The Resurrection is what makes Christianity different from all religions!

Religions offer a theology about a God out there, whom we can have NO ongoing contact with. Christianity says we have Jesus, Who has risen from the dead, and we live in daily, dynamic relationship with Him personally.
________________________________________
When He arose, He took all authority from satan and is now seated, together with us in heavenly places where we rule and reign together! We respond to such mercy and grace by receiving Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

Does any other religion offer that? NO!
Only Christianity offers us the opportunity to abide in Jesus continually!

Easter Sunday is a special day where we celebrate His gifts to us. One wonderful gift is that He has granted us the revelation to see and experience this wonderful truth, and to discover that a living encounter with Jesus is so easy that even children can do it. We can do it also if we become childlike. Who could have imagined life and eternal life could be this easy?

So we are now invited to walk in His Light, to see and believe. So let’s do that.

Envision truth, Him at your side. Ask for His input. Tune to flow, and sense the flow from His River which is bubbling up from within.
Life becomes simple. I tune to flow, believing the Holy Spirit can be experienced as a flowing River, and I simply live out of this flow.
Wow! Does any religion offer that?

Does any religion offer complete cleansing of all my sins by simply asking, receiving, and believing, and then the opportunity to walk in the Light by putting on Christ's cloak of righteousness in simple childlike faith? No. Only Christian spirituality offers this!

Lord, THANK YOU THAT YOU HAVE OPENED THE WAY BEFORE US. THANK YOU THAT YOU HAVE OPENED OUR EYES AND THAT YOU ALLOW US TO HEAR, TO SEE AND TO RECEIVE FROM YOU. We worship YOU THE TRUE AND LIVING GOD, our Lord, and our Savior.

Jesus, we come this Sunday to celebrate the greatest gift ever given, YOUR LIFE, flowing within us!

Action
• Worship along with The Tabernacle Choir as they sing the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Messiah. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBZ7AfZR9xs
• Lord, what would You speak to me about the greatness of Your gift of salvation?

Can the Bible Be Trusted?

I received this question in an email from England: "My friend believes you should believe what your spirit tells you above the scriptures because not all scripture is divinely inspired. My question is, is the Bible infallible?"

Infallibility of the Bible

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work (2 Tim. 3:16,17).

But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God (2 Pet. 1:20-21).

Jesus said: Sanctify them in the truth; Your word (logos) is truth (Jn. 17:17).

Jesus said: Has it not been written in your Law, 'I SAID, YOU ARE GODS'? If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken)... (Jn. 10:34-35).

Jesus said: Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:17-19).

The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward (Ps. 19:7-11).

Do I live ONLY by the Spirit?

I do not recommend living totally by what you sense in your spirit, because you have no safeguard against pride and deception. The Bible says that God uses several means to bring us to truth. Below are a few of these:

Bible meditation (Josh. 1:8)
A multitude of Spirit-anointed counselors (Prov. 11:4)
The word of 2-3 witnesses (2 Cor. 13:1)
Testing things by their fruit (Matt. 7:16)
Prophecy, dreams and visions (Acts 2:17)

February 29

Even Leviticus
You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy.

Today's Scripture & Insight :

Leviticus 13:1–8
The topic was Leviticus, and I had a confession to make. “I skipped a lot of the reading,” I told my Bible study group. “I’m not reading about skin diseases again.”

That’s when my friend Dave spoke up. “I know a guy who believed in Jesus because of that passage,” he said. Dave explained that his friend—a doctor—had been an atheist. He decided that before he completely rejected the Bible, he’d better read it for himself. The section on skin diseases in Leviticus fascinated him. It contained surprising details about contagious and noncontagious sores (13:1–46) and how to treat them (14:8–9). He knew this far surpassed the medical knowledge of that day—yet there it was in Leviticus. There’s no way Moses could have known all this, he thought. The doctor began to consider that Moses really did receive his information from God. Eventually he put his faith in Jesus.

If parts of the Bible bore you, well, I’m with you. But everything it says is there for a reason. Leviticus was written so the Israelites would know how to live for and with God. As we learn more about this relationship between God and His people, we learn about God Himself.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,” wrote the apostle Paul (2 Timothy 3:16). Let’s read on. Even Leviticus.

By: Tim Gustafson

Reflect & Pray
What sections of the Bible bore you or seem irrelevant? How can you learn to recognize their value?

Father, teach me how to appreciate the Bible. Let every part speak to me. Amen.

Oasis - Journaling by Aurora Wells

Lord, what do You want to say to me about Oasis? (I was asking about a ministry called Oasis, but He went a different direction with His answer. ☺️)
________________________________________
Oasis is a place of refreshing for the soul. Not just for you but for me. Remember the woman at the well? I was tired and hungry and asked her for a drink. She didn’t give me the natural water I asked for but I was refreshed by the touching of her soul. She let me in. She received me. Will you let me in? Will you receive me? Will you let me out of the restrictions you have placed me in in an effort to know me better? I’m fresh manna. Fresh everyday. Don’t hold tightly to yesterday’s bread. I have fresh bread today. Yesterday’s revelation was sufficient for the day but today is a new day. I’ll never run out. I’ll never fall short. All I need is an open vessel with room for me to pour. Don’t come to me already full. Let there always be an empty place for me to fill. Stone by stone. Measure by measure. Day by day. You can’t know it all at once. My heart is full when you let me fill yours. Make my joy complete.

