GOD'S POSSESSION

 

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

 

1.      You were included in Christ.  Jesus Christ death, burial, resurrection, broken body and shed blood gave us salvation, eternal and abundant life.  Secured all the blessings and promises given by the Father to the on.  Which are two numerous for us to follow in this message.  Paul will allude to some of them here.

2.      When you heard the message of truth.  Jesus said, “I am the way truth and life.”  The truth would set you free.  You believed in your heart and confessed with your mouth.  Your will intellect and emotions you gave to Him.  You gave up your past, chose the present of Christ and now rely on Him for your future.  You have the certainty, fact, principle, law and belief that Jesus is the only name under heaven by which mankind can be saved.  You have put your dependence on this truth.

3.      It was good news of salvation.  You heard because of the word of God and the testimony of others.  It came to you in some form and you believed it.  Salvation means deliverance.  Being delivered from the penalty of sin, which is eternal death (Romans 6:23).  Being delivered from mortality and given the gift of eternal life (John 3:15).  Salvation means being rescued by God from the consequences of our wrongdoing.  Salvation is all about how a Christian can live a better life today and, ultimately, live forever in the future! 

4.      When you believed and trusted Jesus as your Lord and Savior the result of that is that you were marked.  Cain was marked so no one would kill him.  You are marked so the devil cannot touch you unless God or you allow it.   You have the armor and hedge of protection around you.  Your words and your life have marked you in the natural realm and God marks you in the Spiritual realm.

5.      You have been sealed in the Holy Spirit.  When you cane to Christ you were regenerated by the Holy Spirit.  You became God’s temple.  He came to live our take up residence.  As you allow Him to take control He then transforms you, gives you gifts and produces in your life fruit.  You carry the seal and authority of God here.  You have authority of the blood, word and name.  In the ancient world a seal was either carried on a rope or ring.  It was usually a metal symbol of the person and it was their introduction to the world of government or business.  We are God’s ambassadors in the world systems and business.

6.      The Holy Spirit is also the deposit for our inheritance.  He insures that we have all the rights and privileges now and also in the future.  He is our lawyer.  It is like having a deposit in the bank which you can draw from when needed and also have in the future.  The beautiful thing is that this inheritance never loses its value.  In previous messages.  I gave you the crowns, the rewards of the overcomers.  Lois taught you last week what was in it for us.

7.      We have redemption.  We were bought back by Jesus dying on the cross.  We are valuable.  You have divine favor.  Wherever you go and whoever you are.  Talk when I became AM 930 the light broadcaster.  Did I deserve it, am I better, is it because of my connections?  No redemption and favor

8.      You are God's own possession.  You belong to Him.  You were bought with a price.  God says this person is mine.  No one can touch you without God’s permission.  If they do in a wrong manner they will have to face God and the consequences He deems for those who hurt His kids.  You are His chosen, daughter and son, royal priesthood, holy nation, chosen generation and unique one of a kind person.  I did just one search on the internet and found 45 names for the person who belongs to God.  Paul says out of all the people in the world you chose to be God’s own possession.  You are somebody.   

9.      For his praise and glory.  We are His ambassadors in our world.  What are the duties of an ambassador?  Charged with the responsibility of maintaining diplomatic relations between our country, government and those in our world.   Represents the king in matters of foreign policy. As ambassadors we help promote, and the exchange of information between the Kingdom of God and this world.

 

a.      We do this by what we say and how we live.  How we conduct ourselves in the affairs of others.

b.      How we love, accept and forgive others.  By People rarely remember what you say but they will always remember how you made them feel. 

c.      The glory of God in simple terms is showing the character, nature and essence of God in day to day life. 

QUOTES FOR SEPT 16, 2026

 

GOD WILL NOT DELAY

 

17 Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord’s sake cause Your face to shine of Your sanctuary, which is desolate.

 

     Daniel is now in the final moments of his prayer.  He asks the Lord five things in this verse.  First, he addresses the Lord as our God.  You are the great I am, the creator and sustainer of all things.  We are your covenant people.  A showcase of what redemption really looks like.  My question for you and is can we pray like Daniel and say, you are my God?  I trust we can.  True intercessors that makes a different can.  Next, he asks the Lord to hear the prayer of his servant.  Daniel viewed himself first as a servant of God.  He may have been a Prime Minister in a world power but first and foremost he was God’s man.  He look at his position as an opportunity to serve.  We are his servants to go and touch others in love.  Daniel was in this instance a servant of prayer.  That is what intercessors are.  Your role is to serve and to pray for others.  This is the highest calling and service.  It is so sad that so many do not see this. 

