I AM The Resurrection And The Life

 

Is there resurrection without life, I ask?

Jesus, from my eyes, remove the blinding mask,

Which keeps my eyes from all the full good You give

With partial truth, I no longer want to live.

 

Speak to me Jesus, as You spoke long ago,

When You told grieved Martha, what she did not know,

You are the resurrection and the life too,

Having one, not the other, just will not do.

 

Open my ears, my eyes and heart Lord Jesus,

For Your quickening word I’m desirous,

To live with half-truth, is in no way Your style,

And Jesus, I’ve been living thus, all the while.

 

Thank You Jesus, for this blindness removing,

Where truth in me You are planting and proving,

As you use Lazarus complete truth to tell,

And like him, remove all my grave-clothes as well.

 

You raised Lazarus and called him from the tomb,

The grave, for the living, just had no more room,

Lazarus! Come forth! The dead heard Your loud call,

And immediately came out, grave-clothes and all.  

 

You resurrected the dead, all eyes could see,

But to live Your life, Lazarus was not free,

Risen, but still bound by the trappings of death,

Resurrection’s more than receiving life-breath.

 

Resurrection and life, Jesus must give both,

One without the other is of little worth,

For when Jesus raises people from the dead,

Binding grave-clothes must be loosed from foot to head.

Amen!

 

 

Hearers

 

April 26

HEARERS – We are all warned that to be a hearer of the Word and not a doer of the Word is most futile. We all hear the exact Good News of Love and Jesus dying to save us. We are all called to repentance, to turn from our own self ways and follow Jesus. However, responses are totally different, as many stubbornly refuse to do as the Word commands. You have heard the Word. Are you a hearer only, or a hearer and doer?

 

Blessed are those who hear and do not forebear. The Lord receives the penitent sinners. Amen!

 

Read James 1: 22 - 25

 

 

Jesus, Stumbling Stone

 

April 25

JESUS, STUMBLING STONE – Why are people still stumbling over this Stone? It’s because faith in Jesus is foiled. It is faith in this Stone, which ensures that whoever believes will never be put to shame. Faith is in our own good deeds and not in the Stone. As long as the Stone is rejected, we will know the shame of being crushed to pieces. However, when we fall on the Stone, we are broken and come to deep, sorrowful repentance. Such a broken and contrite heart is never despised by the Rock.

Jesus, do I trust You and know Your abiding peace? Your Word is free to all, yet Your Word is a Stumbling Stone, because we continue to seek You according to law and human works.  Unless I am broken, I will never know change. Break me Lord. Amen!

Read 1 Peter 2: 6 - 8

 

Silent As A Stone

 

April 24

SILENT AS A STONE - Israel’s God is our God, a God who never changes, as His mercies endure forever. Are there enemies attacking you, enemies too plentiful and too powerful for your weak, frail efforts to protect yourself?  God is your Heavenly Father and He will not simply stand back and see His helpless child being devoured by ferocious wolves and do nothing. He will not be spoken of by any, as a Father who has failed to rescue His own child, who is crying out to Him for help. Keep calling out to Him! Believe without wavering! See how your Heavenly Father will make your enemies dead, quiet and silent as a stone.

Heavenly Father, help me to keep my trust in You. Amen!

Read Exodus 15: 13 - 16

 

Pure Spiritual Milk

 

April 23

PURE SPIRITUAL MILK - We are admonished and encouraged, like new-born babies, to crave for pure Spiritual milk. If we do so, the food which is produced in us will be, beyond any suspect, not just beautiful, but it will be full and bountiful. Through our Spiritual breeding, nurturing and bonding, we will grow up in our salvation, knowing that the Lord is gracious, and good.

 

Father, in Jesus whom You have made our Cornerstone, a Living Stone, rejected by many, but chosen by You, we come seeking to be living stones after Him. Build us up in Your Spiritual house, Father, as Your holy priesthood. We will offer to You all we have become, under Your pure nourishment. Amen!

