I Can, Now?

By Jamie Carte
This week's topic: Resurrection

The Baptism of The Holy Spirit is a Gift. When someone receives Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior they may ask The Lord for this Gift. This is a different experience from the one you have when you are Saved or Born Again. In John 20:21-22 after Jesus is resurrected from the dead, we see that Jesus breathed on those first disciples and they received the Holy Spirit into them. When you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior that is what happens.

The Holy Spirit comes to live in you and yet there is another Gift that The Lord wants you to have! In Acts 1:3-5 we find that Jesus has been appearing before His disciples over a period of forty days after He has been resurrected from the dead. (Again, remember the disciples were breathed on already, and received The Holy Spirit in them.) Jesus is appearing before His disciples in a different time and setting, while He was eating with them and tells them to wait for the Gift The Father has promised, “For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." Then at the Feast of Pentecost the very first Baptisms of The Holy Spirit occurred. When The Holy Spirit was poured out on the ones waiting in Jerusalem, they had evidence of their Baptism by speaking in other tongues.

Now you may be thinking, Jamie, I thought that what happened on that day at Pentecost was only for that one day? Well, let’s look. We find the Gift continuing throughout the New Testament that began on that day and it is for every born again Believer! Acts 10: 44-48 tells us, “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, 47 "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.”
The people who heard Peter preaching believed in Jesus and as they were listening to The Good News of Jesus, The Holy Spirit came upon them and they received the Gift of the Baptism of The Holy Spirit! And how did Peter and all that was with him and us today know this? They were speaking in other tongues! And then Peter said they should be baptized with water! Get excited friend!

This was on a different day than on Pentecost, with different people and they had not even been baptized with water yet! This Gift was and IS for The Church! If you are a Follower and Believer of Jesus Christ, this Gift is for you too! Begin asking Jesus today to Baptize you in His Holy Spirit! Your life and walk with God will change forever! It is amazing the change that I have experienced since I have been Baptized in The Holy Spirit! Yes, this Gift began after Jesus Christ died on a cross and then was resurrected from the dead. Yes, it began just 50 days from Passover, at the Feast of Pentecost and it is still for us today, yes, it is for you! Yes, YOU CAN, NOW!
Verse of the Day: “. . . wait for the gift . . .” - Acts 1:4 (NIV)

Jamie Carte is Vice President and Senior Minister of Jamie Carte Ministries in Hico, West Virginia, USA. An evangelist, Bible teacher, writer and speaker, Jamie reaches the lost and teaches the Bride of Christ how to prepare for Her Wedding Day, which is The Rapture of The Church. Visit Jamie Carte at http://www.jamiecarte.org.…

Do You Really See God?

By Vanessa Burke
        

When I think about what God says about King Uzziah in Isaiah 6:1—In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple"—I think about that symbolically. In other words. When we die to self, that's when we can see the Lord on His throne, not that He hasn't always been there; but that's when we really see Him for who He is. Once we see God for who He really is, we recognize how miniscule we are in comparison. We are nothing but a vapor, a wisp that could easily be blown away...yet for the grace of God.

In this state of humbleness, we understand that we are to look up to Him who is high and lifted up. This means seeking after God, His ways and His will for every area of our lives; making decisions based on what He has to say about it in His word; and basing our actions on moral values we’ve learned from God’s character and His commands. As we learn to constantly look up, to constantly inquire of, seek after, and look toward His guidance, we realize that the train of God's robe fills the temple. What does that really mean?

First of all, the train of a robe is the bottom part of it that drags along the floor, behind the rest of the garment. In Exodus 33:18-23, at Moses’ request for God to show him His glory, God passes by Moses, but He only shows Moses his “back parts,” for He told Moses that no one could see His face and live. If you are looking at the train of a robe, you are essentially looking at the back parts. God is too powerful to allow His entire being to be in our temple! Your temple is your very existence and represents your entire body, soul and spirit. So, in the temple of our lives, in our innermost spiritual sanctuaries, when God decides to make His presence known, it is but the train of His robe—just a tiny part of His entire presence—that we experience!

Let’s say, hypothetically, that God were to place all of Himself in your temple. Do you recall what happened to Paul on the road to Damascas when Jesus spoke to Him (Acts 26:12-18)? The brilliant light and voice of Jesus caused Paul and his companions to fall to the ground. John, who while exiled on the isle of Patmos saw the Risen One Himself in a vision, “fell at His feet as dead” (Revelations 1:9-19). Why? Because he, like Paul, could not withstand the power of God’s presence, which is so mighty that His entire being can't fit into any temple. When we experience His presence, although it is a minute fraction of His being—the train of His robe—it is a thing of awe.

I believe God is telling us in Isaiah 6:1 that once we die to ourselves, then live a life looking up to Him, then and only then will we experience His true power and presence—all of it that He can fit into our temple, into our worship, which not only involves our songs of praise and adoration but every aspect of how we live our lives. So, ask yourself: “What have I not died to? What have I been ignoring God’s voice about? What do I need to let go?” Is it someone who considers himself or herself as your friend but really isn’t? Is it someone you are about to marry that deep down inside you know you shouldn’t? Yes, I went there. Is it a sin you’ve been bound with and just refuse to let go? The only way you will truly see God in all His power and experience the awesomeness of His presence in your temple is for you to die to whatever it is that’s holding you back. You know what it is. And then constantly look up to Him—and witness His glory in a way you never have before. Selah.

