From Betrayal to Resurrection: Embracing Our Victory in Christ

Today, we concluded our transformative series "From Veil to Victory," where we've journeyed through the depths of betrayal, the tears of Gethsemane, and now, the triumph of the resurrection. This series has been a profound exploration of the human experience, mirrored in the life of Christ, and how through Him, we find the ultimate victory over our struggles and sins.

In the first week, we addressed the inevitability of betrayal and the power of forgiveness as God's system for overcoming the pain it brings. The second week was dedicated to the emotional honesty of bringing our hurts and tears before God, just as Jesus did in the garden. Today, we celebrated the victory of Jesus over the grave, a victory that is not just a historical event but a pivotal moment that changed the course of eternity.

We delved into the story of Barabbas, a man guilty of insurrection and murder, who was set free while Jesus, the innocent, took his place. This exchange is a powerful representation of the Gospel – we are all Barabbas, guilty of sin, yet Jesus took our punishment upon Himself. The crucifixion, a moment of despair for the disciples, was overturned by the resurrection, which brought hope and restoration of our relationship with God.

The resurrection is not just a story; it's a reality we're invited into. It's a reality where Jesus, knowing our flaws and failures, chose us. He bore our sins and offers us a relationship with God, freedom, and eternal life. The message of Easter is that Jesus has come, He is alive, and because He lives, we can have eternal life and access to Him.

We also reflected on the significance of giving and how it's an expression of our gratitude for what Jesus has done for us. We give not out of compulsion but out of a cheerful heart, responding to God's generosity towards us.

Key Takeaways:

- Forgiveness is not about excusing behavior but about choosing not to hold someone's faults against them. This decision is made possible through the power of the Holy Spirit within us, enabling us to forgive as we have been forgiven. In doing so, we reflect the heart of Christ and release the veil of betrayal that can cloud our relationships. [35:58 <2cHJI6oAY2k>]

- The resurrection of Jesus is a call to remember that our worth is not based on our perfection but on His love and sacrifice. We are reminded that Jesus died for sinners, not for the perfect. This understanding liberates us from the pressure of living up to an impossible standard and invites us to embrace the grace that covers our imperfections. [49:40 <2cHJI6oAY2k>]

- The story of Barabbas is a mirror for us to see ourselves – we are all in need of the mercy that Jesus extended. By taking our place, Jesus provided a way for us to be free from the penalty of sin. This act of substitutionary atonement is central to the Gospel and offers us a new identity in Christ. [56:40 <2cHJI6oAY2k>]

- Our giving is an act of worship and a response to the overwhelming generosity of God. It's an opportunity to participate in God's vision and to express our thankfulness. When we give, we do so not out of obligation but from a place of joy, trusting that God will use our offerings to further His kingdom. [01:15:35 <2cHJI6oAY2k>]

- The resurrection signifies that Jesus has bridged the gap between humanity and God. Through His sacrifice, we have been brought near to God, and the barriers that once separated us have been torn down. This reconciliation is the heart of the Gospel, offering us peace and unity with our Creator. [01:02:55 <2cHJI6oAY2k>]

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. **Luke 24:1-7** - The Resurrection of Jesus
2. **1 Corinthians 15:55-57** - Victory over Death
3. **John 8:36** - Freedom in Christ

#### Observation Questions
1. What did the women find when they went to Jesus' tomb early on the first day of the week? (Luke 24:1-3)
2. How did the angel explain the empty tomb to the women? (Luke 24:5-7)
3. According to 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, what has been defeated through Jesus Christ?
4. What does John 8:36 say about the freedom that Jesus offers?

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the story of Barabbas illustrate the concept of substitutionary atonement? [56:40]
2. What does the tearing of the veil in the temple symbolize in the context of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection? [59:09]
3. How does the resurrection of Jesus redefine our understanding of worth and perfection? [49:40]
4. In what ways does the resurrection offer us a new identity and freedom from sin? [48:49]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt betrayed. How did you handle it, and how might the sermon’s message on forgiveness change your approach in the future? [35:58]
2. The sermon mentioned that Jesus chose us despite knowing our flaws and failures. How does this understanding impact your self-worth and daily life? [41:18]
3. The story of Barabbas shows that Jesus took the place of the guilty. How does this truth affect your view of justice and mercy in your own life? [56:40]
4. How can you incorporate the practice of giving as an act of worship and gratitude in your daily life? [01:13:11]
5. The resurrection signifies that Jesus has bridged the gap between humanity and God. How can you live out this reconciliation in your relationships with others? [01:02:55]
6. Think of a specific area in your life where you struggle with sin or addiction. How can the message of freedom in John 8:36 encourage you to seek help and transformation? [48:49]
7. How can you remind yourself daily of the significance of Jesus' resurrection and its impact on your life? What practical steps can you take to keep this reality at the forefront of your mind? [40:27]

