I Am the Resurrection and Life (John 11:25-26)

Let us bless and greet one another, “Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God.”  Through today’s Easter worship, may you have the resurrection faith restored and arise.  What do you think is the problem of our lives?  Try thinking of the many different problems you are facing now.  Do you think if that problem is solved, your problems will really be gone?  What is God telling us about that?  Do you think that, just because your financial problems are resolved, all your problems will be solved?  Just because your relationship problem is solved, is that the solution to your problems?  Through today’s resurrection Easter, may you receive the answer through God’s Word.  

In today’s Word, Jesus Christ says, “I am the Resurrection and Life.”  Jesus Christ is the Resurrection and the Life.  We all know this, right?  But what God is asking us is, “Do you believe this?”  We have faith, right?  But do you believe that Jesus Christ is really the Resurrection and the Life?  What happens if you do believe that He really is the Resurrection and the Life?  The Bible says you will overcome death.  

1. Me 

  1) Sinner (Eph. 2:1, Rom. 3:23)

Even if we accomplish many things in this world, if we do not overcome the power of death, then we have to live under fear.  Through today’s worship, may you have the victory of overcoming that fear of death through faith.  Even if nonbelievers have everything in the world, if they do not overcome the power of death, they have to kneel before the fear of death.  Then, what is the fundamental problem that is inside of me and is inside of all of us?  In reality, it is our disbelief that is unable to overcome the power of death.  Fundamentally, if we overcome death, nothing else is a problem.  But, if we do not realize that death is the real problem, and we do not have the faith to overcome that death, then we will be seized by every problem in our lives.  So today, Jesus Christ tells us that He is the Resurrection and the Life, and what’s most important is for us to believe that.  

The 12 disciples who followed Jesus for three years saw Him physically, saw all of His actions, and heard all of His teachings and words, then they should be able to go very well, shouldn’t they?  However, even though they saw Jesus’ personality and heard His teachings and saw Him pray, they were not able to overcome their fear of death until they saw His death and resurrection.  If, through today’s worship, we are able to receive the faith of Jesus’ resurrection, then you will have the faith to overcome all problems, including death.  When are the 12 disciples, as well as the 5000 followers, able to overcome the fear of death?  When they experience the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and they experience the Holy Spirit being within them, then they even go as far as becoming martyrs.  

Then, through the Bible, we must ask, “How far am I?”  How did these people testify of the gospel?  They said, “The Jesus whom You crucified has been raised from death from God, and I am a witness of His resurrection.”  They did not just speak of His death on the cross, they said, “I am a witness of His resurrection.”  Do we have that faith?  If so, then you will overcome the fear of anything you face in life.  The fear that we are facing right now is not actually caused by money, the fear that we are facing is not actually because we are afraid of our children’s future, there is a more fundamental fear than that.  Even if we receive salvation, if we don’t have the faith that overcomes death, then we will always be afraid of dying.  

Let’s say, for example, we have a sickness or a disease. Then, more so than the actual sickness, we are more afflicted by the fear of death.  In reality, the reason you worry for your children so much is because you are afraid of death. The reason you have so much fear about your business or your job is because you’re afraid that if your business fails, then your life will be over.  If your business fails, you can simply just get back up, but inside of me, there is a different kind of fear.  If we have faith in God, then we will simply believe that God will make it new again, but if we don’t have that faith, we look at the limitations and circumstances of mankind, and we fall into despair.  

    (1) Death (Eph. 2:1, Rom. 6:23)

The Bible tells us that mankind, including us, was dead in our sins and transgressions in Ephesians 2:1.  The “dead in our sins and transgressions” is talking about two different kinds of death: a spiritual death because our connection with God is cut off, and a physical death.  Because we have both the spirit and the body, both of them are dead.  Ephesians says, “We who were dead have now been saved by Christ Jesus,” and “Saved” means, we are now restored with the relationship of life with us and the Lord.  

    (2) Authority of Satan (Eph. 2:2)

When we were dead, we lived our lives chasing after the greed of our flesh, its thoughts and desires, under the authority of the ruler of the kingdom of the air.  

    (3) Cravings of the flesh – Wrath (Eph. 2:3)

  2) Jesus Christ – Death, resurrection (1 Cor. 15:12)

1 Cor. 15:12 says that Christ has been raised from the dead.  The Sadducees rejected His resurrection, and if you and I also reject Jesus’ resurrection, then our faith is in vain.  1 Cor. 15:14 says, if Christ has not been raised or resurrected, then our teaching is useless, and so is your faith.  I have faith, but is my faith based on the Bible?  If we do not have the faith that is from the Bible, then it might all be in vain.  The reason why I’m so afraid of all the problems I’m facing is because of my lack of faith in the Resurrection and the Life.  

    (1) Holy Spirit – Raised Jesus (Rom. 8:11)

When Jesus Christ died on the cross, how was He brought back to life?  Romans 8:11 says that the Spirit of God raised Jesus from the dead.  In other words, God the Father and the Holy Spirit raised God the Son, Jesus Christ, meaning that the Triune God worked their ministry together.  

