More than two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ, the son of a modest carpenter, did the unthinkable! People are still talking about it today; He rose from the dead!
Following his crucifixion three days prior, the world awoke to news of His empty tomb. Our lives have never been the same since!
Why does Jesus’ resurrection mean so much to us; and just why do we celebrate Easter? It’s about realising how much Christ gave up so that we wouldn’t have to! How He died on the cross so that we could have eternal life.
We spend a great deal of time at funerals right here on earth. This Easter, how did you mark the ‘ultimate funeral’ of a man who died to give you life?
When Christ died on the cross, every curse and plague that troubled man died with him! But many of us don’t know it. Jesus redeemed us from the curse, including poverty, sickness and spiritual death. Christ was rich, but for our sakes, he became poor that we might be rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). If you’re poor or sick today, that’s a grave error.
But just why are so many people still broke and sick?
We fail to live in the fullness of God’s Promises because we don’t even know what they are: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6). Don’t be one of them!
According to the gift of the Good News, “we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us” (Philippians 4:13). Christ died so that we would become limitless; so we would “dominate” and “bear much fruit,” just as God intended (Genesis 1:26, John 15:8). Suffering is not our lot in life. Jesus already bought our freedom at a price ÔÇô his life!
Many of us are beaten and downtrodden today because we fail to recognise, and capitalise, on the favour bestowed on us by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We live lives of untapped and unfulfilled potential because while “we have eyes but we do not see; and we have ears, we do not hear.” (Jeremiah 5:2). Starting today, open your eyes to God’s blessings in your life.
Consider this fable of Dr. Matsietsa, who died and went to heaven. He found Peter waiting for him at the pearly gates, to give him a guided tour.
Amidst the splendour of the golden streets, beautiful mansions and choirs of angels, Dr. Matsietsa noticed an odd, warehouse-type building. He asked if he could look inside but Peter discouraged him: “you really don’t want to go in there,” he cautioned.
Intrigued, Dr. Matsietsa wondered what secrets heaven could possibly have to hide from him, so he insisted: “Please let me see inside that building.” Finally, Peter relented. He unlocked the door and Dr. Matsietsa rushed inside!
Inside, he noticed row after row of shelves stretching from the floor to the ceiling. Each shelf was stacked neatly with white boxes, tied with red ribbons.
“All these boxes have names on them,” he remarked. “Do I have one?”
“Yes,” Peter hesitated, “But if I was you, I wouldn’t….”
Before he could finish his sentence, Dr. Matsietsa had already bolted to the “M” aisle to locate his box. Tearing off the lid, what he saw inside made his stop dead in his tracks. Overcome with distress; and just like all the others, he let out a huge sigh. Inside the box, Dr. Matsietsa saw all the blessings God had wanted to give him while he was on earth, but he’d never made use of them.
We’re told, “No good thing will God withhold from those who walk uprightly,” (Psalm 84:11). Yet Dr. Matsietsa, like so many of us today, failed to activate his blessings by knowing the Word and declaring it over his life.
Jesus promised: “Ask and it will be given unto you” (Matthew 7:7).
He also said, “You do not have because you do not ask” (James 4:2).
Become aware of the power of the blood Christ shed for you, and the doors it opens! “If you live in Me and My words…continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you” (John 15: 7-8). Use God’s Word to declare His blessings over your life. What’re you waiting for?
Try using these declarations, coined by renowned preacher, Charles Capps. Remember, life and death are in the power of the tongue! Use your tongue to create life!
For Positive Thoughts: “My mind is renewed by the Word of God: therefore, I forbid thoughts of failure and defeat to inhabit my mind.”┬á (HYPERLINK “http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Eph.%204.23″Ephesians 4:23)┬á
For Divine Health: “Christ has redeemed me from the curse of the law. Therefore, I forbid any sickness or disease to come upon this body. Every disease germ and every virus that touches this body dies instantly, in the name of Jesus. Every organ and every tissue of this body functions in the perfection to which God created it to function, and I forbid any malfunction in this body, in the name of Jesus” (Galatians 3:13, Romans 8:11; Genesis l:30; Matthew l6:19).
For Prosperity: “I am like a tree planted by rivers of water. I bring forth fruit in my season, my leaf shall not wither, and whatsoever I do will prosper.” (HYPERLINK “http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ps.%201.3″Psalms 1:3)
“The Lord is my shepherd and I do not want because Jesus was made poor that I through His poverty might have abundance. For He came that I might have life and have it more abundantly” (Psalms 23:1; II Corinthians 8:9; John 10:10).
“The Lord has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant, and Abraham’s blessings are mine” (Psalms 35:27; Galatians 3:14).
Make your own declarations based on the Word and use them repeatedly. Jesus paid the ultimate price to set you free. Enjoy that freedom and favour – it’s a matter of life and death!
Make it a great week!
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