Day 1: Embracing Forgiveness as Liberation
Forgiveness is a transformative act that goes beyond excusing someone's behavior; it is a deliberate choice to release another from the debt of their wrongs. This liberation is not a natural human inclination but is made possible through the divine assistance of the Holy Spirit. By choosing to forgive, individuals mirror the heart of Christ, who forgave even in the face of betrayal and suffering. This act of forgiveness is a crucial step in removing the veils that can obscure the clarity and health of relationships, allowing for healing and the possibility of restored connections.

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32 ESV)

Reflection: Who is someone you've struggled to forgive, and how can you take a step towards forgiveness today, trusting in the Holy Spirit's power to heal and liberate? [35:58]

Day 2: Worth Defined by Divine Love
The resurrection of Jesus serves as a powerful reminder that one's value is not contingent upon personal perfection but is firmly rooted in His love and sacrifice. This profound truth liberates individuals from the crushing weight of striving for an unattainable standard, inviting them to live in the freedom of grace that covers all imperfections. The resurrection is a call to embrace this grace, to recognize that Jesus died for sinners, and to find solace in the fact that one's worth is measured by divine love rather than human achievement.

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8 ESV)

Reflection: How can you let go of the pressure to be perfect today and instead rest in the assurance of God's love and grace for you? [49:40]

Day 3: Identifying with Barabbas
The story of Barabbas is a poignant illustration of the Gospel, where each person can see themselves in the place of the guilty, deserving of punishment. Yet, it is Jesus who steps in to take the place of the condemned. This act of substitutionary atonement is at the heart of the Christian faith, offering freedom from the penalty of sin and a new identity in Christ. It is a powerful reminder that mercy is available to all, regardless of past transgressions, through the sacrifice of Jesus.

"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV)

Reflection: In what ways do you identify with Barabbas, and how does recognizing Jesus' substitutionary sacrifice for you personally affect your understanding of mercy and grace? [56:40]

Day 4: Joyful Generosity as Worship
Giving is an act of worship that reflects the heart's response to the overwhelming generosity of God. It is not a duty but a joyful expression of gratitude, an opportunity to participate in the divine vision and to contribute to the furthering of God's kingdom. When giving is done from a place of joy and thankfulness, it becomes a powerful testament to the trust in God's provision and the desire to see His love and grace extended through acts of generosity.

"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV)

Reflection: What is one way you can express your gratitude for God's generosity through giving this week, and how can you ensure it comes from a place of joy? [01:15:35]

Day 5: Reconciliation Through Resurrection
The resurrection of Jesus is the pivotal event that bridges the gap between humanity and God, tearing down the barriers of sin that once separated us. Through His sacrifice, believers are brought near to God, reconciled and united with their Creator. This reconciliation is the essence of the Gospel, offering peace and the promise of eternal unity with God. It is a message of hope and restoration, affirming that the resurrection is not merely a historical event but a present reality with eternal implications.

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace." (Ephesians 1:7 ESV)

Reflection: How does the reality of reconciliation through Jesus' resurrection impact your relationship with God, and what steps can you take to live out this unity in your daily life? [01:02:55]

of Jesus. We thank you for the name that's above every other name. We thank you, Lord, that we could come into this place or watch online, God, and worship you for that being that name that's above every other name, the name of Jesus. The name that still has power today, the blood that still has power today. God, we thank you. We thank you that we can worship you this morning freely. We can worship you, God, and we thank you for all that you've done for us, Lord. We worship the name of Jesus, the name of our King above every other king, the Lord of every other Lord, the name of Jesus. We worship you this morning, God. We thank you, Jesus. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you, Lord, that today is not just another Sunday or just a day that we come to church and look cute, buy nice outfits, but God, we can recognize the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. We can say thank you. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you for what you've done for us. We worship you in this place this morning. We lift up your name, Jesus, above every other name, above every other thing that we go through, every other thing, every other name that tries to take place in our hearts and in our minds. God, today we say the name of Jesus is greater. The name of Jesus is stronger than any other name, and it's in that name that we pray. Amen and amen. You may be seated.

