Valley Gospel
A Pentecostal church experience.
Valley Gospel
It Is Finished
The resurrection of Jesus Christ stands as the pivotal moment that changed everything. This powerful message examines what it truly means that "It Is Finished" - Jesus' final declaration on the cross that marked the completion of His divine mission.
When Jesus fixed His gaze on death, the very depths trembled. After walking out of the tomb, He could rightfully proclaim, "I am He who lives and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore." This victory over death is what allows believers to confidently ask, "O death, where is your sting?" Through Christ's sacrifice, sin - the source of death's power - has been defeated forever.
The message explores how the resurrection ushered in the promised new covenant, where God's law is written on hearts rather than stone. This supernatural transformation creates an internal desire to please God rather than merely follow external rules. Just as Saul became Paul after encountering the risen Christ, and the disciples on the Emmaus Road were forever changed when they realized who walked beside them, Jesus continues to transform lives today.
Using a powerful illustration of a house with wide-open doors filled with light and joy, the message challenges listeners to consider what prevents them from entering through Jesus - the door to abundant life. Many cling to darkness and familiar sins, but Christ offers to fill every void and need if we'll simply surrender.
The empty tomb isn't just historical evidence - it's your personal invitation. Because He lives, you too may live. The work is finished, the price is paid, and the door stands open. Will you walk through?
But not because of you, but because he is good and you will not have room to receive Him. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:Pennsylvania, our sole mission is to present the living truth of a risen Lord Jesus Christ to a remnant church and a lost world.
Speaker 3:Let's get into the service recorded live at Valley Gospel Church we'll pray and then we'll get rolling.
Speaker 4:Father, thank you so much for everything that you do. Father, I can't understand and imagine and believe the plans that you have for all of us, the plan that you had through your son and his death on the cross. Father, I can't see the outcome that you had. Nobody could at the beginning, but you did, father. You know the end from the beginning. You know everything that's going on. Father, we thank you that your plans, your purposes and your ways are higher than our ways, that you know more, father, and that you love us and you're working everything out for the good. Father, we thank you for making a way for sinners like us to be saved, to be washed clean and to go to heaven. And, father, I just pray today that, as we celebrate the empty grave, the empty tomb, the stone being rolled away, that you, father, would be the focus of everything. I ask you to anoint me that I could speak your word. I pray, father, and I thank you that you, father, would be the focus of everything. I ask you to anoint me that I could speak your word. I pray, father, and I thank you that you are risen and alive, because I need the living lion of the tribe of Judah. I need your strength, your power, everything that you are I need, father, and I pray everyone here needs the risen Savior. Father, I pray that you anoint me and help me to speak your word with boldness. Everything that you've given me, father, and I pray that it's all led and filled by you, holy Spirit. Nothing is worth speaking if it ain't your words. I pray that you go out and you take that word and open up the hearts of your children, my brothers and sisters, and let that word fall in and lead them where they need to be, so that they can be closer to you. Father, I thank you for everything that you do for us. You're so amazing and we love you, father, and we thank you for everything. In Jesus' name, I pray, amen, amen, all right, so happy Resurrection Sunday. Today we celebrate that empty tomb, the proof and the stamp on everything that Jesus said and did that shows he is who he said he was. This whole week, we've been talking about honoring and remembering what Jesus did his last week of his earthly ministry here on earth, from Palm Sunday to Good Friday to today, the day that seals the deal and shows everyone who Jesus is. So we're going to dive in to the death and the resurrection of Jesus and if you were here on Friday, it's going to start there and go to the tomb, while weaving in and out of Preacher's message from Friday all the way to the ground beginning to shake and the stone being rolled away. We'll look at what that means for us and what Jesus said and what he taught.
Speaker 4:I know sometimes when people visit the church for Christmas and Easter, they say that I always hear the same message. Christmas and Easter are a tradition in the church because they tell the story of the foundation of the church and the head of the church today the birth, death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, jesus Christ. And they are two times when we specifically zone in to one part of the life of Jesus. And I don't know about you, but I love thinking about Christmas, jesus' birth, the manger, the songs. I love thinking about Easter, palm Sunday, jesus riding into town, good Friday, what he did for us on that cross, and today, resurrection Sunday, when Jesus opened his eyes and walked out, and we're going to start our opening scripture.
