“I Need a Resurrection!”
Easter Sunday Sermon [on screen]
Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD
First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida
April 21, 2019
Introductory Comments:
Illustration: We often hear our children say that they need things when really they often don’t “need” it. They say, “I need that new toy!” “I need to get out of bed.” “I need to borrow your phone.” We adults are just as guilty, aren’t we? “I need a new car!” “I need a Starbucks.” Or, since it’s Easter, “I need a Cadbury egg!”
There are lots of things that we think we need, but there’s one thing this morning that I know that I need: I need a resurrection!
At Easter, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is the one true living Son of God and God Himself.
We celebrate the fact that He rose from the dead and appeared to people on this earth and ascended back into Heaven with God the Father.
However, we don’t just celebrate the fact that Jesus is no longer dead, although that is miraculous. We also celebrate the fact that the resurrection changes our lives forever!
Today, we’re going to discuss four aspects of the resurrection that I need in my life, and I dare say, you need in your life as well.
Let’s go to God in prayer and ask Him to speak to us as study His Word.
(prayer)
Today, we’ll be covering several different Bible verses as we look at these four aspects, so we have them on the screen for you this morning.
We’re going to cover a lot, so stay awake and alert!
Here we go, four aspects of the resurrection that I need (and you too).
First, . . .
- I need a resurrected Savior! [on screen]
I don’t need a savior who’s still in the ground. I don’t need a savior who’s imagined with the creativity of mankind. I certainly don’t need to be my own savior. I need a resurrected Savior!
I need someone who conquered death and the grave. I need someone who can save me from my sins. I need Jesus!
Romans 10:9 says . . . [on screen]
9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
I need to be saved from the curse of sin. I need a resurrected Savior!
We who were lost and dead in our sins have been saved by the death and resurrection of Jesus!
Ephesians 2:4-6 says . . . [on screen]
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, 5 made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! 6 He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus.
So, I need a resurrected Savior.
I don’t need some wishy-washy philosophy that can make me feel better about myself.
I don’t need some temporary high that comes from drugs, power, money, or earthly satisfaction.
I don’t need the latest social, political, or cultural trend.
I need a resurrected Savior! I need Jesus!
He changes lives.
That takes us to the second need I have:
- I need a resurrected life! [on screen]
I need to be different. I need to be made new.
God didn’t create me to achieve short-sighted earthly goals.
God sure didn’t create me to live like I was living before I had Jesus.
I need to be changed!
Romans 6:4-11 says . . . [on screen]
4 Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, 7 since a person who has died is freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him, 9 because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over him. 10 For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
I’ve died with Christ, and you better believe that I’ve been raised with Christ. I have a resurrected life!
Have you been raised with Christ? Do you have a resurrected life?
When we give ourselves to Jesus we die to our old selves. We die to sin and we are resurrected to new life! We are able to live a new life!
Children, do you know what that means? You might be thinking, “Pastor Matt, I don’t remember dying.” To die to our old way of life means that the way you were before you loved Jesus is over with! You’re new. It’s like the old you is dead and you’ve been brought back to life to live the way God designed you to live. You’re new!
The apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17 . . . [on screen]
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!
I need a resurrected life!
You know what else I need?
- I need a resurrected future! [on screen]
How many of you all need a resurrected future?
I can’t imagine how my life would have turned out without Jesus in my life?
Did you know that your pastor has some faults? I do. By God’s Holy Spirit and the power of the resurrection of Jesus, I am trying to put those faults to death. I can’t imagine where I would be without the resurrection of Jesus.
I need a future that is shaped and guided by the resurrection of Jesus. I need a future where Jesus is giving me hope, joy, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness, kindness, faithfulness, generosity, humility, compassion, love, hope, self-control, and grace.
I need a resurrected future!
I need a resurrected future on this earth. You know what? I also need a resurrected future beyond the realm of this earth.
I need hope beyond the grave. I need blessing beyond this world.
