1. Witnessing to the Wonders of God – From His Word to the World in 2015 Acts 1:8

2. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be My witness es…

3. Celebrating Bible Witnesses Who is your Bible hero? Celebrating Bible Witnesses Who is your Bible hero?

4. March: Witness #3: Mary Magdalene – A Weeping Witness Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5b)

5. Today’s Scriptures Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had driven seven demons. She went and told those who had been with Him and who were mourning and weeping. Mark 16:9-11 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put Him!” So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. … Then the disciples went back to where they were staying. Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put Him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking He was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward Him and cried out in Aramaic, Rabboni! (which means Teacher).’”… Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that He had said these things to her. John 20:1-18

6. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for My sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. Matthew 19:29 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal. John 3:16 God will repay each person according to what they have done. To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, He will give eternal life. Romans 2: 6-7 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I Timothy 6:12 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day. II Timothy 4:7-8 Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Jude 1:21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne …. Revelation 3:21

7. Commitment Leads to Eternal Life Weeping lasts for a night, but joy comes…

8. 1. Mary’s commitment is seen by how early she came to the tomb to care for Jesus.

9. Mark 16:9-11 – When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. 11 When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it. John 20:1 – Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. Matthew 6:33 – But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Psalm 30:5 – weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. I Kings 22:5 – But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “First seek the counsel of the L ORD.”

10. Special blessings will come to all who are committed to seeking God first and early.

11. Be always on the watch, and pray that you will be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you will be able to stand before the Son of Man.

12. 2. Mary’s commitment is revealed by how persistent she was in seeking for Jesus.

13. John 20:1-18 – Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” 3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb…. 4 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying. 11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). 18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

14. Matthew 7:7-8 – “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Luke 18:1-8 – Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ 4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Romans 2:6-7 – God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. Romans 12:12 – Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

15. God will bless me as I continue to search for more of Jesus His plan and power.

16. 3. Mary’s sorrow and weeping kept her from recognizing Jesus’ presence.

17. Matthew 19:29 – 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. Psalm 30:5 – weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Philippians 4:6-7 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. John 20 : 29 – Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. I Thessalonians 5:16-18 – Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

18. I am robbed of God’s blessings due to my feelings, conditions, and reactions.

19. Jesus is with us in the storm…

20. 4. For all who endure, there is eternal life.

21. Those who are committed to Jesus Christ to the end will have Eternal Life…

22. John 3:16 -17 – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Jude 1:21 – keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Philippians 3:14 – I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. I Timothy 6:12 – Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. II Timothy 4:7-8 – I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. Revelation 3: 21 – To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.

23. I will… Always Seek Jesus First, Early, Persistently, No matter what the conditions of life.