A veil is a thin barrier or a shroud that obscures vision, that obscures understanding or perception. First Corinthians says that he will never test us more than we can bear, but what do we do when the things that we can bear seem unbearable? It will be things that you don't see coming, things that come out of nowhere. God told me to love, but loving seems impossible. When he said to forgive, but how can I forgive the unimaginable? Before Jesus came, every time you sinned, a credit would be posted to your account, a debit, if you will, would be posted to your account. But what forgiveness is, forgiveness is the decision to no longer credit the offense to the account of the offender. It doesn't mean that we excuse the behavior or ignore the behavior, but what it does mean is that we make a decision to no longer relate to the person based on their infraction. We have the power of the Holy Spirit working in us, and that is why we have the ability to forgive. We have been called to forgive, and we have been equipped to forgive. Choose to forgive. The veil of betrayal is removed, and it has no power to obscure our vision. It has no power to obscure our perception, and it has no power to obscure our understanding.

Well, good morning! How's everybody doing this morning? Blessed! I am excited. I am excited about this Sunday. Very quickly, before I get started, if you're here today and you brought your littles with you, and there maybe gets a point in the service where they get a little too much for you, I want to let you know that we have our nursery. We changed it to make sure that our parents can sit in there with the kids today, and the service is actually live streaming in the nursery right now. So, obviously, we welcome you to stay with your family, but if you just realize, hey, it's getting a little bit much, and you want to go in there, the nursery is available for you, and we have the service streaming in there.

Today is a big day. Yes, okay, amen! Somebody's car is going off. We got it! All right. Today is a big day. It's a big Sunday, and my desire today is that we don't just allow this to be just another Sunday. So, I want to take time today and look at what today means and why today is such a big deal.

Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for today. This is the day that you have made, and so we make a decision to rejoice and to be glad as we're here. God, we already know that your word is already anointed, so we ask that you would anoint our hearts to receive your word today, and you would anoint our ears to hear what it is that you are saying, and that we would leave this place not just being hearers of your word but being doers of your word as well. God, we want to know what you're saying individually to each and every one of us. What are you speaking to our hearts? We are here to hear from you. Speak to us. You have sent a word to this house, and we are ready to receive it. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Today is week three in our series, "From Veil to Victory." In week one, we started talking about the veil of betrayal. We talked about how betrayals will happen; they are inevitable. But God has given us a system to handle betrayals called forgiveness. In week two, we talked about tears in the garden and how, like Jesus, we can bring our hurts, we can bring our pains, we can bring our tears to God. And today, we close our series with Jesus's victory over the grave, from Veil to Victory. But today, we're not just closing a series; we're not just marking a holiday. Today, we have the privilege to be standing in the midst of the greatest moment in all of history. This is Easter.

Some of you may be here today for the very first time. Others of you, maybe you've known the Lord for a while, and this is your 30,000th Easter. But regardless of where you find yourself today, I would like to issue you a challenge. Today, I want to issue you a challenge to not just let this day blend into the rest of your week. This is not just another service. Today, we celebrate the day that changed everything. Today, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Now, whether this is your first time hearing it or your 20th, the weight of this day does not change. And today, I pray that you would grasp not only what happened but why it happened. Why did this happen? Why does this matter so much? Why do we make this day such a big deal? It is because Jesus, the Son of God, came to this earth and died for you. He didn't just die for humanity in some big abstract sense. No, he died for you as that person. He died because of a love so deep, a love so vast that it encompasses all of your mistakes, all of your past, all of your history. And knowing everything about you, he still chose you. He still chose you.

I mean, think about this: the Son of God came down to earth, lived a life without sin, and then suffered in ways that we could barely comprehend. He was whipped with shards of glass and metal tearing through the skin of his back, nails driven into his hands and his feet, all leading to the crucifixion. And why? Because of God's love for you, Jesus for you. This is the good news. This isn't just the story; it is the story that should shake us to our core and change how we see everything.

Luke chapter 24, verse 1 says, "But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared to finish anointing the body." And they found a large circular stone rolled back from the tomb. Verse 3 says, "But when they went inside, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus." While they were perplexed and wondering about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothing stood near them. And as the women were terrified, they were bowing their faces to the ground. The men said to them, "Why are you looking for the living one among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you while he was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinful men and be crucified, and on the third day rise from death to life?"

