WEBVTT STYLE ::cue { color: #ffffff; } 00:00:00.970 --> 00:00:03.310 Grace. Mercy to you from God, 00:00:03.380 --> 00:00:04.954 our Father and our Lord 00:00:05.002 --> 00:00:06.080 Jesus Christ. 00:00:09.650 --> 00:00:10.526 In the past, 00:00:10.628 --> 00:00:12.702 people either proclaimed or 00:00:12.756 --> 00:00:15.466 rejected Christ's resurrection 00:00:15.658 --> 00:00:17.520 as a fact of history. 00:00:18.770 --> 00:00:20.526 But in today's culture it 00:00:20.548 --> 00:00:22.800 becomes more appropriate to say 00:00:23.490 --> 00:00:26.150 Jesus rose from the dead. 00:00:26.650 --> 00:00:27.720 So what? 00:00:28.650 --> 00:00:29.586 Fortunately, 00:00:29.698 --> 00:00:31.880 the Bible answers that question. 00:00:32.729 --> 00:00:35.602 The empty tomb has impacted 00:00:35.666 --> 00:00:38.970 every life as it has touched 00:00:39.470 --> 00:00:41.050 from the first witness 00:00:41.470 --> 00:00:43.340 to our life today. 00:00:44.990 --> 00:00:47.942 Since we are still in the joyful 00:00:48.006 --> 00:00:50.102 season of celebrating the 00:00:50.176 --> 00:00:51.262 resurrection of our 00:00:51.316 --> 00:00:52.720 Lord Jesus Christ, 00:00:54.050 --> 00:00:56.414 I want to share a message this 00:00:56.452 --> 00:00:59.502 morning and I entitled it the 00:00:59.556 --> 00:01:02.062 Transforming Impact of 00:01:02.116 --> 00:01:03.890 the Resurrection. 00:01:05.910 --> 00:01:07.934 The resurrection has immediate 00:01:07.982 --> 00:01:09.890 impact on the disciples. 00:01:10.550 --> 00:01:13.060 It transformed them from 00:01:13.430 --> 00:01:16.422 frightened followers to 00:01:16.476 --> 00:01:18.230 faithful believers. 00:01:19.370 --> 00:01:21.282 Put yourself in the possession 00:01:21.346 --> 00:01:24.454 of one of Jesus followers the 00:01:24.492 --> 00:01:27.270 day after his crucifixion. 00:01:28.350 --> 00:01:31.274 He had placed all his hope in 00:01:31.312 --> 00:01:34.780 this teacher, the anointed One, 00:01:35.230 --> 00:01:37.542 only to watch his life ended 00:01:37.686 --> 00:01:39.450 on a Roman cross. 00:01:40.770 --> 00:01:43.214 Thomas saw the crucifixion of 00:01:43.252 --> 00:01:45.306 Jesus and experienced 00:01:45.498 --> 00:01:47.790 a complete meltdown. 00:01:48.530 --> 00:01:51.050 He was overcome with pessimism 00:01:51.130 --> 00:01:52.646 and perhaps he lamented 00:01:52.698 --> 00:01:55.026 internally I knew it. 00:01:55.128 --> 00:01:57.300 It was too good to be true. 00:01:57.830 --> 00:02:00.450 Why did I even get involved? 00:02:01.350 --> 00:02:03.266 He was discouraged enough that 00:02:03.288 --> 00:02:05.434 he was not with other disciples 00:02:05.502 --> 00:02:07.814 on the day of the week when 00:02:07.852 --> 00:02:10.006 Jesus appeared in the middle 00:02:10.108 --> 00:02:12.040 of the locked room. 00:02:13.130 --> 00:02:15.542 When the disciples came to tell 00:02:15.596 --> 00:02:17.110 Thomas he didn't believe 00:02:17.180 --> 00:02:18.140 their story. 