“An evil and wanton generation is always wanting signs and wonders. The only sign you’ll get is the Jonah sign.” ~Jesus

Tags

Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Matthew 16, Pharisees, Resurrection, Sadducees

Jesus is direct. Jesus has no tolerance for the religious and their hypocritical ways.

I must take the warning from Jesus seriously. Jesus has given us all a sign. Jesus died, was buried, rose from the dead (the Jonah sign) and has ascended into heaven to be with God. 

"Just as the Father has life in himself, he has conferred on the Son life in himself. " ~~Jesus

Tags

Everlasting, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, John 5, Life, Resurrection

Jesus knows that God is all about life. He is our source and it will last forever. Jesus also knows that His Father has given Him the same gift. Jesus gives it to us. All life is ours in our relationship with Jesus.

There is an urgency in understanding that when we know and believe that Jesus is the source of life that he can confer life on us.

Jesus can resurrect us, right now, with the same power that brought Him back to life at the resurrection. Jesus is life!!!

Just as the Father has life in himself, he has conferred on the Son life in himself. ” ~~Jesus  (John 5:25-27 The Message)

“God raised Jesus from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe.” ~Apostle Paul

Tags

Apostle Paul Sayings, Easter, Ephesians 1, Jesus, Messiah, Resurrection

Jesus is in charge

Who is Jesus? The very Son of God who, as man, died for us and is now resurrected. But in His resurrection, God has put Him in charge of everything. Nothing is exempt at all. Not a single thing.

So, how long will he be in charge? Imagine billions and billions of years. Imagine it never ending.

That is hard to get my mind around some days because this is a world where things come to an end. In Jesus, who is in charge of everything forever, I live and have the same life.

This is His gift to me.

God is God. He is in charge. He has given all authority to His Son Jesus, our Master. He is the Messiah.

All this energy issues from the Messiah: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, the Messiah rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is the Messiah’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence. ~~Ephesians 1:20

“What we believe is that the One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up.” ~Apostle Paul

Tags

2 Corinthians, Apostle Paul Sayings, Faith, Jesus, Power, Resurrection

How often do I keep quiet when I should say what I believe? Too often I think.

If I believe in a God so powerful that He raised Jesus from the dead, what should I say in any given circumstance? Really, what should I say about my belief? I must say that Jesus is willing and able.

Well, if I believe that nothing is impossible with God I can’t be quiet.

I have to say the truth no matter how “bad” things look. God is God. He wants to deliver.

I must have faith and believe. If I do, Jesus will come through no matter what.

We’re not keeping this quiet, not on your life. Just like the psalmist who wrote, “I believed it, so I said it,” we say what we believe. And what we believe is that the One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up with you, alive. Every detail works to your advantage and to God’s glory: more and more grace, more and more people, more and more praise! 2 Corinthians 4:13-15

“The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us.” ~Apostle Paul

Tags

Jesus, Love, Resurrection, Romans 8

God’s Love

What does Jesus love look like?

Jesus is in there sticking up for me. When I am accused of something, fair or not, he sticks up for me. He is loyal to the core.

For me!! With me!!! Nothing can separate me from that loyal love and His courage for me.

No one can drive a wedge between Him and me. No matter what comes my way, it doesn’t faze me. No matter what I do or bad I am, the worst sin, nothing can separate me from Him.

He is sticking up for me!!!

The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and the Messiah’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one. None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us. Romans 8:35-39

“Think of yourselves the way the Messiah Jesus thought of himself.” ~Apostle Paul

Tags

Apostle Paul Sayings, Death, Humility, Jesus, Messiah, Obedience, Philippians 2, Resurrection, Selfless

The birth of Jesus has special meaning. We must see it from the eyes of Jesus, our Messiah. We should think of why Jesus gave up the glory of heaven and humbled himself to come to earth as a man. He became a slave for us. Jesus humbled himself.

Forget about the baby and see the man on the cross, dying for us. Jesus didn’t come to give us Christmas trees filled with gifts. Jesus came to give us a cross and an empty tomb.

Above all else, Jesus humbled himself to be obedient to God, his father. His obedience led to his exaltation.

It wasn’t about the manager. It was all about the cross, the empty tomb and his mighty resurrection.

All honor and glory to Jesus, our Messiah.

Think of yourselves the way the Messiah Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.

Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus the Messiah, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.

Source: Philippians 2:5-11 MSG – Think of yourselves the way Christ – Bible Gateway

Have I mastered the basics as a disciple of Jesus? Am I ready to move on?

Tags

Baptism, Basics, Hebrews 6, Jesus, Resurrection, Salvation

Basic

There are basics in being a disciple of Jesus. Are the following in place in my life?

• Do I trust in God for everything and reject “self-help”?

