The Weekly Sermon » Easter

When Sunday Came

Pastor David Miklas — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 16:18:09 +0000

Volume No. 2012 Issue No. 11 Date: April 1, 2012

Publication of the BIBLE BAPTIST MINISTRY, 48 Alexie Rd, Hanover Township, PA 18706

Phone: 570.829.5216 pdmikBBM@aol.com pastormiklas@aol.com

In the Gospel of Matthew 28:1-7 we read, “In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. (2) And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. (3) His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: (4) And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. (5) And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. (6) He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. (7) And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.”

As dark as the day seemed to be and as discouraged as the disciples were, Sunday made all the
difference. Even though He had told them in advance in Luke 24:7; they did not connect the dots (as we say) when the crisis came.

Crucifixion is such an ugly, traumatic event. The shock and the sadness attending it create deep wounds. Death is made all the more real by the entombment of the body. The garden tomb was sealed with a huge stone. Roman guards were posted to secure the situation.

Starting Wednesday night, Thursday was one day, Friday made two, and Saturday, three of the full days and three full nights. These were days of silence and sorrow. Nothing was stirring! It was all over, except coping with the realty. Then Sunday came!

Oh, my soul, check it out! Sometime after 6:00 p.m. on Saturday (the Jews counted a day
from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.), the Saviour, crucified and buried, walked out of the tomb alive and
well, resurrected from the dead and released from the grave. Wednesday was incomprehensible! Thursday, Friday and Saturday posed questions which seemed to have no answers! But never mind the critics, the cranks, the naysayers; never mind whoever may mock and jeer; never mind whatever seems impossible. Sunday is forthcoming!

When the sun rose Sunday morning, the Son had already risen from the grave. Death had been conquered. Sin had been atoned. Salvation had been secured. The Devil had been defeated, and Hell had been robbed of its victims.

Sunday makes all the difference. Defeat and destruction are no longer our lot. Because "he is
risen…" (Matthew 28:6), you and I have a hope that brings "joy unspeakable and full of glory…" (I Peter 1:8). When the Devil shows up in your life and shows off his glitz and glitter remind him that he is a whipped dog whose bark is bigger than his bite. Preach to yourself the great truth that "greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world" (I John 4:4). Stand up, be counted, and rise above the fray! By faith we have everlasting life that is bestowed upon us when we are "begotten … again" (I Pet. 1:3). The other six days may bring all kinds of stress or burdens to you, but because of the triumphant resurrection of Jesus, don't you forget that Sunday is coming! Amen!

May again your heart be enraptured during this Passion week! Take this time leading up to the RESSURRECTION to prayerfully read and meditate on the message entitled “The Impact of the Resurrection.”

In His Amazing Grace,

PS: As we have repeatedly said, we will not charge for sending the Weekly SERMON. However there are expenses associated with doing what we do. If possible during 2012, would you please consider helping us in this faith ministry? Your donation will help us to continue to “stand in the gap” in “teaching others also.” After you have given your tithes to your church and taken care of your pastor, would you consider giving either a yearly gift, or a monthly offering? Remember, for the purposes of financial accountability, we have placed this ministry under the Green Street Baptist Chapel of Edwardsville, PA. Checks made out to Green Street Baptist Chapel, memo to the Bible Baptist ministry and mailed to Bible Baptist Ministry 48 Alexie Rd, Hanover Township, PA 18706 will be applied to this ministry.

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http://BibleBaptistMinistry.org/../MMXII/14/

Impact of the Resurrection

Pastor David Miklas — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 19:40:26 +0000

Sunday April 1, 2012	Phone: 570.829.5216
Pastor David Miklas	e-mail pdmikBBM@aol.com
Message: Easter – Resurrection	Text: John 20:1-10

''The Impact of the Resurrection''

Introduction: It is a fact of history that Christ was CRUCIFIED for our sins at Calvary. But an even greater fact of history is Christ ROSE from the grave. When approaching the subject of the RESURRECTION, I always feel as though God is saying, "Take thy shoes from off thy feet, for the ground whereon thou standest is holy ground."

A philosopher once proclaimed, "You Christians live on the fragrance of an empty tomb."

Someone rightly said, "Christianity begins where other religions end, with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. All other religions of the world can point to a FOUNDER; and a founder's grave, but we can say as we point to an empty tomb, Our Founder was buried there and on the third day He came out of the tomb."

The question being asked in this Easter service is "What impact does the resurrection have upon your life today?" In answering this question we need to read from the text, in John 20:1-16,

“The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. (2) Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. (3) Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. (4) So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. (5) And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. (6) Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, (7) And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. (8) Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. (9) For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. (10) Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. (11) But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, (12) And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. (13) And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. (14) And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. (15) Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. (16) Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.”

Now from this text let me focus your attention on FOUR truths of the resurrection in answer to the question, "What impact does the resurrection have upon your life today?"

First: The impact of the resurrection is upon “WHEN IT OCCURRED.” Again notice the opening words in verse 1, "The first day of the week…" As you study your Bible, you will discover that the Holy day of the week before the crucifixion was not the first day of the week, Sunday; rather it was the Sabbath, the seventh day of the week, Saturday. However, beginning with the resurrection of Jesus Christ, there is a shift from the SEVENTH day – Saturday, to the FIRST day – Sunday.

In Exodus 20:8-11 God gave to us the fourth commandment where we read, “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. (9) Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: (10) But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: (11) For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” Here God tells us how we are to act upon this special day called the Sabbath. This was a very sacred and solemn holy day.

In John 20:1 we read, “The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre…” Notice the phrase "the first day." As you begin to read the New Testament, first the disciples and then the church, began to make "the first day" more significant than the seventh day Saturday, or the Sabbath day. They began to make "the first day" of the week the sacred day of rest, reflection and worship of God. Even Paul declared in I Corinthians 16:1-2 it is upon the “first day” of the week when we are to bring the collection unto the house of God.

In Matthew 28:1 we read “In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.” Would you notice it was, "In the end of the Sabbath" when the women came "to see the sepulchre." I believe there is a deeper meaning to the saying "In the end of the Sabbath." Not only was it the end of this day but it was truly "the END of the Sabbath," as far as the commemoration of a special day was concerned. Thus the Sabbath was abolished by the resurrection of Jesus.

Strictly speaking, THERE IS NO SABBATH, during this age of grace. We worship on the "Lord's Day" the first day of the week. To speak of the Lord's Day as "the Christian Sabbath" is to speak in error. There is a difference.

The Sabbath Day or the seventh day commemorates the completion of God's great work of CREATION. In Genesis 2:2-3 we read, “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. (3) And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” Notice "On the seventh day God rested." This day provided the rest of satisfaction because of the completion of the great work of creation.

The First Day, Sunday, commemorated the completion of God's great work of REDEMPTION. Therefore every single Sunday should be an Easter Sunday where you remember the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

You know, it is inconceivable for us who know and love the Word of God, and are endeavoring to live and make each and every moment count for Christ, to believe people would be so preoccupied with the Easter bunny, new clothes, and the newness of spring that the resurrection of Jesus Christ and Easter Sunday morning in the house of God would totally slip by with not so much as even giving it a thought.

Yet, I believe God is just as perplexed over our relating this event, this CAPSTONE of the Christian faith to one DAY in a year, where we meet together to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Someone said, "The resurrection of Christ is the only historical event that was ordained to be celebrated every first day of every week in an entire year. Fifty-two weeks a year when we assemble together we ought to, at some time in that service, flash through our minds the thought of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead."

Ignatius, one of the disciples of the Apostle John in the first century, said, "Christians are a people who have come into possession of a great new hope, no longer observing the Sabbath day but living in the observance of the Lord's Day, the day on which our life has also sprung up again in Him." My friend, every Sunday ought to be a day we commemorate our new life in Christ.

Here in John 20:1 we find the impact of the resurrection "The first day of the week…" introduces us to a brand new age, one in which every Sunday, we remember His glorious resurrection. Sunday ought to be a day of rest in Christ, and of reflection and worship of Christ in the House of God. To the believer every Sunday ought to be an Easter Sunday in commemoration of the Lord’s resurrection.

Second: The impact of the resurrection is upon “WHAT IT INVOLVED,” the Empty Tomb. Would you notice the last phrase of John 20:1, "…And seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre." Interestingly all the gospel accounts make reference to "the stone," and what happened to this stone. And when you put all these passages together it has tremendous significance, which perhaps we have overlooked.

Jesus was not buried down into the earth as we do with the burial of people today, but He was buried in the side of the earth. Now in order to close up the tomb, in those days they would take a huge stone in the shape of a wheel and roll it in a trough right to the entrance of that grave. Once in place it acted as a seal, because it became practically impossible to remove it from that place.

You have the women, including Mary Magdalene, coming to the tomb very early, even before the daylight. The guards are no longer there, and even the stone that would have been impossible for three women to remove has been removed. Now would you briefly trace with me what is said in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John about this stone?

In Matthew 27:59-60 we read, “And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, (60) And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.” The Greek word for “rolled” is "Kulieo" and it is used by each of the Gospel writers with a slightly different meaning. The word "Kulieo" in this verse simply means to roll.

In Mark 16:1-4 we read, “And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. (2) And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. (3) And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? (4) And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.” Please note in verse 4, this was a very great stone. Notice in verse 3 it says the "stone was rolled away." Here the Greek adds a preposition to the word “rolled” "Ana-kulieo." Now the word means to roll up an incline or a slope.

In Luke 24:1-2, we read, “Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. (2) And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.” Here the writer uses the word "Apo-Kulieo," which means to roll one object, the stone, away from another object, the grave itself.

In John 20:1, we read, “The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.” You will notice the words here read "the stone taken away from the sepulchre."

In Matthew's account it is "Kulieo" which means to roll.

In Mark's account it is "Ana-kulieo," which means to roll up an incline or a slope.

In Luke's account it is "Apo-Kulieo," which means to roll an object a distance away from another object.

In John's gospel, it is "Ereo" which means to pick something up and literally carry it away.

Now if you take what each of these gospel writers said it is basically this, "This great stone was lifted up and transported some distance away up hill." Now since that is true I ask, "Why was that stone rolled that distance from the tomb uphill?" We all know the answer to that question, "It was to let Jesus OUT." My friends, is that the reason why, to let Jesus out? Think about it for a moment, did Jesus need to have that stone rolled away to be let out?

I call your attention to John 20:6-8, “Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, (7) And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. (8) Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.” It appears Jesus literally just walked OUT OF THOSE GRAVE CLOTHES.

I call your attention to John 20:19, “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.” Here, it appears Jesus literally just walked RIGHT ON THROUGH THE WALL.

The newly resurrected body of Jesus was so unique, the barriers of doors and walls did not concern the Lord; He went right through them. May I say to you it did not make any difference whether that stone was there or not; it was totally immaterial.

Perhaps you are saying to yourself if the removal of that stone was not necessary, then why did they lift that stone up a hill a great distance away from the tomb? May I say to you the message we must leave the house of God with is, "It was not to let the Son of God OUT, but rather it was to let the whole-wide-world IN." Peter went in, he saw and he believed. And after Peter, there were others who went in. And I would say to you in this service,

There have been thousands of people for 2000 years who have been streaming into that tomb and finding it empty. For those of us who may not enter into it physically, we can do so spiritually to assure ourselves this is not some fable.

That great stone was rolled away so we may understand there was one who did rise from the dead and is alive, so we may BELIEVE. The angels’ message in Matthew 28:6-7 was "He is not here for He is risen, COME AND SEE the place where the Lord lay. And GO quickly, and TELL His disciples that he is risen from the dead…" And those who have done that find themselves life victors.

This is not some theological, mystical, spiritual fantasy that we drag out of the closet once a year in order to wear nice new Easter outfits and bring ourselves into church to hear about this thing. That is not what Easter is all about. Rather, those who embrace this phenomenon are transformed by the power of God. The resurrected life of Christ enters into them, and they know the power of his resurrection.

Maybe you are in this service and you are sorrowing over the loss of some loved one who has died in Christ. Perhaps there is a void and emptiness down deep inside you. I want you to know there is an event coming that will be as equally powerful as the resurrection of Christ. It will be that day when Jesus comes again and the dead in Christ will rise from the grave. We who are alive will be caught up together to be with the Lord. Yet today the song tells we can have victory in this life.

God sent his Son, they called Him Jesus;

He came to love, heal, and forgive;

He lived and died to buy my pardon,

An EMPTY GRAVE is there to prove my Saviour lives.

And then one day I'll cross the river;

I'll fight life's final war with pain;

And then as death gives way to VICTORY,

I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives.

Because he lives, I can face tomorrow;

Because He lives all fear is gone;

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living just because He lives.

