April 29, 2007 - THEY HATE IT WHEN WE SAY THAT

INTRODUCTION

• How many of you are familiar with the concept of six degrees of separation? Anybody?
• The idea is that you can take any two people on the face of the earth
• And link them up within five chains of acquaintance
• It might go something like this-
• Tom would know Joe
• Who would know Mary
• Who would know Karen
• Who would know Rahama
• Who would know Abdullah
• Who would know...Osama bin Laden
• Obviously- I don't know the six degrees theory always works
• There's no way of testing it
• But I can tell you- that by knowing me- you are only one degree of separation from Ted Turner
• You heard me right- Ted Turner
• The guy:
• Who created CNN
• Owned the Atlanta Braves
• Married Jane Fonda
• Won the America's Cup race
• THAT Ted Turner
• It happened when I was in college
• Turner's NBA team- the Atlanta Hawks- were playing a game at the old Charlotte Coliseum- and they hired me to keep the 24 second clock
• During halftime Turner walked over to the scorer's table and introduced himself
• I spent about five minutes or so talking to him
• He was loud- arrogant- and smelly drunk
• All-in-all a pretty obnoxious human being
• So it didn't surprise me when I later read that Turner had described Christianity as a religion for weak-minded losers
• I remember my first thought was Yeah- that sounds like something that guy might say
• But then I remember wondering: What's Ted Turner got against Christianity?
• What's he got against my faith?
• Why is so put-off by the message of Jesus Christ?
• But then...
• The more I thought about it
• The more I realized Ted Turner was simply expressing what a lot of people think about the Christian faith
• You see, there are certain things Christians believe that drive non-Christians crazy!
• They don't accept them- they don't understand them
• And they HATE the fact that we proclaim them boldly and without apology
• This morning I want us to talk about just a few of those things

THE ONE WHO IS REVEALED IN THE BIBLE IS THE ONE TRUE AND LIVING GOD

• The first thing that non-Christians hate to hear Christians say is that the One who is revealed in the Bible is the One true and living God- the Creator of the Universe
• Now that might sound odd when you consider the fact that-
• 95% of Americans say that they believe in God
• 92% of Americans report there is at least one copy of the Bible in their homes
• At first that sounds like a ringing endorsement of the Bible- and the God the Bible reveals
• But when you dig a little deeper you begin to realize it's not that simple
• See a lot of people think that the Bible represents only one way of understanding and knowing God
• Illustration: The Hospital Volunteer
• A few years ago I was visiting someone in the hospital when a volunteer walked in with a stack of Get Well cards
• When she saw my clergy bag she said:
• It's nice to meet you Rev. Bass. I'm very interested in religion
• Not a typical thing to say- but it did provide me a BIG opening- so I asked her:
• Conversation:
• SMB: Are you a Christian- do you know Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord
• L: No- I consider myself a seeker after truth. I think there are many paths to discovering God. Muslims call him ‘Allah'- Hindus see him in the Buddha- Christians call him ‘Jesus'...The way I look at it- the most important thing is not what you call Him- but that you sincerely seek Him.
• Folks that lady expressed what non-Christians think about God
• They think that there is some abstract, impersonal, unknowable God out there- somewhere- in the mists of the Universe
• And that a person can think and believe almost anything they please about Him
• But folks- that's NOT what the Bible says
• The Bible says that the One revealed in its pages is THE One true and living God- the Creator of the Universe
• Listen to what is says
• Deuteronomy 6:4
• Psalm 47:1-7
• Revelation 4:11
• In one of his journals missionary Jim Elliott- who was later killed for his faith in Christ- wrote these words:

To stand by the shadows of a friendly tree with the wind tugging at your coattail and the heavens hailing your heart, to gaze and glory and to give oneself again to God, what more could a man ask? Oh, the fullness, pleasure, sheer excitement of knowing God on earth. I care not if I never raise my voice again for Him, if only I may love Him, please Him.

• You know- non-Christians HATE it when Christians say things like that
• They don't get it- they don't understand it
• Because they don't know the One the Bible reveals as the One true and Living God!

JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD

• Turn with me to Matthew 16:13-16
• "Who do you say I am?" Who is Jesus?
• Some Jews say He was a slightly delusional preacher obsessed with Messianic fervor
• Muslims contend that He was God's Son- the greatest single prophet prior to Muhammad
• Buddhists say Jesus was a powerful religious leader worthy of honor and respect
• Most people today recognize Him as a wise and profound teacher- a fundamentally good man
• Even secular humanists say Jesus' philosophy and moral code should be studied and practiced in daily life
• All of which sounds pretty good. It sounds like the rest of the world has the same opinion about Jesus that we have as Christians
• ...Well it's like this: The world does love their IDEA of Jesus
• But they get tripped up when they learn what the Bible says about Jesus
• Galatians 4:4-5
• John 1:1-14
• Philippians 2:5-11
• Look. There's no doubt Jesus...
• Was a great prophet and moral teacher- a good man who taught the wisdom and truth of God
• But that's not all He was. The Bible proclaims that-
• Jesus was God-in-human-flesh
• That He was, is and always will be God's only begotten Son
• And that fact drives non-Christians crazy
• Because if Jesus is who the Bible says He is
• Then ultimately He's the only One who matters
• And if Jesus is the only One who matters then by definition-
• Christianity- the faith that worships and proclaims Him- is the only true faith
• And all the rest of the world's religious traditions are false
• A few years ago the Charlotte Observer ran a column written by one of its community columnists- Barbara Thiede
• Ms. Thiede's column was prompted by an effort made by the NAMB of the SBC
• It seems the Mission Board had asked Baptists to pray for the Jewish people during the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
• Dr. Jerry Rankin- the president of the NAMB- specifically asked churches to pray that Jews would come to accept Jesus as the Jewish Messiah
• In her article- entitled ‘Cherish The Religious Traditions of All God's Children' Ms. Thiede wrote: Such hopes can not be understood as truly Christian ones.
• See what I mean?
• Non-Christians world hate it when Christians proclaim the truth about Jesus- God's only begotten Son
• And just for the record: Praying that non-Christians will come to know Jesus as their Savior is one of the MOST Christian things we can do

THE BIBLE PROCLAIMS ABSOLUTE MORAL TRUTH

• Now let me ask you a question: Do you believe in absolute moral truth?
• According to a recent Gallup poll less than 45% of Americans do
• In other words: Most people in the United States believe that every person can determine for themselves what's right and what's wrong based on their own needs and experiences
• Now if you're in the 55%+ of Americans who would agree with that statement
• I want you to think about this
• Do you realize that by that standard Cho Seung-Hui had every right to murder 32 people on the Virginia Tech campus two weeks ago tomorrow?
• After all-
• He had a long list of grievances
• He felt like a hostile world had backed him into a dangerous corner
• He sincerely believed he was doing what he had to do
• Now at this point you might say:
• But Steve- EVERYONE agrees that murder is wrong
• No- they don't
• Granted- if it were up for a vote
• The VAST majority of people would agree that murder is morally wrong
• But there would always be a few individuals- like Cho- who would say: But not in my case
• Here's the point I'm trying to make:
• Even a crime as terrible as murder can only be considered a moral evil
• Is if there is a absolute standard that says murder is wrong- it's evil- it's a sin against Almighty God
• (Hold up BiblThe Bible is that standard
• It proclaims the absolute truth of a holy and righteous God
• The One who is the Creator, Sustainer and Redeemer of the Universe
• Deuteronomy 32:4
• Psalm 19:8-11
• Christians can not compromise the absolute moral truth of the Word of God
• I don't care if the rest of the world has agreed that:
• Abortion is a woman's choice
• Sexual immorality is a lifestyle
• Pornography is an entertainment option
• The Bible says these things are sin- and they will continue to be sin:
• Until God changes His mind and His Word
• And God isn't about to do either one!
• After he became a Christian William O'Haire- the son of the late atheist Madelyn Murray O'Haire- said: My family's rejection of God was not intellectual. (My mother) did not (work to) remove prayer from America's schools because of (the principle oseparation of church and state. We simply did not want to hear the Word of God because it was contrary to the lives we lived.
• Folks I'm telling you: That's what non-Christians think
• That's why they hate to hear Christians proclaim the absolute moral truth of the Word of God
• But as the children of God we'd better be sure we:
• Proclaim it
• And we live by it!

