He is risen

Romans chapter 4, we'll read a couple of verses together, beginning at verse 13. Paul's letter to the Romans chapter 4 and verse 13, for the promise that he Abraham should be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law but through the righteousness of faith. Verse 24, but for us also to whom it shall be imputed if we believe in him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered for our offenses and was raised again for our justification.

This is what distinguishes vital Christianity from all forms of religion. Verse 23, he not only was delivered for our offenses, if he stopped there brethren we wouldn't be here today, but what what makes it wonderful is he was raised again for our justification. H. A. Ironside, known by many in his writings, was visiting with a number, a group, to the holy sites of Israel, the land of Palestine.

An Arab was their guide taking them to the different sites and they got to the sepulcher. There was a bit of a smile that came over the Arab's face. He says, I'm very sorry, but there's nothing here to see.

If you come with me to Mecca, I can show you the embalmed body of our leader, our prophet, Mohammad. There was a silence in the sepulcher for just a little while and H. A. Ironside began to sing. Others joined in, death could not keep its prey.

Jesus my Savior, he stole the bars away, Jesus my Lord, up from the grave he arose. My point at the close of this morning session is this, most believers, including the speaker, live somewhere between Calvary and Pentecost. By that I mean many believers do not really get beyond the work of the Lord Jesus of which they rest in.

When he said it is finished, the way of salvation was made open, the veil was rent from top to bottom, God had to first be satisfied and then us. But many believers don't really get beyond the fact that Christ died for their sins according to the scripture, and then they're wondering why they have no power or no real joy, a real purpose in life. So we're going to go into the scriptures now and see a few characters who had the same promise or the same problem, and a resurrected Christ was the answer.

John plays, Gospel of John, in chapter 20. And these were very good and godly Christians. First of all, we read in John chapter 20 and verse 11, and Mary stood without of the sepulcher weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the sepulcher and see it two angels in white sitting, the one at the head and the other at the feet where the body of Jesus had lain.

And they said to her, Woman, why weepest thou? She said unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, notice, and I know not where they have laid him, a dead Christ to Mary. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back and saw Jesus standing and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus said unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou? She supposed in him to be the gardener.

Sayeth unto him, Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. A godly woman was Mary, occupied brethren with a dead Christ. All the while he was raised, and yet she was occupied with the one that died upon the cross.

Of course, when he was revealed to him in resurrection life, the tears vanished. And if you have tears today, the answer to your tears is a resurrected Christ. Every problem that we'll ever face, we can find it in the Word of God, whether it's parents with children or children or older ones, any problem they can be faced in the Bible.

So Mary here is occupied with a dead Christ, that's why she was weeping. Notice down the chapter please, verse 19. Then the same day at evening being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut, where the disciples were assembled, notice, for fear of the Jews.

And we read, came Jesus and stood in the midst and saith unto them, Peace be unto thee. And when he had so said, he showed him his hands in his side. Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord.

Like Mary, the disciples were full of fear. John tells us the perfect love casts out fear, for where there's fear there's torment. Again, occupied with a dead Christ, that's why we'll have fears.

Down the chapter, verse 24. But Thomas, one of the twelve called Didymus, twin, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord, but he said unto them, Except.

That's the nature of the Jews, they wanted to see a sign. Except I shall see in his hand the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them.

Then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands, and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side, and be not faithless but believing. A resurrected Christ took away every doubt that resided in the mind of Thomas.

But we have a very good example in the Old Testament. Let's turn now to Genesis 45. This makes it very clear.

Genesis 45, lovely portion of the Word of God that has to do with Joseph, but we want to speak about Jacob. Genesis 45 and verse 1. Then Joseph could not refrain himself. We all know the background to this story, how that through the famine they were forced to come into Egypt, and here is Joseph.

He was probably only 17, 18 years of age when he was sold to the Ishmaelites, and how God through circumstances brought him to be second-in-command in Israel or in Egypt. And now the brethren, his brothers, 18-20 years later, they're coming, and of course they don't recognize Joseph, but Joseph recognizes them. Isn't that lovely? We never recognized the Lord Jesus, but he knew all about us and began to deal with us, and through God's dealing with us, led us to a revelation of himself.

Verse 1, then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him. Verse 3, and Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph. Doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him, for they were troubled at his presence.

Verse 9, haste ye and go up to my father and say unto him, thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me Lord of all Egypt. Come down unto me, tarry not. Verse 13, and ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt.

