Embracing the Power of the Risen Christ

What causes you to be afraid what is some of your greatest hurt what are some of the situations and problems that cause you to be anxious nervous scared keep you up at night you chase round and round now you probably have a few things in mind here's your question is the first place you turn to find answers hope guidance Jesus now for many of us it's not we rely on a lot of other things and and Jesus becomes an option on down the line in other words we'll try a few things and if they don't work we'll keep going and eventually we come down and say "Well we might as well give Jesus a shot." [00:34:41]

But in there are some disciples that doubt and I believe a message from Jesus to take care of our doubts so if you'll stand with me in honor of reading God's word Matthew 28 and verse 16 here's what we read now the 11 disciples went to Galilee to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them and when they saw him they worshiped him but some doubted and Jesus came and said to them "All authority under heaven and earth has been given unto me go therefore and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you and I am with you always even until the end of the age." [00:36:28]

This thing about the disciples doubting Jesus i've I've seen that for years i've I've wrestled with that i've wondered about that and and I feel like I maybe have closed in on it i I don't think I got it all figured out but I'm a little closer to it it made me wonder what what was it that they doubted i don't think they doubted the resurrection there's no way I think they could doubt the resurrection think about that last week they they were with Jesus when he enters Jerusalem and they lay down the the palm branches and they sing "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." They were there for that they were there for all the events that were part of that week they were in that upper room where they celebrated Passover and Jesus said "This bread represents my body this cup represents my blood." [00:38:03]

They were part of that they went with him to Gethsemane and there in that garden they tried to pray but they were scared it was late and they tended to sleep but they were there when the army showed up the soldiers and and the Pharisees and and all those individuals they were there when Jesus was arrested now from there they started to scatter they ran in different directions peter and John are somehow able to get close to to the high priest house and to and to see the trial that sort of happens there john stays he's there at the crucifixion and he's at the foot of the cross and then Jesus dies he's put in a tomb and the disciples wonder what happens now they're gathered together there's 10 of them there judas has already killed himself thomas is somewhere else 10 of them in the room when Jesus shows up after the resurrection he just appears in the room and they see him and they're amazed at what happens and so they go and they tell Thomas "You're not going to believe this but Jesus is alive." [00:39:39]

And Thomas says "I'll never believe it unless I can put my fingers in the wounds." And then Jesus shows up again thomas has no excuse he He now believes jesus told them "I want you to go to Galilee to the mountain and I will meet you there." And so they make this journey from Jerusalem to Galilee if they were traveling probably in the way that they would have that day it's probably a two to three-day journey it's no simple fa uh uh feat and and so they get there and they may have actually gone to the place where Jesus had taught on the sermon on the mount that may be the mountain that he's specifying and he appears to them again how could they ever doubt the resurrection they've seen him multiple times they've interacted him with different ways in John's gospel they have breakfast together i I mean there can be no doubt that Jesus has risen from the dead so what is it they doubt [00:41:20]

Here's what I think they doubt here's why I think it's important to us and here's why I think the words of Jesus answer everything i think they doubt that the resurrection of Jesus will make a difference in their lives i think they're looking at it going "Jesus this is amazing you're alive you've risen from the dead that's wonderful but you're about to ascend into heaven." And then what happens to us what do we do where do we go and and and how do how does this make any difference for us moving forward we gather here because it's Easter it's it's the time that we all come to church and we remember the the the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus but here's a great question what difference does that make Monday morning what difference does that make when you go to work or when you go to school or or when you face the problems or when that painful thing shows up or that thing that keeps you up at night grabs you once again or whatever that problem is what difference does the resurrection make in that moment i think that's what they're doubting [00:42:58]

Jesus makes it clear here's the great mission go make disciples of all nations here's the way we do it two things you're going to have to do evangelism and lead them into baptism you're going to have to do disciplehip and teach them everything I've commanded you and then he says this "And behold." Now we've been working our way through Revelation because of Revelation behold takes on a whole new meaning to me behold in the Greek is this this way of saying look at this pay attention to this don't miss this if I were in college it's when the professor said this will be on the test it got your attention because you knew it was important that's what that's what behold is here so Jesus says "And behold and all the disciples focus I am with you always even until the end of the age." [00:44:05]

Now that had always felt like a benediction an end word a little promise and I had always read that in a future tense in other words I always read "I will be with you until the end of the age." So when you're out there doing the the great commission when you're out there trying to do evangelism when you're out there trying to do disciplehip when you're trying to do what I've called you to do I will be with you then in that place ahead in the future but that's not what Matthew writes and that's not what Jesus says he says present tense I am with you and no matter where you go I will always be with you three things that we may doubt about Jesus that I think he's addressing first thing is this god is powerful maybe you doubt that Jesus is even able to do what needs to be done in your life his first words are "I am." [00:45:59]