Read 1 Peter 2: 1 - 5

 

Strength Of God

 

April 22

STRENGTH OF GOD – Have you tasted of the Strength of Israel’s God, our God also, who is Super Supreme to all other gods? There is none to be compared with Him. He is all glorious in holiness, fearful in praise and doing mighty great wonders. His unquestionable power and might, will be witnessed by your enemies, as God never makes His own ashamed. As long as you remain in Him and believe in Him, Jesus will make your enemies His and will fight for you.

 

Holy God, let fear and dread fall upon the enemy, so they may know that You are God and there is no other God but You. Amen!

 

Read Deuteronomy 20: 1 - 4

 

Thanks BeTo God

 

April 21

THANKS BE TO GOD – Today, you can give God thanks for numerous things, but are you aware that you are alive today because He wants you alive? You are not here by chance, it is all God’s will. Will you use this moment as an opportunity to not just say thanks to Father, Sovereign God, but to offer your life anew to Him?

 

Father, Sovereign God, thank You for keeping me to this hour. I dedicate my life anew to You. Please make me a true testimony of who You are to sinners and how Your Peace and Love change lives for the better. Amen!

 

Read Psalm 107: 1 - 3

 

 

 

Your Birthstone

 

April 20

YOUR BIRTHSTONE – When you were born, you were given a birthstone. Perhaps you, like many, can tell the name and colour of your birthstone. However, do you know that all who are born of the Spirit, also have a birthstone? It is the Stone which the builders rejected, the Stone that is a stumbling block for all who are perishing. It is a Stone that cannot be crushed or defeated. For all who believe, it is the Stone of Revelation, that on which the Church is built. You and I are the Church. Let us be proud of our Birthstone. No evil can prevail against you.

Holy Jesus, we confess with shame that too often we have forgotten Your Words about the Church and have allowed the gates of hell to intimidate us. Help us please. Amen! 

Read Revelation 2: 17

 

Power And Authority

 

My power over demons, that you don’t dispute,

That I have the authority, you don’t refute,

But you think, when I ascended back to heaven,

This authority and power to none was given,

For in the way you think, you speak, you pray and act,

As though it’s a sad and most unfortunate fact,

I returned, with all My power over demons,

Leaving you, My Church, as helpless, defenseless ones,

Ravished and ransacked by the bold, vicious devil,

Who freely fruits in minds, his unhidden evil.

You agonize and cry to Me with unsound thought,

For your mind is filled with untruths, by Satan brought,

Yes, it’s the devil’s, to plunder and deceive,

With convincing falseness, which the faithless believe,

For all who know Me and in My Spirit abide,

Will show that My powers from them, I did not hide,

For one thing, demons in heaven will not be found,

They’re evil forces that ply their trade on the ground,

So why take with Me what in heaven I don’t need?

Why think, and propose Me as a Person of greed?

Why call yourself one of Mine, yet you know Me not?

As you lump Me with human actions, thoughts, the lot,

Demon spirits run havoc, as minds they possess,

And forthwith you become, My people all helpless.

No! Don’t let the same evil take hold of you too,

Denying powers, I’ve already endowed you;  

Just as I called the Twelve and gave them what is Mine,

Power and authority as in verse one, Luke Nine,

I still give all whom I send My work to do,

Victory over demons; they are conquered through you.

Amen!

 

Who Is A God Like Our God

 

April 19

WHO IS A GOD LIKE OUR GOD - We give God all the praise, glory, thanks and honour that’s due to His Matchless, Holy Name. We worship a God who sees, hears, knows and shows His goodness and mercy to all, as He wills. We bow before a God who has told us to call Him Father; a God who delights in calling us His children. We come as children of the resurrection, redeemed and completely washed in the powerful, life-freeing, life-cleansing, life-giving and life-sustaining Blood of Immanuel, Christ Jesus, Lamb of God. 

 

There’s no God like Jehovah! We are glad and we thank You for being our God. Amen!

 

Read 2 Samuel 7: 22