IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE

TEXT: ACTS 2:24

Today is resurrection Sunday 2020. The Bible says in Acts 2:24 “whom God has raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be Holden of it.” (KJV). “But God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him.”

The Apostle Peter began his Pentecost message with a public proclamation of the resurrection.

This was a very powerful statement, because many of the people listening to Peter’s words had been in Jerusalem 50days earlier at Passover Feast.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ was the ultimate proof and sign that what He said about himself was true.

• Without the resurrection, we would have no reason to believe in Jesus Christ. (I Cor.15:14)
• Without the resurrection, would have no reason to preach (I Cor. 15:14)
• Without the resurrection of Jesus Christ there would be no goodness “the Gospel”
• The essence of the gospel (Kerygma) is that “Jesus Christ died according to the scripture, He was buried, He rose from dead according to the scripture”
• Without the resurrection of Jesus Christ our faith would be useless (I Cor. 15:14)
• Our Lord felt the pains of death truly and really.
• His body was as dead as dead can be yet there was no corruption
• It was not needful –Christ was sinless and sin is the worm which causes corruption
• But from the pains of death His body was loosed by the resurrection.
• The greatest power in the universe is the power of resurrection.
• The power of resurrection gives us the new birth – changes us completely.

I.  IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE THAT THE POWER OF DEATH SHOULD HOLD OUR LORD.

• Jesus Christ derived His superiority to the bondage of death
• Jesus Christ is without equal in His superiority because He rose from the dead never to die again.
• Of all the great men and women in history, they have one thing in common – they died and their bones are still in their graves.
• Budha died, Mohammed died, Ceasar died, Alexander the great died, Nepoleon died, Mzee Kenyatta died, Mandela died, mama died, papa died – they have not risen from the dead.
• But it was not possible for the power of the death to hold Jesus Christ in the grave.

1. From the command of the Father, Jesus Christ had the power to take His life again (John 10:18)
2. From the dignity of His human person, He was union with the father in the godhead.
3. From the completion of his propitiation, the debt was discharged, He must be freed
4. From the plan and purpose of His grace, He died for us and rose again for our justification.
5. From the perpetuity of His offices.

• He is a, “priest forever after the order of Melchizedek” (Heb. 6:20)
• King “thy throne, O God is for ever and ever (Psalm 45:6)
• Shepherd “brought again from the dead “ (Heb.13:20)

6. From the nature of things, since without it we should have had:

• No assurance of our resurrection (I Cor. 15:17)
• No certainty of justification (Rom. 4:25)
• No representative in Heaven (Heb. 9:24)
• No crowning of man with glory and honor and exaltation of him over the works of God’s hands.

II.  IT IS NOT POSSIBLE THAT ANY OTHER POWER SHOULD HOLD HIS KINGDOM.

1. The firm establishment of error shall not prevent the victory of truth.

• The colossal systems of Greek philosophy and Roman priest craft have passed away and so shall other evil powers.
• Kingdoms and governments shall come and pass – but it is impossible for evil power to hold His kingdom.
• Coronavirus, 5G radio frequencies shall come and pass with their vaccines.

2. The scholarship of his enemies shall not resist His wisdom. He baffled the wise in his life on earth, much more will he do it by His Holy Spirit (I Cor. 1:20)
3. The ignorance of mankind shall not darken His light “the poor have the gospel preached to them (Matt. 11:5) degraded races receive the truth (Matt 4:16)
4. The power, wealth, fashion and prestige of falsehood shall not crush His kingdom (Acts 4:26.
5. The Evil influence of the world upon the church shall not quench the divine flames (John 16:33).
6. The rampant power of unbelief shall not destroy His dominion.

• Although at this particular hour of coronavirus it seems to bind the church in the power of death, those letters shall melt away (Matt16:18).

III.  ITIS NOT POSSIBLE TO HOLD IN BONDAGE ANYTHING THAT IS HIS.

1. The poor struggling sinners shall escape the power of his guilt, His depravity, his doubts, Satan and the world (psalms124:7).
2. The bondage child of God shall not be held captive by tribulation, temptation or depression (Psalms 34:19, Psalms 116:7).
3. The bodies of His saints shall not be held by the grave (I Cor. 15:23,I peter 1:3-5)
4. The groaning creation shall yet burst into glory and liberty of the children of God. (Rom 8:21).

CONCLUSION

• The Lord is risen indeed, let us rise in His rising and walk in His loosing.
• The emperor Theodosius, having a great occasion opened all the prisons and released his prisoners then he said “And now would to God I could open all the tombs, and give life to the dead.
• There is no limit to the Mighty power and grace of Jesus Christ.
• He opens the prisons of justice and prisons of death with ease.
• He redeems the soul, the body and the spirit.
• He will resurrect all the dead, some to everlasting life and others to everlasting shame and hell.
• Are you born Again, Are you saved? Are you seeking for peace? Come to Jesus today.