Dr. Tim Hudson- “The message that turned the world upside down”

Something extraordinary happened in the first century that transformed a small band of frightened followers into world-changers. Before there was a New Testament, before there were church buildings, before theological systems were developed - there was a simple message that turned the Roman world upside down.

Dr Tim Hudson takes us back to that foundational truth found in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4: "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day." This earliest Christian creed, dating to within weeks of the resurrection, became the catalyst for a movement that would change history forever.

What makes this remarkable is that for seventeen years after Christ's resurrection, not a single New Testament document had been written. Yet Acts 17:6 describes these early believers as "those who have turned the world upside down." They accomplished this with nothing but eyewitness testimony and an unshakable conviction about what they had experienced.

The sermon highlights two realities that transformed the early church: the suffering of the Savior and His resurrection. These weren't theoretical concepts - they were witnessed events that changed everything. When the disciples faced persecution and hardship, they could endure because they had seen their Lord suffer. When they encountered death and uncertainty, they stood firm because they knew Jesus was alive.

Dr Hudson contrasts impressive religious buildings like Westminster Abbey with the simple power of Christ's presence, reminding us that magnificent architecture means nothing without the Holy Spirit. The message builds to a powerful conclusion: whatever confusion, fear, or uncertainty we face today, the resurrection declares that Jesus is alive forevermore.

Has your faith become complicated with non-essentials? Have you lost sight of the simple, powerful truth that changed the world? Listen and rediscover the foundation that can transform everything - Jesus is alive!

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• 8:58 (Cont.) Dr. Tim Hudson- “The message that turned the world upside down”

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Welcome to Foundations of Truth podcast, where we are laying strong foundations for a holy life. Here we return to timeless truth, building our lives on the solid rock of Scripture with preaching. Join us as we grow in wisdom, faith and understanding rooted in Christ, the cornerstone. Now on to the next sermon. Enjoy.

Speaker 2: 0:32

You took my place. You bore what I deserved. You poured out grace with those three words You've brought me near. You've called my past redeemed. You've brought me life. With those three words, it is done. It is finished.

Speaker 3: 1:34

Love has won Far East Coast.

Speaker 4: 1:55

Praise the Lord. Thank you, brother Fred. What a wonderful, amazing and surprising opportunity to be here today. Life takes some strange twists and turns, doesn't it? It sure does. It was May of this year.

Speaker 4: 2:16

Brother Fred's, brother Denver, rick's brother Raymond Everybody knows Raymond. Sadly, he left us for a better land and met several of the family there at the funeral. Raymond was married to Sister Hudson's cousin Janet and please don't hold that against me and please tell her. I said that and please tell her. I said that. And the following week our beautiful, beautiful daughter, beautiful daughter, met this guy from California. And, as Paul Harvey used to say, you know the rest of the story. So it looks like our family just can't get out of the woods. Can't get out of the woods. So here we are today. Isn't it wonderful to feel the presence of the Lord.

Speaker 4: 3:17

I've been privileged in my short lifespan of 54 years to travel completely around the world in the northern hemisphere, never got across the equator Close to this. I to Venice, singapore, and I found our brother's message so encouraging this morning. He expected me to begin to talk about the pilots crashing those planes and we were fixing to fly literally around the world again. So I enjoyed your message. Most of it anyway, all right. Literally around the world again. So I enjoyed your message. Most of it anyway, all right. But I've been privileged to be in some of the nicer churches of renown in the world.

Speaker 4: 3:56

Has anybody ever been to London, england? All right. Did you go to Westminster Abbey? All right, if you go to London, you need to go to Westminster Abbey, and that church is probably 1,000 years old. It sits right outside the House of Parliament and that's where all the kings and queens are coronated. The coronation chair is there and when you walk in, literally there are people buried everywhere. You're literally walking on graves. You are, and you talk about a dead church. I mean, it's a dead church. It really is. It's a dead church and, as a matter of fact, you might not believe this, but Charles Darwin, the founder of Darwinian evolution, is buried there. I found his grave and went and walked all over the top of Charles Darwin. I did, I walked all over the top of Charles Darwin. You know it's amazing. And then I've been across. Anybody been to Paris, france, france, anybody been to France? Okay, yeah. Did you go to the former Notre Dame? Okay, yeah, yeah, and I was actually there on service one Sunday morning and of course you might remember that church caught on fire back in april most far that church has ever had. But anyway it, uh, it was a beautiful building. I mean over a thousand years old, thousand years to build this place, and I mean by the world standards. I mean by the world standard, this little building just kind of, you know, pales in comparison. But in both those places, not one time and I've been to them several times not one time did I feel there what I felt in this little place this morning. And sometimes we fail to realize just how blessed we are.

