Bible Teaching

Calvary Temple Teaching Library

Resurrection

It's been a great week! The kids have been out this week (I don't know how many times) working really hard. A number of you were at the different gatherings, but what a great ministry that's gone on this week to the different rest homes and throughout the community! Then, of course, our kids were out on Friday passing out literature (the He is Risen tracts), and I think there were over 8,000 homes that were reached. What a great opportunity to be about Father's business and letting people know He is risen! You see the kids up here on the stage, and they're so cute, dressed to the nines (that's for your old people!). It's always exciting to see the kids, and here they are this morning in their Easter finest. But the most exciting thing is to see the reality in their lives of that next generation, the biblical declaration of raising up a godly seed.

We're living in a day when people don't know who Jesus is and don't care. To them, Easter is about parades, cherry blossoms, and spring break. And most of the discussion about Jesus, if there is any, is by Discovery Channel trying to say that it's mythical and that there are natural explanations for the supernatural visitation of God to His creation. What I want to share this morning is the fact that what we have is a great gift of divine revelation. You can't believe what we believe intellectually. It's a gift of God's grace that opens our eyes to see. The Scripture says that Satan has blinded the eyes of this world so that they can't see. So, when you're out there sharing Jesus with people, and they just don't get it, don't get discouraged. Rejoice in what God has given you. There are those who are going to hear, and there are those who are going to believe. But nobody can come to God except the Father draw them by the Holy Spirit. You're not going to intellectually argue somebody into the kingdom of God. You're not going to convince people; they're going to know when they encounter the resurrected Jesus! The way they're going to have that encounter (as we're going to see this morning) is by two methods that the Lord has ordained.

The first method is always the infallible Word of God. The Word of God is alive, and powerful, and sharper than a two-edged sword. It pierces into the very hearts of men, divides between soul and spirit, and is a discerner of the thoughts and the intentions of the heart. The Word is alive! Paul said, "I'm not ashamed of the gospel; it's the power of God unto salvation." So, when we're out, we want to share the Word of God. We want to say what God has said in His Word with no apologies. "Well, I don't believe that the Bible is inspired. I believe it was written by men." "You can believe whatever you want. I'm just going to tell you what it says, and if God visits you by the grace of the Spirit of God, He'll illuminate your heart and mind, and you'll believe. If not, then stay in your unbelief, but I'm not going to argue with you. I can't argue you into the kingdom of God. I can just share this: all I know is, [and this is the second method, our own personal testimony] once I was blind, and now I see."

So, we walk by faith, but it's not a blind faith. It's a faith that comes by hearing the Word of God. What we believe in is one of the most established historical facts known to man. The fact is--not hypothesis, not a myth--two thousand years ago in Palestine, the man Jesus lived. He was Jesus Bar-Joseph in their minds. He was Jesus, the son of Joseph and Mary, historically. Historically, people saw Him that way. But the real issue is this, and He asked the question one day. "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?" Peter responded and said, "Some say that You're a great prophet, a teacher. Some say that You're Elijah who has returned." "Peter, but whom do you say that I am?" "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." "Peter, flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father which is in heaven."

What a gift we have this morning! He's risen, praise God! We don't have to go out as apologists. We all know the theological term "apologetics" or "apologists." They try to bring forth truths that will in some way give credibility (intellectually, philosophically, historically, and archaeologically) and support the truth that we believe. But we are not apologists; we are witnesses.

That's what we want to share this morning. The great power of Easter is not just that Jesus rose from the dead. The message is not just about the empty tomb. The message is about the encounter with the resurrected Jesus. It's not that the tomb is empty; it's that Jesus is alive. It's not the fact that they found and empty tomb; it's that He walked with them on the road to Emmaus and revealed Himself to them. It's not that there's an empty tomb; it's that when they were gathered together, huddling in fear and wondering what to do, He appeared in the midst of them. Jesus is alive, praise God!