You see the stone was rolled away in order that today you may see for yourself and believe that "HE LIVES."

The impact of the resurrection gave us a new day in a new era. It took place upon the "First day of the week" and you and I are here this SUNDAY morning as we are every Sunday morning to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus.

The impact of the resurrection gave us a view of an empty tomb, because that stone was removed for us to see IN and BELEIVE.

Third: The impact of the resurrection is upon “WHO IT AFFECTED.” Would you notice again John 20:1, “The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early…” The first person it touched was a woman, who was a great sinner, a demon possessed sinner. But there was a day when Mary Magdalene met the Saviour and her life was transformed. And here, this is the first woman who came to see the empty tomb.

Folks, we are not here just to enjoy the festivities on this day we call Easter Sunday. We are here to understand that our eternal redemption not only rests upon the finished work of Christ at Calvary, but it also rests upon His resurrection. In Romans 4:25 we read, "Who was delivered for our offenses (crucified at Calvary for our sins), and was raised again for our justification."

The Bible is saying Jesus Christ went to the cross of Calvary to keep you from going to hell and was raised from the grave to get you into heaven. It is as simple as that. The word of God says in Romans 10:9, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

If you believe that, you are saved. If you have never believed that, then you have to reach out with a heart of faith and say, "God I believe Jesus died and rose again that I might have forgiveness of sins and have eternal life."

Fourth: The impact of the resurrection rests upon THE PROMISES of GOD. Again would you notice John 20:9, “For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.” Repeatedly the scripture gives this promise, “… that he must rise again from the dead.

Jesus said in John 2:19, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will rise it up."

He also said to Martha at the grave of Lazarus in John 11:25-26, "I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die…."

Everything depends on the RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ.

It is the CORNERSTONE upon which Christianity rests; undermine it, and the whole business collapses.

It is the KEYSTONE of the arch; knock it out, and all of Christianity falls with a crash.

If Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead,

How do I know He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life?

How do I know He that believeth on the Lord Jesus Christ shall be saved?

How do I know the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin?

How do I know He has gone to prepare a place for me, and that He will come again and receive me unto Himself?

How do I know death has lost its sting and the grave has been swallowed up in victory?

How do I know when He shall appear I shall be like Him?

How do I know "the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in me?

How do I know the promises of this Book are true?

I don't know. There is no way to know, if Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead. But thank God, He did rise! They SEALED His tomb, but it could not hold Him. He lay there COLD and DEAD in the grave. All earth had given up hope, but Heaven KNEW better. I think GABRIEL must have said to the celestial choir, "Hold your breath a minute now, for you'll need it." And upon that third day, the breath of God swept through the sleeping clay; and like a flash of light, His glorious Son was on His feet again, while Heaven's angelic choir rose, tier upon tier and row upon row and shouted, "Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Christ is risen! The Son of God is Alive!" Glory to Jesus, today we can sing:

Up from the grave He arose, With a mighty triumph o'er His foes.

He arose a victor from the dark domain,

And He lives forever with His saints to reign.

He arose! He arose! Hallelujah, Christ Arose.

The resurrection completes the GOSPEL which speaks of the DEATH, and the BURIAL, and the RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ.

Dr. A.H. Ackley penned what some have considered the NATIONAL ANTHEM of the RESURRECTION SONGS:

I serve a RISEN Saviour, He's in the world today,

I know that He is LIVING, whatever men may say;

I see His hands of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,

And just the time I need Him, He's always near.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.

He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.

Two thousand years ago God took every sin we have ever committed or ever will commit and placed them on Jesus Christ, as we read in Isaiah 53:6, "… the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." When Jesus cried out from the cross, "It is finished!" it simply meant that the full payment for sin had been made. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is now an assurance that God was fully satisfied with the payment Jesus made for our sins. Let me ask you "Is the living resurrected Christ alive in You?"

*************************************************************

If God has spoken to your heart after reading the sermon “The Impact of the Resurrection” then right now talk to God about what He has spoken to you.

Do you have the assurance that one day you will go to heaven? If you have no assurance that you know Jesus Christ, then I trust you will decide to accept Him as your personal Savior. The Bible tells us in

Acts 16:31, “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…”

Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

This prayer is here for those who need to ask Jesus to be their personal Savior: “I do want to go to Heaven. I know I am a sinner, and I do believe Jesus Christ died for me. I realize I cannot buy this great salvation, nor can I earn it. Knowing Jesus died on the cross and arose from the grave to pay my sin debt and to purchase my salvation, I do now trust Him as my Savior, and from this moment on I am completely depending on Him for my salvation.”

If you made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior let me know. Please send an e-mail to, pdmikBBM@aol.com and I will send you some literature that will help you in your Christian life.

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In His Amazing Grace,

David Miklas" src="http://theweeklysermon.com/images/Pastor_David_Miklas.gif" />
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I Serve a Risen Saviour

Pastor David Miklas — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 21:59:44 +0000

Sunday April 24, 2011	Phone: 570.829.5216
Pastor David Miklas	e-mail pdmikBBM@aol.com
Message: Easter Message	Text: mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">I Peter 1:3-9

"I Serve a Risen Saviour"

Introduction: Please turn with me in your Bible to the First Epistle of Peter chapter 1 and follow me as I read verses 1-9, "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, (2) Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. (3) 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, (4) To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, (5) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (6) Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: (7) That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (8) Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (9) Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." Notice again the last part of verse 3, "hath begotten us again unto a lively (or living) hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is more than a beautiful thought. It is more than a religious concept. It is a historical fact. It is a fact so persuasive that many who have sought to disprove it have been converted to Christ by the truth they have discovered.

Many years ago in England there were two men, one named Lyttleton and the other named West. They got together and one of them said, "If we could disprove two things, the conversion of the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus and the resurrection of Jesus, we could destroy Christianity."

So Lyttleton set out to disprove the conversion of the Apostle Paul. West set out during that year to disprove the resurrection of Jesus.

A year later they meet and Lyttleton said to West, "After a year of investigation, I am convinced that the Bible story of the conversion of the Apostle Paul is true and I have been converted to Jesus Christ."

Then West said to Lyttleton, "I have been investigating the resurrection of Jesus for a year, and I too have discovered that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a fact. And it may surprise you to know that I have received Him as my Saviour."

From the very first resurrection morning until now, our faith has moved forward based on the fact that Jesus Christ did rise from the dead and that He is alive and changing lives.

Praise God, the Saviour's suffering, found its COMPLEMENT in the empty tomb, where:

Jesus "tore the bars away."

"He arose the victor from the dark domain."

"Up from the grave He arose with a mighty triumph over His foes.

He arose the Victor from the dark domain,

And He lives forever with His saints to reign.

He arose! He arose, Hallelujah, Christ arose!"

Just as the heart pumps life-giving blood to the body, so the resurrection is the very heart of the gospel, pumping life into every area of our soul. The resurrection is the fulcrum on which all of Christianity turns. Take away the resurrection, and Christianity becomes just another useless human philosophy.

Destroy the Resurrection of Christ and you render the Bible ineffective. If Jesus Christ was not risen from the dead, as the Bible teaches us, then the Bible is not the VERBALLY, INSPIRED, INERRENT, INFALLIBLE Word of God. The resurrection is mentioned in the New Testament 104 times in 260 chapters. No one can read the last chapters of the Gospels, the book of Acts and the letters of the Apostles Peter, Paul and John, without a profound conviction that the resurrection of Jesus was a confirmed fact. IT WAS GOD'S "AMEN" TO THE CROSS!

Destroy the Resurrection of Christ and you discredit Jesus' own testimony. Five times before His death, Jesus said, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will rise it up." (John 2:19) One time he said in John 10:17-18, "I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man takes 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."

Destroy the Resurrection of Christ and you destroy the deity of Christ. For Romans 1:4 tells us He was, "declared to be the Son of God with power … by the resurrection from the dead."

Destroy the Resurrection of Christ and you destroy the witness of the Gospel. The preaching of the resurrection was the dominate theme of the Apostles preaching. In Acts 4:33 we read, "…And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.'

Destroy the Resurrection of Christ and you find the Christian faith is vain. We read in I Corinthians 15:14, 17, "If Christ be not risen, Then is our preaching in vain, and your faith is also vain. …ye are yet in your sins." What has been said is certainly true: THE RESURRECTION IS THE CORNERSTONE OF CHRISTIAN TRUTH AND IS IMPORTANT TO THE DESTINY OF EVERY HUMAN SOUL.

Now in view of the crucifixion and in view of the resurrection, the burning question that needs to be answered this Easter Sunday morning in 2008 is: WHAT IS GOD DOING RIGHT NOW?

Is the God we worship only to be identified with the PAST?

Is the God we worship and serve only to be identified with what is going to happen in the FUTURE?

What about the PRESENT? WHAT IS GOD DOING RIGHT NOW?

Again notice with me I Peter 1:3-5, "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, (4) To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, (5) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." Here in this long sentence, I believe we have the answer to the question, WHAT IS GOD DOING RIGHT NOW?

At the end of verse 2, we have a reference to the Blood of Jesus Christ that speaks of the CROSS and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. While at the end of verse 3, there is a reference to the RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ.

Please notice the statement that is sandwiched between the end of verse 2 and the end of verse 3. It reads, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

The blind songwriter, Fanny Crosby, wrote:

Tell of the CROSS where they nailed Him, writhing in anguish and pain.

Tell of the GRAVE where they laid Him, Tell how HE LIVETH again.

Now Peter is saying: In view of the crucifixion and in view of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we must do something about these events. What should we do? We should "Bless the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…"David said in Psalm 103:1, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy Name."

We are accustomed nowadays to say:

Lord bless this and Lord bless that.

Lord, we ask you to bless the offerings.

Lord, we ask you to bless me and my family.

Lord we ask you to bless the missionaries.

We are always asking for God's blessing upon us, and seldom do we find the need TO BLESS GOD! Now that's what this verse of scripture is telling is to do. It is telling us:

In light of what Christ has done for us on the cross of Calvary,

In light of what transpired at the empty tomb,

We are to "Bless the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…"

Well now, "How do you do that, How do you and I bless God?" The word "BLESSED" comes from the Greek word which is known by the English as "EULOGIZE." Peter is saying, in effect, to "EULOGIZE GOD." In other words, in view of the Cross of Calvary and in view of the Resurrection, we are to "EULOGIZE GOD." We are to "PRAISE GOD."

The word EULOGIZE is made up of two words meaning "to speak well."It means to speak well of someone. In our world, it is not uncommon to hear God's name taken in vain, "God ______ this or God _____ that." In fact, many of you may have heard these phrases this past week.

However, the Word of God is telling those of us who have experienced the New Birth, as a result of Christ's death and resurrection, that we are to speak OUT and to speak WELL of God.

Back in Matthew 28:5-7, the Angels' message to the women who came to the Empty tomb was simple. The angels said, "Come and see where the Lord laid…go and tell." Listen. Easter is not a day of decoration, during which we all parade into church for the service. It is a day of PROCLAMATION. Once you have received Christ as your Saviour, every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ has the responsibility "TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL" that Jesus died and is now alive!

Our gospel is not purely personal, to be selfish about, to hide the fact that we are Christians. It is to be PROCLAIMED!

The Bible tells us not only to PROCLAIM the gospel, but also to SPEAK WELL OF GOD. Is not this the reason we have this service this morning? For that matter, isn't that why we have church every first day of the week? We gather to speak well of God.

We praise His name through our Hymns.

We praise His name through the service we render.

We praise His name through our tithes and offerings.

We praise His name through the message.

We bless His Holy Name because of the Crucifixion and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ! We especially celebrate the results of this event.

The questions I ask are, What has,the DEATH and RESURRECTION of our Lord Jesus Christ come to mean in your life? Why should this event bring joy to your soul?

As Christians, we celebrate the resurrection of Christ because of something that has happened in our lives in a very personal way. However, if the resurrection hasn't affected your life in a personal way, or it hasn't touched you and changed your life through faith, then you really have nothing to celebrate as far as Easter is concerned.

Nevertheless, there are 3 things in verses 3-4 that tell us what the resurrection accomplished on our behalf.

First: In verse 3 notice the phrase,"Hath begotten us again." Here is what Easter is all about. Here is the reason Christ was crucified and arose again from the dead, so that we might be "begotten again."

Now someone who has been "begotten again" is someone who has been born twice. You not only have had a physical birth, but you have also had a spiritual birth. Did not Jesus say in John 3:5, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God"?

If I were to ask you to tell us the day, the year, and the place of your physical birthday, most of you would be able to give that to me without any doubt. But I wonder how many in this room can stand to their feet and say:

"Because of the Crucifixion and the Resurrection, I can truly say there was a DAY in my life when I was truly BORN AGAIN through a PERSONAL FAITH in the Lord Jesus Christ. I can tell you the PLACE, the DAY and what exactly TRANSPIRED at that moment."

