Serving a Risen Saviot

1 ONE NIGHT A SHOE MAKER DREAMED • THAT THE NEXT DAY JESUS WAS COMING TO VISIT HIM. • THE DREAM WAS SO REAL HE WOKE UP ALL EXCITED • HE WAITED ALL MORNING, BUT, • TO HIS DISAPPOINTMENT, NO ONE CAME TO THE SHOP • EXCEPT FOR AN OLD MAN WHO LIMPED UP TO THE DOOR • ASKING TO COME IN AND SIT BY THE FIRE • WHILE THE MAN WAS RESTING, • THE SHOE MAKER NOTICED THAT • THE OLD FELLOW’S SHOES WERE WORN THROUGH • MOVED BY THIS, THE COBBLER TOOK A NEW PAIR FROM THE SHELF • AND SAW TO IT THAT THE STRANGER • WAS WEARING THEM AS HE WENT ON HIS WAY. • THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON THE COBBLER WAITED, • BUT HIS ONLY VISITOR WAS AN ELDERLY WOMAN. • HE HAD SEEN HER STRUGGLING UNDER A HEAVY LOAD OF FIREWOOD, • AND HE INVITED HER, INTO HIS SHOP TO EAT; • HE SAW TO IT THAT SHE HAD A NOURISHING MEAL • AS NIGHT BEGAN TO FALL, THE SHOEMAKER HEARD • A CHILD CRYING OUTSIDE HIS DOOR. • THE CHILD WAS LOST AND AFRAID. • THE SHOE MAKER WENT OUT, SOOTHED THE YOUNGSTER’S TEARS AND, • WITH THE LITTLE HAND IN HIS, TOOK THE CHILD HOME. • WHEN HE RETURNED, THE SHOE MAKER WAS SAD. • HE WAS CONVINCED THAT WHILE HE HAD BEEN AWAY • HE HAD MISSED THE VISIT OF HIS LORD. • IN HIS ANGUISH, THE COBBLER CRIED OUT, • “WHY IS IT, LORD, THAT YOUR FEET DELAY? • HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN THAT THIS WAS THE DAY?” • THEN, SOFT IN THE SILENCE A VOICE HE HEARD: • “LIFT UP YOUR HEART FOR I KEPT MY WORD. • THREE TIMES I CAME TO YOUR FRIENDLY DOOR; • THREE TIMES MY SHADOW WAS ON YOUR FLOOR. • I WAS THE MAN WITH THE BRUISED FEET; • I WAS THE WOMAN YOU GAVE FOOD TO; • I WAS THE CHILD ON THE STREET.” • IN THIS CHRISTIAN LIFE WE ARE CALLED TO SERVE GOD • BY LOVING ONE ANOTHER, CARING FOR ONE ANOTHER • JUST AS CHRIST LOVES AND CARES FOR US • WE NEED TO KNOW THAT WE DO NOT LOVE ONE ANOTHER • TO EARN GOD’S LOVE, WE DO NOT CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER • TO GET INTO HEAVEN • WE NEED TO KNOW THAT WE SERVE GOD BY LOVING ONE ANOTHER • BECAUSE HE IS A GOD WHO IS WORTHY OF SERVING…. • WE SERVE GOD OUT OF THANKS AND GRATITUDE FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US • WE SERVE A LIVING GOD WHO DAILY PROVIDES FOR OUR NEEDS • WE SERVE A GOD WHO SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS WORD, THE BIBLE • I NEED TO REMEMBER WHO IT IS I AM SERVING • WE NEED TO KNOW WHY WE SERVE GOD • MAYBE YOU NEED TO REMEMBER WHAT GOD HAS SAID IN HIS WORD • TODAY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT A PORTION OF THE EASTER STORY • THE WOMEN WHO HAD TRAVELED WITH CHRIST • COMING TO HIS TOMB AND FINDING IT EMPTY • TURN TO LUKE 24:1 • CHRIST HAD BEEN CRUCIFIED • AND JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA HAD ASKED PILATE FOR THE BODY • SO, HE COULD BURY HIM • THE WOMEN WHO HAD TRAVELED WITH JESUS • SAW THE TOMB AND HOW CHRIST WAS LAID IN IT • THEN THEY WENT HOME TO PREPARE SPICES AND PERFUMES FOR HIS BURIAL • THEY RESTED ON THE SABBATH LUKE 24:1–3 BUT ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, AT EARLY