Good morning Riverside County brothers, sisters and friends. Let’s pray. Tim Montoya here and what a beautiful Resurrection Sunday it is. Happy Easter to everybody and thanks to all the technical and worship servants of the Riverside County Church of Christ who are facilitating a great celebration. It is a tremendous blessing to see each other’s faces on our screens. We have been studying about the Resurrection of Jesus since March 8^th one week before we were given the national secure in home order to help stop the spread of COVID-19 virus that has taken so many lives and stopped the world in her tracks. This will be our Easter lesson about the Resurrection of Jesus and how it changes our love for Him. We will be in Johns Gospel chapter 20.

Let us remember that our Almighty God is with us to help us and even though we may weep in the night His joy comes in the morning. We can celebrate because in Jesus we know that our greatest enemy sin and death has been defeated in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord. Up from the grave He arose with a mighty triumph over His foes! He arose a victor from the dark domain and He lives forever with His saints to reign

This is what our God says to us

“Sing the praises of the LORD, you who are faithful to Him. Praise Him, because His name is holy. His anger lasts for only a moment. But His favor lasts for a person’s whole life. Weeping can stay for the night. But joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:4-5

–On Friday the Son of God was brutalized and tortured to death and died at 3pm. He was hurriedly buried by two secret followers before the Sabbath began.

–On Saturday His mangled and pierced body lay in rest. Sabbath Saturday was quiet. His followers were grief-stricken and hiding behind locked doors on Saturday.

–On Sunday at early dawn a powerful Angel of God came down and rolled the heavy stone away from the tomb and the Roman guards ran for their lives. The Son of God had conquered death and paved the way for His people to follow Him.

What is God saying to us on this Resurrection Sunday?

I Know God is saying that we Must,

1. Love Jesus as Family          John 20:11-18

But Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she cried, she bent over to look into the tomb. She saw two angels dressed in white. They were seated where Jesus’ body had been. One of them was where Jesus’ head had been laid. The other sat where His feet had been placed. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” They have taken my Lord away,” she said. “I don’t know where they have put Him.” Then she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she didn’t realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?” She thought He was the gardener. So she said, “Sir, did you carry Him away? Tell me where you put Him. Then I will go and get Him.” Jesus said to her. “Mary” She turned toward Him. Then she cried out in the Aramaic language, “Rabboni!” Rabboni means Teacher. Jesus said, “Do not hold on to Me. I have not ascended to the Father. Instead, go to those who believe in Me. Tell them, “I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.” Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news. She said, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that He had said these things to her.

• V.11 Mary was selected by Jesus to see what she saw.  She was seeking His body; she was seeking, and grieving and she saw the angels first! Then Jesus!
•   Proverbs 8:17— I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me diligently find Me.
• V. 16 All Jesus had to do is say her name and she immediately recognized Him. My sheep hear my voice because He calls them by name. Jn 10:3
• V.17 Because you Love Me, I have a mission for you. Go tell by brothers and sisters. My Father & your Father, My God & your God.   FAMILY in Heb 2:11
• 20:18 She should not keep Him to herself but go on mission. Be an apostle to the Apostles. A messenger to the messengers.  “She told them all that He said.”
• Let’s do our part and listen to Jesus in these times. Follow directions and seek Him diligently in prayer and Scriptural devotion. Romans 13:1-2 & 1Tim 2:1ff
• New Creation—This is what Jesus is showing us. He is the firstborn from the dead.

John Polkinghorne—Physicist/Theologian

“The new creation represents the transformation of the universe when it enters freely into a new and intimate relationship with it’s Creator, so that it becomes a totally holy and sacred world, saturated with the Divine Presence.”