Now, if you can't tell us that, then the resurrection, as far as you are concerned, means NOTHING. Jesus arose from the dead:

In order that we might be Begotten again,

In order that we might be Born again,

In order that we might be Born a second time!

Romans 10:9 reads, "… if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." I wonder if you can include your name in that verse.

You ask me, WHAT IS GOD DOING RIGHT NOW? I believe God, at this very moment, is causing men and women, boys and girls, to be born again, born a second time, through faith in the Lord Jesus. God is doing that, all over this world at this very moment, as a result of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Second: In verse 3 notice the phrase "A Living Hope." Here is the second result of the death and resurrection of Christ. We who have been begotten again have become recipients of what the Bible calls "a living Hope."

When we speak of HOPE, we usually speak of some kind of a wish. For example,

"I hope all of you will be here next Sunday." Now that is a wish. In all probability that will not come true, but none the less, I hope you will all be here next Lord's Day.

"I hope you are all listening to what I have to say in this message." Some of you are, but in all probability, there are some of you who are not. This is something I kind of wish would happen.

Here, the Bible is not saying that God has given us some kind of a day dream to live in and live through or some kind of a wish for life. Rather, I believe what God is saying here would be better represented by the word CONFIDENCE. God has given to those of us who have been Born Again a NEVER DYING and EVER LIVING CONFIDENCE that no matter what takes place in this life, IT IS THE WILL OF GOD. Along with that confidence is the absolute assurance that now and forever we have eternal life.

It must be a terrible thing to just MUDDLE through life.

You don't know why you are here.

You don't know why things are happening as they are to you.

You don't have any assurance of tomorrow.

Life is just passing by as you go through your same routine day after day. Listen. God intended for you and me to have CONFIDENCE every single day of our lives as we walk with God.

God will not forsake you as far as your salvation is concerned. I must say, there are times I get very exasperated when I hear people say that after you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, somewhere along the way you can lose your salvation. That, my friend, is a LIE FROM THE DEVIL OUT OF THE PIT OF HELL. God will not forsake you once you are saved. As far as Salvation is concerned, it is yours forever. Does not the last part of John 3:16 tell us, "that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Now, there may be times when you will forsake God, and in all probability you have done that, or maybe you are doing that right now in your life. BUT GOD WILL NEVER, NEVER FORSAKE YOU once you have received His Son as your Saviour.

In Deuteronomy 31:6 we read, "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not…for the Lord thy God, He it is who doth go with thee; He will not fail thee or forsake thee."

In Hebrews 13:5 we read, "…for He (Jesus) hath said, I will never leave thee, or forsake thee."

From the original text of Hebrew 13:5 with the double negative we read, "I will NEVER,NEVER leave thee … I will NEVER, NEVER forsake thee." What a promise of HOPE. What a promise of CONFIDENCE.

God will not forsake you even at death.

To Martha Jesus said in John 11:25-27, "I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live…And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." Upon reading that verse a 5 year old boy said, "Dad, Jesus sure took the scariness out of dying didn't He."

Paul tells us in I Corinthians 5:8, "to be absent from this body is to be present with the Lord." For us who are born again by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, death does not end life. It is only the beginning.

Those of us who have this living hope, and those of us who have this ever living confidence in God, DO NOT have to worry about tomorrow, because our confidence is in God who will never forsake His own. That is why the composer of the hymn could write,

And then one day, I'll cross that river; I'll fight life's final war with pain.

And then as death gives way to victory, I'll see the light of Glory, and I'll know He lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, Because He lives, all fear is gone.

Because I know He holds the future, and life is worth the living, Just because He lives.

Third: In verse 4, notice the phrase "An inheritance incorruptible" As a result of the resurrection, God not only provides us with a NEW BIRTH, and a LIVING HOPE or CONFIDENCE, but according to verse 4, he gives to us an "inheritance incorruptible."

In John 14:1-4 just before the crucifixion, Jesus said to His disciple "I am going to prepare a place for you." For almost 2000 years Jesus has been preparing a place for you and me. So at that moment of death, whenever it comes, we will be ushered into the presence of God. We will be in that place Jesus is preparing and reserving just for you and me. THAT IS OUR INHERITANCE INCORRUPTIBLE.

My friend, this is why we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Not just because it was a unique event, but because of what it has done in our lives individually.

Let me ask you this on Easter Sunday morning April 24, 2011: Because of the resurrection has God done something very personal in your life?

Easter is not just a day of decoration for new clothes.

Easter is not just a day to parade into church to satisfy your loved one, and to show yourself off to God.

Easter is a day to look inside and ask, WHERE IS CHRIST IN MY LIFE? Can you sing what many consider to be the NATIONAL ANTHEM of the RESURRECTION SONGS written by Alfred H. Ackley?

I serve a RISEN Saviour; He's in the world today,

I know that He is LIVING, whatever men may say;

I see His hands of mercy; I hear His voice of cheer,

And just the time I need Him, He's always near.

In all the world around me, I see His loving care.

And though my heart grows weary, I never will despair,

I know that He is leading, through all the stormy blast,

The day of His appearing will come at last.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.

He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives? He lives with in my heart.

Can you say, that today, "He lives within my heart"? My friend that is what makes the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ so precious. If you can't say that, I would encourage you right now to invite Jesus into your life as your LIVING SAVIOUR.

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Has God spoken to your heart after reading the sermon, "I Serve a Risen Saviour," then why not, right now, talk to God about what He has spoken to you?

Acts 16:31, "…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…"

Romans 10:13, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

This prayer is here for those who need to ask Jesus to be their personal Savior: "I do want to go to Heaven. I know I am a sinner, and I do believe Jesus Christ died for me. I realize I cannot buy this great salvation, nor can I earn it. Knowing Jesus died on the cross and arose from the grave to pay my sin debt and to purchase my salvation, I do now trust Him as my Savior, and from this moment on I am completely depending on Him for my salvation."

If you made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, would you please let me know? Fill out the information below and e-mail me, pdmikBBM@aol.com. I will send you some literature that will help you in your Christian life.

Date: _________________ Name: __________________, Address: _______________

The "Weekly SERMON" was sent as a ministry of Bible Baptist Ministry, 48 Alexie Rd., Hanover Township, PA 18706. Privacy policy: your e-mail address will not be sold, or shared with any third party.

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In His Amazing Grace,

http://BibleBaptistMinistry.org/…/MMXI/17/

He is not Here, but He is Risen

Pastor David Miklas — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 17:47:47 +0000

Sunday April 17, 2011	Phone: 570.829.5216
Pastor David Miklas	e-mail pdmikBBM@aol.com
Message: Easter Sunday – 2011	Text: Luke 24:1-12

"He is not here, but is RISEN"

Introduction: Perhaps one of the most powerful verses written by the Apostle Paul in the New Testament is found in Philippians 3:10, where we read, “That I may know Him (Jesus Christ) and the power of His RESURRECTION and the fellowship of His suffering…”

The great fact of history is Christ was CRUCIFIED for our sins at Calvary. That is a fact that prophetically and historically we cannot deny.

An even greater fact of history is Christ ROSE from the grave. Again that is a fact that prophetically and historically we cannot deny.

When I approach the subject of the RESURRECTION, I always feel as though God is saying, as He did to Moses long ago at the burning bush in the wilderness, "Take off thy shoes from thy feet, for the ground whereon thou standest is holy ground." After a brilliant philosopher from France had evaluated the writings of the Gospel, he proclaimed, "You Christians live on the fragrance of an empty tomb." And so we do.

The Saviour's suffering:

His nail-pierced hands and feet,

His scarred back laid bare from the 39 stripes,

His spit-marred face,

His hair-plucked checks,

His wounded side from the spear driven through,

His stricken soul at the abandonment of God,

found its COMPLEMENT in the empty tomb. Therefore, on this EASTER SUNDAY morning, I can think of no greater doctrine of the Christian faith on which to speak than the doctrine of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Destroy the resurrection of Christ and you discredit Jesus’ own testimony. Five times before His death, Jesus said, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will rise it up." (John 2:19.) One time he said, "I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man takes 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).

Destroy the resurrection of Christ and you destroy the grounds for justification, for Romans 4:25 declares, "He (Jesus) was raised for our justification…"

Destroy the resurrection of Christ and you destroy the deity of Christ, for Romans 1:4 tells us He was, "declared to be the Son of God with power … by the resurrection from the dead."

Destroy the resurrection of Christ and you destroy the witness of the Gospel. The preaching of the resurrection was the dominate theme of the Apostles’ preaching. In Acts 4:33 we read, "And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.'

Destroy the resurrection of Christ and you destroy the victory over sin and death. In I Corinthians 15:20-22, 55-57 we read, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that sleep. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead, For in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy Victory? The sting of death is sin… But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

WITHOUT A RISEN CHRIST, we have a tomb as worthless as any tomb, a cross no more than a martyr's cross.

WITHOUT A RISEN CHRIST, the whole history of Christianity and its existence is unintelligible.

WITHOUT A RISEN CHRIST, we will never again see the faces of our redeemed loved ones, which have preceded us to Glory.

The resurrection of Jesus distinguishes and makes Christianity superior to all other religions of the world.

Someone rightly said, "Christianity begins where other religions end, with the resurrection of Jesus Christ." All other religions of the world can point to a founder and a founder's grave, but there is no other religion than Christianity that can point to an empty tomb and say, "Our founder was buried there and on the third day He came out of the tomb."

Turn in your Bible to the Gospel of Luke 24: 1-12 where we read,

“Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. (2) And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. (3) And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. (4) And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments (5) And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?(6) He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, (7) Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. (8) And they remembered his words, (9) And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. (10) It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. (11) And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.(12) Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.”

Again in verses 6-7 we read, “He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, (7) Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.” Now from these verses we want to focus your attention on two realities: first the empty tomb and second a risen Lord.

First: The Empty Tomb Please notice again:

Verse 3, “…and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.”

Verse 5, “…Why seek ye the living among the dead?”

Verse 6, "He is not here, but is risen."

The tomb was empty contrary to the PRECAUTION of the enemies. Our Lord's ENEMIES did not want the resurrection to happen. They condemned Him, scourged Him, crucified Him, and there at the cross:

The callous Roman soldier who nailed His quivering hands and pain-jerked feet to the cross said, "He is dead!"

The curious crowds, unaware of the eternal value of His actions said, "He is dead."

Pilate, who had chosen the friendship of Caesar and spurned the friendship of the King Eternal said, "He is dead."

The Sadducees, ignoring the supernatural and rejecting a divine hope with their callous hearts said, "He's dead."

The Centurion, who stood by the cross and proclaimed, "truly this was the Son of God," said, "He is dead."

All that stood there that afternoon after the darkness had lifted said, "He is dead." Then they removed Him from the cross and buried Him in a new tomb and rolled a stone before the entrance.

The religious leaders said, "Remember what this Fellow said before He was crucified, 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.' If His disciples come and steal Him away and make people believe He was raised from the dead, we will never get Christianity quieted down. We have to make sure He does not come out of that tomb."

In order to make sure this prophecy of Christ would never occur, the religious leaders did two things:

Number 1, they sealed the tomb with the Roman seal of authority which would mean death to anyone who broke the seal.

Number 2, they stationed a Roman guard at the tomb.

Rome dared the entire world to molest the tomb. But Roman seals and armed soldiers were no match for the POWER OF GOD. After THREE DAYS and NIGHTS, the tomb was empty. Now, reason with me. If Jesus Christ came out of that grave, then either MAN TOOK HIM OUT or GOD TOOK HIM OUT. There is no other possibility.

His friends COULD NOT and His enemies WOULD NOT. That leaves only one alternative: God Almighty raised Jesus Christ from the dead. That is exactly what the Bible says in Hebrews 13:20, "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant…" Not only was Jesus’ resurrection contrary to the precaution of His enemies, but

The tomb was empty contrary to the EXPECTATION of His friends. They did not expect Him to rise from the dead. They were all DEPRESSED, SAD and MOURNFUL. They had given up. They thought His reign was over.

Sad was JARIUS whose daughter was healed by Jesus.

Sad was the MAN with the WITHERED HAND Jesus had healed.

Sad were the DUMB whose TONGUES were unloosed by Jesus.

Sad were the DEAF whose EARS were opened by Jesus.

Sad were MARY, MARTHA and LAZARUS.

The women did not believe it, the disciples did not believe the women, and Thomas still doubted. Mark 16:14 tells us, “After He ( that is Jesus ) appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their UNBELIEF and HARDNESS OF HEART, because they believed NOT them which had seen him after he was risen.” His tomb was empty, contrary to the expectation of His friends.

