TITLE: DO I BELIEVE BECAUSE I SEE OR
         DO I SEE BECAUSE I BELIEVE?

TEXT: MARK 16:9-19/JOHN 20:24-29

INTRODUCTION
A. “Seeing is Believing” ​
B. “Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?”​

I SEE BECAUSE I BELIEVE

A. Mary Saw because she Believed ​
1. Mary went to anoint Jesus’ body
2. Very early in the morning
3. She continued in the acknowledgement of obstacles
4. The angel told her Jesus’ command
5. Mary obeyed (Matthew 28:9, As they went…”)
6. Mary saw Jesus
7. Mary tells the disciples

B. Do I See because I Believe?  ​
1. Am I doing it for Jesus?
2. Am I doing it with enthusiasm? [Enthusiasm = entheos = in God / God within]
3. Am I obedient?
4. AS I GO, I SEE JESUS I BELIEVE BECAUSE I SEE

A. The disciples Believed because they Saw ​
1. The disciples were sitting at the table mourning
2. The disciples were sitting at the table weeping
3. The disciples did not believe Mary
4. The disciples did not believe the two disciples
5. Jesus rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart

B. Thomas Believed because he Saw ​
1. Thomas was not there when Jesus appeared
2. Thomas wanted to see and touch for himself
3. Jesus told Thomas, “Stop doubting and believe.”

C. Do I Believe because I See?
1. Am I mourning and weeing over who and what is not?
2. Am I in disbelief of other’s testimonies
3. Do I need to see and touch for myself?
4. AS I SEE AND TOUCH, I BELIEVE

AFTER SEEING AND BELIEVING COMES DOING
A. Jesus affirms my calling  ​
B. Jesus empowers me to fulfill my calling  ​
WORK FOR THE WEEK
 
 
APRIL MEMORY VERSE
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the work of our hands — O prosper the work of our hands!
Psalm 90:17
 
 
APRIL MEDITATION QUOTE
You can pray until you faint, but unless you get up and try to do something, God is not going to put it in your lap.​​
Fannie Lou Hamer
 