THE DARKEST DAY

He Gets Us #7

Pastor Dennis Clanton

Woodland Church

Good Friday, April 18, 2025

(Luke 23:44–49, NLT) “By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last. When the Roman officer overseeing the execution saw what had happened, he worshiped God and said, “Surely this man was innocent.” And when all the crowd that came to see the crucifixion saw what had happened, they went home in deep sorrow. But Jesus’ friends, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching.”

1.  JESUS IS ALWAYS IN COMPLETE CONTROL

(Luke 4:13, NASB) “When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.”

(Luke 22:53, NASB) While I was with you daily in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me; but this hour and the power of darkness are yours.”

(John 12:31, NLT) “The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out.”

(Luke 23:46, NLT) “Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.”

(John 10:18, NLT) “No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”

(Matthew 27:50, NLT) “Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit.”

(Psalm 31:5, NLT) “I entrust my spirit into your hand.”

2.  THE DEPTH OF LOVE IS THE PRICE OF FORGIVENESS

a.  God the Father sent the God the Son to be the Savior

b.  Jesus, God the Son, became our Savior in time by his incarnation and by dying in our place for our sins

c.  God, the Holy Spirit grants us the grace of faith to trust in Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sins and new life

(Titus 3:4–8, NLT) “When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone.”

GROWTHWORK

“Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!”

1.  On my darkest day remember God loves me

(Romans 5:5, NLT) “We know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”

2.  On my darkest day, I can trust God

(Hebrews 10:23, NLT) “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.”

3.  On my darkest day, God is taking care of things that I am unaware of

(Job 23:9–10, NLT) “I do not see him in the north, for he is hidden. I look to the south, but he is concealed. “But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.”

4.  On my darkest day, God will keep all that I have committed unto Him

(2 Timothy 1:12, NKJV) “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”