He’s Alive! He’s Alive! He’s Alive and I am forgiven!
Here in lies our hope…..
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.1 Cor 15:17 NKJV
If Jesus Christ did not rise from the grave then He was not who he said He was. If He was not who He said he was then He was not the Lamb of God and did not die for our sins. If He did not die for our sins then we are still in our sins and doomed to be separated from God. For the Law and the shedding of the blood of lambs and goats can not wash away sin but only cover them up until something better (The Savior) came along. If He did not defeat sin and death then we are doomed…..
But He did rise and when He died the veil in the Temple was torn in half from top to bottom signifying that we can boldly go directly to God because of the life-changing work that Jesus did that day.
He is alive! No great mystery. No Doctrinal dissertation. No religious dogma. No rules and regulations. No fees to be paid or tolls to pass threw.
Just open up your heart and let Him Love You!
Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and have dinner with him, and he with Me. Rev 3:20 HSCB
Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.Matthew 11:28 KJV
Jesus said to him, “I amthe way,the truth, andthe life.No one comes to the Fatherexcept through Me. John 1:23 NKJV
As we all celebrate this Sunday in a new socially distanced safe way remember that our hope is in the Lord Jesus Who rose from the dead some two thousand years ago today – and if He be risen than we are free from our sins and will also rise again – and be with Him forever!!
Happy Resurrection Sunday
Take a moment to listen to Paul Harvey tell a story please. To those that never knew him Paul Harvey was a Radio personality and a wonderful story teller.
Beat, bleeding, betrayed and berated Jesus is sentenced to death!
But Sunday is coming
It’s Friday
They nail Him to the cross and watch for Him to die as the sky turns black
But Sunday is coming
It’s Friday
The Son of God
Creator of All things
Takes the sin of the world
But Sunday is coming
It’s Friday
The punishment for my sins are laid on Him
God the Father turns away
The Son of God
Let’s out His last breath
But Sunday is coming
It’s Friday and the mourners cry
The apostles flee
The world is dark
Hope is dead
But Sunday is coming!!
Sunday is the day of Promise
The Day of Fulfillment and Joy
The Day that Death lost it’s sting
And the Grave lost it’s hold
Jesus, The Lord of All arose
And left the burial cloth behind
Jesus, The Risen Lamb that was slain
Lives so that we may live with Him
To those of us who believe
To those who call Him Lord
There will be troubles and trials
These will be our Friday’s
But if we believe
But if we call Him Lord
There will be victory
There will be Sunday
God Bless You on this Resurrection Sunday
John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
This is a reposting of something I wrote years ago but in light of the Cover-19 pandemic these words and the sentiment they convey are even more relevant now. Be encouraged. Trust in Jesus and Love one another.
If God had a social media presence His phone would be blowing up!!
Global Pandemic! The number of sick growing daily almost hourly! The dead being stored in refrigeration trailers because funeral homes can’t keep up!
Add to that the healthy people that are out of work. Businesses that can’t operate or operate in a limited fashion. Unemployment claims being placed by the millions in America alone. Families sheltering in place. The elderly isolated in nursing homes.
Where are you in this storm?
Whose side are you one? Are you trusting God or blaming Him?
What?! Whose side? What kind of question is that to ask at a time like this!?
Granted, it’s strange question. But the truth is that each of us are on a side. Maybe we have even changed sides a few times since this started. Maybe since you got up today.
What are the sides?
Team Denial! “Yea this is pretty bad but I’ll be ok and it’s gonna be over soon so why the fuss. Let’s play ball or have a party!”
That may sound like a crazy comment to imagine anyone saying given the current state of this situation. But, how many times since this began have you seen people ignoring the social distancing rule? How many times have you or someone you know ignored the stay at home order for something other than food/med shopping or going back and forth to work? Just how seriously are you taking this? Think about it? Either our appointed leaders are giving us the best possible advise concerning our health and well being or they are just playing a sick joke. I don’t think anyone is joking here.
Team Fear! “Oh my gosh! It’s the end of the world!! Hospitals and first responders won’t be able to keep up! The stores will run out of food and supplies! Rioting will break out as the infrastructure crumbles!”
This mentality is equally as destructive as the previous one. Blinded by fear is just that – Blinded! Fear never motivates a positive response just ask anyone that works saving lives of people drowning. They know that they are at risk of drownding by being climbed on by the very person they wish you save. The frantic fear filled person will never think rationally and their actions will reflect that irrational mindset. Going down a rabbit hole of fear and what if’s will drain your strength and destroy the spirit.
Team Faith! “God will provide! Don’t worry just pray and trust in the Lord. He will be glorified in this storm you wait and see!”
