Go back with me to Matthew 28. Matthew chapter 28. The first
sentence that I wrote on this piece of paper is, have you ever
received any bad news? You ever gotten any bad news? Oh, we just got bad news. If you have ever gotten any bad
news, the reason is sin. I mean, if you've ever gotten any
bad news, the reason is sin. The sin that is in you and the
sin that's around you. Did you know that in glory there
is no bad news? Can you imagine that? There's no sin there. In glory
there is no bad news. Every single statement that is
made is an eruption of good news. Ladies and gentlemen, we just
received more good news. That's eternity. That's going
to be eternity. I have a message of good news
for those who love Christ. This whole message is good news. This message is not for those
who love religion. And this message is not for those
who love morality. And this message is not for those
who love good news. Everybody loves good news. This message is not for those
who love good news. It's for those who love Christ. God Himself. Let me show you who today's message
is for. Matthew 28 verse 1 says, In the
end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day
of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to the sepulcher. And behold, there was a great
earthquake, for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven
and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat upon
it. His countenance was like lightning,
and His raiment white as snow. And for fear of Him, the keepers
passed out. They did shake and became as
dead men. And the angel answered and said
unto the women, Fear not, ye, for I know that you seek heaven. And that's not what it says. Fear not, ye, for I know that
you seek mansions and golden streets. Fear not, for I know that you
seek relief from your pain and suffering. He said, I know. Now listen to
this. He said, I know. He said, don't
fear because I know that you seek Jesus, which was crucified. I know you seek him. I know you want him. And because of that, the angel
said, I have a message of good news for you. Verse 6 says, He
is not here. He's not here. For he is risen as he said. Come see the place where the
Lord lay. Those ladies were not just coming
to the tomb. Well, let's go put flowers on
the gravesite. They were not just coming to
that tomb, they were coming to Him. They were coming to Him. And
any soul that comes to Him is going to receive good news. Any soul that comes to Him. is
going to receive good news. That angel said, he is not here. For he is risen, as he said. The angel said, now go spread
this good news. That's what he told him. Verse
7 says, he said, go quickly and tell
the disciples that he is risen from the dead. And behold, he
goeth before you into Galilee, there shall you see him, lo,
I have told you." Can you picture that? Can you picture that scenario?
He said, go quickly and they departed quickly and
they ran. They did run. They were running. This news was so amazing. He is not here. He is risen just
like He said. Now you go tell the disciples,
they're going to see Him. Can you see these two women running
with all their might? It wasn't a leisurely jog. It
was running, hair blowing, laughing as they ran. laughing. And when they finally got to
the other disciples, they didn't wait until they got up to them.
As soon as they saw them, they started hollering, He is risen!
He is risen! He, the one we love, He's risen. Well, before they made it to
the other disciples, halfway into their run, they were stopped.
Verse 9 says, And as they went to tell His disciples, behold,
Jesus met them, saying, All hail! And one of the other Gospels
tells us that they didn't know who He was at first, but then
He revealed Himself. And as soon as He revealed Himself,
And as soon as they realized who he was, it goes on to say,
they came and held him by the feet and worshipped him. Oh, they fell down at his feet
and they, two Marys, two feet, they each grabbed a foot, holding
that foot, kissing that foot, worshipping him. Everybody this morning is worshipping
something. Everybody in every church. They
are worshipping something. They are either worshipping religion,
or they are worshipping themselves, their pride, or they are worshipping
the preacher, or they are worshipping a cross on the wall. They are all worshipping something.
