IT’S NOT AN EASTER – IT’S YOUR PASSOVER! HE’S ALIVE!! HE’S RISEN & ENTHRONED!!!
Achievers’ Daring Essence To Living A Resurrected Life
Acts 12:1-4 “Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of UNLEAVENED BREAD.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after EASTER to bring him forth to the people” KJV/AKJV.
Acts 12:1-4 “Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of UNLEAVENED BREAD. 4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four [a]squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after PASSOVER“ NKJV.
Luke 22:1-20 “Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people . . . Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the PASSOVER, that we may eat . . . And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the PASSOVER with my disciples? And he shall show you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this PASSOVER with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and broke it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”
REDEMPTION GREETINGS:
Hosanna! Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD, hosanna in the highest – Matthew 21:9. Shalom! I bring you REDEMPTION greetings in the redeeming name of our PASSOVER LAMB – Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, trust that all thing will be under your feet at the point of receiving this edition of the Special AFD of EASTER 2010. Amen.
Exodus 12:1-14 “And the LORD spoke unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for a house: And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with alter, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’s passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. And this day shall be unto you for a MEMORIAL; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ORDINANCE forever”.
EASTER 2010 SPECIAL TEACHING EDITION
It gives me great pleasure to convey this Special TEACHING Edition – Easter 2010 – as we celebrate and commemorate the death, burial and resurrection of our beloved Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ. I pray you will tap into the revelation of all that happened from the cross to the throne wherein you can live a resurrected life style daily. I therefore welcome you into this special edition as we rekindle our spirit and faith in Christ Jesus by His resurrection power conferred upon us to live as VICTORS, WINNERS, OVERCOMERS, ACHIEVERS, and MORE THAN CONQUERORS and in DOMINION over all satanic forces of darkness and spiritual wickedness in the heavenly and earthly places named and yet to be name. It’s your PASSOVER from death to life in Christ Jesus. Amen.
IT’S EITHER EASTER . . . OR . . . PASSOVER
Acts 12:1-4 “Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of UNLEAVENED BREAD.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after EASTER to bring him forth to the people” (KJV – KING JAMES VERSION).
Acts 12:1-4 “Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of UNLEAVENED BREAD. 4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after PASSOVER“ NKJV – NEW KING JAMES VERSION.
Acts 12:1-4 ’’That’s when King Herod got it into his head to go after some of the church members. He murdered James, John’s brother. When he saw how much it raised his popularity ratings with the Jews, he arrested Peter–all this during PASSOVER Week, mind you– and had him thrown in jail, putting four squads of four soldiers each to guard him. He was planning a public lynching after PASSOVER’’ (MSG – THE MESSAGE BIBLE)
1 Corinthians 5:6-8 “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are UNLEAVENED. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the UNLEAVENED BREAD of sincerity and truth.”
**Luke 22:1-20 “Please see main text scripture”
The word EASTER only appears once in the Bible as in the scripture context – Acts 12:4 – above and used only in the King James Version of the Bible. Other Bible translations use the word Passover. The Greek word for Easter is – PASCHA – translated PASSOVER: the meal, the day, the festival or special sacrifices connected to it. This is an unfortunate and absurd translation, as Easter was a pagan festival observed long before Christ. It’s not a Christian name, but derived from ‘ISHTAR’, one of the Babylonian titles of an idol goddess – the Queen of Heaven. The Saxon goddess ‘EASTRE’ is the same as the ‘ASTARTE’, the Syrian Venus called – ‘ASHTORETH’. It was the worship of the woman by Israel that was such an abomination to God as found in the following scriptures – 1 Samuel 7:3; I Kings 11:5, 33; 2 Kings 23:13; Jeremiah 7:18; 44:18. Round cakes, imprinted with sign of the cross were made at this festival, the sign being, in the Babylonian mysteries, a sign of life.
The Easter eggs which play a great part in this day’s celebration were common in all heathen nations. The fable of the eggs declares that ‘‘an egg of wondrous size fell from heaven into the river Euphrates, the fish rolled it to the bank, where doves settled upon it and hatched it; and out came ‘ASTARTE’, or ‘ISHTAR’, the goddess of Easter’’. None of this has anything to Christ, Christianity or Believers’ Faith in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Easter period however fall in time with the Passover – feast of unleavened bread. For the Israelites’ Jews it is more than a ceremony but a memorial enacting of their deliverance and redemption in Egypt bondage while for the Christian Faith it’s the celebration and commemoration of the death, burial, resurrection and enthronement of our Lord Jesus Christ, for our deliverance, redemption and restoration.
