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1 Corinthians 15:1-8 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. Have You Seen Him For Yourself? My brothers and sisters, this scripture brings me to the very edge of Deja vu. For it ignites pleasant memories of my experience with the Lord. I like to rehearse mentally, the times I have seen God and the hand of God in my life. David recites, I have been young but now am old, yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread. (Ps. 37:25) I have seen God work miracles over and over again in my life. God has been good. He has been extravagantly and excessively good to me. Am I the only one? It is because I have seen him, have experienced his resurrection in my own life, and can recognize the rewards of living righteously and trying to make it in that I am living in the favor of his goodness. I can shout from the rooftop I have seen Him for Myself. Matthew Henry says in his commentary, It is the apostle's business in this chapter to assert and establish the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, which some of the Corinthians flatly denied. This doctrine is foundational to Christianity. If you remove this doctrine, the whole fabric of our faith falls, and our hopes for eternity are built on sinking sand. It ought to be all of our business to assert and establish this doctrine. Some of you need to get to doing the right business. Yes, the right business. I believe in the resurrection. I believe death is not final in my life. I believe the grave is not my final resting place. I believe I've got another home somewhere. Do I have any believers here this morning? I believe as brother Job believed and as he so rightly stated in n the 19th chapter, 25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. I'm waiting in patient anticipation to see my God. To see him for myself. Job, how are you going to see him? "For myself" Job, what about your body and decomposition? And what about the worms. Job responded, "And though after my skin worms destroy this body." Worms can't stop me. Job, you won't be nothing but dust particles in a vat or coffin. But Job quickly said wait a minute, "In my flesh shall I see God." The worms may eat up my body, the bird may eat up the worm, the eagle may eat up the bird, and the hawk may eat up the eagle. But on Resurrection morning, I shall see him for myself. So understand if you will that the hawks got to give up that eagle, the eagle will have to give up the bird, the bird will have to give up the worm, and the worm will have to give up my body, and on my front row seat, in my reserved seat, in my V.I.P. seat, I've got to, I'm going to, I can't wait, to see God for myself. I just stopped by this morning to tell you that on Resurrection morning I'm going to get up. I've got to see it for myself. It's not that I don't have any confidence in you guys. This is just one of those things that I have to see for myself. My brothers and my sisters I am skeptical of anyone who does not believe in the resurrection of the dead. When it comes to seeing God. Mama can't describe it like I can see it. The news can't report it like I can see it. Larry King or Oprah can't investigate it like I can see it. The gossip can't tell it like I can see it. The video camera can't capture it like I can see it. I want to see him for myself. Too many of us deal in 2nd hand experiences. We have second hand information. We live like second class citizens. We drive second hand cars. We buy second hand appliances, anything refurbished is second hand. I'm tired of second hand. I want to experience God first hand. I want to see him for myself. I want to know him for myself. People do exist who will believe anything and everything. Spurgeon says, "A lie travels around the world, while truth is putting on her boots." They need no proof. They are gullible like that. They don't have to see it to believe it. Some people are always circling the periphery of the truth. They never get to it. They just believe it. We have some in this church who will believe everything except God's word. They believe the horoscopes. They believe the palm reader. They put a great deal of confidence in the rumor mill. They read the National Enquirer everyday and believe what they read. But they have a problem believing God. Do I have any believers here this morning? That is what believers do isn't it? Believe. A believer is one who believes. I would that you would take God at his word this morning. Paul says he died, was buried and rose again. Following this he catalogs a list of witnesses who saw the resurrected Lord. Everybody can't be wrong. Know that all of these people could not have seen a figment of their imaginations. There is strength in having many witnesses. He was seen of Peter, then by 500 brethren at once. At one time. Indisputable evidence. It's hard to take issue with 500 men who can witness to the same thing. They saw him for themselves. He had heard the testimony of