Sovereign Grace Chapel, located at 135 Annabel Lane in Beaver, West Virginia, invites you to listen to a gospel message concerning Jesus Christ our Lord. My text for today's broadcast is found in Paul's letter to the church at Philippi, Philippians chapter two. And what I wanna read from my text today is verses five through 11.

That's Philippians two, five through 11, where Paul wrote these words, let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men, and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name, That at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. So that's my text for today. today's broadcast. Again, it's Philippians chapter two, verses five through 11, where the apostle Paul is speaking about the Lord Jesus Christ and his resurrection. Now, my title for this morning is this, The Resurrected Exalted Lord.

Now, today, as you well know, anyone who's listening to me today, today is called by some Easter Sunday or Resurrection Sunday. Now, this day is called that by those termed the Western Church, and I'm putting that word church in quotes. It's termed Easter Sunday or Resurrection Sunday by those of the Western Church, and that mainly falls under the canopy of papal Catholicism. Now, next Sunday, which of course is April the 12th, 2026, is called Resurrection Sunday by the Eastern Orthodox Church, put that in quotes. Now, God willing, today, God willing, today and next Sunday, I will speak of the resurrected Lord. And I do that not because I in any way wish to honor today as Easter Sunday or next Sunday as Easter Sunday, but I simply am stating historical facts. There are those that call today Easter Sunday or Resurrection Sunday in the Western church. There are those who call next Sunday, April the 12th, 2026 will be, they call it Easter Sunday or Resurrection Sunday, that is under the Orthodox Eastern Orthodox Church. But let me give you just a few historical facts.

One, Jesus of Nazareth was crucified. He died on the accursed tree for sinners. Jesus of Nazareth was crucified. He was buried in a borrowed tomb. And on the third day, he, that is the Christ of God, Jesus of Nazareth, is, he was, and he is the Christ of God. And this Jesus of Nazareth, on that third day, was raised from the dead. Now that's the first historical fact. Here's the second historical fact.

Nowhere, And I emphasize this. Nowhere in scripture is anyone, especially believers, but is anyone ever commanded or even encouraged to celebrate the day of Christ's resurrection. The case, in fact, it is very difficult to pinpoint the exact day, but be that as it may, again, I emphasize, here's the second historical fact. Nowhere in scripture are we commanded or even encouraged to celebrate the day of Christ's resurrection. Gospel-called believers, gospel-called believers worship Jesus Christ personally.

And if you wish to follow along, if you are following along, listen to what Matthew recorded in Matthew chapter 28. And he, of course, is speaking about that time that was associated with the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. And he wrote these words. This is what Matthew wrote. Remember what I said is the second historical fact.

Nowhere in scripture are we commanded or even encouraged to celebrate the day of Christ's resurrection. Gospel called believers worship Jesus Christ personally. Now let's look at what happened. Matthew 28, and I'll read first of all verses one through eight. It will give us this historical fact.

Look, 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 see the sepulcher. That's where the body of Jesus of Nazareth was laid in that tomb, that borrowed tomb, after he'd been crucified at Calvary. 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 did shake, and became his dead men. Now notice this happened when they came. Now the fact is, I don't want to go into this too much right now, but he had done race in the dead. The stone was not rolled away so Jesus could get out, the stone was rolled away so others could see in. Now look, and for fear of him the keepers did shake and became as dead men.

And the angel answered and said unto the women, fear not ye, for I know that ye seek Jesus which was crucified. He is not here, for he is risen. As he said, come see the place where the Lord lay, and go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead. So here we're talking about what? Christ's resurrection. that he is risen from the dead, and behold, he goeth before you into Galilee. There shall ye see him, lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy, and did run to bring his disciples' word."

So there's the resurrection, there's the historical account of the resurrection. But remember what I said, the second historical fact. Nowhere in scripture are we commanded or even encouraged to celebrate the day of Christ's resurrection. As a matter of fact, gospel called believers worship Christ personally.

And I want you to note, I've given, showed you the historical account that he had been raised from the dead, okay? He had been raised from the dead. This angel descends and rolls away the stone as the women were coming to the sepulcher. And of course the angel spoke with him that the one who was crucified, he's not here, he's risen. He told you he would rise from the dead and he's gonna meet you in Galilee.

Now go tell the disciples. Now look at though what the women did. Now look, if there was ever a time for Matthew to record what a glorious day this was and we need to celebrate this day. Right here would have been the place, but look at what it says, Matthew chapter 28, and then verse nine, and look at these women. And as they went to tell his disciples, do you see it?

Behold, Jesus met them saying, all hail. And they came and hailed him by the feet. They weren't worried about the day. They were caught up with him. not the day of the resurrection, but him who had been raised from the dead. And they came and held him by the feet and worshiped him. Do you see that? They didn't begin to say, what a great day. They worshiped him personally. But look at also what it says about the men.

