something: you need to put your hope and your trust in the finished work at Calvary. I know none of us are necessarily wanting to take the first train out. But I'm going to tell you: I lay down every night, and I don't give a second thought about what happens to me while I sleep. If God chooses to take me, then let Him take me. Because what's on the other side is heaven. What was on the other side is my reward. What's on the other side is what He paid for in Calvary. Jesus died, but death was not the end. And it was the beginning.

Matthew 28 and 1: "And the end of the Sabbath, has began down towards the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other married, to see the sepulcher. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for the angel Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and set up on it. His countenance was like lightning. His raiment was white as snow. And fear of him, the keepers did shake, and became his dead man. And the angel answered, and said of the woman: Fear ye not. Fear not ye, for I know that you seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here." Oh, I get that. If I could put it in good Southern: that angel was saying: ladies, I know who you're looking for, and that fella, he ain't here anymore. He has risen. He has risen. I know why you came, and I know what she was expecting. You think everything is lost, and nothing was going to go according to plan. But the angel was letting him know, one more time: if you would go back and remember the conversations He had with you, this is fulfillment of what He said He was going to do. I know who you're seeking. But He is not here. He is risen. Oh, everything changed. Grave couldn't hold Him. Death had no sting. The grave has no victory. Why? Because everything changed.

Revelations 1. I told you we're going to go from Genesis to Revelations. Revelations 1, verse 17: "And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me: Fear not. I am the first and the last. I am He that liveth, and was dead. And behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of hell and death."

There is good news today, ladies and gentlemen. The thing that mankind had feared the most was what was going to happen when we die. And what happened in that three days that He lay in that tomb, was that our Lord and Savior went marching into the enemy territory. He went and banged on the door of hell. And He said: hey, I'm here to let you know that those keys you've been hanging on to, that thing that you've been torturing my children with, all that stuff that they've been worrying about — give Me those keys. And He took back the keys to hell, and marched back out of there again, triumphing through the grave. He came out on the other side, to let everybody know: you don't have to worry about those keys anymore. I know you've been taunted with it. I know he's been telling you: I can lock you up. I can bind you up in eternity, and all torment, whoever's weeping and gnashing and nailing your teeth. And God says: nope, I'll take those keys. No longer do you have to worry about that stuff. But if you'll trust in Me, you don't have to worry about what's going to happen to you in the ever after, because you'll be with Me. And I promise I'll take care of every problem, every circumstance, every situation. I'll take you to a place where there's no more weeping, no more tears, no more sorrow, no more pain. You don't have to worry about that stuff. Oh, everything changed that day.

And that's what we are celebrating today. Everything changed. There's good news today, as I get ready to end. There's good news. And that good news is that you can decide today what you want to do. I don't think anybody's shocked. You showed up at a church. Some preachers try to get all fancy and put that ending of the message, that last appeal, and they're real good, so that you feel like you got hooked. I'm going to be forward with you, because that's who I am. I'm straight forward. I'm — I'm coming for you. I've prayed that God will help me come for you. So don't be surprised if you feel something. Because our God desires to do work in you. I don't think anybody in this room can deny the effects of sin in this world. We see it all around us.

So interesting to me, everything that's taken place in our world. I was just reading today that, you know, we're — I'm in, in some ways, pastors in the last year to 18 months, they've been what we call pioneer pastoring. What I mean by that is, we're doing things that we can't go and ask somebody before us what they did. I love our bishop. Don't y'all love bishop? I love bishop. But I couldn't go to bishop — and if you don't know, he's the guy that I took over from — I can't go to him and say: okay, what did you do in your pandemic? Because he didn't have a pandemic. He couldn't be like: well, here's some notes, and here's something I did. He didn't know. He just looked at me, said: I don't know, that's on you. He threw the bishop card out there. We're pioneer pastors. So I'm — I'm — I'm — I'm — reading. I'm praying. I'm searching. I'm trying to do everything I can to make sure that I'm being close to God. I'm praying. I'm fasting. I'm seeking after Him. I want to be close to the Spirit. And I want to be led by Him. And trying to gauge the temperature of what's going on in our world — is it, ladies and gentlemen, it's crazy out there. We're dealing with so much. It's a — it's such a fast rate. Everything's coming at us so quickly. And sometimes I feel like I can't catch my breath. Sometimes like, I don't know, like: where — where are you at and all this? Because it seems as though everything's spinning out of control. And then it seems like the moments that I get the most worked up, I feel His hand come down on me, and call me, and tell me: I've got this. And He refocuses my mind, and He says: don't lose sight of Me in all the noise. I'm here to tell somebody today don't lose sight of God and all that's going on. I'm not a prophet. I've never claimed to be a prophet. I only can tell you what I feel and sense of my own spirit, when I pray. And this is what I sense and feel, ladies and gentlemen: this isn't going to get better. Hey, if you're — if you're — if you're hanging out and for things to go back to normal — right, we all want it, right? Let's go and be honest. We're in church. Confession's good for the soul. How many people just want to go back to normal? All right. And if you didn't raise your hand, I'll worry about you. I don't think it's going back normal. I — in my heart of hearts, this isn't preacher talk. This is just Kevin Allen being honest before you. He is setting things in motion for His return. For some, it takes being humbled before they realize their desperate need for God in their life. But what I don't want, ladies and gentlemen — what I don't want is, I don't want you — I don't want you to get so distracted by everything, that you end up falling away, as He's trying to bring all those on the fringe back in. See, everything changed. We celebrate that this Easter day. Sin has an effect. But God's love and grace will supersede all those things.

