Matthew 18:1-15 Whats the big deal about the resurrection 

• Today is the most Glorious day in all of Human history! Today we celebrate, remember and rejoice in the fact that Jesus Christ of Nazareth was crucified, buried, but rose from the Grave. 
• An interesting part of this scripture is 12 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’
• Some say it was a hoax- We actually found a video recording of the hoax plan- 
• Would like to thank the Babylon Bee for that depiction- If online- cut out

1. The big deal is it proves the truth of a divine deity and entity that has created and rules the earth. 

• With Jesus coming back from the dead, as no one has ever done, it makes clear that God is real and involved in our lives. GOD. IS. REAL. The resurrection proves it. There is a God
• It means that he has Conquered spiritual and physical death and is truly Lord over all creation. 
• Romans 1:4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
• Since Jesus is proven to be Lord over all- it should give you unbelievable peace that ‘makes no sense’ through any and all situations that you may find yourself in- GOD IS REAL. 
• As you trudge through this world, you can appropriate the truth of the existence of a God who said “I will never leave you or forsake you’ and walk in the promise of 1 Peter 5:7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
• Why? Because he is LORD- He is Ruler- He is KING. He has returned from the DEAD and now REIGNS FOREVER MORE. We serve a RISEN SAVIOR and a REAL KING who STILL REIGNS
• This was for YOUR benefit that he conquered death. Physical and spiritual death
• Every dirty nasty disgusting actions you’ve ever performed. All of your thoughts that you’ve had a plans that you made and carried out. DESTROYED. FORGIVEN. You have been SET FREE!
• Have you ever been set free? (almost buried alive-but breathe freely now) 
• Without the resurrection- there is no forgiveness of sins. There is no new live. 
• 1 cor 15:17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!
• Believing in the resurrection is believing in forgiveness of sins. That there was a cosmic exchange between Jesus and God on your behalf to reconcile you to God and that’s POWERFUL
• Ro 4:25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.
• Jesus promised ‘the blood of the new covenant’ at the last supper and if he wasn’t resurrected, there would be no hope of new wine upon his return 
• What does it mean to you
• Are you living like God is real? Do you say he is real but you don’t live like it’s so? IF HE IS? LIVE! 
• Colossians 1:10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 
• Are you walking in good work and increasing in the knowledge of God? Love, care, serve, etc
• Belief in God doesn’t end with belief it manifests itself in demonstratable actions to the fact
• 1 John 2:6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
• Since Jesus is raised from the dead- Act like it. (Having employee who doesn’t want to work)
• Coming to Resurrection service isn’t giving God service- Giving him your life is! 
• We join BILLIONS of Christians all over the Globe today- worshipping GOD in spirit and truth

2. It’s a big deal because it means that Everything Jesus said is trustworthy

• He said that he would come back from the dead and he did! His words mattered!
• Mk 9:31 He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
• He predicted it and promised it and it happened. That’s a huge prediction to say is going to come to pass and then pass. That’s a pretty big promise. (guy who said he’d walk on water)
• If Jesus didn’t come back and was resurrected, we’re pitiable
• 1 cor 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
• What does that mean- it means people should look at us with sadness and pity. Look at these poor souls who believe in someone who is still in the grave
• This is the truth that our entire belief system is completed predicated on the resurrection.
•  Its important-and since it’s true: what he said was true about the resurrection, we know his other promises are true as well. We can BANK ON IT. Base our WHOLE LIVES ON IT> 
• Have you ever known someone who promises you everything and delivers nothing?
• I knew a guy like this. Super annoying. Got to the point where I didn’t even listen to what he said anymore. Promises of experiences, meeting people, money, Things he was going to do and accomplish and how he was going to support me by his endeavors. In the end- Nothing. 
• You get burned by people like that and you hear the promises of God and you assume it’s the same. Empty promises that will never be fulfilled. 
• So what did Jesus promise you? Forgiveness of Sins. Peace with God, yourself and others. Everlasting life. Water that quenches your thirst. Food that satisfies your hunger. The Holy Spirit that would dwell within you. A place prepared for you in Heaven. Rewards in this life and the life to come. A life with purpose and grace and mercy. A life worth Living The GOD LIFE> 
• He promised that he would guide us, protect us, lead us, love us and redeem us. That he would hold us in the palm of his hand and deliver us from the evil one. He gave us promises.
  He promised us truth, love and strength. That he would never leave us. He would teach us. Speak to us. 
• And some of those haven’t come true yet, but if this promise, the promise of the resurrection came true, then we can rest assured that the other ones will come true as well. 
• What does it mean to you
• We all have seasons that are different, but the truths of Jesus should sustain us through all of them. Everything you go through should be covered with the trustworthiness of Jesus’ words
• You should be able to be convinced and ministered to by the truths of God’s word
• When you are not in the place that you need to be, or should be- the truth’s of God’s word should be enough to see you through. GET IN YOUR WORD and let Jesus words minister to you. 
• It’s very frustrating when someone wont allow themselves to be encouraged. 

