Let’s get this out of the way just in case the title of this sermon has you concerned. I do not believe that Jesus did not rise from the dead and I do not believe the resurrection was powerless. What I do believe is the church behaves like the resurrection of Jesus was powerless simply because the church as we know it today is pathetic, weak, builds with human hands and strength, stubborn, desolate, and powerless against our enemies and most Christians have come to accept this as normal Christianity. The church also behaves as if Jesus was this really amazing king sort of but not yet, as many who believe in the millennium reign of Jesus would say, but as the story goes, the story they love to tell, Jesus rose and sits at the right hand of the Father and can’t wait for us all to join him. Unfortunately, the church just has to get by until we can join Him in heaven. Yes, that is sarcastic! This is by no means a study on the resurrection of Jesus, nor does there need to be one. This is about whether you believe in the power that raised Jesus from the dead. I believe it plain and simple, just as I believe the creation account. If the words “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” are not enough for you, you should start there. If you can’t believe God created everything, you will not believe He can raise the dead and not just Jesus, heal the sick and cast out demons.
The resurrection of Jesus is often treated as mythology, (even by those who call themselves Christians) which is “a collection of myths, especially one belonging to a particular religious or cultural tradition.” There is a broad range of belief when it comes to the resurrection of Jesus. Some flat-out do not believe and do not care. Some say it was totally symbolic and some sort of believe and it is a nice story and others believe wholeheartedly. For many in the church, the story sounds great on paper or in a sermon but remains just a story that really does not impact us today. The resurrection of Jesus also makes for a really good Easter Sunday service. Songs like “Tell me the stories of Jesus” - Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear; things I would ask him to tell me if He were here: and then ends with “Yes, I would sing loudest hosannas, "Jesus is King!" Or the song “Tell me the old, old story” - Tell me the old, old story, of Jesus and His love. Tell me the story often, for I forget so soon.” Jesus is alive, He is King and why are you forgetting so soon? Every year Christmas is celebrated. The church celebrates a baby born in a manger and then a year goes by and the ritual is done again and again and again. Every year Easter is celebrated and the church sings praises to their risen King, and then a year goes by and the ritual is done again and again and again. The church celebrates Jesus, but do they really believe in Him?
The unbelief, the mythology or the symbolism of the resurrection is not something that just a few believe, as there are many who do not believe. The fact is most in the church really do not believe in the resurrection because they do not believe in the power that raised Jesus from the dead. That power that raised Jesus from the dead was not a one-time event, just as Pentecost was not a one-time event. Paul said Ephesians 1:18 “the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead.” Although, they will never state that they do not really believe like this person did. “It's Easter. Jesus was crucified, died and was resurrected. Except that didn't happen. So much of what many people believe is ridiculous. but that what we are told in the New Testament is so far removed from the nugget of truth about the real itinerant preacher as to be myth. Or, Jesus existed, but the New Testament is almost entirely mythological. So, happy Easter everyone but it didn’t happen. I mean, it really and obviously, clearly and honestly, did not happen.” That is extreme and that is what ignorantly confident looks like. Another writer said, “many modern theologians and biblical scholars have too readily assumed that all “supernatural” elements in the Bible must be “demythologized.” Demythologized means “reinterpret (a subject or text) so that it is free of mythical.” That is what the church looks like today, void of the supernatural – the power of God. Another said, “Christ’s resurrection is regarded as an allegory that symbolizes a greater meaning such as victory over life’s circumstances – or whatever subjective meaning one chooses.” Many in the church have even allegorized the miracles of Jesus so now they are symbolic for salvation like when Jesus healed the blind men who could now see. Instead of believing that Jesus can still heal the blind, they reject the power that is available to all who believe. Another said, “I do not believe in the resurrection of the flesh.” Another wrote, “For many liberal theologians, the actual physical resurrection is the first thing one needs to understand as symbolic.” The bottom line is you cannot be a Christian and not believe Jesus rose from the dead, walked, ate and drank just as He did when He was alive. Peter said, Acts 10:41 “He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.” Paul said 1 Corinthians 15:3 “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.” Not only did Jesus rise from the dead, but other also rose. Matthew 27:51 “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.” That is the kind of power that is available to all who would believe. Jesus confirmed He was the Messiah to John’s disciples when He said, Matthew 11:5 “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” The church was supposed to continue in that power.
