When I See the Blood

"The Poet, Alfred Lord Tennyson, met General William Booth of the Salvation Army, while both were out walking. 'General,' said Tennyson, 'what is the news this morning?' 'The news, sir,' replied Booth 'is that Christ died for our sins and rose for our justification!' 'Ah,' replied the poet, 'that is old news, and new news, and good news.'"

Paul said: "If Christ is not risen, then our preaching is vain, and your faith is also vain" (1 Cor. 15:14). In these words Paul emphasized the significance and value of the resurrection. Everything depends upon this central fact—a risen Christ. If Christ was not raised, then our preaching is empty, our faith is false, and we are in a state of abject misery. But since the resurrection of Christ is an indisputable fact, then it follows that the resurrection of Christ is an indispensable faith.

Preaching represents the word of Christ. Everything that Jesus ever said during His earthly ministry must be judged in the light of the resurrection, for if He did not rise from the dead, how can we trust the words He spoke? How can we believe the claims He made? How can we aspire to the standards He set? In other words, if Christ was not raised, then both our preaching and our faith are vain. But Christ is risen, and as a result, every single word Jesus spoke rings with authority and vibrates with life; we can trust Him implicitly.

If Jesus Christ never rose from the dead, then Calvary means nothing at all; other men have been crucified, and Jesus must be numbered among them. On the other hand, if He truly rose from the dead, then Calvary represents the unique redemptive act of God, providing forgiveness and salvation for men and women like you and me. Because He rose we can say that Christ "was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification" (Romans 4:25). There is forgiveness and redemption through the blood of Jesus because the resurrection elevates His death on the cross with great significance. Peter knew this from personal experience. That is why he could write that we are "begotten ... again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3). Click the link to listen to this inspiring message "The Message of the Resurrection – Part 2" on Bethel TV or iTunes Podcast. #TransformingLives, #TransformingLivesWithPastorObe, #BethelCityOfGlory, #ObadiahSwen, #Obelizswen, #BethelVA, #PastorObe.

"The Poet, Alfred Lord Tennyson, met General William Booth of the Salvation Army, while both were out walking. 'General,' said Tennyson, 'what is the news this morning?' 'The news, sir,' replied Booth 'is that Christ died for our sins and rose for our justification!' 'Ah,' replied the poet, 'that is old news, and new news, and good news.'"

Paul said: "If Christ is not risen, then our preaching is vain, and your faith is also vain" (1 Cor. 15:14). In these words Paul emphasized the significance and value of the resurrection. Everything depends upon this central fact—a risen Christ. If Christ was not raised, then our preaching is empty, our faith is false, and we are in a state of abject misery. But since the resurrection of Christ is an indisputable fact, then it follows that the resurrection of Christ is an indispensable faith.

Preaching represents the word of Christ. Everything that Jesus ever said during His earthly ministry must be judged in the light of the resurrection, for if He did not rise from the dead, how can we trust the words He spoke? How can we believe the claims He made? How can we aspire to the standards He set? In other words, if Christ was not raised, then both our preaching and our faith are vain. But Christ is risen, and as a result, every single word Jesus spoke rings with authority and vibrates with life; we can trust Him implicitly.

If Jesus Christ never rose from the dead, then Calvary means nothing at all; other men have been crucified, and Jesus must be numbered among them. On the other hand, if He truly rose from the dead, then Calvary represents the unique redemptive act of God, providing forgiveness and salvation for men and women like you and me. Because He rose we can say that Christ "was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification" (Romans 4:25). There is forgiveness and redemption through the blood of Jesus because the resurrection elevates His death on the cross with great significance. Peter knew this from personal experience. That is why he could write that we are "begotten ... again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3). Click the link to listen to this inspiring message "The Message of the Resurrection – Part 2" on Bethel TV or iTunes Podcast. #TransformingLives, #TransformingLivesWithPastorObe, #BethelCityOfGlory, #ObadiahSwen, #Obelizswen, #BethelVA, #PastorObe.

" … two of them were traveling that … day to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem … while they conversed and reasoned, ... Jesus Himself drew near and went with them" (Luke 24:13, 15).

The Holy Spirit recorded this story in order to teach us the importance of a transformed life. Transformation takes place when our hearts are exposed by the revelation of the truth of God’s word. The two disciples had turned their backs on Jerusalem, with its tragedy of the cross, and were facing the sinking sun as they walked westward to Emmaus, about seven miles away.

In this passage, we see the whole purpose of God to lovingly, truthfully, and purposefully transformed lives: " … He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!" (Luke 24:25). The reason the Lord Jesus Christ came into this world was to expose the condition of our sadness and unbelieving hearts. The reason why you cannot penetrate the deep things of God; why the whole of Scripture seems inexplicable; why prayer is a farce, and the church a puzzle; why God seems so unreal and far away is the condition of your heart. Remember, you are a religious being and you carry the similitude of God in your personality, even though you have been cursed by sin.

These disciples did not understand what transpired on that rugged cross. They did not understand the meaning of that outpoured blood. They did not understand that the stone rolled away from the tomb was one of the greatest miracles the world had ever seen.

