Archive for the Category »Easter «

22
Apr
The Cross as Seen From God’s Perspective

Have you ever wondered what really was going on the day Jesus died? We know that both sin and Satan were defeated at the cross, but what did that look like from God’s perspective? Here’s a short summary from my book, Intercessor’s God’s End-time Vanguard.

On a lonely cross, Jesus took on the sins of the world so that in His death sin would also die. It was the only way that humanity could again become right before God (2 Corinthians 5:21). He who had cursed man with death now experienced it Himself (Galatians 3:13).

God the Father and God the Holy Spirit turned away from God the Son, who in His innocence became crucified Sin. In His holiness, God walked away from a cross. In His love, God the Son embraced the cross so that we might be ransomed (John 10:17, 18; Revelation 5:9).

As this innocent Lamb shed His blood, our sins became invalid in the courts of heaven. Neither could death hold Him in the grave, for sin and its death-curse were rendered powerless. He rose triumphant to proclaim freedom to all men who would accept His redeeming work (I Timothy 4:10).

Heaven rang with the declaration that sin and Satan no longer had legal authority over man, for the price of innocent blood had been eternally paid (Romans 6:6; Hebrews 2:14, 15). Throughout the universe the cry of victory rose as the Prince of Darkness and his forces were paraded in the Triumphant Procession of the King of Kings. Heaven and earth shook with the victory of the Cross (Colossians 2:15).

(From Intercessors, God’s End-Time Vanguard by Susan Gaddis)

I pray your Easter is seen from God’s perspective, and I hope it mirrors the Triumphant Procession of the King of Kings. May Jesus be ever present in your minds and hearts.

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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Category: Easter  Tags: , , , , , , ,
20
Apr
How Do You Interpret Easter?

Easter is next Sunday and it seems that every news source wants to get in on the Easter market, whether the news is the latest crucifixion artifact or the Easter bunny. Yet, how often do we interpret Easter according to our definition instead of God’s definition? Years ago I read the following story in Leadership magazine:

Little Philip, born with Down’s syndrome, attended a third-grade Sunday School class with several eight-year-old boys and girls. Typical of that age, the children did not readily accept Philip with his differences. But because of a creative teacher, they began to care about Philip and accept him as part of the group, though not fully.

The Sunday after Easter the teacher brought L’eggs pantyhose containers, the kind that look like large eggs. Each receiving one, the children were told to go outside on that lovely spring day, find some symbol for new life, and put it in the egg-like container. Back in the classroom, they would share their new-life symbols, opening the containers one by one in surprise fashion. After running about the church property in wild confusion, the students returned to the classroom and placed the containers on the table. Surrounded by the children, the teacher began to open them one by one. After each one, whether a flower, butterfly, or leaf, the class would ooh and ahh.

Then one was opened, revealing nothing inside. The children exclaimed, “That’s stupid. That’s not fair. Somebody didn’t do their assignment.”

Philip spoke up, “That’s mine.”

“Philip, you don’t ever do things right!” the student retorted. “There’s nothing there!”

“I did so do it,” Philip insisted. “I did do it. It’s empty. The tomb was empty!”

Silence followed. From then on Philip became a full member of the class. He died not long afterward from an infection most normal children would have shrugged off. At the funeral this class of eight-year-olds marched up to the altar not with flowers, but with their Sunday school teacher, each to lay on it an empty pantyhose egg.

You see, the students interpreted Easter according to their definitions—except for Philip. Philip interpreted Easter according to God’s definition.

Question:

How do you interpret Easter?

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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18
Apr
A Love Story, a Bride Price, and an Empty Tomb

Have you ever thought of the death of Jesus Christ as payment of the “bride price” for people like you and me to become God’s intimate companion for all of eternity future? God’s passion for us compelled him to pay the ultimate bride price.

We see this passion of Jesus in Revelation 5:9, “With your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation;” and in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

Recently, at Father’s House, I shared God’s love story, the bride price he willingly paid, and why it’s important for us to understand the empty tomb from God’s perspective.

Click this play icon to listen to this message right from my blog, or download the message to listen to later:

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Question:

Are you living your life according to your definition of a relationship with God, or are you living it according to His definition of what the relationship is to look like?

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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Category: Audio podcast, Easter, Eternity Future, Personal growth  Tags: , , ,
15
Apr
Easter and Traditions Go Together. Here’s How to Celebrate!

Easter and traditions go together–kids and grandkids gathering at our place, a big bar-b-que, Easter egg hunt, and, most important, a Resurrection Celebration in a big white tent in the back lot of Father’s House.

Easter is a big deal with our Father’s House family. Breakfast munchies greet you in the Family Room as you meander through to the big tent for worship. The following service is intergenerational with all ages participating in music, creative worship, and an awesome message that makes Jesus the Honored Guest. Then we all head back to the Family Room for brunch and connecting with friends and watching the young ones run around on the big lawn out front. I love Easter.

