Resurrection: An Awakening For the Church

Frantic Search or Firm Foundation

Today as we honor the resurrection of Jesus Christ there is a challenge for the believer whether they only today gave their life to Christ or have believed in Him fo some time.

The challenge you are faced with challenges what you believe to be true about Jesus. Did He really die? Was He really resurrected? Can we be sure of our confession?

Some heard about Jesus and that was enough… others read about it and that was enough… On the one side you have those who will believe on the account to what amounts the testimony of others. yet for others they refuse to believe on the account of another and will only believe if they have an encounter with the Lord themselves.

In a recent observation I noted as a hermit crab frantically would attempt to hide itself in the sand, yet each time a wave crash on the rocks all of the work they had attempted was destroyed.in similar manner I consider a friend who recently committed suicide…all the worldly possessions gone

It caused me to consider how this day many will celebrate a day in which is intended to honor the resurrection covering themselves in sand yet they have no idea what it means. They frantically work to build a shelter, build their wealth, and all of the worldly possessions… they will build a passive relationship with Christ and find that every time a wave crashes on them everything they have worked for will be washed away.

The resurrection provokes the church to establish their relationship with the Lord on a firm foundation.

Acts 1:1–3 ESV

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

Something noted in the Luke’s work is the incredible investigation he did to reach the point in which;

1 Volume addresses the work of Christ

2 Volume addresses an awakening that occurred in the church in the resurrection.

We need to carefully investigate and know for ourselves what we ought to believe

During the 40 days He appeared to them it would take miracles signs and wonders for those who actually walked with Him to believe

The Lord gives a set of commands that will set the precedent for the nascent church to embrace and execute.

Ultimately the Lord was unwilling for His people to only know of Him He Desired for the them to know Him as they encountered Him for themselves.

Disbelief in the Resurrection

Thomas gets the bad wrap for being the doubter… yet when we examine scripture we don’t see him being rebuked but questioned.

Over the period of 40 days they Lord appeared to many people… when we search out scripture many of them were found in disbelief.

The 11 disciples who knew Him would now be challenged… did they know Him or know of Him

Mark 16:14 ESV

Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.

There is the work of searching and wrestling to know the Lord and then there are the two things the Lord rebukes His people for:

Unbelief: in that seeing all the evidence before them they refuse to believe

Hardness of heart: no matter what is being revealed they will not yield there thoughts or hearts desires but insist on their way being the right way.

Not that they needed to believe blindly but that if they had disbelief they should have engaged in their own research.

In Luke 24 the disciples are noted startled and afraid

The Lord has to show them His scars… they were too afraid to investigate for themselves.

Yearning to Know Him

The Road to Emaus two were talking about all the things they had witnessed

They encounter Jesus but have a hard time knowing its Him.

Luke 24 v.27-30 tell us of how Jesus opened their eyes to the scriptures… their posture was to not walk away until they had heard all He had to say…

Luke 24:32 ESV

They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”

These not only marveled they pressed into what was being opened to them.

Refusing to Live on the Account of Another

John 20:24–25 ESV

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

Unwilling to just go with it… He wanted an encounter with the Lord.

Note the contrast he is not questioning from a hardened heart. He is doing so from a posture of want to know the Lord for himself.

v.29 Jesus does not rebuke him rather checks his genuine intention… Somethings we will not see…

we are not forced to believe blindly but to believe with all our heart, soul, mind and, strength which imply we move from knowing about Him to actually knowing Him. to have an intimate relationship with Him.

Three Commands in the Resurrection

The first Command

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Make disciples not converts

Baptize them in the Name of...

Teach them…

The Second Command

Acts 1:4–5 ESV

And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Wait on the Holy Spirit before heading out

v.8 tells of how upon the baptism of the HS they will receive power and be witnesses

Finally

Acts 10:42 ESV

And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.

we are to progress the gospel that there is hope but all has been given to Jesus

Drawn Close on a Firm Foundation

John 20:27 ESV

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”

Touch and see… starting with His hands…

Dont stay out here come close now put your hand in my side....

For the Lord it is not enough for us to be satisfied with just knowing about Him… He wants us to build a firm foundation on who He is.

That I would have a Thomas encounter… “My Lord My God”