This story of Jesus's death and his resurrection, this is the moment where we went from eternal separation from God to eternal reconciliation with God. The crucifixion was a moment where the disciples and the followers of Jesus felt like it was over, that everything that they had believed, everything that they were living for, everything that they had done, they felt like it was over. And at the peak of their despair, when it seemed like all hope was extinguished, Sunday morning came. Sunday morning came three days after Jesus was buried, just as he promised. Hope didn't just flicker back to life; it burst forth with all power and with all glory. The penalty for our sins was paid, our salvation was secured, and our relationship with God was restored.

We are not excited about a mere historical event; we are celebrating the day that hell was defeated and victory over the grave was declared. This is everything, and it is my desire that today doesn't just mark a day on your calendar. This changed history. And what can happen is if you've been to services and you keep going to services, this could seem like just another service because I know the story, because I've heard the message, because I know what's going to take place. The weight of it can be lost on you, right? But I need you to understand that the very breath you breathe right now is because of the sacrifice that Jesus made. The reason that we sit here in your nice outfit with your hair done and your wonderful... uh... it's because of him. Now you look good, hallelujah, but it's about him and what he did that changed the course of history forever. Nothing was the same after this day. Nothing was the same. And to let this day pass by cheapens the moment. It cheapens his sacrifice. It cheapens the nails that were poured into his hands and hammered into his feet. This day means everything. Death was defeated. The grave was defeated.

1 Corinthians 15 says, "Oh death, where is your victory? Where's your victory, death? Oh death, where's your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin, which brings death, is the law. Here's that: "But thanks be to God who gives us the victory as conquerors through our Lord Jesus Christ." This is why we can stand boldly and declare our victory in the midst of all that seems lost. This is why we can stand boldly in our victory when it doesn't seem like things are going right, when it doesn't seem like the world is going right, when situations happen all around us. This is the reason that we stand immovable. It is because we have victory through Jesus. We have the victory. We no longer have to be a slave. You don't have to be a slave to sin. You don't have to be a slave to addiction. You don't have to be a slave to fear. You don't have to be a slave to anxiety. You don't have to be a slave to depression any longer.

John 8:36 says, "So if the Son makes you free," the Amplified says, "then you are unquestionably free." You are unquestionably free. This is victory. This is what victory is all about. This is why we, as Christians, so passionately celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, because we know who we were. We know who we were. We know what we did. We know how we used to be. We know where God brought us from, and it's a mighty long way, okay? But through that, we recognize that no matter who you are, no matter what you did, Jesus died for me, and Jesus died for you. He didn't die for those who were perfect because perfect people don't need a savior. He died for sinners like you and I. That is who he died for.

I know that this can be a hard concept to grasp. I know that this could be something hard to pick up because for many of you, religion has taught you that if you don't live up to a certain standard, and if you don't do these things and these things and these things, and if you don't get it all right, and if you're not perfect, and you don't do all of these things, that there's no hope for you. Come on! But I'm here to tell you that that is an absolute lie. Jesus died for you, and he loves you. Guess what? In spite of yourself, he loves you. In spite of yourself, he doesn't love the fake facade you. He doesn't love the image of perfection that you try to put up. He doesn't love this idea of everything being all right all the time. That he does not love. He loves the real you, the jacked-up, messed-up, hot mess of you. That is who he loves. That is who he died for. And that can be hard to grasp. You don't understand my story. You don't understand. You think you messed up? I got one for you. Yeah, yeah, yeah, you can believe that.

It's hard to grasp how some... because we look at him as flesh and blood, and we said, "If I couldn't do it, I know he..." No, see, that's where the difference is. He's not mere flesh and blood. He loves you. This morning, I want to walk through this story that happened on the way to the cross, and my prayer is that you would find yourself in this scripture, in this story, just like I find myself every time I read it.

Luke chapter 23, verse 13 says, "Pilate summoned the chief priests and the rulers and the people and said to him, 'You brought this man to me as one who corrupts and incites the rebellion, and after examining him before you, I have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you make against him. No, nor has Herod, for he sent him back to us, and indeed he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish him to teach him a lesson and release him.'" Now, he was obligated to release one prisoner at the feast, but they loudly shouted all together, saying, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us! Release Barabbas to us!" He was one who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection that happened in the city and for murder. Pilate addressed them again, wanting to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, "Crucify! Crucify him!" A third time, he said to them, "Why? What wrong has he done? I have found no guilt, no crime, no offense in him demanding death. Therefore, I'll punish him to teach him a lesson and release him." But they were insistent and unrelenting, demanding with loud voices that Jesus be crucified, and their voices began to prevail and accomplish their purpose. Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted and the released man that they were asking for, who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, be handed over. But he handed over Jesus to their will.

