The Power of a

Resurrection

Pastor Mark Schwarzbauer PhD

Family Worship Center, 4/1/18

Text Philippians 3:10 “…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection…”

Part One: The Resurrection Changes

  1. Last week we shared from the Book of James. James was not written by one of James from the twelve like James-the-less, or James the son of Zebedee. The Epistle of James was written by the half-brother of Jesus. This James did NOT believe in Jesus during His ministry (John 7:3-5).
  2. Jesus pointed out that even in His own home He was rejected (Mark 6:4).
  3. At the cross, Jesus entrusted His mother Mary’s care to the disciple John and NOT to James or his other half-brothers (John 19:26-27).
  4. But after James saw Jesus raised from the dead, it changed his mind and his life, Acts 1:14.
  5. He was there in the upper room at Pentecost, spoke in tongues as he received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
  6. In Acts 15, we see James has gone from mocking to management, and is the head of the church in Jerusalem.
  7. James wasn’t the only half-brother of Jesus to convert. The Epistle of Jude was written by James full brother, Jesus half-brother.
  8. The Power of the Resurrection Changes, because the Power of the Resurrection Proves…

Part Two: The Resurrection Proves

  1. The resurrection proves Jesus was who He claimed to be, John 2:18-21.
  2. The resurrection proves you can trust Jesus’ teaching is authoritative, John 10:18.
  3. The resurrection proves the penalty for your sin is fully paid, John 19:30 Τετέλεσται (Tetelestai) means “It has been finished”, it is an accounting term meaning “paid in full”.
  4. The resurrection proves Jesus has authority over death and the grave, John 11:25.
  5. The resurrection proves He is coming back.
  6. The resurrection proves He has authority as the final judge, John 5:22.
  7. The resurrection proves Jesus can also raise YOU from the dead, 1 Cor. 15.

Part Three: The Resurrection Empowers

  1. Romans 8:11
  2. “Think about this for a moment: when you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the Spirit of God actually makes His home in you—the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead! That means that you have unlimited power, unlimited wisdom, unlimited ability, unlimited joy and unlimited peace living inside of you by the power of the Holy Spirit. As a believer, you have the unlimited, supernatural, living God inside of you!” (Joel Osteen)
  3. The Power of the Resurrection

A.The Power over guilt and shame – peace inside. Romans 5:1

B.The Power to live life with an eternal perspective – confidence in life, I Cor. 15:58.

C.The Power to live with hope and joy, Matt. 28:9 (First command of resurrection was “rejoice”).

D.The Power of resurrection authority to bring others to Christ, I Cor. 16:2.

E.The Power over death and the grave – so no more fear of death!

1. Hebrews 2:14-15.

2. Your fear of death.

3. Next week- Power over fear.

Closing:The resurrection change in James was real.

  • Jewish historian Josephus (Antiq. Book 20, 9, 1)
  • A.D. 62 James was martyred in Jerusalem.
  • Rather than deny, James “declared himself fully before the whole multitude, and confessed that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, our Savior and Lord” (quoted inBiblical Archaeology Review, November-December 2002, p.32).
  • The resurrection changed him, proved to him and empowered him. He wouldn’t renounce even under the threat of death.

Discussion Items and Questions for Home and Small Group

  1. In your own words, share the story of James life before and after the resurrection.
  2. What do you think so powerfully influenced James to not renounce Jesus?
  3. Which is the most meaningful to you, of the seven things the resurrection proves?
  4. How does the power of the resurrection help you?
  5. Pray for each other.