The Words of the Angel

CLICK TO EDIT MASTER TEXT STYLES 1 Matthew 28:1–7 NOW AFTER THE SABBATH, AS IT BEGAN TO DAWN TOWARD THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, MARY MAGDALENE AND THE OTHER MARY CAME TO LOOK AT THE GRAVE. 2 AND BEHOLD, A SEVERE EARTHQUAKE HAD OCCURRED, FOR AN ANGEL OF THE LORD DESCENDED FROM HEAVEN AND CAME AND ROLLED AWAY THE STONE AND SAT UPON IT. 3 AND HIS APPEARANCE WAS LIKE LIGHTNING, AND HIS CLOTHING AS WHITE AS SNOW. THE GUARDS SHOOK FOR FEAR OF HIM AND BECAME LIKE DEAD MEN. 4 THE ANGEL SAID TO THE WOMEN, “DO NOT BE AFRAID; FOR I KNOW THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR JESUS WHO HAS BEEN CRUCIFIED.“HE IS NOT HERE, FOR HE HAS RISEN, JUST AS HE SAID. 5 COME, SEE THE PLACE WHERE HE WAS LYING. “GO QUICKLY AND TELL HIS DISCIPLES THAT HE HAS RISEN FROM THE DEAD; AND BEHOLD, HE IS GOING AHEAD OF YOU INTO GALILEE, THERE YOU WILL SEE HIM; BEHOLD, I HAVE TOLD YOU.” 6 A LITTLE CHURCH WAS SHOWING A FILM FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL THE ROOM WAS CROWDED AND DARK AS THE FILM PLAYED. A KNOCK AT THE DOOR SUMMONED THE TEACHER. 7 SHE MADE HER WAY TO THE FRONT AND ANNOUNCED. "LITTLE MARY JONES IS LOST. HER FAMILY AND THE SHERRIFF HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR HER. 8 IF ANYONE HAS SEEN HER TELL THE DEPUTY WHERE SHE IS." NO ONE MOVED AND THEY WENT ON WATCHING THE FILM. AT THE END, WHEN THE LIGHTS WERE TURNED ON. 9 THE TEACHER NOTICED MARY SITTING ON A FRONT SEAT. SHE WENT TO HER AND SAID. "MARY, DIDN'T YOU HEAR, THEY ARE LOOKING FOR YOU. 10 WHY DIDN’T LET THEM KNOW YOU WERE HERE?" SURPRISED, THE CHILD ASKED, "DID THEY MEAN ME? THEY SAID MARY JONES WAS LOST. 11 I AM NOT LOST. I KNEW WHERE I WAS ALL THE TIME; I THOUGHT IT WAS SOME OTHER MARY JONES.” SHE WAS LOST AND DID NOT KNOW IT. 12 HOW MANY OTHERS ARE LIKE HER? LOST AND DO NOT KNOW IT. WANDERING, LOOKING FOR SOMETHING. 13 NOT EVEN KNOWING WHAT IT IS THEY ARE LOOKING FOR. IN LIFE WE ARE GOING TO ENCOUNTER LOST PEOPLE. PEOPLE WANDERING AROUND LOOKING FOR SOMETHING. 14 NOT EVEN AWARE WHAT IT IS THEY ARE LOOKING FOR. WE NEED TO HELP THEM. HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT… WHO IT IS THEY ARE LOOKING FOR. 15 WE NEED TO COMMUNICATE WHO CHRIST IS, WHAT HE DID FOR THEM. WE NEED TO COMMUNICATE THAT FINDING CHRIST IS NOT THE END IT IS JUST THE BEGINNING. 16 TODAY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT WHAT THE ANGEL TOLD THE WOMEN AT THE TOMB. FROM THIS WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT WE NEED TELL THE LOST. 17 TURN TO MATTHEW 28:5. THIS IS TAKING PLACE ON EASTER MORNING. THE WOMEN, MARY MAGDALENE AMONG THEM CAME TO THE TOMB 18 THE ANGEL HAD ROLLED AWAY TO STONE. THE GUARDS WERE UNCONSCIOUS FROM FEAR. THEN THE ANGEL SPOKE TO THE WOMEN. 19 MATTHEW 28:5 THE ANGEL SAID TO THE WOMEN, “DO NOT BE AFRAID; FOR I KNOW THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR JESUS WHO HAS BEEN CRUCIFIED. 