EASTER---Resurrection Sunday
The Lord's Day
March 23, 2008
"The Power of His Resurrection"
FirstFruits (Bikkurim)
EASTER---Resurrection Sunday
The
Lord's Day
March
23, 2008
"The
Power of His Resurrection"
I AM THE
RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE
Physical Resurrection....Glorified Body
1 Corinthians 15:14 tells us that if Christ is
not risen, then our faith in Him is in vain. But Jesus indeed IS
risen, and His resurrection vindicates, authenticates and
verifies all that He ever said and did.
Acts 17:31
Now there is no excuse for any person not to believe in Jesus
Christ as the Son of God, once he has heard the Gospel.
Matthew 28 ..... Mark 16........Luke 24......John 20...... 1 Corinth. 15.....John 11......1 Thess. 4:14...... 2 Corinth. 5
" You ask me how I know He lives....He lives within my heart
"!...plus we have the revealed Word of God.
Others can claim to be God, and can even feign resurrections (anti-Christ) but they do not walk
around in glorified bodies that are not subject to matter and
gravity. They may use holograms and digitization to deceive (and
it is true that a Great Delusion IS coming upon this world
soon...
2 Thessalonians 2:11.
Even though there were resurrections in the Old and New
Testaments before the death of Jesus, none of those resurrected
people came back to life with a Glorified Body...not Lazarus or
anyone who was brought back from the dead. They died later on and
will receive their glorified bodies at the Rapture, or on the
Last Day. Only Jesus Christ rose with a Glorified Body that was
not subject to matter or gravity.
The truth remains... Jesus Christ is NOW living in a resurrected,
Glorified body. He is the FIRST one to come forth from the grave
in a Glorified Body, thus making Him the FIRSTFRUIT of all
resurrections. Others came forth from their graves that same
Easter morning in Glorified Bodies also
( Matthew 27:52,53), but Jesus was and always
will be the FIRST fruit of the Firstfruits...
"the first begotten of the dead " Revelation 1:5
"Matthew 27: 52, 53...."And the graves were opened; and
many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the
graves AFTER His resurrection,
and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many." (capitols this author).
Later that evening, from Bethany , Jesus took these Glorified
saints with Him to heaven.
Luke 24. ........
Ephesians 4: 8 and 10..."Wherefore He saith,
"When He ascended up on high,
He led captivity captive,
and gave gifts unto men....He that descended is the same also
that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all
things".
" Father, I will that they also, Whom Thou hast given Me, BE
WITH ME where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou
hast given Me: for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the
world". John 17:24
(capitols
this author)
Those that also rose in Glorified Bodies on that Easter Sunday
long ago are referred to as
"the BARLEY Sheaf ". That is why the Biblically
correct term for this feast day is
"FIRSTFRUITS....Bikkurim" (plural).
The Counting of the Omer represents the anticipation of the final
WHEAT Harvest when all the Church will be
raised and glorified:
"But every man in his own order: Christ the FIRSTfruits;
afterward they that are Christ 's at His coming......
No political or religious leader was ever raised from the dead in
a glorified body.
You can still go to Lenin's tomb etc.
[
There are recorded resurrections of individuals
in the Old and New Testaments , yet such persons returned to a
mortal body, subject to aging and death. They did not have a
glorified body.]
Nevertheless, there will be a fake resurrection in the last days.
" I AM He that liveth and was dead; and behold I AM alive
forevermore, Amen;
and have the keys of hell and of death ". Rev. 1: 18
RESURRECTION
VERIFIES
The Christian Faith is so uncontestable and irrefutable, and yet
it is resisted continually by those who would rather believe in
Science and Technology as their deliverer.
They will follow a pied-piper, rather than God.
The showdown is soon to come in History's unraveling. The
non-believers are in a lose-lose situation. They sense this, and
therefore resent the Blessed Hope that Christians have.
(otherwise they wouldn't challenge every belief found in the Word
of God, the Holy Bible.)
Eventually Believers will be martyred for their Faith in Jesus
Christ as God, as His resurrection testifies. But great is our
reward in heaven. For as He rose, we also shall live again.....
all because of Easter Sunday 33 A.D.
SPIRITUAL
RESURRECTION...the POWER to OVERCOME
"
That you may know Him and the power of His resurrection "
Philippians 3:10 also Ezekiel 37: 1-14 and Ezek. 36: 26, 27
And this resurrection power is not confined to one day in
History. Each day the Believer in Jesus Christ can experience
power in overcoming sin, temptations, difficulties and trials.
"God
is faithful,
Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but
will with the temptation also make a way of escape."
