Study 65 – THE CERTAINTY AND THE EVIDENCE OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION

Gleans from Monday Bible Study with Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.

DLBC Old Alimosho, Lagos HQ

17th September 2018

Study 65 – THE CERTAINTY AND THE EVIDENCE OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION

John 20:1-23; Romans 6:6; Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:4-5; 7:4; Colossians 3:1-4; Ephesians 2:6

The earthly ministry of Christ had at this time been finalised (John 19:30); after that came the betrayal, then the unjust trial when the Jews called for His crucifixion even though Pilate found no fault in Him; then He was crucified with two malefactors on each side. He died and was buried with a stone rolled on His grave, but on the first day of the week, the power of God rolled away the stone and Jesus rose from the dead. This is what we are studying today, not just for head knowledge but to identify with what happened to Christ, that our old man, the very source of sin is crucified with Him that we will not serve sin anymore, “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin” (Romans 6:6). We were crucified with Christ, not physically but spiritually, our sinful soul, the adamic nature is crucified with Christ and now we rise and live by His strength and power (Galatians 2:20). He died, and we died with Him; He was buried and we with him, so our old man, the propensity to sin is dead, buried and totally taken away by His power (Romans 6:4,5). So the purpose of our study of His Resurrection is so that we will know and understand and live out the purpose of His Resurrection in our lives. By our identification with Christ, we are dead to the world and the Old Testament laws, the Mosaic ceremonial laws (Romans 7:4). And that we should bring forth fruits unto God. The implication of our resurrection with Christ is that we are not living the life before the Cross, but we are living the life after the resurrection, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1-4). He is coming again and He will take us home to be with the Heavenly Father. You know what gives us the victory in Christ Jesus? His crucifixion: we are crucified with Him; His death: because we died with Him and the old man is dead; then we are buried with Him: all the shame and condemnation of our sins are buried with Him out of God’s sight; and then as He rose from the dead: we are risen to live in newness of life, and will be seated in Heavenly places with Christ Jesus. So you understand that we are studying His Resurrection not just to re-tell the story but that we will experience that Power of His resurrection and it will work in our lives even today in Jesus Name.

3 points:

Point 1. THE CLEAR EVIDENCE OF THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST

John 20:1-10; Psalms 16:10; Acts 2:25-32; 13:29-36; Isaiah 25:8; 26:19; Matthew 16:21; Mark 9:9-10,31,32; Luke 18:31-33; 24:44-46

The first day of the week, that is Sunday. “The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher. 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” (John 20:2). Mary at this time was not thinking of resurrection, she had forgotten all what Jesus told them about His crucifixion, deal and resurrection. But she came and did not find Christ there, {because He will not remain in the grave, just as you are not going to remain in that problem.} “For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead” (John 20:9). Peter, John and Mary Magdalene and the disciples had been taught the scriptures, yet they forgot. They knew not the Old Testament scripture and the New Testament interpretation of the Old Testament prophecies that said He will rise again. It is possible to have been in the Church for years, have the miracle of the increased bread, provision, healing, believe in Christ as Lord and yet not know the Scripture that says He must rise again from the dead and you must rise with Him. See the Scripture that they should have known, “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption” (Psalms 16:10). This is a psalm every Israelite read every time and they should have known that was talking about Christ. They did not remember that Scripture, so when they saw the grave empty, they were confused, sorrowful when they should have been happy, doubting when they should be believing, reasoning and wondering when they should be affirming that Christ is risen. They did not remember that this was written about Christ that He would rise from the dead (Acts 13:29-36). Our Saviour is not on the Cross, He is risen, and you are risen with Him. It is a day of joy, power and happiness, that everything that is dead in your life will come alive in Jesus Name. The Old Testament gave assurance that Jesus must rise again and He is risen; the Lord had spoken it – “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it” (Isaiah 25:8). All the other dead people together with His Body shall rise up – that is resurrection (Isaiah 26:19). The words of the Old Testament are the words of God, so likewise the words of Jesus are the words of God and words of scripture. They forgot all about the words of Christ (Matthew 16:21; Mark 9:9,10,31-33; Luke 18:31,33) but you will not forget. We are not serving a dead Christ but a Risen Christ, and that resurrection power must work in your life today. The teachings of Christ are all part of the Scriptures that they forgot, “For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day” (Mark 9:31). He always said the third day, not any other day. There is certainty, evidence and pronouncement about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Everything that the Lord has written concerning you shall be accomplished, not a jot will be missing; your life is going on to accomplishment (Luke 18:31). They should have gone to the sepulcher with expectation and excitement, for His Word will surely come to pass. Don’t be like these disciples; don’t forget, Christ is coming again (Luke 24:44-46). The disciples should have understood that the empty tomb meant that our Christ is risen, the grave could not hold Him; neither the grave nor the power of the gentiles will not hold you down. He rose, and you must rise out of that grave; any power holding you down will be broken by the resurrection power of Jesus, in Jesus name.