2.        Love Jesus as a Genuine Believer does      John 20:24-29

But Thomas was one to the 12 disciples. He was called Didymus. He was not with the other disciples when Jesus came. So, they told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “First I must see the nail marks in His hands. I must put my finger where the nails were. I must put my hand into His side. Only then will I believe.” A week later, Jesus’ disciples were in the house again. Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came in and stood among them. He said, “May peace be with you!” 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.” Thomas said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed.” Then Jesus told him, “Blessed are those who have not seen Me, but still have believed.”  Jn 20:24-29

• One week after resurrection morning. Doubting Thomas is called to genuine faith.
• Thomas called Jesus, “My Lord and my God!!! One must grow in faith to love God like this.
• God initiates with us to develop this love that believes the most fantastical things about Him. Initiation is a true indicator of LOVE.

N.T. Wright

The Message of Easter is that God’s new world has been unveiled in Jesus Christ and that you’re now invited to be a part of it.

3.        Love Jesus as His Co-Worker        John 21:9-17

When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals. There were fish on it. There was also some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat. He dragged the net to shore. It was full of large fish. There were 153 of them. But even with that many fish the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them. He did the same thing with the fish. This was the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples after He was raised from the dead. When Jesus spoke to Simon Peter. He asked, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these others do?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. “You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus asked, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He answered, “Yes Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of My sheep.” Jesus spoke to Him a third time. He asked, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He answered, “Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”

• Peter was asked about Love 3 times. Do you Love Me more than these others? He asked him 3 times because he denied knowing Jesus 3 times. 
• If You love Me, you will feed and take care of my lambs and sheep.
• Loving Jesus means we are coworkers with Him in helping other to come to Him.
• In verses 18-23 Jesus told Peter how he would die. Peter saw John following them. Everyone dies. Jesus’ resurrection broke the devil’s power in fear/death.

N.T. Wright

Death is the ultimate weapon of the tyrant; resurrection does not make a covenant with death it overthrows it. Christ’s resurrection doesn’t mean escaping from the world; it means mission to the world based on Jesus’ Lordship over the world.

• The Apostle John wrote of Peter’s death, but Jesus did not disclose his death in John 21:18-23.   “Suppose I want him to remain alive until I return. What does that matter to you?”  “You follow ME.”
• The Apostle John waited until he was an old man imprisoned on an island call Patmos and Jesus gave Him a vision of His return.
• We now wait with the same longing and expectation for Jesus’ triumphal return as our God has promised.   Revelation 1:5-8
• “May grace and peace come to you from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness, so what He has shown can be trusted. He was the first to rise from the dead. He rules over the kings of the earth. Glory and power belong to Jesus Christ Who loves us! He has set us free from our sins by pouring out His blood for us. He has made us members of His royal family. He has made us priests who serve His God and Father. Glory and power belong to Jesus Christ forever and ever! Amen. Look He is coming on the clouds! Every eye will see Him. Even those who pierced Him will see Him. All nations of the earth will mourn because of Him. This will really happen! Amen. “I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord God. “I am the God who is, and who was, and who will come. I am the Mighty One.” Revelation 1:5-8
• Continue to pray and keep in contact with our friends who also desperately need the Love of Jesus to saturate their lives as Family, Genuine believers, and co-workers. Remember that His resurrection changes how we love HIM.

As we share in the Lord’s Supper together, we give thanks with overflowing hearts for the Love that He has poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit He has given to us and the Grace that He bestows upon us in the sacrifice of His Son’s body and the pouring out of His blood that frees us from our sins so we can live as new creations as well until He comes again to make all things right.

• May the Lord bless you; may the Lord protect you; may He shine His face upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord smile upon you and give you peace.

On the night that Jesus was betrayed He took the loaf, broke and gave it to His disciples saying, “This is My body with is given for you take and eat it. Then He took the cup and said drink from this cup for it is the New Covenant in My blood. As often and you eat the bread and drink the cup Remember Me.

• Take some time to silently confess to Him.

Let’s Pray.

• We thank you O Lord for the sacrificed body of Your Son and His precious Blood poured out for us and this promise of resurrection that we have in Jesus Christ. In this time of crisis please make our prayers and lives be lives that honor you, listen to you as we experience Your Love as Family, Genuine Believers in Jesus and His Co-workers. Please fill us with Your Spirit and use us to lead many to Your righteousness. Dear heavenly Father, almighty creator of heaven and earth, please establish your kingdom in our midst, Dear Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us sinners, Dear Blessed Holy Spirit, breath of the Living God, renew and transform us and the whole world into the image of Jesus.                 

