Matthew 28:18-20
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
INSIGHT
-Resurrection in Hebrew is written as quts which means to arise from the dead, awake or bring back to life. In Greek the word resurrection is derived from the root word Anastacia which means raising up, regeneration, renewal and revival. Jesus knew no sin but became sin so that we may live together with Him. He destroyed the power of death through His own death on the cross, and died ones and for all for the sake of our salvation. Apostle Paul writes in Philippians 3:10-11; “I want to know Christ yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” The disciples were commissioned to go into the world to make disciples of all nations, and baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They were charged by faith to accomplish this mission but suffered many thing for the sake of Christ. Like Paul, we are called to desire to know Christ more knowing that we have been crucified with Him and it is no longer us who live but Christ who lives in us. In the specific area of influence or in the ministries that we have been called, we are encouraged to radiate the glory of God for the glory of His name.
PRAYER
We celebrate Your triumphant victory Jesus over death, hell and sin. Thank You for holding the keys of death, and hell, and giving us the gift of eternal life. Thank You for the new life and the blessings that You have accorded us, that we make receive all our hearts desires and succeed in all our plans. Thank You for the victory that we have in You Lord God Almighty. Worthy are You Lamb of God, who was slain to receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and praise. All of creation bows down before You Lord Jesus. You are the King of kings, and the Lord of lords who has won victory for us and conquered death. May You help us in our ministries and purposes that we may do everything according to Your will. Help us to finish victoriously the work that You have called us to do. May You teach us to love You as You desire and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Thank You for loving us Abba Father. All our hope and trust is in You. Amen
Further reading: John 17:2-3, Revelation 1:18
Romans 6:5-6
“For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—”
INSIGHT
-It is through the sin of one man Adam that sin and death came into the world, and therefore death came to all people because all sinned. It is also through one Man Jesus Christ that we have received His abundant provision of grace and the gift of righteousness that we may reign in life (Romans 5:11-17). By the resurrection of Christ, our old self has been rendered powerless so that it can no longer enslave us to sin. If we believe in the resurrection of Christ, we need to desire in keeping with the life of Jesus Christ and have to make deliberate effort to live a holy life. A life committed to obedience to Christ and following His will.
PRAYER
Your grace is sufficient for us Lord Jesus and Your power is made perfect in weakness, and when we are weak then we are strong. Your grace reigns through righteousness to bring eternal life to our lives through You dear Jesus Christ our Lord. You have destroyed the power of sin and death, and we are no longer slaves to sin but slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. Help us Holy Spirit our Helper to always do Your will and to hearken to Your voice. May You protect us from every form of pain and shame caused by the enemy. May You give us leaders who will lead Your people in holiness and truth. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forever more. Amen
Further reading: Romans 6:18-19
John 11:25-26
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
INSIGHT
-The story of Lazarus exposes the power of resurrection and the glory that came with it. When Jesus told Martha that her brother would rise again, she believed in Jesus even though she never thought that Lazarus would be resurrected in the last day (John 11:23-24). Through the scriptures Jesus reminds us that He is the resurrection and the life, and whoever believes in His even through he dies, he will live, and whoever lives and believes he will never die. Sometimes we recite John 3:16 but we do not fully comprehend what it is all about. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 reminds us that through the death and resurrection of Jesus, we have hope in Jesus that He will bring to life those who die in Him; both in the present and in the future.
