The death of Christ was News, but his Resurrection was a greater News. When something or someone dies, expectations fade, but with Resurrection, comes renewed expectations. If you are going through a "dying" process; it's not the end, but a transition to a more glorious phase of life. The News of your "Resurrection" will be greater than the News of your "dying" process.
"For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. (Job 14:7-8).If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come."Vs 14
Nothing truly lives its full potential without undergoing a "dying" process. Just like the two Disciples of Christ who retired to Emmaus their home town, were bewildered by the death of Christ; people would never see any reason why a Child of God should go through the valley of the shadows of death. Here is the good news; the glory of a seed is only manifested after its outer coat decays.
Christ said: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.John 12:24
Listen! We can't amount to anything in God's kingdom; if we refuse to allow God to "kill us," in order to make us alive. Today, believers know too little about the "dying" process; that is why, our numbers as believers have not translated into a potent move of God that literally transforms cities and nations.
The power to change the world is in the Resurrected life that comes through our death to sin, self and the vanities of this world. The church can become a powerful force of change in every community, society and nation if we experience what Paul wrote to the Galatians.
"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." Gla 2:20
It is natural for the human nature to resist the "dying" process. Remember, Peter rebuked Christ when he spoke of his death, but it was through the death of Christ that salvation and redemption were purchased for all humanity. We wonder at times why we are unable to transform cities and nations for Christ, despite all we have and do. The power to change the world is in the crucified and resurrected life.
It is possible to do all the church activities we want and still not change anything. It's possible to serve as a minister throughout one's lifetime without being used of God to lead any significant move of God that literary transforms lives, communities, societies and nations. We can be busy traveling from one nation to another, and yet be of no menace to hell.
Hell can't stand the resurrected life; the resurrected life comes only after our full surrender to the will of God. The cross of Christ is greater than the wooden tree on which he was crucified. The cross of Christ began when he said in the garden of Gethsemane. "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will." Matt 26:39.
Every Easter, some people in the Philippines try to enact the Crucifixion by nailing themselves on wooden crosses because of the religious idea of the cross. When we surrender to the will of God daily, we will experience the fellowship of his sufferings and the power of a resurrected life. This is beyond religion! DrBenard Etta
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