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We had a truly wonderful time celebrating our Risen Savior this morning. Rather than having a long, drawn-out service, I focused on the highlights. I’ll be honest—it may not have been my strongest sermon, but I pray it still blessed you. Thank you for your grace and understanding during what has been a difficult season for me and my family.

As a pastor, my heart is always to lift up and care for the flock in times of need—and I’m grateful to be part of a church family that also knows how to lift one another up in love. I have included my sermon notes for you to reflect on and revisit.

I also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Alex, Jennifer, Grace, and Hope for hosting our Sunrise Service, and to everyone who helped prepare and serve breakfast—what a beautiful and meaningful time of fellowship it was. A special thank you to Hope (with a little help from Dad!) for creating the cross—it was truly special.

One more important note: today marks Day 1 of the 50 days leading to Pentecost, the birth of the Church Age.

As we were concluding our 46 days of Prayer and Fasting, I spent time seeking the Lord about what to share next. I’m excited to tell you that over the next 50 days, we will be walking through a daily devotional journey together, leading up to Pentecost. Be on the lookout for these devotionals, written specifically for our church family and our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Amen… and amen.

Now, let’s step into today’s full message.

SUNRISE RESURRECTION

“IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT”

Theme: From Fasting to Fulfillment — From Death to Victory

Good morning… and He is Risen!

(Crowd: He is risen indeed!)

Come on, say it again—He is Risen!

This is not just another Sunday…
This is not just another service…

This is the morning

Where death lost

And life won.

Now listen…

For 46 days, we have:

  • Prayed when we were tired
  • Fasted when it was hard
  • Believed when we didn’t see anything changing

And if we’re honest…
 There were moments during this fast where it felt like:

“God… are You hearing me?”
 “Is anything happening?”

But I came with a word at sunrise:

Just because it was quiet… doesn’t mean God was absent.

Matthew 28:5–6 (NKJV)
 “But the angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said…’”

The women showed up expecting:

  • A sealed tomb
  • A dead Savior
  • A finished story

But instead…
 They encountered an empty grave and a living promise.

And that’s where some of you are this morning…

You came expecting:

  • More of the same
  • Another disappointing season
  • Another unanswered prayer

But God said:

“You came looking for what was… but I’m about to show you what IS!”

 

POINT 1: THE DARKNESS WAS NECESSARY

Luke 23:44 (NKJV)
“Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.”

Let’s go back to Friday…

Jesus is on the cross…
And suddenly… everything goes dark.

Not just physically… but spiritually.

  • Hope looked lost.
  • Dreams looked dead.
  • Heaven seemed silent.

And if we’re honest—
Some of us walked through these 46 days like that:

  • Praying… but still hurting
  • Believing… but still waiting
  • Worshiping… but still wondering

…and still facing the attack

Can I ask you something?

Have you ever been in a time where:

  • You’re doing everything right…
  • But nothing seems to be moving?

(Pause—let them respond)

Here’s the truth:

Darkness is not denial—it’s part of the incubation period, that long awaited birth, it's that  time for internal growth and development.

God does His deepest work:

  • In hidden seasons
  • In quiet places
  • In surrendered lives

Engagement Moment:

Touch somebody and tell them:

“Something was happening—even when you couldn’t see it!”

Your fasting wasn’t empty.
Your prayers weren’t wasted.
Your tears were not ignored.

The darkness had a purpose.

We must understand, when we talk especially about the church campus on Unity Church Rd. We may be facing issues we are unaware of. It takes time, God has to move hearts… kind of like Pharo and the time where the Hebrews were to be released but God had to soften hearts. Maybe there are other factors we are unaware of 

 

…but the time will come.

POINT 2: THE STONE WAS NOT A STOP SIGN

Matthew 27:60 (NKJV)
 “…and they rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb…”

That stone meant one thing:

It’s over.

Final.
Finished.
Sealed.

And some of us started this fast with stones like:

  • “This situation will never change”
  • “This door is permanently closed”
  • “This dream is dead”
  • “Were never going to get that church”

But early… Sunday morning…

Matthew 28:2 (NKJV)
“And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended… and rolled back the stone…”

Now watch this…

The stone was not rolled away to let Jesus out…
 The stone was rolled away to let YOU see He was already gone!

Engagement Moment (Build Energy):

Look at your neighbor and say:

“The stone didn’t stop God!”

Say it again louder:

“The stone didn’t stop God!”

That thing you thought was blocking you?

God has already moved it.

That door you thought was closed? 

God has already opened it.

That situation you buried?

God has already started resurrecting it.

POINT 3: THE RESURRECTION IS YOUR RELEASE

Revelation 1:18 (NKJV)
 “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore… And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”

Jesus didn’t just get up…

He got up with keys.

Keys mean:

  • Authority
  • Access
  • Control

Which means:

  • Death lost its grip
  • Hell lost its power
  • The grave lost its hold

And after 46 days of fasting…

I came to announce:

This is your release season.

Call & Response Moment:

When I say “He got up”—you say “So I can get up!”

He got up!
 (Crowd: So I can get up!)

He got up!
 (Crowd: So I can get up!)

Because He lives:

  • You’re getting up out of depression
  • You’re getting up out of lack
  • You’re getting up out of stagnation
  • You’re getting up out of fear
  • You're getting up from whatever's holding you back

We as a Church:

  • We’re getting up for our new place of worship
  • We’re getting up for our place to process outreach goods
  • We’re getting up as a church family

What He conquered—you don’t have to carry anymore.

PROPHETIC DECLARATION

Lift your hands all over this place…

Repeat after me:

  • “Every dead thing in my life - is coming back to life!”
  • “Every closed door - is opening!”
  • “Every delay - is turning into divine timing!”
  • “Because He lives—I will see the promise!”

CLOSING PRAYER

Father, in the name of Jesus…

We thank You for every day of this fast…
Every sacrifice… every prayer… every tear…

And now God—at sunrise—

Let something rise in us!

Where there was:

  • Waiting… bring manifestation
  • Weakness… bring power
  • Silence… bring Your voice

Jesus… You got up with all power… and you have the keys

And because You live:

We declare:

  • We are free
  • We are healed
  • We are whole
  • We are restored
  • We are released

Let every prayer prayed over these 46 days
Produce a harvest NOW.

Let every seed sown
Break open NOW.

Let every burden lifted
Turn into victory NOW.

Amen… and amen.

CLOSE 

Early…
 Sunday morning…

Before the sun could rise—
Before the stone could speak—
Before the enemy could celebrate—

HE GOT UP!!!

And because He got up—

I’m getting up!
 My family is getting up!

My church is getting up!!
 My future is getting up!!

FINAL LINE (DROP THIS STRONG)

“The fast prepared you… but the resurrection released you.”

Go in power…
Go in victory…

Because the grave is empty—
And so is your limitation.