LOVE REIGNS: Love Reigns 4-7-24

LOVE REIGNS: Love Reigns 4-7-24

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Today may not be Easter, but it is Resurrection Day!  It is also the beginning of a powerful sermon series called “Love Reigns.” Together, for four weeks, we will be discovering all the ways that God’s amazing love transforms our past, present, and future. 

 

Story: Many people underestimate the power of love. I would argue, however, that it is the most powerful force on earth. Many men in the room may be able to relate to the kind of things that love drove them to do in order to win the hearts of their girlfriends or wives. I remember when I first met my wife, I was unsure how to start a conversation with her. We had been introduced.  She saw me compete in manly competition (actually a contest to see who could drink a Pepsi the fastest with a baby bottle nipple on the bottle).  When I finally worked up the guts to speak to ask her out, she was passed out in the van.  But I found the courage and the rest is history. I have heard harrowing stories of men risking total embarrassment to try and impress the ones they love.

 

Love is the driving force behind our sacrificial actions toward our family and friends. We will gladly pay any price in order to demonstrate how much we care. Love is powerful, and it moves us to do amazing things. Before there was ever an Easter Sunday, there was a Good Friday. Before there ever was a resurrection, there first had to be a death. 

 

I.  THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE KING

 

        A.  Rome controlled the Ancient Near East.

                   1.  Herod the Great was installed as King of Israel.

 

For 33 years, Jesus Christ walked the earth while serving the hungry, healing the broken, and delivering the oppressed. He announced the coming Kingdom of God and the restoration of all things. He claimed to be the Son of God, and many believed him to be the true King of all things. This kind of thinking and teaching caused a lot of conflict in the area that Jesus served in. You see, at that time, the ruler of the Ancient Near East was Rome. Rome had installed a vassal king named Herod the Great to keep things in Israel under control. Herod was a tyrant and was constantly afraid that his authority would be undermined. Another potential king would be a threat to Roman rule and therefore, had to be eradicated. Both Herod and Jesus could not reign over Israel. 

 

          B.  Jesus was a threat.

                     1.  Jesus threatened to destabilize Palestine.

                     2.  Jesus threatened to oust Herod.

                                 a.  He was the King of the Jews.

                                 b.  He was the favorite of the people.

                                 c.  He was the momentary choice of the Zealots.

 

”As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews. Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.“

        Matthew 27:32-42 NIV

 

          C.  Jesus was the scapegoat.

                      1.  He was humiliated.

                      2.  He was officially condemned.

                      3.  He was eliminated as a threat.

 

         D.  Jesus was the king.

                     1.  Their treatment could not change him.

                      2. Jesus was not subject to their expectations.

                      3.  Even in death he could reign.

 

Illustration: (Have a chair on stage with you to demonstrate the Lordship of Jesus.) In our lives, there can only be one king as well. It has been said that on the throne of our hearts sits the one who reigns in our lives. We must choose whether that will be Jesus or whether it will be ourselves. (Sit in the chair.) When we are on the throne of our hearts, we make decisions based on what we want. We often live selfishly. The other choice we have is to put Jesus on the throne of our lives. (Get out of the chair and leave it empty.) When Jesus is on the throne of our lives, love reigns. We listen to his leading. We put others first. We live sacrificially. So, when it comes to the way you speak, act, and live? There can only be one king. 

 

If Jesus is dead, then none of this matters, but if he is rose from the dead, then that changes everything! He is King.

 

II.  LOVE OVERCAME DEATH

 

           A.  The resurrection demonstrates the power of God’s love.

 

Three days after Jesus was crucified and laid in the tomb, to everyone’s shock and amazement, he appeared in bodily form to many of the disciples and others. This had never happened before. They had seen him killed. They knew he was dead and now he was eating with them, walking with them, and talking with them. Jesus’ love for humanity had overcome death and defeated evil once and for all. His resurrection is the proof that he was indeed, the true King over all

 

           B.  The resurrection demonstrates the work of God.

 

Story: The renowned artist Paul Gustave Dore (1821-1883) lost his passport while traveling in Europe. When he came to a border crossing, he explained his predicament to one of the guards. Giving his name to the official, Dore hoped he would be recognized and allowed to pass. The guard, however, said that many people attempted to cross the border by claiming to be persons they were not. He needed proof.

