HE CONQUERED DEATH<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our Conquering King: Series<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1 Corinthians 15:14-19<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Harry Houdini died on October 31st 1926. But his great claim to fame was that he was an escape artist. As a matter of fact, he was said to have laughed at locks, sneered at chains.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Harry Houdini was often described as one with the flexibility of an eel. An incredibly gifted man. During his day, people would do all kinds of things to try and defeat Houdini. They would chain him to walls, seal him in coffins, one time they riveted him into a boiler, they sowed him up in canvas bags, and even sealed him into a wooden barrel. Yet, all to no avail. Houdini would always escape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But on that dark fall day in late October of 1926, death did what no other man could \u2014 and it put him in the grave. And he has yet to escape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before his death \u2014 Houdini told his wife that if there was any way out of death, that he would find it. He said, \u201cIf there is any way out, I’ll make contact with you and we’ll do it on the anniversary of my death.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Well, for 10 years she kept a light burning over his portrait. But in the end, after no success \u2014 she finally turned it out. Death had conquered Houdini!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But this morning, we\u2019ve all gathered to celebrate the FACT that Jesus Christ, our Savior conquered death, hell, and the grave!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What no one else could do \u2014 He did! (Amen!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I read this week that when Jesus was on the cross \u2014 He didn\u2019t say \u201cI am finished.\u201d He said, \u201cIt is finished.\u201d Because, He was just getting started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This morning, everything we\u2019ve done around here has been to proclaim to you the good news of Jesus\u2019 Resurrection. And the reason \u2014 is because Jesus, the very Son of God, came from heaven to earth on a divine mission to be Our Conquering King<\/em>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n And His mission was to annihilate sin and completely destroy the power of death once and for all. And He did just that for you and me.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n You see, Jesus was determined not to let anyone or anything deter him from His goal \u2014 not the pain, nor disappointment, nor betrayal, and not even the high cost of laying down His life for ours. Jesus came from heaven to earth with one distinct purpose in mind \u2014 and that was to reconcile humanity with divinity.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n And so, today we remember His mission and we celebrate His victory. He conquered death and gave us life!<\/p>\n\n\n\n And this is something the Old Testament predicted,\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus promised, and the apostles proclaimed.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n And so we aren\u2019t professing a dead religion \u2014 established by a dead Savior. We are proclaiming a living message based on our CONQUERING KING.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because, Jesus is alive! He is not in a tomb. He is on the throne. And death has been defeated once and for all!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n But what about the naysayers? What about those who don\u2019t believe? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, Billy Graham once said, ”If I were an enemy of Christianity, I would aim right at the resurrection because that is the heart of Christianity.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Billy Graham recognized what we are acknowledging today \u2014 and that is that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the single greatest aspect of our faith. It is this which separates Christianity from every other religion.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some have said that, ”Christianity begins where other religions end: with the resurrection.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n And while every other religion may be able to point to their founder, only Christianity can point to an empty grave. And that is, because the founder of our faith is still alive!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Every major religion is empty and dead (just like their founders) \u2014 except for Christianity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Consider Buddha, the founder of Buddhism \u2014 an ancient and dead religion. Buddha\u2019s grave and the monuments and relics associated with him can be found in Sri Lanka. Every year people travel to visit these monuments and sacred places filled with the idols and relics associated with him. But make no mistake about it\u2014Buddha is still dead.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Or consider Confucius is founder of Confucianism, it too is an ancient and dead religion. If you travel to his home town of Qufu, a city in China, you\u2019ll find a large cemetery where more than 100,000 of his descendants are also buried \u2014 and he along with them. Because Confucius is still dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Or consider Muhammad, the founder of Islam, yet another dead religion. Muhammad (like the other dead religious leaders) is still buried in his grave. If you travel to the city of Medina in Saudi Arabia, you can find his tomb. It lies within the confines of what used to be his Home. And millions of religious visitors travel there to visit it each and every year.