HE IS Risen !!
”Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”“
John 20:1-2 NKJV
”But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”“
Matthew 28:5-7 NKJV
You may have heard this before:
“Sometimes the devil allows people to live a life free of trouble because he doesn't want them turning to God. Their sin is like a jail cell, except it is all nice and comfy and there doesn't seem to be any reason to leave. The door's wide open. Till one day, time runs out, and the cell door slams shut, and suddenly it's too late.” - God’s Not Dead the movie
That’s just the way the devil works. He is the father of lies and a deceiver. He makes you think that posh house you live is and the fine clothes you wear are the answer. Yeah, you’ve got it going on! You’ve made it. You’re a good person, mostly. You have some money in your pocket. You live pretty good, you do as you please and you did it all without God.
Then it all comes to a screeching halt, the door slams shut, and you’re out of time.
”For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?“
Mark 8:36 NKJV
”For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.”“
Romans 14:11 NKJV
Jesus said:
”Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.“
John 3:3-6 NKJV
”Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.“
John 14:6 NKJV
The dictionary defines the word “facade” as: a false, superficial, or artificial appearance or effect.
Time to pull back the curtain.
When you give your heart to the Lord the devil’s illusion quickly fades. You realize the posh house is a granite tomb. Those fine clothes? They are grave clothes!
”But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;”
Isaiah 64:6 NKJV
”that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,“
Ephesians 4:22 NKJV
Time to get out!!
”Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”“
John 11:25-26 NKJV
”Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”“
John 11:43 NKJV
From death to life. Grave to garden. Time to get up out of the tomb and into the light!
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.“
Isaiah 43:1 NKJV
Out of the filthy rags and grave clothes.
”And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”“
John 11:44 NKJV
”“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.“
Isaiah 1:18 NKJV
”But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.“
Romans 13:14 NKJV
”Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”“
Revelation 21:5 NKJV
The culmination of the preaching of Jesus came into sharp focus when he raised his friend Lazarus from dead and calls him out of his tomb. That is the same salvation he has promised for us if we believe in Him!
HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!!
”But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.“
Matthew 28:5-6 NKJV
Jesus showed us His Majesty and total Victory in His Resurrection after the cross. He IS Lord of all creation and He Lives!!
Because HE LIVES:
”But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,“
Ephesians 2:4-8 NKJV
”For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.“
I Corinthians 15:22 NKJV
”even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),“
Ephesians 2:5 NKJV
Our Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord IS RISEN! Confess His Name and be saved! Get up! Get up and out of the tomb. Take off those filthy rags. Be made new in Jesus Name! Repent and be saved. He stands at the door. He waits for you. Praise the Lord our Living Savior.
”“O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.“
I Corinthians 15:55-57 NKJV
"Glorious Day"
(feat. Kristian Stanfill)
“I was buried beneath my shame
Who could carry that kind of weight
It was my tomb
Till I met You
I was breathing but not alive
All my failures I tried to hide
It was my tomb
Till I met You
You called my name
And I ran out of that grave
Out of the darkness
Into Your glorious day
You called my name
And I ran out of that grave
Out of the darkness
Into Your glorious day
Now Your mercy has saved my soul
Now Your freedom is all I know
The old made new
Jesus, when I met You
You called my name
And I ran out of that grave
Out of the darkness
Into Your glorious day
You called my name
And I ran out of that grave
Out of the darkness
Into Your glorious day
I needed rescue
My sin was heavy
But chains break at the weight of Your glory
I needed shelter
I was an orphan
Now You call me a citizen of heaven
When I was broken
You were my healing
Your love is the air that I'm breathing
I have a future
My eyes are open
You called my name
And I ran out of that grave
Out of the darkness
Into Your glorious day
You called my name
And I ran out of that grave
Out of the darkness
Into Your glorious day”
”For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,“
Romans 6:5 NKJV
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In the name of our Living Savior Jesus Christ the Son of God - Amen
HE IS RISEN!!
Pastor Doug
