HE IS RISEN , SO ARE YOU !!

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the most seminal and cardinal truths recorded in the Bible.This resurrection of our Lord and Jesus Christ has many benefits .

The most glaring benefit is the fact that his death and resurrection gave us the salvation that we now enjoy .

The Bible records in Luke 24:6-7: "But the man who was once dead has been raised. And the angel told them, 'He is not here. He is risen! He has risen and is gone to the Father.' "

Romans 6:4:"We were buried with Christ by baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life”

“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.”Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬.

This means that, we who were once dead in sin have been raised from our eternal condemnation through our Lord Jesus Christ .

Some may think , but this is too good to be true, because just believing is too simple to be true. However , it is actually not too simple because if you understand the ordeal and pain our Lord and Savior went through , you would commiserate the fact that your salvation was not bought on a silver platter.

You believing in him is actually by just declaring with your mouth with a repentant and a believing heart that Jesus is Lord. This is indeed enough to save your soul from eternal condemnation because the price has already been paid by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

But I ask myself everyday , is salvation the only benefit of the death and resurrection of Christ ? What are some of the other benefits of the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus?

I combed through the Bible and realized that the death and the resurrection of Christ has other practical benefits aside being saved .

First of all , the resurrection of Christ gives us a new hope as believers .

This means that , the resurrection of Christ assures as that , no matter the situation we find ourselves in , there is a possibility that we can also overcome it . When Jesus was buried , a lot of people did not believe he would rise again as he said . Everyone thought he would be buried and would remain dead just like anyone but Christ proved everyone wrong . He gave us the mindset that , if we trust in God , he is able to raise us from the problems , struggles and the anxieties we feel we are buried inside . He has given us the power to overcome every obstacles and challenges. We may be in deep-six but we can rise again .

Hosea 6:2 "After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence”

Isaiah 40:31 - But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Micah 7:7 - But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.

Also , the resurrection of Christ teaches us perseverance . Christ preserved even unto death . He was too sure that God would definitely raise him . As believers, God calls us to persevere and focus on him regardless of the issues we face .

Romans 5:3-5 states that “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope”.

Just as Christ suffering gave us eternal life, our sufferings in this world also produces perseverance and this perseverance gives us the character to approach life and it is this character that gives us the hope in the Lord . No matter the situation you are in , if Christ was able to rise from the dead , then definitely you would also be able to overcome that difficult situation that plague and beleaguer you .

The resurrection also means that every dead thing in your life is resurrected . Is your academic life dead ? Are you finding it difficult to study ? Is your health dead ? Are you struggling with your health ? Is your spiritual life dead ? Are you finding it difficult to have an intimate relationship with God ? Are you battling with sin ? Is there anything you are struggling to overcome ? If your answer is in the affirmative, I would like you to have faith and believe that Christ has resurrected and as such every aspect of your life must also resurrect . Every dead thing in your life is also resurrecting in the name of Jesus !

“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.”‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This scripture teaches us that , the same Spirit that raised Christ is able to quicken our mortal beings . This scripture means that every aspect of your life can be quickened by the Grace if God . Your spiritual life , your health , your mind and everything can be quickened by virtue of the resurrection .

The resurrection teaches us that , not everyone would understand and accept your calling but do not worry , when the time is right , the Lord himself would glorify himself through you .

When Jesus resurrected, even though he had told the Disciples he would resurrect , some did not believe it . Thomas was a doubting one . It took Jesus to reveal himself to him before he accepted it . Not everyone is supposed to accept your calling and so focus on pleasing your God but when the time is up , God would show his glory through you .

“After Jesus ' resurrection, he appeared to the other ten apostles, who told Thomas they had seen him. However, Thomas was not with them and refused to believe them until he could see and touch Jesus' wounds himself. He said, "Unless I see in his hands the nail marks, and put my finger into the nail marks, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe" (John 20:25)”

A lot of people may be in this category but be firm in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and focus on him .

Finally , the resurrection causes us to challenge ourselves to do what men deem as impossible. Paul records in Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭that, “I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”

No matter what we face , we still have the assurance that we shall rise again .

To conclude , if you are in any situation that seems impossible to overcome , just know that Christ has resurrected , so are you . If you are facing life challenges which seem to bury you deep down in a ditch , just know you could rise . If life is throwing you off guard with no sense of ever surviving, just trust in Jesus Christ because he has the power to resurrection . If your spiritual life needs revival , tell God because he has the keys to resurrection.If your academic life is dwindling , tell God to resurrect it . If your health is failing like brakes with no hopes of surviving an accident , tell God to quicken your mortal being . If your relationship with friends and family is dying , tell God to redeem it .

He has risen , so have you . We died with him and resurrected with him and as such the resurrection perfects everything in our life . Walk through today with that understanding , faith and hope that God has already resurrected your dead life and it is yours to claim .

God richly bless you and happy Easter to you .

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