Echo of the Empty Tomb

This is an article I wrote for the Flaming Sword several years ago, I found it and wanted to share it on  the blog. Isn't it wonderful we have a RISEN SAVIOR!!!
 

 Have you ever been in an empty house or a room without any furniture? Everything you say seems to echo. Travis and Corey, my two son’s, enjoy yelling as loudly as they can in the large shopping mall’s open areas, just so they can hear the echo. Often as a child I would sing or holler loudly to hear it echo off the woods and hills around where I lived. There is something about an echo that grabs your attention, and makes you listen. An echo is a strange phenomenon that is caused when sound bounces off of objects. Sound travels about 300 meters a second that is approximately 984 feet. That is fast. A really good echo will return after several seconds. Smooth rocks echo well like those found  in caves. Being enclosed almost all sounds will echo in a cave or tunnel. How that must have echoed in that empty tomb as the angel asked those poor, mournful, weeping, confused women, “Why seek ye the living among the dead?” How it must have reverberated in that empty tomb as those angels said excitedly “HE IS NOT HERE FOR HE IS RISEN” Oh how that tomb resounds in victory. “He is not here for He is risen.” He’s alive and well and all that remains are the  grave clothes and blood stains. He has atoned for Adams fallen race. “The English word “atonement” comes from two words “at onement” and denotes a state of togetherness and agreement between two people” according to the Dictionary of Biblical Imagery.
 

Hear the echo of the empty tomb as it shouts out the good news;
 

                 “FULFILLMENT” PAID IN FULL The price is paid. I don’t think this truth fully impacted those poor women that day, but there came a day when suddenly the light dawned upon them. I like to think that one day when they were in the upper room praying and waiting on God prior to Pentecost, someone stood to their feet and began to read that beautiful prophesy in Isaiah 53:4-6 “Surely he hath borne our grief’s, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

                Perhaps Cleopas began to expound upon what was read, how that Jesus, when He was walking with them on the road to Emmaus even though they did not know it was him, “expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” Maybe Cleopas went on to explain that God had laid on Jesus the iniquity of us all meant that, Jesus carried our sins to the cross, he fulfilled God’s demands for a sacrifice. We cannot give anything to secure our salvation, it’s already paid. HALLELUJAH! Sing it louder than the noise of the war and strife, sing it louder than the clamor of the world. Sing it louder than the falling stock market and financial crisis. Let it ring from shore to shore. The debt for your sins is  paid in full.

                Jesus cried aloud from the cross, “It is finished.” He has won the battle, he is victorious. His sacrifice is accepted. He has fulfilled it all. Listen to it echo down through the corridors of history, past all of the charlatans and wolves in sheep’s clothing and thieves and robbers who tried to come another way. “I am the door, no man can come to the Father but by me,” and again, “I came not to destroy the law but to fulfill.”  How that tomb echoes with fulfillment.


 

 The tomb also echos in, FORGIVENESS - From the cross Jesus cried, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” In His last agonizing hours, Jesus softly spoke those words to the thief on his side, “This day be with me in Paradise.” Now as He steps from the tomb with the blood of THE LAMB to ascend to the Holy of Holies in Heaven, one thing is in mind to present Himself before the Father, to, as Charles Wesley wrote, “He ever lives above for me to intercede; His all redeeming love, His precious blood to plead. His blood atoned for all our race, And sprinkles now the throne of grace. Five bleeding wounds he bears, received on Calvary; They pour effectual prayers, They strongly plead for me. “Forgive him, Oh, forgive,” they cry. “Forgive him, oh, forgive,” they cry. “Nor let that ransomed sinner die.”
 
  

                The tomb echoes and reechoes with the beautiful song of grace and forgiveness. Is it any wonder Mary fell at his feet, or that Thomas cried, “My Lord and My God” or Peter somewhere between Calvary and Pentecost found that forgiveness and could rise and preach under the powerful anointing of the Holy Ghost, “This is that…” Acts 2:16, and “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Acts 2:21) What a promise those who will call on His name will find forgiveness.
 