The tomb was empty contrary to ALL OTHER TOMBS in HISTORY.

The pyramids of Egypt are famous for their mummified bodies of Egyptian potentates.

Westminster Abbey in London is famous for its tombs of English notables.

Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC is the resting place of famous Americans.

That my friends, is the difference between the tomb of Christ and other famous tombs.

Other tombs are famous and draw visitors from afar because of what they CONTAIN. On the other hand, the tomb of Christ is famous and draws visitors from all over the world because of what it DOES NOT CONTAIN.

Other tombs are famous because they are full. The tomb of Christ is famous because it is empty. "IF IT WERE NOT EMPTY, YOU WOULD NEVER HAVE HEARD OF CHRIST."

Years ago while traveling in Egypt, the late Dr. Harry Rimmer, a scientist and born again believer, was negotiating with a very refined gentleman who was the Secretary of State. In their conversation regarding their respective faiths:

Dr. Rimmer stated, "We believe God has given man three revelations of Himself. First, we believe He has revealed Himself in the work of creation."

"We, too, believe that," interjected the Egyptian.

"We believe God revealed Himself in a Book, the Bible," continued Dr. Rimmer.

"We, too, believe God has revealed Himself in a book, the Koran," replied the Egyptian.

"We believe God has revealed Himself in a man, and that man is Jesus Christ," added Rimmer.

“We also believe God revealed Himself in a Man, and that Man is the prophet Mohammed," said the Egyptian.

"We believe Jesus died to save His followers," said Rimmer.

"We believe Mohammed died for his people," replied the Egyptian.

"We believe," continued Dr. Rimmer, "Jesus is able to substantiate His claims because He rose from the dead."

The Moslem hesitated and then lowered his eyes. He had no rebuttal to that statement. Finally he admitted, "We have no information concerning our prophet after death."

Yet today on Easter Sunday, over 2000 years after the fact, we can sit here and MENTALLY, SPIRITUALLY, CONSCIOUSLY, and PERSONALLY attest in our hearts to the fact that the TOMB IS EMPTY! CHRIST IS ALIVE! AMEN!

Second: The Risen Lord. Please notice again our text in Luke 24:6, "He is not here, but is risen…" Now if our Lord’s tomb was empty, what became of the body? Either the body was removed by someone, or He arose from the grave. There is no other alternative. There were only two groups that could have removed His body, and those were His friends or His foes.

For His friends to have removed the body was out of the question. The tomb was sealed and there was a Roman guard preventing anything from happening.

For His enemies to have removed the body would have been against their desires. That is the very thing that they did not want to happen.

His friends could not rob the tomb of His body, and His foes would not. Therefore, the alternative stands, "He arose from the grave."

That is what the Angel said in Matthew 28:5-7a, "Fear not; for I know that you seek Jesus, who was crucified. HE IS NOT HERE; for He is risen, as he said. Come see the place where the Lord lay and go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead…"

That is what Mark wrote about in Mark 16:6, "… Ye seek Jesus … who was crucified; He is risen; HE IS NOT HERE. Behold the place where they laid him."

That is what John wrote in Revelation 1:18 speaking of Jesus, "I am He that liveth, and was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore.”

That is what Peter wrote in I Peter 1:3, "… according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

This is what Christianity has proclaimed for over 2000 years.

If Christ be not raised from the dead, we have no message to preach.

If Christ be not raised from the dead, then our faith is the biggest hoax the world has ever witnessed.

If Christ be not raised from the dead, then we are still drowning in our sins without hope.

If Christ be not raised from the dead, then pray tell, why are you in the house of God this Easter Sunday morning or any other Sunday morning?

You are here, not just on this Easter Sunday, but every Sunday, as a testimony to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. IT DID HAPPEN! HE IS ALIVE. EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST!

It is the CORNERSTONE upon which the whole superstructure of Christianity rests; undermine it, and the whole business collapses.

It is the KEYSTONE of the arch; knock it out, and the whole thing falls with a crash.

If Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead, how do I know He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life?

If Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead, how do I know He that believeth on the Lord Jesus Christ shall be saved?

If Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead, how do I know the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin?

If Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead, how do I know He has gone to prepare a place for me and that He will come again and receive me unto Himself?

If Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead, how do I know death has lost its sting and the grave has been swallowed up in victory?

If Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead, how do I know when He shall appear I shall be like Him?

If Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead, how do I know "the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in me?”

If Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead, how do I know the promises of the Bible are true?

The fact is, I do not know. If Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead, there is no way to know any of this is true. In I Corinthians 15:13 we read, “But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen?” However, praise the Lord in verse 20 we read, "But now is Christ raised from the dead and become the first fruits of them that sleep."

Thank God, He did rise! They SEALED His tomb, but it could not hold Him. He lay there in the grave COLD and DEAD. All on earth had given up hope, but Heaven KNEW better.

I think GABRIEL must have said to the celestial choir, "Hold your breath a minute, for you'll need it." As the minutes of the world's mightiest miracle ticked of, the breath of God swept through the sleeping clay. Like a flash of light, His glorious Son was on His feet again, while Heaven's angelic choir rose – tier upon tier and row upon row and shouted, "Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Christ is risen! The Son of God is Alive!" Glory to Jesus, today we can sing:

Up from the grave He arose

With a mighty triumph o'er His foes.

He arose a victor from the dark domain,

And He lives forever with His saints to reign.

He arose! He arose!

Hallelujah, Christ Arose.

In the Gospel of John 20:31 we read, "… these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name." The records regarding the resurrection of Christ are accurate and undeniable.

The men who wrote the New Testament were TRANSFORMED by this great occurrence, and they spent their lives telling about it.

These men would not suffer and die for myths.

These men were on the spot. Nobody could fool them.

They were alive when it happened.

They were there and knew all about it.

They laid down their lives to defend it.

The resurrection of the dead constitutes the confidence of Christians. By believing it, we are what we claim to be. We have an EMPTY CROSS and an EMPTY TOMB. Therefore, as I Corinthians 15:54 tells us, “Death is swallowed up in victory.” Jesus gave us the EASTER message in one sentence taken from John 14:19, “Because I live, you shall live also.”

Years ago, Dr. A.H. Ackley was listening to a radio broadcast just before he was to preach. The man on the radio was going to great lengths to dispute the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Bothered by the message in the radio broadcast, Dr. Ackley sat down that evening after church and penned what could be considered to be the NATIONAL ANTHEM of the RESURRECTION SONGS:

I serve a RISEN Saviour, He's in the world today,

I know that He is LIVING, whatever men may say;

I see His hands of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,

And just the time I need Him, He's always near.

In all the world around me, I see His loving care,

And though my heart grows weary, I never will despair..

I know that He is leading, through all the stormy blasts,

The day of His appearing will come at last.

He lives, He lives,

Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.

He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives,

He lives with in my heart!

Two thousand years ago God took every sin we have every committed or ever will commit and placed them on Jesus Christ, as we read in Isaiah 53:6, "… the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." When Jesus cried out from the cross, "It is finished!" it simply meant that the full payment for sin had been made. The resurrection of Jesus Christ was an assurance that God was fully satisfied with the payment Jesus made for our sins.

Down through the centuries, that empty tomb has transformed countless lives. Not by trials or by scientific studies, but by the simple faith of an honest heart. Let me ask you this Easter Sunday morning, "Is the living resurrected Christ alive in You?"

***************************************

If God has spoken to your heart after reading the sermon, "He is not here, but is RISEN," then right now talk to God about what He has spoken to you.

Do you have the assurance one day you will go to heaven? If you have no assurance that you know Jesus Christ, then I trust you will decide to accept Him as you personal Savior. The Bible tells us in

Acts 16:31, “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…”

Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

This prayer is here for those who need to ask Jesus to be your personal Savior. “I do want to go to Heaven. I know I am a sinner, and I do believe Jesus Christ died for me. I realize I cannot buy this great salvation, nor can I earn it. Knowing Jesus died on the cross and arose from the grave to pay my sin debt and to purchase my salvation, I do now trust Him as my Savior, and from this moment on I am completely depending on Him for my salvation.”

If you made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, would you let me know? Fill out the information below and e-mail me, pdmikBBM@aol.com. I will send you some literature that will help you in your Christian life.

Date: _________________ Name: __________________, Address: _______________

The “Weekly SERMON” was sent as a ministry of Bible Baptist Ministry, P.O. Box 1425, Kingston, PA 18706. Privacy policy: your e-mail address will not be sold, or shared with any third party.

Copy write permission: Because the “Weekly SERMONS” will be reproduced into other formats, PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING. The “Weekly SERMON” in its original form, without any changes, may be copied and re-transmitted by electronic mail. Copies may also be printed for individual or ministry purposes, provided that such copying, re-transmission, printing, or other use is not for profit or other commercial purpose. Any copying, re-transmission, distribution, printing, or other use of the “Weekly SERMON” must set forth in full the heading that is given before each “Weekly SERMON.” Any other request for use, please contact Bible Baptist Ministries at background:white;">pdmikBBM@aol.com or by phone at 570.829.5216.

In His Amazing Grace,

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The Message

Pastor David Miklas — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 07:34:18 +0000

Volume No. 2011 Issue No. 13 Date: April 10, 2011

Publication of the BIBLE BAPTIST MINISTRY, 48 Alexie Rd, Hanover Township, PA 18706

Phone: 570.829.5216 pdmikBBM@aol.com pastormiklas@aol.com

The crucifixion event covers about 6 hours. During those 6 hours, the Gospel writers capture seven sayings of Christ – sometimes referred to as “The Seven Last Words”. The first three statements are horizontal in nature, describing Christ's conclusion of His dealings with man-kind. Let me call your attention to these THREE statements:

The Message of Compassion: In John 19:25-27 we read, “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. (26) When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! (27) Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”

As the Savior looked at these women at the foot of the cross, it was His mother who captured His heart. How it must have intensified His own suffering to see her in such grief. He spoke to her calling her "Woman." He severed the old relationship of mother and son. It signaled a shift in how they were to relate to each other. In John 2:4, He had also called her "Woman" and told her His hour had not yet come. Now that hour was here, and she needed Him to die for her sins as well!

Christ was concerned for this sorrowing woman. In compassion for her loneliness and loss, Jesus turned to John, the only disciple willing to stand with the women at the cross of the Master. It's apparent that Joseph was no longer living by this time, and Jesus' half brothers did not yet believe (though they will). As a result, Christ entrusted Mary to one of His true family members and guaranteed her well-being by giving her to John, the disciple whom He loved.

Of this loving compassion and care, Bible scholar William Barclay writes in his commentary on the gospel of John: "There is something infinitely moving in the fact that Jesus, in the agony of the cross, when the salvation of the world hung in the balance, thought of the loneliness of His mother in the days ahead. Even on the cross, Jesus was thinking more of the sorrows of others than of His own." That's the definition of compassion. In the midst of His intense sufferings, Jesus cared for those He loved, and in so doing concluded His dealings with men. His focus now shifts upward to the purpose behind it all, the awful task of becoming the Lamb of God, the sin-bearing sacrifice for a lost human race.

The Message of Completion: In John 19:30 we read, “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” In the Greek the words "It is finished!" is “tetelestai" meaning “it is completed; I have done it!"

The Message of Control: Matthew 27:50 says that Jesus' last words were cried with a loud victory shout!
Jesus' commitment to the Father's plan had been evidenced throughout His earthly ministry, and He had carried that commitment all the way to the end as “he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:8 He had done it all! He had left no prophecy unfulfilled, no work unfinished, no love unshared, no suffering unaccomplished. He had completed all the Father had sent Him to do. Then He rested. But it was not the rest of weariness Jesus experienced. It was the rest of fulfillment. He had completed salvation – no more sacrifices were ever to be needed. No human effort would ever be required. As the gift of eternal grace, Jesus had completed salvation, once for all – for all of us.

May your heart this week be enraptured at the cross of Calvary where for our eternal redemption was forever paid by the Lord Jesus Christ.

In His Amazing Grace,

PS: As we have repeatedly said, we will not charge for sending the Weekly SERMON. However there are expenses associated with doing what we do. If possible during 2011, would you please consider helping us in this faith ministry? Your donation will help us to continue to “stand in the gap” in “teaching others also.” After you have given your tithes to your church and taken care of your pastor, would you consider giving either a yearly gift, or a monthly offering? Remember, for the purposes of financial accountability, we have placed this ministry under the Green Street Baptist Chapel of Edwardsville, PA. Checks made out to Green Street Baptist Chapel, memo to the Bible Baptist ministry and mailed to Bible Baptist Ministry 48 Alexie Rd, Hanover Township, PA 18706 will be applied to this ministry.

