● Luke says that Jesus showed Himself alive with many convincing proofs.
● Acts 1:3 To these he also presented himself alive after his suffering, by many convincing proofs, APPEARING to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.
● Jesus appeared to his disciples and followers ten times before his ascension over a forty-day period.
● The Bible specifically says that on Easter Sunday Jesus appeared to ...
CHAPTER 1 | The 10 Appearances Of Jesus
● Many different people saw Jesus after the resurrection. The appearances were as follows.
Case 1 | Mary Magdalene
The first appearance of Jesus was to Mary Magdalene.
● John 20:14-16 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?' She, supposing him to be the gardener, said to him, 'Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.' Jesus said to her, 'Mary!' She turned and said to him, 'Rabboni!' (which is to say, Teacher)
● This appearance was totally unexpected.
● When God appears you might not know it is God appearing.
● Jesus can appear to you when you are crying. God will appear to somebody crying.
Case 2 | Mary The Mother Of James, Salome, And Joanna
● Jesus also appeared to these three women. This happened after the appearance to Mary Magdalene. After an angel told them Jesus had risen, they were on their way to tell Jesus' disciples when they met the risen Christ
● As they were going Jesus appeared to them.
● As you are walking, Jesus can appear to you. Be expectant because God can appea to you at any time.
● Again, we have another unexpected appearance. As was true with Mary Magdalene, these women touched the body of Jesus.
● Matthew 28:9 And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshipped him.
Case 3 | Peter
● Peter is the first person mentioned in Paul's list of witnesses, and is the first of the apostles to see the risen Christ.
● This was a private appearance to reassure him, since he had just denied his Lord.
● God can appear to you privately; in your bedroom, bathroom, sitting room he can appear to you.
● The gospels are completely silent as to the details of this meeting. Luke merely wrote:
● Luke 24:34 The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!
● Expect private appearance of Jesus in your life.
Case 4 | Two Disciples On The Emmaus Road
● Later on Easter Sunday, Jesus appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus.
● As was true with the women, these two disciples were not expecting Jesus to rise. In fact, they were leaving Jerusalem because they had lost hope in Him.
● Even in the midst of discouragement Jesus can appear to you.
● Even in the midst of conversation, Jesus can appear to you.
● Luke 24:13-16 And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they were conversing with each other about all these things which had taken place. And it came about that while they were conversing and discussing, Jesus himself approached, and began traveling with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.
● Be careful who you are talking to.
● I pray you will have godly people with whom you will be talking godly things.
● In this season Jesus will appear to you even when you are talking to your friends.
Case 5 | The Disciples in the upper room - Thomas Absent
● This is the last of the five appearances of Jesus on Easter Sunday.
● It took place in the evening, probably in the upper room in which Jesus had instituted the Lord's Supper. It is recorded in both Luke's and John's gospel, giving us two independent accounts as to what happened. John wrote:
● John 20:19,20,24 When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you." And when he had said this, he showed them both his hands and his side. The disciples therefore rejoiced when they saw the Lord. . . But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
● Even when the doors are closed, Jesus will appear to you.
● Even in the midst of your fears, Jesus will appear to you.
● The Disciples were gathered together... please don't miss the gathering of the saints it is importantfor your life.
Case 6 | All Of The Disciples
● Eight days later He appeared again - this time with Thomas present.
● I announce to you, Jesus will appear to you again and again.
● John 20:26-28 And after eight days his disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, 'Peace to you!' Then he said to Thomas, 'Reach your finger here, and look at my hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving but believing.' And Thomas answered and said to him, 'My Lord and My God!'
● When Jesus appears to you he releases Peace in you.
● Believe, don't doubt. Have faith in God.
● Jesus gave Thomas another opportunity to believe. Don't miss the second opportunity the Lord can give to you.
Case 7 | Seven Disciples At The Sea Of Galilee
● John 20:1,2 After these things Jesus manifested himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and he manifested himself in this way. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
● You don't need to beg for Jesus to appear to you. He will do it himself. HE HAS MANY WAYS.
● Even in the midst of your failure, Jesus will appear to you.
Case 8 | The account of the eleven disciples in Galilee
● Matthew 28:16,17 But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. And when they saw him, they worshiped him; but some were doubtful.
● God will appear to you where he designed for you not everywhere you think you can go.
Case 9 | Over Five Hundred People
● 1 Corinthians 15:6 After that he was seen by over five hundred people at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.
● There will be a massive appearance this time round. I believe you will be one of them.
Case 10 | James
● Scripture also says that Jesus appeared to His half-brother James.
● 1 Corinthians 15:7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles
● James was a brother to Jesus in the flesh. The details of this appearance are not recorded.
● God will appear even to our relatives.Our children, spouses and people around us who don't know God, Jesus will appear to them.
Case 11 | Saul
● After Jesus' ascension He appeared again - this time to Saul of Tarsus.
● Acts 9:3-5 And as he [Saul] traveled he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul, why are your persecuting me?' And he said, 'Who are you, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting'
● These are the appearances of Jesus that the New Testament records.
