HE IS RISEN

MESSAGE BY:SENIOR PASTOR SAMUEL AJAYI

GRACE HORIZON CHAPEL INTERNAL |

Plot La4 Longhouse Road, Finima, Bonny Island, Rivers State, Nigeria

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Introduction:

For a lot of people, Easter is just another holiday, a 3-day weekend of fun and no work. For others, it’s chocolate bunnies and Easter eggs

BUT WE KNOW BETTER! For Christians, Easter means the resurrection of Jesus from the dead! It means the promise of life after death!

It means hope of a better life. It means joy.

The resurrection of Jesus is the basis of our faith.

If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead then we’re just wasting our time here every Sunday.

HE IS RISEN

• The words, “He is not here, but He is risen”, changed the course of history! And they continue to do so. Let us take a look at why the resurrection is so important to us.

• The resurrection of Jesus is totally awesome even though many people of the world don’t know this and many doubt it.

• § Mohammed didn’t get up!

• § Confucius didn’t get up! Confucius, also known as Kong Qui or K’ung Fu-tzu, was a Chinese philosopher, teacher and political figure

• § Buddha didn’t get up!- Father of Buddhism

• § Joseph Smith is dead. Joseph Smith Jr. (December 23, 1805 – June 27, 1844) was an American religious leader and founder of Mormonism and the Latter Day Saint movement.

• § Jim Jones is dead. Jim Jones (May 13, 1931–November 18, 1978), the leader of the Peoples Temple cult,

• § David Koresh is dead.

Amongst Past Leaders Only Jesus Rose Again after Death.

But Jesus is Alive! He’s Alive! He Got Up!

Critics have tried to explain it away, and they have not been able to. The empty tomb still stands, as evidence to all that Jesus is not dead. He is alive today.

Easter means victory. Victory over death, hell and the grave.• 1 Corinthians 15 3For what I received I passed on to you as of first

importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

• (NIV) 1 Corinthians 15 42So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

• Victory Over Death’s Defeat.

• In verse 42 Paul says we are sown perishable. But because of the resurrection we are raised imperishable. We are born into this life as perishable beings.

• o But because of the resurrection we have eternal life. From the moment you receive Jesus Christ into your life, you have victory over death. Your physical body might fail you, but your soul will never die. You will be raised, forever to live with Jesus in heaven.

• o You become imperishable. In the resurrection account the angel said to the women at the empty tomb, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?" They did not understand, but they soon would. When they realized what he meant they no longer spend their lives fascinated with death. They spent the rest of their lives fascinated with life.

• In Christ, the greatest and the lowliest have the assurance that death is no longer victor because of the resurrection of Christ.

Easter means victory. Victory over death, hell and the grave.

Victory Over Sins Dominion.• He goes on to say that we are sown in dishonor. We are born in sin, but

because of the resurrection we are raised in the glory of the father. When we invite Jesus Christ into our lives we are able to stand before God spotless, just as if we had never sinned.

• Paul says that we are sown in weakness but through the resurrection of Jesus we are raised in power. We are born weak, with no power to resist sin and temptation, but because of the resurrection of Jesus, the power of sin over our lives can be broken.

• o The Bible says, "All power is given unto them who believe. Though we were dead, yet shall we live." Do you know what that means? It means that because of the resurrection of Jesus we have power over sin. Power over temptation. Power over lust of the flesh. Power over drugs and alcohol. Power over broken relationships. Power over financial bondage. Power over every circumstance in life. All power is given to us through the resurrection of Jesus. Since the power of God was able to raise Jesus from the dead, how much more can that same power enable us to live extraordinary lives?

It Demonstrates the Power to Make a Comeback.• God is the God of the second chance. He can turn things around when

they seem hopeless.

• o Separated from his father he cried: My God, My God why have you forsaken me. But God is the God of the second chance. He forsakes us not and what seemed so hopeless that Friday afternoon was to become the greatest comeback the next Sunday morning.

• o Let me tell you that no matter how far you have strayed from God. No matter how long you have been on that wayward path, on that broad road, it is not too late. Because of Christ’s resurrection you can reach up from where you are today and take the hand that is reaching out to you, and you can make a comeback.

The resurrection proves Jesus to be who He claimed

A. Jesus made some bold claims about himself while he was alive.1. He claimed to be the son of God, John 10:362. He claimed the be the only way to the Father, John 14:63. He claimed to be the source of eternal life, John 10:26-284. He also claimed that if her were killed he would be resurrected, John 2:19,21B. If just one of these claims is found to be a lie then Jesus himself is found to be liar,• Deut. 18:22.C. But what it all hinges on is the claim of the resurrection, because this supports all the others,1. You might be able to discount His claims.2. You might even discount the miracles as an elaborate hoax.3. But there is no way to get around his death, and subsequent resurrection.a. The evidence that Jesus lived is overwhelming and undeniable. Nofirst century historian denies that he lived.

The resurrection proves Jesus to be who He claimed

b. The evidence that Jesus was crucified is just as overwhelming. The fact• of the death of Jesus is well attested to by both secular and sacred writers.• No person of the time disputed the reported crucifixion.• c. The body of Jesus was buried. Information about the burial was given• by friends of Jesus as they wrote his biography. Again, this was not• disputed.• d. The final step to the life and death of Jesus is the resurrection. On the• morning of the third day the body was missing.

(1) The friends of Jesus said that he rose from the dead.(2) The enemies of Jesus said the body was stolen.(a) The witnesses of the theft of the body were theRoman soldiers on guard at the tomb where the body wasplaced after the crucifixion.(b) The soldiers claim to have been asleep when the bodywas stolen.(c) If true, how could they have known what happened tothe body?(3) The resurrection of Jesus was then corroborated to by amultitude of witnesses, 1Cor. 15:3-9

The resurrection proves we have hope

• A. Consider Peters words in 1Peter 3:15

• B. How do we support that fact that we have the hope we have?

• C. It’s found in the resurrection of Jesus.

• D. Without the resurrection life is a futile existence, 1Cor. 15:32.

• E. But because we know the resurrection to be true, we can prove we have hope in the life we live, 1Cor. 15:13-19

The Resurrection of Jesus changed the history of mankind for all time. the ways it changed mans history

• 1. It provided man with something that he never had before, John 6:40

• 2. It gave man something he never had before, 1Pet. 1:3

• 3. It changed the way man would view his life and his future, Phil. 3:7-14

Prayer time

Faith this Easter• Dear Lord, draw my thoughts upward toward You every minute of every day,

but especially this Easter. Help me resist the temptation to focus on the painful things of this earthly life and learn to control my thoughts so they don’t sink my faith or joy in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. - Traci Miles

• Love and Mercy• Lord, how can we ever thank You enough? You endured more pain, more

shame, more sorrow, more grief than we can possibly fathom. Help us remember why You gave Your life. Because of love. Because of mercy. Because we desperately need them both. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. - Liz Curtis Higgs

• Thank You for Jesus• Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to save me from my

sins. Thank you that you loved me enough to send a perfect sacrifice, so that we could live together eternally. I confess that I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I ask you to come into my heart, and I commit to following Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ name, Amen. - Glynnis Whitwer