Point 2.  A CONVINCING ENCOUNTER WITH THE RISEN CHRIST

John 20:10-18; Mark 16:9,12; Matthew 28:7,10; 12:48-50; Luke 10:17-20; 2 Corinthians 6:17-18; Romans 8:14-16,29; Hebrews 2:11; 8:10; 11:16; 1 John 3:1-10

“Then the disciples went away again unto their own home” (John 20:10). The disciples, Peter and John couldn’t remember the words of Christ, so they went back home because the tomb was empty. But Mary stood there weeping and looked at the sepulcher again. There is a manifestation for somebody that will not go away, but will stay to see the end of the matter. If you wait upon the Lord, He will renew your strength. If you stay there and say you will not be denied, but tarry in His presence, something must come to you today. “Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? Whom sleekest 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. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master” (John 20:16). {Jesus knows your name and why you are weeping. Just one word and your tears will be wiped away.} The people who see the Lord are those who wait there and not in a hurry. Same for those seeking salvation, sanctification and Holy Ghost baptism. As you tarry here today, the Holy Ghost will come upon you.

“Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God” (John 20:17). He called the disciples brethren, they were saved, their names were written in the book of life in Heaven, “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).  They were children of God. They were born again while Christ was here on earth. When you come to the Lord Jesus Christ and turn away from your sin and receive Him as your Lord and Saviour, He gives you grace and truth, and as you are learning and following Him, then you are one of the brethren of Jesus Christ. The disciples are the brethren of Jesus Christ. How will someone have this same experience like the disciples? “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:17-18). Because we are born again, children of God, turned away from our sins, feel His love, He received us and we have received Him, then we can call Him Abba Father, and we are His brethren, His Father is our Father and His God our God (Romans 8:14-16,17,29). We are saved, and then we go further to plunge ourselves into His blood and are cleansed and sanctified and He shows us to the angels and He is not ashamed to call us His brethren, “For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren” (Hebrews 2:11). Sanctification is not only unity among the believers, but also unity of the believers with Jesus Christ, that what He loves we love; what He hates we hate; and what He does we do, and everything about His life is reflected in our life. He calls us brethren and as brethren, we are going to a better country, we are not going to stay in this polluted world forever, the Lord has prepared for us a City, and you must be there (Hebrews 8:10; 11:16). “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). It is now that we are the children of God, that same moment you repent from your sins and ask the Lord to save you, you are the son of God. He gives you the grace to live in newness of life, and once that grace is there, you are a child of God. You see here identification with Christ: you are crucified, died, buried, risen to newness of life, ascended into Heaven and now seated at the right hand of the Father with Him in glory, and when He comes, so we will see Him as He is and be like Him (1 John 3:1-5). “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin” (1 John 3:5). When Christ takes away your sins, you will not see them again; they will not be in your life again. You abide in Him and will sin no more. Sin internally, externally, in talking and in action will get out of your life in Jesus Name.

You see Jesus appeared to Mary and He told her to go and tell the disciples that are His brethren that He had risen from the dead, and that He is going to His Father. It was a convincing encounter that Jesus is truly risen again, and you will have your own encounter.

Point 3. THE CONFIRMED EXPERIENCE BY THE REASSURING CHRIST

John 20:19-23; Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:14-17; Philippians 4:7; John 17:17,18; Mark 16:15,16; Luke 24:46,47; Acts 26:16-19; Romans 10:13-15; Acts 8:4; Job 33:4; Psalms 33:6; John 14:16,17; 1 Corinthians 2:12; Matthew 26:28; Luke 24:47,48; Acts 10:42,43; Romans 3:23-25; Hebrews 9:22; Romans 10:8-10,13

“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” (John 20:19). You must experience and have this tonight, Peace be unto you. This is the evening of blessing, impartation, joy and peace. You know that we can this peace through our Lord Jesus Christ; peace in our minds, hearts, spirits, souls, lives, families, churches and everything that concerns us. You make Him the Master of your soul and Captain of your salvation, that you are following after Him as your perfect example, then peace will descend inside your soul (Romans 5:1). “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us” (Ephesians 2:14). He died for us on the Cross at Calvary so that all the fears of the future, confusion and sorrows will vanish away. For He is our Peace.

