30 April, 2022
76 Benefits of the Resurrection
‘’ Satan's power is over all the nations of the earth. That could be very frightening when we realize he can influence men in such a way that they are not even aware that they are being influenced toward evil. His power is so extensive that he is over all the nations of the earth. Jesus calls him the ruler of this world (John 14:30). He affects people's attitudes by moving our reasoning processes toward satisfaction of the self. He gives disinformation and stirs up our spirit’’.
However, the benefits of the resurrection made nonsense of that status quo.
Posted by Ambassador T. Brikins
The events from Genesis 3:15,’’And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head,and thou shalt bruise his heel’’, that culminated in the death, burial and the resurrection of Jesus Christ was for the redemption of mankind who had lost its blessings and dominance to the devil in the garden of Eden.
But it is a reality that many believers are perishing from the same things that Christ died, buried, resurrected and liberated them from because of lack of knowledge.To this end Paul cried out ,’’ That I may know him, and the power [or benefits] of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death’’.(Philippians 3:10) However,the event of the resurrection confers a new covenant on the believer when he receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.
The power of His resurrection makes possible the benefits and profits of His resurrection. We live in a world where the dark places are inhabited by wickedness because Satan is the ruler of this world.In the words of John W. Ritenbaugh ( Matthew 4:8-9)
‘’ Satan's power is over all the nations of the earth. That could be very frightening when we realize he can influence men in such a way that they are not even aware that they are being influenced toward evil. His power is so extensive that he is over all the nations of the earth. Jesus calls him the ruler of this world (John 14:30). He affects people's attitudes by moving our reasoning processes toward satisfaction of the self. He gives disinformation and stirs up our spirit’’.
However, the benefits of the resurrection made nonsense of that status quo.
The benefits of Christ’s resurrection are Word benefits, and there is nothing like the Word of God which lives and abides for ever. The word of the Lord endureth forever (I Peter 1:25).
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah (Psalm 68:19). When the believer is born again, salvation is the first great benefit he or she receives; but then Jesus goes beyond that and loads down many more.
The believer’s faithful walk with Jesus offload these benefits.
1. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the main historical evidence that Christianity is true: “And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!” (1 Cor 15:17).
2. The Believer is justified,and made alive. “It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification."Romans 4:24,25
“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked...But God...even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ...and raised us up with him…”Ephesians 2:1-6
The benefit for us is that, if we are in Christ, we receive the same declaration of favor and the same justification from God. We were condemned in the first Adam and dead in our sins. In the second Adam, we are raised up and justified by God. Because of the death and resurrection of Christ, we who are baptized into Christ and believe in him are no longer dead in our sins; we have been raised up with him.
3. The Believer is then born again.
1 Peter 1:3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead...”
Romans 6:4: “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
These verses speak of the new birth which is wrought in us through baptism, but which has its power in the resurrection of Christ. Unlike the second benefit above, this fourth benefit offers a present reality for all who are in Christ. We have been born again through the resurrection of Christ.
The same power of God that raised Jesus from the dead has now given birth to new life in us. In the new birth we are given new hearts and the gift of the Holy Spirit. The purpose of this is that we might walk in newness of life.
The new birth is the death and resurrection of Christ brought to bear on our own hearts. We live this new life by the Spirit of the risen Christ within us.
4. The New Age Has Dawned.
By “The New Age” is meant the glorious, future, Day of the LORD that the prophets spoke about; the Day when God overthrows evil and establishes the New Creation. In Jesus, this Day has already come upon us...though it will be fulfilled when he comes again in His second coming.
“The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.”Matthew 11:5
“...the kingdom of God has come upon you.” Matthew 12:28
“...the end of the ages has come.”1Corinthians 10:11
5. The Resurrection testifies that the believer will overcome death: “So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” (1 Cor 15:54-55).
6. The resurrection makes the believer to understand physical death as sleep. “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope” (1 Thess 4:13).
7. The Resurrection assures the Believer eternal life: “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).
8. The Resurrection ensures the Believer's future resurrection: “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus” (1 Thess 4:14).