The resurrection of Jesus makes that possible. We spoke of Jesus’ second triumphal entry on this earth last week. Jesus will come to make all things new.
John says in Revelation 21:4-5 . . . [on screen]
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.
5 Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.”
I need a new future. I need my previous future rescued from death and brought back to life. My previous future included worldliness, selfishness, godlessness, and eternal punishment in Hell.
I need a resurrected future and praise God that the resurrection of Jesus made that possible!
Finally, . . .
- I need a resurrected way! [on screen]
I don’t want to go the same way anymore. I have a resurrected Savior, I have a resurrected life, I have a resurrected future, I also need a resurrected way.
I need to take my life in the direction that God has designed for me.
Colossians 3:1-4 says . . . [on screen]
1 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
The direction of my life needs to reflect the beauties and the power of the resurrection of Jesus in my life.
Do any of you need a resurrected way?
Let’s not live the same way that we did before Jesus.
Let’s love God differently, let’s love the church differently, let’s love others differently.
Let’s forgive, let’s give generously, let’s contagiously share the gospel with others, let’s change Bartow, let’s change Polk County, let’s change Florida, let’s change the United States of America, let’s change the world because of the power of Jesus, which has given us a resurrected way.
I need a resurrection and I trust you do as well.
Conclusion:
This Easter, and every other day of my life, I’m thankful for the resurrection of Jesus!
He has risen, church!
The fact that He has risen changes everything!
He has made all things new, He is making all things new, and He will make all things new!
We need Jesus and the power of His resurrection.
That takes us to our bottom line:
Bottom Line: TheResurrection is what we truly need! [on screen]
We were designed to be in a relationship with God. However, we were unfaithful to Him. We rejected God and went our own way.
However, because of the resurrection, we can be changed. We can know God again.
What a beautiful thing to celebrate this Easter Sunday.
(pause)
Challenge yourself this week in the following ways:
Weekly Challenge: [on screen]
- Experience the power of The Resurrection. [on screen]
Have you experienced the power of the resurrection of Jesus?
Have you been saved from the curse of sin and death in your own life?
If you’ve not, come and experience the power of Jesus! Come have all things made new in your own life!
- Treasure the power of The Resurrection. [on screen]
Do you reflect daily upon the power of the resurrection in your life?
Do you really treasure what God did for you through the death, burial, and resurrection of His one and only Son?
- Share the power of The Resurrection. [on screen]
The resurrection is the most powerful force and the most beautiful miracle in the history of the planet. Have you told someone about it?
Have you shared the love of Jesus with others?
Have you told others how they too can be raised to new life?
Have you shown others what resurrected love looks like, what resurrected generosity looks like, what resurrected forgiveness looks like, what resurrected neighboring looks like, what resurrected hospitality looks like, what resurrected sacrifice looks like, what resurrected parenting looks like, what resurrected obedience looks like, what resurrected working looks like, what resurrected church membership looks like, what resurrected citizenship looks like, what resurrected learning looks like, and what resurrected living looks like?
Have you shared the power of the resurrection?
Closing:
I need a resurrection. What about you? Do you need a resurrection?
Look to Jesus today, church. Look to Him and the power of His resurrection.
Let the Holy Spirit of God renew the power of the resurrection in your life today.
Treasure your resurrected Savior, live a resurrected life, take hope in the promise of a resurrected future, and pursue a resurrected way.
(Gospel Presentation)
(Closing Prayer)
Invitation Song – Just As I Am
Benediction:
If you have any sort of spiritual decision that you would like to make, you can contact me or Pastor Richard and we would be glad to talk to you anytime.
If you’re a guest and you don’t have a church home, please come see us again. Also, I’d love to talk to any and all of you after the service. I’ll be standing down front here after we dismiss.
We won’t have an evening service tonight as we gather with friends and family to celebrate Easter, eat ham, find eggs, eat candy, and remember the resurrection.
Let’s dismiss by singing Let’s Just Praise the Lord.
(Sing Let’s Just Praise the Lord)
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