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Romans chapter 1 there beginning in verse 1 the Bible reads Paul a servant of Jesus Christ called to be an apostle separated under the gospel of God which he had promised before by his prophets in the Holy Scriptures concerning his son Jesus Christ our Lord which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by the resurrection of the dead. And what I want to preach this morning is about the deprelation of the resurrection. As you see there it says there and in verse 2 that Jesus Christ was declared to be the Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead. So what does it mean to declare something? It's saying that he was declared to be the Son of God. Well to declare something is simply just to say something. It's to say something in a solemn or very emphatic manner to say something with great authority. Now some of the synonyms that would give us an understanding of what it means to declare something would be it would mean to would be to say I proclaim something. We could say that Jesus Christ was proclaimed to be the Son of God. It would be to announce something. We could say that Jesus Christ was announced to be the Son of God or that he was it was stated that he was the Son of God. Another way to declare something is to reveal something. We could say that Jesus Christ was revealed to be the Son of God by the power of the resurrection. It also means to declare something is to publicize or to broadcast something. And isn't that what we do when we go out and we preach the gospel of Jesus Christ? We're publicizing, we're broadcasting that Jesus Christ is the Son of God by the power of the resurrection. That is the declaration that we publicize, that we broadcast, is that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Now men have made many declarations. We could probably think of at least one, the Declaration of Independence. Probably everybody's at least heard of that in the room, that the Declaration of Independence when our forefathers of this country declared their independence from Great Britain, that they said that they were going to be their own independent country and they declared their independence. That's a very powerful document in terms of as men would esteem it. Men would esteem that as a very powerful document. But God has made an even more powerful declaration in His Word than that is that the declaration that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. That's the declaration that God has publicized, that God has revealed, that God has shown to us through His Word. The declaration of the resurrection. And I want to look at that declaration this morning. What is that declaration? What is it that God has declared or revealed? And how has He done it by the through the resurrection? You see the resurrection proclaims something this morning. It declares something, it announces something to the world, it reveals something to the world this morning. Now the thing that it declares is quite simply that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. As we just read there in verse 4, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of Holiness by the resurrection from the dead. So what is it that God has declared? It is that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. That is the declaration that God has made to the world this morning. That Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Now this isn't just a first mention of it here in Scripture. This declaration that Jesus Christ is the Son of God is a declaration that God has been proclaiming throughout His entire Word and is something that will be declared in the future. And through all of eternity we will see that Jesus Christ is declared to be the Son of God. If you would there turn over to the book of Daniel chapter 3 and we'll look at some of the Old Testament allusions to Jesus Christ the Son of God. As you're turning to Daniel chapter 3 I'll read to you from Proverbs chapter 30. The Bible says in Proverbs 30 as you're turning to Daniel 3, who hath ascended up into heaven or descended? Who hath gathered the winds in his fists? Who hath bound the waters in a garment? Who have established all the ends of the earth? What is his name and what is his son's name if thou canst tell? So obviously here he's alluding to the fact that it's God who can ascend up into heaven, who can descend, who can gather the winds in his fists, who can bind the waters as a garment, who can establish all the ends of the earth. Only God could do that. And then it goes on and says, what is his name and what is his son's name? So we see in Old Testament allusions the fact that God has a son. We can see here that God, in the book of Proverbs even, is declaring that there is a son, that there's not just the Father but that there is the Son also. If you're in Daniel 3 chapter 24 we'll see an even more clear allusion to the fact that there is one known as the Son of God. The Bible says in Daniel 3 verse 24, that Nebuchadnezzar the king was a stony and rose up in haste and spake and said unto the counselors, did not we cast three men bound in the midst of fire? So if you remember the story it was the three Hebrew children Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would not bow to the image that Nebuchadnezzar had made and were therefore cast into the fire. And now we see King Nebuchadnezzar is astonished, he's a stony, he's standing up and he's looking in the fire and he's saying, did we not cast three men in bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, true O king. He answered and said, lo I see four men. He says, we tossed in three but now I see four. That's why he's astonished. He answered and said, lo I see four men loose walking in the midst of the fire and they have no hurt and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. So you see there at the end it says he is that fourth man, the form of him was like unto