There is a huge misconception in the United States and Canada that these countries are Christian nations. The United States believes this more so than Canada. As the United States constitution clearly declares, the United States is not a Christian nation and never has been. “First Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” The same with Canada. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms states, Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: (a) freedom of conscience and religion.” Because they used the word religion and not Christianity, neither are Christian nations but have made room for all beliefs of which does not line up with what Jesus said. John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Thomas Jefferson the third president of the United States, had his own bible and really brings meaning to the term cut and paste. “The Jefferson Bible, or The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth as it is formally titled, was Thomas Jefferson's effort to extract what he considered the pertinent doctrine of Jesus by removing sections of the New Testament containing supernatural aspects. Using a razor, Jefferson cut and arranged selected verses from the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in chronological order, mingling excerpts from one text to those of another in order to create a single narrative.” “This Bible was focused only on Jesus, but none of his mystical works. It didn’t include major scenes like the resurrection or ascension to heaven or miracles like turning water into wine or walking on water. Instead, Jefferson’s Bible focused on Jesus as a man of morals, a teacher whose truths were expressed without the help of miracles or the supernatural powers of God. Prepared near the end of the ex-president’s life, the Jefferson Bible, as it is now known, included no signs of Jesus’s divinity. In two volumes, The Philosophy of Jesus of Nazareth and The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth, Jefferson edited out biblical passages he considered over the-top or that offended his Enlightenment-era sense of reason. He left behind a carefully condensed vision of the Bible—one that illustrated his own complex relationship with Christianity.” Not everyone is so blatant about their unbelief, but every denomination has cut and paste in one form or another. His description of Jesus is basically what most churches look like. There is a lot of talk about Jesus, but no power. Without the supernatural, there is no power just as we see in the church. Again, don’t be deceived by what you may see or hear about in the charismatic circles. This is not new as the Sadducees in the bible did not believe in the resurrection. Acts 23:8 “The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.” Many in the church still do not accept the fact that there are spirits which is why they do not test for them. Mark 12:18 “Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question.” After Jesus answered them, He said, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? That statement can still be said today which is the meaning behind today’s sermon title.
For now, let’s just disregard those who do not believe the resurrection at all and focus on those who say they do. The church is filled with those who say Jesus is risen indeed. They will gather during the Holy Week and give praise to God for sending His Son to save us, yet at the same time do not believe there is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead available to all who would believe. Many even have trouble with the miracles that Jesus did or that took place in the Old Testament. When you talk about signs and wonders, miracles and healing, casting out demons, the first response is usually have you ever seen them? Or it has been two thousand years, and we are not doing the works Jesus did? That really is a self-admonition. Many are so fearful that miracles, signs and wonders would be satan. If we go back to creation, “In the beginning God…” and start there with belief, then the signs, wonders, miracles, healings, casting out demons are simple and should be expected from the God who created everything just by speaking. Many say there are no prophets, yet they believe there are false prophets. There are no signs and wonders but they believe false prophets produce false signs and wonders. You can’t have something counterfeit if there is not something real at first. That word that created became life. John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” For those who do believe the mythology or the lying by the disciples to cover up their leader’s death, you are calling God a liar because these are His words and God does not lie.
