On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.
They found the stone rolled away from the tomb but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.
In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them,
“Why do you look for the living among the dead?
He is not here; He has risen.
I have been pondering these words all week…“Why do you look for the living among the dead?”
How often do I look for the living among the dead…
Seeking things that do not bring life
Looking for fulfillment in things that only bring more emptiness…
as if dead things can bring me life,
when all along the living one… the resurrected one, is the only one -
to bring life to those dry places,
those thirsty places,
those thirsty places,
those dying places,
those dead places.
those dead places.
His resurrection life is the only thing that fills- He is the only one that fills
those empty places.
And Yet…
sometimes we live in the in-between place…
that place between His resurrection and the power of His resurrection,
that place of knowing He is alive and the place of living in that truth.
His very breath of life… covered them.After he had resurrected - Jesus said to His disciple, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
He filled them with His presence - Life giving salvation - eternity set in them
But before He send them out,
He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
Imparting and reminding them of all He had taught them…
head knowledge now becoming heart knowledge
the living word
not only living with them
but now dwelling in them.
not only living with them
but now dwelling in them.
And yet…
He gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit… you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
The Disciples were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.
Perhaps the same two men who stood in the tomb… Who asked the simple question
“Why”“why do you look for the living among the dead?”
“Men of Galilee,” they said…
“Why”
“why do you stand here looking into the sky? "
“This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
the disciples were living in
the in-between place…
that place of knowing the living resurrected Lord…
yet waiting…
waiting for His resurrection power.
So often I stand there…
waiting
waiting for my Savior
waiting
waiting for my Savior
waiting for His power
waiting for His strength
…living in-between the resurrection and the power.
50 days after the dead sprung to life,
50 days after death’s sting was won,
50 days after the Resurrection and the Life bought victory for all mankind,
the promised power was received…
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Resurrection life received - Resurrection power given
life that gives us the power - to manifest Jesus
life which gives us the ability to live victoriously
Jesus called them out of that in-between place.
Jesus calls me out of the in-between place…
that place of complacency,
that place of apathy,
that place of just getting through the day,
that place of just getting through the day,
that place of fear,
that place that brings death.
that place that brings death.
He says to me…
"I am your resurrection and your life…
believe and receive ME… and LIVE.
live fully
you have no need to fear, my perfect love covers it.
you have no need to just get by, to believe things will remain dead,
the power of my resurrection covers death.
live in my resurrection life - Live in the power of the my resurrection.
LIVE
#286 my mama
#287 resurrection power
#288 moving forward
#289 forgiveness - power of forgiveness
#290 restoration
#291 generational patterns broken
#292 watching special son jump for joy in worship
#293 learning about new ways to show gospel
#294 questions asked to a loving God who answers
#295 hope for future
#296 seeing new areas a gifting in children
#297 reading book and talking about pictures with special son
#298 lessons in failing and learning in dog sitting
#299 initative in children
#300 house that is falling apart but still a home
Walking in His blessings with a heart of gratitude...
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2 comments:
May we leave that in-between place and step over into the Power that is received after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you - - And go forth and be and do.
i'd never seen the link between those two "why" questions... thanks for pointing that out so wonderfully.
ever heard of the book "the land between" by jeff manion - it looks at the israelites wandering the land between egypt and the promised land. i'm finding it very encouraging.
prayed that by God's grace, you'll step out of that in between place and live in the place of His resurrection power.
blessings!
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