The stone has been rolled away! And Jesus is risen! Hallelujah!
Luke 24:1-3 (NKJV) says, 'Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus'.
Luke 24:4-7 (NKJV) says, 'And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.'"
Beloved of God, because you are in Christ, therefore the 'stone' ('stone' here speaks of 'any bondage or hindrance in your life') has been removed too, and you are now made alive together with Him! This is the time to look to Him and receive this resurrection power of God!
Colossians 2:13-15 (NKJV) says, 'And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it'.
The words 'made alive together (with Him)' or 'quickened together (with Him)' in King James Version (KJV) is 'suzoopoieo' in Greek; from the word 'sun' (pronounced 'soon') meaning 'together', and the word 'zoopoieo' meaning 'make alive, give life, vitalize'.
How about 'the handwriting of requirements' in Colossians 2:14? What is that?
It is basically a list of our wrongs or 'debts' before God, that none of us (imperfect as we are) is able to pay completely. It can only be taken out of the way (paid completely) by Jesus Christ Himself, who is the perfect man and perfect God.
This term 'the handwriting of requirements' is like a handwritten document:
- in legal sense, it is a list of criminal charges against a prisoner.
- in financial sense, it is like a ledger sheet that shows a person is bankrupt.
Either way, it means this document represents 'a person is doomed and condemned'.
Indeed, without Christ, we are like prisoners (i.e. prisoners of sin) and debtors who can never fully pay off our debts. It is only through Christ Jesus that all these 'criminal charges' and 'debts' can be taken out of the way when He died on the cross for us!
Beloved of God, what are the areas in your life that seem 'dead' or 'doomed' at the moment?
Maybe it's your personal life or spiritual life. Maybe it's your health. Maybe it's your finance. Or maybe it's your family's situation, your career, your business, or even your ministry. Whatever it may be, my prayer for you is that every 'stone' that keeps you in bondage be removed, and every 'dead' or 'doomed' situation be made alive. In Jesus' name. Amen!
There's always hope if you look to Jesus. This is not a cliche or a slogan. But this is the reality in the spiritual realm. After all, He is the King of kings, and Lord of lords. He is the omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent God. In other words, All-powerful, All-knowing, and All-present God. See Psalm 139.
And if He can rise from the dead, there's nothing in this world that He cannot do. To man, it seems impossible; but to Him, nothing is impossible. So, take heart. This is your time to declare your breakthrough and victory by faith! This is your time to receive the 'zoe' life that comes from heaven! And that's how you can 'suzoopoieo' and be made alive together with Him! See the word 'together' here? You know what this means? You aren't alone! He is now here together with you, going through your challenges together with you, triumphing over the enemy and making a way for you (even where there seems to be no way)!
Hallelujah!