Can you remember the day you encountered Him? I remember it like it was yesterday, man! It was 40 years ago, and it seems like yesterday. I remember the first time I ever heard His voice. I'm not talking about audibly; I'm talking about the reality in my spirit when I heard God speak to me. It wasn't an argument that somebody brought that refuted all of the doubts and fears that men have. "Well, you know, Jesus didn't really die." We know all the stories, don't we? The swoon theory--that Jesus didn't die on the cross, but He fainted. That's rude, to bury somebody that just fainted! If He just fainted, then He was in a tomb, mummified for three days, and that'll kill you! The swoon theory. Well, what about the theory that they just took the body and ran off with it, or the theory that the Pharisees stole the body? I won't get into all of the different arguments; there are so many of them. The theory that the disciples stole the body. To every one of those theories, we know very logically that if His body had been stolen, when the message came forth by the witnesses (the disciples, who began to shake the world) there's only one way that they could have stopped the movement called Christianity. Just produce the body. Amen? Just produce the body! The Discovery Channel is trying to produce it two thousand years later! You know, I can save them a lot of money.

Mary ran to the tomb, and an angel was there. He said, "I've got a question for you. Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here; He's risen." We realize that there have been arguments from day one about why that tomb was empty. It's not about the empty tomb. It's about the ascended Jesus. Easter didn't end on that morning when they visited the tomb. Easter is about ascension, praise God! They beheld Him with their own eyes, this same Jesus Who had been crucified, Whom God raised from the dead. He is this same Jesus Who visited them on the road to Emmaus. He is this same Jesus Who came in and encountered them, as they were huddled together in fear, and said, "Touch Me. A spirit has not flesh and bone as I have." He's this same Jesus Who appeared to doubting Thomas and said, "Thomas, why are you doubting? Put your finger forth and touch the nail prints in my hand." And Thomas made the definitive statement, "My Lord and my God."

Who do you say He is today, and what do you base it on? I've got a confession to make to you this morning. Many times--not just one or two, but many times over forty years I've doubted in my mind what I believe with my heart. Many times I've doubted in my mind. Thoughts would come; fiery darts would come. I've studied this Bible for forty years. I've studied theologians for forty years. I've heard those who have refuted for forty years. I've listened to science for forty years. And there are times when I've doubted in my mind what I believe in my heart. Because when I try to comprehend it sometimes, it's incomprehensible! But I never doubt the day He visited me. Do you see what I'm getting at? This is not something that we can hold to intellectually. It's not about understanding. It's about encountering the reality of the resurrected Jesus.

Now, what I've experienced is not unique. Jesus Himself was the teacher to the disciples, and time and time again (if we have time, I'll get in and show you the actual Scripture verses) He told them, "I'm going to rise from the dead. The Son of man is going to suffer, and then He's going to rise again. Don't go and share what you've seen here on the Mount of Transfiguration. You've seen Me transformed with your very eyes. Don't tell it to anybody until after the Son of man has risen from the dead. I must needs be crucified, and then I'll rise again." They heard it. It was taught to them by the Master Himself. Then, when He was taken from them, and when they encountered trials and persecution, they doubted. They were listening to logic instead of believing in the supernatural.

I want to talk a little bit about what happens in the lives of people when they encounter the resurrected Jesus--whether it's on the road to Emmaus, the road to Damascus or, in my life, the road to Fresno. I was a young man, not knowing anything about Christianity, on a life's course of serving my own flesh, living in the sixties--free love, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (LSD). I've shared my testimony with you numerous times. I had a professional career before me in sports, and then I heard the simplicity of this message. "He Who knew no sin was made to be sin for you that you might become the righteousness of God." You see, I never knew what Jesus was all about. As a kid, I never went to church, and I'd never heard the gospel message. Then I heard for the first time that God paid a price for me in the person of Jesus, that He took upon Himself humanity through the virgin birth (we call it "the Incarnation"). God became flesh and dwelt among us. As He invaded humanity, came into our midst, and lived a sinless life, He became that propitiation (appeasement) for God. He became the sacrifice. Isaiah 53 says that it pleased God to bruise Him. He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we're healed, praise God! That message was brought to me in such a simplistic way. Basically, the message said this. "I've redeemed you (bought you back). You were in bondage to sin and to Satan, and I paid the price with My own sinless blood. I died on the cross for you." But (as the utterance came forth this morning) to come to the cross of Jesus is to make a choice to embrace your own personal cross, to die to self-will and personal lordship, and to surrender your life. I'm no longer my own; I'm bought with a price. It costs us everything to come into this kingdom, but He paid the price. His death enabled us by grace to offer ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable unto to God, which is our spiritual service.

