Tag: Resurrection
The Best is Yet to Come!
Scripture reading for August 24: Job 42:8, 10-12 “Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And My servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken what is right, as My servant Job has.” . . .”And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and ate bread with him in his house. And they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him. And each of them gave him a piece money and a ring of gold. And the Lord blessed the later days of Job more than his beginning.”
For me, a good story has an interesting beginning and a happy ending. The story of Job is one of the oldest recorded in the Bible, set before the time of Abraham. Job was a man of faith and prosperous and known for his righteousness and generosity. Satan, the villain, comes before God and accuses Job of serving God for what benefits God blessed him with. God allows Satan to afflict Job, taking first his family and possessions, and then his health. His wife becomes bitter and his friends turn against him by accusing him of harboring sin or wickedness as the cause of his sickness and trials.
But God did not fail Job, even in these trials He had allowed Satan to bring. God gave Job faith to stay true. He revealed to Job answers to his deepest needs for a Redeemer and an Advocate. He showed him that even after death, resurrection would occur and he would behold His Redeemer with his own eyes on the earth. (Job 19:25-26) In the end, He answered Job’s prayer to meet with God by coming near and questioning him. The questions were to reveal to Job God’s greatness, power, and eternal plans and to bring Job to new levels of faith and prayer. After repentance and praying for his friends, Job was restored double all that he lost! Even in this, we see God’s amazing mercy. Job had more children–the same amount as he lost. This implied that he would see his children he lost again in heaven! The best is yet to come! Amen!
Obeying the heavenly vision
Scripture reading for June 10: Acts 26
“”Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, He would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.” Acts 26:19-23
Paul, lead by the Holy Spirit, was given the opportunity to share the Gospel with King Agrippa. In this account, Paul again shared how his view of Jesus and those following Him was radically altered by an encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road. During this encounter, Paul was given an appointment to serve Jesus as a witness to his people as well as to the Gentiles. Jesus had promised to deliver Paul from the Jews and from the Gentiles. Through Paul, God would open the eyes of all those in darkness granting repentance through Jesus Christ. (Acts 26:15-18)
In sharing his personal repentance in response to God’s revelation of Jesus Christ to King Agrippa, Paul was obedient to that vision. His world view was powerfully altered and after the vision Paul changed from a persecutor and killer of Christ’s followers to a witness of Christ’s love and mercy for all men. Paul powerfully proclaimed Jesus as the fulfilment of Moses and the prophets through His suffering, death, and resurrection from the dead. This placed him in conflict with the Jews, who like him before this vision, considered Jesus an impostor and his followers as dangerous.
Have you ever had a personal encounter with Jesus Christ that brought repentance and dramatic conversion? How have you sought to be obedient to that heavenly revelation? Are you aware of the conflict that comes when you change your world view to embrace Jesus and His followers?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your personal revelation of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and my appointment to preach Your amazing Gospel. I have sought to obey that heavenly vision and continue to daily walk it out. Deliver me from those bent on my destruction and use me to reach lost people. Amen.
Witness to His resurrection
Scripture reading for May 6: Acts 1
“”. . .So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when He was taken up from us–one of these men must become with us a witness to His resurrection.” And they put forth two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, Who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place. And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.” Acts 1:21-26
After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, the remaining eleven disciples, now called ‘apostles’, decided to pick a replacement for Judas Iscariot, who had betrayed Jesus and took his own life. They set the qualification that the person must be a man who had accompanied them from Jesus’ baptism by John (Luke 3:21-22) until his ascension to heaven in the clouds. (Acts 1:9) This person was to be a witness of Christ’s resurrection. They put forth two possible candidates and then prayed over them, asking God to reveal His choice. They cast lots believing that God would answer. (Proverbs 16:33) The lot fell to Matthias, who was then added to their number.
The world would look upon this process of casting lots as having to do with luck. There would be an equal chance that either person could be selected. But in God’s economy, He controls each person being placed in authority. As these apostles prayed, God alone knows the hearts of all men. His purposes and plans will be accomplished. He determined that Matthias would replace Judas, just as Jesus had chosen Judas, knowing that he would betray Him.
Have you learned to seek God when a change of jobs, relationships, or direction confronts you? How do you view the selection of leadership in our culture today? Has God selected you to be a witness of Jesus’ resurrection?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for placing each person exactly where You want them in leadership in Your church. Help me to act in faith and seek You when leadership changes come into my life and church family. Thank You for selecting me to be a witness of Jesus’ resurrection and sending me out. Amen.
The Truth of Jesus Alive
Scripture reading for May 2: John 20
“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.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I am sending you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness for any, it is withheld.”” John 20:19-23
The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is foundational to our world view as believers. If Jesus did not raise from the dead, we have no hope of resurrection ourselves. (1 Corinthians 15:14) But in fact, Jesus did raise and God’s Word is recorded for us as truth about this fact. Jesus had proclaimed many times that He would be raised from the dead on the third day. He had raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:43-44) after four days as a demonstration that He was the “Resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25). After the crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples many times and invited them to touch Him and His wounds. He ate with them and instructed them further concerning their mission.