                                                         We pray this in the powerful name of Jesus.

The Resurrection of Jesus Changes Prayer

Good morning brothers and sisters. What a month so far. I have never experienced anything like this in my lifetime you probably haven’t either.  The NBA season shut down, NCAA March Madness canceled, conferences canceled, schools canceled, work canceled, toilet paper flying off of the store shelves, stock market is going up and down each day, nations are locked down, quarantines, homes locked down, no meetings of any kind allowed. We are living in distressing times.

We have heard from officials that this is similar to the Spanish flu pandemic that infected approximately 1/3 of the world’s population (500 million people) and killed around 50 million people worldwide. Today this virus has infected a little over 300 thousand people with a little over 24 thousand in our country. Every nation has been touched. Let us remember that our all powerful and loving God is not fazed or freaking out.

This is what He says to us;

“So do not be afraid. I am with you. Do not be terrified. I Am your God. I will make you strong and help you. I will hold you safe in my hands. I will always do what is right.”  Isaiah 41:10

We are 4 Sundays away from Easter and this will be our second lesson on the Resurrection of Jesus.    The Resurrection of Jesus changes our Prayers.

Jesus Christ’s death on the cross for us and His resurrection changes our prayer lives.

I wonder what God is saying to us as a world and to us a His church?

I Know He is saying that it is time to completely and desperately depend on Him in our prayer lives. We must pray:

1. Prayers for Faith, Wisdom and Common Sense in times of distress    

• Seek a spiritual balance between fear and faith. Proverbs 1:7; The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
• A pandemic should remind us of our mortality and fragility that calls for our desperate need for Him “to work all things out for the good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
• Let us Pray for and listen to our governing authorities at this time. (1 Timothy 2:1ff & Romans 13:1ff).
• Wash our hands just like our mommas taught us to, Stay in your homes and avoid crowded areas unless absolutely necessary, no in person meetings of any kind, quarantine yourself if you are sick, follow all the guidelines each day until March 30.
• Keep abreast of developments and guidelines such as on the website of Riverside County department of health. Pray for these developments and health workers who are on the frontlines battling this invisible enemy.
• Jesus said, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. Those who believe in Me, even though they may die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26

2.  Prayers for Resurrection Power in our lives and our world

• Ephesians 1:18-23; Paul prays for God to open the eyes of our hearts to the immeasurable power that He used to raise Jesus Christ from the dead.
• Power to grow in Christ likeness like never before at this time.
• Power to be shielded from Satan’s attacks and schemes.
• The power of His word to transform us into people who pray like Jesus Christ prayed and love others the way He has loved us.
• Prayers of thanksgiving for the health, homes and jobs He has blessed us with and to make us generous as He is generous with us. 
• Pray for and help elderly neighbors with out coming into direct contact with them keeping a safe distance.
• Thank God for Internet technology that helps keep us connected at this time.
• Let us not be overcome with anxiety but be overflowing with prayers of thanks so that God’s shalom which is beyond understanding will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
• Now is the time to sincerely love our neighbors and pray for their hearts to be opened to the resurrection righteousness of Jesus Christ.  Who is that 1 person that you are asking God to save?

3. Prayers for Every 1 I know to Experience Resurrection Righteousness

• Our world is suffering through a physical pandemic and will recover but the Pandemic that can not be overcome by human measures began many millenniums ago in the Garden of Eden and has only 1 cure and His powerful and righteous name is Jesus Christ. Let us remember the incredible blessings of His salvation and share it with others as He gives us opportunity. 
• Prayers of thanksgiving for our union with Christ in His death and resurrection. Romans 6:4-7 … we are no longer slaves to sin because He has made us slaves to Christ. As we share in the Lord’s Supper together we give thanks with overflowing hearts for the righteousness that He bestows upon us in the sacrifice of His Son’s body and blood.
• Let us close with God’s message to the prophet Daniel concerning the resurrection victory that Jesus has won for us.
• Read Daniel 12:1-4;  Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, and some to everlasting shame and contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
• May the Lord bless you, may the Lord protect you, may He shine His face upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord smile upon you and give you peace.
• We thank you O Lord for this promise that we have in Jesus Christ. Please make our prayers ones of faith, wisdom, common sense, resurrection power and righteousness of Jesus your Son. Please use us to lead many to Your righteousness. Dear heavenly Father, almighty creator of heaven and earth, please establish your kingdom in our midst, Dear Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us sinners, Dear Blessed Holy Spirit, breath of the Living God, renew and transform us and the whole world into the image of Jesus.                    We pray this in the powerful name of Jesus.

