WHEN THERE IS NOTHING ELSE YOU CAN DO.

Luke 23:50-56 (KJV) 50 And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: 51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. 53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. 54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath THE drew on. 55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. 56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

THE TRIAL OF JESUS WAS NOT JUST AND FAIR…

BUT WE SERVE A GOD THAT ALLOWS CERTAIN THINGS TO HAPPEN AT CERTAIN TIMES FOR CERTAIN REASONS…

…GOD ORCHESTRATES EVENTS IN OUR LIVES

· TO TEACH US A LESSON

· THAT PREPARES US FOR

· WHATS COMING DOWN THE ROAD.

IN THE LAST EVENTS OF THE LIFE OF JESUS ON EARTH…

WHEN READING THE LAST DAYS OF JESUS LIFE HERE ON EARTH…

WE CAN’T HELP TO FEEL AND SEE

THE URGENCY OR RUSH TO CRUCIFY JESUS

…FROM HIS ARREST TO HIS DEATH WAS JUST SEVERAL HOURS…

AND THE REASON FOR THAT WAS:

· THE SABBATH WAS COMING

· THE PASSOVER WAS AFTER

· IF THEY WOULD HAVE WAITED THE CROWD WOULD HAVE BEEN BACK HOME.

· IF THEY CRUCIFY JESUS

· THEN THE PEOPLE REURNING WOULD CARRY THE NEWS WITH THEM.

SO THE RUSH WAS TO GET JESUS CRUCIFIED…

THE CRUSIFIXION WAS CARRIED OUT AND NOW THE RUSH WAS ON THE DISCIPLES…

IF THE BODY OF JESUS DOES NOT GET BURIED BEFORE THE SABBATH THE ROMANS WOULD BURN IT OR JUST CAST IT INTO A PIT FOR BURIAL.

SO JOSEPH RUSHES TO ASK FOR THE BODY OF JESUS.

HE HAS A FEW HOURS TO GET THE

· BODY DOWN

· WRAPPED

· AND IN THE TOMB

THEN THESE WOMEN WHO HAD FOLLOWED JESUS FROM THE BEGINNING…FOLLOW

THEY ARE FOLLOWING BEHIND A DEAD BODY

FOR THEM ITS NOT OVER YET…

THEY FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE IT HAS:

ENDED LIKE THIS

…HARD TO PROCESS HOW THINGS COULD HAVE GONE SO WRONG, SO BAD, SO QUICK.

HARD TO ACKNOWLEDGETHEIR DREAMS HAVE BEEN SHATTERED.

AND SOMETIMES IN LIFE WE FIND OURSELVES FOLLOWING AFTER A DEAD THING BECAUSE WE FEEL LIKE WE CAN DO MORE.

…THE WOMEN FOLLOW BECAUSE THEY WANT TO ANOINT THE BODY OF JESUS PROPERLY.

THE PROBLEM IS THE SUN IS GOING DOWN…

AND THE SUN SETTING THE SABBTH LAWS PREVENT THEM.

…THEY WANTED TO DO MORE BUT ALL THEY COULD DO.

WAS WATCH HIME BE BURIED.

THEY WANTED TO DO MORE…

BUT ALL THEY COULD DO WAS WATCH HIM BE BURIED.

LIFE AND THE LORD WILL SOMETIMES PUT US IN A PLACE…

WHERE ALL WE CAN DO IS WATCH IT GET BURIED…

WHEN YOU HAVE DONE ALL YOU CAN…

AND WHEN WE GET TO THAT PLACE WHERE THERE NOTHING ELSE WE CAN DO…

LET ME USE THESE WOMEN TO TEACH YOU WHAT YOU OUGHT TO DO…

Luke 23:56 (KJV) 56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

THEY GO HOME…THEY DON’T

· SIT

· SORROWFUL

· SAD

THEY DON’T SIT PATHETIC AND PROCESS HOW IT HAPPENED.

THEY ARE NOT WALLOWING IN THEIR PITY AND PAIN..

THE BIBLE SAYS THEY PREPARED SPICES AND OINTMENTS…

AND WHAT MAKES THIS SO IMPORTANT IS:

YOU DON’T PREPARE FOR THE PAST…

OR WHATS ALREADY HAPPENED….

YOU ONLY PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE…

THEY BELIEVED IN THEIR HEARTS THAT SOMETHING MORE IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN.

WHEN YOU HAVE DONE ALL YOU CAN DO…

I. YOU OUGHT TO PREPARE FOR WHATS NEXT

WE SERVE A GOD THAT IS NOT FINISHED YET…

I WANT TO PREPARE FOR WHAT IS COMING…

INSTEAD OF LETTING WHATS HAS HAPPENED PARALYSE ME... TO DO NOTHING.

