He Conquered the Grave

1 Corinthians 15:54-56 (New International Version)

[54]When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." [55]
"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" [56]The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.


Are you afraid of dieing? Does death seam like the ultimate unknown to you? Let me tell you a short story.

God had a plan from the very begining (do you ever wonder when the begining was? It was a long time ago that's for sure!) When the time was right, he came to us in the body of a man whom his earthly mother named Jesus. Jesus walked our earth and felt our human pains. He even felt the pains of sin when he lifted your sins onto his back in Gethsemane. You know this story, I'm sure. But there's more - the best part.

Jesus took our sin--the sin of all humanity--on his shoulders and he bore it to a hill where separation from God broke his heart and killed him. But that was not the end. When Jesus said, "It is finished," he didn't mean it's over. He didn't say, that's all there is left of me. He said, it is finished! I did it! It's done! He said, Victory is mine! I've paid the price. And then he died.

Jesus was laid away in a tomb just before the Sabbath, and after the Sabbath he rose up from the dead. He conquered the grave, and the ultimate plan of salvation was complete. Jesus conquered the grave.

So what does this mean to us? It means that a) we are sinners saved by grace, b) Jesus knows about death. The second of these I will emphasize. Jesus lived on this earth in complete obedience to Father God. When he took up his cross and died on it, his obedience to the Father was complete - he lay down his life and became obedient even to death. Paul sums this up quite thoroughly in Phillipians 2:

[6]Who [Christ], being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, [7]but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness. [8]And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!
-Phillippians 2:6-8 

What then is the result of Christ's obedience to death? Let's read on through the next few verses:
 
[9] Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
[10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Wow. Because Christ was fully obedient, even to death, God the Father gave him the victory and exalted him. (It wasn't a small exaltation either). Jesus was victorious over death!

[9]For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. -Romans 6:9

Where, O Death is your sting? Where is your victory?! Why do you fear death? Why are you afraid to suffer? Jesus done it already. Why do we fear for those about to die? Jesus holds the keys of death itself!
If you don't find this exciting then please, wake up!

God holds the keys to hell and one day he will open that place for Satan. Jesus holds the keys to death and one day, many of us who are now alive will die. Many have already died. It will be disputed possibly till Jesus returns what will happen to us when we die, but be at peace in your heart, because Jesus is victorious over even death itself.

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." -1 Corinthians 15:54

The Good Shepherd - Being a Follower

We've all seen a Nativity or Bible story picture with shepherds in it. They're the guys with sheep and bent sticks. When I was younger I wondered where they got those neat bent sticks from and how they got bent in the first place. I want you to keep that image in your mind as you read this post.




John 10 (New Internation Version)

[2]The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. [3]The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. [4]When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.

How do we as Christians relate to following Jesus? How can we know that what we are following really is Jesus and not someone else? And how do we become better followers?

Hearing God's Voice. Do you believe that God still speaks to people as he did to people in the Bible? Believe it or not, He does. I fully believe that I hear God's voice. But is hearing His voice enough? Sheep can hear anyone's voice, even the theif and the robber who climbs over the wall of the fold. So what do we do when we hear God?

As I was talking to God a week or so ago I asked him, ironically enough, how to hear his voice. He gave me three words: Listen, Believe, and Obey.
Listen. Listen for the voice of God. "...and the sheep listen to his voice." Anyone can hear God if he wants to be heard, but you must listen to his voice. He will call you out, even by name, to lead you. If you listen attentively, the voice of God will become unlike all the rest - you will know his voice.

Believe. Believe it is the voice of God calling you out. Knowing and believing are two separate actions. I may know that people use and study all kinds of advanced chemistry science all the time, but I will never believe that anything down to a molecular level is of any use! You must believe in your own heart which voice to follow--for there will be many other voices--and then, follow it!

Obey. You can listen and believe all you want, but there's no use in either if you will not follow the call of God. You cannot remain in the fold within the four walls of the Law and Religion and the fear of striking out, you must follow the call of God.

These are the three steps you should take to hearing God and initially, following him. But what about false shepherds? This would be what some refer to as the anti-christ.

[4]"When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice."

A true shepherd does not go behind the flock and prod with the stick. He does not nudge them on their way from behind. No. The staff serves a purpose but this is a case in which following truly means following.
A leader leads by example - so Christ led by example - and he continues on ahead of us. We must listen to his voice and follow. If we will follow him, he will lead us.

Psalm 23 (NIV)

A psalm of David.

[1] The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. [2] He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters, [3] he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake. [4] Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
[5] You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows. [6] Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

What Do You Want?

Proverbs 6:6-15 (New International Version)

[6] Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!

School is almost out for the summer and isn't everyone excited? I know I sure am! But what do your summer plans entail? I hear it already, "I'm gonna party all night and sleep till noon (and thoroughly enjoy the ruination of my sleeping pattern!)"

What will you do with your summer? Where will you be in your relationship with God this fall? Where do you want to be? Does it involve playing your xBox all night, sleeping till noon and spending the rest of the day equally or less productive as your night? Let me refer back to the words of Solomon here - Go to the ant you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise! What do you want to do with your summer?

[7] It has no commander,

no overseer or ruler,
[8] yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.

So what is he saying here, and how can we relate it to our spiritual lives? Like an ant we should take the opportunity to increase in what we can. We should take up every opportunity to grow our relationship in Christ. So what do you want to do with your summer?

Let's just take a look at the next three verse

[9] How long will you lie there, you sluggard?

When will you get up from your sleep?
[10] A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest-
[11] and poverty will come on you like a bandit
and scarcity like an armed man.

Ouch! Harsh, isn't it. A common thing you may hear referred to in the Native way of life is their diligence in going to church all winter long but, when the summer comes, the churches close up.. no one comes to church. Why? Because they're out fishing and hunting. Good practice? Perhaps. But here's what God says,

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? -Matthew 6:25

So what should we be concerned about? What should you do with your summer?
 
Hone in on God. He's got you covered, you don't have to worry about your life if you've given it over to him, but don't live asleep, don't just lie there doing nothing. Get up! Talk to God. Ask him question, get to know him a little better than the latest gaming console. Grow in and build on your relationship with him so that you may guide, teach and mentor others to do the same. What do you want to do with your summer? 
 
Get intimate with God