Speaker 4: 5:42

I ask this question oftentimes and I must hurry. I must hurry, I know I must keep it short, keep it sweet. I get through preaching, you get to eat. So I've got to be very careful here. But, and probably, probably, it might not even be welcome.

Speaker 4: 5:59

I don't know, but has the governor of California ever been here? No, yeah, you'd like for him right there, all right, yeah, come on in, sir, we got a place for you right there. Bring Kamala and Diane, y'all, come on right down here. Yeah, I don't, I'm just severed in places. I'm not going to ask who your representatives are in the Congress, but we can make a spot for them right over here. Are in the Congress, but we can make a spot for them right over here. And I've been around here enough to know that there might be some of you that would be glad to see President Trump and Vice President Pence. I really would. Yeah, I sure would, but have they been here? No, why, you don't rank high enough. You don't have enough money for most of them.

Speaker 4: 6:47

Has the God of heaven ever been in this place?

Speaker 4: 6:52

Sometimes we just sit here and act like, oh, what's the big deal? I tell you, it's a mighty big deal that the God, who made this massive universe by His very spoken word, is in this place today and we're just kind of like, well, isn't that nice? It really is nice, and you've already heard enough preaching this morning and last night since I've been here, and I just don't tell them what could happen right now. Somebody would believe the Lord and just tell the devil to shut up. Okay, I have to be careful, brother, when you say things like that.

Speaker 4: 7:28

Sometimes husbands look at wives and vice versa and kind of get in trouble there. But no telling what could happen right now to you and for you, because when Jesus passes by and I thought sure did enjoy that young man's message, but really I don't think he's passing by, he was here for you. You got here this morning. Can we stand on our feet one more time and let's just worship the Lord? Maybe, if you've got that need right now, you could just say Lord, I believe you, lord, I know that You're here, I believe you, lord, I know that You're here, I believe you, lord. So, lord, please help us right now, give us wisdom, give us favor, lord.

Speaker 5: 8:55

Give us your blessing, lord. Bless our fellowship, bless every church here, god.

Speaker 4: 9:01

Thank you for this church and congregation. Lord, give me wisdom right now. Accomplish your will in Jesus' name. And the church said amen, you might be seated Again. We do. Thank you so much.

Speaker 4: 9:13

I do want to say what an honor it is to be with Brother and Sister Birdsong again, and that little black sister in the Savannah area years ago got a little confused but she loved them bird singers. She's so glad when them bird singers was there, she really was. Yeah and so good. And I certainly appreciate the message last night and the burden and then the preaching today. I certainly do appreciate it. I'm going to try to use wisdom here, but this is the burden of my heart. I've preached this numerous times and I asked the lord about it during the night this morning. So if you'll turn with me very quickly to first corinthians, chapter 15 my wife knows where I'm going and, uh, I've preached this a lot of different places and any opportunity that I feel the lord would allow me, first corinthians chapter 15. Normally I would ask you to stand, but you've kind of been up and down so I'll just let you sit there for a moment.

Speaker 4: 10:08

1 Corinthians, chapter 15, verse 3. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. Now, in the book of acts, chapter number, chapter number 17, just one more little verse of scripture and then we will be on the way here if you go to the latter part of verse number 6, acts, chapter 17,. These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also. If the Lord will help me for just a few moments, I want to preach on the message that turned the world upside down. Please bear with me for just a few moments, but last night you might recall that I made a few statements in testifying and I made note of the fact of the timing of the New Testament documents. Now it's important to realize if our Lord and I think current scholarship suggests that Jesus the more common scholastic dating now would probably be 30 AD, but the more commonly known date would be 30, 33 AD 33 AD is the more common. Be that as it may, three years Jesus died by crucifixion, was buried and rose again, and so if we place that about 33 ad, uh, it's also recognized by scholars that the first written down book of the new testament was not the book of matthew. Your bible is not in a chronological order, it's in a topical order, and so I think the consensus now is that matthew I'm sorry, mark was the first to write down, uh, a new testament document. So that's going to occur around, if you will, 50 ad and uh.

Speaker 4: 12:18

Then of course, if we get down to the book of Revelation, and that's going to be probably 90 to 95 AD, that means that for the first century there is no New Testament as we know it now. For the first 17 years there's not one New Testament document. And yet, and yet in Acts, chapter 17, verse number 6, those apostles and disciples are referred to as these that have turned the world upside down, and so it was without one new testament document. They literally turned the world upside down. This becomes more and more profound when you consider that as the church becomes more gentile, gentiles are not welcome in the synagogues or the temples, and the gentiles don't have access to the old testament, and uh, and in many ways at that point it didn't quite make the sense to them. That it maybe does to us now, until some of the other New Testament writings come along.

