The Power of the Resurrection

The Power of the Resurrection Why was Jesus Raised from the dead ?? What does it all mean for our Christian Faith ?? The Power of The Resurrection…!!! How does it impact my life TODAY ?? Prayer / Ministering

The Power of the Resurrection Why was Jesus Raised from the dead ??? • There are a number of prophecies in the Old Testament – pointing to the day of Resurrection and what it will hold in store for Israel… • Isa 26:19 Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. • Dan 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. • All of the Jews knew from the scriptures over the years – that there will be a Resurrection from the Dead at some stage or the other • John 11:21-24Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. • God had this planned all along, and people were searching through the scriptures for ages as to what this all means… • Hos 6:1 "Come, let us return to the LORD; for He has torn us, that He may heal us; He has struck us down, and He will bind us up. • Hos 6:2 After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live before Him. • Hos 6:3 Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; His going out is sure as the dawn; He will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth." • Jesus even explained / prophesied it to His Disciples before it was going to happen… • Mat 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

The Power of the Resurrection • BUT Then Jesus – did not only speak about HIS resurrection – He also taught on LIFE ETERNAL !!! • John 3:14-15 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. • John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. • John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. • Which caused some of the Jews to believe that they could DO “something” – in order to GET Eternal LIFE…!!! • Mat 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? • But Jesus specifically then said - You can only INHERIT it – you can’t WORK for it… • Mat 19:29-30 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. • In Hebrews the Hebrew writer explains it as follows: • Heb 9:15-16And for this cause He is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. • Heb 9:17-18For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.

The Power of the Resurrection • NOW: Peter & Paul describes the REASON of the Resurrection as follows: • 1Pet 1:20-21 (MSG) And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately--at the end of the ages--become public knowledge, God always knew He was going to do this for you. It's because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God. • 1Cor 15:12-14 Now if Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. • 1Cor 15:15-18 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ: whom He raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. • 1Cor 15:19-21 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. • 1Cor 15:22-23 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. • From these Letters of Peter & Paul, we can clearly see that our Faith is not just based on the Crucifixion of Jesus, but also His Resurrection !!! • We can’t separate our Faith in Jesus and God, from the Resurrection… • Refer to Peter’s 1st Sermon on the Day of Pentecost… • Act 2:30-32 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to Him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, He would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left in hell, neither His flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. (Ps 16)

The Power of the Resurrection SO: what does this all mean to our Christian Faith today ?? • Well, we are challenged with what do we actually choose to believe today…?? • Do we want to believe the Word and the Promises of God • OR: do we choose to believe what we see happening around us everyday – people dying without hope and without God in their lives.. • Heb11:1-3 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. • Heb11:4-5 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. • Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. • Heb11:32-34 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. • Heb11:35-38 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

The Power of the Resurrection Heb 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: Heb 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. Isa 64:4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him. Psa 31:19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! 1John 2:25 And this is the promise that He hath promised us, even eternal life.

The Power of the Resurrection Paul writes to the Corinthians: 1Cor 2:6-8 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1Cor 2:9-10 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 1Cor 2:11-12 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. In other words – If we don’t have God’s Spirit, to understand the things God has installed for us, we will never be able to truly believe the Word nor the Promises of God !!! And the Resurrection of Jesus comes and challenges us as to whether we can believe whether it is possible for the Dead to be Raised !!

The Power of the Resurrection THE TRUE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION: • It brings a LIVING HOPE to us (and for us), that whatever we might face in this life, that it isn’t a hopeless situation, but that God WILL have the FINAL SAY and WILL bring about the Victory in every situation… • The Cross tells us, that whatever is required, has already been provided for !! • The Resurrection CONFIRMS it and SEALS it Forevermore !! • Phil 3:8-9 AMP Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One),And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law’s demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith. • Phil 3:10-11 AMP[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].

The Power of the Resurrection Phil 3:13b-15a AMP …but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward. So let those [of us] who are spiritually mature and full-grown have this mind and hold these convictions; 2Cor 4:16-18 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. The Resurrection also proclaims to us – that DEATH is an Enemy that has been overcome by Jesus – and now we too can overcome it – through our Faith !! (it all started in Gen 2 & 3) Heb 2:8-9Thou hast put all things in subjection under His feet. For in that He put all in subjection under Him, He left nothing that is not put under Him. But now we see not yet all things put under Him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man. Heb 2:10-12For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation (that is Jesus)perfect through sufferings. For both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, I will declare Thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

The Power of the Resurrection 1Cor 15:25-26For He must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 1Cor 15:27-28For He hath put all things under His feet. But when He saith all things are put under Him, it is manifest that He is excepted, which did put all things under Him. And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all. Heb 2:14-15 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Rev 1:17-18And when I saw Him, I fell at his feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Rom 8:10-11 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is LIFE because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. See also Paul’s Sermon in Acts 13

The Power of the Resurrection What do you choose to believe today ?? • Joh 11:23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. • Joh 11:24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. • Joh11:25-26 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this? • Joh 11:27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. • OR: can we, like Martha – only believe that Jesus is the Christ ?? • BUT: IF we can choose to believe the full impact of John 11:25-26, the rest of the scriptures will start bringing us a lively HOPE beyond belief !!! • 1Pet 1:3-4Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, • 1Pet 1:5-7Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: • 1Pet 1:8-9Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. • 1Pet 1:10-11Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

The Power of the Resurrection • 1Cor 15:51-52 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. • 1Cor 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. • 1Cor 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (Isa 25:8) • 1Cor 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? • 1Cor 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. • 1Cor 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. • 1Cor 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. ******** A M E N ********

The Power of the Resurrection