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Is Our Preaching Vain?

Pastor David Miklas — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 07:52:58 +0000

Volume No. 2010 Issue No. 11 Date: March 28, 2010

Publication of the BIBLE BAPTIST MINISTRY, 48 Alexie Rd, Hanover Township, PA 18706

Phone: 570.829.5216 pdmikBBM@aol.com pastormiklas@aol.com

Harry Houdini was a master escape artist. There wasn't a box, bag, or barrel from which he couldn't escape. That is, until death knocked at his door. Harry met his match when death clenched him in an ironclad grasp. Death put Jesus in a rock-hewn tomb. All the world thought there was no escape. But on the third day, He left the grave clothes that were wrapped around Him much like a butterfly would forsake its cocoon. Jesus passed through the walls of that tomb. The stone wasn't rolled away to let Him out. It was rolled away to let the disciples in to see that Jesus had come back from the dead. And Jesus Christ is alive today!

Suppose death still had its grip on Jesus. We would be faced with many tragic consequences. And those consequences come directly from 1 Corinthians 15:12-20, “Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? (13) But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: (14) And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. (15) Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. (16) For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: (17) And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. (18) Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. (19) If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. (20) But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.”

Preaching Would Be Profitless: We would be wasting our time in this Christian life if there were no resurrection of our Lord. The heart of the gospel is that Jesus died for our sins. He was buried and raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures. I heard of a preacher who told his congregation that the body of Jesus Christ still lies in a nameless tomb, but His deathless spirit marches on. Do you know what that man ought to do? Get out of the pulpit and get another job! If I did not believe that Jesus came out of the grave, then preaching would be meaningless.

Faith Would Be Foolish: Who wants to put their faith in Jesus if He is dead? You would be trusting someone who doesn't deserve your trust. Romans 10:9 says, "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." The difference between Christianity and other religions is that their leaders lived and died. Jesus lived, died, and rose again. There is no need to follow a loser. Jesus conquered death!

Disciples Would Be Deceivers: Paul did not say that if Christ were still in the grave, we would be mistaken. He said if Christ has not been raised, we are "false witnesses." In the courtroom, a
false witness is someone who knowingly, willingly, and even deliberately perjures himself. He is a liar. "Well," some say, "how do we know they didn't just make it all up?" We know because many of these men sealed their testimonies with their lives. Hypocrites and martyrs are made of different stuff. A man may live for a lie, but few will die for one.

Sin Would Be Sovereign: If Christ were still in the grave, God has not accepted the payment for our sin. When God raised Jesus, it was His stamp of approval that full payment had been made. Without the resurrection of Jesus Christ, I wouldn't give you half of a hallelujah for your hope in heaven. Second Corinthians 5:21 says, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

Death Would Have Dominion: Surely you don't believe that our loving God, who created the universe, intends for it all to run down into the grave. That we are born crying, live complaining, and die disappointed. I can't accept that. First Thessalonians 4:16 says, "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." Second Timothy 1:10 tells us that Jesus has "abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."

Future Would Be Futile: If this is all there is then we are to be pitied. What do people without Jesus look forward to when they die? A hole in the ground! Life as we know it is chaotic at best if Christ has not been raised. Praise His wonderful name! Jesus has taken the sting out of death. He has taken the gloom out of the grave. He has given us a hope that is steadfast and sure. He is not behind us in a tomb. He is before us on a throne!

The Weekly SERMON will expand on the statement, “If Christ be not risen” from I Corinthians 15:12-20.

In His Amazing Grace,

PS: In order to access the Weekly SERMON, please click the link to Weekly Sermon Library, where you will be able to choose: Plain Text (TXT), Microsoft Word document (DOC), Rich Text (RTF), Web Page (HTML) or PDF (Portable Document Format), any of the format(s) you desire. After you decide on the appropriate format(s) you may then print a copy of the Weekly SERMON, save it to a file on your computer, or download it and save it to a disk for future use. Your use of this material is meant to be flexible.

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Easter – If Christ Be Not Risen

Pastor David Miklas — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 17:41:03 +0000

Sunday March 28, 2010	Phone: 570.829.5216
Pastor David Miklas	e-mail pdmikBBM@aol.com
Message Easter 2010	Text: I Corinthians 15:12-20

"If Christ Be Not Risen"

Introduction: From I Corinthians 15:3-4, the Apostle Paul gives these immortal words "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel…For I deliver unto you first of all that which I also received, that Christ DIED for our sins according to the scripture; And that he was BURIED, and that he ROSE again the third day. This Easter Sunday morning, as well as every Sunday morning, is the anniversary of the fulfillment of these words, when Jesus bodily arose from the dead.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is by far the unique hallmark of our Christian faith. It is said that the resurrection of Christ from the dead is mentioned at least 104 times in the 260 chapters of the New Testament. Thus, its denial threatens the very foundations of our Fundamental faith.

By the resurrection of Jesus Christ, I do not mean that Jesus went into some kind of "Faint" in the tomb and came forth after He revived a few hours later.

By the resurrection of Jesus Christ, I do not mean that His disciples came and revived His teaching and began to spread it over the earth.

By the resurrection of Jesus Christ, I do not mean that the Spirit of Jesus came forth and permeated the earth in some mysterious way.

The resurrection literally means "standing up again." When we speak of the resurrection we mean that Jesus Christ literally, physically, visibly, bodily rose from the grave after the third day, in the same body that hung on the cross and that was laid in the tomb.

We believe that He CAME FORTH from the grave.

We believe that He WALKED upon the earth for forty days.

We believe that He ASCENDED into heaven.

My friends, one reason we know that He is literally coming back is that He arose from the grave literally. Those two angels that day in Acts 1:11 said, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into Heaven? For this same Jesus, shall come again in like manner even as He went away." In that He rose from the grave bodily, in that He ascended bodily into Glory, I say to you that He is coming back again literally, physically, visibly and bodily.

Hold it! I wonder if you have thought through the terrible alternative? WHAT IF CHRIST HAD NOT RISEN FROM THE DEAD? That awful alternative is presented to us in I Corinthians 15:12-20 where we read,

“Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? (13) But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: (14) And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. (15) Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. (16) For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: (17) And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. (18) Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. (19) If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. (20) But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.”

Again in verse 13 we read, "But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen."

First: "IF Christ be not risen, "THEN" the resurrection of Jesus Christ would be a fallacy, verses 13, 16.

If there had been no resurrection, the redemptive work of Jesus would have been proven to be a fallacy. For the Bible says in Romans 4:25, Jesus "…was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification." If Jesus didn't arise on the third day, how then could I believe that he died for my sins? The two go together. His resurrection is God's "AMEN" to His death on the cross.

If Jesus didn't arise on the third day, He is the world's greatest impostor. All of His words become meaningless and fraudulent. While He was alive, Jesus said in Matthew 12:40, "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." Did he mean that? Is that true? "But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen."

A philosopher once said, "You Christians live on the fragrance of an empty tomb" and so we do. Oh thank God it is not "If Christ be risen” but according to verse 20, "But now is Christ risen from the dead."

Second: "IF Christ be not risen, "THEN" our preaching is vain, verse 14. The word vain means empty, void of reality.

If Christ is still in the tomb then all Gospel preaching is nothing more than a pathetic fiasco.

If Christ is not risen then all the preaching of all the ages from Noah till this hour is age-long famine with no spiritual food.

If Christ is still in His shroud then guilty are all the preachers, poets, pastors, evangelists and hymn-writers whose preaching is no more than the monotonous tom-tom at a madding barbaric dance in the jungle.

If Christ is not resurrected, vain is all preaching, empty and void.

Vain is all the preaching that has pointed men to Christ.

Empty is all the preaching that has lead men from sin's path.

Void is all the preaching that has comforted men in time of need.

Stop and think for a moment of the last words of Christ in Mark 16:15, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." If there is no resurrection from the dead, of the Lord Jesus Christ, of what value are those words?

Stop and think for a moment of the words of the apostle Paul in I Corinthians 1:18 "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." If there is no resurrection from the dead, of the Lord Jesus Christ, then of what value is that statement to preach?

Praise God, it’s not "If Christ be not raised,' but "Now is Christ risen from the dead." We do have:

a message of HOPE, a message of LOVE, a message of FAITH, and a message of LIFE.

Because of the resurrection, we have a message. God said it. Jesus accomplished it. The Bible records it. I believe it. That settles it. AMEN!

Third: "IF Christ be not risen, "THEN" your faith is also vain, verse 14. If there is no resurrection, then there is nothing to believe in. "Vain," in this instance, means absolute meaningless. Think about that fact and apply this to your soul:

If Christ be not risen, your faith becomes an empty dream.

If Christ be not risen, your faith is a foundation laid in fiction.

If Christ be not risen, your faith has nothing about it of eternal reality.

If Christ be not risen, you walk with aimless feet, without God to guide you, with no rod and staff to comfort you.

Moreover, go back to the book of Hebrews chapter 11 on Faith, "If Christ be not risen,"

Then Abel's offering of a more excellent sacrifice is all a myth.

Then Enoch was not translated that he should not see death.

Then Noah’s efforts to prepare the ark was just in vain.

Then Abraham was a fool when "he went out knowing not where he went."

Then Moses chose foolishly when he chose "rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season…"

Stop and think about this,

The Bible tells us in Ephesians 2:8 we have to have faith to be saved "For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves…"

The Bible tells us in Matthew 9:29, we have to have faith to pray, "According to your faith be it unto you."

The Bible tells us, we have to have faith to please God. In Hebrews 11:6 we read, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him."

It takes faith to be saved. It takes faith to get answers to our prayers. It takes faith to please God. Paul says, "If there is no resurrection of the dead, your faith is all in vain." But thank God for verse 20 "But now is Christ raised from the dead." Thank God our faith is alive and we have something to hang on to.

Fourth: "IF Christ be not risen, "THEN" we are giving false witness of God, verse 15. If there be no resurrection of the dead, all Christians are giving false witness, not mistaken witness but false witness.

Think what that would mean to the Apostle Paul who said in verse 8, "And last of all he was seen of me also…" He declared, "I saw Him alive." He spoke to me on the Damascus road. Paul said "I saw Him, I heard Him." Paul was used of God to write 14 books of the New Testament. If he didn't see Jesus, then Paul was a false witness and more than half of the New Testament is immediately gone.

Just think what that would mean to the Apostle John on the Isle of Patmos who heard Jesus say Revelation 1:8, "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and , behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen…"

Just think what that would mean to the Apostle Peter who said in I Peter 1:3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…which hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

Just think what that would mean to Stephen, the first martyr of the church, in Acts 7:55-56 as he was being stoned to death, looking up into heaven he saw, "the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God…"

Paul said "I saw Him."

John said, "I saw Him."

Peter said, "I saw Him."

Stephen said, "I saw Him."

Now, if there is no resurrection…all these gave false witness. If there is no resurrection of the dead, then all of us are false witnesses in the sight of man.

However, since that June day in 1950, I believed, and I KNOW with all my soul THAT MY REDEEMER LIVETH, and because He lives, I too shall live forever. AMEN!

Fifth: "IF Christ be not risen, "THEN" you are yet in your sins, verse 17. What a bleak assumption this is. "IF Christ be not risen, "THEN…"

In Isaiah 55:7 we read, "Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." What a lie, "If Christ be not risen."

In John 6:37 we read, "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." What a lie, "If Christ be not risen."

Here in I Corinthians we read that if Jesus did not rise from the dead, you and I are still in our sins. But praise God we read in Romans 10:9, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart THAT GOD HATH RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, thou shalt be saved."

Thank God for the resurrection of Christ. "Now is Christ risen from the dead." We, who by faith have believed, are no longer in our sins and under the penalty of those sins.

Sixth: "IF Christ be not risen, "THEN." your loved ones are perished, verse 18-19. If there is no resurrection, forget about your loved ones who preceded you to glory.

Forget about your precious husband or dad who loved the Lord.

Forget about your sweet wife or mother who read her Bible and prayed with you.

Forget about the sweet little child who one day was plucked from your home. If there is no resurrection, you will never see that one again.

If there be no resurrection for all the millions who have marched on toward eternity, all have perished. There is no beauty in their death, no light of hope, no prophecy of heaven.

"If Christ be not risen," there is no corruption putting on incorruption.

"If Christ be not risen," there is no mortal putting on immortality.

"If Christ be not risen," there is no natural body raised a spiritual body.

"If Christ be not risen," there is no body planted in dishonor, raised in glory.

"If Christ be not risen," death is never swallowed up in victory.

