Gathering of Believers

WE:

There are some of you here this morning who remember the “Miracle on Ice.”

Some of you who are younger might be thinking, “Is this a Disney Movie.”

The USA Hockey Team defeated the Russians for the Gold in 1980.

What an event this was.

Some of us have had Miraculous Events happen in our lives.

Some of the events have happened around sporting events.

Some of the events have happened around work related events.

But the ones you probably remember the most are those that dealt with your family or friends.

I have had three miraculous events in my life that still to this day I cannot explain it.

The birth of my three kids.

It is something I cannot explain. I stood in awe of what just happened in front of my eye.

I have been blessed to witness other miraculous events with people I have pastored.

I have seen God restored marriages and even witnessed those marriages become better than before.

I have seen people miraculously healed on the spot.

I have encountered people who have testified after a tragic accident they walked out of it unharmed.

Should have been dead but the Lord protected them.

Transition Statement: Have you experienced, first or second hand, miraculous events that have taken place that the only explanation is it was a MIRACLE of God?

WE:

Miraculous Events happen by the hand of God but sometime through his people.

I am reminded of a story of a gentleman who needed some money to take care of his families needs for the time being.

The story is set in the early 18th century ....

The gentleman had just finished kneeling to pray and ask God for a miracle ...

In a few minutes after praying, (He said) I went up-stairs to my office. I pulled open a drawer of the table to look for an account book. I had not opened that drawer for some time, but no sooner was the drawer opened than I saw lying before me three silver dollars. It seemed to me as if three silver dollars never looked so large as those did. I do not know how the three dollars came in the drawer. Of course, I do not think that any miracle was performed. I presume that I myself had put those three silver dollars there weeks or months before when I had more silver dollars in my pocket than I cared to carry, but it was as plain an answer to prayer as if the three silver dollars had come tumbling down through the chimney. The three dollars would not only take me out to Lake Minnetonka, but meet at least part of the immediate necessities of the family. After reaching our home on the lake I rowed over to Excelsior to call on a friend who had asked me to come over to get vegetables out of his garden. In the course of our conversation I was led to tell him of the answer to prayer that had come to me the night before. God blessed the story to his own heart. He walked down to the boat with me, and when I stepped down into my rowboat, we shook hands as we separated. He left in my hand a five dollar bill, which met all the needs of the family.

I would classify this as a miraculous event. A MIRACLE!

Share about Jim Schimpf placing a $100 in my hand.

Martin Luther once said, “Miracles take place not because they are performed but because they are believed.”

Transition Statement: We are celebrating a Miraculous Event that took place some 2000 plus years ago.

GOD:

This is an event that ushered in another miraculous event some 50 days later.

This event is what the church calls “Pentecost Sunday”

That Miraculous Event that preceded Pentecost Sunday is what we celebrate today, EASTER.

The celebration of Christ being risen from the grave.

Defeating Death and Sin

Salvation for all has been ushered in.

All that is needed is Faith in Jesus (What He did on the Cross).

Within this Miraculous event are other miraculous events that took place.

Matthew 28:1-10 “Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 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. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee and there they will see me.”

These miraculous events that took place:

Earthquake (2nd one in 3 days)

(1) Rocks the Temple and rips the curtain that separated the Holy of Holies (From top to Bottom)

(2) Angle descending to roll the Stone back

Looked like lightening … Clothes were white as snow.

Guards Pass out!

A dead Person had risen from the Dead. (Not just any person .... JESUS)

The Gospel of John records Mary seeing Jesus and speaking to Him. (John 20:11-18)

But there is a Miraculous Event that took place that is overlooked in this story we just read.

Its one that doesn’t stand out but it is one that continues to happen today.

We find this miraculous event in

Matthew 28: 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. See, I have told you.””

Matthew 28:10 “Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.””

You might be saying, “Pastor, that is not a miraculous event!”

I beg to differ! ........ Let me explain.

First off ....

Why Galilee?

It was the (Region) where most of Jesus’ Miraculous events took place.

