Sunday Morning Worship Service
by Mark McCool
First Apostolic Church of Knoxville (Knoxville, TN)
Kind: sermon
Scripture: Luke 24:1-3, John 2:19, Matthew 28:1-10, Luke 24:45-49, 1 Corinthians 15:12-19, Acts 1:4-5, Acts 2:1-4, Acts 2:36, Acts 2:38, Acts 2:39

Source: https://acts238.life/repository/sermons/mark-mccool--sunday-morning-worship-service-22
Published by Acts 2:38 Life from the sermon transcript on that page.
Free to copy and share with attribution.

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WELL, Lord bless you. You may be seated. We greet you in the precious name of Jesus. We welcome all to First Apostolic Church on this resurrection Sunday. We greet all of our guests and welcome you. Thank you for worshiping with us today. It is our policy that you only get to be a guest and a visitor one time. From now on, you're home folks. So all you home folks, it's good to have you come back and be with us. I want to take us to the word of the Lord this morning as we celebrate this wonderful day around the world. The celebration started in different time zones of a resurrected savior. And I want us to continue that today because he is alive on this Sunday morning. The book of Luke, the 24th chapter, we'll begin reading at verse number one. Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the suppler, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the supplr, and they entered in and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. It said they found the stone rolled away from the supplr. For a few moments this morning, I would speak to you on this subject. If you show up, Jesus will move the stone. Let's pray. Savior, I love you. God, I'm grateful for this wonderful congregation of believers. Again, today we celebrate you as our risen savior. Lord, nothing that I can say and nothing that I can do will accomplish anything. But Savior, your anointed word spoken with your touch can mend hearts, can heal lives, and can bring salvation. So today, Lord, I pray that your word would go forth, and we would receive, and we would act upon your word. For all this, we're grateful. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. The last week had been a struggle for Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary, the mother of James, and the other women who had been with them. Jesus, their friend and teacher, the one they hoped was the promised Messiah, has now been crucified. Even though they were standing a distance from the three crosses, they saw the Roman soldier's sword pierce his side. They watched the water and the blood gush from the wound. Every conceivable emotion rolled in their hearts. The emptiness of losing a loved one. The disappointment of the dashed dreams. The anger at the Roman soldiers who had taken his life. The confusion of misunderstanding his teachings. The hopelessness of a dying faith. and the bitterness of the wasted time, resources, and energy. Although emotionally weary and physically exhausted, the women rose before dawn on the first day of the week and carrying spices went to the tomb of Jesus. They went to anoint the body of Jesus to finish preparing him for his burial. This was the last act of love that they could perform for Jesus. Their concern was a sealed stoned blocking the grave. How could they even get the grave open? This this nagging question bothered the two Marys and Joanna and all the others who were with them as they climbed the rocky trail to the tomb. How can we get the stone rolled away? The tomb that they would approach belonged to Joseph of Arya, a wealthy member of the Sanhedrin, who had before now secretly followed Jesus. It was a new unused tomb cut into limestone and had a stone that sealed it. The stone may have been circular like a lot of the depictions we see, but it more likely, according to biblical archaeology, was a square corkshaped stone that was much more common than the round disc stones that we sometimes see. Meaning it would be much more difficult for humanity without great force to move. Because of the concerns of the Jewish leaders, Pilate had ordered the tomb sealed. The process involved stretching a string across the stone covering and sealing the tomb after authorities had inspected it to