This is the manuscript of the sermon delivered at Christ Church on May 2, 2021.
Hebrews 13:8 NIV Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Scripture
1 Corinthians 15:10-20 NIV But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed. But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
Text
Hebrews 13:8 NIV Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
On Easter Sunday we discussed the most horrible hypothesis that hell could ever manufacture, and that was that Jesus did not rise from the grave three days after His crucifixion. The hypothesis from hell was that there was no resurrection. However, we know that the resurrection did in fact take place. It is a fact of history. The grave could not contain Christ. The enemies of Christ could not prevent God’s acting in power by raising Jesus from the dead.
We said that the resurrection of Jesus was the death of death. The resurrection of Jesus shows that we too can live beyond the grave. Our eternal destiny is to be with the Lord forever.
1 Corinthians 15:20 NIV But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
Now this is not an Easter or Resurrection Day message, we had that on Easter. This is a message about the fact that the resurrection of Jesus impacts us every day.
Until we go to be with the Lord in death or he returns to earth for His church we have to live each day. The resurrection changes our eternal destiny, in that we will spend eternity with Jesus but it also changes our daily lives.
What difference does it make that Jesus was raised from the dead?
Some people might say, “I don’t care that Jesus was raised from the dead. What interests me is real life today, not whether some man came back to life over 2,000 years ago. After all, all kinds of strange things have happened in history, but they don’t really matter if they don’t affect my everyday life.
For instance, it is interesting that a man landed on the moon in 1969, but it really isn’t a big deal. My life would be pretty much the same whether man walked on the moon or not. And I think the same is true of the resurrection.”
What can we say in response to this?
The first thing is to agree that if the resurrection of Jesus doesn’t affect our everyday life, then it doesn’t matter. If the resurrection of Jesus is just a historical fact that makes no difference in real life, we shouldn’t celebrate it.
However the resurrection, and believing it is crucial and essential for salvation.
Romans 10:9 NIV If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Rising from the grave after taking our sins upon Himself proves that Jesus could not be destroyed by those sins. He paid the debt in full, and returned alive. If He were still in the grave, under the weight of our sin, how could He be our Savior?
We believe the resurrection because the Word of God teaches it, because God reveals the truth to us, and because we can sense Christ living within our hearts. We have personal knowledge of His resurrection. And as I said before it changes not only our eternal destiny, but our daily lives.
Exactly what does that mean?
The Resurrection is the ground of our assurance, it is the basis for all our future hopes, and it is the source of power in our daily lives It gives us courage in the midst of persecution, comfort in the midst of trials, and hope in the midst of this world’s darkness.
Because Christ lives, we are never alone. Jesus told His disciples He would not leave them as orphans but would send the Holy Spirit to live within them forever.
John 14:16-18 NIV And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
It was only because of his resurrection and ascension that he was able to send the Holy Spirit into the world to carry out his special work in Christians.
Acts 2:33 NIV Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.
That was Peter’s announcement on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was made manifest in the believers.
Acts 2:1-4 NIV When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
What the Spirit does for believers today is only possible as a result of the resurrection.
Jesus also said, just before He ascended into heaven, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20).
As the Good Shepherd, Jesus never abandons His sheep.
John 10:11-15 NIV “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Who else can make this promise to you? Nobody!
Even if people's intentions are sincere, things happen that are outside their control. People move away, loved ones die, and friends can become indifferent or even hostile, but your resurrected Lord will always be with you.
Because Jesus is alive, we don’t have to worry about whether God will provide for us. Jesus told His followers that the Father, who takes care of birds and flowers, would also provide for them
Matthew 6:25-31 NIV “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life ? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
This promise would have meant nothing if Jesus had been just a man who died and remained in the grave. But He overcame death because He’s the Son of God. This means He has the power to keep every promise He makes.
How often do you fret about your needs not being met?
Are you quick to talk to others about them instead of immediately turning to the resurrected Christ for help?
He will never fail to keep this promise, to meet your needs, even though it may not be in the way or at the time you’re expecting. But know this: Nothing is too big for His sovereign hands to handle.
Since Jesus was resurrected, we can have peace in the most difficult times. Before His crucifixion, Christ told His disciples,
John 14:25-27 NIV “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
The world’s peace depends on good circumstances, but His peace sustains us as we go through life’s difficult times.
Peace is defined as freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility.
