“God’s Stimulus Package”
“He’s not finished yet”
District Elder M.L. Maughmer, Jr.
John 20:1-7 “The first [day] of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he stooping down, [and looking in], saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself”
OPENING:- Today we celebrate what we call Easter Sunday. Traditionally we go out buy really nice clothes and come to church for a service and show off our best outfits. Most men have new suits and most ladies get a new hat and dress. Little girls are often dressed in a flowering dress and a cute bonnet, while little boys are often dressed in a suit that often is ripped by the end of service due to the wrestling they would often do outside looking for Easter eggs. There’s nothing wrong with that for that is tradition and it is fun. However, let’s understand the true meaning of Easter and what this day really is.
I know we find the word Easter in the Bible one time in Acts 12:4; however, Easter has nothing to do with Jesus Christ or Christendom at all. There are no scriptures that support the concept of Easter. Acts 12:4 is actually a misinterpretation of the Hebrew word “Pesach” which is the Hebrew word for Passover and Passover could never be interpreted Easter.
Easter is in fact a pagan holiday that celebrated the spring equinox and represented a fruitful life, that’s why the symbols of eggs and rabbits are an Easter thing. The eggs represent life while the rabbit represents futility – hence the term multiply like rabbits. The pagan goddess for which the word Easter comes from was named Esther and has taken on many different forms such as Ostare, Eastre, Ostern, Ostara, Easotar just to name a few. The ritual in this pagan religion is still practiced in a widely spread religion today known as Wicca. The practice is to offer Esther baskets to this futility goddess in the beginning of spring.
Now this doesn’t mean that you take away the little Easter baskets you have for the children all of the sudden. The Bible says my people are destroyed for the lack of knowledge. Now you have knowledge so make sure you explain the true meaning of Easter and the difference of Easter and Resurrection Sunday. I myself love chocolate bunnies, marshmallow peeps, and those Cadbury Cream filled eggs are delicious. I would even be hurt if all the sudden I was not able to enjoy those delightful treats at Easter time. So don’t become so wrapped up in that you don’t enjoy the tradition of Easter Bunnies like Peter Cottontail and Marshmallow Peeps, but make sure you teach the children the true meaning of this day we call Resurrection Sunday aka Easter.
There is a saying that says knowledge is power and that is true. You have now been given a little bit of knowledge and the power to make the proper decision is in your hands.
In Christendom, which is what we are in – in Christ – we call today Resurrection Sunday, because eggs and rabbits have nothing to do with what happened on this day. On this day our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ rose from the dead. So with that being said I want to wish you all a Blessed Resurrection Sunday and proclaim today that God’s not dead He’s still alive. Someone may say well preacher you weren’t there when He rose from the dead so how do you know He’s not dead? Well I see Him moving in the tress and I feel Him moving in the wind and the breeze. I can feel Him in my hands, I can feel Him in my feet, I can feel Him all over me. I wouldn’t serve something dead, every once in a while I need to feel the moving of His spirit.
I am reminded of a story my father would often use about a young boy and his kite. He would say this young boy had a kite and it was so high up in the air that you couldn’t even see it. An older gentleman came pass the boy saw him standing there looking up into the sky. The man asked the boy what are you doing? The young boy replied I’m flying my kite. The man looked up and didn’t see the kite in the air. He said to the young boy I don’t see a kite how do you know it’s even there. The young boy said because every once in a while I can feel a tug in my hand.
That’s how I know He’s not dead I can feel Him moving down on the inside. There’s an old song that said “He lives, He lives Christ Jesus lives today you ask me how I know He lives He lives within my heart”. Does anybody know He lives today?
Some 2000 years ago they hung Him high and stretched Him wide, He hung His head for me He died, OH but that’s not how the story end for 3 days later He rose again. He’s not dead He’s yet alive.
Today I want to get away a little bit from the traditional Resurrection Sunday sermon about He is risen and I want to talk about God’s stimulus package.
On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed his stimulus package. When he signed the bill he said “This is not the end of our economic troubles, but it does mark the beginning of the end”.
This stimulus package is 1100 pages of ideas, promises, plans, and process that are designed WATCH THIS:- to help take the economy from its current condition of depression, economic ruin, increased unemployment, mortgage foreclosures and lost jobs status and bring it into a prosperous, productive, and all in all better life for everyone.
When we listen to the President and hear his plans to stimulate this economy most people get excited because we are able to see how our lives are and will be affected. President Obama’s stimulus package states that if you buy a house this year you will receive an $8000.00 tax break, if you buy a new automobile this year you will receive a $3000.00 tax break, if you notice your paychecks for the last couple of weeks you should have noticed a little increase in your check about another 30 dollars, they are not taking out as much in taxes, this is all part of the President’s stimulus package. This is being done to stimulate the economy and give hope for a better future.
Well today I want to talk to you about God’s Stimulus Package, that was signed not in February of 2009, but was signed the first day of the week, early when it was still dark on Resurrection Sunday nearly 2000 years ago John 20:1. God’s stimulus package was not like President Obama’s, God’s stimulus package was only one sheet long but what it said covered a multitude of words. It was packed with promises and processes that offer a better way of life. It offered hope to the hopeless, help to the helpless, life to the lifeless, joy to the joyless, and peace to the troubled justification to the unjust, righteousness to the unrighteous, salvation to the lost.
Someone may ask what are you talking about preacher God’s stimulus package on Resurrection Sunday. We know He has risen for we read that in scripture, but His stimulus package was left behind for us to stimulate us and let us know that we can go from our current condition to life everlasting.
Explain yourself preacher – O.K. I will – Let’s look at verses 5 – 7. You must understand this before you can understand the stimulus package.