• Have I been properly baptized?

• Have the leaders of the church layed hands on me and have I received the Holy Spirit?

• Do I believe in the resurrection of the dead?

• Do I live like there is an eternal judgement?

I can’t go on to maturity without having mastered the basics. If I haven’t mastered “Jesus 101”, I can’t take the advanced courses. God doesn’t work that way.

The basic foundational truths are in place: turning your back on “salvation by self-help” and turning in trust toward God; baptismal instructions; laying on of hands; resurrection of the dead; eternal judgment.” (Hebrews 6:2 The Message)

"Christ the Lord is risen today, Sons of men and angels say. Raise your joys and triumphs high; Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply." ~~Charles Wesley

Tags

Charles Wesley, Jesus, Messiah, Resurrection

The message we proclaim is that Jesus, the Messiah, died and was resurrected. We can’t deviate from that good news. It is essential to what we proclaim.

Christ the Lord is risen today, Sons of men and angels say. Raise your joys and triumphs high; Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply.

~~Charles Wesley

"Those who have lived the right way will walk out into a resurrection Life." ~~Jesus

Tags

Jesus, Jesus Sayings, John 5, Judgment, Life, Master, Messiah, Resurrection

Jesus knows about judgment. His Father has given Him the authority to judge us. God has also demonstrated the power of resurrection in Jesus.

Jesus demands that I know when I live the right way that I will walk right smack into a resurrection life. The right way is live a life with Jesus in charge.

God’s goal for me is to live the right way. Jesus shows me the right way. It is the way of love.

Jesus died and is now resurrected. Jesus shows the way of victory over death. Jesus has given me life. I have it now. Jesus says “The time is now.”

I have Jesus’ full authority. It is a resurrection life now. It isn’t a promise for the future.

But you haven’t seen the half of it yet, for in the same way that the Father raises the dead and creates life, so does the Son. The Son gives life to anyone he chooses. Neither he nor the Father shuts anyone out. The Father handed all authority to judge over to the Son so that the Son will be honored equally with the Father. Anyone who dishonors the Son, dishonors the Father, for it was the Father’s decision to put the Son in the place of honor.

It’s urgent that you listen carefully to this: Anyone here who believes what I am saying right now and aligns himself with the Father, who has in fact put me in charge, has at this very moment the real, lasting life and is no longer condemned to be an outsider. This person has taken a giant step from the world of the dead to the world of the living.

It’s urgent that you get this right: The time has arrived—I mean right now!—when dead men and women will hear the voice of the Son of God and, hearing, will come alive. Just as the Father has life in himself, he has conferred on the Son life in himself. And he has given him the authority, simply because he is the Son of Man, to decide and carry out matters of Judgment.

Don’t act so surprised at all this. The time is coming when everyone dead and buried will hear his voice. Those who have lived the right way will walk out into a resurrection Life; those who have lived the wrong way, into a resurrection Judgment.

~~Jesus (The Message John 5:28-29)

"But you haven’t seen the half of it yet, for in the same way that the Father raises the dead and creates life, so does the Son." ~~Jesus

Tags

Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Life, Master, Messiah, Resurrection

Jesus the Messiah

Some days we think we have seen it all. Of course we know it isn’t true but it sure does feel that way.

Jesus, the Messiah and our Master, challenges us to not think that way. Jesus is fully aligned with His Father’s purpose. He has every ounce of power that resides in the Holy Spirit. He raises the dead. He creates life.

Jesus does it all, just like the Father.

“But you haven’t seen the half of it yet, for in the same way that the Father raises the dead and creates life, so does the Son.” ~~Jesus (John 5:20)

“Jesus talked to them about things concerning the kingdom of God.” ~Luke

Tags

Acts 1, Good News, Jesus, Kingdom, Luke Sayings, Messiah, Resurrection

What is Jesus’ favorite thing to talk about? It is the way things work in God’s world (Kingdom).

This is core of the message of Good News. God’s world is real. God is in control. God wants us to be loyal and do what He wants. God has a plan to be implemented. His anointed one, Jesus the Messiah, is King. Jesus is to be obeyed. Jesus is the Master.

So, after His resurrection, he met with the disciples face to face. The had no doubt about the resurrection. They saw him and talked with him for 40 days.

He lives!!

In face-to-face meetings, Jesus talked to them about things concerning the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:5 The Message)

Where does my identity come from?

Tags

Betrayal, Competition, Holy Spirit, Jesus, John, Judas Iscariot, Love, Messiah, Peter, Resurrection, Thomas, Transforrmed

Jesus knew before he selected Judas that he would betray him. He wanted him as a part of the 12 regardless.

He knew Peter would deny Him. He wanted him as a part of the 12 regardless.