These two ladies right here were worshipping Him. I mean they
were worshipping Him. That's who this message is for
this morning. Those who worship Him. I believe that there are
some here this morning who have come into this house and gathered
in His name to worship Him. I believe that. If there are,
then I have a message of good news for you. The message is
straight from God Himself. Verse 10, Then said Jesus unto
them, God Himself, Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid. Go tell my brethren that they
go into Galilee And there shall they see me. Here is the message. Tell them, be not afraid, they're
going to see me. They shall see me. Every soul
that truly loves Christ and needs Christ, is going to get to do
what these two Marys did. Every soul. Job said, I know
with these two eyes I'm going to see God. I believe with all
my heart, with these two hands and arms, I'm going to get to
hold His feet. I believe He's going to let me
hold His feet and kiss His feet and worship Him and say, thank
you. I believe that. Don't be afraid. You're going
to see Him. You're going to see Him. He washed
you in His blood. He's not here. He's risen. The payment was made. Just like
He said, He made you accepted in that blood. And you're going
to get to fall down and you're going to get to hold His feet
and you're going to get to worship Him because of that. Verse 11
says, Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came
into the city and showed unto the chief priest all the things
that were done. And when they were assembled
with the elders and had taken counsel, they gave large money
unto the soldiers, saying, Say ye, his disciples came by night
and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor's
ear, we will persuade him and secure you. So they took the
money and did as they were taught. And this saying is commonly reported
among the Jews unto this day. They don't need him. They don't need him. They don't love him. This message is not to them.
It's just not to them. Verse 16 says, then the 11 disciples
went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed
them. And when they saw him, when they saw him, they worshiped
him. They worshipped Him. You know,
if a sinner ever sees Him, if a sinner ever, if he becomes
real, I mean real, if he becomes real, that song says, reach out
and touch the Lord. There are times that God sends
His Spirit to the heart and this becomes so real to me, I feel
like I could reach out and touch Him right now. If a sinner ever sees Him, if
a sinner is ever made able to behold the Lamb, what He bore, why He died, it
was my sin, my sin. And now He's not there. He's
risen, as He said, just like He promised. Everything He purposes
comes to pass, every single thing. If a sinner ever sees Him, they
will worship Him. They will worship Him. Verse
17 says, And when they saw Him, they worshipped Him, but some
doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto
them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Don't be afraid. All power is
given unto him in heaven and in earth. Don't be afraid. Do not be afraid. I'm afraid
of a lot of things. I really am. I'm actually realizing
that more and more the older I get. I didn't know I was afraid of
as many things when I was younger. I'm afraid of a lot of things.
But listen to this. All power is given unto Him in
heaven. We know it is in heaven and in
earth. Be not afraid. Be not afraid. Go with me over
to Psalm 27. Psalm 27 verse 1 says, The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is
the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? When
the wicked, even my enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat
up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. I wonder how many times
my enemies, myself included, have come upon me to eat up my
flesh, but God was merciful. And they stumbled and fell. I
can think of things in my life that I wanted to make happen.
I'm going to make that happen. And it just didn't happen. It
never did happen. Thank God I stumbled and fell. Verse 3 says, Though in host
should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. Though
war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. One
thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that
I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.
For in the time of trouble, he shall hide me. He shall hide me in his pavilion.
In the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me, He shall set
me up upon a rock. Don't be afraid. Do not be afraid. Everything He purposes comes
to pass. I will be set up on a rock if
I need Christ, if I love Christ. Don't be afraid. You're going
to see Him. And don't be afraid, all power is given unto him in
heaven and in earth. Now go back with me to Matthew
28. Matthew 28 verse 19 says, Go ye, therefore, and teach all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever
I have commanded you. And, lo, I am with you always,
even unto the end of the world. Amen. That's the one that got me. That's the one that got me. Somebody
quoted that to me this week. And I just couldn't stop thinking
about it. As soon as they quoted it, I was like, oh, my soul. I felt like my soul just ate
a filet mignon when they said that. I felt so full. I just felt it was so delicious. And I thought, that's got to
be the message. I am with you always, even unto
the end of the world. Now those who have not been given
a heart for Christ, a love for Christ, those who have not been
given and not been blessed with the gift of faith to believe
on Christ. They're either blind followers
or they're blind leaders. One of the two. And the Lord
said, leave them alone. They are alone. Leave them alone. They're alone. Without Christ,
they're alone. Doesn't matter what they have,
they're alone. But for those who need Christ,
I believe God has put a need and a hunger in me and in you
for Jesus Christ. I don't want to go one second
without Christ. Whether I'm realizing that or
not, even if I'm lost somewhere out in left field, I don't want
to be out there without Christ. For those who need Christ, children
of God crying out for Christ. I thought about our young infants
who come in and they squall in that nursery and they squall
in that nursery and the nursery worker is trying and somebody
else will try. That will not do. I need my mama. For children of God who are crying
for Christ. If God has caused you to seek
Him that was crucified, if God has called you to come and to
hold to and to worship Christ, if God be for you, then you are
not alone. If God has put that desire in
you, you are not alone. He said, I am with you always. even unto the end of the world. David said, Yea, though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. Don't be afraid. Did David fear
evil? Yes, he did. He hid in caves.
