But on the Third Day!

  But on the Third Day
“'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men,
be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' "
    Luke 24:7 (NIV)

                        Did he say if …again?

     “’If he be the king of Israel, let him now come down from the cross: and we will believe him.’” (Matthew 27:42n GNT)

    “‘If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.’"                  (Matt.23:37NIV)

    “‘If you are the Messiah, save yourself and us!’"(Luke 23:39 HNV)

Satan - “Ha! Look at the mighty Jesus now. He’s so pitiful. He didn’t even put up a fight.  Crown me king. Let the party begin!”  (Laughter shakes the gates of hell.)

Heartbroken disciples stand in the rain as thunder, lightning and earthquake, shatter their hopes. He was gone. Really gone! How they had hoped for a miracle… but there was no miracle. Evil got its way. They had looked for Messiah all their lives. Their dream had died. 

They would take Him down from the cross. They would bury Him and come later to put more perfume on His body. It was the least they could do…it was all they could do.

                                                            But… three days later.

Hell’s Demons – (screaming) “What have you do with us, Jesus?”

Jesus – (His eyes, piercing and full of fury) “Give me the keys—now!”

Satan – (Bowing) He hands over the keys of hell and death and runs.
   
Rising above the cruelty of those who crucified Him, Jesus spoke up for you. “It is finished!” Jesus did what He came to do… make a way for your forgiveness…a way for you to become His child.

                                You are free. There are no more ifs.                          

“Christ redeemed us from that self-defeating, cursed life by absorbing it completely into himself. Do you remember the Scripture that says, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’? That is what happened when Jesus was nailed to the Cross:
He became a curse, and at the same time dissolved the curse.”
Galatians 3:13 (MSG)
  
 Dear Lord,
        You…are who you say you are.
                                            I… am who you say I am.
                                                                                    No and's, if's or but's!

Me Too?

                                                                     Me Too?
                   “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me before it hated you.”

                                                                John 15:18 GW


 You’re a powerhouse. You believe God and love Jesus. You’re dangerous to God’s enemy. Why? You’re beginning to act like the King’s kid. Jesus has forgiven your sins and you feel so good. Listen to the  new you.

This is for me. This is who Christ says I am. I can go anywhere—pursue any dream. He is with me and He is for me. He sees me…He knows me…He loves me. 
I’m more than a conqueror. I’m a warrior!
 
The devil hears your voice. He begins to shake in terror. Then he remembers, “Oh yeah…I’m the devil… the craftiest one of all. Boy, for a minute there, I almost forgot who I was. Come on, Sport. Get your act together. This will be easy…this will be fun…my favorite thing…my best thing!”

Satan attacks your mind with fierce condemnation but he speaks with quiet subtlety. “Oh, really? Do you really think you are worth more than two cents? You really believe God can forgive you after what you’ve done? Maybe others… but not you. Besides, what’s all your boasting? Is that Christian talk? Is that being humble?  Look around, compare yourself to others. Still the warrior?”

Satan went after Jesus; he’ll go after you too. You’re his enemy. He wants to condemn you, belittle you, demean you, and put you in a box. Do you think it was a piece of cake when Jesus encountered Satan?  It was more than difficult—it was torture. But He won! Jesus won for you. And that is why—you’re a winner!

Jesus’ story is your story. Don’t change it!

                              “And now, all glory to God, who is able to keep you from stumbling, 
                and who will bring you into his glorious presence innocent of sin and with great joy.”
                                                                      Jude 1:24 NLT
      
Dear Lord,
        Because of you, I will win today .Thank you.