Risen Indeed

In continuing our theme from Good Friday.

How did the resurection change everything?

We dealt with the the facts

That Jesus opened the door to everyone to be part of His family. no longer just the Jewish nation

That Jesus became the pefect fully satisfying sacrifice that fullfilled the just law of God, which means we no longer have to do animal sacrifice

That it changed the way the Holy Spirit operated on the Earth. In the OT Holy Spirit came upon a specific person for a specfic time for a specific purpose.

Now all believers have Holy Spirit 24/7 for everything we do

Today I want to expand on this topic

Jesus is the risen King who is victorious over death

recognized by His disciples,

validated by Scripture

and enthroned over all creation.

That truth changes our faith, theology, and life.

The resurrection also changes our practical living.

The resurrection isn't just a doctrine to believe,

but a truth should change our behavior.

Introduction Idea

Think about the most famous person who died recently, someone whose death made every blog and television news broadcast. The type of person that would be referenced around the water cooler

Imagine a few days later as you watching youtube or facebook

you see that this famous person has come back to life!

People are shocked

many call it fake news

but you dig in deeper, turn on the news, check another platform

call a friend

You go to work and everyone is talking about it.

You browse the internet, and everyone is posting and blogging about it.

Because this is so utterly rare it would have an impact.

But how long would that impact last?

Would it change the world forever?

or would it simply be a headline that people forget about in a few weeks.

When we take a look at the ressurection of Jesus.

It utterly changed every aspect of every person who will ever live.

The resurrection is scientifically impossible, but historically true.

The resurrection is history-making, earth-shaking, life-transforming, and eternity-changing truth.

Not only did it change the way we tell time

BC-AD

But it also changed every aspect of life

You may believe it, but do you understand how it changes your life?

You may comprehend the theology behind it, but has it yet changed your behavior?

Luke 24 shows us how Jesus' resurrection does this.

I. Jesus' resurrection changes our conversations (Luke 24:13-24).

Luke 24:13–24 NASB95

And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad. One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. “But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. “But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. “Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.”

The truth of the resurrection is just as shocking today as it was the day it occurred.

Don't treat the resurrection as some cold truth you've always heard.

Do not allow your understanding and presentation of the gospel to be about the death of Jesus alone.

Let Jesus' resurrection change your conversation.

Talk about it this week with the same excitement as if it just happened.

The resurection of Jesus is what seperates the Christian faith from every other religion on earth.

Budda mohamad Confucius, Zoroaster all died and never rose again.

Jesus tomb is empty can’t say the same about theirs

II. Jesus' resurrection changes our Bible study

Luke 24:25-44

Luke 24:25–44 NASB95

And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! “Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread. While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be to you.” But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit. And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? “See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; and He took it and ate it before them. Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

Study your Bible with the resurrection in mind.

You not just reading a History book with some interesting stories

Your reading a record of God’s amazing plans for us

Watch how God takes his people through good-as-dead experiences, such as Isaac's sacrifice, Joseph's imprisonment, and Daniel's den of lions.

God loves to orchestrate scenes that point forward to the resurrection of Jesus while leaving the greatest glory for the resurrection itself.

III. Jesus' resurrection changes our witness

(Luke 24:45-49)

Luke 24:45–49 NASB95

Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. “You are witnesses of these things. “And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

As Jesus revealed His true identity to His disciples, He taught them a very important truth.

Luke 24:47 NASB95

and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

repentance does not just mean to turn away from sin.

That is only part of the truth.

Repentance also means turning to Jesus.

Forgiveness means that God will not hold His judgment against us for our sin because Jesus has been judged in our place.

"Nations" means that there is not one person on earth who does not need to hear about the gospel of salvation through Jesus.

The resurection should let us to shout it from the root tops.

Its not something we should keep you your self

“Keep you religion to yourself”

sure but i’m talking about the Gospel.....the good New

Good News is shared

One thing I love about new believers is their willingness to share their story with everyone.

sadly many christians loose that passion over time.

That gotta change

we need to be refired in our passion for the Gospel

Conclusion

Imagine our country being attacked on our own soil.

The invading military wipes out all forms of communication.

We are subjagated for many years of oppression.

dramatically another military forces strategize together and strike hard against this enemy.

After a long, difficult battle, our military wins the war.

But communication has not yet been reestablished.

You are given the task to spread the word that we are no longer slaves and captives of our enemy.

Do you go out embarrassed, quietly muttering about victory and freedom? Do you stay silent as not to offend anyone who may have become comfortable with the occupation

No, you proclaim it!

Jesus told His disciples that it is our joyous task to proclaim God's offering of repentance and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

Years ago, I shared a vision that God gave me that He would equip our congregation to bring 100 million people into the Kingdom of God.

I have been critisized by some, I have been disbelieved by most.

So let me break it down into a more beleiveable number.

Can you bring 1 person into the Kingdom of God this year?

Can you love them and share the gospel with them in a life changing way?

Can you do your best to disciple them in the Way of the kingdom?

That’s all I’m asking of you. 1 Person this Year.

You see if the people gather here today. Discipled 1 person each year

And then each of those discipled 1

It would take 22 years for 100 million people to be birthed into the Kingdom of God

That’s only each making 1 disciple ever year.

But don’t worry about 100 million

Whose the 1

Whose the 1 you are going to bring into the kingdom of God this year.

Jesus’s last commandment. His commisioning was for His disciples to continue what He started.

Matthew 28:19–20 NASB95

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Let’s pray