1 Corinthians. 10:13.
Anytime we face difficulties, and disappointments--- admitting
our sins, faults, failures and mistakes,--- then we need to
overcome the temptation to slip, slide, stagnate and pull back.
We need to "fall forward" as Greg Laurie says.
When
Our Lord died, He looked like such a failure to his family and
friends, to the 11 apostles and even to the skeptical religious
crowd. And all of the demon-world thought they had the biggest
failure on their hands. But our Lord made an open display of
them, "triumphing over them
and He overcame death ". "Colossians 2:15
I AM ......the resurrection and the
Life " John 11:25
Jesus overcame death by the power of the Father
(Acts 2:24; 3:15; 10:40; Romans 10:9; Ephesians 1:20 )
and of the Holy
Spirit
( 1 Peter 3:18 )
and by His
own person
.....
" I lay down My life, that I might take it again. No man
taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself.
I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it
again." John 10: 17, 18
"I AM the
resurrection and the Life" John 11:25
Our Lord always bore within Himself the power to overcome
adversity and even death.
Of
ourselves, we do not have that power. But we can apply that power
through Jesus Christ in our lifetime. We obtain that power when
we become Born anew in Jesus Christ...when we receive His Salvation.
Then, even when our bodies fail us, our consciousness (soul and
spirit) remains alive always.. So in that sense, we never die.
But the Believer actually goes on living.......
" He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he
live:
And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.
Believest thou this ? "John 11: 25, 26
When Christ conquered death, He conquered the power of our
adversary.
So that no matter what happens to us, we can rise again by the power
inherited from our union with Jesus Christ in obedience to His
Lordship.
Sin and oppression, rejection and depression can hurt, but it
cannot remain in the realization of the victory we have in Christ
Jesus.
We put this Resurrection-power into practice when we focus our
minds on the things that are above, and not on the things which
are here below:
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which
are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God." Colossians 3:1
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed
by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that
good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." Romans 12: 2
"That I may
know Him and the power of His resurrection,
and
the fellowship of His sufferings,
being made conformable unto His death." Philippians 3:10
These last days are perilous times.
Can we face stock market losses, [ "IF"]
financial hardships, loss of jobs, homes and things dear to us ?
Can we go on in the power of His resurrection ?
When deprivations and trials come, can we go without ? Can we
make-do ? Can we find alternatives? Can we begin again and start
over ? We must....
"that we may know Him and the power of His
resurrection."
"We are more than conquerors (overcomers) through Him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to
come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be
able to separate us from the love of God, which
is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8: 37-39
We must know Him and apply the power of His Resurrection. That
power to
not
even let ourselves get in the way of moving forward...ever
upwards with Him.
Too many times we let failures, omissions, sins and the past etc.
diminish our spiritual life.
If Peter had let his denial of Our Lord have power over him, he
would have ended up like Judas, dead from self-incrimination.
But Peter repented and overcame even himself and his darkest
failure.
"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is
covered "
("kippur "...covered over by the atoning blood of Jesus
Christ).
Psalm 32:1
Peter would go on with Jesus no matter what...no matter how bleak
it all seemed at the time.
PRESSING ON
When I was a young child I went to camp and for the first time I
rode a horse.
Animals were so far removed from my city-life that I was
apprehensive and fearful. No one had told me that you never let a
horse know you are afraid.
As our camp counselor took us on a ride with the horses, mine
sensed my inadequacy and fear. And of course he threw me. Boy,
now I really was afraid. The counselor had me get right back up
immediately and get on that horse and take control--- assert
myself...show a little chutzpah. "Chutzpah", to me, is
to apply our confidence in Christ when we have no
self-confidence.
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth
me"
Philippians 4:13 (His enabling grace).
Well I did get back up on the horse as one in charge. When we
returned from the ride, the counselor insisted I go one more
round with the horse (aarrgghh!!). I knew deep down that that was
right. I had to face my fears and take charge. I could not let my
"failure" determine that I would no longer ride horses.
I could not stay in the grave of self. I had to rise above by the
grace of God.
I never forgot that lesson and it helped to mature me down
through the years.
It came back to me as : "Don't quit ".
" Get back up and get going...and the sooner the better."
That's resurrection power through the victory we have in Jesus.
"The joy of the Lord is my strength" Nehemiah 8:10
It's a humble example for such an august theme as the
resurrection, but the point is clear. Neither death nor the
devil, nor
even ourselves
can hold us down when we look to our Risen Lord and live in the
overcoming power of His resurrection.
