“So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.” Matthew 28:15 NIV

The religious leaders at the time of Jesus’ resurrection paid off the guards that had been guarding Jesus’ tomb. They gave the guards money to lie about what had happened to Jesus’ body. Rather than say that Jesus is risen as Jesus had said He would, the guards were to say that the disciples had stolen the body. The guards took the money and shared what they were told to share and that “story has been widely circulated”. 

It’s interesting that although that “story has been widely circulated”, the truth of Jesus’ resurrection has prevailed. It didn’t matter how elaborate the deception of the religious leaders was, the truth prevailed. It didn’t matter how enthusiastically perhaps the paid guards shared the untrue story, the truth prevailed.

Just because something is repeated over and over again or it is “widely circulated”, it doesn’t make it the truth. Truth will prevail.

What stories are”widely circulated” today that some people have taken as the truth? What have you “widely circulated” because it is profitable for you?  How often have you “widely circulated”  the story of Jesus life, death and resurrection?  How often have you “widely circulated”  your story of redemption?

Let it be “widely circulated” that you are seriously passionate about your faith. Let it be “widely circulated” that you are a committed follower of Jesus, willing to share your story of redemption at all times, to everyone. Let it be “widely circulated” that you can not be bought or silenced.

Pray 2 Timothy 2:15 Acts 4:8-12

Heavenly Father, I want to do my best to present myself as a competent witness before others; a witness approved by You. One who does not need to be ashamed. I want to be able to handle the word of truth correctly.

Fill me with your Holy Spirit that I may always give an account of the things I have done in the name of your Son Jesus. Fill me with your Holy Spirit that I may widely circulate that Jesus was crucified but You raised Him from the dead. Fill me with your Holy Spirit that I may declare to all that salvation is only found through Jesus and there is no other through whom we can be saved.

Let everything I do be to declare the truth of Your love, Lord! No compromise. No sellign out.

I give myself away to You!

“If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” Matthew 28:14 NIV

The soldiers who were guarding the tomb of Jesus were instructed by the religious leaders to lie. They were to say that while they were sleeping, the disciples of Jesus came and stole the body. The religious leaders then promised the soldiers that if the governor heard about it, they would “satisfy him” and keep them out of trouble.

Don’t worry, guys, you do as we tell you to do and we’ll take care of you. We will take care of the governor, we will “satisfy him“.

The soldiers were afraid because of the earthquake, because of the angel, because they couldn’t hold Jesus’ body in a tomb. They were afraid of the consequences. They went and told the religious leaders what had happened and their response was to mislead them. It didn’t matter to the soldiers, as long as when the governor found out what had happened, the religious leaders would “satisfy him”.

What are you willing to do to look good to the person to whom you are accountable? What are you willing to do to “satisfy him” or her? Are you willing to lie?  Twist the truth?

Have you been willing to let others tell a lie on your behalf or detract from the truth to keep you out of trouble? Have you been willing to keep the truth to yourself hoping no one will know your sin or your shame? What have you said or done to keep yourself out of trouble?

God loves you, knows you, sees all things, “satisfy him”!

Pray Psalm 139 1 John 1:9 1 John 2:4

God Almighty,  You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.  You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. Where can I go from your Spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 

Forgive me, Lord, because when I sin I think I can hide from you. When I fail, I try to cover it with pretensions and false stories. My shame prevents me from moving forward. I confess to You because You are faithful and just and You will forgive my sins and cleanse me of all wrongdoing.

Lord, I want to be obedient to your Word and testify of the Truth. I want to satisfy only You!

Hide Me in Your Light

“…telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’” Matthew 28:13 NIV

The soldiers guarding the tomb of Jesus witnessed the empty tomb. They ran to report it to the religious leaders of the time. The religious leaders devised a plan to detract from the good news of the gospel, Jesus is Risen! They told the soldiers to say that while they were sleeping Jesus’ disciples stole his body.

Well, sleeping while on guard duty is dereliction of duty. So why would they admit to it? They weren’t thinking clearly. And if they were sleeping, how would they know what happened? So they made up a story.

While you are asleep, you are not on duty. While you are asleep you are unaware of what is happening. You miss out.