Scripture of the Day: "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple." - Isaiah 6:1

Vanessa Burke seeks to uplift, encourage and inspire others through her gifts of writing and speaking. She has many published articles in local, national and international publications. She is currently working on a devotional book based on the Psalms. Visit her at http://vanessaburke.blogspot.com

Extreme

By Skip Heitzig
        

The world looks at Christians celebrating death on Good Friday, and they can't figure it out. They say, "That is so extreme! Why, before God could forgive people, would He require the death of His Son? Why wouldn't He simply, benevolently, forgive people's sin? If I did something against you, you would just forgive me. Why can't God do that?"

But that kind of questioning betrays a sort of ignorance that is two-fold. One is of how heinous our sin is, and the other is of how great and holy our God is.

Nobody speaks of sin anymore. In fact, sin has almost disappeared from the American vocabulary. We speak of "problems" or "hangups" or "issues." It's called a "sickness" or it's called someone else's fault. But the Bible says very plainly that if we say we have no sin, we are liars. (1 John 1:8).

How serious is it? Paul said, "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). We sin because it's our nature. "Through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all have sinned" (Romans 5:12). And we sin by choice. Every day we commit individual acts that are an affront to God.

They are an affront because God is absolutely holy. You see, holy God is wholly incompatible with sin and unrighteousness. "You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness" (Habakkuk 1:13). "Your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you" (Isaiah 59:2).

Perfect, holy God cannot coexist with sinful man. And because of that, we're separated, we're lost. So one of two things must happen. Either holy God must destroy unholiness, or holy God must declare that which is unholy, holy.

And that takes us to the cross. Jesus lived the perfect life that we could never live, and then took all our sins on Himself. So effectively God said, "I'll take the rap. I'll take all of your wickedness and evil and I'll put it on Myself so that when I die on the cross, it's finished, once and for all."

The cross is the only place that God will meet with mankind. The cross is the only place where both God's mercy and God's justice could meet. How can God be a God of love and a God of justice at the same time? How can holy, perfect God meet with sinful, rebellious man? Only at the cross. He came, He took our punishment, and then He declared you and me righteous because of it.

Extreme? Yes! But what a deal that is! It's the deal of a lifetime!

Scripture Of The Day: "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." - Matthew 20:28

Skip Heitzig is the founder and senior pastor at Calvary of Albuquerque in New Mexico. His teachings are heard across the country and around the world on The Connection. For more information on Skip, visit http://www.connectionradio.org.

I Have Been Risen

By Apostle Gina Prince
        

Resurrection Day is one of the best times, if not, THEE BEST TIME to celebrate. This is the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is such a profound day. This is the day which Jesus conquered the grave and hell, which brought shame to the devil (Revelation 1:18). We are to look into this day and see what God has done for us in our lives. We are to exemplify what Christ did on this day. Take time to look at what has been done for your life. Didn’t you rise from some sort of ashes? Didn’t God raise you up from a dead state? Nothing can compare to the giving of your life the way Jesus did.

He sacrificed Himself for us (1 Peter 2:21-25). We received a gift of eternal life (John 3:16) through this sacrifice and are now able to rejoice and celebrate it on this wonderful day. God raised His Son from the dead and now we have eternal life because of His act of love. We have been risen Church! We have been changed! God has given us beauty for ashes. He has dusted us off and has given us life abundantly (John 10:10). On this Resurrection Day, Celebrate! Remember you have been risen with Christ. It is all about Jesus, but remember, He has made you a part of Him. Laugh in the devil’s face during the festivities and tell him you are no longer in the pig pen. You have been raised from out of the dead state and you live eternally with Jesus Christ. Yeshua!!!!

Scripture of the Day: “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.” - Romans 6:5.

Apostle Gina R. Prince is overseer of Gospel Truth Ministries International East Gate Church located in Washington, D.C. and outreach ministries in Charlotte, N.C. She is the author of her life’s testimony “Born Into Sin, Transformed Into Destiny”. For more information about Apostle Prince you can log onto http://www.gtmieastgate.com.…

Dying To Live

By Sharon Frame
        

I was about nine-years-old when I first saw a dead person up-close. Some school kids heard an old woman in the neighborhood had just died. Morbid curiosity got the best of us. Before I knew it, we were making nervous tracks through a country dirt road and into the woman’s house.

The quick glimpse of death on her face scared me so fear followed me all the way home that day. My childish imagination ran wild. I couldn’t shake the dead woman’s face. And for days, I’d check under every bed for any sign of death lurking in my house.

It’s not just kids who get scared of death. Many adults can’t handle it either. You may be a faithful Christian who believes in the resurrection. But death is still a curious thing. It’s beyond man’s reach or control. Perhaps that’s what troubles us most. We can’t bear not being in control.

Spiritually, that may explain why so many Christians have such a hard time dying. For dying means relinquishing control of self. It signifies killing the flesh. And who really wants to do that? But die we must, if we really want to live.

