Because He Lives (Easter Sermon) - 04/17/2022

Grace Place Atlanta COGBF 4700 Mitchell Street Forest Park, GA 30297 Website: atlantacogbf.org Email: info@atlantacogbf.org Phone: (404) 241-6781 Wayne D. Mack, Pastor Pastor Wayne D. Mack Sermon Notes April 17, 2022 The Meaning of Because He Lives (BHL) Because He Lives, I Can Face Today Matthew 14: 19-21; Act 3: 1-16; Acts 9 Matthew 14: 19-21 “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” 19 The privilege of coming together to worship God has no equal. But because of the events of the past 24 months, makes this Easter Lord’s Day a little sweeter and even more special. Today, we all should give thanks with grateful hearts because God is Good, and we are so blessed – but above all, He has given us life through Jesus Christ His Son. We are truly Blessed by God’s faithfulness, mercy, and grace. Of all the Sunday’s and other very special Lord’s Days we come together for, Easter Sundays seem to carry a noticeable spiritual radiance – and you don’t have to be saved to sense it. For 1 me, Easter wreaks of NEWNESS – and that newness is to all people from God. It’s an opportunity to RESET and BEGIN anew with The Creator. Moreover, this particular Easter Sunday should stand out as more significant than the last two. It’s refreshing to celebrate together again in 2022. I feel like what we’re experiencing is a slice of the Jesus’ Resurrection Power. Given that, let’s turn our hearts toward the message for today. It is entitled: The Meaning of [BHL] Because He Lives! Our Text is Matthew 14: 19-21 “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” 19 I believe the realness of experiencing Because He Lives [BHL] is the second phase of the resurrection. First, Jesus was resurrected. Secondly, because He got up, have you and I personally experienced the power of His resurrection. It’s one thing to sing Because He Lives, it’s another thing to experience it with meaningfulness. But what happens to the person who doesn’t believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, or just doesn’t get it or who hasn’t come into the knowledge of it? The quick answer for them is that Jesus remains dead and done or never was. Such was the case for Saul of Tarsus in the book of Acts before he became the Apostle Paul. 1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he 2 found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Acts 9: 1&2 He didn’t believe that Jesus rose from the dead; therefore, anything Jesus had promised, performed, or proclaimed before He died in His 33 years meant nothing and went to the grave with Him. To Saul, Jesus – the so-called Son of God, was a hoax, a fraud. There were many in Saul’s day, just as there are today, who have been deceived by Satan into believing this narrative. Such a scheme has been used by the devil over and over again through the ages from believing that Because Jesus Live they too could live. This Resurrection Easter, we will learn the meaning of that truth. I realize that we are most familiar with the saying: Because He Lives, I Can Face Tomorrow; but though that belief is true, it becomes more a reality in the believer’s life to know that “Because He Lives, I Can Face Today!” Yet, what would God have every man know about the real meaning behind: “Because He Lives”? From a psalmist’s standpoint – BHL is a song of encouragement that gives Believers a booster shot of hope and determination. God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus He came to love, heal and forgive He lived and died to buy my pardon An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives. Because He lives, I can face tomorrow Because He lives, all fear is gone Because I know He holds the future And life is worth the living 3 Just because He lives. Moreover, from a personal testimony perspective – the words BHL are intended to dispel all fear, worry, and anxiety about the future; and to give hope that tomorrow will come. It gives us the courage that Jesus has already gone before us to take care of what’s next -- even tomorrow. BHL, helps us to rise above our pain and the gloomy circumstances of the moment to that place we are able to declare: This Too Will Pass, or Trouble Don’t and Won’t Last Always! Nevertheless, BHL is not really about tomorrow or the future. It’s about today – the right NOW. One famous preacher, Martin Lloyd Jones once said: Although it is very right to think about the future, it is very wrong to be controlled by it. He was right, because worrying about the future will defeat you today. That’s why Jesus said don’t be anxious for tomorrow – for tomorrow will care for itself because each day has enough trouble of its own. What He was saying was you and I need to take todays resources for today’s needs, or you’ll lose today’s joys. We are not to push ourselves into the future and forfeit today’s joy for a tomorrow that will never come. We should learn this one lesson: Fear is a liar – it will cause you to lose the joy of today. What’s more, God gives strength for only one day at a time. He doesn’t give us grace for tomorrow – until tomorrow. The true meaning of BHL that God would have us know is that without a resurrected Christ there is no LIFE, No Living, No Today, No Tomorrow. No Future. Now enters Satan. Because Satan knows what his own Living, his life, his today, his tomorrow, and his future are all about, his dirty scheme is to blind and distort