The second time around

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to "Try Jesus!" If this is your first time joining us, it’s great to have you with us. I would like to thank all the new members for joining "Try Jesus."

I would also like to welcome those in Mississippi, Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Montana, Idaho, Ohio, and Tennessee. It is a pleasure to have you with us today. The Lord continues to expand his word!

"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD."  (Psalm 122:1 KJV). The Lord is indescribable and uncontainable. We gather to seek him above all today. He is an amazing God!

Our Lord continues to pave the way for the righteous. Authentic born-again believers shall not be moved from his mighty guiding hand! The Lord is our rock and our salvation this morning! He is our defense against ungodliness.

What a great day to be thankful for the only one on earth who defeated death so we could be with him in a place he prepared just for us. Since last week's amazing day, how many of you have decided to take a closer step to Jesus?

Have you drawn near to him for the righteous reasons? Did last week's message bring you closer to your spouse or your children? It's been said that some people will take two steps back after initially taking one step forward.

Drawing closer to Jesus in the midst of life's struggles, strengthens you to move through to the other side and being a confident witness to those who are lost and destitute. Turning to Jesus is the cure for the hurting heart.

Let's draw near in prayer. "Heavenly Father, thank you for always providing everything for that the heart and mind yearns for. Thank you for defeating the enemy of our soul and encouraging us every time we face spiritual attacks.

Lord, we continue to thank you for keeping the brave soldiers in Israel and our nation safe from those who reject peace and stability for human life. We pray for peace between all nations.

You made the world big enough for all to exist in harmony. Our astronauts have seen your beautiful artistry creation of all solar systems. Everything was created for your glory and pleasure. Be glorified in the earth.

Again, each week we thank you for the technology that brings us together across distances. Though we are not in the same room, we are united in spirit. We invite your presence into our homes and ask that you would draw hearts.

Lord, this week, the harvest is still plentiful for "TRY JESUS" to reach the darkest areas where people think there's no help and no escape for their pain. But Lord, you are the only one who makes beauty out of ashes.

Your love and power reaches into the depth of the soul and spirit. I pray your Holy Spirit would fill the pages of this online ministry this morning, drawing those who have lost all hope in life. You are the fulfillment of the dry empty soul.

Lord, thank you for drawing many today with your loving kindness. May those who are seeking in wrong places find new rest in you alone Lord. Bring people through the evil maze of life today, in Jesus name, Amen."

How many of you have ever visited a place and took in all the beautiful sights, took amazing pictures, purchased all kinds of souvenirs and memorabilia that left you with a lifetime of fond memories that you have stored away for others to s

Having said all of that, how many of you have ever went to your favorite vacation spot, gathering all the mementos and collectibles to bring back to show and tell to family and friends? You couldn't wait to share your experience.

What can make you more than anything else want to revisit your wonderful vacation? Has anyone ever said to you after you returned home from an exhilarating fun-filled travel vacation with the words "Hey, did you see such and such?"

What happens after you hear the same repeated words from other friends and co-workers? How do you feel after so many others brought up the same travel sights that you apparently missed out on? Do you schedule it for the next visit?

Do you make plans for a return because everyone has suggested that you missed a crucial opportunity to see something amazing that astounds everyone who travels to this one beautiful specific location.

Some people are content to just be happy with the experience they had and have no desire to return to that place again. Many feel as though they've seen enough to hold their memories and be happy.

But sometimes in life you need that "second-go-round" to gain a greater perspective of all that is before your eyes. I've been to many amusement parks (Love Cedar Point) and usually stayed at the park hotel more than one day.

My reason for staying more than one day? I realized that I might not experience all that is offered to me as a customer. This way I'm not pressured or hurried to enjoy everything on that same day.

Not getting that second look can cloud your overall opinion of whether you liked what you experienced. Going to opening day sporting events receive the same first-time season excitement.

The crowds that show up the next day after opening day are considerably smaller. When it comes to religion and experiencing the presence of a living God, we treat Easter the same way as other secular events.

How many of you saw a significant drop-off in church attendance last year the following Sunday after Easter? How many of you praised God for the one's that decided to return to know more about the resurrected Savior?

Why do people treat Easter as a one-time spectacle event to hear about a miraculous three day biblical event that didn't stop after Jesus ascended back to his glorious throne in heaven? The beautiful story continues after that.

Why? Because it involves the outpouring power of Pentecost (The Holy Spirit) and lives being transformed by the power of God and being made new creatures in Christ Jesus. It's great that people and families attend Easter services.

But what motivates people to attend in the first place? The reasoning simply comes down to the importance of your eternal soul and how you view Jesus. Do you view Jesus as just another religious story like you might a secular soap opera?