others. We should take heed to what others say about various subjects. Their opinions and testimonies deserve a fair hearing. That's good but it's not like experiencing it for yourself. Every son of Adam and every daughter ought to experience and see God for yourself. Second hand information won't do. Yes Grandma knew him. Your mother is close to him. Daddy calls him daily. Your children meet him in Sunday School. But have you seen him for yourself. Too many of us, too many church people are trying to make it in on hear say, he say or They say. Not seeing him for yourself is like agreeing to go on a blind date or getting hooked up by a dating service. Have you ever wondered why they call them blind dates? You wouldn't be faithful to someone you have never seen before, would you? You wouldn't marry anyone you haven't met? Surely, you wouldn't fall in love with someone you didn't know personally. You need to check out their background. You need to investigate their family history. Become familiar with their blood-line. You need to know where they are from as well as where they are going. Have I got a witness. And don't let nobody tell you how they look. You need to see them for yourself. It's been my experiences that when my home-boys gave me the hookup, I always got the raw end of the deal. The one that was a little too heavy or a whole lot too homely. The one that was stuck up or just thought she was too good for me. I always got the one that was broke or just plain ghetto. Come on, I know I'm not the only one. What I'm trying to get you to understand is that you need to meet Jesus for yourself. But then Paul says in verse 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. This is powerful because of who Paul was. If you remember Paul's resume, he was terror in his younger days. Just like some of us. Have I got a witness. He made havoc of the church. Just like some of us. He ruined a whole lot of people. Just like some of us. Saul ended a whole lot of ministries and got rid of a whole lot of preachers. Just like some of us. He was badder than Lee Roy Brown and meaner than any junk yard dog. He was the baddest man in the town until he met his match. Just like some of us. We were bad until we met our match. Ladies who would clip a man like he was getting a haircut. We were bad until we met Jesus, our match. Men who would chase a skirt like a dog runs after a car. We were bad until we met Jesus, our match. Men and some women who could hold more liquor than a cooler. We were bad until we met Jesus, our match. Some of us were flying higher than any airborne kite and others were toting more artillery than brigade of marines. Guns, knives, blackjacks, brass knuckles, switchblades, revolvers, night clubs and night sticks. We were bad until we met our match. We could cuss better than any sailor and raise more sand than a Texas storm. We were bad until we met Jesus, our match. Hung out. Strung out. Staying out. Sneaking out. Sometimes put out. We were bad. Until we met our match. And then our match became our MASTER. When you see him for yourself you will be convinced of the faith. You will believe in your own heart. You will confess with your own mouth. You will feel it in your own soul. Have You Seen Him For Yourself? When you see him for yourself, you have to live a crucified life. Says Jesus in Matthew A.W. Tozer says, "People who have been crucified with Christ have 3 distinct marks." They are facing only one direction. They can never turn back and They no longer have plans of their own. Since I have seen him for myself my steps are now ordered by the Lord. The resurrection is important to baptized believers. The crucifixion loses its meaning without the resurrection That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Rom. 10:9) And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain ... And if Christ be not raised, your faith [is] vain; ye are yet in your sins. (1 Cor. 15:14, 17) Like coffee with no cream. Like biscuits with no syrup. Like apple pie without ice cream. Like Batman without Robin. Like a man without a woman. Like a checkbook without any money in the bank. Like a credit card that's already maxed out. Like a fish without water. Like beans without cornbread. It loses its meaning. I need to tell you this morning if there is no resurrection, then our living is in vain. If Jesus is not the Lord of your Life. If Jesus is not Lord in your Life. You need to get a life. Look at your neighbor and tell them "Get A Life." If you have not seen him for yourself, then your living is right now in vain. Without the resurrection, I would always be as I was born. I was born an African American. I was born black. My family is black. I have black blood running through my veins. I was raised in a black neighborhood. The texture of my hair suggests I am black. The color and the hue of my skin suggests I am black. My dialect which at times borders on Ebonics suggests that I am black. The flexibility of my limbs and the athleticism