Hello everybody, Tim Montoya here with some thoughts for today. I was here thinking about the latest news that the world and our country may be in for a longer time of testing health-wise physically, mentally, economically, socially, etc.… In a time that could seem hopeless I know that the Spirit of our God tells us that He is our hope in times of denial, anger, bargaining, sadness, acceptance and meaning. Meaning in suffering can be found in the words of Lamentations.

The lamenter poured out his heart of pain and loss in Lamentations. He and his people had experience horrible losses and he speaks it very specifically throughout the book. In the middle of his lament he writes.

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I will Hope in Him.”  Lamentations 3:22-24

In chapters 1-2 he laments to fall of the beloved city of Jerusalem and the nation of Israel, “For the Lord has caused her grief because of the multitude of her transgressions.”

                                                                                                               Lamentations 1:5

• Perhaps the lamenter considers that God laments as well.
• God laments for us, because of us and with us. I think about how God created us in His image. He understands lament because he designed us with that component.
• Lamenting and finding meaning in the lament come from Him.
• Perhaps that is what the lamenter is communicating to us in his writings.
• He confessed his and his nations national sins in lament and he focused his thoughts on God’s steadfast love, God’s never ending mercies, His great faithfulness to us and the Hope that is in us through His Holy Spirit who inspired this lament for our instruction, and Who renews our minds every morning.
• That is why we should sing this verse every morning and throughout the day.

-Ask yourself, “What is my most anxious thought right now? Write it down and bring it to the Lord in prayer.

Take some time to breath 3 cleansing breaths, be silent for a few minutes

God says, “The LORD is good to those who wait for Him. To the person who seeks Him. It is good that he/she waits silently for the salvation of the Lord.”

                                                                                                           Lamentations 3:25-26

It always comes down to connecting to Him in thoughtful and thankful prayers

Remember our Father in Heaven promises you.

“So, do not be afraid. I am with you. Do not be terrified. I will make you strong and help you. I will hold you safe in My hands. I always do what is right.” Isaiah 41:10

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in ME you may have peace. In this world you will have tribulation but take courage; I have overcome this world.” John 16:33

May the Lord bless you; May the Lord protect you; May He shine His face upon you and be gracious to you.

May the Lord smile on you and give you Peace.

Good morning brothers and sisters. Tim Montoya here and what a beautiful Lord’s day it is. We are in day 14 of the national lockdown and I imagine all of us are tempted to go a little stir crazy and are experiencing a little bit of cabin fever. We are advised by the health experts to sleep enough, eat healthy, and exercise as much as you can. We hear reports of over 122 thousand Americans infected and over 2200 have passed on. We pray for the families who have lost loved ones and pray for our loved ones to not be next. I recommend that we also look at the positive that 1,095 have recovered and pray that that number multiplies many times over. We are feeling the loss of freedom to travel freely, to meet together physically and on the same hand it has been great to meet online with many of you and sing and pray and read Scripture together. We could say that our world is going through stages of grief; Denial-not me or mine; Anger-I am forced to stay home; Bargaining- Okay, I will follow the rules of isolation/quarantine for 15 or 30 days and I will be back to normal; Sadness– I don’t know if this will ever end and the world as we know it is changed forever and Acceptance- This is real, I have to figure out how to move on in life.

Let us remember that our all powerful and loving Lord and Savior was not and is not fazed or freaking out.

