RESURRECTION POWER (RESURRECTION DAY SERMON) — Prophet Tony Mathias

Hello Church – This is Prophet Tony and also Senior Pastor of Kingdom Seekers International Mumbai India. I am going to speak to you today Resurrection Sunday April 12, 2020 – my topic Resurrection Power appropriate for this day.

Hallelujah, Jesus is Alive!
Death has lost its victory
And the grave has been denied
Jesus lives forever,
He’s Alive! He’s Alive!
He’s the Alpha and Omega
The first and last is He
The Curse of sin is broken
And we have perfect liberty
The Lamb of God has risen
He’s Alive! He’s Alive!
Jesus is Alive!

He is the one who died to cleanse us and clear our record of all sin, then sat down in the place of highest honour beside the Great God Of Heaven.

Someone said:
Christianity is based on the law of forgiveness and an empty tomb – How True!

Calvary expresses the ‘Love of God,’
Resurrection explains the ‘Power of God.’

Resurrection is the greatest event that draws the line between Christianity and all other Religions.

Jesus rose from the dead; His tomb is empty. Hallelujah!

Christianity is our Great Confession.
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Christ Jesus the Apostle and High Priest of our Confession. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrew 3: 1; 4: 16.
“That I may know Him and the power of His Resurrection!” Paul writes in Philippians 3:10.

There are four important interconnects that believers should take note of:

  1. Calvary
  2. Resurrection
  3. Power 0f the Resurrection
  4. Return

CALVARY – The most completed historical event depicting the ‘death of Jesus’ on Calvary’s Cross – God left nothing undone at Calvary by the substitutionary death of Jesus His Son.

  1. Curse was broken Galatians 3: 13
  2. Sins washed away by His blood 1 John 1: 7
  3. Power of sin broken Romans 6: 10
  4. Sickness borne 1 Peter 2: 24
  5. Poverty annulled 2 Corinthians 8: 9
  6. Abundant life given John 10: 10

RESURRECTION

  • Jesus rose from the dead on the 3rd day
  • Defeated Satan (hell and the grave, the empty tomb proves it)
  • Lives forever 2 Corinthians 5: 15

No other religion has a resurrection!

RETURN
The disciples gazed at his ascension while He promised He would return
The angel reassured them He would come back again Acts 1: 1
Jesus assured us He would return and take us to our heavenly home.
The Prophets and Sons of the Prophets are busy heralding His return.

POWER OF THE RESURRECTION
Now what are at a time between the ‘Resurrection and Return’ of Jesus – what are we supposed to do?
‘Know Him and Show’ Him to the world.

How? – By the Power of the Resurrection – The Holy Ghost Power – The same Holy Ghost who brought Jesus into the womb of Mary, raised him from the dead, and that power and person of the Holy Spirit dwells in us believers –
“He is able to do exceeding…Ephesians 3: 20

“Call those things that are not as though they already were” Romans 4: 17
We have ‘Resurrection Power’ to cancel and expel this virus and its effects from planet earth and much more… “For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.” Romans 8: 19 – through the power of ‘praise and worship’, ‘intercession,’ ‘groaning’ and ‘decree’ and this virus shall cease to exist. It is time!
Something worth remembering!

Prophet Elisha the great miracle worker in 2 Kings worked miracles when he was alive and the unfading power after his death even raised one from the dead.
Elisha was in constant touch with God and that is why he was always able to bring life out of dead situations wherever he went
And it was the same with Apostle Paul where people came to him with their problems and needs.

What about you and the Resurrection Power in you?
Do you feel or sense it?
Are you in constant touch with the Lord and His Word?

Only then can you expect Him to use you increasingly and effectively!
And we can do nothing except with the Holy Spirit who came down with power after the resurrection. – Didn’t he say?

Acts 1: 8. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

I tell you that the time of the ‘Lone-Rangers’ is over – DON’T resurrect them, DON’T hero-worship them! although you must honour and esteem them for labouring in God’s Kingdom, and practice godly principles you learned from them. Don’t go back, but go forward into your excellent prophetic future!

Revelations 22: 9. But he said, “No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this book. Worship only God!”

The God of the now, expects you to move with power because you’ve got the Holy Ghost on the inside of you and scriptures beside you, with God’s Generals behind you to assist you since you know you belong to Jesus! God does everything beautiful in His time! Ecclesiastes 3

“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” Habakkuk 2: 14.
It’s a new day, it’s a new hour, it’s a new visitation in a brand new way – Revealing the Father exalting the Son, God’s Holy Spirit is making us one!

