## God Kept His Promise

## Matthew 28:1-10

All of us need to be encouraged from time to time. I read of a newspaper man who, for his own amusement, wrote a note to twenty of his friends with just one word. 'Congratulations'. None of them had done anything in particular that he thought deserved a congratulatory comment, he just wanted to see their reaction. All twenty returned a thank you note without questioning why the message had been sent. We all need encouragement.

The disciples certainly needed some encouragement after the events of Calvary. All of their hopes and dreams seemed to come crashing down with every blow of the hammer that nailed Jesus to the cross. But, as the songwriter puts it, then came the morning. The resurrection morning brought to them the realization that Jesus was no longer dead. That He was risen, just as He had said. They departed with great joy.

That same encouragement can be ours this morning as we consider what the resurrection of Christ means to us today.

I. It means that our faith has not been misplaced.

A. Disappointments abound.

1. There are many people searching for something or someone to believe in.

2. Consider the latest of tragedies that was found just this week.

3. Among those who died it seemed there was little to find in common.

4. The only thing was their hope in something that wasn't real.

5. This brings to mind the many disenchanted of the past who followed men and were met with death and great disappointment.

B. But God Kept His Promise!

1. The disciples had felt that all was over now

2. They had seen the miracles, heard His message, and accepted Him as the Son of God.

3. But when they watched Him nailed to the cross, their faith crumbled.

4. The message of the angel to the women at the tomb was simple, 'He is not here, for He is risen as He said.'

5. God had kept His promise.

(JOHN 2:19) "JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO THEM, DESTROY THIS TEMPLE, AND IN THREE DAYS I WILL RAISE IT UP."

C. Encouragement from His promises.

1. Those disciples who had behind doors in fear of what might happen to them believed the promises of God.

(JOHN 20:19) "THEN THE SAME DAY AT EVENING, BEING THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, WHEN THE DOORS WERE SHUT WHERE THE DISCIPLES WERE ASSEMBLED FOR FEAR OF THE JEWS, CAME JESUS AND STOOD IN THE MIDST, AND SAITH UNTO THEM, PEACE BE UNTO YOU."

2. Seeing their Lord resurrected gave back the hope that they had lost.

(ROM 1:4) "AND DECLARED TO BE THE SON OF GOD WITH POWER, ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT OF HOLINESS, BY THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD:"

3. This morning, I want to be an encouragement to you.

4. We serve a living Savior.

5. He is alive, and He keeps His promises to us.

6. Not only is He alive, but He is coming again to receive us to Himself.

II. It means our life doesn't end with the grave.

A. The person without Christ has no hope.

1. For those who do not know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, they live in fear of death.

2. Think of the millions that are spent on research and development so that people can live longer.

3. If scientists discovered a way to guarantee that we would live longer, they could charge whatever price they wanted and people would pay for it.

4. Let me tell you of a way that is free!

B. Eternal life can be yours.

(JOHN 11:25-26) "JESUS SAID UNTO HER, I AM THE RESURRECTION, AND THE LIFE: HE THAT BELIEVETH IN ME, THOUGH HE WERE DEAD, YET SHALL HE LIVE: {26} AND WHOSOEVER LIVETH AND BELIEVETH IN ME SHALL NEVER DIE. BELIEVEST THOU THIS?"

1. It is a matter of faith.

2. If you will put your faith in Jesus Christ, repenting of your sin and trusting in His finished work on Calvary…you can have eternal life!

(ROM 10:9-10) "THAT IF THOU SHALT CONFESS WITH THY MOUTH THE LORD JESUS, AND SHALT BELIEVE IN THINE HEART THAT GOD HATH RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, THOU SHALT BE SAVED. {10} FOR WITH THE HEART MAN BELIEVETH UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS; AND WITH THE MOUTH CONFESSION IS MADE UNTO SALVATION."

3. There is no other way of salvation.

4. Jesus is not one way, He is the only way!

III. It means our tomorrow will be better than today.

A. Calvary was not the end of the story.

1. I am sure that the enemies of Christ thought it was all over then. No doubt the devil thought he had won.

2. Even His own disciples had thought it was over.

3. But God kept His promise, although it was dark that day that Jesus was crucified, it would be brighter come the morning when the stone was rolled away.

B. But the dawn of resurrection morning made it clear.

1. All of the disciples sorrow was swallowed up with the joy of that resurrection morning.

2. This life may fill us with sorrow, but knowing Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior will turn all the sorrow into joy.

3. You see, I may die physically…but I will live forever and ever…because God keeps His promises.

(JOHN 14:1-3) "LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED: YE BELIEVE IN GOD, BELIEVE ALSO IN ME. {2} IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE ARE MANY MANSIONS: IF IT WERE NOT SO, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU. I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU. {3} AND IF I GO AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I WILL COME AGAIN, AND RECEIVE YOU UNTO MYSELF; THAT WHERE I AM, THERE YE MAY BE ALSO."

Do you believe God today? Have you by faith accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior? That is what life is all about. Coming to the place of understanding our need for a Savior. Accepting that God has made provision for us in giving His only begotten Son to die in our place. And living our lives for Him.

Will you come this morning? Do you need encouragement today? God keeps His promises! He will not fail us.