As Prince of Peace Jesus will gives what shālôm, which is the Hebrew word translated "peace," implies in its fullest meaning: which is health to the sin-sick soul; a sound and healthy relation between sinners and God, as well a sound condition of universal righteousness and prosperity prevailing over the earth.
This shalom is not just a psychological state of mind; this peace is spiritual peace…the peace of the God of all Creation, the peace that passes all understanding. This peace guards you from anxiety, fear, and worry, it's the peace Paul talks about in;
Philippians 4:6-7 NIV Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
This peace is the opposite of anxiety. It is the tranquillity that comes when you commit all your cares to God in prayer and don’t worry about them anymore. You are confident that God can and will do what is best for you.
This is the peace of people whose sins are forgiven
This is the kind of peace that was prophesied as being brought to mankind through a man.
Isaiah 9:6 NIV For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
When troubles overwhelm you, remember that you have a risen Savior who sits at the Father’s right hand interceding for you.
Hebrews 7:25 NIV Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
He invites you to confidently draw near in prayer to receive mercy and grace to help in your time of need.
Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
He understands your weaknesses, and will lovingly use your hardships to strengthen and mature you.
Jesus Himself is the only One who can give us new life. No one else holds, or has ever held, that power. He redeems our past and restores our brokenness. He gives us great strength and peace, He gives us hope and a future.
Though we will still face battles and struggles in this life; and many days we will find ourselves under attack or up against spiritual forces that try to defeat us, we know where our true power is found. Jesus provides all that we need to live free in this life. He is our rescuer, He is our savior, He is the Word, He is the way-maker. He is the chain-breaker, He is the truth, He is the bread of life. He offers us living water, He is the resurrection and the life.
Because His power over the grave is living hope, the hope that Christ offers us it’s constant, active, and it lasts forever. It’s never dependent on us and our own abilities; it’s only found in Him. In a world of darkness, we often feel that we’re up against hard struggles, or we’re constantly battling fears and worries that seek to overwhelm us. It’s easy sometimes to lose our hope.
The hope you have because of Christ’s resurrection can be summed up in the words of an old hymn that says, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone.”
Never think that the resurrected Christ is idly seated in heaven, unconcerned about your life. No, Jesus is actively interceding for you and fulfilling all the promises He made to you, sometimes in completely unexpected ways. Look to Him. Rejoice in Him. And let Him surprise you with His glory, power, and faithful love.
Prayer
Dear God, Thank you that you make all things new. Thank you for the victory and power in your Name. Thank you that you hold the keys over death, that by your might, Jesus was raised from the grave, paving the way for us to have a new life with you. Thank you that you had a plan, and you made a way.
We praise you for your great strength, your power, your lavish love. We praise you that you are Conqueror, Victor, Redeemer, and Friend. We praise you that you are Deliverer, Worthy One, Everlasting Father, Great and Awesome God.
Shine your light in us, through us, over us. May we make a difference in this world, for your glory and purposes. May we reflect your peace and hope to a world that so desperately needs your presence and healing.
Thanks be to you God, for your indescribable gift!
To you be glory and honor, this day and forever. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Invitation
The only true promise of lasting hope in this life can be found in Christ. He is stronger than all the things that we can lose here in this world. He defeated the powers that seek to pull us from Him. He’s the author of hope and the giver of peace in times when we experience troubles or struggles. If you’ve found your hope has run dry through the difficult seasons you’re facing, ask Him for His help and refreshment in your life. His hope never runs in short supply, and He promises to provide all that we need to live strong and free.
A Prayer for Healing
Lord Jesus, thank you that you love all of us. I know that you hate what sickness and illness is doing to us. I ask that you would heal back pain, leg pain, hip pain, diabetes, hypertension, cancer and that you would have compassion and bring healing from all other sickness, and health challenges, physical, emotional, and spiritual.
Your word says in Psalm 107:19-20; Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.
Psalms 107:19-20 NIV
Your Word gives us many examples miraculous healing and I believe that you still heal the same way today. I believe that there is no illness you cannot heal after all the bible tells of you raising people from the dead so today we ask for your healing.
Father take away all forms of sickness and disease.
Restore strength to our bodies and joy to our spirit,
so that in our renewed health,
we may bless and serve you,
now and forevermore.
You gave us life, and you also give us the gift of infinite joy.
Give us the strength to move forward on the path you've laid out for us. Help us also to understand your plan and your will for each one of us.
Father, we thank you that all of us who need healing of any type and from anything belong to you and that you are in control of everything that happens from our first breath to our last.
In Jesus name amen.
Benediction
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” ’
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