that I exhibit suggest I am black. My facial features betray me as being black. Let's face it, I'm black. Jones, you might as well accept the fact you are black. Always have been, and always will be, nothing but black. I would have always been nothing but a black man. The only way I could ever be anything other than a black man, is to be reborn. Somebody sees where I'm going. Let me pause a minute so you can get your shout on. Black. I was born a sinner. I would have always been a sinner. I came here with an appetite for sin. I sin when I'm awake. I sin when I'm asleep. The only way to be anything other than a sinner, is to be reborn. So I had to be reborn. That's why Jesus died for me. Since I have seen him for myself. He took me down into the grave. I was buried with him. And when he got up. I was raised with him. When he died he terminated my old life. When he got up he gave me a new life. Hallelujah, I've been reborn. I'm not black, I'm not a sinner. I've been washed in the blood of the crucified one. I've been redeemed and reborn. Because I have seen him for myself, I can concur with Paul, By the Grace of God, I am what I am. We are all nothing but what God makes us. Because I have seen him for myself He makes everyday sweeter than the day before. Because I have seen him for myself I'm a debtor to Divine Grace. I should been dead and sleeping in my grave. But by the Grace of God, I am what I am. I know, His Grace and Mercy, brought me through. Is there anybody here who can testify that God's Grace And Mercy brought you through? I'm living this moment because of you. I want to thank you. Anybody here want to thank him. And Praise you too. Your Grace and mercy brought me through. On Good Friday, he died. But every Good Friday experience has an Easter that Follows. Yes, behind every dark cloud the sun must shine. Every storm cloud is followed by a rainbow. Every weeping night has some joy in the morning. Every thorn is surpassed by the beauty of a rose. Every setback is a setup for a greater blessing. Every test is only the entrance to a testimony. Every tear is only temporary for joy is the only permanent reality. I need to hurry up and tell somebody. I need to encourage somebody. God specializes in 2 things. God specializes in things that are impossible. And the next thing he specializes in I know for myself because I have seen him for myself, He specializes in Happy Endings. On Good Friday, he died. On Good Friday, he turned my sunset into dawn. God has written the promise of the Resurrection in every flower that blooms in the spring time. It is written in every blade of grass that sprouts up after a harsh winter. It is written in ever leaf that displays its vast array of colors in the fall. He was buried in Joseph's tomb. But it wasn't a permanent resting place, for Jesus was on his way back to glory. But early Sunday morning, Resurrection morning, he got up with all power in his hands. I know that in this life we live and die. But Jesus, died and lived. Early Sunday morning he got up. As I close can I tell you this morning, I agree with C.S. Lewis, "I believe that the SUN has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." Dr. W.L. Jones says, "I believe in the SON and the resurrection because I have seen them for myself. And because I have seen him, by him I am able to see everything." Because I've seen him, I haven't seen the righteous forsaken. Because I've seen him, I have not seen his seed begging bread. Because I've seen him, I've seen the lightning flash and I've heard the thunder roll. I've felt sin breakers dashing and they were trying to conquer my soul. But I heard the voice of Jesus as he bid me, child fight on. He promised never to leave me. Never alone. I'm glad he won't leave you alone. I get happy when I think about the fact that although he was crucified and buried, he still got up out of the grave. Says my Lord, "And I, If I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." There are some people that I have never seen for myself. President Bush, I've never seen for myself. Condoleeza Rice, I've never seen for myself. Oprah Winphrey or Judge Judy, I've never seen for myself. Sports personalities like Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, and Shaq, I've never seen for myself. But I glad and I thank the Lord that I have seen Jesus for myself. The resurrected Lord, I've seen him for myself. I thank God that I know him for myself. I've accepted him for myself. I worship him for myself. I can magnify him myself. I can talk to him myself. I can praise him myself. I can go to him for help myself. Moses saw him as a bridge over troubled waters. The 3 Hebrews boys saw him as a friend in troubled times. Job saw him as a doctor in a sick room. Isaiah him high and lifted up. Paul saw him as a heart fixer John saw him out on Patmos. Ezekiel saw him as a wheel in the middle of the wheel. My mother saw him as a burden bearer. I saw and I know him as a way maker. Has anybody seen him.