THE PASSOVER – THE UNLEAVENED BREAD
Acts 12:3-4 ‘’And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of UNLEAVENED BREAD.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after EASTER to bring him forth to the people”.
Acts 12:3-4 “Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of UNLEAVENED BREAD. 4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after PASSOVER“.
I Corinthians 10:16 -18 ‘’The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?’’
Exodus 12:7-8, 11, 17 “And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it . . . And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’s Passover . . . And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance forever.”
Leviticus 23:1-7 ‘’And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts . . . These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD’s PASSOVER. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of UNLEAVENED BREAD unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. In the first day ye shall have a holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.”
The Passover feast was instituted by God, but first celebrated or observed in Egypt. And it’s done as an act of faith and faithfulness towards God for the deliverance of Israelites – Hebrews 11:24-29; Exodus 12:1-36.
Passover was a divine contact and ordinance for deliverance, victory, protection, peace, restoration and covenant to set His people free from Egypt – a place of bondage, suffering, death, torture, rigour and absolute hopelessness – Exodus 1:1-22.
Passover marks and means the end of suffering, bondages, setbacks, oppression, racism, defeat, and death. It also marks the dawn of a new beginning – living as winner, champion, victor, leader, freedom, achiever and covenant etc.
The feast of UNLEAVENED BREAD – PASSOVER – was a shadow of the type of Christ. The Passover requires a lamb, the death of the lamb, legs unbroken and sprinkling or shedding of blood. The lamb was their substitute; this is what the PASSOVER LAMB was to the children of Israel.
They are six or seven Jewish feasts. The feast of PASSOVER – The UNLEAVENED BREAD – is one of them. It is held on the 14th of the 1st month – NISAN, or ABIB (April) in Jewish calendar to commemorate the deliverance – EXODUS – from Egypt as found in the following scriptures: Leviticus 23:1-7; Number 9:5; Joshua 5:10; 2 Kings 23:22; 2 Chronicle 35:1; Matthew 26:17; Luke 2:41; 22:15; Hebrews 11:28.
THE PASSOVER LAMB – A TYPE OF CHRIST
Isaiah 53:1-12 “. . . He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a LAMB to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. ’’
Exodus 12:3-5, 12-14, 46 “Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a LAMB, according to the house of their fathers, a LAMB for a house: And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats . . . For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever . . . 46 In one house it shall be eaten; you shall not carry any of the flesh outside the house, nor shall you break one of its bones”.
1 Corinthians 5:6-8 “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”
Jesus our Lord and saviour was our Passover lamb. He was and is our Passover from bondage of sin in disobedience to God unto freedom. The Passover lamb was the substitute to enact the deliverance of God’s people – Israelites – as Egypt was a place of absolute bondage – Exodus 1:1-22. And for freedom and triumph, a lamb – male, without spot, wrinkle and blemish – was needed 1 Peter 1:18-21. And His bone was not broken in fulfilment of the scriptures as it’s written – John 19.34-37; Exodus 12:46.
The PASSOVER LAMB was to be killed, and the blood sprinkled on the door and window post for the angel of judgement to see and PASS-OVER God’s people. By the blood, the children of Israel will obtain their redemption and deliverance to be free to serve their God, live in freedom and triumph from the hostility of Egypt. Theirs was an OUTWARD redemption and deliverance.
The book of Isaiah 53:1-12 indicates how in the same manner Jesus took the place of a sacrificial and substitution lamb for our deliverance and redemption. Ours is more than outward, it’s WHOLESOME: Spirit, Soul and Body deliverance and redemption – Revelation 7:10, 14, 17; Revelation 12:11; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 5:12; John 1:29, 36, Hebrews 2:14-15; 9:11-15; 1 Thessalonians 5:23.
The Passover connotes Jesus as sacrificial lamb as 1 Corinthians 5:7b typified in His crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection. Exodus 12:11 indicates the PASSOVER a type of our REDEEMER.
The Passover lamb was characterised in these forms:
- Be without Blemish – Exodus 12:5-6; John 1:29; Revelation 5:6-10; 1 Peter 1:19-20.
- Must be killed – Exodus 12:6; John 12:24; Hebrews 9:22; Revelation 13:8
- The blood must be applied – Exodus12:7; Hebrews 11:24-28.
