My Belief

Abundant Life

My Belief

John 20:29 NKJV

29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

John 20:29

Confession of Faith

I am not moved by what I see or by what I feel. I am moved by what I believe. I believe the WORD of God! The victory is mine! I have it now! I can see it through the eyes of my faith!

Last Week

Don’t Look Back

Genesis 19:26 NKJV

26 But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

Gen

My Belief

Jesus Resurrection

John 20:11–17 NKJV

11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ”

New Commission - New Belief

John 20:11-17

Mary's great love seemingly had one flaw. She wanted to bask in her love for the Lord and in the fellowship that that love brought her.

She was reaching out to clutch and to cling to His body (physically), but in doing so, she was missing the point:

His cross and resurrection had created a totally new relationship. He was no longer just her Teacher, her Master.

John 20:28 NKJV

28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

He was her Lord and God

Jesus was soon to ascend back - go back to the Father,

). He was soon to ascend back to the Father, so she must not waste time clutching and clinging. She must run and tell her great discovery. The Master was now her Lord and God, for He had created a new spiritual relationship with men. Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – John.

Mary could not waste time clutching and clinging to the physical aspect. She needed to go and tell her great discovery.

Jesus is alive and has created a new spiritual relationship with men and women: boys and girls!

John 20:18 NKJV

18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.

2 Corinthians 5:16–17 NKJV

16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Church Service

John 20:19–21 NKJV

19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

Abundant Life is in My Commission

1. There is one great qualification for being commissioned: receiving, possessing, and knowing the peace of Christ

John 14:27 NLT

27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

(see note—•). Unless a person has been reconciled to God by Christ, unless he has really made peace with God, he cannot represent God before the world. Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – John.

We must be reconciled to God by Christ,

We must make peace with God,

We cannot represent God before the world if we are not at peace with God.

John 20

John 20:22–23 NLT

22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Doubting Thomas

Thomas was frustrated and angry! I believe Thomas was hoping and clinging to he fact that Jesus was going to come and give rule on earth to the Jews! He knew Jesus had been crucified and all his hope all that he got excited about, all that he believed would happen came crashing down when Jesus was crucified!

John 20:24–25 NKJV

24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

John 20

Thomas argued with the believer’s

John 20:26 NKJV

26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!”

Thought 1. Persistent doubt always delays the blessings.

Thought 2.

Guilt, frustration, disappointment, and being left out often result in a...

• haughty spirit

• reaction

• denial of facts

• fierce outburst

John 20:27–28 NLT

27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” 28 “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.

Jesus knows every man's heart, every woman’s heart: all despair, doubts, fears, hope, love.

He knows where and when to strike at a man's heart.

However, note a crucial factor: Thomas was where Jesus could reach him. He was in the presence of believers listening to their testimony. He had not shut them out despite his questions.

John 20:29 NKJV

29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Conclusion

We are called to an abundant life - But it all starts with your belief

Blessed are those who have not seen Jesus and still believe

Jesus, is The Abundant Life You Have Been Searching For!

NEXT STEPS!• Memorize

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• Invite them to church