STAYING POWER
Soon the Great Tribulation will be upon us. If one is left
behind, after the Midnight Rapture, does one give up ? No, we
go on with God, just like the example Peter gave us. God is still
our Friend as we come to understand His Lordship more and more.
He is still in the helping and overcoming business.
Our God is the Helper of the helpless. Psalm 72:12.
When the day comes that we can no longer buy groceries without
the 666 mark, will we still trust in God to provide for our daily
needs ?
We are to hope to the end, (1 Peter 1:13 and Hebrews 6:11 ).
Chip
Index
www.cybertime.net/~ajgood/chipindex.html
We can overcome ALL the hardships of even the
Great Tribulation with His overcoming
grace....the power of His resurrection.
He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. Hebrews 13:5, 6
" I AM with you always, even unto the end of the world
" Matthew 28:20.
That includes the end of this age.
And He will be right there if one has to undergo martyrdom.
"Underneath are the everlasting arms.....unto the utmost
bound of the everlasting hills"........
Deuteronomy 33:27 and Genesis 49:26.
Just remember,Christian, we never really die..... and may we hold
in mind how Stephen saw heaven, before he left this tattered
world. Acts Chapter 7
All true martyrs "die "overcoming. Rev. 12:11. Overcoming-power is
mentioned in Revelation 10 times. All martyrs are carried on the
wings of resurrection-grace, the power to rise above the
adversary and all that he throws at us, and we go forward in the
mighty power of God. All true martyrs are granted to sit with Him
in His throne. Rev. 3:21
" To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My
throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father
in His throne."
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto
a lively hope by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
1 Peter 1:3
ALLELUIA
!!
Easter
Poems:
"It
Was For Me" www.cybertime.net/~ajgood/4me.html
"The Lamb and the
Lion" www.cybertime.net/~ajgood/lion.html
POEM:
"He Lives" by Andy Neckar http://cnview.com/on_line_resources/he_lives.htm
Links:
Richard and Charlene Fairchild's Easter Pages :
http://www.spirit-net.ca/sermons/easterpage.php
http://www.spirit-net.ca/sermons/easter.php
http://www.spirit-net.ca/sermons/easter1a.php
http://www.makedisciples.com/Easter/links.htm
http://www.rockies.net/~spirit/sermon.html
Easter in Cyberspace
2000 http://www.easterincyberspace.com/
A Glorious Easter
http://www.teacherhelp.org/easter.htm
Annie's Easter Pages: www.annieshomepage.com/easterhistory.html
www.annieshomepage.com/easter.html
Resurrection Sunday (Annie)
http://www.annieshomepage.com/resurrectionsunday.html
The Power of His Resurrection www.realtime.net/~wdoud/philippians/phi20.html
My KING by Chuck Missler www.khouse.org/myking.html
The Empty Tomb: Gordon's Calvary
http://www.khouse.org/articles/personal/20020301-400.html
C
M Holiday articles http://www.khouse.org/articles/personal/holidays.html
Fearlessly Facing Death
www.wesleymission.org.au/ministry/tra/11apr99.html
How do we know Christ really rose ? By the living power of His
resurrection in our daily lives.
http://tcpiii.tripod.com/easter94.htm
Understanding "Bikkurim"
Jesus Cafe: scroll to..... "But this isn't the end of the
story, is it ?"
www.jesuscafe.org/resources/transcripts/passover99.html
Eddie Chumney...FIRSTFRUITS and
the 144,000 witnesses
(Barley Sheaf at Bikkurim.....Wheat-Bread at Pentecost) http://www.mayimhayim.org/Festivals/Feast5.htm
Hebraic
Heritage Ministries International http://www.hebroots.org/hhmi.html
Alan Carr: The message of the
Easter Angel http://www.sermonnotebook.org/new
testament/mark_16_1-8.htm
The Glorious Resurrection http://www.sermonnotebook.org/new
testament/1_cor._15_1-23.htm
What if there had not been a Resurrection? www.sermonnotebook.org/new
testament/1cor15_12-20.htm
I AM the Resurrection and the Life www.sermonnotebook.org/new
testament/John 11_18-27.htm
The Resurrected Redeemer www.sermonnotebook.org/new
testament/John 20_1-18.htm
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ JH Keathley
http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=551
Evidences for the Resurrection
www.netbible.org/docs/pastor/seasonal/easter/evidence.htm
Links www.bible.org/docs/pastor/seasonal/eastoc.htm
David Regan : The Reality of the Resurrection http://www.lamblion.com/doctrinal/CD/CD-03.php
A Byzantine Easter (Eastern Orthodox) www.iarelative.com/easter
Happy Easter
in many languages "KALO PASKA, Kalo Pascha" http://mkn.co.uk/easter/happy
http://chilipaper.com/FMenus/a_greek_orthodox_easter.htm
Easter in Japan ... Kenny Joseph http://www.weekender.co.jp/LatestEdition/010406/easter_joseph.html
Day of the week:
Michael
Rudolph http://home.pressroom.com/therabbi/Library/RoutingIndexes/ItemIndexes/Papers/Firstfruits.htm
Old
Testament references to resurrection:
Spiritual....the power of His Resurrection....