Those are no small insignificant words those words I am define the very nature and character of God himself when Moses is getting ready to lead the children of Israel he has to have a moment where he encounters God and it forever changes him moses is 80 years old he has taken care of sheep in Midian he has tried to step into a leadership role and and just terribly messed up and he thinks it's over i can never go back the best I'm going to get is just taking care of sheep when God shows up in a burning bush and tells him "No you're going to be the guy who I'm going to use to lead the nation of Israel." Now if you're like me when you think about Moses you think about Charlton H i mean you got somebody on there and the the it's out and it's strong and it's bold that's not where Moses starts [00:46:55]

He gets there but when he first meets God he has a bunch of questions and excuses and reasons why it can't be him one of his questions is this so God I tell them all that that you're ready to do this and they're going to ask me "Well which God are you talking about Moses?" Because they live in a world full of all these different gods and when I go there what how do I answer that when they say which God what what do I say and this is what God says to Moses exodus 3:14 God said to Moses I am who I am and he said say this to the people of Israel i am has sent me to you jesus says I am so important john gives us seven different I am statements from Jesus i am the door i am the resurrection and life i am the living water i am the bread of life i am the good shepherd he keeps giving us these things so that we would know this [00:47:49]

Remember those disciples were with Jesus in the garden in John's gospel that that that whole army comes there there are soldiers there are there are the guard from from the temple and they would have been like an army and then there's Roman soldiers and they're a part of that and then there's Pharisees and then there's all these other people that are a part of it a huge crowd shows up to arrest one man they come with swords and they come with shields they come like they're going to battle and they say "We're looking for a guy named Jesus." And Jesus answers and says "I am he." Now in the Greek it's just this ego i am and the whole army falls they just all fall down he knocks everyone down just saying the words "I am from the great I am defeats every enemy." [00:48:51]

Listen to me i don't know what your problem is and I don't know what your struggle is but I am confident of this the great I am is bigger and stronger and better than anything you face when when Paul's writing to the church at Ephesus in chapter 3 he says "Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly more than we could hope for or imagine." You dream the biggest dream you can dream about Jesus you give him the most power you could ever imagine him having you push it to its absolute limit and Paul says "You're not even there yet he can do more he can do more he is the great I am whatever you lack he is greater than that and if you knew the power of Jesus there would be no doubt he can but maybe you doubt that he wants to" [00:50:11]

Maybe you say "I I doubt that he can." Oh he can he's a great I am maybe you say "I'm not sure he wants to." Well Jesus says "I am with you." Jesus wants a relationship with you now think about that the God of the universe wants a relationship with you if you were to go back to to the beginning of Genesis you'd find Adam and Eve and they are with God and they're in the garden and they they worship him and they walk with him and they talk with him and they have this this incredible relationship with him until sin shows up and since then sin damages and destroys that relationship why did Jesus come why why was Jesus born in a manger in Bethlehem why did he gather 12 disciples and do everything he did why did he endure the opposition the the difficulty the persecution why did he go to the cross why did he die for our sins why would he do all of that [00:51:07]

In Philippians we read this that he did not consider equality with God something to be grasped he was the same as God he was he was divine in every way but Philippians said "But he emptied himself taking on the form of a servant and humbling himself to obedience even death on the cross." Why would he do that why would a God who is spirit and all powerful and has absolutely no limitations suddenly say put me in a human body he who never sleeps suddenly needs sleep he who never eats suddenly needs to eat he who is all powerful is in a human form and can only do what a human form can do why would he limit himself that way why would he leave heaven perfection beauty wonderful to enter into a world that is broken and sinful and messed up like ours why would he do all that because there was only one way you and I could have a relationship with God he had to die for our sin jesus went through everything he went through so you and I could have a relationship with him [00:52:55]

He screams as loud as he can "I've done it all just so this relationship could be restored rebuilt forgiven reconciled." You know John 3:16 "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son and whoever believes in him should not perish but could have everlasting life." But the next verse says "For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through him." Jesus didn't come here to be condemnation he didn't come here to tell all of us how bad we are and and how wrong we are he came here because he loved us and he wanted a relationship with us and he was willing to pay the price for us to be forgiven [00:54:23]

I don't know about your relationships in life maybe you've been hurt and abused maybe people have promised you things and failed to deliver maybe you've watched your marriage fall apart or your parents disappoint you or your children work away walk away or maybe at work or or maybe in the community you you've had relationships just just just break and destroyed and you begin to think there's no way God could ever want a relationship with me i don't even believe relationships like that could last maybe you look at yourself and say "Do you know who I am do you know what I do why would the God of the universe ever want a relationship with me i'm not worthy and so we doubt that he wants to be with us but everything he went through screams out "Oh no I did everything that was required just to have a relationship with you." [00:55:48]