He knew Thomas would, at his core, doubt Him. He wanted him as a part of the 12  regardless.

He knew John was way too competitive. He wanted him as a part of the 12  regardless.

Would I do that? Probably not. Betrayal hurts.  Denial hurts. Doubt hurts. Competition hurts. It hurts to the core. But Jesus also knew that his Holy Spirit would fill them. He knew they would perform greater signs and wonders than He did. He knew that day would come, when, after His resurrection, they would be transformed and fill with Power.

Jesus’ identity did not come from anyone but His Father. And he knew how much His Father loved Him. He knew it in his core. So he could select a bunch of men who would betray Him, deny Him, doubt Him, be way too competitive with each other and yet be open to Him. They would leave Him alone at the most important moment. He knew it. He was grounded in His Father’s love and pleasing Him. Jesus, the Messiah, loved them no matter what.

May I do the same. May my identity come from my Father who is so perfectly good all the time. May my love come from my Father who is always in a good mood and has my best interest in mind. May my heart be grounded in Him!!

So be it!!! Whoo Hoo!!!

“After his death, Jesus presented himself alive to them.” ~Luke

Tags

Acts 1, God is Great, Jesus, Kingdom, Resurrection

The Apostles were absolutely convinced of Jesus resurrection from the dead. Luke, the author of Acts, is careful to document it.

Jesus presented Himself. Not as a ghost. Not as a spiritual being. He presented himself alive. He did it over and over. He did it for forty days. He did it many different places. God is great and demonstrated he is God by resurrecting his son from the dead.

Jesus is alive!! Jesus lives. Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father, in control of God’s World (Kingdom). That is good news.

After his death, he presented himself alive to them in many different settings over a period of forty days. (Acts 1:4 The Message)

“I wrote on everything that Jesus began to do and teach until the day he said good-bye to the apostles.” ~Luke

Tags

Acts 1, Heaven, Jesus, Resurrection

Jesus is now in heaven sitting at the right hand of God. This is central to our faith and believe. Jesus came to earth, died for us, was physically raised from the dead in a resurrected body AND He is now in control. God has given everything over to Jesus.

Do we believe this? Does our daily life reflect that fact? Do we allow our actions to reflect it?

Dear Theophilus, in the first volume of this book I wrote on everything that Jesus began to do and teach until the day he said good-bye to the apostles, the ones he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven. (Acts 1:1 The Message)

Am I willing to suffer and mature? Will I rejoice and be happy?

Tags

Death, Hebrews 5, High Priest, Jesus, Maturity, Pain, Resurrection, Son of God, Suffering

Jesus, the Son of GOD, came to earth and suffered for us. Imagine that. Take a minute to think about it.

Jesus felt everything we, as humans feel. Anticipating His death for us, he cried in the pain of anticipation. He offered up prayers as He got ready for this awful sacrifice.

They were the prayers of a priest.   Jesus is now the most High Priest. Because He is GOD’s Son, God answered His prayers and honored His sacrifice for us. In GOD’s world, we are all now a nation of priests. We intercede, with Jesus, on behalf of all who are in need of Him.

Now get this, he was God’s very own Son. He didn’t have to do any of this for us. He came to earth and learned trusting-obedience by what he suffered. He didn’t have to suffer.

We sometimes wonder, why do we have to suffer? Well, we join in the ministry of Jesus by sharing in suffering,  just as Jesus did. By suffering, Jesus arrived at the full stature of his maturity. Imagine the Son of God having to mature. He did as a man on earth. In that maturity and perfection, Jesus became our priest. In his death and resurrection,  he became the source of eternal salvation to all us who obey him.

While he lived on earth, anticipating death, Jesus cried out in pain and wept in sorrow as he offered up priestly prayers to God. (Hebrews 5:7 The Message)

“With Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid.” ~John Mark

Tags

Afraid, Astonished, Mark 10, Resurrection

Be fearless

Am I astonished or afraid?

Those who simply follow get afraid. Perhaps they were more curious than committed. Jesus wants commitment.

Those who are his disciples and following the new plan are astonished. The were committed to Jesus.

Two groups seeing the same thing have polar opposite reactions. What is our reaction?

His peace drives out fear all together. Jesus is leading us. Jesus knew what was going to happen. He let it be plain to His followers.

Jesus gave them hope. Jesus promised he would rise from the dead. This was good news.

Jesus delivered on his promise. We can count on his word. God is great. Everything is possible with God. He delivered Jesus, his son, from death.

Here are the key ideas:

1. It is more important to be committed and be a disciple than it is to follow.
2. God’s goal for us is be committed to do what God wants.
3. God is great and raises his son from the dead.
4. God loves us and has demonstrated it with the sacrifice of Jesus, the Messiah.