DAWN, THEY CAME TO THE TOMB BRINGING THE SPICES WHICH THEY HAD PREPARED. AND THEY FOUND THE STONE ROLLED AWAY FROM THE TOMB, BUT WHEN THEY ENTERED, THEY DID NOT FIND THE BODY OF THE LORD JESUS. WE SERVE A GOD WHO IS WORTHY TO SERVE… • THESE WOMEN HAD KNOWN JESUS, WALKED WITH HIM • HEARD HIM TEACH, SEEN HIS MIRACLES, THEY HAD SEEN HIM CRUCIFIED • THEY KNOW THAT JESUS IS WORTHY TO SERVE • SO, THEY SEEK TO SERVE HIM THE ONLY WAY THEY COULD THINK OF • BY PREPARING HIS BODY FOR BURIAL • THEY SERVED HIM RIGHT AWAY…. • ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, AT EARLY DAWN, • THEY COULD NOT GO ON THE SABBATH • BUT AS SOON AS THEY COULD GO… AT FIRST LIGHT OF DAWN THEY WENT… • SOMETIMES SERVING GOD IS NOT CONVENIENT • SERVING GOD IS NOT A 9-5 JOB • WE NEED TO BE READY TO GO WHEN HE SAYS GO • BECAUSE HE IS WORTHY OF OUR SERVICE…. • BECAUSE…. WHAT HE DID FOR US WAS NOT CONVENIENT… • HE DIED ON THE CROSS TO PAY FOR OUR SINS • WE CAN PUT UP WITH SOME INCONVENIENCE TO SERVE HIM… • SERVING GOD IS NOT ONLY INCONVENIENT IT CAN BE DANGEROUS • ONE OF THE REASONS THEY WENT AT DAWN • MAY HAVE BEEN TO AVOID BEING SEEN • WHAT THEY WERE PLANNING ON DOING • WAS ACTUALLY AGAINST JEWISH LAW • EXECUTED CRIMINALS WERE NOT GIVEN HONORABLE BURIAL • AND YET THESE WOMEN • CAME TO THE TOMB BRINGING THE SPICES WHICH THEY HAD PREPARED. • IF THEY HAD BEEN CAUGHT • THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A LOTTA TROUBLE • SOMETIMES SERVING GOD MEANS TAKING RISKS • HERE IN THE U.S. WE MIGHT RISK LOSING • FRIENDS, LOSING OUR JOB, LOSING LAW SUITS • BUT IN OTHER COUNTRIES PEOPLE • RISK LOSING MUCH MORE WHEN THEY SERVE JESUS CHRIST • SOME LOSE THEIR FREEDOM, SOME LOSE THEIR LIVES • BUT WE SERVE A GOD WHO IS WORTHY TO BE SERVED • NO MATTER WHAT THE RISK WE SERVE A GOD WHO HAS A PLAN • JESUS’ DEATH BURIAL AND RESURRECTION • WERE NOT A SURPRISE, THEY WERE PART OF GOD’S PLAN • WHEN WE ARE SERVING GOD, WE ARE PART OF THAT PLAN TOO • SOMETIMES WE MAKE OUR OWN PLAN FOR SERVING GOD • BUT OUR PLANS DON’T ALWAYS LINE UP WITH GOD’S • THESE LADIES WHO CAME TO THE TOMB THAT MORNING HAD A PLAN • THEIR PLAN WAS TO PREPARE JESUS BODY FOR BURIAL • THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A WONDERFUL THING FOR THEM TO DO • BUT GOD HAD A DIFFERENT PLAN • WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT THE TOMB • THE STONE HAD BEEN ROLLED AWAY • BUT WHEN THEY ENTERED, THEY DID NOT FIND THE BODY OF THE LORD JESUS. • THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH WHAT THEY PLANNED TO DO • THEY WERE THERE TO SERVE GOD • BUT WHAT THEY PLANNED WAS NOT WHAT GOD PLANNED… • SOMETIMES WHEN WE GO TO SERVE GOD THINGS JUST DON’T WORK OUT • WE TRY TO HELP SOMEONE IN NEED, WE GO OUT OF OUR WAY • TAKE TIME, PUT FORTH EFFORT, SPEND MONEY • TO DO SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE ELSE • AND IT JUST DOES NOT WORK OUT • WE NEED TO KNOW THAT OUR BEST PLANS FOR SERVING • GOD MAY NOT BE PART OF HIS PLAN THERE IS AN OLD JEWISH PROVERB THAT SAYS, • “IF YOU WANT TO MAKE GOD LAUGH TELL