Once you were asleep, more than asleep, you were dead in your sins but now you are risen with Christ. Colossians 2:13

When you were asleep you were not able to fulfill God’s purpose for your life, you were unaware of God’s happenings.

Are you fully awake now? Are you fully aware of your role as a disciple? Are you fully aware of God’s happenings around you?

“Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you” Ephesians 5:14

It is time to stop making up stories. Learn the truth and the truth will free you. John 8:32  It’s time to shine with God’s light and bring others out of darkness. Matthew 5:16  It’s time to become fully aware of what God is doing and be a part of it.

Pray Romans 13:11-12 1 Thessalonians 5:5-11

Heavenly Father, I pray that You will  help me understand the times. I want to awaken from my slumber, my apathy, my indifference. Your salvation is available through your Son Jesus and I want to let others know because there will be a time when it will be too late.

While I was asleep in my sins, I was unable to see Your salvation. Your grace awoke me and now I know that You are there for me. I don’t want to live any more in darkness or commit anymore deeds that do not honor You.

Help me, Holy Spirit, to be awake and sober, to put on faith and love and to share the hope of salvation. I do not want to tell stories that soothe the soul; I want to tell the story that saves the spirit – salvation through Jesus.

Help me, Holy Spirit to speak of when Death was Arrested!

“While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.” Matthew 28:11 NIV.

The women went looking for Jesus at the tomb and instead found an angel of the Lord who told them that Jesus wasn’t there. Then the angel told them to go on their way and tell the others. On their way to tell the others, Jesus met them.  The women responded with worship. He encouraged them, “Do not be afraid,   go and tell the others.”

The women went “on their way” following Jesus’ instructions. “While the women were on their way”, the guards, who had been guarding the tomb, went ahead to give a report to the chief priests – the religious leaders of the time.

It is interesting that the guards at the tomb were Roman soldiers and instead of reporting to their superiors in the Roman army they went to the religious leaders. Why?  Well, it was the religious leaders who had petitioned the Roman Governor Pilate to place guards at the temple and to seal the tomb.

Interesting that the guards at the tomb were really the first witnesses of  Jesus’ resurrection. They reported everything that had happened to the chief priests: the earthquake, the angel, the empty tomb.

Has it ever occurred to you that while you are on your way to witness others are also doing the same for different reasons? Has it ever occurred to you that not everyone who shares the good news of Jesus’ resurrection does it with the right motivation or for the right reasons?

The women were “on their way” to give news of what had happened –the earthquake, the angel, the empty tomb, Jesus meeting them – to the disciples who would perhaps receive the news as hope. The guards were “on their way”  to give the news of what had happened to the chief priests who would definitely receive the news as despairing.  The women were filled of joy and the guards were filled with fear.

On the way to do God’s bidding, are you joyful or fearful? On the way to give an account of what Jesus has done in your life, are you doing it for you or to honor Jesus?

Pray Proverbs 14:25 Acts 4:20

Heavenly Father, on the way to do your will may I do it to honor you. On the way to share the good news of your love for us so great that You sent your Son to die for us, may I do it to draw attention to You and not to me.

Holy Spirit, guide me to all truth, I want to be a truthful witness that saves lives.

Let it be, O God, that I cannot help speaking about what You have done for me.

I could Sing of Your Love Forever!

“Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” Matthew 28:10 NIV

The women had gone to the tomb looking for Jesus and had instead found an angel of the Lord. He told them to “Go and tell” the others that Jesus was not at the tomb, He had risen and He was going to meet up with them.

On their way to do as instructed, Jesus met up with them. He affirmed them and they responded with worship.

And Jesus repeated the instructions, “Go and tell“.

The women when they saw Jesus, they fell at His feet, hugged His feet and worshipped. You would think that Jesus would have lingered there allowing them to express their love to Him. And yet, He loved on them by reassuring them to not be afraid and reiterating the instructions they had received, “Go and tell”.

Have you ever been met with a ‘suddenly’ of Jesus and have become undone in His Presence ?  When was the last time you just wanted to linger there, in His presence? When was the last time you’ve wanted to express your love to Him by just lying there on your knees, on your face? Or face lifted up, lost in His presence?

And He says, “Go and tell”.