for us what the true meaning of Jesus’ virginbirth life, death, burial, resurrection, and risen life means to a Born Again me and you. 4 According to 1 Corinthians 15:22 in Adam all died. Satan instigated that fall. But in Christ all shall be made alive. This is a truth Satan doesn’t want anyone to know. He’s OK with you knowing that mankind fell in the Garden and that they are separated from God – and presumed to be doomed forever. Satan’s gospel for the world is that God’s plan for man died in the Garden. But whether we fully understand it or not, God had a plan before the foundation of the world. It was/is steeped in Christ, the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. He was our hope even at the Garden of Eden arraignment in Genesis of Adam, Eve and the serpent during the fall. Genesis 3:14, 15 14 So the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this [deceived Eve into eating the forbidden fruit], You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.” This passage primarily predicts the ongoing hostility between Satan and the woman (representing all mankind), and between Satan’s seed (his agents) and her Seed (the resurrected Messiah). Since Satan’s grand booting out of heaven in Isaiah 14 and Revelation , he has worked diligently and somewhat effectively to blind people on the real reason they can face today and tomorrow and the rest of their lives. 5 Here are some of the first schemes the devil masterminded to suppress and undermine the truth of who Jesus was and the scope of His power and authority. It was he who: • • • • Conjured envy in the heart of religious leaders to kill Jesus Brought in false witnesses and liars to testify against Jesus - Mark Deceived Judas into selling out Jesus (an army with clubs) Paid soldiers to lie about His body being stolen after the resurrection Even on the day of Jesus’ so-called funeral out on Mt. Calvary, people showed up in droves just to see if the rumor of this “self-proclaimed” King really could defy death on the cross – let alone rise from the dead. After a few hours, the spectators grew weary and began to doubt and poke jabs at Jesus the fraud: In Mark 15: 29-32 here’s what they did . . . And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 save Yourself, and come down from the cross!” 29 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” 31 And for a minute, the two criminals who were being crucified with Him lost their minds as well. [Confidence]. But the one came to his senses and realized that without Christ he was doomed. He realized that because Christ lived, he lived. [After the funeral and the committal of the Body of Jesus – doubt still loomed. Satan wanted everyone to just forget about Jesus. So, people went back to their normal routines: Fishing (, lying, and playing church. 6 It’s clear, the crux of Satan’s plot was/is to cause man to believe he was/is his own god. That, in and of himself, he was self-made, self-sufficient, and self-reliant. But the Prophet Jeremiah declared that man could not survive relying only on himself. In Jeremiah 10: 23 he confessed: O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. Man must come to know that there is no other reason he lives except because of Christ. Christ is God’s only remedy to save man. Nothing in heaven or on earth could bring mankind back to life or back to God except Christ. According to John 1:4 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. What am I saying? Jesus was God’s ace in the hole. Everything God ever owned, both in heaven and in earth, was riding on Him. He was/is man’s only hope. No other answer or remedy could or would appease God. But the real deal was in the resurrection. Living a natural life was one thing, defeating death, hell, and the grave was another. All creation needed Jesus to live again beyond the natural to the supernatural. Only in Him do we have hope. Here’s proof: Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Jesus Himself proved there to be no other possibility than Himself for man’s hope for a continuous life beyond the natural. Three times in the Gospels, Jesus prayed to the Father, “If it is possible that this hour might pass, and the cup be taken away for Him” then make it possible. But it wasn’t possible. Jesus was the only remedy God had for saving man from his sin. No other solution existed . . . anywhere, or in anybody – neither in heaven or on earth. That’s why Jesus could so boldly declare the “I AMs” • • • I Am the Way the truth and the life I Am the Alpha and Omega I Am the Firstborn from the Dead 7 • • • • • • • • • • • I Am the Bread of Life I Am the Good Shepherd and the Great Shepherd of the Sheep I Am the Only Begotten of the Father I Am the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords I Am the Holy One of God I Am the Light of the World I Am the Lord of Glory I Am the God that Healeth Thee I Am the Mediator between God and Men I Am the Savior I Am the Word made Flesh Up until the time Christ gave His life on the cross, the whole world was dead, doomed, and dying a slow decaying death – every tree, every river, every species of animal, every race of man was moving toward death without any hope of living. The fall in the Garden plunged the whole world back into a darkness undetectable to the natural eye. Human life is a fading vapor. Satan would have me and you, and every generation before and after – to believe that we have a chance outside of Christ. Not so! Satan’s lies had become so believable and blinding until God Himself had to come to earth to set the record straight. As Emanuel, meaning God with Us – He came to earth in the flesh to do as Luke 4: 18b and 19 proclaims: 18b To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” 8 When we know for ourselves that HE Lives (BHL), then our lives become complete and we are reconciled to God. It is at that point, everything about who the resurrected Jesus Is comes alive in our lives. How do we know that He is alive and lives? Because in speaking of His resurrection, he said in Matthew 14: 19-21 “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. {Why?