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"NOW AFTER the Sabbath, near dawn of the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala and the other Mary went to take a look at the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled the boulder back and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning and his garments as white as snow. And those keeping guard were so frightened at the sight of him that they were agitated and they trembled and became like dead men." -The Greatest Love Story Ever Told
It's early Sunday Morning and it is a disaster.
Jesus has been crucified and all the disciples have is the mystery of a promise.
Matthew records, "the women came to take a look at the tomb."
But why? There were armed soldiers stationed to kill anyone that looked like they had been with Jesus.
Even if the soldiers were not there, a heavy stone sealed the tomb; so how could they move it?
Yet they went to the grave (a place where something had been left for dead) that morning with a sense of expectation in their heart that maybe what was dead, can yet live again.
- Maybe God can move this stone of doubt and hopelessness.
- Maybe God can heal the uncertainty and unbelief in my heart.
You see, in every natural sense, it was impossible and hopeless for anything in that grave to live.
But hope changes things.
Faith, hope and expectation will change and renew your strength and power, when you expect, look for, and hope in God.
One of our alumni members recently shared a story with my wife about a church that decided to pray and fast for rain during a season of drought here in Southern California.
After one week of praying and fasting, there was no rain. After two weeks, three weeks, still no precipitation. So that Sunday morning, the pastor got up and said to his congregation:
"Now I know we have been praying and fasting for 3 weeks and there has not been a drop of rain; BUT HOW MANY OF YOU BROUGHT YOUR UMBRELLAS TODAY?"
You can pray for years, yet not have expectation that God can do all He has promised.
But notice in the text, the earthquake didn't come and the stone was not rolled away until someone arrived with expectation in their heart.
God waited until a man or woman of faith arrived to roll the stone away.
And the stone was not rolled away, so Christ could get out. The stone was rolled away, so others could go in.
When we roll away the stone that has sealed our greatest gift, others can come in.
The soldiers froze in terror; Matthew 28:5-6 continues:
"But the angel said to the women, Do not be alarmed and frightened, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, Who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, AS HE SAID [He would do]."
RIGHT NOW, while everyone else is paralyzed with fear, God is speaking to His people.
Today, what has He said to you?
What has He promised to do?
God has given you a seed to defy what is trying to keep your dream in the grave.
But your seed (talent, gift, dream or idea that demands value) is death defying, age defying, disaster defying, poverty defying, sickness and foreclosure defying ONLY when you release it (in expectation.)
Isaiah wrote: "Behold, I am laying in Zion for a foundation a Stone, a tested Stone, a precious Cornerstone of sure foundation; he who believes (trusts in, relies on, and adheres to that Stone) will not be ashamed or give way or hasten away [in sudden panic]."
The recession has created sudden panic in the Body of Christ to withhold its seed.
But everything created will be tested.
Don't allow panic to keep you from releasing God's best for your life.
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