Passion of the Christ(ian) (I GIVE UP!)
(Written for my Weekly Word ministry on Facebook.)
Luke 23:46-And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said; “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Meditation Song: Just for me, Donnie McClurkin
Resurrection Sunday (Easter) is the day that we reflect on and celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and savior, Jesus. The Bible says that He died around 3pm on a Friday and got up good and early on a Sunday morning. And this ladies and gentlemen is the basis for Christianity. We believe that we serve a risen, living, breathing spirit…. Amen.
Indeed we serve a God that has risen from the grips of death to rule for eternity over life. But understand that death never actually had a hold of him for we see here in the scripture above that he GAVE up the ghost. My God today! Look at your neighbor and say GAVE IT UP!
The “passion of Christ” refers to the death and brutal suffering of Jesus. The old Pentecostals used to say it like this; “Living he loved me. Dying he saved me. Buried he carried my sins far away. Rising he justified me; freed me forever. One day he’s coming back, glorious day!”
Amen I know you’re all hyped up now! I got you ready to go in! But no doubt most of you already know this story and that song. We know about Christ on the cross, dying and rising again for us. That is what 98% of all sermons were about today! But I need to talk to the Christian folks. Uh huh…..you!
Where’s your passion? What have you died to? What have you given up? Have you had your cross experience yet? Grandma used to say, “Keep living. It’ll happen to you.” Your cross experience is when you are going through for the God that you serve. I’ve been on a cross for about 7 years now paying for my anointing. And what I’ve come to realize is that God allows you on a cross because without that cross, you can’t die and therefore you can’t be resurrected.
Your cross may not be wooden. Your nails may not be steel. But some of you are being crucified on your job. Some of you are being crucified in your own home by those family members that want to come against you and try and hit you with that “I thought you was a Christian” foolishness we all hear from time-to-time. SIDENOTE: I love when someone tries and throw that “I thought you were a Christian” mess at me when they feel I’ve done something out of a Christian’s character--cause I hit them with this: “You know that’s the great thing about being a real Christian. You can make mistakes and God still calls you saved. So yes I’m a Christian. And yes we make mistakes too. But that’s what so great about the God that I serve! I’m saved even when I make a wordly mistake.” Shuts them up every time. (Back to the word) Some of you are even being crucified at your own church!
One of the lessons we can learn from the cross is after Christ GAVE UP the ghost; it all ended. The problem with some of us is, we ain’t gave up yet. We haven’t died to self yet. You’re still on the cross ‘cause you still like to sleep around. You’re still on the cross ‘cause you’re still lying, cheating and stealing. Or maybe it’s not sin for you; maybe it’s you not listening to the word God gave you (I told y’all sometimes I’m just talking to myself! Letting y’all hear/read it). Maybe it’s your disobedience. You were supposed to start that company years ago. You have been running from your calling for half your life. You were supposed to be ahead but you’re still trying to catch up (PREACH SELF!) YOU’RE STILL ON THE CROSS BEING CRUCIFIED BECAUSE YOU AIN’T GAVE UP YET!!!!! You haven’t given up your selfish ways! You haven’t given up defiling your temple with drugs, partying (yea Christians still do it) and illicit sex. You haven’t stopped your mess yet! And you’re wondering why you’re still on the cross!?!?
You serve a God (I’m ‘bout ready to preach the roof off!) that decided to come down out of heaven and die on an old rugged cross for you! He was buried in a borrowed tomb (of Joseph of Arimathaea). The old folks say it only took 3 days because he went to hell and snatched the keys back from Satan. But the story didn’t end right there. See had it ended, you wouldn’t be. Had it ended, you’d be on God’s black-list. Had the story ended at Christ’s death, you’d never know the power of the risen savior! But the word says that neither death nor the grave could hold my savior down! He got up with ALL power in his hands! The power of death and life! The power over the enemy! Hallelujah today Christ got up!
And because he rose, it’s time for YOU to get up! Get up from your secret depression. Get up from your mess! Get up from your sin! Get up from your past! Get up from that bed you’re in with the enemy right beside you! Get up from poverty! (Cue the organ!) Get up from hurt! Get up from your rape! Get up from the lies! Get up from your pain! LIVE and not die! Resurrect yourself! If Christ can conquer the grave and he lives inside of you, then you better learn how to resurrect your self from your grave and LIVE! Whatever has you bound is your grave. And when Christ conquered death, he didn’t just do it for show; he did it for you. What a God.
You get up by turning from your wicked ways! You get up by GIVING UP! You’ve got to give up the “old man” if you want NEW LIFE! You can’t resurrect what hasn’t been dead. Give up! Get up! And RISE UP!
The thing about giving up is God ain’t got to force it out of you. When you white-flag God, he accepts your surrender as you yielding to his will.
The thing about getting up is; anytime you get up it implies that you are going to a higher place than where you previously were. YES! You can’t help but go to another level when you get up! It’s your time; it’s your season; it’s your responsibility—GET YOURSELF UP RIGHT NOW! Imitate your savior and resurrect yourself out of your mess and into your destiny! I’m ready to shout! “God, I GIVE UP!”
Reach anytime……….
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