So maybe you doubt God can he's a great I am maybe you got doubt God wants to he wants a relationship with you maybe you doubt it will last he says "I am with you always even until the end of the age." God is promising his presence regardless of whatever circumstance you face if you were to go to Romans chapter 8 you would find Paul beginning by saying "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Meaning God doesn't condemn us anymore we're in a relationship with him and by the end of chapter 8 Paul is ready to say that nothing in all creation is able to separate us from the love of Christ Jesus he starts by saying "There's no condemnation you can know him." And then he says there's no separation nothing will ever threaten that [00:57:12]

I don't know what the future holds i don't know what's on the horizon i don't know what's going to happen tomorrow but I know this that the God who can and the God who wants to is unchanging and he will always be there it it means that whatever the future holds I trust him i believe in him he's the only one that I'm going to lean on to do that we have to believe that God can that God wants to and that he will always be there and if you can wrap your mind around that well then you don't doubt anymore you want to know if you doubt it's two little words if two little words make their way into your vocabulary you're doubting the two little words are this yeah but God is all powerful yeah but you don't know what I'm facing it means you doubt God [00:58:32]

God wants a relationship with you yeah but you don't know what I've done i doubt he really does god will always be with you whatever there is yeah but that could be anything what if what if it changes every time we use that word yeah but we doubt but if you reverse those every time you use it's a statement of confidence it's bad i'm scared it's It's a problem it It torments me yeah but I know Jesus can i feel all alone i'm abandoned yeah but Jesus is with me you know I'm looking at where this is going and I'm scared where it's going and I don't know what the future's going to hold yeah but whatever it is Jesus will be there you see we either live with an absolute confidence in who Jesus is and it changes how we live every day or we live with doubt and it changes how we live every day [01:00:05]

You're here on Easter to celebrate the resurrection i don't think we have an information problem i don't think it's like you well I didn't know that Jesus rose from the dead i didn't know that happened you're here because it happened you know that it's an application problem it's a belief problem you see we are like those disciples jesus it is I'm so glad you rose from the dead but what am I going to do now how am I going to live now what does that mean for me now what does it mean to live with no doubts listen here's what it means to live with no doubts you can trust your life to Jesus and he is in control listen if you believe he is all powerful you quit trying to do everything and let him do what only he can if you believe he is with you you can let some relationships go because the most important relationship is going to remain unchanged [01:01:42]

If your future is uncertain and cloudy and you're not sure what to do you're okay because you know no matter what the future holds Jesus will be there now he didn't promise to take away the problems sometimes that's what we think well Jesus doesn't care because he didn't take away my problems no he didn't promise that and sometimes your problems are the very things that help you lean into Jesus and rely on him more what he promised was I can I will be there and I will never leave you if you can get that you give him control [01:03:00]

Listen if you have any doubts you're holding on to control but if you know Jesus can if you know Jesus wants a relationship with you if you know he's going to be there no matter what the future holds even if that's death you can take your control and say "Here Jesus this is yours here this pain this is yours this problem this is yours this situation this is yours my future it is yours because I no longer have any doubts i am doubtless you are God and you can handle everything and the resurrection gives us that kind of hope do you ever live like that does that define your life or are you still wrestling with your problems is Jesus now your third fourth fifth sixth option on down the line listen this morning it can all change this morning it can be different this morning you can say "I'm ready to get rid of the doubt [01:07:16]

I want to know the Jesus who can who wants to be with me and will never leave me you say "Well JD D how can you do that?" I am so glad you asked why don't you just ask him why don't you just ask him story is told in the Gospels about a man who has a a son and um his son is demonpossessed he brings his son to Jesus and he says "Jesus I I brought him to the disciples but they couldn't handle it and I'm bringing him to you." This demon that he has it it wounds him it attacks him sometimes it throws him into the fire can you take care of this and Jesus says this to the man he says "All things are possible to him who believes." And then the man prays a prayer he asks something of Jesus and this may be your prayer today he says "I believe help my unbelief [01:08:10]

I believe so much about Jesus but it only goes so far i want to go all the way i want to trust him completely i don't want to live with any more doubts i I I know I've heard how he can but I don't want to have any doubts i I know he wants to be with me but I don't want to have any doubts i'm convinced nothing in all of creation is able to separate me from the love of Christ Jesus but I need to live with no doubts listen to me if you can live with no doubts and the resurrection will make a difference on Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday it'll make a difference in your family it'll make a difference at your work it'll make a difference at school it'll make a difference when you're scared and when you're hurt and when you're anxious and when all those problems are flooding you then all of a sudden you can know this i'm not sure what to do but I know who can do anything [01:09:27]

I'm not sure what to do but I know he'll be there i'm not sure what to do but no matter what the future holds I know he always can and he always will be there so I'm going to live believing him jesus I believe help my unbelief [01:10:29]