WE ARE FREE!

SCRIPTURE

1 Corinthians 15:50-57 (NRSV)
The dead will be raised

What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled:
"Death has been swallowed up in victory."
"Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?"
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

DEVOTION

1-2-3 Praise Break! Hallelujah! Glory to God!

I could not start today’s devotional without a “Hallelujah Praise!” Doesn’t today’s Bible passage make you feel like dancing, shouting, praising, and singing?

When I think about how much time, effort, and money we, as human beings, invest in seeking immortality, I am truly amazed!

Some people get liposuction, take herbal remedies that cost thousands of dollars per month, sleep in oxygenated bubbles, rub creams all over their bodies, take illegal drugs, exercise excessively, starve themselves needlessly or even freeze themselves after “death” with the hope of being defrosted alive one day!

Oh my! We are so afraid to die! Why do you think this is, my friends? Is it because we are afraid of the unknown?

Well, today’s Bible passage tells us exactly what is going to happen to those of us who have put all of our hope in Jesus. It says, “We will not all die, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”

Wow! Isn’t this GOOD NEWS? We will not die, but be changed! Well, you may be asking, “What kind of change is going to take place?” Well, I certainly don’t know all the details, some things are just a mystery. :-)

But, I do know—and believe with my whole heart--that our perishable bodies, will become imperishable and our mortal bodies will become immortal!

Isn’t that a cool thought? I have often said that human bodies have expiration dates like fruit or bread in the store. After a while we just get rotten or stale. Our bodies just give out and die. But, when we put all of our hope in Jesus, believing that God loves us so much that God gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal, imperishable, immortal lives, we live with a blessed assurance that we shall not truly die!

I have always said that death is simply a rebirth! Sometimes a mother labors hard to bring a baby into the world. It is painful and hard work to bring a baby into the world. And sometimes, people labor hard to be reborn into the Heavenly realm. We see them on their sick beds, laboring…and it breaks our hearts. We see the monitors, tubes, ravishes of chemotherapy, and/or the great pain they endure and we mistakenly believe that all hope is lost.

But, do not despair my friends! Mama, Daddy, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, or pastor is just laboring into the Heavenly realm. God is a midwife of unprecedented skill, and God will “catch” the spirit of your loved one on the other side of eternity!

Some glad morning when this life is over, we’ll fly away home! When the trumpet sounds, and Jesus returns again to the earth, even our bodies will be resurrected in a more perfect, imperishable, immortal form to dwell with God eternally!

I don’t know about you, but I am so excited for that great day! Today’s Bible passage says, “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Hallelujah! We are victorious because of Christ Jesus who loves us! Although the wages of sin are spiritual death, our gracious and merciful God, allowed Jesus to die for us—so that we might live eternally!

No longer can sin hold us bondage, stealing our lives, wrecking our relationships, and sucking the life out of our souls. The Bible says, “S/he whom the Son sets free, is free indeed!”

We are FREE, my friends! Live into your freedom…

If you have not put all of your hope in Jesus, trusting God to forgive your sin and gift you with eternal life, please pray with me:

Dear God, I love you and I know you love me. Thank you for sending Jesus to the cross to die for me. Thank you that he did not stay dead, but was resurrected on the third day. Please forgive me of my sin and fill me with the Holy Spirit. I am so grateful for the gift of eternal life that you have promised me, because I believe! Please help me to share your love and gift with others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

SPECIAL NOTE

If you just prayed that prayer for the first time, today, you are saved! I would be so honored if you would let me know about your decision by clicking “Yes” in the poll located at the top/right of today’s devotional! I am so happy for you! Happy Spiritual Re-Birth-Day!

Next steps: In response to what God did for you just now, let me suggest that you consider telling another Christian so that they can celebrate with you! Ask them to help you find a Bible that is easy for you to understand so that you can learn more about your new-found faith! Ask them to help you find a good Bible believing church where you can make new friends who will walk with you on your new journey! You are already saved; now let God mature you by faith! Congratulations!



ANNOUNCEMENTS

If you would like to put all of your hope in Jesus today, please visit my blog entitled, “Putting All Your Hope In Jesus” located at
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/04/putting-all-your-hope-in-jesus.html

If you have additional questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, "Come to Jesus"
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/come-to-jesus.html

Pastor Yolanda is now publishing another blog entitled, “A Spoken WORD” in celebration of Holy Hip Hop, Gospel/Christian Rap and Spoken Word. Please check it out @ http://aspokenword.blogspot.com/

You are invited to follow Pastor Yolanda on Twitter www.twitter.com/PastorYolanda

Good News has now added a Prayer Ministry. http://www.kindlejoy.com/groups/goodnews

You are invited to leave comments or questions regarding today’s devotional. These comments are public.

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Thanks for reading and please come again. Pastor Yolanda extends a very special welcome to all of our friends reading outside of the United States of America! We are honored that you are sharing with us today.

From Pastor Yolanda's blog http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com