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2024-03-31-Sunday School- The Resurrection of the Dead
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The speaker shares a personal experience of feeling frustrated and hurt when his family didn't show up to Sunday school. He reflects on his own casual relationship with God and realizes the importance of the sacrifice Jesus made for him. He discusses the theme of resurrection and the importance of believing in Jesus. He mentions false teachings about resurrection and the influence of Jewish sects and Greek philosophy. He talks about the significance of Holy Week and shares personal anecdotes about his son and a revival. He emphasizes the power of Jesus' sacrifice and the importance of making the decision to accept it. He ends by discussing God's knowledge and love for each individual and the abundant life that Jesus offers. In case y'all didn't know it already, your Sunday school teacher is a human. And a little bit ago I got aggravated, I didn't get out of the way or nothing like that, but got my feelings hurt and got aggravated. I've been all week long, well maybe two weeks now, my mom has told me that she was coming to Sunday school and bringing the family. My brother was coming, both of my nephews and his girlfriend, and thank the Lord I believe they're going to be here for service at 11 o'clock. But all week long I've been just worried about this Sunday school message and the situation that my nephews are in and I thought how can I teach on a resurrection to people that don't go to church, that don't even know about the Lamb of God and how do I teach about Jesus when they don't know about the sacrificial lamb and how far should I go back. And I just labored and labored over this brother Tim and been praying about it and many sleepless nights and just trying to do the Lord's will and then found out just a few minutes ago, you know, I can't get them out of bed, we're going to try to be there by 11. And I got aggravated and I got my feelings hurt and I thought, man, how much time have I sacrificed trying to prepare a message for these boys and they just casually decided they ain't going to get out of bed, going to sleep a few more minutes. And then Brother Joseph, I took another look at my lesson and I realized that I was missing the whole point. You know, it's nothing, the sacrifice that Jesus has made for us and the price that was paid on the cross, what I've, a little bit of time that I've sacrificed trying to teach this message, what Jesus had done for me, how many times have I just decided to lay in bed and go on to work without giving God His time and how many times have I just had a casual relationship with God and how many times have I brushed Him off knowing what He had done for me. And I don't want to get in the way this morning, I hope I don't bore you, I'm going to be talking about the sacrifice that was paid for us and go throughout the Bible, so let's, the Lord knew who would be here this morning, so pray for my family, I believe they are going to make it for church, but we got a long way to go. The title this morning is The Resurrection of the Dead. Our theme is The Resurrection of the Dead to Life Eternal is a most blessed teaching of the scriptures. It brings us hope and comfort and motivates us to carry on. The chosen golden text is Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. The introduction to the 15th chapter of 1 Corinthians is full of glorious truth. It contains a thorough, logical, and unanswerable argument for the main truth of Christianity. The resurrection of Christ and of believers, it is evident from verse 12 that the important doctrine of the resurrection had been denied at Corinth, and that this error had gained footing in the church. The origin of this error is not known, but it may have come from the influence of the Jewish sect of the Sadducees who denied the resurrection. It also may have come from the Greek philosophy of that day as we find in Acts 17 and 32 that some of them considered the idea of resurrection to be ridiculous. Others according to 2 Timothy 2 and 18 taught that the resurrection was already passed. Paul writes then to no answer these false teachings. Our Sunday School material points us to the resurrection this morning. This whole week has pointed us to the resurrection this morning. Our lives has pointed to the resurrection. If you're saved this morning, you're saved by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. So much has been said about this being the Holy Week, and I did challenge everybody to read that this week about the Holy Week, and I've been trying to do that myself, of course. I'm thankful for Brother Rodney and Sister Pam for helping us to celebrate the Holy Week with this revival. I've always been a big fan of Brother Rodney, but I can remember in my teenage years going to Victor Lighthouse Youth Camp, and he was there, and he taught one time about when God makes a man, and I really wanted to be that man that he spoke about, and I've failed at that at times. I wanted to be the dad that he spoke about. It was wonderful. I've tried to get my hands back on it. I can't find it, but not just a good man, but I wanted to be a godly man, a man with a purpose that is not afraid to lean on God. That was many years ago, but I'm still trying to do that this morning. I was honored to see the support of the churches here Friday night. I thought I stood back there and shook the hands of many men, and I was so honored to be here and that they would come here. I