ensure the body was secure. Then scripture explains that there were Roman guards commanded to stand at attention to the tomb. The Roman Guard was likely a 16-man unit that was governed by very strict rules. Each members was responsible for six square feet of space. The guard members could not sit down nor lean against anything while they were on duty. If a guard member fell asleep, he was beaten and burned with his own clothes. But he was not the only one executed. The entire 16-man guard unit was executed if only one of the members fell asleep while on duty. Consequently, these women faced three major obstacles. Number one, the large heavy stone that blocked the entrance of the tomb. This physical barrier, the seal of the Roman governor authenticated the tomb. Anyone breaking that seal would face death. They also faced governmental restriction. And then number three, the Roman soldiers guarding the tomb. Their failure also would mean certain death. So military might also blocked their path. But please allow me to point out that these women were going to the grave frankly with very little faith left. Instead, they were returning to the grave because of love, because of respect, because of duty, and because of tradition. They fully expected the aforementioned barriers and blocks to stop them from anointing the body of a dead Jesus. They didn't expect resurrection. In fact, they carried spices to anoint the body to help mask the stench of a decaying body. They had not even understood Jesus words in John when he said, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up." These women WERE WALKING ONLY BY WHAT THEY HAD SEEN AT THE cross rather than what Jesus words had foretold them. They were aware of the previous week's events. They knew Judas had betrayed Jesus with a kiss in the garden of Gethsemane. They knew Jesus had been dragged illegally before the Sanhedrin and before Pilate. They knew he'd been beaten and sentenced to death. Yes, Jesus, as Luke said, had been delivered into the hands of sinful men. These women stood a far off as the Roman soldiers had nailed Jesus to the cross and planted him between two thieves. Yes, the crucifixion was the crulest of deaths among the Romans. And they fully expected the broken body of Jesus to be in Joseph of Armthea's tomb. Oh, but when they arrived, Sunday had happened. >> Instead, they found an empty tomb. THEY FOUND SOMETHING THEY DID NOT ANTICIPATE. WHEN THEY ARRIVED, SOMETHING HAD taken place. YOU SEE, IF YOU'LL SHOW UP, JESUS WILL HAVE ALREADY MOVED EVERY BLOCKADE THAT THERE IS IN your life FROM UNDERSTANDING THE POWER OF A RESURRECTED SAVIOR. >> You see, we would condemn them IF WE'RE SUPER PIOUS BY SAYING, YOU KNOW, they went not really expecting it. But let me point out to you, none of the 11 even showed up. At least these women showed up to the tomb. And you KNOW, I FEAR TODAY THAT THERE ARE MANY WHO SHOW UP FOR RESURRECTION SUNDAY in our lives figuratively out OF LOVE, RESPECT, DUTY, AND TRADITION ONLY TO RECOGNIZE RESURRECTION SUNDAY WITHOUT FULLY WALKING BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT. BUT I PROCLAIM TODAY, IF WE'LL FIGURATIVELY RETURN TO THE empty tomb experience, JESUS WILL REMOVE EVERY OBSTACLE IN YOUR LIFE. OH, HALLELUJAH. >> THAT WOULD KEEP YOU FROM ENJOYING THE BENEFITS OF THE POWER of the resurrection MOVING IN YOUR LIFE. IF YOU'LL JUST SHOW UP TO JESUS, >> he'll move every hindrance and every obstacle. IMAGINE THE WOMEN'S AMAZEMENT WHEN THEY ROUNDED THE BIN TO THE TOMB AND FOUND the Roman soldiers either not there or passed out quietly. The governor's seal broken, THE STONE rolled away, the tomb empty. Matthew 28, we'll read it as a an abridge synopsis, if you will, of the events of the resurrection. Verse one says, "In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the suppler, and behold, there was a great earthquake. There was a whole lot of shaking going on. For the angel OF THE LORD DESCENDED FROM HEAVEN AND CAME DOWN AND ROLLED BACK THE STONE FROM THE DOOR AND SAT UPON IT. HIS COUNTENANCE WAS LIKE LIGHTNING, HIS RAIGNMENT AND WHITE AS SNOW. AND FOR FEAR OF HIM THE KEEPERS DID SHAKE AND BECAME HIS DEAD MEN. THOSE 16 ROMAN GUARDS PASSED OUT. And the angel answered and said unto the women