     Thirdly, answer my supplication which is a form of prayer but considered as kneeling down and bending down in which someone makes a humble petition or an entreaty God.   So we now see in what position Daniel is praying.  With tears in his eyes, kneeling before the Lord, he cries out to God.  Fourthly, Lord for your sake.  Remember Daniel told the Lord that his people had become a curse, byword and an object of scorn.  Daniel is telling the Lord that His name and reputation has been tarnished and maligned.  Daniel is defending the Lord and reminding him of his agreement to the Jewish nation.  Lastly, cause your face to shine on your sanctuary which is desolate.  Daniel says, “Lord let your glory, power and presence once again be lifted up and shine forth in the place which once held your sanctuary.  Rebuild your temple.  Let your people have a place to worship in again.  Lord, look, with favor, love and grace at your city which held your temple.  True intercession wants the Lord’s glory, presence and essence to fill the place where they are.  This is true revival.  Talk about 1975 in Red Deer. 

 

O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies.

 

     Daniel talks about six things in this verse.  First, he again addresses the Lord as my God.  Lord you are the one I serve and pray too.  No one can answer and do what you can.  You are the object of my love and prayer.  Secondly, incline your ear and hear.  Lord I know that your ear is not so deaf you cannot hear.  Please you must hear, this is urgent, and we cannot go through this again.  Help us not to make the same mistake.  Daniel is appealing to the Lord for an answer.  Thirdly, open your eyes.  Daniel reminds the all seeing one that they are desolate.  As a nation, country and people.  They have nothing.  They have been scattered among the nations.  No identity, no homeland and no place as a nation they have been scattered.  That is why Israel is so important to the Jewish people now.  We are Canadians because we have a country, land and identity.  Fourthly, this city is called by your name.  Jerusalem has been identified as the capital of the Jewish homeland.  Jerusalem is Zion.  It is where all that the Jewish people hold dear and love is.  Its identity is the Lord.  It is the city of peace and God.  Right now it is desolate but Daniel prays it will be restored shortly.  Daniel fifthly, makes it clear that these prayers and supplications are not being made because of their righteous acts.  Daniel knows why they are where they are.  He knows why God has judged them.  He knows that man’s works are futile and like filthy rags.  We will never merit anything with God.  Eph 2:8-9 and talk about the folly of good works.  Daniel makes it clear in this prayer that man will never garner the favor of God by our works.  Lastly, he states he is looking for the great mercy of God.  Daniel knew all about the mercy of God.  He saw it throughout his long life and career.  Mercy means we do not get what we serve.  God has the power to pass judgment but he does not.  He pardons us.  Jesus on the cross said, “Father forgive them, they know not what they do.”  Daniel is looking for the great merc ies of God.  We need that as well today.  We deserve as individuals, families, communities, provinces as a nation judgment but we need to be asking for mercy and grace.  That is why I am pleading with you to pray during this window of opportunity.  Talk about Mary Magdalene.

 

19 O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”

 

     This is the most powerful section of the prayer.  Daniel asks, pleads and beseeches the Lord.  O Lord hear.  Open your ears.  You must hear what I am saying.  I am desperate.  We need a miracle and an answer from heaven.  Secondly, Lord forgive.  Lord we deserve all we get.  We have suffered for 70 years.  Remember your promise Lord.  We confess our sins, faults and failures Lord.  Tears in his eyes and an ache in his heart.  Daniel cries out Lord forgive.  Thirdly Lord listen.  Please hear my cry, hearken unto my prayer.  We are hurting, in pain, broken, despised, destroyed.  Listen Lord.  This is real prayer folks.  A man’s heart is broken here.  Daniel is aching for an answer.  Do you feel his heart cry?  Fourthly, God act.  Words are hollow.  Action is what we need.  No more promises, predictions or prophecies.  We need action.  That is where we are folks.  We need God now.  Not tomorrow, not a year from now.  Right now, this very moment God.  Please act now.  Move and answer.  Daniel is deep into this.  Daniel fifthly, God do not delay for your own sake.  God everything depends on you.  You name, glory fame and reputation.  My God, for your city, your people who are called by your name.  So powerful, deep, touching and emotional.  Each phrase deepened with a burden.  Each word, powerfully impacted by Daniels heart cry.  God we need you.  Please God.  Hear this cry.  See what is happening.  Things cannot  stay the same.  We have learned our lesson.  Now restore, forgive, reconcile, heal and bring mercy

GOD HAS A PLAN

 

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

 

 

     This morning as we look at Pau’s exhortation it almost sounds like he is giving a list of rules and regulations for life.  A behavior list that if you do this you will be a good person.  Paul has made it clear in the previous part of this chapter and book that faith in Christ alone will save you.  Paul reminds us that the world is watching and that our influence and testimony are dampened and hindered when we are inconsistent in our character and public testimony.  In Rev 12:11, it states that we overcome by the blood of the lamb, the word of our testimony and being willing to die for the faith.