In Matthew 16:25 Jesus said to his disciples: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”

Jesus Christ lived to die. That was his mission on earth. Now we must die to live. That’s our mission. To resurrect means to bring to life again. Since Christ raised us from the dead, we are now charged with resurrecting a dead world still trapped in sin. We do that by living a life dying to self.

John 12:24-25 reminds us of our need to die in order to help others live.“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”

How many seeds are still waiting on you to die so they can germinate? How many sinners are waiting on you to resurrect them? Like my nine-year-old self, we usually run from death. But spiritual death is worth embracing, since it can offer life to so many.

The apostle Paul urged us to “mortify (kill) the deeds of the flesh.” That’s how we relinquish our will. Jesus agonized about it in the garden. He finally said, (Father) “not my will, but yours be done.” Dying demands sacrifice. Here’s evidence:

D- Disciplined prayer life. Rise early every morning. Make prayer the first order of business. Talk to God. Allow Him proper space and time to talk to you.

I - Include Holy Spirit. Be led by the comforter, guide and instructor. He teaches how to die to self and live unto God. Take on the fruit of His Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Goodness, Kindness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

E- Exhibit Christ. Follow Jesus’ perfect example. Walk in His footsteps. Publically display His love. That’s what draws sinners to God. They’re hungry for a taste of true love. It’s patient, kind. It doesn’t envy or boast. It’s not proud. It’s not rude. It’s not self-seeking. It’s not easily angered or offended. It keeps no record of wrongs. It doesn’t delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth. (1 Corinthians 13: 4-6)

Such love means death of self.

As a nine-year-old child, mortal death scared the life out of me. Now I willingly die to live. How about you? It’s the only way some “dead man walking” in sin can glimpse Christ, the image and essence of true life.

Scripture Of The Day: “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” - Matthew 16:25 (NKJV)

Sharon Frame is a former CNN anchor, Award-Winning Empowerment Speaker, a Media Coach and “Follow-Through” Expert. Her passion is to encourage and empower! Sharon’s latest book, “Wired to Win” teaches how to Plug In, Power Up and Push Through to Personal Greatness. Visit http://www.sharonframespeaks.com.…

Live Again

By Kerri-Ann Haye-Donawa  

Although the concept of ‘resurrection’ was not unheard of two thousand years ago, it had never quite occurred the way it did for Jesus. Though the Bible records several instances where the dead had been brought back to life, each occurrence involved the mediation of someone in the earthly realm, whether it was the prayer of the prophet Elisha or the firm command of Jesus to “Come forth”. But not so in the case of the crucified Christ.

Who would’ve imagined that the body of a murdered man would come back to life after it had been locked away in a tomb for three days, undisturbed? There was no prophet standing outside interceding for Him. There was no resuscitation device at the disciples’ disposal. No, there were no steps taken to re-awaken the man whom so many loved. Yet, He rose, unassisted, unhindered, undefeated.

According to Matthew 27:52-53, “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.” This is amazing to me; for through the death and resurrection of one man came the resurrection of many. This is the message and testimony of Calvary. This is the moral of the story, the application of the gospel, and the power of His unmediated resurrection. The same power that extracted Christ from the jaws of death has invaded our own tombs and stirred our own carcasses. That same power that rescued Jesus has unravelled our own death cloths, unlocked our chains, and has lifted us from a place of sinful defeat to a place of victorious righteousness.
His resurrection equals our resurrection. His life equals our life. His power equals our power. His triumph equals our triumph.

So imagine the shock when those who had been dead for years stepped out of their graves and began to walk with new life amongst the living. Imagine the confusion of the enemy when outside of his control, those he had bound for decades were set free. This is what Christ’s resurrection means for your life. For though you may be counted out, thought by those around you to be defeated and dead, you will rise again. Your life will bear witness of His restorative power.

Today, know that there is no situation in your life that is irreparable by God. You are never so far gone, never such a failure that God cannot rescue you. He rose from the dead so that you too could triumph and walk in newness of life. So live!

Scripture Reference: “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.” Romans 6:4

Kerri-Ann Haye-Donawa is a writer and editor who is passionate about the word of God and how it is translated in our everyday lives. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Religious Studies and a Master’s Degree in Theological Studies, and is a member of Rhema Christian Ministries, Toronto, Canada. http://twitter.com/#!/KHayeDonawa…

Live Again

By Tanya S. Martin-James
        

As Easter approaches, we will begin to hear the story of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. It’s a story that many of us have heard again, and again over the years especially if you grew up in the church. It’s a beautiful story that shows us just how much God loves each and every one of us to give his son for our sins.

As I sat and reflected on this story, I started to think about resurrection as a whole. The English dictionary defines resurrection as the revival of something. I found myself stuck on the word revival.
Revival:

• Restoration to life, consciousness, vigor or strength
• Restoration to use or acceptance
• An awakening, in a church or community, of interest in and care for matters relating to personal religion
• The act of reviving

When I look around at the world we are living in, and the situations and circumstances that loom over our heads - I see many areas that could use a good solid revival. But I can take it even further than that. When I look at my own life, I see many areas that need a good, solid revival.

