An Easter Message. . .
You Can Receive New Life and Hope for the Future!
Friend, soon, the Christian Church will celebrate Resurrection Sunday, more commonly known to the world as "Easter."
Starting with "Good Friday," we honor the blood Jesus shed for you and me on the cross that historic day at Calvary 2,000 years ago, so we could be assured that our sins are forgiven and we will spend eternity in heaven with God.
As incredible and pivotal that "main event" is to the life and faith of all believers from the foundation of the world until now, it wouldn't be complete without what happened three days later - the greatest event in history!
"He is Risen!"
Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. Then the angel spoke to the women. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn't here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead..." (Matthew 28:1-7, NLT)
The Gospel of Jesus Christ -- the good news of His death, burial and resurrection -- is vastly different than every other religion in the world. We do not believe in a God that lies dead in the grave...Our God is alive! He is risen! What does this mean to you and me? God's Word says that because Jesus rose from the dead; we, who have been born again and are in Him, have the awesome promise of eternal life in heaven with Jesus:
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. (1 Corinthians 15:20-23, NIV)
Beloved, think about it! We are so filled with the busyness of daily life, especially at Easter time -- going to Church, then to Grandma's, then falling into bed stuffed with a delicious Easter meal. Are we really focused on what's most important?
Friend, people are perishing every day...every hour...every minute! According to the World Health Organization's report a few years ago, some 56 million deaths occur per year at the current global average. That works out to about 153,400 per day, or a little more than 100 per minute.
How many of these precious souls know the Savior? Look at this portion of the Scripture above again: "...so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.
Jesus Christ is coming soon...very soon! There is not much time left!
Take a moment now; stop whatever you are doing! Repent over anything that you have allowed to come between you and God or that has become more important than reaching the lost in your world with the life-saving, life-changing message of the Gospel.
Make a new heart-commitment to Jesus now that you will never be ashamed of Him, but will share Him freely as His Spirit guides and empowers you. The Father knows your heart...when God sees that you are willing and obedient, desiring to touch the lives of others with His saving grace, He will raise up divine appointments in your path. Step out in faith, speaking and doing what He shows you, and you will experience the greatest joy and victory there is -- seeing a lost soul come to Christ.
This Easter -- and every day -- make an eternal difference in someone's life by sharing the real reason we celebrate the glorious resurrection of the risen Son of God!
Starting with "Good Friday," we honor the blood Jesus shed for you and me on the cross that historic day at Calvary 2,000 years ago, so we could be assured that our sins are forgiven and we will spend eternity in heaven with God.
As incredible and pivotal that "main event" is to the life and faith of all believers from the foundation of the world until now, it wouldn't be complete without what happened three days later - the greatest event in history!
"He is Risen!"
Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. Then the angel spoke to the women. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn't here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead..." (Matthew 28:1-7, NLT)
The Gospel of Jesus Christ -- the good news of His death, burial and resurrection -- is vastly different than every other religion in the world. We do not believe in a God that lies dead in the grave...Our God is alive! He is risen! What does this mean to you and me? God's Word says that because Jesus rose from the dead; we, who have been born again and are in Him, have the awesome promise of eternal life in heaven with Jesus:
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. (1 Corinthians 15:20-23, NIV)
Beloved, think about it! We are so filled with the busyness of daily life, especially at Easter time -- going to Church, then to Grandma's, then falling into bed stuffed with a delicious Easter meal. Are we really focused on what's most important?
Friend, people are perishing every day...every hour...every minute! According to the World Health Organization's report a few years ago, some 56 million deaths occur per year at the current global average. That works out to about 153,400 per day, or a little more than 100 per minute.
How many of these precious souls know the Savior? Look at this portion of the Scripture above again: "...so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.
Jesus Christ is coming soon...very soon! There is not much time left!
Take a moment now; stop whatever you are doing! Repent over anything that you have allowed to come between you and God or that has become more important than reaching the lost in your world with the life-saving, life-changing message of the Gospel.
Make a new heart-commitment to Jesus now that you will never be ashamed of Him, but will share Him freely as His Spirit guides and empowers you. The Father knows your heart...when God sees that you are willing and obedient, desiring to touch the lives of others with His saving grace, He will raise up divine appointments in your path. Step out in faith, speaking and doing what He shows you, and you will experience the greatest joy and victory there is -- seeing a lost soul come to Christ.
This Easter -- and every day -- make an eternal difference in someone's life by sharing the real reason we celebrate the glorious resurrection of the risen Son of God!