Hello precious loved one of God, I hope you’re fine by His grace.
As you probably all know, yesterday was Good Friday. It was wonderful in my Church (Elevation Church) and I hope it was in yours too.
It makes me think, I can’t imagine what the disciples felt just the day after Jesus’ death. You know, they probably felt desperate because The One with whom they had spent like 3 years of miracles and supernatural presence of God had died and gone.
To them, all hope was probably lost. But we have an advantage over them on this. We know what’s written on the next page of the book, we know what’s the next part in this story, we know that Jesus was resurrected on the third day.
That was different for them, it was just the day after Jesus’death and though He had told them that He was going to be resurrectedy they hadn’t understood is. Thus they didn’t really know that it wasn’t the end yet, and that Jesus was going to rise again.
Luke 18:31-34 NLT
Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus said, “Listen, we’re going up to Jerusalem, where all the predictions of the prophets concerning the Son of Man will come true. He will be handed over to the Romans, and He will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon. They will flog Him with a whip and kill Him, but on the third day He will rise again.” But they didn’t understand any of this. The significance of His words was hidden from them, and they failed to grasp what He was talking about.
That’s what brings me to today’s song, “Rise Up” by Joe Guerra. I’ve had the privilege to discuss with my friend Joe Guerra himself and when he shared his song “Rise up” with me not only did I love the title but it was so special listening to, I knew I had to write on this. I believe this song is perfect for a pre-Easter message.
Jesus’s resurrection had not yet happened at that time, but what it would mean for them would change their lives for the better.
Romans 6:3-7 NLT
Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined Him in His death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with Him in His death, we will also be raised to life as He was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.
When He died on that Cross for us, it’s not just Him who died, it was me too, my flesh was crucified, just as your flesh was crucified. We were united with Him in His death, so that we would also be united with Him in His resurrection.
That’s why, at the dawn of resurrection, we have to realize and remember that resurrection isn’t only about Jesus. It’s about Jesus, and us in Him.
If we try to be honest, we will admit that though we’re Christians, so many things have died in us :
- For some of us it’s our first love for God which has died away
- For others it’s their devotion amd zeal which has died away
- For many of us, it’s our peace and joy which died little by little
- Our dreams, our hopes, our determination to serve Him
There’s so much which has died in us, due to sin, due to our own stubbornness, due to life’s difficulties etc. but now we have the opportunity to live this resurrection with Jesus Christ at Easter and to start afresh, completely new, completely transformed, full of life.
We can clearly wake up and rise up to be who God calls us to be.
Ephesians 4:21-24, 30 NLT
Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from Him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, He has identified you as His own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
Ephesians 5:8-9, 14 NLT
For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
Resurrection isn’t just something which happened more that 2000 years ago for Jesus. It’s something which can happen to you now through Him.
The dead and dry bones in your life can come back to life today, if you believe it, receive it and speak it.
Ezekiel 37:1-14 NLT
The Lord took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with bones. He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. Then He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?” “O Sovereign Lord ,” I replied, “You alone know the answer to that.” Then He said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the Word of the Lord ! This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord .’” So I spoke this message, just as He told me. Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons. Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones. Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them. Then He said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.’” So I spoke the message as He commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army. Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.’ Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord . I will put My Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord , have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the Lord has spoken!’”
Exercise
- List three areas of your life which are dead or dying right now. ( It could be your finances, your relationships, your marriage, your family, your studies etc.)
- Ask for God’s Holy Spirit and resurrecting power to be at work in these areas of your life to bring brand new life and restoration.
Prayer
Father Lord God Almighty, You know better than anyone else the areas of my life which have been unfruitful, the dreams, efforts and relationships which died on the way. Lord You are powerful and more than able to resurrect me, to bring me life, to redeem my hope, my peace of mind, my joy, my generosity, my tenderness, my patience, my sincerity, my purity, my love for You, my standards and all what I have lost along the way, all what has died along the way. Lord I want to partake in Jesus Christ’s resurrection today, and to see resurrection not just as an event but as a lifestyle of endless hope and possibilities in Christ, in Jesus Christ’s Name. Amen.
It’s Now Your Turn
What is God resurrecting in you this Easter? Please let us know in the comments section.
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Invitation
You are joyfully invited to join us tomorrow to celebrate Easter at Elevation Church at one of our three worship experiences. Here below is the invite with the different hours and platforms on which you can stream. It will be a pleasure to have you join us for Resurrection Sunday.
Thank you so much for reading, you are blessed and highly favoured.
God bless you
Victoria Eyog
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