Luke 24:1–7 (ESV) — 1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.”

1. Dark - The Stage of Hopelessness

• Hopelessness - a compound emotion - sadness, fear, helplessness, despair. You can’t see a way forward.
• If you are here and hopeless - Press towards Jesus.

2. Dawn - The Stage of Questioning

• This stage represents when you can tell something is happening, but don’t quite know what to do or think. 
• Jesus loves seekers - The bible promises that if you SEEK THE LORD, YOU WILL FIND HIM! 
• IF YOU ARE SEEKING, DON’T LEAVE UNTIL YOU GET THE WORD FROM GOD.

3. Daybreak - The Stage of Encounter

• This is the moment where it becomes personal.
• Encounters with God are a must for every person! 
• John 20:16–18 (ESV) — 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
• IF GOD HAS DONE SOMETHING IN YOUR LIFE, DON’T SET UP CAMP RIGHT THERE AND THINK THIS IS EVERYTHING. THAT ENCOUNTER IS MEANT TO BE A CATALYST FOR YOU TO SHARE WITH THE WORLD!

4. Daytime - The Stage of Receiving

• John 20:19 (ESV) — 19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
• John 20:22 (ESV) — 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit..”
• Some of you are forgiven, but still living in shame.
  • Free, but still living bound.
  • Victorious, but still living defeated.
• STOP LIVING LIKE IT’S NOT FINISHED. RECEIVE WHAT CHRIST HAS ALREADY DONE.