The Shout Of Easter | Easter Sunday | Chad Veach

0:00 Hey, what's going on, everybody? Thank you so much for joining us for today's message. Happy Easter. It is Easter Sunday here in Los Angeles, and we are celebrating the reality that our God is not dead. Jesus is alive. We're going to jump into Mark chapter 16 here in just a moment. But before we do, I want to just thank every person that gives to and through Zoe. If you're a part of our church, thank you for your generosity. It's the first Sunday of the month. So we thank all of our givers. If you'd like to worship with your tithes and offerings today, go to our website and you can give there. And thank you. Thank you. Thank you for helping making a difference in L.A. and around the world. We're going to jump in to today's message called the shout of Easter. Mark chapter 16. Put it on the screen.

0:51 If you don't have a Bible, go in your cell phone. When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome. I just got to pause there. If you're pregnant, can I give you a candidate for a name? Salome. Salome is a great candidate. Brought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb. and they asked each other, who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb? But when they looked up, they saw the stone, which was very large, that it had been rolled away. And as they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in white robes sitting on the right side and they were alarmed. Don't be alarmed, he said. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene who was crucified.

1:47 He has risen. Everybody say risen. He has risen. He is not here. See the place where they laid him? But go tell the disciples, and Peter, he is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you. Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. And they said nothing to anyone because they were afraid. I want to preach a message. Write down the title today. It's called The Shout of Easter. I like that, the shout of Easter. Because it might seem insignificant that just a stone being rolled from here to there. It might seem ordinary for people to go, it's just a rock being moved. But I want to tell you today that Easter signifies something bigger than a rock going from here to there.

2:46 Easter is a shout from heaven to earth that God is who he says he is and he can do what he said he would do. Oh, come on, everybody. Clap if you're grateful today that Jesus is not dead. Come on, clap if you believe that Jesus is alive. Easter is a declaration. It is a shout. And I like the word shout because I am loud and I like loud things. And I like loud arenas. And I like loud church. And I like loud people. Where are the loud people at today? They were just waiting to say something. God, you do all the talking.

3:40 When can I get in? I just like loud, man. And Easter is a shout from heaven. And I just want to tell you what it's shouting to your life today. The first thing it's shouting, take down notes today in your phone. Here's the first thing you've got to write down. It is shouting, it ain't over.

4:02 It ain't over. You might have thought it was done. You might have thought it was over for you, for your marriage, for your kids. But I want to tell you, if you got breath in your lungs, you got a shot with God. It ain't over until God says it's over. In fact, put this on the screen. I like this. The cross looked like the end. The tomb seemed like closure. Silence felt like defeat. But Sunday came in loud. Sunday came in loud. And what was it shouting? It was shouting at me and it was shouting at you that it ain't over. It ain't over because God's not done with you. Oh, I like this. Philippians chapter 1 verse 6. being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. God ain't done with you yet. And I want to tell you, God doesn't have a plan B for your life. He only has a plan A. God is molding. He is shaping. He is changing you.

5:12 God is not done with you. You might have made a mistake, but you are not a mistake. God is still writing your story. God is still leading you into the will and the plan that he has for your life. It ain't over yet. And I know we see things, we're like, oh, it's over for them. Oh, it's done. One of my favorite Laker legends is Chick Hearn. And Chick Hearn was the voice of the Lakers forever. Shout out to Chick Hearn. And before the game, the clock hit zero. He had this signature line to let everybody know, whether it was five minutes left or two minutes left, that this thing, the clock hasn't hit zero, but this thing's over. And he had this signature line. Listen to this line from Chick Hearn. He would say it over the airwaves. The game's in the refrigerator. The door is closed.

6:06 The lights are out. The eggs are cooling. The butter's getting hard. and the jell-o's jiggling. There is not one person in Gen Z that knows what any of that is. But that was his line to let everybody know, this thing's over. And I want to tell you, I feel like the enemy's been in your ear telling you it's over. You got no shot at God. You got no shot at blessing. You got no shot at future. It's over. You might as well just call it a game. Call it a life. Call it a rap. I hear heaven shouting something bigger over your life today. It ain't over because God ain't finished. Come on, clap if you believe it today. God is still writing my story.

6:58 Oh, Micah 7 verse 8, though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. I might have fallen. I might have messed up. I might have turned my back. I may have made some bad decisions, but God's not done with me yet. You are under construction. And heaven doesn't stop just because you're under construction. It keeps going and going until the work is completed. Oh, come on, everybody. Let's thank Jesus with a clap of thanksgiving and praise. The first thing he says is it ain't over. The second thing, write down number two. You're not disqualified because grace is greater. you're not disqualified from heaven's best you haven't disqualified yourself from god's plan for your life the bible says that the gifts and the calling of god is irrevocable you can get your license taken away but you can't get god's plan taken away you have not been disqualified you haven't DQ'd yourself from God's and heaven's best for your life. I just love this because all throughout the Bible, there's people like me and you that we thought, oh, they're DQ'd. They're disqualified. They're out. God's never going to touch them, never going to talk to them, never going to, no, no. In fact, I got a list of people in the Bible put on the screen. Jonah ran from God.