HIM ABOUT YOUR PLANS.” • MY PLAN WHEN I WENT INTO MINISTRY WAS TO BE A BIBLICAL COUNSELOR. • I’M SURE GOD GOT A GOOD LAUGH OUT OF THAT PLAN. • THE THING IS, COUNSELORS DO AN AWFUL LOT OF SITTING THERE LISTENING, • I’M JUST NOT THAT GOOD AT LISTENING. • GOD’S PLAN FOR ME WAS TO BE A PREACHER, • HE’D BEEN WORKING THAT PLAN SINCE I WAS 5 YEARS OLD, • I JUST DIDN’T UNDERSTAND THAT WAS THE PLAN. • IT CAN BE KIND OF HARD TO SWITCH GEARS • WHEN THINGS DON’T WORK OUT THE WAY WE PLANNED. • WE JUST GOT TO KEEP IN MIND • THAT GOD IS THE ONE WITH THE PLAN • ANY PLANS WE MAKE ARE SUBJECT TO HIS REVISION • AND WE SHOULD GO WITH HIS PLAN • BECAUSE HE IS WORTHY, RIGHTEOUS, AND HOLY • THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS • THE CREATOR SUSTAINER OF THE UNIVERSE • AND WE ARE BLESSED TO BE PART OF HIS PLAN • WHEN FOLKS BRING FOOD TO PUT IN THE BLESSING BOX • THEY SERVE HIS PLAN • WHEN FOLKS PREPARE MEALS FOR THE KIDS ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT • THEY SERVE HIS PLAN • WHEN FOLKS GO ON MISSION TRIPS TAKING • TAKING THE GOSPEL TO THE LOST • THEY SERVE HIS PLAN… • HE IS WORTHY TO BE SERVED BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS LUKE 24:4–6a WHILE THEY WERE PERPLEXED ABOUT THIS, BEHOLD, TWO MEN SUDDENLY STOOD NEAR THEM IN DAZZLING CLOTHING; AND AS THE WOMEN WERE TERRIFIED AND BOWED THEIR FACES TO THE GROUND, THE MEN SAID TO THEM, “WHY DO YOU SEEK THE LIVING ONE AMONG THE DEAD? “HE IS NOT HERE, BUT HE HAS RISEN. WE SERVE A GOD WHO IS NOT IN A TOMB • MOHAMMAD, IS IN A TOMB • BUDDHA WAS CREMATED • JOSEPH SMITH FOUNDER OF THE MORMONS • WE KNOW RIGHT WERE HIS GRAVE IS • BUT JESUS IS NOT IN THE TOMB…. • THESE WOMEN WERE SO SET ON THEIR PLAN • TO PREPARE JESUS’ BODY FOR BURIAL • THAT WHEN THEY FIND THE TOMB EMPTY • LUKE SAYS; THEY WERE PERPLEXED… CONFUSED • MANY TIMES, THEY HAD HEARD JESUS SAY • HE WOULD BE RAISED ON THE THIRD DAY • BUT THEY WERE NOT FOCUSED ON HIS WORDS • THEY WERE FOCUSED ON THEIR SITUATION • THEY WERE FOCUSED ON THEIR PLAN, NOT GODS • AND GOD’S PLAN IS FOCUSED ON A RISEN SAVOIR • A SAVOIR WHO WOULD DIE ON A CROSS FOR THE SIN’S OF THE WORLD • A SAVIOR WHO WOULD BE BURIED IN A TOMB…. • BUT NOT STAY THERE (PAUSE) • WHILE THE WOMEN WERE STANDING THERE IN CONFUSION • TWO MEN SUDDENLY STOOD NEAR THEM IN DAZZLING CLOTHING; • THE SUDDEN APPEARANCE AND THEIR DAZZLING CLOTHES • TELLS US THESE ARE NOT NORMAL MEN • LUKE WILL LATER STATE THAT THESE ARE IN FACT ANGELS • AND THESE ANGELS WILL MAKE IT CLEAR THAT • WE DO NOT SERVE A GOD IN A TOMB.. WE SERVE A LIVING GOD • PEOPLE SERVE MANY THINGS IN THIS WORLD • MONEY, POWER, FAME, DRUGS • NONE OF THESE THINGS ARE LIVING • THE FIRST THING THE ANGELS SAY TO THE WOMEN IS; • “WHY DO YOU SEEK THE LIVING ONE AMONG THE DEAD? • THEY REFER TO JESUS AS THE LIVING ONE • THE WAY THIS IS WORDED IS AMAZING • THE LIVING ONE IS NOT A DESCRIPTION OF JESUS • IT IS CLOSER TO A NAME OR A TITLE • JESUS IS THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF ONE WHO IS LIVING • AND HERE THESE WOMEN ARE LOOKING FOR • THE MOST LIVING ONE IN A TOMB AMONG THE DEAD • THEN THE ANGELS TELL THE WOMEN • “HE IS NOT HERE, BUT HE HAS RISEN. • THESE WOMEN WERE LOOKING FOR JESUS IN THE WRONG PLACE • HE IS NOT IN THE TOMB HE HAS RISEN • BEFORE WE GET TO DOWN ON THEM • CAUSE THEY WERE LOOK’N FOR JESUS IN THE TOMB • WE NEED TO REALIZE MANY PEOPLE LOOK FOR JESUS IN THE WRONG PLACE • SOME FOLKS LOOK FOR JESUS IN A BOTTLE • THE JUNKIE LOOKS FOR JESUS IN A SYRINGE • SOME SEEK HIM IN THEIR BANK ACCOUNTS • EVERYONE OUT THERE WITH AN ADDICTION • EVERYONE WITH A SINFUL HABIT OR LIFE STYLE • EVERYONE CHASING HAPPINESS AT ANY COST • IS REALLY LOOKING FOR JESUS • THEY DON’T KNOW THAT • THEY JUST KNOW THEY HAVE A HOLE IN THEIR HEART • AND THEY ARE TRYING TO FILL IT WITH SOMETHING… • ANYTHING TO MAKE THE PAIN AND EMPTINESS GO AWAY… • BUT SEE THAT HOLE IS A JESUS SHAPED HOLE • AND THE ONLY THING THAT WILL FILL IT IS THE LIVING JESUS • WHO SITS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER IN HEAVEN • ONLY THE ONE TRUE LIVING GOD IS WORTHY OF WORSHIP • ONLY THE ONE TRUE LIVING GOD IS WORTHY OF SERVING • IT TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO FIGURE THIS OUT • I SPENT ALOTTA YEARS LOOKING FOR GOD IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES • I CHASED AFTER EVERY OTHER RELIGION I COULD FIND • READ ALL THEIR BOOKS, TRIED TO LIVE LIKE THEY SAID • BUT NONE OF THAT CHANGED ME • I WAS STILL ARROGANT, SELF ABSORBED, AND PRIDEFUL… • BUT THEN THE LIVING GOD FOUND ME • I WAS NOT LOOKING FOR HIM • BUT BECAUSE HE IS A LIVING GOD • HE CAME LOOKING FOR ME…. • NOT ONLY DO WE SERVE A LIVING GOD • WE ALSO SERVING A GOD WHO COMMUNICATES LUKE 24:6B–8 REMEMBER HOW HE SPOKE TO YOU WHILE HE WAS STILL IN GALILEE, SAYING THAT THE SON OF MAN MUST BE DELIVERED INTO THE HANDS OF SINFUL MEN, AND BE CRUCIFIED, AND THE THIRD DAY RISE AGAIN.” AND THEY REMEMBERED HIS WORDS, WE SERVE A GOD WHO HAS SPOKEN • MANY PEOPLE THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE SERVED • GODS THAT NEVER SPOKE • IDOLS CARVED OF STONE OR WOOD NEVER SPEAK • NEITHER DO BOOZE, DRUGS, OR SEX • AND PEOPLE GIVE THEIR LIVES TO THEM AS IF THEY WERE GODS… • BUT THE ONE TRUE LIVING GOD HAS SPOKEN • THESE WOMEN WHO CAME TO THE TOMB • HAD HEARD HIM SPEAK MANY TIMES • THE ANGEL INSTRUCTS THEM TO REMEMBER WHAT CHRIST HAD SAID • AND NOTICE WHAT HE TELLS THEM TO REMEMBER • SAYING THAT THE SON OF MAN MUST BE DELIVERED INTO THE HANDS OF SINFUL MEN, • AND BE CRUCIFIED, AND THE THIRD DAY RISE AGAIN.” • THAT IS SOME PRETTY IMPORTANT STUFF TO REMEMBER • THEY HAD COME TO THE TOMB TO PREPARE JESUS BODY • BUT IF THEY HAD REMEMBERED WHAT CHRIST HAD SAID • THEY WOULD HAVE KNOWN HE WOULD NOT NEED THIS • BEFORE WE SET OUT TO SERVE GOD • WE MIGHT WANT TO LOOK AT WHAT HE HAS SAID… • WE CAN BEST SERVE GOD WHEN WE REMEMBER HIS WORD • WE CAN DO THIS BECAUSE WE SERVE A GOD WHO HAS GIVEN US HIS WORD • IT IS UTTERLY AMAZING TO ME THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE GOD’S WORDS • I MEAN I CAN PICK UP MY BIBLE AT ANYTIME AND READ THE WORDS • OF