The Resurrection Of Christ And The Lost

The Resurrection of Christ and the lost

1 cor.15:

Prayer-

Father, today in your goodness, would you manifest your goodness in our lives? Would you allow your Spirit to energize us, fill us to overflowing with your power, allow us to look this morning at the cross not only as the finished work of Christ but the empowerment of your saints as we serve you here until you bring us home to glory. Amen.

Introduction-

Last week we looked at the life of Paul and the thorn that God had permitted in his life.

“I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me, my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

The thorn was given by God, delivered by Satan, for a purpose.

He prayed about it and The Lord said no, my grace is sufficient for you and in your weakness, you will see my power.”

Anybody want that for their life!

This morning, I want to remind you of the cross-

We know that Jesus went to the cross,

We know that salvation comes from the cross, but where is the power that we are supposed to see active in our lives?

Where are the people coming to the Lord seeking salvation?

Where are the testimonies of people receiving God’s blessings? Did they stop or did we stop looking for them?

If you were here last week…The Lord showed up! In our worship, in the testimonies shared, and when the word was spoken. You could not leave here and not know that we were given the word to change our lives concerning the thorns that torment and hinder our lives. That is not a one-time thing that happens, if we are being sensitive to what the Lord is saying, I believe every week He desires to encourage, rebuke, teach, heal us, and allow our hearts to be stirred by the Word of God and the Spirit of God to draw us into a closer relationship with Him.

The question becomes do you want it and how bad do you want it?

Paul says to the church at Cornith 1 Corinthians 15:1 - “Now brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you, otherwise you have believed in vain.”

Do we have to be reminded of the gospel?

Do we need to be reminded of the importance of the cross in our lives?

In the lives of those we have contact with? Yes! Yes we do. Paul goes on to tell us that it is to be the “first importance.”

Someone say…yes we do!

It was the business of the apostles to assert and establish the doctrine of the resurrection of Christ. I could understand the apostles having trouble bringing the truth to the unbelievers, but the apostles are speaking to the church at Cornith as well!

Some of them flatly denied the resurrection.

Some had turned the resurrection into a nice little story. (I am speaking to some this morning)

Some made it appear as if there was no power in the resurrection so why would they put their faith in the resurrection.

Christianity rest in the resurrection of Christ- no resurrection, no salvation.

No salvation, and your faith is worthless.

They were treating the truth of God as worthless! Not of the first importance!

(3) “For what I received I passed onto you as of first importance: that Christ died for your sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the twelve. After that, he appeared to more than 500 of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.”

The resurrection of Christ is the life blood of the faith.

If we truly believe that, it will change our lives and it should change the lives of those we have contact with.

Paul tells us that the gospel he preached was the same gospel we need to share with others.

He says that he didn’t water it down, he didn’t change it, it was the same doctrine taught and received.

It was not a strange doctrine.

Why is it that strange doctrine is more accepted and received than the gospel that comes with power and anointing?

I have more people stop me and share strange doctrine than people telling me of the gospel of Christ.