You can tell the peoples whose lives have been touched, and those who've made the turn. There's restoration. There's holiness. They have a smile on their face, even when everything seems to be burning down around them. It's not because they're crazy. It's not because they're out of touch with what's going on. It's because they have hope in something beyond this place. Oh, how disappointing would it be if this is as good as it gets. But there's something on the other side that waits for us. The Bible describes it this way, 2 Corinthians 5 17: "Therefore, if any man being Christ, he's a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things become new." When you meet Jesus, everything changes. You're not the same.

Heard bishop say that one time — I don't know if it's original him, or someone, his elders — but he said: if you — if you got religion, didn't change you, you didn't get the right kind. Well, I'll tell you, when I came in contact with God, it changed me. I was different. I didn't leave the same. There was something inside of me, in — in the middle of me, that was different. And that, in the middle of me, changed the outside of me. It changed all parts of me. I'm not perfect. You're not perfect. There's no one that was perfect, but Him who died for you and I. But I'm a new creature in Him. When we commit ourselves to Him steadily, there emerges an image that has been obscured by sin and defilement. Calvary stopped the retrogression in man. And in Calvary, everything changed.

Paul said this, in Colossians 3 and 10: "I have, and have put on new man, which has renewed the knowledge, after the image that created him." He said again, in Ephesians 4 24: "And that you put on the new man." Why does he keep using his words? Because when you get to Him, He never leaves you where you are. He'll accept you as you are, but He loves you enough to never leave you where you are. He has newness of life for you.

And I'm bringing this to close. The musicians are going to come. When we go through what we call the new birth, or — or being born again — some of the old-timers called it that — God has laid out a plan of salvation that consists exactly of what He did at Calvary: the price He paid for you and I, the death, the burial, the resurrection, the repentance, the baptism in Jesus' name, and the infilling of the Holy Ghost. There is a return to holiness, a return to what was at the beginning, a continual walking in His presence. I want you to know that that garden experience is still available today.

My last passage of Scripture I'm going to read to you is Revelations 21, verse number one: "And I saw a new heaven and new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away, and there was no more sea. And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men." Oh, thank You, Jesus. "And He will dwell with him, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away. And He that set up on the throne said, Behold, I will make things new. And He said unto me, Write. These words that are true in faith. When he said unto me, It is done." It is done. Oh, John was there. He got caught up in all that moment that was going on. But what stood out to me was that sentence: it is done. Everything has changed. Everything.

I don't know where you are. I don't know what you're going through. I know we have several guests in the house on us. I'm so honored that you're here with us today. But here's what I know: everything changed at Calvary. And that promise that was fulfilled — that promise is still alive and well, and is here for you today. Eve knew what it was like to lose the presence of God. Adam knew what it was like to be losing the presence of God. But you can know the joy and experience of becoming a new man in Christ. For He is risen. And because of that, everything has changed. Everything.

I'm not here to sell you anything. I'm not here to convince you of anything except this truth: God is good. God can be trusted. And God is faithful. The day, the hour, the moment that we're living in — so much is vying for your attention outside these walls. But in this moment, right now, where you are, His presence is here. And whatever need you have in your body, whatever need you have in your soul, whatever needs you have, period — He can take care of that. Anything. Well, preacher, you're not telling me anything. I've heard that 100 times. Well, you just heard it 101. Because it doesn't matter how many times you've heard it, it's still true. It doesn't matter if you believe it or not, it's still true. But I can tell you, if you're in this room today, you're in the host in a great cloud of witnesses all around you, who will tell you that this isn't fake, and this isn't hype, but this is real, what's going on. And He's a good God.

If what I'm saying is real to you personally, would you just slip your hand up, right there? Yeah. It's real. It's real. If it's been a while since you've experienced this new man stuff, as I pray, I invite you to take advantage of His presence being here. This is an apostolic church. We believe in letting the power of God do a work in your life. As I start to pray, there's this altar area, this front area up here. The church is open. If you feel God doing something, like I invite you to come up here. We're not going to sign you up for Amway, or selling anything like that. It's — we're just going to pray with you. That's it. Plain and simple. Just pray. I'm gonna tell you, eternal transactions take place right up here. So I encourage you: don't — don't — don't miss this moment. Don't miss this chance. Because everything changes in His presence.

Will you pray with me? You bow your heads. Oh my God, I love You so much. I thank You, Lord, for all that this day represents. I thank You for the promise kept. I thank You that there's an empty tomb. I thank You that I have new life in You. I thank You, Lord, that You still pour out Your Spirit every day. Lord, I know in this place there are individuals who are not where they need to be. And You, God, I pray that You would pull at their heart right now, that You would let them know that You still love them. You're concerned with them. You still desire to do a work in their life. Oh God, I pray You bring him to a place where they can experience Your resurrection power one more time. There are those who are sick and body today, in this place. You are a healer. You are a healer. You are a healer. You are a healer. I believe in You, and I know You're a healer. God, I pray that those who need a touch in their body would come as well, that they would put their faith and their trust in You. God, do what You do best. Be Lord of our life. In Jesus' name we pray, and amen. This altar is open. I ask, anybody like to come and pray? They're going to sing for a minute. We'll dismiss in just a minute. But I don't want to miss this moment in the service.