8 April 2007
EARLY RISE RESURRECTION SERVICE
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
Fort Ord Chapel
Seaside, California
BIG IDEA: Many believers, who look good and strong, outwardly, are really in shock-spiritually, and just a TURN-AROUND away from receiving instructions from THE LORD TO GO AND DO MINISTRY. .
References: John 20:16a-17b – KJV (She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren,…); Luke 7:44 NIV (Then, turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, Do you see this woman? I entered your house. You gave me no water for my feet but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair).; Isaiah 65:17-25; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; 1 Corinthians 15:19-26; John 20:1-18; Isaiah 6:1 RSV (In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple); Isaiah 6:8-9 (ESV) (And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me." 9 And he said, " Go, and say to this people:;
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: John 20:9-18 (RSV)
II. READ THE PERICOPE: John 20:9-18 (RSV)
III. READ THE TEXT: John 20:16b-17a (KJV) She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren,…
IV. PURPOSE: Motivate the hearers to affirm to others that Resurrection Sunday 2007 find many believers looking good and strong, outwardly, when inwardly they are in shock-spiritually, and just a TURN-AROUND away from receiving instructions from THE LORD TO GO AND DO MINISTRY.
V. INTRODUCTION:
HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED! HAPPY RESURRECTION SUNDAY TO ALL.
YOU ALL LOOK GOOD AND STRONG! Beautiful dresses, suits, hats, and ties. You all look good and strong!
However, I submit to you this morning that there are many believers, in our midst, that look good and strong outwardly, but inwardly they are in SPIRITUAL-SHOCK!
For they have either just loss a significant other; or their marriage is in trouble and their children are wayward. Inwardly, they are in SPIRITUAL-SHOCK.
Perhaps, some that are here this morning are about to experience for the FIRST TIME “the empty-ness syndrome” – outwardly, they look good and strong; but inwardly they are in SPIRITUAL-SHOCK!
Yet, in spite of their PERSONAL CRISIS, and in spite of their current loss or projected loss – THEY ARE JUST A TURN-AROUND away from RECEIVING INSTRUCTIONS to GO … AND DO MINISTRY!
For you see, although we are wounded … The LORD wants us to do ministry … out of our pain.
***************TAKE 5 BEATS**********
MOVE 1: Now, you may find it interesting to learn that in my reading, and sermon preparation, I came across a story entitled, “The Dying Preacher”.
a. According to the story, an old preacher was dying. He sent a message for his banker and his lawyer, both church members, to come to his home.
b. When they arrived, they were ushered up to his bedroom. As they entered the room, the preacher held out his hands and motioned for them to sit on each side of the bed. The preacher grasped their hands, sighed contentedly, smiled, and stared at the ceiling. For a time, no one said anything.
c. Both the banker and lawyer were touched and flattered that the preacher would ask them to be with him during his final moments. They were also puzzled; the preacher had never given them any indication that he particularly liked either of them. They both remembered his many long, uncomfortable sermons about greed, covetousness, and rapacious behavior that made them squirm in their seats.
d. Finally, the banker said, "Preacher, why did you ask us to come?"
e. The old preacher mustered up his strength and then said weakly, "Jesus died between two thieves, and that’s how I want to go."
********************TAKE 5 BEATS********************
MOVE 2: STORIES ABOUT DEATH AND DYING ISN’T ALWAYS FUNNY.
a. Because, as a result of death, we often find ourselves in the midst of grief and weeping.
b. Ironically, the Hebrew word for “weep” or “weeping” is nearly always bakah, and the Greek word is klaio.
c. Both words express STRONG EMOTIONS, AND GREAT DISTRESS…
d. … WHICH is especially true … when a death is involved …
e. In other words – lots of powerful emotions are associated with death …. AND losing a significant other.
********************TAKE 5 BEATS***************
MOVE 3: For who can ever forget the Word of God in the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 65:17-19) where God promises the creation of A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH.
a. As A RESULT, Isaiah encourages us to be glad and to rejoice because there is Good News for our future.
b. Because the VOICE OF WEEPING WILL NOT EXIST. God plans to permanently wipe our distress and weeping away.
d. For don’t you remember, … Isaiah was grieved over the loss of his First Cousin and King – Uzziah. For the Bible says …(in Isaiah 6:1) that it was in the year that King Uzziah died that Isaiah SAW THE LORD.
e. Seeing God in the midst of toiling with grief in … and of itself … is awesome.
f. Because often times, when we lose a love one, or a significant other, we become angry with God.