So, let's talk about this a little bit--that Easter Sunday, the first one. We talked about a few of the facts, and we know what happened. Mary went, and they were going to anoint the body of Jesus because it was a hurry-up burial. He didn't have His own tomb; Jesus lived without any natural belongings. He was supported by wealthy women who gave offerings to support the band of evangelists. He lived in the supernatural; He lived by faith. The Scriptures had prophesied that when He died, He wouldn't have His own tomb to be buried in. The women came the next morning to anoint Him and to finish the burial process, and a unique thing happened. The angels appeared to them, and the Scripture said they were astonished and frightened. I don't want to get into all of the arguments, but they expected to find the body of Jesus. Nobody stole a body! Do you know what's interesting? Not one person, not one follower of Christ at this time, believed in the resurrection. Now, it wasn't because they had never seen anyone raised from the dead. They saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead. He told Mary and Martha at that time, "I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." They had seen the dead raised. They had heard His teachings. They had heard the prophecies that had been given. Now all hope was gone. Think about it for just a moment. Looking back over two thousand years of history, we're pretty convinced of all of these things. But these men were living this for the first time. They were dependent on this intimacy with Jesus, and now He's gone. They killed Him. They killed Him! He came under the power of that last enemy called death.

The men were huddled together in fear, discussing what to do and trying to come up with some rational course to take. The women were doing what they do best. They were moving emotionally to take care of what needed to be taken care of. It's ironic that the first person who was made aware that Jesus was raised from the dead was a woman. Women could not testify or be witnesses in the Jewish culture; and yet, the first witness was a woman. Paul later went on in his epistle to say that in Jesus, there's not Jew or Gentile, male or female. Do you want to know what the men thought about women in those days? She came back to give the testimony, and they thought, "It's just some woman moved emotionally, some kind of a fable going on." But something went off in the hearts of Peter and John. You've got to read all of the Gospels to get the full picture of what's going on here. She had encountered this angel who said, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He's not here; He's risen. Go and witness to this fact. So, the women went back to find the disciples. And they said, "An angel appeared to us, and we went to the tomb, and the stone was rolled away." Peter said, "I've got to go and check this thing out!" John's Gospel tells us that Peter and John started going, and (as much as you hate to admit it) John outran him. Peter was starting to get old!

I know how that feels! Thank God for the young people outrunning us today! I thank God for a younger generation that's going to outrun us, that's going to go past us for the glory of God. I thank God for young people who are excited about what God's doing in their lives.

The young man beats Peter to the tomb, he stops at the tomb door, and he looks in. And Peter (being Peter, man!) just goes right through, when he finally gets there, into the tomb. Here was this cocoon, these grave clothes, just laying there and not dismantled. Jesus had just come right through them, and they stayed as they were and were still a cocoon. There's something that I've studied for years and years, and I don't even know why this Scripture passage would speak toward this. But the covering for His head was folded up neatly and set over to the side (John 20:7). Peter goes back to the men and, surely enough, he gives the witness. There's a lot of talk about the stone being rolled away. I want to tell you something. The stone was not rolled away to let Jesus out; it was to let us in.

We learn something here about resurrection and about what our bodies are going to be like when we're raised. He was the firstfruits of our resurrection, and because He lives, we're going to live, praise God! When He appeared to them in His glorified body after the encounter on the road to Emmaus, they were all talking and He just appeared! The Scripture says it scared the tar out of them, man! It frightened them, and they were stunned. He just appeared in the midst of them, the doors being locked. He fellowships with them, and they could touch Him and feel Him. He was able to eat with them. When we've been raised from the dead in this life that's to come, beloved, we're not going to be nebulous spirits floating around. We're going to have spiritual bodies. We're going to have personality. We're going to begin to know one another as we fellowship.