Rick Joyner says:
The kingdom of God is coming, and it cannot be stopped or slowed, but it can be hastened! We are told that we should be “looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God. 2 Peter 3: 12.
What could we do to help bring His kingdom faster? We can do this by building our lives on His kingdom now and preaching the good news of His kingdom everywhere we go.

I believe the Tsunami wave of revival the greatest move of God of all time is breaking upon us globally despite the corona-viral pandemic and its horrors, from Christians in retreat to Christians in advancement! – The prophets and the sons of prophets are giving a wake-up call for preparing the bride for the soon coming return of – the heavenly bridegroom.

The heavenly Bridegroom soon will come,
To claim His bride, and take her home,
To dwell with Him on high.

Trim your lamps and be ready; for the Bridegroom’s nigh.
The Bridegroom comes, let no man doubt;
Alas, for those whose lamps are out!
They’ll find no oil to buy.

Who ready are shall enter in;
The marriage feast will then begin;
And every tear be dry.

The righteous, saved forevermore;
Their God shall ceaselessly adore,
In bliss beyond the sky.

O sinner! ere it be too late;
Flee now to mercy’s open gate,
And join Christ’s waiting band.
(Echoes Of Grace Hymn book)

GOOD FRIDAY: CROWNED OR CRUCIFIED?

His Name is not Henry! – His Name is not Henry! His Name is Jesus!

Story told by Dr. Larry Lea

– He ran around the psychiatric ward of a hospital, depressed and bewildered with a collection of crucifixes in his hand gazing at the Latin inscription INRI, with the sisters close at heels – his muttering was amplified for all to hear; “His Name is not Henry His Name is Jesus.” – He fell on his knees weeping saying Jesus! Jesus! Merciful Jesus! over and over again.

Several days later he heard an inner voice speak to his spirit – “Now you are My son you will take this message to this generation You will be My mouth and My minister – then the voice said get up and go home.” – He says Jesus came through the locked doors and barred windows walked right into his heart placed a call upon his life to serve his generation.

This is the testimony of Dr. Larry Lea, mega-church founder – author of the book, “Could You Not Tarry One Hour” – the Book that changed the prayer life of multitudes and my life as well resulting in the printing of my first book, “Prayer Mantle.”

How true! – He who calls upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved, healed, delivered!

INRI – Jesus Of Nazareth King Of the Jews – Hail King Of the Jews!

In the cold, black night of Christ’s betrayal, His disciples could not tarry one hour with Him in prayer. In the Garden of Gethsemane, while Jesus earnestly prayed in such agony of spirit that His sweat became like great drops of blood falling to the ground, His disciples, oblivious of the eternity-shaping events about to transpire, slept. Jesus, heavy and sorrowful in spirit, awakened His sleeping disciples and asked:

‘Could ye not watch with me one hour?’

Jesus was flogged, spat upon, insulted; The soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee and mocked him, saying ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’

Though Jesus was sinless He was led to His crucifixion – nailed to the cross after he had been condemned to death. Through His crown of thorns, Jesus removed from our foreheads, the curse and badge of sin, and brought us blessings of God.

Jesus was assassinated! We call it Good Friday because of the good results.

Dying, He destroyed our death, and rising He restored our life.

And here is another so-called king that so many are talking about globally, Corona-Virus – Corona means crown in Greek and Latin. They mocked Jesus with a Crown of Thorns in the sight of people, He was crucified, died on the cross, was buried and rose again. A crown of global-mockery just before the return of Jesus, the King of Glory.

This virus shall never be crowned with its false crown and false robe – as the world unites in its expulsion.  And there shall be an exit of this virus soon as the people continue to intercede, thank, praise and worship the living God – the strategy of God!

Panic-driven, fearmongering, pandemic pandemonium of massacre, distancing, lockdowns, indescribable suffering. We know that governments of the world, doctors, nurses, hospitals, police-force and others in positions of responsibility and authority are doing their best to combat and eradicate this dreadful virus. This is a wake-up call to pray and praise – stand in the gap – a historical repeat of the sleeping disciples!

Mirrored in this tragic scene is the plight of the church today. Jesus, our Intercessor High Priest, is praying; His disciples are sleeping; It would be difficult to list failures, defeats, broken relationships, broken homes, tragedies and now this virus that could have been averted if believers prayed. However it is not too late!

