Just As He Said

Intro

Words we always love to hear: “You were right.”

Why do you have to say it like that?

of course I was right, that’s why I said it!

Why would you doubt me? Don’t answer that question.

Matthew 28:1–7 ESV

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.”

As He said

“Did God really say?” ~ The Serpent

We still deal with this question today

It can be difficult when there are things we don’t understand or even agree with

Eve saw that the fruit was good so she didn’t understand why God would forbid them from it

The seed of doubt

Our sinfulness and the enemy continue to throw this doubt at us

John 14:1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”

He has risen, His word can be trusted, and His word brings life

What are the doubts we still live with?

Let’s go back to the text and see where this belief starts and how it impacts our lives

Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.

Fear

That would have been a scary moment

Earthquake

Stone rolled away

An angel like lightning

When the unholy meets the Holy it is a fearful thing

The guards had reason to fear

They were attempting to keep Jesus in the tomb

The women had no reason to fear

They were seeking Jesus

The fear of God

It is right to have a fear of God

He is holy, we are not

When faced with God’s glory, might, majesty, holiness we know that we have no place to stand

It is in what you do with that fear

Will you try to hide like the centurions or will you seek Jesus like the women?

When we seek Jesus then there is no reason to fear

What has He said?

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”

What is love? What is it to be perfected in love?

Love does not equal love, Despite our current cultures mantra

That is a nonsense statement, you can’t use the word in the definition of the word

God is love, Jesus is love; 1 John 4:16

It is in our love for Him, which is made possible by His love for us, that we are able to live without fear

It is abiding in the word of God and His commands which perfect us in love

It is God’s love that has been poured out upon us which will make it possible to be in His presence without fear

We are perfected in love through Jesus

We have doubts and our doubts fade away when we seek Jesus and allow His perfect love to flow through us

Maybe you don’t doubt the resurrection but here are some common doubts we can bring to the empty tomb

What are our doubts?

Our sin

Will He accept us?

I’ve done too much

It’s too late for me

I’ve messed up too many times

What has He said?

John 3:16-17 ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

He knows your sin and came to save you from it

Jesus was not who He said He was

We will be made a fool

Will it all be for nothing?

Will my hope let me down again?

What has He said?

Romans 5:5 “and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

The world is in rebellion against God but it is He who has authority, He has made the way for you to be at His side

Does God really have our best interest in mind?

Sometimes we see God as simply a rule maker; I can’t do what I want to do

What has He said?

John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

No one lays down their life unless it is for the life of another

God wants you to have abundant life

We are going to mess it up

I can’t measure up

What if I keep falling?

What has He said

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Yep, we’re going to mess up

It is not about what we can do but what He can do through us

We fear death

We were made to live

Our bodies will instinctively try to survive

But one day we will die, every one of us

What has He said?

John 11:25-26 “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.”

We are promised a resurrection, and life after our resurrection will be amazing

A resurrection like His

Not zombie Jesus

Not raised again like Lazarus

A glorified life

Bring it home!

John 17:3 “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

Eternal life is something we have to look forward to and it is something that we can have right here and now through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Surrender to God through the work of Jesus and allow His life, the life of the Eternal God, to flow through you.

Do you have doubts and fear?

Bring them to the empty tomb

Believe in what He has said

Allow the life of Jesus to give you life

Are you seeking Jesus?

Perhaps you have been running

He is continuing to pursue you

Allow His love be poured on you

He is here for you

He died for you

He rose again for you

Romans 5:10 “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.”

Benediction

Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”