9. The Resurrection certifies that Believers have glorified body: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself” (Phil 3:20-21).
11. The Resurrection qualifies the Believer for the intercession of Jesus Christ : “Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us” (Rom 8:34).
12. The Resurrection reveals the power to over come sin to live holy and walk in the newness of life: “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Rom 6:4).
13. The Resurrection declares Jesus to Be the Son of God.
Romans 1:1-4: “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God...concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord..."
The Resurrection vindicates His true identity right out of prophesies. Furthermore, it gives concrete to what he claimed about himself as the way and the truth
14. The Resurrection vindicated and attested to Jesus Christ as Lord and Christ,“God has made him both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36).
15. The Resurrection has made the Believer alive,“If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:19-23
As the first fruits Christ's resurrection is the first portion of the great resurrection harvest that is coming.
Paul's captures this in his metaphor regarding the “first fruits”, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep." 1 Thessalonians 4:13,14.
"Knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.”2 Corinthians 4:14.
16. The Resurrection with the same power of God that raised Jesus from the dead has now given birth to new life in us. In the new birth we are given new hearts and the gift of the Holy Spirit. The purpose of this is that we might walk in newness of life.
17. The Resurrection makes the believer to claim when God saves you, He doesn’t look into your future to see if you will backslide. He saves because of the believer’s confession at that moment. God puts trust in the believer what the Bible tells him ; to put trust in Him. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct [all] thy paths (Proverbs 3:5,6).
18. The Resurrection has made the Believer son and daughter of God. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons [or daughters] of God, even to them that believe on his name (John 1:12). Jesus was our example, and He still is. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you (John 13:15). We must be just like Jesus. We must talk like Him, think like Him, love like Him and win souls like Him. Some people say, “I am just as good as that person”; but “that person” may be going to hell. I don’t want to know if I am as good as somebody else; I want to know if I am like Jesus, and since I was saved, He has always been my example.
19. The believer is only saved through the name of Jesus. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). If you have not had the resurrection of your soul, you don’t have Jesus. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 3:11). You cannot have any of God’s benefits unless you first have salvation because that is the foundation.
20. The Believer looses interest in the things of the world. The Bible warns us about the world. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever (I John 2:15-17).
21. The believer treasures his salvation first and foremost. This then brings all of God’s other benefits. If Jesus had not come, we would have none of His benefits; and we would not be able to live holy. That is why so many people in the Old Testament did not live holy.
The Bible explains that the people were made holy once a year on the Day of Atonement, and that was it. And this shall be a statute forever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD (Leviticus 16:29,30). Then they would go right back into sin.
22. The believer enjoys Love without prejudice. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). That is considered to be one of the greatest verses of love in the whole Bible.
The phrase whosoever believeth in him should persuade people to do away with all prejudice against any race of people, but some Christians are so prejudiced. They claim that people are different colors because God put damnation on some of them, but God told me Himself that such an idea is not true.
23. The Believer receives Divine love. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another (John 13:35).
The Lord said that if you don’t have love, you are nothing no matter who you claim to be. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity [love], I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity [love], I am nothing (I Corinthians 13:1,2). You may feel valuable to yourself and to others today; but without divine love, you are worthless to Heaven.
24. The Believer receives a new life.
Jesus said…I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live (John 11:25). You will have that life when you are born again, the time when you are resurrected spiritually from the dead and given a brand-new life. Then you won’t talk or act the same because you will be different inside and out. At last, you will be a citizen fit for Heaven; and God can come down to walk and talk with you as the Bible tells us He will. As God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people (II Corinthians 6:16). God is so big and mighty, yet He can walk inside of us.
But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification (Romans 4:24,25). All people must have a spiritual resurrection because everyone is conceived in sin and iniquity. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me (Psalm 51:5).
