The Power of the Resurrection 4/4/21

The resurrection is the foundation of God’s message.  7 days before before the cross was the most meaningful period in the history of mankind. 
God’s relationship with mankind.
The seed of a woman
Prophecy of what Jesus would do!
He came to restore what was lost!
From Genesis to Revelation tells of God’s relationship with mankind.
What the resurrection means and how it affects our lives.
Because of the resurrection, God dwells in us and He is our life!
 
Revelation 1:18  I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
 
All other kinds of religion today are all dead:  Buddha, Muhammad, etc.  Our God is Alive!
Jesus prophesied his own death, declared, confirmed his Godhead and power over death.
Jesus had power to raise the dead AND power over death!  ie: raising the widow’s son from the dead,
Elijah and Elisha both raised people from the dead, but Jesus was the first to have power over death.
“I lay down my life and take it up again” All power had been given to him.
MATTHEW 28:18 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth
 
He took on human flesh for the purpose of death. 14Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Romans 1: 4  He was declared to be the son of God  with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
The power of the resurrection -  He rose with all power
Not just a physical death, but warfare in the lower parts of the earth
He paraded dragging along the conquered king - Colossians – made an open show, proving of the devil his authority  Colossians 2:15 KJV: And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
When He led captivity captive
Had a processional through the city
An open show of authority when He took the keys and declared all power
Every power, every name, every domain come under the  lordship of Jesus Christ
We rejoice in recognizing the power we have been given
1Cor 15  If there is no resurrection, the Hope we receive because of the resurrection
The Pharisees believed in the resurrection, Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection
(A way to remember, - “they were sad you see”),
You are a spirit and you exist forever
External is determined by what you believe, no man comes to the father but by me”  There is no other way to the Father.
Acts 4:12  There is only one name  (no other name) under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved”
There are 2 destinations,  Hebrews 9:27  once to die but after this the judgment
The judgment seat to be rewarded or the great white throne judgment
We rise into life or to damnation – the decision you make determines where you will be judged!
Revelation 20  the 2nd death
If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen and our faith is vain
If Jesus did not rise, you are still in your sin and there is no hope,
We are coming to the end of the age!
 
Signs of the times – pestilence, wars, rumors or wars, ethnos, racial contention, famines, 8 billion people on earth, depopulation process, control, plans to eliminate 3 billion people on earth saying that earth will not be able to sustain them
Famine: God has provided, however there is a spirit of greed and mismanagement, the monopolizing of sufficiency of everything God makes
Squirrels, birds and all creatures are all provided for.
There is sufficiency for all God creates in the earth
Storms, catastrophic weather patterns are on the increase with greater intensity and consistency!
1Cor. 15  our preaching is in vain if not in Christ – if Christ be not risen, our faith is vain.
Romans 10:9,10  - believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that God has raised him from the dead.
You were saved because you believe on Him!
Verse 19  -  If in this life only we have hope… you have been wasting time resisting sin, etc. and going through religious activity in vain.
There is a judgement.  We have a great hope because of the resurrection.
 
The devil has a perversion and distraction against everything God has done.
ie; “Christian” celebrations.  Easter  and Christmas.
The heathen religion of Babylon -  Ister, Babylonian goddess of fertility, thus the origin of the “easter bunny”.
We want to know the truth, based on the word of the living God.
John 20 – we have the hope of the resurrection!
There is a reward for obedience.  Obedience to do what He has given us to do.
He has commanded us to be good stewards of what he has allowed us to handle.
 
Obedience – Phil 2  for the joy that was set before him… let this mind be in you, 
Obedience to the Father to bring great reward
Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."   “Nevertheless, let your will be done  Luke 22:42
Glorify me with the glory I had before
The word was God and became flesh
The Father, The Word and The Holy Ghost  John 5:7  For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
Jesus endured the cross and is now seated in heaven
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him…
What the future holds for us: we will be changed, raptured in an instant
 1Cor 15:5 “Behold I show you a mystery”  a mystery is something not yet revealed  - revealed when a veil is removed
 Our mortal bodies will be changed.  We shall not all sleep.
1Cor 4:15 – 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
 
Death is swallowed up in victory
1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
There is great reward.  He is coming again. 
1Thess 2:13 looking for that blessed hope…and glorious appearing of our saviour…
John 14:3 “ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.   Jesus said…”I go away that where I go you may be also.”
When we see all these signs of the times begin to happen, look up, your redemption draweth nigh.
These foundational truths of the Bible point us to see what is in store for us.  What will we do with this in mind?    Will we look up?
After the resurrection of Jesus, the disciples stood looking up into heaven.
Acts 1:11 “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” King James Version (KJV)
There is power in the resurrection – it confirmed His authority.
There is great hope here.  We go from life to life everlasting.
 
He rose and we will rise also!