Happy Easter everyone! We have started a new series for the Easter season which I’ve entitled “The Power of the Cross.” We are looking at Colossians 2 today which talks about being “buried with Christ.”
Colossians 2:12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with Him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.
It's important for us to understand what Jesus did for us on the cross….that He died for my sins, that He was nailed to the cross for me. When we understand that, it gives us the desire and the ability to be buried to our old way of life and to the flesh so that we can rise in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus understood that He would die and that he would be buried. He understood that his fleshly body would go into a tomb but that his soul and spirit would go to another place. When the Pharisees asked him to give them a sign that He was the Son of God He made this reply: I'm going to give you the sign of Jonah.”
Matthew 12:40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
What is the sign of Jonah? That He would be in the heart of the earth for 3 days ….His soul and spirit went to a place called Sheol…the holding place of the departed. Let's talk about these three days….these are indicative of three events that bring about resurrection for you: a third day revitalization in your life. These are not literal days but these are events and have a personal time frame.
Day One: death to self… to my passions/ priorities/ possessions and desires. In the story of Jonah, he was running away from God and he knew it. …it was his fault he recognized it and he was willing to give his life for the sake of others, he was willing to die.
Day Two: Looking in faith or by faith to God for deliverance. Jonah was in the belly of the whale but he realized that God has graciously kept him alive and waited for God’s deliverance.
Day Three- God will raise us up. Resurrection Day… the Day of Deliverance. The Bible says very simply…that the Lord spoke and the fish heaved the prophet out on the shore. The day might be dark, it may look like a bad situation but deliverance is around the corner… daylight is about to break forth… The Son of God, Jesus Christ Our Savior.. was raised to new life by the Father because death could not hold Him. He defeated the power of the grave and of death. And one day He will destroy death itself.
Maybe you're in a situation today, you're waiting on God for Resurrection… you want to experience new life, it seems like you're buried and forgotten but He hasn't forgotten about you… if you will wait in faith for deliverance, He will come and He will raise you to new life. How does it happen? Die to yourself to your own agenda; say Lord I'm completely dependent on you…. look to Christ for deliverance in faith and receive new life.
Join us in person on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. or via livestream by going to https://www.firstbaptistsudbury.com and clicking on livestream for “The Third Day.”
Blessings,
Kevin