GOD JUDGES SIN

• I want you to notice the slide on the screen
• Notice what it says?
• (Read it)
• I created that slide on the computer on Tuesday afternoon
• Now here's where it gets truly amazing
• The next screen (David don't skip forward yet) will contain your answer to the question I'm about to ask
• You didn't know I was a mind-reader did you?
• How would you complete this sentence: God is...
• Wait to hear ‘Love'
• David- will you cue up the next slide?
• Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
• From now on you can call me Steverino The Magnificent
• Now obviously it didn't take a genius to assume a group of Christians would say: God is LOVE. But here's the thing:
• If I would have asked a group of non-Christians the same question
• The odds are overwhelmingly good that they would have said the same thing
• Almost universally people believe that God is loving and kind
And the Bible confirms that to be truth
• 1 John 4:8 & 16 explicitly say that God is love
• But the Bible doesn't stop there. Listen to what else it says:
• Psalm 9:7-8
• Isaiah 5:16: But the LORD Almighty will be exalted by his justice, and the holy God will show himself holy by his righteousness.
• And finally listen to what it says in Psalm 7:11: 11 God is a righteous judge, a God who expresses his wrath every day.
• Now what does all this mean?
• It means our loving God is also holy and righteous
• It means that our loving God is also the Judge of the Universe has declared sin to be a capital offense against His glory and majesty:
• Romans 6:23 says: The wages of sin is death
• Eternal separation from God in a place called hell
• Now this fact freaks non-Christians out
• It distorts their understanding of God as some kind of doting grandfather in the sky
• It damages their idea that says they can go their own way- and do their own thing- without facing any consequences for their actions
• It destroys their belief that says everyone will be in heaven because God will overlook the reality of sin in their life
• As Christians we know the truth
• And as painful as it sometimes is to proclaim the truth
• That's just the way it is
• God judges sin
• PERIOD!

SALVATION IS FOUND IN CHRIST- AND CHRIST ALONE

• All of this brings us to the last thing non-Christians hate to hear: Salvation is found in Christ- and Christ alone
• In fact- they not only hate to hear it. They go on the attack when we say it. They...
• Accuse us of being arrogant: What gives you the right to claim your way is the ONLY way?
• Will insist that we're being intolerant of others: Why people have the right to believe whatever they want to believe
• They'll even suggest that we're being rude and un-American because we're trying to impose YOUR beliefs on another person
• Well- here's the thing:
• To say that salvation is found in Christ- and Christ alone- isn't something dreamed up by self-righteous, arrogant, intolerant Christians
• Instead it's what the perfect Word of God clearly says
• Acts 4:12
• Ephesians 2:4-9
• Galatians 3:1-14
• I want you to understand what the Bible is saying here:
• There is only ONE WAY for a person...
• To approach God
• To be saved
• And that is through a faith relationship with Jesus Christ- the only begotten Son of God
• Which brings us to something I call the my-good-friend problem
• The my good friend problem is expressed like this:
• Steve- I've got a good friend who is a Jew- or a Hindu- or a Buddhist- or a Muslim- or WHATEVER...
• She's really a nice person. You never hear a bad word come out of her mouth- she treats people kindly- she's really sincere in her beliefs...
• SURELY my good friend will be in heaven- right?
• The correct answer is: ‘Unless she receives Jesus Christ as her personal Savior- she won't'
• God's Word says there is no other way to be saved except through a personal, faith relationship with Jesus
• So if your good friend doesn't receive Jesus as her Savior she'll spend eternity in a sinner's hell
• BUT...But...but...
• That doesn't sound right- it isn't FAIR!
• THAT makes it sound like Christians have some exclusive club- that says you...
• Have to look like we look-
• And act like we act-
• And think like we think-
• And believe like we believe in order to join!
• Actually that's not what I'm saying at all
• You don't have to become like ME- or anyone else in this congregation- in order to be saved
• But you DO have to come to Jesus- because there is NO other way of salvation
• John 3:16-18
• Folks- John 3:16-18 tells it like it is
• It may drive non-Christians insane-
• They may not understand it
• And they certainly don't like it
• But that's...
• The way it is
• The reason why we HAVE to keep on telling the truth in love