He ran for his life. He acted like a madman. He's
a sinner like the rest of us. Somewhere in his soul, God's
Spirit said, David, you write this. You write it down. Don't
be afraid. I'll fear no evil. Why, David?
He's with me. He's with me. I am with you always,
even unto the end of the world. Isaiah wrote, when you pass through
the waters, and you're going to pass through the waters, I
will be with you. I will. He said, when you walk
through the fire, you're not going to get burned. Really? Will He really be with us in
the fire? Will He really be with us in
the fire? Ask Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Ask those guys. Only people who have really been
through the fire know. That's why those trials, we don't
want them, but they are precious and blessed. Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego,
was he with you? If you could actually ask those
three guys, if you could ask them that question, here's what
they would say. As soon as we got into that fire, they bound
us up, those guys grabbed us and they threw us in there and
the fire killed them. Just trying to throw us in. But as soon as
we got into that fire, we realized first hand that all power had
been given to Him in heaven and even on earth. He was with us to the point that
we didn't even sweat. Never had one drop of sweat come
out of our bodies. The smoke did not enter one fiber
of our clothes. Well, what were y'all doing in
there? All three of us were holding to Him. We were all worshiping Him. We
were all thanking him. The whole time we were in there,
we were saying, thank you, Lord, for being with us. Thank you
for being with us in the fire. You know what he said to us?
I'm with you always, even unto the end of the world. Ask those martyrs who died in
the fire, burned at the stake, was he with you? He stood right there beside me,
holding my hand the whole time, saying, I'll never leave you.
I'll never forsake you. You know how I know that? How
do you know that? You weren't back then. You know how I know
that? Listen to this. Listen to this
verse. For I, the Lord thy God, will hold thy right hand, saying
unto thee, fear not, I will help thee. Fear not, thou worm Jacob,
and you men of Israel. I will help thee, saith the Lord,
and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel." I will stand right
there. I'll hold your hand, saying, fear not. If that causes you to fall in
love with Jesus Christ, If that does something in there
and that makes you absolutely fall in love with Jesus Christ,
then I have a message of good news for you. Don't be afraid. Do not be afraid. You are going
to get to see Him. You are going to get to hold
Him. You are going to get to worship Him. Don't be afraid. All power is given unto him in
heaven and in earth. And don't be afraid, because
he said, lo. That means behold. That means
you just stop for one minute. You stop this crazy life for
one minute and you dwell on this for just one minute. You sit
down and you think about this for one minute. He said, I, not
my angels. Has he given guardian angels?
Yes. But not my angels, not my servants, has he given under
shepherds and things like that? Yes. But he said, I, I, yes, I have stationed some
angels. Yes, I have given some servants,
but I am, am, not will be, not will be, am right now with you. I love the fact that
it doesn't say mine elect, even though that's true. Israel, spiritual
Israel, even though that's true, he said you. You mean me? Yes, you. If you need Christ. If you're
holding to Christ and looking to Christ, I am with you always. Whether you think they're good
times, whether you think they're bad times, whether you think
they're hard times, whether you think they're easy times, always,
always, always. He said even to the farthest
reaches of this world. no matter where you go, even
to your last day on this earth, even until the end of the world. Our dear Savior, Jesus Christ,
is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. And he says to
his own, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
How do we respond? There's only one word. Amen. So be it. Thank God. All right,
let's stand together.