Speaker 4: 13:24

So really you could almost say, without a New Testament and very little of the old, they had something that turned the world upside down and that was they had a message. They had a message. They had a message. It seemed like in many ways today we've almost forgotten. It seemed like in many ways today we've almost forgotten and I'm so thrilled to hear the emphasis even last night, as Brother Birdsong mentioned how many of us are here in our midst and we say that generally now that are among us, that to look at them, you would think, but they don't even have a clue to what it is to be really saved and it is affecting us. It really really is. And so if we look at the early church, if we look at the earliest days of the church, coming out of Acts, chapter 2, it doesn't take long to find out what that message was. It doesn't take long to find out what that message was.

Speaker 4: 14:24

And 1 Corinthians, chapter 15, verse 3 and 4, is recognized by biblical scholars as being the first doctrinal creed of the early church. Now, what is a creed? It's a statement of belief, and I dare say that if we were new in the area and came here to this church and said, brother Fred. Now, brother Fred, we would like to come here, we're interested in the church. What do you believe he would come out with this long list of creeds? We believe that's fine. Nothing wrong with that. We have to have it today? Certainly we do. But if you would have found a New Testament believer in 33 AD In fact, scholars have actually dated this creed back to within just a few weeks of uh, the uh of the birth of the church and the day of pentecost. But the reality of it is it stems from the day of pentecost. And so if you'd have found a new testament believer in 33 ad, amen or 34 ad and said you're a christian, what is it that you believe? This is what you'd have heard.

Speaker 4: 15:23

I believe that Christ died for my sins, according to the Scripture, and that he was buried, but on the third day he arose again, according to the Scripture. Now somebody say amen. I said somebody say amen, amen. Now there are a lot of things that are going to come on later on. There are going to be issues of church government. There will be issues believe it or not of dress. There will be all kind of issues that will have to be dealt with in the early church, and Paul and the other apostles will deal with those. But I want to remind you today the reason you are saved, and the reason that I am saved, is because Jesus died for our sin. According to the scripture, he was buried and on the third day he arose again. Now, if you cannot shout over that, you have not been saved. But if you have been saved, you can shout over that. You have not been saved, but if you have been saved, you can shout over that Amen. I'm glad that he died for my sins. He was buried, but on the third day God raised him from the dead. Oh, somebody say amen, hallelujah, hallelujah. Oh, somebody say amen, hallelujah, hallelujah.

Speaker 4: 16:47

Now I don't know if some of you preachers have ever had this problem, but traveling like we do in particular, sometimes Sister Hudson gets a little nervous. Brother Birdsinger, sister Hudson will oh no, he's already preached that message here. And the will oh no, he's already preached that message here. Oh, and Brother Lindsay Savage said with this mix for stuff, problem with that is your message gets there for you do now Amen. But she gets a little nervous and it used to kind of bother me sometime until I got to reading in the book of Acts. Have you ever read the first few chapters of the book of Acts? Amen.

Speaker 4: 17:23

Peter had one message. It didn't make any difference where Peter started at, he always got back to the same message you crucified the Lord of glory, you put him in a tomb, but on the third day God raised him from the dead. Amen. I know it's an old message, but it is the foundation of everything that we believe. Amen, thank God. They crucified him, they put him in a tomb, but the tomb couldn't hold him because there never was a man like Jesus. Let me very carefully hurry on here. It's very easy to get sidetracked. Amen.

Speaker 4: 18:09

There are two things that are going to make an impression on the early church. Please remember when you're reading the New Testament accounts, you are reading eyewitness accounts. Luke is very careful to note that he was not an eyewitness, but that he had interviewed eyewitnesses. Now Luke is considered to be one of the greatest historians of the ancient world. The book of Acts, chapter 13 to the end over 80 plus archaeological discoveries have proven that Luke knew exactly what he was talking about. Actually have found the anchors from the shipwreck that he and Paul were in Found the anchors at the exact depth and location they would have been had they been cut loose. And so Luke says I was not an eyewitnessitness, but I have interviewed eyewitnesses. But when it comes to the rest of them, go through the book of Acts and read how many times they say and we are witnesses of these things, and we are eyewitnesses of these things.

Speaker 4: 19:18

Peter said we've not followed comingly devised fables when we made known unto you the coming of our Lord Jesus, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. If there's one thing that is disturbing me in our church today, it is the loss of eyewitness, testimony of men and women that can stand and say I was, but no longer am I what I used to be. I do not believe in glamorizing sin, but our young people need to know that among us were men that were alcoholics, and such were some of you who can stand and testify to the grace of God. Somebody say amen and help me while I preach now. So there are eyewitnesses of these things. There are two things and I must hurry that's going to make an indelible impact on that group of early believers. Number one the suffering of the Savior.