women, "Fear not ye, for I know that you seek Jesus which was crucified. He's not here, for he's RISEN AS HE SAID, COME SEE THE PLACE WHERE THE LORD LAY." NOW, let me pause here just a minute and if you would afford me the latitude to tell you about an experience I had here a while back. I was over in uh Nashville and uh I passed a house of worship and I say this not as a criticism but as an observation. I passed I passed a house of worship. And sadly, that house of worship was in a state of disrepair and decay. It had once been a quite ornate place, you could tell, but the grass was tall. The parking lot was cracked with more grass growing through the cracks. It showed signs of neglect and signs of being unckempt. And there was an dilapidated marquee out in front of the church or house of worship that had letters that they put in to leave a message. And the letters read this way, a couple of them a little bit crooked, but it said, "He's not here. He's risen." For some reason, it struck me different than the way the word said it. For truly, it appeared that Jesus wasn't around that place anymore. I came to tell you today, the grave is not where he is. But I can proclaim HE IS HERE BECAUSE he's risen. We're in HIS HOUSE WORSHIPING HIM AND CELEBRATING HIM BECAUSE HE is risen. YOU SEE, SCRIPTURE WENT ON TO SAY, the angel told him, said, "Go see where the Lord used to be. AND GO QUICKLY, TELL HIS DISCIPLES THAT HE'S RISEN. FIND THE 11 that's still hiding. Tell him he's RISEN FROM THE DEAD. AND BEHOLD, HE GOETH BEFORE YOU INTO GALILEE." He's already led. He said he's going to Galilee. THERE YE SHALL SEE HIM. LO, I'VE TOLD YOU. HE SAID HE'S GOT A MEETING place for you. And as THEY WENT TO TELL HIS DISCIPLES, BEHOLD, Jesus met them, saying, "All hail." And they came and beheld him by the feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said unto them, "BE NOT AFRAID. GO TELL MY BROTHER THAT THEY GO, MY BRETHREN, THAT THEY GO INTO GALILEE. There shall they see me." Oh, you see A RISEN SAVIOR STARTED GIVING HIM A MESSAGE. WE'RE GOING TO have a rendevous point. I want you to meet me at Galilee. You've had an empty tomb experience. I've moved the stone, the political blocks, THE MILITARY MIGHT, THE PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT. It's out of the way. Come meet me at Galilee. These words of the angel had encouraged him. NOW THEIR COMPREHENSION HAD HAD DAWNED ON THEM THAT JESUS REALLY IS ALIVE. THEIR DESPAIR HAD TURNED to unspeakable joy. They left the spices behind. These costly spices suddenly were meaningless to these ladies. They raced to tell the disciples. And they met Jesus as they journeyied. and he let them know, I've got a meeting place for you. And you see, every time at this time of the year, we who are Christians celebrate this day. But I want to speak to us all for a moment and remind you that knowledge of the resurrection alone does not activate the power of the resurrection in our lives. You see Jesus wanted them to meet him at Galilee and he wanted to give them this message. In Luke 24:45 it said, "Then he he open then opened he their understanding that they might understand scriptures and he said unto them, thus it is written and THUS IT BEHOOVED CHRIST TO SUFFER TO RISE from the dead the third day." That term behood implies it was his duty and his responsibility. And then verse 47, he gives them direction and that repentance and remission OF SIN SHOULD BE PREACHED in his name AMONG ALL NATIONS BEGINNING AT JERUSALEM. He said, I GOT SOME INSTRUCTIONS FOR YOU DISCIPLES. I'M THE RISEN SAVIOR. YOU'VE HAD THE EMPTY tomb experience. I'VE MOVED THE STONE. NOW, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO. HE SAID, "I NEED YOU TO BE A WITNESS FOR ME." JESUS IS CALLING FOR FOLKS TODAY TO BE A WITNESS THAT HE IS STILL THE RISEN SAVIOR. HE'S NOT DEAD. He's alive. >> CHRISTENDOM IS THE only religious movement, the only denomination, if you will, that has a risen savior. He said repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations. Now this is Jesus talking beginning at Jerusalem and ye are witnesses of these things. AND BEHOLD, I SEND THE PROMISE OF MY FATHER UPON YOU. BUT tear ye in the city of Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high. You