 

1.      So in Vs 29, Paul starts with the most obvious our speech.  He says do not let unwholesome talk come out of our mouth.  Gossip, slander, curses, questionable jokes, sarcasm, profanity, outbursts of anger, and questionable conversation.  Whatever is pure, lovely, wholeness, noble, praise worthy, right and holy is what we should be talking.  David asked the Lord to put a watchman at the door of his mouth so he would not sin against the Lord.  James says blessing and curses should not come out of the same mouth.  The mouth will eventually speak what is in the heart.  That is why we must guard our hearts.

 

a.      Paul says that we should only speak what is helpful for building others up according to their needs

b.      We are called to speak the truth in love.  Love should be the foundation of any conversation we have.  Encourage, affirm and build others up in your conversations. 

c.      Here are five ways to build others up in conversations.

 

1.      Active listening.

2.      Use their name.

3.      Let them talk about themselves.

4.      Make them feel important.

5.      Emphasize similarities.

 

d.      James says be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.  When you do this Paul says this will benefit those who listen. Solomon says a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

 

2.      In Vs 30, Paul says do not grieve the Holy Spirit with whom you were sealed for day of redemption.  First, this shows the Holy Spirit is a person.  You cannot hurt a thing, force or object.  Grieving means to burden. When the Holy Spirit is grieved, He is burdened. To grieve is to oppress.

 

a.      To grieve is to afflict with deep, acute sorrow—to afflict the Holy Spirit with deep sorrow because of saying and doing the wrong things.

b.      To grieve is to make sad, to distress. We make the Holy Spirit sad, distressed when we disobey the Lord. God’s own people can make the Holy Spirit sad by some of the things they do, cause Him to mourn. He cannot possibly mix with that which is foreign to His personality.

c.      To grieve the Holy Spirit is to make Him lament; many have done this to Him.  We do not want to do it because we are His temple, dwelling place and we are heading for eternity a place of peace, love and completeness. 

 

3.      In Vs 31, Paul says to get rid of bitterness which is caused by being hurt and wronged then letting it go unchecked until it poisons your whole perspective and life. 

 

a.      Rage and anger.  Paul puts them together.  Rage is feeling the need to express violent uncontrollable anger.  You lose it and there are always consequences.  Anger is a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility.  Anger is an emotion caused by a perception of being wronged.  It can be good or bad depending on what is angering us.  Selfish anger leads to wrong reactions.  Righteous anger moves us to defend others and right wrongs.  The cause is the key.  The key to dealing with anger to being quick to hear and slow to speak.

b.      Brawling which means getting into fights whether physical or talking.  People get into fights.  And when they feel threatened or wrong.  They do not respect a person, are self- involved, don’t get enough sleep, substance abused, you have personal problems or self- esteem problems and deflect or attack others. 

c.      Slander is making false and damaging statements about someone.  Christians should never do that.  Satan is accuser of the brethren.  You are doing satan’s work when you slander.

d.      Any form of malice which is the intention or desire to do evil or ill will.  Paul says put it away and don’t let it use you.  The key is to focus on the word of God and prayer. 

 

4.      In Vs 32, Paul says let these three qualities be the evidence of God’s control of your life.  Be kind.  It is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.  It flows from love, mercy and grace. 

 

a.      Be compassionate.  This is a feeling or showing sympathy and concern for others,  understanding, concern and empathy towards other.  Any outward sign of love. 

b.      Forgive one another.  This is a choice and must be done immediately.  Paul says you do it because you have been forgiven.  This is the reason we forgive.  We also know forgiveness is the key to get rid of all these negative expressions Paul talked about. 

 

 

 

 

GREAT LOVE

 

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

 

1.      Paul is writing from prison and what I love about this book that even though he is in man’s prison Jesus Christ has set Him free.  In Vs 4, Paul says, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy.”  Paul points out to incredible facts.  First, because of His great love for us.  God loves us.  We are His greatest creation, children and work of His hands.  We are created in His image.  His social, moral and spiritual image. 

