Discover Hope International

Day 40, April 17, 2019

Jesus died to conquer death.

John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

Jesus said these words to Martha when Lazarus had died. Jesus declared that He was the resurrection and the life! You see, Jesus didn’t perform a resurrection, he wasn’t making a resurrection, but He was, is and continues to be the resurrection. “I AM the resurrection!” It’s a bold claim, but Jesus always backed up words with action. He then proceeded to call Lazarus from the grave into life! Wow! That’s some powerful proof right there. This was the last miracle Jesus performed before he enters Jerusalem, is arrested and then crucified. I think Jesus was trying to get a point across, although the disciples seemed to miss this point. Once Jesus is laid in the grave, it seemed as though the grave would have the final say, of course we know better. 3 days later, Jesus rises from the dead –the resurrection! Final proof of the power He has! This is GOOD NEWS for you--- you will not lay dead in the grave, but He will quicken your mortal body IF His Spirit dwells in you!

Day 39, April 15, 2019

Jesus died to beat hell.

2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;

Jesus died to beat hell. Hell is a real place that is the realm of Satan and his kingdom of darkness. It is the place that Satan will hold you in if you have judgement against you. You are guilty of sin, no one will deny they have done wrong things, and in a just world, this crime warrants penalty. You do the crime; you pay the time! But this penalty is severe and you have no ability to ever satisfy the cost required…BUT JESUS paid it off for you! Jesus, through living a sinless life and then laying that sinless life down as a substitute for your life. Jesus not only paid the penalty of sin, but He won the war against the entire kingdom of darkness and Satan on your behalf. There is only one thing you need to do to claim this redemption. Believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord! If you do, then judgement is already passed upon you---NOT GUILTY! If you do not, then you will wait for judgement day and you will be found guilty as charged. You choose.

2 Timothy 1:10 “… but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”

When Jesus died upon the cross, it was a day of despairing for his followers. Unfortunately, they had not listened to Jesus as He prophesied what was to happen (Matthew 20:19) “And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.” Jesus had clued the disciples in on this several times throughout their time together and yet, somehow, they were completely taken by surprise as the prophesied event took place in real time. Fortunately, Satan was as oblivious to this truth as the disciples were or he might not have played the fool. At the cross, as a mighty miracle, the pinnacle of Jesus’ life was occurring, no one understood the meaning…BUT JESUS did! Not only did he understand, he had orchestrated the whole event and chosen to lay down His life for YOU! Death was murdered that day. Jesus rendered powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil (Hebrews 12:14) and Jesus now proclaims, “I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.” (Revealtion 1:18) This means that as a believer in Christ, death has no hold on you. Sure, you have this body that will grow old and pass away, but you will only walk through the shadow of death as Jesus will be there to meet you and usher you into glory. That’s good news, but the best is yet to come. Your spirit will live eternally in your heavenly home where there will be no tears, no pain, no sorrow. You will be home at last.

Day 37: April 11, 2019

Jesus died to make you a king!

Revelation 5:10 “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”

When we receive Jesus as our Lord, we are accepted into His kingdom and we are transformed into a new creation. It is a beautiful and wonderful new life we can live in Him. Now, God could receive us a slaves, servants, or even citizens, but no…God literally adopts us into His family. We become joint heirs with Jesus! One of God’s own children worthy of inheritance and worthy of ruling in this kingdom! Jesus made us rulers in this universe! How amazing—a great privilege but also a great responsibility. Let’s get about doing our Father’s business, let’s learn the kingdom principals and rule and reign with wisdom and understanding!

Day 36, April 10, 2019

Jesus died to make you a warrior.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

These verses constitute your marching orders. You have been deployed to take back territory and to take out strategic targets in this battle between good and evil. You are given orders, you are given weapons, you are given equipment and now you must determine whether you obey. Before you decide, however, there is one more vital piece of information you must know. You will be victorious! Even more than a conqueror though Christ Jesus! The top-secret information that has been leaked out is that the victory has already been won at the cross. We just have to enforce what is a foregone conclusion. We have much available to help us prevail, however, Satan has been reduced to one weapon, which is to deceive. If you don’t enter into the fray and take your stand, then Satan occupies what is available to you illegally. If Satan can get you to give away the victory that belongs to you, then he wins. The Kingdom of God suffers violence and the violent take it by force! Man up (woman up too)! Your fellow soldiers need you to take your stand as they take theirs and advance The Kingdom of God upon this earth.