00:02:18.990 --> 00:02:20.780 They pleaded with him 00:02:21.390 --> 00:02:24.486 but he responded I don't 00:02:24.518 --> 00:02:26.906 care what you say. 00:02:27.088 --> 00:02:28.742 Unless I touch His wound, 00:02:28.806 --> 00:02:30.830 unless I see my with my eyes, 00:02:30.900 --> 00:02:33.120 I am not going to believe you. 00:02:34.210 --> 00:02:36.202 When the resurrected Lord Jesus 00:02:36.266 --> 00:02:37.274 appeared to Thomas, 00:02:37.322 --> 00:02:40.538 he did not say to him Thomas, 00:02:40.714 --> 00:02:42.320 you foolish man, 00:02:42.690 --> 00:02:44.800 why didn't you believe me? 00:02:45.490 --> 00:02:49.246 Our great loving Savior said to 00:02:49.268 --> 00:02:51.466 his doubting and pessimistic 00:02:51.578 --> 00:02:54.110 follower Thomas, 00:02:54.530 --> 00:02:55.280 come 00:02:57.290 --> 00:02:59.780 feel my hand. Feel my 00:03:00.090 --> 00:03:02.560 feet. Feel my side. 00:03:03.010 --> 00:03:05.454 See the marks of the wounds of 00:03:05.492 --> 00:03:08.240 your sin of unbelief in my body. 00:03:08.930 --> 00:03:12.110 And Thomas could only reply, 00:03:12.850 --> 00:03:15.600 my Lord and my God. 00:03:16.770 --> 00:03:18.682 The risen Christ utterly 00:03:18.746 --> 00:03:20.270 transformed Thomas, 00:03:20.610 --> 00:03:23.214 bringing him from pessimism to 00:03:23.252 --> 00:03:26.658 hope, from suspicion to victory, 00:03:26.834 --> 00:03:29.410 and from selfcentered doubt 00:03:29.570 --> 00:03:32.150 to God centered mission. 00:03:33.290 --> 00:03:36.550 The same could be said of Peter. 00:03:37.050 --> 00:03:39.482 When Jesus was on a trial before 00:03:39.536 --> 00:03:41.190 the religious council, 00:03:41.350 --> 00:03:43.510 Peter was not standing beside 00:03:43.590 --> 00:03:47.158 Him. He was in the courtyard, 00:03:47.254 --> 00:03:48.540 denying Him. 00:03:49.230 --> 00:03:51.366 He folded to pressure, 00:03:51.558 --> 00:03:53.142 not from the powerful 00:03:53.206 --> 00:03:54.610 Roman Pilate, 00:03:54.790 --> 00:03:56.890 nor from the influential 00:03:57.050 --> 00:03:59.230 Jewish high priest, 00:03:59.730 --> 00:04:02.160 but from a common slave girl. 00:04:03.190 --> 00:04:04.434 Luke, tell us that 00:04:04.471 --> 00:04:06.094 after Peter denied Jesus 00:04:06.142 --> 00:04:07.220 the third time, 00:04:07.910 --> 00:04:10.562 the Lord turned and looked 00:04:10.696 --> 00:04:12.290 straight at Peter. 00:04:13.269 --> 00:04:16.002 Something inside Peter broke, 00:04:16.146 --> 00:04:18.870 and he wept bitterly. 00:04:20.010 --> 00:04:20.837 But later, 00:04:20.923 --> 00:04:22.674 the risen Jesus appeared 00:04:22.722 --> 00:04:24.230 personally to Peter, 00:04:25.210 --> 00:04:27.190 as he had to Thomas. 00:04:27.710 --> 00:04:29.446 Jesus met him at the edge 00:04:29.478 --> 00:04:31.270 of the Sea of Galilee, 00:04:31.430 --> 00:04:33.114 the same place where he had 00:04:33.152 --> 00:04:34.854 called the fishermen 00:04:34.902 --> 00:04:36.060 to follow Him. 00:04:36.510 --> 00:04:39.526 Jesus restored his failed 00:04:39.558 --> 00:04:40.974 follower and began the 00:04:41.012 --> 00:04:43.534 transformation process with a 00:04:43.572 --> 00:04:47.582 simple question do you love me? 00:04:47.716 --> 00:04:49.006 Which is the text we 00:04:49.028 --> 00:04:50.240 read last night. 