 

Dore insisted that he was the man he claimed to be. "All right," said the official, "we'll give you a test, and if you pass it, we'll allow you to go through." Handing him a pencil and a sheet of paper, he told the artist to sketch several people standing nearby. Dore did it so quickly and skillfully that the guard was convinced he was indeed who he claimed to be. His work confirmed his word. (Our Daily Bread January 6. 1993).

 

           C.  The resurrection confirms the Word of God.

 

Jesus’ work confirmed his word as well. Though many doubted him and mocked him, death did not have the last word and final say. Love did. The scripture tells us this is true in one of the most famous passages of all. 

 

”For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.“

           John 3:16 NIV

 

God so loved the world that he sent Jesus to live and to die. When we put our faith, hope, and trust in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, we will be saved. This is why we celebrate today. We have been given an opportunity for eternal life. We know that because of Jesus, the worst thing that will happen to us will not be the last thing that happens to us because we will experience resurrection and new life. 

 

           D.  The resurrection validates our calling.

 

After Jesus had resurrected, His final words to his followers reveal to us the truth behind the Easter story. 

 

”Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”“

        Matthew 28:18-20 NIV

 

Easter is the day that Jesus was given all authority on heaven and on earth. No matter how many doubted, he is the King of the Jews. No matter how many mocked him, He was able to rescue himself, and the entire world, as well. No matter how many questioned his power, he did defeat the cross, once and for all. The love of God was the authority and was now reigning over the entire world and our lives as well. 

 

His final instruction for all of his followers was to go into the whole world and make disciples. He told them to spread the good news of his resurrection and love to all who would listen. We have been invited to teach the way of Jesus because it changes the world. 

 

III.  LET LOVE REIGN IN YOU

 

          A.  Love reigns when we follow Jesus’ instructions.

 

Today, if you consider yourself a Christian, this instruction has been given to you as well. You are to be a part of making disciples. The Greek word used in this passage for disciple is a form of the word mathetes, which means learner or student. We are to allow ourselves to be students and learners of the way of Christ and to help others become learners and students as well. It holds with it a feeling of progression. To be a disciple is to be in a life-long process of becoming more like Jesus. Over time, we learn to live generous lives, we learn to forgive, we learn to serve others, we learn to practice self-control, and we learn to be people of peace. When we submit to the love of Jesus in our lives, we are compelled to live life like him and to invite others to join us. This is what it means to let love reign in us. 

 

Story: I became a believer when I was 14. I was fully aware of the decision I had made.  I had held off for years because I knew that He required everything. I wanted to give him my life. Since I gave my life to Jesus, I have seen my life change in so many wonderful ways. I have spent 30 years of my life allowing God to have more and more of my life. I am a better husband, father, friend, and pastor because of the decision I made to be a disciple. (This story needs to express a personal experience with discipleship.)

 

           B.  Love reigns when we love one another.

 

”Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.“

           1 John 4:7-12 NIV

 

           C.  Love reigns when we trust Jesus.

 

The final reminder that we are given by Jesus before he ascends into heaven, is that he will always be with us until the very end. Maybe today you feel like God has forgotten about you. I want to remind you that you are never alone. Jesus lives and dwells inside of those who trust him by the power of the Holy Spirit. This means that no matter what you go through and no matter what you face, you are not alone. 

 

CONCLUSION

 

There can only be one king.  Love overcame death.  Let love reign in you.

 

I am convinced that in the room today there are two types of people. 

 

One: there are some here who have never made the decision to let love reign in their lives and to follow Jesus. Maybe you have been waiting for Jesus to prove himself to you and it has not happened yet. Maybe you don’t want to give up control of your life and so you have never submitted to Jesus. Today, I want to invite you to give your life to Jesus. I want to invite you to offer him your heart and to become a disciple and a student of his for the rest of your life. To do this is very simple. Let me lead you in this prayer. 

 

Two: there may be some here today who have trusted in Jesus before but have grown tired of obeying him. Maybe you have strayed from Him and have lived for yourself. Easter reminds us that we can once again repent and obey. If this is you today, I want to remind you that Jesus promised never to leave us. He still loves you and is still with you.  Commit once again to live for Him.

 

This Easter, may you see the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the proof of his love, and may you let that love reign in your life. May you join God in spreading this good news with the entire world. He is risen. Happy Easter!

 

My family has deep trust in the resurrection of Jesus.  That has been demonstrated powerfully in this past 2 weeks.  The hospitalization and death of my father-in-law tested what we claim to believe.  Our faith gives us hope that what was promised is true.  Life is more than just living and dying.  It is more than life and death.  Life in Jesus is life eternal.

 

INVITATION

 

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.