(# 269) Romans 8 - It’s a Matter of Death and Life

/Welcome To

BARAH MINISTRIES

a Christian Church

Rory Clark

Pastor-Teacher\

 

Good Morning!

 

Welcome to Barah Ministries…a Christian Church based in Mesa, AZ…my name is Pastor Rory Clark.  Barah Ministries teaches the Word of God from God’s perspective and not from a human perspective.  We want to know what God has to say to us though His Word because we’re convinced that God knows exactly what He’s talking about.  And our God is the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

/TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

It’s a Matter of Death and Life\

 

He has Risen! 

 

Three of the most amazing words ever spoken…three of the most amazing words ever heard…He has Risen!  Matthew, Chapter 28, Verses 5 and 6…

 

/Matthew 28:5

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.”\

 

/Matthew 28:6

“He is not here, for He has risen from the dead, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.”\

 

In the last lesson, we celebrated the crucifixion of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…His death on a Cross.  From there he laid in a grave for three full days and three full nights.  In this lesson, we celebrate the resurrection of the Risen Christ…His eternal life. 

 

He has risen…just as He said.  To fulfill the Scriptures, to prove His Deity, and to conquer death, the Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead in resurrection.  The Lord Jesus Christ moved from death to life.  The Lord promises His believers the same destiny…the resurrection life.  The Christian Way of Life is matter of death to life…from spiritual death to spiritual life…the resurrection life.  John, Chapter 10, Verses 7 to 10 say this…

 

/John 10:7

So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I (the Lord Jesus Christ) am the door of the sheep.”\

 

Anyone who wants a spiritual life…anyone who wants to spend eternity in heaven…anyone who wants to be saved must enter through the single door…the Lord Jesus Christ is the door…when you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ…when you place your confidence in Him through faith alone, in Him alone for your salvation…you are saved.  You move from death to life.

 

/John 10:8

“All (the false shepherds) who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the (Lord’s) sheep did not hear them (did not listen to their call).”\

 

/John 10:9

“I (the Lord Jesus Christ) am the door (to salvation); if anyone enters through Me (maybe you will and maybe you won’t…you have a choice), he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture…\

 

After providing salvation, the Lord provides for every other need of His sheep…pasture.

 

/John 10:10

“The thief (Satan, the false shepherd) comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy (the sheep); I (the Lord Jesus Christ) came that the sheep may have (the resurrection) life (the ZOE life…eternal life), and have it abundantly.”\

 

Abundantly…exceeding beyond anything you could ask or think.  Welcome to a place of abundance where you can learn about the Chief Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ, through His inerrant Word, the Canon of Scripture, and where you can gain full access to the resurrection life…the most important choice you can make in this lifetime.

 

/MUSIC AND REFLECTION

Be Occupied with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ

Enjoy the Singing of His Praises

 

YOU RAN AFTER ME  

June Murphy\ 

 

The opening song for this lesson is YOU RAN AFTER ME, something a Great Shepherd would do, sung by June Murphy.

 

/OPENING PRAYER

Let us pray...\

 

We’re grateful, Heavenly Father, for the privilege of studying Your absolute truth...the Word of God…

 

Almighty Father…thank you for providing us with Your Son…the Lord Jesus Christ…He is the Way, and the Truth and the Life…thank you for the resurrection life…a life of abundance exceeding and abundantly beyond anything we could ask or think…thank you for making us new creatures after Your Son’s death on the Cross…thank you for transforming us daily through the renewing of our minds…

 

Use us…makes us instruments of Your will…put us in the position to lead others to the Great Shepherd…let us show the value of moving from death to life….

 

We ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit in Christ’s name... Amen.

 

/TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

It’s a Matter of Death and Life\

 

In grammar school, I heard this threat every day.  “I’m kicking your ass at 3:15!”  It was the favorite expression of all the school bullies.  And of course as a young man with a quick wit and a razor sharp tongue who excelled academically, I was always their target.  Funny thing.  The threats never materialized.  As a result of their forewarning, I was always the first to the door for our dismissal at 3:15…and I had sixty different pre-planned escape routes to avoid being captured and beaten.  Yes…I’m a Pastor, but I would have been an amazing spy!

 

When I transitioned from sixth grade to seventh grade, the bullies warned me…“If you come to Douglas School for seventh grade, you’re going to get killed on the first day.”  Well I didn’t go to Douglas School for seventh grade, and you guessed it…I didn’t die.  What they didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them.  They were threatening the child of a King.  They were threatening a person who was protected under the power of God by the resurrection life.  And even if they had killed my body, they would never have touched my soul, which is hidden in God forever.

