April 17th
“THE PROOF AND POWER OF THE RESURRECTION”
The resurrection must be preached if we are to hear the gospel of Christ. The resurrection must be believed if we are to see God’s face in peace. Peter, the apostle, preached one of the first sermons of the resurrection. It was there on the Day of Pentecost. He said to the people, “you know this Jesus of Nazareth. He is a mighty man with mighty miracles, a man with proof and power, wonders and signs. Things that happened before your eyes. It was this man that God let you murder on that cross of Calvary. But God removed the sting of death and gave him life once more.” It just was not possible for him to be contained by death. The Tomb was too small. The King’s seal did not have enough authority. The soldiers who stood guard were ordinary men like you and I and we ought to know by now that we are no match for God.
There is proof and power in the resurrection. Let’s look at some proof. On the first day of the week, the day after the Jewish Sabbath, some of the women whose lives and souls the Lord had touched, arrived at the tomb early that morning to render the last service of love to their Lord and Master. In the span of three and one-half years, they dined with Him, prepared food for his body, one of them anointed His feet with precious oil. Now they arrived at the tomb only to find the stone rolled away. In the place of the King’s seal, they found a broken rock. In place of the Roman soldiers who stood guard, they found an angel from heaven, because the soldiers had fallen like dead men.
Mary Magdalene carries the word to Peter and John that Jesus was not where they had laid Him. These two men made their way to this tomb. They found an empty grave. No sign of a struggle was there; there was no sign of their envy or foul play. The only true signs they saw was proof that our “Rock in a weary land” took His time and pulled off His grave clothes, (He was not in a hurry). He took the napkin from about His head and very gently laid it in a place to itself. He took the linen clothes from about His body, and also very gently laid them in another place.
Another proof of the resurrection happened on the road to a village called Emmaus.
That afternoon on that same first day of the week, our Master appeared to two of the Disciples. He manifested himself; he told them how the Scriptures had been fulfilled. He opened to them many of the secrets of His resurrection. These men returned to Jerusalem and told the other Disciples of their experiences. They witnessed one to another saying, Oh, “…did not our heart burn within us, while the man of God talked with us by the way…”
Another great proof happens to be the letdown and the despondency the Disciples had after the crucifixion. They must have felt that they had fought three and a half years for a lost cause. Many of them had no future. Some of them went back to fishing. But a Risen Savior walked among the for forty days and nights. He brought them together and told them to preach his gospel to all nations. Christ’s resurrection was not to keep us where we are. But He rose that we might rise higher and higher.
Every time sin gets in your way; Christ wants you to go higher and higher. Whenever there’s a thorn in your flesh, He wants you to go higher and higher. When you are down to your knees, your back is against the walls of life, when you can’t see a way out, the Lord is telling you to go higher and higher.
I have told you about the proof. Now let me tell you about the power. First of all, that resurrection changed the Lord’s Day from the Last day of the week to the first day of the week. It changed from that Old Dispensation to the New. It moved humanity from the old man Adam to the new man Jesus Christ.
There is power in the risen Lord. He told His disciples to go to Jerusalem and wait for power from on high. He promised a Comforter. That Comforter is here today. I’m glad I have that Comforter, I’m glad I have the Holy Ghost. Do you have it?
It will make your enemies to become your footstool. It’s a lawyer in a courtroom. It’s a doctor in a dying hour! It’s a friend in a lonely hour! It will pick you up when you are down and out! Christ died in shame and disgrace, but that morning He was raised with power that no one will ever erase.
He gave His Life! No one could take it away from Him. He died for your sins and mine! The grave was too weak to hold Him! That’s why I know He’s got power, and He holds the world in His hands! In my mind, He arose! In my heart, he arose! In my torn-up life, He arose! Not with just a little power, not with just earthly power, but with all power! Oh, I know He Rose! I know He Rose. Because He Rose in my soul!
Wishing You a Happy Easter
This is Rev Dr. Wm. Rocky Brown, 3rd letting you know that GOD and I Love you, and we approve this message because we want to motivate your mind, body & soul. So be happy and enjoy the blessings of The LORD today my friend! Please subscribe to my website to receive these messages daily at http://www.yourspiritualmotivation.com. You can also buy my publication: “800 SAYINGS BY OLD FOLKS WHO RAISED US” from Amazon.com or www.wmrockybrown3rd.com or by email: wmrocbe@aol.com or by calling 215-480-5333.