What about you? Do you have some “dead” things in your life that need to be revived? There are goals and dreams that have been set on the shelf for too long. There are relationships that are dying because no one is investing the time and energy needed to sustain them. There are projects that would impact the nations that are sitting dormant, half completed … some never even touched. There are books to be written and songs to be released that could touch and change the hearts of many. There are opportunities to witness to our neighbors and co-workers that we need to seize. There are broken hearts that need to be mended. There are people that we need to forgive and release the power they have on us as we hold onto grudges.

I don’t know about you but I don’t want to dwell in “dead” areas anymore. God is too good and life is too promising to allow anything or anybody to keep you from living. It’s time for an awakening … it’s time to live again.

Revive those dreams … Embrace your passion for life … Let go of the fear and negativity … Chase after those things that bring you pure joy.

Regardless of what happened yesterday, last week, last month or even this morning … declare victory and allow a revival to take place in your mind, heart, soul and spirit.

Scripture Of The Day: "Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it?" - Isaiah 43:18-19 (NKJV)

Tanya Martin James is the author of From Promiscuity to Proverbs 31: Getting Off the Fence of Sexual Immorality and Coffee Moments: A Work in Progress http://www.armedanddangerous.biz She also blogs at http://www.mycoffeemoments.com

Just Trust Me

By Overseer Christopher J. Harris
        

It never fails. As I engage in conversation with my children, they inevitably will ask me questions that I just don’t have the answers to. It’s frustrating and even a little embarrassing. As the adult in the conversation, I feel like I should be able to represent all parents and have a sufficient answer to a child’s question. But I’ve got to be honest with you; I’ve let parents down around the world more than once.

Questions like, “Do dogs and cats go to heaven?” or “Does God sleep on the clouds?” or even, “Does God recount your hairs even when you get a haircut?” Ultimately, the conversation hits a stalemate or a moment of silence and with all the answer I have attempted to come up with, many times I’ll simply say, “Just trust me…” Although, I try hard to explain the whole process or answer all of the “Whys?”, there are times that I simply have to default to, “Just trust me…”

But as I think more about this phenomenon, there are many, many things about this walk of faith that are just unexplainable. We ask God a lot of “whys” and “how did that happen?” or even ask for more details to something that has transpired. I don’t have any deep scriptures that prove that God always lays out the answers for us, but I do believe that many times God’s default is, “Just trust me…”

I think the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of those concepts that is just mind-boggling. It is unexplainable, unsearchable, and beyond human comprehension. The archeologists and historians have found enough evidence to know that it’s real. The researchers and even many doubters who have attempted to disprove its reality have come away scratching their heads in amazement and disbelief. It’s just down right amazing.

Yet, scripture gave us prophecy and word after word that this would take place.
Job 19: 25-27 reads, “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last he will take His stand on the earth. ” Even other scriptures speak to Jesus’ resurrection, including Isaiah 53: 10-12, Isaiah 26: 19, Ezekiel 37: 12-14, and Daniel 12: 1-3. Jesus prophesied His own death repeatedly like in Matthew 26: 2, “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” (also John 18:32).

So, even though, Jesus’ resurrection is simply amazing and unexplainable, we have God’s Word! As a matter of fact, beyond the research, archeological discoveries, historical links, and validation from historians, all we have is God’s Word. And honestly, God’s Word is enough. It is enough for us to stake our entire belief system on. It is enough for us to celebrate the Resurrection of a Living Savior. It is enough for us to have a fire burn in us strong enough that we invite others to share our same belief. You may have many, many questions, and those are okay. But instead of allowing the mystery of the resurrection to push you away from a Living Savior, allow them to draw you closer to the God of creation and trust His ability to raise His son from the dead. As I say to my children, “Just trust me…”, God invites us to do the same thing. The Great I Am, who offered His Son for our lives, says, “Just trusts me…”

Scripture of the Day: "So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." - Isaiah 55:11

Christopher J. Harris, a native of Palatka, FL, is Chief of Staff/Director of Church Operations of the historic mega-church Fellowship Church of Chicago. He is also Overseer of Youth for Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International. Harris currently resides in Chicago with his wife and children. http://www.ChristopherJHarris.com…

Jesus, We Celebrate Your Victory

By Brenda Gittens
        

I will never forget the Easter Sunday morning, when I attended the service at a California State Prison where I was scheduled to minister in song. Weeks before while preparing, the Holy Spirit gave me the songs to sing and they all dealt with VICTORY in Jesus. On this Resurrection Day, I wanted to share this message in song with the inmates that because of the Lord’s death and resurrection the power of sin, death, hell, and the grave have been defeated. Put all of this together, it equals VICTORY! The theme for the month at the prison chapel was “Obedience”. Before the guest Pastor brought the message, he made it clear that every song had confirmed the message he was to preach and that was, “Victory through Obedience”.

People, we celebrate his victory because his victory means we also have victory! Satan had his major victories in the Garden of Eden and at the Cross (or so he thought). But God turned Satan’s victory into defeat when Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus defeated death when he broke through its holds and rose from the grave. We now have hope that goes far beyond the grave and into eternity! Jesus has set us free, or you can make it personal if you like, “Jesus has set me free” from the bondage of sin, from the stronghold of death, and from the power of the enemy. Jesus opened the door from death to life and gave us the victory. I think of the song by Donnie McClurkin, “Just for me, Jesus came and did it just for me.”