Jesus spoke peace over the disciples’ troubled hearts as they had been in fear for their lives. He repeated His call on their lives, sending them to a lost world to proclaim the Gospel and call all to repentance. He breathed on them a spiritual anointing of the Holy Spirit and gave them authority to proclaim forgiveness of sins or to withhold forgiveness for the unrepentant. They would share His mission and have His anointing to accomplish His world-wide vision to reach all mankind. Their witness is the reason we are still proclaiming Jesus as raised from the dead and King of kings!
If you doubt, have you humbly asked Jesus to have proof that He is alive from the dead? Have you examined the eye-witness reports of those who saw Jesus alive following the crucifixion? Are you going to the world you live in with the message that Jesus is alive?
Prayer: Father God, I rejoice in the resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ! Thank You for the Word that proclaims this truth through the prophesies of Scripture and the eye-witnesses. Thank You for giving me the Holy Spirit to confirm to me personally that Jesus is alive and that I belong to Your family! Amen.
The ultimate ‘sign’!
Scripture reading for April 8: John 2
“So the Jews said to Him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” But He was speaking about the temple of His body. When therefore He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the Word that Jesus had spoken.” John 2:18-22
Jesus had just come into the temple during Passover week, and found traders and money changers at work selling sacrificial animals to those coming to the temple for that holy week. Jesus made a whip and drove out those selling sacrifices and the money changers. He declared that His Father’s House was not to be a house of trade, but a house of prayer. This prompted the religious leaders to ask Jesus for a ‘sign’ to justify His actions. Jesus made a startling statement that challenged their world view. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” caused great controversy. The Jews knew that it had taken forty-six years to rebuild the temple. They were thinking naturally and mocked Jesus’ declaration.
However, Jesus was not speaking about the building, but rather about His own body. Jesus knew what the Jews and Romans would soon do to Him. He knew the plan of His Father and was in full agreement with the Father to give His life. His ‘temple’ would be the ultimate intercession given on the altar of the cross for the sins of the world. Jesus knew that He would be vindicated and raised from the dead on the third day. He gave this prophetic sign at least a year in advance, and would not be fully understood by His disciples until after it had been fulfilled on resurrection morning! Jesus’ world view and this sign helped and is helping disciples to believe to eternal life!
Have you ever been told something about Jesus or life that did not make sense? Does this ‘sign’ given by Jesus to His people and disciples cause you to grow in faith? Are you sharing this ‘Gospel’ sign with those in your life needing an expanded world view of life?
Prayer: Father God, thank You that Your Son Jesus Christ used His body as Your temple and our perfect sacrifice. Thank You for the amazing ‘sign’ of the resurrection that helps us believe Jesus is God’s Son. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit to empower me to pray for the lost and share this ‘sign’ with them. Amen.
Resurrection world view!
Scripture reading for April 4: Luke 24
“As they were talking about these things, Jesus Himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts: See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Touch Me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave Him a piece of boiled fish, and He took it and ate it before them.” Luke 24:36-43
After seeing Jesus suffer and die on the cross, though from a distance, these disciples were still locked into their natural world view. Jesus had told them many times about His resurrection on the third day, but His death was too real. Now His grave was empty and these men were in hiding discussing what two of them experienced as the had walked the Emmaus road. As they talked, Jesus appeared before them, greeting them with ‘shalom!’ They were frightened and thought they saw a spirit. Jesus resolved their fears by inviting them to touch His hands and feet. To further dispel their doubts, Jesus asked for food and ate the fish that they gave Him.
When we believe in Jesus, our inner life is totally changed! We are given a new heart and the Holy Spirit as our down payment of eternal life. But we must continue to renew our minds and follow Jesus’ invitation to follow Him and know Him and learn a new world view that includes resurrection and eternal life. Jesus understands our human weaknesses and doubts and patiently works with us as we commit to follow. He wants to sit at table with us and allow us to know the reality of resurrection life. These disciples who began with fright, except for John, ended their earthly journeys by becoming martyrs rather than deny Christ and His resurrection.
As you read about Jesus’ resurrection and these eye-witnesses of that truth, are these accounts of the doubts and fears encouraging for you? How has Jesus revealed Himself to you personally to help you in your faith? How has understanding of resurrection life helped you to share your faith?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the truth of the resurrection of Jesus. I want to know Him and the power of His resurrection, the fellowship of His suffering, being conformed to His death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3;10-11) You alone are the Resurrection and Eternal Life! Amen.
