GOD’S BUSINESS
#NBCCEaster2017
THREAD: GOD IS IN THE BUSINESS OF RESURRECTION [CONGREGATION REPEATS]
My purpose today is to convince you or to remind you that God is in the business of resurrection. He always has been and He always will be. Now in order to convince you of such a thing, there needs to be a whole lot of evidence to support that claim. We can’t just say something like that without reliable consistent proof. In addition, to say something is a business, means there needs to be multiple events that happen to show us that God is in the habit of resurrection. Someone somewhere needs to benefit. Business also indicates a ‘supply’ and ‘demand’ situation. So let’s take a look at the Bible and see why and how God is in the business of resurrection.
FIRST EVENT [1 KINGS 17:17-22]
Our first story of resurrection comes from the Old Testament from the book of 1 Kings. There was a wild man of God, a prophet, named Elijah. There was a drought and famine and Elijah was staying with a woman and her son. There was a miracle to provide food for all of them, but that is another story. During Elijah’s time with the family, the little boy died. The woman was distraught and thought she was being punished in some way because of her life choices. Let’s read what happened:
READ 1 Kings 17:17-22
“Sometime later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing. 18 She said to Elijah, "What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?" 19 "Give me your son," Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed. 20 Then he cried out to the LORD, "O LORD my God, have you brought tragedy also upon this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?" 21 Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried to the LORD, "O LORD my God, let this boy's life return to him!" 22 The LORD heard Elijah's cry, and the boy's life returned to him, and he lived.”
What do you call that? Resurrection!
I want you to notice that the prophet Elijah did not raise this boy from the dead, but prayed over him and God raised Him to life. God answered Elijah’s prayer (verse 22) and the little boy lived again. That is an amazing story that is actually repeated with his successor.
SECOND EVENT [2 KINGS 4:32-35]
EliJAH had a prophet that followed him named EliSHA. Elisha was a wonderful servant of God much like his mentor Elijah. Elisha became friends with a man and his wife and they had no children. God blessed them with a child and one day the child complained about his head and died. By that time, Elisha had moved on, but loved this family. The wife came and begged Elisha for help. Let’s read what happened:
READ 2 Kings 4:32-35
“When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his couch. 33 He went in, shut the door on the two of them and prayed to the LORD. 34 Then he got on the bed and lay upon the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he stretched himself out upon him, the boy's body grew warm. 35 Elisha turned away and walked back and forth in the room and then got on the bed and stretched out upon him once more. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.”
What do you call that? Resurrection!
Notice if you would please where the power comes from for this boy to be raised to life? It is not medicine. It is not luck. It is not a medical procedure. In this case, like the one we just read, the prophet prays to God and God grants the request and the boy is resurrected. In this case, notice even that the body was cold and grew warm when he came back to life.
THIRD EVENT [2 KINGS 13:20-21]
Our third resurrection event happened to Elisha, the prophet we just talked about, but it happened after Elisha was already dead. This passage is such a testament to the power of our God. Let’s read this brief account:
READ 2 Kings 13:20-21
“Elisha died and was buried. Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. 21 Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man's body into Elisha's tomb. When the body touched Elisha's bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet.”
What do you call that? Resurrection!
I find this resurrection story to be completely unexpected. The prophet Elisha is dead. He is buried. There is no life in him. In this passage there are no prayers, no pleads, but just a miraculous accident in which God decided to express His power. The dead man was thrown into Elisha’s tomb and came to life. Only God’s power can explain that because God is the only source of life. The God described in the Bible is the God who has power over life and death. Our God is the Author of Life. Our God is the Regulator of Death. The only explanation for this man resuming his life after being tossed in the tomb is the resurrecting power of God… which is the ultimate power over life and death.
FOURTH EVENT [LUKE 7:13-15]
Our fourth event again centers on a mother and her son. As I was reading, a side question came to me. Why are these resurrection stories seem to center on mothers and children? Why is that? I think we know the answer. A husband or wife who loses a spouse is a widower or widow. A child who loses their parents is an orphan. There is no word to describe what you are when a child dies. The grief is overwhelming. We see that grief in our next passage.
READ Luke 7:13-15
“When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry." 14 Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.”
What do you call that? Resurrection!
I like this story for two reasons. First, it is a resurrection story (that fits with what we are taking about this morning). Second, we see the motivation Jesus Christ had in exercising His divine power to raise someone from the dead. The whole reason Jesus raised this young man from the dead was because of His compassion. The passage clearly states, “His heart went out to her” (verse 13). I think that heart of compassion also leads us to the next resurrection story.
