"The Guarantee of Hope!"
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My good friend Hawk Wetherby who is with the Lord today once told me that today is Jesus’ getting up day. I love that statement. Jesus got up and got out of his grave and He is alive church.
I love stories and movies about Hope. We live in a world where there are too many discouraging things and hope-defeating situations right? When Jennifer and I began to date we went and watched a movie called Shawshank Redemption. In this movie one of the main characters Andy is tried and convicted for killing his wife. The movie has it’s many ups and downs. The movie goes on to help you see that he was innocent of the crime, however the warden tries to conceal the matter. And all of a sudden all hope is lost that Andy will be cleared of murder conviction and set free. But all is not lost. In the end Andy escapes from prison gaining his freedom. The story gives us hope because the character escapes and finds his freedom.
Sometimes it can look as if the good guys are losing and the bad guys are winning. Often times life brings with it a mix of joys and sorrows. There are many days that life can seem complicated and overwhelming. That is why I want to talk to you today about the guarantee of hope. Where should we look???
Hebrews 12:2 tells us,
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Everything changes when we turn to Jesus and let him change us. Our salvation and forgiveness come by and through him. Our guarantee is found in him.
Now please here me today. That is not to say that we all won’t deal with difficult days. Some of you in this room have gone through a crisis or a very difficult season of life. Did you know that there are several reasons that we face difficult hardships in this life? The Bible shows us some reasons that we experience frustrations and seasons of pain and loss.
For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
1. The World.
1. The World.
The Word of God has much to say about this place we all live in. God’s Word also warns us about our present world because it is broken and not functioning the way that God intended too. We see that here from what Paul tells us in his letter to the Church at Rome. Paul tells us that the world is groaning as it awaits for redemption. Now I don’t know about you but when I get sick or things don’t go my way I groan and complain. Just ask my wife. We as humans tend too groan when we get frustrated, deal with pain, or when we get discouraged. Everything around us is not as God designed it to be. The book of Genesis tells us that when God first designed this world there was no sin, and everything was beautiful and perfect as it was designed to be. Today we all live in a much different world. Because of the first Adam sin entered the world but by another Adam or man has come the resurrection of the dead. (1 Cor. 15:22) Here are a few other problems we deal with. Here is how Matthew explains it.
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
2. Our flesh.
2. Our flesh.
When the Bible talks about the flesh it is not talking about our physical bodies, but rather our fallen nature. What this means is that we all have this struggle with sin. Yes, we have been forgiven because of what Jesus has done through his death and resurrection, but sin is no longer the master of our lives. Jesus is. There is not one of us who walks perfectly here on this earth because of this sin nature inside of us. Sin is all around us. How so?
-Our marriage would be a lot easier if every husband and wife were sin free.
-The same would be true of friendships, jobs, education, government, the church, and the world of entertainment. Let me just say this, sin complicates everything in our lives. Many of our daily frustrations and disappointments are the result of the presence of sin in us and the people around us. And finally this one last reason.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
3. The Devil.
3. The Devil.
In Ephesians 6 Paul lays out some practical instructions by reminding us that we live in this great big spiritual war. Now this is not a war like many of us think of. In fact, Ephesians tells us that this battle is not of flesh or blood. Our struggle is not really with people, places, and things. What we wrestle with every day are principalities and powers, cosmic powers over this present darkness… spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Eph. 6:12)
There really is a great, dark and deceitful enemy who prowls around like a hungry lion seeking who he can devour. This is not just a verse to scare you or to play around with. SATAN is your number one enemy. So, life is hard, because life is an all out war. A spiritual war. There is a tempter, a deceiver, and liar who will mess with your faith to make you doubt the goodness and faithfulness of God. Now of course the Devil does not have the power to remove our salvation, but he is intent on messing up our journey. So watch out, be careful and armor up!!!
So, because of the world, the flesh, and the devil the wonderful work that Jesus did here on earth did not end on the cross but with the shocking glory of his resurrection. What i mean is that the resurrection of Jesus from the grave gives us a guarantee of hope. All of the gospels tell us of the Lord’s resurrection, however 1 Corinthians 15 is arguably the New Testament’s longest and most detailed account of the Resurrection. Would you turn there with me today. Here is how Paul describes things beginning in verse 1.
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,
and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.
Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
What Paul does here is give us the proof that Jesus rose from the grave. Then in verses 12-19 he lays out the speculation that some may have about the possibility that Christ had not been raised from the dead. Some of you may be here today and wonder this? How could Christ come back and why was there the need for him to return from the grave? I love Paul’s answer here. Look at verse 20.
