Church of the Nazarene

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04/04/21- Harrisonburg Campus: Beauty for Ashes, Part 1: Life for Death- Pastor Adrian Mills

http://bible.com/events/48673711

Beauty for Ashes, Part 1: Life for Death

Easter is really about a trade. And the truth is, God makes terrible trades.

What’s the worst thing about your life right now?
Sickness, despair, hopelessness, loneliness, heartbreak?

God will trade you for it. That’s what Easter is all about.

Isaiah 61:1-1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,because the Lord has anointed meto proclaim good news to the poor.He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,to proclaim freedom for the captivesand release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favorand the day of vengeance of our God,to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beautyinstead of ashes,the oil of joyinstead of mourning,and a garment of praiseinstead of a spirit of despair.They will be called oaks of righteousness,a planting of the Lordfor the display of his splendor.

Luke 4:16-19

16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

 

 

-Jesus intentionally points to Isaiah 61 at the very beginning of his ministry. Jesus used this passage to summarize his mission here on earth.

-You might call Isaiah 61:3, “Three Bad Trades and a Consequence”:
-We trade our ashes and He gives us beauty.
-We trade our mourning and He gives us joy.
-We trade our despair and He gives us praise.

-We trade our broken and feeble roots and He makes us oaks.
Beauty for Ashes

-Ashes were sign of destruction, despair, and mourning.
-Many of us know “ashes” quite well. There are many synonyms – hopelessness, brokenness, hurt, and emptiness.
-But those are just cousins to the worst of the ashes – DEATH.

-Today on Resurrection Day we can be very specific about what “beauty for ashes” means: life for death.
Ephesians 2:1-5

1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

 

 

You were dead (Ephesians 2:1-3)

-Sin festers, it corrodes, it deteriorates and destroys. It brings death today, and eternal death.
Now you are alive (Ephesians 2:4-5)

-If you are in Christ, He exchanges your death and gives you new life.

Lewis’ Story

Experience a real life story of God exchanging beauty for ashes, trading death for new life!

https://youtu.be/hGSJ6e_NUgs

In Christ there is always beauty on the other side of your ashes.

Written by

04/04/21- East Rock Campus: Beauty for Ashes, Part 1: Life for Death- Jared Link

http://bible.com/events/48673711

Beauty for Ashes, Part 1: Life for Death

Easter is really about a trade. And the truth is, God makes terrible trades.

What’s the worst thing about your life right now?
Sickness, despair, hopelessness, loneliness, heartbreak?

God will trade you for it. That’s what Easter is all about.

Isaiah 61:1-1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,because the Lord has anointed meto proclaim good news to the poor.He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,to proclaim freedom for the captivesand release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favorand the day of vengeance of our God,to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beautyinstead of ashes,the oil of joyinstead of mourning,and a garment of praiseinstead of a spirit of despair.They will be called oaks of righteousness,a planting of the Lordfor the display of his splendor.

Luke 4:16-19

16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

 

 

-Jesus intentionally points to Isaiah 61 at the very beginning of his ministry. Jesus used this passage to summarize his mission here on earth.

-You might call Isaiah 61:3, “Three Bad Trades and a Consequence”:
-We trade our ashes and He gives us beauty.
-We trade our mourning and He gives us joy.
-We trade our despair and He gives us praise.

-We trade our broken and feeble roots and He makes us oaks.
 

Beauty for Ashes

-Ashes were sign of destruction, despair, and mourning.
-Many of us know “ashes” quite well. There are many synonyms – hopelessness, brokenness, hurt, and emptiness.
-But those are just cousins to the worst of the ashes – DEATH.

-Today on Resurrection Day we can be very specific about what “beauty for ashes” means: life for death.
 

Ephesians 2:1-5

1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

 

 

You were dead (Ephesians 2:1-3)

-Sin festers, it corrodes, it deteriorates and destroys. It brings death today, and eternal death.
Now you are alive (Ephesians 2:4-5)

-If you are in Christ, He exchanges your death and gives you new life.

Lewis’ Story

Experience a real life story of God exchanging beauty for ashes, trading death for new life!

https://youtu.be/hGSJ6e_NUgs

In Christ there is always beauty on the other side of your ashes.

Written by

03/28/21- Road to the Cross Part 4: The Cross- Pastor Adrian Mills

http://bible.com/events/48624659

Road to the Cross Part 4: The Cross

Week 1:

The road to the cross began the moment sin entered into the world in the Garden, when humanity and all creation were broken.
Week 2:
On the road to the cross, we see God as a promise keeper, first with His covenant throughout the Old Testament, and then with the arrival of Jesus establishing a new covenant.
Week 3:

In the life of Jesus, we see a God who walks with us no matter where we are and what we are going through. Jesus was the fulfillment of the most important promise you’ve ever been given.

Matthew 27:45-54
45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). 47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” 48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” 50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. 54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

-Here on the cross, Jesus was forsaken. God the Father turns his back on His own Son, forsaking Him for our sake.
-Jesus gave up his Spirit. He came to lay down His life. No one had to take it from Him. He laid it down willingly.

The profound truth of the cross:
History’s darkest moment became its greatest.

1. Victory over sin

-The law required the shedding of blood for the forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22). The temple became the place of worship, but most specifically, the place where a sacrifice was made. Blood was shed for the forgiveness of sins.
-The Holy of Holies, where only the High Priest was permitted to go, was separated by a curtain.
-In that moment on the cross, the curtain was torn completely in two, signifying that there is a new and living way that is now open for all people to enter into the presence of God.

–“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16
 

2. Victory over death

-The moment Jesus is crucified, bodies are resurrected, which is a powerful foreshadowing of Jesus’ resurrection.
-Even in Jesus’ death, resurrection is already underway!
-But just as powerful, this moment points to the resurrection that all believers anticipate.

-“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep”. 1 Corinthians 15:20
 

3. Victory over doubt

-In this moment, doubt is swallowed up in the rich love and grace of Jesus.
-As Jesus is being crucified, they mock Him. But consider what happens in response to His death on the cross: “When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” Matthew 27:54

-Here at the foot of the cross, the doubters believe, the enemies find faith, and the unbelievers draw near.

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03/21/21- Road to the Cross Part 3: The Fulfillment- Pastor Adrian Mills

Road to the Cross Part 3: The Fulfillment

Week 1:

The road to the cross began the moment sin entered into the world in the Garden, when humanity and all creation were broken.
Week 2:

On the road to the cross, we see God as a promise keeper, first with His covenant throughout the Old Testament, and then with the arrival of Jesus establishing a new covenant.

Luke 4:14-21
14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. 16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

-As Jesus picked up the scroll, you have the Old Testament being read by the One who would fulfill its promise and introduce the new covenant.
-Isaiah speaks of the Spirit of the Lord, and now Jesus is walking in the power of that same Spirit.
The question we often ask is “why did Jesus die?” But today I want us to ask the question “why did Jesus live?”

-If the cross was all that was needed, why didn’t Jesus just show up, appear out of the wilderness, and go to the cross?

-What was the purpose of Jesus’ life and ministry on earth?

Why did Jesus live? Why did he minister here on earth?

To show us the Father.
–Literally, when you see Jesus in the pages of your Bible, you see God Himself.
-“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” John 14:9
-Jesus didn’t just come to pay the ultimate price for our sins. He also came to show us how to live.

-Because you’ve seen Jesus walk this life, you know exactly what it’s like for him to be walking with you right now.

Jesus came to die for you so that He could walk with you.

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