Day 35, April 9, 2019

Jesus died so that you can be a super hero.

Mark 16: 17-18 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 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.

If you have received Jesus as your Savior and have become His disciple, you have a unique “super power”. You might not be faster than a speeding bullet, you may not be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound nor bend steel with your bare hands, but you do have the supernatural ability to cast out demons, speak in new tongues, overcome deadly assaults, and bring healing to the nations. Let me just suggest, respectfully, that this is pretty close to being a super hero! Of course, we do such things not to glorify ourselves, but to point the way to Jesus and to plunder hell. I hope as a disciple of Jesus, you are always on the lookout for those who need rescued from Satan and his supervillanous ways. Ready to help those who are captive, broken hearted, and bruised. Ready to do whatever is necessary to triumph over evil. I hope you choose to fight the epic battle for truth, justice and the Way of the Cross.

Day 34, April 8, 2019

Jesus died for your peace.

Isaiah 53:5…the chastisement of our peace was upon him…

As we continue to follow Christ Jesus’ path to the cross, another victory is revealed. The victory He attained was our peace. Jesus did not need to put up with chastisement. He wasn’t a naughty kid that needed a spanking, or corporal discipline, or any punishment…but we sure have been. Come on, admit it. You’ve done plenty of naughty things that deserve a good whoopin’. However, unlike a good father, Satan, who is the father of lies, does not punish to make you better nor so you’ll be good, no he punishes mankind because he likes suffering. He likes to make you squirm, to fret, to worry and to be in fear…BUT JESUS took away his right to torture you. Jesus took our punishment so that you and I could live in peace. Not just peace but perfect peace. Peace that passes understanding.  This level of peace can be yours because you know Jesus has placed himself between you and Satan, protecting you, and disarming the evil one.

Day 33, April 7, 2019

Isaiah 53:5 …He was bruised for our iniquities…

Jesus died for your iniquities.

The journey to the cross, was a long and painful one for our Lord, He suffered greatly for you and me. The bible says “For he has made him, who knew no sin, to be sin for us; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

Definition of iniquity. 1 : gross injustice : wickedness. 2 : a wicked act or thing : sin.

We all have fit into this group at one point in our lives! We are challenged to walk away from these deeds and never look back. We are set free by Christs works on the cross. Living a life centered around Him will keep you free!

Day 32: April 6, 2019

Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions…

Jesus died for your transgressions.

Jesus took a beating before He went to the cross as the sacrificial Lamb of God, the sacrifice to end all sacrifices. Throughout that journey to the cross, Jesus won many victories; the cross was His final most glorious victory. Jesus was wounded along the way to pay for all your wrongdoing. Transgressions is such a broad term that anything that is not purposely righteous could fall into the definition. Yes, breaking the law would be included, but so would mischievousness, misdeeds, even mistakes would be included. Jesus found the way to completely cover mankind so that no action you have done could ever be held against you if you put your identity in Him and choose to make this exchange.  

Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

The redemptive power of Jesus is not only the power of the cross, but the journey of the cross. As Jesus experienced human suffering, He was also carrying our sufferings so that you know longer have to bear them alone. I’m sure you have encountered grief and sorrow in life, all of have, some more than others. Nothing is more difficult that when you lose someone you love through death or separation. The key to exchange is that while you will still feel grief, you do not have to navigate it alone. You can turn to Jesus and He will turn you sorrow into joy step by step. There will be no getting stuck in dark places if you allow Jesus into the recesses of you heart where He will comfort and guide you and bring you into a new day in Him.

Day 30: April 4, 2019

Jesus died to gain joy.