see, it's not just enough to know about AN EMPTY TOMB. DO YOU HAVE THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION INSIDE YOU? JESUS GAVE CLEAR, CONCISE, EASY TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS. IF YOU WANT THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION LIVING IN YOU, you need to see what happened at Jerusalem. >> For you see, the resurrection is emblematic. If we do not believe in the re resurrection, we're wasting our time today. We've spent a lot of time and resources >> and they have been wasted. IN FACT, PAUL TOLD THE CORINTHIANS CH the Corinthian church as much when he preached to them. He said, "Now in 1 Corinthians 15:12, NOW IF CHRIST BE PREACHED THAT HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD, HOW SAY some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead." He was dealing with a doctrine that had risen. Oh, that he Jesus was a good man. HE WAS A GOOD PROPHET, BUT HE DIDN'T REALLY RAISE FROM THE DEAD. They had all of these scenarios that his body had been stolen or that he wasn't really dead. He just swooned and got up and left later. Paul was setting the Corinthian church in order just as we must stay in order of the word today. He said, "But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ NOT RISEN. IF CHRIST BE not risen, then is our preaching in vain? We're wasting our time. I'm wasting what I'm doing today. And your faith is also in vain. Yay. WE ARE FOUND FALSE WITNESSES OF GOD BECAUSE WE HAVE TESTIFIED OF GOD THAT HE RAISED UP CHRIST WHOM HE raised not up. If so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised. And if Christ be not raised, YOUR FAITH IS IN VAIN. Ye are yet in your sins. You can't get your sins forgiven without a risen savior. Now we're starting to talk about the power of THE RESURRECTION. >> THEN THEY ALSO WHICH ARE FALLEN ASLEEP IN CHRIST ARE PERISHED. WE WON'T SEE OUR LOVED ONES AGAIN. If Christ be not raised, then they also which fall asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. I came to testify today just as the women first heard from the angel and then saw Jesus. I came to testify of the experience of the 11 in Jerusalem. I came to testify to all today. Jesus is alive. If you'll revisit the empty TOMB EXPERIENCE, YOU CAN FIND OUT THAT WE IN CHRISTIANITY are indeed THE ONLY RELIGION WITH THAT RISEN SAVIOR. HALLELUJAH. But what happened when the disciples followed Jesus' instructions to tarry in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high. That term endued defined is to provide, to endow, to invest in someone with a specific quality, POWER, OR GIFT. OFTEN in spiritual or formal context, it implies being clothed or covered with a trait. HE SAID, "I WANT YOU TO GO to Jerusalem and wait AND TAR TILL YOU BE CLOTHED, till you BE TAKEN OVER WITH, YOU BE ENDOWED WITH POWER. YOU SEE, here's where resurrection power comes in. Musicians, get ready. I'll head to close. At least everybody thinks I will. For in Acts one we read, "And being assembled together with them, commanded them, this is what Jesus commanded them, being assembled with them, that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the father, which saith he, you've heard of me, for John truly baptized with water, speaking of John the Baptist, but ye shall be bapt baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. For you see 50 days after THE RESURRECTION YOU WOULD FIND SOMETHING taking place in the book of ACTS THE DISCIPLES HAD OBEYED HIM. Now they came and they terried waiting on what Jesus had promised. And Acts 2 one states this. And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were ALL IN ONE ACCORD AND IN ONE PLACE, AND SUDDENLY THERE CAME A SOUND FROM HEAVEN, AS OF A RUSHING MIGHTY WIND, AND IT FILLED ALL THE HOUSE WHERE THEY WERE SITTING. AND THERE APPEARED UNTO THEM CLOTHED IN TONGUES LIKE AS A FIRE. AND IT SAT UPON EACH OF THEM. AND THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST. >> AND THEY BEGAN TO SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES as the spirit gave them utterance. I'm here to tell you today, you have the opportunity TO EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION WHEN THE HOLY GHOST COMES UPON YOU. YOU HAVE