Me - Is it real? Do you really want more and more closeness with people? Do you really focus on oneness in relationship with us. It seems like that’s too simple and doesn’t line up with the “work for Jesus” mindset that has so heavily been established in the church.
Jesus - When man takes over the leading of our relationship it always ends up in works. Just ask Eve. All we had was relationship. Once her eyes were opened they sought to do a work of the flesh to compensate for the separation they had from me. Hiding, sowing fig leaves together. That is why it is said I was slain from the foundation of the earth. My provision was already in place for them. They acted in fear and tried to provide for themselves. Although well meaning, their works were a dead end. As are man’s today. They mean well and want to teach others of me, but this is the day that my words are written on the heart. Man’s attempt to connect people with me often leads to a dead end. They can’t see me for the path that was laid before them. They see me as far off and hard to get to.

The simplicity of oneness with me is hard for fallen man to grasp. Still following in Eve’s footsteps, they think communion with me just can’t be enough. There must be something else I’m missing out on. And with that here comes the leaves. That resulted in their inability to remain in my presence. Man’s own righteousness and effort keeps them from fully experiencing my presence. They determine how close we can be by the quality of their own merits rather than on mine. My work is full, complete, and finished. If they would only see that and believe that, they would fully know me every time.
I’m not holding back. Though there are many blockages, move the blockages out of the way. Tell the people about me. Not how to get to me. I said you would know the way. The reason I said that was because the disciples already knew me. They spent time with me. They were familiar with me. Present me to people and I’ll show them the way. Your ways are limited and can become a blockage if they don’t seem to work. I have a straight line to the heart. Custom tailored for each soul. I know them well. Better than the sparrow.
Me - Do you want me to see your face? (I keep seeing His face partially when I see Him.)

Jesus - I want you to look into my eyes and find what you’ve always been looking for. My face is my identity just as yours is to you. Don’t be afraid. Look deep. Things I’ve wanted you to know that can only come through intense intimacy. Openness. Trust. Oneness. Look deep. Don’t be afraid to see. Receive all the gifts that I have for you. I’ll keep them coming if you’ll keep receiving. Don’t shut off the supply thinking that’s enough. It’s not enough. Maybe enough for you, but let your storehouse overflow. So many that I’d love to bless, but they don’t know how to receive. Make my joy complete and let me bless through you. Will you do it?

Me - Yes Lord! Let your joy be complete. I love to make you happy and delight your soul. I’m afraid. I don’t know what that will entail. Will I be snatched out of what is comfortable and stable for me?
Jesus - There is a price to pay but I will help you pay it. Fear will always lead you astray, away from me. This is a life of faith. It has to be. There’s no way you could understand all of my ways. Bits and pieces may be clear, but it takes faith to walk with me. It’s the comfort of my hand in yours, not that you know every step and where the journey will take you. Be comforted in our closeness and the fact that I am good. You can trust in me.
________________________________________
Fan the flames of revival by sharing this blog with your friends on social media!
________________________________________

JOIN PLUS PLUS Login
4 Reminders to Pray for Justice in a Hurting World
Lori Stanley Roeleveld | Contributing Writer | Updated: Feb 22, 2024

#prayer #top headlines
As Christians, we are to leave vengeance to God, but He made us inclined toward action. To say a prayer for justice can feel like inaction, but what if we were granted an audience with the most powerful leader in the community, state, or nation in the face of wrongdoing? We would go and make our appeal, and it would not feel as if we’d done nothing. When we pray for justice to our Creator God, we are making our case before the Highest Power in the universe.
God calls us to enact justice when it is within our power (Micah 6:8), but the greater injustices are too often outside our human influence to redress. The people of God have suffered injustice throughout their existence. Many Christians around the world are treated unjustly even today because of the name of Jesus. We sometimes suffer daily injustices based on things about us we can’t change or because we encounter others who are largely out for only themselves. People all around us suffer injustice, whether they follow Jesus or not, and as we witness their pain, we may feel helpless and small, but God has given us an avenue to appeal on their behalf.
Now, it’s true that justice can get confusing on this side of Glory. Our prayers can be muddled in a world with much deception and where people imagine themselves victims with sometimes very little evidence or cause. This is all the more reason to bring these cases before God, as He is perfect, knows all truth, and judges rightly.
Psalm 89:14 says, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you” (ESV).
Deuteronomy 32:4 reads, “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he” (ESV).
So, how do we go about praying for justice? What can the Bible tell us about this process?
Photo Credit:©GettyImages/olegbreslavtsev