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3,4). Water baptism does not wash away sins; it is an answer of a clear conscience toward God, and it shows you believe that Christ died, was buried and then resurrected. You are buried in water and then brought up, symbolizing Jesus’ burial in the grave and His coming forth in the newness of life at the Resurrection.
25. The Believer becomes holy. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection (Romans 6:5). When we are truly saved, we come forth as holy as Jesus was, and to never die; and one day, we will come forth with a glorified body.
26. The Believer experiences the Word made Life
Jesus, the Word, was made flesh and dwelt among men. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth (John 1:14). And that Word said, I am the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).
27. The Believer is born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever (I Peter 1:23). The Word of the living God will abide forever, so you must have the Word.
28. The Believer experiences The Word which brought the benefit of sanctification, which means to be made holy and to be completely set apart from the world. Jesus said, Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth (John 17:17,19). In that verse, Jesus was praying to His Father on behalf of the disciples; and I don’t think you will find a greater prayer in the whole Bible than the one found in John 17.
29. The Believer can have the Holy Ghost, which sanctifies and makes holy because the Holy Ghost will accept nothing but holiness. The Bible says, Be ye holy; for I am holy (I Peter 1:16). You have to be made as holy as God is, and you must die to self. Some people never receive the Holy Ghost because they never die to self.
30. The Believer has victory. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 15:57). Because of Christ’s resurrection, we have plenty of power; but we have to stay holy to keep it, and then we have to use it.
31. The Believer is Free from Sin
Jesus made it possible for us to live free from sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin (Romans 6:7). If your old self is dead and crucified within you, you are free from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him (Romans 6:8). When you die spiritually in Christ, you are alive in righteousness.
32. The Believer is free from the dominion of death.Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:9-11). When you are resurrected into the life of Jesus, you have eternal life. Your body may die before the Rapture takes place; but because Jesus paid the price for the resurrection of the body, His benefits include us having a new body and a new life.
33. The Believer has power over sin. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof (Romans 6:12). If we had only the sixth chapter of Romans as our reference, we would know without a doubt that sin is never justified and that no one can get to Heaven with one sin in his or her life.
Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace (Romans 6:13,14). When you are spiritually alive from the dead, your eyes, ears, mouth, feet and hands will be instruments of righteousness unto God; but you must first have the resurrection of the inner you. If you accept the Lord’s blood grace and are resurrected from the deadness of sin, then sin no longer has power over you; and it can’t make you do anything.
34. The Believer has power to determine the focus of his salvation. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness (Romans 6:15,16)? Your salvation depends on what you do with it. If you go back to obeying sin, you are of your father the devil. If you obey righteousness, then God is your Father.
35. The Believer’s Righteous life Replaces Sin
Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:18,20-23). Through the power of His resurrection, Jesus brought eternal life and deliverance from all sin, sickness and diseases.
Even when we were dead in sins, [God] hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (Ephesians 2:5). The Bible clearly states that we were dead in sin; but even then, the Lord loved us so much that He planned a resurrection for us because He knew it would be the only way to save us from eternal damnation. And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). When the inner person has been resurrected, we can sit in heavenly places in the spiritual realm of grace.
36. The Believer walks a new course. Born-again Christians do not sin because if they did, they no longer would be born again; they would be backsliders, children of disobedience and lost forever unless they repented and came back to God. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2).
When Jesus went to Calvary, the veil in the temple was rent from top to bottom, signifying that God had come down. And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom (Mark 15:37,38). Man would no longer be a servant of sin if he would accept that sacrifice, and he would be free to serve righteousness and holiness.
37. The Believer has the freedom to choose the Resurrection. Everyone who wants to can have this spiritual resurrection that Jesus made possible. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely (Revelation 22:17).
38. The Believer has been saved through Grace
There was a time when man had favor with God only through the Law, which was cruel bondage. The Law came through Moses, but grace came through Jesus Christ, the divine One; and grace is the favor of God. That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:7-9). Only through divine grace are you resurrected.
39. The Believer gives his heart to God, and have a spiritual resurrection from dead works to live works, from hatred to eternal love, from disgrace into Heaven’s grace and from doubt into God’s divine faith. Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace (Ephesians 2:15).
