He Got Up
Notes
Transcript
He Got Up
Scripture: Matthew 28:6 (KJV)
“He is not here: for he is risen, as he said…”
INTRODUCTION: THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
My beloved Saint Thomas Baptist family and friends, grace and peace be multiplied unto you through Jesus Christ our risen Lord!
Early one Sunday morning… before the sun stretched across the sky… before the birds finished their first song… before the city woke up…while grief was still heavy…while hope seemed buried…two women made their way to a grave.
They were not coming with expectation. They were coming with sorrow.
They were not coming with celebration. They were coming with spices.
Because when Friday closed, their hope seemed buried. When Jesus died, their dreams looked defeated.
When the stone was sealed, it felt like the story was over. But I came to tell somebody this morning, God does His best work when it looks like it’s over!
Because what they expected to find…Was not what God had already done.
The angel met them with a message that still shakes the foundations of history:
“He is not here: for He is risen, as He said!”
And church, that one declaration…Changed everything.
BIG IDEA: The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the ultimate proof that God keeps His promises, defeats death, and gives us power to live a new life.
TRANSITION: So, with the help of the Holy Spirit and the real preacher Jesus Christ, I would like to submit three truths from this resurrection reality and the first is this.
THE PROMISE WAS KEPT
The angel said, “as He said.” That means this wasn’t an accident. This wasn’t a surprise. This wasn’t a last-minute miracle.
Jesus already told them what He was going to do!
(Matthew 16:21) “From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples [clearly] that He must go to Jerusalem and endure many things at the hands of the elders and the chief priests and scribes (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), and be killed, and be raised [from death to life] on the third day.”
(John 2:19) “Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up”
Can I tell you something, church? God does not make empty promises, He is a promise keeper.
(Numbers 23:19) “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken and will He not make it good and fulfill it?
If He said it, He will do it. If He promised it, He will perform it.
The problem was not that Jesus didn’t speak. The problem was that they forgot what He said. And how many of us have been there?
God made a promise over your life; But when life got heavy, you forgot the Word.
God spoke peace; But trouble made you panic.
God declared victory; But Friday made you doubt Sunday.
But I came to remind somebody: Just because it hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean it’s not on the way!
The resurrection is proof that God keeps His Word even when it looks impossible.
THE STONE WAS MOVED
The Bible says the stone was rolled away.
Now watch this; The stone wasn’t moved so Jesus could get out…The stone was moved so they could see in!
Because the same Jesus who walked on water…The same Jesus who raised Lazarus… Didn’t need help getting out of a grave!
The stone represents barriers. The stone represents obstacles. The stone represents things that look immovable.
My brothers and sisters what is immovable for us is moveable with God when you let Him into your situation. Psalm 24:7 says, “Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in!”
When you let Him in things shift. (Matthew 28:2) “And a great earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone [from the opening of the tomb] and sat on it.”
This wasn’t human effort this was divine intervention! The stone didn’t move because someone pushed it, the stone moved because heaven touched it!
But hear me today:
That stone of fear… God can move it
That stone of depression… God can move it
That stone of generational struggle… God can move it
That stone of doubt… God can move it
Some stones don’t move because of your strength…They move because of His authority! Because when God steps in, what was sealed gets shaken! What was closed gets opened! What was dead gets exposed to life!
And here’s the good news: If God can move a stone from a sealed tomb… He can move whatever is blocking your breakthrough!
THE SAVIOR IS ALIVE
The angel didn’t say, “He was risen…” He said, “He is risen!”
That means He’s alive right now! Alive to heal! Alive to deliver! Alive to save! Alive to restore
(Revelation 1:18) “I am the Ever living One [living in and beyond all time and space]. I died, but see, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of [absolute control and victory over] death and of Hades (the realm of the dead).”
This is not just history; This is present reality! Because if Jesus stayed in the grave. We would still be stuck in sin. But because He got up. We got power!
Power over sin (Romans 6:6-7) “We know that our old self [our human nature without the Holy Spirit] was nailed to the cross with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin. 7 For the person who has died [with Christ] has been freed from [the power of] sin.”
Power over fear (2 Timothy 1:7) “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].”
Power over death (1 Corinthians 15:55–57) “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin [by which it brings death] is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory [as conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Church, the resurrection is not just something we celebrate; It’s something we live in!
You don’t have to stay stuck! Because He got up!
You don’t have to stay bound! Because He got up!
You don’t have to stay defeated! Because He got up!
CELEBRATORY WHOOPING CLOSE
Early…Sunday morning…Before the sun came shining…
Before the rooster started crowing…Before the world knew what God was doing…
My Bible says He got up! Got up with all power. In His hands!
Power to heal the sick! Power to raise the dead!
Power to turn your midnight into morning!
Power to turn your test into a testimony!
And I hear Him declaring, “After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also!” (John 14:19)
Ain’t He alright?! I said ain’t He alright?!
He got up so you could get up!
He got up so you could stand up!
He got up so you could rise above your situation!
And if you know He got up. You ought to get up in your spirit!
If you know He got up. You ought to lift your hands!
If you know He got up. You ought to open your mouth and shout, HE GOT UP!!!
And because He lives. I can face tomorrow!
Because He lives. All fear is gone!
Because I know. He holds my future!
And life…Is worth the living…Just because He lives!