"If Christ be not risen" Then, as verse 19 says, we are of all men most miserable. Thank God, because Jesus arose our loved ones have not perished. I thank God for the sweet and wonderful hope of a reunion in Glory with all those who have died with faith in Christ. Because He lives, someday the trumpet shall sound and the dead in Christ shall rise. We which are alive and remain, at His coming again, together we will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and SO SHALL WE EVER BE WITH THE LORD." Amen!

"But now is Christ raised from the dead and become the first fruits of them that sleep", verse 20. Now Christ is raised from the dead.

And because He lives I Corinthian 15:51-57 gives us this powerful assurance,

“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (54) So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (55) O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (56) The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. (57) But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Because HE LIVES, I CAN face tomorrow

Because HE LIVES ALL fear is gone

Because I know He HOLDS the future

And life is worth the living BECAUSE HE LIVES.

"But now is Christ risen from the dead."

Historical facts are AGAINST His being yet dead.

Spiritual experience is AGAINST His being yet in the grave.

Regenerated lives are AGAINST His being yet wrapped in a shroud.

The testimony of the saints is AGAINST His being yet in the tomb.

The instincts of immortality in our souls are AGAINST His being yet in Death's dreary dominion.

One day a man stood looking at a large painting on display in a store window, a painting of Jesus on the cross with the soldiers standing by. A little lad, who attended Sunday School and had learned something about the crucifixion, stood behind the man.

After a few moments the boy said, "Mister, Mister, that's Jesus on the cross."

The man didn't say a word but keep staring at the picture. In a minute the boy said, "Mister, Mister, them soldiers there, they killed Him!

The man still didn't say anything, he just kept looking at the picture. The boy spoke again, "Mister, Mister, them disciples there, they buried Him.

Without a word the man walked away. When he was nearly a block down the street, the little lad ran as fast as he could to catch him. Again the lad said, "Mister, Mister, I forgot to tell you, He came out of the grave on the third day!"

My dear friends that is what Easter is all about!

It is not a day of cute little bunnies and Easter candy and Easter eggs.

It's not a day to dress up in a new Spring outfit and parade into church saying, it's nice we are all here on Easter Sunday.

My friends every Sunday morning is a commemoration to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, a reminder of our guarantee that because HE came out of the grave alive, so shall we one day.

As we read again verse 20, "But now is Christ risen from the dead." we realize that

Our preaching is NOT in vain! It is infused with the very life of the risen Lord.

Our faith is NOT in vain! It gives us vital connections with the living Lord.

As believers, we are NOT in our sins. We are emancipated children of grace.

They who have fallen asleep in Christ have NOT perished, rather they have opened their eyes in the Saviour's presence.

Since these things are true, then if you truly know the reality of the resurrection because of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, today you can sing:

I serve a risen Saviour, He's in the world today

I know that He is living, WHATEVER MEN MAY SAY;

I see His HAND of mercy, I hear His VOICE of cheer

And just the time I need Him, he's always near.

Rejoice, Rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing,

Eternal Hallelujah to Jesus Christ the King.

The HOPE of all who seek Him, the HELP of all who find,

No other is so loving, so good and kind.

Unto Martha at the grave of Lazarus Jesus said in John 11:25-26, "I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believeth thou this?"

Unto us Paul wrote in Romans 10:9, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, thou shalt be saved."

**********************************************************************

If God has spoken to your heart after reading the sermon "If Christ Be Not Risen" then right now talk to God about what He has spoken to you.

Acts 16:31, “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…”

Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

In His Amazing Grace,

PS: In order to access the Weekly SERMON, please click the link to Weekly Sermon Library, where you will be able to choose: Plain Text (TXT), Microsoft Word document (DOC), Microsoft Word 2007 document (DOCX), Rich Text (RTF), Web Page (HTML) or PDF (Portable Document Format), any of the format(s) you desire. After you decide on the appropriate format(s) you may then print a copy of the Weekly SERMON, save it to a file on your computer, or download it and save it to a disk for future use. Your use of this material is meant to be flexible.

http://BibleBaptistMinistry.org/…/MMX13/

Words of CONTENTMENT, “Father, into thy hands, I commend my spirit.”

Pastor David Miklas — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:40:33 +0000

Sunday March 21, 2010	Phone: 570.829.5216
Pastor David Miklas	e-mail pdmikBBM@aol.com
Message #7 Seven Words of Christ at Calvary	Text: Luke 23:46

“Father, Into Thy Hands I Commend My Spirit”

Introduction: What do you picture in your mind when you think of the cross?

Some think of it as just a mere ornament to be worn as a piece of jewelry around a woman’s neck or as a pin to be worn on a coat or dress. To others it is only an architectural ornament to adorn the steeples of cathedrals and churches.

But the cross of Jesus was not an ornament of beauty. Rather it was a curse, the emblem of suffering and shame. Paul expressed it in Galatians 3:13, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:” The hymn writer also expressed it when he wrote,

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, The emblem of suffering and shame;

And I love that old cross where the dearest and best For a world of lost sinners was slain.

In the Old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine, A wondrous beauty I see;

For 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died To pardon and sanctify me.

No wonder the Apostle Paul wrote in I Corinthians 2:2, "For I determined not to know anything among you save Christ and Him crucified." Everything about Calvary was significant, but this was especially true regarding the statements of our Lord as He hung on the cross.

These SEVEN statements were made by Christ at Calvary between 9:00 AM in the morning and 3:00 PM in the afternoon.

These SEVEN statements become a marvelous demonstration of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. They help us in a very real sense to understand the purpose and heart of the crucifixion.

The number SEVEN is associated with COMPLETENESS OR PERFECTION. Herein is a comparison between the creation story and the account of Jesus on the cross.

When the work of creation was completed we read in Genesis 1:31-2:1, “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.” Likewise Jesus having completed the sacrifice for our sins on the cross, he spoke in a triumphant declaration, "It is finished."

After God completed the work of creation in Genesis 2:2-3 we read that He rested, “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. (3) And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” Just as the seventh day was the day of rest and satisfaction, so the seventh statement of our Saviour brings Him to the place of rest, the Father's hands.

Now in this service we will dwell on the Lord’s seventh and final statement at Calvary, the words of CONTENTMENT, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit." Please follow in your Bible as I read the context in which these words are found in Luke 23:39-49.

“And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. (40) But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? (41) And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. (42) And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. (43) And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (44) And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. (45) And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. (46) And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. (47) Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. (48) And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. (49) And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.”

SEVEN times the dying Saviour spoke from the cross at Golgotha.

Four of His statements were addressed to others.

To one of the thieves He promised, "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise."

To His mother and to the beloved disciple John He said, "Woman behold thy Son; Behold thy mother."

To the on-looking spectators He cried, “I thirst.”

Then, within the hearing of God, men, angels and the devil, He cried in triumph, "It is finished."

Three of His statements were addressed to God the Father.

To the Father, in His first statement, He prayed for the forgiveness of His accusers, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."

To God, in His fourth statement He uttered this mournful plaint, "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

To the Father, at last in His seventh statement He says, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit."

SEVEN times the Lord spoke and in each of these SEVEN statements a prophecy was fulfilled.

First He cried, "Father, forgiven them; for they know not what they do." This was a fulfillment of Isaiah 53:12, in which Christ is "made intercession for the transgressors."

Second, He promised the thief, "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." This was the fulfillment of the purpose for His coming as the angel said to Joseph in Matthew 1:21, "thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins."

Third, to His mother He said, "Woman behold thy Son; Behold thy mother." This fulfilled the prophecy of Simeon in Luke 2:35, where he said to Mary on the day she and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple for dedication, "A sword shall pierce through thy own soul also."

Fourth, He had said, "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" These were the identical words from Psalm 22:1, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?”

Fifth, He exclaimed, "I Thirst." This was a fulfillment of Psalm 69:21, "In my thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink."

Sixth, He shouted in triumph "It is finished." These were almost the very words which complete the graphic picture of Christ’s death by crucifixion which Psalm 22:31 concludes with the words: “They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that He hath done this."

Seventh, He prayed, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit." This was nearly a repetition of Psalm 31:5 in which Christ states: "Into Thy hand I commit My Spirit: Thou hast redeemed Me, O Lord God of truth."

Make no mistake about this: Jesus was not murdered, nor did He die of exhaustion. He did not die involuntarily. He died because He deliberately chose to die, for in John 10:17-18 He, Himself said, “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. (18) 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. This commandment have I received of my Father.” It is the Lord of life who gave up His life. And in doing so he utters the words of this Jewish prayer found in Psalm 31 releasing His spirit as He breathes His last breath.

It is worth observing how Jesus quoted from this familiar psalm. He added something at the beginning of His statement, and He omitted something at the close. Again in Psalm 31:5 we read, "Into Thy hand I commit My Spirit: Thou hast redeemed Me, O Lord God of truth." From the cross Jesus said, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit." Now notice:

At the beginning He added, “Father.” This does not appear in David’s psalm. The verbal intimacy of the word “Father” was highlighted by the fact that, shortly before this, He groaned with enormous passion, "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" However, at this point the penalty for our sin had been paid, therefore the desperate loneliness He felt brought on by our holy God’s abandonment was over forever. God had once again faced his Son. Hence the use of the word “Father” was now appropriate.

The other change Jesus made was the omission of the second half of David’s psalm, “…thou has redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.” The reason for this omission is clear when we remember who is quoting the psalm. Jesus, the spotless Lamb, the sinless and sacrificial substitute had no need to be ransomed.

O the wonders of the Cross! From this last statement at the cross, let us observe THREE truths from our Lord's words, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit."

First: We see the Saviour again in communion with the Father. This is exceedingly precious. On the cross, Jesus was still in communion with the Father, as we hear in His first statement while on the cross, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Now His last statement on the cross was, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit."

Between those two statements Jesus hung on the cross for six hours suffering not only at the hands of men and Satan but also of God. During those last three hours, God had withdrawn from the Saviour, evoking that terrible cry, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" Now, "It is finished." The cup which God had given to Jesus to drink was drained. The storm of wrath had been spent. The darkness was past and the Saviour was again in communion with the Father.

“Father,” how often this word was upon the Saviour's lips!

His first recorded words came at the age of 12 in the temple where Jesus said to Mary and Joseph in Luke 2:49, "…I must be about My FATHER'S business."

In what was probably His most formal discourse, the "Sermon on the Mount" in Matthew 5-7, He speaks of the "FATHER" seventeen times.

While in His final discourse to the disciples found in John 14-16, He speaks of the "FATHER" forty-five times.

In John 17, which contains the Lord's High Priestly prayer, He spoke of the "FATHER" six times.

And now the last time He speaks before He lays down His life He says again, "Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit."

How blessed is it that “HIS FATHER” is “OUR FATHER WHICH ART IN HEAVEN”? Ours, all because of His work of Calvary.

How precious to know having believed by faith, we are the "sons of God." John 1:12

How precious to be able to call God, “Abba” or Daddy Father. Romans 8:15

How precious to say, “Our Father which art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.” Matthew 6:9

What a comfort and assurance does the word “FATHER” contain as we walk in LIFE.

Since God is my Father, then He loves me, as He loves Christ.

Since God is my Father and loves me, then He careth for me.

Since God is my Father and careth for me, then He will supply all my need.

Since God is my Father, then He will see to it that no harm shall come to me, and all things will work together for my good.

What a blessed truth to know God the Father, not only in LIFE, but also in the hour of DEATH. Since this is true, then why should we as believers fear death?

Remember what David said to us in that Great Shepherd Psalm 23 verse 4 "Yea, though I walk though the valley of the shadow of DEATH, I will fear NO EVIL: FOR THOU ART WITH ME."

Remember what Paul reminded us of in I Corinthians 15:54-55, "…then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, DEATH is swallowed up in victory. O DEATH, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"

However, what a sad state for those dying without faith in Christ to realize in Hebrews 10:31, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Falling not into the hands of a loving God, but rather into the hands of a God of justice and wrath. On the other hand, what a joy to be able to read a verse like I John 3:1 and know this verse is for those of us who know Christ by faith. "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God." And at death be able to say, "Father, into Thy hands I commend My Spirit."

Second: We have the “Father's hands” as the place of eternal security. During His 33 years on earth, the life of Jesus was, in a sense, in the hands of other human beings.

His mother held Him as a baby.

In the temple when Jesus was 8 days old, aging Simeon took Him in his arms and blessed Him.

And, as we have seen repeatedly, those who put Him on trial scourged, mocked, and crucified Him. They did so, as Peter later said in Acts 2:23, “…by wicked hands.”

Now at long last, He would be back in the “Father’s” hands. Interestingly, when Luke records Jesus’ final words, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit”, the Greek word for “commend” meant “to place beside.” It conveyed a secure sense of trust as in “I entrust my Spirit.”

