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He Still Moves Stones - Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009
Bishop Salter’s Easter Sermon from 2009 reminds that in your present trial, you are going to need more than what you have relied on in the past. So let your faith make you whole.
Scripture: Luke 24:1-11
Introduction
What do you do when the very essence of life has been sucked out of you with one despicable, low blow? This is the situation the followers of Christ found themselves in after the crucifixion. One-day life with Christ was excellent, the next day, complete horror. Jesus was now stuck in a grave behind a huge stone, which no single man could possibly move. Sometimes, life is seemingly unfair, and we seemingly unprepared to deal with the massive stones that are blocking our deliverance.
Stones Have Great Symbolism
They represent that which is immovable. They also conjure images of that which is durable and formidable. Finally, they represent a certain permanence. They also can be very intimidating.
When they rolled the stone in front of the tomb, the followers of Jesus must’ve all given up hope and finally resolved….this is it.
This is where many of us find ourselves today. There are huge stones, and it seems like Jesus is no longer available to us.
Everyone Has At Least One Very Large Stone That They Need Moved
In fact, the Gospels tell us that the women (Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James and Salome) came to embalm Jesus with spices. Even though they heard Jesus say that he would rise on the third day, they did not expect him to be anywhere but in that grave.
Perhaps, their perspective was somewhat warped, or their equilibrium was off. Still, this group accepted that the stone sealed a reality that even Jesus was not going to change. Therefore the best they could do is just accept the reality: there was no longer a reason to hope for better.
Likewise, everybody here is probably struggling to believe that their stones can be and will be moved.
See, when huge stones set into our life, it seems impossible to keep hope alive. Like those women, we come to church every week preparing to anoint dead things. I know it sounds crazy, but c’mon we all have anointed dead things before:
We ask for a relationship, seeking to anoint the inappropriate behaviors in which we might engage, as in times past.
We ask God to bless us with more money to get out of debt, trying to anoint our selfishness and greed, which is really the problem.
We ask for God to open doors for a career path, trying to anoint the fact that once we get promoted, we will stop coming to church.
We ask God to give us more faith, seeking to anoint the fact that we are afraid to go through struggles.
We seek opportunities to minister, attempting to anoint our rebellious, un-teachable, and un-submitted spirit.
The dead being among the dead is more customary than we might think. It is a sign that we have not allowed Jesus to make His way into our problem. Death behaviors are a sign that we are not taking God at His word.
The reality is this, set back will set you up for crazy! That’s why all of our emotions and intellect start to go out of whack as we fight off anger, anxiety, doubt, disillusionment, and disappointment.
Perhaps The Problem Was Not The Size Of The Stone But The Size Of Their Faith
From our human perspective, once a stone is moved into place, our minds become sealed, and we submit to the massiveness of it.
From a heavenly perspective, our stone presents an opportunity for God to do the unthinkable. Provide you the salvation that you are seeking.
The truth is, no matter how big the problem, God is bigger. Tell yourself, say [your name], God is bigger than your problem. He is bigger than debt, physical pain, emotional trauma, and workplace politics…!
What God desires from us, is a more kingdom-minded perspective on the problem. The Angels asked the women: Why do you seek the living among the dead? In other words:
Where is your expectancy?
If Jesus said that God would lift him up on the third day, then why are you seeking him in a grave?
People come to church every week without a sense of expectancy.
You Will Never Find The Breakthrough You Need If You Stay In A Grave
There ain’t nothing in the grave but death, but in the kingdom, there is life!
The only reason we feel comfortable living life with the same dead emotional outlook, dead perspectives, and dead thinking is the lack of faith. Believers know everything in the kingdom moves on faith:
You can only be saved by faith (Eph 2:8)
Made whole and holy by faith (Matt 15:28)
In the book of life by faith (Rev 21:27)
Without faith, it is it impossible for us to please God (Heb 11:6)
The Only Way That Stone Is Going To Move Out Of Your Way Is By Faith!
Jesus died knowing and believing that everything the Father told him shall come to pass! Look at your neighbor and say, “it shall come to pass.” You have to believe it like you believe you have the winning lottery ticket – that God is going to move that thing out of your way.