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Or consider Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, another dead religion. Smith is buried in his family\u2019s cemetery in Illinois. And he and all the religious relics associated with Mormonism can be found there \u2014 because he too is still dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Listen, each and everyone of these founders of various religions are still dead and yet, people make pilgrimages to visit their graves or monuments to remember them year after year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But the difference between each of these dead religions and our living faith in Jesus is that we too could make a pilgrimage to His tomb, but if we go inside we will not find his body \u2014 because He is not there. His grave is empty \u2014 because Jesus is alive!<\/p>\n\n\n\n But it\u2019s this very question of the authenticity of Jesus\u2019 resurrection that the apostle Paul points to as the linch-pin of our faith. In 1 Corinthians 15, he says this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 <\/em><\/strong>Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. <\/em>2 <\/em><\/strong>By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 3 <\/em><\/strong>For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, <\/em>4 <\/em><\/strong>that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, <\/em>5 <\/em><\/strong>and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. <\/em>6 <\/em><\/strong>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. <\/em>7 <\/em><\/strong>Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, <\/em>8 <\/em><\/strong>and last of all he appeared to me also…<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 14 <\/em><\/strong>And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. <\/em>15 <\/em><\/strong>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. <\/em>16 <\/em><\/strong>For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. <\/em>17 <\/em><\/strong>And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. <\/em>18 <\/em><\/strong>Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. <\/em>19 <\/em><\/strong>If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Corinthians 15:14-19 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What a tragic thought. What an unthinkable thing. What if there were no resurrection \u2014 what if there were no Easter to celebrate. Then we (of all people) should be pitied.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The apostle Paul says \u2014 if Christ didn\u2019t rise again, then we of all people are to be pitied.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n An interesting game- JENGA is the 3rd most popular board game in the world. It\u2019s played by stacking blocks on top of each other. Each turn a player pulls another block from somewhere in the tower, until the tower becomes unstable and topples over.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like JENGA, the resurrection of Jesus serves as the lynch-pin of our faith. And if it\u2019s not true, if it\u2019s not real \u2014 if this fact is pulled out of our faith, then our entire belief system (and lives as well) will come crashing down into nothingness.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let’s face it. If Jesus didn’t arise that first Easter morning, lay aside His burial wrappings, and then leave the tomb to walk among those who loved Him, nothing really matters. Nothing has any meaning \u2014 and every temporal blessing that we might enjoy, well it\u2019s pointless. And every good thing in this life is worthless, because in the end it will all come crashing down in a sudden and heartbreaking loss to death.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Every good deed and every good gift will all end in decay, because death wins and all else fails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh, but that\u2019s not the case! That\u2019s not the truth \u2014 that is more like \u201cFAKE NEWS!\u2019 Because Paul adds one more verse \u2014 the most important verse of this passage. Look again at the next verse \u2014 verse 20. For it reads:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 20 <\/em><\/strong>But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Praise God! Our Savior is not dead \u2014 He is alive!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n And today (and everyday), we celebrate the greatest victory known to man. Death has been defeated \u2014 and our King is a Conquering King!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although death was quite a foe, it was no match for our Savior!<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, today we rejoice \u2014 because:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n He is risen! He is risen indeed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n And we have reason to live, reason to worship, and reason to celebrate.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n For just as Jesus kept His promise about His resurrection, and rose again \u2014 He also keep every other promise He has made. And one day, He will call us home to live with Him for all of eternity. So you and I can trust in Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I read about a Buddhist man living in Africa who recently converted to Christianity \u2014 putting his trust in Jesus. Someone asked him why the change \u2014 why would he abandon his faith in Buddha and put his trust in Jesus, and he said, <\/strong>”it’s like this: if you were walking along and came to a fork in the road, and two men were there and one was dead and the other was alive, which man’s directions would you follow?”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But the question isn\u2019t what has someone else decided. The question is, what have you decided about Jesus? <\/p>\n\n\n\n The resurrection story leaves us all with a choice:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Will we choose to believe the truth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Or, will we choose to reject this truth (and live in darkness)?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Without question<\/em>, the greatest decision you could make today is to believe in Jesus and His resurrection \u2014 to believe in His victory, and to experience the promise of \u201clife in Him!