Speaker 4:There's two scriptures and it is Luke 24, 44 to 47. And when you get there. If you stand for the reading of God's word, I'll read that. And then we're just one verse after that. It's Luke 24, 44 to 47. And it says Then he said to them these are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms concerning me, and he opened up their understanding that they might comprehend the scriptures. Then he said to them Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. These things must be fulfilled which were written, and repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all nations. And then one verse John 19 and 30. And it says so.
Speaker 4:When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said it is finished and, bowing his head, he gave up his spirit. Jesus said it is finished, and that's the title for today's message it Is Finished, amen. You guys could be seated. You guys could be seated. And it does come from the same root word as Preacher's message on Friday and it's cool how it ties in and goes around and all kind of stuff. So you guys will see that.
Speaker 4:But Jesus knew from the beginning what he was here to do and he tried to tell his disciples but nobody could grasp it, especially after seeing everything that he did, from walking with him for three years. Even the winds and the waves obey him, they said. But Jesus was on a mission and his death and resurrection were the completion of that mission. And just like it's not a no hitter till the last batter is out and you ain't the champ till the fight is over, and just like that, jesus couldn't be the perfect sacrifice, the sinless lamb, unless he died that way. His life had to end sinless and perfect to be counted as such. But once that was accomplished oh my, and his last battle to prove he was exactly who he said he was he turns his eyes towards death and I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want to be death at the moment that Jesus fixes his eyes on it and it reminds me of part of a psalm and it says the waters saw you, oh God. When they saw you, they were afraid. The depths trembled, and the depths that take home. The abyss trembled, the deepest, darkest blackness trembled and was afraid. And him, the fullness of the Godhead bodily fixed his eyes on death and after walking out of the tomb and standing in glory, jesus said I am he who lives and was dead. And behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. Was dead and behold, I am alive forevermore, amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of death.
Speaker 4:Paul says in first Corinthians 15 oh death, where is your sting? Oh Hades, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin and the wages of sin is death. And that's why Paul says the sting of death is sin, because sin is the cause of all pain and suffering and the source also leading us to death. But if the sting of death is sin, jesus took the sin away. So now, no more sting. Paul's talking about both forms of sin here sin as a moral failing, meaning to miss the mark, and the sin nature we inherited from Adam.
Speaker 4:Now the strength of sin is the law, and this dives into what Paul said in his other writings, that where there is no law, you can't be guilty of breaking the law. So the law is what shows us that we are guilty. The law shows us that we are sinners. So sin gets its strength from the law is what shows us that we are guilty. The law shows us that we are sinners, so sin gets its strength from the law. But because Jesus took our sin upon himself, he who knew no sin became sin for us and he died and took our punishment. And now, because he paid the price, because it is finished when we surrender our lives to him, he washes our sin away with his blood and we are made white as snow, covered in his righteousness. And now sin has no hold on us and we are free. Amen.
Speaker 4:Galatians 3 13 says christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. See, the law had an expiration date. It was given to lead us to Jesus, and when Jesus came and fulfilled it all, when we put our faith in him, we are justified by our faith in Jesus. The Bible says that the law wasn't bad, it was perfect, but we couldn't keep it. And the law can't give life, or righteousness would have come by the law. What Paul is saying is that the law shows us our sin, and sin brings death. Remember, the wages of sin is death. So the law can't give us life. It was given to show us that until the promise came, which was Jesus. And now, by faith in him, we have been made right with God, because Jesus took our sin away that separated us from a holy God. Everything we have is in Jesus, no matter what we're going through.
Speaker 4:The moment you step into Christ, you win. I love what Jesus said in John 16, 33. This I have spoken to you, that in me you might have peace. In me, he said, you might have peace In the world. You shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world, hallelujah. So take heart, because Jesus has already won. It is finished and when you step into Christ, you are not under the law anymore. Christ is the end of the law, for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Speaker 4:Jesus was fulfilling all of the promises from the Old Testament that were written. See, satan had two weapons against us sin and death. Jesus came and took both back, and when you put your faith in him, he gives you his victory. Jesus beat Satan and took our sin on the cross, and the last battle, the last weapon Satan had, was death, and Jesus walked out of the grave, defeated death and took that from Satan too, and now he has nothing on a believer in Christ, amen. Jesus didn't come to destroy the old religious system. He came to finish it and to establish the new, and that's what the Lord's Supper is that we just partook in. It's Jesus bringing the new. He said this cup is the new covenant in my blood which is shed for you.