There will be a time when we will be face to face with our Creator, in the presence of Our Lord, totally immersed in the Holy Spirit! There will be a time when we will bow before Him and worship Him eternally in song and praises.  Revelation 5:13

Today, our worship to Him is to do His will!

“Go and tell”.

Will you streamline your schedule, align your finances, strengthen your relationships, to “Go and tell”?

Pray  Acts 13:47  Isaiah 6: 8

Heavenly Father, I worship you! I lay my life before you! You are worthy to receive honor and praise! I want to worship you through song and dance! I want to clasp my arms around your feet and worship.

I thank you because you love me and you also love the world. And you have made me a light to the lost that I may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.

Lord, help me to answer the call. I want to answer the call. Send me, Lord. Holy Spirit use me to bring the good news of the Kingdom to those around me.

Give me the courage and desire to obey you and go and tell!

People need the Lord!

“Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.” Matthew 28:9 NIV

The women had left hurriedly from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, running to tell the others what the angel had told them. The tomb was empty. Jesus is alive!

Suddenly–quickly and unexpectedly–without warning, Jesus met them. On their way to do what the angel instructed them to do, Jesus met them. On their way to tell others that Jesus was not in the tomb, Jesus met them. On their way to share with the disciples that Jesus is risen, Jesus met them. Suddenly –quickly and unexpectedly–without warning.

Webster Dictionary defines ‘suddenly’ as ‘happening unexpectedly; changing angle all at once; marked by abruptness; brought about in a short time.’

If you haven’t started out to do what God has asked you to do, get on your way. There is about to be a ‘suddenly’ of the Lord.

Get ready. Be obedient. Be expectant. Mark 13:33  Be vigilant. Be prayerful. Be about the Lord’s business.

There will be a suddenly of the Lord, an unexpected intervention of the Lord, a new thing, a new season. He will meet up with you as you obey. He will meet up with you as go on your way and share.

A “suddenly” of the Lord  is a moment when God surprisingly breaks into time and space with an intervention of the Kingdom. This suddenly will bring you such awe that your only response will be to fall on your knees and worship God.

Pray Revelation 2:7 Acts 12:7 2 Samuel 22:50 

Heavenly Father, give me ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to me. Give me a hunger for your Word. Give me a passion for prayer. Give me a love for the lost.

Lord, I will obey your Word! Lord, I will spend time in dialogue with you! Lord, I will share your love with the unloved, the lost, the least! And I will speak of your love for them!

Father, I expect you to intervene suddenly in my life, my family, my congregation, my community, my city, my state and my nation!  I will be vigilant.

I praise you God for you are worthy of all praise. I give you honor for you are worthy of all honor. I worship you everywhere!

Show me your glory, Lord!

“So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.” Matthew 28:8 NIV

The angel of the Lord met the women who went to see Jesus at the tomb. He told them that Jesus was not at the tomb, He had risen! He instructed them to go and tell the others. The women did as instructed.

The women left the tomb in a hurry–perhaps because they couldn’t wait to tell the others.

Can you imagine the news?

“Wow, wow, wow! Guess what? We went to the tomb, we didn’t find Jesus, but that’s okay, because there was this angel; I mean he had to be an angel, because he was big and shiny and he was like lightning, and he told us that Jesus was not in the tomb because He had risen just like He said He would, and then he told us, not Jesus, because He wasn’t there but the angel, the angel told us to come and tell you that Jesus was going to meet up with you!”

Perhaps they were rehearsing all this on the way to tell the disciples, or not. One thing is for sure, they left in a hurry, “afraid yet filled with joy”.

The women left “afraid yet filled with joy” to tell the disciples. Perhaps they were afraid that the soldiers, who had fell like dead when they saw the angel, would get up and follow them to arrest them and the others. Perhaps they were afraid that once they delivered the news the disciples wouldn’t believe them or Jesus wouldn’t show up. It really didn’t matter.

They were “afraid yet filled with joy” and they “ran to tell his disciples”. 

Have you ever been filled with joy because of what God has promised you and yet afraid that the promise would not be fulfilled? What if no one believes you when you tell them what God has given you to say or do?

It really doesn’t matter. Even if you are afraid, you run to share because it will build your faith up and when what God said would happen happens, the others will also believe.