the Son of God. Again another Old Testament allusion to the fact that God has a son. This is the declaration that we find even in the Old Testament that there is a Son of God and it is made clear, it is declared and revealed to us that that Son of God is Jesus Christ in the New Testament. There are all of course other passages that we could turn to in the Old Testament that would show us that God is three. That there are more than, that God is as it says in 1st John 5 that there are three that bear a record in heaven, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. That God is three in one. We can turn to Genesis 1, we won't for sake of time, where God said to God in the very beginning of the Bible, the first chapter over where it says let us make man in our own image. God speaking to himself in a plurality there. Again in Genesis chapter 11 where they came down to see the Tower of Babel that men had built and the Lord said behold the people is one. They all have one language and this they begin to do and now nothing will be strained from them which they have imagined to. Go to, let us go down. Again these are Old Testament allusions to the fact showing us that God is not just God the Father but there is also God the Son. That is the declaration that we find in the New Testament. Now there are some very clear New Testament statements. Obviously the New Testament is a clarification of the things that we find in the Old Testament. Many of the things that are harder to understand in the Old Testament are easily understood when we look at it through the lens of the New Testament. It helps it sheds light on the Old Testament. Matthew chapter 27 the Bible says in verse 41, likewise also the chief priests mocking him with the scribes and elders said he saved others himself he cannot save if he be the king of Israel let him now come down from the cross and we will believe him he trusted in God let him deliver him now if he will save him for he said I am the Son of God. So the Jews here are saying hey let him come down from the cross because he said that he was the Son of God and it's interesting that this declaration that Jesus made that he is the Son of God is something that has been disputed even to this to this day. I remember I very distinctly I've been out I was out soul winning once and knocked on that guy's door he just wanted to argue and one of the things he's arguing maybe you've heard this too if you've been out he said hey you know what Jesus never claimed to be the Son of God he never said that he never said he was the Son of God and I'm thinking how can you read the New Testament and not understand that Jesus Christ plainly said that he is the Son of God and it's been a but you know you go back and it's it can be kind of difficult to find an exact passage where Jesus said I am the Son of God but he went about it in a very and he did make that clear declaration that he is the Son of God and we see here that the Jews who crucified him that was why they crucified him they said he said he's the Son of God now were they lying here no it's coming out of their mouth that he said this but we'll see that that the New Testament plainly declares that Jesus Christ is the Son of God that you there you cannot I mean that is the theme of the New Testament is it not that Jesus Christ is the Son of God if you would turn over to Luke chapter 1 we'll see with a New Testament specifically the narrator the Holy Ghost of the New Testament makes it clear that Jesus Christ is the Son of God that is the declaration that God has made to the world today Genesis chapter excuse me Luke chapter 1 verse 26 and in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee named Nazareth to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David and the virgins name was Mary and the angel came in unto her and said hail thou are highly favored and the Lord the Lord is with thee blessed art thou among women and when she saw him saw him she was troubled at this saying and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be and the angel said unto her fear not Mary for thou hast found favor with God and thou and behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth the Son and shall call his name Jesus he shall be great he shall be great and shall be called the Son of the highest and the Lord God shall give unto him that the throne of his father David and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever and of this kingdom there shall be no end jump down to verse 35 the angel said answered and said unto her the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God so we see that the New Testament declares plainly that Jesus Christ is the Son of God that was the declaration that the angel gave to Mary that he would be called the Son of God that is the declaration today if you want to turn over to Luke chapter 22 Luke chapter 22 Luke chapter 22 of again reading in verse 66 in Luke 22 and as soon as it was day the elders of the people the chief priests and the scribes came together and led him into their counsel saying art thou the Christ tell us and he said unto them if I tell you ye will not believe so we see this where Jesus is being arrested at the end of his ministry where he's been taken by the by the by the Pharisees and arrest and they begin to inquire and they begin to interrogate him to to to to see what he has to say that they might find a reason to accuse him and have him put to death verse 68 and if also I ask you he will not answer me nor let me go hereafter shall a son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God then said they all art thou then the Son of God and he said unto them ye say that I am now is that a denial of the accusation are they saying art thou the Son of God and he says ye say that I am is that him denying the fact that he is the Son of God no that's not verse 71 and they said what need have we any further witness we ourselves have heard him