RISE UP!

I bring Grace and Peace to each one of you in the name of Jesus the Savior of the world!

Today as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ I have been brought to the words in Ezekiel 37:1-6 Reading from the Message translation.

Breath of Life

^1-2 God grabbed me. God’s Spirit took me up and set me down in the middle of an open plain strewn with bones. He led me around and among them—a lot of bones! There were bones all over the plain—dry bones, bleached by the sun.

³ He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

I said, “Master God, only you know that.”

⁴ He said to me, “Prophesy over these bones: ‘Dry bones, listen to the Message of God!’”

^5-6 God, the Master, told the dry bones, “Watch this: I’m bringing the breath of life to you and you’ll come to life. I’ll attach sinews to you, put meat on your bones, cover you with skin, and breathe life into you. You’ll come alive and you’ll realize that I am God!”

I know there is more to this and as it unfolds I will bring it to you but on this resurrection day here is the message in a more personal context.  This is a message for anyone who will hear the words that “God Loves You” and will grab hold of the fact that we all were born in the Image of Love.

With this I take you back for a moment to Ezekiel 37 and those Dry Bones. 

¹¹ Then God said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Listen to what they’re saying: ‘Our bones are dried up, our hope is gone, there’s nothing left of us.’

^12-14 “Therefore, prophesy. Tell them, ‘God, the Master, says: I’ll dig up your graves and bring you out alive—O my people! Then I’ll take you straight to the land of Israel. When I dig up graves and bring you out as my people, you’ll realize that I am God. I’ll breathe my life into you and you’ll live. Then I’ll lead you straight back to your land and you’ll realize that I am God. I’ve said it and I’ll do it. God’s Decree.’”

Now most of you are wondering why am I bringing up a decree that God gave to Israel?  The message is for all today.  Because of the Gift of Jesus and his resurrection each and every one of you can come out of the grave you or the society around you has built

Where are you today, do you feel hopeless? That no one cares? Do you feel there is nothing left? Are all your dreams dried up and you have accepted that this is my destiny? Do you have all that God has promised you? 

In the book of John chapter 11 we have the story of Lazarus the word of his death had come to Jesus and this is what he said:

^14-15 Then Jesus became explicit: “Lazarus died. And I am glad for your sakes that I wasn’t there. You’re about to be given new grounds for believing. Now let’s go to him.”

This goes back to the question what do you believe?  What value you have you placed on what God has for you? Everybody’s circumstances are different but really life in itself is all based on what you believe and act on.  If the value of belief is not strong enough you will never experience the full measure of God’s inheritance. God is lifting the lid in this passage He is giving each one of us new grounds for believing.  Are you ready?

Later in this passage we read;

^21-22 Martha said, “Master, if you’d been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. Even now, I know that whatever you ask God he will give you.”

²³ Jesus said, “Your brother will be raised up.”

²⁴ Martha replied, “I know that he will be raised up in the resurrection at the end of time.”

^25-26 “You don’t have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live. And everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all. Do you believe this?”

Jesus in is now speaking to each and every one of us, “You don’t have to wait for the End. I am right now your Resurrection and Life!” Believe this and all that I have is yours!  The dreams I have given you are yours for the taking.  Your destiny is for the love of God to permeate every part of you.  To bring flesh to your hopelessness, ‘your dry bones’, and to breathe His life into your body, ‘your nothingness’, and show you all that He has for you, is yours today!

As we read further about the story of Lazarus the story goes on to say that Martha ran to Mary letting her know that Jesus wanted to see her and as Mary who had been crying in despair with her friends consoling her went to Jesus and fell at his feet said; “Master, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.”  And then we are given the shortest verse in the bible verse 35 ‘Jesus wept.’  Was it the death of Lazarus, the sobs of Mary or her friends filled with hopelessness?  No, Jesus’ tears came from love and he was troubled due to unbelief!

Let’s take a minute and look back to the end of the story;

⁴⁰ Jesus looked her in the eye. “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”

^41-42 Then, to the others, “Go ahead, take away the stone.”

They removed the stone. Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and prayed, “Father, I’m grateful that you have listened to me. I know you always do listen, but on account of this crowd standing here I’ve spoken so that they might believe that you sent me.”

^43-44 Then he shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And he came out, a cadaver, wrapped from head to toe, and with a kerchief over his face.

Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him loose.”

I realize that this message will be read not just today and will reach all over the world.  It does not matter when or where you are at this promise of Love is yours today if you will grab hold of it.  Right now is the time to believe and see the Glory of God! Jesus is saying to you right now remove the “stones” whatever they may be that are holding you back. Each stone has its sub names that all lead back to “UNBELIEF” that leads to fear, hopelessness, and despair.Jesus is at the right hand of our Father shouting, "(insert your name) Come out! For three days I was in that grave so you would never have to be there.  I have conquered death and have risen and now I am telling you to; Rise Up, and believe that everything that I have told you is for You!”

Your inheritance and all that God has for you is yours today.  Unwrap and let loose the garments of the dead dry bones.  Choose today to believe in what God has for you.  I am telling you today ‘God, The Master’ is saying; Live a life full of joy and abundance that a child of a King would live, Rise Up, I am with you always!”  

Rise Up! Believe! God Loves You! Grace Be!

Have you received this Invitation? If not I extend it to you now.  All that is required is to believe in Jesus "the lamb that takes away the sins of the world".  It is a simple as praying this prayer;

Dear Daddy God, thank you for sending your Son to proclaim me innocent, Thank you for loving me so much. Thank you, Jesus for taking all my sin to the cross past, present, and future. Because of your sacrifice I am now a Child of the most High God. My heart leaps full of Joy knowing that you have sent the Holy Spirit to guide and comfort me. Most of all thank you Jesus for giving me your gift of Peace, because of you Jesus I am free from death and will enjoy life eternal ! Amen

If you prayed this prayer I rejoice with the angels in heaven and I look forward to seeing you and all believers at the Wedding Table.