This is a blessed truth, the ground of the believer’s assurance, the foundation of the believer’s eternal security. As Jesus expressed it in John 10:28-29, "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. MY FATHER, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of MY FATHER'S hand." Thank God, all those who are born again through faith in the finished work of Christ are ETERNALLY SAFE IN THE FATHER'S HANDS.

I know not why God's wondrous grace To me He hath made known,

Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love Redeemed me for His own.

I know not how this saving faith To me He did impart,

Nor how believing in His Word Wrought peace within my heart.

I know not how the Spirit moves, Convincing men of sin,

Revealing Jesus through the Word, Creating faith in Him.

But “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able

To keep that which I've committed Unto Him against that day.”

Third: We see the absolute uniqueness of the Saviour. Make no mistake about this. Jesus was not murdered, nor did He die of exhaustion. The Lord Jesus died as none other ever did. His life was not taken from Him; He laid it down of Himself. Again this was His claim from John 10:17-18, "Therefore doth My Father love me, because 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."

Now the most convincing evidence of this comes from our Lord's seventh statement while on the cross, "Father, into thy hands I COMMEND MY SPIRIT." Here the Holy Spirit, in describing the actual laying down of His life, employed two different expressions.

Number 1: In Matthew 27:45-49 we read, “Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. (46) And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (47) Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. (48) And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. (49) The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.” Now in verse 50 we read, "And Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice yielded up His spirit." Notice the words, "YIELDED UP HIS SPIRIT." The idea here is that of "dismissing His spirit." Since Matthew is the gospel of the King, this is our Lord's act of authority, as of a king dismissing a servant.

Number 2: In Mark 15:34-37 we read, “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (35) And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias. (36) And one ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down. (37) And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.” Again notice verse 37, "And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and GAVE UP THE SPIRIT." Now go with me to Luke 23:46 and notice the last part of the verse after Jesus said, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. And having said this, he GAVE UP THE SPIRIT." Both Mark and Luke use the same words. Then in John 19:30 we read, "He bowed His head and gave up the spirit." The expression "GAVE UP THE SPIRIT" simply says Jesus "breathed out His spirit." This was His passive endurance of death.

No one else died as Jesus died. In "laying down" His life, His death was different from all others. He decided to do it by an act of His own will. Who but the perfect Son of God could have said, as He finished the work of our so great salvation, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit."

In the past seven messages on the “Seven Words of Christ at Calvary,” I have made this remark: “These SEVEN statements become a marvelous demonstration of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. They help us in a very real sense to understand the purpose and heart of the crucifixion.” Now as we come to the end of this message and to the end of this short series, what should all this cause you to do?

First: If you are without the hope of Heaven, without the hope of eternal life, this should cause you to receive Jesus as your Saviour. The Bible tells us in,

In John 3:36, “He that BELIEVETH on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that BELIEVETH not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

In John 1:12, “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that BELIEVE on His name."

In John 5:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and BELIEVETH on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

In Acts 16:31, “And they said, BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…”

Second: As believers this should cause us to lift up the Saviour more. In John 12:32 Jesus said, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto myself." There is nothing else that draws a crowd like the uplifted Christ. Other things may draw crowds but nothing really draws and holds men and women who really mean business for Jesus, like the preaching of the cross. For Paul declared to us in I Corinthians 1:18, "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us who are saved, it is the power of God." Then in Romans 1:16 he said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

Third: This should cause us to serve Jesus more than ever before, for we read in Romans 12:1, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, WHICH IS YOUR REASONABLE SERVICE." Francis Havergale wrote in her hymn:

I gave My life for thee;

My precious blood I shed,

That thou might ransomed be,

And quickened from the dead.

I gave, I gave My life for thee.

WHAT HAST THOU GIVEN FOR ME?

I suffered much for thee,

More than thy tongue can tell,

Of bitt’rest agony,

To rescue thee from hell.

I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee.

WHAT HAST THOU BORNE FOR ME?

Fourth: The past seven messages should cause us to understand the Love of God more than ever before. In Romans 5:8 we read, "But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Praise God!

"Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so."

Oh, the LOVE that drew salvation plan!

Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!

Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary.

The Bible is a love story. Every page in the Bible is just one more page of God's love letter to us. For God SO Loved. Weigh that LOVE and measure it by the sorrows and the pains of Jesus on the cross. Measure it as Jesus hung there on that old rugged cross, tasting death for every man. There is NO GREATER LOVE than that of the love of God in Christ Jesus. In I John 3:16 we read, "Hereby know we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us."

Stop for a moment and consider this. Maybe I am speaking to someone who once embraced the love of God. You know what it was like when you were first saved, Oh how happy you were, what a honeymoon you had with Jesus.

The love of God was radiant in your heart.

You loved Him. You walked with Him. You talked with Him.

Every day of life was like a new beginning in Christ.

Every day of life seemed like the sun shined brighter than the day before because of the Saviour living in your heart.

The Bible was so wonderful you couldn't get enough reading, studying or meditating upon it.

You could not wait for church services to begin, because they were like a breath of fresh air to your soul.

How wonderful all this was to you. You were saved, you were justified in Christ. You felt new, and clean, and you knew you had eternity in your soul. But perhaps now, you have drifted. Perhaps in this service the dear Lord is looking down from Heaven and is saying to you, “I want you to LOVE me again.” Wouldn't it be a good thing in this hour to once again FALL IN LOVE WITH JESUS and be able to sing?

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine.

For Thee all the follies of sin I resign.

My gracious Redeemer, My Saviour art Thou.

If ever I loved Thee, My Jesus, 'tis now.

*******************************************************************

If God has spoken to your heart after reading the sermon on the “Seventh Words of Christ at Calvary,” “Father, Into Thy Hands I Commend My Spirit” then right now talk to God about what He has spoken to you.

Acts 16:31, “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…”

Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

If you made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, would you please let me know? Please send me an e-mail to pdmikBBM@aol.com. and in return I will send you some literature that will help you in your Christian life.

In His Amazing Grace,

http://BibleBaptistMinistry.org/…/MMX12/

Paid in Full

Pastor David Miklas — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:18:20 +0000

Volume No. 2010 Issue No. 09 Date: March 7, 2010

Publication of the BIBLE BAPTIST MINISTRY, 48 Alexie Rd, Hanover Township, PA 18706

Phone: 570.829.5216 pdmikBBM@aol.com pastormiklas@aol.com

This week in our Weekly SERMON of the “Seven Words of Christ at Calvary,” we come to the sixth statement, the words of VICTORY, "It is finished.” These words come from John 19:30, “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished; and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” The purpose for which our Lord came into the world, “to seek and to save that which was lost,” reached its climax when He bowed His head on the cross and gave up His spirit. In the original language of the text, the apostle John recorded Jesus’ expression in those final moments with the Greek word “Tetelestai” which is translated “It is finished.” Here in John 19, please notice the word "accomplish" in verse 28 and the words, "It is finished" in verse 30. Both words come from the same Greek word "TETELESTAI"

In Matthew 11:1 the word is translated "When Jesus MADE AN END of commanding His disciples."

In Matthew 17:24 the word is translated "…Doth not the Master PAY tribute?."

In Luke 2:39 the word is rendered "And when they had PERFORMED all things…"

In Luke 18:31 the word is translated, "All things that are written…concerning the Son shall be ACCOMPLISHED."

By including all four of these translations when Jesus cried, "TETELESTAI," on the cross He was actually saying, "It is made an end of," "It is paid," "It is performed:" "It is accomplished." Perhaps the phrase in John 19:30 could be rendered, "IT STANDS FINISHED FOREVER." Another way of saying this would be, "THE DEBT OF SIN IS PAID, IN FULL, FOREVER." Our Lord viewed His work on Calvary as a FOREVER, FINISHED WORK.

The story is told of a young man who came forward in a Gospel meeting, earnestly asking, “What can I do to be saved?” Knowing the man thought he had to accomplish something by his own efforts to gain redemption, the Christian worker responded to the anxious inquirer, “You’re too late!” “Oh, don’t say that,” exclaimed the distressed seeker, “I really want salvation; I’d do anything or go anywhere to obtain it.” “I’m sorry,” replied the other, “you’re too late for that. Your salvation was completed many hundreds of years ago at Calvary. IT’S A FINISHED WORK! All you have to do is simply receive Christ. Then the blessed gift He offers will become yours through HIS MERITS.” Realizing his great debt was paid, the seeking soul found peace by looking to the Savior and resting his all upon the grace of God. Someone wrote, “Believing Christ died, that is HISTORY; believing Christ died for me, that is SALVATION!”

One to the most blessed hymns of our faith, sung throughout the year and especially in the weeks leading up to Easter, is “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.” While preparing for a communion service in 1707, Isaac Watts wrote this deeply moving and very personal expression of gratitude for the amazing love that the death of Christ on the cross revealed. As you meditate upon this hymn, consider saying with Isaac Watts: “my soul, my life, my ALL!”

When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, save in the death of Christ, my God;

All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood.

See, from His head, He hands, His feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down;

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small;

Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.

May again your heart be enraptured at the cross of Calvary, where our eternal redemption was forever paid by the Lord Jesus Christ. Again I trust over these weeks leading up to the RESURRECTION, you will slow down and ponder our so great salvation, at the cross of Christ.

In His Amazing Grace,

PS: All the Weekly SERMONS in this series on the “Seven Words of Christ at Calvary” will be a part of the next book of sermons on the Journey to Calvary to be ready by the end of 2010. Each sermon will have five added features along with church and student outlines and power point suggestions.

PPS: In order to access the Weekly SERMON, please click the link to Weekly Sermon Library, where you will be able to choose: Plain Text (TXT), Microsoft Word document (DOC), Rich Text (RTF), Web Page (HTML) or PDF (Portable Document Format), any of the format(s) you desire. After you decide on the appropriate format(s) you may then print a copy of the Weekly SERMON, save it to a file on your computer, or download it and save it to a disk for future use. Your use of this material is meant to be flexible.

http://BibleBaptistMinistry.org/../MMX10/

Words of VICTORY “It is finished”

Pastor David Miklas — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 17:16:09 +0000

Sunday March 7, 2010	Phone: 570.829.5216
Pastor David Miklas	e-mail pdmikBBM@aol.com
Message #6 Seven Words of Christ at Calvary	Text:John 19:30

"It is Finished"

Introduction: There was a day when Jesus made a Triumphal entry into Jerusalem. On this day called Palm Sunday, the crowds cried, "Hosanna blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord." Yet several days later, the scene changed and this same crowd cried out "Crucify Him, Crucify Him!" The Apostle Paul expressed it in I Corinthians 1:18 where we read "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God." And since the message of the preaching of the cross has the power to save us, we can sing:

King of my life, I crown thee now, thine shalt the glory be.

Lest I forget thy thorn crowned brow, lead me to Calvary.

Lest I forget Gethsemane, Lest I forget thine agony,

Lest I forget thy love for me, lead me to Calvary.

Return with me to the place we call Calvary, into which all the rivers of history empty. Again let us look at the cross on which Jesus, in the flesh, took upon Himself the SINS of the WHOLE WORLD, stood guilty and condemned before God and willingly paid the penalty for the sins of the entire world.

It was at Calvary where Jesus made SEVEN statements from 9:00 AM in the morning to 3:00 PM in the afternoon. SEVEN great statements were proclaimed by our Lord from the cross. These SEVEN statements become a marvelous demonstration of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Three of these statements came during the first three hours of the crucifixion while the last four came at the end of the crucifixion.

First: the words of FORGIVENESS, "Father forgive them; for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34

Second: the words of SALVATION, "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." Luke 23:43

Third: the words of AFFECTION, "Woman behold thy Son; Behold thy mother." John 19:26-27

After His third utterance from the cross there was silence. From the sixth hour, or noon time, until the ninth hour, which would have been at 3:00 PM in the afternoon, the sky was darkened. It was during this time that our Lord wrestled with all the forces of evil, the devil, and experienced an eternity in Hell. Beyond that, He experienced the rejection of His Father as He was bearing in His own body all the sins of all the world – past, present, and future. In I Peter 2:24 we read, "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." Thus we have:

Fourth: the words of ANGUISH, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Matthew 27:46 and

Fifth: the words of SUFFERING, "I Thirst" John 19:28.

In this message, we come to the sixth statement of Jesus on the cross. The Gospel of John is the only one to record this sixth cry, "It is finished." Please follow me as we read John chapter 19 verses 25-30,

“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. (26) When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! (27) Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. (28) After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. (29) Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. (30) When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

Again notice verse 30, “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished…”

In the first book of the Bible, after God had completed the work of creation in Genesis 2:1 we read, "Thus the heavens and the earth were FINISHED, and all the host of them." Essentially, God on the sixth day declared, "It is finished."