Easter Sunday motives for attending remind me of how the people responded after Jesus fed the four and five thousand in the book of Matthew. The crowds followed him primarily because they saw miraculous signs and wanted physical nourishment.

But Jesus challenged them to seek spiritual food. (Matthew 14:13-21; 15:32-39). Again, many were curious about Jesus, they wanted to force him to be their king and overthrow the Roman Empire.

Many people come seeking for Jesus, but do they desire to know him as Lord or Santa Clause? (ATM handout). Please read the following passages into your spirit, family, or those in your study group.

23} (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)

24} When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.

25} And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?

26} Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

27} Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed." (John 6:23-27 KJV).

Those who misunderstood his compassion in feeding them was not so they would treat him as some catering food delivery service, but that they might see their need for spiritual hunger. The world tries to blur what Easter is really about.

Yes, Easter Sunday is a high-attendance day for churches. Roughly about 41% plan to attend church the following Sunday decline to go. This drop off has a name some call, "low Sunday." About 70% of new visitors do not attend the week after.

It seems like a, "well I've attended the holiday show, I'm a no for next week." It definitely shows that Easter vs. Next Week isn't even close. About 90% of pastors report high attendance on Easter. Hearts that may need Jesus.

But the following Sunday after Easter reminds me when Jesus healed the ten lepers but only one came back to worship and give thanks. It seems the other nine got what they wanted from Jesus.

It seems they carried the attitude of, "Thanks for the healing, don't call us we'll call you." Maybe many hearts see Jesus on Easter as filling out their once-a-year itinerary schedule.

And yes, statistical data tells us the Sunday after Easter is historically one of the lowest attended Sundays of the year. But there are wonderful examples of blessings that come from having a second-go-round with Jesus.

Great feast and celebration events with God happened many times in the Old Testament. The old cliché "more is better" always applies to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, Amen? More Jesus never hurt anyone, right?

It certainly didn't hurt Moses, right? Moses started out as a man who was not a great speaker and focused on all his weaknesses. Imagine if he never had any more meetings with God from that point on?

How long do you think the journey out of Egypt would have lasted? Do you think Moses would have bailed out on the people? But because he continued to come into God’s presence, he gained confidence and trust in God.

There are many more individuals in the Old Testament who grew closer to God's because they attended dedicated meetings with God on a regular basis. In the New Testament, Jesus' disciples slowly started to understand why he came.

What does it mean to follow someone? As an adolescent, a had a beautiful dog until I was about eighteen years old when he was put down because of age-related illnesses. My dog would follow me everywhere I went.

He never wanted me to be out of his sight. Our relationship grew with him responding to my every command. I loved him more than all my siblings, maybe? Smile. But the more time I spent with him, the more we bonded.

The disciples of Jesus, his loving Apostles came to know their Lord in stages of development. Meeting Jesus one time wasn't enough for the souls to fully comprehend everything he would teach them.

[After initially doubting or fleeing during the crucifixion, the disciples met Jesus in the upper room and later on a mountain in Galilee. These subsequent meetings, which included eating together, transformed their doubt into conviction.]

Let's examine what a second meeting with Jesus would do for those who may have been hesitant to fully commit to believing or follow the Lord. Thomas was one of those who doubted the resurrection and it's meaning about Jesu

After Thomas met the risen Jesus in the upper room the second time the disciples gathered, leading to his exclamation, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:26-29). What if Jesus had only shown up the one time?

Would Thomas have continued to disqualify himself through his own unbelief? What if Jesus had stretched out his first appearance to his second appearance of the disciples by one year instead of eight days for Thomas to see him again?

What do you suppose Thomas' reaction might have been? Maybe he might have to refresh his memories all over again of who Jesus is. "Who are you again?" What is this Easter story all about again?

Do you think Thomas might forget these powerful words Jesus spoke concerning his appointed death that comes to all of us? (Hebrews 9:27). Knowing Jesus is more than just showing up for some spectacular event.

25} "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26} And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" (John 11:25-26 KJV).

When Jesus performed a miracle on the young man born blind in John chapter 9, he could detail the miracle, but he couldn't elaborate to friends, family, and to the Pharisees who he was and what really happened.

Upon further interrogation, the man couldn't give real concrete answers as to who Jesus really was after his first initial meeting with him. Notice the grilling he took from others and his responses.

10} "Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?

11} He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight. (John 9:10-11 KJV).

Moving on in this seemingly court room setting, they asked the man this next question. After saying "some man" had done this, (the division among having just begun) the Pharisees pounced with their next question.

17} "They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.

18} But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight." (John 9:17-18 KJV).

Ok, it seems we are getting somewhere but not really. How many of you could describe what your elementary or high school teachers were like? Never mind the amount of years you may have been out of school. But did you know them?

So, the once blind man corrects his description of who Jesus might be from "some man" to being