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track.” Proverbs 3: 5-6 The MESSAGE

God will never let you down. The name of the Lord is a strong tower (Proverbs 18:10). The Lord is mighty—the Almighty (Revelation 19:6). He has made many promises, and He who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:23)

Pray Psalm 9:1-2; Psalm 91:1-2

Lord, I give you thanks with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds;  I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.

Even if I am scared, I will be quick to give witness of what you have said to me. I will share of what you have done in my life because I live in your shelter. I am safe in your shadow, Almighty God! You are my refuge and fortress. I trust in you.

Even if I am scared, I know that you will be with me and it fills me with joy to know that you will go before me and you will never leave me.

I am not alone!

“Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” Matthew 28: 7 NIV

The angel of the Lord appeared to the women who went to the tomb of Jesus. He told them to not be scared. He told them,  “I know you are looking for Jesus. Let me tell you –He is not in the tomb. He’s risen just like He said He would. I am going to show you that the tomb is empty and then you have to go quickly and tell others”.

“Then go quickly” , the angel instructed the women. Don’t stay to wonder how this happened. Don’t try to figure it out. Don’t start asking questions. Just “go quickly”.

How many times has God asked you to do something and you lingered behind?  How many times have you peppered your prayers with questions?  Do you “go quickly” only after you have wrapped your head around it?

Sometimes you just have to say what God told you to say. Sometimes you just have to do what He asked you to do. All the time you just have to “go quickly”. Obey.

Obedience positions you for blessing. Pastor Gerry Hartman likes to say, “Delayed obedience is disobedience. Partial obedience is disobedience. Obey God and leave the consequences of obedience to God.”

“Then go quickly” and tell other that Jesus is alive, that Jesus is risen. “Then go quickly” and tell others that Jesus is alive and wants to meet with them. “Then go quickly” and be a messenger of hope, a messenger of good news.

“Then go quickly” and ask for forgiveness. “Then go quickly” and forgive. “Then go quickly” and make that phone call, write that note, share your story.

“Now I have told you.”

Pray 1 John 5:2; Philippians 2:13;  Romans 1:16; Luke 11:28 ; Psalm 37: 3 -6 

God, I am your child and I want to show my love to you. I want to obey your commands. You are the one who works in us to will and to act in order to fulfill Your good purpose. Work in me, O Holy Spirit. I want to go quickly and tell others about Jesus. I want to hear Your Word and obey it. Be quick to ask for forgiveness and quick to forgive.

I commit all my ways to You, obey You and I trust in You, Lord.

I Will Go!

“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” Matthew 28:6 NIV

The women went to the tomb looking for Jesus after he was crucified. They were met by an angel of the Lord. He told them they are looking in the wrong place. Jesus was not at the tomb “just as he said”.  In case the women wouldn’t believe him, the angel showed them the place where He was but where He no longer is.

When Jesus was among us, He chose His disciples, He modeled for them, He instructed them and among the things that He told them, He told them:

• He was going to suffer many things, He was going to be killed and He was going to be raised from life on the third day. Matthew 16:21
• He was going to the Father for our own good. Unless He went away, we would not receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will guide us. John 16:7-15

Jesus suffered “just as he said”, He was killed “just as he said”, He was raised on the third day “just as he said”. The Holy Spirit came “just as he said”.  The Holy Spirit is available to guide us “just as he said”.

God – Father, Son, Holy Spirit– will do what He said He would do.

God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind.
Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? Numbers 23:19

What are you worried about? What doubts do you have about God’s promises? What has God spoken to you that you have not yet seen fulfilled?  Do you need to go and see the empty tomb? Do you need to revisit where you once were and you no longer are to remember that God is faithful to His promises?

Pray Psalm 119

Teach me, O God, to trust in you. Your Word is trustworthy and true!

I place myself, my family, my future in your hands. You will keep me and watch over me. You will provide me what I need and open the doors for me that need to be opened.

Give me understanding, so that I may keep your commands and obey them with all my heart. I want to position myself for blessings and position my family for blessings. 

I know not because I feel it but because Your Word says it, “He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,” 2 Corinthians 1:10 NIV

He’ll Do It Again!