20 TAS DO NOT BE AFRAID THE GUARDS AND BEEN SO AFRAID THEY PASSED OUT SO THE ANGEL TELLS THE WOMEN “DO NOT BE AFRAID” 21 FEAR IS THE COMMON RESPONSE TO THE PRESENCE OF SPIRITUAL POWER JESUS TOLD THE DISCIPLE DO NOT FEAR AT THEIR CALLING 22 AT THE CALMING OF THE STORM AT THE TRANSFIGURATION WHEN HE TAUGHT THEM ABOUT THE KINGDOM ( PAUSE ) ANGELS OFTEN GIVE THE INSTRUCTION 23 “DO NOT BE AFRAID” WE NEED TO BE READY TO GIVE THIS INSTRUCTION THOSE THAT SEEK JESUS , HAVE NO REASON TO BE AFRAID. 24 FOR, IF THEY TRULY SEEK HIM THEY SHALL FIND HIM. AND SHALL FIND IN PEACE WITH GOD. SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE SO MUCH FEAR ( RIFF ) 25 ISAIAH 41:10 ‘DO NOT FEAR, FOR I AM WITH YOU; DO NOT ANXIOUSLY LOOK ABOUT YOU, FOR I AM YOUR GOD. I WILL STRENGTHEN YOU, SURELY I WILL HELP YOU, SURELY I WILL UPHOLD YOU WITH MY RIGHTEOUS RIGHT HAND.’ 26 DO NOT FEAR IS NOT AN EMPTY COMMAND IT IS BACKED BY THE PROMISE OF GOD; “I AM WITH YOU.” ( PAUSE ) A FULL EXPLANATION IS GIVEN WHY THEY SHOULD NOT FEAR 27 TAS I KNOW WHAT YOU SEEK THE ANGEL KNEW WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR “FOR I KNOW THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR JESUS” 28 THIS IS WHY THEY SHOULD NOT FEAR HE KNOWS THEIR PURPOSE IN COMING TO THE TOMB WHEN WE ENCOUNTER LOST WANDERING FEARFUL PEOPLE 29 WE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY LOOKING FOR THEY MAY NOT EVEN KNOW IT BUT WE CAN KNOW IT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A PURPOSE A REASON FOR LIVING 30 THEY ARE LOOKING FOR JESUS JUST LIKE THESE WOMEN ON EASTER MORNING WE NEED TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR 31 PEOPLE THINK THEY NEED ALL KINDA STUFF ( RIFF ) BUT IF WE SEEK GOD THE THINGS WE ACTUALLY NEED WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF 32 MATTHEW 6:33 “ BUT SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE ADDED TO YOU.” 33 FIRST WE HELP PEOPLE TO NOT FEAR THEN WE HELP THEM KNOW WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR THEN WE TAKE THEM TO THE CROSS TO FIND CHRIST ( PAUSE ) 34 TAS WHAT CHRIST DID THE ANGEL DESCRIBES JESUS AS ONE “WHO HAS BEEN CRUCIFIED” NOT AS ONE WHO WAS A (RIFF) TEACHER, PROPHET 35 WHEN WE ARE TALKING TO THOSE SEEKING CHRIST WE NEED TO FOCUS ON WHAT CHRIST DID ON THE CROSS CHRIST DID FAR MORE THAN DIE ON THE CROSS ( RIFF ) 36 BUT THE LOST MUST UNDERSTAND THE CROSS FIRST HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS PAID FOR THEIR SINS 37 ROMANS 5:8 BUT GOD DEMONSTRATES HIS OWN LOVE TOWARD US, IN THAT WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US. 38 THE LOST CAN ONLY FIND CHRIST IF THEY UNDERSTAND THEIR SINS ARE PAID FOR ONLY IN THIS CAN THEY HAVE HOPE ( PAUSE ) 39 A SUBMARINE WAS RAMMED BY SHIP AND QUICKLY SANK THE CREW WAS TRAPPED IN A WATERY PRISON. SHIPS RUSHED TO THE SCENE. THE CREW CLUNG BRAVELY TO LIFE AS THE OXYGEN SLOWLY GAVE OUT. 40 A RESCUE DIVER PLACED LISTENING DEVICE TO THE SIDE OF THE SUB. HE HEARD A TAPPING NOISE. SOMEONE WAS TAPPING OUT A QUESTION. 