                Listen to the tomb as it echo with FREEDOM - Jesus declared, “ I am the way the Truth and the Life,” in another place it is written, “You shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free.” That leads us to a rather logical conclusion. To be free you must know the Truth, and oh what freedom he brings. The songwriter put it to music this way, “Glorious Freedom wonderful freedom, no more in chains of sin I repine. Jesus the glorious Emancipator, now and forever, He shall be mine.” Is it any wonder that John Newton when he found Jesus the resurrected Savior he sat down and penned those immortal words. “Amazing grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but now I’m found was blind but now I see.” Jesus had given him freedom real freedom.  Jesus gives us that kind of freedom, freedom from sin and carnality. Freedom hear it echo, listen to the sound from those who were bound but now are free, really free.  Jesus was freed from the bounds of the grave clothes. He was loosed from them, death had lost it’s grip upon our Lord. HE WAS FREE. He wants to give us the same freedom.

                                For neatly two thousand years that tomb has echoed and will echo forever in victory and triumph over the world the flesh and the Devil. Hallelujah! It has brought fulfillment forgiveness and freedom to a lost and dying world, it has given us the hope of everlasting life with Christ, the one who emptied the tomb, and let it’s joyous shouts echo for eternity. Listen to  the echo from the empty tomb.


Watch this video of the Talley Trio as they sing "He's Alive"  written by Don Francisco.

 

I've Got No Reason To Quit IHC

While this song is from last year, I think it is still relevant to us today.  I think every once in a while we need a reminder that no matter what may be going on in our lives, we have no reason to turn back. There is nothing to go back for. I think of the time Jesus was talking to his followers and disciples and so many of them turned their backs on Him and walked away. Jesus turned to those closest to him and asked, "will you also go?" And their reply was so profound and revealing of their true desperate dependence on Him, "To whom else can we go, Thou has the Words of Life!!!" John 6:60-71 Truly no matter what we are facing there is nothing worth going back for. I've got no reason to quit. Watch the Mayle Family at IHC 2013 from Holiness Online

Fear

 



Is there anything you are afraid of? I mean really afraid of? Not just a little bothered by something but I mean really really afraid? It is human nature to be afraid to have phobias and fears.
Here are some interesting numbers according to statistics from the National Institute of Mental Health and posted by Statistic Brain

Fear and Worry Statistics	Data
Percent of things feared that will never take place	60 %
Percent of things feared that happened in the past and can’t be changed	30 %
Percent of things feared that are considered to be insignificant issues	90 %
Percent of things feared in relation to health that will not happen	88 %
Number of Americans who have a diagnosed phobia	6.3 Million

	Top Phobias	Percent of US Population
1	Fear of public speaking – Glossophobia	74 %
2	Fear of death – Necrophobia	68 %
3	Fear of spiders – Arachnophobia	30.5 %
4	Fear of darkness – Achluophobia, Scotophobia or Myctophobia	11 %
5	Fear of heights – Acrophobia	10 %
6	Fear of people or social situations – Sociophobia	7.9 %
7	Fear of flying – Aerophobia	6.5 %
8	Fear of confined spaces – Claustrophobia	2.5 %
9	Fear of open spaces – Agoraphobia	2.2 %
10	Fear of thunder and lightning – Brontophobia	2 %

Fear is something that scripture says we combat and conquer with divine love 1 John 4:18. We may have fears and worries about things that could happen to us, but we don't have to worry if God will take care of us or not. I'm glad He will not leave us or forsake us. That He will never let us fall, that HE WILL NOT FAIL. Of this we do not have to be afraid.

D.L. Moody used to say, " You can travel to heaven first class or second class. Second class is, "When I am afraid, I will trust in you." Psalm 56:3. First class is, "In God I trust; I will not be afraid. Psalm 56:11.

The Promises of God.