 

For believers in Christ, we now have the resurrection life.  Yet we still have an enemy in Satan and in his followers…the kingdom of death…bullies… who seek to rob us of “the resurrection life”…who seek to steal and kill and destroy… First, Peter, Chapter 5, Verses 8 to 11…

 

/First Peter 5:8

Be of sober spirit…be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.\

 

/First Peter 5:9

But resist him, standing firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.\

 

/First Peter 5:10

After you have suffered for a little while, the God and Father of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in union with Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.\

 

/First Peter 5:11

To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.\

 

It’s a matter of death and then life…and we are to ignore the roaring of Satan, the toothless lion, and his minions…and instead we are to listen to the voice of “the door”…the Great Shepherd…our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

Now let’s take the offering. 

 

In a moment we will welcome up Deacon Denny Goodall.

 

/THE OFFERING

Deacon Denny Goodall\

 

Your generosity gives this ministry life.  Thank you for providing.

 

Let’s welcome up Deacon Denny Goodall.

 

/OFFERING VERSE

 

Mark 14:38

“Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”\

 

/OFFERING

FLIGHT OF THE EAGLE

Dave McClure, Instrumental\

 

/TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

It’s a Matter of Death and Life\

 

We continue our Resurrection Day study…LIFE is what we celebrate on this day…life is what we celebrate in this lesson…the resurrection life.  We continue our study with Luke’s account of what happened after the burial of our Lord.  Luke, Chapter 24, Verses 1 to 53…

 

/Luke 24:1

But on the first day of the week (Sunday), at early dawn, the women came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared (to preserve the body from decay).\

 

/Luke 24:2

And the women found the stone rolled away from the tomb…\

 

/Luke 24:3

…but when they entered the tomb, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.\

/Luke 24:4

While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men (angels) suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing…\

 

/Luke 24:5

…and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead?”\

 

It’s a matter of death and life.  Remember what Job said in Chapter 19 at Verse 25?

 

/JOB 19:25

“As for me, I (Job) know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last Jesus will take His stand on the earth.”\

 

Continuing at Luke, Chapter 24, Verse 6…

 

/Luke 24:6

“(The angels said to the women) Jesus is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee…”\

 

/Luke 24:7

“…saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men (unbelievers), and be crucified, and on the third day rise again?”\

 

/Luke 24:8

And the women remembered Jesus’ words…\

 

/Luke 24:9

…and the women returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven (apostles…minus Judas Iscariot) and to all the rest (of the disciples of the Lord).\

 

/Luke 24:10

Now the women were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles.\

 

/Luke 24:11

But these words appeared to the disciples to be nonsense, and they would not believe them.\

 

Unbelief…the disease of the faithful…the “I’ll believe it when I see it” attitude.  Yet for us believers, the attitude must be, “I’ll see it when I believe it.”  There is no doubt.  It’s a matter of death and life.  Let’s take a quick music break and then we’ll see what else happened after the burial of our Lord.

 

/MUSIC BREAK

THE LION AND THE LAMB

Crystal Lewis\

 

/TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON

It’s a Matter of Death and Life\

 

Welcome back!  Luke, Chapter 24, Verse 12…

 

/Luke 24:12

But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings only; and he went away to his home, marveling at what had happened.\

 

He was marveling…yet he didn’t really understand what had happened.  The apostles and disciples were so deeply engulfed in the emotion of grief that they weren’t even able to think.

 

/Luke 24:13

And behold, two of the disciples were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem.\

 

/Luke 24:14

And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place (the report about the Lord’s resurrection).\

 

/Luke 24:15

While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached them and began traveling with them.\

/Luke 24:16

But their eyes were prevented by God from recognizing Jesus.\

 

/Luke 24:17

And Jesus said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad.\

 

/Luke 24:18

One of the disciples, named Cleopas, answered and said to Jesus, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem who is unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?”\

 

It should be clear from this that everyone in the area knew of Jesus.  “Yeah but what about the little children in the middle of Africa?”

 

/Luke 24:19

And Jesus said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people…”\

 

/Luke 24:20

“…and how the chief priests (the Sanhedrin) and our rulers (Pilate and the Roman Authorities) delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him.”\

 

/Luke 24:21

“But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened.”\

 

They were looking for the redemption of Israel…the Lord Jesus Christ redeemed all mankind  instead.  The Lord is a bigger thinker!

 

/Luke 24:22

“But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning…”\

 

/Luke 24:23

“…and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive.”\

 

Alive…resurrected from the dead.

 

/Luke 24:24

“Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Jesus they did not see.”\

 

/Luke 24:25

And Jesus said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!”\

 

The disciples had the Old Testament predictions in writing…they should have understood clearly what had happened.

 

/Luke 24:26

“Was it not necessary for the Christ (the Messiah) to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?”\

 

/Luke 24:27

Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, Jesus explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.\

 

/Luke 24:28

And they approached the village where they were going, and Jesus acted as though He were going farther.\

 

/Luke 24:29

But they urged Jesus, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So Jesus went in to stay with them.\

 

/Luke 24:30

When Jesus had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them.\

 

/Luke 24:31

Then their eyes were opened by God and they recognized Jesus; and He vanished from their sight.\

 

/Luke 24:32

They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He

was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to

us?”\

 

/Luke 24:33

And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them…\

 

/Luke 24:34

…saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon (Peter).”\

 

We believe things when we hear things from two or three witnesses…the women, Peter, and Cleopas.  Or the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Amen?  The Lord does not expect BLIND faith.  In fact, there is no such thing as blind faith.  The Lord proves to us who He is and what He says.