Now with the door open, we can enter the presence of the Lord. We can draw close to him and his extravagant love, and do the work that he has called us to do. We can celebrate our victory in Jesus, because he is victorious over all!

Scripture of the Day: “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. How we thank God, who gives us victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ our Lord! So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord’s work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” 1 Corinthians 15:55-58 (NLT)

Brenda Gittens is a worship evangelist, singer and writer who ministers in “word song” at churches, prisons and various events throughout Northern California and other states. Her latest CD is entitled, “Real Praise/True Worship”. Brenda is also a devoted wife and mother of one son. For more info, visit: http://www.brendagittensministries.com.…

Live Again

Tanya James

As Easter approaches, we will begin to hear the story of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. It’s a story that many of us have heard again, and again over the years especially if you grew up in the church. It’s a beautiful story that shows us just how much God loves each and every one of us to give his son for our sins.

As I sat and reflected on this story, I started to think about resurrection as a whole. The English dictionary defines resurrection as the revival of something. I found myself stuck on the word revival.
Revival:

• Restoration to life, consciousness, vigor or strength
• Restoration to use or acceptance
• An awakening, in a church or community, of interest in and care for matters relating to personal religion
• The act of reviving

When I look around at the world we are living in, and the situations and circumstances that loom over our heads - I see many areas that could use a good solid revival. But I can take it even further than that. When I look at my own life, I see many areas that need a good, solid revival.

What about you? Do you have some “dead” things in your life that need to be revived? There are goals and dreams that have been set on the shelf for too long. There are relationships that are dying because no one is investing the time and energy needed to sustain them. There are projects that would impact the nations that are sitting dormant, half completed … some never even touched. There are books to be written and songs to be released that could touch and change the hearts of many. There are opportunities to witness to our neighbors and co-workers that we need to seize. There are broken hearts that need to be mended. There are people that we need to forgive and release the power they have on us as we hold onto grudges.

I don’t know about you but I don’t want to dwell in “dead” areas anymore. God is too good and life is too promising to allow anything or anybody to keep you from living. It’s time for an awakening … it’s time to live again.

Revive those dreams … Embrace your passion for life … Let go of the fear and negativity … Chase after those things that bring you pure joy.

Regardless of what happened yesterday, last week, last month or even this morning … declare victory and allow a revival to take place in your mind, heart, soul and spirit.

Scripture Of The Day: "Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it?" - Isaiah 43:18-19 (NKJV)

Tanya S. James is founder and CEO of The Master Plan, an artist management firm and the author of From Promiscuity to Proverbs 31: Getting Off the Fence of Sexual Immorality (http://www.armedanddangerous.biz). You can also read her inspirational blog at http://www.mycoffeemoments.com.…

The Ultimate Disrespect

Overseer Christopher J. Harris

Most of us would never intentionally disrespect Jesus. I recently asked a group of American high school students, “How many of you would go into a sanctuary and curse in the sanctuary?” With a resounding “No,” all of them resisted the idea of disrespecting God in that manner.

But quite plainly, anything that is the reduced result of John 10:10 is disrespectful to the reason that Jesus has come. He shared in one of His teachings, “I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” (John 10: 10, Amplified)

This time of the year brings us face to face with the purpose, priority, and passion of Jesus Christ and the sacrifices that He’s already made for us. As we celebrate this period of the year that includes the Passover, Good Friday, and the Resurrection, it becomes a reminder of the opportunity that we’re presented with – either a life that is average, dull, and routine or a life that is engaging, maximized, and fulfilling! Jesus’ resurrection screams to the latter.

We slap Jesus in the face when we live beneath the possibilities and potential that Christ has made available to us. When we settle for a listless and lackluster life of going through the motions and pursuing inconsequential plans, we essentially cause His work to be of no effect in our lives. Hebrews 6:6 (Amplified) reads, “If they then deviate from the faith and turn away from their allegiance--[it is impossible] to bring them back to repentance, for (because, while, as long as) they nail upon the cross the Son of God afresh [as far as they are concerned] and are holding [Him] up to contempt and shame and public disgrace.”

There are a lot of people that are stuck between living a life that is okay and a life that is maximized and fulfilling. They just exist with no satisfaction. They settle for whatever life throws at them. They literally live under the circumstances, rather than taking full advantage of both the good and bad opportunities presented to them. They don’t take the lemons and make lemonade, they insist on sucking on the bitter lemons alone. Before you think too fast that I am referring to a group of unbelievers or backsliders or hard-hearted religious rejects, I am also referring to folks that by all appearance are good Christian people. They have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior. They are also regular church attendees, active in ministry programs, regular givers of money and other resources, and even sometimes share God’s Word with others. Yet the deception is that while they (we) can follow that list, they (we) can still be unfulfilled and unsatisfied.

Can you imagine being really thirsty, yet having a fresh fountain of water with the purest spring water available on earth and you settle for just a sip of it? Why would you do that? It just would not make much sense. Christ declared that He wants to be that fountain in our lives (John 7:38).

As you celebrate Resurrection time, remember that Christ rose again not for you to live a life of mediocrity and casualness, but a life of fire, effectiveness, and vibrancy. He’s risen to serve as an example of new life. He offers us that new life, which brings new experiences, new mercies, and new victories. I encourage you to live life maxed out! Don’t slap Christ in the face by settling for anything less.

