SundaySermon
TA-DA!!! JESUS ESCAPED!
The Life Changing Power Of The Resurrection
by Ptr. Gerry Gregoire
Scriptural Reference: John 20:1-20; Romans 8:11; Philippians 3:10-11

YOU CAN ESCAPE FROM WHATEVER IS HOLDING YOU IN BONDAGE !!!

PUT TITLE ON THE OVERHEAD. TA-DA, HE ESCAPED ! ROMANS 8:11 ?
?AND IF THE SAME SPIRIT WHO RAISED UP JESUS FROM THE DEAD DWELLS IN YOU,[THEN] HE WHO RAISED UP CHRIST JESUS FROM THE DEAD WILL ALSO RESTORE TO LIFE YOUR MORTAL [SHORT-LIVED, PERISHABLE] BODIES THROUGH HIS SPIRIT THAT DWELLS IN YOU.?

THE GOD THAT WENT TO THE CROSS, THE GOD THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT LAST WEEK, WITH ALL HIS SUFFERINGS, RESURRECTED FROM THE GRAVE WITH POWER. THIS IS WHAT WE CELEBRATE THIS DAY. THAT MIRACLE HAS LIFE CHANGING POWER FOR YOU AND I. HE IS NOT DEAD HE IS ALIVE.

FOR YEARS, MAGICIANS LIKE HOUDINI AND THE LIKES OF HIM SAID THAT THEY WOULD LEARN HOW TO COME BACK, OR ESCAPE IF YOU WILL FROM DEATH. .SOME MAY HAVE TRIED BUT THEY STAYED DEAD NONE SUCCEEDED NO MATTER WHAT THEY DID.

ONLY ONE PERSON CAN COME BACK FROM THE DEAD. AND THAT TRICK CAN ONLY BE DONE BY THE HOLY SPIRIT !!

ALL THEY HAD TO DO IS ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS THEIR SAVIOR AND WAIT FOR HIS TIMING.

OUR SPIRITS HAVE BEEN RESURRECTED AND OUR MINDS ARE BEING RESURRECTED AND OUR BODIES WILL BE RESURRECTED ACCORDING TO HIS PLAN.

NOW IS THE TIME TO LET THE HOLY SPIRIT RESURRECT OUR MINDS. THAT?S WHAT THE WORD IS FOR !! WHEN YOUR MIND IS RESURRECTED YOU WILL THEN SEE EVERYTHING THROUGH SPIRITUAL EYES. THAT WHEN YOU SEE THAT EVERYTHING WE HAVE BELONGS TO GOD !!!

THE WORD RESURRECTION IN STRONG?S CONCORDANCE IS #386. ANASTASIS, PRONOUNCED AN- AS- TAS- IS

IS DEFINED AS A STANDING UP AGAIN, RESTORATION TO LIFE, RISING FROM THE DEAD.

ITS MADE UP OF THE 2 COMPOUND WORDS: ANA AND HISTEMI
ANA = AGAIN
HISTEMI = TO STAND

JESUS WAS THE FIRST FRUIT OR PROTOTYPE , IF YOU WILL, OF ALL THAT ARE IN THE GRAVE. AND THIS WILL OCCUR AT JUDGEMENT DAY.

(FOOTNOTE) TO BE ABSENT FROM THE BODY IS TO BE PRESENT WITH THE LORD. WHAT ABOUT LYING IN THE GRAVE ? REMEMBER IN ETERNITY THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS TIME. WHEN YOU DIE, YOU ARE WITH HIM. AMEN !!

ANOTHER USAGE OF ANASTASIS IS ?A RECOVERY OF SPIRITUAL TRUTH.?

THIS RESURRECTION OF JESUS FROM THE DEAD WE CELEBRATE THIS DAY IS A
CENTRAL DOCTRINE OF BIBLICAL TRUTH.

1 CORINTHIANS 15:14 SAYS, ?AND IF CHRIST BE NOT RISEN , THEN IS OUR PREACHING VAIN (IT AMOUNTS TO NOTHING) , AND YOUR FAITH IS ALSO VAIN.?
(WITHOUT EFFECT, EMPTY, IMAGINARY AND UNFOUNDED).

ROMANS 10:9 SAYS: ? THAT IF YOU CONFESS WITH THY MOUTH THE LORD JESUS, AND SHALT BELIEVE IN THY HEART THAT GOD HAD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, THOU SHALT BE SAVED.? SUCH A CENTRAL DOCTRINE THAT YOUR SALVATION REST UPON IT.

THE RESURRECTION IS THE POINT AT WHICH GOD?S INTENTION FOR JESUS BECOMES CLEAR. YES, HE WAS TO DIE BUT THAT HE WOULD ALSO RESURRECT.

ROMANS 1:4 SAYS, ?AND DECLARED TO BE THE SON OF GOD WITH POWER, ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT OF HOLINESS, BY THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD. IT NOT BUNNIES AND EASTER EGGS, ITS NOT PETER COTTONTAIL OR SOME FICTION STORY WE CELEBRATE TODAY, BUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO SOLIDIFY YOU SALVATION. IT THE HOPE WE HAVE IN THIS ACT THAT GIVES US STRENGTH TO GO ON FROM DAY TO DAY.

