Arise and Shine

Intro:

Good morning and thank you for joining us today on this Resurrection Sunday. As always please take a moment and like our FB page, turn on the notifications so you’ll be able to receive updates and don’t forget to share it.

Truly we are living in unique times, but take heart, these times don’t surprise God. Remember NOTHING has changed in God’s plan. We are still moving closer towards His glorious return. Undoubtably the hour comes closer as every second passes, we are that much closer to His coming. However, today is Resurrection Sunday, the day our Lord and Savior got up from the grave. As I think about the Resurrection, I’m reminded of the words of my favorite preacher Adrian Rogers as he said “The resurrection is not merely important to the historic Christian faith; without it, there would be no Christianity. It is the singular doctrine that elevates Christianity above all other world religions.” The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is hope for a lost and dying world but to the believer, it is joy that deserves to be shared.

YES, JOY IS WHAT THE BELIEVER SHOULD BE FILLED WITH AS WE REFLECT UPON THE RESURRECTION. For many, joy is situational or conditional BUT for the believer, WE HAVE A JOY THAT IS SUPERNATURAL AND PERPETUAL. The joy that is available to us, is UNMOVED by the circumstances of life because our joy surpasses the external and is fixed in the eternal. When I think on joy I’m reminded of summers at my grandmothers. I loved spending time with her, swimming in the pool, cookouts and spending the night. However, she had this wake up call that I honestly did quiet like in the moment. She would come in our room turn on the light and say “Arise and shine for the light has come Isaiah 60:1” Needless to say, I didn’t want to get up. I was comfortable and wanted to do what I wanted to do. Sadly, for many who believe, we share this same position when it comes to sharing our joy in Christ. We don’t want to for whatever reason, may not be comfortable doing it or we may believe that someone else is better suited to do it.

Now, when it comes to Isaiah 60:1 it referencing the second coming of our King BUT the words “Arise and Shine” have been solidly fixed in my heart for many weeks now. Friends, I believe that in light of the present state of the world the church of Christ MUST RISE AND SHINE! For too long many within the body have been comfortable with coming on Sunday, shanking a hand, listening to a message and BELIEVING THAT THAT IS ALL CHRIST WANTS US TO DO! Yet I wonder, now that we can no longer meet, what is the status of our faith, our relationship with Christ? If it all hangs upon a weekly meeting, then friend we must realize that is NOT ENOUGH!

Now, I want to be clear, I LOVE MEETING ON SUNDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS! I also believe the Bible commands that we meet BUT our faith in Christ MUST be built upon more than that. Therefore, let us RISE AND SHINE brightly for our Risen Lord Jesus Christ. This morning as we open God’s Word we are going to turn to Matthew 28 and see why we MUST RISE because He’s risen and SHINE to show others the life we have in Him.

Read Matthew 28:1-10; 16-20

We rise because He’s Risen:

As we examine the text we cannot forget the reality that these disciples are living in. We are facing dark days BUT dark days are NOT just experienced through sickness. For these people, someone they loved dearly, one they’d believed, trusted and placed their faith in, was brutally murdered. They had spent years of their lives traveling, laughing, crying with this Man, witnessing Him do and say incredible things. However, they also witnessed His horrific death and saw the tomb rolled over His grave. We cannot underestimate the devastation these people felt and so we turn to text and these woman going to the tomb with spices for Jesus’ dead body.

There are many in this world that are feeling a sense of devastation right now. Some have lost jobs, are concerned for their health and their loved ones, others are battling depression or drugs. While the list could go on and on, the fact remains that people have always felt the difficultly that comes with this life. These women and all who believed in Jesus were facing an unbelieviably difficult moment BUT notice how God moves in spectaular fashion. The Bible tells us that an angel of the Lord, dressing in white, descends from heaven like lightning, rolling the stone away and sitting atop it. The guards fall down like they’re dead and the woman are afraid and lets be honest, WHO WOULDN’T BE!

But there are two things that speak to you and I about why we are to “Rise” and that is the REPORT FROM GOD AND THE RESPONSE OF THE BELIEVER.

Report for the Believer:

Look with me first at the “REPORT FOR THE BELIEVER”. The Bible tells us in v.6-7 “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.” So, first the angel of the Lord reveals that he knows their intentions. He knows exactly why they came BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED THAT JESUS WAS DEAD. But then he reveals the greatest news to be heard by their ears “HE IS NOT HERE, FOR HE HAS RISEN, AS HE SAID.” Now, imagine that you’re at the beach. Its a beautiful day and you decide to get in the ocean. Once you’re out there you quickly realize that the waters are rough, as you’re continously hammered by the waves. Now, imagine all that the angel is revealing to these woman and realize it is like a tidal wave of emotions, memories and reality hitting them all at once. The glorious realization that Jesus IS NOT THERE, HE’S RISEN AND THAT ALL HE’S SAID WAS TRUTH MUST HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMING TO SAY THE LEAST.