Have you noticed there seems to be a pattern of resurrection events in the Bible? They are found not only in the Old Testament, but the New Testament as well. There must be a message God is sending through these passages.
THREAD: GOD IS IN THE BUSINESS OF RESURRECTION [CONGREGATION REPEATS]
FIFTH EVENT [MATTHEW 9:25]
READ Matthew 9:25
“After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.”
What do you call that? Resurrection!
SIXTH EVENT [JOHN 11:43-44]
The next resurrection event is a significant one. It is significant for two reasons. First, the person that Jesus raised was named Lazarus and was a personal friend. This was not a stranger that Jesus was passing by. This was a person in whose home Jesus had stayed and eaten. I find that significant anyway. Second, in the passage that describes Lazarus rising from the dead, Jesus tells us exactly why He is doing it.
READ John 11:41-44
“So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me." 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."
What do you call that? Resurrection!
Please notice that Jesus says exactly why He is going to raise Lazarus from the dead. Jesus was proving that God sent Him. The power to raise to life comes from God. Jesus wanted us to see clearly that God is in the business of resurrection. Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to Earth to live a perfect sinless life in order that He might willingly sacrifice Himself for us in death to pay for our sins. The miracles prove Jesus is who He says He is.
SEVENTH EVENT [MATTHEW 27:52-53]
This seventh resurrection event happened and I am not sure why, but we rarely talk about it. As soon as Jesus died on the cross, several things happened. Most of us can list them: earthquake, tearing of the temple curtain, etc. We know that the Earth responded to the death of the Son of God. We also find that people were raised from the dead at the moment of His death.
READ Matthew 27:52-53
“The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.”
What do you call that? Resurrection!
I also call that another element of truth that what happened on the cross with Jesus was no ordinary death. People die all the time and no one is raised in the cemetery. That is exactly what happened when Jesus died. People sprang to life because Jesus Christ offers eternal life. People sprang to life because God is in the business of resurrection.
EIGHTH EVENT [MATTHEW 28:5-7]
This last and final resurrection event is the one that we are all here celebrating today. This resurrection is why you dressed a little nicer, planned a family meal and family time, and maybe even came to church in the first place. Of all the resurrections in the Bible, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important. Easter Sunday is the time when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
READ MATTHEW 28:5-7
“The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
What do you call that? Resurrection!
Jesus Christ was killed on Friday. He was whipped, beaten, spit on, cursed, mocked, and made to drag His heavy cross through the streets of Jerusalem to the place of His execution. He was nailed through the hands to the cross. He was nailed through His feet to the cross. He hung and could not breathe. He was naked. He was suffering. Jesus physically died.
God rose Jesus from the grave on Sunday. Because Jesus Christ was sinless and He willingly died, He paid for our sins by His death. Because Jesus Christ rose from the dead, He can offer that eternal life to us as a gift. We need only accept Him. The resurrection story of Jesus was the whole plan all along. Hopefully you can see that.
SUMMARY
You see, God is in the business of resurrection:
We need God to be in the business of resurrection because we are lost and keep dying apart from Him.
We need God to be in the business of resurrection because we keep sinning.
We need God to be in the business of resurrection because we keep going off track and need Him.
We need God to be in the business of resurrection because He is the only source of life and goodness.
He can be in the business of resurrection because He is the Author of Life and the Controller of Death.
He wants to be in the business of resurrection because He is good, loving, merciful, and compassionate.
He wants to be in the business of resurrection because He is holy, mighty, and a promise-keeper.
He wants to be in the business of resurrection because it shows us who He really is and reveals His nature.
He proves He can be in the resurrection business because He has done it to others throughout time.
He proves He can be in the resurrection business because He raised His One and Only Son.
APPLICATION/CHALLENGE
Today we are here to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. There are three things we need to do with that.
Remember.
Be thankful.
Tell others.
INVITATION
I want to invite you this morning to come forward, if you have never accepted the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus in faith. Accepting Jesus in faith means you confess you believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, you confess you are sinful, and you confess you want your life to change with Jesus as Savior and Lord. There are words do say. There is baptism (immersion) to submit in obedience to. In baptism, we receive the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). If you need to accept Him, come today!
CONCLUSION IN PRAYER