This is also a place that is about 80-100 miles outside of Jerusalem.

The disciples would feel safe there.

A place of the disciples calling, apostolic commission.

One scholar states, “It was ordained, for some reason not expressly stated, that from Galilee should proceed Christ’s Spiritual Kingdom which he came to establish.”

(Acts 10:37 “you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed:”)

Describe Galilee!

It is modern day Northern Israel.

Jesus Grew up in Nazareth, which is one of the two major cities in Galilee.

Population in Jesus’ Day: 3 Million

Size: 64 Square miles (Nearly the size of Washington DC)

So what makes this idea that the Disciples were to meet Jesus in Galilee such a miraculous event?

He doesn’t tell them ......

..... what house? (at least 1 million houses)

..... what address? (They didn’t have street addresses or house numbers back then.)

..... what part of the region? (Its huge)

Some might say, “They already knew what location to go to!”

Okay .... you might be right.

But we do have accounts in scripture of Jesus tell his disciples what house to go to or what specific location to go to:

Matthew 28:16 “Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.”

Has anyone been to a mountain lately?

Where at on the mountain?

We don’t know!

So on one of the biggest day in human history (the resurrection of the messiah) why wasn’t a specific location mentioned?

I believe there is a reason!

There was no NEED FOR ONE!

The disciple (followers of Christ) was assembled together!

Matthew 28:7 “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. See, I have told you.””

Matthew 28:10 “Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.””

Disciples: (Mathetes) Learner, pupil, disciple

A man is called a mathētēs when he binds himself to someone else in order to acquire his practical and theoretical knowledge. He may be an apprentice in a trade, a student of medicine, or a member of a philosophical school. One can only be a mathētēs in the company of a didaskalos, a master or teacher.

Brother: (Adelphos)

A compounded from delphys, the womb, and the connecting word “a”, and hence means one born from the same womb.

It was originally used for brother in the physical sense.

This account, we find it too mean a spiritual brother (As we now become a son/daughter of the most high God).

Jesus is acknowledging his followers as Sibling of the Father.

What we settle with is this .....

The Miraculous event was not THEM finding Jesus.

It was JESUS finding them.

This miracle was on account of the Brothers/Disciples being altogether as one!

When God’s people are gathered together (Community) the presence of the Lord is there.

Whats the Miraculous Event ..... Where God’s people are assembled HE IS MIRACULOUSLY THERE WITH THEM.

Transition Statement: How Important is it for a body of believers to gather together?

YOU:

When 2 or more are gathered together (Whatever the church is dealing with) Christ is there!

Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

The majority of miracles we read in scripture takes place in the midst of the body of believers. (Where Christ is)

What saddens me today ....

Many professing Christians today claim that miracles died out with the apostolic era.

Yet, these believers claim that people are still being saved today.

If there are no miracles, there is a tragic contradiction here, because when a person is born again through the agency of the Holy Spirit, that is one of God’s greatest miracles.

Last year (on Easter Sunday morning) we had 17 people accepted Christ in Faith.

We had a total of 45 people for they year

Transition Statement: I believe we are still witnessing Miracles (Miraculous events) today.

WE:

Illustrations:

Warren - God transformed

Pastor Rob and Melody - Marriage Saved

Logan and Meghan with Owen - Miracle of Birth

We are the body of believers.

I believe that in the midst of us is the presence of Christ!

Let me ask this questions: How would you like to be a part of a miraculous event today?

For some, you know its time to stop running and accept this free gift God has for you by acknowledging Christ and receive Him into your heart today.

All you have to do is say I believe (with your heart)

For some, you might want to come and ask for that miraculous healing from God.

All you have to do is come in faith and ask.

For some, you might want to be a part of a miracle and obey the Lord in doing something.

An act of obedience that blesses another.

Activating a miracle for someone!

All you have to do is say yes and ACT.

Let’s make Easter Sunday morning (Miraculous Event) contain multiple Miraculous Events within it and celebrate His Presence this morning.