Easter Sunday - 2008

Observation: Satan had been after Jesus for a very LONG time. Gen. 3:14 & 15”…..I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers;…..” This is not simply about people and snakes, but rather Satan and the seed of woman, who was the Messiah to come. The battle has been constant since this time.

SO…. Since Satan knew that this was going to happen, how could he keep Jesus from “crushing his head”?

#1. By preventing His birth.

Examples: A. Pharoah ordered the Egyptian midwives to kill all the male children born to Jewish women., thus destroying the Jewish race.

B. Haman, in the book of Esther, tried to exterminate the Jews

#2. By recruiting and enlisting Jesus to his side. Matt. 4 “….all this will be yours if you bow down and worship me….”

#3. By having Him killed. Jesus’ death on the cross was real and His burial was in a real tomb. His body was lifeless, there was a hewn grave, there was a cold stone ledge, there was a sealed entry, His followers all walked away.

PROBABLE SCENES AFTER JESUS’ DEATH:

On Earth – A. Rome was unmoved, B. the Jews were satisfied, C. the disciples were devastated..

In Heaven – A. the Father was grieved but silent – He knew what was going to happen B - the angels were stunned. This was the Son. They didn’t know what was happening.

In hell – A. there was great rejoicing

B. the Champion had been defeated

C. Hell was secured

D. Death was triumphant

In the grave – Nothing. Jesus of Nazareth lay cold, stiff, lifeless; a body without warmth, a heart without a beat, a mind without thought. He was dead, dead, dead!

For three days/nights – A. Rome went on with business as usual. They’d crucified hundreds of people. This was nothing different to them. Just a problem that’d been handled.

- B. hell – the party was probably dying down, but the sense of smug superiority remained

- C. Heaven – still silent, still stunned.

- D. Earth - the Disciples – were dull, numb with the feeling that follows emotional trauma

AND THEN …. RESURRECTION!!!

The women approached the tomb, the guards were in a stupor, the stone was blasted away…. And they encountered Jesus Christ – the Promised One, the Anointed One, the Anticipated One, and now, the RISEN ONE!!

AND, EVERYTHING CHANGES! (Reverses)

1. In Heaven – there is great rejoicing and celebration. (If there is great rejoicing over one sinner who repents, imagine the rejoicing that took place when Jesus arose from the dead.)

2. On earth – the disciples’ grief turned to joy, their despair turned to hope, their courage turned to boldness, their confusion turned to resolve. THE CHURCH IS BORN!

3. In hell – there is shock, disbelief, frustration, anger, and RAGE!! (Rev. 12 – tells the story in condensed form)

BUT NOTE…. The Resurrection is NOT the end of the story!!

If Genesis was Chapter 1 of the story, and the death/burial/resurrection was Chapter 2, the WE are in Chapter 3. Rev. 12:17 “Then the dragon was enraged….and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring, -- those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus, ….”

The story isn’t over. Satan couldn’t get to Jesus, so he’s after US – the followers of Jesus.

Things really haven’t changed that much from Chapter 1 of the story, except for technology. Now we just have bigger toys and better ways to kill each other.

QUESTION: Is there any way to combat this??

ANSWER: Yes!!! The same way as did the early Christians. Rev. 12:11

#1. by “the blood” – It was applied – it was a personal salvation. Jesus died for all persons but all are NOT saved. The application of the blood is personal.

#2. by “the word of their testimony” – they shared and told the story of Jesus to others, and had a personal story and testimony of what He’d done in their lives.

#3. by their dedication to Christ – they had a personal walk with a personal Lord.

#4. by their pursuit of the Kingdom – they took personal responsibility and made it their personal mission on earth to carry on what Jesus had started. Acts 1:1 “….Jesus began to do…” The book of Acts is about what Jesus is doing now

Matt. 6:9 & 10 “……. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth….”

We have a PERSONAL Ministry – to reach others for God here, now, where we live, where we work, etc. I AM my brother’s keeper.

BUT ALSO NOTE: Chapter 3 is NOT the end of the story!!!

Chapter 4 – is about the Return of Christ and is somewhere in the future. Rev. 19:11-16/20:14/21:1-4I

THIS, THEN, IS THE END OF THE STORY.

If ever there was a day for making a decision, responding to an invitation, it should be today – Easter.

IT IS A DAY TO:

1. Remember – what He’s done and doing and going to do.

2. Rejoice – in all He’s done, doing, and going to do.

3. Repent – turn from what you’ve been pursuring, and turn to what you should be pursuing.

4. Receive – Jesus as personal Savior and LORD.

5. Return – to the God of your youth, the Savior of your soul, to

6. Reconnect – with the church

7. Rejoin – the army, crusade, cause of Christ.

CLOSING: Song ”He Is Lord” “He is Lord, He is Lord, He has risen from the dead and He is Lord. Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”