40. The Believer becomes a new person when he is resurrected from dead works and delivered from all sin. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (II Corinthians 5:17).
41. The Believer can get the same life which Adam and Eve had through grace in the beginning. You hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1). God in His great love would never have created a human being to have anything but life. He never intended for man to die or need a resurrection because there is no death in God and no dying in Heaven. Death is our enemy, and it comes from the devil; but it will be destroyed. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14).
42. The Believer knows that the Dead in Christ Lives
Without Jesus, our loved ones who have died in the Lord would have no resurrection; but because He walked out, they will. When they found salvation, their souls were resurrected and are in Heaven today; and their bodies will come forth when Jesus comes again.
I see the many tears and heartaches of those who have lost a loved one; and my heart bleeds for them. To lose someone you loved better than you love your very life is awful! Death is cruel, and it is not of God; but Jesus is going to bring our saved loved ones with Him when He comes again. But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him (I Thessalonians 4:13,14).
The graves hold only the old houses of clay the saints of God once lived in, and many of them have been delighted to move out of that clay that caused them so much suffering and go to Heaven. If you die before the Rapture takes place, you will have a physical resurrection, too.
Christians who do not die but are taken in the Rapture will be changed instantly from having a corruptible body to having an incorruptible body. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed (I Corinthians 15:52). Through the grace of God and the power of the blood, the Rapture will take place; and through the power of the Holy Ghost, we will be changed.
43. The Believer now has the Conquering Power
Another great benefit of the Resurrection is that of conquering power; and Jesus conquered death, hell and the grave for you and me. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory (I Corinthians 15:55)?
When Jesus walked out, He made it possible for us to have all the conquering power, love and holiness we need. In all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us (Romans 8:37). We can conquer all through Jesus because He conquered all for us, and what a great price He paid. When He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, He was in such agony that His sweat became as drops of blood. And being in an agony he [Jesus] prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground (Luke 22:44). One of His own disciples betrayed Him with a kiss, but there was no love in it. However, Jesus didn’t come to be shown love from people; He came to show us love. Then Jesus went on to shed His blood at the whipping post and finally at Calvary.
Jesus paid the price to conquer even the worst things on Earth. All Heaven’s conquering benefits are ours, and that means you have the power to conquer every devil that comes your way and still have more power left over. Some people think that no one can conquer the devil, but that is why they have so much trouble. Jesus conquered all the powers of the devil for us, so the devil can’t do a thing with us unless we let him. Jesus taught us how to rebuke him when He gave the devil nothing but the Word in the wilderness, and it is recorded in Matthew 4:1-11.
44. The Believer has the Blood Power which Defeats the Devil
The divine blood is the strongest power in the whole world because it came from Heaven, and Jesus taught me that we can spray the devil with that blood just like we spray bugs with insect repellant. I need that blood when devils come against me in all kinds of shapes and sizes, and I can actually see them just like you see people. When they come into my room, I say, “I know who you are.” Then I spray them with the blood, and they vanish in a flash. You can’t beg devils to go away because they will not listen to you, but they are afraid of the blood.
Devils are awful to look at, and I despise seeing them; but God has had to bring them before me so I could see how demons look and learn how they act, what they do and how they deceive people. The Lord has let me look into the souls of human beings and see the devils that bind them, and that was almost more than I could bear. I don’t know how long I could have endured that had the Lord not lifted some of the compassion I felt for those souls. I would just groan as I looked into a lost soul and saw those devils—I could see their eyes, their teeth and their hideous expressions. They have the same look as the devil himself, and I know that is true because the Lord brought him to me one day; and I saw him eye to eye. He is the ugliest creature you could ever see, and nothing could ever be that hideous. Man looks at the outside, but God looks at the heart. For man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart (I Samuel 16:7).
