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He Is Alive

Posted on 21 Apr 2019, Pastor: Tolu Makinde

Title: He Is Alive

Text: Matt. 28:1-10

[Mat 28:1] Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.

[Mat 28:2] And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.

[Mat 28:3] His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.

[Mat 28:4] And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.

[Mat 28:5] But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.

[Mat 28:6] He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

[Mat 28:7] And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”

[Mat 28:8] So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.

[Mat 28:9] And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.

[Mat 28:10] Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

Introduction

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the main pillar of Christianity that separates us from the fakes.
If Jesus had not resurrected, He would have been labeled a dead god.
Thank God He resurrected.
Thank God He is alive
Thank God He reigns as the King of kings and the Lord of Lords
Thank God He is still saving lives
Thank God He is still delivering us
Thank God He is still healing
Thank God He is the Prince of peace
Thank God He is faithful
Today, to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we’ll talk about 7 reasons for His resurrection.
Not in the order of importance, but we’ll countdown.

7 Reasons for His Resurrection

7. To prove that He is coming back – Acts 1:9-11

[Act 1:9] Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. [Act 1:10] And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, [Act 1:11] who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
The same way He ascended is the same way He will return
Everything Jesus has stated has come to pass, except for His return
If man could not tie Jesus to any lie, that tells me His return is imminent.
An un-resurrected man cannot return

6. To prove that He will never leave us – John 14:18-19, Heb 13:5

[Joh 14:18] I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. [Joh 14:19] “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.
[Heb 13:5] Let your conduct be without covetousness; becontent with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU.”
Only a living God can be with us. A dead god is dead and gone. Thank God our God is alive
You are not alone. God is with you. Whether you feel it or not, it is not by feeling. It is by His Word.

5. To prove that He has power over death – Rev. 1:18, Rom. 6:9

[Rev 1:18] I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
[Rom 6:9] knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.
Up until Jesus, anyone that death swallowed up is done.
After the death of Jesus, the old testament saints were resurrected.
[Mat 27:51] Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, [Mat 27:52] and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; [Mat 27:53] and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
A dead god cannot raise himself, let alone raising others back to life
So, all your relatives that has fallen asleep, a time is coming that Jesus will raise them up.

4. To prove that the resurrection of the dead is coming – 1 Thes. 4:13-18

[1Th 4:13] But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. [1Th 4:14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. [1Th 4:15] For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. [1Th 4:16] For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. [1Th 4:17] Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. [1Th 4:18] Therefore comfort one another with these words.

3. To give us a name we can call – John 14:3, 14, Phil. 2:9-11

[Joh 14:3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
[Joh 14:14] If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
[Php 2:9] Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, [Php 2:10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, [Php 2:11] andthat every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
No matter how hard you call the name of a dead relative, he will not answer
No matter how hard you call the name of a dead god, he will not answer. Ask the prophets of Baal
Only a living God can answer when called. When you call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, He will answer you.

2. To become the go between for us and God the Father – Matt. 27:51, Ex. 26:31-33, 1 Pet. 3:18

[Mat 27:51] Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,
Through His death, the veil that separated the Holy place from the most Holy was torn from top to bottom.
It was torn from the top to show that God Himself cause the veil to tear. If it had torn from the bottom, people could claim it was done by man.
- [Exo 26:31] “You shall make a veil woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen. It shall be woven with an artistic design of cherubim. [Exo 26:32] You shall hang it upon the four pillars of acacia wood overlaid with gold. Their hooks shall be gold, upon four sockets of silver. [Exo 26:33] And you shall hang the veil from the clasps. Then you shall bring the ark of the Testimony in there, behind the veil. The veil shall be a divider for you between the holy place and the Most Holy.
[1Pe 3:18] For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,

1. To prove that He is God – Eph. 1:19-20

[Eph 1:19] and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power [Eph 1:20] which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenlyplaces,
The greatest miracle ever performed is the resurrection of Jesus Christ
[1Pe 3:19] by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, [1Pe 3:20] who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, whilethe ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.
While He was there, He took the keys of death and hell away from the devil.
[Rev 1:18] I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

Conclusion

Beloved, I need not tell you that this God is alive.
Time and time again, He has proven Himself
What are you still doing? He said,

[Joh 6:37] All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
Have you received Jesus as your Lord and Savior? – [Rev 3:20] Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
[Rom 10:9] that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. [Rom 10:10] For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Are you willing to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior today? He died, so that you can have life.
Come and receive life.

Sermon

He Is Alive