Easter is celebrated all over the world in honor of the One who died, rose from the grave, and is very much alive today. We anticipate his return to planet earth soon, maybe even this Easter. Easter is a time when Christians everywhere dance in the streets, so to speak. We want the world to know that The Story is true–Jesus is alive! I hope you enjoy the celebration and energy that radiates from this group of Budapest Christians who are part of a worldwide creative arts movement called Up To Faith.

If you received this post via RSS or email and cannot view the video, please visit my Holy in the Daily blog to enjoy this celebration. (Click on refresh if the clip fails to load.)

Wasn’t that awesome! I wanted to get up and dance with those old folks I saw dancing with the young people and children in the street! By the way, if you are visiting on the Central Coast of California this Easter, we’d love to have you join us in the big tent at Father’s House.

Questions:

What preparations are you making for Easter?

What preparations are you making for eternal life?

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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Category: Easter, Lent, Monday's Moment Videos  Tags: , , , , , ,
13
Apr
Why the Way of the Cross Never Stops at the Cross

Sometimes the smell of a musty room or an old poem can send my mind floating back to Grandma Bessie’s house and the big bed I would share with her when I was allowed to stay overnight. There she would tell me Bible stories and share poetry or a verse that she loved. Recently I came across this poem by Annie Johnson Flint, and suddenly I was back on the big bed with Grandma. This poem reminds me that Easter may focus on the cross, but doesn’t stop at the cross. I know Grandma would agree.

Some of us stay at the cross,

Some of us wait at the tomb,

Quickened and raised with Christ

Yet lingering still in the gloom.

Some of us ‘bide at the Passover feast

With Pentecost all unknown:

The triumphs of grace in the heavenly place

That our Lord has made our own.

If Christ who had died had stopped at the cross,

His work had been incomplete.

If Christ who was buried had stayed in the tomb,

He had only known defeat,

But the way of the cross never stops at the cross,

And the way of the tomb leads on

To victorious grace in the heavenly place,

Where the risen Lord has gone.

-by Annie Johnson Flint

Where have you stopped—at the cross, the tomb, the feast, or at the place of grace?

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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Category: Easter  Tags: , , ,
11
Apr
It’s Not Over When You Think It’s Over

Sometimes things happen that seem to indicate the end of something important in our lives. It could be a marriage, a job, or even our health–slowly or suddenly, it’s over. Yet God doesn’t always see it that way. This short clip from Igniter Media reminds us of a reality we often forget.

(If you received this post via RSS or email and cannot view the clip, please visit my Holy in the Daily blog to enjoy this Easter reminder. You may have to click your refresh button for the video to load.)

Question:

When have you felt that something important was over, but discovered that God had a different plan. Share your story with us in the comment section below.

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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31
Mar
7 Facts of Easter You Don’t Want to Miss

In the midst of Easter week there are seven facts you don’t want to miss. These facts are easy to overlook. Even the Jews who were waiting for their promised Messiah couldn’t see God’s hidden strategy on that first Easter—they were looking for a Conquering King, not a Suffering Servant.

The disciples of Jesus didn’t see God’s hidden tactics—they ran away and denied ever knowing Jesus.

Satan couldn’t see the fullness of God’s plan—he was on the lookout for a Jewish King/Messiah who would reign over mankind. He had orchestrated his temptations accordingly.

The Jews, disciples, and even Satan missed the connection between the yearly sacrifice of an unblemished lamb and the final sacrifice of a sinless man—the Lamb of God.

Here are seven facts you don’t want to miss: 

 

1.  On a lonely cross, Jesus took on the sins of the world so that in His death sin would also die. It was the only way that humanity could again become right before God (2 Cor. 5:21).

2.  He who had cursed man with death now experienced it Himself (Gal. 3:13).

3.  God the Father and God the Holy Spirit turned away from God the Son, who in His innocence became crucified Sin. In His holiness, God walked away from a cross. In His love, God the Son embraced the cross so that we might be ransomed (John 10:17, 18).

4.  As this innocent Lamb shed His blood, our sins became invalid in the courts of heaven. Neither could death hold Him in the grave, for sin and its death-curse were rendered powerless. He rose triumphant to proclaim freedom to all men who would accept His redeeming work (I Tim. 4:10).

5.  Heaven rang with the declaration that sin and Satan no longer had legal authority over man, for the price of innocent blood had been eternally paid (Rom. 6:6; Heb. 2:14, 15).

6.  Throughout the universe the cry of victory rose as the Prince of Darkness and his forces were paraded in the Triumphant Procession of the King of Kings. Heaven and earth shook with the victory of the Cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross (Colossians 2:15).

7.  This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him (John 3:16-18 The Message Bible).

That’s the facts. Any comments?

(This post was taken from my book, Intercessors, God’s End-Time Vanguard available at the Eternal Foundations bookstore.)

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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