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. Welcome to the broadcast. Last Sunday, on what the Western Papal Church calls Resurrection Sunday, I spoke on the subject, the resurrected, exalted Lord. Today, on what the Eastern Orthodox Church calls Resurrection Sunday, my subject is this, all power given, the risen Lord.

And my text for today is Matthew chapter 28. Now I mentioned this, as I said, last Sunday, and I want to read the whole chapter this Sunday. Matthew chapter 28, and this is what Matthew records. And it's kind of lengthy, but I want to read the whole thing so we have the whole context of what Matthew wrote, and of course what historically, factually, literally, truthfully occurred. 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.

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 as dead men.

The angel answered and said unto the women, fear not ye, for I know whom ye seek, which is crucified. He is not here, or which was crucified, pardon me, which was crucified, he is not here, for he is risen. As he said, come see the place where the Lord lay. Go quickly and tell his disciples 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. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them saying, all hail. And they came and held him by the feet and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid.

Go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests 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." Now, these men went back and told what had actually happened. This angel came down and robed the stone away, and it just caused them to fall over dead. They'd be passed out. Like saying, say ye his disciples came by night and stole him away while we slept.

And if this come to the governor's ears, 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 until this day. Now here's my actual text for this Sunday. Then the 11 disciples went away into Galilee, unto a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted.

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. And as this book teaches, they were every person who ever believed the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ was to be immersed in water in the name of the Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost, teaching them, verse 20, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And lo, I'm with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. So, As I said, today's message, my title for today, the subject for the day is All Power Given the Risen Lord.

Now let's note four scriptural historical facts. I'm gonna give you four historical scriptural facts. Number one, the events of verses one through eight, which I just read to you, the events of verses one through eight happened after sundown Saturday evening but just around the dawn of Sunday morning. And you see that here in the text, and that is also confirmed by Mark's account, Luke's account, and John's account. So we have four witnesses of that. Remember what I said. The events of verses one through eight happened after sundown Saturday evening, but just around the dawn of Sunday morning.

Now here's the second scriptural historical fact. This is not, that is this account in Matthew 28 verses one through 20, this is not the resurrection of Christ proper. It's not an account of the resurrection of Christ proper. It's after the resurrection. Now maybe just after, maybe just a few hours after. We are not told exactly. But this is not the resurrection of Christ proper, but the events following Christ's resurrection.

Here's the third scriptural historical fact. the stone that we read about right here, was not removed so Jesus could get out of the tomb. And in almost all every Hollywood movie that you've ever seen about this, when people talk about it, it's almost as though the angel came down, and here it is Sunday morning, the sun's just beginning to rise, and the angel rolls away the stone, and then Jesus walks out of the tomb. That is just not so. The stone was not removed so Jesus could get out of the tomb.

He'd already been raised from the dead. The stone was removed so others could go in and see the empty tomb. And if you read this, and you read Mark chapter 16 verse nine, and John chapter 20 verse 19, there are three witnesses that give testimony to this. Now here's the fourth scriptural historical fact.

Christ, the Lord Jesus Christ, was raised sometime late Saturday night, that's after sundown, sometime Saturday night, or early a.m. Sunday, what we call Sunday morning. This would have been at the end of the Sabbath, sometime after the end of the Sabbath, on Saturday evening at sundown. We often, or at least I often say, and others often say around 6 p.m., but whatever sundown was at that particular time, Jesus Christ was raised sometime late Saturday night or early a.m. Sunday morning. He was not crucified and buried on Good Friday.

Why do I point this out? Let me give you three reasons why. One, I point this out because it's scriptural fact. That's just the way it is. It's scriptural fact. Secondly, it manifests the hypocrisy of many so-called Christian holy days. We just, we, and I include myself, and I was in the midst of it at one time, right in the midst of all that religion and holy days at one time. The fact is that it manifests the hypocrisy of many so-called Christian holy days. We just pick out what we want. We choose whatever we want. We love to pick out days and months and times and years, but we will not bow to the authority of the reigning, risen, all-powerful Jesus Christ.

So again, it's a scriptural fact, that's why I mention these four things. Secondly, it manifests the hypocrisy of many so-called Christian holy days. And thirdly, the fact... that some get caught up with the historical facts, okay? There are some who will say, yeah, what that preacher just said is the truth. All this was the truth.

He could have been raised late Saturday evening sometime, or very, very early Sunday morning, and he was not crucified and buried on Good Friday. He was in that tomb for three days and three nights. And I point this out because the fact that some get caught up with the historical facts, while they deny God's ordained sum and substance of the resurrection of Christ. The sum and substance of the resurrection of Christ is not the day, exactly when it happened, what day he was crucified, what day he was buried, what day he was raised from the dead.