    (2) My spiritual death – Raised (Eph. 2:1, Col. 3:1)In doing so, by believing in Him, we are also raised from the dead by restoring our relationship of faith with Him.  But now, we need another level of faith regarding our physical life.  

    (3) Holy Spirit – Give life to your mortal bodies (Rom. 8:11)

Romans 8:11 says that the Spirit of God will also save our mortal bodies or physical bodies.  This is what it means when Jesus Christ says, “I am the Resurrection and Life that has overcome death; do you believe in Me?”  That is the faith that God wants from us, then it’s impossible to be afraid of anything in this world.  

  3) Me

    (1) New creation (2 Cor. 5:17)

That is how, through Jesus Christ, 2 Cor. 5:17, we have been made into a new creation.  What does this mean?  There is such a thing as a stream of the family line.  In other words, regardless of what I want, there is something that keeps on happening in my family line.  It’s not only in me, but I realize that my siblings have it too, and my parents, there is a stream of the family line.  The fact that you are a new creation means that now, you are changed into the stream of God.  What is the stream of God?  God is carrying out His Word even now.  Even right now, God is carrying out the work of salvation.  Even right now, the power of the Holy Spirit is taking place to answer our prayers.  The stream of the Triune God means that when you go into the stream of God’s Word, prayer, and evangelism, then the stream of your family line is broken.  There may be some of you who are listening and thinking, “Why is it that I’ve believed in Jesus for such a long time, but the stream that keeps repeating in my family line is still not breaking?” 

In order to break the stream of your family line, we must go into the stream of the Triune God.  That’s from my experience, too.  Regardless of what I do, the same thing keeps on happening, it turns out, that’s the stream of my family line.  There is no need to be discouraged because of that, but we are able to go into the stream of God’s Word, the power of the Holy Spirit, and God’s plan which is missions and evangelism, then the stream of your family line will naturally end.  

    (2) Christ lives in me (Gal. 2:20)

In other words, Galatians 2:20, says that, not only did I die on the cross with the Lord, but the stream of my family line was also crucified. Now, Christ lives within me, so that is the new stream I’ve been changed to.  

    (3) Holy Spirit – Peace (Jn. 14:26-27)

Now, John 14:26 says that the Holy Spirit lives within me and specifically guides me with His Word.  What happens if we do not go into the stream of the Word of the Holy Spirit?  We go into the stream of our own thoughts, then that means we make our decisions based on my thoughts, and that is what keeps on repeating.  That is the stream of your family line, and that goes into your children, too.  In John 14:26, it says that going into the stream of the Holy Spirit will give you peace.  

2. Christ who is the Resurrection and Life

  1) Resurrection, Life

    (1) Overcome death (1 Cor. 15:54, Is. 25:8)

Today, we are looking at the Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ, specifically through 1 Corinthians 15.  1 Cor. 15 talks about this resurrected life, and that means we have overcome death.  

    (2) Break the power of death (Devil) (Heb. 2:14)

What does it mean to overcome death?  Heb. 2:14 says that the devil holds the power of death.  So, the fact that our Lord Jesus Christ resurrected over death means that He has overcome death and the power of the devil.  

    (3) Death – Fear, Slavery – Liberation (Heb. 2:15)

Heb. 2:15 says that if we do not have faith in Jesus Christ Who has overcome death and Satan, then we will be held in slavery by our fear of death all our lives.  When Jesus Christ says, “I am the Resurrection and the Life,” it means you have been set free from this fear of death.  

  2) Victory

    (1) Death – Sin, Authority of sin – Law (1 Cor. 15:56)

1 Cor. 15:56 says that there is a sting of death in sin.  In other words, the result of sin is death, but how do we sin?  We can see our sin based on the Word of God’s Law.  Do I believe that Jesus Christ Who has no sin died on the cross to overcome the power of sin and death for me?  

    (2) My victory (1 Cor. 15:57)

1 Cor. 15:57 says, He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Because the Lord Jesus Christ has already won, our faith gives us victory as well, then there is nothing for us to be afraid of on earth.  The fact that we have received salvation means that our spirit is now alive, and the authority of sin is broken.  What is the last authority that Satan has?  He has the power of death.  If I believe the Lord Jesus Christ died for me and resurrected, then Satan is completely broken down.  So, may you and I realize today that the many problems and incidents that we face in our lives have no choice but to continue unless we have this faith in Jesus Christ’s Resurrection and Life.  I have no other choice but to be a slave to the fear of death.  So, through today’s Resurrection Easter worship, may you see throughout the week that all of the problems in your life will no longer be a problem if you have faith that we have overcome death and resurrected.  

    (3) Thanksgiving (1 Cor. 15:57)

1 Cor. 15:57 says, “But thanks to God Who gives us victory through Christ Jesus.”  Yes, we might have a lot of things to be thankful for, but most fundamentally, we must thank God for giving us the faith that allows us to overcome death by Jesus Christ Who is the Resurrection and Life.  A lot of people are suffering from anxiety and panic attacks.  There are a lot of things we are afraid of, or that affect our emotions.  May you have victory in Christ fundamentally, that is the way to completely break down the devil.  That is why today’s scripture is, “I am the Resurrection and the Life,” do you believe this?