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
Easter did happen. It is a historical fact. On the third day when the disciples came to the tomb, it was empty, not because someone stole the body of Christ, but because the body that lay in the grave became alive and then appeared to many witnesses. (vs. 6) When you go back up to verse 8 Paul tells us that last of all he appeared to Paul. Paul was an I witness to the fact that Christ rose from the grave along with many others, and now Paul sits down to write about this guarantee of hope.
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.
For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.
When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.
1. The Resurrection Guarantees another Resurrection.
1. The Resurrection Guarantees another Resurrection.
(Verses 20-23) The empty tomb comforts us and gives us hope because we are assured of another resurrection. Because of Christ and His resurrection those who are in Christ or are believers will be raised to eternal life. The word firstfruits here in verse 20 is such an encouraging picture. When the first apple or first grape appears on a tree or vine what this shows us is that it is a guarantee of many more to come. The empty tomb of Jesus guarantees another resurrection. Wether we like it or not, eventually we will all die, but for those who have been changed by Jesus and trust in Him, we are guaranteed hope. We as believers will rise up on the last day when Christ returns again and we will be with him in a new heaven and a new earth, where all things will be made new. There will be no more death, no more sin, no more devil, no more broken world. All pain, frustration, suffering and discouragement will forever end. We as redeemed beings, will live forever in peace and harmony with our risen Savior and King.
2. The Resurrection Guarantees us that Christ is in control right now!
2. The Resurrection Guarantees us that Christ is in control right now!
(Verses 24-25) Paul tells us here in 1 Corinthians 15 that the resurrection of Christ guarantees the present reign of Christ. Why is this so important for us today? Because i think that there come times in our life where we wonder where is God? God what are you doing right now, because it sure seems that you are far away. Paul says here, “He must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. So, today, no matter how unpredictable or out of control your life may feel, Jesus is ruling and reigning. He will continue to reign until the final enemy is under his feet. Look at verse 25. That doesn’t mean we won’t experience pain or hurt in this world. But what it does mean here is that there is nothing that Jesus does not know about, cannot intervene in, or alter altogether. He has a plan for your life as well as this world. The question today is will we trust in His plan? There are many who choose to do what they want to do, because they think there is no God or that they know better than God. Why would God go to such an extent to give us His one and only Son if He didn’t care about us. The fact is He does love us and He desires for us to follow Him and live for Him all of our days.
3. The Resurrection is our Guarantee that what we live with today will not always be.
3. The Resurrection is our Guarantee that what we live with today will not always be.
(Verses 26-28) God is faithful church! Not only do we see this here in our text today, that God has put all his enemies under his feat including death and sin. Paul tells us plainly that the last enemy is death in verse 26. However there is even more. Centuries earlier, after Adam and Eve rebelled, God promised that he would crush wrong once and for all.
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
God vowed to send His Son to defeat sin and death by his crucifixion and resurrection. God never forgot his promise, He never got weary, He was never distracted. He made a promise, and he controlled the events of history so that at just the right moment, Jesus Christ would come and fulfill what had been promised. The empty tomb shows us the completion of his work. Christ has defeated the Enemy.
Today Church, we have once again been reminded that there is an empty tomb and that Jesus is alive. He provides us with His wonderful grace all the way to the end. He will continue to carry us through this life until we see him face to face. Will you bow your head and close your eyes.
Closing Prayer: You may be here today and have never experienced the good news of Jesus. His Salvation. Would you call out to him today and pray this. “Father, I thank you today for providing the Lamb who takes away my sin. I know today that I can never be good enough, I cannot do anything good on my own unless you change me and work within me. I know today that I am nothing without the blood of Jesus. So, today I choose in my heart to believe in you Jesus as my Savior, and I confess my sin and guilt to you. I believe that you died and rose again for me, and I ask that you would help me to walk in obedience to you and your word all of my days. In Jesus name amen.”
If you have confessed this today and have made a decision to trust Christ, would you please let me know or a friend know about this so that we can help you grow in your relationship with Christ.
Explain Communion:
Final Benediction: 1 Corinthians 15:58
What will you do this week as we move on from Easter Sunday? As much as we should be captivated by the empty tomb everyday I think that it is easy for us to forget what Christ has done for us. I want to encourage us to go out and continue to do the work of the Lord. Be a bright light in Odessa and let others know this Good News. Christ is Alive!