with his own mouth so they're saying that's good enough for us the fact that you wouldn't deny being the Son of God is an affirmation that you are claiming to be the Son of God John chapter 1 verse 32 of course the declaration is something that was made by many people we saw you in the unbelieving Jews declared that Jesus Christ was the Son of God that he claimed to make that that declaration that that was a claim that he made and that's why they had him crucified because they considered it blasphemy we see also that it was the declaration that the angel made to Mary he said that thing which shall be born of these shall be called the Son of God and we see also that is the declaration that Jesus Christ is the Son of God that's the declaration that John the Baptist made if in John chapter 1 verse 32 and John bear record saying I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and in a boat upon him verse 33 and I knew him not but he that sent me to baptize with water the same said unto me upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending remaining on him the same as he which baptizes with the Holy Ghost and I saw and bear record that this is the Son of God so we see again that that is the declaration that God has made in the New Testament is that Jesus Christ is the Son of God in John chapter 9 we'll see a very clear verse some great verses I believe that we could even use up soul-winning these would be good to highlight if you ever run into that person who wants to make that ignorant and unlearned argument that Jesus Christ is never claimed to be the Son of God I believe this is a great passage to turn them to you and show them in John chapter 9 beginning in verse 35 Jesus heard that they cast him out and when he found them he said unto them dost thou believe on the Son of God he answered and said unto him us and said who is he Lord that I might believe on him and Jesus said unto him thou hast both seen him and he it is that talketh with thee he's saying who is the Son of God Jesus asked him you know dost thou believe on the Son of God he said well who is he that I might believe who is the Son of God and Jesus said it's me it is he that talketh with thee that is Jesus Christ very very plainly and very clearly clearly and distinctly claiming to be the Son of God in the New Testament it's right there in front of us so we see that all these that it's been a little something that's been alluded to in the Old Testament and the prophets we see that this declaration is something that has been made by the angels and even by unbelievers it's something that's that was declared by John the Baptist and even Jesus Christ himself declared himself to be the Son of God now we'll look at a passage here in John chapter 11 through to John chapter 11 we'll see another great passage I believe where Jesus shows us that he is the Son of God where he makes a very indirect claim to being the Son of God because you have to remember that Jesus Christ's ministry he wanted to keep some of the things about himself hidden until the time would would be that he should be revealed there were certain things he said you know to see that thou tellest no man you know others would anyone that when the demons would cry out and proclaim him to be the Son of God and would identify him he would tell them to be quiet to hold their peace but Jesus often in the Gospels we'll see is is indirectly alluding to the fact that he is the Son of God it's an indirect declaration now the one in John 11 that we've just looked at that's pretty clear that's not very indirect he's saying look the Son of God is the one who's talking to you that Jesus was the one doing the talking that's Jesus Christ declaring to be the Son of God in John excuse me but John 11 and verse 1 the Bible reads now a certain man was sick named Lazarus the Bethany the town of Mary and her sister Martha it was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair whose brother Lazarus was sick therefore his sister sent unto him saying Lord behold he whom thou lovest is sick when Jesus heard that he said this sickness is not unto death but for the glory of God that the Son of God might be glorified thereby now notice here what Jesus is saying Jesus is saying what what's happening to Lazarus what's falling out unto Lazarus this sickness being so sick that he's on the point of death so sick to the point that his sisters are crying out for Jesus and pleading with Christ to Jesus to come and to heal their brother the whole reason this is falling out and happening is that Jesus said there that the Son of God might be glorified thereby he's saying this is all happening because when it's all finished the Son of God is going to be glorified so it only stands to reason that if we read the rest of the story all we have to identify is who it is that was glorified and then we'll know who the Son of God is because Jesus is stating here that the Son of God is the one who's going to be glorified verse 45 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself came coming to the grave so he's gone to Lazarus Lazarus has died and now he's going to the grave familiar with the story there was a cave and a stone lay upon it Jesus said take you away the stone Martha the sister of him that was dead saith unto him Lord but this time he stinketh for it hath been four days Jesus saith unto her say not I said send on I unto thee that if thou wouldst believe it so thou shouldst see the glory of God then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid and Jesus lifted up his eyes and said father I think thee that thou hast heard me and I knew that thou hearest me always because but because of the people which stand by I said it that they may believe that thou hast sent me and when that we had thus spoken he cried with a loud voice Lazarus come forth and he that was dead came forward bound hand and foot with grave clothes and his face was bound with a napkin Jesus saith