Just the thought of RISING from the dead gets me excited! Jesus rose from the tomb and gives NEW LIFE to all who come to him. Isn’t that the greatest news you’ve ever heard? Through the death and resurrection of Jesus we conquer the fear of death that has put dread into the hearts of men and women. But we don’t just celebrate a past event, we celebrate a life that is being offered to us right now. Not merely a historical event but a lifestyle of living in the power of the resurrection reality! It is not just an event, but it is a source of power for the true believer! The power of Christ lives in us, it vibrates in us, it gives life to us! The power of sin is demolished by the same power that moved the stone.

I’m excited to tell you today that Jesus Christ is alive and has conquered death, and sin, and the grave! The tomb is now open! I love that word OPENED! The point of Easter and the resurrection of Jesus from the dead is that God is in the process of clearing this world of all heartbreak. And the opening of the closed tomb of Jesus is the first step in a campaign to throw open 7 billion doors of hope for people who will trust him.

• Jesus’ crib and his miracle birth lighted the sky with a star shining out hope!
• Jesus’ cross is where he opened his fist to take your nail!
• Jesus’ cave opened with a shout proving the triumph of Jesus Christ!

Surely the implication of this Easter story for our lives today is this: when the door of hope has been closed, and we are locked in the dark room of our fear and can see no exit for us and no entrance for God, the risen reigning Christ is not limited to human doors.

The great word of the resurrection is OPEN! Because Jesus Christ must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. And if you trust him, your enemies are his enemies, and no door of disappointment will be able to close you up in darkness. The open tomb proves that he reigns today with power and grace! We are forgiven! We are his children!

God took the worst possible situation – the death of his Son – turned it around, used it for good and changed the world.  Easter changed history.  More than that, his resurrection is still changing individual lives like me, like you, today. Recapture the awe! Christians need to recapture the sense of awe and wonder, the explosive excitement that energized Jesus’ followers when they saw his empty tomb that first Easter morning.

And don’t forget the words Jesus spoke to Martha at the tomb of her brother Lazarus:

“I am the Resurrection, and I am Life Eternal. Anyone who clings to me in faith, even though he dies, will live forever. And the one who lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

John 11:25–26 TPT

I do!

We don’t just celebrate a past historical event, we celebrate a life that is being offered to us right now; a lifestyle of living in the power of the resurrection reality! Oh that we would know HIM and the POWER of his resurrection! The resurrection is a source of power for the true believer! The power of Christ lives in us, it vibrates in us, it gives life to us! The power of sin is demolished by the same power that moved the stone.

Today, resurrection glory is still pouring out of that empty tomb. Receive a fresh infilling of resurrection power! Let his endless life put an end to your despair. Let his triumphant power overwhelm your tragedy. Let his buoyant, bliss-filled glory lift you far above any trouble you face. Resurrection GLORY is to be your portion, not just on Easter Sunday, but every week, every day, and every moment you breathe here on earth! Jesus left the tomb for you! Now you can leave your tomb for him!

Love you friends,

Brian Simmons

Easter 2022