Brethren, that is our message today. Our message today is to exalt the person of the Lord Jesus. John 4 says the Father seeketh worshippers to worship him in spirit and in truth, and that is our privilege.

And we read further here down the chapter, chapter 49 and verse 24. So he sent his brethren away and they departed. And he said unto them, see that ye fall not up by the way, or don't be quarreling amongst yourselves.

That could be very easy, brethren. After all, he blessed them exceedingly, give them all that they needed not to go back to Father Jacob, but to return. And instead of being occupied with the forgiveness that Joseph granted to his brethren, they could be quarreling one with another.

And it says, see that you fall not out by the way. I remember being in the northern part of the Netherlands with our brother Lou Swan, who's a resident preacher of the gospel there, and there was a farmer, a chicken farmer, that invited us to the home, and he took us out to see the chicken farm. And he had a pen there with about 10,000 chicks that were two or three weeks of age.

He says, just look through the latches on the side of the walls of the of the chicken barn and see what you see. And when we lift up the latch, all we saw was little chicks running and with their beaks going one towards the other, fighting amongst themselves. He says, just wait a minute now.

And he went in with a small tractor and with mash, and he began to feed the ten troughs with mash. He says, now have a look. And we lifted again the latches up, and what do we see, brother? Instead of this, there were this.

They were feeding themselves with the food that was convenient. And these brethren of Joseph, instead of arguing what with the mother, well, you wanted to kill them. The other says, and you put them into the well, and you sold them to the Ishmaelites, instead of being occupied with the forgiveness that Joseph had already granted to them.

See that you fall not out by the way. Now notice in verse 26. Verse 26 or verse 25, And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father, and told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor of all the land of Egypt.

And Jacob's heart fainted, for he believed them not. Of course, brethren. Twenty years earlier they had given the impression, with a Joseph's coat of many colors dipped in blood, that Joseph is dead.

And now after 20 years they're trying to convey the message that Joseph is yet alive. There's something that just doesn't jive here. And so for 20 years, brethren, Jacob is living in his mind with a dead Joseph.

And all the while in those 20 years God is bringing him out of the prison into the palace, second in command. A wonderful type of the Lord Jesus. From the cross he took his place at God's right hand.

The Bible tells us in Matthew 28, All power is given unto me in heaven and earth, go ye. And Jacob, like Mary, like the disciples, like doubting Thomas, occupied with a dead Joseph. Brethren, our power does not rest in the fact that we're born again.

The potential is there, but the power rests and occupied with a living Christ who has all power in heaven. And it's the Holy Spirit that will not only convince us of our deep need as sinners and lead us savingly to Christ, but thank God he'll take of the things of Christ and reveal them unto his people. That's what gives us joy.

That's what gives us purpose in living. That's what gives us power to deny the things of the world and seek to follow in the ways of the Lord Jesus. There's Joseph, Jacob.

Twenty years he's grieving because he's occupied with a dead Joseph. And all the while Joseph has become second in command. Notice what it says here.

And he believed them not. Verse 27, And they told him all the words of Joseph, that is brethren, which he had said unto them. Notice.

And when he saw the wagons which Joseph had said to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived, and Israel said, It's enough, it is enough. Joseph my son is yet alive. I will go and see him before I die.

What convinced him, brethren? It wasn't the words of his sons. When he saw the wagon loads of provision sent by Pharaoh. No cheap wagons, brethren.

The best in the land, laden with food, in order to bring Jacob and his family back to where Joseph is. Here we have it, brethren. Sixty-six wagons in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.

Where Jesus Christ is promised in Genesis. Where he's prophesied through the prophets. How he's proclaimed in the New Testament as the Savior of sinners and the food for his people.

And proclaimed throughout and preached throughout the New Testament and promised as well. The point is this, brethren, like we mentioned, are we only occupied with the work of Christ or the person of Christ? The work of Christ is behind us. That's 2,000 years ago.

A living Christ is before us. What are we then going to do with Jesus, which is called Christ, said Pilate. Brethren, let's get occupied on the resurrection side.

He was delivered for our offenses, but he's raised again for our justification and occupied with him, that's going to make all the difference. That's where our power rests, in the fact that Christ lives and lives in me. May God bless his word, and may at this conference we go away with a fresh determination to live, love, and serve the best of masters, our Lord Jesus Christ.