Verse 18 says, "But they loudly shouted, 'Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!'" Barabbas was guilty of robbery and murder. He was guilty as charged. He did it, and he was serving time, preparing to die because he was guilty. He had done arguably some of the worst things that could be done, and his actions placed him as one of the most undeserving of mercy. He murdered somebody, robbed people, but literally in walks Jesus. Jesus is innocent. The people have no case. The governor couldn't say anything about him. The Romans said that he was innocent. Yet the whole time, Jesus doesn't defend himself because he knows what he has to do, and he knows that on the way to the cross, there is still one more miracle that needs to take place. There's still one more person that he needs to attend to. He takes the place of Barabbas, someone who rightly deserved death, and Jesus took the sentence so Barabbas could go free.

See, this name Barabbas was a nickname they gave to people who were born illegitimately—a son with no known father. So someone who started off labeled as illegitimate, as undeserving, who started off with no sense of identity and lived life making choices that led him to this day. Jesus comes along and dies in his place. And while we may not have done the things that Barabbas did, we are all guilty of sin. And the Bible says that the wages, the cost, the penalty of sin is death. See, we are all Barabbas. We are all Barabbas. Imagine standing there in that moment. Sin is the charge; penalty is death. You're in front of the people; you're in front of the judge, ready to receive the verdict of guilt. And in walks Jesus and takes your place. This is the story of the Gospel. This is the Good News.

Isaiah 53 says this: "He was wounded for our transgressions. He was crushed for our wickedness, our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing. The punishment required for our wellbeing fell on him, and by his stripes, by his wounds, we are healed." This is the greatest news in all of life. And if this is your first Easter, or maybe it's your first Easter in a while, I want to remind you that as great as that is, as great as that is, it didn't stop at the cross. Because this would just be a regular story. It would be a good story. It would be something that was good if it stopped at the cross. But please, let's finish the text and let's be reminded of what makes today so significant.

Chapter 23, verse 44 says, "It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour because the sun was obscured, and the veil of the holies of the holies of the temple was torn into two from top to bottom. And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.' Having said this, he breathed his last." This was it. This was a moment that shook, literally shook the world. Jesus voluntarily gave up his life for us so much that the Earth had to respond with three hours of darkness, that the Earth shook, that the veil that separated the holies of holies was torn from top to bottom, signifying that the thing that separated us from God had been torn. Jesus had died. And if it would have been anyone else in the world, this would in fact be the end. If it had been anyone else in the world, this would in fact be the end. But we are here today. We are all here today because this in fact was not the end.

Matthew 28 says, "Now after the Sabbath, near the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb, and a great earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone from the opening of the tomb and sat on it. The angel's appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards shook, paralyzed with fear at the sight of them, and became like dead men, pale and immobile. But the angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for he is risen just as he said he would. Come see the place where he was lying.'"

This is the gospel. He has risen. Those three words make all the difference in the world. In any other religion, you will find—you can search them all—you will find that many of them have died, but there is only one that says he has risen. Sin couldn't trap him, and death couldn't hold him, yet he still chose to endure the cross. That's love—a love that gave up everything to rescue you and I. The last word in English is "It is finished." It was one of Jesus's last words, and it was a cry of victory because he had defeated everything that held us in captivity. He had defeated everything that held us in captivity. Because of his sacrifice, we can experience forgiveness. We can experience a relationship and an intimacy with God that otherwise we would never have been able to have. That's right. It's because of him.

Ephesians says in chapter 2, "At this very moment in Christ Jesus, you who once were so very far away from God have been brought near by the blood of Christ, for he himself is our peace and our bond of unity. He who made both Jews and Gentiles into one body and broke down the barrier, the dividing wall of spiritual antagonism between us." It says we were brought near by the blood of Christ. So in those moments that maybe you don't hear him like you want to hear him, those moments maybe you don't feel him like you want to feel him, those moments where it is darkest and it is hardest, in those moments when you ask, "Where are you? Where are you, God? Where were you, God?" He says, "Because of my son, I'm right here." We were brought near by the blood of Christ, and there is no division today.