Now, for some reason they didn't recognize Jesus on the road to Emmaus, and the implication is that He had a different look about Himself. We don't know exactly what He had done at that time, but they didn't recognize Him physically. You remember the story. As they were on their way, Cleopas and an unknown disciple were on their way to Emmaus, and they were talking about what had happened--reasoning, discussing this thing. "What are we going to do? We thought He was going to come and set up the kingdom." You see, everybody was looking for a natural kingdom--both Jews and the new sect of followers of Jesus. They thought that, as Messiah, He was going to come and break the hold of the Roman government over them and free them from oppression. Isn't it tragic that all many Christians today want is to be freed from oppression, to have all their political problems answered, and to have a better life? This kingdom that Jesus came to set up is not about this earthly kingdom or life. It's about citizenship in the eternal. Oh, thank God that in the midst of this life He'll bless us, and deliver us, and heal us. But let's eavesdrop on this for just a moment. Here they are on the road to Emmaus, and it says that Jesus just kind of walks up to them and says, "What are you talking about?" And I like their response. "What do you mean, what are we talking about? There's only one subject for the hour. Are you a stranger? Are you a sojourner? You don't know what just happened in Jerusalem to Jesus of Nazareth? We thought He was the Messiah. We thought He was going to come and deliver us, but the Jews just crucified Him."

Look over at Luke 24 for just a moment.

Over all of these years, we've emphasized so many things on Easter Sunday. In 40 years you can only preach so many Easter messages! But this is a little different, I think, than anything we've done in 40 years; because I'm not wanting to emphasize the fact of the resurrection. I'm wanting to emphasize this morning the responsibility we have after having encountered the risen Christ. And that's to be witnesses for Him. Easter Sunday is about making personal witnesses that He lives. "All I know is, once I was blind, and now I see."

So, on the road to Emmaus, Chapter 24, verse 14 says, "And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus Himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know Him." That's a very interesting phrase in the Greek. It basically is saying that He took on another appearance and that they couldn't recognize Him in the natural, but He was only able to be discerned in the spiritual. That's why people can look at all the historical facts and still not see Jesus. The facts are undeniable. In a court of law, the judge would have to rule that the final verdict is: Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead. Every court that would apply the principles of jurisprudence would have to come to that conclusion. What's the strongest evidence admissible in court? An eyewitness. Why do you think so much is said in the Scriptures--by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 and by all of these particular statements in the Gospels? "We've seen Him." "He was seen of Cephas [Peter]," Paul says. Then He was seen of those on the road to Damascus. He was seen by the eleven, and then He was seen by Thomas. Then Paul makes a very interesting statement. He says, "Do you know what? Not only that, but He was also seen by 500 eyewitnesses at one time, most of whom are alive today." Basically, Paul's saying, "If you don't believe it, go and hunt them down and ask them yourself what they saw." That's pretty interesting. "Don't take my word for it; go ask them what they saw."

People will sit there and say, "Well, you know, it was some type of mass hypnosis." This is Jesus, the Son of God, not David Blaine! Think about this for just a moment. Five hundred eyewitnesses--what's the judge going to do? These witnesses have nothing to gain. Do you want to know what they had to gain? Here's what they gained by their collusion. People try to talk about collusion. How can you get 500 people to agree on anything? I want to ask you something. If you and I are going to make up a story just to fool everybody, are you ready to die for this joke? Do you know what they had to gain? Here's what they had to gain. They were going to be exiled from their natural families, and hated, and persecuted. They were going to be disinherited. They were going to become anathema. They were going to be hunted by Rome, and killed like dogs, and set on fire as torches on the Via Dolorosa. They were going to be torn asunder by wild beasts in the Coliseum. Their names were going to be mocked and a refuse for centuries. That's what they had to gain by being eyewitnesses, for standing up and boldly saying, "I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead." "And you're going to be hated of all men for My name's sake." That's what we have to gain by bringing this testimony.

How crafty is Satan? How deluded are men's minds today? I'll tell you how deluded they are. They think we (the witnesses and the followers of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace) are the problem, and that Islam is a friendly religion! That's how delusional all of this is.