 

a.      We have an ability to connect with God.  We have a body, soul and spirit.  A will, intellect and emotions.  We also have the capacity to receive and show love.  Love has been imprinted on our DNA.  We can respond and be healed by His love.  It is communicated to us and we can show and heal others through love.  We complete each other when we love in God’s love.  God loves us so completely we don’t need anything else.  God looks at us through rose colored glasses.  He looks at us through the blood of Jesus.  

b.      God is secondly, rich in mercy.  Mercy is leniency, clemency, compassion, grace, pity, and charity.  You have the power to judge and punish and instead you choose to pardon.  Jesus used the illustration of the man who owed a debt and was forgiven but chose not to forgive another.  God richness in mercy is beyond comparison and understanding.  Paul knew this.  He had experienced it first hand.   We have as well.  While we were yet sinners Christ for us.

 

2.      In Vs 5,  Paul says, “made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. “  We have been made alive.  Before we came to Christ we were dead in transgressions.  We were unaware, blind, unable to comprehend, or to receive,  We had no life.  We were the devil’s property and headed to a lost eternity separated from God and all that is good.  Sin is that part of us that wants control, to have freedom on our terms, to do what we want with no thought of consequences or actions.  Remember sin will make us do things we never thought we would do, take us places we never thought we would go and make us into something we never thought we would be.

 

a.      In the Bible transgression means, “ways that people betray or violate someone's trust.”  We violated God’s trust.  We didn’t just violate his trust.  We broke, smashed and destroyed His trust.  We could be trusted to do wrong and not right.  Today we see that which is bad is good and that which is good is bad.  We now know what happens when you take the bible and prayer out of schools. 

b.      Paul then states it is by grace you are saved.  We are all on a race but when you add God to the equation of life you add a g to race and you have grace.  God is God’s, riches, at Christ expense.  It is unmerited favor.  God’s love, mercy, compassion and leniency allows you to be saved.  When Jesus called Matthew from his tax collection booth that was grace. 

 

3.      In Vs 6, Paul says, 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.  We were in the mire and muck.  We were in shackles, chains and fetters.  We have been released and raised up.  We were sinners and now we are saints.  He raised us up from slave to son and daughter.  We were bound and now we are free.  We have been raised from the earthly realm and have been positioned in heavenly places.  We have a new destination.  We can see in the spiritual realm.  Our eyes, ears, mind and hearts have been opened.  We have a new position of authority, power, anointing and freedom.  We are above our enemy.  He has to come up to us we do not have to go down anymore.  We are the head not the tail and above not beneath.  We have been elevated, taken by the hand and placed in a position of authority in Christ.

 

4.      In Vs 7, Paul says, “in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”  This was done in order for the coming ages.  Through all generations from the writing of this letter till now.  God would show his incomparable riches of His grace.  Grace is such an incomprehensible virtue.  It is love in action.  Grace is precious, priceless and beyond value.  It is beyond anything ever given.  Nothing in all the universe is close to its value.  It is intangible and spiritual in application.  God’s kindness, compassion, mercy and love came to us through Jesus Christ.  Jesus broken body, shed blood, death, burial and resurrection brought this about.  God shows expressed, exhibited this by giving us armor, weapons, anointing, empowerment, gift and fruit.  We have everything we need in and through Christ.  From one generation to the next this is available.  Until Jesus comes we will see this.  The church will never go out of style, fade or die.  The world has declared the church is dead and then God’s moves and once again the world is shown for the liar they are.  Remember we still have the promise of Joel 2:28.

 

5.      I love Vs 8-9 “. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.  not by works, so that no one can boast.  It is by grace and nothing else we have been saved.  It is our faith in the finished work of Christ.  What he did on the cross, in the grave and through the resurrection that we are saved.  We have escaped death, hell and the grave.  We have changed our eternal destination.  We are in the camp of God and not the enemy.  We trusted in a person who lived 2000 years ago, live 10000 miles away and who was a different ethnic background for our salvation. 