thought Brother Jameson spoke about, or he sang about working on a building, and I got to thinking, well, there's just God's contractors all over this place from different areas, and I'm just so honored to be a part of that, and I'm thankful that they came. Moving on to, let's start here, well, I do want to say that I was thankful that our pastor had shared the pulpit with my son, and y'all might be thinking you should be used to that, but I'm so honored that the Lord had saved my son and gave him a work to do, but with everybody here, what a wonderful meeting we had, and most of all, that resurrecting power that we've seen here Thursday night. Many years from now, when I'm long gone and Presley passes away, her corruptible body will put on incorruption, and she will be resurrected herself, and on that Thursday night at the first Holy Week, 2,000 years ago, we can read where Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane. Matthew 26 and 39 tells us concerning Jesus, and he went a little further and fell on his face and prayed, saying, Oh, my father, if it be possible, let this cup pass for me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt. As Brother Tim preached so well Sunday, this was a cup of judgment from God the Father. We heard last night or the other night that the heaviness that Jesus was experiencing, Brother Rodney preached on it. God, if there be any other way that man can be saved, let me not face this wrath and judgment for you. But that is the only way that would be the only way. There was no other way for we read in Hebrews 9 and 22. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood and without shedding of blood is no remission. Salvation would only come to you and me through the sacrifice of that spotless lamb, Jesus Christ, God's only begotten son. So because Jesus made that agonizing decision to drink from that cup on that Thursday night of the first Holy Week, Presley was able to make the decision this Thursday night to accept that price that was paid for her. If you read throughout the Holy Week, I would say that, you know, Thursday night would been the prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane that was preached on so well. If you haven't made that decision yourself, please do so this morning. It's the greatest decision that you will ever make. Brother Tim was picking on David Webb the other night about a gospel light and how he accidentally called it the lighthouse. And that's an easy thing to do. You know, the lighthouse has been used in Christianity a lot. But and Brother Binkley got up here and misunderstood and said he was thankful for that boy that got saved the other night. And he obviously doesn't know Presley. And that's an understandable mistake. But you know who never gets it wrong? Jesus Christ himself, that one that paid the price. He's been waiting for that moment to write that name Presley down. And what a name it is. Most of you probably don't know her full name. It's Presley Cruz Quackenbush. And when I first heard that name, it tickled me and it still does. But what a fun name to write down in the Lamb's great book of life, Quackenbush. And he knows your name, too, here this morning. He tells Jeremiah in one in five, before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee. And before thou camest forth out of the womb, I sanctified thee and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. He knows exactly who you are and he loves you. I was talking to a lady at work the other day and she said that she doesn't purchase things online, Brother Quentin, because she wants to be able to touch it and feel it before she buys that thing. She wants to know what she's buying. And Jesus is the same way. First Corinthians 6 and 20 says, For ye are bought with a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. When he saved you, he knows exactly what he is getting. That might scare you. You might say, well, he would never want me, but he does. He loves you just the way you are. Romans five and eight. But God committed his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. He loves us just the way we are. But he also loves us enough not to keep us that way. He makes changes in us to make us live a happier, fuller life. Jesus says in John 10 and 9, I am the door by if by me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved and shall go in and out and find pasture. The thief cometh not but for to steal and to kill and to destroy. I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep, his desire this morning. And what this whole week is about is there's a man that gave his life for us. And not only that, we can have life and life more abundantly down here, but so that our soul will have an eternal home. Brother Joseph, First Corinthians 15 and 19 says, if in this life only we have hope in Christ, we're of all men most miserable. We've got much more to look forward to than just a temporary happiness. Jesus tells us in his Jesus tells the disciples in John 14 and one, let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me and my father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am there, you may be awesome. And whether I go, you know, and the way, you know, like I said, I've been trying to follow along in the Bible about this first holy week. And Thursday night, Presley gave her life to the Lord and got saved. And I went to work Friday morning just thinking about what God had done. I'd already been praising him in my prayer closet. And on the way there, I was feeling much emotion about what had