Speaker 4: 20:25

Do you know that one of the most established facts of ancient history is not only that Jesus lived, but that he died by means of crucifixion during the reign of Pontius Pilate. Gerd Ludemann, who is a renowned ancient historian, who happens to be an atheist, says the facts of Jesus' death by crucifixion are indisputable. Paula Friedrichson, who is a skeptic, doesn't even believe the New Testament accounts. She says the most certain thing about Jesus' life is his death by means of crucifixion during the reign of pontius pilate. It is, again, one of the most established fact of ancient history, in fact, about the only ones you would find to this day that really would claim it to be that jesus didn't die would be the muslims. For you see, in the the Quran, chapter 4, verse 157, it clearly says let them not say that they crucified him, for they crucified him, not Only a likeness of him, and so that's why your Muslims do not believe that Jesus died.

Speaker 4: 21:36

Amen. But there's a problem with that. You see, mohammed was born in 570 AD, he never, ever, went to Jerusalem, lived in Saudi Arabia, and he's one man. Oh, you follow me here now. But these disciples and apostles, they knew the Lord, they lived with Him Ah, come on now. And they knew, without a doubt that Jesus, amen, died. They have watched his suffering. Amen John will stand there at the side of the cross when the others have fled.

Speaker 4: 22:10

I dare say that some of the others, however, they will be hiding in the shadows. But every one of them knew, without a doubt, what a Roman crucifixion entailed and they knew that Jesus was dead. But they knew that he suffered horribly. Oh, come on now. This is where it's going to come. A little hard to swallow, amen, but because they saw him suffer, in days to come when they are suffering horribly, then not one time will they drop their head and moan and groan, but they will rejoice in their suffering.

Speaker 4: 22:46

When is the last time you rejoiced in your suffering? If you ever get your eye back on the suffering of the Savior and the suffering of the cross, anything that you are going through will be mild compared to the suffering of the Savior. Be mild compared to the suffering of the Savior. They're going to lose many of their homes, their lives, their health. You see, jesus said whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross.

Speaker 4: 23:20

For the early church, it was a death sentence, a death sentence for them that they'd see suffer. And if he suffered, let me rejoice. I do not pray for adversity, no, brother, I don't want God to stir me, amen. But when is the last time you lifted your hand and said Lord, I don't understand. But if it brings honor and glory to your name, knowing what you suffered for me, you know the reason we're having such problems with worldliness. Among some of our churches we have forgotten the suffering of the Savior. If you ever see Him and His suffering, you'll understand the songwriter who said Thus might I hide my blushing face while His dear cross appears, dissolve my heart in thankfulness and melt mine eyes to tears. It will make such an impression upon them that they will look adversity in the face and again rejoice in their sufferings, because they were eyewitnesses to the suffering of the Savior. He will suffer a horrible death, horrible death.

Speaker 4: 24:42

How many of you have ever said use the word excruciating? Has anybody ever had an excruciating headache? Do you know where the word excruciating comes from? It means literally out of the cross. It was a word that was invented to describe the suffering associated with crucifixion. It was so brutal, and so when I have said I've got an excruciating headache, what I'm literally saying? It hurts so bad that I feel like I'm being crucified, oh, but here. He was.

Speaker 4: 25:14

I know, I know I hear you say it as others. Well, many others were crucified too. I know that, amen. But this is God incarnate, this is the creator of the universe. It ought to have been you and it ought to have been me and not him. Oh, and sometime we fail to remember the suffering that he did on our behalf, that we could be here today and rejoice. Could somebody just put your hand up and say thank you, lord, for suffering. I must hurry. I must hurry. Haven't we all been there when we question and say, oh God, why?

Speaker 4: 26:13

Somebody said you shouldn't ask God, why Jesus did? He said my God, my God, why? Why? It's not a cry that you've done me wrong, it's just where are you God? Where are you God? Oh, but here's a little caveat on that Even though Jesus didn't understand, he still had enough confidence in God that his final words were Father into thy hands, come in my spirit. I may not understand why, but I trust you enough, god, that I believe you know what you're doing. Can you really trust God? I said can you really trust God? Lord, I don't know, but I really believe God. You know what you're doing.

Speaker 5: 27:05

Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 4: 27:10

For me it's not a cop-out. I really have that confidence in God. Has anyone ever been to Holland before? Sister Hudson and I were transiting through Holland some years ago we went to the Hiding Place. You remember Corrie Ten Boom's book the Hiding Place. You read that book.

Speaker 4: 27:30

We visited that home and there in that little room was a tapestry that Corrie Ten Boom, the tramp for the Lord, as she called herself, used to take, and on one side is a tangleweed mess, ugly, just threads. That made no sense whatsoever. And she said that's often how we see it. Flip that thing around. It was a tapestry of a beautiful crown. She said often we see the ugly but we don't see what God's are working on the other side.

