Easter - Resurrection Sunday

Easter is Sunday, April 4. This is the day we set aside to celebrate the resurrection of our leader, Jesus Christ. Why is this holiday important? Why is it significant? And what makes it different than other holidays?

The resurrection of Jesus from the grave is the most important event in Christianity. In the garden of Eden man sinned and had been condemned to death. Death had the final say. Death put an end to any life, any goodness, any future one would expect. Death silenced all who would live for God. With the resurrection of Jesus Christ, He took away death's power. Man would no longer need to fear death. For the resurrection introduced the way to overcome death - that through faith in Jesus. For as in Adam, all died, in Christ - all can now live. 

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians about the resurrection, "And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith." Christianity is centralized on the victory Jesus claimed over sin and death on the cross. Now we can say, "O death, where is your sting? O, death, where is your victory?" 

Paul also writes "that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures." The whole theme of the Old Testament pointed to this event. There are over 70 prophecies written in the Bible predicting the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus from the dead!  This was not some random event, but a precise, planned, and predicted happening orchestrated by God Himself!

Finally, this single event in history is what sets Christianity apart from all other religions. No other religion, from Hinduism to Buddism to Islam, can say they have a founder or leader who has conquered death. Their leaders are all dead. Drop the mic. Christianity has a risen, leader in Jesus, who is preparing a place for His followers and will return to take them to be where He is. 

As you plan to worship this Easter Sunday, whether in-person or online, here are some suggestions to check out to prepare your heart for Easter.

Easter Bible Readings this week: Psalm 22: John 20; 1 Corinthians 15

Easter Movie recommendations: The Chosen; The Passion of the Christ

Easter Music: An Easter Hallelujah; Because He Lives; Easter Song

Prayer Acronym for Today

It seems daily there is a steady stream of people requesting prayer, and for good reason, our world needs it! Your channels of prayer requests may include Facebook, prayer chains, emails, the Bible app, etc. Those requests each represent a life that is important to God. Be sure to pause whatever you are doing to pray for those you agree to pray for. 

How is your prayer life overall? Do you have a set time each day when you stop and pray? Do you pray out loud or silently? Do you pray with others? With your spouse? The Bible isn't strict on HOW you pray, just that we DO pray. 

Jesus would take time away from the crowds and demands of life to hike up a mountain to pray. He would pray in the quiet surroundings of the Garden of Gethsemane. He would teach others how to pray by saying, "When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen." Paul writes in Philippians to "pray without ceasing." Praying without ceasing seems to indicate we just live our lives with a constant running dialog with the Father. It's a mindset. He's always with us. Always listening.

Here's an acronym to help you pray. Use A.C.T.S. to remember this useful routine of prayer. 

• A - Adoration - Begin prayer by recognizing who you are speaking to. The creator, sustainer, redeemer of the earth. Praise God with your words. Thank him for his salvation through His son Jesus. 
• C - Confess - Confess to God the areas of your life where you mess up. Tell Him you are sorry for disappointing Him. Come clean with God where you are weak and where you need help. 
• T - Thanksgiving - Give thanks in all things the Bible says. What are you thankful for today? Tell God. "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights." Share with Him in prayer what you are thankful for.
• S - Supplication - This is the easy part of prayer and the one most people spend the majority of their time on. Asking God for things. "Ask and it will be given to you," is Biblical. God wants us to come to him with our petitions. 

Thank you to all the prayer warriors in the world today. Remember the last prayer in the Bible, "Come Lord Jesus, come!"