just taken place. And I got to work. And most of, you know, I work in the kitchen there. And I went to the little cash register where we clock in and there's a lady there named Lisa. And since I've been there just a few months, she has been counting the days till Friday, this Friday. And she started to clock in and she looked at me. She said, do you know what today is? And I was really didn't know how to answer that. I knew what she I knew what she was talking about. I believe if I was to preach this morning, I would preach a message, do you know what today is? Paul tells the Corinthians in this in a second letter to them that for he says, I have heard the in a time accepted and in the day of salvation, have I secured the behold. Now is the accepted time. Behold, now is the day of salvation. I looked at her and I said, yes, I do know what today is. Today is Good Friday. And I know that she was just wanting to wanting a little small talk about how we're going to get seven or eight days off. And that's what she was looking forward to. But she got an explanation of what Jesus Christ did for Presley Cruz Quackenbush the night before, along with everyone else that would listen that day. They say you're not allowed to pray in public schools, but they didn't say anything about praise. And I was doing a whole lot of praise in the Lord the other day. And to be honest, I do a little bit of praying there as well. But I told you all the other day about a lady named Cindy that I've been working with and the Lord's been dealing with me. And and every time I pray for it, just I feel my heart so heavy. And I know that the Lord is wanting me to reach for. And and I don't know her story. She's she's very quiet. Sometimes she could just come up to me and tell me something kind of funny, something humorous in my heart will break. You know, I have to kind of gather myself. I don't know what it is, but the Lord has put a burden on me for her. And we was doing dishes Wednesday together, and I turned to her just feeling overwhelmed. I said, Cindy, I said, I don't want to be inappropriate, but can I tell you my heart? And she said, well, sure, Michael. And I began to tell her about how God has been troubling my heart for her and what I felt in my prayer closet about her. And I told her that I didn't know her situation and I didn't want to be intrusive. But I feel like the Lord is dealing with me to tell her that he's interested in her, that he loves her. And then that she she might I felt like she maybe felt all alone. And and I was embarrassed to tell her that because you never know how somebody is going to take that. And she started crying for the team. And she said, you don't know how much I needed that. She had recently put her mom. She's never been married as far as I know. She doesn't have any kids that she recently put her mom into bluegrass care, like an assisted living. And I'm going to go see her soon. And she she said that she was battling with that decision to do that. And that's all that she had. And she said she's been alone a lot lately. And as I was trying to witness her and she was crying and I was crying doing dishes at Central Hardin High School, Emily, like most of them do, hollered for me. She said, Michael, I need you over here. And I went over and I tried to gather myself. I went over and Emily looked at me and she said, Michael, are you OK? You're crying. I said, yeah, I said, yeah, I'm fine. She said, you've been talking to Cindy about church, ain't you? And I said, yeah. And she said, oh, that lady's pitiful. She said, you don't have nobody. She said she's confided in me before that. You know, she just feels all alone all the time. And I feel like the Lord is trying to deal in that situation. I want you all to pray for Cindy. I don't know or even know her last name, but I'm going to go see her mom soon. But we have hope in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I got to talk to my cousin. I testified about him the other day, Michael Duval. We got the same exact name, same birthday. And he's he's lived a life of addiction. Well, his dad just passed away, my great uncle. And I got to witness to him yesterday. And and it went really I felt like it really went really well. Nothing in me, but I felt like the Lord was in it. And he and he's talking about coming to church and he just lives right down the road. So pray for Michael Duval as well. But Jesus is that sacrificial lamb, he he can save these people. Acts four and 10 says, Be it known unto you all and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom he crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him that this man stand here before you. Oh, this is a stone which was said it not of you builders, which has become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. The payment for sin and salvation has always come through the sacrifice and bloodshed of a lamb. That was is and always will be God's plan for salvation. The substitute atonement of sin comes through the shedding of the blood of a lamb. When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, they knew that they were naked and was ashamed to commune with God. The first fall of man, Adam, even after the stone, even after they sown fig leaves together in an attempt to cover their own nakedness and their own shame, they had already messed up and was trying to fix things on their own. And that was not good enough to put them back in proper communion with God. Genesis three and twenty one says and Adam also and to his wife, did the Lord God make coats of