It's him who was crucified, him who was buried, him who was raised from the dead. It's about the person and the work that he accomplished when he died on that accursed tree. And these very things expose professed Christianity's bent to deny the record God gave of his son. And what is that record? That record as we see it here in our text is this, and he said it with his own mouth. Now look at it again, I'll read it again. This is my text proper. Chapter 28 verses 1 through 20 are the whole context, but now I want to zero in on verses 16, 17, and 18.

Then the 11 disciples went away into Galilee where they'd been told to meet, or where they'd been told that Christ would meet with them. Then the 11 disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshiped him. Now you notice that. They weren't saying, oh, what a glorious day. Oh, we need to commemorate this day. We need to put this on the calendar.

And they worshiped him, him. But some doubted, you see. But some doubted. Jesus came and spoken to them saying now here it is all notice the language all notice the actual wording all power notice exactly what Christ said all Power is given unto me in heaven and earth and in earth. You see it? There it is. There's the record God gave of his son. That is the resurrected, exalted Lord, yea, the all-powerful, all-powerful risen Lord. As I said, my title and my subject for this morning is All Power Given the Risen Lord.

This is what saddens me so much about last Sunday on the Roman Catholic Easter Sunday, or even this Sunday on the Eastern Orthodox Easter Sunday. It saddens me to my core that they concentrate on sometimes historical facts, sometimes even scriptural facts about days, times, years, months. but they don't concentrate on the truth of the person and work of Jesus Christ. Now, there are four thoughts. There are four thoughts in these verses, especially chapter 28, verses 16 through 18, that I want to use the last of my time here on this TV broadcast to mention. Here's four things.

Here's number one. All power in Christ. Now he said, all power is given me. Now either all power was given him or he's a complete liar. One or the other. Now, men may say, well, I'll choose this. Well, I'll choose that he's a liar. Well, that's no choice because he's not a liar. He's God Almighty manifest in the flesh. God cannot lie. So I warn you about that one. All power, here's number one. All power in Christ means no power elsewhere.

That's simple enough. I'm not a Hebrew scholar, an Aramaic scholar, a Chaldean scholar or a Greek scholar. I'm not even an English scholar, but I can read that much. I was taught by my teachers in school that much. All power is given me in heaven and in earth.

What's that mean? No power elsewhere. And what does the book go on to say? Listen to what Paul wrote in Colossians chapter one. And this is, again, this is what saddens me about all of this hubbub and celebration of the resurrection day. They're not celebrating Christ. Why? Because they don't really believe that all power is given him.

Oh, they'll quote the phrase, but they'll say things like, well, God's all powerful, but there is no, but all power is given unto me in heaven. Now that includes the heaven right above us, it includes the space out there in our universe, and it includes God's very abode in heaven and in earth. Look at it, all power in Christ means no power elsewhere.

And I told you Colossians, I apologize, that's Matthew chapter 11. Now listen to what the Lord Jesus Christ said. Matthew chapter 11 in verse 27. This is what Christ himself said. Now we're talking about the first thing. All power in Christ means no power elsewhere. Matthew 11, 27. All things are delivered unto me of my Father.

Now, we wanna narrow this down to where it's really at. A lot of people talk about Christ having all power except for when it comes to men's salvation, when it comes to men's souls, when it comes to their everlasting destiny. They'll say things like, God left that up to us. Listen to what Christ said about it. All things are delivered unto me of my Father, and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father. Neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Do you see that? And he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

Listen to what John wrote in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. And John put it this way in Revelation chapter one. John wrote these words about what he began to experience. Revelation chapter one, and listen in verse 10. I was in the spirit on the Lord's day. and heard behind me a great voice as of a trumpet, saying, and this is Christ speaking, you can look at the context later and verify that, saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, and what thou seest, write it a book, and send it unto the seven churches, which are in Asia, and to Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and to Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. Now listen. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me, and being turned I saw seven golden candlesticks. And in the midst of the seven candlesticks, one like unto the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps, that is the chest region, girt about the paps with a golden girdle, his head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were as a flame of fire, and his feet like into fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace, and his voice as the sound of many waters, and he had in his right hand You see that?

He had in his right hand seven stars, and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, this is John. The Apostle John, he's beginning to be given this great revelation from Jesus Christ about himself, about Jesus Christ. This is the John, John the Apostle, who leaned upon Christ's breast at the table.

Listen, and when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. and he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, fear not, I am the first and the last. I am he that liveth and was dead, and behold, what is it? I'm raised from the dead. I am alive forevermore, amen, and have the keys of hell. and death, you see. And at the keys of hell and of death.

Again, I declare from the preponderant testimony of the scripture of God, God's holy inspired word that all power in Christ, and he said all power is given me. All power in Christ means no power elsewhere. Now here's the second thought concerning that. Any other power, then, is derived power. Since, not if, since all power is given him in heaven and in earth. If and when any other power exists, it is derived, it must be given from him.

And this is exactly what the scripture says. Now to Colossians chapter one, that's the passage I mentioned by mistake a moment ago, or accidentally a moment ago. Colossians chapter one, listen to this. This is what the apostle Paul wrote to the church at Colossae.

