16/04/2017
Your Sunday is coming!
Matthew 28:1-9
The death and resurrection of Christ hold great significance for believers. From the story we learn how God works and the triumph of those that believe in him to the end.
There were three significant days in the resurrection story
1. The agony of Friday
Many times, God allow the devil to do his worst so that He God can reveal His worth. No body realized what God was up to as the events of the arrest and crucifixion of Christ unfolded 1 Corinthians 2:7-9. The devil did not know what God was up to. He did not realize that All his actions were leading to his own destruction. The disciples were sure Christ would never be arrested and die. Peter even rebuked him. Judas was so sure God would send angels to rescue Jesus.
You can never explain God, He ceases to be God the day you can.
I have learnt never to ask God "why" for two reasons. One, even if God explains, you can never understand while you are still in the midst of the trial. Secondly, there is always, all of the time a greater more important reason why God does everything he does. One thing that is always certain but never immediately clear is that God's thoughts are always of peace and to lead us to an expected end, a better end. In the midst of trials, The only prayer is that Lord, do not let me miss the point or the lesson you are passing. When you fail to grasp the lesson, you can prolong your trials or even suffer in vain.
With God, The greatest good can come from a situation that is hopeless
2. The silence of Saturday
That sabbath day before the resurrection morning must have been the most terrible for the disciples. They would have asked God "why" several times and like Jesus who looked for God's answer while hanging on the cross, they got no respite.
“And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.”
Luke 24:19-21 KJV
The disciples were so disappointed that they felt their trust had been misplaced. But God had a better plan. There is hope in your end. There is victory at last for you. The longer the battle, the sweeter the victory. God has not given up on you. He has not and cannot forget you. There is a higher plan or purpose of the Almighty that even your spiritual leaders and prophets cannot see. Stop doubting God's love for you.
God watched over every detail of His promise to Christ to accomplish them both in his life and after death on the cross.
We must learn to trust God' s judgement and take him at his words like fools. Be like the thief on the cross. He had no reason to trust Jesus-he was a complete stranger. Christ was bleeding to death just like the thief. Yet he believed that that was not the end of Jesus. A dying man putting his trust in another dying man. If the thief could trust a complete stranger, you can trust Jesus. You can recall one or two times, God has dealt faithfully with you. Have you ever called on him and he answered?
When I pray on some other requests and I see God answer immediately and in addition give me those things which I have not even asked for, I should know there is a higher purpose of his (I might not be immediately aware of) if he still delays that one outstanding request I have been earnestly praying for.
The disciples waited all Saturday. The biggest test any child of God can pass is the test of waiting. If you can pass that test successfully, nothing will be impossible unto you. He that believes does not make haste Isaiah 28:16
3. The glory of Sunday Matthew 28:1,2
The disciples woke up on Sunday to continue with their grief. They went up to the sepulcher prepared to shower their love on the body of their master. None of them was prepared for the victory of that resurrection morning.
But we are told
It was a new dawn. No wonder the Bible says when the Lord turned the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dreamed Psalms 126:1. Weeping may endure for the night but Joy comes in the morning Psalms 30:5. Your morning of victory shall dawn. Your morning of glory shall come speedily. Those that have always gathered to mourn with you or console you shall be shocked at what God will do in your life. Those that have assumed the position of God in your life will see your God show up.
The resurrection marked the end of the sabbath. The sabbath represented the crown of the law, its boundaries and limitations. With Jesus' resurrection at the end of the sabbath, it marked the beginning of beginnings. By His resurrection, he established a new order, broke from our neck the yoke of bo***ge and made abundantly available the inheritance of a godly heritage. Since that morning, calendars have changed, worship has moved from the seventh day to the first day. This resurrection celebration shall be a beginning of wonders in your life. It shall be that season you will mark out as when the Lord visited you and gave you a new song.
The resurrection was with a shaking. It's not surprising that many times when God wants to do a marvelous thing, there is always a shaking. Paul and Silas, Israel at Jericho, Host of Egypt at the Red Sea can testify to that. His presence dislodges the stronghold of the enemy. It dismantles their weapons of warfare and paralyzes their soldiers turning them as unto dead men. God has promised once again that on your behalf
“Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.”
Haggai 2:6-9 KJV
http://bible.us/1/hag.2.6-9.kjv
Hallelujah! There is glory in my story
For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. The silver is mine, an...