skins and clothed them? Where do you suppose those those skins came from? It was through the killing of an animal. Skins translates to the Hebrew word or meaning leather or hide. That is the first foreshadowing of man's shame being covered by sacrifice provided by the Lord. Let's turn to Genesis twenty two and one and look at another example. And you Bible readers already know where we're going with this. Genesis twenty two and one says and it came to pass after these things that God did tempt Abraham and said to him, Abraham. And he said, behold, here I am. And he said, take now that son, that only son, Isaac, whom thou lovest and get thee into the land of Moriah and offer him therefore a burnt offering upon one of the mountains, which I will tell thee. Again, it's Genesis twenty two and three. And Abraham rose up early in the morning and saddled his ass and took two of his young men with him and Isaac, his son, and claimed the wood for the burnt offering and rose up and went unto the place of which God had told them. Then on the third day, Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place of far off. And Abraham said unto his young men about you here with the ass and I and the lad will go yonder and worship and come again to you. And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it upon Isaac, his son, and he took the fire in his hand and a knife. And they went both of them together. And Isaac spake unto Abraham, his father, and said, my father. And he said, here I am. Here am I, son. And he said, behold, the fire and the wood. But where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, my son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering. So they went both of them together and they came to the place which God had told him of. And Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac, his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven and said, Abraham, Abraham. And he said, here am I. He said, lay not that hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him. For now I know that thou fears God's seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thy only son from me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. Of course, a ram is a male sheep. God provided a sacrificial lamb in Isaac's place. In Genesis 37, Joseph's brethren, out of jealousy, sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites. To cover up what they'd done, they killed a lamb. Dipped his coat in it so that Jacob, his father, would think that he had died. Later on, Joseph was in a position to save his brethren and all of Israel from starvation. Joseph, forgiving them for what they had done, says in Genesis 15 and 20, But as for you, you thought evil against me. But God meant it unto good to bring the past as it is this day to save much people alive. Now, therefore, fear ye not. I will nourish you and your little ones. And he comforted them and spake kindly unto them. The blood of a lamb was used in God's plan to save these people. One of the most obvious examples of salvation through a lamb is in Exodus 12 and the first Passover. Moses was to lead God's people out of Egypt, out of Egypt's bondage. Most of it, we all know the story here this morning. Pharaoh would not let them go. So God sent plagues upon Egypt. Pharaoh would have enough of it for a little while, Brother Joseph, and promised to let the people go. And then the plague was lifted. And then his heart was hardened and he wouldn't release them. And that went on nine times. It went on like this until the final, tenth plague. We don't have time to properly discuss the entirety of this passage, but God's final plague was to kill all the firstborn in Egypt. Turn to Exodus 12 and 12. Exodus 12 and 12 says, For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast. And against all the gods of Egypt, I will execute judgment. I am the Lord. Skip down to 21 for time's sake. Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said unto them, draw out and take you a lamb according to your families and kill the Passover. Keep in mind and kill the Passover. And you shall take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin. Strike the lentil like the top of the door and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin. And none of you shall go out at the door of his house until in the morning. For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians. And when he see it, the blood upon the lentil and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the door. Will not suffer the destroyer to come in onto your houses to smite you. And you shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons forever. And it shall come to pass when you when you become to the land which the Lord will give you according as he has promised that you shall keep this service. And it shall come to pass when your children shall say unto you, what mean you by this service? That you shall say it is the sacrifice of the Lord's Passover who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when he smote the Egyptians and delivered our houses and the people bowed the head and worshiped. And the children of Israel went away and did as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron. So did they. And it came to pass that at midnight, the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon and all the firstborn of cattle. