Erica and Pastor Jesse dive into the importance of Easter and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, underlining its enduring message of hope and triumph. Keep a tender heart towards God, unwavering faith, and be infused by the Holy Spirit to embrace love, joy, and peace. It’s available in abundance.
What is Faith Filter? We take what’s on our minds, what’s percolating in our hearts, and what’s happening in the world… and put it through the filter of our faith… everything we believe and what God Word says about it!
Guest: Pastor Jesse from Grace Community Church in Auburn/ Host of the Bonfire podcast on Purposely, AND author of the brand new book, The Power Of The Second Thought, How To Live With Indestructible Hope!
Do you have a question about faith that you’d love Pastor Jesse and Erica to talk about on the radio? Connect with Erica at Mornings@SPIRIT1053.com!
Need Prayer? Leave your requests here.
TRANSCRIPTION:
Erica:
I think some of the most powerful words ever spoken are these. He is not here. He has risen just as he said. Welcome to Faith Filter. I’m Erica with Pastor Jesse from Grace Community Church in Auburn, Washington. He’s also the host of the incredible podcast, Bonfire, on Purposely. Pastor Jesse, I trust that you had a beautiful Easter Sunday with your fam. It’s Easter Monday. The Lord is risen. He has risen indeed. What does that mean for you and me today?
Pastor Jesse:
I love it that we’re talking about the resurrection the day after resurrection Sunday, because it’s important to know. It doesn’t stop. It’s not just for one day. I mean the gospel, the good news of Jesus is at the heart and is at the core of everything we say and do, and every daily relationship with Jesus. And when I think about the impact of the resurrection, when Jesus rose from the grave, it was one person after another, changed lives. And when you open up the Bible and see who these real people are, you see Mary who is grieving. And I think a lot of people are feeling defeated. They’re mourning right now. And Jesus brings that message of hope and victory. And then you have Thomas. The others have seen Jesus, but he’s still doubting. And a lot of people in the Sound are still doubting.
The good news is there’s historical evidence over 500 witnesses. Lee Strobel’s written a book Case for Christ. And doubts don’t have to remain doubts. You don’t have to remain in the darkness because God is light. He said his light, he wants us to love him with all of our minds to acts lead to faith. And this evidence is solid. So Thomas realizes, my Lord, my God, this is true. And then we have the apostle Paul who is opposing Jesus and think of how many across the Sound still mock Jesus. And they’re skeptics. They’re cynical. And yet Jesus is risen regardless of our opinions. You can’t stop the facts. It’s like gravity. You can say gravity doesn’t exist, but gravity still wins. So the resurrection is real, and God keeps changing hearts. Even people who are against Jesus come to know Jesus. And atheists, I was one. When I looked at the evidence, that’s when I decided to follow Jesus. So the resurrection happens, but then Christ still continues to be personal, make it real for people. And literally blind eyes are opened as spiritually, it’s like the scales fall off, and then people realize taste and see that the Lord is good and Jesus is not dead. This is not dead religion, Erica. It’s a living hope, and that’s our Savior.
Erica:
He is alive. Pastor Jesse, I’m wearing a shirt that says “A lot can happen in three days.” For somebody who is waiting on an answer to prayer, it’s such a reminder, right, that God can do anything.
Pastor Jesse:
Absolutely. And God’s unstoppable. He’s close to the broken hearted. And you combine this power and this compassion. When you read the prayer in Ephesians chapter one, Paul is praying that yes, the eyes of our hearts would be open, and then also the resurrection of power of Jesus in our daily lives. And that includes breaking out of despair, breaking out of sin, habits and sin patterns. Breaking out of secret sin, breaking out of patterns of the world, breaking out a negative perspective. I mean, there’s a lot of people who are so down on themselves. And until you realize how God sees you, his love on the cross, and then the faith that we have in him, and how through that faith, we’re born again. And we have eternal life, a relationship, no one can take it away. And this living hope. And when we draw close to God, we start to become saturated with His Word and the spirit, faith, hope and love.
It’s available in abundance. So, my encouragement today is don’t push him away. Don’t have a hard heart. Don’t reject him. There’s an enemy that wants us to have a hard heart towards God, but God wants to have a soft heart. And when you realize his grace, you have a strong commitment. And the enemy wants us to have a soft commitment. So don’t fall into that trap of soft commitment, hard heart, but instead, have a soft heart towards God, an open heart, open our mind and ears and mind and soul. And then also have a commitment to Jesus because the faith walk is not always going to be about feeling good. We’re deeper than our feelings. And if you continue to do the right thing and serve other people and forgive other people, the feelings are going to come. So it’s not feelings based, but there’s going to be fruit when you’re filled with the spirit, and that’s when the love, joy, and peace comes. So make sure you got a relationship. One God, three persons. We love the Father, we love the Son, and we love the Holy Spirit.
Erica:
Amen. Pastor Jesse, happy resurrection Monday.
Pastor Jesse:
Living with hope. Absolutely every day. Thanks so much, Erica.
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