The church is filled with unbelievers, and I don’t mean those coming to church looking to be saved. Most churches grow by drawing crowds from other churches. I mean those who call themselves the church are the ones that need to be saved and filled with the Holy Spirit as we talked about yesterday. There are two accounts that talk about this unbelief. Just to be clear there are some very sincere people in the church who just do not know the truth. They have accepted what they have been taught as truth and have looked no further but that is not an excuse. Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.” There are also people who have doubts like Thomas, but it is unwise to continue in those doubts. The first account is one of the disciples named Thomas. He is known as doubting Thomas. After Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to His disciples, but Thomas wasn’t there. John 20:24 “The other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” Thomas then responds, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” We read earlier, Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” He would not believe till he saw Jesus for himself. We know that Thomas was a faithful disciple. Jesus was told that Lazarus was sick Jesus then said, John 11:5 “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” 8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” They were trying to take His life, yet he was going back. It is here we see the commitment of Thomas. He said, John 11:16 “Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” He would find out later that he really wasn’t willing to die. After they came to arrest Jesus, Jesus said Matthew 26:31 “Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” 34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” 35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.” Then Jesus appeared to Thomas. John 20:26 “A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
There have been many since that have not believed because they do not see. Even though we have all the evidence in God’s word they refuse to believe but to make matters worse, their unbelief has causes them to be deceived and have chosen to follow a different Jesus and other gospels. They say they believe in the resurrection, but they will not believe what the word of God states very clearly because they have not seen. They then accept a church void of power as normal Christianity. Many have seen the craziness of the charismatics and have thrown out the truth with what is false. Instead of believing what they read, they choose to believe a powerless church because they do not see miracles, signs and wonders taking place. They should be repenting, but instead have accepted the powerless church as truth. When Jesus finally got to Mary and Martha, it was too late, but remember Jesus said Lazarus would not die, yet he did. As they were leaving Jesus said, John 11:11 “After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” 12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. 14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” Jesus had told His disciples that He Himself would die and rise from the dead and even though they saw Lazarus rise from the dead, they still did not believe. I have talked to people and read about those who really do not believe Jesus raised people from the dead as they thought they were sleeping like Lazarus and the girl who had died. Jairus came to Jesus because his daughter was dying. While Jesus was on His way, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader and said, Mark 5:35 “Your daughter is dead, Why bother the teacher anymore? 36 Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” Jesus then said, 39 “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him.” Dead was dead and they knew what death was. When Jesus came to Lazarus, John 11:21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Mary also said John 11:32 “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Jesus went to the tomb 39 “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” 40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” They had faith that Jesus could heal their brother but raising him from the dead was totally different. John 11:23 “Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” The Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. John 11:41 “So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
Here again is the test. Yes, Martha and Mary and the others got to see this miracle and believed but as Jesus said to Thomas, John 20:29 “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” We have everything written down before us, so we do not need to see to believe. But if we do believe and return to God’s word and turn away from our wickedness, we will see miracles, signs, wonders, healing and demons cast out once again. Don’t deny God’s word because you have not seen. What you are seeing in the church today is not the true gospel. Believe God’s word and see His power. We have the testimony of the witnesses who saw Jesus alive. The second account was the two disciples who were heading out of town. They also had everything from the witnesses after Jesus had risen. Jesus, Himself told them He would die and on the third day rise and then when it happened just as He said it would, the women witnessed the empty tomb and saw Jesus with their own eyes. Yet here they are walking away when Jesus approached them. Not only were they walking away, they were discouraged. Jesus came up to them and said, Luke 24:17 “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
Even with all that evidence in front of them, they still did not believe. Today we have the word of God right in front of us, plain as day, but most still refuse to believe the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to all who believe. Ephesians 1:18 “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” Jesus responded to the two disciples and said, Luke 24:25 “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” They had everything before them, just as we have both the Old and New Testaments.
If the resurrection is made up or just symbolic, then God is a liar. This can’t be because His word is truth and God does not lie. Psalm 119:43 “Never take your word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws.” John 17:17 “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” Titus 1:1 “Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— 2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, 3 and which now at his appointed season he has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior.” The bible is not just the words of men. 2 Peter 1:21 “For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” The bible may look like a book, but it is not; it is the living word of God. So then why do most in the church not believe, and I include myself (no longer) because I grew up, went to seminary and pastored in the holiness movement of which there was no movement and was pretty much dead, meaning there was no power. I also was very against anything Pentecostal or charismatic. Don’t get me wrong I still am, but for much different reasons as I do believe there should be power in the church, just not like what we see in the charismatic movement. The deadness of most churches really is pathetic and yes, I have changed a lot since those early days. That change happened because I started to seek God and His word became alive to me. No longer would the traditions of the denomination or the wisdom and reason of the so-called gurus guide me. The word of God became my life-source, and I might add, the cause of many issues with others. Jeremiah describes it this way. Jeremiah 20:8 “Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long.” Jesus said Matthew 10:22 “You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Luke 6:22 “Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. 23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. 26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.” It turns out that most really do not want to hear what the bible is really saying because God’s word doesn’t line up with what they have been taught and they refuse to repent.