41 USING THE DOTS AND DASHES OF THE MORSE CODE. THE QUESTION CAME SLOWLY: “IS … THERE … ANY … HOPE?” THIS SEEMS TO BE THE COMMON CRY OF HUMANITY: “IS THERE ANY HOPE?” 42 HOPE, INDEED, IS THE BASIS OF ALL HUMAN EXISTENCE! WE NEED TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION. YES, THERE IS HOPE, IN CHRIST JESUS. 43 WE NEED TO HELP THEM FIND HOPE BY HELPING THEM TO NOT BE AFRAID BY HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR 44 BY HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT CHRIST DID ON THE CROSS BUT WE DO NOT STOP AT THE CROSS ( PAUSE) 45 MATTHEW 28:6 “HE IS NOT HERE, FOR HE HAS RISEN, JUST AS HE SAID. COME, SEE THE PLACE WHERE HE WAS LYING. 46 TAS WHERE CHRIST IS NOT THE WOMEN WERE LOOKING FOR CHRIST’S BODY IN THE TOMB THEY ANGEL MADE IT VERY CLEAR “HE IS NOT HERE” 47 IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE THEY WOULD LOOK THERE HIS BODY HAD BEEN PLACED THERE THE WOMEN HAD SEEN THIS 48 LUKE 23:55 NOW THE WOMEN WHO HAD COME WITH HIM OUT OF GALILEE FOLLOWED, AND SAW THE TOMB AND HOW HIS BODY WAS LAID. 49 BUT IT WAS THERE NO LONGER ( PAUSE ) THE LOST OF THIS WORLD ARE LOOKING FOR ANSWERS HERE THEY THINK THE SOLUTION TO THEIR PROBLEMS IS HERE 50 THEY NEED TO KNOW THE ANSWERS ARE NOT HERE ( PAUSE ) THE ANSWER TO THE EMPTINESS IN THEIR HEARTS IS NOT FOUND HERE THE ANSWER IS NOT ( RIFF ) 51 IT IS ONLY FOUND IN JESUS CHRIST WHO IS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER 52 TAS CHRIST ROSE THE ANGEL TOLD “HE IS NOT HERE” THIS IS NOT GOOD NEWS WITHOUT THE REST 53 SO HE TELLS THEM WHERE CHRIST IS “HE HAS RISEN” JESUS HAD SAID HE WOULD RISE 54 MATTHEW 20:18–19 “BEHOLD, WE ARE GOING UP TO JERUSALEM; AND THE SON OF MAN WILL BE DELIVERED TO THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND SCRIBES, AND THEY WILL CONDEMN HIM TO DEATH, 55 AND WILL HAND HIM OVER TO THE GENTILES TO MOCK AND SCOURGE AND CRUCIFY HIM, AND ON THE THIRD DAY HE WILL BE RAISED UP.” 56 IF HE HAD FAILED TO RISE HE WOULD HAVE BEEN A LIAR AND UNWORTHY OF ANY FURTHER DEVOTION IN RISING HE DEFEATS DEATH 57 HE IS THE FIRST BORN OF THE DEAD HE SECURES OUR RESURRECTION ( PAUSE ) IT IS A GREAT COMFORT TO THOSE SEEKING 58 TO FIND HIM NOT HERE BUT RISEN THE LOST MUST FIRST KNOW CHRIST CRUCIFIED BUT MUST THEN KNOW CHRIST RISEN 59 TAS CHRIST HAD LAID AS PROOF THE ANGEL OFFERS THE TOMB “COME, SEE THE PLACE WHERE HE WAS LYING” THE ANGEL HAS OFFERED FOR THEM TO EXAMINE THE EVIDENCE 60 WE NEED TO HELP THE LOST EXAMINE THE EVIDENCE WE SHOULD NEVER RUN FROM PEOPLE LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE (PAUSE) 61 1 PETER 3:15 BUT SANCTIFY CHRIST AS LORD IN YOUR HEARTS, ALWAYS BEING READY TO MAKE A DEFENSE TO EVERYONE WHO ASKS YOU TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT FOR THE HOPE THAT IS IN YOU, YET WITH GENTLENESS AND REVERENCE; 62 WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE EVIDENCE IS THE EVIDENCE FOR THE LIFE OF CHRIST FOR THE DEATH OF CHRIST 