THE ONE TRUE LIVING GOD • JOHN SAYS; • AND THEY REMEMBERED HIS WORDS, • I WANT US TO THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A SECOND • HOW POWERFUL THAT MUST HAVE BEEN • THEY ARE STANDING IN A TOMB • HOLDING SPICES AND PERFUMES • READY TO PREPARE JESUS’ BODY • THEY GOT UP BEFORE DARK • GOT TO THE TOMB AT FIRST LIGHT • FOUND IT EMPTY • AND THEN THEY REMEMBER HIS WORDS • THIS WORD TRANSLATED REMEMBER • MEANS TO RECALL INFORMATION YOU HAD FORGOTTEN YOU KNEW • BUT TO BE ABLE TO RECALL INFORMATION YOU HAD FORGOTTEN • YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE INFORMATION IN THE FIRST PLACE • HOWARD HENDRICKS ONCE SAID • THE BIBLE WAS NOT WRITTEN TO SATISFY YOUR CURIOSITY, • BUT TO MAKE YOU CONFORM TO CHRIST’S IMAGE. • NOT TO MAKE YOU A SMARTER SINNER, • BUT TO MAKE YOU LIKE THE SAVIOR. • NOT TO FILL YOUR HEAD WITH A COLLECTION OF BIBLICAL FACTS, • BUT TO TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE.” • FOR IT TO TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE • YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER IT • FOR YOU TO REMEMBER IT YOU HAVE TO KNOW IT IN THE FIRST PLACE • GOD HAS GIVEN US HIS WORD • BUT IF IT SITS ON THE SHELF GATHERING DUST • IT DOES US NO GOOD AT ALL • ONLY WHEN WE READ IT, STUDY IT, MEMORIZE IT • CAN WE REMEMBER WHAT IT SAYS • AND ONLY WHEN WE REMEMBER WHAT IT HAS SAID • CAN IT CHANGE OUR LIVES • WE SERVE A GOD WHO HAS GIVEN US HIS WORD • TO IGNORE HIS WORD, TO LEAVE IT ON A SHELF • TO NEVER READ OR STUDY HIS WORD • IS TO WASTE ONE OF THE MOST PRECIOUS • RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO US IN THIS LIFE THE SHOEMAKER WAS ALL EXCITED • BECAUSE HE THOUGHT JESUS WAS GOING TO COME VISIT HIM • WHAT HE DID NOT UNDERSTAND IS THAT JESUS IS ALWAYS WITH US • HE DOES NOT NEED TO COME AND VISIT US • WE SERVE CHRIST EVERY TIME WE CARE FOR SOMEONE IN NEED • WE SERVE CHRIST EVERY TIME WE SERVE ONE ANOTHER • AND WE DO THIS NOT TO EARN GOD’S LOVE • NOT TO WORK OUR WAY INTO HEAVEN • WE DO THIS BECAUSE • WE SERVE A GOD WHO IS WORTHY TO BE SERVED • WE SERVE THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS • THE ONE TRUE LIVING GOD WHO CREATED AND SUSTAINS ALL THINGS • WE DO IT OUT OF THANKS AND GRATITUDE FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US • WE SERVE A GOD WHO HAS A PLAN • A PLAN THAT WAS FORMED BEFORE THE UNIVERSE WAS MADE • AND GOD’S PLAN INCLUDES A WAY FOR US • TO ENTER INTO AN ETERNAL RELATIONS SHIP WITH HIM • JESUS’ DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION ARE PART OF GOD’S PLAN • THE EMPTY TOMB WAS PART OF GOD’S PLAN • WE CAN KNOW GOD’S PLAN BECAUSE • WE SERVE A GOD WHO HAS SPOKEN TO US IN HIS WORD • WHEN WE READ, STUDY AND LIVE HIS WORD • WE WILL REMEMBER HIS PLAN • AND IT WILL CHANGE OUR LIVES AS WE SERVE HIM • OUR PART IN GOD’S PLAN OF SALVATION • IS TO PLACE OUR FAITH AND TRUST IN JESUS • THAT HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS PAID FOR OUR SINS • IF THERE IS ANYONE HERE TODAY • THAT HAS NOT TRUST IN JESUS CHRIST AS THEIR SAVIOR… 85