Risen-Resurrection Sunday 2016

1 Corinthians 15:1-54

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, ² by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

³ For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵ and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. ⁶ After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. ⁷ After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. ⁸ Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

¹² Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. ¹⁴ And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. ¹⁵ Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. ¹⁶ For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. ¹⁷ And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! ¹⁸ Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. ¹⁹ If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

The Last Enemy Destroyed

²⁰ But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹ For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. ²² For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. ²³ But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. ²⁴ Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. ²⁵ For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. ²⁶ The last enemy that will be destroyed is death…⁴² So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. ⁴³ It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. ⁴⁴ It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. ⁴⁵ And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

⁴⁶ However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. ⁴⁷ The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. ⁴⁸ As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. ⁴⁹ And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.

⁵⁰ Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. ⁵¹ Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

⁵⁵  “O  Death, where is your sting?

O Hades, where is your victory?”

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

I.             THE RESURRECTION IS ESSENTIAL TO THE GOSPEL

1.    No resurrection means Christ didn’t rise. (15:13, 16)

2.    No resurrection means the gospel is useless. (15:14)

3.    No resurrection means preachers are liars. (15:14b, 17, 29-31)

4.    No resurrection means our faith is worthless. (15:14b)

5.    No resurrection means we are still in our sin. (15:17)

6.    No resurrection means we are most miserable. (15:19)

7.    No resurrection means: Those who suffer for Christ are fools. (15:19 - 31)

8.    No resurrection means we lie at funerals. (15:18)

9.    No resurrection means we should live for now. (15:32)

 II.           RESURRECTION IS PROVABLE.

1. Broken Roman Seal.

2. Empty Tomb.

3. Large Stone Moved.

4. Roman Guards AWOL.

5. Grave clothes in Tomb.

6. Changed Lives of the Disciples.

7. Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene at the sepulcher alone. (John 20:11-18), (Mark 16:9-11).

8. Jesus appeared to certain women, “the other Mary,” Salome, Joanna, and others, as they returned from the sepulcher. (Matthew 28:1-10) (Mark 16:1-8, and Luke 24:1-11.

9. Jesus Appears to Peter. (15:5. Luke 24:34)

10. Jesus appeared to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. (Luke 24:13-35. Comp. Mark 16:12-13).

11. Jesus Appears to the apostle’s w/o Thomas. (15:5b)

12. Jesus appeared to the disciples again with Thomas Present at Jerusalem. (Mark 16:14-18; Luke 24:33-40; John 20:26-28. See also 1 Corinthians 15:5).

13. Jesus Appears to 500 disciples. (15:6)

14. Jesus Appears to James. (15:7)

15. Jesus Appears to Paul. (15:8-11)

III.         WHAT THE RESURRECTION MEANS TO YOU.

1.     His resurrection means the gospel is true.

2.     His resurrection means that His sacrifice was accepted. (Romans 4:25).

3.     His resurrection is a proof that he made a full atonement for our sins.

4.     His resurrection means we will rise also. (Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 6:14; 1 Corinthians 15:47-49; Philippians 3:21; 1 John 3:2). As he lives, they shall live also.

5.     His resurrection proves He is the Son of God inasmuch as it authenticated all his claims. (John 2:19; John 10:17).

6.     He is Coming Back.

Acts 1:11

¹¹ who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

Next Level Generosity

Our Generous God

I.            WE ARE CALLED TO BE LIKE GOD.

Ephesians 5:1

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. NLT

Matthew 5:43-48

⁴³ “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. ⁴⁴ But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! ⁴⁵ In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. ⁴⁶ If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. ⁴⁷ If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. ⁴⁸ But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. NLT

II.         GOD IS EXTREMELY GENEROUS.

1.    It’s His Nature.

Luke 12:32

³² “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. NLT

2 Samuel 12:7-9

⁷ Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! The Lord, the God of Israel, says: I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul. ⁸ I gave you your master’s house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more. NLT

1 Kings 3:3-14

³ Solomon loved the Lord…so the king…sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings. ⁵ That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”  …⁹ Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?” ¹¹ So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies—¹² I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have! ¹³ And I will also give you what you did not ask for—riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life! NKJV

III.       ONE OF GOD’S MOST GENEROUS GIFTS.

1.    The Indwelling Holy Spirit.

Ezekiel 36:25-28

²⁵ Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. ²⁶ I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. ²⁷ I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. ²⁸ Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. NKJV

                   John 14:15-17

¹⁵ “If you love me, obey my commandments. ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. ¹⁷ He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. NKJV

1 Corinthians 6:19

¹⁹ Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? NKJV

2.    The Holy Spirit is a Real Person.

John 16:13

¹³ However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.  NKJV

·        He has a standard.—Truth

·        He guides.

·        He speaks.

·        He tells future things.

·        He glorifies.

·        He receives.

·        He declares.

3.    He is the Kingdom.

Luke 17:20-21

²⁰ Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; ²¹ nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” NKJV

·        Kingdom Authority.

·        Kingdom Standards.

·        Kingdom Thoughts.

4.    He Has Personality. (Fruit)

Galatians 5:22-23

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. NKJV

5.    He Has No Limits.

Ephesians 3:20

²⁰ Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. NKJV

IV.       HOLY SPIRIT ACTIVATION.

1.    All God’s gifts need to be Activated.

Romans 10:9-10

⁹ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. NKJV

2.    Activation requires:

a.    Awareness / Consciousness.

b.    Acknowledgement.

c.     Receiving.

3.    We Must Walk in the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16-25

¹⁶ I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish… ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. ²⁴ And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. NKJV

4.    We can live in the Flesh (Senses and Desires of the Body) or we can live from/in the Spirit.

a.    Our senses don’t always discern truth.

b.    Our filters may be damaged by life.

c.     Our emotions don’t always tell us the truth.

d.    The Spirit is always truth.

e.    The emotions of the Spirit are Consistent.

f.     The ability of the Spirit is Consistent.

V.          WE MUST VALUE THE SPIRIT.

1.    We should avoid grieving Him.

Ephesians 4:30

²⁹ Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. NKJV

2.    We should avoid quenching Him.

1 Thessalonians 5:19

¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. NKJV

3.    We must consistently thank Him and fellowship with Him.

2 Corinthians 13:14

¹⁴ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. NKJV