CHRIST'S TRIUMPH

HOLY WEEK REFLECTIONS

Paul Billheimer wrote, “To locate the center of history one must bypass all these vast empires and the glittering names associated with them and find his way to a tiny land called the navel of the earth, the geographical center of the world. And in that tiny land is a tiny hill called Calvary, where two thousand years ago a Man named Jesus was lifted up to die. And this writer submits that that tiny hill in that tiny land is the center of all history, not only of this world, but of all the countless galaxies and island universes of outer space from eternity to eternity.” (Destined for the Throne)

This cross – this sacrifice – that is so repugnant to others is attractive and precious to us who believe. It is at the same time the ultimate tragedy and the ultimate triumph. Those who wish to escape Jesus and His cross find that it is too colossal to evade. Whether or not people believe in Him, they are compelled to deal with Him.

“Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense [‘skandalon’ in Greek], and whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame” (Romans 9:33). The offense of the cross is that it is a scandalous line of demarcation, cleaving all humanity into disciples or opponents. Jesus is opposed – often violently opposed – by those He and His cross offend. But it is our honor, never our shame, to stand with Him.

Excerpted from The Missions Addiction
by David Shibley (Charisma House Publishers)

May the blessings of our ever-living Lord rest on you and your loved ones throughout this Holy Week. As you remember the love-driven sacrifice of Jesus for you on the cross, may your heart be overwhelmed with gratitude for such a great salvation, purchased at such a great cost. “Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold . . . but with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

As you rejoice in His glorious resurrection, may you experience the transforming power of the risen Christ. “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you” (Romans 8:11).

Those who wish to escape Jesus and His cross find that it is too colossal to evade. Whether or not
people believe in Him, they are compelled to deal with Him.

Thank you for partnering with us at Global Advance as we proclaim the crucified and risen Christ around the world. And thank you for helping equip courageous church and marketplace leaders in needy nations by your prayers and financial support. This month, thousands of servant-leaders will be equipped for His harvest at Global Advance’s Frontline Shepherds Conferences and Marketplace Missions Conferences in India, Kenya, Nigeria, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Turkey, and Zimbabwe.

These victories for our risen Redeemer happen because of faithful partners like you. Again, please accept my thanks on behalf of frontline shepherds and business persons who are boldly sharing the Gospel in very destitute nations. By lifting these leaders we can help change nations for Jesus Christ.

The Lord may speak to your heart about a special missions offering in this special week to show your gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice. Your “thank offering” to spread the Gospel is a deeply meaningful way to honor Christ’s atoning work and celebrate His resurrection.

This week, remember and rejoice. Jesus died for you. Now He lives and intercedes for you. One day, He will come for you. As Michael Card sings, “The Crucified arose!”

CEMETERY SERMONS

Recently on a rainy East Texas spring day after speaking at Teen Mania I went to a small cemetery in Garden Valley, Texas. I was there to pay my respects and thank God for the lives of two men of God buried there – Keith Green and Leonard Ravenhill.

As I walked to Keith Green’s grave, I recalled that tragic day in the summer of 1982 when this influential musician-prophet was suddenly whisked into heaven at age 29 in a plane crash just beyond the property of Green’s Last Days Ministries (now the headquarters of Teen Mania Ministries). Compounding the grief felt by multitudes of young Christians, Keith and Melody Green’s three year old son, Josiah, and their two year old daughter, Bethany, also died in the crash.

The gravestone marking where Keith, Josiah, and Bethany are buried bears the hopeful reminder that they are “Gone To Be With Jesus.” Inscribed on the stone is John 12:24: “Except a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it brings forth much fruit.”

These short cemetery sermons call us
to ask some serious questions.

Keith’s life and ministry continue to bear much fruit today as his passionate love for Jesus, so powerfully expressed through his timeless music, is discovered by a new generation. There at his grave I softly sang the song he and Melody had written shortly before his death:

There is a Redeemer, Jesus, God’s own Son
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, holy One.

Jesus, my Redeemer, Name above all names
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, O for sinners slain.

When I stand in Glory, I will see His face
There I’ll serve my King forever, in that holy place.

Thank You, O my Father, for giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit ’til the work on earth is done.

Just a few yards away is the grave of Leonard Ravenhill, Keith’s mentor and a powerful prophetic voice who called the church to all-out devotion to Christ. Standing there I remembered how his book Why Revival Tarries had so stirred my heart years ago. And I chuckled as I remembered Ravenhill’s response to someone who asked him if he thought they were living in the Last Days. “I think we’re living in your last days,” Ravenhill replied. Whatever we’re going to do for Jesus, we’d better do it now. We don’t have the promise of tomorrow.

Often Ravenhill would say, “My main ambition in life is to be on the devil’s most wanted list.” I think he made that list. Inscribed on Leonard Ravenhill’s simple stone the old prophet still probes and preaches: “Is what you’re living for worth Christ dying for?”

These short cemetery sermons call us to ask some serious questions:

• When your life is over, will you be “gone to be with Jesus”?
• Is what you’re living for worth Christ dying for?
• What will be your epitaph?