AS BELIEVERS , WE ARE ASSURED THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST.
1 CORINTHIANS 15:17 AMPLIFIED BIBLE SAY ? AND IF CHRIST HAS NOT BEEN RAISED, YOUR FAITH IS MERE DELUSION [FRUITLESS, FUTILE], AND YOU ARE STILL IN YOU SINS.?

THIS DOCTRINE IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE WANT TO LOOK AT WHAT THE ENEMY DID TO STOP ITS TRUTH FROM BEING CIRCULATED.

MATTHEW 28:11-15 (AMP) SAYS: ?WHILE THEY WERE ON THEIR WAY, BEHOLD SOME OF THE GUARDS WENT INTO THE CITY AND REPORTED TO THE CHIEF PRIEST EVERYTHING THAT HAD OCCURRED.12 AND WHEN THEY [THE CHIEF PRIEST] HAD GATHERED WITH THE ELDERS AND HAD CONSULTED TOGETHER, THEY GAVE A SUFFICIENT SUM OF MONEY TO THE SOLDIERS, 13 AND SAID, TELL PEOPLE, HIS DISCIPLES CAME AT NIGHT AND STOLE HIM AWAY WHILE WE WERE SLEEPING.14 AND IF THE GOVERNOR HEARS OF IT, WE WILL APPEASE HIM AND MAKE YOU SAFE AND FREE FROM TROUBLE AND CARE. 15 SO THEY TOOK THE MONEY AND DID AS THEY WERE INSTRUCTED; AND THIS STORY HAS BEEN CURRENT AMONG THE JEWS TO THE PRESENT DAY.?
BELIEVE ME WATERGATE WAS NOT THE FIRST COVERUP. THE DEVIL IS THE MASTER AT COVERUP. HE MAY HAVE TRICKED YOU IN SOME PART OF YOUR LIFE AND YOU BELIEVED HIS LIES AND MAYBE YOUR BOUND WITH SICKNESS. MAYBE YOUR MIND IS IN BONDAGE, AND THATS WHY WE CELEBRATE THIS RESURRECTION SUNDAY, IT FOR YOU, ITS FOR ALL OF US. THE RESURRECTION CHANGES THE WHOLE PICTURE OF WHAT MEN AND WOMEN HAVE TO LIVE WITH. LET ITS POWER GET A HOLD OF YOU TODAY AND RECEIVE WHATEVER YOU NEED TO MAKE YOUR LIFE MORE ABUNDANT IN GRACE FOR WHATEVER YOU NEED. RECEIVE THAT TODAY.

THE RESURRECTION AND APPEARANCES OF JESUS CHANGED THE LIVES OF EVERYONE, LETS LOOK AT A FEW:

LUKE 24:13-16 FIRST THE TWO MEN ON THE ROAD TO EMMAUS :

? 13AND BEHOLD, THAT VERY DAY TWO OF (THE DISCIPLES), WERE GOING TO A VILLAGE CALLED EMMAUS, (WHICH IS) ABOUT SEVEN MILES FROM JERUSALEM. 14 AND THEY WERE TALKING TO EACH OTHER ABOUT ALL THESE THINGS THAT HAD OCCURRED. 15 AND WHILE THEY WERE CONVERSING AND DISCUSSING TOGETHER, JESUS HIMSELF CAUGHT UP WITH THEM AND WAS ALREADY ACCOMPANYING THEM. 16 BUT THEIR EYES WERE HELD, SO THAT THEY DID NOT RECOGNIZE HIM..?

AND THE STORY GOES THAT HE STARTED A CONVERSATION WITH THEM ASKING QUESTIONS, AND GIVING THEM SOME UNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHAT THE PROPHETS SAID.

READ VERSES 28 THROUGH 36 FROM OVERHEAD OR AMPLIFIED BIBLE AND EXPOUND ON THE FACT OF HIS REVEALING HIMSELF THROUGH THE COMMUNION , BREAKING OF THE BREAD. [TAKES, BLESSES, BREAKS, GIVES OUT]

THROUGH HIS APPEARANCE THEY WERE ABLE TO GO BACK SEVEN MILES AND GOT TO SEE JESUS AGAIN. SEEING HIM FOR WHO HE REALLY IS CAN GIVE YOU PHYSICAL ENDURANCE WHICH CAN LEAD TO SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS.

JOHN 20:26-31. LETS SEE HOW SEEING JESUS AFFECTED THOMAS. THOMAS WAS A DOUBTER, MAYBE LIKE SOME OF US, BUT WHEN HE SAW JESUS FOR WHO HE REALLY WAS IT CHANGED HIS ATTITUDE: LETS READ JOHN 20:26-30:
(READ FROM OVERHEAD AND EXPOUND) WHEN YOU REALLY SEE HIM ON THIS RESURRECTION DAY IT WILL CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK.. THOMAS? UNBELIEF WAS ELIMINATED.

JOHN 21:15-17 LETS LOOK AT HOW JESUS? APPEARANCE TO PETER CHANGED HIM.
(READ JOHN 21:15-17 FROM THE OVERHEAD AND EXPOUND ON THE VERSES.