I want to give an opportunity to you today, lift your hands and say ...
● Those experiences that happened in the Bible will also happen to me.
● Say, Lord I believe that what we have read is not just in the Bible, they will also happen to me.
● The way Jesus appeared to the disciples that were discouraged, he will also appear to me.
In the name of Jesus Christ the son of the Living God. Amen.
CHAPTER 2 | THE PATTERN OF JESUS’ APPEARANCES
1. ALL APPEARANCES WERE SUDDEN.
2. THEY WERE FOLLOWED WITH SUDDEN TURNAROUNDS.
Turnaround 1 | From tears to joy
● When Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene suddenly, she was still crying... Suddenly, God turned her tears unto joy and made her a woman who had seven demons witness of Jesus’ resurrection.
Turnaround 2 | From hopeless to hope
● When Jesus appeared to the disciples of Emmaus it was sudden. They were hopeless, discouraged, backsliding, … Suddenly, God turned their hopelessness into hope, their discouragement into faith and immediately they returned to Jerusalem.
● Somebody who was backsliding, will go back to the right way.
Luk 24:33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
● There is a dramatic Turnaround for somebody in this season.
Turnaround 3 | From fear to joy and worship
● Jesus appeared to the disciples suddenly when they closed the door because of their fear … Then, suddenly, God turned their fear into joy and worship.
● Matthew 28:16,17 But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. And when they saw him, they worshiped him; but some were doubtful.
● God will deal with doubt in the heart of somebody in this season.
Turnaround 4 | From failure to success
● Jesus appeared to the disciples suddenly when they worked and failed... suddenly, God turned their failure into success and Peter was restored to his calling after denying Jesus.
● Joh 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
● Joh 21:16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
● Joh 21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
● Jesus appeared to Peter to restore him because he denied Jesus 3 times. He was restored by declaring he loved Jesus 3 times.
● God will to you to restore what has been destroyed in your life.
● ANY TIME JESUS APPEARS SOMETHING MUST DISAPPEAR.
● Tears disappeared and replaced with joy, fear disappeared and replaced with faith, discouragement disappeared and hope appeared.
● There will never be an appearance of Jesus without the disappearance of evil and a turn around.
CHAPTER 3 | Jesus' Testimony About His Resurrection
● First, we have Jesus' own personal testimony is that He was raised from the dead. JESUS IS ALIVE.
● Revelation 1:18 I am the Living One; *I was dead, and behold I am alive FOREVER and ever! * And I hold the keys of death and Hades
● Luke records Jesus' saying. Luke 24:39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.
Chapter 4 | PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS
● You will have a testimony this time around because Jesus want to show to you that he is alive. These 40 days will be a season where you will know that Jesus is alive.
● Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever more. He did it before, he will do it again.
● Jesus Christ is alive as he said. And because he is alive, he will appear to you suddenly.
● God is the God of suddenly. He is the God who moves suddenly. He moves swiftly, unexpectedly and without warning.
● When you least expect, He’ll come shining through! When you are unaware that He is moving, and then it's happened.
● When the first church was in the Upper Room, praying and waiting upon the Lord to send the Holy Spirit, God answered them suddenly ( Acts 2:2)
● When Peter was in prison. The Bible says that the church was praying earnestly for him. Again, God answered their prayer suddenly. ( Acts 12:7)
● When Paul and Silas were praising God in prison, it is written in Acts 16:26 that, " suddenly there was a great earthquake, and immediately all the doors were opened..."
● All the " suddenlies" we have read happened when the people were expectant and waiting upon the Lord.
I PROPHECY ON SOMEONE WHO IS WAITING UPON THE LORD...
● No matter how long or how hard it has been, God has a “suddenly” for you; a sudden breakthrough.
● As we wait and trust God, He will move, He will fulfill His promise, and we will receive from Him what we waited and looked for.
● SUDDENLY your health will change for the better; a total manifestation of healing. Suddenly your finances will improve.
● SUDDENLY your loved one will be saved.
● SUDDENLY, God will move by His Spirit and fulfill His promises to you.
● No matter how long or how hard it has been, God has a “suddenly” for you; a sudden breakthrough.
● As we wait and trust God, He will move, He will fulfill His promise, and we will receive from Him what we waited and looked for.
● SUDDENLY your health will change for the better; a total manifestation of healing. Suddenly your finances will improve.
● SUDDENLY your loved one will be saved.
● SUDDENLY, God will move by His Spirit and fulfill His promises to you.
● SUDDENLY Jesus will heal YOU! Grief will turn to JOY!
● SUDDENLY all will be calm!
● SUDDENLY you will be promoted, doors will be opened, chains will be broken, foundations can be shaken.
● SUDDENLY God will bring your special someone to share a life time with….
● SUDDENLY God will make a way where there seems to be NO way!
● SUDDENLY God will deliver, reconcile, restore, and provide above and beyond what you could ever imagine.
● One touch of God and SUDDENLY there will be supernatural breakthrough for YOU… your MARRIAGE, or your FAMILY!
✍🏽Pst TD Kasuku
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