Jesus Christ never meets anyone along life's journey without exposing the condition of their hearts. He has to expose the sadness and unbelief of the heart. He has also come to renew us with His resurrection life. Click the link to listen to this inspiring message "The Transformation of the Resurrection – Part 1" on Bethel TV or iTunes Podcast. #TransformingLives, #TransformingLivesWithPastorObe, #BethelCityOfGlory, #ObadiahSwen, #Obelizswen, #BethelVA.

" … two of them were traveling that … day to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem … while they conversed and reasoned, ... Jesus Himself drew near and went with them" (Luke 24:13, 15).

The Holy Spirit recorded this story in order to teach us the importance of a transformed life. Transformation takes place when our hearts are exposed by the revelation of the truth of God’s word. The two disciples had turned their backs on Jerusalem, with its tragedy of the cross, and were facing the sinking sun as they walked westward to Emmaus, about seven miles away.

In this passage, we see the whole purpose of God to lovingly, truthfully, and purposefully transformed lives: " … He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!" (Luke 24:25). The reason the Lord Jesus Christ came into this world was to expose the condition of our sadness and unbelieving hearts. The reason why you cannot penetrate the deep things of God; why the whole of Scripture seems inexplicable; why prayer is a farce, and the church a puzzle; why God seems so unreal and far away is the condition of your heart. Remember, you are a religious being and you carry the similitude of God in your personality, even though you have been cursed by sin.

These disciples did not understand what transpired on that rugged cross. They did not understand the meaning of that outpoured blood. They did not understand that the stone rolled away from the tomb was one of the greatest miracles the world had ever seen.

Jesus Christ never meets anyone along life's journey without exposing the condition of their hearts. He has to expose the sadness and unbelief of the heart. He has also come to renew us with His resurrection life. Click the link to listen to this inspiring message "The Transformation of the Resurrection – Part 1" on Bethel TV or iTunes Podcast. #TransformingLives, #TransformingLivesWithPastorObe, #BethelCityOfGlory, #ObadiahSwen, #Obelizswen, #BethelVA.

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him." Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again to their own homes. But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.' " Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her. (John 20:1-18) Click the link to listen to this inspiring message "The Joy of the Resurrection – Part 1" on Bethel TV or iTunes Podcast. #TransformingLives, #TransformingLivesWithPastorObe, #BethelCityOfGlory, #ObadiahSwen, #Obelizswen, #BethelVA.

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him." Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again to their own homes. But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.' " Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her. (John 20:1-18) Click the link to listen to this inspiring message "The Joy of the Resurrection – Part 1" on Bethel TV or iTunes Podcast. #TransformingLives, #TransformingLivesWithPastorObe, #BethelCityOfGlory, #ObadiahSwen, #Obelizswen, #BethelVA.

"He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay" (Matthew 28:6). From start to finish, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the greatest miracles of all times. It is the greatest displayed of God’s power (Eph. 1:19). In the Old Testament, when Israel wanted to highlight God’s power, they talked about their deliverance from Egypt and the crossing of the Red Sea. In the New Testament, it is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:19-23). Click the link to listen to this inspiring message "The Proof of the Resurrection – Part 2" on Bethel TV or iTunes Podcast. #TransformingLives, # TransformingLivesWithPastorObe, #BethelCityOfGlory, #ObadiahSwen, #Obelizswen, #BethelVA, #PastorObe.

"He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay" (Matthew 28:6). From start to finish, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the greatest miracles of all times. It is the greatest displayed of God’s power (Eph. 1:19). In the Old Testament, when Israel wanted to highlight God’s power, they talked about their deliverance from Egypt and the crossing of the Red Sea. In the New Testament, it is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:19-23). Click the link to listen to this inspiring message "The Proof of the Resurrection – Part 2" on Bethel TV or iTunes Podcast. #TransformingLives, # TransformingLivesWithPastorObe, #BethelCityOfGlory, #ObadiahSwen, #Obelizswen, #BethelVA, #PastorObe.

"He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay" (Matthew 28:6). From start to finish, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the greatest miracles of all times. It is the greatest displayed of God’s power (Eph. 1:19). In the Old Testament, when Israel wanted to highlight God’s power, they talked about their deliverance from Egypt and the crossing of the Red Sea. In the New Testament, it is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:19-23). Click the link to listen to this inspiring message "The Proof of the Resurrection – Part 2" on Bethel TV or iTunes Podcast. #TransformingLives, # TransformingLivesWithPastorObe, #BethelCityOfGlory, #ObadiahSwen, #Obelizswen, #BethelVA, #PastorObe.

"He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay" (Matthew 28:6). From start to finish, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the greatest miracles of all times. It is the greatest displayed of God’s power (Eph. 1:19). In the Old Testament, when Israel wanted to highlight God’s power, they talked about their deliverance from Egypt and the crossing of the Red Sea. In the New Testament, it is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:19-23). Click the link to listen to this inspiring message "The Proof of the Resurrection – Part 2" on Bethel TV or iTunes Podcast. #TransformingLives, # TransformingLivesWithPastorObe, #BethelCityOfGlory, #ObadiahSwen, #Obelizswen, #BethelVA, #PastorObe.