Unshakable Hope - By Max Lucado
Death Has Been Defeated
What feelings arise in us when we think of death?
What is the significance of death being defeated?
1. God has ability, desire, and authority to defeat death.
2. We have an identity in Jesus.
3. We are family with Jesus.
4. We have an eternal purpose.
God’s Power: Hebrew 2: 14-15
14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death - that is, the devil - 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
What does it mean that we are slaves to our fear of death?
Identity in Jesus: Hebrews 2: 14-18
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death - that is, the devil - 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
What has God shared with us?
Family with Jesus: Hebrews 2:10-11
10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.
What is God making perfect through your suffering?
Eternal Purpose: Hebrews 2:5-9
5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking.
6 But there is a place where someone has testified: “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him?
7 You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor 8and put everything under their feet.”
(Psalm 8:4-6)
In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
There’s MORE?!?!
The Heavenly Places: Ephesians 3:9-12
9 My job is to make clear to everyone just what the secret plan is, the purpose that’s been hidden from the very beginning of the world in God who created all things.
10 This is it: that God’s wisdom, in all its rich variety, was to be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places - through the church!
11 This was God’s eternal purpose, and he’s accomplished it in Messiah Jesus our Lord.
12 We have confidence, and access to God, in him, in full assurance, through his faithfulness.
Closing Prayer of Paul: Ephesians 3:16-21 (Plus some of our conversation)
Almighty God, Creator of all things in heaven and earth, full of grace, mercy, and truth: Lay out all the riches of your glory, in strength and power, through your spirit into our innermost being.
Jesus Messiah: Make your home in our hearts through faith. May your love be our root and firm foundation.
Make us strong enough to grasp the breadth, width, height, and depth of your love so that we can be a witness to your wisdom, in all its variety, in this world and the heavenly places.
To the One capable of doing far, far more than we ask or imagine, who granted us power which is working in us, be the glory in the church as it is in Jesus Messiah forever,
Amen!