THE POWER TO RECEIVE ALL THAT GOD HAS FOR YOU TODAY. >> Peter now who had once cursed to deny Jesus. Peter now through impetuous acts had tried to defend Jesus with a sword and then sorrowed and got his feelings hurt because Jesus rebuked him for his violence and healed the high priest's servant by touching his ear and making him whole. Peter now who had once walked on water and then because of unbelief would sink now has the full revelation of the resurrection. For you see when the power of the Holy Ghost be to fall on the day of Pentecost the Bible tells us and I will paraphrase rather than reading all of Acts two. There were devout men of every nation. They started hearing what was going on, when the Holy Ghost started falling. You see, when the power of the resurrection starts taking over, it will cause a stir in the community. IT WILL CAUSE A STIR in those around, they started hearing. Some said, "I I'm hearing somebody SPEAK IN MY LANGUAGE." OTHERS STARTED SAYING, "THIS IS A BUNCH OF DRUNKS HAVING A PARTY." And Peter stood up among them and he said, "These men are not drunken as you suppose." Now, he didn't say they're not drunk. He said they're not drunk as you suppose. They thought it was some natural intoxication. But let me tell you, even today as we gather together and celebrate, you look around you. I MAKE NO APOLOGIES BECAUSE WE ARE A GROUP OF WORSHIPPERS and emotional folks on this resurrection Sunday. Yes, WE SHOW REVERENCE, BUT WE ALSO CELEBRATE. YOU'LL SEE SOME lifting their hands, SOME CLAPPING THEIR HANDS. YES, SOME DANCING. >> HUH? IN THE WORLD'S COMMON VERNACULAR, THERE MIGHT EVEN BE SOMEBODY HUCKERED ACROSS THE FRONT. I DON'T APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. FOR YOU SEE, THE POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST GIVES YOU ENCOURAGEMENT. IT GIVES YOU STRENGTH. It gives you power. Oh, LET ME TELL YOU, IF YOU HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED THE POWER OF JESUS CHRIST LIVING IN YOU, TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION FOR YOU ON THIS RESURRECTION SUNDAY. I IMPLORE YOU, REPENT OF YOUR SINS. >> YOU SEE, PETER STOOD UP AMONG them and he gave explanation, not apology. AND HE PREACHED IT SO STRONGLY. Now again, we're 50 DAYS FROM THE RESURRECTION. THEY'VE JUST BEEN OBEYING AND DOING what Jesus told him to do. He stood up and he told about the crucifixion. He he told him, "Maybe it wasn't you personally, but your denominology, if I could coin a new term, is what caused Jesus to be crucified. Your super pious attitudes toward Jesus is what he said, you guys are the ones that crucified him." But then he began to testify to the resurrection of Christ. And as he testified boldly before them, he said in Acts the 2 chapter verse 36, "Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly." It was the house of Israel was d was addressing the Jews who had condemned him to death and had used the authority of government to have him crucified. He said, "Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye crucified, you have crucified both Lord and Christ." NOW, WHEN THEY HEARD THIS, they were pricricked in their hearts. We commonly call that conviction. You see, the God I serve is a God of forgiveness and love. There's no sin you've committed that is too great that he don't want to forgive and he will forgive. But here was the formula TO HAVE RESURRECTION POWER IN YOUR LIFE. THEN PETER SAID UNTO THEM, REPENT. That's just simply saying, "Lord, I'm sorry for my sinning with a sincere heart." Jesus accepts repentance. If you're in this house and there's something that you have done, there's some sin in your life that you've never TOLD JESUS YOU'RE SORRY FOR, TODAY IS THE DAY OF REPENTANCE, all you have to do IS WITH A CLEAN AND HONEST HEART BEFORE HIM. SAY, "LORD, I'M SORRY FOR MY SINNING." HE'S A GOD FULL OF MERCY AND GRACE, HE WANTS TO FORGIVE YOUR SIN. THERE'S NO SIN TOO GREAT. IF YOU'LL JUST SHOW UP, >> HE'LL MOVE THE STONES OF SIN. HE'LL REMOVE HALLELUJAH. I FEEL HIS PRESENCE IN THIS HOUSE RIGHT NOW. PETER SAID, "REPENT OF YOUR SINS AND BE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE REMISSION OF SIN." STAND with me. "And you shall receive the GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST." It was just that simple a promise. Ask for forgiveness. take on his name in water baptism. You see, water baptism is a physical act with supernatural power. When we in obedience go forward and we take on the name of Jesus IN WATER, BAPTISM, WE GO DOWN A dirty sinner, but we come up cleansed for the remission of our sins. It's not holy water. I tell everybody that's Kub water up there in the baptismal pool. But when you BY AN ACT OF FAITH HAVE REPENTED OF YOUR sins and you go down in the name of Jesus, YOU RISE TO WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE CLEAN BEFORE GOD and you are promised TO RECEIVE THE GIFT of the HOLY GHOST. HE SAID VERSE 39, "FOR THE PROMISE IS UNTO YOU and to your children AND TO ALL THAT ARE far off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." Stone of sin, be removed from my life today. Stone of regret, be removed from my life today. stone of guilt be removed from my life today because there's an empty tomb. I know I have resurrection power available to me. Praise team as you take your places. We're going to sing about that precious name. And I can think of no better thing for us all to do today in celebration of a resurrected savior. There's no way that we have room for everybody in the house together around this altar. But here's what I would like FOR US TO DO FOR JUST A FEW MOMENTS. Not trying to trick anybody, but I want us to make a fresh commitment this morning. If you have a repentant heart today, if you've been serving him, maybe you got baptized a long time ago or you need to be baptized, we'll baptize you today. We have water. We have baptismal clothes for men, women, boys, and girls. We have a man of God that will baptize you. We'll do that today. If you need to be baptized if you haven't received his spirit. Today is the day to throw YOUR ARMS ARMS UP and surrender and say, "God, fill me with your spirit." Whatever your condition in Christ is, I want us to step out from our seats for a season of prayer. Don't kneel. Please step out and let's fill up this altar as far as we can. If you go back into the aisles, that's okay. But would you in your own way, forget about anybody else around you, but you would you call on Jesus today and thank him for resurrection power and for an empty tomb. Let's love him together right now. >> Your singing unto the Lord, your victory. Where dead is now your seed and where your faithful sing. >> Hallelujah. >> Would you love Jesus right where you are? Lift your hands and love him. God, I thank you for resurrection power today. >> Let things come alive. Things come alive. Let things come down. Dead things come alive in the name of Jesus. Dead things come alive. Dead things come alive. Dead things come alive in the name of Jesus. Dead things come alive. Dead things come alive. Things come alive in the name of Jesus. Things come alive. Things come alive. Things come alive in the name of call you Jesus. I call you. I call you healer. Risen and reigning in power. Something comes out of the grave. Every time I call you Jesus, I call you, I call you, say you're worthy of glory forever, something comes out of the grave. Every time, >> every time I call your name, change it. >> If there's anything that's been you, would you let those chains be broken in Jesus name come alive, dead things come alive. Dead things come alive in the name of Jesus. Let things come alive. Let things come alive. Dead things come alive in the name of Jesus. >> Now would you lift your hands and give Jesus high praise in this house? I thank you for your forgiving hand. I thank you for the power of the resurrection. I thank you for an empty grave. Hallelujah. Yes, Lord. Yes, Lord. Well, Lord, bless every one of you. Thank you for being here for this Resurrection Sunday. We have a special gift for every individual in the room. As you pass out today, the ushers will be at the main entrance. As you pass through the lobby, they have a special gift, a momentto for you. Service tonight, prayer time at 6. We pray first 6:30 our main evangelistic service. To all of our guests, thank you for being with us. We invite you to come and be home folk with us. Would you greet those around you? You're dismissed in the name of Jesus.