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians. And there was a great cry in Egypt for there was not a house where there was not one dead. The Jews were to kill a lamb, put its blood on top on the top and the sides of the door post, brother Austin, that when the Lord would pass through to smite the Egyptians and we see it, the blood upon the little and on the two side posts, the Lord would pass over the door and will not suffer the destroyer to come in onto your house to smite you. Exodus 12 and five, we read just what kind of lamb is suitable, was suitable for this Passover. Exodus 12 and five says your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You shall take it out from the sheep or from the goats. A lamb without blemish would only be accepted as this Passover. They were to also have a Passover meal that night, which we don't really have time to cover. The Jewish people often still observe this Passover meal. We don't it's not we we don't have to do that. It's not required of us, but I would like to do that sometime. I don't think it's wrong to do it. You know, Jesus done it and Paul done it. I don't think it's wrong to do it. I think it would be just interesting to do that. God lays out how to do that. And I think it would be a neat learning experience. But that brings the topic of the sacrificial lamb in play for play for us this morning. Excuse me, Paul tells the Corinthians in First Corinthians five and seven. Purge out, therefore, that the old leaven that you may be a new lump as you are unleavened for even Christ. Our Passover is sacrificed for us. Christ, our Passover. Christ is our Passover this morning. Turn with me now to Romans eight and nine. I know it's a lot of reading this morning, we're rushing through, but Romans eight and nine says. Paul talking to the Romans, you know, we are not Jewish, but Paul writes the Romans, but you're not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if so be that the spirit of God dwell in you now, if any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin. But the spirit is life because of righteousness. 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 dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if you live after the flesh, you shall die. But if you through the spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live for as many as are led by the spirit of God. They are the sons of God. For you have not received the spirit of bondage again, the fear, but you have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba, father, the spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. And if children than heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with him, that we that we may be also glorified together. Keep in mind, he's not writing to God's chosen people here, he's writing to the Romans, we can be saved this morning. And if we are saved, we're saved by the spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba, father, Abba simply means father. John 3 and 16, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. Christ is our Passover this morning. It's by him and him only that we can be saved. He is the sacrificial lamb. He is worthy to be our Passover being spotless without blemish. Second Corinthians 5 and 21 says, for he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. He was examined by the Sanhedrin, we talked about the Sanhedrin, like a Jewish Supreme Court. They found no fault in him. The Pharisees hated him, but they found no fault in him. The Sadducees hated him, they didn't believe in his resurrection, but they too could find no fault in Jesus Christ. He stood before King Herod, who could find no fault in this lamb. Pontius Pilate examined him closely, but in Luke 23 and 24 we read, Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. You know what they're admitting to and not really knowing it? This man is worthy to be a sacrificial lamb for all mankind. The enemies of Christ unwittingly gave their stamp of approval and sacrificed our Savior so that you and I would be able to go to heaven. He is worthy to be our sacrificial lamb. So what makes Jesus that final sacrifice? Why is he different than those other lambs? Turn with me to 1 Peter 1 and 3. 1 Peter 1 and 3 says, Blessed be the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in that last time. It is the resurrection that makes the difference. He not only died for you, he was resurrected, defeating that final enemy, death, so that we will not have to die that second death, Sister Allie. The writer of Hebrews tells us in Hebrews 9 and 26, For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world. But now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many, and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. You have an appointed time with death. You will make that appointment. But will you be ready? It will be a shame if you're not, because the price has already been paid, Brother Joseph. I know personally what salvation feels like. I know what it feels like personally, spiritually, and yes, I know physically what salvation feels like from a resurrected Savior in my heart. I fully believe it, and I've experienced it. As an 11-year-old girl named Presley that knows very little bit about the Bible, puts it, he makes you happy. But what proof is there to someone that doesn't know if it's real? What proof is there to someone that hasn't tried Jesus for himself? It is well documented that Jesus lived and died. Most people don't dispute that. You can look in the Bible, and if you don't believe the Bible, you can look in Jewish history. You can, you know, it's well documented. Even his enemies have witnessed and can testify to that part. Where it usually is disputed is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Was he really, did he really raise from the dead? If you wanted to boil it down to mere apologetics, I would point you to the actions of the men and women that saw him after his resurrection. Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 15 and 3. I may have rushed this faster than I needed to. Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 15 and 3. I feel like Paul is making this point here. 1 Corinthians 15 and 3 says, For I delivered unto you first of all, that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve. After that he was seen of above 500 brethren, he was seen of above 500 brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that he was seen of James, then of all the apostles. And last of all, he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God, I am what I am. And his grace, which was bestowed upon me, was not in vain, but I labored more abundantly than they all. Yet not I, but the grace of God, which was with me. Therefore, whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so you believed. Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? If you were here Friday night, I think all of us were, you heard Brother Selfridge preach about some of these moments so well. Jesus appeared unto Mary Magdalene, and she thought he was a gardener. Luke 24 and 33. Turn there with me this morning, if you don't mind. Luke 24 and 33. And they rose up the same hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are you troubled? And why do your thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold, my hands and my feet, that is, I myself, handle me, and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. And John 20 and 26 says, And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Then came Jesus to the doors, being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Another time he appears unto Thomas. Brother Rodney was talking about that in John 20 and 27. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands, and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side. And be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God, Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed. Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. If you believe in Christ this morning, you are truly blessed. Jesus had a few appearances for 40 days after his resurrection. Some might say, Well, that's just the Bible. I want proof outside the Bible. But we teach the Bible up here. We're not up here to teach Jewish history. Don't take it wrong, but if you look outside the Bible and look at Jewish history, there may be even more evidence of these disciples' actions, and how much they love Jesus, and how much they believe in this resurrection through what had taken place. Acts 12 and 1 says, Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church, and he killed James the brother of John with a sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. Then were the days of unleavened bread. And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison and delivered him to four quartenians of soldiers to keep him, intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in prison, but prayer was made without ceasing of the church and the God for him. James is the only disciple that has his death recorded in the Bible, but Jewish history tells of the martyrdom of the disciples. Most are said to have been beheaded, crucified upside down. We will read that. You could read that about Peter, stoned and all manner of killings. Do you honestly think that these men would have suffered these deaths if they had not seen Jesus after his death? Why were they so convinced? What changed in them? But I can tell you this morning that we don't have to serve the Lord because of proof. It's by faith that we believe in our risen savior and hope of an eternal home. Ephesians 2 and 8 says, for by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God. I believe in the miracle birth. I believe that Jesus took my place on a cruel cross, and I believe in the resurrection. I wasn't there during any of these events, but I'm thoroughly convinced of it. I want to live a life that says I believe that. I've heard someone say, well, there's really no such thing as an atheist, brother Joseph. I've heard many people say that. That everybody believes they just don't really want to admit it. And I see their point, but I kind of believe just the opposite, unfortunately. An atheist is someone that does not believe or has a lack of belief in God. And if you don't make time for God, if you don't put him first in your life, if you don't take the time to pray to him or read his word, if you don't keep his commandments, surely you simply don't believe in him or in the resurrection. Why would you live your life that carelessly if you truly believed in it? I don't think anyone in their right mind, knowing that there is a real hell to shun and a heaven to gain, both eternal. Having zero knowledge of when you will actually die or leave this world. I went and picked up a lady yesterday, Connie Knapper. It was kind of expected. They knew that she was dying. I went and picked up, or I didn't go and pick. I went to the funeral of Raymond Duval, my great uncle. It was totally unexpected. I've been to many, I've embalmed 12 year olds and 16 year olds and people in their 30s, people my age. Most of them had no idea that death was coming. They, it was appointed on a man once to die and after this, the judgment, but they had no idea when death would knock at their door. So would