} Because I live, you will live also. 20 At that day {the day you experience, not the natural Jesus, but the resurrected Christ} you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” 19 This brings us to the landing strip of this message. So, let me give you the two passages of Scripture that inspired this message. First Acts 3: 1-16 1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple, which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 2 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 4 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them— walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 11 Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed. 12 So when Peter saw it, he 9 responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. 14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. 16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. The next passage also in Acts – chapters 7, 8, & 9: Apostle Paul on the Road to Damascus. This is a pure illustration of Because He Lives. Acts 9: 1- 6 1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” What we see here is a young man who refused to believe that Jesus was alive or that He was the Son of God. He was the chief persecutor of the church and the Saints. He despised Jesus and his followers – those known as The Way. He harbored a deep seeded hatred for anyone who associated with Jesus – especially those who continued to say that Jesus was alive and the arose from the dead. 10 He believed that everything about Jesus was a hoax, and that people were living a lie. Once this troublemaker Jesus was gone, He gone and done. His main goal was to snuff out Jesus’ and His followers. He was angry with anyone and every church that named the name of Jesus. As far as he was concerned Jesus was a fake – now he was dead and no more. Find Him in the graveyard. He constantly questioned, “why are you still trying to keep the mess of this false sect leader alive when He is now dead and gone and everything about Him was short-lived?” The only true religion is the Jewish religion There are two questions that addresses Paul’s resistance: Question 1: Where was Paul’s adamant opposition to Christ being risen and alive from the grave coming from? [Answer: Satan; It was coming from the adversary. It’s the game he’s been running on humanity since the fall of Adam and Eve. Plus, Jesus was not at work in his own life. If Jesus isn’t alive and resurrected in your life, then you are to be be pronounced dead, even while you live]. Question 2: What was Paul missing because of his adamant and arrogant way of believing? [Answer: He was missing Jesus alive in his life. [Paul missed the resurrection]. Until Jesus was to become a living reality in Paul’s life, he was living a life that was dead and fading. He didn’t realize that he needed a revelation of Christ to live. It was on the road to Damascus that Paul came face to face with Jesus. In fact, he was on his way to persecute the Saints in Damascus. The Bible said . . . as he approached the city limits . . . . Acts 9:4 is Saul’s moment of truth where he, for the first time, realizes the preaching of Peter and Stephen is true: Jesus Christ of Nazareth is indeed alive. Acts 9:5 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 11 NOTE: In order to appreciate Saul’s emotions at this time, it‘s necessary to remember that he was convinced that Jesus of Nazareth was dead and buried in a Judean grave. Since the leader of the sect had been destroyed all that was now necessary was to destroy His followers. Then the earth would be free of the scourge. 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Finally . . . . Because He Lives, I live, and you live. Here are a few of the blessings that came after the resurrection of Jesus Christ: • • • • • • • • • • The Promise of the Holy Spirit The Birth of the Church Life eternal Great forgiveness was extended to Jews and Jewish leaders who condemned Jesus to death. The resurrection did it. Great forgiveness of sin was extended to the whole world. Grace entered the world. By grace through faith a man could be saved. God’s peace now could rule in the hearts of mankind. The power of sin and Satan broken from the life of the Born Again. The Joining of Jews and Gentiles as One Body The Saints Getting out of the Grave and walking the streets of Jerusalem Matthew 27:5254 Matthew 27:52 New King James Version 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 54 So, when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 12 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Because He Lives, I can Face Today! Have you seen Him. He lives because you’ve seen Him . . . Either in person or at work within your life. 13