THE RESURRECTION, OUR SALVATION
Romans 4:18-25, Luke 24:1-9
FAITH IN ACTION
V:18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead — since he was about a hundred years old — and that Sarah's womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
A. Abraham was 70 years old when God made the covenant with him that
He would be the father of many nations.
1. Abraham waited 30 years for God to fulfill His promise.
2. God allowed Abraham to experience the ups and downs in a
Life of faithfulness.
3. It was through the experiences of life that Abraham learned to trust
God in all his activities.
B. There were times when Abraham failed to trust God and made decisions
based on his fleshly thoughts that could have ended badly.
1. He lied to King Abimelech of Gerar that Sarah was his sister to save
his life. (Genesis 20:1-6)
2. But God came to the King in a dream and warned him not to touch
Sarah.
3. When Sarah became impatient in wanting a child, Abraham listened to
her voice rather than trust God.
a. At Sarah suggestion to he took her maiden and had Ishmael.
b. The decision caused trouble in the marriage.
c. Through the mistakes Abraham made, he learned to put
complete confidence in God’s Word.
THE REWARD OF FAITH
V:21b. being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." 23 The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness
A. God does not tell us why He waited thirty years to fulfill His promise
of a son to Abraham.
1. Let me suggest that God was getting Abraham ready for the
next stage of elevation in his life.
2. Abraham became the father of righteousness and the human
example of faithfulness for all generations.
B. The trials and tribulation we experience in life are not all about
us.
1. We were selected to be God’s living role models.
2. As a living role model our testimony draws others to
Christ.
ABRAHAM'S FAITH IS PROOF FOR OUR FAITH
V:24b. For us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
A. Faith develops over time using our life experiences to build our
confidence in the Father.
1.The Word was designed to give us living examples to trust God
for what is humanly impossible.
2. We have to learn that nothing is to hard for God.
3. You are never to old for God to fulfill a promise to you.
4. Faith does not have an expiration date.
5. Use your time waiting on the Lord to grow your faith.
B. The testimony of others of what God did in their lives should give
us confidence in the Word of God.
1. Because Abraham believed God, his hope was fulfilled.
2. Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah was just the beginning of the
promise.
3. The promise of a seed to bless all nations was fulfilled in the
death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
4. The promise God made to Adam of a woman's seed bruising
Satan on the head was fulfilled in Christ.
Luke 24:1-9
THE PROMISE FULFILLED
V:24 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.
A. The worship for Christians was changed from Saturday to Sunday,
because of the resurrection of Jesus on Sunday morning.
1. Your worship of Christ should begin early in the morning.
2. The women disciples of Jesus took on the responsibility of
preparing the body of Jesus for burial.
3. We all have gifts and skills that we should volunteer for the
worship of the Lord.
B. The women used their own resources and sacrificed their time
to serve the Lord.
1. It is obvious they planned the event together.
2. It is good when Christians get together for special events for
the Lord.
3. The Lord is in our planning and comforts us in our services
GOD FAVORS THOSE WHO SERVE
V:2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
A. While the women were on their way to the tomb, they were worried
about how they would move the stone from the tomb.
1. They may have also been concerned about getting permission
armed Roman guards.
2. While we are trying to figure it out, God had worked it out.
GOD REMINDS US OF HIS PROMISES
V:4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?
A. When you study the Word of God, you must believe that it applies to
you.
1. Those who worship the Lord will be rewarded for their belief.
2. The woman came in dedication to pay their final respects to
Lord with their service.
3. They came in grief but were rewarded the Good news of the
resurrection of the Lord.
B. They came looking for the dead, but found the living.
1. How many time do we wake up with a dead Jesus; that is
no hope, or joy for the day.
2. How much of our day is spent worrying about events we cannot
control.
3. How many times to we need to be reminded that our Savior is
alive and ready to provide for our needs.
4. Life is full of dark days, but there is joy in the morning for
those who wait on the Lord.
5. The events of the week end happen just as Jesus said, but their
unbelief resulted in nights of sorrows.
" O What needless pain We Bear, All Because We Do Not Carry
Everything To God In Prayer".
THE GOOD NEWS REVEALED TO THE FAITHFUL
V:6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'" 8 Then they remembered his words.
A. When you study God's Word you will not understand it completely
at one time.
1. It is your actual experiences that help you apply the Word
correctly.
2. Your trials and tribulations to shed light on the true meaning of
God's Word.
3. The way you understand the Word for your situation, may be
different for some one else.
4. To understand the truth in the resurrection, Jesus disciples needed
the experience on the empty tomb on Sunday morning.
5. To guide their understanding in the right direction they needed
the reminder of the Word from God's angels.
B. Sometimes the true meaning of the Word does not register with us
until we have a real situation that impacts our lives.
1. The text says, they remembered the Words of Jesus when reminded.
2. God does exactly what He said He will do, we just have to
wait with joyful expectations.
THE GOOD NEWS PROCLAIMED
V:9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others.
A. Good news should always be shared with the Church Body.
1. A good word lifts the heart.
2. We never know what others are going through.
B. God gives us the right word at the right time to share with
those He has prepared to hear it.
1. It is up to us to be receptive to a word from the Lord.
2. The eleven apostles were devastated over the death of Jesus.
3. God used the women disciples to bring them the Good News
about the resurrection.
4. God comfort those He loves to set them on a new journey
of faithful service.
THANK GOD FOR THE RESURRECTION
Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst. Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church
5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North
Houston,
Texas 77041
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