Regaining Lost Ground

Guest (Male): Was he the Messiah? Was he the Messiah? That's what we need to answer. Was he the anointed one? Was he the Christ? And how are we going to handle it? And remember, without the shedding of blood, there is no removal of sin. Think about that. Without payment for penalty, the judgment remains. And without the absorbing of wrath, there is no pardon.

And that's the question that we also have to deal with this morning. This Sunday can go down in history as the day that changed your life, or it can just be another day, a forgotten day.

Guest (Male): Thank you for joining us here at Westside Christian Fellowship, located in Leona Valley, California, one hour north of Los Angeles. Today on Regaining Lost Ground, we hear the third and final part of this life-transforming message titled, "The Day Death Bowed in Death."

First Corinthians 15:55-57 exclaims, "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Listen now as Pastor Shane shares this life-giving sermon that only through Jesus can we find eternal hope after death in this special Easter message here on Regaining Lost Ground.

You can hear the whole message at Pastor Shane's YouTube and Rumble channels. Make sure to subscribe today. For more information, visit us online at westsidechristianfellowship.org. We also encourage you to hear more truth from Pastor Shane with the Idleman Unplugged weekly podcast. And now, from Westside Christian Fellowship in Leona Valley, California, here's Pastor Shane Idleman.

Shane Idleman: We know that anybody who tries to stop God gets destroyed. I've been teaching in Acts. We just saw Herod elevated himself; he got destroyed. Sennacherib in the Old Testament cursed God, and he was annihilated. The Assyrians mocked God, and God wiped them off the planet. Pharaoh challenged God, and they were drowned in the sea. The Philistines blasphemed God, and God took them out. The Babylonians boasted; no enemy has ever stopped God.

Now, as I talked about Friday, this is your hour when darkness reigns. Sometimes there's a temporary victory, but it's only to fulfill God's plans. And I want to remind you today, as I said last night, I looked up a lot of famous atheists, and I don't recognize many of their names. And it dawned on me, there's no atheists in hell. They now believe.

Think about that. They now believe. Clearly, I was wrong on this one. You don't just stop existing. All of them are converted, not to be saved, but to the knowledge of, "I was wrong." Many of them may gnash their teeth. We don't know what that looks like.

But now here it happened after the Sabbath. As the first day of the week began to dawn, as Sunday began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake. Can you imagine that? Earthquake. A reminder that we are on the San Andreas Fault line. So, if you feel anything, praise God for His strength and security.

But there's a great earthquake. For an angel of the Lord descended from heaven. So an angel came down, he rolled back the stone from the door. And I like this angel; he sat on it. He sits on it. I mean, you're talking a couple tons. There's just no way this is going to happen.

And so what happened when he did that? His countenance was like lightning. His clothing was white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. That's exactly what happened. His body was not taken while they all slept. Rolled away some big stone, pulled out this body. This is what happened. The angel opened that tomb and it showed that He was not there.

But I think this might help somebody. I don't know why I added it, but I think it's good to know. As the first day of the week began on Sunday. And I only say this because I get some correspondence sometimes, people are confused. During the first few centuries of Christianity, there was no set day of worship. A lot of times it was secret because their life was going to be on the line. They didn't publicly announce it.

And then one of the earliest references to Sunday worship can be found in the writings of Justin Martyr in the second century. He talked about how Christians would gather together on a Sunday. They would read Scripture, they would listen to sermons, and they would partake in the Lord's Supper.

So, here's what happened, just in case many of you are wondering. Do you ever drive the 395 freeway and see that billboard that says worshiping God on Sunday is the mark of the beast? So all of us are going to hell, basically. And there's people who won't come here because we don't worship on Saturday.

The reason is eventually the Emperor Constantine declared Sunday a day of worship. Through Constantine, there's some question on his character. Then the Roman Catholic Church made it the official day. And then somebody by the name of who I would consider a false prophet, Ellen G. White, said in Revelation 13 that the papacy is the mother of all harlots.

And then Revelation 17, that we Protestants are her daughters because we meet on Sundays. And there's so many things I could get into. This lady was just so off. And we have to be careful in this area because this lady said her church was the only one and true church on the earth. Have you heard that before?

That's how Joseph Smith started the Mormon church. An angel appeared to him. Just look it up. Don't ask, just look it up. An angel appeared to him and said all other religions are wrong. This is during the time of D.L. Moody and Spurgeon, by the way. But you're going to do the right one. Okay?

And then I would, if I was him, wouldn't you think of, oh, Paul said if an angel comes to you and gives any other gospel, let him be accursed. Wouldn't that kind of jump out a little bit? Angel's talking to you having you start something that's not biblical. You can look up what other religions started by an angel visiting. It's amazing.

And so we do see deception. And that's why I mention those things. Guys, I don't mention those things because I'm arrogant. I don't mention those things because I want to pick a fight. I mention those things to tell people the truth. Everything I just said about all those different things, it's all true. Just dig a little bit. Because you run into people, "Oh no, we believe in Jesus." Okay, let's have a conversation about what that looks like.

