This morning I want to talk to you about a counterfeit path. What is a counterfeit? A counterfeit is designed to be like the original, to look like the original. The intent in its design is to deceive. The designer wants you to believe that it is just like the original. It’s as good as the original, that there is no difference…when in reality…it is worthless. Just like counterfeit money! In Matthew 7 Jesus warns us about a counterfeit path! This path look good, but it does not end well!

! Today, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus! His purpose was to leave heaven to show us the heart of God. Jesus is God in the flesh…we call that the incarnation! While He lived, He performed many miracles…He raised the dead, he cleansed the leper, he cast out demons! He hung out with sinners! He taught about God’s kingdom! And then…and then…He was crucified…He was killed...on what we now call Good Friday…not because it was good for Him…but because it is good for us! But then…came resurrection Sunday…the first day of the week! What now is often called Easter Sunday! It was the day He rose from the dead! It was the day when we were given an invitation to New Beginnings! This morning I want to talk to you about New Beginnings! Jesus invites us to new beginnings! All of us need New Beginnings.

It is God's desire to bless His people. Sometimes we must fight for the blessing!

Something significant takes place in the community of Ephesus in chapter 19. The disciples are filled with the Holy Spirit! (Acts 19:1-7). Paul took these 12 disciples (v7) and trained them so that they could disciple other believers! (By the way…That is reproduction that I talked about two weeks ago!) Paul and this small band of disciples began sharing Christ and the community was transformed…it was changed. So much so that that there was riot!