This is what He says to us;

“He says, ‘I will announce Your Name to my brothers and sisters. I will sing your praises among those who worship You.’ Again He says, ‘I will put my trust in Him.’ And again He says, ‘Here I am. Here are the children God has given Me.’” Those children have bodies made out of flesh and blood. So Jesus became human like them in order to die for them. By doing this, He could break the power of the devil. The devil is the one who rules over the kingdom of death. Jesus could set people free who were afraid of death. All their lives they were held as slave by that fear. He Himself suffered when He was tempted. Now He is able to help others who are being tempted.” 

                                                                                                             Hebrews2: 12-15,18

Counting today we are 3 Sundays away from Easter and this will be our third lesson on the Resurrection of Jesus. If we prayerfully consider the power of the Resurrection of Jesus this will increases our in times of distress.

I Know God is saying that;

1. It is time to Honor Him.

The Father raises the dead and gives them life. In the same way, the Son gives life to anyone He wants to. Also, the Father does not judge anyone. He has given the Son the task of judging. Then all people will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

                                                                                                                         John 5:21-23

• God has always had the power to raise the dead to life. Spiritually and physically.
• At the beginning of this chapter Jesus healed a physically disabled man and called him to a new life. The religious leaders condemned Jesus because He healed on the Sabbath day.
• Jesus made it clear that to honor God was to honor Him as well.
• What does honoring Jesus look like today?
• We have different seasons that we experience. This is a season of prayer like never before. There will come a time when we will be able to get out and help others.
• Listen to the direction of our leaders. We in California may be on lockdown longer. Than other states.
• Pray continually for our leaders, those who are sick to recover, those who are on the front lines battling this invisible enemy, for all of the essential workers to not be infected, for this pandemic to pave the way for spiritual renewal in our world and in all of our lives.

1. It is time to listen to Jesus’s Voice.

What I’m about to tell you is true. Anyone who hears my word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. They will not be judged. They have crossed over from death to life. What I’m about to tell you is true. A time is coming for me to give life. In fact, it has already begun. The dead will hear the voice of the Son of God. Those who hear it will live. The Father has life in Himself. He has allowed the Son also the have life in Himself. And the Father has given Him the authority to judge. This is because He is the Son of Man.                                    John 5:25-27

• The Psalmist writes, “I have treasured Your word in my heart, so that I may not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11
• We have much time to spend in His word. Did you know that one could read the entire New Testament in 14 days by reading 18 chapters a day?
• Seek His will in His word each day.

1. It is time to make it our goal to please Him

Do not be amazed at this. A time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice. They will all come out of their graves. People who have done what is good will rise and live again. People who have done what is evil will rise and be found guilty. I can do nothing by Myself. I judge only as I hear. And my judging is fair. I do not try to please myself. I try to please the One Who sent Me. 

                                                                                                                   John 5:28-30

• We must imitate our Lord Jesus Christ in His desire to please His Father.
• Paul wrote, “We know what it means to have respect for the Lord. So we try to help other people to understand it. What we are is plain to God.”

                                                                                              2 Corinthians 5:11ab

• Prayers of thanksgiving for our union with Christ in His death and resurrection. Christs love compels us. We are sure that one person died for everyone. And so everyone died. Christ died for everyone. He died so that those who live should not live for themselves anymore. They should live for Christ. He died for them and was raised again. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

As we share in the Lord’s Supper together we give thanks with overflowing hearts for the righteousness that He bestows upon us in the sacrifice of His Son’s body and blood.

• May the Lord bless you, may the Lord protect you, may He shine His face upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord smile upon you and give you peace.
• We thank you O Lord for this promise of resurrection that we have in Jesus Christ. In this time of crisis please make our prayers and lives be lives that honor you, listen to you and please you in Jesus your Son. Please use us to lead many to Your righteousness. Dear heavenly Father, almighty creator of heaven and earth, please establish your kingdom in our midst, Dear Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us sinners, Dear Blessed Holy Spirit, breath of the Living God, renew and transform us and the whole world into the image of Jesus.                    We pray this in the powerful name of Jesus.