Scripture Of The Day: "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” - John 7:38 (NKJV)

Christopher J. Harris, a native of Palatka, Florida, is the Overseer of Children & Youth for Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International. Currently residing in Greensboro, NC, with his wife and children, he is also Founder of the Hub of Inspiration & the Inspired Ideas Group. http://www.ChristopherJHarris.com.…

Dying to Live

Sharon Frame

I was about nine-years-old when I first saw a dead person up-close. Some school kids heard an old woman in the neighborhood had just died. Morbid curiosity got the best of us. Before I knew it, we were making nervous tracks through a country dirt road and into the woman’s house.

The quick glimpse of death on her face scared me so fear followed me all the way home that day. My childish imagination ran wild. I couldn’t shake the dead woman’s face. And for days, I’d check under every bed for any sign of death lurking in my house.

It’s not just kids who get scared of death. Many adults can’t handle it either. You may be a faithful Christian who believes in the resurrection. But death is still a curious thing. It’s beyond man’s reach or control. Perhaps that’s what troubles us most. We can’t bear not being in control.

Spiritually, that may explain why so many Christians have such a hard time dying. For dying means relinquishing control of self. It signifies killing the flesh. And who really wants to do that? But die we must, if we really want to live.

In Matthew 16:25 Jesus said to his disciples: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”

Jesus Christ lived to die. That was his mission on earth. Now we must die to live. That’s our mission. To resurrect means to bring to life again. Since Christ raised us from the dead, we are now charged with resurrecting a dead world still trapped in sin. We do that by living a life dying to self.

John 12:24-25 reminds us of our need to die in order to help others live.“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”

How many seeds are still waiting on you to die so they can germinate? How many sinners are waiting on you to resurrect them? Like my nine-year-old self, we usually run from death. But spiritual death is worth embracing, since it can offer life to so many.

The apostle Paul urged us to “mortify (kill) the deeds of the flesh.” That’s how we relinquish our will. Jesus agonized about it in the garden. He finally said, (Father) “not my will, but yours be done.” Dying demands sacrifice. Here’s evidence:

D- Disciplined prayer life. Rise early every morning. Make prayer the first order of business. Talk to God. Allow Him proper space and time to talk to you.

I - Include Holy Spirit. Be led by the comforter, guide and instructor. He teaches how to die to self and live unto God. Take on the fruit of His Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Goodness, Kindness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

E- Exhibit Christ. Follow Jesus’ perfect example. Walk in His footsteps. Publically display His love. That’s what draws sinners to God. They’re hungry for a taste of true love. It’s patient, kind. It doesn’t envy or boast. It’s not proud. It’s not rude. It’s not self-seeking. It’s not easily angered or offended. It keeps no record of wrongs. It doesn’t delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth. (1 Corinthians 13: 4-6)

Such love means death of self.

As a nine-year-old child, mortal death scared the life out of me. Now I willingly die to live. How about you? It’s the only way some “dead man walking” in sin can glimpse Christ, the image and essence of true life.

Scripture Of The Day: “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” - Matthew 16:25 (NKJV)

Sharon Frame is a former CNN anchor, award-winning TV journalist and “Your Follow-Through Coach.” Her passion is to encourage and empower women. Sharon’s latest book, “Wired to Win” teaches how to Plug In, Power Up and Push Through to Personal Greatness. For more information, visit

http://www.sharonframespeaks.com.…

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A Familiar Voice

By Skip Heitzig
        

The BBC News had an amusing story. An autistic boy in Bangkok was on his first day at a special needs school. He started crying for some reason and crawled out a window. Trouble was, the class was on the third floor, so he ended up sitting outside on a ledge.

As the firemen tried to get the boy to come back inside, one of them overheard the boy's mother saying he liked comic book superheroes. So the fireman got a brilliant idea. He dashed back to the station and donned a Spider-Man costume that he wore at schools to liven up fire drills. Then, when he beckoned, the little boy eagerly went to "Spider-Man."

The little autistic boy wouldn't listen to those strange firemen, but he knew who he could trust! Now think of yourself as that little boy, out on a ledge, in danger. There are people calling to you, but you don't know them. Then suddenly you see a familiar face and hear a familiar voice, and you know you'll be saved.

John chapter 10, Jesus gives the analogy of the "good shepherd." He describes the special relationship between Himself and his followers, pictured as sheep. "And the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers" (v. 4-5).

Sheep come to know their shepherd intimately, down to his manner and the sound of his voice. They trust him because of what he does for them; he has earned their trust. Jesus Christ, the good shepherd, has earned your trust because of who He is and what He has done: "The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep" (v. 11). Jesus did far more than pull us off a ledge or out of a pit. He took our blame, and accepted the punishment of a righteous God, all so that we wouldn't have to pay for our sins with our own lives.

During this season, as we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, recall the words in verse 3, "He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out." When you hear Him call your name, follow Him. He will never steer you wrong.

In the words of the old hymn, "Savior, like a shepherd lead us, much we need Thy tender care!"