- The blood is to deliver and redeem – Exodus 12:13; Hebrews 10:10, 14; 1 John 1:7.
- The feast typified Christ the bread of life answering to the Memorial Supper – Exodus 12:14, 46; Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 19:34-37.
The Passover and the Passover lamb were a divine ordinance and means of contact for redemption and restoration of God’s people. It was a divine arrangement. It wasn’t an act of man or political campaign setting or special pressure group. It’s God who saw His people’s bondages and made the way for their freedom – Acts 7:34-36 – as found in these act:
- God Commands sacrifice of Passover lamb – Exodus 12:1-11.
- God commands Redemption by blood – Exodus 12:12-13.
- God commands Passover – A Memorial of Redemption – Exodus 12:14-28.
The substitute act of Jesus as our Passover lamb was divinely arranged by God, hence it could not be fathomed by the devil and his cohorts as indicated in the following scriptures – 1 Corinthians 2:8; 5:6-7; John 1:29, 36; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Hebrews 9:11-15.
JESUS CRICIFIXION-DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION
1 Corinthians 5:6-8 “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”
1 Peter 1:18-21 “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.”
1 Corinthians 15:19-23 “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.”
John 11:25-26 “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?’’
The experiences of deliverance in the Old Testament as in Exodus was a shadow of God’s redemption plan for mankind as fulfilled in New Testament by Christ Jesus. The scriptures of Luke 22 and 23; Matthew 27:1-66 and John 19:28-42 give a relative summary of all that took place in the fulfilment of Christ crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection for all mankind. John 19:30 concludes that it is FINISHED OR ACCOMPLISHED, meaning He had fully paid for our redemption and can live justified from all the bondages of satan and his cohorts.
Jesus’ death as the substitute lamb and by His shed blood has redeemed, re-owned us back to our creator and maker. A complete redemption and restoration for us to live a justified life before in all that Adam lost to the devil – Revelation 5:9-12; Galatian 3:6-9, 13-14, 26-29; Galatian 6:14-16; Colossian 1:10-14; Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 2:11-18; Hebrews 9:12; 1 Peter 2:9-10.
The Passover to the Jews was much more than a mere feast but a holy convocation, a memorial of deliverance from bondage.
- Salvation from sin, deliverance from satanic bondages and enacting of freedom, liberty, victory, triumph and such like
- Christ as our redemption and Passover lamb
- Restoration of God’s kind of love to us and the hope of eternal life
- A new covenant established in the eternal blood of Christ Jesus
- . . . and many more such like
Therefore the PASSOVER in the context of EASTER – Greek Pascha – typifies to the Christian Faith believer the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Passover Sunday being a resurrection morning, I believe it to be the most vital and important day in a Christian Faith calendar to authenticate the eternal redemption plan of God since the fall. Everything in Christian faith hinges on the reality of the resurrection. If the resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ is not a literal fact and truth, then the Christian faith is nothing but a mere religion as in others in the world today. Thanks to God that Christ resurrected.
The scriptures of Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-25, Matthew 28:1-16, 1 Corinthian 15:1-23 and John 11:25-26 had detailed explanations to authenticate that Christ both died, was buried and resurrected from the dead.
PASSAOVER – A MEMORIAL OF REDEMPTION
Exodus 12:14-28 ”And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever . . . And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance forever . . .’’
Matthew 28:19-20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Romans 6:1-14 “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin . . . ”
Matthew 26:26-29 “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
I Corinthians 10:16 -18 ‘’The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?’’
Passover can only be meaningful if a memorial of the deliverance from Egypt was enacted. God willing to keep His covenant with His people and for posterity He required that the children of Moses keep a memorial of their deliverance from Egypt as in Exodus 12:14.
God also willing to keep the immutability of His counsel in our deliverance and salvation has in our Christian faith enacted two ordinances in respect of our redemption.
The two ordinances or memorial given to us are:
- The water baptism
- The Lord’s Supper or Holy communion
These ordinances need to be observed by every believer in Christ Jesus. The Baptism indicates our act of identification with Christ in His crucifixion-death, burial, and resurrection unto newness of life – Romans 6:1-14.