There’s a saying I heard many years ago (If you have been reading my posts you know that I have a bunch of these) that goes like this – Don’t be so heavenly-minded that you are no earthly good. I think this applies here. At face value the rallying cry of Team Faith is good. It’s scriptural. It’s a faith statement so to speak but it can be flippant and superficial if your level of Faith isn’t there. It can be alienating to others at a time when being supportive and compassionate is needed most.
The Gospels are full of examples of the level of faith people had and how it affected their lives. The woman with the issue of blood believed that she need only touch the hem of His garment to be healed. The Centurion beloved that Jesus could nearly speak the words and the servant would be healed. Juries believed that if Jesus touched his daughter she would live. In contrast, Jesus was unable to do many things in His home town because of their unbelief. See Luke 8:40-55, Matthew 8:7-10, Matthew 9:26-29, Matthew 13:53-58
We should not expect anyone to have the level of faith that we have. Whether we have a small level or a huge level of faith in God it is ours and it is a reflection of the relationship we have with Him. Furthermore we should exercise our Faith in God responsibly. Ever see those people that play with snakes because the Word of God say that a believer shall be able to take up serpents? Their show of faith (I can’t judge) almost mocks the Word of God and creates a sideshow atmosphere.
Let’s not be blinded with naive denial or frantic with fear or superficially spiritual.
Let us, the Body of Christ, bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world around us by meeting them where they are. Paul said that he would be all things to all men for the sake of the Gospel. This does not mean that he was disingenuous. To the contrary. Paul was what we would call a “people person”. The kind of guy who could strike up a conversation in the line at the grocery store. Yea. That guy!
When Paul traveled to Greece to spread the Word of God there was a law in place that prohibited the preaching of new gods. Paul saw that there was an altar dedicated to “the unknown god”. Paul didn’t disregard the law of the land. He could have but he didn’t. Instead, he saw an opportunity to inform the people about this “Unknown god” they had but an altar for. He wasn’t disobedient to the law. He didn’t cower in fear and he wasn’t flippant or superficial. He seized a moment and shared the truth of just who this God was. He met them were they were.
With each passing day and ever news broadcast there are opportunities to be in denial or fear or faith. Be confident in the faith in God that lives within you. Share that Faith. Draw on your past experiences with God and tell people what God has done for you. They will get it if you tell it from the heart.
“I meet millions who tell me that they feel demoralized by the decay around us. Where is the hope? The hope that each of us has is not in who governs us or what laws are past or what great things we do as a nation. Our hope is in the power of God working through the hearts of people. That’s where our hope is in this country and that’s where our hope is in life.” Chuck Colson
During a time in my life years ago. Long before I was saved by the grace of God. I was searching for answers and looking for direction for my life. That search saw me go down many dead end roads. Alcohol, drugs, meaningless relationships and various self-help groups. One in particular comes to mind during these days of virus and stress.
Lifespring was one of the dead end roads this lost traveler went down. Without saying anything negative further about this organization I’ll simply say that I found those involved to be sincere and caring. The trainings brought a short-lived revelation to my confused state. One particular thing that stands out after all these thirty-something years later is the concept put forth that there is “No Hope!” “There is no hope” is a fundamental tenet in the course.
There is no hope! or No hope, as illustrated by a facilitator kneeling in front of a chair and pleading/begging for help. They taught that praying for help was futile and hopeless practice. In comparison, hope was illustrated as a standing up defiantly against the circumstances of life and proclaiming your victory. Through self-determination and pure grit one could defeat and enemy and overcome any obstacle. This exercise, as was characteristic of their teachings, was very emotionally charged, loud and almost intimidating in its delivery.
Thankfully God doesn’t work through our feelings. He doesn’t rely on our intellect. He doesn’t try to intimidate us or overpower us. He does, however, speak to us in a still small voice. We need only listen.
So, as we look around at this coronavirus pandemic and hear the voices of news broadcasts that calculate the numbers of sick and dead, we can have hope. We can look past the grim forecast by trusting in God and listen for His voice to speak to our hearts.
This is our Hope. The Hope we have is based on the reality of Jesus Christ. His life, death and resurrection are the foundation of our faith and the cornerstone of our hope. Without this foundation we are lost and truly without hope. Standing defiantly shaking our fist at the circumstance of life will not scare them away. Within our own limited ability we can do little but aligned with and trusting in Jesus means anything is possible.
Let’s review! Read this through. Let it sink in. This is our foundation. This is our Hope.
The Resurrection of Christ
15 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importancea]”>[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,5 and that he appeared to Cephas,b]”>[b] and then to the Twelve.6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.11 Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.
The Resurrection of the Dead
12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead,the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.27 For he “has put everything under his feet.”c]”>[c] Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ.
I am unapologetic for my opinion regarding the reality of Jesus Christ, God’s unending Love towards us and the infallibility of The word of God. My prayer is that you be encouraged by His Love now more than ever. Be Blessed A&B
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