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HE AROSE

Christ’s Resurrection Priorities

 

Our Risen Lord wants to impact your life tonight in a special way. By the power of the Resurrection He can take you from where you are to where He wants you to be. Watch the following groups of saints deeply touched by a face to face meeting with Jesus.

 

Do you remember that when Jesus was raised from the Tomb on Resurrection Day by God the Father — something wonderful had taken place? No longer was Jesus bound by His earthly body to be in only one place at a time. Now Jesus was free to be with all of us, anywhere and anytime. He began to show up precisely where and when He was needed.

 

There are more than a dozen times Jesus is seen in the Scriptures after His Resurrection. He is only seen by loving eyes, and only touched by loving hands. And in each of these situations where He appears, it is to meet a very special need that all of us share in one way or another this morning. In other words, Our Risen Lord is here with us this morning, and He will be anywhere we are from today to our last heart beat and final breath.

 

The Appearances of Christ

  1. LAUNCHING THE ELEVEN DISCIPLES ON A GREAT COMMISSION LIFE FROM THE MOUNTAIN Matthew 28:16-20.

 

Have you slowly lost that passion you once had for ministry, soul-winning or just coming to church?  Does it seem like you are unfocused and drifting? Then I have good news – JESUS IS HERE TO LAUNCH YOU WITH HIS POWER AND PRESENCE TO A LIFE WITH A MISSION. He wants you to go and be His servant speaking and serving in His name. Let Him launch you today.

 

  1. REFOCUSING THE CONFUSED ON THE ROAD TO EMMAUS In Luke 24.36-49.

 

Have you ever gotten dry and barren in your study of God’s Word? It just seemed like nothing was jumping off the page and into your heart? Then I have good news – JESUS WANTS TO WARM YOUR HEART AND OPEN YOUR EYES TO MEET WITH HIM IN HIS WORD! He us here today, just ask for His help.

 

  1. REWARDING THE DEVOTION OF THE WOMEN In John 20.11-18.

 

Do you love the Lord with all your heart? Is you desire to love and serve, and worship Him? Then I have good news – JESUS REWARDS DEVOTION TO HIM!

 

  1. REDEPLOYING THE COMMITTED In John 20.19-24.

 

Have you forgotten how precious it was when you first were saved? Have you lost some of that fire you had?   Then I have good news – JESUS WANTS TO ANNOINT YOU AFRESH WITH HIS SPIRIT.

# 247        Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me.

# 259        Breathe on me breath of God – fill me with life anew.

 

  1. CONFIRMING FAITH BY ANSWERING THE HONEST QUESTIONS OF THE SEEKING THOMAS in John 20:24-31.

 

Do you have some doubts this morning? Have others passed you by, and their experience of Christ you don’t seem to be able to share? Do you wish that Jesus could just come and show His wounded hands and feet to you? Then I have good news – JESUS KNOW YOUR DOUBTS AND WANTS TO ANSWER THEM. He is here this morning and will respond to your reaching out in doubting faith. He will confirm that He is alive, and real, and your Lord and God. You can fall before Him and confess that to Him now.

 

  1. REAFFIRMING THE CONSECRATION OF THE SEVEN DISCIPLES WHILE FISHING John 21:1-14.

 

Have you gotten away from your first love. Kind of drifted slowly away so that you are doing something that you did before Christ and aren’t doing what He called you to do? Then I have good news – JESUS IS STANDING ON THE SHORE AND REDIRECTING EVERY FISH IN YOUR POND UNTIL YOU THROW YOUR NET THE WAY HE WANTS YOU TO THROW IT! If you see Him on the shore throw yourself at Him this morning!

 

  1. RESTORING THE FALLEN PETER In John 21.15-19.

 

Have you denied the Lord recently? You ran with the wrong crowd, stood with the mockers of Christ, and sat down in sin and found yourself to weak to stand up for Him when the crisis moment came? Do you feel distant, detached, alone, and confused?  Then I have good news – JESUS KNOWS YOUR DENIAL AND WANTS TO RESTORE YOU. He is here this morning and wants to meet you back where you fell, and walk you into fellowship and friendship, and usefulness. He is here and waiting to restore you right now.