Sunday rest and reflection–Resurrection
Matthew 28:1-7 “Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus Who was crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, as He said. Come, see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that He has risen from the dead, and behold, He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see Him.”
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Mary and I wish each of you a blessed Resurrection day, as we celebrate the most powerful event in human history, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave! “He is risen” was the message of the angel to the first women visiting the tomb to anoint His body. That cry brings us to worship our King, Son of David, Son of God, Who alone defeated the “giant” of sin and death and the grave. He is alive and shows Himself to all who will humbly seek Him.
The Son of God came to dwell among us and reveal the heart of His Father–love for us through His earthly ministry and compassion for our fallen nature. This love caused the Father to give His Son, Jesus Christ, the mission of taking the sins of all people and paying the penalty for our sins through sacrificial death on the cross. Jesus, Alone, did for us what we could not do for ourselves. It is not our good works, our family, our knowledge or position, our church membership, or even our confession of faith that saves us. We are saved by His finished work of paying for our sins on the cross and by His grace extended to us through His intercession and drawing us to repentance and faith.
May God’s amazing grace fill your life today with obedience, faithfulness, and worship with His family as we all gather to declare “He is risen indeed!” Amen! Pastor John and Mary
The last enemy under Christ’s feet!
Scripture reading for August 21st: 1st Corinthians 15, Psalm 16, Proverbs 11
1st Corinthians 15: 20-26 “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at His coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For He must reign until He has put His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”
Some in the Corinthian church struggled to comprehend how Christ was raised from the dead. They were thinking naturally that when a person is dead, then that’s the end of them. But Christ Jesus has been raised from the dead and is alive. Adam’s sin brought death to all men because death is the penalty for sin. But Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection now brings eternal life to those who believe on Him. Christ was the Firstborn from the dead but He won’t be the last! When He comes again, we shall all be raised to life eternal in a glorified body, like His glorious body! God did not abandon Jesus and He certainly won’t abandon to death those trusting in His Son. Jesus is the only path to eternal life and resurrection! Amen!
Psalm 16:9-11 “Therefore my heart is glad, and my flesh also dwells secure. For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Prayer: Father God, my heart is full of joy at the understanding that I will live forever in Your presence! I believe Jesus Christ was raised from the dead and at His coming I will be raised. Use me to declare these truths to a world skeptical of the resurrection and lost in sin’s darkness. Deliver those with the fear of death by revealing that You have defeated our last enemy!
Proverbs 11:6-7 “The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust. When the wicked dies, his hope will perish, and the expectation of wealth perishes too.”
Sent by the Father, Jesus sends!
Scripture reading for November 18th: Daniel 10-12, John 20
John 20: 19-23 “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.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I am sending you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
The resurrected Jesus Christ, Son of God, came to His disciples as they were hiding in fear behind locked doors. Jesus came into the room, in spite of the locked doors, and spoke a Jewish blessing of peace over them. He showed them His nail-scared hands and His spear-pierced side. The disciples were over-joyed. Jesus then spoke peace again and reminded them that He was sent by the Father to save lost mankind and now He was sending them. Following this commission, Jesus personally breathed on these disciples and commanded them to receive the Holy Spirit–the power and authority of God. Grace and peace with God was to be their message and their mission was to reach all mankind.
John 20:30-31 “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His Name.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the amazing resurrection, foretold in Your Word through Daniel and others. The promise of resurrection and everlasting reward is my heart’s desire. I have received Your Holy Spirit and am born again and empowered with Your Life. Use me today to share the Good News and turn many to righteousness through Jesus Christ, the Son of God!
Daniel 12:2-3 “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, but some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”
The powerful Gospel–first importance
Scripture reading for September 14th: 1st Corinthians 15
Key Scriptures: 1st Corinthians 15:3-8 “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared also to me.”
As Paul was concluding his letter to the church, he emphasized the importance of the Gospel message as recorded in Scripture and fulfilled. The Gospel includes the death of our Lord on the cross for our sins, His burial in a tomb for three days, and His glorious resurrection and many confirmation appearances to His followers. Without the resurrection, our faith would be on shaky ground. If Jesus were not raised from the dead, we could not have assurance that we would also be raised. Jesus was raised in a glorious body, bearing the scars of His crucifixion. Death could not hold Him because He was the sinless Son of God. His resurrection stands as a beacon of what is to come for all who follow Him and believe the Gospel message!
1st Corinthians 15:14-16 “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that He raised Christ, Whom He did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.”
Faith confession and prayer: Father God, I thank You for the Gospel message and the resurrection of Christ Jesus from the dead. In Him I have hope and confidence. I believe the Scriptures and the many witnesses to Christ’s resurrection. I look forward to seeing Jesus when He comes and enjoying a glorified body, like His glorious body. Help me to clearly preach this powerful Gospel that brings hope and salvation.
1st Corinthians 15:51 “Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall all be changed.”