3. It’s a big deal bc Without the resurrection, The church never would have grown

• When Jesus walked the earth, His disciples were a bunch of rag-tag doubting fishermen and tax collectors who couldn’t be counted on to stay awake. Easily led astray
• He Told the disciples he would build his church on the confession of him being God
• Matthew 16: 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
• No Resurrection- No Church. 
• After the resurrection- the disciples were emboldened to preach, teach, travel on mission, and die for the truths they believed. All but one of them died a martyrs death. 
• Jesus promised it-Matthew 26: 31 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”
• It wasn’t the male disciples that stood at the tomb nor was it them who found the empty tomb
• Jesus, in his sovereignty, divine and direct purpose chose to first appear to two women who were the first to bring the news of the Risen savior to the.  other disciples. 
• This news of the resurrection and the truth of the risen Christ is what changed their lives for ever. These women who saw Jesus were the spark that started the Global church. 
• The men were compelled to act on this truth and go and tell others and establish churches everywhere. Thousands of Churches. Billions of Christians. All from these beginnings. 
• There is an apostolic blood line to this church. Somehow. Who ever led me was led by someone who led them all the way back to the original disciples that declared HE IS RISEN
• What would you have to have seen to be so influenced and convinced that it was true to go and proselytize to the world? Not just then- but now? Because Jesus rose from the dead!
• What does it mean to you
• Has your life been changed by the resurrected Jesus to the point that you’re willing to share it with other people? Do you value the apostolic truth of the local church and see value in gather
• Have you been transformed enough to want to help grow the kingdom and his church?
• Here’s what I know- people who have experienced something that helped them or changed them usually share it with others. (Im thinking about ice baths- Owen wants me to do it)
• Is there anything that Jesus has done for you that would compel you to share it with someone else? Has he done anything that is worthy of you sharing it with another to grow the kingdom?
• You came to him because of someone else, don’t hold out on the blessing for someone else

4. It’s a big deal bc Without the resurrection, we couldn’t understand sacrificial living. 

• The life of Jesus, including his death burial and resurrection show us that living for yourself is misery and that dying to yourself and your own plans is the path to a great life. 
• Matthew 16:25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
• Matthew 10:39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
• Matthew 20:26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant
• Christianity has created an army of selfless people all around the globe who give up their time and money for others to be helped and the Gospel to be preached
• We build hospitals, schools, universities, houses, orphanages. We free the sex trafficked and the drug addicted. We clothe the homeless and feed the hungry. We give counsel and save marriages and help children. We give fresh water and help in the most dire times. 
• Local churches, individual Christians, large organizations spend BILLIONS of dollars on others every single year- 
• Christians sacrifice– that’s what we do. We live for others and not ourselves because he ROSE
• When you follow a savior who died on the cross for you, and then you follow him- you can’t help but live your life sacrificially
• What does it mean to you?
• Have you offered your body as a living sacrifice? Does the resurrection cause you to GIVE
• Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
• Are you still living for yourself or have you died to yourself? 
• Who is running your show? To whom do you live and answer to? Do you go without for him and others or are you still selfishly living for yourself?
• Sacrifice! It’s the way of Jesus! Give give give and give some more. Be selfless

5. It’s a big deal bc Without the resurrection The wrongs of the world would not be made right

• Matthew 19:28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.
• There have been millions of deaths and injustices on this earth since it was established
• And some of those things will never be made right on this side of heaven. No amount of money or sorrys can make all things right. Not just the large things like slavery, wars, and holocausts. It’s the abuse of spouses and children. Murders and pain and misery. 
• Without the end of all things made right by the return of Jesus and the promise to make all things new and right- we would never experience his final justice and restoration of all things. 
• But there is a guarantee because of the resurrection that the prayer of “your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” will come to pass. 
• And that people will have to answer for everything that they have ever done 
• . But the resurrection guarantees that the disciples’ model prayer will be answered– the will of God will be done on earth as it is in heaven Matthew 6:10. By raising Jesus, God showed all people that they will ultimately answer to Him for what they have done 
• John 5:28-29 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
• What does it mean to you?
• This world is a crazy place with tons of injustices that we more than likely will not fix on this side of heaven. Things done to you. Fears and destruction that will be made right in the end. 
• We must trust that God will make it right and if we walk in that trust, we will experience the ‘peace that passes all understanding” and be able to live and work in this world. 
• We must preach this truth to people that ‘this world is not our home’ and that one day Jesus will return and bring us home and we will see all things made right. 

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