Brothers and sisters, I do not know the last time you’ve interacted with God’s Word BUT I’m here to tell you this REPORT, given to us BY GOD, IS LIFE CHANGING! Yet, it is NOT going to change you or your response to the events in your life IF YOU DO NOT ENGAGE IT! These woman heard the report of the Lord and it stirred something within them and so too when we read the “report of the Lord” we too ought to be stirred. In this moment of pain and sorrow, God broke through and shared with them truth that quickly shifted the atomsphere. If you’re watching with and you’re feeling overwhelmed by the events that are unfolding before THEN OPEN GOD’S WORD. LOOK TO HIS REPORT AND HEAR WHAT IS SAYS.

BUT UNDERSTAND, WHEN WE HEAR IT, IT CALLS US TO RESPOND.

The Repsonse of the Believer:

Upon hearing the “REPORT FORM GOD” these women immediately move into action. Some of us like to move at our own pace BUT when you consider the gravity of the REPORT THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN, THEN THE ONLY APPROPRIATE RESPONSE IS EXPEDIENCY. I believe we’ve all been guilty at some time or another of NOT responding to God’s Word like we ought too BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN WE OUGHT NOT STRIVE TO DO BETTER. I love the scripture here because it states that the women “departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell the disciples.” These women were NOT going t be distracted or caught up in questioning or anything else, they were going to do what they’d been commanded to do and they were doing it with fear and GREAT JOY!

Beloved, we are called to RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD WITH FEAR OR REVERENCE AND GREAT JOY! Don’t be deceived, this world CANNOT give or produce JOY like what comes from reading God’s Word and having a relationship with Him. If there is NO joy in your life then assess how much priority God’s Word has in it. Their response to the report from God is a model for us to follow BUT don’t fail to see the Reward for the Believer.

The Reward for the Believer:

Finally, we see that as these women are being obedient to the report they received, they are ultimately rewarded with seeing Jesus. Now, notice the words of Christ as He says “Do not be afraid”. Again, we cannot remove the reality that these women had seen Him crucified. They’d witnessed His body removed from the cross and placed in a tomb. BUT NOW JESUS STANDS BEFORE THEM! He wanted them to realize that He was NOT a ghost or a figment of their imagination. Rather Jesus Christ their Savior was standing before them in the flesh and He wanted to comfort them.

To me this is another example of the compassion of Christ because He’s fully aware of the fragile nature of man. How incredibly overwhelming all this must have been for them BUT imagine the peace that grabbed hold of their hearts and mind when they heard their Lord speak. They knew His voice and when they heard Him speak, they responded appropriately “taking hold of His feet and worshipping Him.” Friends, I’m here today to tell you that Heaven is going to be a remarkable place, full of all kinds of amazing things. There will be all kinds of rewards of those who’ve placed their faith in Christ BUT THE GREATEST REWARD WILL BE CHRIST HIMSELF!!! He allows them to bow lowly, take hold of His feet and worship Him because that was appropriate for who He is! The response of every believer to our Savior ought to be bowing ourselves low AND WORSHIPPING THE ONE WHO IS WORHTY!

And yet Jesus also tells these women to “Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” So brothers and sisters not only did Christ reveal Himself to these faithful women who were preparing His body for death, He also tells them He’s going to make Himself known to the other disciples as well! One day, every person will see Jesus Christ. In fact, Philippians 2 tells us that “one day every knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!”

What a glorious day that will be! So brothers and sisters, let us too RISE for our Savior has risen. Death could NOT hold Him, sin has been defeated AND YOU AND HAVE BEEN COMMISSIONED TO TAKE HIS REPORT TO THOSE WHO SO DESPERATELY NEED TO HEAR IT. NOW IS OUR HOUR TO BE THE CHURCH, TIME IS A GIFT, A PRESENT. LET US NOT WASTE OUR LIVES ON OURSELVES, RATHER LET US RESPOND TO THE REPORT OF THE LORD AND ONE DAY WE WILL RECEIVE OUR GREAT REWARD IN CHRIST JESUS.

THEREFORE, LET US SHINE TO SHOW OTHERS THE WAY.

Shine to show others the way....v.16-20

As we look now to the final verses in Matthews Gospel, you see that it is titled as the “Great Commission”. This is Matthews last recorded message that Jesus gives to His disciples and I would submit that it is for every follower of Christ. Being a parent of young children comes with its challenges but just wait till they get in school and start math. I don’t consider myself to be that advance in age BUT the way they teach math today can be complex. So, when i help my oldest with her work, if I don’t do it they way her teacher did, then she has to “show me the right way to do.”