 

/Luke 24:35

They began to relate their experiences on the road and how Jesus was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.\

 

/Luke 24:36

While they were telling these things, Jesus Himself stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be to you.”\

 

/Luke 24:37

But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit.\

 

/Luke 24:38

And Jesus said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?”\

 

If ye have faith…

 

/Luke 24:39

See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”\

 

/Luke 24:40

And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.\

/Luke 24:41

While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?”\

 

/Luke 24:42

They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish…\

 

/Luke 24:43

…and He took it and ate it before them.\

 

A resurrection body with flesh and bones…a resurrection body that is recognizable to friends…a resurrection body that eats!  Amen?

 

/Luke 24:44

Now Jesus said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”\

 

/Luke 24:45

Then Jesus opened their minds to understand the Scriptures…\

 

It is written…

 

/Luke 24:46

…and Jesus said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ (the Messiah) would suffer and rise again from the dead on the third day…”\

 

/Luke 24:47

“…and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”\

 

/Luke 24:48

“You are witnesses of these things.”\

 

/Luke 24:49

“And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”\

 

The filling of the Spirit would be coming in fifty days at Pentecost.   The

Helper who was promised would go on duty.

 

/Luke 24:50

And Jesus led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.\

 

/Luke 24:51

While He was blessing them, Jesus parted from them and was carried up into heaven.\

 

/Luke 24:52

And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy…\

 

/Luke 24:53

…and were continually in the temple praising God.\

 

It’s a matter of death and life.  Death, Burial, resurrection, Ascension, and Session…the risen Lord is seated at the right hand of the throne of His father.

 

Satan is defeated.  The Cross killed him.  The Cross is a verdict.  The Cross is a Victory.  Colossians, Chapter 3, Verses 1 to 4…

 

/Colossians 3:1

Therefore if you believers in Christ have been raised up with Christ, and you have, keep on seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God the Father.\

 

/Colossians 3:2

Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.\

 

/Colossians 3:3

For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God the Father.\

 

/Colossians 3:4

When Christ, who is our resurrection life, is revealed, then you believers in Christ also will be revealed with Him in glory.\

 

It’s a matter of death and life.

 

Second Corinthians, Chapter 5, Verse 17…

 

/Second Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if anyone is in union with Christ, and all believers are, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.\

 

It’s a matter of death…the old things passed away…it’s a matter of life…we have the resurrection life abundantly.  And Satan just keeps harping on us…bringing up an issue that is already settled…he accuses the brethren, yet we are dead to his sovereignty through the flesh…and we are alive to Christ.  Romans, Chapter 6, Verse 14…

 

/Romans 6:14

For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but you are under grace.\

 

And so no more eyes on Satan and his kingdom of death…no more eyes on self…no more eyes on others…instead we fix our eyes on the resurrected Savior Jesus Christ…the Lord…and we live our lives in the light of eternity.

 

What did our Lord say on the Cross?  John, Chapter 19, Verse 30…

 

/John 19:30

Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.\

 

Then from death to life…Matthew, Chapter 28, Verse 6…

 

/Matthew 28:6a

“Jesus is not here, for He has risen from the dead, just as He said…”\

 

It’s a matter of death and life.

 

You are alive…Colossians, Chapter 3, Verse 3…

 

/Colossians 3:3

For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.\

 

Happy Resurrection Day!

/When the Lord Jesus Christ

Promises Salvation, It’s a Guarantee!\

 

/Romans 3:10

…as it is written, “There is no creature who is righteous, not even one”\

 

/Romans 5:8

But God the Father demonstrates His own unconditional love toward all mankind, in that while we were yet sinners (as unbelievers), Christ died instead of us.\

 

/John 3:17

For God the Father did not send the Son (the Lord Jesus Christ) into the world to condemn the world, but the Father sent His Son into the world that the world might be saved through believing in Him.\

 

/John 1:12

But as many as received the Lord (taking advantage of the free gift of salvation), to them He gave the right (once and for all time) to become children of God…to those who believe in Christ’s name…\

 

/CLOSING SONG

WHO WILL CALL HIM KING OF KINGS

June Murphy\

 

/CLOSING PRAYER

Let us pray...\

 

          THANKS- INTERCESSION- PETITION

 

We pray that You protect our steps as we go out into the world, Father…and that you keep us on the narrow way, completely dependent on You and Your Guiding, Mentoring Spirit…we ask this in Christ’s name, Amen.

 

/Thanks for coming!

Thanks for watching!

Thanks for listening!

 

www.barahministries.com\