2025-04-20AM- The Church First- Resurrection

The speaker is emphasizing the importance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. They mention that Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to the Father, interceding for believers. They quote John chapter 5, emphasizing that those who believe in Jesus have everlasting life and will be resurrected. They talk about the two resurrections, one for those who have done good and one for those who have done evil. They highlight that the church will be part of the first resurrection. They discuss the significance of the resurrection for Christianity and salvation, stating that without it, preaching and faith are in vain. They emphasize that through Jesus' death and resurrection, sins can be forgiven and salvation is possible. The speaker concludes by comparing Jesus' resurrection to the first fruits of a harvest and highlighting that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. The Gospel of John, Chapter 5. Oh, how rich, hallelujah, how wonderful it is to have the presence of the Lord with us. Brother Michael, there at the funeral home, if somebody was to just get up and be alive, I'm sure that place would get tore apart. Some excitement, there'd probably be some fear, there'd be some confusion, but something was going to happen. Something was going to happen when you realize that someone has risen from the dead. And that's what happens with me, and I'm so glad because Jesus rose from the dead as it's been said. He ascended to the Father, making intercession for us. I don't know all the prayers that he's prayed for me, but I know one, he prayed the Father that he would send another comforter. He's done that for me. I have faced the tempter myself this week. And when the enemy came in like a flood, true to his word, the Spirit of the Lord raised up a standard against him, hallelujah, and I'm so glad for the gifts my Lord gives to me. John chapter 5, John chapter 5, begin reading in verse 24, these are the words of Jesus, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself, and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of Man. Marvel not at this, marvel not at this, for the hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth. They that have done good unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation, marvel not at this, the hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth. Father, I thank you so much for your visitation today. Thank you for accepting our praise, our worship. Lord, we truly honor you and believe that you are worthy. I pray for the anointing. Oh, let the Holy Ghost rise up again in this place, and move upon me and upon every hearer that, Lord, your work may be accomplished in this place, in the name of Jesus, Amen. Amen. You know, I was getting ready for church this morning, and I was praying, and I got to talking to the Lord, and I said, somewhere at a Baptist church, somebody's talking about the resurrection of Jesus. At an Episcopalian church today, if they don't talk about it any other time, they're talking about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. At the Methodist church, the Wesleyan church, the Catholic church, at the Church of Christ, at the Christian church, at the Pentecostal churches, at the Holiness churches, we're all talking about Jesus Christ being risen from the dead. And if his name is being declared that he is risen from the dead, somebody can be saved. Whatever the name over the door, let Jesus be preached. Hallelujah. So I'm glad that's happening today. I'm glad somebody else somewhere in a whole lot of places across this country, somebody is saying, Jesus is not dead, but arose from the grave. Praise be to God. Let me get started here. In our reading this morning, I'm going to share with you just something briefly that I came across. My wife understands this, and there's some of you that I've talked to about this. I get kind of annoyed sometimes at cliches, at fillers. You know, we get to talking so fast sometimes we throw extra words in there. Amen, amen, amen. And then I'm going to preach, amen, amen, and I'm going to preach, amen. And some of you have no doubt sat in a message before and counted how many amens there was. I'm with you. It gets on my nerves sometimes that they just preach. Come on. So then I got to looking at the Word of God here. And Jesus here, we read in verse 24 and 25, He begins His statements with, Verily, verily. Well, I've always heard, you know, that means truly, truly listen to what I said. So I looked it up. I want to verify that that's exactly what it means. You know that it means amen? Jesus is saying amen. Amen. So I'm going to have to get over, because Jesus said it a lot in His preaching. I want to try to preach today concerning the resurrection. Here's my title, The Church First, all right? I preached to you last week here, The Church First, and my focus then on that was on revival. That if there was going to be a revival, it would have to come through the church first. Well, today I want to move along and talk about the church first in the resurrection, all right? The church first. There is a resurrection promise that is made to every individual. We read it right there in what Jesus said. If no one is going to be left out, everyone will be resurrected. All souls will be resurrected from the death of these mortal bodies, Jesus said it Himself. In His words, according to Jesus' words, some will be under the resurrection of life, while others will be under the resurrection of damnation. Some are going to rise up from the dead to be kings and priests in the kingdom of God. Others will be cast into the lake of fire, never to escape that damnation. Some are going to heaven, and some are going to hell. There are, therefore, in the future for all humanity, two resurrections that are yet to come upon this world. The first of these resurrections will welcome the children of God into their eternal rest. But the participants of the second resurrection are bound to face the wrath of God in everlasting torments that were prepared for the devil and his angels. The first are going to be rewarded for their trust, for their faith in Jesus Christ. But the second resurrection is going to be a people that will receive the fair wages of the sinful life which they have lived. The church of the living God, the pillar and the ground of the truth, will be the first