The Amazing Stories of Jesus Christ, by Pastor Samuel Obafaiye

The Amazing Stories of Jesus Christ, by Pastor Samuel Obafaiye

Amazing Birth

Isaiah 7: 14 “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel”.

Mt. 1:23 “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us”.

Amazing Life

Mt. 8:7 “But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!”

Mark 1:22 “And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes”.

Amazing Death

Luke 23: 34 “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots”,

Mt. 27: 54 “Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God”.

Amazing Resurrection

John 2: 19 “Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up”.

Luke 24: 5-7 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’”

Amazing Ascension

John 14: 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

Acts 1: 9-11 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

Several factors have tried to undermine the amazing story of Jesus overtime. For example:

Established Authorities

Emergence of World Religions

Spiritual Powers

Magicians

Modernization

Etc

The documented record of Jewish Leaders

Mt. 28: 11-15 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. 12 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

The Roman/Persian Authorities

The first documented case of imperially supervised persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire begins with Nero (37–68).

The emergence of Islam

Islam – a religion claimed to have been received from archangel Gabriel in Arabic in 610AD, this has led billions of Muslims away from the way of salvation initiated by God, 600 years before.

It is an Arabic version of how to reach the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, copied from Moses and Torah revelations from God. Islam placed emphasis on Works rather than Grace brought by Jesus Christ. Acknowledge Jesus as Prophet, and nothing more and claimed that Jesus fainted on the cross and later woke up as against dyeing and resurrecting.

The distractions of the Catholic Church

Marian devotion in Christianity is directed to the person of Mary, mother of Jesus consisting of external pious practices expressed by the believer.

Such devotional prayers or acts may be accompanied by specific requests for Mary’s intercession with God. There are many Marian devotions, ranging from multi-day prayers such as novenas, the celebration of Canonical coronations granted by the Pope, the veneration of icons in Eastern Christianity, and pious acts which do not involve prayers, such as the wearing of scapulars or maintaining a Mary garden.

The confusions of New Age Religions

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons (I Tim. 4:1 ).

Church of Latter Day Saints

Church of Scientology

Grail Message

Quakers

Eckankar

Jehovah Witness; Etc.

Modernization & Enlightenment

Empirical knowledge has concluded that some of the amazing stories of Jesus are impossible, and therefore can’t simply be true.

(Virgin birth; Walk on water; Feeding thousands; etc; cannot be proven scientifically.)

A lesson from Easter

Just like Christ, we are born, we live, we die and we are to be raised again.

Some live as if there is no end. ‘Where are those that lived yesterday’?

Others live as if nothing happens after they are gone. “As it is appointed unto men once to die, after that is judgement”.

The only 2 exceptions to the rule yet

Enoch (Gen. 5: 21-24)

Elijah (2 Kings 2: 11)

But their own eventual death and resurrection will come (Rev. 11: 3-12)First Death

2 types of Death

Breathing stopped; body cremated or buried.

Must be observed by all (except those at tail end of Millennial).

Second Death

Soul and spirit of a being thrown into Lake of fire.

Must be observed by unbelievers and backslidden believer.

2 types of Resurrection

First Resurrection

Saints who had died.

Raised to Judgement Seat of Christ.

For rewards.

Second Resurrection

Sinners who had died.

Raised to the Great White Throne Judgement of God.

For eternal punishment

Which one are you working towards?

First Death or the addition of the Second Death?

First Resurrection or Second Resurrection?

What to do now

Make a decision today about it.

Make a deliberate effort to work towards it.

Continue to pray regarding it.

God’s grace will see you through.Father, let the Power that raised Jesus from the death help me live an amazing life; death and resurrection in Jesus name.

The Amazing Stories of Jesus Christ, by Pastor Samuel Obafaiye was delivered on Easter Sunday April 16, 2017