Do you believe that He is the Son of God, the Messiah that died for you? Well, not quite. You're getting a little bit... Well, what part of Jesus do you believe? Because if you don't believe that part, that's the main part. Watch that language that likes to trick you. They've been conditioned to do that.

But the angel said to the women, "Don't be afraid. I know that you seek Jesus. I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here. He is risen, as they said. Come and see the place where the Lord lay." He's no longer there. "Go quickly, tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead and indeed He is going before you into Galilee. There you will see Him. Behold, I have told you."

I know that you seek Jesus. I know that you seek Jesus. Can I shoot you straight this morning? Many people at churches, many people here today, are not truly seeking Jesus. They'll get to church when they can. Somebody's making me go. It's kind of an inconvenience.

To truly seek Jesus, the Bible talks about there's a hunger. There's a desire. As a deer pants for that water, oh, my soul pants for thee. And I will seek You until I find You. I will get rid of that junk on my media and I will put on things that honor You. These relationships are taking me down. Lord, I want to seek You. And if you seek Me, you will find Me.

Many people are not seeking Jesus; they are going through the motions. I know. I've been there. I was Backrow Joe. I would get in there about 20 minutes after worship started so I don't have to hear too much of that. And I gotta put my Metallica on or George Strait, depending on what mood I was in. All my exes live in Texas. And I thought, "Worthy is the Lamb, my goodness. What the... these people are weird."

I was lost. I wasn't hungry for spiritual things because I was feeding on death. And that's what happens. Many here even this morning are not truly seeking Jesus. I'm not talking about struggling or having a hard time. I'm in the biggest struggle of my life right now. I know that. But that's when you lean in more. That's when you press in more. That's when you look to Him more.

But there is, there's a hunger, there's a desire, there's a focused attention. There's movement towards Him. There's motivation to serve Him. Again, we don't do it perfectly. We got this flesh that wants to disrupt everything the Spirit wants to do. The Spirit's willing, but the flesh is weak.

And maybe you just need to pray, "Lord help me. I want to seek You. I want to be filled with Your Spirit. I want more of You please God. Show me how to do that." You get to that point of desperation and repentance. And so they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy. And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them saying, "Rejoice."

So they went and held on to Him and worshiped Him. And He said, "Do not be afraid. Do not be afraid. You can conquer fear because of the resurrection." And He said, "Go and tell everybody." And now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city. "Hey, He's gone."

And so the elders, you'd think the elders would say, "Are you kidding me? This must have been the Messiah." Incredible revival in the Sanhedrin. Nope. They even said an angel. They said what happened. And they said, "Oh, go tell everyone you fell asleep and we'll help you." What deception. The soldiers told them the truth and they still rejected the truth. What a message for us today.

What do you do with the truth? "Tell them the disciples took the body. And if it comes to the governor's ear, we will help you." And that's what the Jews still believe until this day. I want to double check. Last night I looked at Ben Shapiro's comments on Joe Rogan. "I think Jesus was a rebel who got killed for his trouble." Because he's a Jew who believes the Old Testament Messiah has not yet come.

What do you do with Jesus? What do you do with Jesus? That is the key question. Listen guys, don't criticize me for being too hard if you're too soft. We have to shoot people straight. If they took the body, you have to wrestle with this. If they took the body, history records, it's not in the Bible, Peter the ringleader of taking that body was crucified upside down in Rome.

James was beheaded. James the Less was stoned and beaten to death. If you went and hid the body to try to make up some religion, as soon as they knocked on your door, "Hey guys, I'm turning state's witness. I'm becoming a tattle tale so I don't go to jail. I'll tell on my friends."

Nobody's going to go through these horrific deaths unless they met the risen Savior. That's why people can go to their martyrdom. Did you know on Palm Sunday, 12 people in Nigeria were massacred? Thomas blown by spears. Simon stabbed with the sword. Bartholomew crucified. Andrew nailed to an X-shaped cross. Matthew crucified. And John was punished for the rest of his life on the island of Patmos.

All because they stole the body? You can't explain a changed life. Not only that you can't explain the evidence. The evidence is crystal clear. And after this, here's what he said. You guys ready? So the disciples went to Galilee to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him, but some doubted.

But some doubted. Let me tell you this morning, if you're having a hard time with some of this and you're doubting, take it to the Lord. I do not condemn you. I still have lots of questions. I have lots of questions about a lot of things, but I'm not going to hell over a question. Know for certainty that Jesus Christ is your Savior. And if there are doubts, "How do I know the Bible? How do I know?" Take it to the Lord.

I truly believe, and I think we can back up with Scripture, that those who are genuinely seeking will find Him. "What about the guy in Africa? Never heard..." Well, if he looks at the sun and goes, "You know what? That's a pretty big light. Boy oh boy, where did this come from? Great one, if You're out there, I want to know You. Who are You?" And why are so many Muslims having dreams of Jesus? It's amazing what God will show you.

That's why I believe it says Romans 1, His invisible attributes are clearly seen so they are without excuse. People have no excuse. It's obvious that they are not God. Can we get that cleared up right now? If you're God, how did you create yourself? How do you keep that heart pumping? How are you going to keep yourself alive? You can't. Every breath is a gift from God.