The church today and for hundreds of years is desolate. Because the church refused to obey God’s word, God allowed our enemy satan to decimate the church. And now the church is completely powerless to defeat our enemies, yet continues to think God is blessing. The church does not have the power to heal or cast out demons. (Be very careful with those who say they do especially when they preach other gospels, so it is not God’s power they think they have.) Without the power from on High, the good news is not going to the ends of the earth and people are not being saved. After all these years the church and the world refuse to turn to God. Romans 1:18 “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.” God gave us a couple of promises in the skies. One was the rainbow. God promised never again to destroy the earth by a flood. Genesis 9:12 “And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”
The other promise was also seen in the sky, except instead of worshipping God, many worship His creation. Jeremiah 33:19 “The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 20 “This is what the Lord says: ‘If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night no longer come at their appointed time, 21 then my covenant with David my servant—and my covenant with the Levites who are priests ministering before me—can be broken and David will no longer have a descendant to reign on his throne. 22 I will make the descendants of David my servant and the Levites who minister before me as countless as the stars in the sky and as measureless as the sand on the seashore.’” Every day the sun and the moon do just as God commanded them to do. When that changes, it will be too late to turn back to God. Many worship the sun and the moon as their gods instead of worshipping the creator of the sun and the moon. Tomorrow is an amazing celestial event, a total solar eclipse. “Throughout history, solar eclipses have had profound impact on adherents of various religions around the world. They were viewed as messages from God or spiritual forces, inducing emotions ranging from dread to wonder.”
I live about two hours away from the path of totality which is going through Niagara Falls. This event is a big deal as the Niagara region has already declared a state of emergency for the anticipated massive influx of visitors. One sign I saw on the highway said, Eclipse April 8th - plan ahead! It still amazes me how they can be so precise with the timing of these events. The partial eclipse will start in Niagara at 2:04:53 p.m. The total eclipse starts at 3:18:20 p.m. and ends at 3:21:50 p.m. and the partial eclipse ends at 4:32:00 p.m. This event is so precise, it can be timed down to the second. So, for this relatively short celestial event, there is a lot of excitement generated. People will plan to go see it or at least watch a livestream and look at photos posted online. One article said, “Almost a century ago in 1925, Niagara Falls experienced a full solar eclipse and isn’t expected to witness it again until 2144.” I came across this article from 2022 that was titled, “Two Years Today At Least 31,625,000 People Will Witness The ‘Greater American Eclipse,’ The Most Watched Celestial Event In Human History.” “An eclipse expert has calculated that a stunning 31,625,000 people in the U.S. currently live inside the path of the total solar eclipse. However, the path’s nearness to the population centers of New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Chicago and St. Louis (none are more than a two or three hour drive) mean the “Greater American Eclipse” could end up being witnessed by as many as 50 million people.”
Then the sun will reappear, and people will go home or return to whatever they were doing. I took those times from a chart that showed the path of totality as it goes through North America and as I said it is incredibly precise. As we talked about the other day that preciseness is due to an explosion that happened billions of years ago. An explosion where a perfect universe was created and now, we get to enjoy the benefits. Yes, the Big Bang theory is absolute absurdity; God on the other hand is not. God just spoke and the universe was created. Again if you cannot believe in the beginning God.., you are in trouble. Now I realize that many will say believing in God is absurd and choose to believe a big bang theory that does not explain the theory of everything, and will refuse to submit to God who is the theory of everything. One children’s-based museum website I saw said, “The Big Bang was the moment 13.8 billion years ago when the universe began as a tiny, dense, fireball that exploded. Most astronomers use the Big Bang theory to explain how the universe began. But what caused this explosion in the first place is still a mystery.” Yes, it would be a mystery unless of course you believe in the beginning God... Give or take a billion but .8, really? At school one of my kids was being taught this nonsense and I told her to ask where all the material for the explosion came from. The teacher was stumped. You can choose to believe that something as perfect as our universe just blew into existence one day or you can believe the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” If you don’t believe that verse, you might as well forget the rest of the bible. Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” Revelation 4:11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” Isaiah 40:26 “Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.” I don’t think most who call themselves Christians do know. Isaiah 45:12 “It is I who made the earth and created mankind on it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts. 18 For this is what the Lord says— he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited— he says: “I am the Lord, and there is no other.” Isaiah 44:24 “I am the Lord, the Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens, who spreads out the earth by myself.” Isaiah 42:5 “This is what God the Lord says— the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it.”