Jesus asked the question--their eyes being holden that they couldn't see Him in the natural. These are people who had walked with Him, fellowshipped with Him, and eaten with Him. And now they didn't know Him. I think it's interesting that, when the transition began to take place of establishing the kingdom of God, everything that was in the natural no longer held credibility. It wasn't what we knew in the natural. It's what we're going to now perceive in the spiritual.

The Scripture goes on and says this, Jesus' response to them in verse 17. "What is this that you all are discussing, that you're so intense about?" Then they answered the question. "What? Are you just a visitor here? Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people. You don't know how the chief priests had Him delivered and had Him crucified? We thought He was going to be the Redeemer, the Messiah [verse 21]. Besides all of this, today is the third day since these things were done, and certain women of our company made us astonished which were earlier at the sepulcher. They didn't find His body there, and they came and told us. They said that they had seen a vision of angels that said He was alive. And certain of the others of us ran to the sepulcher, and it was even as the women had said, but we didn't see Him. Then He said unto them [verse 25], Oh, simple ones and slow to hear and to believe what the prophets have spoken [the credibility of the Word of God, the prophecies of Isaiah 53 and of the psalmist that His body would not be allowed to experience decay]. Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and then to enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses and the prophets, He expounded unto them the Scriptures concerning Himself."

Now, don't misunderstand what I'm going to say here. Knowing the Word of God is not sufficient. "Heaven and earth will pass; My Word shall not pass away." These Scriptures have not been brought to us by man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The Word of God is inspired; it is infallible; it is God-breathed. John 17 says, "Thy word is truth." We believe that with all of our hearts. But the Word of God isn't enough. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. But the Word of God is not enough. You've got to encounter Jesus.

So, He shared with them all of the Scriptures (now, watch; you're going to see something very interesting), but they still don't believe. It says He acted as though He was going to pass by them and continue on further, but they said, "No, stay here; it's getting late." "And it came to pass, as they sat down at meat, He took the bread, He broke it, and gave thanks. And their eyes were opened and they knew Him [verse 3]." And the moment they knew Him, what happened? He vanished from their sight. Now watch. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. He expounded to them the Prophets, and the Law, and the Psalms. Then, supernaturally, by a gift of grace, He allowed the scales to fall from their eyes, and they saw who He was. Then they believed the encounter. But watch what happened after He left. They said, "When He spoke the Word of God, didn't our hearts burn within us?"

You see, the Scriptures take on a different effect once you've experienced the resurrected Christ. How did Paul say it? The Word of God cannot be comprehended by the natural mind. The Word of God is foolishness to the natural mind. It must be spiritually discerned. Until you've encountered Jesus, you can't believe or understand. He's not known through the mind or the understanding. He's known by the encounter, the communion with your heart.

I like this other part that's kind of cool. We're looking at some practical things. Check this out. From Jerusalem to where they were going in Emmaus was anywhere from eight to ten miles. It's like when we're in Africa. It was very dangerous to travel at night because of thieves. This is when people were assaulted. These men were very weary, and you can imagine what was taking place at this time. Not only were they physically wearied, but they were emotionally drained (and we know that's harder on us than physical weariness). The implication here is that they just couldn't go another step. They got to this destination and said, "We are whipped, man! Let's get something to eat and crash!" But as soon as Jesus appeared to them, their hearts burned within them. It's a fire in our bones, praise God! When you've encountered Jesus, it's a fire in your bones, and you can't help but share what you've just encountered. What did they do? They walked all the way back! How did Jesus put it, when He was weary at the well, and the woman came to Him? He was weary. He needed something to eat, and He was physically beat. His disciplines went to get Him something to eat, and when they came back, Jesus was excited and refreshed. Why? Because He's had an opportunity to share the gospel, praise God! And He said, "I have meat to eat that you know not of: to do the will of my Father."