They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise. Mark 10:32-34

"Easter says you can put truth in the grave but it won’t stay there." ~~Clarence W. Hall

Tags

Clarence W. Hall, Easter, Resurrection

Jesus is risen. Hallelujah!

Easter says you can put truth in the grave but it won’t stay there. ~~Clarence W. Hall

Stunning Easter message from Judge Andrew Napolitano

Tags

Easter, Jesus, Judge Andrew Napolitano, Resurrection

A moving Easter message from Fox News Senior Judicial Analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano:

On the first Good Friday, the Romans executed Jesus because they were persuaded that by claiming to be the Son of God, He might foment a revolution against them. The revolution He fomented was in the hearts of men and women. The Romans had not heard of a revolution of the heart; nevertheless they feared a revolution that would disrupt their worldly power, and so they condemned Him to death by crucifixion.

 

What does Easter mean? Easter means that there is hope for the dead. If there’s hope for the dead, there’s hope for the living. But, like the colonists who fought the oppression of the king, we the living can only achieve our hopes if we have freedom. And that requires a government that protects freedom, not one that assaults it.

Some great Easter quotes: He Is RISEN! He is Risen indeed!

Tags

Crucifixion, Easter, Quote, Resurrection

He Is RISEN! He is Risen indeed!

Christ the Lord is risen today, Sons of men and angels say. Raise your joys and triumphs high; Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply.
– Charles Wesley

 

God proved His love on the Cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, ‘I love you.’
– Billy Graham

 

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
– John 11:25-26

 

If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that he said; if he didn’t rise from the dead, then why worry about any of what he said? The issue on which everything hangs is not whether or not you like his teaching but whether or not he rose from the dead.
– Timothy Keller

 

Easter says you can put truth in a grave, but it won’t stay there.
– Clarence W. Hall

 

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.
– C.S. Lewis

 

The devil, darkness, and death may swagger and boast, the pangs of life will sting for a while longer, but don’t worry; the forces of evil are breathing their last. Not to worry…He’s risen!
– Charles R. Swindoll

 

The resurrection completes the inauguration of God’s kingdom. . . . It is the decisive event demonstrating thet God’s kingdom really has been launched on earth as it is in heaven. The message of Easter is that God’s new world has been unveiled in Jesus Christ and that you’re now invited to belong to it.”
–  N.T. Wright

 

A man who was completely innocent, offered himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including his enemies, and became the ransom of the world. It was a perfect act.
– Mahatma Gandhi

 

The great gift of Easter is hope – Christian hope which makes us have that confidence in God, in his ultimate triumph, and in his goodness and love, which nothing can shake.
– Basil Hume

 

Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
– Romans 10:9

 

Immanuel, God with us in our nature, in our sorrow, in our lifework, in our punishment, in our grave, and now with us, or rather we with Him, in resurrection, ascension, triumph, and Second Advent splendor.
– Charles H. Spurgeon

 

Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone but in every leaf of springtime.
– Martin Luther

 

Salvation is the root–the resurrection is the fruit.
– T.D. Jakes

 

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 Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 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.
– 1 Corinthians 15:3-6

 

We are adopted into God’s family through the resurrection of Christ from the dead in which he paid all our obligations to sin, the law, and the devil, in whose family we once lived. Our old status lies in his tomb. A new status is ours through his resurrection.
– Sinclair B. Ferguson

 

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
– Romans 6:8-11

 

Before the Resurrection of Christ, the Holy Spirit came upon individuals only on certain occasions for special tasks. But now, after the Resurrection, Christ through the Holy Spirit dwells in the heart of every believer to give us supernatural power in living our daily lives.
– Billy Graham

 

In short, I didn’t become a Christian because God promised I would have an even happier life than I had as an atheist. He never promised any such thing. Indeed, following him would inevitably bring divine demotions in the eyes of the world. Rather, I became a Christian because the evidence was so compelling that Jesus really is the one-and-only Son of God who proved his divinity by rising from the dead. That meant following him was the most rational and logical step I could possibly take.
– Lee Strobel

 

Two thousand years ago, in the Middle East, an event occurred that permanently changed the world. Because of that event, history was split. Every time you write a date, you’re using the Resurrection of Jesus Christ as the focal point.
– Rick Warren

 

Tomb, thou shalt not hold Him longer; Death is strong, but Life is stronger; Stronger than the dark, the light; Stronger than the wrong, the right; Faith and Hope triumphant say Christ will rise on Easter Day.
– Phillips Brooks

 

It was inevitable that Jesus Christ should be crucified. It was also inevitable that He should rise again.
– H.R.L. Sheppard

 

We live and die; Christ died and lived!
– John Stott

 

We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.
– Romans 6:9

 

