Sometimes we want to change sides to God's side...but....We struggle with the fears we have, patterns we fall into, we adapt to and follow the things that are in our unconscious and we feel stuck, people want better but they are stuck in 'the way it is'.
Luke 24, the Easter story
"On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb." The women brought spices to anoint the 'dead' body of Jesus as an act of devotion to him. Then they found out that Jesus was not there! These women knew Jesus and had heard him talk about the resurrection but yet they still expected to go and see Jesus' lifeless body....hmmmm...How many of us are like that? We forget what God has said and live like we are bound to 'the way it is'. These women at some point said, 'I am gonna change sides, I'm gonna follow Jesus' they said that they were followers of Jesus but they still expected to see His lifeless body?!
1. You need to 'Change Sides' and change allegiance!
On the journey of faith we must change sides/allegiance by taking off the jersey of self and put on devotion to God!! Amen! Many people say that they believe in God but still think, act, and do the same as they have always done, never changing their values to that of Christ's. They don't think that they have to change.
2. To 'Change Sides' you have to change behavior!
The angels told the women "Why do you look for the living among the dead?"Faith requires action! When we change sides but don't change behavior it will be destructive, just like if we were to go to England and drive on the right side of the road just because that is what we are used to. That would cause chaos!
3. To 'Change Sides' you have got to change your thinking!
In vs. 6-8 the angel said "He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again."
On that first resurrection morning they went to the tomb and found nothing, because Jesus had risen! The resurrection was God reaching into the tomb as He unearthed the body, the promise of God. God still moves stones and He unearths opportunities. Change sides, change behavior, change your thinking by giving your best devotion to god, give Him your all!
*No more hanging around an empty tomb looking for a dead Jesus! You'll never see it! Give God first place in your life: 'On the faith journey we must change our allegiance, change our behavior & change our thinking!'
If you would like to see/hear the sermon, you can Watch here!