Speaking of Jesus Christ, for by him were all things created that are in heaven, and battery on earth, whether you can see them or you can't, that's visible or invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. And if you go back and look up these words and how these words are used, this means good things and bad things. Righteous things and evil things, sinful things, if you will. All of it, isn't it?

All things were created by him and for him. This is who Jesus Christ is. This is the one that said, all power is given unto me. All power given the reigning Lord. Listen at it. All things were created by him and for him, and he is, look at it, and he is before all things, and by him all things consist. That is, they're held together. Whatever they are, whatever they are, all power is derived. Listen to what our Lord himself said. And John records it in John 19. Now think about this. Think about the context of this. In John chapter 19, just a couple verses. And our Lord had been arrested. He'd been sold out by Judas. And he'd been arrested. and now he's brought before Pilate. And here he is, under arrest, brought before Pilate. And listen to what is said by our Lord in John chapter 19, just two verses.

Then saith Pilate unto him, that is Jesus, speakest thou not unto me? Knowest thou not that I have, what's that word? Are you reading along? Listen to it, that if you're not reading along, listen to it, that I have power to crucify thee and power to release thee?

Oh, here's Pilate claiming he has power. I thought all power was given to Christ. It is, it is. Look, Jesus answered, now listen to his words. Jesus answered, thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above. Therefore, he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. Now note, he does not say Pilate's without sin.

Though God Almighty gave him that very power. Do you see, it came from God. And Christ is God. Do you see it? Now the ones that delivered Christ to them, they have a greater sin, but they're all guilty. Even though Christ the Son of God, God manifest in the flesh, had all power over all of it, and delegated whatever power he would, wherever he would.

Listen to what Paul told the church at Rome. In Romans chapter 12, he makes it clear, even concerning everything else, all other power, listen. Romans chapter 13, listen to what it says. Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers, he said. For there is no power, for there is no power, must I read that again? For there is no power but of God. The powers that be are ordained of God. So again, all power in Christ means no power elsewhere. No, none. If anything or anyone, anywhere, at any time, ever has any other power, it came from God. It came from God.

Here's the third thought. the risen Lord, who had all power before he was raised from the dead, but he is now raised and exalted at the Father's right hand. This Christ has power, and that word means right, the right, and might. that is the ability. This Christ has both right and might over puny, fallen, sinful people like you and like me.

And our Lord Jesus Christ said this clearly. And John records it for us, what our Lord said. And it's recorded by John in John chapter five and verse 21. Our Lord Jesus Christ himself said this, for as the Father raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them, even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. Do you see that?

Whom he will. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment, that's verdict rendering, unto the Son, that all men should honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent him, do you see it? Let's go on.

Truly, truly, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death into life. Truly, truly, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself, here's power. Here's power. For as the father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the son to have life in himself, and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the son of man. Marvel not at this, for the hour is coming in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice.

Jesus Christ has all power over me and you, our little puny, fallen, sinful creatures like us. John chapter 17, verses one through three, the Lord Jesus Christ himself prayed and thanked God that God had given him power over all flesh. but there was a specific reason why. That he, that is Christ himself, should give eternal life to as many as the Father gave him. That's what Christ said.

Here's number four. I'm winding this down. Christ is your living Lord. I don't care who you are. If you're hearing this, you're hearing this on the TV broadcast or you hear it in some venue at a later time, Christ is your living Lord. You serve him, even with your fists in the air, raised against him in defiance.

He rules over you. He rules over me. He rules over all things. He rules over the minutest little speck of dust that is now floating in this room before me, over the most heinous, severe demon, and even the hearts of you and me. The only thing that separates you and me from the devils is the fact that we have flesh and bone. That's the only difference. We serve him. God's Christ is God's Christ and has all power in spite of us. Somebody says, I don't know about that. I do. This book says so. The Lord Jesus Christ himself said this. All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. And as we've read, he has the right to execute that power upon whom he will. when he will, as he will, at whatever time he will. He has all power.

That's not that puny little sissified Jesus that most of these preachers are preaching today, is it? God's Christ is Lord over us. We serve him in spite of ourselves. All power is given the risen Lord. This is the declaration of the risen, reigning, all-powerful Lord. All these people out there, either last week on what the Western Church calls the Resurrection Day, Easter Day, or what the Eastern Orthodox calls Resurrection or Easter Sunday, this Sunday. Jesus Christ reigns over all things.

He has all power over all flesh. and he has that power over all flesh to give eternal life to as many as God gave him. Now that's who Jesus Christ is. How many people are preaching, how many people preached that risen Lord that last Sunday on Easter? How many are preaching that risen Lord on this Sunday or this so-called Easter? Not many, but thank God there are a few.

Again, this is what he said. And Jesus came and spake unto them saying, all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Do you know him as he is? Or do you know some lie that men have told you? Know him as he is by God's grace, by God's grace, amen.