Why We Believe Jesus Rose From The Dead

Why We Believe Jesus Rose From The Dead Mark 16.1-14 We can only imagine what this was like! The shock, the joy, the feeling of, “Is this really happening?!” It was a surreal time. They could not take it in at first. Miracle of miracles! Hope restored. He is Alive! I believe in Jesus. I believe He is the Son of God. I believe He died and rose again. We believe... reasons for our firm faith... Why We Believe Jesus Rose From The Dead: * The Scriptures said He would and He did. He never spoke of His suffering and death without speaking about His resurrection. Every word of God is flawless. His word is truth. What Jesus says he will do He does! He often said, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and after three days He will rise." Mark 9.31 Living by the Word of God Having it proved true in our lives Watching the Proverbs unfold in front of us. Standing upon His Promises. We have no reason to doubt and every reason to believe! Why We Believe Jesus Rose From The Dead: * There is an EmptyTomb in Jerusalem today. I have been there. He is not there. He is risen. Tombs of Mao Tsa Tong, Paul Revere, Grandparents in New Jersey. All contain their remains. The place where they laid the LORD is empty because He rose again. His disciples came in the night and stole His body. No way would they have even thought of this. Their hopes were dashed. Fear was larger than that stone in front of the tomb. If you are frightened and hiding you would not dare to attempt such a feat. The Empty Tomb means: Death is defeated. Christ is LORD. Our last enemy will not win. We will live with Jesus forever All the tombs/graves will be emptied one day! I Thessalonians 4. 13 Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage/comfort one another with these words. Encourage, console, comfort, strengthen, admonish pä-rä-kä-le'-o The word for the Holy Spirit is Paraklete. It has these meanings but the first meaning is to come alongside. Jesus spoke of His going and the coming of the Spirit on the night He was betrayed. He is with us and in us! Let us call others aside in the grief. Why We Believe Jesus Rose From The Dead: * He continues to Build His Church. Baptisms Hospitals, schools, wells and cisterns Feeding programs The church around the world... in Haiti and Colombia! Feeding 100 poorest families this week there and now have 16 going to Colombia this summer! My Mom and those in need. The widows and the orphans throughout the centuries... in the 21st Century Through Livestream and YouTube and blogs! Why We Believe Jesus Rose From The Dead * He Continues to Answer Prayer Today. We are seeing some amazing answers to prayer! God is working. I am saying, “Thank You” to the LORD more than ever before. I love to look back on my prayer journals! How often have we experienced this: Philippians 4. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. * He Lives Within My Heart. The witness of His Spirit with our spirit Romans 8.16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Romans 8.11 And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who lives in you. Wasting away outwardly, inwardly being renewed day by day. * He Walks with Us! Even through the Valley of the Shadow of Death! We have experienced that. On our Emmaus Roads Luke 24 Each day as we journey in His Word and follow Him * He Is Coming Again! John 14.1-3 I will come and receive you unto Myself That keeps us. That gives us hope. He is our Hope. That helps us persevere. Billy Graham said that he could give the argument for God in one word, “Israel.” We Believe Jesus Rose From The Dead