BIBLE TELLS US THAT THAT APPARITION WAS ENOUGH TO HAVE PETER PUT HIS FISHING NETS UP AND START FULL TIME BEING A FISHER OF MEN. WHEN YOU SEE JESUS FOR WHAT HE REALLY WAS AND IS, IT CHANGES THE COURSE OF YOUR LIFE.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, LETS LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED TO PAUL WHEN HE SAW JESUS WITH HIS FULL POWER MANIFESTED,
ACTS 9:1-22 IS WHEN JESUS APPEARED TO SAUL ON THE DAMASCUS ROAD. SOME SAY THIS WAS SPIRITUAL BUT I BELIEVE IT WAS PHYSICAL. SEE 1CORINTHIANS 15:4-8 HE INCLUDES HIMSELF WITH ALL THOSE THAT HAD A PHYSICAL MANIFESTATION OF JESUS? APPEARANCE.

LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED TO PAUL WHEN THE SCALES FELL OFF HIS EYES IN VERSE 18-27 READ FROM OVERHEAD AND EXPOUND. IN 18 WHERE YOU READ RIGHT AFTER THE SCALES FELL OFF AND HE WAS BAPTIZED..... WHEN THE BLINDERS ARE LIFTED FROM OUR EYES WE SEE AND UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING FROM GOD?S POINT OF VIEW. ARE YOU GETTING THIS? WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT REVEALS THE REALITY OF JESUS DURING THIS RESURRECTION DAY CELEBRATION YOU SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY. WHEN HE COULD SEE HE DIDN?T WASTE ANYTIME BUT HE GOT BAPTIZED FOR THE REMISSION OF HIS SINS AND IN VERSE 20 SAYS HE IMMEDIATE PROCLAIMED JESUS IN THE SYNAGOGUES., VERSE 22 SAYS HE INCREASED IN STRENGTH. GREAT ARE THE BENEFITS WHEN YOU SEE THE RESURRECTED ONE FOR WHO HE REALLY IS. YOUR LIFE PATTERNS CHANGE, HIS LIFE STYLE CHANGED.
BUT LOOK WHEN GOD?S KINGDOM IS PROCLAIMED IN POWER THE DEVIL IS THERE, AND HE TRIES TO BRING DISCOURAGEMENT TO THOSE WHO HAVE REALLY SEEN THE RISEN SAVIOR.

VERSE 23 AND 24 SAYS THEY PLOTTED TO TAKE HIM OUT OF CIRCULATION.
WHAT MAY I ASK HAS THE ENEMY USED TO TAKE YOU OUT OF CIRCULATION? WHAT HAS HE USED TO KEEP YOU FROM BECOMING EFFECTIVE IN THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION ?

LISTEN, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WITH THIS RESURRECTION COMES POWER TO CHANGE THINGS IN YOUR LIFE AND IN THE LIFE OF OTHERS. AND SAME POWER BRINGS WITH IT A DEVINE RESPONSIBILITY. SO NOW WE MUST LOOK AT WHAT GOD REALLY WANTS OF US ON THIS RESURRECTION DAY CELEBRATION. I BELIEVE HE WANTS US TO SEE HIM THE WAY THE EMMAUS ROAD BOYS DID AND THE WAY PETER DID AND THE WAY THOMAS DID AND THE WAY PAUL DID.
AND I?LL TELL YOU WHY!

I BELIEVE WHAT GOD REALLY WANTS US TO SEE HERE ON THIS 8TH DAY OF APRIL IS THAT :

1. WE CAN NOW DO WHAT SOME CONSIDER IMPOSSIBLE, EVEN PHYSICAL THINGS. (WALKED BACK 7 MILES TO TELL THE APOSTLES) AND BE BLESSED EVEN MORE WHEN THEY SAW THE SAVIOR APPEAR AMONG THEM !!!

2. WE NOW DON?T HAVE TO THINK LIKE THE REST OF THE WORLD DOES. THOMAS? SPIRITUAL EYES WERE OPENED, HE WOULD NEVER DOUBT AGAIN.
WHAT HAS GOT YOU DOUBTING? ? WHAT?S HOLDING YOU BACK ? BE CAUSE YOUR JUST NOT SURE ITS GOD? FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD !!!!

3. WE NOW KNOW HOW TO SPEND OUR TIME CONSTRUCTIVELY IN CHRIST?S BUSINESS. IT THE ONLY ONE THAT REALLY MATTERS. ITS NOT DULL, OLD THINGS DON?T PULL YOU BACK TO THE PAST, BECAUSE NOW YOU HAVE A LIFE THAT COUNTS FOR SOMETHING. PETER NEVER LOOKED BACK TO FISHING AGAIN. HIS OUTLOOK AND OBJECTIVES CHANGED.

4. OUR PAST IS NOT A PART OF OUR FUTURE. PAUL SAW THE LIGHT AND IMMEDIATELY WENT TO WORK. WHAT IS STOPPING US ? PAUL SAW THE URGENCY IN GETTING THE GOSPEL OUT. SOME OF US GO AROUND LIKE WE HAVE FOREVER. THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE, I WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT.