Sunday Evening Worship Service | Pastor Whitley “The Cross”

Get your Bibles. Go with me to 1 Corinthians chapter number 15. A tremendous day. A tremendous day celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. A tremendous word we heard this morning. The Lord has just been moving and ministering at all of our services as he always does and we are believing that he's going to continue to do that. We don't have to celebrate the resurrection just on one Sunday. It's every day that we should celebrate the resurrection. And I want to talk to you about that a little bit tonight. You have to excuse my voice. I think there's something in East Tennessee called pollen. Um washed my car yesterday and I got like three inches of pollen on my car this morning and it's all in my lungs and in my nose and so I sound really really great right now. So 1 Corinthians 15 going to read a few verses there. I won't keep you along. I know we've had a long day, a very great day. So I won't keep you long, but I do want to share with you something from this important important chapter. 1 Corinthians 15:es 3-7. Paul writes, "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. And he was seen of Cphus, then of the twel, speaking of the disciples. After that he was seen of above 500 brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. Here's where I want to draw our text tonight. After that, he was seen of James, then of all the apostles. He was seen of James then of all the apostles. Tonight I'd like to minister to you from this thought the transforming power of the resurrection. The transforming power of the resurrection. I know we have prayed already but I one more time would you lift up your hands, lift up your heart and just ask Lord to speak to you once again. Father, we're so thankful for this great day. The wonderful spirit we felt all throughout our services. the word of God that we heard today. Lord, we thank you for all that you've done for us. And I pray, Lord, that as we celebrate this day, help us to realize the significance and the revelation of your resurrection. That everything that we believe about you and everything that we hold true about the faith is is hingent upon the resurrection. And I pray Lord, you'd help us to see the transforming power of that resurrection tonight. In Jesus' name we pray. And everyone said, "Amen." Why don't you clap your hands under the Lord one more time tonight? You can be seated. I'm so glad I want to say this. I'm so glad to have my friend Matt Hester here with us. And I'm so glad to have his mother, Sister Linda Hester. She was in a terrible accident. Her husband was lost in that accident and she's been going through a rehabilitation. And I am so glad to see both of them here tonight. Could we welcome them? We're so glad that they are here. The Lord blessed them. And Erica's here as well. Erica's here as well, but she's home folk now. So, amen. The transforming power of the resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15 is one of the most important chapters of the Bible. And I think I say that every time I speak, but it is an important chapter. 1 Corinthians 15, one of the longest chapters uh in the New Testament. And Paul gives his defense of the resurrection. And I'm going to give you uh seven uh proofs of that that he gives us uh at the end tonight. But he he is giving his defense of the resurrection that this is the basis of everything that he is preaching. They gave their lives. The apostles gave their lives on this fact that Jesus Christ was dead but then raised from that dead. That everything that they preached was about Jesus being alive. And if Jesus is alive, anything is possible. And this is the gospel that he preaches. And he says according to the scriptures two times here in our text tonight, that he died for our sins according to the scriptures. And he was buried and rose again the third day according to the scriptures. And then he gives his defense. He gives witnesses. It's like he's in a courtroom and he is giving his uh his speech as a lawyer and he's calling uh to his defense the witnesses uh of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. he was seen of Cphus or Peter. Then of the 12 he was seen of uh above 500 brethren at once of whom a greater part at that time remained unto the present of Paul writing this but some had also died. And then I want you to notice verse number seven. And I think this is important because there's just a little statement here that if we read too quickly we'll miss it. We'll skip over it. He says after that he was seen of James. He was seen of James. And I find this significant. I want to uh draw out some principles and some uh some precepts from this text and from the life of James because in it we see the transforming power of the resurrection. The Greek name James is derived from the Hebrew name Jacob. So James for us in English, really in Greek, in Hebrew, his