Monday, October 31, 2011

Raising the Dead

Side Note...For the first time in over a year, I was not able to send the message out from the email list noted below.  Hmmmm...isn't that curious?  Be Blessed.

John 3:10-15
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Raising the Dead

I learned yesterday that I can, and have been raising the dead. No, this isn't some Halloween joke.

See, the thing about being born again, is that we really are re-born. And just as we come here as a physical baby, grow, and live a physical life, we have this spiritual birth, growth and life when we accept Christ.

'Well, duh, Sis. Stephanie...that's pretty much Bible 101.' I know. But I learned an incredible lesson yesterday. The Holy Spirit revealed to me that I've been raising the dead....the things that were dead in my life keep coming up, because I'm raising them.

Our pastor challenged us yesterday to get rid of those 'old things' that we've been doing to ourselves that, well, basically are killing us. He reminded us that when we accept Christ, our advisary issues a contract to take us out. And, whenever he can, he tries to convince us to do it ourselves. Think about it.

I know I do things that are contrary to a full life in Christ. And when I think about why I still do these things, my mind starts the condemnation speech we sometimes do...I'm not really dedicated....this life in Christ thing isn't real....

That's when the Holy Spirit stepped in and said, 'You're raising the dead.'

When we are born again in Christ, we have new life. Paul recorded in his second letter to the Corinthians that old things are passed away. Not 'passed away' as in they went they're way off into the distance. But, passed away like that euphamism we use to say someone has died.

But being born into this resurrection power as we are, we keep bringing those old things back to life.

Loved ones, and especially those of you of the Body of Christ, I encourage you to accept that power of Christ in you and to understand that is brings life...to all things...good and bad things. That is why we are charged to be careful about how we speak, where we go, what we think and with whom we spend our time. Its not about restriction. Its about respecting power and understanding how it works.

Just think of what we could do if we focused all that energy we give to ressurecting our old life into obedience? What would happen if we actually got up each morning, dying to self and living for Christ as a choice? As a real direction in life? Wow! Its pretty amazing when you think about it. Especially when its as close as a choice.

I don't know what's on your list. I don't want to know what's on your list. That's between you and the Lord or me and the Lord...no one else need be involved. But I do know that God loved you and me enough to send Jesus so we could have access to this life, this everlasting, power of Christ, greater things that these, life that Jesus spoke about.

So, try not to resurrect that life you had before Christ. Try not to resurrect old habits that take you away from His presence, His will, His love. Embrace the new life you and I were given in Christ.

Don't know Christ? We'll introduce you at Fellowship. We lift Him up high. You'll see Him right away.

2 Corinthians 5:16-17
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Newness.

Lifeline is produced from the Evangelistic Ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. You are encouraged to share this message. The Fellowship Church website (www.fcchosengeneration.com) includes a link to the Lifeline Blog (www.lifelineatfellowship.blogspot.com) where you can find previous messages. Evangelist Robinson also posts her entries on Facebook and Twitter. To subscribe to the mailing, or for questions and comments, tweet (@evangeliststeff) or send email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com. Fellowship Church can be reached at chosen.gen@att.net.

Fellowship Church
Where Passions Become Reality
Because You Are a Chosen Generation

455 Highway 138 W, STE C
Jonesboro, GA 30236
770-573-9339
Alton Watkins, Pastor

1 comment:

  1. Very powerful Word. I pray that all who read it will receive it. And allow God to raise them to the level he desire for their life.
    You are raising more than old dead ways from your past.
    God is truly using you to raise those that were dead in spirit. To a new life in Him.
    Thank you for your obedience to the Holy Spirit

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