CONCLUSION

• Let's say that the bridge over Mountain Island Lake collapsed later tonight
• If the police knew that the bridge had collapsed- would it be arrogant or narrow-minded for them to close Hwy. 16?
• Of course not!
• It might inconvenient to some people- other folks might not like it
• But the police would simply be doing their duty
• As Christians we know the truth of God
• The world may not like it- they may not accept it- they may be driven crazy by it
• But to lovingly proclaim the truth of God boldly and courageously is to simply do our duty as the children of God
• Let us pray

April 15,2007 - THE DAY THOMAS BELIEVED

April 15,2007 = THE DAY THOMAS BELIEVED Scripture Meditation:John 20:19-31

INTRODUCTION

• You probably didn't come to church this morning expecting to hear an Easter sermon
• I mean you don't come to church the Sunday after Christmas expecting to hear an Advent sermon
• So why should you expect to hear another Easter sermon a week after we celebrated the glory of Jesus' Resurrection?
• Because one of the most important Easter events didn't occur until the Sunday following the Resurrection
• Granted- it wasn't as dramatic as the events of Easter Sunday
• But it was just as important to one man who DESPERATELY wanted to believe that Jesus was alive
• That man was Thomas
• And the story of his experience with Jesus is found in John 20:19-31

THE PROOF THE DISCIPLES NEEDED

John 20:19

• Stop right there- I want you to grasp the significance of what we're just read
• By this time on Easter Sunday reports of the Resurrection have been flooding in all day
• The reports:
• Mary Magdalene had shared vivid details of her encounter with Jesus
• Several other women told how they'd seen Jesus as they were rushing back to tell the disciples about the Empty Tomb
• Peter and John had investigated the women's claims- and confirmed that the Tomb was empty
• Two men who'd been traveling to Emmaus arrived to say they'd spent several hours with the Resurrected Lord
• And yet- the disciples were hiding in a locked room for fear of the Jews
• I don't get it
• How could you be afraid of ANYBODY or ANYTHING if you were convinced that Jesus was Alive Again?
• Which is the point: Early in the evening on Resurrection Sunday the disciples still weren't willing to make that leap of faith
• None of the them had seen Jesus for themselves
• They knew something was going on- but they weren't fully convinced the stories were true
• To me this is one of those things that prove the Resurrection really did happen
• If it was too neat- if everyone had been on the same page from the get-go
• It would be easy to dismiss the Resurrection as nothing more than a hoax concocted by Jesus' followers in the aftermath of His death
• But the truth is that every single disciple had to be convinced- beyond a shadow of a doubt- that Jesus was alive
• That meant they had to see Him- and hear Him- and touch Him- and embrace Him
• Before they would let themselves believe that Jesus had Risen from the dead
• For 10 of the remaining 11 disciples (by this time Judas Iscariot had already committed suicide) that eureka moment came early in the evening on Resurrection Sunday

John 20:19-20

• It was true! Jesus was alive!
• There could no longer be any doubt
• This wasn't a ghost
• It wasn't an hallucination
• This was Jesus
• The One they'd lived with for three years
• The One they'd believed was the Messiah- the Son of the Living God
• The One they'd given up everything to follow
• This was Jesus
• He looked like Himself
• He sounded like Himself
• He even bore the scars of the nails that had been driven in His hands- and the spear that pierced His side
• John describes the disciples as being 'overjoyed'
• The word indicates a mixture of absolute awe and wonder- coupled with giddy joy and a I can't believe it's happening sense of excitement
• There must have been laughter and tears and emotions that were surging out of control in that room: Jesus was alive!

John 20:21-23

• I want you to focus on that word- peace
• Generally when we think of peace we think of it as the absence of war
• Folks will say:
• When our military personnel have all come home- and the guns will have fallen silent
• Then our country will be at peace again!
• But to the disciples- who were good Jews- peace or shalom was an entirely different thing
• Peace was a blessing that only God could bestow
• To have peace meant you had become the recipient of His goodness and love- His mercy and grace
• So get the picture of what's going on here: By offering the disciples peace- Jesus was reminding them that...
• He was more than their friend- their Teacher- their Master
• He was, is, and always will be...
• The Crucified Savior of the world
• The Risen Lord over all Creation
• The eternal and only begotten Son of God

THOMAS' SKEPTICISM

John 20:24

• Over the years preachers have raked Thomas over the coals for not being there when Jesus made His appearance on Easter Sunday evening
• Some have called him a coward
• Some have labeled him a rebellious fool
• And some have used Thomas as an example of what happens when you miss Sunday or Wednesday night worship
• If you're not at church every time the door is open
• You may miss out on some great thing that God is going to do
• Folks- that's not fair!
• The Bible:
• Doesn't say why Thomas wasn't with the others
• And it doesn't condemn him for his absence
• It simply notes that he wasn't there
• That's not a crime
• It's more a case of being in the wrong place at the right time
• Unfortunately history has never been very kind to Thomas
• How would you feel if people have always called you 'Doubting Thomas?'
• As if YOU were the only disciple who ever experienced a failure- or expressed a doubt- about Jesus
• I mean nobody ever calls Peter- 'Denying Peter'
• And what Peter did there in the courtyard of Caiphas was even worse
• In the hour of Jesus' greatest need
• Peter denied Him with curses on his lips: 'I don't know the Man!'
• But Peter is Peter- so we give him a pass
• But Thomas?
• One moment of skepticism and doubt
• And you're branded for all time
• Maybe if we knew him a little better we could be more sympathetic
• Problem is- the Bible doesn't tell us much about Thomas
• We don't know where he came from
• There aren't any descriptions of what he looked like
• In fact-
• After the Day of Pentecost
• The Bible never mentions his name again
• But- the Word of God does offer two important clues into Thomas' character

John 11:11-16

John 14:1-4

• So what can we make of all this? What does it tell us about Thomas?
• For one thing it says he was fiercely loyal to Jesus- Let us also go, that we may die with him
• It also suggests that Thomas was never afraid to ask the hard questions
• When Jesus said: You know the way to the place where I am going
• Thomas was the only disciple with enough guts to say: "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
• The only other clue we have about Thomas comes from church tradition
• It says he spent the last years of his life preaching the Gospel in India
• According to the best available evidence Thomas was killed when an angry pagan priest drove a spear through his heart as he knelt in prayer
• So what does all this say about Thomas?
• Here was a man who would sacrifice anything for the Truth
• But first he had to be convinced of the Truth in his own mind
• Which is how he came to be known as 'Doubting Thomas'

John 20:24-25

• Thomas had missed something special on Easter Sunday- the chance to see the Resurrected Jesus face-to-face
• He hadn't...
• Been there when Jesus suddenly appeared in the middle of a locked room
• Heard Jesus' words of blessing and comfort
• All he had to go on was the excited testimony of his friends who told him: 'Jesus is ALIVE!'
• Can you imagine the conflict this must have created in Thomas' mind?
• On the one hand- he desperately wanted to believe it was true
• If Jesus was alive it was the PROOF that He was the Messiah- the Son of the Living God
• If Jesus was alive it meant His death on the Cross was the atoning sacrifice for the sin of the world
• If Jesus was alive it meant that ALL His promises were true: 'Because I live you will live also!'
• BUT- Thomas had been terribly hurt on Crucifixion Friday.
• He'd seen and heard all the horrors of Calvary
• And when Jesus died- something in Thomas died
• The thought of having his hopes built up- only to have them crushed again- was too painful to comprehend
• So he told the other disciples:

..."Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."

• I want to make sure you understand what Thomas is saying here
• He isn't doubting the possibility of the Resurrection
• Remember- he'd been there when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead
• He'd heard Jesus say that He'd be crucified and rise again on the third day
• He knew that Jesus had told Martha: I am the resurrection and the life
• And he knew his band of brothers wouldn't deliberately tell him a lie
• All Thomas is asking for is proof: I want to have the same experience you say you've had. I want to see Jesus for myself. I want to know- beyond a shadow of a doubt- that He's alive again!

THE PROOF THOMAS NEEDED

• Thomas got the proof he was looking for seven days later

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them...

