Walking in Resurrection Life
By: Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 04/08/2018
Foundation Scriptures:
In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. 8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. Matthew 28:1-8 KJV
1. The Resurrection.
a. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, Christianity would be just another religion.
b. It is a historical fact that Jesus rose from the dead.
c. “I claim to be an historian. My approach to Classics is historical. And I tell you that the evidence for the life, the death, and the resurrection of Christ is better authenticated than most of the facts of ancient history...” – E. M. Blaiklock, Professor of Classics at Auckland University
d. “The evidence for our New Testament writings is ever so much greater than the evidence for many writings of classical authors, the authenticity of which no one dreams of questioning. And if the New Testament were a collection of secular writings, their authenticity would generally be regarded as beyond all doubt.” – F.F. Bruce, Rylands Professor of Biblical Criticism and Exegesis at the University of Manchester
e. “The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is one of the best attested facts on record. There were so many witnesses to behold it, that if we do in the least degree receive the credibility of men’s testimonies, we cannot and we dare not doubt that Jesus rose from the dead.” –Charles Spurgeon
f. He is the Christ of the empty cross, the empty tomb, and the occupied throne.
g. Matthew 27:50-54 KJV – “Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. 54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.”
2. Overwhelming Evidence.
a. There is overwhelming evidence that Jesus rose from the dead.
b. Jesus’ disciples – both men and women – saw the empty tomb.
c. Jesus, Himself, appeared in person to many people.
d. 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 KJV – “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.”
d. He is the firstborn from the dead.
e. Romans 8:29 KJV – “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
3. Infallible Proofs.
a. The power of the resurrection was displayed to many, by many infallible proofs.
b. Acts 1:1-3 KJV – “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”
c. Jesus instructed His disciples to go and receive this power to demonstrate the resurrection.
d. Acts 1:4-5
e. Acts 1:8
4. Living in Resurrection Power.
a. This resurrection power enables believers to live the Christian life, victoriously.
b. Power over sin.
c. Romans 6:18 KJV – “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”
d. Power over demons.
e. Luke 10:19 KJV – “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
f. Power over sickness.
g. Romans 8:11 KJV – “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”
h. Mark 5:25-34
i. Power over poverty – the power to create wealth.
j. Deuteronomy 8:17-18 KJV – “And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. 18 But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.”
k. Power to demonstrate the Gospel.
l. Mark 16:15-20
5. Walk in Resurrection Life.
a. It is time for you to walk in this resurrection life.
b. Today is the day of salvation.