Hebrews 12:2 For the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus knew the great joy He would receive when He won the victory through the cross and the resurrection. He was willing to pay the price to receive His prize which was the redemption of mankind. Though the process was tough, grueling, and incomprehensible, it was worth it. He also won another prize. Joy for you! 1 Peter 1: 8 & 9 says you are filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory! If you understand all that Jesus has done and paid for it is for you to allow yourself to be filled. If your heart is full of Jesus, then there is also great joy in your heart!

Day 29: April 3, 2019

Jesus died so we could enter into His rest.

Hebrew 4: 9 & 10 9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

Under the Old Covenant, there was sure a lot to do! Sacrifices & cleansing rituals along with lots of rules and regulations. All designed to bring the Jewish to the very moment in history when the Savior of the world appears. Jesus is the fulfillment of all these requirements! He paid it all! What is left for you to do in this case? To believe, and to rest in the work that was accomplished through the cross. Later in Hebrews 4, you are encouraged to “hold fast to your confession”. Stand therefore!!! Under this New Covenant, it is no longer about works, but about faith. You believe, Jesus delivers. It’s that simple.

Day 28: April 2, 2019

Jesus died to become the high priest of our confession.

Hebrews 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

Throughout the Old Covenant, a priest was necessary to be a mediator between God and the people. The priest offered the sacrifices to God on behalf of the sinner; the priest took the blood of lambs and other animals and placed it on the alter so that the Jewish person/people could receive atonement for their sins. All of this was a temporary “band aid” that would bridge the gap until the Lamb of God (Jesus) would come. So, interestingly, Jesus became not only the sacrifice but the sacrificer as He gave His own life, a sacrifice for many. Jesus became the High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary and now hears your confession as you confess with your mouth that He is the Son of God and enter into salvation. He also hears your confession of sin (repentance) and offers forgiveness. No longer do you need a priest to be the mediator, Jesus is the mediator…the only mediator between God and man (1 Timothey 2:5). Thus the New Covenant based on better promises and a restoration of relationship between man and God.

Day 27: April 1, 2019

Jesus died so that after death, you could join Him in paradise.

Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

As Jesus hung on that cross, he was between two thieves. Two others suffering beside Jesus, one was bitter and angry because of his suffering, but the other…. The other knew all hope was gone BUT JESUS! And a glorious hope He offers! This thief simply acknowledged his need for a savior and asked Jesus to remember him. Jesus, while in His own suffering answered in a most compassionate and enlightening way, “TODAY you will be with me in paradise”. This is a major paradigm shift! No man (person) had ever entered heaven after death before. Mankind was condemned to the domain of Satan except the Jewish people who had a covenant with God through the sacrificial system. They were kept in Abraham’s bosom waiting for this deliverer who was about to set them free. Because of the cross, now those who are saved go directly to heaven! Hebrews 9:27 clearly states, “after death the judgement”, no waiting period now needed. Also, Paul declares in Philippians, “To live is Christ, to die is gain”; again in 2^nd Corinthians Pauls states, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” On that final day, you too can enter paradise, turn to Jesus and acknowledge him as the Savior.

Day 26: March 31, 2019

Jesus died to make us slaves to righteousness.

Romans 6:19 I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.

Now that you have freedom from sin (yesterday’s post) you can choose for yourself whom you will serve. You can offer yourself as a slave to righteousness, purposely yielding your will to do rightly and to live according to God’s will. Why would you want to do such a thing? Because a life of sin brings death and sorrow, a life lived to yourself brings selfishness, emptiness, and regret, but a life lived unto God gives purpose, mission and ultimately eternal life. The life you live now matters eternally, it just depends on whether your existence impacts for the kingdom of darkness or the kingdom of light.

Day 25: March 30, 2019

Jesus died to set us free.

Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

As we were freed from the slavery of sin, you are free to choose your path. It is unfortunate that so often those set free choose to run right back into the very thing that enslaved then. Just as the Children of Israel wished to go back to the bondage of Egypt once they encountered challenges, people often want to run back to the comforts of hard bondage; it is a strange contradiction. It is always perplexing to watch someone be delivered from addiction, abuse, etc. and then run right back to it the first time they are put to the test of standing. But stand you must! With freedom comes responsibility and ownership and citizenship and decisions…don’t shirk back, but embrace the sweet winds of freedom because being free is (was) worth dying for.

