The Reason to Believe
Happy Resurrection day everybody! I want to talk to you this morning about the resurrection of our Savior and Lord Jesus. And the miracle of what happened resurrection morning.
What makes it possible for us to believe resurrection morning really did happen is our faith!
While some say it takes a lot of faith to believe the story of the cross, death and resurrection of Jesus.
I want you to know it takes infinitely more faith to believe Jesus did not...I REPEAT DID NOT die on the cross for our sin!
The Bible is the most scrutinized book of all time! It has been challenged and been proven each and every time to be correct! It is considered to be one of the most historically correct books ever written.
Despite forty authors writing from three continents 66 different books, over nearly two thousand years, it maintains a perfect consistency of message.
The entire Bible points to Christ, whose work on the cross was ordained by God—the true author of the Bible—before the world began. (answersingenesis.org)
Hebrews 11:6 NKJ
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Faith...faith in the Loving, selfless act of our Savior, Gods Only Son...is what makes the reality of the resurrection, real for millions of believers all across the globe today.
Biblical History, tells of the event and records the cruxifixction on paper, but it is our faith in the infinite number of miracles that sprang forth from Jesus resurrection.....that writes those miracles down in the Lambs Book of Life, and let's us proudly proclaim:
"There's a new name written down in Glory and it's mine! Thank You Jesus for the Cross and the resurrection
John 20 1-2 MSG
1-2. Early in the morning on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone was moved away from the entrance. She ran at once to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, breathlessly panting, “They took the Master from the tomb. We don’t know where they’ve put him.”
It is interesting to note, that this same Mary is the woman who washed Jesus feet with her tears and dried them with her hair and anointed Jesus with her precious box of alabaster filled with very costly perfume,
Mary wash Jesus feet that day, Much to the dismay of all who were there, including Judas..who thought it was a waste of money to do such a thing
The same woman that Simon the Pharisee, said wasn't worthy to do such an act...was now the very first one, out of all of Jesus followers to discover the miracle that had taken place!
I want to remind you of our text...”God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him!”
John 20: 3-10 Peter and the other disciple left immediately for the tomb. They ran, neck and neck. The other disciple got to the tomb first, outrunning Peter.
Stooping to look in, he saw the pieces of linen cloth lying there, but he didn’t go in. Simon Peter arrived after him, entered the tomb, observed the linen cloths lying there, and the kerchief used to cover his head not lying with the linen cloths but separate, neatly folded by itself.
Then the other disciple, the one who had gotten there first, went into the tomb, took one look at the evidence, and believed. No one yet knew from the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead. The disciples then went back home.
The word says John and Peter came, saw, believed and left...they didn’t linger around, as I believe they both realized they had some valuable information to share!
11-13 But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she knelt to look into the tomb and saw two angels sitting there, dressed in white, one at the head, the other at the foot of where Jesus’ body had been laid. They said to her, “Woman, why do you weep?”
13-14 “They took my Master,” she said, “and I don’t know where they put him.” After she said this, she turned away and saw Jesus standing there. But she didn’t recognize him.
15 Jesus spoke to her, “Woman, why do you weep? Who are you looking for?”
She, thinking that he was the gardener, said, “Mister, if you took him, tell me where you put him so I can care for him.”
16 Jesus said, “Mary.”
Turning to face him, she said in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” meaning “Teacher!”
17 Jesus said, “Don’t cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I ascend to my Father and your Father, my God and your God.’”
18 Mary Magdalene went, telling the news to the disciples: “I saw the Master!” And she told them everything he said to her.
Again, the other two..Peter and John and I imagine they ran back to where they came from as fast as they ran to where they had just been!
Interestingly enough...They would have both been capable of telling the others what Mary had saw...but He didn’t choose them...He chose to reveal Himself to Mary!
TBS. But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she knelt to look into the tomb... what was she doing? she was still seeking Jesus!
The other two had left and she was still looking for Jesus, still hoping that she would find Him...and she did!
God is a rewarder, of those who will diligently seek Him...
