He Is Not Here — The Victory of the Resurrection

Luke 24:1–6 NKJV

1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee,

INTRODUCTION — FROM CROSS TO VICTORY

Friday we stood at the cross

Sunday we stand at an empty tomb

Line: 👉 “The cross paid for it— the resurrection proves it worked.”

I. THEY CAME EXPECTING DEATH

(v.1)

Luke 24:1 NKJV

1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.

Point:

They came with spices

They came to finish a burial

They came expecting death

Application: 👉 People still come expecting:

defeat

loss

endings

Line:

“They came looking for a dead Jesus.”

II. THE STONE WAS ALREADY MOVED

(v.2)

Luke 24:2 NKJV

2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.

Point:

God had already moved what they thought was in their way

Truth: 👉 The stone was not moved to let Jesus out 👉 It was moved to let us see in

Line:

“What you think is blocking you—God has already dealt with.”

III. THE TOMB WAS EMPTY

(v.3)

Luke 24:3 NKJV

3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

Point:

This is the turning moment

Christianity stands or falls here

Truth: 👉 No body 👉 No grave 👉 No defeat

Line:

“The grave could not hold what God had raised.”

IV. HEAVEN DECLARES THE VICTORY

(v.4–6)

Luke 24:5–6 NKJV

5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee,

Point:

Heaven interrupts confusion

Heaven declares truth

Key Line (anchor):

“Why are you looking for life in a place of death?”

V. THE RESURRECTION CHANGES EVERYTHING

Now expand into victory theology:

1 Corinthians 15:55–57 NKJV

55 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:11 NKJV

11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Victory Means:

1. Victory Over Death

Death is no longer final

2. Victory Over Sin

What was paid for on Friday is confirmed on Sunday

3. Victory for the Believer

That same power now works in us

Line:

“The resurrection is not just something that happened to Jesus— it is something that now works in you.”

VI. STOP LOOKING FOR LIFE IN DEAD PLACES

Bring it personal:

dead habits

dead relationships

dead thinking

Line:

“You will never find life where God has already declared death.”

— THE VICTORY CALL

Bishop, land it like this:

They came looking for death— but they found life.

And today—

You don’t have to stay:

in your past

in your sin

in your defeat

Because:

He is not here. He is risen.

Invitation Scripture

Romans 10:9–10 NKJV

9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

FINAL LANDING LINE

“The cross paid your debt— the resurrection opened your future.”