• Just a quick comment:
• If Thomas had completely rejected the possibility of Jesus' Resurrection
• He wouldn't have been with the other disciples on the first Sunday after Easter

26 ...Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"

• This is the second time John mentions that Jesus suddenly appeared in the middle of a locked room
• Why is this important?
• Because it gives us an insight into what Jesus' Resurrection body was like
• After the Resurrection- Jesus...
• Looked the same
• People didn't always recognize Him at first
• But it didn't take long for them to realize that this was the same Jesus they'd known and loved
• Had a body of flesh and bones
• He could still enjoy a good meal with His disciples. They could touch and embrace Him
• But He was no longer constrained by physical obstacles such as locked doors.
• And one other thing:
• Before the Resurrection Jesus could be put to death on a Cross
• After the Resurrection He occupied an indestructible body that had been designed to last for eternity
• At this point you might be thinking: That's great Steve- but why should I be interested in Jesus' Resurrection body?
• Simple: The Bible says that Jesus is 'the first fruits of them that sleep'
• In other words:
• What happened to Jesus is going to happen to you and me
• His Resurrection body serves as a preview of what OUR Resurrection body is going to be like

2 Corinthians 5:1-5

• Notice the contrast Paul is making here.
• He says the earthly bodies we currently occupy is like a flimsy tent- something that can be blown down with a strong wind
• But our Resurrection bodies will be like a building constructed with stones
• Strong
• Solid
• Built to last
• I can't help but think of Vernon Baker
• The last time I saw her- she didn't resemble the person we knew and loved
• She was hooked up to a morphine pump
• Her arms and legs looked like they were going to explode from fluid retention
• Her pupils were dilated- and she was struggling to breathe
• I don't like thinking of Vernon being in that condition
• But now I know she has her Resurrection body
• It isn't subject to decline or decay
• She'll never again experience any pain or suffering
• Her new body will never give out- it comes with an eternal guarantee
• Folks- that's part of the hope we have as believers
• What Jesus is- is what we will be
• It doesn't get any better than that!

THOMAS BELIEVES

27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

• Jesus doesn't condemn Thomas for having expressed his doubts
• Instead Jesus is ready to offer Thomas the proof he'd been looking for
• (What Jesus said)
• Feel the scars from the nail prints. Put your hand in My side and know that I'm not a ghost.
• Here's your chance Thomas. You don't have to doubt anymore. I want you to KNOW that I'm alive
• Sometimes Christians beat themselves up for experiencing times of doubt
• Folks- doubt is not a sin
• The truth is- periods of doubt are a natural part of a life of faith
• What God wants you to do is take your doubt IN Him TO Him
• Give Him the chance to answer the questions you have
• Let the Holy Spirit provide the comfort and assurance you're looking for
• The Bible puts it this way: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"

• Whatever Thomas was looking for- he'd found
• We don't know if he actually stuck his finger in the nail prints- or thrust his hand into Jesus' side
• But there was no longer any question in Thomas' mind
• The Risen Savior had become the undisputed Lord of his life
• The Resurrected Jesus was more than a great man- He was, is and always will be...
• The Christ- the Messiah
b)
• The only begotten Son of the One True and Living God!

29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

• I want you to notice something interesting about what Jesus said to Thomas:
• You've seen me in the flesh and believed that I'm Risen from the dead. And that's great...
• But God's greater blessing rests on people who will never have the chance you had- but still believe that I am the Crucified and Risen Lord.
• Jesus has just pointed out the fundamental difference between living by faith and living by fact
• See Thomas lived the rest of his life based on a fact he knew through personal experience: Jesus was Alive Again!
• He never doubted it
• He'd seen the Lord face-to-face
• As Christians today we live our life based on the FAITH that says Jesus is Alive!
• And that's a lot harder than living your life based on something you've seen- and touched- and tested
• Which is why God pours out His special blessings on those who still believe!
• In spite of the doubts- in spite of the questions- in spite of the uncertainty
• To be able to say- with conviction:
  I serve a Risen Savior. He's in the world today.
  I know that He is Living- whatever men may say.
  I see His hand of mercy- I hear His voice of cheer.
  And just the time I need Him- He's always there.
  He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!
  He walks with me and talks with me- along life's narrow way.
  He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart.
  You ask me how I KNOW He lives- He lives within my heart.
• That's the kind of faith that makes God stand up and say: Now THAT'S what I'm talking about! THAT'S the kind of faith I can honor and bless!
• Is it the kind of faith you possess today?
• Thomas would tell you: I know- for a fact- that Jesus is Alive!
• Are you ready to believe it- and stake your eternity on it?
• Let us pray