Vs #5:- “And he stooping down, [and looking in], saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in”. This is John he didn’t go into the sepulchre, but he looked in and he saw the linen clothes lying in a pile on the floor.
Vs #6:- “Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie”. Peter went into the sepulchre and he saw the linen clothes lying on the floor in a pile as well.
This is significant here, when Jesus did it there is a message that He was stating, when I do it my wife gets on me. When it’s time for me to go to bed I’ll take my clothes off and just throw them on the floor in a pile – WHY- because WATCH THIS – I’m done with them, I don’t need to use them during the next part of my life, which for me is to go to sleep.
The Bible says when Peter and John got to the tomb they saw the linen clothes which were wrapped around the body of Jesus Christ lying on the floor in a pile stating simply that he was done with them. He didn’t need to use them during the next part of His life He was done with that stuff.
Then we come to Vs #7 God’s perfect number is 7, the 7th vs. says “And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself”.
To understand this stimulus package you must first understand how a Hebrew servant was trained. This goes back to the time that they were in Egypt as slaves and servants and it continues even today in the Jewish homes especially at Passover. Every young Hebrew boy understood the meaning of this because it was their responsibility to do this.
They would have to set the table for the master – (today during Passover it is the oldest male son in the home that sets the table) – the table was set n a certain way. The servant boy would set the table and take a napkin and fold the napkin setting it off to the side then he would move out of sight. When the master of the house came to eat at the table he would take the napkin when he was finished wipe his mouth and beard, wad the napkin up and toss it on the table. However, if he got up from the table and planned to come back he would take the napkin and wipe his mouth and beard, but he would fold the napkin back up and set it off to the side of his plate. When the servant saw the napkin folded he knew the master was not finished yet and that he would return to finish what he had started, even-though he didn’t see the master the napkin stated that he would be coming back.
Vs#7 says “And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped (folded) together in a place by itself”.
When Peter and John saw the napkin they knew that Jesus wasn’t finished yet. He was letting them know this is not the end, but this mark the beginning of the end. Even though they didn’t see Him they knew that He would be coming back. Jesus was letting them know that all though you don’t see me right now I’m coming back to finish what I started. He was letting them know that I have gone away for a little while but I’m coming back again. I’m not done yet.
He left a stimulus package in the form of a napkin letting us know that the current condition that you are in that you don’t have to stay that way.
What He started He wants to finish in you.
He’s not finished yet.
He’s not finished saving souls.
He’s not finished trading sorrow for joy.
He’s not finished giving peace that passeth all understanding.
He’s not finished making a way out of no way.
He’s not finished loving you, you, you, and me.
This is God’s stimulus package.
He’s not finished healing the sick.
He’s not finished delivering the captives.
He’s not finished mending broken hearts.
He’s not finished breaking that alcohol addiction.
He’s not finished breaking that drug addiction.
He’s not finished delivering from pornography.
He’s not finished opening doors no man can close.
He’s not finished being our hope for tomorrow.
He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. Although we may not be able to see Him right now His stimulus package lets me know that He’s not finished giving life more abundantly.
God’s stimulus package says:
I’m not guilty.
I’m more than a conqueror.
I can do all things through Christ that strengthen me.
I don’t to worry about tomorrow if I accept Him today.
I have been bought with a price.
I am redeemed.
I got hope when it seems all hope is gone.
God’s stimulus package says I’m coming back for a church without spot or wrinkle.
God’s stimulus package says I’m going to prepare a place for you that where I am there you may be also.
He said in His stimulus package that in my father’s house there are many mansions.
He said He will never leave you.
Now if that doesn’t stimulate you I don’t know what will.
GOD’S STIMULUS PACKAGE – The napkin was wrapped together (folded) saying He’s coming back. I don’t know about you, but I want to be ready when He comes.
Since we don’t know the day nor the hour but we know that His stimulus package said He is coming back that should stimulate you to come to Jesus.
The song says they hung Him high and stretched Him wide. For me He hung His head and died, but that’s not how the story ends for in 3 days He rose again that’s Love. Because of what He has done for me I am stimulated to give my life to Him.
I can say like the song writer said “For God I live and for God I die” – WHY – because I understand God’s stimulus package and I know He’s coming back again.
When the stimulus package was signed by the President everyone was waiting to get that stimulus check in the mail. Everyone was expecting to receive more in their paychecks. Everyone has been looking for things to get better because he signed this package.
But how much more should we be looking for Jesus to be coming back. He left His stimulus package in the form of a napkin that said I’m coming back, I’m not finished, so be ready because you don’t know the day nor the hour, but it is soon so very soon.
CLOSING:- You might be in a condition of depression, spiritually separated, emotionally beat up, relationally ruined. You may be hooked on drugs or alcohol. You may be heart broken, sadden, mentally messed up. You may have been or are currently being repeatedly abused, plundered, emotionally emasculated, depressed, discouraged, isolated, unloved, talked about, ridiculed, shunned, forsaken, and forgotten. But I have read God’s stimulus package and He said He has come that you might have life and have it more abundantly. He said cast all your cares upon me for I careth for you. He said His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
He wants to put back together your broken homes, your shattered dreams. He wants to heal scared lives. He wants to set free those that are bound in their mind, in spirit, in their finances, in their bodies. In God’s stimulus package there is deliverance from the current condition of sin. In God’s stimulus package there is healing from every decease known and unknown to man. In God’s stimulus package there’s hope for tomorrow. In God’s stimulus package there’s joy forevermore. In God’s stimulus package there is salvation.
He’s not finished yet.
He’s coming back again.
Will you be ready?
District Elder M.L. Maughmer, Jr