Scripture Of The Day: "And the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." - John 10:4-5 (NKJV)

Skip Heitzig is the founder and senior pastor at Calvary of Albuquerque in New Mexico. His teachings are heard across the country and around the world on The Connection. For more information on Skip, visit http://www.connectionradio.org.

Easter Is Always Here

By Bonnie St. John

“Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.” (Job 42:10 KJV)

What if you looked up one day from a busy week of work with overtime and unexpected deadlines and suddenly realized that Easter happened a week ago and you missed it? You would think, How could that happen? Wasn’t I paying attention?

I have never actually forgotten Easter, but I have gone through times in my life that were so difficult and painful, I seemed to miss a whole season. When my mother died just before New Year’s Day, I entered a dense fog of grief mixed with the ensuing financial tasks and the cloud didn’t seem to lift until mid-summer. When did spring happen? I wondered.

If you have ever been through a divorce, lost a job, suffered a major illness, or been forced to move from the community you love, you may have also been through a period of agony that felt like it would never end. The recession in 2009 has affected almost everyone in one way or another, causing many people to feel stuck in a permanent winter.

Yet, whether we experience it or not, Spring does arrive every year promising rebirth in bright green buds on trees, colorful tulips, and warmer, gentler winds. God reminds us with the seasons every year that He can bring life from the dead of winter. So, too, can He bring life to us no matter how many seasons we have felt deadened and no matter how long we have been deaf to the call of Easter.

During Easter week, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from death into everlasting life. Jesus who lived as the perfect example of love and kindness, suffered and was nailed to a cross so that our sins would be forgiven. After three days and three nights, the Father called Jesus back into life and He was able to return to the Father’s side.

God’s love also calls us to our own resurrection from anguish and affliction. Like Job who is described in the Old Testament as the epitome of misery, your winter may last for years and encompass unimaginable losses. Job lost not only his livelihood and property, he also lost his wife, his children, and his health. Yet, he continued believing in God’s promise. And His faith was rewarded with even more than restoration: “the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters. (Job 42:12-13 KJV)

When springtime finally came for Job, everything was returned to him tenfold.

Life from death is the message of Easter: Jesus’ sacrifice of blood gives us everlasting life. If you are not hearing the call of spring, if you are not feeling the joy of Easter, perhaps you have not fully accepted the gift of God’s mercy and forgiveness through Jesus.

Sometimes we are the hardest on ourselves…much harder than God would be. If you have lost a job, have you forgiven yourself, forgiven your employer, and moved on? If you lost a house, are you able to let go and see what God has next for you?

God’s gift of mercy is available to us 365 days per year. If you listen carefully enough, you will not only hear Easter calling in springtime, but every day of every year. Whether your personal resurrection has arrived yet or not, don’t miss Easter. Take His mercy into your heart and live every day knowing that your life will be redeemed. Easter is always here. Your spring will come.

Scripture Of The Day: "For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will." - John 5:21


Bonnie St. John is a professional speaker and Olympic medalist, who has appeared on the Today Show, CNN, the 700 Club, and Life Today. The author of How Strong Women Pray and Live Your Joy, Bonnie St. John is committed to reaching out to the world with a message of triumph over circumstance. For more information about Bonnie, log onto http://www.bonniestjohn.com…

He Still Rises

By Pastor Marquis Boone

A Sunday School teacher had just finished telling her third graders about how Jesus was crucified and placed in a tomb with a great stone sealing the opening. Then, wanting to share the excitement of the resurrection, she asked "And what do you think were Jesus’ first words when He came bursting out of that tomb alive?" A hand shot up into the air from the rear of the classroom. Attached to it was the arm of a little girl. Leaping out of her chair she shouted out excitedly "I know, I know!" "Good" said the teacher, "Tell us, what Jesus’ first words were?" And extending her arms high into the air she said Jesus first words were "TA-DA!"

Romans 6:4 "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."

The resurrection of Christ is amazing and life changing. Everything hinges on the resurrection in our deepest, darkest moments. When we don’t think anything can ever get better the resurrection gives us hope that it can. When we are in the midst of day one or day two of our trials and situations, the resurrection gives us hope that there is a day three and victory is coming. But one of the errors, slip-ups, mistakes, and faults that the people that crucified Jesus made was that they put all of their efforts and energy in trying to do damage to His body. And they overlooked, ignored, and disregarded the most powerful thing that they would never be able to damage and that is His spirit.

Yes they beat Him and it caused pain, yes they spit on Him and it caused dishonor, they made Him carry a cross and it caused exhaustion, of course they put a crown of thrones on His head thinking it would some how control His mind. While making a mockery of Him being the king of glory, yes they called Him everything but the savior, they even nailed His hands and feet causing blood to rush out. They also nailed His feet and of course pieced Him in His side. But the fault they made was they could not damage His spirit or heart, but because He still had the aptitude to have a good spirit He still had the power to give God praise.

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength.” Proverbs 17:22 (NLT)

You see folks have been putting all of their energy and efforts in trying to do damage to your body, to your name, to your reputation, to your position but they don’t realize that your heart is still cheerful because you know that all things are working together for the good and you will not allow the present time to brake your spirit.

