Pastor Stephen Dedman

Category: Encouragement

He Is Risen

Encouragement

“He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”
Matthew 28:6

Today we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Easter Sunday is a day that the world can be assured that God keeps His promises. 

Because Jesus lived a perfect and holy life on this Earth, His blood that was shed on the cross became the atonement for our sins. Jesus became the spotless lamb that satisfied the wrath of God. 

Jesus defeated death and sin by raising Himself to new life. Only God could do such a magnificent and miraculous work. That is why we worship and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He is alive!

Only Jesus could live, die and live again. All power and majesty are given unto Him! 

Because He is risen, we have hope and assurance in salvation. One day we all shall leave this Earth. But glory to God we shall see Jesus face to face. 

Heaven awaits us for eternal life in perfect harmony and glory where there is no more sin! No more death! No more tears! No more suffering! 

It’s all because of Jesus. It’s all because Jesus lived. It’s all because Jesus died. It’s all because He lives! 

Celebrate today with joy because God so loved the world that He gave us His only Son so that all who believe in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Our faith hinges on the resurrection of Jesus. Paul says, “And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile (worthless and powerless); you are still in your sins!” (I Corinthians 15:17) 

Let your faith in Jesus be the proof that others may see and believe.

Pray

Lord, I praise Your great name. You have opened my eyes to see who You are and I believe in You. Show me Your glory and increase my faith.

Silent Saturday

Encouragement

And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.
‭‭Luke‬ ‭23‬:‭55‬-‭56‬

The sun was starting to set and they took Jesus off the cross and placed His body in a tomb that was carved out of the rock. They placed a heavy stone in front to keep anyone from entering in and stealing the body.

Saturday was the Sabbath. According to the law there was to be no work and no traveling. It was a day set aside to rest. The body of Jesus laid in rest and it was a silent, mournful Saturday.

The hours couldn’t pass fast enough. The women were anxious to get back to the tomb and anoint the body of Jesus with oils and spices. They were planning to prepare His body for final resting.

So what happened to Jesus when He died a sinner’s death? Jesus said in Matthew 12:40, “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

We also know that Jesus told the thief on the cross that he would be with Him in Paradise that same day. We will get our answers when we see Jesus face to face.

Are you anxiously waiting to see Jesus? Do you spend your days expecting Him to sound the trumpet and to see Him coming in the clouds? He is coming soon!

Pray

Lord, I know You are coming to get Your bride very soon. Help me to be ready and to share the good news with others. Thank You for conquering sin and death so I can have eternal life.

Good Friday

Encouragement

And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.
‭‭Mark‬ ‭15‬:‭37‬

Jesus’ earthly mission was to seek and to save the lost. (Luke 19:10) It was accomplished when Jesus died on the cross. God’s plan of salvation was complete.

Satan did everything in his power to keep Jesus from going to the cross. He even tried killing the lineage leading up to Jesus. Satan could not prevail.

When Jesus breathed His last breath, Satan knew it was over. God won and Satan was defeated. Today, Satan is just waiting for his time to be cast into the depths of hell. He has no future and he knows it.

Today, on this Friday before Easter Sunday, we remember what Jesus went through to save us from our sins. When we sin we must remember the price that Jesus paid so we don’t have to.

That alone should put a desire in our heart to seek to live righteous and holy lives. As born again believers, we have forgiveness of our sins because Jesus bore our sins on the cross. Praise God for sending His Son to save us!

We can have eternal life with God in heaven because Jesus paid it all. What sins do you need to confess and repent from? A sinless and righteous life is what we seek for.

Pray

Lord, thank You for dying in my place. You give me peace knowing I have eternal life. Forgive me and set me free from sin.