Speaker 4: 27:59

Oh, this line of affliction, that's just. Oh, I feel the Holy Ghost. If you're going through it right now, throw your hand up and say I don't understand God, but I trust you anyway. I don't know why, but God, I trust you anyway. I feel the Holy Ghost right here. I said throw your hand up, I trust you anyway. I don't know why, but God, I trust you anyway. I feel the Holy Ghost right here. I said pull your hand up and say Lord, I trust you anyway, I feel the Holy Ghost right now. I believe if somebody would do that, you might find what you've been looking for for a mighty long time. Amen, hallelujah, glory to God. I feel the Holy.

Speaker 5: 28:32

Ghost in this building.

Speaker 4: 28:33

Amen, whoo, amen, hallelujah, glory to God. I feel the Holy Ghost in this building. I'm feeling religious up here. Oh Lord, I don't understand. Job said yea though he trust me. He said yea though he slay me. Yet will I trust in him. Amen.

Speaker 4: 29:00

We've been actively involved in mission work for many years. We're hoping the Lord helping us in a few years to be living more full time in Myanmar, which is right next to China. Some of you remember Adoniram Jetson suffered horribly in that country in the 1800s to take the gospel to them. Now we're trying to strengthen things which remain. Kind of help them get back on track, amen.

Speaker 4: 29:21

I don't believe in predestination, as taught by many today, and even as John Calvin did. But there's one thing about those old people Let me say this out of all fairness those old men that taught preservation of the saint or eternal security, calvin and Whitfield and men like Jonathan Edwards they did not believe, you hear me, they did not believe in a live like the devil, die like a saint. Amen. They would say if you backslid, you were never saved. Now I believe that you can be saved and backslide, but they believed, just like us, that sin's not going to heaven. And so they would say are you with me now? But there was one thing that it did enable them, amen. They believed that whatever came their way, that God had predetermined, that was to happen, their way, that God had predetermined that was to happen.

Speaker 4: 30:17

And they had such trust and confidence in God that he would do them nothing but good, and that everything that's happening to me God's working. It for my good. Oh, come on, child of God, I said. Look up and remember. God is not trying to trick you. He said it for your good. I must hurry, I must hurry.

Speaker 4: 30:47

No matter how close I live to God and you live to God, we're all going to suffer and die. Curse thou art. And it's only in that other land that this curse will be removed. And I pray. I never do. But if I come down with cancer tomorrow, I'll call and say pray and if God in His mercy sees fit. But if not, you can go to heaven with cancer, but you'll never go with sin in your life. Amen.

Speaker 4: 31:18

And that's why, for an early church, they knew he died. It was not just some catechism, amen. I believe that Christ died for my sin. In that early day, brother, they couldn't give you some exposition on the vicarious suffering of the Savior Paul would do that later but they knew he was the sacrifice for the redemption of mankind and he died that I might live. And I know he was dead, he was dead, he was dead, he was dead, he was dead, he was dead.

Speaker 4: 31:57

John in his gospel makes a very interesting observation that is further proof that it's eyewitness testimony. He notes that when the spear pierces the side, that there is water and blood that come out, and of course at the time this was not recognized as anything, but now it is clear evidence that the spear perforated the lung and the pericardium, which is a fluid sac, and the blood denotes that the spear went all the way to his heart. In an article in the American Journal of Medicine in 1986, a group of physicians took the New Testament accounts and the wording such as that, to declare according to medical knowledge, jesus was dead. He was. You've had it bad. What are these disciples going to do? Everything they have lived for is gone in a heartbeat.

Speaker 4: 33:03

Matthew, who worked for the IRS, gave up a good government job. Peter, james and John John. They've forsaken everything. When Peter says to the lame man at the gate silver and gold have a none. A few chapters before, he said Lord, we have given up everything to follow you, everything. Now here they are and their hope is dead and they don't understand what's going on. You see, we all shout and rejoice, don't we? We know the story, but it was absolute chaos. Can you imagine they're hiding? They're hiding in fear of what's going to happen to them. Amen, oh, I can hear in the back of matthew's mind I don't want to go home. My mama's gonna tell me, boy, I told you you should have left that job. I told you were stupid to follow that guy. Oh, come on, are you gonna?

Speaker 4: 34:05

help me right now amen, and I see matthew as he's dropping his head, and peter james and john peter. Well, I got in the boat. I guess I'll go back to fishing. Amen. The rest of them. What are they going to do? Their hope has come to an end.

Speaker 4: 34:22

They didn't understand it. It made no sense to them. In fact, on the resurrection morning and the resurrection day, it is nothing but confusion and chaos. Are you hearing me? We come church out and run, and the resurrection day, it is nothing but confusion and chaos. Are you hearing me? We come church out and run, jump and we go back home have that big Easter meal. If you believe in Easter eggs, if you don't, that's fine. I don't care for them myself, but I do like the chocolate bunnies. Pass them on my way, amen.