unto them loose him and let him go then many of the Jews which came to Mary and in seeing the things which Jesus did believed on him so who is believed on in the end of the story who is it that is that is glorified in the end of the story it's not Lazarus the Jews here are not going to Lazarus and praising him or believing on Lazarus they're believing on the one who said loosen they're saying lad that said Lazarus come forth there glorifying the one who called Lazarus from the grave and that is that not what Jesus said would happen he said that Lazarus would die that all these things would happen that the glory for the glory of God the Son of God may be glorified thereby and who was it that was glorified in the end it was Jesus Christ Jesus Christ made the declaration that he is the Son of God now it only stands to reason that if Jesus Christ is the Son of God that would mean that he is God because you have to be careful today a lot of people will say tell you they'll say oh I believe Jesus was the Son of God but they will believe that Jesus is God the Mormons believe something like that they believe similar to that they believe that Jesus was you know you know Satan's brother they had these weird beliefs about who Jesus was and I'll say well yeah he claimed to be the Son of God but he never never was God well would only stand to reason that if Jesus is the Son of God that he is God and that's the declaration that has been made to the world I'll read you in Hebrews chapter 1 verses 1 through 8 God who had sundry times in a diverse manner spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets hath in these last days spoken unto us by his son whom he hath appointed heir of all things by whom also he made the world's who being the brightness of his glory the express image of his person and upholding all things by the word of his power when he had made himself per when he had he him excuse me when he had had by himself purged our sins sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high being made so much better than the angels as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they for unto which of the angels said he at any time thou art my son this day have I begotten thee and again I will be to him a father and he shall be to me a son and again when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world he saith and let all the angels of God worship him and he and of the angels he saith who maketh his angels spirits and ministers of a flame of fire but to the son he saith so God is saying about to say something to the son we're gonna learn here in Hebrews 11 that God said something to the son Jesus Christ and what is it that he said in verse 8 but to the son he saith thy throne Oh God is forever a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom the fact that Jesus Christ is God it's a declaration that has been clearly made in the New Testament by God himself when God said thy throne Oh God because it says there he said that unto the Son he called the Son God and we seen here as we recall our passage there in John chapter 11 that the intent that Jesus Christ would be declared to be the Son of God there's something behind it what is the purpose of the declaration is it just to declare that Jesus Christ is the Son of God there's always a purpose behind the declaration and we seen that that we have seen that the declaration that that has been made in the New Testament is that Jesus Christ is the Son of God that's the powerful declaration that has gone up that Jesus is God that we don't have to sit here and wonder who God is what a wonderful truth that is but we've ever been one that has sought for truth and wanted to know the truth and have looked into all these other religions I know for myself I spent many years wondering and wandering seeking for the truth looking into all these other ways into heaven looking for all these other supposed you know holy books reading books that that that claim to have the truth and it's God always seemed less a mystery as someone that was you know he had to kind of grasp for so when you were kind of you know stretching and reaching a fine but God has made it very clear who he is he's made it very clear that who God is that God is Jesus Christ you know the book the holy book the Bible is not something that's that's hidden from the world we can find it in every dollar store it's something that has gone out into all the ends of the earth it's something that has been declared to the world who God is it's not hidden it's not secret it's not some esoteric knowledge that has to be found on some mountaintop that we have to go through some great lengths to find out who God is God is declared to us today who he is and he said I am Jesus Christ Jesus Christ has come and declared himself to be God but what's the purpose of that declaration what is the point of such a declaration is it just so that we could know who God is and that's it that we could just find out who God is and take in that declaration and hear it and say well now I know that and go on about our lives know the purpose of the declaration is that God would be glorified it's for his glorification was that not the point there and it was we read in John chapter 11 when he rose when he when he brought Lazarus out of the grave when he raised him did he say that it would be that the Son of God would be glorified that's the point of the declaration that God would be glorified which is the purpose that has been declared throughout all of Scripture I'll read from you let me turn to Ephesians chapter 3 but I'll read to you from Leviticus chapter 10 then Moses said unto Aaron this is that the Lord spake say I will be sanctified and then that come nigh me and before all the people I will be glorified so God is said and we could spend the hours going through all the scriptures where God said I will be glorified I will be glorified glory belongeth unto me let God be glorified it comes