  3) Life of the resurrection, life

    (1) Life that doesn’t shake (1 Cor. 15:58)

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm; let nothing move you.” That means that things may happen that might move you.  Because things will happen in your life that will shake and move you, stand firm.  How do we stand firm?  In faith in the Lord Jesus Christ Who has overcome death and is with you.  When do we shake?  When is your faith shaken?  “I see a nonbeliever, and their life is better than mine.  I see a nonbeliever, and their personality is better than mine.”  That’s when we might be shaken.  “It seems like that nonbeliever doesn’t even have mental problems; why is it that I believe in Jesus but I have more problems than them?”  That’s when we might shake.  When you look at the world and compare it with the church, your faith might be shaken.  

Because things will happen in your life that shake your faith, stand firm in the faith of the Resurrected Lord.  The Early Church was persecuted as heretics by the Jewish church, but the reason the members of the Early Church were not shaken was because they had faith in the resurrection.  Especially for our younger students and the next generation, they might be shaken when they look at the world and then look at the church.  The reason they are shaking is not really because of the world; it’s because they don’t have a firm faith in the resurrection inside of them.  The reason why the members of the Early Church were completely different before Jesus’ resurrection and after Jesus’ resurrection was because they had assurance in victory over death.  

    (2) Give fully to the work of the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58)

“Let nothing move you.  Always, give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,” then what exactly is the “work of the Lord”?  Not my work; God is saying, “Do the Lord’s work.” Then, what is the Lord’s work?  Is it that anything you do in the church is the Lord’s work, and when you go to your job, that’s your work?  No, whether you’re in the church or your home or your workplace, whatever you do for the Lord is for the Lord’s work.  Especially in 1 Cor. 10:31, it says, “Do all things for the glory of the Lord.”  Then, what does it mean to do it for the “glory of the Lord?” Glorifying the Lord means to reveal the cross and all of its glory.  Col. 3 says that, no matter what you do, do it for the Lord.  

Let’s say that, at my job, my manager or superior is a nonbeliever, then still serve them as if you’re doing it for the Lord.  If I do my own work, then I’m going to be oppressed and burdened because of my superiors.  “Do I really have to listen to all of this from my managers, just so I can make a little money?”  However, if you do your work before the Lord and you serve your superiors as if they were the Lord, then it becomes the Lord’s work, and we make money and give it as offering; that is also the Lord’s work.  And, whenever we talk to people in the field, instead of talking to them for my benefit, I talk to them for the glory of the Lord; then all of that is for the Lord’s work.  

Matthew 28, Jesus Christ says to go and make disciples of all nations, that is the Lord’s work.  Mark 16 says to go and heal the sick, that is the Lord’s work.  John 21, Jesus Christ says, “Feed my lambs,” so taking care of the children is God’s work.  So no matter what, if you do something with the standard of yourself and the physical things, then that becomes your work, but if you do it for the glory of the Lord, that is the Lord’s work.  In other words, anything you do, if you do it for the glory of the Lord, that is the Lord’s work; if you do it for your sake and your name, that’s yours.  

    (3) In the Lord – Not in vain (1 Cor. 15:58)

Then it says in 1 Cor. 15 that your labor will not be in vain.  If you do the work of the Lord, it will never be in vain; that is His promise.  Not only will you be blessed by God on earth, but you will also have rewards in heaven, so it will never be in vain.  Those blessings are relayed to our next generation as well.  So, throughout this entire week, meditate a lot on what the resurrection faith means, and may you restore and enjoy that.

Conclusion

1. Jesus of resurrection, life became my master

In conclusion, we are talking about believing in the Jesus Christ of the Resurrection as my Lord and Master.  

2. Jesus of resurrection, life became our master

The Lord of the Resurrection and Life is our Master.  

3. Jesus of resurrection, life became master of all things

The faith to believe that Jesus, the Lord of the Resurrection and Life, is the Lord and Master of all things.  May we really have the faith of the Resurrection that has overcome Satan, overcome death, and overcome the world, and enjoy those blessings.  

Message Prayer

Let us hold onto the Word we have received and ask God, “Give me faith in the resurrection.”  Pray that, “Any problem I’m facing may allow me to restore the faith in the Resurrection and Life so that I may overcome everything.”  Let us pray.

Offering Prayer and Newcomer Blessing

God, we thank You.  Allow us to have the faith in Jesus Christ Who is the Lord of the Resurrection and Life, Who has overcome death, and allow that to be our victory that has overcome death.  We pray that You will bless the hands of all the people who have given the offering so they may stand as the witnesses of the Resurrection that heals those who are sick or suffering and gives faith to those who do not have faith.  We believe that You will work upon those who have given this offering with the blessings of finances.  In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, amen. 

Announcements
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3. Church meeting every 1st Sunday of the month, 5/4 (Sunday) 12:30pm

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