name was Jacob. Now if you're a Bible student, a Bible reader, the name Jacob should ring a bell, right? The name Jacob should ring a bell. Jacob, whose name means suppler or deceiver, lived a life marked by struggle but also of transformation. He initially lived up to his name, right? Deceiving his slightly older twin brother, Esau, and his father Isaac, to gain the family birthight and the blessing. Jacob's life took a pivotal turn during a nightlong wrestling match with an angel at panile. And in this encounter, Jacob persisted until dawn, earning a new name, Israel, meaning he who struggles with God or prince with God. This one encounter for Jacob left him with a physical limp and it marked his life, a transformation from a deceiver to a believer. Now paralleling Jacob's life to that of James, we see that perhaps James was named James or Jacob after the patriarch Jacob. And I find some irony in that because James or Jacob is listed as one of Jesus's earthly siblings. Matthew and Mark list James as being born second to Joseph and Mary after the birth of Jesus. Having an older brother like Jesus could be intimidating. Does anybody have any siblings in here? Fun times, right? Fun times having older siblings, too, right? Good times having siblings. Older siblings usually set the example for the younger siblings, don't they? More often than not, parents use the eldest child as the benchmark for all the other children. So, could you imagine if you're James having Jesus as an older brother? Jesus wouldn't do that literally. Jesus wouldn't talk like that. Jesus wouldn't disobey us. Jesus wouldn't talk back. Jesus wouldn't beat up his landlord. Jesus astounded the rabbis with his teaching. The Bible says he was filled with wisdom. He never smoke never spoke a harmful or hurtful word hurtful word. He was popular with the people in his hometown. He completely obeyed the rules of his earthly parents and never once did he sin. Now James, how do you like having Jesus as your older brother? How many times had James heard the story of Jesus's birth growing up? They're celebrating Christmas. That's your older brother. He was miraculously conceived. When he was born, shepherds showed up worshiping. Angels were singing. Wise men bringing expensive gifts. All for baby Jesus, your older brother. How about that, James? How would you like to be compared to Jesus? Him being your older brother. Sibling rivalry is as common as a cough in a kindergarten classroom in the winter. It doesn't matter if you're the sons of Joseph, the sons of Zebedee, because it was certainly true of Jacob and Esau in the Old Testament. By the time Jesus began his ministry, there were lots of skeptics, including his own family. Mary knew of Jesus's unique nature and had personally seen him turn water into wine. But what is interesting is that the other children did not inherit her faith. They did not know him like she knew him. At one point, James and his siblings came from Nazareth to Capernaum, a 30mm trip to seize Jesus, for they believed he was out of his mind. James and the others tried to convene an intervention with Jesus to talk some sense into him. Later, when Jesus came to his hometown of Nazareth, the town's folk were so offended by his claims, they wanted to kill him. His family and hometown saw no reason to believe he was any different than them. Even when Mary and James and his siblings came to Jesus to see him, Jesus made this statement, "My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it. Ouch. That had to cut them to the core. Especially James. Who does he think he is? I know him. I know him. I ate supper with him. I worked with him in the carpenters shed. Who does he think he is? So when Paul is giving his defense of the resurrection in first Corinthians, when he is laying out his defense of the gospel and he says, "Here are the witnesses. He has shown himself alive to Peter." Got that? I understand that. He shown himself alive to the disciples. I can understand that. He showed himself alive to at least 500 people who are still alive today. That seems interesting. And then Paul says he appeared to James. Why does he stop to include that? Because somebody had an encounter with a resurrected savior. We can relate to Peter. We can relate maybe to the disciples. We can relate to those who had been in a crowd and seen him. But James, that's his brother. He was not a believer. His whole adult life, at least for three years, was trying to prove that he wasn't the Christ. But this story was so important that Paul included it in 1 Corinthians 15. And that's all he says. Now we must understand that he is not trying to say that this is James the brother of John because he already said the disciples and the apostles this brothers and sisters is James the halfbrother of Jesus. Can you imagine that story? We don't have the details. We don't know when it took place necessarily. But what we