…EITHER PREPARE OF BE PARALYSED…

SOME CAN’T PREPARE FOR WHATS COMING BECAUSE THEY ARE ALQAYS TALKING ABOUT WHATS HAPPENED…

ILL. LUKE 24:13 THE 2 ON THE ROAD TO EMMAUS… JESUS ASKED WHY THEY WERE SAD…

LET’S TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED…

BUT JESUS EXPOUNDS TO THEM THE SCRIPTURE TO SHOW THEM WHATS NEXT…

IT’S NOT DONE YET…GOD IS GOING TO DO SOMETHING ELSE.

DON’T KNOW WHEN

DON’T KNOW WHAT TIME

DON’T KNOW WHO…

1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV) 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

THEY ARE PREPARING AFTER THE SUN GOES DOWN…

JEWISH CULTURE…DAY BEGINS FROM SUNSET TO SUNRISE…

THEY ARE GETTING READY IN THE DARK.

IT’S DARK BUT THEY BELIEVE SOMETHING BETTER IS COMING.

FOR MANY WHEN LIFE GETS DARK…

WE DON’T PREPARE

WE GIVE UP…

Genesis 1:5 (KJV) 5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

WHEN IT GET DARK DON’T GIVE UP … PREPARE FOR WHAT GOD IS FIXING TO DO.

ILL. WE USE TO GO TO ACC AROUND CHRISTMAS TIME AND WATCH THE PLAY CHRISTMAS CAROL.

WE NEW SOMETHING WAS FIXING TO HAPPEN WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT OUT.

WHEN YOU HAVE DONE ALL YOU CAN DO:

DO WHAT YOU OUGHT TO DO:

1. PREPARE FOR WHATS NEXT…

THEN

II. PRESIST IN GOD’S COMANDMENTS

Luke 23:56 (KJV) 56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

RESTED ON THE SABBTH ACCORDING TO THE COMMANDMENT.

EVEN THOUGH JESUS IS DEAD.

EVEN THOU THEY ARE DISAPPOINTED

EVEN THOU THEIR HEARTS ARE BROKE

EVEN THOU THEY HAD DONE ALL THEY COULD HAVE.

THEY WERE STILL GOING TO OBET GOD.

EVEN WHEN THEY WERE DIDAPPOINTED.

IN TIMES OF EXTREME DISAPPOINTMENT

WE EXCUSE OUR DISOBEDIENCE

WE CONVINCE OURSELVES THAT GOD WILL GIVE US A PASS ON HIS WORD.

WE SAY:

· GOD UNDERSTANDS

· HE KNOWS WHAT I HAVE BEEN THROUGH

· HE KNOWS MY HEART

· HE IS MERCIFUL

WE CONVINCE OURSELVES WE CAN LIVE ON OUR OWN TERMS…

…AND NO LONGER ABIDE BY THE WORD OF GOD.

WHAT’S THE POINT OF FORGIVING…WHEN THEY DON’T CHANGE

WHAT’S THE USE TO PRAY…WHEN THINGS DON’T CHANGE

WHAT’S THE USE TO BE FAITHFUL TO CHURCH…WHEN THE BOTTOM FALLS OUT ANYWAY.

SO WE END UP EXCUSING OUR DISOBEDIENCE BECAUSE OF OUR DISAPPOINTMENT.

BUT THESE SISTERS TEACH US:

· WHEN YOUR HEART IS BROKEN

· WHEN IT DON’T GO YOUR WAY

· WHEN YOU’VE BEEN HURT

· WHEN YOUR DISAPPOINTED

DON’T ABANDON THE PRINCIPLES OF GOD’S WORD…

WHEN LIFE HAS NOT WORKED OUT LIKE WE WANTED IT TO.

GOD’S WORD STILL WORKS…

WHEN YOU’VE DONE ALL YOU CAN…

OBEY HIS WORD-IT WORKS!!!!!

PREPARE FOR WHAT NEXT

PRESIST IN GOD’S COMMANDMENTS

III. BE PASSIVE WHILE GOD’S IN CHARGE

THE WOMEN WANT TO ANOINT THE BODY OF JESUS.

THEY WANT TO PUT THERE HANDS ON THE BODY OF JESUS.

BUT THE SABBATH SAYS YOU CAN’T TOUCH IT.

…THEY WANT TO PUT THEIR HANDS ON IT.