Speaker 4: 34:50

But that Sunday night, after we're already back at church, back in our normal routine, you know where they were Locked in fear in an upper room. Amen. They're confused about yesterday. Nothing made sense. They are fearful of today, that at any moment the doors are going to be kicked open and here come the guards after them. They are uncertain of tomorrow. What are they going to do when, all of a sudden, something happened that totally changed the dynamic of that upper room experience.

Speaker 4: 35:30

But it really got a start early that morning as several ladies got up in the still darkness of the night and made their way to that tomb. It's still dark outside, the dawn is just beginning to break. Among themselves, they're talking, they're still weeping and lamenting about what has happened. And one says to another but how are we going to move the stone? Number one there's a seal on it which is a white emblem stretched across with ropes. Anybody that breaks that without permission will be put to death. So that we've got these Roman soldiers who are not known for their gentlemanly ways. They are brutal, they are mean and they delight in belittling Jewish women. So they don't know what's going to happen.

Speaker 4: 36:30

But as they're making their way through the darkness of a new day, one of them looks ahead and says I must be seeing things, something's not right, my vision is not good. And she looks and says I don't know. It looks like that tomb is open. And another one said oh, come on now, wipe those tears from your eyes. Well, my, my, my, it looks like it is. And so they began to make their way. Can you imagine? As they come up, I feel the Holy Ghost.

Speaker 4: 37:06

As they come up on that tomb and as they make their way, they suddenly are startled by soldiers lying around like dead men. These men are not asleep, but they're spellbound, laid back, amen. But there was something pulling them to that empty tomb, oh hallelujah. And they thought well, god's worked a miracle. Now we'll be able to do what we came to do. God's worked a miracle. Now we'll be able to do what we came to do. God's worked it out. Now we can go in and anoint the body.

Speaker 4: 37:39

No, no, no. God's changed your plans and everybody else's. I'm telling you here today the Lord can change your plan in a moment of minutes, in a moment of seconds. The Lord can change your plan in a moment of seconds. The Lord can change our plan, amen. I must hurry Now, ladies, please. I digress.

Speaker 4: 38:15

I hate to tell you this, but in this day you could not testify in a court of law except for two occasions If the estate of your deceased husband are you married Okay, check that one off. Or if your virtue had been called into question. Other than that, women were not allowed to testify because even then, they had a reputation for gossip. That's right and that's why, amen. When we read these accounts, it's further credence that it happened just like the Bible said.

Speaker 4: 39:13

And they walked in there and they saw something they'd never seen before, but they heard words that have forever turned the world upside down. Why seek you the living among the dead? He is not here. He is risen, just like he said. It is still the words that, still to this day, turn the world upside down. He is not here, but he is risen. Come see the place where he lay. Somebody shout hallelujah, I said. Somebody say thank you, jesus, amen. And they go running back, running back. He's alive, he's alive, he is alive. Hey, the message of the church for this hour still ought to be Jesus is alive, he is alive. Oh, somebody say amen now. I said Jesus is alive, hallelujah, hallelujah, he is alive.

Speaker 5: 40:26

He is alive.

Speaker 4: 40:37

I must address I'll get sidetracked here John on the Isle of Patmos. Have you ever given consideration of how old John must have been if he receives the revelation? At 90 to 95 AD and contemporary of our Lord? That means the Apostle John was probably 80 to 90 years old on the Isle of Patmos. According to the historical accounts it are probably true he was boiled in Nevada. Boiling oil Didn't kill him, so he's banished to Patmos. So here he is, third degree burns. He does not have Obamacare. He does not have Social Security or Medicare. He may not even have had his teeth. He might have had to pay his reward because he didn't have no teeth.

Speaker 4: 41:33

I want you to hear me. Elderly people we're living in a society that will tell you and I've been where the preachers almost did said if you old folks would get out of the way, we'll do what we want to do. And I wanted to go to every elder in that building and shake their hand and say if it hadn't been for you, I wouldn't have a place to preach. Thank you for what you've done. And If it hadn't been for you, I wouldn't have a place to preach. Thank you for what you've done. And the devil will tell you you can't do like you used to do. You'll understand that, boys, one day. Amen, you can't do Amen.

Speaker 4: 42:05

I'm going to tell you what I like what Scripture said about John. He probably couldn't run and jump like he did before. There's one thing he could do, he said I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day. You may not be able to run and jump, grandma, you may not be able to swing from the light fixture, grandpa, but you can still get in the Spirit and get a word from the Lord, amen. So that's why I said this last night, when I saw you shouting around the front here, I just loved every bit of it. Yeah, this last night, when I saw you shouting around the front here, I just loved every bit of it. Ah, yeah, shout on Hallelujah, amen. But on that island John saw him again and he looks at him and says Behold, I am he which was dead, but I am alive forevermore, hallelujah. I want you to know he is still alive. Are you hearing me, jesus, know he is still alive. Are you hearing me, jesus?