Go down to verse 16. Verse 16 of Matthew chapter 28. Then the 11 disciples went away into Galilee. Why? Because the women had come and told them. He's raised from the dead, we've seen him, he met us. Then the 11 disciples, verse 16. Then the 11 disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain which Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, What does it say? They worshiped him.

Do you see that? That's the point. They were not caught up with the day, and this was the very day. This is what I'm reading here. This is an account of the very day. But they weren't celebrating the day. They were worshiping him. Do you see it? And when they saw him, they worshiped him. But some doubted, even though they seen. You know what that lets me know? It lets me know that just seeing something with our physical eyes will not be proof enough.

As a matter of fact, the father Abraham told that rich man who died and lifted up his eyes in hell that men must hear the word of God. They must hear Moses and the prophets. Even if one raised from the dead, here's Christ raised from the dead, they will not believe. They have to hear Moses and the prophets.

And Jesus came, verse 18. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 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, not times. not the times, not the day, 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. Do you see it?

So again, we see the historical fact that Jesus was raised from the dead. And we realize that this book, God's book, nowhere teaches us to celebrate the day of his resurrection. We are commanded to worship him personally. But here's the third historical fact, God's people. When I say God's people, I mean God's elect. Those that God the Father chose in Christ before the world began.

Someone says, but I've never heard that. Well, it's in God's holy book. Someone may say, well, I don't believe that. Well, you don't believe God's word then. But God's people, God's elect, Christ's sheep, he called the elect his sheep. Christ's sheep are warned not to observe. You know what I said? Not to celebrate. We are warned.

The Apostle Paul is clear on this, and I'll read it to you in just a moment. It's found in Galatians chapter four. We'll read exactly what the Apostle Paul said to the churches of Galatia. God's people. God's elect, Christ's sheep are warned not to observe, that is, to give great attention to any certain day. It's not about days and months and times and years. It's about Jesus Christ himself.

Oh, if I could just get that point across, but yet it will take the Spirit of God to do such a thing. Look at what the Apostle Paul said to the churches of Galatia. If you ever read this epistle, this letter from Paul to the churches of Galatia, you'll see many rebukes there because of things that they had veered away from the gospel of the grace of God in Christ. And listen to what he says. In Galatians chapter four, And starting in verse 10, actually just two verses there, listen to what he says.

Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. You see it? I am afraid of you. lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain. Why? Because we don't celebrate days and months and times and years. What men and women are doing today, whether it's in the Western Church, that's papal Catholicism, or whether it's in the Eastern Orthodox Church, They pick out certain days that they love to worship, and it's nothing but a throwback to those old rituals, although the acts, the rituals themselves are different, but it's just the same old rituals that the Jews operated under during the Old Testament economy of the Old Testament covenant.

God's people are warned not to observe these days and months and times and years. You see, when it comes to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Now listen to me, oh God help us all, myself included, help me to get a hold of this and by his grace just lay hold of it and never let it go. When it comes to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Christ himself, do you see, you hear what I just said? Christ himself is the sum and substance of the resurrection, he is.

They weren't celebrating a day. They didn't say anywhere, nowhere in the book, now next year we can commemorate this day again on this very anniversary. What happened? They worshiped him. Now our text, that is Philippians chapter two, specifically verses five through 11. This text, though it does not directly mention the resurrection of Jesus Christ, it does mention his sufferings, his crucifixion. And subsequently, after he was crucified, the book tells us he was buried, and on the third day he was raised again. But in our text, our text gives us three insights as to why this is true.

Number one, here's my actual message now. I spent half this message this morning giving you some historical fact from the scripture, but now I'm going to show you the doctrinal proof of Jesus Christ is the resurrected, exalted Lord, and he is to be worshiped. He is to be adored. He is to be celebrated. He is to be bowed to. He is to be believed.

It has nothing to do with the day. It has to do with him who was raised from the dead. Think about it in our text. His person, that is Christ's person, gave substance to his resurrection. And that's exactly what Paul said, his person. Look at it. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

Who? Being in the form of God. And I'm not gonna try to take time to explain all these things because some of this is far beyond my ability to adequately explain. But let's just hear what the word of God says about his person. That's who he is, look at it.

Who, you see it? Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery, that is something to be stolen, something to be grasped after, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation. and took upon him the form of a servant. Do you see it? The form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself. Do you see it? He humbled himself.

Here's the person of Jesus Christ. Here is who he was. but there, and I still say he is, but there is something different as what we'll see from our text. So you see, his person gave substance to the resurrection. Our Lord raised Lazarus from the dead, but we're never told to celebrate neither Lazarus' resurrection, nor Lazarus, nor the day of his resurrection. But we are told to worship Christ, and we'll see this. So remember, his person gave substance to his resurrection. Here is a man like no other man, like no other man. Listen to how John put it.