up over and over and over and over again my friend that is the point of the declaration that is the purpose of the declaration that God has made that he would be glorified that's why God has declared himself under the world that we might be saved and glorify God you're there in Ephesians chapter 3 look at verse 21 unto him be glory be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages world without end amen so we see that the purpose of the church the purpose of the of Jesus Christ is that he would receive glory and he would give glory to the Father unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages that has been the point of the declaration throughout all ages throughout all the times that have passed in the Old Testament through all the times that have come as it says they're a world without end that will be what heaven is about that will be you know we just got through our prophecy conference here in Phoenix and heard and heard some great sermons about the new you know the new heaven and the new earth and we look at that got a glimpse to look forward those things which are to come and the point and although all those things is that God would be glorified throughout all ages that is the purpose of the declaration that Jesus Christ is the Son of God I'll read to you from a revelations chapter 1 but if you would turn to Revelation 21 turn to Revelation 21 we'll see again at the purpose of the declaration is the glorification of God that God received glory throughout all ages you're turning Revelation 21 Revelation 1 the Bible says and he has made us kings and priests of the goddess father to him be glory and dominion forever and ever amen you're there revelation 21 look at verse 10 and he carried away the spirit unto a to a great and high mountain and showed me that great city the holy Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God having the glory of God and her light was like under the stone most precious even a Jasper stone clear as crystal jump down to verse 22 and I saw no temple therein for the Lord God Almighty and the lamb or the temple of it and they said he had no need of Sun neither of moon to shine in it for the glory of God did lighten it and the lamb is the light thereof and the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it and the kings of the earth to bring their glory and honor unto it this is the new heaven the new earth this is the new Jerusalem descending down and dwelling with man and we see that the purpose of it is that the nations would and the kings of the earth would bring their glory and honor unto it we see that the that God's presence is the glory of that city that it's so glorious that it has no need of light that is the purpose of the declaration that is the purpose of the declaration that Jesus Christ is the son of God is that he would receive glory he didn't just say it for the sake of saying God doesn't just like to hear himself speak there's a point behind it there's a purpose it is that he would receive glory throughout all ages now you're there I should have told you to bookmark Romans but in Romans chapter wanted to get back there quickly we'll look again in our text because we've looked and seen what is that declaration the declaration is that Jesus Christ is the Son of God we've seen that the purpose of the declaration the point of making such a declaration is that Jesus Christ would bring glory unto God that God would be glorified through him throughout all ages you know the we would you know going back to the Declaration of Independence there was a point to that declaration wasn't there but there also has to be a power so we have to see you know what the deckler what is the power of the declaration the declaration of the resurrection is the power of the gospel that is the power of the gospel that declaration that we make is the power of the gospel Bible says in Acts 4 4 33 with great power gave the Apostles witness of the resurrection so that was the power of that declaration it's the resurrection that's the power of the gospel that we preach it's not that we just go out and preach that Jesus Christ is God but we preach that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead that is the gospel the death burial and resurrection but if there was no resurrection our gospel would have no power it would simply be yes Jesus Christ died was buried and he's been there ever since and that's why that's what sets us apart the Christianity apart from every other religion on earth every Bible believing Christian you know a lot of people want to make a stink and say well you guys think you're right and everybody else is wrong amen that's what Jesus said he said no man cometh unto the Father but by me he said there's one way he said I am the way the truth the life there's only one way to heaven it's through Jesus Christ because Jesus Christ is the only one who has come back from the dead he's the only one who has been resurrected resurrected and that is the power of the declaration the resurrection of Jesus Christ that is the power of the gospel that we preach that we declare to the world that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead you know everybody else all these other all these other religious you know idols and these religious icons they're still in the grave today you know the Buddha's bones are still in the ground very Christian his bones are still in the ground all these other religious leaders that have claimed to be God their bones are still in the ground because they're not God they're false they're liars it's not the truth Jesus Christ is the only one that ever came back from the dead he's the only one that even made the claim to have risen from the dead he's the only one that's been declared to have risen from the dead by God himself so we see that the declaration of the resurrection that is the power of the gospel that we preach that's why Paul said in Romans 1 