THE BEST DAY EVER!

He Gets Us #8

Pastor Dennis Clanton

Woodland Church

Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025

The longer the love the deeper the love

(Matthew 27:46, NLT) “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

YOUR BEST DAY EVER BEGINS WHEN YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN

(1 Corinthians 15:14, NLT) “If Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless.”

(John 20:19–29, NLT) “That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

WHEN I RECEIVE THE BEST GIFT EVER…

1.  I HAVE FORGIVENESS OF SINS

(Matthew 28:5, NLT) “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.”

(1 Corinthians 15:3, NLT) “Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.”

Life Application – Ask Jesus to save you

2.  I HAVE INTIMACY WITH THE LORD!

(John 20:27, NLT) “Put your finger here and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side.”

Life Application – Trust in God’s love

3.  I HAVE PURPOSE FOR LIFE

(John 20:21, NLT) “As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”

(Ephesians 1:11–12, Message) “It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. … part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.”

Life Application – Focus on finding and fulfilling your purpose

4.  I HAVE POWER FOR LIVING

(John 20:22, NLT) “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

(Psalm 91:14, Message) “I’ll get you out of any trouble. I’ll give you the best of care if you’ll only get to know and trust me.”

Life Application – The Holy Spirit gives me supernatural empowering for living

5.  I HAVE PEACE FOR EVER

(John 20:21, NLT) “Peace be with you.”

Life Application – Personal peace is based on the presence of Jesus

GROWTHWORK

(2 Corinthians 5:15, Message) “He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.”

(John 11:25–26, LB) “I am the one who raises the dead and gives them life again. Anyone who believes in me, even though he dies like anyone else, shall live again. He is given eternal life for believing in me and shall never perish.” 

1.  Expecting the best honors God

“It is a light thing with God to give us anything or everything. Let us ask, and let us expect the best gifts,—knowing that he will do for us exceeding abundantly, above all we ask or think.” –Horatio Bonar, Family Sermons, p 429

2.  Expecting the best improves my attitude in life

“Your attitude more than your aptitude will determine your altitude.” –John Maxwell

3.  Expecting the best encourages others

“It’s hard to be affirming when you are affirmation-starved. It’s hard to be forgiving when you fell guilty.” –Max Lucado, When God Whispers Your Name, p 114