Whether your a man or woman has nothing to do with it,
your background has nothing to do with it,
your upbringing has nothing to do with it,
Your job, your heritage, your circumstances have nothing to do with it...but your faith has everything to do with it!
Your faith is the key!
God is a rewarder of those who choose to diligently seek Him!
John 20:19-20 Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.” Then he showed them his hands and side.
All the miracles they had seen up to this point and believe me, they had seen thousands of miracles!
TBS if all the miracles Jesus performed were to be written down, there would not be enough paper and pen in the entire world to write them all!
All of them failed in comparison as to the miracle Mary had already seen and the one of the risen Saviour, that was standing in front of them...
all the rumors had been put to rest, the Risen Saviour was standing right in front of them and seeing was believing!
20-21 The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were exuberant. Jesus repeated his greeting: “Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you.”
22-23 Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. “Receive the Holy Spirit,” he said. “If you forgive someone’s sins, they’re gone for good. If you don’t forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?”
He was telling them all, everyone was worthy of forgiveness...whoever would come and seek Him, was not only worthy of forgiveness..but the reward of eternal life as well.
The disciples, whether they saw it coming or not..had all been elevated to the next level in their walk with the Son of God!
God is NOT a respecter of persons...the very same thing is happening before our very eyes! People all over the globe wether they saw a crisis coming or not...have been elevated to the next level of relationship and responsibility, in their walk with Jesus...the Son of God!
I believe I’m talking to men and women this morning, who have been seeking God these past several weeks, that have been doing some soul searching!
I believe there has been a lot more people than usual these past several weeks that have been seeking more of God than they ever have in their life!
It has been said politically to never waste a crisis. I believe God enjoys something along those same lines when a crisis comes along as well!
Some might call it a jailhouse conversion, or a God I promise come to Jesus moment....Doesn’t matter what it’s called or if it even has a name!
The word of God never returns void, I believe God’s promises hold true wether read from scripture or spoken by anyone....ANYONE standing on and quoting scriptures and promises from the Words God inspired to be written...for such a time as this!
How you might wonder, by using our measure of God given faith to believe...that makes everything about the things of God possible!
We all have access...We all have the ability...because the Word declares God has given the ability and same measure of faith to believe to everyone!
Let’s look back at our text!
Hebrews 11:6 NKJ
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Every blessing we enjoy was and is made possible by what Jesus accomplished on the cross for us!
Because of what Jesus did for us..
We can have,
Forgiveness for our sins
Eternal life
Health and Healing in our bodies and our land
Prosperity and abundant life
Joy and every other Blessing only God could think of!
And not only have the ability to receive Gods promises, but we can have and receive as much or as little....we get to choose!!
We are the deciders! I want you to say with me.....”I’m a decider!”
And you are! You are the decider....it’s your life and you decide what comes in and goes out of your life!
Isn’t time we all decided to make the commitment of, we need more of God and more of His Son Jesus our Saviour in our lives!
All of the amazing blessings scripture promises us, are rewards of diligently seeking God and believing What Jesus amazing Resurrection accomplished for you!
All those miracles waiting your arrival.... are promises God wants to give you in your life, promises His word declares over and over, you can have!
If you have a need this morning, God wants you to know...He loves you and He is willing, ready and able to respond to you...at a moments notice.
All He is waiting for is to hear you say the words.."Lord Help Me I Believe!"
That's what Easter is all about, Jesus death and resurrection is all about the opportunity to become a believer!
To become a believer and develop a relationship with someone who cared enough about you, to lay down His life for you....pay your ransom....so you could escape eternal damnation and spend eternity in heaven!
Are you a believer this morning?
If not just say Lord Jesus, I believe you died and rose again for me, come into my heart and give me everything you have for me. Thank you Jesus!
If that was you, all of heaven is rejoicing with you. Because your name was just written down in the pages of glory and Jesus resurrection that first Easter Sunday morning has made a way for you this Easter Sunday morning!
We want to encourage you to tell someone about what just happened and get involved in a good bible believing local church...to both pursue and grow the relationship that’s about to take you places you could never imagine, as you now begin the journey to your destiny!
God is so good, let us pray!