2 Chronicles 7: 14: If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. – It would be impossible to measure the destruction that could have been turned and the judgment averted if only God’s people took time to pray – God’s people are responsible!

But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! In these days there is a return of many of God’s people, backslidden as well, unbelievers, the world at large crying out for God’s help against this pandemic with its aura of horror, deaths and global- suffering. Will He not hear? –Yes He the God who answers prayer!

Church of the living God cheer up! We shall rise triumphantly!

Isaiah 62: 3-4. “You will also be a crown of beauty in Yahweh’s hand and a royal diadem in your God’s hand. You will not be called forsaken anymore, nor will your land be called desolate anymore…”

I am reminded of a beautiful song extolling the Lord:

Father in heaven how we love you; We lift your name in all the earth; May your kingdom be established in our praises; As your people declare your mighty works.

Blessed be the Lord, God Almighty; Who was and is and is to come; Blessed be the Lord, God Almighty; Who reigns forever more

A Word to the Church – Many attend Lenten services; see movies on Good Friday like ‘Passion of Christ’ dealing with His sufferings. That is fine but not good enough. It will do us good when we meditate on His suffering and imitate him. Then we become like Him in His death.; – He was silent Isaiah 53: 7; Matthew 27: 12-13. Many are quick to retaliate, hit back or take revenge at the right moment.

Philippians 3:10-11. “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.”

Paul spoke of two interconnects: “Resurrection Power & Suffering.”

Resurrection powermakes dead situations alive

Sufferingis the key to release that power.

Paul wanted to become like Jesus in his death.

Now we may have suffered but do we look like Christ in His suffering?

Do others see it?  – If we “become like Him” in His suffering, we will become like Him in His resurrection power.

“Father, forgive them, they do not know what they do.”

“Pastor it is so hard to forgive! – God’s love nature in a born-again helps forgive!

“Pastor, people are not sorry for what they did to me.”

Jesus forgave without waiting for others to repent.

He forgave the Sanhedrin, Scribes, Pharisees, Pilate – He forgave all.

He didn’t tell the crowd to repent for yelling ‘Crucify him’ then He would forgive them.

He didn’t tell the soldiers to repent and change their lives then He would forgive.

Forgiveness has the quality of love as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13.

Love does not demand its own way,

Love does not hold grudges;

Love is not irritable or touchy

Love hardly notices when others do it wrong;

We have all missed it!

If we are bitter, unforgiving, can we say we’re suffering with Christ living a resurrected life?

 Simon Carried the Cross.”

Jesus was humble He allowed Simon to carry his cross.

You hear of addicts often turning away from help:

“Leave me alone, I can stop when I want to.”

We need “Simons” to help us.


The Women wept for Jesus

He said to them “Do not weep for me.”

Many try tears;

Many suffer with self-pity to be noticed. Self-pity is pride. It blocks God’s help or grace.

“Can’t people see what I am going through?” – They want applause for suffering endured.

That was not how Christ suffered – He had no self-pity. He was humble so should we!

Repentance and Confession of sins are seldom spoken of;

We need to return to this Truth. God demands both.

We know of sins mentioned in Galatians 5:19-21 – those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Let us ask the Holy Spirit to expose areas of sin in us and then repent!

Richard Lovelace – “Stone walls do not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage.”

Many are enclosed in their self-made prisons – Jesus set them free but they like to remain within with prison doors open – Jesus had to die this shameful death to be our perfect substitute in all areas of life

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross;
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best;
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross; Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross; And exchange it someday for a crown.

Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world;  Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above; To bear it to dark Calvary.

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine; A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died; To pardon and sanctify me.

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true; Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me someday to my home far away; Where His glory forever I’ll share.

Please read Isaiah 53.

There may be someone reading this message who has never been able to connect with God and wants to, here are three simple steps to God:

God loves you and He wants you to be His child John 3: 16; John 1: 12

God sent His One and Only Son Jesus Christ to die for your sins. He lived a sinless life, died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins and rose from the dead.

He offers you the gift to live with Him forever in heaven.

If you believe this with your heart you can take the third step – accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord Romans 5: 8; John 14: 6

Say this prayer aloud:

Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. You died on the cross for my sins. And rose again from the dead. I repent and turn away from my sinful life and turn to you

Lord Jesus Christ come into my heart, I make you my Saviour and Lord.

Thank you for saving me, forgiving me and giving me eternal life.

Almighty God I thank you for making me your child. I will serve you all the days of my life.

God Bess You All.