do know is something happened. Something so profound happened in the encounter between the resurrected Jesus and his brother James that the story hit the ears of Paul. And when he's pinning it to the Corinthians, he says, "Let me remind you, he showed himself alive to his brother." What did Jesus say to James? What did James say to Jesus? What kind of conversation did they have? What type of encounter did they have? Because when two brothers need reconciling, have you ever had to apologize to a brother or a sister? I'm not talking about in the church. I'm talking about your family. Admitting you're wrong in your family is hard. Admitting I was wrong, admitting I was mistaken. Reconciling brothers is no small event. So much so that when Paul is writing his defense on the resurrection of Jesus, he is sure to include and James. This encounter left James transformed. Just as Jacob, his namesake, wrestling with an angel, left him with a visible limp, James's encounter with the resurrected Jesus changed him forever. From that moment, from that encounter, we find James, Mary, and his siblings in the upper room carrying for the Holy Ghost. Acts 1 and 14 names Mary and James and his siblings in the upper room. From the living room to the upper room, Hallelujah. Can I just stop and say this for a moment? I feel the Holy Ghost now. If Mary carried the son of God in her womb for nine months, if Mary carried the Messiah in her room her womb for nine months, if she had to be in the upper room waiting for the Holy Ghost, can I tell you, you and I must have the Holy Ghost as well. We must have the Holy Ghost. And we find James and Mary and his siblings in the upper room waiting for the Holy Ghost. That encounter changed the trajectory of James and his family. I want us to consider a few things about James's faith for a moment. First, James, and I mentioned it earlier, but let me expound. James did not inherit his parents' faith. James had to come to faith in Jesus as the son of God. Many assume, and you've heard me say this before, and I will say it again to the day that I die, many assume that since their parents are Christians, then by proxy that makes them Christians, too. Such reasoning could not be any further from the truth. If Mary needed an encounter, so did James. If your grandfather had to have an encounter with Jesus, so do you. You are not going to make it to heaven based upon your family tree. The only way you're going to make it to heaven is through Calvar's tree and being grafted in. You can't grab your mother's skirt tail when the rapture takes place. You must be transformed as well. Number two, James knew Jesus his entire life, yet did not believe he was the Messiah until after the resurrection. You can know all there is to know about Jesus and still not know Jesus. James could probably tell you about Jesus's favorite meals and hobbies, but that information did not make James a believer. You might be able to give me a theological treatise on who Jesus is, but if you do not have him as your savior in your life, it doesn't make any difference. That's right. There are too many cultural Christians who can tell you about Jesus but don't have Jesus. Having a headful of theological information or Sunday school stories doesn't make one a believer. James and the rest of his siblings had to believe that Jesus just wasn't their sibling, but he was their savior. Come on, somebody. You must know him for yourself. You must have an encounter with him for yourself. Next, James went from being an unbeliever to a vital church leader in Jerusalem. In Acts 12 and 17, following Peter's miraculous escape from prison, Peter instructs the believers, tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this, indicating James prominent position in the church. The recognition of James as a key leader is further highlighted during Acts 15's Jerusalem council. At that council, there was a great debate. And I will save you the details, but there was a great debate whether or not the Gentiles had to follow the law of Moses to be considered Christians. And it was James. It was James the leader. It was James the halfb brotherther of Jesus who stood up and gave the deciding factor that no, they do not. If they have received the Holy Ghost as we have received the Holy Ghost, then there is nothing else that needs to be done. They're a part of the church. They should keep themselves from from blood and things that are strangled, keep themselves from idols, and that makes them believers. It was James who made that decision. He was a great leader. Paul notes this during his visit to Jerusalem. He saw no other apostles except except James, the Lord's brother. and John and Peter. He was a leader in the Christian community. He went from skeptic to leader. But I want to give you just a little bit more history about James. He received the name James the Just. And he had this due to his reputation for