What faith is NOT (four types of bad faith):
Negative faith (Doubt). Like Thomas, who did not believe Christ had risen, we feel there is no hope. Jesus says, “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Mark 11:24
Impatient faith. (No endurance). Some grow weary. They say that stone has been in my way for three days. Paul says, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season, we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Gal 6:9
Dysfunctional faith (Anxious). Some worry whether it shall be. God says, “For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end, it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.” Hab 2:3
Perverted faith (Scared). We are afraid that God will disappoint. Paul reminds, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Tim 1:7
What is faith that can move mountains?
With faith, only the size of a mustard seed, Jesus says, not only can we move stones, we can even move the mountains that make them.
The key revelation is that with faith, nothing will be impossible for you. In other words, faith itself creates new possibilities that did not exist before. You might be stuck in life starring at a stone and a grave, but until you can see and feel the breaking of day, daybreak will never be a reality you will experience.
Moreover, faith is both the substance of hope and the evidence of the invisible. Therefore, faith itself is all of the evidence I need that the stone in my life is about to be rolled away. (Heb 11:1)
Believe It, Jesus Still Moves Stones
Allow your faith to be the breeding ground for hope and expectancy.
So no matter how large, he still moves stones!
As the angel declared – Jesus is no longer interested in the grave HE HAS RISEN!
Because he has risen, so shall I rise above the obstacles in my life.
When Christ was resurrected, he did not just move the problem, he moved the person!
Therefore, my next level, my breakthrough is right around the corner. God is waiting for my faith to see what he has already done.
Tell three people, he’s already done it! When the women came to the tomb to anoint the dead, they were perplexed to find out that God had already done it! Know that it’s already done. God made a way of escape for you before you even knew you were in trouble.
Jeremiah 29:11 declares, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace [good] and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope [an expected end].”
I can feel the breaking of the day because I believe God is going to move me and the stone.
How will God perform the unthinkable? How shall he move this stone out of my life?
Like he did with Christ, By his own spirit. (Zech 4:6)
This is why he sent Christ to us, to prove to us all that the very same power that created all things will do its most beautiful work in us through salvation.
My hope is the Lord because He still moves stones.
Get Up and Get Out - Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020
On Easter 2011, Bishop Salter teaches us we can “get up and get out” of our life troubles because Jesus “got up” from the grave and “got out” of the tomb. Believe it and receive it.
1Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
Introduction
Salvation = escape from God’s judgment of sin by believing Jesus Christ, the Son of God died for my sin, was buried, and HE ROSE again
The argument is centered on whether he got up, and the very quality of your existence rests upon your faith in this historical and spiritual truth.
If I believe Jesus “got up” from the grave and “got out” of the tomb then I should also believe I can “get up and get out” of my life troubles!
There Are Many People Perishing Now Because They Have Nothing to Believe in Or Are at Minimum Confused
The latest Pew study shows that 78% of Americans still identify themselves as Christians, but only:
33% interpret Scripture as the literal word of God
79% believe in miracles (how can one have a miracle without believing in the Word?)
50% say they are absolutely convinced about the existence of life after death
70% believe in Heaven but only 56% believe in Hell (so many are confused and unsure about life, death and eternal judgment) (Gallup)
Jesus Saves and Gives 2nd Chances
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
Lazurus' Second Chance (John 12:1)
"Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead." John 12:1
Woman with Blood Issue's Second Chance (Mark 5:25-29)
"28 For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” 29 Immediately ......she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction." Mark 5:28,29
Faith Unlocks My Power to Get Up and Get Out
1. The holy spirit provides us power (Acts 1:28)
"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
2. Power to do great things (Acts 9:40)
"40 But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up."
I “get up and get out” by letting faith work in my head, heart and hands
1. My head must believe that with Christ nothing is impossible( Matthew 17:20)
"So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you."
2. My heart must believe that Jesus is faithful (Hebrews 10:22a, 23)
"22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith....... 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful."
3. My hands must faithfully work (James 2:20)
"But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?"
Get up and Get Out Today, By Believing in Jesus
The son of god, died for your sins, was crucified and is risen (romans 10:9-10).
"9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."