Speaker 4:This new covenant was prophesied or promised way back in the Old Testament. It was nothing new, and there's a couple different places. We'll look in Jeremiah 31, 31 to 33. And it says Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. But this is the new covenant that I will make with the house of Israel. After those days, says the Lord, I will write it on their hearts and I will be their God and they shall be my people. God says I will write my ways on their heart instead of the stone.
Speaker 4:Ezekiel talks about it too, in Ezekiel 36, 26 and 27. That God will give us a new heart and put a new spirit within us. God says with this new covenant, I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. When you put your faith in Jesus, god will give you your own personal miracle, where you will start to want to do the things that please him from the inside and you will know that you're different, that please him From the inside, and you will know that you're different, that something changed, and it starts on the inside of you. God says I will be their God and they will be my people. When you put your faith in Jesus, you now have peace with God and instead of being your judge, he becomes your father. This, right here, is that spot inside of you that you try everything to fill but you can't. The reason people join gangs, try to be accepted and no matter what you do and what you try, you just aren't content. When you put your faith in Jesus and God becomes your father and gives you peace, that spot inside you will finally be filled and you'll know it. That is, god forgiving your sins and wickedness and remembering them no more. That is the new covenant that Jesus brought to us, and Hebrews 7 and 8 tells us. This new covenant is better, hebrews 8 and 6 says but now he, jesus, has obtained a more excellent ministry inasmuch as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. This is all possible because of Jesus and his death on the cross. This is all possible because of Jesus and his death on the cross.
Speaker 4:The empty grave proves Jesus broke the power of sin and death and if he was still in the grave, we would still be in our sins. The empty tomb is the stamp that everything is finished and that's why we celebrate and praise him, because he's alive, raised from the dead and sitting at the right hand of the Father. I love how even Jesus' enemies, the ones that killed him, had to admit that the tomb was empty. We can get into all the details on the guards and all of that, but even they said that the tomb was empty. Jesus prophesied that he was going to die and how he was going to die, and everything he said happened. And he prophesied that on the third day he would be raised to life, and the empty tomb proves that.
Speaker 4:And why did Jesus do all this? Out of love, to make a way for us to get back to the garden, so that we could hang out with him, to make a way for sinners to go to heaven, to be accepted, to be forgiven and to be loved. And why wouldn't we accept that gift of salvation and a chance to hang out with the God who created everything, that huge God that just wants to hang out With you and, like preach always says God would rather I hang out with him For a while than preach a bunch of sermons. Remember Jesus saves us and does all this for us. He wants you personally, he wants to know you so he can be with us In everything that we do, so we can be together. He loves you, he saved you, to be close to you. And Jesus has given all of us stuff to do, unique things for us to do, specific to us. But being with him always comes before doing things for him. And when you step into this new covenant with him, it will change you.
Speaker 4:Look at Saul, who became Paul. You know the Damascus Road story Saul out, persecuting, killing and throwing in prison everyone who claims the name of Jesus. And what happens? He meets the risen Lord and he's totally changed. He starts to go out and preach Jesus Christ is Lord. And what happened? Something happened. He met the Lord alive and well.
Speaker 4:Now, when Jesus is crucified and the apostles and the disciples see and hear what happened to Jesus, some of them are in hiding, some of them are leaving. It's over, he's dead. How can this be? They were confused. They saw him do things no one could do. They didn't understand. But then they saw the crucified Jesus alive and well, and he explained it yet again. Some saw him at the tomb, some saw him in an upper room and two saw him while leaving Jerusalem, or so they thought, sad and depressed.
Speaker 4:These two disciples on the road to Emmaus is in Luke 24, starting in verse 13, and I'll skip around through it and read it. It says Now behold, two of them were traveling the same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem, and they talked together all of these things which had happened. So it was while they conversed and reasoned that Jesus himself drew near and went with them, but their eyes were restrained so that they did not know him. And he said to them what kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and you are sad. Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to him Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem and have you not known the things which happened there in these days? And he said to them what things? So they said to him the things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we were hoping that it was he who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. Today is the third day, then skip down to 25. It says.
Speaker 4:Then he said to them O foolish ones and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken. Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory? And, beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded to them in all the scriptures. He expounded to them, and all the scriptures, the things concerning himself. After this, the disciples asked this man that they've been talking to to hey, come in and spend the night. It's late. Come on in, and he does. But as he breaks bread and blesses it, their eyes are open and they see that it's Jesus and he vanishes.