I read in 2 Cor. 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. I like how the English Standard version translates this verse, "For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

Charles Spurgeon once wrote - "I have thumbed my Bible many a year; I have never yet thumbed a broken promise. The promises have all been kept to me; not one good thing has failed"

I think John F. Dorsey in his book, Seventy Poems to Ponder says it best in his poem THE PROMISES OF GOD.

 

The promises of God are solid bridges,

Inviting us to take of Heaven's store.

They reach across that intervening chasm

A certain link with earth's uncertain shore.

 

The promises of God are firm connections

That link eternity with fleeting time;

They point from sin to grace's high perfections

And lead men to a fellowship sublime.

 

By these we have a past of sins forgiven

By these receive His nature so divine.

By these pass through the gates of pearl to Heaven

For these will be the Pilgrim's countersign.

 

The promises make saints a sure foundation;

Across the great divide a certain span;

Assuring them of uttermost salvation,

Reconciling God and sinful man.

 

Not one good word of these can e'er be altered,

For God Himself will see they will not fail.

No saint who stood on these has ever faltered

Against God's Word our foes can ne'er prevail.

 

They are the shining path that saints and sages

And prophets through the centuries have trod

The path that led men upward through the ages

And brought them face to face at last with God.

 

Have you a need? Then look! God has a promise!

Through it you can receive His full supply.

And live victoriously on this short journey

And cross at last to that bright home on high.

 

 

Trading Our Cross For A Crown.

I love this song by The Collingsworth Family Tradin' A Cross For A Crown off their live DVD "A Night To Remember"  I remember my pastor's wife often testifying to the fact that she had, "set her face like a flint to make it in." I like that. Determination won't get us to heaven by itself, but a heart surrendered to Jesus that will go all the way in obedience, faith, and determination will make it in Matthew 24:13. Listen be blessed and buy the album or DVD to show your support to the Collingsworth Family.

Shake By Prayer

A small boy was saying his bedtime prayers with his grandmother. He went through the normal prayer and continued to pray, for quite a few minutes. Finally when he finished and got up his grandmother, who's curiosity was piqued, asked, "Honey, why did you pray so long?" the little boy looked up with childish innocence and all the sincerity he had and answered, "I heard that, 'Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees' so I was going to give him a good shaking"
What great faith that little boy had in prayer. Prayer is our connection to God. Our hotline to heaven. It is direct contact with God.
Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:18 that we are to be, "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit..." What a command to pray always, not just to pray always but to pray in our praying. John Wesley the faithful man of God and founder of the Methodist wrote on this verse, "Praying always - At all times, and on every occasion, in midst of all employments, inwardly praying without ceasing."
Oh what prayer can do,

An unknown author said it so well when they put it into this powerful poem;

"Prayer has divided seas rolled up flowing rivers and caused flinted rocks to rush into fountains,

Prayer has quenched the violence of the flames of fire and muzzled lions and disarmed vipers and poisonous snakes

It has marshaled the stars against the wicked and stopped the moon and arrested the sun it its rapid pace.

Prayer has burst open iron gates, conquered the strongest devils and commanded legions of angels down from heaven.

Prayer has bridled and chained the raging passions of men and routed and destroyed vast armies of proud blustering daring infidels and atheists.

Prayer has brought one man up from the bottom of the sea, and carried another in a chariot of fire into heaven.

Abram’s servant prayed and Rebecca appeared.

Jacob prayed and Esau threw his arms around his neck instead of plunging a dagger into his heart.

Moses prayed and Amalek was defeated.

Joshua prayed and Achan was discovered.

Hannah prayed and Samuel was born.

Asa prayed and a victory was gained.

Jehoshaphat cried to God and his foes were turned away.

Isaiah and Hezekiah prayed and 185 thousand Assyrians were dead in 12 hours.

Daniel prayed and the lions were muzzled, He prayed again and the 70 weeks were revealed.

Mordecai and Esther fasted and prayed and Haman was hanged.

Ezra prayed and God answered.

Nehemiah simply started a prayer and the King’s heart was softened in a minute.

Elijah prayed and a drought of 3 yrs. Succeeded . He prayed again and the rains started apace.