Because of the empty tomb, we have peace. Because of His resurrection, we can have peace during even the most troubling of times because we know He is in control of all that happens in the world.
– Paul Chappell

 

The truth of the resurrection gives life to every other area of gospel truth. The resurrection is the pivot on which all of Christianity turns and without which none of the other truths would much matter. Without the resurrection, Christianity would be so much wishful thinking, taking its place alongside all other human philosophy and religious speculation.
– John MacArthur

 

Let us consider this settled, that no one has made progress in the school of Christ who does not joyfully await the day of death and final resurrection.
– John Calvin

 

The resurrection is not merely important to the historic Christian faith; without it, there would be no Christianity. It is the singular doctrine that elevates Christianity above all other world religions.
– Pastor Adrian Rogers

 

Whoever reads the New Testament seriously, or gives thought to the impact which the apostles made upon their generation, must acknowledge that one outstanding historic event alone spurred that small band of 11 ordinary men to an amazing task of evangelization in their generation. Defying every obstacle, loss of home, persecution, even death itself, they evidenced the supreme relevance in their ministry of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
– Erling C. Olsen:

 

The atonement, or forgiveness of sin once and for all achieved on the cross, weighs in, and heavily. But the atonement is onfirmed, ratified, sealed, and made enduringly good by virtue of Christ’s rising from death. Our justification hinges on a risen life, present in us now because Christ is present with us now.
– Paul F.M. Zahl

Nothing sparse at all: A Poem

Tags

Poem, Resurrection

Jesus has always been supreme.
He was in the beginning and
He will be in the end.

Jesus is leading the resurrection parade.
The Captain in the lead.

Jesus is there for me from the beginning
to the end.

Jesus is always there, never leaving.
He towers strong and mighty
above everything and everyone.

No one can match His marvelous love.
He is spacious in His love.

Jesus has so much room
there is nothing sparse in His love at all.

Jesus has so much room in His love
that everything finds its place
without any crowding at all.
everything dislocated,
everything out of place
and put it all together again.

Jesus has put it all together in harmony.
Nothing out of place.
All fitting in His spacious room of love.

Jesus did this through His blood
and His death.

That precious blood
that poured down from the cross.
of what He can do through His love.

I had turned my back on Him.
I had rebellious thoughts day and night.
I gave Him trouble every chance I got.

But now I have given myself completely to the cross,
knowing Jesus actually died for me.

I am made whole and holy in His love.
I can’t walk away from a gift like that.

I must stay grounded.
I must stay steady.
I must honor that bond of trust.
I must stay constantly tuned in to His Message.
I must lean in and hear what He is saying.

There is no other message at all.
This is the only message.

Every creature in heaven
and earth gets the same message.

May I be His faithful messenger.
Jesus has taken everything broken,
I am a case study.
I am His completely.

"Give her something to eat." ~~Jesus

Tags

Food, God is Good, Healing, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Mark 5, Resurrection

Hungry Girl

The events of the day had been stunning. A 12 year old had just been raised from the dead. At Jesus command, she got up from the dead and walked around. Everyone was beside themselves. She was 12. She had died. Now she was alive. God is great. Nothing is impossible with Him.

What is Jesus first concern after He has raised her from the dead? She is hungry. Get her some food.

Jesus knows what is important and when it is important. He never ignores what we need and when we need it.

That is just the way God is. God is good and in a good mood. He knows when we are hungry and will give us something to eat.

 But when he had sent them all out, he took the child’s father and mother, along with his companions, and entered the child’s room. He clasped the girl’s hand and said, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, get up.” At that, she was up and walking around! This girl was twelve years of age. They, of course, were all beside themselves with joy. He gave them strict orders that no one was to know what had taken place in that room. Then he said, “Give her something to eat.” (Mark 5:40-43 The Message)

“Some scholars have naively declared God to be dead, forgetting that they are dealing with a God who found His way out of the grave.” ~Cardinal Ivan Dias

Tags

Atheist, Cardinal Ivan Dias, Quote, Resurrection

Good news of God

Jesus rose from the dead. That is amazing and represents the good news of God.

God is not dead. We stand against the notion because we know the power of God.

We are a people of good news. People are confused. They are looking to find the way.

We are to be a witness to the goodness of God.

“The urgency to preach the Good News is as true today as it was two thousand years ago, even if some scholars have naively declared God to be dead, forgetting that they are dealing with a God who found His way out of the grave…”

—— Roman Catholic Cardinal Ivan Dias implores Anglican Bishops at the Lambeth Conference to stand against “moral confusion.”

"Little girl, get up." ~~Jesus to a dead 12 year old girl

Tags

God is Great, Jesus, Jesus Sayings, Mark 5, Power, Resurrection

Grief and Horror

She is 12 years old. She got sick. She died.