Speaker 4:Then they're excited and energized as I think, they jump up shouting didn't our hearts burn in our chest while he spoke with us? And then they must have got a burst of energy, because they turned around and they went back to Jerusalem, where they just came from, to tell the others. And when they get back to the apostles, they proclaim the Lord has risen indeed. And they start to tell them all what happened on the road with Jesus. And as they're speaking, jesus shows up in the midst of them all and he says in verse 38 and 39, why are you troubled and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Handle me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.
Speaker 4:Jesus was showing them that this resurrection wasn't just spiritual, which some say, but that it was physical. Touch me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bone. Then they go from hiding and leaving to waiting for the promise of the Father, which Jesus said that he would send and that they would be endued with power. Now, that's a message for another time, so we'll skip over that to the next one but gives them endued with power to boldly preach and teach. Jesus Christ, god in the flesh, is risen, and they go out and preach, not somewhere new or somewhere far away that might not have heard yet what happened, or to people that don't know what's going on, but they go out and preach this to all those who just killed Jesus and to all those who yelled, crucify him, to all those who saw Jesus die, or so they thought, to the very people that thought they could hide in darkness and get rid of the light. Jesus said no one takes my life from me, but I lay it down of myself and I have power to take it up again.
Speaker 4:Jesus Christ, the firstborn of the dead, changes everything and, just like it did for Paul, saw to Paul which is what Jesus wants to do in your life make you new, change you completely and open up your eyes, fill you with his spirit and bring you into a relationship with him, so that you are family and so that you can tell others Jesus is alive. Amen, not only to save them, but everyone around them. And that's how this works. And when you meet Jesus, you'll understand Paul's story firsthand and you'll know that it's true. It's like God when you're sincere in your heart and you surrender your life to him, he reaches down and flips a switch in you and now you can't help but want to do what's right and to please him. But you have to remain in him and feed your spirit, not your flesh. You can't go back to the old ways out of habit or because it's comfortable. That's feeding your. That new spirit that's just been born is hungry and you need to feed it. Your spirit came from God and it needs the words of God to grow, or it will slowly start to fade away and you'll go back to the same old. Aren't you tired of the same old? Then enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ, the risen Lord of glory, and see if he doesn't change your entire world. I guarantee you he will Think of it like this there's a house with one big double door to get in and that big double door is open wide.
Speaker 4:Everybody's inside having a good time. Everyone and anyone is welcome to come. All the lights are on, it's bright, there's food, there's drinks, everyone is happy, smiling, and they're all singing. Everybody is walking right in. And then someone comes to the door, stops right in front of it and says to the person standing at the door I want to come in the house, but I don't want to come in through the door. And you think what? Nobody would say that right, nobody would say that Everybody would just walk right in through the door. Jesus is that door to get into the house.
Speaker 4:And what the Bible says is such a simple way to get into the house. Why wouldn't we want to just walk through the door right in? Why wouldn't everyone just walk through the door? It's a no-brainer. There must be another reason that we don't want to come in through the door. It's a no-brainer. There must be another reason that we don't want to come in through the door.
Speaker 4:The Bible says it's sin that we're in sin, in darkness. And we like the darkness, the sin, because we're doing what we want to do, because it feels good, because it feels normal, because it's natural to us, because we're sinners and we're used to it. We need it. So we prefer to stay where we're at, in the darkness, because it's comfortable. So we don't want to come into the light, because we'll lose that darkness, that thing that hides us, that covers us up, and that's why we won't come to Jesus because of sin and self.
Speaker 4:God is our all in all and we say that because if you ask him, he will fill whatever void or hole or space or position in your life that needs filled. If you aren't walking through those doors into the house of the Lord because of sin, or something has you in bondage, holding you and that's your crutch or what you lean on to help get you by, so you're afraid to come because you would have to give this or that up. I'm here to tell you that Jesus wants to fill that spot with himself. He wants to be the one that you lean on, the one and only one that can truly fill that spot in your life. I know it might be a little scary at first because you're unsure, but I'm here to tell you that he will change your entire life, and so much so that it will affect everyone around you, if we will just ask him and allow him to work. That is what he does, you know.
