Still I Rise
Scripture: Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.” The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.Luke 18:31-34 NIV
There has been times in our lives when we found ourselves at the bottom. It appears that Life has piled on top of us and we lay stuck between our painful past and unforeseeable future. It seems like no matter how hard we try to pull ourselves up, life pulls us down and tries to lock us in the cellar of negativity, depression, hopelessness, lack and despair. If it's not one thing it's another!
That my friends may very well be a fact, but I want to remind you that their is a difference between a fact and Gods Truth. A fact is a temporary piece of reality but Gods truth is an everlasting promise written In His word and spake through the lips of his Son & Prophets! It was a fact that Abraham and Sarah was too old to conceive, But God’s Truth is that he calls things that be not as though they were, and that he Promised him he would be a father of Many Nations!
It's a fact that the Dr said he saw a spot, but the truth is by His stripes we are healed.It's a fact that you got more bills than money but the truth is God has given us the ability to get wealth!This message today is for those of us who may not be where we want to be or feel how we know we should feel. This message of hope is to let you know that God has placed some spiritual yeast in all of us called his Holy spirit. And if you have this spiritual yeast you will rise to the top!
You will rise above every obstacle, every lie, every judgement, every circumstance, every roadblock, and every spirit designed to keep you down! With this in mind you can boldly state our focus for the month. IT'S ALRIGHT! I WON'T BE DOWN LONG!
Which brings us to today's text. After teaching the disciples about many things, and administering miracles in between Jesus took the opportunity to take the disciples to the side and reveal to them for the third time that his departure was imminent. But this time Jesus emphasized his betrayal in these terms... They gon mock me, they gon spit on me, they gone flog me, and they gon kill me! But it's alright! I WON'T BE DOWN for Long, why!!!
Because on the third day I will Rise again!! Jesus made it clear that he was gone be beat, battered, and bruised. He wanted the disciples to know that he was getting ready to go through, that he was going to suffer, that his road ahead was going to knock him down literally! But he also emphasized that he won't be down for long! That he will rise again.And if you are a follower of Jesus so will you!
And just like the Great Maya Angelou proclaimed In her classic Poem that shares the same title of today's text: STILL I RISE.You may write me down in historyWith your bitter, twisted lies,You may trod me in the very dirtBut still, like dust, I'll rise.You may shoot me with your words,You may cut me with your eyes,You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I’ll rise.Leaving behind nights of terror and fearI rise Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear I rise Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise.
What we have inside of us is a resilience that comes from up above. It's what allowed us to brave the belly of slave ships, to turn tragedy to triumph, horror to hope. What we have in us is what Jesus had in him. A will and determination founded In The belief that if God is for us, who can be against us. A belief that the same resurrection power that raised Jesus is the same power that gives us the victory!
So no matter what life throws me still I rise!Sentenced to 30 years in prison still I rise!Mistreated by family and friends still I rise Given a bad diagnosis... Still I rise Forced to downsize.... Still I riseI may be unemployed right now... But still I rise...I may be caught up in my addiction now... But still I rise...We might be relegated to suite 250... buts it’s alright... Still I rise...How many of you can testify despite all that you been through in Life.... Still I rise?
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