Everyone is beside themselves in grief and horror. You don’t expect to bury your children. It’s just not right. What kind of God allows that to happen?

Jesus arrives on the scene at the request of the father. The father believed in Jesus.

When he goes in to the room where her dead body is lying, Jesus says very little other than “Little girl, get up”. At that, she was up and walking around! They were all beside themselves with joy. Amazed. Stunned. Ecstatic.

This is stunning. This is the power of God in Jesus. We have the same Holy Spirit in us. May I live my life knowing of this stunning power.

“Little girl, get up.” ~~Jesus to a dead 12 year old girl (Mark 5:40-43 The Message Bible)

It is so true — Jesus Rocks

Tags

Authority, Jesus, Love, Resurrection, Virgin Birth

Jesus Rocks

 

We know it is true. Jesus rocks. He is amazing. His love for us can’t be compared to anyone or anything else.

He gave up living in Heaven with his heavenly Father and came to our world to show us that love.

He willingly died for us.

He has been resurrected from the grave.

He now has his rightful place of honor seated next to God. All authority has been given over to Him. God is God. He does what He wants and He wanted to do this.

Yes, Jesus ROCKS!! It is so true.

"Why all this busybody grief and gossip?" ~~Jesus

Tags

Gossip, Jesus Sayings, Mark 5, Miracle, Resurrection

Sarcasm

We get consumed with our feelings. Jesus challenges us to move beyond that and see His world. He can provoke us to sarcasm. We see and feel reality. We are sad beyond belief. Jesus is abrupt with us. We need Him to challenge us. We tell Jesus He doesn’t know what He is talking about. We really say that to Him.

He doesn’t listen to us, thank God. He knows what His Father wants to do. He does it. In spite of us and all our sarcasm. He raises the girl from the dead. That is what God wanted to do. He is God. He has a plan.

He permitted no one to go in with him except Peter, James, and John. They entered the leader’s house and pushed their way through the gossips looking for a story and neighbors bringing in casseroles. Jesus was abrupt: “Why all this busybody grief and gossip? This child isn’t dead; she’s sleeping.” Provoked to sarcasm, they told him he didn’t know what he was talking about. Mark 5:37-40

“When I was born again, I received the very life of the risen Lord from Jesus Himself.” ~~Oswald Chambers

Tags

Born Again, Easter, Jesus, Oswald Chambers, Resurrection

Resurrection of Jesus

This says it all. Jesus and His Father are so pleased to give us life. And not just any kind of life. The life and power of the risen Master, Jesus the Messiah.

How great is our God? So great he sent His Son to us so we can live a resurrected life. Now that is amazing.

When I was born again, I received the very life of the risen Lord from Jesus Himself.

via His Resurrection Destiny | My Utmost For His Highest.

“In the Messiah, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade.” ~~Apostle Paul

Tags

2 Corinthians 2, Easter, Knowledge, Messiah, Resurrection, Victory

Parades are so much fun. The bands, the floats, and the celebration of a special day. Everyone gets into it. The participants and the on lookers alike. Parades are a blast.

In Jesus, we are in one perpetual victory parade. We march through life, in Him, moving from place to place, always in victory. We are triumphant in His life of resurrection. The power that raised Him from the dead is in us and upon us. When the crowd sees us in His victory parade, they know it is Him who deserves the praise.

God is God. He does what seems best to Him. He has chosen us. Through us, he brings His message to the whole world. What an amazing God we serve.

In the Messiah, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of the Messiah. 2 Corinthians 2:14-16

"The time is coming when everyone dead and buried will hear his voice." ~~Jesus

Tags

Easter, God's Voice, Hear, Jesus Sayings, John 5, Now, Resurrection, Time

Jesus lives. He is resurrected. God is a God of resurrection. We live a resurrected life with Him. That is His promise to us.

Jesus didn’t come to make bad people good. He came to make dead people live! And live we do. He is the resurrection and the life. When we believe in Him, we are buried in Him and resurrected in Him.

He also clues us in there will those who live a resurrected life of judgement. We need to choose Jesus. Jesus give life to anyone He chooses. He chooses us. Jesus doesn’t shut anyone out. Neither does God. They are both in a very good mood. God has handed authority over to Jesus. This is a fact. We can believe it. God is God. He is good. He has a goal for us. We must choose to live it out every day. That is the resurrection life.

We must choose to hear His voice today.

“The time is coming when everyone dead and buried will hear his voice.” ~~Jesus  John 5:28-29 (The Message Bible)

At the crack of dawn on Sunday …

Tags

Easter, Faith, Resurrection

After Jesus was crucified, he was hastily buried as the clock was ticking moving toward the Sabbath. No work could be done. So they had to wait. And wait. And wait. It must have seemed like an eternity that long Saturday. On Sunday they were up and at it at the crack of dawn. When they got to the tomb, they couldn’t find Jesus body. And they were puzzled. I know I would have been as well. Probably more than puzzled.

