Know Him and the Power of the Resurrection - Easter

I. Set the Tone

a. Bible Project Video – big picture – connect some dots https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmFPS0f-kzs&t=206s

Matthew 28:1-10

Philippians 3:7-11

II. The cross + the resurrection

a. Both are important

i. We are saved by the shed blood but we have life and power because of the resurrection

ii. Resurrection seals the deal.

b. The resurrection proved Jesus was God (as if all the miracles didn’t do that)

c. You will surely die – the Garden – he undoes the final part of the curse from Adam and Eve’s sin

d. Had Jesus not left the tomb he would have been just another good man

III. Nothing but the resurrection

a. Friday night we read how Paul said he desired to know nothing but the cross

i. 1 Corinthians 2:1-3 – now he was using this is a communication tactic

b. Here Paul longs to know Jesus and the power of his resurrection

c. Physical power

i. At his death, darkness, earthquake, torn curtain in Temple, people coming back to life

ii. His resurrection – and earthquake and the guards falling down like they were dead

1. His death and resurrection impacted all of creation – a great shaking – a great spiritual undoing

iii. Notice it went dark when he died – but he rose at Dawn (Joy comes in the morning)

iv. From the song we sang on Friday – the power of the cross

1. “Now the day light flees, now the ground beneath Quakes as its maker bows his head Curtain torn in two, dead are raised to life Finished, the victory cry”

v. Remember it was Jesus created all things John 1:1-5

1. Gives his life for his creation

IV. Gain

a. Loss vs. gain 3 times (one gain listed as surpassing value)

b. Means to win or achieve. But a financial term loss vs. gain

i. All of Paul’s success – success according to the world – is a loss

1. Power, prestige, wealth

ii. But to Know Jesus and the power of his resurrection is gain

c. All is dung compared to the resurrection – is it enough?

i. That he might gain Christ – have him

1. To acquire or win – or to profit – notice how Paul says the rest of his life is a loss – no benefit – (financially)

ii. Mark 8:34-36 – Benefit = profit

d. Paul understood these parables – Matthew 13:44-46

V. Found in him

a. No righteousness of my own vs. 9 – hammer it over and over – I have zip, nada, zero righteousness of my own – it is all Jesus – everything else is at a lost.

b. We come by faith

i. Confessing and repenting our sin

ii. Confessing Jesus as our Lord

c. Found is a reference to the day of judgement.

i. We will stand before God as our righteous judge

1. If found in Christ – we will be judged righteous – because of Christ

VI. My goal purpose

a. To know Jesus – a deep understanding or intimacy

i. To know body, soul and spirit

1. Experientially – a knowledge that changes and transforms my life.

2. Even know the fellowship of his sufferings

a. Yes our suffering connects us to the suffering of Christ

i. We are like him in all areas of our life.

b. Philippians 3:12 – not there yet

i. Make every effort to take hold

1. Can we honestly say we have made every effort to achieve the goals of Knowing Christ and the power of his resurrection?

ii. By the power of the resurrection we have been taken hold of by Jesus Christ

1. And nothing can take us out of his hand – John 10:27-30

VII. Wrap up

a. The world is a loss to me

b. Gain – only profit is Jesus Christ

c. Our goal

i. To know Jesus deeply

ii. To understand the power of the Resurrection

1. The same power of the Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwell in us

a. Not afraid of a demon behind every rock, Be willing to battle when I need too – but faith to walk in power and not in fear.

b. Knowing I am always covered by God grace and mercy when I get it wrong.

d. We have a new life and because he was a first fruit of the resurrection – means more fruit to come – we have the promise of glorification when our bodies will be resurrected.

e. The Power of the Resurrection – means that despite what you might be going through God still reigns. This world is lost to us but Jesus is Gain