Encouragement
"I will never leave you nor forsake you!" (Hebrews 13:5)
"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever!" (Hebrews 13:8)
"Thanks be to God Who gives us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ"
(I Cor.15:57)
"If you will confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and will believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)
The distinguishing fact of the Christian religion is the Resurrection of Christ.
Christianity begins where religion ends....with the Resurrection of Christ.
Easter is neither a dogma of the church....nor a date on the calendar.
It is an Experience that can not be diagramed.
Where the Cross is a symbol of Love, the Empty Tomb is a symbol of Hope.
If you will let Him, He can turn:
Emptiness into Fullness
Fear into Courage
Weakness into Strength
Heartache into Joy
Turmoil into Peace
Dullness into Radiance
Death into Life
If you haven't met Jesus, please do!
He is my Best Friend and He wants to be YOUR Best Friend, too!
Spring is a great time of the year. I'm glad that Easter is in the Springtime.
Of course, the results of the Christ of Easter are for EVERY day, ANYwhere and ANYtime.
Easter speaks of the freedom from the dead of winter, to new life.
Jesus indeed is not only our New Birth, but our New Life.
Kurt Kaiser speaks of this in his song, "Bring Back The Springtime"
We were privileged to meet him and hear him play this song at Falls Creek Baptist Assembly here in Oklahoma.
"When in the spring, the flowers are blooming bright and fair,
After the grey of winter's gone.
Once again the lark begins his tuning,
Back in the meadows of my heart.
Chorus
Lord, to my heart bring back the springtime.
Take away the cold and dark of sin.
And, Oh refill me now, sweet Holy Spirit:
May I warm and tender be again.
Lord, make me like that stream that flows so cool and clear
Down from the mountains high above;
I will tell the world the wondrous story
Of the precious stream filled with your Love.
Chorus
Lord, to my heart bring back the springtime.
Take away the cold and dark of sin.
And, Oh refill me now, sweet Holy Spirit:
May I warm and tender be again."
Please remember that anytime during the year...
God can help you to bring back the Springtime in your life.
Here is a study for you to use concerning the Resurrection and the Life.
1) PRESENCE OF THE LIVING LORD IS ASSURED (Hebrews 13: 5, 8)
2) PURPOSE AND MEANING TO LIFE (Acts 1: 8-11)
3) PRAYERS ANSWERED BY A LIVING CHRIST (Hebrews 4: 14-16 and Romans 8: 34)
4) POWER OF THE RESURRECTED CHRIST IS AVAILABLE
(John 16: 7-13 and Philippians 3:10)
5) PATTERN OF OUR NEW BODIES ASSURED (II Cor. 4:16-5:4)
If a caterpillar can become a butterfly, what about people...and the resurrection?
(I Cor. 15:35-53)
6) PROMISE OF THE RETURNING CHRIST (I Thessalonians 4:13-18)
7) PROMISES OF GOD ARE ALL UNDERLINED AS BEING TRUE
(I Kings 8:56, Acts 27:25, Romans 4:20-21)
CONCLUSION:
The great missionary statesman from Toronto, Dr. Oswald Smith, spent 1915-1917
as a Presbyterian itinerant missionary to the West Coast Canadian Indians.
He travelled to the villages by packboat.
It was a trial by fire, for most Protestant Missionaries had become quite discouraged with serving the Native people. They were so reluctant to accept British culture....
which the churches arrogantly thought was part and parcel of the Christian Life.
Oswald's faith was simple:
Knowing Jesus personally was the main emphasis of his Gospel.
Secondly, He believed in deliverance and divine healing.
He saw the despair, the disease, the alcoholism that was destroying the native people.
He was particularly shaken by the anguish and lack of hope at a traditional Native funeral for a young child.
The image haunted him until 1939 when he wrote:
"I was standing by Mr. Ackley's piano in Philadelphia when Homer Rodeheaver walked in."
He said, "I want a hymn depicting the change that took place in the lives of men....
when Jesus came".
He went on at length, describing what he had in mind.
I made a mental note of his request and the next day (May 1939)
I had the poem, "Then Jesus Came" ready.
Dr. Rodeheaver wrote the appropriate music to it and today it is sung everywhere.
As Mr. Ackley played it over, Dr. Rodeheaver graphically portrayed the different scenes, and then sang the song...'Then Jesus Came'."
Verse 1:
One sat alone beside the highway begging,
His eyes were blind, the light he could not see.
He clutched his rags and shivered in the shadows
Then Jesus came and bade his darkness flee.
Chorus:
When Jesus comes, the tempter's power is broken;
When Jesus comes, the tears are wiped away,
He takes the gloom and fills the life with glory,
For all is changed when Jesus comes to stay.
Verse 2:
From home and friends the evil spirits drove him,
Among the tombs he dwelt in misery;
He cut himself as demon powers possessed him,
Then Jesus came and set the captive free.
Verse 3:
"Unclean, unclean!" the leper cried in torment,
The deaf, the dumb, in helplessness stood near;
The fever raged, disease had gripped its' victim,
Then Jesus came and cast out every fear.
Verse 4:
Their hearts were sad as in the tomb they laid him,
For death had come and taken him away;
Their night was dark and bitter tears were falling,
Then Jesus came and night was turned to day.
Verse 5:
So men today have found the Savior able,
They could not conquer passion, lust and sin;
Their broken hearts had left them sad and lonely,
Then Jesus came and dwelt, Himself, within.
May you and your's have a BLESSED Easter ALL YEAR LONG!
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Thank you once again for a glorious article Travis. The resurrection is the most powerful thing in history of man. May you and La Moyne have a most BLESSED Easter. Love you both, Sharon
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