Ablaze Church Sermon Podcast (Audio‪)‬ Ablaze Church

There was a couple that had such a godly household. Zechariah and Elizabeth, contemporaries of Jesus, had a well-run home and they were faithful to each other, to God and to the community. But they were unable to have children. The unfulfilled desire for children did not prevent them from living a full life and fulfilling the plan God had for them. There may have been an empty space in their hearts they were praying about, but there was no “God-gap.” God had a plan for them that took its proper time in unfolding. Their prayers about having a child were heard and God promised them a son who became one of the most important men of his time, John the Baptist, the promised forerunner and way-preparer for the Messiah. He was to call sinners to repentance and open their hearts to Jesus the Savior.

God had a great plan for families. It started off with two perfect people, Adam and Eve. They walked with God, they loved each other completely, their home was a place of harmony and filled with joy. Listening to the voice of temptation that offered them something better, they disobeyed God and then everything started to unravel. Ever since then, there has been no perfect household.

Households aren’t just people living under the same roof, mostly related. God has a household as well, called “Church.” There are brothers and sisters. There are brothers and sister who get along and who don’t. There is unity and disunity. There is harmony and there is drama. The Church is a bunch of real people who live in the real world. At the same time, the Church is holy, redeemed, indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Though frequently failing, it has the highest vision and accomplishes the impossible when under the control of the Head of the Church, Jesus Christ.

We hear that “Seeing is Believing.” That’s often true but not always. Many people saw miracles Jesus did and still refused to believe and put their trust in him. The gateway to faith is by the power of the Spirit through the Word, which can be heard and seen. We don’t have the privilege of physical sight of Jesus, but we get to encounter the Risen Christ just as certainly as the disciples, through the Word. The Holy Spirit enlightens our eyes and brings us into a living relationship with our Living Lord.

At the core of the Christian faith are the companion features the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. If either of them is missing, there is no meaning in life and no purpose of our existence. That’s why we go flat out and wide open for Easter. Its not just the decorations, dressing our kids in their best, hiding the eggs and goodies, and having a grand family dinner. It is lifting our hearts in unrestrained joy. “Death is defeated, the King is Alive!” Nothing can top Easter and nothing can stop Easter. Its life-giving, life-changing power is as great in 2022 as it was way back then.

You personally have a Savior. You are not rejected Love took a hit! But in a week that love
takes a bow!