8:30 Elijah wanted to quit. Samson compromised his calling. Abraham lied out of fear. Sarah laughed at God's promise. Jeremiah made excuses. Jacob deceived and manipulated. David had an affair and committed murder. Moses told God he's not good enough. Peter denied Jesus three times. Paul persecuted Christians. The woman at the well had a messy past. The prodigal son walked away. Zacchaeus was rude and a thief. John Mark quit mid-mission.

9:00 We look at all these people in the Bible, we think, oh, they're done. They're out. In fact, put this next one on the screen. They run. They ran. They doubted. They failed. They made excuses. They quit. They broke things. They lived unworthy. But God never said, I'm done with you. He just said, I'm not finished with you. He didn't say, I'm done with you. We live in a culture that when you make a mistake, we cancel. We write off, you're done. You're finished. You're out. You messed up. And all throughout the Bible, it's the mess ups that God says, I'm not done with you. I'm not finished with you. God is writing a greater story. God is writing a greater story. You haven't disqualified yourself. the enemy's been trying to tell you you you're not eligible for god's blessing i don't know if you saw this but let's just stay in the laker vein because it feels anointed today but luca is out for the season and if that's not bad enough so is austin reeds the devil is a liar Lord, we just thank you right now.

10:12 and Luca got hurt this last week, hamstring injury in Oklahoma City, and when he came up grimacing and in pain, we didn't know how bad it was, and they did an MRI and found out it's his hamstring, and he had been playing so good, especially in the month of March. He had been playing so good that he started to get, of course he's going to get it in LA, but even on the road, he began to get MVP chants. People began to shout everywhere he went, putting up 50, putting up crazy numbers. This is an MVP, but when he got injured and he's out for the rest of the year, it means he is disqualified, he's not eligible for being available to win the MVP. And so his agent put out a statement and said, you know, Luke has been trying his hardest to be on the court this year.

11:06 He's been really working hard. He even gave an example of he had a baby all the way in Europe and flew back to playing a game. And he said, we're going to, with the union, fight against the league to try and get Luca to be eligible for the award. And I just like that agent fighting for him, that agent sticking up for him, saying, we're going to try to get him to be eligible. Because heaven is shouting at you today that you didn't by your own strength become eligible for blessing. but it was by the blood of Jesus and the cross of Christ. Come on, anybody believe that God made him who knew no sin to become sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Come on, I'm blessed today. I'm favored today. I'm chosen today. I'm anointed today. All because of what God did for me. I'm qualified not by power and not by might, but by his spirit, says the Lord.

12:05 The enemy wants to tell you you're not eligible. God can't give you the best. Look at what you've done. You're not disqualified. The blood of Jesus, the cross of Christ, the resurrection power that's running through your veins makes you eligible for God's very best in your life. So you can have peace on your pillow. So you can have joy in your spirit. You can have wisdom in your mind. You can have the favor of God. You can have creativity. Why? Because God has blessed you because of Jesus. So the first thing he says is, it ain't over. Who told you it's over? You got breath in your lungs. You have a shot with God. You're not disqualified. you might have made a mistake but you are not a mistake heaven shouts right down number three that God is still pursuing you And the angel of the Lord tells Mary and Mary, see the place where he laid.

13:11 He is not here. He has risen just as he said he would. Listen to what she says next. Or what the angel says next to the girls. Go and tell the disciples. And one name, Peter. Go tell all the disciples. Now remember, there were 12 disciples. We only got 11 left because Judas was a cowboy fan and a sellout. If I'm lying, I'm dying. Judas sold Jesus out for some lunch money. he goes filled with remorse and takes his own life. We only got 11 left. The angel says, go tell all 11.

14:05 But I want you to make sure that you tell one in particular. You go and you tell Peter he did what he said he was going to do. Why is Peter so important? Because Peter was the one that told Jesus, I will never deny you. And yet before he went to the cross, Peter denies him three times. Peter is so distraught about his decisions. Have you ever felt remorse about your own mistakes? Peter feels so dumb about his choice that he stops being a follower and he goes back to his original business, fishing. Jesus tells the angel, make sure you tell Peter. Peter's back on the boat. He's back fishing. Watch what the Bible says in John chapter 21. It says, early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

14:59 And he called out to them, friends, haven't you any fish? Kind of embarrassing for these fishermen to reply, no. He said, throw your net on the right side of the boat. You'll find some. When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, I think that's the Lord. As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, It's the Lord, he wrapped his outer garment around him, for he had taken it off, and he jumped into the water.