00:04:51.330 --> 00:04:54.654 The same Peter who had boasted 00:04:54.702 --> 00:04:56.050 his willingness to follow 00:04:56.120 --> 00:04:57.810 Jesus to death 00:04:58.950 --> 00:05:01.262 became the humble servant 00:05:01.326 --> 00:05:03.313 empowered to truly follow and 00:05:03.352 --> 00:05:06.498 die for Christ. As he answered, 00:05:06.674 --> 00:05:09.560 Lord, you know all things. 00:05:10.090 --> 00:05:12.600 You know that I love you. 00:05:14.010 --> 00:05:15.350 These are just two 00:05:15.419 --> 00:05:17.720 transformations among many. 00:05:18.350 --> 00:05:19.894 After Jesus resurrection, 00:05:19.942 --> 00:05:21.322 he appeared to more than 00:05:21.376 --> 00:05:23.622 500 other disciples 00:05:23.765 --> 00:05:26.700 over the course of 40 days. 00:05:27.630 --> 00:05:29.654 As these followers saw the risen 00:05:29.702 --> 00:05:31.658 Jesus, their cowardice, 00:05:31.754 --> 00:05:33.710 doubt and fear gave way 00:05:33.780 --> 00:05:35.550 to courage and faith. 00:05:36.130 --> 00:05:38.010 No longer frightened, 00:05:38.169 --> 00:05:41.310 they prepared to face death, 00:05:41.890 --> 00:05:44.909 because if Jesus tomb was empty, 00:05:45.250 --> 00:05:48.080 theirs would be as well. 00:05:49.730 --> 00:05:50.190 Second, 00:05:50.260 --> 00:05:52.154 the disciple were transformed 00:05:52.202 --> 00:05:54.090 from faithful believers 00:05:54.250 --> 00:05:56.789 to empowered messengers. 00:05:57.370 --> 00:05:59.030 At the end of the 40 days, 00:05:59.100 --> 00:06:01.310 Jesus ascended into heaven. 00:06:01.650 --> 00:06:03.278 But before he left, 00:06:03.444 --> 00:06:05.182 he gave his follower a 00:06:05.236 --> 00:06:07.706 commission and a promise. 00:06:07.898 --> 00:06:09.854 He commissioned his disciple to 00:06:09.892 --> 00:06:12.590 be his witness to all nations, 00:06:13.170 --> 00:06:14.766 and he promised to give his 00:06:14.788 --> 00:06:15.902 people the power to 00:06:15.956 --> 00:06:17.390 complete the task. 00:06:17.730 --> 00:06:21.674 Power from the resurrected Jesus 00:06:21.802 --> 00:06:24.298 to proclaim the resurrection 00:06:24.394 --> 00:06:25.720 of Jesus. 00:06:26.650 --> 00:06:27.794 On Pentecost, 00:06:27.842 --> 00:06:30.150 the promised power arrived. 00:06:30.970 --> 00:06:33.480 The text of this morning show us 00:06:33.930 --> 00:06:36.850 how Jesus faithful believers 00:06:36.930 --> 00:06:38.506 were filled with the 00:06:38.528 --> 00:06:39.610 Holy Spirit. 00:06:40.270 --> 00:06:42.502 And instead of denying Jesus, 00:06:42.566 --> 00:06:44.854 Peter become an empowered 00:06:44.902 --> 00:06:45.770 messenger. 00:06:46.190 --> 00:06:47.846 Standing before the crowd 00:06:47.878 --> 00:06:48.822 in Jerusalem, 00:06:48.886 --> 00:06:52.122 he declared God has raised 00:06:52.266 --> 00:06:54.174 this Jesus to life, 00:06:54.372 --> 00:06:57.646 and we are all witness of it. 00:06:57.828 --> 00:07:00.590 Repent and be baptized, 00:07:01.010 --> 00:07:02.142 every one of you, 00:07:02.196 --> 00:07:03.746 in the name of Jesus Christ, 00:07:03.848 --> 00:07:05.982 for the forgiveness of your sin, 00:07:06.126 --> 00:07:08.606 and you will receive the gift 00:07:08.718 --> 00:07:10.370 of the Holy Spirit. 00:07:11.350 --> 00:07:13.394 Peter boldly proclaimed the 00:07:13.432 --> 00:07:15.922 truth of Jesus resurrection and 00:07:15.976 --> 00:07:18.520 3000 people believed that day. 00:07:19.050 --> 00:07:22.694 This has been the pattern in 00:07:22.732 --> 00:07:25.159 the church ever since. 