It is amazing to have the gift of discerning, but the Lord sees to it that everybody who is saved has a degree of discerning. The closer you live to God, the easier it will be for you to recognize the spirits. When the Lord was teaching me the spirits, He told me that I had to know the Spirit of God, the spirit of man and the spirit of the devil and be able to separate all three.
45. The Believer has the Power to enjoy the blessings of the Beatitude
In the great Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave us the Beatitudes; and they are all benefits for us. And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:1-5).
Children of God will inherit a new Earth after the Perfect Age ends and the White Throne Judgment takes place. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness (II Peter 3:13).
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled (Matthew 5:6). The pure and holy will be filled with divine blood and with Holy Ghost power from On High. They will be made partakers of God’s divine nature. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature (II Peter 1:4).
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God (Matthew 5:7,8). Jesus is saying that you have to be merciful to others if you want God to be merciful to you and that only the pure and holy will make it to Heaven.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God (Matthew 5:9). If you are a troublemaker, you are not a peacemaker. You will never get to Heaven by spreading gossip or being disobedient.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake (Matthew 5:10,11). It is important to note that these verses refer to being persecuted because you belong to the heavenly Kingdom. You are blessed when you are persecuted falsely for Christ’s sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you (Matthew 5:12).
46. The Believer has Divine Fruits
The nine fruits of the Holy Spirit are wonderful benefits. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law (Galatians 5:22,23). They are eternal fruits for the eternal soul, and the resurrection for the soul brings the joy and peace of the divine fruits; but some of you don’t use those fruits the way you should.
Until that time, you must stand up against all works of darkness. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them (Ephesians 5:11). Don’t endorse those works and never sympathize with sin; you must give people the truth in love. If the works of sin come through one of your own children, no matter how old they are, you must tell them, “Honey, you are Bible wrong, and your soul is dead within you. You can’t do the things you are doing and still go to Heaven.” The Bible says, The soul that sinneth, it shall die (Ezekiel 18:4). People will go right or left, into holiness or to hell; there is nothing in between.
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you (Ephesians 4:31,32). We only receive forgiveness because of Christ. For every sinner who comes to God, Christ stands as the sacrifice saying, Father, for my sake, forgive this one.
God Himself told me that when He gave His Son on Calvary, He gave His whole heart. He did not look ahead to see the great price they would have to pay; but when Jesus was crying from the Cross, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46), that was more than God could bear; so He had to turn His back on His Son to keep from coming down to save Him. If God had come down, it would have ruined the whole plan of salvation.
47. The Believer has a new Armor and the Word
When Jesus walked out of the tomb, the armor of God became yours and mine; but how much of it do you have? Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:13-17). Notice that God’s armor includes no shield for the back. It has the shield of faith for the front; but if you run away from the battle, you deserve to be shot. When you face the battle, all the darts the devil shoots at you will fall at your feet. You have to study each part of God’s armor and know what each one will do for you.
The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God, and the Word is a very great benefit. It is the foundation you are to build on, and your benefits will pile up the more you study God’s Word. The Bible says, Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (II Timothy 2:15).
You can’t just read the Word, and that is where many people go wrong. You may hear people brag about reading through the Bible two or three times a year, but that isn’t the way to do it. The Lord didn’t say to read the Word; He said to study it because it is a study Book. It is your protection and your passport to the most beautiful city that has ever been.
As you study the Word, the Holy Ghost will direct you from scripture to scripture. If you find a scripture you don’t understand, let the Spirit direct you to the very first time that subject is mentioned in the Bible; and it will usually give you more understanding of the subject. When you are hungering and thirsting for righteousness, it is easy to be satisfied with God; and you will be filled.
Think about what the Word, Jesus, did when He was on Earth; and then think about what the Word will do as we take it to the ends of the Earth. It is so valuable, and it will do great things for people. It will set the captives free. Jesus said, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised (Luke 4:18). The Bride will be able to say the same thing.
48. The Believer has Heaven as God’s son
One of our greatest benefits is the benefit of Heaven. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you (I Peter 1:3,4).
Because of Jesus, we will live forever rent-free without even an electric bill because the Lamb of God lights up Heaven. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof (Revelation 21:23).