somebody really, that truly believed in the resurrection and savior of Jesus Christ and the price that was paid and life eternal in either heaven or hell, if they didn't really, I mean, do they really believe it if they don't take time for Christ? I don't think they would. Or maybe there's people out there like Peter, that brother Rodney Selfridge was preaching about. One of the greatest disciples that went on to do a great work for the Lord. He certainly believed in God. He loved God, but he was not always perfect. Most of us know that story very well as foretold by Jesus. Peter denies Jesus three times before the cock crew and how he must've felt when he'd realized what he had actually done. Jesus shortly after is crucified and laid in a tomb. Let's turn to John 20 and one real quick and read this about Peter. John 20 and one. The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early when it was yet dark unto the sepulcher and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher. Then she runneth and cometh to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved and saith unto them, they have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went forth in that other disciple and came to the sepulcher. So they ran both together and the other disciple did outrun Peter and came first to the sepulcher. And he stooping down and looking in saw the linen clothes lying, yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him and went in to the sepulcher and seeth the linen clothes lie and the napkin that was about his head not lying with the linen clothes but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple which came first to the sepulcher and he saw and believed. For as yet they know not the scripture that he must rise again from the dead. And as brother Rodney preached so well then the disciples went away again unto their own home. Peter ran a little slower than John to the tomb. This has been much speculated what was in there. Nothing's in there by chance. There's no filler words in the Bible. We know that it's in there for a reason. So this could be because of his age or ability. Why did John beat Peter to the tomb? It could be by age or ability. Or could it be that Peter was wrestling with himself what he had done? He loved Jesus and Jesus loved him. The Bible wants that to be clear as well brother Austin. But have you ever done someone wrong that you cared about and it'd been a little while since you've seen them and you knew that you was probably going to run into them. You was excited about seeing that one but there was also just that thing there something that you had done or said and there's this awkwardness that you and you don't know how they're going to feel about you. Do they still feel the same way about you that they did once before? So skip down to John in 21 and three with me. It says Simon Peter saith unto them I go fishing. They say unto him we also go with thee. They went forth and entered into a ship immediately and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come Jesus stood on the shore but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them children have you any meat? They answered him no and he said unto them cast the net on the right side of the ship and you shall find. They cast therefore and now they were not caught. Now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loves saith unto Peter it is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord he he girt his fishers coat unto him for he was naked and then cast himself into the sea. Skip him down to verse 14. This is this is now the third time that Jesus shoot himself to his disciples after that he was risen from the dead. So when they had dined Jesus saith to Simon Peter Simon son of Jonas lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him feed my lambs. This is the first time that we see an interaction between Jesus and Peter since Peter had denied him. He saith to him again a second time Simon son of Jonas lovest thou me? He saith unto him yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time Simon son of Jonas lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time lovest thou me? And he said unto him Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee when thou wast young thou girdest thyself and walkest whither thou wouldst but when thou shalt be old thou shalt stretch forth thy hands and another shall gird thee and carry thee whither thou wouldst not. This spake he signifying but what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this he saith unto him follow me. You may have come here today as a believer. You've known Jesus as a friend already but you know in your heart that things just haven't been quite right. That you may have denied him in your actions or you haven't spent enough time in prayer that you've been shunning your prayer calls. You haven't been reading his word. It's been a while since y'all've talked. So you come here this morning with mixed feelings. How's he going to take it? Will he recognize me? Will things be like they were before? I know my resurrected savior. I know how quickly he is to forgive and how he wants to fix things. He is the one that will initiate the conversation of reconciliation. If you come to the altar you'll find that he's ready to start the relationship again. He didn't come here to condemn you but he came to save. I would that everyone would follow him today. In closing, Romans 6 and 23 says, for the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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