Speaker 5: 42:57

He is still alive.

Speaker 4: 43:05

And in that upper room that night, when those disciples were confused, fearful and uncertain, jesus appeared Over in the corner. Fearful and uncertain, jesus appeared over in the corner. That's what it said. Shaking your head, am I quoting that wrong? You believe I am Alright. Does anybody know where it said he appeared? He appeared right there in the middle of them and that denotes where every one of them had equal access. And he appears he walked up to them. He does not address the confusion of yesterday. He never mentions their fears, he never says anything about the uncertainty of tomorrow. In my vernacular he just says I'm here now, everything's going to be alright, I'm here, I'm here Everything's going to be alright.

Speaker 4: 44:09

And the Bible said then were the disciples glad. Do you understand where the Lord is at right now? He's right here, in the middle of this sanctuary, saying to you everything's going to be all right, I'm here. I'm here, everything's going to be all right. Oh, somebody could get a hold of this. Oh, I hear you right now, brother Tim, you don't understand my circumstance, really, I probably don't, but I'll tell you this much Jesus is alive. Oh, brother Tim, I'm sick, maybe you are, but Jesus is alive. Oh, brother Tim, I don't know about tomorrow, neither do I, but Jesus is alive. Run, son, run, amen. Come on church, jesus is alive, come on.

Speaker 4: 45:08

Come on, somebody scream it Jesus is alive.

Speaker 5: 45:21

Jesus is alive.

Speaker 4: 45:31

If the devil can get your eyes off of Jesus, you will sink. But Jesus said I am he which was dead and I am alive forevermore. And because I live, ye shall live also. Amen. Death will lose its fear and its hold on these early disciples.

Speaker 5: 45:54

They saw him dead, but they knew he was alive. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 4: 46:14

I must hurry and I will close my Bible. The message of the early church, things that will have to be addressed. They need to be even now. But the reason we're here today is because they crucify Him for our sins. He was dead, buried, but on the third day. Brother, I heard you last night. Can you grab a Bible real quick? Yeah, I understand.

Speaker 4: 46:55

Sometimes, if I don't use these things, people think I'm reading from a different version, because I'll put out a word and put in a word and it wasn't there. Okay, now I hear some of you saying this Now, preacher, you condemn Mohammed because he wasn't there, but neither were you. Well, now I know you kind of look maybe a little elder, don't have to worry about a bad hair day, but anyway, anyway, anyway, were you there? Were you there when Jesus died? How about you? No, when I'm in Myanmar, I have this question how can we know? Not that we doubt, but we're dealing with a country that's 85% Buddhist Strange religion, just weird. How can we know, dealing with Muslims? We're working with some Muslims and Buddhists visiting their home. How do you know? I wasn't there and neither were you.

Speaker 4: 48:05

Go to the fifth chapter of the book of Acts. I wasn't there and neither were you. Go to the fifth chapter of the book of Acts and you've got a microphone, because I don't want them to hear this. Okay, because some of them are already saying wait a minute, preacher, all you doing, you up here jumping around and shouting, and you wasn't there either. I wasn't. I know I may look like I was, but I wasn't. I mean, I have been to Israel, but I wasn't there when Jesus died. I wasn't there on the resurrection morning. All right, he didn't have PA systems back then either. Sometimes I'm not sure that might have been a blessing. You know, you ever had a problem getting your PA to work. George Whitfield could preach. Ben Franklin said he measured it off. George Whitfield could preach. Ben Franklin said he measured it off. George Whitefield could preach to 25,000, 30,000 people without the aid of a microphone Everybody heard it.

Speaker 4: 48:54

Ben Franklin went to his meeting and measured it off and said, without a doubt, wow, Little short guy yeah. All right, go to chapter 5. I'm there and let's pick up about verse number 29. Now you hear this. It's Peter. Now you know where this is going to end up. Read if we say church in South Carolina.

Speaker 3: 49:16

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said we ought to obey God rather than men. That's pretty strong, isn't it it?

Speaker 4: 49:25

is.

Speaker 3: 49:25

Read on the God of our fathers raised up Jesus, Uh-oh here we go.

Speaker 4: 49:30

Same message he preaches every time he turns around. Can't the guy get anything new? That's right. Why does he have to keep preaching?

Speaker 3: 49:36

Read on Whom you slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a prince and a savior for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sin. Now read on, and we are his witnesses of these things.

Speaker 4: 50:01

All right, yeah, yeah, they were there. All right, they were there Okay.

Speaker 3: 50:03

Read on, and so is also the Holy Ghost. Wow, wait, wait, wait, read that again. So is also the Holy Ghost. Ah, wow, wait, wait, wait, read that again. And also is the Holy Ghost. Now read the next phrase All right, whom God hath given to them that obey him. You ain't got it.

Speaker 4: 50:21

I wasn't there, but neither were you. No, but the Holy Ghost was. The Holy Ghost was there and we got him. Hey, has anybody in this building felt the Holy Ghost since you've been here? Do you know what that is?

Speaker 5: 50:40

That's the Holy.

Speaker 4: 50:41

Ghost screaming in your ear Jesus is alive. That's it, buddies.

Speaker 5: 50:50

The Holy Ghost screaming Jesus is alive. Holy Ghost, if you've ever moved, move on us. Jesus is alive, Holy Ghost.

Speaker 4: 51:13

Lord, send the Holy Ghost among us right now. Come on, somebody scream Lord, send the Holy Ghost, send the Holy.

Speaker 5: 51:22

Ghost come on send it on down, lord, send it on down.

Speaker 3: 51:30

Lord, let the Holy Ghost come on down Hallelujah. We got another witness. The Holy Ghost is our witness. It's real, it's genuine, because the Holy Ghost was there and he said it was and I've got him here and he's my witness.

Speaker 4: 51:53

Glory, hallelujah, I'm going to tell you somebody else who was there. He don't want to know it, but I believe with all of my heart that the devil himself, amen, was there that morning when Jesus come up, and the last thing he wants you to do is realize that Jesus is alive. If you're here today and you're down from, if you're sick in your body, amen. If you've got a burden, look up and scream it out Jesus is alive.

Speaker 4: 52:31

Come on, holy Ghost, jesus is alive. Come on, somebody's screaming out. Won't you scream it in the face of hell? Devil, you're alive, jesus is alive. Jesus is alive, amen. And if you're lost in this building today, jesus is alive.

Speaker 5: 53:09

Amen. If you're lost in this building today, Jesus is alive.

Speaker 4: 53:32

I'm getting ready to close. I worried your patience, but I imagine that afternoon, when Jesus appeared in their midst and said I'm here, everything's going to be alright, that John looked at Peter and said well, I'm here, everything's going to be all right. John looked at Peter and said well, I just declared I thought he would come through after all, hallelujah. Matthew said I never wanted to go back to the IRS. I can see the doors kicking open, those disciples running down those stairs screaming he's alive, passing that Roman guard as he looks, and the disciples come running back and say, oh, I forgot to tell you Jesus is alive, amen. Turn to your neighbor and say neighbor, jesus is alive, amen, amen, amen. Preacher.

Speaker 5: 54:26

Jesus is alive, amen. Preach higher Jesus is alive, amen, amen.

Speaker 4: 54:34

Scream it out, shout it in the face of God.

Speaker 5: 54:39

Jesus is alive, amen.

Speaker 4: 54:52

He said we're in an altar service, we're having one. Jesus is alive. I want you to put them hands up and scream as you come around here. Jesus is alive. Jesus is alive. Jesus is alive, come on.

Speaker 5: 55:22

Jesus is alive.

Speaker 4: 55:24

Call him in brother, jesus is alive. Behold, I am he which was dead and I am alive forevermore. Hallelujah. Whatever your circumstance today, if somebody raised their hand right now and said Preacher, I am really going through a difficult trial. Is there one Right there? You, okay. I want you to go tell her. Look at her and say Jesus is alive. Is there another hand, somebody else? Turn to that one and just tell him who in here right now? You got sickness in your body. You can raise your hand and say preacher, I forgot my medicine, but Jesus is alive, jesus is alive. I want you to put them hands up again and scream it as loud as you can Jesus is alive.

Speaker 5: 56:47

Lord Go ahead and worship God.

Speaker 3: 56:55

I believe someone can give the Holy Ghost today.

Speaker 5: 56:59

Oh, hallelujah, he's alive. He's alive, forevermore. Hallelujah, oh, let's just let the Lord fall upon us. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. No-transcript.

Speaker 4: 1:01:37

Get them hands back up in the air. Jesus is alive and he's right here today. Come on, brother. Jesus is alive and he's right here today.

Speaker 5: 1:01:48

I feel the Holy Ghost, hallelujah, hallelujah, thank you, but I'm one simple one simple, one, simple, one, simple, and I'm one simple, one, simple, one, simple, and I'm one simple, one, simple, one, simple. Oh, yes, I go ahead. Lord, give them the good old ago, I don't know how. Thank you, oh, my God.

Speaker 6: 1:04:45

Thank you for joining us today on Foundations of Truth. We hope today's message has strengthened your faith and helped you grow in understanding. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode, and share this podcast with others who seek the truth. Until next time, stay grounded in God's word and walk in his light. God bless you grounded in God's word and walk in his light. God bless you.

Speaker 2: 1:05:17

You took my place. You bore what I deserved. You poured out grace with those three words. You've brought me near. You've called my past redeemed, my past redeemed. You've brought me life with those three words.