Speaker 4:Staying where you're at, staying in bondage to whatever it is, staying in Egypt, you know where that leads. You know the end result and it's the same old day after day. And aren't you tired of that? Come out of the darkness, come out of the same old routine and let Jesus change your life and set you free. Come into the house. The doors are wide open and every time you come you'll see your faith will start to grow and grow, and grow as you hear the word of God and grow as you hear the word of God. There's no better time than now and there's no better day than today to let the blood of the lamb, jesus Christ, that was shed for you, to wash over you, cleanse you and give you peace.
Speaker 4:Rejecting Jesus is being in darkness. He is the light and if you die there, you will spend eternity in the darkness without the light. He loves you. Why would you reject that love, his love? And in closing, I'll close with this.
Speaker 4:Maybe you're sitting there thinking this is all just too much, too much information. I'm confused. I'm not sure what all this means. I don't know what to do or how to do it. Just stop and relax. You don't have to have it all figured out. You're not going to, and none of us does. You only need to take a step in faith towards Jesus Christ.
Speaker 4:Be honest and sincere from your heart. Tell him you're unsure about what all this means, but if he really loves you, if he really died for you and suffered that much so that you could live and be with him, then you're in. Tell him, whatever that means, lord, whatever your plans are for me, lord, here am I. I surrender, take over, amen. And if you mean that in your heart, jesus will show up, he will answer. And when he does, when you meet Jesus, you'll know. It's all true. And I'll end where we started Verse 46 to 48. Then he said to them thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And because the tomb is empty and because he lives, we too may live. He lives, we too may live. So step out of the darkness, take that first step. It is finished. Amen, amen, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 5:Thank you for listening to this week's podcast. We pray it was an encouragement and a blessing to you. You can contact us at Valley Gospel Church, 1069 Butler Logan Road, Springdale, Pennsylvania, 15144. We invite you to listen to this week's worship service that follows and tune in for next week's podcast.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Many people share opinions about the life of Christ. Some believe that Jesus never lived, and there are those who say that he was just an ordinary man. Others say that he was just a myth. Others say that he was just a myth. I don't care, just let the world stand back and criticize. Praise the Lord. The truth does not depend upon their lies. Well, you can go down to a manger In a town called Bethlehem. Try to find the baby Jesus, but he won't be lying there. Walk the Via Dolorosa to a hill called Calvary. Look for the Lord, but you won't find him hanging on a tree. You can go down to a garden where you'll see a borrowed tomb. Take a look inside, but all you'll find is just an empty room. Jesus died, but he's not dead and he's coming one more time. He's alive, he's alive, he's alive.
Speaker 2:Lift it up. He defeated the grave Raised to life. Our God is able In His name, for we overcome For the Lord. Our God is able. Lift it up. He defeated the grave Raised to life. Our God is able In His name. We overcome, able in his name. Oh, we overcome for the lord.
Speaker 1:Our god is able for the lord our god is able, holy, holy, sing it out, holy holy God, almighty, god Almighty. Emmanuel, holy, holy, holy, holy.
Speaker 2:Holy, holy God. Almighty Emmanuel Sing it again.
Speaker 1:Sing it again, Emmanuel. Sing it again. Sing it again, Holy, holy.
Speaker 2:Holy, holy, God Almighty Emmanuel. God Almighty Emmanuel.
Speaker 1:Sing it directly to Him Happy Resurrection Sunday. Holy, holy, holy, holy, holy God, almighty Emmanuel.
Speaker 2:Lifted up, he defeated the grave. Raised to life. Our God is able and in his name we overcome. For the Lord, our God is able. Oh, sing it again. Lift it up. Oh, he defeated the grave. Oh, hallelujah, jesus Raised to life, life, our God is able. We came to glorify your name In his holy name, yes, we overcome, we will overcome. Oh the Lord, our God is able. Lift it up. Oh, he defeated the grave. Raised to life. Our God is able. In his name, oh, we overcome. For the Lord, our God is able. For the Lord, our God is able. Our God is able, our God is able.
Speaker 1:Well, you can go down to a major in a town called Bethlehem. Try to find the baby Jesus, but he won't be lying there. Walk the Via Dolorosa to the hill called Calvary. Look for the Lord, but you won't find him hanging on a tree. You can go down to a garden where you'll see a viral tomb. Take a look inside, but all you'll find is just an empty room. Jesus died, but he's not dead, and he's coming one more time. He's alive, he's alive, he's alive. He's alive. He's alive, he's alive. He's alive.
Speaker 2:He's alive, he's alive, he's alive, he's alive.
Speaker 1:Hallelujah, hallelujah, yes, lord.