for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth to the Jew first and also to the great you see the gospel is the power of God as he said there the death and burial and resurrection that's the power of God the resurrection so that is the power of the declaration that's the power of it and when it's one thing to have an intent to say I'm going to declare something it's one thing that those men our forefathers you know all those hundreds of years ago he decided to sit down and say hey let's declare independence we've had enough of this tyranny and oppression let's declare ourselves independent and free men let's start a new nation it was one thing to sit down and write that document up the Declaration of Independence there's one thing to say what it is they wanted to do there's one thing to put themselves out there but you imagine if the British should come over and they all just say you know you're right and just lay down their arms what if there had been no fight what if they had no power behind those words the Declaration would have been pointless so a declaration without power you know makes no sense there has to be power behind that declaration so what is the power behind the declaration that Jesus Christ is the Son of God what is it that gives it its power why is it that it has meaning and power behind it it's because of his resurrection that is the power behind the Declaration of Jesus Christ you're there in Romans chapter 1 look again at verse 3 concerning his son Jesus Christ our Lord which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh and declared to be the Son of God with power it wasn't that he was just declared to be the Son of God and and that's it no he was declared with power there was power behind that declaration according to the spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead so we see that it is the resurrection that gives the power to the declaration that Jesus Christ is the Son of God without no resume with no resurrection there would have been no power to that declaration that Christ was God there had to be power behind the declaration and that declaration is that Jesus Christ is the Son of God John 10 the Bible says therefore does my father love me because I lay down my life that I might take it again no man take that from me but I lay it down of myself I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again this commandment have I seen of my father so it wasn't just that Jesus was talking here he wasn't just saying these words there was power behind what he said and that power was that he was able to lay down his life and take it up again if you would turn over to 1st Corinthians chapter 15 we're looking at the power of that declaration we've seen the purpose of the declaration is that Jesus Christ would be declared to be the Son of God and that God will be glorified by it the purpose of the declaration is that God would receive glory through Jesus Christ and we've seen that that declaration is that Jesus Christ is the Son of God that he is God now we're looking at the fact that that declaration must have power behind it and that power is the resurrection you're there in 1st Corinthians I'll read you from Philippians chapter 3 Philippians chapter 3 verse 8 yay Dallin and I count all things but laws for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and to count them but done that I may win Christ and be found in him not having mine own righteousness which is of the law but which is a which is through the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faith that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowships the fellowship of his suffering being made conformable unto his death see Paul here saying that he counted all these other things lost he got all these other things that he had attained unto but dumb why that he might know the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ that's why he suffered all these things he wanted to know that power and that's what we ought to want to know it for ourselves today the power of that resurrection and if we're gonna go through a difficult time in our life if it seems like we're having a hard time that we're going through the struggles of life we have to understand that we're not the only ones that have done it and that Jesus Christ himself has suffered for our sins that he that he endured hardest and he endured a great contradiction of sinners against himself and that's something that we have to keep in mind lest we be weary in our minds and faint that when we're striving against sin we have to understand we did that we have not yet even begun to strive as Jesus Christ did we have not striven on the blood as Jesus Christ did and we can know that no matter what happens in our life no matter what trials and temptations and difficulties we're facing that we can begin to know the power of the resurrection when we consider the fact that you know one day our bodies are going to get old and die we can have that hope and we can have we can have an understanding of the power of the resurrection and that should give us give us power to get through the difficult things in life the difficult trials and temptations that come our way you're there in 1st Corinthians 15 verse 12 now Christ be preached that he rose from the dead I'll say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead but if there be no resurrection of the dead then is Christ not risen and if Christ be not risen then as our preaching vain and your faith is also vain so again we see that the resurrection of Christ Christ being risen from the dead that's what gives us the point that's what gives us power that's that gives us the our that's why our preaching is not advanced why our preaching has a point that's why it matters that's why our faith is not in vain because Christ is risen from the dead yay and we are all we are found false witnesses of God because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ if Christ be not risen from the dead then we're false witnesses we're going out and preaching something that isn't true and we have no power for verse 16 for if the dead rise not then Christ is not raised and if Christ be not raised your faith is in vain and ye are getting your sins verse 18 then they also which are falling asleep in Christ are perished but if in this life only we have hope in Christ we are all are of all men most miserable you know if Christ is only going to get us through this life and we are miserable we'll just like everybody else we're just like the Buddhist we're just like the Hindu we're just like the Muslim we're just like all these other ones we have no hope in this world we're still facing a death and uncertainty because Christ Christ be not risen we are just as miserable as the rest but now is Christ risen from the dead Christ is risen from the dead that's what we need to understand this morning is that we're serving a Savior who is alive today that there is power behind the gospel that we preach that we have heard a declaration that has power behind it and that that power comes from the fact that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead that's what we need to understand this morning that we have a we believe something that has power that we are not at most men most men most miserable that we don't have to go through this life you know fearing what is to come because we've understood that Jesus Christ is God we've heard that declaration and we know that it is true because it has power and that power is the resurrection so we see the power of the declaration is his resurrection that's what gives it because it's it's punched its power that's why that our declaration of the gospel has force behind it is the resurrection of Jesus Christ but it's also our own resurrection if you go back to if we refer back to the the story of Lazarus we won't turn there but that was the power that was behind it the power and great Jesus Christ was glorified not through his own resurrection but also the resurrection of Lazarus and we know that we too one day we will be raised up by the power of Christ that there is a there is a resurrection coming you know that we are not as others which have no hope but that you know we have a hope that one day we too will be raised up in Christ that is the power of the declaration that we preach 1st Corinthians 15 go turn there we'll close here in 1st Corinthians chapter 15 1st Corinthians 15 verse 42 you see the power of the declaration is the resurrection of Christ that's what gives its power as it said there in Romans 1 you know and declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead that's the declaration that God has made that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that declaration is given power by the fact that he is risen from the dead and it's not only his resurrection that gives us hope that gives us power that but it's also our own 1st Corinthians 15 verse 42 so also is the resurrection of the dead it is sown in corruption it is raised in incorruption it is sown in dishonor it is raised in glory it is sown in weakness it is raised in power you see we have power this morning through the resurrection of Jesus Christ we have power we have hope we have we have a message a declaration to declare the world that is not weak it's not soft it's not limp it's something that is firm and strong and powerful because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and it's not only our own resurrection it's the fact that we can go and tell others that there were as it says that they were bondage all their lives they were subject to fear by the by the fear of death they were subject to bondage because they're fearing death they're not they don't know what's to come and we have the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ that he was buried and that he was that he died he was buried that he rose again and then if a person will put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation that they too one day will be raised again in newness of life that they will be given that glorified body that they will be able to live throughout all eternity with Jesus Christ and all his saints that's a powerful declaration that we have it's like the application would be are we declaring it are we are we just sitting on a stack of dynamite when there's a gold mine out there that we could go out and blow up and get some treasures are we just sitting on this power doing nothing with it or we exercising the power that has been given us through the resurrection of Jesus Christ that's the challenge this morning you know the encouragement is the fact that you know no matter what comes your way in this life you know you have that power you have that that hope of that powerful declaration that Jesus Christ is God and he's risen from the dead but remember the point of that declaration is that God will be glorified and God is glorified when we go out and we preach his word and others call upon his name and they will be there to glorify God as well are we doing that are we declaring the power of the resurrection are we declaring the resurrection this morning let's pray Heavenly Father again thank you for your word thank you for the power of your word thank you for your Holy Spirit thank you for the resurrection of Jesus Christ thank you that you know that we do not serve a God who is weak we do not serve a God who has no power that we serve a God who has power and strength and Lord that you've risen Christ from the dead and Lord that we can rest assured that if we put our faith and trust in you that we all so one day though our body will grow old and die and we also will be risen from the dead what a great hope you've given us in Christ where I pray you'd help us to to use that power of that declaration to see others say that they also would know the power of God through Jesus Christ our Lord it's in his name we pray amen