The Lord’s Supper signifies a continual reminder of the efficacy of the shed blood and broken body of Christ in our redemption and in the wholeness of the body of Christ in Christ Jesus. Hence we are asked to discern the body and examine ourselves – 1 Corinthians 11:17-34; 10:1-22; John 6:22-65; Luke 22:1-20. Upon these the faith covenant is enacted, insured and assured. Hence, we are all commanded and called to partake in the communion of the Lord’s blood and body through discerning the body ministry in Christ less it becomes a mere religious duty with no definite impart upon our life for the good of true services to God in Christ Jesus. Hence many are sick in faith and body today in spite of partaking in the Lord’s Table.
When you come to actualise the essence of Romans 6:1-4 as regards to baptism, you can then live in the abundant grace of God’s freedom and newness of life. This we need to live and enjoy in the Lord. In Baptism death is the mark of baptism, while the burial and resurrection ushers us into a new life of victory over sinful living and the habits that accompany it. A believer that is not living above the knowledge of sin and sinful habits is merely observing the funeral without the actual death to sin that is easily besetting such and the need to live a resurrection life as a new creation in Christ Jesus – Hebrews 6:1-2; 12:1-2.
HE IS RISEN – YOU CAN LIVE A RESSURRECTED LIFE
Luke 24:1-8 “. . . And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words”
John 20:1-17 “. . . And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.”
Matthew 27:50-53 ’’Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.”
1 Peter 3:18-22 “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.”
Matthew 28:11-15 “Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and showed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.”
Jesus died, was buried and resurrected according to the scriptures – Matthew 27:1-66; Luke 22 and 23; John 19, 20, and 21. Jesus fulfilled the scriptures for mankind’s redemption from the bondage of sin and its effect. His death, burial and resurrection are the final blow of God’s wisdom against satan for our redemption – 1 Corinthians 2:8.
In spite of all the fortified forces put in place and the bribery given to the Soldiers on guard of Christ burial tomb, death could not have held Jesus from resurrection. He is RISEN from the grave! The scriptures indicate that when He was buried He went and ministered to the spirits in prison, those who were dead in faith since the days of NOAH who have been held captive by satan and his cohorts while waiting for the redemption of their soul as in the scriptures – 1 Peter 3:18-22; Matthew 27:50-56; Ephesians 4:7-10. He ministered to them and resurrected with them and they all appeared before many in that day of His resurrection according to the scriptures before He left to present himself to the Father God.
Jesus is Risen! He is no longer in the grave and we can’t seek him and live our life as if He is dead and still in the grave. It’s time for us to live a resurrected life in our Christ walk of faith. Let’s come out of the dead work of religion and live in the resurrected life of Jesus which He has given us. The days of living as dead in mediocrity, failure mentality, blame factor mentality, a never do good or do well and I can’t always make it in life attitude is over.
No matter your circumstances today and human limitations by every standard of life, I make bold to say to you to arise for Christ is risen! Put on a new look of faith and life. Give a fresh smile to your face for your redemption is come and you can become in life again. Lift your head and shoulder high for Jesus has given us beauty for ashes, oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness that we might be trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord – Isaiah 63:1-3. The power and grip of sin and satan are broken and rendered powerless; we can live a justified life and live free today. Forgiveness is possible, mercy, healing and prosperity are within reach for us today, for Christ is RISEN!
You have no right to live a defeated, bruised and battered life anymore. You have a right to the resurrected life no matter the circumstances you find yourself today. You are redeemed, a winner, victor any day, any where. Praise God!
HE IS ENTHRONED – THEREFORE, GO DOING EXPLOITS IN HIS NAME
Daniel 11:32 “. . . but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.”
John 20:15-17 ’’Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.”
Ephesians 1:17-23 “. . . Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.”
Ephesians 2:6-7 ’’And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus”
Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ“.
In the book of John 20:15-17 we are scripturally informed how Jesus was to go to the Father God as soon as He resurrected having accomplished divine purposes during the period He was in the grave by the visit to those in prison and His resurrection with them according to the holy writ – 1 Peter 3:18-22, Matthew 27:50-56; Psalm 24:7-10; Ephesians 4:7-10; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8. Mary Magdalene was immediately denied the opportunity of touching the Lord as soon as He resurrected, for His mission for human redemption was not yet accomplished until the Father God had received and accepted and authenticate and enact the accomplished redemption work of Christ for mankind’s redemption – John 20:15-18; Revelation 4 and 5. Christ did not want any Adamic nature from Mary to nullify the blood of our REDEMPTION.