We journey from veil all the way to victory. We see the depths of God's love. We see the extent of his sacrifice, and we see the limitless reach of his grace. This isn't just the story; it is a reality that we are invited into. It is a reality where Jesus looks at every single one of us, and he looks at our mistakes, he looks at our failures, he looks at every single sin, and yet he still chose us. He says, "I know you're going to be hard-headed. I know there are going to be times where you're going to be upset at me. I know you're going to run from me, but I am still right here." This is a reality that we're invited to. Just like Barabbas, he took our place, he bore our sins, and he offers us a relationship with God. He offers us freedom, and he offers us eternal life.

The message of Jesus, the message of Easter, is not just that he is coming; it is that he has come and he is alive. And because he lives, we can have eternal life. We have access to him. We have an opportunity to have a relationship with God.

Heavenly Father, I thank you. I thank you for your son. I thank you for his sacrifice. I thank you for the opportunity to have a relationship with you. God, I pray that we would not make light of this day. I thank you for reminding us that even on the way to the cross, even on the way to the cross, you were still thinking about the one, and you were still thinking about us thousands of years later, and you felt that we were worth dying for. At our worst place, you felt that we were worth dying for. And I thank you that not only did Jesus die, but he rose that we might have life and life more abundantly. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, God, for sending your son to save a wretch like me. In your son's name, we pray. Amen.

This is such a big deal, and I pray that this week you would be reminded as you open your eyes in the morning and as you take that first breath that you would be reminded of why—that you would be reminded of his love for you. When you feel at your lowest point, when you feel like no one cares, like no one knows, there's no reason for you to be here when nothing is going right, that you would be reminded of how significant you are, how valuable you are, how precious you are—that someone would choose to die for you, that they would choose excruciating pain. This word "excruciating" literally means "from the cross." But he would choose to go through that because you were worth it, because you were significant, because you were that valuable. I'm just reminded of his goodness and his mercy day after day.

And in this moment, everything changed, and I'm grateful. I'm so grateful for what he did because if not, there literally is no hope. We would have to pay the penalty for the sins that we've committed, and that would be death, and that would be separation from God. But he says, "No, that's my daughter. That's my son, and I love them." So I'm going to send my son, my only son, to pay the price for them.

Today, I want to present you with a question. We stand at the crossroad of decision. Are we going to continue to walk in the shadows, or is today the day that we will step into the light of his love? Are we going to embrace the victory that Jesus secured for us, or are we going to turn away from the most incredible gift that has ever been offered? And that gift is a relationship with Jesus—not duty, not religion, not attendance. Jesus did not die for attendance. Jesus did not die for a ritual. Jesus died to have a relationship with you. Do you understand that? He didn't die to be your Lord in case of emergencies. He didn't die to be your Lord when things are going bad and you've tried everything else. He says, "I sent my son to die and arise so that we could have a relationship." That's why I give you the breath of life every morning. That's why I have my angels encamped around you, 'cause you know how you drive. That is why I make provision for you. That is why I set things in place for you. That is why you have the blessings that you have. It's because I want to be in relationship with you, and that is what he's asking for. That is what he sent his son for, and I am grateful for it.

I'm going to give you a chance in a minute to respond to that. This time, I'm going to have our ushers come forth, and we get an opportunity to respond in gratitude to what God has done, right? See, it's this opportunity to say, "I thank you, Jesus, for what you did, and I'm going to show it as well. I'm going to show it, God. God, thank you for sending your son." And so I want to have an opportunity to show you my gratitude. We have an opportunity to honor him with our tithes and our offerings, to say, "God, thank you. You've called me to be generous. You've blessed me with a job. You've blessed me with the breath of life. You've blessed me with so many things, and here is my opportunity just to say thank you, Jesus."

In this one small area, today we get an opportunity to sow into vision—the vision that God has for this church, the vision that God has for this community, the vision that God has for this city. We get an opportunity to participate in it in the area of our tithe and offering. If this is your very first time here, there are three ways that you can give. We have our QR code, the envelopes on a seat pocket in front of you, or if you're watching online and you say, "Hey, I want to get in on this," you have the opportunity to text the word "give" to 833-879-0161.