 

a.       This had nothing to do with our morals, good conduct, behavior, charity, works, philosophy religion or social standing.  We could do nothing to save ourselves.  Isaiah said our righteousness is as filthy rags.  Since the fall we have been trying to recapture paradise lost.  No amount of money, works or acts of kindness will do it.

b.      This is a gift of God.  Jesus is our gift.  He paid a debt he did not owe I owe a debt I could not pay.  It is a free gift but it cost God everything.  You can do nothing to earn it.  As a gift you just have to receive it to experience the full benefits.  You are drawing on the bank of heaven.  Receive it and be grateful.  Don’t try to add or subtract from it.  Just enjoy it and all the benefits it brings,

c.      This was a direct challenge to the Judiazers and the works people.  The cults do this.  They accept Jesus but then add their own version of works, writings, ceremonies, traditions or secret truth.   Paul says Jesus and Jesus alone.  Not circumcision, law, special revelation or truth.  This grace is because man always likes to take the credit.  No one can boast in a free gift. 

 

6.      Paul closes this paragraph with this thought in Vs 10, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  You are God’s handiwork, not a product of evolution, a combination of chemicals or your great uncle is not a chimp.  God made you.  You have a purpose.  You were created in Christ Jesus.  You have a new role, destiny, dream, ambition, direction and purpose.  To do good works.  His works which God created in advance for us.  You stay on the path and road created you will not only find your purpose but fulfill it.  God has people, places, things and a will for you.  Your dreams, desires, and destiny is God.  That God shape vacuum will be filled.  The Bible is a compass, guidebook, instruction manual.  Prayer is our communication portal, telephone line and internet connection.  God has bigger plans, dreams and destiny than we ever could imagine.  Remember He do exceedingly, abundantly beyond we can ask or imagine.  It is all prepared in advance all we have to do is step into His plan and be amazed. 

quotes for sept 15, 2026

 

HE IS RISEN

 

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint Jesus. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back.

 

Open with a seed.  Talk about how it just stays a seed until you plant it.

 

1.      Mark brings to our attention first the time when the women came to the tomb.  It was right after the Sabbath and early in the morning.  The reason they came was because it was forbidden to bury someone, to do this type of work and it just finished Passover the most important feast in the Jewish calendar. 

2.      Next, Mark tells us who the women were.  Mary Magdalene who Jesus cast out demons from.  Mary the mother of James one of Jesus disciples and Joseph.  James is often called the younger and is not the John’s brother.  Salome was wife of Cleopas who was actually the steward of Herod and sister of the mother of James and John.  She actually provided for Jesus and his disciples during their ministry. 

3.      They went their early to anoint Jesus body with spices a tradition done by loved ones.  It was an act of love, honor and devotion.  They were also being practical they knew that Jesus died so close to the Sabbath he had not been buried properly.  They did not know that Joseph and Nicodemus had already done this.  In John gospel Jesus was anointed with 70 pound of spices.   

4.      It was the first day of the week which we know is Sunday.  The sun had risen and they went to the tomb.  As they were walking they had a conversation talking about whom would roll the stone away from the tomb.  It was very heavy scholars say several hundred pounds.  These ladies they knew they could not do it. 

5.      From this account we know that Jesus rose from the dead before dawn on Sunday and from the Gospel of John.   We know that from Matt 28, that there was an earthquake, an angel rolled back the stone and the guards watching over the tomb came like dead men.   When they got there they saw had been rolled away.  The stone was very large and it had already been rolled back. Now from this narrative we know that the stone was round.  Now when they arrived the chaotic scene earlier was over and all was quiet.  The guards had left and went to report what had happened.

6.       From all the gospels let me reconstruct the resurrection moment.  The angel comes down, rolls the stone away.  The guards become like dead men.  Jesus rises removes his grave clothes, leaves them and the napkin that was covering his head but from the gospels it never says that Jesus actually walked out of the tomb.  The guards run away back to the officials to tell them what happens.  Then the women arrive.

7.      I want to leave you with a thought here.  In Jesus’ resurrected body time and space, matter and motion no longer apply.  He can be anyplace or time he wishes.  Also He has a body of flesh and bones.  You say how does this matter to us?  We will have the same body when we are raptured or when the rapture happens.  Our bodies at that time put off corruption and put on incorruption.  We will put off mortality and put on immortality.  Also in that moment our bodies of flesh and blood will become bodies of flesh and bones with resurrection power coursing through us.  No more getting old, sickness, pain or sorrow

 

 

 

 

 

As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

 

1.      So they enter the tomb.  The tomb was big enough for house all the woman.  They saw a young man dressed in a white robe.  To them he was a young man.  Angels can appear in many forms.  He appeared in such a manner to not completely overwhelm, them.  His attire was white which is of course purity, holiness and righteousness.  Was he the same angel that moved the stone We do not know? 