The people of the world will enjoy the total eclipse, unless it is cloudy and then continue on with their lives. The church will celebrate Easter just as in the years before and then life will continue on as it was. Matthew 16:1 “The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ 3 and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.” He then warned them “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” That doesn’t mean signs and wonders are evil, just don’t test God and try to get Him to prove Himself to you. The church seems to be oblivious to what is coming, even though we have been told. 2 Peter 3:3 “Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. 8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.” Daniel 12:1“At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.”
The church is not even close to being the people we ought to be, and many are secure in the false teachings they have given their lives to. Isaiah 28:15 “We have made a lie our refuge and falsehood our hiding place.” Isaiah 29:13 “The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught. 14 Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.” 15 Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the Lord, who do their work in darkness and think, “Who sees us? Who will know?” Jeremiah 5:21 “Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear: 22 Should you not fear me?” declares the Lord. “Should you not tremble in my presence? I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross. The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it. 23 But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts; they have turned aside and gone away. 24 They do not say to themselves, ‘Let us fear the Lord our God.” Jeremiah 22:21 “I warned you when you felt secure, but you said, ‘I will not listen!’ This has been your way from your youth; you have not obeyed me.” Isaiah 30:9 “For these are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the Lord’s instruction. 10 They say to the seers, “See no more visions!” and to the prophets, “Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. 11 Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!” Acts 7:51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!”
Like Israel and Judah, the church refuses to turn back to God’s word, and even though the end is coming, there is no fear of God. Isaiah said Isaiah 43:1 “But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel. 7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made. 21 the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise. 22 “Yet you have not called on me, Jacob, you have not wearied yourselves for me, Israel.” The abomination that causes desolation has destroyed the church, leaving only a remnant left, yet the church clings to the old rugged cross but doesn’t believe. Amos talks about a people who refuse to repent. Amos 4:6 “I gave you empty stomachs in every city and lack of bread in every town, yet you have not returned to me, declares the Lord. 11 “I overthrew some of you as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. You were like a burning stick snatched from the fire, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 5:3 “Lord, do not your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain; you crushed them, but they refused correction. They made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent.” Jeremiah 7:28 “Therefore say to them, ‘This is the nation that has not obeyed the Lord its God or responded to correction. Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips.” Then Amos says, Amos 4:12 “prepare to meet your God.” 13 He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind, and who reveals his thoughts to mankind, who turns dawn to darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth— the Lord God Almighty is his name.”
The question we all should be asking ourselves is are we prepared to meet our God? First of all, we should be afraid. Amos also said, Amos 5:18 “Woe to you who long for the day of the Lord! Why do you long for the day of the Lord? That day will be darkness, not light. 19 It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him. 20 Will not the day of the Lord be darkness, not light— pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness? 21 “I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me. 22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. 23 Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.” Isaiah 1:12 “When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts? 13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations— I cannot bear your worthless assemblies. 14 Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals I hate with all my being. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. 15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood! 16 Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong.” The church has mastered meaningless offerings and noisy songs. You can have the most amazing Easter service and God will not be moved by it but instead will say, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’ 8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” You may have sung a song called “Power in the Blood” or others like it. The song is about the power to free us from sin and that is part of it but what about the rest. Israel was saved from death that night, but they were also freed from Egypt, defeated their enemies and took the land. So if you are going to sing “There is power, power wonder working power in the blood of the lamb. There is power, power wonder working power in the precious blood of lamb” then you need to believe it, not just sing it. There is no power if you are following other gospels and a different Jesus.
