{"id":229,"date":"2010-04-01T04:00:44","date_gmt":"2010-04-01T11:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/?p=229"},"modified":"2011-06-29T06:41:46","modified_gmt":"2011-06-29T13:41:46","slug":"he-is-risen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/?p=229","title":{"rendered":"“He is Risen”"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n[Translate]<\/a>\"\"\n
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Good Morning!\u00a0 It’s April 1st… No fooling… The Lord has blessed us with another beautufil day!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Wherever you are at, take a look around and witness the glory that the Lord has brought to you this day\u00a0– all part of His marvelous design.\u00a0 Take time today to give thanks to God for the wonder of His creation, and the beauty that surrounds you.\u00a0 You are part of His wonderful plan and He cares about everything you do in life.\u00a0 Yes…\u00a0 This is a day that the Lord has made – a gift from God – just for you!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

I thought it fitting to present to you a beautiful star in the Constellation of Lyra.\u00a0 This magnificient star can be found high in the northern sky this time of year.\u00a0 It is technically named SAO 67519, and is located near the planetary nebula M57.\u00a0 This\u00a0prominent bluish\u00a0star is 302 light years distant from our planet earth.\u00a0 It is one of billions of stars in God’s universe – and He calls\u00a0each of them by name.\u00a0\u00a0 I call the image compositon\u00a0below\u00a0“The Cross”,\u00a0due to the prominent\u00a0“diffraction spikes” that\u00a0resulted from the image processing.\u00a0 Perhaps\u00a0this\u00a0cross-like shape\u00a0is fitting\u00a0as a\u00a0reminder of God’s glory shown to us in the heavens, and a glorious reminder of what Jesus did for you and me on the Cross.<\/p>\n

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“The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.”\u00a0 (Psalm 19:1)<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
\n\"\"<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u00a0
\nAs Easter Sunday approaches, let this old Gospel Hymn find a place in your heart this day: (written by Phillip Bliss in 1876)
\n
\nHallelujah, He is risen!<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>
\nJesus is gone up on high!
\nBurst the bars of death asunder,
\nAngels shout and men reply:
\nHe is risen, He is risen,
\nLiving now no more to die.
\nHe is risen, He is risen,
\nLiving now no more to die.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Let’s reflect on the significance of this day we call Easter.\u00a0 Not only is it a day of celebration,\u00a0but is is a day of\u00a0observance and remembrance:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/div>\n
    \n
  • Jesus was sent to this earth as the Son of God and became man.\u00a0<\/li>\n
  • Jesus spoke the truth, healed the sick, raised the dead, and made the blind to see.<\/li>\n
  • Jesus and His disciples celebrated the Passover Seder at what we call the Last Supper.<\/li>\n
  • Jesus prayed in anguish to His Father in the Garden of Gethsemane.<\/li>\n
  • Jesus was persecuted, betrayed and arrested, and\u00a0He was placed on trial.<\/li>\n
  • Jesus was sentenced to death, and had a crown of thorns placed on His head.<\/li>\n
  • Jesus was stripped of His clothes and fastened to the cross, with spikes driven through His hands and feet.<\/li>\n
  • Jesus was Crucified, suffered and died for the sins of man.<\/li>\n
  • After Jesus\u2019 death, He was taken down from the cross and placed in a tomb where no one had ever been laid.<\/li>\n
  • Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    This is the resurrection account of Jesus Christ, upon which is based the very heart of Christianity.\u00a0 Without the resurrection\u00a0– there is no Christianity!\u00a0\u00a0 All of this was fortold by the Hebrew prophet Isaiah hundred of years in advance (see Isaiah 53).\u00a0 Let’s look at what meaning the Resurrection of Jesus has for us:
    \n\u00a0<\/p>\n

    In the resurrection, we see the power of God having raised Jesus from the dead.\u00a0 \u201cand what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power\u201d\u00a0 (Ephesians 1:19)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    The resurrection proves that Jesus was who He said He was.\u00a0 \u201cand declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.\u201d\u00a0 Romans 1:4)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

    The resurrection affirms our salvation through our faith in Jesus Christ.\u00a0 \u201cthat if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.\u201d\u00a0 (Romans 10:9)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

    The resurrection confirms what we know to be the Truth.\u00a0 \u201cAnd this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.\u201d\u00a0 (John 6:40)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    The resurrection secures our justification.\u00a0 \u201cwho was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.\u201d\u00a0 (Romans 4:25)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    The resurrection of Jesus affirms our own resurrection.\u00a0 \u201cFor if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.\u201d\u00a0 (1 Thessalonians 4:14)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    The resurrection of Jesus is part of our Christian hope.\u00a0 \u201cTherefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.\u201d\u00a0 (Romans 6:4)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    The resurrection speaks of the judgment day that is to come.\u00a0 This same Jesus, which had ascended into heaven, and is now reigning at the right Hand of the Father, will come again soon to judge the living and the dead.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cbecause He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.\u201d\u00a0 (Acts 17:31)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    As you grasp the significance of the Resurrection, consider the true meaning of your salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.\u00a0 Deeply consider that the Resurrection is not just a historical fact, but embrace it personally in your Christian life.\u00a0 Remember that Christ paid the full price for your salvation.\u00a0 Remember too that we all will stand before Him someday to give a full account for the life we have lived.\u00a0 So in all you do, fear God and be obedient to His commandments, and strive to live a Christ-centered life.<\/p>\n

    In closing, let me encourage you to truly celebrate\u00a0the Resurrection of Jesus – not just this coming Easter Sunday, but every day of your walk in Christ.\u00a0 Let others know the difference that Jesus has made in your life, and proclaim the Gospel at every opportunity so that others may be saved.\u00a0 Lastly, take to heart what Easter really means for the Body of Christ, and all who place their faith in the One True God and His Son Jesus Christ.\u00a0 May the Lord place someone in your path this week that you may share the Good News of Jesus.<\/p>\n

    Have a great week, \u00a0and have a wonderful Easter celebration this Sunday!\u00a0 He is Risen!<\/p>\n

    Your comments are welcome – feel free to post below.<\/p>\n

    Your brother in Christ,
    \nMike Sherick<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    [Translate] <\/p>\n

    Good Morning! It’s April 1st… No fooling… The Lord has blessed us with another beautufil day! <\/p>\n

    Wherever you are at, take a look around and witness the glory that the Lord has brought to you this day – all part of His marvelous design. Take time today to give thanks […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/229"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=229"}],"version-history":[{"count":116,"href":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/229\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1322,"href":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/229\/revisions\/1322"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=229"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=229"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=229"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}