00:07:26.170 --> 00:07:29.094 Later on we see Stephen boldly 00:07:29.142 --> 00:07:31.846 faced martyrdom as he proclaimed 00:07:31.878 --> 00:07:33.610 the message of the resurrection. 00:07:34.110 --> 00:07:36.950 The same power transformed 00:07:37.110 --> 00:07:39.290 Saul to Paul, 00:07:39.810 --> 00:07:42.394 changing the greatest persecutor 00:07:42.442 --> 00:07:44.622 of Christians to a man 00:07:44.756 --> 00:07:47.070 sold for the gospel. 00:07:47.409 --> 00:07:49.006 Paul knew the power of the 00:07:49.028 --> 00:07:51.454 resurrection so intimately that 00:07:51.492 --> 00:07:53.518 he considered a joy to suffer 00:07:53.614 --> 00:07:55.170 the loss of all things, 00:07:55.320 --> 00:07:57.874 including his own life for 00:07:57.912 --> 00:07:59.570 the sake of the gospel. 00:08:00.790 --> 00:08:02.654 After Thomas touched 00:08:02.702 --> 00:08:04.030 the risen Jesus, 00:08:04.190 --> 00:08:06.530 he did not go home and returned 00:08:06.610 --> 00:08:08.230 to life as usual. 00:08:08.650 --> 00:08:11.010 He remained with the disciples. 00:08:11.169 --> 00:08:13.206 He was in the upper room when 00:08:13.228 --> 00:08:15.606 the Holy Spirit came upon them. 00:08:15.788 --> 00:08:18.422 He took to heart the commission 00:08:18.486 --> 00:08:20.169 of the resurrected Christ 00:08:20.320 --> 00:08:23.206 and set off to the east. 00:08:23.398 --> 00:08:27.050 He went to Nineveh modern day 00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:30.086 Mosul in Iraq and founded a 00:08:30.128 --> 00:08:32.366 church that is still 00:08:32.548 --> 00:08:33.680 there today. 00:08:34.370 --> 00:08:37.226 From Nineveh he went to India 00:08:37.418 --> 00:08:39.754 and established the church 00:08:39.802 --> 00:08:41.898 of Thomas, 00:08:42.074 --> 00:08:44.480 which still thrives today. 00:08:45.650 --> 00:08:47.486 These churches stand as a 00:08:47.508 --> 00:08:49.726 testimony to the power of the 00:08:49.748 --> 00:08:51.678 resurrected Jesus Christ, 00:08:51.844 --> 00:08:53.982 who overcomes our own 00:08:54.036 --> 00:08:56.950 doubt and failing. 00:08:57.370 --> 00:08:58.806 And the last impact is 00:08:58.828 --> 00:08:59.810 the eternal impact. 00:09:01.210 --> 00:09:02.974 For the last 18 years I have 00:09:03.012 --> 00:09:05.102 been doing mission locally and 00:09:05.156 --> 00:09:08.510 globally among Muslim. 00:09:09.330 --> 00:09:11.882 During this year I received 00:09:11.946 --> 00:09:13.706 hundreds of letters testifying 00:09:13.738 --> 00:09:15.726 to the transformative power 00:09:15.908 --> 00:09:17.950 of Christ resurrection. 00:09:18.690 --> 00:09:20.714 Terrorists have turned 00:09:20.762 --> 00:09:22.378 into evangelists. 00:09:22.554 --> 00:09:25.270 Criminals have become honest 00:09:25.460 --> 00:09:27.720 Christ loving men and women. 00:09:28.170 --> 00:09:31.254 Academics who once spent their 00:09:31.292 --> 00:09:32.854 life searching for way to 00:09:32.892 --> 00:09:34.850 undermine the Christian faith 00:09:35.010 --> 00:09:38.550 are now its biggest proponents. 