Let me ask you a question this morning. Are you tired of sharing Jesus? Are you getting weary about well doing? Are you getting tired of people turning you down, and making fun of you, and just thumbing their noses at you? Then maybe you need another encounter. Maybe you need a fresh encounter with the resurrected Christ. This is Easter, and I'm here to tell you, He's alive! He said He would never leave us nor forsake us, praise God! He said, "I am with you always, to the ends of the earth." Ask yourself that question this morning. Am I getting weary? Let me ask you another question. Are you content with just walking on the road to Emmaus, and just talking about Jesus, and discussing Bible principles? Or are you on fire to go into the highways and byways and compel people to come, because He's risen? I thank God that, as a fellowship, I know we're a people that share the gospel a lot. We share our lives and what Jesus has done for us. But it's going to get tougher in these days that are going to come. People hate us because we make no apologies for what we believe. We don't apologize for bringing the gospel and the fact that there's only one way to heaven. There are not "many paths." There's one path, and it's not broad; it's narrow. And not everybody who says, "Lord, Lord" is going to enter in. There's only one name under heaven whereby men can be saved, and it's the name of Jesus--not "God," not "church." "Come to my church!" We don't invite people to our church. We invite people to encounter the resurrected Jesus. After you've done that, then come on and hang out with us, praise God! That's what church is about. Church is just a bunch of people, who have been raised from the dead, hanging out. Nobody else wants to hang out with us dead people. They think we stink! We're not one of them. Jesus said, "They can't like you; you're not one of them." We hang out because nobody else will have us! We fellowship in the presence of God and in the grace of God.

So, the disciples went back to minister. Now watch what happens. They made their way back to the gathering of the eleven. And verse 36 says, "And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed they had seen a spirit. [That will do it!] And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." Notice it says "flesh and bones." We always say "flesh and blood." His blood had been shed, praise God! His blood had been offered up in the heavenly throne room. When He had risen from the dead, and Mary came, He said, "Touch Me not." That word "touch" in the Greek means "to hold to" or "to cling to, to kindle a fire, a passion." (We've talked about touching.) He said, "Don't touch Me." In other words, what He's saying is, "Don't cling to Me. Don't try to keep Me to yourself, for I have not yet ascended to My God and your God. This thing's not over yet; I'm coming back. Don't hold Me here. Don't try to hold onto a natural relationship. Don't try to keep Me in the sensory realm."

Many of us would love to be able to touch Him and to see Him physically. But He said, "Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet believe." He didn't just say that there's a special, happy feeling. He's saying, "You can know Me better in the spirit than you can in the natural." There's an intimacy that we have with Him to where we can commune with Him twenty-four hours a day. He never leaves us nor forsakes us, praise God! He's always there. I've talked to you about the times that I've doubted in my mind. Whenever my mind begins to question or to fear, I immediately retreat to my heart, and I've always encountered Him. I've always known Him much more intimately in the spirit than in the sensory. My mind lies to me. My mind tells me at times that life isn't fair. My mind asks, "How in the world could a guy dying on a cross affect anything?" My mind tells me that there are natural laws. But my heart knows that I've encountered Him, and old things have passed way, and all things have become new. As you know Him, and as you fellowship in His Word, your mind is constantly renewed. But Satan never stops hurling darts at us, does he? So, don't fall back on what you know. Retreat to Whom you know, and that fellowship, and that promise that He never leaves us nor forsakes us.

The one thing I've found out about Jesus is the same thing the disciples did when Peter was walking on the water. The most effectual prayer that you can ever pray is, "Jesus, help!" We like to pray great prayers, quoting Scriptures and all the promises of God. Those of us who have memorized much Scripture like to speak much Scripture. But I want to tell you that the prayer that I've had answered more than any is, "Jesus help me! I have no strength left. I have no words to speak. My mind is overwhelmed. I can quote all kinds of words, but they're void of any power. I just need to know You're here." And He's never left me comfortless. His Spirit lives within us.

So, we go on, and it says He appeared and they were astonished. (We'll finish with this for this morning.) "And when he had thus spoken, He shewed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them. And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me." Now, watch. It's powerful! He's in their midst. He's showing them His hands His feet. He says, "Touch Me." There was a joy there, but they couldn't assimilate it all. That phrase--look at it. "And while they yet believed not..." How can you not believe? He's standing right there! "Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day [Hosea 6:2]: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." "And you shall receive power (Acts 1:8) and be witnesses unto Me."