The book of Revelation 4 and 5 gives a summary of the heavenly events on how Jesus redemption works was received and He was enthroned as He has always been. Jesus stripped satan of the keys and authority which Adam lost to him and restored them back to humanity, much more to His Church having led captivity captive and received gifts for men – Ephesians. 4:7-19; Psalm 68:18; Revelation 1:5 , 18; 5:9-12; Matthew 28:16-20; 16:18-19; Mark 16:15-20.
Afterwards, Jesus presented His done deed to the Father God as in the context scripture of John 20:15-18 and Ephesians 4:7-10, He appeared to many as well as the disciples for another 40days before His ascension –Luke 24:13-53; John 20:11 – 21:25; Acts 1:1-11; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8. Today, Jesus is enthroned, seated in the heavenly places with God the FATHER. At His enthronement He lifted us all to be seated up with Him at the right hand of the Father over principalities, powers and dominions – Ephesians 1:17-23; 2:6-7. We have been made to triumph, live a victorious and a more than conquerors life in His name which He has bestowed to us according to the scriptures – Philippians 2:9-11; 2 Corinthian 2:14; 1 Corinthian 15:54-57; and Romans 8:34.
By Jesus’ resurrection and enthronement we can access all His powers to do life according to the scriptures as in the following below:
1. Living by the resurrection concept – John 11:25-26.
2. Death to sin, living in dominion and newness of life – Roman 6:8-11, 14.
3. All power submits to His name. Living in Christ given authority – Revelation 1:18; Matthew 28:18.
4. By His anointing, doing wonders over Adamic limitations – Acts 10:38; Luke 4:18.
5. Delivered from the spirit of fear and death and timidity and inferiority complex – Hebrews 2:14-15; 2 Timothy 1:7.
6. Power to subdue all things under our feet in Christ Jesus name – Philippians 3:20-21.
7. Power over all things. Taking charge and control over our circumstances – John 13:3.
8. Power over all flesh. Never again to submit to bullying of men but to reign in life – John 17:2.
9. All powers bow their knees and confess before His name. Awesome to serve – Philippians 2:9-11.
10. . . . and many such like.
ARISE and SHINE! You can live a resurrected life today for Jesus has given you His name. That’s the essence of the PASSOVER. At His name sicknesses are healed, deliverance comes to the captives, wisdom to do life comes, salvation comes to men, forgiveness and mercies come to men, doors of opportunities and prosperity come to men and many others. Take advantage of knowing this today and live an exciting free life in His name. You’ve passed from death to life in Christ Jesus, amen.
FINALLY – IT’S YOUR PASSOVER!
Galatians 6:14-16 ‘’But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.’’
Philippians 3:10 “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.”
Romans 8:9-11 “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you”
John 6:63 “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
Romans 5:17, 21 “For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord”
Beloved, I wish I could be able to have explained in earnest in more detail about the Passover and all that happened from the cross to the throne in all that Christ is and has accomplished for us on the cross when He purchased our Redemption by His life in His blood as our – PASSOVER LAMB.
The Believer in Christ is saved by the blood of “the lamb slain from the foundation of the world – Revelation 13:8; and is strengthened daily by feasting on the word – the living Word, Christ, and the written word, the Holy Scriptures. 1 John 5:7; John 1:1-5, 14.
Take advantage of the knowledge made available to you today in this AFD Special Edition. It’s time to begin to live a resurrected life and not a defeated, fearful, failure, hopeless and aimless mentality consciousness. Your redemption is fully paid for and it’s your PASSOVER from all sorts of bondages and setbacks. Jesus has fulfilled all that God requires of Him, it’s now ours to appropriate them into reality for they are true.
You can boldly approach God’s presence today and obtain grace to meet all your various needs, desires and aspirations in faith. The Israelites applied the blood by faith, they were delivered and redeemed into their promise redemption, in the same way, apply Jesus’ blood by faith and enjoy it for your good.
It’s your PASSOVER! He is RISEN & Enthroned!! He is ALIVE!!! Go living a resurrected life. I pray that our God delivers you from all human limitations and grants you His abundant mercies and blessings, as you have passed from death to life, live it to the full in Jesus name, amen. May you daily enjoy an Amazing Grace, Awesome Redemption and Blessed PASSOVER until the Lord returns – MARANATHA!
It’s Your PASSOVER . . . Dare To ACHIEVE . . . And steadfastly Live The RESURRECTED LIFE
In His Kingdom Business & World Exploit For His Glory.
Blessed Regard,
Rev Chukie MORSI