After the Resurrection
Restoring faith
Jesus Appears to the Disciples John 20:19
19 They are assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
What happened after resurrection Sunday?
What happened in your life after your Easter Celebration?
When you reach the climax of the celebration of your faith in GOD,
When you Gave him your best Praise ..
what happened to you on Monday Morning?
When a big event happens in life, we usually take time to reflect, celebrate, and move in a new direction.
If you consider some of the major events in your life..
a) Graduation
b) Marriage / or a committed relationship
c) Birth of a Child
d) Divorce or separation from someone you love
e) Retirement
f) Moving to a new house
g) Death of a loved one
h) A major sickness or illness
i) A Prison experience
Sometimes these events can build our faith, and sometimes these major events can shatter our faith
because things happen to us we don’t expect, we are unprepared for, and we have no control over.
This is how the disciples felt after the resurrection!
Their faith was shattered…
Things had not gone as they expected..
They woke up Sunday Morning to one of the worst feelings they ever had..
It seemed like God had forgotten them..
It seemed like God had not answered their prayers..
It seemed like they were alone..
IT seemed like life would never be the same again..
It seemed like they were in a hopeless situation..
They were afraid.. fearful for their own lives..
They locked themselves away in a room.. and began to hide..
What they didn’t realized is that there are some things you cannot lock yourself away from..
There are some events that happen to you in life, that a closed door cannot protect you from….
There are some things that happened in life.. That can reach you behind closed doors,
they can get to you through brick walls,
through iron bars and steel gates,
You go to sleep and wake up and you still have to deal with them no matter how you try to hide..
Jesus knew how the disciples felt..
He knew their faith was shattered…
He knew the guilt and shame they experienced..
He knew the terrible feelings they had about deserting him and betraying him when he needed them most
He understood their personal fears about their own safety and lives
He understood their shattered dreams of taking over Jerusalem and building the type of kingdom they wanted..
He understood, the shame, guilt, sadness, disappointment, and fear!
The Good news for us my brothers and Sisters is GOD knows our issues..
No matter how hard you try ..
You have not hidden your fears from him..
You have not hidden your guilt
You have not hidden your shame
He sees your tears of sadness
He knows all of your disappointments
He wants to restore your Faith Right here and right NOW!
If you just look at Peter…
Can you imagine how he must have Felt?
After denying and lying about he ever even knew Jesus?
After running and hiding and not even standing by his friend during his worst minute?
After seeing Jesus put to death, and willing submitting himself to the crucifixion on the cross..
After doing nothing ..
Taking no risks to keep his word..
Taking no risks to help his friend whom he loved
Taking no risks for the one whom had let him walk on water?
Taking no risks for the one who healed his mother-in-law?
Taking no risks for the one who gave him a new job, put him in a position of leadership
.. put him in charge of the group..
gave him special assignments
Showed him great Favor..
Answered all his questions during bible study
Took him special places..
The guilt must have been overwhelming..
You might be hiding overwhelming guilt this morning
Because you have not done something for God you promised you would do!
Because you have not kept your word
Because you feel like GOD has rejected you because of your behavior
You feel unworthy,
unwanted,
not needed,
like you have lost your place with God!
I want you to know this morning, that GOD is a restorer!
God is a healer!
Jeremiah 30:17
'For I will restore you to health And I will heal you of your wounds,' declares the LORD, 'Because they have called you an outcast, saying: "It is Zion; no one cares for her."'
God’s Love and Grace for you was never dependent on your actions
It is a gift!
You had to mess up in order to receive the gift!
If you had not failed in your pursuit of joy on your own
, you would never have entered a place where GOD could reach you with HIS unmerited Love..
You would have lived a life of self righteousness and sin, thinking what a favor you were doing for GOD by walking with HIM..
Now after the resurrection you know that you could never do for GOD what he has done for you!
While Peter is in his worst fears .. wondering if Jesus will accept him back and give him another chance..
Now Jesus Ask Peter and us an important Question..
Peter Do you love me?
Do you love God after all he has done for you?
Jesus Reinstates Peter
John 21
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
If we love GOD then after the resurrection we should get to work, feeding them and caring for them with the gifts of love, testimonies, words of encouragement, that the Holy Spirit of GOD has given us!
If we love GOD like we say we do, we should do what he asked us!
Before he left he gave them a great commandment..
Matthew 28:16-20
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
17 And when they saw him, they worshiped him: but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
God wants to challenge us today..
Following this commandment might be the most important thing you do in life to demonstrate your love to GOD..
This is how you show GOD you love him..
This is how you feed HIS sheep
This is how you can care for His Flock
Go spread the Good news…
On your job
Go spread the good news @ the bus stop
Go spread the good news.. @ the gas station
Go spread the Good news.. in the grocery Store
Go spread the Good news @ the bank
Go spread the Good news .. @ the dinner table
Go spread the Good news.. on your cell phone
Go spread the good news on your social media posts
God spread the good news in your business deals
Go spread the good news everywhere you go!
Jesus Christ is Risen from the Dead!
Accept the grace of God!
He can take away all your fears
He can take away all your doubt
He can take away all your guilt
He can remove all your shame!
He is waiting for you will you come to HIM now?