But they moved on from being puzzled into belief. The angels explained it all to them. Jesus wasn’t there but raised up from the dead. And they remembered Jesus’ words.

Belief. Faith. Joy.

At the crack of dawn on Sunday, the women came to the tomb carrying the burial spices they had prepared. They found the entrance stone rolled back from the tomb, so they walked in. But once inside, they couldn’t find the body of the Master Jesus.They were puzzled, wondering what to make of this. Then, out of nowhere it seemed, two men, light cascading over them, stood there. The women were awestruck and bowed down in worship. The men said, “Why are you looking for the Living One in a cemetery? He is not here, but raised up. Remember how he told you when you were still back in Galilee that he had to be handed over to sinners, be killed on a cross, and in three days rise up?” Then they remembered Jesus’ words.

via Luke 24 MSG | YouVersion.

Where is the sting of death?

Tags

1 Corinthians 15, Death, Easter, Lord Jesus Christ, Resurrection, Sin, Victory

Where is the sting of death? Jesus is Risen

Death has no power. It has been swallowed up whole by the triumphant resurrection of our Master Jesus. This is reality. Does death have the last word on things? Not hardly. No way. Jesus has seen to that. It is over.

Who should be afraid of death knowing what we know? No one. Certainly not me.

It was not following God’s plan that gave death it’s leverage. It doesn’t have that hold now. Jesus has given me, in one single victorious stroke of life, a life free from guilt. A life free from sin. A life free from death. The old life of trying to live up to all the rules is gone. How destructive was that? Way too much guilt for sure. But it is gone in His redeeming power of His death and the victory of His ressurection.

May I experience that gift every day. May I experience it today for sure!!!

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is missing God’s goal, and the power of missing God’s goal is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Master Jesus the Messiah. 1 Corinthians 15:54-57

 

“Why are you looking for the Living One in a cemetery?” ~~An angel to the women

Tags

Angel, God is God, Jesus, Joanna, Luke 24, Mary Magdalene, Resurrection

They had waited. It wasn’t easy but they honored the Sabbath. So much had happened and they were so distraught. Jesus was dead. What would they do? They did what they knew to do. They did what was required of them. They went to prepare his body for burial.

Our God had a different plan in mind. Through the mighty power of the Spirit of God, he raised Jesus up from the dead. Not just for Jesus to die again but forever. He lives. He is risen.  God is God. Nothing is impossible for Him.

At the crack of dawn on Sunday, the women came to the tomb carrying the burial spices they had prepared. They found the entrance stone rolled ba

Jesus and an empty tomb

ck from the tomb, so they walked in. But once inside, they couldn’t find the body of the Master Jesus.

They were puzzled, wondering what to make of this. Then, out of nowhere it seemed, two men, light cascading over them, stood there. The women were awestruck and bowed down in worship. The men said, “Why are you looking for the Living One in a cemetery? He is not here, but raised up. Remember how he told you when you were still back in Galilee that he had to be handed over to sinners, be killed on a cross, and in three days rise up?” Then they remembered Jesus’ words.

They left the tomb and broke the news of all this to the Eleven and the rest. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them kept telling these things to the apostles, but the apostles didn’t believe a word of it, thought they were making it all up.

But Peter jumped to his feet and ran to the tomb. He stooped to look in and saw a few grave clothes, that’s all. He walked away puzzled, shaking his head.

via Luke 24:1-12

The resurrected Jesus is in charge of everything, forever!

Tags

Authority, Easter, Energy, Ephesians 1, Eternity, God's government, Resurrection, Universe

Jesus is in charge

Who is Jesus? The very Son of God who, as man, died for us and is now resurrected. But in His resurrection, God has put Him in charge of everything. Nothing is exempt at all. Not a single thing.

So, how long will he be in charge? Imagine billions and billions of years. Imagine it never ending. That is hard to get my mind around some days because this is a world where things come to an end. In Jesus, who is in charge of everything forever, I live and have the same life. This is His gift to me.

God is God. He is in charge. He has given all authority to His Son Jesus, our Master. He is the Messiah.

All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. Ephesians 1:20 via Ephesians | YouVersion.

This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What’s next, Papa?" ~~Apostle Paul

Tags

Adventure, Apostle Paul, Bold, Courage, Easter, Jesus, Resurrection, Romans 8

What is next Papa?

We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. We share in His resurrection and live a resurrection life. We get to share the adventure and an adventure it is. We shout like children, “What’s next?”

Who knows but it will be fun. So very exciting. We live a resurrection life.