 

  1. HONORING THE FAITHFUL WHO WATCHED JESUS ASCEND INTO HEAVEN.  Acts 1.3-8

 

Are you watching for Jesus? He is coming again, and before His return He said He will note those who watch for Him. Are you watching? Then I have good news – JESUS WILL REWARD THOSE WHO WATCH FOR HIS COMING.  HONORING THE FAITHFUL WHO WATCHED JESUS ASCEND INTO HEAVEN.

 

Acts 1:3-8 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. 4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

 

Are you watching for Jesus? He is coming again, and before His return He said He will note those who watch for Him. Are you watching? Then I have good news – JESUS WILL REWARD THOSE WHO WATCH FOR HIS COMING.

 

  1. COMFORTING THE DYING WITH STEPHEN In Acts 7.54-60.

 

Are you facing  something fearful these days? Are you looking death or disability or aloneness in the face these days? Are you afraid? Then I have good news – JESUS WILL BE WITH YOU AND ASKS YOU TO BE NOT AFRAID, JUST TRUST IN HIM. COMFORTING THE DYING WITH STEPHEN

 

Acts 7:54-60 When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

 

Are you facing  something fearful these days? Are you looking death or disability or aloneness in the face these days? Are you afraid? Then I have good news – JESUS WILL BE WITH YOU AND ASKS YOU TO BE NOT AFRAID, JUST TRUST IN HIM.

 

  • JESUS ASSURES US THAT DEATH FOR HIS CHILDREN IS ONLY A RESTFUL SLEEP. Luke 8:52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.” John 11:11 After He had said this, He went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” Acts 7:59-60 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. 1 Corinthians 15:51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—
  • JESUS ASSURES US THAT DEATH FOR HIS CHILDREN IS ONLY A DEPARTURE. Luke 9:31 appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. That word departure in Greek is exodus, from which we get our word exit.
  • JESUS ASSURES US THAT DEATH FOR HIS CHILDREN IS ONLY A TRANSFER TO PERMANENT HOUSING John 14:2-3 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 We live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. Genesis 5:24 Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.
  • JESUS ASSURES US THAT DEATH FOR HIS CHILDREN IS ONLY A Good Grief. 1 Corinthians 15:55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” I for one would like to have dying grace long before I need it! But the famous English preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon says that death is the last enemy to be destroyed, and we should leave him to the last. He adds: Brother, you do not want dying grace till dying moments. What would be the good of dying grace while you are yet alive? A boat will only be needful when you reach a river. Ask for living grace, and glorify Christ thereby, and then you shall have dying grace when the time comes. Your enemy is going to be destroyed but not today. …Leave the final shock of arms till the last adversary advances, and meanwhile hold your place in the conflict. God will in due time help you to overcome your last enemy, but meanwhile see to it that you overcome the world, the flesh and the devil.
  • JESUS ASSURES US THAT DEATH FOR HIS CHILDREN IS ONLY A COLLAPSING TENT. 2 Corinthians 5:1 Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.

 

Our greatest[1] enemy is not death, but despair. Death is so limited. . .

  • It cannot cripple love,
  • It cannot shatter hope,
  • It cannot erode faith,
  • It cannot eat away peace,
  • It cannot destroy confidence,
  • It cannot kill friendship,
  • It cannot shut out memories,
  • It cannot silence courage,
  • It cannot invade the soul,
  • It cannot reduce eternal life,
  • It cannot quench the Spirit,
  • It cannot lesson the power of the resurrection.

 

…though the outward man perishes, yet the inner man is renewed day by day…we look not at the things which are seen, but at things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”  II Cor 4:16 & 18

 

The Great Physician isn’t expensive, but His work is priceless!

 

  1. CALLING THE LOST TO SALVATION AS IN PAUL In Acts 9.1-8.

 

Has the message of salvation smitten your heart? Do you realize that you are lost, hopeless and helpless? Then I have good news – JESUS OFFERS YOU HIS SALVATION TODAY! Just call upon Him and He will save you.