Jesus came to destroy the work of satan and salvation is just one part of it. If God has turned His face from the church, you have to question salvation even taking place. 1 John 3:8 “The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” If we do not obey and if we do not believe there is power to do as Jesus did, we are following a different gospel. The church was supposed to continue to Acts 26:18 “open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’” Without the power, people are not being freed from the grip of satan, although they may think they are because that is what they have been told. But is this happening? Luke 13:11 “a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” 13 Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.” Then the hypocrites opposed Jesus but Jesus said, should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?” Quick, what was your first thought? Only by Jesus or possible for today? Be honest with yourself. What we saw Philip do should still be happening today. Acts 8:7 “For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.” Like with the resurrection, many in the church have symbolized healing and casting out demons as salvation. They do not believe that people can actually be healed this way, even though we are told 1 Corinthians 12:7 “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” God is telling you all these gifts are available as you just read. satan is telling you they are not.
Paul describes the resurrection. Colossians 1:15 “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. 21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.” Paul then says to the Corinthians, 1 Corinthians 15:12 “But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.” Not only did Paul preach the good news of the gospel, he said 1 Corinthians 4:20 “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” Acts 19:11 “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.”
What if the total eclipse was the beginning of the end? Or will it be like all the other Easter services that come and go? Do you look at God’s creation and repent or just continue with the church as it has been, powerless and desolate because man worshipped what his hands have made. Romans 1:25 “They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.” Are your ready to meet your God? Don’t be too quick to answer because our final destination, heaven or hell is for all eternity. If you have been following other gospels and a different Jesus as most churches have (lack of power is the proof) then you are not ready to meet your God. Jonah, once he finally obeyed, went to Nineveh and spoke these words. “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” Forty days from April 8th; what would you do? All through the Old Testament, God’s prophets spoke the truth and the people wouldn’t listen or killed those who spoke God’s word just as they did Jesus, but Jonah 3:5 “The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.” 6 When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” 10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.” God then said to Jonah, Jonah 4:11 “And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”
Jonah was sent to an obscure people to tell them to repent. Ezekiel was called to be a watchman and not sent to an obscure people but to his own people. Ezekiel 3:17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.” Ezekiel 2:4 “The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’ 5 And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them.” Ezekiel 3:5 “You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and strange language, but to the people of Israel— 6 not to many peoples of obscure speech and strange language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. 7 But the people of Israel are not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for all the Israelites are hardened and obstinate. 8 But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. 9 I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.” Later God said to Ezekiel, Ezekiel 18:30 “Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. 31 Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!” Jeremiah told the people Jeremiah 3:12 “‘Return, faithless Israel,’ declares the Lord, ‘I will frown on you no longer, for I am faithful,’ declares the Lord, ‘I will not be angry forever. 13 Only acknowledge your guilt— you have rebelled against the Lord your God, you have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every spreading tree, and have not obeyed me, declares the Lord.”
Don’t just enjoy the Easter season or the total eclipse, return to God and prepare for the outpouring of His Spirit. The church definitely needs God to pour out His Spirit once again so that the church can do as Jesus did and go to the ends of the earth proclaiming the good news, healing the sick and casting out demons. Because of God’s promise to David, there is still good news. Ezekiel 39:29 “I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.” Isaiah 57:5 “For your Maker is your husband— the Lord Almighty is his name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth. 6 The Lord will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit— a wife who married young, only to be rejected,” says your God. 7 “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back. 8 In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord your Redeemer.” Ezekiel 36:33 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. 34 The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. 35 They will say, “This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.” 36 Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the Lord have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.’” Amos 9:11 “In that day “I will restore David’s fallen shelter— I will repair its broken walls and restore its ruins— and will rebuild it as it used to be.”
If the church would turn form their wicked ways, God’s power would return and the church will look like this. Matthew 4:23 “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.” Mark 16:15 “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” 19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” Acts 4:12 “The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.” Acts 8:5 “Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.”
