"He Is Risen"

c. … And the One that God knew from the Beginning of Creation. The Jewish Witnesses acknowledged Jesus’ greatness and His rise … for He is Risen!

d. He is risen does not refer to son of the widow of Nain;

e. Nor to the daughter of the ruler of the Synagogue.

f. Neither does the phrase, “He is Risen” refers to Lazarus;

g. But it refers to the one who is risen, never to die again; but to reign forever!

******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******

MOVE 2: In our Scripture Reading, this morning God uses a century old regulation in Leviticus 11 to teach Peter an important spiritual lesson.

a. When Peter arrived, at Cornelius’ House, he discovered that Cornelius had gathered relatives and friends to hear the message of life.

b. Cornelius was a witness even before he became a Christian!

c. As a result, - in his sermon - the Apostle Peter moves forward from the “Resurrection”.

d. Peter refuses to deal with stumbling issues between Jews and Gentiles of the past.

e. For centuries the Jews, on the basis of Old Testament Law had declared the Gentiles to be unclean, and some Jews even referred to the Gentiles as “dogs.”

f. Still, Peter was moving forward from the Resurrection!

******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******

MOVE 3: Now, my brothers and sisters, it has been said that CRISIS draws people to CHRIST.

a. This doesn’t mean, as believers, we WILL NOT experience CRISIS after receiving Jesus Christ into our lives.

b. It just simply means that troubles - in some form or fashion -initially draw us to Christ.

c. In other words, CRISIS draws people to CHRIST.

d. Tragedies, hardships, trials, other people death …

e. … or simply the belief that we we’re going to hell if we don’t change our unbelieving lifestyles and behaviors.

******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******

MOVE 4: The belief of going to hell is a crisis for many.

a. This belief along can – and often does - draw people like you and me to Christ.

b. Therefore, if this presupposition is true, then as a Community of Believers – we all have at least one thing in common.

c. We have all experienced a CRISIS of some form in our life.

d. As a rule of thumb - regardless of what the initial crisis - Was, Is, or Has Been – It Came or was Initially introduced into our lives before Christ.

e. Therefore, although the CRISIS came before CHRIST’s Resurrection in our Life - we to need to move “Forward from the Resurrection”!

f. Now, please don’t misinterpret me. Don’t get me wrong.

******* TAKE 5 BEATS ******

MOVE 5: What I’m simply saying is that we, as a Community of Believers, need to move FORWARD.

a. Yes … We should be able to RECALL the WHAT, WHEN, and WHERE in our lives

b. And we should rightfully acknowledge the pains of our past;

c. But move FORWARD.

d. As Christian, we should be able to WITNESS to others.

e. We should be able to tell others when we first heard the message of Christ speak directly to us – individually.

f. Like Peter (today), we should be moving forward from the Resurrection.