 

Acts 9:1-8 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him,  “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said,  “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him,  “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

 

Has the message of salvation smitten your heart? Do you realize that you are lost, hopeless and helpless? Then I have good news – JESUS OFFERS YOU HIS SALVATION TODAY! Just call upon Him and He will save you.

 

  1. MEETING WITH TRUE WORSHIPPERS IN THE CROWD OF 500 I Corinthians 15:6.

 

When God’s people lift their hearts in worship – Jesus is right there with them. Are you full of joy in your salvation this morning? Then I have good news – JESUS IS RIGHT HERE INHABITING YOUR WORSHIP. MEETING WITH TRUE WORSHIPPERS IN THE CROWD OF 500

 

I Corinthians 15:6. 1 Corinthians 15:6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.

 

When God’s people lift their hearts in worship – Jesus is right there with them. Are you full of joy in your salvation this morning? Then I have good news – JESUS IS RIGHT HERE INHABITING YOUR WORSHIP.

 

  1. FINDING THE TRULY REPENTANT IN JESUS’ BROTHER JAMES 1 Corinthians 15:7.

 

Have you grown up in Christ’s presence but never personally trusted Him? Do you know all about Him but never have received Him? Then I have good news – JESUS ALWAYS COMES TO THOSE TRULLY REPENTANT ONES. He will come to you too if you acknowledge Him. FINDING THE TRULY REPENTANT IN JESUS’ BROTHER JAMES

 

1 Corinthians 15:7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.

 

Have you grown up in Christ’s presence but never personally trusted Him? Do you know all about Him but never have received Him? Then I have good news – JESUS ALWAYS COMES TO THOSE TRULLY REPENTANT ONES. He will come to you too if you acknowledge Him.

 

  1. CALMING THE TROUBLED PAUL IN THE PARALYZING STRUGGLES OF HIS LIFE AND MINISTRY in II Corinthians 12.7-10.

 

Have you found life is a painful thing? Are challenges facing you in every realm – physically, emotionally and spiritually? Then I have good news – JESUS WANTS TO MAKE YOU STONG AS YOU GIVE THOSE WEAKNESSES TO HIM.   He can only take over when we give up, why not give in to Him today. CALMING THE TROUBLED PAUL IN THE PARALYZING STRUGGLES OF HIS LIFE AND MINISTRY

 

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me,  “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

 

Have you found life is a painful thing? Are challenges facing you in every realm – physically, emotionally and spiritually? Then I have good news – JESUS WANTS TO MAKE YOU STONG AS YOU GIVE THOSE WEAKNESSES TO HIM.   He can only take over when we give up, why not give in to Him today.

 

  1. CHALLENGING THE SAINTS IN HIS CHURCH in Revelation 1:12-20

 

Have you lost the wonder that comes of being at Christ’s Church? Do the songs not lift you? Do the messages not challenge you? Do the appeals not stir you? Then I have good news – JESUS IS WALKING BY YOUR CHAIR THIS MORNING AND HE WANTS ALL OF YOU. Give Him that first love back again, fall as dead at His feet in your heart. Repent, return, and restart those first loving ways. CHALLENGING THE SAINTS IN HIS CHURCH

 

Revelation 1:12-20 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. 17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me,  “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. 19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. 20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.

 

Have you lost the wonder that comes of being at Christ’s Church? Do the songs not lift you? Do the messages not challenge you? Do the appeals not stir you? Then I have good news – JESUS IS WALKING BY YOUR CHAIR THIS MORNING AND HE WANTS ALL OF YOU. Give Him that first love back again, fall as dead at His feet in your heart. Repent, return, and restart those first loving ways.

 

There were probably many other times He appeared to one or more of His disciples. Luke says: “He shewed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days” (Acts 1:3). Finally, of course, He was seen by Paul (Acts 9:3-8; 1 Corinthians 15:8) and once again by John (Revelation 1:12-18).

 

He came to save. To all like us today He gives forgiveness and true life when we ask Him! The Savior is waiting to enter your heart, why don’t you let Him come in? #329

 

[1] From Pat Bartlett to Bill Robinson May, 2000 in Tulsa.