It is hard to imagine what Heaven is really like, but I know we will have all kinds of wonderful surprises as the years roll on and on. The Lord is now conditioning our minds to be able to accept all of this because He tells us, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him (I Corinthians 2:9).
Nothing will be too good for the Bride of Christ. The Lord loves beauty, and that is all we will see. The streets of that city are paved with gold; the gates are made of pearl, and the twelve foundations are garnished with all kinds of precious stones. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass (Revelation 21:19-21). God is doing everything He can to make Heaven real to us; and all we have to do is yield to Him and hear Him saying, “You have a place waiting for you that is greater than Eden. My Son had to pay a great price for it; but when He walked out, He did a complete job.”
49. The Believer enjoys companion with God
The Bible tells us that Jesus wept (John 11:35). But the time is coming when He won’t weep anymore, and neither will we. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away (Revelation 21:4). Then God will wipe away His tears because there will be no need for Him to cry anymore; but until that time, children of God are safe in the arms of Jesus and in His tender love.
50. The Believer becomes Right candidate for Rapture
If you are not ready to meet the Lord today, you must get ready or you will be in the Tribulation Period. God has confirmed to me that the Antichrist has already been born, and he is on Earth today. We don’t have long now, and you must have the Holy Ghost to make the Rapture. The Bible says, Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us (Ephesians 3:20). That power is Holy Ghost power, and you don’t have the Holy Ghost unless He has spoken through you.
God chose speaking in tongues as the first evidence of the baptism of the Spirit. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:3,4). The Holy Ghost has to take over your tongue, and it has to be the tongue of fire. Since Pentecost, no one has ever received the baptism of the Holy Spirit without the evidence of speaking with other tongues.
You can have the baptism of the Holy Ghost because God promised it to all who would obey Him. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him (Acts 5:32). However, you must first accept the resurrection for your soul.
51. The Believer is entitled to the Healing of Jesus
Jesus used the power of His resurrection and healed all manner of sicknesses and diseases.
52. The Believer enjoys the benefits of the Word of Jesus
In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 KJV. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 KJV
The word of God offers us wisdom and sound counsel. It builds our faith in God and helps us to live righteous and sanctified lives before God. That’s why it’s important that we discipline ourselves to meditate on God’s word morning and night and apply it to our lives.
The word gives us the keys to the kingdom of God, which are the principles found in the bible to help us live as believers and fulfill our purpose here on earth. When we take the word and apply it to our lives it helps us to have good success. Joshua 1:8
53. The Believer enjoys the benefits of the power of Jesus
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8 kJVHeal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8 KJV
Through Jesus’ resurrection, we have the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said He must go, but he would send the Holy Spirit to guide us and lead us into all truth. Whatever he hears, He shall speak and show you of things to come. The Holy Spirit helps us develop a Christ-like character through the fruits of the spirit which are love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.
Jesus said to go into the world and heal the sick, cleanse lepers, raise the dead and cast out devils. We can only do this through the power of the Holy spirit operating in us.
He gives us gifts to help us be effective ministers of the gospel. e.g. Speaking in tongues, discernment, healing and miracles to name a few.
54. The Believer benefits from the name of Jesus
And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. John 16:23. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:10-11
The name of Jesus comes with power and authority. As believers, we must use His name. For in everything we say and do, it’s all done in his name.
55. The Believer has access to use the authority ‘’ In Jesus’ name’’.
Access to the Father in prayer, reception of salvation,ability to cast out demons, healing, etc are made possible.
61. The Believer benefits from the covenant blood of Jesus
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelation 12:11 KJV
In the old testament when someone brought a lamb as their sin offering, they brought a female without defect. They laid their hand on its head and slaughter it for a sin offering at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered. Then the priest would take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.
In this way the priest would make an atonement for the sins they had committed, and they would be forgiven. Leviticus 4:32-35 KJV
Jesus made an atonement for us, He was our sacrificial lamb of God. The precious blood of Jesus paid the ultimate price to wash away our sins. The blood of Jesus is powerful. It cleanses us from sin, helps us overcome the enemy and helps us gain favor with God.
