What is happening in your life?
What is happening the the lives of the people around you?

Remember when Jesus landed on the beach in Gentile territory at the foot of a cemetery on the hill? The violent, attacking monster (remember last Sunday's sermon) controlled by evil, ran down to steal, kill and destroy new victims pulling up on his shore.

Chances are you're going through a struggle emotionally or physically—either yourself, your spouse, someone in your family, or one of your close friends. 

Chances are you are going through a relational difficulty with a friend. neighbor, co-worker or a family member.

Chances are the conflicts occurring in your occupation have reached such an intense level, you're ready to say, "I don't even know if Christianity works anymore."   

Chances are good that more marriages are in conflict in these stressful days than in days past. Chances are you've got troubles in your family—more than usual. Perhaps one of your children is in open rebellion. If they're not there yet, it's just because they're not old enough. It's only a matter of time.

Chances are very good that a grandchild or a great-grandchild is very sick right now.

Why?
"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith,because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings." 1 Peter 5:8-9

Jesus wants to remind us that we have an enemy. We are in a war.
It's all part of the enemy's strategy.
Our adversary hates harmony in the family.
The devil hates strong minds, secure wills, and stable bodies.
The enemy hates anything and everything that is from God; all things good, right, healthy, beautiful and brilliant.

One of the life benefits of participating in athletics is that you need to know your opponent. The military calls in "gathering intelligence." God says, "Be sober minded."

We need to know how our enemy operates, what is his purpose, where is his base of operations, what are his tactics. "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him."

More importantly, we need to know our Advocate, our Defender, our Rescuer, our King! We need to know who we are in Christ, how Christ operates in our lives, where Christ is, what is His purpose, how He has defeated the enemy, and how He defeats the enemy in our lives daily. "Standing firm in the faith."

Remember to lean on each other. "Because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kinds of sufferings."

Let's be prepared for the battle.
Let's call on Jesus every hour.
Let's lean on each other.

Battling together in Christ,
Pastor Chris

"Having heard about Jesus, she came up behind Him in the crowd and touched His cloak." Mark 5:27

Many of us know the painful 12 year journey of this woman's life. She could not relate with her family, friends, strangers nor anyone due to her "unclean" condition. She was not allowed in public places, private places nor the synagogue. She was an outcast who had to be removed from her every day life.

But, does anyone know who the unmentioned person is in this verse? Read it again.

"Having heard about Jesus, she came up behind Him in the crowd and touched His cloak." Mark 5:27 

Who told this hurt, lonely, discouraged woman about Jesus?
What stories did this person share?
Who risked to break the social barriers and the spiritual barriers to tell this woman about Jesus?
Who privately went to this woman and had a conversation about Jesus?
Who risked their health to tell the amazing stories about Jesus?
Who is this unnamed hero?

The truth is, all of us have people in our lives who might be a lot like the woman suffering for 12 years with this physical, social and spiritual problem. They might live next door. They might work a few cubicles or offices down from you. They might be right in front of you somehow.

Have they heard the stories about Jesus from you that causes them to be amazed?
Have they heard the wonderful life of Jesus from you?
Have they heard the love Jesus has for the sick, wounded and lonely from you?

This unnamed hero, risked and shared something about Jesus to this hurting woman. This hurting woman risked everything to connect with Jesus. That connection with Jesus changed everything. The sick woman was healed.
The unclean was made clean.
The unwelcomed was welcomed.
The outcast became a daughter of God.
The dying woman received hope and is still giving hope today.

Who in your life needs to be encouraged by you?
Ask Jesus to give you His eyes and ears to be able to see and hear the hidden needs of the people in your life.
Spend time praying for others without asking for anything you want.
Send a text, an email or a note to someone who needs encouragement.

Seeking to be an unnamed,
Pastor Chris

Are you closer to Jesus now because of your Easter investment?
Did you have some powerful moments alone with Jesus?
Did you share the great news of Jesus with anyone who is far from God?
Did you sense Jesus smile upon you during this Easter season?

Our focus this year is to become In Awe of Jesus.
"Awe" meaning three emotions colliding over a grand event or grand person; the emotion of fear, wonder and reverential respect.

There was a historical man named Jesus.
He was born like no else was born. He lived like no one else lived. He taught like no one else taught. He served like no one else served. He loved like no one else loved. His heart went out to those who were overlooked, left out, marginalized, despised, forgotten and excluded.

On Friday, His great courage got Him arrested. His great love led Him to the cross. His great passion for sinners carried Him through the suffering. His great sacrifice allowed Him to die. On Friday, it was such a horrible ending to such a wonderful life that it was marked by darkness, earthquake, the dead walking and the veil ripping.

On Saturday, there was great silence as Jesus lay dead in the grave. There was great mourning as the Great Leader seemed to no longer be leading. There was great sorrow as the Great Lover seemed to no longer be loving. There was great shock as the Messiah seemed to be a fraud.

On Sunday, the stone was rolled away. On Sunday, the grave clothes were neatly folded. On Sunday, the tomb was empty. On Sunday, the bloody, ripped up back, the wounds from the crown of thorns, the wounds from the beatings, the wounds from the nails, the wounds from the spear were fully healed. The dead was no longer dead, death lost its sting, the grave lost its corpse. On Sunday, darkness was derailed, the devil was dethroned and hell was defeated. On Sunday, faith was vindicated, the prophets validated, the disciples animated. On Sunday, sin lost, shamed died, hope soared and love won. We got something to live for. We got something to die for. We got something to hope in.
Easter is therefore, the greatest victory, over the darkest enemy, by the noblest hero, for the loftiest cause, that is the central proclamation in the history of the world. If there is anything in this broken, dark world worth celebrating it is that Jesus Christ is Risen from the dead. He is risen, He is risen indeed!

How is your life different because of this Easter? Or did you miss it?

In Awe of Jesus,
Pastor Chris