00:09:39.070 --> 00:09:41.030 The power of the resurrection 00:09:41.190 --> 00:09:44.202 is available to everyone who 00:09:44.256 --> 00:09:46.154 believes in Jesus Christ, 00:09:46.352 --> 00:09:48.486 regardless of how powerless 00:09:48.598 --> 00:09:49.740 we may feel. 00:09:50.210 --> 00:09:52.234 It won't give us a prestigious 00:09:52.282 --> 00:09:54.826 job, wealth or fame. 00:09:55.018 --> 00:09:56.394 That is not what Jesus 00:09:56.442 --> 00:09:57.342 came to do. 00:09:57.476 --> 00:10:00.302 He came to give us the power to 00:10:00.356 --> 00:10:03.794 overcome devil, world and the 00:10:03.832 --> 00:10:07.010 greatest enemy of all death. 00:10:08.230 --> 00:10:10.898 God privileged the apostle John 00:10:10.984 --> 00:10:12.900 with a glimpse of the future, 00:10:13.350 --> 00:10:14.894 a vision of the Church 00:10:14.942 --> 00:10:16.458 gathered in heaven. 00:10:16.654 --> 00:10:18.214 John writes in the book 00:10:18.252 --> 00:10:18.962 of Revelation, 00:10:19.026 --> 00:10:21.366 chapter twelve and I heard a 00:10:21.388 --> 00:10:24.150 loud voice in heaven saying now 00:10:24.300 --> 00:10:26.246 the salvation and the power and 00:10:26.268 --> 00:10:28.202 the kingdom of our God and the 00:10:28.256 --> 00:10:30.346 authority of his Christ 00:10:30.448 --> 00:10:31.420 have come. 00:10:31.950 --> 00:10:34.022 For the accuser of our brothers 00:10:34.086 --> 00:10:36.346 have been thrown down. 00:10:36.528 --> 00:10:38.394 Who accuses them day and 00:10:38.432 --> 00:10:39.830 night before God, 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:42.414 and they have conquered him by 00:10:42.452 --> 00:10:44.734 the blood of the Lamb and by the 00:10:44.772 --> 00:10:46.858 word of their testimony. 00:10:47.034 --> 00:10:49.758 For they loved not their lives, 00:10:49.924 --> 00:10:51.710 even unto death. 00:10:52.630 --> 00:10:54.702 These are the true and faithful 00:10:54.766 --> 00:10:56.014 member of the Church 00:10:56.062 --> 00:10:57.426 of Jesus Christ, 00:10:57.608 --> 00:10:59.902 people from every nation 00:10:59.966 --> 00:11:01.569 before God's throne. 00:11:02.069 --> 00:11:04.466 And note the people in the 00:11:04.488 --> 00:11:08.440 vision are alive forever more. 00:11:08.890 --> 00:11:10.850 They have experienced 00:11:11.010 --> 00:11:13.014 resurrection just as 00:11:13.052 --> 00:11:14.134 their Lord did, 00:11:14.252 --> 00:11:15.990 demonstrating what the future 00:11:16.060 --> 00:11:18.262 hold for all those who 00:11:18.316 --> 00:11:20.280 belong to Christ. 00:11:21.450 --> 00:11:24.982 That is the powerful impact that 00:11:25.036 --> 00:11:27.319 the resurrection makes. 00:11:27.850 --> 00:11:29.425 The reason Jesus turned 00:11:29.458 --> 00:11:31.918 frightened followers into 00:11:32.004 --> 00:11:33.630 faithful believers. 00:11:34.050 --> 00:11:35.870 Faithful believers into 00:11:35.940 --> 00:11:37.690 empowered messengers, 00:11:37.850 --> 00:11:40.800 and empowered messengers into 00:11:41.250 --> 00:11:45.294 resurrected conquerors. And now, 00:11:45.332 --> 00:11:46.334 may the peace of God, 00:11:46.372 --> 00:11:48.490 who surpasses all understanding, 00:11:48.650 --> 00:11:51.021 keeps your heart and mind into 00:11:51.076 --> 00:11:53.050 everlasting life. Amen.