62. The Believer benefits from the Intercession of Jesus
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Romans 8:34. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 1 Timothy 2:5-6 KJV
Jesus stands as our advocate. He is in heaven interceding for us while satan is making accusations against us. For we have a high priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses because He too was tempted as we are, while He was here on earth.
Jesus’s death on the cross paid for our sin in full. Therefore, we can stand before God blameless as we boldly approach his throne. Jesus made the great exchange for us. He took our sins that we may take on His righteousness.
63. The Believer has genuine Purpose for Service
Because of the believer’s resurrection life in Christ he is with the Lord. By His Spirit He indwells us. We are partakers of His divine nature! In the words of Alfred Ackley, “I serve a risen Saviour. He’s in the world today. I know that He is living whatever men may say. I see His hand of mercy. I hear His voice of cheer, and just the time I need Him, He’s always near!”
The Resurrection means that Christ is with me and will never leave me. It means that I have a context for my life. It’s not about fifty or sixty or seventy years—it’s about eternity and living my life with that eternity in view.
64. The Believer receives forgiveness(Acts 13:37, 38; I Corinthians 15:17)
Having all sinned and come short of God’s glory, we need forgiveness from a sinless one.
This forgiveness comes through the cross of Jesus Christ.
On the cross, Jesus paid our debt in full and satisfied the demands of a holy and just God. God’s offer of forgiveness is humanity’s best news.
Forgiveness comes only through repentance and confession of sin (1 John 1:9). "No forgiveness without confession.”
65. The Believer receives healing from Jesus (Acts 4:10)
Peter healed a 40-year-old man who was lame from birth. Immediately, his ankles and feet became strong. He walked, jumped and praised God, healed in body and in spirit.
Peter seized the opportunity to preach Christ and says this happened because of the power of the risen Christ. Christians will experience complete healing when God “restores all things”.
66. The Believer will receive an imperishable and immortal body. (1 Corinthians 15:42-48, 53)
Just like a seed is planted and dies, but grows to a plant life in a different form,resurrected bodies are created for the realm of the spirit. They do not decay or have weakness. They are not limited by physical barriers. They live forever.
67. The Believer is Born To Rule Over Satan by Resurrection Power!
The resurrection forced satan into subjection by to release the power he took at the fall.
Believers who know their right by trusting in the resurrection will live overcomers’ lives on earth.
The believer’s rule over satan is conferred in many scripture. It include these. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it” (John 1:5 NIV). “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37 NKJV).
“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mark 16:17-18 KJV).
68. The Believer is a super champion
The Holy Spirit empowers the believer to Champions as he
Allows the Holy Spirit to rule him to live the overcomer’s lives on earth. This comes daily prayer, worship, study of the word of God and do what it says.
The believer can then rule over the principalities and powers,ruling in all situations, glorifying God.
69. The Believer is enabled to live in the Present.
“... we are also by His power raised up to a new life”
Our union with Christ in his resurrection allows us to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). We therefore, seek to live for things that are above, in heaven, rather than what is earthly (Colossians 3:1). Much higher value is placed upon our heavenly rewards than any security we might enjoy here on earth. Though we were dead in our sins, because of the power of the resurrection, we have now been quickened or made alive, by the grace that saved us (Ephesians 2:5).
70. The Believer has Opportunity For Generosity
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9
Christ descended to us, becoming like us, and taking our place upon the cross. And now that He is risen and ascended to the right hand of the Father, we know that he represents us even now. And because He was generous to offer His life, we know that He can cause us to become generous as well. Since He has secured the greatest blessings of eternal life, we can generously use our earthly blessings to support others who are in need.
71. The Believer had everything planned for him.
Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your mid, just as you yourselves know — this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God . . . Acts 2:22-23a (NASB)
Peter preached that God had planned everything. It is a simple statement. God had already planned it.