Now we have the peace of God. That peace that passes all understanding you can have today. And if we are going to make the Rapture, that peace must keep on flowing constantly, “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” (2 Peter 3:11-14). All the things people are labouring for, will be consumed by fire on the last day. Don’t allow anything to touch or take away that peace you have in Christ. When sin comes in, it will disturb that peace of God in you, there will be confusion and oppressions in the life. But when you do away with sin, that peace will abide in Jesus Name.

“Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you” (John 20:21). There are some people that say only the ordained preachers, seminarians, pastors, leaders or men are supposed to be preaching, but Jesus said all the people that have the peace of God in them, saved and justified by faith, they are the people that He sent out to preach. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world” (John 17:17,18). Remember, not only the ministers or men are supposed to be sanctified. Sanctification is for everyone because Jesus died and paid the price for the sanctification of everyone. All the people that are sanctified by the blood of Jesus are supposed to take on verse 18, to go into the world and preach the gospel. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). Not all the creatures are in Church, some are in your village, neighbourhood, town and office. The pastor cannot come to them, you are there to preach the gospel, and the people will believe and be saved through your preaching. “Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19). Your conscience must bear you witness. There are some people that say they believe in Christ and yet have not talked to anybody about Jesus Christ and His salvation. You must pick up the challenge today to preach the gospel. In your community, village, town and anywhere you find people around you, be the preacher there. All we have learnt we will preach to others. (Romans 10:13-15). The Early Church were scattered about preaching the word, and we too today will scatter abroad to preach the word to all the people around us.

“And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost” (John 20:22). The Lord Jesus breathed on His disciples. What is the implication, meaning and effect of that on their lives?  “The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life” (Job 33:4). All those disciples at that time were discouraged and depressed but Jesus breathed life on them. (John 14:16-17) The Holy Ghost will abide with you forever; the power you will get here, when you get back home and on the field of evangelism, will be there with you. When He said, receive ye the Holy Ghost, He wanted the Holy Ghost to be with them as partners in life and ministry, and then shall be in them, that is, on the day of Pentecost. “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God” (1 Corinthians 2:12). He has given you a lot, salvation, sanctification, Holy Ghost baptism, healing, deliverance, answers to your prayers, all free to you tonight in Jesus Name.

“Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained” (John 20:23). How do you remove somebody’s sin? By telling him of the Lord Jesus Christ who died for us and through whom we have removal of sins. It is when you tell them and enlighten them of the way of salvation through cleansing by the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and they believe and repent, that their sins are remitted, forgiven; but if you do not tell them, and they are ignorant, then their sins are retained. “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47). (Acts 10:42-43; Hebrews 9:22; Romans 10:8-10,13; 3:23-25;) There is no reason why anyone here should not be saved, for whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. You who are saved, go and tell others and bring many to salvation. It is so important that we emphasize the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, now that we have a clear evidence, have seen the convincing encounter and have confirmed experience of the resurrection, that as you call upon the Lord, you will be saved. Go and tell others and they will be saved, you will bring multitudes into the Kingdom of God. Jesus is Risen, He is Alive, He is our Lord and Saviour!

Ponder on this! When you come to the Lord Jesus Christ, and you turn away from your sin, He gives you grace and the truth, and as you are learning and following Him, then you are one of His brethren. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi. 

Ponder on this! The disciples should have understood that the empty tomb meant that our Christ is Risen, the grave could not hold Him; neither the grave nor the power of the gentiles will hold you down. He rose, and you must rise out of that grave. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.

Reflection – Sanctification is not only unity among the believers, but also the unity of the believers with Jesus Christ, that what He loves we love; what He hates we hate; and what He does we do. Everything about His life is reflected in your life. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.

Words on the Marble – There is a manifestation for somebody that will not go away, but will stay to see the end of the matter. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.

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