BUT GOD SAYS TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF.

· YOU CAN’T FIX IT

· YOU CAN’T CHANGE IT

· TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF

AND WHEN WE TAKE OUR HANDS OFF GOD PUT HIS HANDS ON IT.

GOD CAN’T PUT HIS HAND ON IT UNTIL WE TAKE OUR HAND OFF FROM IT.

ILL. OLD TIMERS IS MAKING HOMEMADE ROLLS.

THEY WOULD USE FLOUR, YEAST WATER AND BUTTER TO MAKE THE DOUGH.

THEN THEY WOULD KNEED IT.

THEY WOULD TAKE THEIR HANDS AND MIX IT UP.

BUT THEY WOULD SAY BE CAREFUL YOU VAN KNEED IT TO MUCH AND IT NOT TURN OUT.

IT WILL BREAK DOWN IF YOU HANDLE IT TO MUCH.

AFTER YOU KNEED IT CORRECTLY… WRAP IT AND LAY IT ASIDE TO REST AND LET THE YEAST DO ITS JOB. IT WILL RISE.

IT WILL NOT RISE AS LONG AS OUR HANDS ARE IN IT...

LETS TAKE OUR HANDS OFF AND LET GOD DO HIS PART.

1 Corinthians 3:7 (KJV) 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

PREPARE FOR WHATS NEXT, PERSIST IN GOD’S COMMANDMENTS, BE PASSIVE WHILE GOD’S IN CONTROL, AND:

IV. PRIORITIES COMING TO CHURCH

WHEN YOUR HEART HAS BEEN BROKEN.

THE BIBLE SAYS THEY KEEP THE SABBATH.

· EVEN THOUGH WE ARE DISAPPOINTED-WE WILL WORSHIP

· EVEN THOUGH JESUS IS GONE-WE WILL WORSHIP

· EVEN THOUGH OUR HEART IS BROKEN-WE WILL WORSHIP.

· YOU HAVE TO HAVE A COMMITMENT TO WORSHIP.

WORTH-SHIP…THE MORE HE IS WORTH THE MORE WE WORSHIP.

WE LIVE IN A GENERATION THAT EASILY EXCUSES ITSELF FROM WORSHIP…

THIS GENERATION IS PSUEDO OPTIONAL.

THEY COME TO CHURCH WHICH IS A TYPE OF WORSHIP, WHEN THEY DON’T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO DO.

CHRISTMAS, EASTER, WHEN THE FAMILY STARTS ASKING QUESTIONS.

WE EXCUSE OURSELVES…

· DON’T HAVE TO GO TO CHURCH TO BE SAVED

· BEEN A LONG WEEK AND I AM TIRED.

· I DON’T FEEL LIKE GOING TONIGHT.

· WE HAD TO GET GROCERIES.

THESE WOMEN MADE A DECISION TO WORSHIP.

WHAT WE RENDER TO GOD IS WHAT HE IS WORTH TO US.

GOD’S WORTH GOES UP WHEN LIKE GOES DOWN.

ILL. IN THE STOCK MARKET THERE ARE 2 SEASONS WITH THE NEW YORK EXHANGE.

THERE IS THE BULL MARKET…

THERE IS THE BEAR MARKET…

BULL IS WHEN THINGS ARE GOING UP…AS THE BULL CHARGES AND GORES UPWARD.

THE BEAR MARKET IS WHEN THINGS ARE FALLING APART AND GOING DOWN. HYBERNATE OR A BEAR ATTACKS BY SWIPPING DOWN.

BULL IS WHEN THINGS ARE ON THE RISE AND ON THE UPTICK YOU HAVE BULL INVESTORS.

BEAR INVESTORS GET IN WHEN THE STOCKS ARE FALLING…

BUT THE BEAR INVESTORS USUALLY MAKE MORE MONEY, DIVIDENDS, THAN THE BULL INVESTORS.

TWO TYPES OF WORSHIPPERS…BULL WORSHIPPERS…ONLY WORSHIP WHEN EVERYTHING IS ON THE RISE, GOING WELL,

BUT THE BEAR WORSHIPPERS WORSHIP WHEN THE BOTTOM FALLS OUT. THEY TO CHURCH EVEN WHEN DISAPPOINTMENTS COME.

OR WHEN HURT COMES… AND THOSE WILL HAVE THE GREATER REWARD IN HEAVEN.

· PREPARE FOR WHAT NEXT

· PRESIST IN GOD’S COMMANDMENTS

· BE PASSIVE WHEN GOD’S IN CONTROL

· PRIORITIES COMING TO CHURH.