. . . you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. Acts 2:23b (NASB)
Peter finally understands the gospel that that the death of Christ was and is essential for the forgiveness of our sins, but equally important is the resurrection.
But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. Acts 2:24 (NASB)
This was referring to the power of death! And then he goes on, verse 25-27,
“For David says of Him, ‘I SAW THE LORD ALWAYS IN MY PRESENCE; FOR HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND, SO THAT I WILL NOT BE SHAKEN. ‘THEREFORE MY HEART WAS GLAD AND MY TONGUE EXULTED; MOREOVER MY FLESH ALSO WILL LIVE IN HOPE; BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT ABANDON MY SOUL TO HADES, nor allow your Holy One to undergo decay.’” Acts 2:25-27 (NASB)
Peter says that Christ died on a cross and then God raised Him from the dead. The proof that actually happened is that he quoted David, “and you will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor allow your Holy One to undergo decay.” It was a prophecy.
Did you know that there is an Old Testament prophecy that said Jesus would come back to life? This is one. Then Peter goes on in verse 29 and said,
Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Acts 2:29 (NASB)
In other words, the message is that David died and did not come back to life. That is the message. Verse 30,
And so, because he was a prophet and knew that GOD HAD SWORN TO HIM WITH AN OATH TO SEAT one OF HIS DESCENDANTS ON HIS THRONE, he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that HE WAS NEITHER ABANDONED TO HADES, NOR DID His flesh SUFFER DECAY. This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. Acts 2:30-32 (NASB)
Do you know what Peter did? Peter quoted the prophecy that Christ would come back to life, and then he connected it to Jesus Christ. Next, he added that they were all witnesses. Verse 24 reads, “Who raised Jesus from the dead?” God raised Him! What we are going to find in a little bit is that Jesus claimed He raised Himself from the dead. If you were to go to Romans 8:11 you would find that the Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead. The Trinity raised Christ from the dead.
72. The Believer understands the Message
The message of Scripture is that Jesus came back to life—not His spirit, His body. He ended up with an immortal body. This was in fulfillment of the Old Testament and the New Testament promise that the Messiah would be resurrected, that our Savior would be resurrected. The truthfulness of scripture, the truthfulness of God hangs on the resurrection. If Christ is not resurrected, then God is a liar. God does not keep His promises. The affirms the truthfulness, the integrity of God and the Scriptures.
73. The Believer is legitimately declared holy
The resurrection proves Jesus was the sinless sacrifice which satisfied the Father’s wrath, and as a result, we can be declared holy. In Romans 4:5 .
He who was delivered over . . . because of our transgressions … Romans 4:5b (NASB)
… and was raised… Romans 4:5c (NASB)
… because of our justification. Romans 4:5d (NASB)
74. The Believer experiences the resurrection and the … life . . . John 11:25 (NASB)
Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life.” He is the resurrection, He came back to life, and He gives life, and He is life. So those of us who put their faith in Jesus Christ have eternal life. Have you ever done that? Have you ever put your faith in Jesus Christ and repented of your sin? If you have, you are called a child of God, you are called a child of the light. Scripture tells us that you are a new creature. You have been adopted as a sons, and have eternal life. In John 3:16 Jesus says,
75. The Believer has abundant life. In John 10:9, He is the door and, “If anyone enters through me”…“you will be saved, and enter into the pasture.” Then , “You will have abundant life.” So not only do you have eternal life, but you have life right now, it is the abundant life. So the second blessing that you receive is that you have life abundantly.
76. The Believer is defended by Jesus. Christ defends us in the Court of Heaven as our Advocate. 1 John 2:1-2 says He is our advocate. He defends us. Did you know that once you get your sins forgiven, nobody can ever accuse you of wrongdoing successfully, because Christ will defend you? There is no sin that you could commit in the future that is going to cause you to lose your salvation, because Christ keeps defending you. He is our advocate.
How has the Celebration of Easter Changed Your Life?
Share your experience at the comment section or send your response to weightiermatter@gmail.com
God bless you
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