God has a goal for us. He wants, so very much, for us to live the resurrected life of our Master Jesus. He wants us to have courage and be bold. He wants us to have a “What’s next, Papa?” kind of attitude.

This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” ~~Apostle Paul Romans 8:15 (MSG)

We are on our way to Jerusalem with Jesus

Tags

God's Goal, Jerusalem, Jesus, Listen, Luke 18, Resurrection

Jesus destiny was in Jerusalem. God’s goal for Him would come to pass there. He would die and be raised from the dead by the amazing power of the Holy Spirit. But notice how this was framed. He took the 12 aside and clearly said “We”. Jerusalem just wasn’t for Jesus.

The good news of the new agreement God has with us is that we have died and been raised to a new life in Him. Oh my goodness. We went to Jerusalem with Jesus. We have shared in his death and resurrection. We have the power of the Holy Spirit, that raised Him from the dead, in us.

God’s goal for us is to live a resurrected life with Jesus.

Then Jesus took the Twelve off to the side and said, “Listen carefully. We’re on our way up to Jerusalem.” Luke 18:31

May I see how I am a new human being in Him.

May I know that the old me was crucified with Him and the new me was raised up in Him.

God Thoughts: He is not here

Tags

Angel, Jesus, Mark 16, Resurrection

It is a simple message but the most powerful one I can know. I should not be afraid. Jesus was crucified. He has risen! God so loved me that He sent him to redeem me. The price has been paid and He has risen, defeating death. God is great. Nothing is impossible with Him. 

What an amazing God we have! And how fortunate I am to have Him! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, I’ve been given a brand-new life!

May I fully know the power of the risen Savior.

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. ‘Don’t be alarmed,’ he said. ‘You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. Mark 16

 

Do we know our assignment?

Tags

Generosity, Jesus, Resurrection, Romans 1, Urgent

We have been given an assignment. God has things he wants us to do. Some of that got started with the prophets. That was all preliminary to what we need to focus on right now to achieve His goals for the world. We received the gift and we need, urgently so, to pass it on to those God has called to be a part of His mission.

And so, we must devote our self as someone who is completely owned by our Master. He is our Master. We must do all that He asks of us. And we must be urgent about. There is not time to sit around eating bon bons. Souls are at stake. This is God’s goal for us.

May I trust Him every step of the way. May I get on with it urgently.

I, Paul, am a devoted slave of Jesus the Messiah, on assignment, authorized as an apostle to proclaim God’s words and acts. I write this letter to all the believers in Rome, God’s friends. The sacred writings contain preliminary reports by the prophets on God’s Son. His descent from David roots him in history; his unique identity as Son of God was shown by the Spirit when Jesus was raised from the dead, setting him apart as the Messiah, our Master. Through him we received both the generous gift of his life and the urgent task of passing it on to others who receive it by entering into obedient trust in Jesus. You are who you are through this gift and call of Jesus the Messiah! And I greet you now with all the generosity of God our Father and our Master Jesus, the Messiah. Romans 1:1-7

Where does authority in God’s world come from?

Tags

Authority, Galatians 1, Jesus, Resurrection

I live and work in a world where authority comes from a vote or an appointment. I see, every day, titles of people who have been “hired” or appointed to do something. Is that where my authority comes from? No, my authority, if I have any whatsoever, comes from God.

That is all there is to know. In God’s world (and that is the world I really live in), He is in control. He makes the appointments. My authority comes from Him. That is all there is to it but it is way to easy to forget that. God is God. He, and He alone, gives authority to whom He chooses. It is not up to us.

I, Paul, and my companions in faith here, send greetings to the Galatian churches. My authority for writing to you does not come from any popular vote of the people, nor does it come through the appointment of some human higher-up. It comes directly from Jesus the Messiah and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.

~~Galatians 1:1-5

Here are the key ideas:

• Authority comes from God and not from anyone else.
• Authority is rooted in the resurrection of Jesus and the power demonstrated by God in that act.
• Elections and appointments don’t matter to God. He is in control, not us.

“Those who have lived the wrong way, will walk into a resurrection Judgment.” ~~Jesus

Tags

Jesus, Jesus Sayings, John 5, Judgement, Resurrection

Jesus is always clear. There will be a resurrection. There will also be a  judgement. Those who have lived the right way are going to walk into life. Those who haven’t won’t. No confusion here at all. I acknowledge that I am clear about this.

God is God. He is the only Judge. He has also given all judgement over to His son, Jesus the Messiah. I am clear about that as well. There is a resurrection of life. In Him, we live that kind of life.

May I stay clear and live the resurrection life.

“Those who have lived the wrong way, will walk into a resurrection Judgment.” ~~Jesus John 5:28-29 (The Message)