In the last book of the Bible we read of the final cry, coming out of the temple in heaven when the final judgment of God is poured upon the earth in Revelation 16:17, "And there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne saying, It is done.” Essentially he said “It is finished.”

Two thousand years ago came one of the greatest statements ever spoken by the Lord, "It is finished." Please notice Jesus did not say "I am finished." He said, "It is finished." I'm sure some who stood by the cross thought he meant, "I am finished, this is the end of me." But let’s be sure that we understand Jesus’ sixth statement on the cross:

It was not the despairing cry of a helpless martyr.

It was not the last gasp of a worn-out idol, or a cry of anguish.

This was the cry of the Triumphant Redeemer; it was a declaration of victory. He had reached the goal and was able to say, “It is finished. Mission accomplished.” Now as we read through the Gospel of John, we pick up a thread of that goal, time and time again:

In John 4:34, “Jesus said unto them, My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to FINISH His work.”

In John 5:36 Jesus said, “But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to FINISH…”

In John 17:4 Jesus prayed, “I have glorified thee on the earth; I have FINISHED the work which thou gavest me to do.”

In Hebrews 10:4-7 we read, “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. (5) Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: (6) In burnt-offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. (7) Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy will, O God.” Make no mistake about it. The coming of Jesus to this planet was no random afterthought on God’s part. Jesus’ mission was clear: to do the Father’s will, nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else.

Here in John 19, please notice the word "accomplish" in verse 28 and the words, "It is finished" in verse 30. Both words come from the same Greek word "TETELESTAI."

In Matthew 11:1 the word is translated "When Jesus MADE AN END OF commanding His twelve disciples…"

In Matthew 17:24 the word is translated "…Doth not the master PAY tribute?"

In Luke 2:39 the word is rendered "And when they had PERFORMED all things…"

In Luke 18:31 the word is translated, "All things that are written…concerning the Son shall be ACCOMPLISHED."

By including all four of these translations in which Jesus cried, "TETELESTAI," on the cross, Jesus was saying, "It is made an end of," "It is paid," "It is performed," "It is accomplished." Now the questions are:

What was "MADE AN END OF?" It was our sins, the sins of the whole world – past, present, and future.

What was "PAID?" It was the price of our redemption.

What was "PERFORMED?" This was the utmost requirement of the law.

What was "ACCOMPLISHED?" It was the work which God the Father had given God the Son to do.

Perhaps the phrase in John 19:30 could be rendered, "IT STANDS FINISHED FOREVER." Another way of saying it would be, "THE DEBT OF SIN IS PAID, IN FULL, FOREVER." Our Lord viewed His work on Calvary as a FOREVER, FINISHED WORK.

Nothing could be added to it.

Nothing could be taken away from it.

When Jesus was hanging on the cross and said, “It is finished,” He meant He had completed the will of God for His earthly sojourn. From this sixth statement, there are many truths to help us better understand the Lord's cry "It is finished." But in this message, we will look at THREE truths.

First: The Completion of Christ's suffering was finished.

In Hebrews 12:2 we read that Jesus, "for the joy that was set before Him ENDURED the cross, despising the SHAME, and was set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

In Luke 24: 46 we read, "… thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to SUFFER …"

Peter, who we believe was an eyewitness to the crucifixion, wrote in I Peter 2:21, "For even hereunto were ye called because Christ also SUFFERED for us…" And in I Peter 3:18 he said, "For Christ also hath once SUFFERED for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh, but quickened (made alive) in the Spirit."

I wish I had the vocabulary and the ability to paint for you an adequate picture of the suffering of Christ. If an adequate picture could be painted of how much Christ suffered in order for us to be saved, I do not think that one sinner would stay away from the Savior a moment longer. When Jesus shouted from the cross, "It is finished," we now understand that His suffering was finished.

No more the shameful traitor's kiss.

No more the mockery in Pilate's court.

No more the false trials before the Sanhedrin.

No more the blindfolding, the plucking out of His beard, the spittle in His face.

No more the crown of thorns and the borrowed purple and scarlet robe.

No more the walking the Via Dolorosa, the way of sorrows, to the place called Calvary.

No more the sharp pain of the spikes through His hands and through His feet.

No more the cursing of the thieves, the railing of the Priests, and the mockery of the crowd.

No more the three hours of darkness during which He was hidden from His Father.

No more the awful thirst, and the taste of bitter gall, and the sting of vinegar.

No more suffering! "It is finished!"

Man and Satan had tried to do their worst.

The cup had been drained.

The awful storm of God's wrath had been spent.

The darkness and the separation from the Father had ended.

The sword of Divine justice had been sheathed.

The wages of sin had been paid.

The cross had been endured.

Divine holiness had been satisfied.

"It is finished." Hallelujah, what a Savior! The famous hymn writer who was blind, Fanny Crosby, wrote:

Jesus keep me near the cross, There a precious fountain

Free to all a healing stream, Flows from Calvary's mountain.

Near the Cross! Oh Lamb of God, bring it's scenes before me;

Help me walk from day to day, With its shadows o’er me.

In the Cross, In the Cross, Be my Glory ever…

Second: The ceremonial sacrifice of Israel and the priesthood were finished. From the book of Hebrews Chapter 10 verses 11-18 we read,

“And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: (12) But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; (13) From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. (14) For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (15) Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, (16) This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; (17) And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (18) Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.”

When Jesus died, there was no more use for priestly ceremonies and animal sacrifices. Christ the High Priest has Himself become our mediator. Christ, the Lamb of God, Himself, paid for our sins.

I wish I had the time to discuss in detail the three phenomenon that took place on the day Jesus was crucified. They show that the Jewish priesthood, their ceremonies and sacrifices had ended. Nevertheless here they are in summary.

First: During the Lord's second mock trial, before the High Priest Caiaphas, in Mark 15:61-63 we discover that:

The High Priest Caiaphas asked Jesus, “Art thou, the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? In response, Jesus answered, “I am.”

The High Priest then “tore his garments” which was absolutely forbidden in the law for a High Priest to do, thus ending the Levitical priesthood.

Now as you carefully read the Scriptures, you will discover that they began to put the colors of the High Priest’s robe on Christ. At one point it was the scarlet robe, at another point it was the purple robe, then it was a white garment, along with a seamless robe, which we believe to be the color blue. At that point, the Levitical priesthood ended and unbeknown to them, they inaugurated the Great High Priest, Jesus!

Second: In John 1:29, John the Baptist seeing Jesus for the first time called out, “Behold the LAMB of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” In I Corinthians 5:7 we read, “…For Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.” Jesus became their PASSOVER LAMB. Remember, each year on the 10th day of the month Nissan, each Jewish family would select a lamb to die on Passover. Their most passionate desire was for a Messiah, a Savior, to come. Jesus’ arrival on this particular day was as if God was saying: "Here's My Lamb, will you choose Him?"

Could the similarity between the Passover lamb and Jesus’ destiny to become God's sacrificial Lamb for the sins of the world be just a coincidence? Traditionally, the daily sacrifice was slaughtered at 3:00 pm in the afternoon, including the day of Passover. At that time, the priest stood at the pinnacle of the temple and blew the SHOFAR, or the ram's horn.

As Jesus hung on the Cross, He no doubt heard the piercing blast of the SHOFAR carry across the city. Jesus recognized the hour of His sacrifice had come when the knife was scheduled to slit the throat of the Passover lamb. At that moment Jesus looked up to heaven and said, "It is finished." The GREAT PASSOVER LAMB, God's substitute, our Passover lamb, Jesus, died at 3:00 PM. Jesus became the Passover Lamb of God who now took away your sins and my sins and the sins of the whole world.

Third: As soon as Jesus made His seventh cry, "Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit." we read in Matthew 27:51, that the great veil in the Temple that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies was ripped in two. Because of its size, no one could have torn it but God. Now, because of Christ’s blood atonement at Calvary and the tearing of the temple veil the way has been made possible for us to personally go into the presence of God.

Notice again in Hebrews 10:18, "Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin." Praise God,

I need no Jewish priest at a smoking altar, offering lambs and bullocks and goats and pigeons.

I need no priest in a church to "elevate the host" and think that sacrifice is acceptable to God. Christ, my High Priest, offered His own blood in the Holy of Holies in heaven, and now sits at the right hand of God.

Because the last lamb has been slain, because there is no veil between us and God, because the blood has been placed on the Ark of the Covenant in heaven, and because we now have our great High Priest, Jesus, we can rejoice as we read in Hebrews 4:14-16,

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (15) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Lifted up was He to die, "It is finished," was His cry.

Now in Heaven exalted High, Hallelujah what a Savior!

Third: The completion of our eternal salvation was finished. Today, in churches all over the world, people are trying to DO something for their salvation, trying to pay their way to heaven, trying to appease God. This is contrary to the Word of God!

It is time to recognize that your eternal redemption is finished, completed, DONE. When Jesus said "It is finished," He said, in a literal sense, "PAID IN FULL!" Jesus paid the price of your sins at Calvary.

"It is finished!" That is what Jesus meant in John 5:24, "He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment; but is passed from death unto life."

"It is finished!" That is what Paul meant in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, It is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

"It is finished!" There is nothing more to pay, nothing more to do. Jesus paid for your salvation in full on the cross. God is not trying to sell salvation. He is offering it free. God is offering you the eternal, everlasting, forever paid in full salvation, the finished work of Christ. When Jesus died, the entire transaction was settled, "The wages of sin is death," and Jesus paid that wage. Now all you have to do is believe.

"It is finished," My friends, do you believe it? Or are you trying to add something of your own to the finished work of Christ to secure the favor of God? The moment you believe God's testimony concerning His beloved Sin, that moment every sin you have ever committed is blotted out, and you stand accepted in Christ!

On the cross, two eternities met – eternity past and eternity future.

Jesus reached out with one hand and took all the sins from Adam to Calvary.

With the other hand, Jesus reached to the end of the ages and took all the future sins of mankind, and.nailed them all to His cross.

Therefore, it is no longer the SIN-QUESTION but the SON-QUESTION: "WHAT THINK YE OF CHRIST?" My friends, the way you answer that question will determine where you spend eternity, for salvation depends upon believing as we read in John 3:36, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

Rest not on your feelings and experiences, but on the written Word of God which says in John 1:12, "But as many as receive Him, to them gave He the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name."

Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe.

Sin hath left a crimson stain,

He washed it white as snow.

Perhaps you are here this Lord's day, and you have heard the Gospel story over and over and over again. You have read your Bible. You have gone to church somewhat regularly. In your mind, you are as good as you can be. But my friends, without Christ you are 100% lost and on your way to an eternity in Hell.

You may reject the Savior today, but one day "You will look on Him whom they pierced."

You may reject Jesus today, but one day "at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow … and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father."

I beg you in Jesus name, that today you will cry unto God, "Be merciful to me a sinner and save me for Jesus’ sake."

You must either Love Him or Hate Him.

You must either Be for Him or Against Him.

You must either Accept Him or Reject Him.

You must either Crown Him or Crucify Him.

You must either Confess Him or Deny Him.

Again hear from Romans 10:9, "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Hallelujah for "The Old Rugged Cross."

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,

The emblem of suffering and shame;

And I love that old cross where the dearest and best

For a world of lost sinners was slain.

In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so devine,

A wondrous beauty I see;

For 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died

To pardon and sanctify me.

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross, …

Til my trophies at last I lay down;

I will cling to the old rugged cross,…

And exchange it someday for a crown.

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If God has spoken to your heart after reading the sermon on the Sixth Words of Christ at Calvary” "It is Finished.” then right now talk to God about what He has spoken to you.

Acts 16:31, “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…”

Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

If you made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, would you please let me know? Please send an e-mail to pdmikBBM@aol.com and in return I will send you some literature that will help you in your Christian life.

In His Amazing Grace,

PS: All the Weekly SERMONS in this series on the “Seven Words of Christ at Calvary” will be a part of the next book of sermons on the Journey to Calvary to be ready by the end of 2010. Each sermon will have five added features along with church and student outlines and power point suggestions.

PPS: In order to access the Weekly SERMON, please click the link to Weekly Sermon Library, where you will be able to choose: Plain Text (TXT), Microsoft Word document (DOC), Microsoft Word 2007 document (DOCX), Rich Text (RTF), Web Page (HTML) or PDF (Portable Document Format), any of the format(s) you desire. After you decide on the appropriate format(s) you may then print a copy of the Weekly SERMON, save it to a file on your computer, or download it and save it to a disk for future use. Your use of this material is meant to be flexible.

http://BibleBaptistMinistry.org/…/MMX10/