Tag: third day

Third day hope!

Scripture reading for August 7th: Hosea 4-6, Psalm 58, Matthew 17

Key Scriptures: Matthew 17:22-23 “As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men. And they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.” And they were greatly distressed.”

Jesus shared a deep truth with His disciples concerning His coming appointment with death. He shared how He would be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be killed. He also shared that on the third day after this terrible event, He would be raised from the dead. This truth surely concerned these disciples. Scripture records “And they were greatly distressed.” Hope would come alive on the third day!

Psalm 58:10-11 “The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance; he will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked. Mankind will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God Who judges on earth.”

Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your truthfulness with Your disciples concerning coming events. Your mercy through Your death and resurrection on the third day brings hope of eternal reward.

Hosea 6:1-3 “”Come, let us return to the Lord; for He has torn us, that He may heal us; He has struck us down, and He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; and on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live before Him. Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; His going out is sure as the dawn; He will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.””

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Anointed with the Holy Spirit and Power!

Scripture reading for April 27th:  1st Samuel 14, Psalm 124, Acts 10

Key Scriptures:  Acts 10:38-42  “. . how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.  He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.  And we are witnesses of all that He did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem.  They put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree, but God raised Him on the third day and made Him to appear, not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.  And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.” 

Peter proclaimed the miraculous ministry of Jesus Christ.  Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and power to perform miracles and heal.  His disciples and apostles who walked with Him were witnesses of all He did.  Jesus was put to death by crucifixion but raised from the dead on the third day by God’s power.  His witnesses were commanded by Jesus to preach this Good News to all.  Jesus is appointed by God to judge the living and the dead!

Faith confession and prayer:  I believe in Jesus Christ of Nazareth, anointed by God with the Holy Spirit and power for miracles and healing and forgiveness of sins.  Open doors to preach the Good news today!

1st Samuel 14:6 “Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised.  It may be that the Lord will work for us, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few.” 

Psalm 124:8  “Our help is in the Name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.”   

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Resurrection realities!

Scripture reading for November 26th: 1st Corinthians 15-16

The resurrection is foreign to anything our mind can truly understand.  Death seems to the natural eye to be irreversible.  Doctors can treat a person with disease or aging, but they can’t keep them from dying, and raising someone from the dead so that he will never die has not yet happened.

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.” (1st Corinthians 15:3-6)

At the heart of the Gospel message is Christ’s resurrection.  First Jesus appeared to Mary at the tomb. (John 20:13-18) Then Peter saw the Lord and then the Twelve, minus Judas, saw Him. (Mark 16:14)  The two disciples saw Him on the road to Emmaus. (Luke 24:31-32) Thomas got to put his fingers in the holes of Jesus’ body and became a believer. (John 20:26-28) Finally, Jesus appeared to over 500 brothers at the same time!  (1st Corinthians 15:16)

Not only has Christ been raised from the dead, but all who believe in Him will also be raised from the dead!  Christ’s resurrection guarantees our resurrection.  “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.  For in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” (1st Corinthians 15:20-22)

Paul wrote that our resurrection was like the planting of a seed.  A seed goes into the ground and dies and at the proper time germinates producing a new plant. At death, our body is sown into the ground in weakness and decay but it will be raised in glory.  It is sown as perishable.  It will be raised a spiritual body that lives forever! (1st Corinthians 15:42-44)  This change will happen at the “last trumpet”!  In a split second, the perishable body will raised and death will be swallowed up by victory in Christ’s eternal life!  What a glorious day that will be!

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He is risen!

Scripture reading for April 28th: Luke 23:44-24:12

What a shock it must have been to those disciples to see Jesus actually crucified and then dead!  Even though Jesus had told them that this would happen, the reality of it had to be painful and heart-rending.  Added to this grief for their beloved Master, was the fact that each of them had denied Him in His hour of need.  They had followed Him willingly and had learned so much, but this last day was something that none of them had courage to deal with.  Their lack of prayer had led to failure during temptation!  (Luke 22:46)

A member of the Sanhedrin, Joseph,  who had not been in agreement with their actions, went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.  He took it and wrapped it in linen cloths and laid it in a new tomb right before sundown.  The women went home and prepared spices for the body, but because of the Sabbath did not get to put them on Jesus’ body.  (Luke 23:50-56)

After the Sabbath was over, early on the first day of the week, the women took their spices and went to the garden tomb to  anoint the body for proper burial.  On arrival, they found the stone rolled away and they entered and looked around.  “While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.  In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you while He was still with you in Galilee:  “The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.”” (Luke 24:5-8)

Jesus rose from the grave!  He was declared the Son of God with power through resurrection from the dead!  (Romans 1:4)  No other religion or person can claim this truth!  Jesus not only rose, but announced it before hand to confirm His claim to be the Son of God.  Can you put your faith in Jesus Christ today?  This act of believing can change you eternal destiny and how you live each day of the rest of your life!  Jesus is alive and calling you and me to follow Him in resurrection life!

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