63 FOR THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST WE HAVE AMPLE EVIDENCE IN THE BIBLE BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE WRITINGS OF 64 JOSEPHUS, TERTULLIAN, TACITUS, WE HAVE ARCHEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE AND WE HAVE PERSONAL EVIDENCE 65 HOW CHRIST HAS CHANGED OUR LIVES WHEN WE TELL THEM CHRIST HAS RISEN WE NEED TO BE READY TO SHOW THEM THE EVIDENCE 66 TO DO THIS WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY TALK WITH THEM TALKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT GOD CAN BE SCARY 67 THE STORY IS TOLD ABOUT A BARBER. HE HAD JUST BEEN GLORIOUSLY SAVED IN AN OLD-FASHIONED REVIVAL MEETING. THE NEXT MORNING AT WORK. 68 HE WANTED TO SHARE HIS NEW FAITH AND WITNESS TO THE LOST. A CUSTOMER CAME IN AND SAT DOWN. THE BARBER PREPARED TO SHAVE HIM. 69 HE WAS TRYING TO MUSTER UP THE RIGHT WORDS TO SAY. FINALLY AS HE STOOD WITH HIS RAZOR POISED OVER THE MAN’S THROAT. HE ASKED, “ARE YOU PREPARED TO MEET GOD?” 70 AS WE PREPARE TO COMMUNICATE GOD’S TRUTH. WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF CIRCUMSTANCES AND SITUATIONS. IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO SHARE GOD’S WORD. 71 SOME SITUATIONS MAY BE MORE APPROPRIATE THAN OTHERS. WE NEED TO CHOOSE OUR WORDS AND OUR TIMING CAREFULLY. ( PAUSE ) HELPING PEOPLE COME TO GOD IS PART OF WHAT WE ARE CALLED TO DO AS CHRISTIANS 72 MATTHEW 28:7 “GO QUICKLY AND TELL HIS DISCIPLES THAT HE HAS RISEN FROM THE DEAD; AND BEHOLD, HE IS GOING AHEAD OF YOU INTO GALILEE, THERE YOU WILL SEE HIM; BEHOLD, I HAVE TOLD YOU.” 73 TAS TO GET TO WORK AFTER SHOWING THEM THE TOMB THE ANGEL PUTS THEM TO WORK “GO QUICKLY” 74 WHY THE HURRY? THEY NEEDED TO GO QUICKLY BECAUSE THERE WERE OTHERS WHO DID NOT KNOW CHRIST HAD RISEN 75 THIS IS NOT A REQUEST BY THE ANGEL IT IS AN ORDER THE WOMEN WERE NOT TO STAND AROUND AT THE TOMB THEY WERE TO GO TELL OTHERS THE GOOD NEWS JESUS WILL GIVE A SIMILAR COMMAND AT HIS ASCENSION 76 MATTHEW 28:19 “GO THEREFORE AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL THE NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, 77 WHEN A LOST PERSON COMES TO CHRIST IT IS NOT THE END IT IS THE BEGINNING WHEN WE HELP SOMEONE TO NOT BE AFRAID 78 TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR TO KNOW WHAT CHRIST DID ON THE CROSS WHEN THEY KNOW CHRIST ROSE 79 AND THEY TRUST IN HIS WORK ON THE CROSS WE ARE NOT DONE ( PAUSE ) SOMEONE NEEDS TO TELL THEM TO GO QUICKLY 80 TAS TELL THOSE WHO HAVE NOT HEARD THEY WERE TO “GO QUICKLY” TO THE DISCIPLES THE FIRST MESSAGE THEY WERE TO GIVE WAS THAT CHRIST HAD RISEN 81 THE ANGEL DID NOT SAY GO TELL THE PRIESTS OR THE PHARISEES BUT GO TELL THE DISCIPLES THOSE WHO KNEW CHRIST 82 EVEN THOSE WHO KNOW CHRIST SOMETIMES NEED TO BE REMINDED OF THIS CERTAINLY THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW CHRIST NEED THIS MESSAGE 83 THEY NEED TO BE TOLD SO THEY CAN HAVE HOPE HOPE THAT THERE IS A RISEN SAVIOR WHO DIED