Next Sunday is Easter Sunday the world over. I thought I would go into my archives and copy a past Memo that focused on Easter and resurrection, and I was surprised to find that I did not have anything in the archives! I write every year about purpose lessons from Christmas, but had nothing on Easter. Well, I am going to correct that this week, so let's get Holy Week started with this Memo.
A PACKED HOUSEMy church has six weekend services and we are getting ready for overflow crowds next weekend. People who don't darken the door of a church throughout the year will come to church on Easter Sunday, which will make for a packed house. They sit with the regular attenders, family and friends, and pay homage to the fact that Jesus was raised from the dead. It is probably the same in your church.
We will assemble next week and say by our presence, "Yes, we believe Jesus was dead. Yes, we believe that He was in the tomb for three days. Yes, we believe that God raised Jesus, who was both fully God and fully man, back to life. Yes, we further attest to the fact that Jesus ascended into heaven, and that our flesh, Mary's boy, intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father." I hope you agree that those affirmations summarize truths of Easter. But is that all the truth?
It always intrigues me that many will come and attest to these truths yet all too often those truths have no meaning or application in their daily lives. Stop for a minute and ask, "So what if Jesus was raised from the dead? What difference should that make in my life?" Those are good questions; let's try to come up with some answers.
IMPLICATIONSIf you believe that Jesus was raised from the dead, then you can believe God for anything! If God raises the dead, which He does, then He can cure cancer. He can provide for your business or ministry. He can transform you into the person He intended you to be, that person you want to be. If God can take a dead body and give it life, then nothing is beyond His miracle-working power. What's more, you have the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead living in you! It is not a replica of that Spirit, it is not a portion of that Spirit. You have the Spirit that raises the dead living in you. Here is what Paul had to say about the implications of this Spirit-resident:
You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you (Romans 8:9-11).
I trust you plan on being at your local church fellowship next weekend. Don't go as someone merely giving assent to a historical fact, go celebrating the truth that God is alive in You Then find how you can release that resurrection power into your life, relationships, work and purpose. If you can believe that God raises the dead - and you should - then you can believe God for anything. Have a great resurrection-power-filled week! Happy Resurrection Day!
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OPERATION PETTICOAT: I announced plans last week to continue raising money for The Sophia Fund, the Deborah Foundation and a new program, Operation: Petticoat. The latter is an effort to raise money for underwear for the young ladies in Kenya, who don't have any and consequently miss school because of it. I know it may sound simple, but this is an important issue as evidenced by two emails I received this past week:
Just read about Operation: Petticoat. It is so true about the underwear issue. Most of the girls here don't wear bras and the panties are tattered. It may seem strange to you but it is a big issue and the silly things are not cheap! So little material but the price can be restrictive to kids who have little - J.M.
John, I think Operation: Petticoat is brilliant. Lack of underwear is a huge problem for girls and women in Africa and they are very grateful for any that can be sent. It doesn't matter if it is second hand as long as it is clean. Bras are particularly appreciated because they are harder to find and much more expensive. They are also necessary for older girls to be able to play sport. Women in developed countries don't know what to do with their older bras other than throw them away, and they could make such a difference. Children's clothes are also needed. Zimbabwe winter temperatures regularly go below zero at night. Another vital necessity, which is out of reach for all but the best paid, is sanitary towels and tampons - S.F.
I am going back to Kenya in May, so we set April 30 as our deadline to raise money to purchase underwear here and take it over there. You may not be passionate about underwear, but the two emails above speak to the urgency of the matter.
You can give through my website or send a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA 15221. Just let me know if your contribution is to be used for food or underwear and I promise to apply it where you direct. $70 came in last week for Operation: Petticoat and $500 yesterday for The Sophia Fund, and I am trusting the Risen Christ for a lot more! Thank you for your help.
KENYA TRAINING: Next week, I will give you the specifics of The Pacific Institute (TPI) seminar I will conduct in Nairobi from May 17-19. Frankly speaking, TPI is the best training I have ever experienced and I love to share it with my friends. Be watching next week for the specifics and then meet with me in Nairobi for a life-changing experience.
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