EZEKIEL Chapter. 37: 1- 14 and Ezekiel 36: 26, 27.
(see Romans 11:15)
Physical
Psalm 16: 9,10...Ps. 17:15....Ps. 49: 15... Ps. 71:
20....Ps. 132: 11
Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12: 2 ...Hosea 13:14....
Messianic Directory www.messianicdirectory.com
Festivals
of Adonai http://www.messianicdirectory.com/moedim/seasonal/seasonal.html
http://www.messianicdirectory.com/moedim/festivals.html
Is
He Risen ? by Hal Lindsey http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=22374
Shockwave
"He is Risen"
http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:xq9hz6dOGLAJ:dizz.com/risen.htm+%22He+is+Risen%22&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
ICR Henry Morris www.icr.org/bible/troc.htm
Final Resurrection www.bible.ca/d-resurrection-dead.htm
Resurrection of Jesus www.cptryon.org/prayer/season/easter.html
B. Anderson http://www.solidrock.net/docs/the.right.tracts/the.risen.lord.php
Jesus
and the Intellectual http://www.ccci.org/intellectual/
Looking Into the Empty Tomb ...by Randall Caselman
http://www.churchofchristusa.com/Archives/old
sermons/Looking Into The Empty Tomb.htm
Sermon Archive http://www.churchofchristusa.com/Archives/Old
Sermons/sermon.htm
The Resurrection www.rmplc.co.uk/eduweb/sites/sbs777/snotes/note1302.html
Norm McGary www.webservants.com/story/14.html
RESURRECTION
SONGS:
"Jesus
Christ is Risen Today" by Charles Wesley
http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/j/j038.html
http://ingeb.org/spiritua/jesuschi.html
Handel's
Messiah "Alleluia Chorus" www.geocities.com/Heartland/Estates/3126/risenmar98.html
"Because He Lives" (I can face tomorrow) http://www.church.org.sg/gospel/because.html
http://my.homewithgod.com/heavenlymidis/songbook/helives.html
EASTER HYMNS CyberHymnal http://www.cyberhymnal.org/top/topics.htm
scroll to "Easter", "Resurrection",
"Spring", and "Everlasting Life".
New Zealand Hymns: http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~macknife/hymns.htm
"He
Lives"..." http://www.tagnet.org/digitalhymnal/en/dh251.html
http://www.angelfire.com/co2/inspiration/helives.html
"yes, I'll Rise Again " http://samanthaslifeandtimes.com/riseagain.html
http://www.drwho2u.com/legend.html
melody
http://www.twilightbridge.com/hobbies/festivals/easter/music/dallasholm_riseagain.mid
words
http://www.angelfire.com/co/inspiration/rise.html
"Easter Song"(hear the bells ringing) Acts 2 http://www.lillyofthevalleyva.com/music-eastersong.html
http://nancian.tripod.com/risen.html
Christ
Arose! www.ingeb.org/spiritua/lowinthe.html
www.stmatthew-ucc.org/music.htm scroll to 'Easter Music'
www.besmark.com/gospel.html
Rejoice, the Lord is King by C. Wesley http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/r/e/rejtlord.htm
" I AM the Resurrection and the Life"
http://www.a-voice.org/songbook/iamres.htm
http://songsofpraise.org/resurrection.htm
"I Know That My Redeemer Liveth " by Goerge F. Handel
http://www.bardstown.com/~mtipton/holiday/redeemer.html
http://ingeb.org/spiritua/iknowtha.html
"Resurrection"
http://www.churches.com/livingword/sermon/easter2000.shtml
Easter Play/Songs http://songsofpraise.org/easter.htm
"The Day of Resurrection"#303... access
"Index" to the far left
www.hymnsite.com
Easter Songs http://www.twilightbridge.com/hobbies/festivals/easter/midi.htm
Concerning the heresy of cloning
Jesus and the Raelians, please see:
www.cybertime.net/~ajgood/2Thess.html
Cloning Jesus
? http://ministryhealth.cis.to/ministry_matters/006mm_jesus_clone.html
Back to Holidays
?
..