How many times do you say what’s next? What do we do?
Here we find ourselves the day after Easter. The day after Jesus has risen, the day of His resurrection and we are saying what next? Lent is over so what next?
Let’s touch on some of the parts of Jesus’s story:
- Jesus was praised with palm branches, while on a donkey riding into Jerusalem
- Last supper -Disciples (slept, denied, doubted, thief, fearful, self-centered)
- Jesus was crucified, dead and buried (the disciples did nothing while Jesus suffered)
WHAT DO WE DO NOW?
People were scared dumbfounded what would they do without Jesus? Mary was weeping, people were sinning, the world was winning. The disciples were questioning, and the Pharisees were celebrating. They feel hope has lost death has won, and Satan is laughing.
SO WHAT’S NEXT?
- The tomb was sealed with a rock.
- Soldiers guarded the tomb.
- BUT what happened next? Jesus rose the dead.
- Jesus defeated sin
- Angel of the Lord moved the stone (why was the stone moved?)
- Mary Magdalene saw that Jesus was not in the tomb (concrete evidence)
- Jesus goes to see the disciples and goes through a locked door
SO WHAT’S NEXT? THERE IS SO MUCH FOR US TO DO NEXT!
Matthew 28:19-20 New International Version (NIV)
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Mark 16:15 New International Version (NIV)
15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
Mark 16:20 New International Version (NIV)
20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.
This was better known as the GREAT COMMISSION. It was the first missionary movement in history. Jesus told them go out and preach. Go out and teach the world about being obedient to God. Jesus told Peter, “Feed my lambs, tend my sheep, feed my sheep.”
SO WHAT’S NEXT?
We shouldn’t feel that Easter is over Easter is just the beginning. The beginning of life, of hope of transformation. Jesus rose from the dead the stone still there. Jesus entered the upper room, and the door was locked. We are to go and make disciples. We are to go and share Jesus with all. We are to go to those that have stones in front of them. We are to go to those who are behind locked doors. Jesus can penetrate the hearts and minds of all even if they are closed off from Him. It is our job to plant the seed.
Those who are closed off from Christ can’t shut Him out!
SO WHAT’S NEXT?
Go to the non-believers and share the good news. There is no stone too heavy for God, there is no door that is locked that he can’t go through.
Roll the stone, walk in the locked door and penetrate the hearts and lives bringing others to Christ. Fill their cup with Him.
The most important thing is WHAT WE DO NEXT!
CHALLENGES FOR THE WEEK:
- Keep your daily appointment with Christ
- Dig deep into the word
- Roll the stone, walk in the door and penetrate the hearts and lives of others with Christ
- Fill your cup with Christ so that you can fill other cups
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