FOR OUR SINS AND ROSE AFTER 3 DAYS 84 IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS NOT HEARD THIS NEWS GO QUICKLY AND TELL THEM TELL THEM CHRIST HAS RISEN TELL THEM WE WILL SEE CHRIST AGAIN 85 TAS WE WILL SEE CHRIST AGAIN THE SECOND MESSAGE IS THEY WILL SEE CHRIST AGAIN THE ANGEL TELLS THEM “HE IS GOING AHEAD OF YOU INTO GALILEE, THERE YOU WILL SEE HIM” 86 JESUS HAD TOLD THEM OF THIS MATTHEW 26:32 “BUT AFTER I HAVE BEEN RAISED, I WILL GO AHEAD OF YOU TO GALILEE.” 87 JESUS DID APPEAR TO SOME BEFORE THIS IN THE UPPER ROOM ON THE ROAD TO EMMAUS 88 BUT THIS APPEARANCE IN GALILEE WAS SPECIAL CHRIST HAD FORETOLD IT, IT WAS TO A VAST NUMBER PAUL DESCRIBES IT AS ONE OF THE PROOFS OF THE RESURRECTION 89 1 CORINTHIANS 15:6 AFTER THAT HE APPEARED TO MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED BRETHREN AT ONE TIME, MOST OF WHOM REMAIN UNTIL NOW, BUT SOME HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP; 90 UNDERSTANDING WE WILL ALL SEE CHRIST AGAIN SHOULD CHANGE THINGS WE SHOULD LIVE DIFFERENTLY WE SHOULD LIVE FOR HIM AND NOT FOR OURSELVES (PAUSE) 91 TRUSTING IN CHRIST IS NOT THE END GOAL OF CHRISTIANITY IT IS JUST THE BEGINNING THREE PASTORS GOT TOGETHER FOR COFFEE ONE DAY. 92 THEY FOUND ALL THEIR CHURCHES HAD BAT-INFESTATION PROBLEMS. "I GOT SO MAD," SAID ONE, "I TOOK A SHOTGUN AND FIRED AT THEM. IT MADE HOLES IN THE CEILING, BUT DID NOTHING TO THE BATS." 93 "I TRIED TRAPPING THEM ALIVE," SAID THE SECOND. "THEN I DROVE 50 MILES BEFORE RELEASING THEM. BUT THEY BEAT ME BACK TO THE CHURCH." 94 "I HAVEN'T HAD ANY MORE PROBLEMS," SAID THE THIRD. "WHAT DID YOU DO?" ASKED THE OTHERS, AMAZED. "I SIMPLY BAPTIZED" HE REPLIED 95 "I HAVEN'T SEEN THEM SINCE"  ENTRANCE INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST IS NOT THE END IT IS ONLY THE BEGINNING WE HAVE SO MUCH TO DO FOR CHRIST 96 JUST LIKE THE LITTLE GIRL WHO DID NOT KNOW SHE WAS LOST OUR WORLD IS FILLED WITH LOST PEOPLE UNAWARE OF THEIR SITUATION ( PAUSE ) THEY ARE HURTING AND LONELY, IN NEED OF A SAVIOR 97 THE WORDS OF THE ANGEL TO THE WOMEN AT THE TOMB ARE A SNAP SHOT OF THE GOOD NEWS WE NEED TO BRING THE LOST WE NEED TO HELP THEM NOT BE AFRAID IN THEIR PAIN 98 HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THEY ARE LOOKING FOR THE ONLY THING THAT CAN FILL THE HOLE IN THEIR HEART JESUS CHRIST 99 THEY NEED TO KNOW CHRIST DIED FOR THEIR SINS THAT HE ROSE AFTER THREE DAYS HE IS NOT IN THE TOMB 100 AS CHRISTIANS WE ARE CALLED TO COMMUNICATE THESE THINGS WE DO THIS BY GOING QUICKLY TO THOSE WHO HAVE NOT HEARD KNOWING WE WILL SEE CHRIST AGAIN BECAUSE HE HAS GONE AHEAD 101 AND WE WILL SEE HIM THERE. IF THERE IS ANYONE HERE THIS MORNING WHO IS SEEKING SOMETHING 102 SEEKING SOMETHING TO END THE HURTING AND SADNESS IN YOUR LIFE IN A MOMENT I AM GOING TO PRAY A PRAYER AND WE ARE GOING TO SING A SONG 103 I WOULD INVITE YOU TO COME FORWARD DURING THAT SONG AND PLACE YOUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST THE RISEN SAVIOR 104 105