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Why do you seek the living among the dead? Song: i. He’s alive amen (2x) But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they and some others came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. They entered in, and didn't find the Lord Jesus' body. It happened, while they were greatly perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling clothing. Becoming terrified, they bowed their faces down to the earth. They said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? (Luke 24:1-5) See the affection and respect the women showed to Christ, after he was dead and buried. Observe their surprise when they found the stone rolled away, and the grave empty. Christians often perplex themselves about that with which they should comfort and encourage themselves. They look rather to find their Master in his grave-clothes, than angels in their shining garments. The angels assure them that he is risen from the dead; is risen by his own power. These angels from heaven brought not any new gospel, but reminded the women of Christ's words, and taught them how to apply them. We may wonder that these disciples, who believed Jesus to be the Son of God and the true Messiah, who had been so often told that he must die, and rise again, and then enter into his glory, who had seen him more than once raise the dead, yet should be so backward to believe his raising himself. But all our mistakes in religion spring from ignorance or forgetfulness of the words Christ has spoken. It began with a mild rebuke that is also an explanation: "Why do you look for the living among the dead?" (Luke 24:5) Put simply, Jesus is alive, so do not expect to find him in a tomb. Then the angels ask them to recall the promise he made to them in Galilee. "Remember how he told you, . . . `The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again' " (Luke 9:22; 18:32-33). God is not surprised at Jesus' resurrection, and neither should they be surprised. Jesus' authority is summarised in the crucial Son of Man title. Here is a man who bears the authority of deity, through judgement given over to him by the Ancient of Days, 13 "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13-14). (Daniel 7:13-14). “But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God." (Luke 22:69) is coming to pass. Many today are still seeking the living among the dead; seeking solution to their problems where they cannot get true and lasting solution. Why do you allow yourself to be deceived by those dirty men who call themselves herbalists, soothsayers, prophets and the like? The scripture describes them this way: “They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity.”(2 Peter 2:19). They promise to make you rich and prosper while they are the poorest of the poor. They promise to make your children or husbands/wives responsible while their own children are irresponsible and husbands/wives the most wayward. They promise to set you free while they themselves are in bondage to their father the devil. In the end they will multiply your problems and get you into more terrible situation; “The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods.” (Psalm 16:4a). You can imagine you go to a herbalist to get you out of abject poverty and you end up spending even beyond what you have left buying all sorts of animals for sacrifice which he will use as meat for his needs and also for his many wives and children. You are quick to forget in the first place that the blood of animals is of no use, “I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.”(Isaiah 1:11). Unfortunately these people deceive you with big bibles calling themselves prophets/prophetesses burning incense and different colours of candles either in their shrine which they call Church or temple; or on the beaches. St. Paul warns us, “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading false apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. Their end will be what their actions deserve.” (2 Corinthians 11:13-14). This is seeking the living among the dead; they are all dead people but Jesus is alive. Death could not hold him captive and his blood is the only source of salvation, deliverance and victory. “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”(Hebrews 9:22-28). It is free. No more special ritual or unnecessary spending, "Come, everyone who thirsts, come you to the waters, and he who has no money; come you, buy, and eat; yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for that which is not bread? And your labour for that which doesn't satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat you that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness." (Isaiah 55:1-2). Today men and women are spending their money on bleaching cream and soap to make themselves white and beautiful, may be to get married quickly in the case of the women and for several other reasons best known to them. This is eating deep into our ministries, fellowships and Churches. These people falsely claim ignorance of what they are doing. This is seeking the living among the dead because instead of getting their life partners which is one of the reasons for such worldliness, they do not get one because they become ugly, having different colours on their skins and in short they are like masquerades which no one would want to associate with it. They can no longer rely on God the resurrected Christ and living Jesus to make them beautiful and handsome both physically and spiritually. It is only God that can make us the aroma of Christ that can attract and transform others. I mean inner beauty and purity of heart. "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and reveals through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place. For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God, in those who are saved, and in those who perish;" (2 Corinthians 2:14-15). Return home prodigal son and daughter! All sugar daddies and mummies, you are called to return home so that the peace of God that surpasses all knowledge and understanding can reign again in your lives. Do you want me to remind you again that all that glitters is not gold? All those poisons coated with gold that you have got from riotous living will be your source of ruin and destruction. That beauty you depend on will very quickly fade away. "All flesh is grass, and all the glory of it is as the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, because the breath of Yahweh blows on it; surely the people is grass." (Isaiah 40:6-7, 1 Peter 1:24-25). Some are putting their trust in themselves and on others. This is also seeking the living among the dead. The arm of flesh will fail you because, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says Yahweh of Hosts." (Zechariah 4:6). And you know that, "For by strength shall no man prevail." (1 Samuel 2:9b). You see no reason to pray and seek the face of the living God because you think you are beautiful or handsome but you will receive the greatest shock and disappointment of your life that may lead you to committing suicide or developing high blood pressure. God's true and unchanging words say: "Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, And don't lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths. Don't be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil." (Proverbs 3:5-7). St. Paul tells us, "looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2). But some are looking away from him unto men; "Thus says Yahweh: Cursed is the man who trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart departs from Yahweh. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man who trusts in Yahweh, and whose trust Yahweh is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, who spreads out its roots by the river, and shall not fear when heat comes, but its leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit." (Jeremiah 17:5-8). Men will fail you and break your heart. They will use you and dump you when they feel that you have become useless and of no value to them. So why are you disfiguring your face? Why can't you trust God enough to give you your rightful partner at the appropriate time? Don't you see how ugly you are now? Why are you endangering your health? It is sad to mention that this is even becoming rampant in the household of God. Why are you so quick to forget the vows you made to the Lord? "However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are no gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, why do you turn back again to the weak and miserable elements, to which you desire to be in bondage all over again?" (Galatians 4:8-9). "You were running well! Who interfered with you that you should not obey the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. A little yeast grows through the whole lump." (Galatians 5:7-9). Is this how you want to end up your consecration and lose your reward in eternal damnation? Be honest with yourself, what have you achieved since you started defacing yourself? You have only ridiculed yourself and become an object of reproach and scorn. You have started using your body to get what you want; and this is seeking the living among the dead. Have you forgotten that, "Or don't you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Again can you point on any achievement since all these years of immorality and waywardness? Rather you have become frustrated, older than your age and may be you have lost your womb to series of abortion and contraceptives! Do you still need a herbalist or a soothsayer to tell you that you are now restless and have lost your peace? "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I to you. Don't let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful." (John 14:27). In conclusion I leave you with the word of God: Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, "I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you." So that with good courage we say, "The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What will man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5-6). God Bless You Evang. John Bamidele Oseh |