resurrection. Revelation chapter 20 and verse 6 says this concerning the first resurrection. It is for the blessed that have part in the first resurrection. It is the holy that shall have part in the first resurrection. And on such, the second death have no power. That's the church, brothers and sisters. And when it comes to the resurrection of the dead, it will be the church first. Today we celebrate the wonderful resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. And to know that when He went up to Calvary and they put Him on that cross, the wrath of Almighty God was poured out upon Him so it wouldn't have to be poured out on me. What a loving God. What a marvelous Savior. He knew all along what was going to happen. He knew what it was going to feel like. He knew who would walk away, who would run, and who would reject Him, who would despise Him. But He said, you are worth it. Today, Christianity as a religion, as a belief system, as a way of life, Christianity is completely dependent on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It's been said a couple times here already that without the resurrection, gospel preaching is in vain. Every one of you brothers that get up and attempt to say something on behalf of God Almighty, all of it is in vain if there is no resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul said in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, if Christ is not risen from the dead, then your faith is also vain. And he said, here's the sad fact of everything. If Christ is not risen from the dead, ye are yet in your sins. There is a dread, a hopelessness that falls over all of humanity if indeed Christ is not risen from the dead. But here's what he said in 1 Corinthians 15 and 20, but now is Christ risen from the dead and become the firstfruits of them that slept? On Easter Sunday, we rightly celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We don't celebrate simply because it's the tradition of the Christian church. We don't celebrate simply because it shows the power that God has over death. It doesn't say we don't celebrate simply because it shows, it demonstrates God's foreknowledge of events over us. But we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus because this is the only means of our salvation. And that's why somebody can run. That's why somebody can dance. That's why somebody can throw their hands up and weep before God, because this is how he saves us. It is through the crucifixion, the burial, the death, the burial, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is how the grace of God reaches down to everyone and bestows upon us to every soul who will trust in him that good salvation. And through the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ, sins can be forgiven. Sins can be washed away. Sins can be forgotten by God because Jesus came up from the grave. And if we didn't have this, if we didn't have the forgiveness of sins, everyone here would be responsible to pay the penalty for your own sins. When Jesus rose from the grave, he became what the Apostle Paul said, he's the firstfruits. Now is Christ risen from the dead and become the firstfruits of all them that slept. When he rose from the grave, he was the predecessor to every other resurrection. He was the precursor, the firstfruits. Just like if you plant yourself a garden and you put your tomato plants out there, there comes a day you come in the house with the first tomato. You don't say, well, we got what we planted. We're done now. No, you say that's just the first one. That's what Paul said that Christ's resurrection from the dead was. It's just the firstfruits. It's just the first one. Jesus told Martha before Lazarus was raised from the dead, look, I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. Jesus told them one day, because I live, he shall live also. When Jesus was on this earth and he raised Lazarus from the dead, it's been mentioned here already, when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, there would come another day that Lazarus would die. Jesus raised that widow woman's boy up from the dead, but there came a day that he would eventually die also. When Elisha met up with the Sunamite woman and raised her son from the dead, that man eventually died. But after Jesus rose from the dead, he is alive and he is the first one ever to die. Raised from the dead and never die again. The Apostle John wrote Revelation chapter 1. He gives a testimony. He said, I heard a great voice like a trumpet. Here's what that voice said. I am he that liveth and was dead. And behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And have the keys of hell and of death. He preceded that statement with, I am Alpha and Omega. I'm the first and the last. I am he which liveth and was dead. And I'm alive forevermore. Christ is the firstfruits, the first to ever die. Rise from the dead and never die again. But before Jesus ascended into heaven, here's a promise that got left to every one of us. I will come again. I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, ye may be also. 1 Thessalonians 4. The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout and with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first. Those that have died in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord. At the time that Paul said in verse Corinthians, Then the corruptible shall put on incorruption, when this mortal shall put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. And then the mocking comes, O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Because Jesus is alive, we shall live also. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in that first resurrection. It is the church that shall be first. The first resurrection will be for those who have firmly placed their trust in Jesus Christ. Those who have been born again. Those who have rid themselves of their own sins by believing in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Those who have repented of their sins, confessed their sins to God and received Jesus Christ as Lord as well as Savior. There is a glorious resurrection that is coming, brothers and sisters. And it is going to be the church first. And while Christ's church shall be raised up from the dead, and this is the first resurrection, my text says, quoting Jesus, All that are in the graves shall hear his voice and come forth. There will be a resurrection of all who are dead. While there is a resurrection of life, Jesus also predicted a resurrection of damnation. Jesus said of some people, he looked at them in the faith and it wasn't with glee nor with pride. It wasn't with happiness and a gloating. But he told some, ye shall die in your sins and whither I go you cannot come. Revelation 20, verse 11, I saw a great white throne and him that sat on it from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. There was found no place for them. I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God and the books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged out of those things which are written in the books according to the works. And listen, the sea gave up the dead which was in it. Death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them. And they were all judged according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. You remember, blessed and holy are they which have part in the first resurrection. The second death hath no power over them. But death and hell are cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Jesus said all are going to hear his voice and all shall come forth. There are those who have rejected the mercies of God and will be resurrected simply to face the judgment of Almighty God and cast into the lake of fire. But blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection. On such the second death hath no power. I want to tell you today, you want to be part of the first resurrection. You cannot afford to pay the wages of sin and live. The Bible says the wages of sin is death. It is the second death where souls are cast into the lake of fire. What you need is the gift of God which is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. That you might be a partaker of the first resurrection. Here's what the Apostle Paul said. I want to know him. I want to know him in the power of his resurrection. And in the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto death. If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Hebrews chapter 12 and verse 2 tells us to do this. Looking unto Jesus the author and the finisher of our faith. For the Bible says if the Spirit that raised him up from the dead. That raised up Jesus from the dead. If that Spirit dwelt in you. He that raised up Christ from the dead. Shall also mortal your. Shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth within you. The church first. You realize that? That as being among the saved. Jesus is an example to us that he came up out of the grave to live and never die. He said that's for the church too. You may lay your head down one day. You might visit my funeral. You might say nice things about me. But because Jesus came up first and I'm a member of his glorious church. The church that Christ is building. I know that I too shall live and never die. The church first. Michelle would you come and get us a song please. Jesus was agreeing with the prophet Daniel chapter 12 and verse 2. When Daniel saw the future and said many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake. Some to everlasting life. That's the church. Some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt. There's two resurrections left and that's it. The first one will be Christ's church. It is appointed unto man once to die but it's appointed unto the church to live again. It is appointed unto the sinners to be raised up just long enough to be judged and cast into the lake of fire. I need to be a part of the first resurrection and it is Christ's church that will be first. Will you stand with me? Again revelation 20 and verse 6. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection. Oh it'll be a blessing but it'll only be the holy. Lord thank you for your visitation today. Thank you God for the opportunity to preach about your plans. Thank you God for the moving of your spirit and Lord I pray you're not finished in this place. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection. God I pray you'll search through us today. Lord your scripture tells us that one experience long ago that's been wasted and turned away and returned to sin. That's not blessed and that's not holy. I pray oh God that you will move in this place convincing someone if they have sinned those sins need to be taken away. And I pray that you'll deal with souls right here right now in the name of Jesus. Amen. The church is getting out of here. We're leaving. We're leaving this where it's sin cursed. We're going to learn what it's like to be in heaven where there's no sin and no curse. The church is leaving out of this place. There are those who will not go in the first resurrection. And they will be reserved unto fire according to the scriptures. I want everyone in this place regardless of past experience if you've sinned against God you got to get those sins out of the way. You can't point back and say yeah I got with God a long time ago and yeah boy I really sinned against him then but I'll just kind of pick up. I'll just move on now. No. No. You've got to get those sins under the blood. You want to be a part of the first resurrection. The church is going to be first. So I make an invitation here. There's someone, one of the greatest things it seems that we fear in the church is somebody's going to think something's wrong if I go to the altar. What are they going to think when the first resurrection happens and we're looking around? We fellowshiped. We had good times together. But when I knocked on their heart they didn't come. So today if God is dealing with you please get in this altar. When's the first resurrection going to take place? I don't know. Could it be on Easter Sunday 2025? It absolutely could. Will you be there? Will you be called up in that first resurrection? There's comfort in them words if you're ready. Come on now. Somebody come. Somebody come and ask God. Lies are not going to be captured in the first resurrection. Stealing won't be captured in the first resurrection. Blasphemies, adultery, fornication will not be captured in the first resurrection. I want you to be ready. I want you to be ready. The church is going first. Alright church, let's come on in. Let's get in this altar. Maybe it'll be the church first in the altar. But oh let it be. If you've got things between you and God, get rid of them here. Take care of them right here, right now. You can be a partaker of the first resurrection.