2.      Now he was sitting on the right side which in biblical terms means he was sitting in a place of power, authority, might and dominion.  Now why were they alarmed.  First, the tomb was empty what did this mean.  Secondly, where is the body of Jesus.  Dead people just don’t get up and walk away.  So in their mind who stole His body.  That question was actually asked in another gospel.  Thirdly who is this guy and why is he sitting in the tomb.  They were alarmed, afraid confused and I would even say angry. 

3.      He then speaks and tells them not to be alarmed.  God always calms our fears, brings clarity to our confusion, answers to our questions and wisdom to our worry.  In the Bible as I have said before there are 365 do not fear or similar sayings.  One for each day of the year. 

4.      He then says five things for them and us to consider.

 

a.      You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth.  That is why they were there.  In Hebrew greetings.  You would either be identified by your name and family or by your name and where you were from.  Now also Mark is written to a Roman audience and to them this was important.  A roman audience would want to know this.  Remember Jesus had told them He would rise but up to this moment He was Jesus from Nazareth.  Their whole understanding of Jesus was about to change.  Their world was about to be rocked to its core.

b.      Jesus was crucified.  This reminds them of what had happened, why they were there and how his body was broken and His blood shed.  A vivid picture probably popped into their minds.  His crucifixion was essential because by his stripes we are healed and by His blood of salvation is claimed.  Good Friday reminds us about this.  Good Friday was the blackest day in human history.  Our sin put Jesus on the cross. 

c.      He has been raised.  Rom 8:11, that same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead dwells in us.  He was raised by the Holy Spirit and the power of God.  So briefly I am going to give ten reasons why the resurrection is important. 

 

1.      The resurrection of Jesus Christ means that we are justified before God.

2.      The resurrection of Jesus Christ shows that Jesus defeated death.

3.      The resurrection of Jesus Christ means that believers are united with Christ.

4.      The resurrection of Jesus Christ confirms the truth of Scripture.

5.      The resurrection of Jesus Christ proves the gospel to be true.

6.      The resurrection of Jesus Christ proves that Jesus is the Son of God.

7.      The resurrection of Jesus Christ means that the Holy Spirit will be poured out into the hearts of those who believe.

8.      The resurrection of Jesus Christ gives Christians a living hope.

9.      The resurrection of Jesus Christ means that we will be raised like him.

10.   The resurrection of Jesus Christ means that Christ will judge the world in righteousness.

 

d.      He is not here.  Folks the tomb is empty.  All the other founders of religions have tombs and places where they are buried.  Like them their religions are dead.  The tomb is empty and our faith is alive,  That is shouting ground.  Wave your bulletin and say Amen,  Gordon’s tomb and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre are empty.  Jesus is alive.  He’s alive and I forgiven, beavens gates are open wide.

e.      See the place where they laid Him.  They were to be witnesses of what had happened.  They saw with their own eyes.  Jesus was not there.  They were told why and how it had happened.  This is tangible and indisputable proof.  This was Jewish law which stated that by two or three witnesses truth and proof was established.  This was incontestable proof.  No court of law would be able to dispute this.

 

5.      They were told to do four things.  First go and tell the disciples and Peter.  Why Peter because Mark was a disciple of Peter and Peter was his mentor, role model and spiritual leader.  Secondly, Jesus would be Galilee.  So they had a little trip ahead of them.  Thirdly, you will see Him.  Jesus would later show Himself for 40 days that he was alive. Lastly, all just as He said he would.  This young man was reminding them of what they had already been told.  They were given instruction to relay to the others.

6.      They have a threefold reaction.  They went out of the tomb and fled.  They ran.  It was not a slow exit.  They booked it.  Next, they were afraid and amazed.  I think this phrase was an understatement.  They had seen something no one had even seen before.  This was a supernatural encounter.  They may have been screaming.  Frightened to their very core and being.  Yet amazed at what had just happened.  Put yourself in their place what would you have done.  Lastly, they said nothing because they were afraid.  How do you explain something like this.  Well we know from other gospels they did tell the disciples.  Peter and John went to the tomb and there were other events that day but we know that what happened that day.

7.      I want to leave you with three reflective thoughts.  First, Jesus is alive, this means because he lives so do we with eternal and abundant life.  Secondly, take time today and sometime this day just say thank you.  Lastly, tell someone, do the great commission and love someone show the great commandment.