******************TAKE 5 BEATS******************
MOVE 4: As a result, the LAST PERSON WE WANT TO SEE IS GOD! AND THE LAST PERSON WE WANT TO HEAR AND LISTEN TO IS A FELLOW BELIEVER.
a. For you see, my brothers and my sisters, when you lose a love one … outwardly you may still appear to HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER …
b. ….Outwardly … your attire may still look awesome and your hair and personal hygiene may STILL BE IN PLACE …
c. YOU MAY STILL LOOK GOOD AND STRONG! BUT INWARDLY …. You are a mess …You’re clutter with confusion!
d. YOU CAN’T BELIEVE WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
e. AS FAR AS YOU ARE CONCERNED … YOUR LOSS CAN’T BE TRUE!
f. SOMETIMES …YOU EVEN … ASK YOURSELF … HOW CAN THIS BE ?… AND YOU FIND YOURSELF … SOBBING AND WEEPING … OVER AND OVER AGAIN …
******************TAKE 5 BEATS*****************
MOVE 5: UNTIL YOU CAN’T WEEP ANYMORE … AND tears will no longer fall FROM YOUR EYES … And it’s at that point that you’re just a turn-around away from being Instructed by the LORD to go and do ministry.
a. Nearly twenty-nine years ago, at the age of 16, I loss my dad.
b. He was 48 years young. He died from a massive heart attack.
c. As you might imagine, as an ONLY CHILD, I was devastated.
d. My hero … and my guardian had suddenly been taken away from me.
e. My mom was ALL THAT I HAD LEFT!
******************TAKE 5 BEATS******************
MOVE 6: I remember MY FATHER’S DEATH, as if it was yesterday.
a. Initially, I yelled, …cried, and sobbed. I wept.
b. Eventually family members and our pastor and church members showed-up at the (POOR FOLK) hospital.
c. And they all ministered to my MOTHER – BUT No one ministered to me!
d. The Hospital Chaplain didn’t even show-up.
e. And it was that experience … in the midst of my loss … that caused me to HAVE A TURN-AROUND experience …
f. … and to hear the LORD instruct me TO GO AND DO MINISTRY …
g. … TRAIN and TEACH HOSPITAL CHAPLAINS …how … to do HOLISTIC ministry!
*****************TAKE 5 BEATS*******************
MOVE 7: Likewise, in our text, this morning, we find Mary Magdalene … in the midst of a GRIEVING CRISIS.
a. For you see in MARY’S neighborhood, she had been an outcast. She was a recluse.
b. Most dignified Christian folk didn’t want anything to do with her.
c. Because, like the Old Testament’s GOMER, she was a PROSTITUTE.
d. But, Jesus treated her like she was a SAINT ….
e. The women in the community whispered about her … to others …
f. But, Jesus listened to her!
g. From Mary’s perception … The only person that ever treated her like she was somebody … was Jesus.
*******************TAKE 5 BEATS*****************
MOVE 8: Now, Jesus was dead … and Mary was devastated.
a. IT WAS EARLY Sunday Morning …
b. And as she had been at Jesus’ crucifixion and burial; she was now at his grave site while it was still dark!
c. First, she saw that the stone in front of the grave had been moved. It scared her!
d. So without getting closer … she ran to the home where the disciples were … and told Peter and the others of her discovery.
e. After Peter and John had come; and had witnessed the linen cloths …
f. … they returned back to their home – but … Mary remained.
********************TAKE 5 BEATS *********************
MOVE 9: For don’t you remember … She stood there weeping outside the tomb;
a. Because in her mind …. it wasn’t enough that the soldiers had murdered Jesus;
b. They had also taken his body …. to prevent anyone … from rendering continuous homage and reverence.
c. MARY was angry, Shock, and in DENIAL!
d. Finally, when she built up enough nerves, she looked inside the tomb and to her surprise, SHE SAW TWO ANGELS DRESSED IN WHITE, ….
e. They were sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, …
f. … one at the head and the other at the feet.
*******************TAKE 5 BEATS**********************
MOVE 10: Mary muttered, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”
i. And …. It was at that precise moment …. That something happened …!
b. And Mary heard … THE CALL of our SAVIOR ….
j. … SHE HAD A TURNED-AROUND EXPERIENCE … AND SHE SAW THE LORD.
k. Sometimes we can’t see Jesus in our midst, … because we don’t expect to see Him.
l. But … He’s always there …
m. The WORD OF GOD says … (in Hebrews 13:5 -Young Literal Translation) … God will never leave or forsake us … whatever we’re going through ….the LORD is there;
**********************TAKE 5 BEATS*******************
MOVE 11: AND HE IS WAITING …. for us to JUST TURN-AROUND and identify his presence …. in the midst of our troubles …
a. … and when we do … He will instructs us … AS HE INSTRUCTED MARY … to go and DO MINISTRY.
b. For the Bible says that after Mary recognized Jesus in her midst, …
c. “Jesus said to her,” … GO TO MY BRETHREN ...” - John 20:17a (KJV)
d. LIKEWISE, my brothers and sisters, … Resurrection Sunday 2007 find many of us, standing still …
e. At first glance … we look good and strong (outwardly) ….
f. We have our Bibles in hand … and we appear NOT to have a problem in the world.
***********************TAKE 5 BEATS******************
MOVE 12: But in actuality … THIS MORNING … we are … GREIVING …
a. BUT THERE IS GOOD NEWS THIS MORNING….
b. We are just A TURN-AROUND AWAY FROM receiving instructions from THE LORD TO … GO … and DO ministry. .
c. Now, if you have already had a TURN-AROUND EXPERIENCE to go and do ministry …
d. … OR if you feel God is calling you this morning to TURN-AROUND …
e. … come to altar for prayer.
******************TAKE 5 BEATS******************
CELEBRATION:
FOR AS YOU MAY RECALL …IT WAS ….ISAIAH …THAT SAID … (in Isaiah 6:8-9) I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ….
"Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" ….
Then I said, "Here am I! Send me." 9
And he said, " Go, ….