his righteousness, piety, and dedication to living a life committed to God's laws in Jesus. Christian historian Yubius describes James as a devout man who prayed so fervently and frequently that his knees became calloused like a camels. He went from trying to change Christ's mind to kneeling before him every day. When you encounter the risen Jesus, it will change you from the inside out. It will change you. It will transform your life in the New Testament letter that James pinned and I studied it all last year and it was so so fruitful for me. When James opens up his letter, he says, "James, the servant of Jesus." Notice that. Don't read it too fast. He says, "James, the servant of the Lord Jesus Christ." Notice what he does not say. James, the halfb brotherther of Jesus. Because what do we like to do? We like to name drop. Maybe I can throw in who I know and who I am and my title and it gives me some clout and it bolsters my reputation. James the halfb brotherther of Jesus. Ah, I better listen to this. That's not what he says. He says James the servant, he went from skeptic to servant. And the Greek word he uses here is dulos meaning bondervant or slave. One completely subject to another. Now let me ask you here just one one moment. Would you become your siblings slave? You're not going to tell me what to do. You're not going to tell me. Oh, no. Absolutely not. Who do you think you are, right? If my sisters try to let me be their now, they thought I was their slave when I was little. But James says, "I am his slave." Meaning that he is my master. transformation. Transformation He is completely subject to him. Can I say this for a moment? Please hear me. There are many who want Jesus as their savior, but they do not want him as their Lord. That's right. Or they want Jesus as their friend, but not as their God. I want him as an acquaintance, my peer, my friend, my homie, but not as my Lord. Because if he is Lord, then I am his servant and I am subject to him. Jesus said it like this. If you love me, you'll keep my commandments because you are bringing yourself under subjection to him. And for James, do you understand what he is saying that I want you to know? Yes, I know him as my halfb brotherther. Yes, I know him as my sibling. But beyond that, I do not want you to know me as that. I want you to know me. I want to be known not as a leader in Jerusalem, not as an elder in the church. I want to simply be known as his servant. Can I tell you when we are there in the last day when he calls us home, he will open up the books before us. But we will not be able to say or he will not be able to say to us, "Well done, my good and faithful musician." He's not going to say, "Well done, my good and faithful usher." He's not going to say, "Well done, my good and faithful preacher." Oh, no. He is going to say, and I want him to say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant. [Applause] Faithful servant, faithful servant." Oh. Oh. That's James's hope and salvation is not that he's my brother, my blood, but he's my savior through his shed blood. Sibling to servant. If you read James's letter, I'm I'm almost I'm almost done. If you want to get ready, praise him. his letter that he writes James, a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Notice what he says to the 12 tribes which are scattered abroad. Greeting. And he goes right into this. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations. Here is a man who's not speaking theoretically about suffering. James suffered firsthand. Historical accounts, including those by Jewish historian Josephus, report that James was executed by stoning on orders of the high priest of his day. James's unwavering faith and leadership were evident even unto death. You don't give your life for a lie. You don't give your life for a myth. You don't give your life for a legend. You give your life for truth. The truth and the reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is so important to our faith. You can't just simply say, "Well, it's just a nice little holiday." No, it is everything to our faith. And he gave his life for it. Now, let's go back to our parallel. I'm drawing to a close. If you go back and read Genesis and read the account of Jacob, he wrestled with God and emerged with a new name and a transformed heart. Parallel that with James, his encounter with the resurrected Jesus. Jacob's transformation led him to seek reconciliation with Esau. Right? He tried to hide from Esau and avoid the encounter with his brother who he had deceived. Remember? But when he prayed and wrestled, he goes up front to meet him first and falls down before him and asking for forgiveness. Want reconciliation with my brother who I deceived. Parallel that with James, Jacob, his name once a skeptic, has an encounter with Jesus. And you know, you can't have a transformation spiritually without repentance. What did James say? I'm sorry I didn't believe. I'm sorry. I don't know what he said, but you can't have a transformation without repentance. Jacob's encounters with God left him limping. James's encounter left him kneeling. If you go read the end of the end of Genesis, I'm not trying to bore you with details, but what does Jacob do at the end of his life? He calls for the 12 tribes, his 12 sons, Jacob, James, New Testament, writing his letter to the 12 tribes. Here he is, a new Jacob, not putting blessings upon them physically, but telling them, standing as the patriarch, standing as God's man, let me tell you that I am a servant to the God of Abraham. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. To the 12 tribes of the dispersion, you have been dispersed. But let me tell you, there is a reathering taking place. My God, Jacob, James, [Music] transformation is possible. When someone tells you that the resurrection is fake or false or a myth or a legend, all you have to do is this. I'm proof that it's real. I am proof that this thing is real. Stand to your feet. 20 years ago, Easter. 20 years. Mom, can you believe that? 20 years ago Easter, I had an encounter with the resurrected Savior. I had grown up in church. I had a drug problem. Mom drug us to church on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Sunday morning, Sunday night. Revival grandmother, godly, holy mother, godly, holy, great grandmother. Godly, holy. And here's this just want to be a good drummer. Just want to make you laugh. Want to have a good time. Just want to do all the things that you know kids want to do. But I was kind of like James in the New Testament, claiming my spirituality based upon my relationship with my family and my relationship to the church and my friends. And that will get you so far. But you need an encounter. You need an encounter. And I'll spare you the details, but my life hit rock bottom. 20 years ago, I walked into church backslid. walked into church on a Sunday morning, sat in the balcony, sick as a dog, wanting to go to the altar, but I didn't. But I went Sunday night, and I'm going this time. I don't know what they sang. I don't know what Pastor Douglas preached. I'm sure it was a fine sermon, but all I could think about with Scott Brian is I got to get to that altar. I knew I know of him, but I need to know him. And I ran I don't I ran, limped, crawled. I don't know what I did. All I know is I I came up that aisle and it I'm sure people were praying with me. I'm positive of that. But I don't remember who it was. It didn't matter to me. You know, sometimes all we think about is who's praying, who's praying with us, who's here, who's not there, who cares. I have no ability to to to change your life. But I got that altar. I got on my knees and my God have mercy, did I repent. Yes, I'd have had the Holy Ghost. Yes, I've been baptized when I was a kid. All those things, not taken away from that. Those are real things happened to me. But this was different. He wasn't just a theoretical idea to me. He became not just my savior, but my lord 20 20 years ago. And so when someone says it's not real, ask her if it was real. When I came home and I told mom, I think God's calling me to preach, you would have thought I had split hell wide open saying something like that. No, there's no possible way. I I was I was I was teaching in in my hometown last September and someone said, "You're still doing this?" Wow. It's real. And when you get it, it'll keep you. When you have the real thing, it will keep you. When you have a Come on. There's bad days, there's good days, there's highs, there's lows, there's good seasons, there's cold seasons. But I'm telling you, when you have an encounter with a resurrected Savior, it will transform your life. [Applause] I don't know what you have need of tonight, but I'm telling you, there is a risen savior. And he wants to save you. I am, Listen, I am not the son of a prophet. I am not a grandson of a prophet. I'm just a I'm just a little drummer boy. I'm just a little drummer boy. I'm just a little I just I'm just a I'm just a kid who grew up in the youth group. And if you knew, if you knew, if you see me 30 years ago, there's no way there's no hope for him. There's no way he's gonna do anything with his life. I'm I was on that trail. I don't know why God chose me. There were so many others who who he could have picked out. So many others who he could have saved and changed and transformed, but he chose me. And I have no idea why even today. But I'm telling you, if you will have an encounter with Jesus Christ, it'll change your life. It'll change the trajectory of your future and your family. I'm living proof of it. I'm living proof of the resurrected Savior. Would you lift up your hands right now? Would you lift up your voice right now? Or perhaps you want to come to an altar tonight and worship a resurrected savior. I'm telling you, it's real. It's real.