Because of Christ, even today He is about to rise up in you and in your situation and He is about to give you an encore. Encore means a reappearance or additional performance demanded by an audience it is a second achievement especially that surpasses the first. This time when God stands up in you it will surpass every other time He moved in your life. Christ could not stay down, Christ could not stay in a grave because there were a host of angles, a host of believers, a host of friends and family waiting to see His reappearance. And because of His resurrection you are about to see a resurrection in your life.

Remember He still rises!

Scripture Of The Day: "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." - Romans 6:4 NKJV


Marquis D. Boone is the Lead Pastor of Fresh Start Church whose mission is to Re-vive, Re-fresh, Re-lease and to Re-store people back to God. For more information about Pastor Boone; log onto http://www.myfreshstartchurch.org or http://www.dreamoutloudtoday.com.…

The Dichotomy of Dying to Live

By Jothany Blackwood


One of the most powerful lessons that has been translated from the pulpit to the front porch is that we must die to the things of the flesh in order to live as Christians. And while that is not always an immediate transformation, it provides a model for the dichotomy of Christian living. And it is found in this conflicting idea; that in order to live a life of purpose, you must first die to the ways of the world.

And the challenge for many of us is not with the death of a thing, but it is in the mysterious act of living afterwards. We have all had some experience with death; whether from the intimacy of its embrace of loved ones or the recognition that it waited patiently for us like an unwelcome visitor with no place to go.

We recognize, however, that we have experienced the emotional death of relationships that promised so much and friendships that summoned our trust with ease. And after they ended, we were left with the pain of here's another one that didn't love us and we readjusted our masks with a heavy sigh.

Many of us have shouted, prayed, cried and danced our way through spiritual death as deliverance revealed that which had quietly offered promise underneath. It left us with a transparency that not only allowed us to see what we had survived, but even greater it offered the reflection of who God said we could be.

As I am dealing with my grandmother's death, my soul cries out from the uncertainty of how to live without her. And many of us are in that place of ambiguity that seeks clarity on how to live again without the familiar issues or behaviors that accompanied us until we met Christ.

Yet the resurrection indicates that after the death of certain behaviors and ideas, it is followed by living in fulfillment of one's purpose. If we can allow our hunger for the things of the world to die, then surely God will sustain us in every way. We can be confident in the knowledge that the essence of this dichotomy is not simply that we must die to live, but that all that we are belonged to God all along.

And since Jesus died and lived to tell about it, perhaps our story can also tell of how we rose again from our circumstances and challenges and lived a renewed life. Each day we get the chance through Christ to rewrite and create our own story and as my grandmother would often say, "You just make it a story to tell!"

Scripture For The Day: "For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ." - Romans 5:17v NKJV


In addition to serving as a college dean and motivational speaker, Jothany Blackwood is the founder of MidWife Ministries, which supports ministers and churches in birthing their vision. For more information about Jothany, log onto http://www.jothanyblackwood.org.

We Are All Witnesses

By Pastor Andre Butler


Resurrection Day is one of the most important days of the year for Christians. Without the resurrection of Jesus Christ, there is no salvation, and without salvation there is no Christianity. This illustrates the heart of the gospel message that Jesus rose from the dead.

In the Book of Acts one word seemed to be used repeatedly to describe the followers of Jesus: witnesses. In Peter's first message on the day of Pentecost, his grand finale was that Jesus was no longer dead but alive and that they were all witnesses. The rest of the apostles joined in with Peter in testifying of what they had heard, seen, and knew. They with more than 500 others had personally seen Jesus after his resurrection.

He was among them for 40 days and proved He was alive by many infallible proofs. Therefore, they became an ecstatic group that found themselves on the streets of Jerusalem testifying about the resurrection of Jesus.

If the apostles had made up the resurrection story they preached, and later wrote, surely at least one of them would have confessed of their deception to prevent whatever death awaited them during that time. However, they all testified through their actions that their testimony was true.

They, along with those that became followers of Jesus through his ministry and theirs, testified wherever they went that Jesus was alive. Later a man named Paul, one who had Christians killed for their beliefs, had an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. He left on his trip with plans to end the lives of Christians, and he returned as a witness to the resurrection of Jesus.

As Christians today, we have the same responsibility to spread the good news about the resurrection of Jesus. We are witnesses, commissioned to testify that Jesus is not dead but alive, and that His resurrection is proof that everything He said was true. The many healings and miracles occurring not only in churches all over the world, but in grocery stores, athletic fields, schools, and anywhere else you find Bible-believing Christians using the authority of Jesus also prove that Jesus is alive and still working miracles as He did during His time on earth.

Lastly, as Christians, each of us are witnesses of what Jesus has done in our marriages, bodies, finances, careers, emotions, and other areas of our lives. We must not be ashamed to get in the streets as the early believers did and testify about what Jesus has done for us.

Resurrection Day is not just a day where we celebrate, but a day when we are reminded of our responsibility to be a witness to our world that Jesus is alive and that what He did for us He will do for them as well!

Scripture Of The Day: For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. --2 Peter 1:16


Pastor Andre Butler is senior pastor of Faith Christian Center, located in the Metro Atlanta, Georgia area. Pastor Andre is also the founder and president of Andre Butler Ministries and Six20 The Gathering Campus Ministry. He is a devoted husband and father of three girls. For more information about Pastor Andre Butler, log onto http://www.andrebutler.tv…