And so Jesus came and He said, "All authority, all authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples." And that's why we say again, I don't want to unpack too much because it takes a while to really go to Scripture, but something happened at the resurrection and the crucifixion that the Old Testament was waiting for this incredible moment where now all authority.

And that's why they say conquered hell, death, sin, and the grave. Something cataclysmic spiritually happened. "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and earth. Satan no longer runs around like a little you-know-what, but now he has to submit under My authority."

And He said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations and when you make disciples, what do you tell them? You tell them everything I told you today. You baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." And that's why baptism is so important. It's a public declaration. Jesus is my Lord and Savior. He wasn't ashamed of me when He hung on that cross naked and bruised and beaten. I'm not going to be ashamed in front of Him.

And it also represents death, burial, and resurrection, the newness of Christ, the new life. Get baptized if you haven't. Or if you did as a child like I did when sprinkled, you have to do it as a believer's baptism. Or maybe the prodigal son. I did it at 12 because I wanted to go in the pool. And then I had to do it again at 30 because I was the prodigal son was coming home.

And there's something special about publicly identifying with Jesus Christ. Yes, that's a commercial for baptisms after this. But it's in the Bible. And so we say based on your profession of faith in Jesus Christ in front of these people, I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

And it's incredible. Some people cry. Some people have breakthroughs. Not everybody's emotional all the time, but there's a turning point. Something changes. Because if you know you need to be baptized and you're not, you're in disobedience. I don't know how else to say it. God didn't call me to be popular.

Teaching them to observe all things that I've commanded you, and I will be with you always. Always. So I'm going to close with this. I think I did a few weeks ago. John 4. I just love this verse. I love this story. I like when movies make it into a story too. Just to watch that.

Jesus answered this woman at the well. Remember she had lots of husbands? She's living with a guy, wasn't her husband. Jesus still loved her. That's actually who we go after. I want those people here. I want those people who need God and need hope. I don't need that arrogant religious spirit. All they want to do is teach. All they want to do is tell you how great they are. I want the people who are broken and humble and desperate for more of God. They're lost and they need God.

Remember, He said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, the Messiah, a well sitting on top of a well. If you knew the Messiah, if you knew the gift of God, you would give Me a drink and I would have given you living water." I would give you living water. But it always goes back to this question. If, if, if, if... If you do this, I will do this.

That's the thing people don't get about God. He's not going to just force you to do something. Yes, I love His sovereignty. I trust His sovereignty, but there's a lot of "if" Scriptures. We got to turn this nation around. If my people humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways. If you seek Me, you will find Me.

If you allow this mind to be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God did not consider it robbery to be equal with God. He humbled Himself. If you do this, I will do this. If you obey the Word, I will do... if, if, if. If you drink deeply.

So here's the thing. The Christian drinks. I continually drink of that living water, don't you? Why? Because I'm leaky. I got holes in here. I need that fresh filling of the Holy Spirit often, borrowing a quote from D.L. Moody. So the Christian drinks deeply of that well to be nourished. But the unbeliever must drink to be saved. You must turn your heart completely over to Him.

And so today's question, I'll leave you with this. Was He deserving of death? Was He the Messiah? Was He the Messiah? That's what we need to answer. Was He the anointed one? Was He the Christ that was to die for your sin? That is the question we must answer.

And I don't know if we still have the clip. Sarah, from Friday. Kevin, so we can turn up the volume, turn down the lights. It's just a one-minute clip that really helps put it into perspective of this question and how are we going to handle it.

And remember, without the shedding of blood, there is no removal of sin. Think about that. Without payment for penalty, the judgment remains. And without the absorbing of wrath, there is no pardon. And that's the question that we also have to deal with this morning.

This Sunday can go down in history as the day that changed your life, or it can just be another day, a forgotten day. How many people remember what they did last Easter? Not very many. But they remember when they came to saving faith in Jesus Christ, the Messiah told him he was a Messiah.

Maybe some of you need to get back on track with the Lord. Maybe you're a Christian, but you're a prodigal. Because remember that song, Amazing Grace? It still leads me home. Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. And it's God saying, "Son or daughter, I never walked away."

That's the lie prodigals believe, don't they? Son or daughter, I never walked away. Come back to the loving Father. Come back to Me, He says to you. And maybe there are those here who don't know God. You've been playing games. You've never made that decision. The Bible could not be more clear. There is no gray area. There's no wiggle room. Truth is not flexible.

Jesus Himself said, "I am the only way, the only truth, the only life. Nobody comes to the Father except through Me." You have to repent and believe. It's truly that simple.

Guest (Male): You've been listening to Regaining Lost Ground with Pastor Shane Idleman. You can find more information at westsidechristianfellowship.org. That's westsidechristianfellowship.org. And for all the latest on what God is doing with His ministry here, please be sure to follow us on most social media platforms.

Westside Christian Fellowship is located 60 miles north of Los Angeles in Leona Valley, California. Thank you again for listening to today's message of Regaining Lost Ground, where we are reminded daily, times change, truth does not.