Don't take for granted what we have this morning--the gift to look into these Scriptures and believe them, for them to be life to us, and for us to love the words of this Book. Not everybody can do it. Not everyone who says he's a Christian is able to be illuminated, and strengthened, and led by the wisdom of this Word. We're blessed, amen? What a gift! Many people have seen miracles, have encountered His Word intellectually, but don't know Him. Those of us who can look at this Book and be made alive, and be strengthened, and have faith, and be comforted, have the greatest of gifts. You've encountered the living Christ. He's Lord, and no one can every take it from you.

Father, we thank You this morning for Your love and for Your grace to us. Lord, we don't know why You've chosen us, but we're thankful that You have. All over this world today, Your children stand in awe of Your love, and Your mercy, and the gift of grace to believe. So many have heard yet can't believe. Thank You.

For any of you who are here this morning, and you've not made Jesus the Lord and Savior of your life, and you're feeling in your heart, "I need to do that today," you can't choose another day. Today is your day. If you're hearing it, today's your day. You can't come when you want; you come when He calls. He's Lord. You can't say, "Well, I'm going to wait a few more years. I'm going to wait for circumstances to change." You may never have that opportunity again. Today is the day of your salvation if, in fact, you're sensing that. If you are and say, "Pastor, I've heard of Jesus, but I really believe that He's speaking to me right now that I need to surrender my life to Him, to make Him my Lord and Savior today," then I want you just to stand up right where you are. We're going to pray for you, and we're going to usher you into the kingdom of God. Just take a moment. As everyone else is praying, just take a moment. You say, "Well, I'm embarrassed." Then you're not hearing the voice of God. That voice overrides embarrassment, fear, opportunity--it doesn't make any difference what it is. If you want to pray, and you want to accept Jesus as Lord this morning, just stand up where you are. We're not going to take a long time; it either is or isn't. The rest of you, let's stand up and begin to worship the Lord and thank God for what He's doing.

One gentleman has stood over here, signifying that he wants to know Jesus as Lord and Savior of his life, and we're going to introduce him to the Lord here. We have some babies to be dedicated, and we're going to offer them up to the Lord in just a moment. But before we do, this gentleman who stood, I want you just to pray right now. "Jesus, I believe in my heart and I confess with my mouth that God has raised You from the dead. You've said that those who believe and confess would be saved, and I accept the gift of my salvation this morning. I thank You for dying for my sins. I thank You for being raised to empower me to live for You. I surrender my life to You, in Jesus' name." Just pray a prayer very similar to that. "I just surrender my life to You, and I acknowledge you as Lord and Savior." He said He would not turn any away who come to Him, praise God! Oh, hallelujah! Just pray and rejoice with him now, saints. Just thank God for what's happening in his life this morning. You'll never be the same. Sir, you'll never be the same! Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! If there were others of you who didn't stand, and yet right now your heart is being pricked, just pray that same prayer right now. Just begin to pray along those lines. "I believe, Jesus, that God has raised You from the dead. I ask You to become my Lord and my Savior. Take control of my life. I trust in nothing but what You've done on that cross--not my own righteousness, my own abilities. I just trust in the finished work. Thank You, Jesus." Thank You, Jesus, for what You've done in our lives.

For the rest of you saints, Rob's going to be teaching tonight, and he's preparing to head back to Africa. I trust that in every one of our hearts we'll be refreshed like those on the road to Emmaus.

Peter said, "I go a-fishing," and then the resurrected Jesus appeared to him there on the shore of Galilee. And He said, "I've got a question for you. Do you love Me, Peter, more than these?" This Easter Sunday requires this question to be asked of every one of us--those of us who are caught up with employment, who are distracted by potential mates, and spouses, and relationships. We're caught up in fantasy games, recreations, and aspirations. And Jesus, before His ascension, encountered Peter and said, "Do you love Me more than all of these things?" "Yes, Lord." "Then feed My sheep. Don't live for yourself; strengthen the body of Christ. Do you love Me? Do you believe that I'm raised from the dead? You said you've gone back fishing. I called you, and you laid your nets down and said you were going to be a fisher of men. And now you've gone back. I'm asking you a question. Are you going to finish what I called you to do? Do you love Me more than these?" Some of you have encountered Him and said, "Lord, I forsake it all. I love You more than that vocation. I love You more than that individual. I love you more than myself, and my entertainment, and my ease, and my comfort." But you've gone back. And this morning, He's asking you a question. "Do you love Me more than these?" He's raised from the dead. He's ascended to the right hand of God. He is making intercession for us. He's coming again for a church without spot or wrinkle (praise God!), and He'll have no other gods before Him. The question is, do you love Him more than all of these other things? If you've backslidden, if you've gone back, then Easter is the day to come back home, praise God! Right now--tear down the bondage, tear down the fears, tear down the lusts, and encounter Jesus again this morning. You know the Scriptures, but they've lost their power. You know how to say the right words. You need to encounter Jesus this morning. "Jesus, change me again this morning. Come into my life, Lord. Transform my mind one more time, Jesus."

