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Sermons
Pastor's Greeting
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HE IS ALIVE, THEREFORE WE ARE!
by Rev. Moses K. Ndereva,
Pastor – Lifeline Community Fellowship
Matthew 28:1-9
1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.
1. There’s evidence He rose from the dead
There is clear evidence Jesus rose again just as there is evidence he died. The whole concept of Christian doctrine hinges on the fact that Jesus died for our sins in our stead, and then he rose from the dead and he lives forever more. Paul says; Acts 13:29-31 29 When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people. Acts 10:40 says "but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen." In Acts 2:23-24 the bible says ; “23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men,[a] put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” There’s overwhelming evidence that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead.
2. The truth cannot be buried, he is alive!
Matthew 28:11-14 “11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”
While you are on the way, there are many on the way. Not all of us carry true reports. The false report bearers are on the same roads, same cities and places where we are. It is easy to devise plans to bury the truth but it will always come out. People say Jesus is dead because he was dead in their minds. They could not believe their efforts did not pay off. They had to pay money and put up with theories of sleeping on the job to lie that Jesus was not alive. Meanwhile Jesus was showing himself to those that were waiting on him in Galilee. The point is you can choose which report you are going to believe but the truth is Jesus is alive and nothing can stop him after conquering death and the grave.
3. God has made us alive in Christ
Because of his great love, the riches of his mercy and his abundant grace, we who were dead in transgressions have been made alive; saved by his grace alone. We too have been raised up. We are no longer below. We are seated with Christ in heavenly realms. When he was raised, he did not leave us behind because we are the reason he came. He came to set us free and present us to the Father blameless and spotless. That is the work he is doing on us daily.
Ephesians 2:4-6 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
4. Live like you’ve been raised up!
Colossians 3:1-3 1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
Once you know you’ve been raised up, live like you’ve been raised. Too many of us still live defeated lives because our affections are on things on earth. The earth and all that is in it will perish except for that which we hold in Christ. We have to start off from the basic setting. We have to set our HEARTS and MINDS on things above. The reason we do not find our lives to live them is because they are hidden in Christ in God. You can only find your life when you find Christ. You will only be revived when you find Christ. If you’ve wondered where your life is, the answer is Christ Jesus.
5. Learn from Jacob
Genesis 45:25-28 “25 So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 26 They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.” Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them. 27 But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 And Israel said, “I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”
Friends, we have come to you. We have declared to you that Jesus Christ is still alive! You may be stunned by the news like Jacob but don’t stop there. There is evidence that Jesus is alive just like it was with Joseph. Jesus is still ruling just like it was with Joseph. Jesus has sent for you to go and be with him. He has sent the carts to carry you to himself. Jesus has made the way of salvation before you. He says even a fool cannot miss it! When you hear this news your heart should revive and know there is hope for you. You need to meet Jesus before you die. The evidence should convince you to start on your journey to meet him. Time is limited. You must meet him before you die.
The news not only changed Jacob. It was the beginning for reconciliation in the family. It was the beginning of healing, forgiveness, hope, restoration and success for Israel. Israel did not die a defeated man. He died with hope. He saw his son alive after it was almost over for him. You will not die before you see the SON OF GOD! There is hope for you because he is still alive and he reigns. He was sold but that was not the end. He was crucified but that was not the end. He died but that was just the beginning. He rose again and he rose to raise you up. Do not stay under. Set your heart and mind on things above. Find your life in Christ Jesus, that’s where you belong. He is alive, therefore we are!
6. Remember
He died and rose up to lift you up. Set up your heart and mind on him. You will start living blessed once you see and meet with him. He took your sentence that you may live free of condemnation. You need to be convinced to believe. Once you believe, he has made a way for you to meet him. It is not your effort; it is his doing. You do not have to die before you meet him.
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