Elisha prayed and the Jordan was divided. He prayed again and the soul of a child came back to life.

The Church ardently prayed and Peter was delivered by an angel. Surely God’s hands are opened or bound as we pray.

Man’s extremity is still God’s opportunity, for God never never fails." (Author unknown)

 

 

T.M. Anderson wrote in his book Prayer Availeth Much "I am convinced that the people of God have not explored the boundless possibilities of prayer."
What a privilege is ours if we will only take advantage of it today. Won't you spend some extra time in prayer today? It is our only hope of revival. It is our only hope of renewal. .It our only hope of restoration. We can vote our values till we are blue in the face, we can lobby congress till we outlaw every evil thing, we can promote good clean morals until every evil thing is out of sight. But I guarantee you our only hope for America is found in this little weapon of PRAYER & REVIVAL. Lets pray in our praying and give the devil a good shaking today.

How To Pray For One Hour - Mark Eckart

This article was taken from God's Revivalist and Bible Advocate in the Winter 2014 Issue. Special thanks to God's Revivalist and Bible Advocate for giving me permission to use this article in my blog.  It not only inspired me to take a closer look at my prayer life, but also a way to keep my prayer life from becoming a rut, or boring.

First let me say that we want to shy away from legalism anytime we talk about spiritual formation topics. It is so easy to fall in the trap that if I just do these ten things or follow this specific regimen, then I will certainly be in God’s favor. On the other hand, some Christians are so lackadaisical that they never make any effort to seek God earnestly. It is interesting the interaction Jesus had with His disciples about this topic: “Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, ‘Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak’” (Mark 14:37-38).

Here is a good way to spend some time with God, whether it is for an hour or not. However, it does

work well to spend 15 minutes on each section.

 

PRAISE -

About 140 times in Scripture it talks about how we should give worship and praise to God. The book of Psalms itself is full of this admonition to praise God. For example, “He is your praise, and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen” (Deut. 10:21). This verse alone should get us blessed. Think of scores of other admonitions throughout

the Bible encouraging us to praise God! You could take a whole hour just on this point.

REPENT -

As Wesleyan-Arminians, we don’t believe you have to practice sin as a Christian. When you get

saved and sanctified, it changes you and your desires so you don’t want to sin and hurt your relationship with God. However, this does not mean that there is not room for confession

in the life of a believer. With all of the strengths of the holiness movement, this has been one of our

weaknesses. That is, to believe that once you are saved that you never need to confess anything to God or others. The practice of confession is stated clearly in James 5:16: “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another….”

ASK -

Often by this point in your prayer time you will be feeling great. You have spent time giving God the praise He deserves and have confessed any sin or fault that He brings to your attention. Too many of us just plop on our knees with our “wish list” to tell God all that we need and never take the time to cover these two very important before-mentioned steps. The good news is that God wants us to ask Him for our needs and even our wants. Repeatedly in Scripture we are invited to come to God and

are told that He cares about our needs and situations. A favorite reference to illustrate this is found in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seek finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened" (Matt. 7:7-11)


YIELD -

Don’t make the mistake of believing that the sanctified no longer have anything to yield to Christ. Even though consecration is a major part of that work of grace in the life of a believer, the reality is there are things that come into all lives continually that we still need to be yielding to Christ. What a beautiful thing it is to finish your prayer time by just reminding God that you totally belong to

Him. Even though none of us deserve it, ask God to make you a conduit of His grace for that day to those who are hurting and need a hand. You will yield your time, treasures, and talent to Him once again. The other day I was leaving a restaurant with my wife. There was a sign in the window that said, “Prayer is the world’s greatest wireless connection!” I agree, so I invite you to P.R.A.Y.
 

Scriptures printed in article are taken from the NKJVArticle written by  Dr. Mark S.F. Eckart  (GBS BRE ’83), District Superintendent of the

Indiana South District of The Wesleyan Church, formerly served as a faculty member and Dean of Students at God’s Bible School.