Safe in His Will

17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.””

- Acts‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

27 The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” 29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!”

- Acts‬ ‭5‬:‭27‬-‭29‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The safest place in the world: God’s Will.

Not all are persecuted, but all are opposed. 

“We must obey God rather than human beings!”

29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

- Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭29‬-‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

- 2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬-‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

- Proverbs‬ ‭29‬:‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This Changes Everything!

That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. But God kept them from recognizing him.

- Luke 24:13–16 (NLT)

When you can’t see Him, He still Walks With You.

As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. But God kept them from recognizing him.

- Luke 24:15–16

Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

- Luke 24:27

When You feel Unsettled, His Word Grounds You. 

As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. 31 Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!

- Luke 24:30–31

When the Breaking Comes, Clarity Follows.

Because He Lives

'For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,'

- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

All of Christianity’s validity and authority depend on the resurrection of a Man from the dead.

And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.'

- 1 Corinthians 15:14

Death is an intimidating opponent.

'For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.’

- 1 Corinthians 15:16-19

Jesus defeated Death when He rose again!

‘But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead…’

- 1 Corinthians 15:20

’that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. '

- 1 Corinthians 15:4-7

We can look forward to eternity because He lives.

'But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. '

- 1 Corinthians 15:35-37,42-44

‘When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”’

- 1 Corinthians 15:54-55

We can live with excellence because He lives.

'Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.'

- 1 Corinthians 15:58

He Came Back Different

Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

- John 11:17-26, ESV

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

- Romans 6:4, NIV

You’re not just saved - you’ve been resurrected.

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

- John 10:10b, ESV

You’re not just alive - you’ve got access.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,”

- John 11:25, ESV

You’re not just present - you’ve got a part to play.

…and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

- John 11:26, ESV