Lord, we thank You for what You're doing in hearts. Because You live, we are going to live, praise God!

This is always a great time--celebrating the next generation. Hannah Rachel Perozich and Dominic Cole Graziano have no clue how fortunate they are to be born into those families, but they'll realize it one day. They have godly parents who are going to raise them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. They have parents who will stand by them and share with them the resurrected Jesus. What a blessing these children have, to be born into these households! They have parents who will stand on the Word of God, who will not bow to their own emotions, who are going to bring the truth to their kids so that they can finally finish this race, praise God! They won't have a natural love that dies when the body dies. You see, people will give themselves naturally. They'll die for another person naturally, but that love dies at death. The love that we have in the spirit goes on for eternity, praise God!

If the parents will come and bring the kids, and if the pastors will come, we just want to pray. What a great time to offer up the children, on Easter Sunday--just to recognize the high calling to raise these children up in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord. The grandparents--yes, come on up, praise God! That's what it's all about--grandparents who teach their children, and their children's children.

What a privilege we have! It's tragic that on Easter Sunday, churches are full of people who go once or twice a year. Aren't you glad that here, every Wednesday is Easter, every Sunday morning is Easter, and every Sunday night is Easter? Every Tuesday at prayer is Easter, and every Thursday is Easter. Every Wednesday is Easter, and every Monday's Easter, praise God! Fridays are Easter, hallelujah! At young adults and youth meeting on Fridays, that's Easter. Every day's Easter, because every day we serve Him the same. Paul said that there are no special days in the kingdom of God. Every day is special because Jesus is Lord.

Let's pray for these families and the children here and just believe God to raise up a godly seed and, should the Lord tarry, some mighty warriors here for God's kingdom. For many of these families, we've spoken peace upon their households. And the Scripture says that if they believe, it will remain there. It's a special grace. So, let's pray and believe God right now for that work.

Father, we come in the name of Jesus, and we thank You for the godly seed. We thank You for the heritage that You've given us. We thank You for godly parents. And, Father, we pray upon these little blessings the peace of God and the Spirit of God. Raise them up and keep them pure, Lord. Prepare us in this day, as we speak Your peace and Your grace upon these households. Be glorified, Father, we ask in the name of Jesus. And Father, the anointing of God and the tangible presence, Father, we speak into the life of these children. We thank You for the godly seed that shall be raised and for the heritage, Father, for Your glory, in the name of Jesus. Father, for these children, we take authority over the powers of darkness, and we bind them. And we speak peace upon these, and wisdom, and grace for the parents, Father. We pray that You would bring up in our midst godly men, and holy wives, and a seed for Your glory, Father. And for that, we're going to give You all the praise and all of the glory, in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen.

Why don't you bring the babies up? We always want to show them off, praise God! Yes, come on up; let the whole clan come up, praise God! Come on Grandma and Grandpa. What a blessing! We've got us a Hannah! Dominic's not a biblical name! How did that happen? Praise God! Isn't it a blessing to see the work that God's doing in our midst? Let's just thank Father for the glory of God and what He's doing.

Father, for all of these Your children we say, Thank You. Make us strong in this hour, Father. Cause us to know You more. And Father, again, for Hannah and Dominic, we just speak that peace and grace upon them, that You would be all in all in their lives. And for that, we say, Thank You, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Before you go, turn to somebody next to you and say, "He's risen!" Amen! Go in peace; Gods love go with you.

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