PRAYER
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, You reign in all the heavens and the earth. You are Mighty Jehovah, You reign. May You reign in our hearts that we may be established in Your truth and righteousness. May You cover us with Your precious blood and forgive us all our trespasses. May You fill us with Your power and gifts Holy Spirit that we may achieve everything that You have called us to do. May You anoint us with Your gift of healing so that we may pray for the sick and depressed, and they will be healed. May You fill us with the gift of miracles that we may pray for those who sleep and they may arise, for the glory and honor of Your name. May Your fill us with Your gifts and fruit Holy Spirit, that we may walk in Your resurrection power. All glory, honor, power, strength, blessings and salvation belongs to You Lord, now and forever. Amen
Further reading: 1 Corinthians 12:8-11, John 3:16
1 Peter 1:3-5
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”
INSIGHT
-Our resurrected Christ went to prepare a place for us in heaven so that where He is, we may be joined with Him. Jesus said to His disciples, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1-3). The resurrection of Christ assures us of an eternal inheritance in heaven by God’s power through the gift of salvation.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, we continually rejoice in Your glorious and triumphant victory over death. Your victory is our victory dear Jesus. May You grant us the grace to live by it, in it, and for it. We are forever grateful to You dear Jesus. May You guide our children as they prepare to go back to school. May You provide school fees and other incidentals to all the parents. May You bless the work of our hands and make all our plans succeed dear Jesus. May You open new opportunities for us prosper Abba Father. May You cover us with Your precious blood and answer all our hearts desires. Our Father who art in heaven; hallowed be Your name; Your Kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from evil; for thine is the Kingdom the power and the glory; forever and ever. Amen
Further reading: Matthew 7:21, Matthew 10:7
Ephesians 1:13-14
“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”
INSIGHT
-We have been bought at a price and are called to glorify God in our bodies and in spirit, which belong to God (1 Corinthians 6:20). We are therefore the purchased possession of the Holy Spirit, we who believe in the true message of salvation, having been sealed by the Holy Spirit. Our security is thus not in ourselves but it is in the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.
SUMMARY
The death and resurrection and Jesus marks the foundation of our faith as Christians. His life became the epitome from whom we reverence our livelihoods. The power of resurrection first is having a personal relationship with Christ through His precious gift of salvation. In Philippians 3:10-11 Paul says that, “I want to know Christ yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” 2 Timothy 2:8, enjoins us to remember that Jesus was raised from the dead.
Secondly, resurrection of Jesus Christ strengthens our faith. At communion we remember His death (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). Thirdly, the resurrection of Jesus Christ reminds us that we have been united in a death like His and we will be united in a resurrection like His. Therefore sin no longer has power over us (Romans 6:5-6). Fourthly, since Christ defeated sin and death, we have received His abundant provision of grace and the gift of righteousness that we may reign in life (Romans 5:11-17). We therefore have victory in Christ and are able to do good works as through His gifts and fruit. Fifth, resurrection gives us hope. It reminds us of the victory of Calvary. 1 Corinthians 2:8 reads, “which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” We have hope of having eternal life with Him in the place where Christ went to prepare for us. Christs’ resurrection reminds us that he was raised by the Spirit of the Father, and that same Spirit dwell in us and would give life to our mortal bodies (Romans 8:11). Jesus did not leave us orphaned but gave us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps us, guides us, and seals us with His gift of salvation. He equips us to go into the world to preach the gospel, and to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We have a friend in Jesus and we should analyze our friendship with Jesus Christ. We need to examine our hearts and to give ourselves to Him and experience His grace.
PRAYER
Holy holy holy are Lord God Almighty, who was who is and who is to come. We appreciate You dear Jesus for You died and rose again so that we may share in Your resurrection. Thank You for taking away our sins and setting us from death and hades. We can now confidently ask oh death where is your sting, for we have the gift of salvation, purchased by the blood of the Lamb. Thank You dear Jesus for writing our names in the Lambs book of life. We appreciate You Holy Spirit for sealing us with Your eternal grace for we belong to You. May You cover us with Your precious blood dear Jesus and help us to walk as You walked. May Your salvation reach all those who do not know You in our families, social circles and in all the world. May You remove all forms of pride and unforgiveness from our hearts that we may fully explore the power of Your cross and we may receive Your forgiveness. May You bless us and keep us Lord. May You make Your face to shine upon us and be gracious unto us. May You turn Your countenance upon us and grant us peace. Amen
Further reading: Romans 1:4, Revelation 20:6