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The apostle Peter put it in 1 Peter 1:3,<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3 <\/em><\/strong>\u201cPraise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, <\/em>4 <\/em><\/strong>and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, <\/em>5 <\/em><\/strong>who through faith are shielded by God\u2019s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. <\/em>6 <\/em><\/strong>In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. <\/em>7 <\/em><\/strong>These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith\u2014of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire\u2014may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. <\/em>8 <\/em><\/strong>Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, <\/em>9 <\/em><\/strong>for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Peter 1:3-9 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Wow! What can we say to that except \u2014 PRAISE GOD!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Peter reminds us that this life is not all there is, but while we are here \u2014 we must believe and trust in the power of Christ\u2019s resurrection! Because He conquered the grave so that we could conqueror life!<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, what exactly does His resurrection do for us? Well, it does many things \u2014 but let me just offer you a few this morning. First of all, because Jesus conquered death . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. WE HAVE THE PROMISE OF LIVING FREE!<\/strong> <\/em><\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Through His death, burial, and resurrection \u2014 Jesus now offers us a new life, one free of the bondage and the tyranny of sin. No longer do we have to live our lives alienated from God\u2019s presence. No longer do we have to live under the crushing weight of our sin.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the Bible, by believing on Jesus, we can have our sin completely forgiven and have our lives changed \u2014 made new in Him. Because Jesus died and rose again, all who are in Jesus Christ are forgiven forever! What awesome news!<\/p>\n\n\n\n I like how that great preacher and writer, Watchman Nee once put it. He said, \u201cOur old history ends with the cross; our new history begins with the resurrection.\u201d <\/em>~ Watchman Nee<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this world we are used to things expiring and falling apart. Just think about it \u2014 everything you buy comes with a temporal expectancy. But not so our salvation. When you are freed from the power of sins grip; when you are released from the bondage of guilt and shame \u2014 you are free!<\/p>\n\n\n\n His death and resurrection was all it took to free you ONCE and FOR ALL!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n His sacrificial death has no expiration date. It is good for all eternity. And so, when you sin is removed, it\u2019s gone (never to haunt you again).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n As David tells us in Psalm 103:12, <\/p>\n\n\n\n “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed or transgressions from us.”<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Psalm 103:12 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Or as the prophet Micah put it in Micah 7:19, through the cross of Calvary, Jesus would “hurl all our iniquities (or sin) into the depths of the sea.”<\/em> And that\u2019s because His death and resurrection freed us from the penalty of sin.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, for those who trust in His sacrifice and believe in His resurrection, our sins have been wiped out \u2014 no longer to be found! (Aren\u2019t you grateful for that? Amen!)\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because Jesus conquered death \u2014 we can make a fresh start with Him, as welcomed friends. We have the promise of living free!<\/p>\n\n\n\n But that\u2019s not all, in addition to that \u2014 because Jesus conquered death . . .\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. WE HAVE THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE!<\/strong> <\/em><\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n By believing in Christ, we too can celebrate in His triumph over death. And eventually we too will know the joy of and eternal life (completely alive) with Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is a story told in Brazil about a missionary who discovered a tribe of Indians in a remote part of the jungle. They lived near a large river. They were in need of medication and there was a contagious disease that was devastating the village.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fortunately, there was a small village hospital (or infirmary) on the other side of the river. However, in order to get help, they would have to cross the river and this they greatly feared. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The problem is that their pagan beliefs taught them that the river was inhabited by evil spirits and that if they entered the river \u2014 it would mean sudden death. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the missionary insistence and his testimony about how he had crossed the river to get to them, they still wouldn\u2019t enter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Exasperated, the missionary filled decided to show them how he had conquered the mighty waters by walking into the heart of the river. Once he was in the current, the missionary dove under water and swam to the other side where he emerged unharmed. When he came up he punched the air with his fist to show that he was victorious over the river. With that, the Indians broke out into cheers and followed him across.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the same way, Jesus shows us that we too can experience victory over the waters of death. While we may have a natural fear of death, through his crucifixion on the cross, his death, burial and resurrection, He demonstrated His victory over our greatest enemy. He conquered the river of death. He showed us that we no longer have to fear death.