In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God. And when that beginning, I don't know, it's way back yonder. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. I can't explain that, but I believe what God says. Look, all things were made by him, that is this Word. And notice it's capital W. It's a title. It's a description of who he is. In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

But then listen to, go on down some, listen to verse 14. And the Word, you see it's capitalized again. That same person, that same person. And the Word was made flesh. and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Here's a man unlike any other man. But here's the second thing. Remember, I told you there are three reasons why that these historical facts, the three historical facts I gave you earlier, here's three reasons why these things are pertinent. Here's the second thing. Christ's work. Remember, first of all, I said his person gave substance to his resurrection, but his work gave substance to his resurrection. Now let's go on.

Again in verse eight, and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, that's his person, but now here's his work, and became obedient unto death. Now that's not just when he died he was obedient, but he was obedient from the beginning. from the beginning to all the way through his human life. And he was what? Obedient unto death, but not just any old death.

Do you see it? Not just any old death, even the death of the cross. You see the cross work of Christ. What Jesus Christ did for sinners on the accursed tree was the whole reason for his enfleshment as a man. That was the whole, the word was made flesh and dwelt among us.

We beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. But for what reason? Why was he this kind of person? Why was he this God, the only God made flesh? because he had a work to do. And that work was culminated in that day of his crucifixion. He humbled himself, became obedient to death, even the death of the cross. And listen to what Peter says about this in 1 Peter. Now, these are some amazing words. 1 Peter 1, in verses 18 through 21, listen to what Peter said about the Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 18, 1 Peter 1.

For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain, or that is empty, conversation or lifestyle, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ. Do you see it?

That's when he shed his blood was on that accursed tree. when he became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, who truly, who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world."

This was no new thing with God. This wasn't just a one-come-uppance. This wasn't something God came up with. This is what God had purposed even before the world began, you see it? Who truly, who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who, who's he talking to?

Who by him do believe in God that raised him up from the dead, do you see it? There it is, the resurrected, exalted Lord that raised him up from the dead. You see it? And gave him glory that your faith and hope might be in God. Seeing you have purified your souls and obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfamed, or that is, genuine love of the brethren. See that you love one another fervently, one another with a pure heart, fervently, being born again.

"'not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, "'by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. "'For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory is man, "'as the flower of grass. "'The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away. "'But the word of the Lord endureth forever, "'and this is the word which by the gospel "'is preached unto you.'" So you see, the person, His person, Christ's person, gave substance to his resurrection.

And then Christ's work gave substance to his resurrection. Again, I say this, that the cross work of Christ, what he did for sinners on the accursed tree was the whole reason that he came in human flesh. And it's on that note, excuse me, it was on that note that Peter said God raised him from the dead. and gave him glory. And that brings me to my third point. Christ's person, that's our third point from Philippians chapter two, five through 11.

Christ's person and work wrought for him supreme exaltation. You hear what I said? Wrought for him. Now he already was do it. It was already due him, but he became flesh. That's his person. He became a man, a servant, humbled himself, but what was his work? He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

But here we see that supreme exaltation. Remember, I'm talking about the resurrected, exalted Lord. That's one of the main problems of all of this Easter worship, this day of Easter worship, day of Easter celebration. They talk about Jesus being raised from the dead, but they don't talk about who he is and where he is now, the exalted Lord. Look at it. Philippians chapter two verse nine, wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is what? Not just raised from the dead. That's certainly true. Not just that he was crucified and buried. That is certainly true. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is what? Lord. Is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

You see, it's no wonder Christ's followers Think about it. I've given you three historical facts concerning this, and I've given you doctrinal, three doctrinal facts from the scripture about Christ's resurrection and exaltation. It is no wonder that Christ's followers, on the very day of his resurrection, they did not commemorate the day they fell at his feet and worshiped him. Oh, that God the Spirit would impress that upon my heart and upon your heart.

Now think about it. And it says that at the name, this is what Paul said, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow. Now I've probably said it before myself. And the scripture talks about this word should bow here. I probably said it myself and others are still saying, well, you should bow to Jesus Christ. And that's true, I should bow to Jesus Christ, and you should bow to Jesus Christ. But the fact of the preponderant testimony of the scripture is this, you and I will one day bow to Jesus Christ.

We will either bow to him, having been redeemed by him, and regenerated by him, and converted by him through his gospel, or we will be bowed to him at the judgment and hear him say, depart from me, you workers of iniquity. I never knew you. You and I will bow, but here's what we ought to do. Here's what we should do. That at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow. When? Right now. Bow down right now. You see it? Why?

He's the resurrected, exalted Lord. that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess, not just secretly or privately, the Lord Jesus Christ himself.

Our Lord Jesus Christ himself said this, whosoever confesses me before men, him will I confess before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever denies me before men, I will deny him before my Father. That's why that's vital. You see this confession of him is what?

Resurrected, exalted Lord. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. This is what the resurrection is about. It's not about the day. It's about the person. It's not about celebrating his resurrection on this Sunday or tomorrow. Eastern Orthodox, or next Sunday. It's about worshiping him himself, he himself. It's about worshiping Jesus Christ himself. It's about confessing that Jesus Christ Jesus of Nazareth, the one who humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even to the death, even the death of the cross, then God has highly exalted him. That is what the resurrection of Jesus Christ is all about.