15:41 Because that's what you do before you go swimming. You put your clothes on. Maybe they were modest in those days. he puts on his clothing and he swims to shore. Isn't it amazing that the first time Jesus finds Peter, he found him fishing. And the next time that Jesus finds Peter, he found him fishing. And what the Bible is trying to tell you is that God will come back and find you right where he found you the first time. He's pursuing you like he did all the way back then. He's still pursuing you today. Clap if you're thankful that God has not quit on you. Clap if you're grateful that God didn't throw the towel on you. Clap if you're grateful that God will show up a first time, a second time, a third time, a fifth time, a tenth time. Clap if you're grateful that God didn't throw in the towel, but he kept hunting you down by the grace of Jesus.

16:47 Peter knew he was the Lord And he put on his garment and he swam And Jesus restored his life See the problem is for you and I We quit on people We're tired of chasing somebody down If somebody doesn't text us back one time That's it, we're frenemies but God is relentless in his pursuit.

17:14 He's undeterred in your wandering. He hunts you down with his love and his grace. Some people have that ability to hunt stuff down. Last night, we had to go to the mall to get the Easter outfits for the kids because the problem with these children is is that they keep growing. You gotta buy them new outfits every year. and I can't do but one store. I did one store. I did one store and then me and the boys sat on a bench and after sitting on the bench for so long, I was like, boys, you want a hot dog on a stick? And they're like, ball out. We get in the car. Julia is hunting. She is made for hunting at the mall. we left that God forsaken place, got into the swagger wagon, and this woman has the audacity to say, it's okay, I'll come back tonight and shut them all down.

18:10 Lord, deliver her right now. I never want to go back there. You're going to be back tonight? See, God's not tired of chasing you down. God's not tired of hunting you down. God's not tired of showing up and calling your name to let you know I am for you. I am with you. I've got a plan for you. I am the God that created you. Anybody thankful that he's a God that pursues us. Not just one chance. Not just one time. But heaven is shouting, I'll show up tomorrow and I'll pursue you again.

18:46 Right down the last one today on Easter Sunday. It's shouting at you, you can start again. Proverbs 24, verse 16, for though a righteous man falls seven times, he will rise again. Heaven is shouting at you. You fell. You made a mistake. You messed up. But guess what? Good news. You can start over. You can start again. I am the God of new beginnings. I am the God of second chances. Oh, I love this scripture right here. Lamentations chapter 3, verse 22, because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every, what's that word?

19:36 That was seven people. what's that word every morning great is your faithfulness they're new every morning these kids have no idea how good they got it with their mama she shuts down the mall of course because that's how she rolls and early on sunday mornings i like to get up and i go to the same place and i study and i pray and i drink coffee and i go early on Sunday mornings, and when I got back to my house this morning, our van was gone. And I thought, oh, great. Our house, our car got stolen on Easter Sunday. But no, she had gone to open up a bakery and be the first person at a bakery to get the boys fresh bread that they wanted.

20:37 I thought, I'll barely give them a bar. She's going to bakeries and... I don't know if you knew this, but you woke up this morning not to wrath, not to condemnation, not to shame. You didn't wake up to God being disappointed with you. You woke up today to fresh mercy. And you know what heaven is shouting at you? You can start again. You can start again. Messed up, failed, welcome to the club. Made a bad decision, who hasn't? Living in regret, yeah, we get it. But God's not done with you. And his invitation to you is you can start again. You can start again. If you'd like to, you can start again. See, the message of the gospel is that the best is yet to come.

21:34 the past doesn't define you. The empty grave defines you. What heaven declares over you defines you. The grace of Jesus defines you. In fact, put up this last one. I love this thought so much. Where you thought things ended, God says, let's begin again. It's over. It's done. I messed up my life. I messed up. I'm not that good. I'm not that great. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Guess what? The Bible says, come on, let's get up. Let's try again. Come on, let's get up. Let's keep going forward. I got a plan for your life. I got something in store for you. No eye has seen and no ear has heard and no mind can imagine the things that God has in store for those who love him and are called according to his purposes. I got a plan for you.

22:34 And I got a sense this Easter, God's just getting started. I got a sense this Easter that the past doesn't even compare to future glory. And heaven is shouting at you. Shouting at you today. It ain't over.

22:58 You're not disqualified. I got a plan for your life, and I don't know if you love yourself, but I love you so much that I sent my one and my only son to die in your place, and I made him become sin so that you could become righteous. Come on, clap Zoe. Clap with us, South Bay, if you're grateful for the grace of Jesus today. Come on, stand to your feet. Again, thank you so much for listening to today's message. We pray that it brought you great strength and great encouragement. God has been so good to us, and it's awesome to celebrate together. We'll see you back next Sunday at Zoe Church.