And here at Limitless, we don't want people to give. The Bible talks about giving out of just this sense of duty, and he says, "No, no, no, no, no. I love a cheerful giver. I love those that I can trust to give because if I can get it to them, then I can get it through them to accomplish what I've set out." And so today, I pray that the Lord would speak to you. We're going to pray right now, and we're going to pray that the Lord would speak to you about what you would give. There's this thing where we just look in our pockets and we say, "Hey, you know, whatever we got, we just go." God says, "No, I want to speak to you. This is where I build a relationship in this area of giving."

Heavenly Father, I pray that you would speak to everyone under the sound of my voice right now on what it is that you would have them to give. We don't want to give out of compulsion, God. We want to give out of a cheerful heart, hearing from you and obeying what you say, even in this area of giving. We want to be found faithful. So God, I pray that you would speak. What is it that you would have us to give? Speak, Jesus. God, we believe that we heard you, and today we make a decision to move out of faith and to move out of obedience. We thank you for the opportunity to give, to sow into the vision. In Jesus' name, amen.

And if you would do me a favor, as the offering bucket passes, I want to come back, and I want to ask you a question. But while that's happening, when that offering bucket passes, would you stand with me? And we're just going to worship, and then I'll be right back. Nobody moving, nobody walking around. We'll close this.

"Victory through Jesus, we have the victory. We no longer have to be a slave to sin, addiction, fear, anxiety, depression any longer. John 8:36 says so if the Son makes you free, then you are unquestionably free. This is what victory is all about. This is why we as Christians so passionately celebrate the resurrection of Jesus." [48:49 <2cHJI6oAY2k>](Make clip | Crop for social media | Crop + Caption)



"Jesus died for sinners like you and I, that is who he died for. Religion has taught you that if you don't live up to a certain standard, there's no hope for you. But I'm here to tell you that is an absolute lie. Jesus died for you and he loves you, in spite of yourself." [50:21 <2cHJI6oAY2k>](Make clip | Crop for social media | Crop + Caption)



"Jesus did not die for attendance, Jesus did not die for a ritual. Jesus died to have a relationship with you. He didn't die to be your lord in case of emergencies, he died so that we could have a relationship. That's why I give you the breath of life every morning." [01:11:44 <2cHJI6oAY2k>](Make clip | Crop for social media | Crop + Caption)



"We were brought near by the blood of Christ. So in those moments maybe you don't feel him like you want to, he says because of my son I'm right here. We were brought near by the blood of Christ and there is no division." [01:03:36 <2cHJI6oAY2k>](Make clip | Crop for social media | Crop + Caption)



"This isn't just the story, it is a reality that we are invited into. Jesus looks at our mistakes, failures, and sins and yet he still chose us. He offers us a relationship with God, freedom, and eternal life. The message of Easter is that he has come, he is alive, and because he lives, we can have eternal life." [01:05:51 <2cHJI6oAY2k>](Make clip | Crop for social media | Crop + Caption)



"We don't want to give out of compulsion, we want to give out of a cheerful heart, hearing from you and obeying what you say even in this area of giving. We want to be found faithful. So God, I pray that you would speak, what is it that you would have us to give?" [01:15:35 <2cHJI6oAY2k>](Make clip | Crop for social media | Crop + Caption)



"We are all Barabbas, imagine standing there in that moment, sin is the charge, penalty is death, you're in front of the judge ready to receive the verdict of guilt and in walks Jesus and takes your place. This is the story of the Gospel, this is the Good News." [56:40 <2cHJI6oAY2k>](Make clip | Crop for social media | Crop + Caption)



"Today we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Knowing everything about you, he still chose you. He suffered in ways we could barely comprehend because of God's love for you. This isn't just a story, it is the story that should shake us to our core and change how we see everything." [42:10 <2cHJI6oAY2k>](Make clip | Crop for social media | Crop + Caption)



"The story of Jesus's death and his resurrection is the moment where we went from eternal separation from God to eternal reconciliation with God. We are celebrating the day that hell was defeated and victory over the grave was declared. This is everything." [45:06 <2cHJI6oAY2k>](Make clip | Crop for social media | Crop + Caption)



"Forgiveness is the decision to no longer credit the offense to the account of the offender. It doesn't mean that we excuse the behavior, but we make a decision to no longer relate to the person based on their infraction. We have been called to forgive and equipped to forgive." [35:58 <2cHJI6oAY2k>](Make clip | Crop for social media | Crop + Caption)