As God’s children, beleive it or not, we are called to show others the way to Christ. We cannot control if someone will believe BUT we are called nonetheless to SHOW THEM THE WAY. Growing up, many of us heard that familiar childrens song Let is Shine. You know sometimes we are quick to dismiss those childrens songs BUT THERE CAN BE GREAT THEOLOGICAL TRUTH IN THEM! We are called to let the light of Christ within us shine brightly to the world around us. However, you cannot shine if the light is NOT within you or if you’ve allowed the world to hide it. First and foremost, if you don’t know Jesus you cannot share His light. Secondly, if we allow the world, sin and ourselves to overload our mind and heart, then we will NOT shine like we could, like we should. This is where individual responsibility, when it comes to faith and a personal relationship with Jesus, finds its mark.

Jesus gives these disciples and really all who believe, clear direction for how we’re to Shine. First, we Shine because of His deity, secondly we Shine through obedience to His direction and finally, we Shine as we find comfort in His declaration.

His Deity: v.18 “all authority in heaven and earth has been given to me”

The first way that we are to “Shine” is through knowing that within Christ is “all authority in heaven and earth” and He’s the One we are shining for! Make no mistake we DO NOT shine for ourselves or anyone OTHER THAN JESUS! He’s the One who is worthy of praise and He’s the One with all power. He enables us to “shine” because He has all the authority and ability to do so! That is reality of the life of the believer, YOU SHINE BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS!!!

However, we also shine because of what He’s told us to do...

His Direction: v.19 “Go, make, baptize, teach”

Notice that Jesus uses specific words that require action. “Go” being the first word and the one that initiates action. As the ones who are to “shine” then we must GO wherever He leads and places us. Some say “I’ll share and show Jesus when this or that happens BUT friend, we’re called to SHINE WHEREVER YOU’VE BEEN STATIONED. DO BECOME FIXATED ON THE FUTURE, INSTEAD BUT FOCUSED ON THOSE IN FRONT OF YOU. Yet, the second word He uses is “make” and this word is given in direction connection to Go. Christ commands us to “Go therefore and make...” We know that whenever it comes to making something, effort is involved AND IF WE’RE TO MAKE WHAT CHRIST CALLS US TO MAKE, THEN WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT EFFORT INTO IT! He calls us to “make disciples” or in other words to “make, mold and model” for others what it means to follow Me. Again, its important to note you CANNOT MAKE A DISCIPLE IF YOU YOURSELF ARE NOT ONE! YOU CANNOT HELP IN MOLDING SOMEONE TO BE LIKE CHRIST IF YOU YOURSELF ARE NOT BEING MOLDED.

However, He also calls us “baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” We are commanded to “baptize” or to lead and assist others in understanding the significance of death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Now, you don’t have to be baptized to receive Christ BUT if you’ve received Christ, then you’ll want to be baptized. And the final command He gives is for us to “teach all that He’s commanded.” A good teacher can teach becuase they have a firm grasp on the subject matter they teach. They spend time studying, learning, asking questions and working out the material on their own. Some would say “they make it their own in order that they may share it with others.” Friends, we too make take the same position to all that Christ has commanded us. We must take that time and study God’s Word, learning, taking notes, asking questions, researching and begin to insert into the conversations that we’re involved in. If we do these things, then we’ll begin to see what it means to effectively teach others God’s Word.

His Declaration: v.20 “I am with you always....”

Finally, in v.20 we see that Christ offers comfort yet again to His disciples. Clearly, He’s given them much to consider, to take in. There He is standing before them, alive and well and now, He’s commissioning them for the great task again. He knows what will happen, how they will suffer for His namesake, the pain the will endure and the death they will die. Make NO mistake brothers and sisters, the blood of these men will be shed in order for the Gospel to be made known BUT notice that Christ gives them a parting comfort.

His Words are powerful as He says “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Sometimes people feel overwhelmed at the thought of sharing the Gospel or being a Christ glorifying example on the job site or at home BUT NEVER FORGET THAT CHRIST WILL NEVER ABANDON YOU! HE’S CALLED YOU BUT HE’S ALSO EMPOWERED AND EQUIPPED YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. HE IS ALIVE AND ACTIVE IN THE LIFE OF ALL BELIEVERS AND HE EMPOWERS THEM TO PROGRESS FORWARD IN THIS TIMULTUOUS LIFE WITH PEACE AND CERTAINTY.

CHRIST HAS CALLED US ALL TO A GREAT WORK AND HE’S GIVE YOU SOMEONE TO HELP YOU ACCOMPLISH IT. SO FRIEND, I BELIEVE THIS WORD CALLS US TO RISE AND SHINE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD ALMIGHTY AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST. WILL BE SEEN IN THESE HOURS AS THE ONES WHO ARE SHINING HEAVEN’S LIGHT. LET US PARTICIPATE IN THE GREAT COMMISSION.

Closing:

So brothers and sisters, I want to thank you for joining us on this rainy Resurrection Sunday morning and I want to challenge you to “Arise and Shine” for Jesus came and He’s commissioned us to share His message with the world around us.