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus testified to this in John 11:25, when He said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n ”I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n John 11:25 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You know, the consequence of humanity’s first sin was death. God had warned Adam and Eve that if they ate the fruit from the forbidden tree, their lives would changed \u2014 and they would ‘‘surely die” <\/em>(Gen. 2:17).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n And so, their physical death was a result of their sin. And from that time until this, sin continues to touch our lives. But because of Jesus\u2019 victory over death, we too can look forward to triumphing over death. And one day, we too will experience a divine (physical) resurrection just like Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And, whatever our current circumstances, we can be confident that a better day is coming. So. when death comes our way (and it will, because death touches everyone), even then we can face it with strength and confidence \u2014 without fear.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Paul reminds us that when we die \u2014 being absent from this body is to be present with the Lord<\/em>. Death will not be an end for us \u2014 just a doorway into an eternal life in Christ! So, for those who believe upon Jesus \u2014 death has lost it\u2019s sting \u2014 it is a defeated foe. (Can you say AMEN?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n So never overlook the fact that Jesus’ resurrection promises that we, too, will one day be resurrected as well . . . never to die again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because Jesus conquered death, we have the promise of living free! And, we have the promise of eternal life. But that\u2019s not all, lastly \u2014 because Jesus conquered death . . .\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. WE HAVE THE PROMISE OF A FULL LIFE NOW!<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Too often we overlook the promise of a full life in Christ Jesus right now. While Heaven will be great \u2014 Jesus offers us new life, here and now as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because our sins are forgiven and Christ has risen \u2014 we have the power (in Jesus) to make a fresh start with God.\u00a0 In this new life, God himself comes to live within us by His Spirit. We can experience the joy of a new relationship with God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n True life is only found in Jesus! If you\u2019re not experiencing a full life right now, it may be because you\u2019re on the wrong path, or you\u2019ve taken a wrong turn. If you\u2019re trying to live life without Jesus \u2014 then you\u2019ll never know the joy of walking in victory and experiencing the closeness of His presence.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n But when you trust in Jesus and His resurrection power, then that changes everything. Through Jesus you are given the chance to live this life to its fullest! And He pours His power in you and showers His blessings upon you.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Paul writes in Romans 8:11 and says,\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Romans 8:11 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n And in Galatians 2:20, he testifies saying,\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Galatians 2:20 (NLT)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The story is told of a priest who cut some fresh thorns from some woods near his home. He then took them and laid them on the altar at the front of the church for his Good Friday service (when he would preach about Jesus\u2019 death). He intended on removing them for Easter but he forgot. And when he came to church that Easter morning he was caught by surprise \u2014 for those thorns had blossomed into beautiful flowers. So he decided to leave them there as an appropriate symbol for Easter Sunday.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s the thing \u2014 because Jesus has conquered death \u2014 and lives, we too are promised the wonder of a new life in Him too.\u00a0 In John 10:10, Jesus tells us,<\/p>\n\n\n\n 10 <\/em><\/strong>\u201cThe thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n John 10:10 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus came from heaven to earth \u2014 died a horrible death, was placed into a dark grave, but on the third day, He rose again victorious! Conquering death \u2014 and all to give you life to the full!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because Christ rose from death, reigns in power and is coming back again, we should be the most motivated people on the face of the earth. Enough of mere survival\u2014we should thrive right here, right now, and all because we believe in Christ\u2019s victory, His redemption and our transformation!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today, I invite you to overcome your doubts and put your faith in Jesus Christ. May this be the first day of the rest of your life. A life of promise and joy. A life of hope and expectation. A life lived well!\u00a0 And for those of you who already believe in Jesus, may you stop settling for the joy of heaven when we die \u2014 and start experiencing the abundant life of Jesus right now!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is what Easter is all about! Happy Easter!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" HE CONQUERED DEATH Our Conquering King: Series 1 Corinthians 15:14-19 Harry Houdini died on October 31st 1926. But his great claim to fame was that …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-133","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/133","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=133"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/133\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2695,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/133\/revisions\/2695"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=133"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/p>\n\n\n\n