Matthew 27:50

The Chapel Fort Wayne

Matthew 27:50

One Final Cry

March 21, 2024 • Pastor Josh Lewis • Matthew 27:50

I don't know about you, but it's painful for me to think about Christ suffering on the cross. We all know this: Christ died on the cross for our sins -- but we might say and hear this so often that we've become desensitized to what that experience was like for Jesus. Let's slow down and reflect on what He experienced for us--let's not forget that He experienced suffering and pain to the point of crying out with His final breath. There is a painful and ugly reality to what He went through, but also the most beautiful act of love. Knowing what He was about to walk through, He willingly took this punishment upon Himself--taking my place, and your place, on the cross. He yielded in perfect submission to this plan to extend His righteousness to you and me. Let's never forget the full weight of what Christ experienced for us, and may that self-sacrificial love motivate you to share this free gift with others!

PASSAGE: Matthew 27:50 - "And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit."

PAUSE: One final cry; after exasperating pain and anguish, Jesus cried out one last time to the Father, let Your will be done! The debt had been paid in full. Christ died to set us free from the penalty of our sins. Notice He yielded up His spirit. This yielding was a sign of submission and obedience to the Father.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I cry out and yield my spirit to You just like Christ. I beg You that it is not my will that gets done, but Your will be done!

Luke 24:32

April 5, 2024 • Pastor Josh Lewis • Luke 24:32

I don’t know about you, but for me, this series exploring the “Easter Eggs” hidden throughout the Old Testament has been so rewarding! I can relate to these men who walked along the road to Emmaus with Jesus, recalling stories that they thought they knew so well, but now they were seeing the details clearly for the first time--realizing that this Gospel message has been weaved all throughout the Old Testament and pointed perfectly to Jesus Christ. We should continue to seek wisdom and clarity through God's word. May we never become puffed up with knowledge, but rather seek to understand who God is and what He has done for us. Lord, help us to understand your whole gospel message clearly so that we may go and tell others, and may your love burn in the hearts of all who hear of you. PASSAGE: Luke 24:32 - “They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” PAUSE: One of the goals of this series was to help you embrace Scripture and appreciate the blending of the old with the new. The early disciples described this experience as “burning within their hearts.” Ask the Lord to burn within your own heart as you read, meditate, and apply the Scriptures to your life. PRAYER: Heavenly Father, open my eyes to see and to understand Scripture better. Help me to burn within my own soul as a read and meditate on you!

1 Corinthians 15:58

April 4, 2024 • Pastor Josh Lewis • 1 Corinthians 15:58

What motivates you to keep working when things get hard? It probably depends on the situation, and if we’re honest with ourselves, sometimes it can be easy to quit if we don’t have a strong motivator to keep us going. If you are ever feeling tempted to give up on work that the Lord has called you to, don’t get discouraged. You’re not alone. The reason Paul writes this to his audience is because there can be a very real temptation to give up or lose our purpose. Paul’s encouragement is to remember our focus on Christ. This whole chapter focuses on the victory that has been secured because of Christ’s resurrection, and that same victory is assured for us through Christ. Let that assurance be your motivation to never give up. Keep serving the Lord in whatever capacity He has called you to! PASSAGE: 1 Corinthians 15:58 - "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." PAUSE: The resurrection changes everything! It changes our perspective as followers of Christ. As the church, it changes our purpose! The resurrection invites us to be steadfast in continuing the work of the Lord. Moving forward, our purpose should never be about ourselves but rather to serve the Lord. PRAYER: Heavenly Father, forgive me for being short-sided and desiring to quit. Give me a steadfast heart; allow me to do the work of the Lord today!

1 Corinthians 15:57

April 3, 2024 • Pastor Mike Fanning • 1 Corinthians 15:57

Without the gospel of Jesus Christ, death and all of death’s devastation wins daily victory and final victory over everyone! But through the gospel, God reverses the curse and sting of death. And He replaces death with LIFE! Because Christ is Life and we are in Christ! On this side of heaven God gives purpose to our suffering and gives us the spiritual power to grow in victory over sin in our lives. And because of the gospel, those who are in Christ no longer live in fear of death because our eternal destiny with God has been set, and guaranteed! And so, the victory we have in this life through Jesus Christ will give way to ultimate victory in the New Heavens and New Earth where sin and death are completely removed altogether. New life with new bodies, living face to face with our Savior forever and ever! This is our victory in Jesus! It starts the moment we trust in Christ and it never ends! Never! PASSAGE: 1 Corinthians 15:57 - "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." PAUSE: Paul concludes the resurrection chapter with a shout of victory! Throughout this Holy Week, have you paused and thanked Jesus? Have you thanked him for the cross? Have you thanked him for the forgiveness of sins? Let us take a moment, pause, and thank our Heavenly Father for our victory! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I sing a victory song today. Because of Christ, I am now forgiven of all my past, present, and future sins. Thank you, Jesus!