The Resurrection and the Life
There comes a time each year when we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus. What a sacrifice, what a precious price He paid for us! But what are we letting that resurrection do for us personally – what does it really mean to us as we face each of our days?
At the tomb of Lazarus, in the midst of all the grief and sorrow resulting from her beloved brother’s recent death – words of life and power broke through the atmosphere as Jesus proclaimed to Martha, “Your brother will rise again!!” (John 11.23)
But even in the presence of those faith-charged words, Martha did not catch the meaning. Still overcome by grief she replied, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day” (John 11.24).
To her, she knew God was able, that He was willing, and that He would do it for her. But she saw Him doing it somewhere way off in the future – instead of in the present moment.
Jesus, in His great compassion, was not about to leave her in that condition. Looking deep into her eyes, He said: “I AM the Resurrection and the Life! He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?” (vv.25-26).
Jesus brought it into present tense when He said, “I AM” – not “I WAS” or “I’m going to be” – but “I AM”. He went on to say that whoever lives and believes in Him would never see death. Then He posed the question – “Do you BELIEVE this?” He’s asking you and me the same thing today – Do you BELIEVE this? Do you BELIEVE that I AM the Resurrection and the Life in your situation? Do you BELIEVE that I can resurrect that which has died in your life? Do you BELIEVE I can restore your life to you – give you LIFE abundantly?
Martha’s reply was awesome: “Yes, Lord I BELIEVE You are the Christ [Anointed One]…” (John 11.27).
Yes, Lord, I BELIEVE. That is all it took. Her spoken word of faith, “I believe”, released Jesus to act in her behalf and her brother was raised from the dead.
That is all it will take for each of us to see raised from the dead whatever has become dead in our lives. All God is looking for is someone who will dare to BELIEVE that what He has said He will make good. He is looking for faith.
“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men ought always to pray and not lose heart. And He said, “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I fear not God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’
Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall not God avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, WILL HE REALLY FIND FAITH ON THE EARTH ?” (Luke 18.1-8)
What will be your answer? Will He find you in doubt, grief, and unbelief – or will He find you full of faith in Him? I want Him to find me living on the believing side of life every day. How about you?
Whatever represents death or deadness of something God has promised you in your life – He wants to resurrect. And He wants to do it in the now. All He’s searching for is someone who will BELIEVE.
“(As it is written, ‘I have made you a father of many nations’) in the presence of Him whom he [Abraham] BELIEVED – God, WHO GIVES LIFE TO THE DEAD and calls those things which do not exist as though they did…” (Romans 4.17).
HE GIVES LIFE TO THE DEAD! In Hebrews 11 (the great “Hall of Faith” chapter), it says: “Women received their dead raised to life again…” (Hebrews 11.35).
How would you like to see your dead – dreams, relationships, prosperity, unsaved loved ones – raised to life again?! Well it is available. And it is all within our reach. All we each have to do is BELIEVE that God is true to His Word always – and that He meant what He said.
He is ready to fill you with as much Resurrection and Life that you’re willing to receive. All He is waiting for is for us to look Him in the eye and say, “Lord, I BELIEVE”… and never break that gaze of intent trust in Him.
He will fill your life with far more than you could dream… He is YOUR RESURRECTION and YOUR LIFE !!
“For my determined purpose is that I may KNOW HIM and the power of His RESURRECTION…” Philippians 3.10 AMP
Copyright © First Love Ministries International aka FERVOUR
All Rights Reserved
There comes a time each year when we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus. What a sacrifice, what a precious price He paid for us! But what are we letting that resurrection do for us personally – what does it really mean to us as we face each of our days?
At the tomb of Lazarus, in the midst of all the grief and sorrow resulting from her beloved brother’s recent death – words of life and power broke through the atmosphere as Jesus proclaimed to Martha, “Your brother will rise again!!” (John 11.23)
But even in the presence of those faith-charged words, Martha did not catch the meaning. Still overcome by grief she replied, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day” (John 11.24).
To her, she knew God was able, that He was willing, and that He would do it for her. But she saw Him doing it somewhere way off in the future – instead of in the present moment.
Jesus, in His great compassion, was not about to leave her in that condition. Looking deep into her eyes, He said: “I AM the Resurrection and the Life! He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?” (vv.25-26).
Jesus brought it into present tense when He said, “I AM” – not “I WAS” or “I’m going to be” – but “I AM”. He went on to say that whoever lives and believes in Him would never see death. Then He posed the question – “Do you BELIEVE this?” He’s asking you and me the same thing today – Do you BELIEVE this? Do you BELIEVE that I AM the Resurrection and the Life in your situation? Do you BELIEVE that I can resurrect that which has died in your life? Do you BELIEVE I can restore your life to you – give you LIFE abundantly?
Martha’s reply was awesome: “Yes, Lord I BELIEVE You are the Christ [Anointed One]…” (John 11.27).
Yes, Lord, I BELIEVE. That is all it took. Her spoken word of faith, “I believe”, released Jesus to act in her behalf and her brother was raised from the dead.
That is all it will take for each of us to see raised from the dead whatever has become dead in our lives. All God is looking for is someone who will dare to BELIEVE that what He has said He will make good. He is looking for faith.
“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men ought always to pray and not lose heart. And He said, “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I fear not God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’
Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall not God avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, WILL HE REALLY FIND FAITH ON THE EARTH ?” (Luke 18.1-8)
What will be your answer? Will He find you in doubt, grief, and unbelief – or will He find you full of faith in Him? I want Him to find me living on the believing side of life every day. How about you?
Whatever represents death or deadness of something God has promised you in your life – He wants to resurrect. And He wants to do it in the now. All He’s searching for is someone who will BELIEVE.
“(As it is written, ‘I have made you a father of many nations’) in the presence of Him whom he [Abraham] BELIEVED – God, WHO GIVES LIFE TO THE DEAD and calls those things which do not exist as though they did…” (Romans 4.17).
HE GIVES LIFE TO THE DEAD! In Hebrews 11 (the great “Hall of Faith” chapter), it says: “Women received their dead raised to life again…” (Hebrews 11.35).
How would you like to see your dead – dreams, relationships, prosperity, unsaved loved ones – raised to life again?! Well it is available. And it is all within our reach. All we each have to do is BELIEVE that God is true to His Word always – and that He meant what He said.
He is ready to fill you with as much Resurrection and Life that you’re willing to receive. All He is waiting for is for us to look Him in the eye and say, “Lord, I BELIEVE”… and never break that gaze of intent trust in Him.
He will fill your life with far more than you could dream… He is YOUR RESURRECTION and YOUR LIFE !!
“For my determined purpose is that I may KNOW HIM and the power of His RESURRECTION…” Philippians 3.10 AMP
Copyright © First Love Ministries International aka FERVOUR
All Rights Reserved