Day 24: March 29, 2019

Jesus died to free you from the slavery of sin.

John 8:34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.

Whether or not you realize it, if you are still a sinner you are a slave to sin because you have no power to stop sinning. Oh sure, you might do less sin or stop doing a particular sin, but you are powerless over sin—it has you captured. Jesus died on the cross so that sin no longer has a hold on you and although you might still sin sometimes, when you repent you break all of its power over you. It is deliverance from evil rather than just resisting evil. When you become born again, your identity is no longer a sinner, you’re no longer a sinner saved  by grace (you were a sinner saved by grace)…but now, you are simply saved by grace—a son or a daughter who can now heed the voice of the Father!

Day 23: March28, 2019

Jesus died to give you life and life more abundantly.

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

It’s one thing to know you have a pardon for sin and eternal life in heaven through the cross. However, many believers do not live in the abundance that is also attained for you through the cross. You see the devil stole our rightful place in the garden—he would like to continue to take from you. BUT JESUS put a stop to this thief by defeating him and by promising you a life and that life would be lived abundantly. What is the abundant life? Nothing lacking-nothing missing would be a great definition. Jesus meets your needs according to HIS riches in glory. Do you have unmet needs? Ask Jesus, believe in the promise, wait patiently till the answer comes.

Day 22: March 27, 2019

Jesus died to give you life.

Colossians 2:13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.

After the curse was set upon this realm, we were all like “dead men walking”. You had been handed a death sentence and it was just a matter of time until it was imposed. Mankind’s divine purpose had been thwarted. As a result our spirit man was dead, no longer to communicate freely with God- our soul was twisted and our desires were turned inward to selfishness- our body would die and turn to dust. BUT JESUS…took all those death sentences and traded them for life! We can now live the life God had planned in the beginning—communing freely with God, having our fleshly passions under control as we live Spirit-filled life, and finally our body will experience resurrection in those last days. We have traded a death sentence for a total pardon!

Day 21: March 26, 2019

Jesus died to establish a New Covenant filled with better promises.

Hebrews 8: 6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

As the Old Covenant was fulfilled in the person and ministry of Jesus, it became necessary to establish a New Covenant in our relationship with God. This New Covenant gives us amazing access to God, authority over powers, principalities, and rulers of darkness, and promises from Jesus! It is a covenant that is based in Grace and on the work of Jesus. Our primary responsibility in this Covenant is no longer our own works (sacrifices), but to believe and to exercise our faith. It is faith that allows the Kingdom of God to push back the kingdom of darkness as we work out our salvation and usher in the will of God upon the earth.

Day 20: March 25, 2019

Jesus died to fulfill the Old Covenant.

Hebrews 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

The Old Covenant, a continuing contract between Abraham (and the children of Abraham) and Almighty God. It established the promises of God to his people as they follow him, as well as containing the promise of the Deliverer that would once and for all deliver God’s people from bondage. It is easy to see why the Messiah, the Anointed One, Jesus would fulfill this contract. Much of the Old Covenant (Old Testament) are shadows and prophecies to keep pointing the Jewish nation toward the day of deliverance! That day arrived when God became man and walked among us- teaching us all things, showing us the Father, suffering for our transgressions, and dying on the cross. All was fulfilled, but a new thing had begun…tune in tomorrow!

Day 19^: March 24, 2019

Jesus died to give us something to brag about.

Galatians 6:14 But far be it from me to boast [in anything or anyone], except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

And what a boast we have as believers! Our Savior, Jesus Christ, loved us more than any other god ever recorded. Jesus gave up the splendor of heaven, walked the earth in the humbleness of a man, endured ridicule at the hands of these lowly men, underwent torture to purchase our redemption, and ultimately sacrificed His life in exchange for ours. Now, that’s a champion! No other religion or belief system can come close to such a claim. God’s great love for you is not only told to you it is demonstrated fully and completely by the recounting of Jesus’ journey to the cross. Kinda makes you proud to be one of His disciples doesn’t it? Yet, the story doesn’t end at the cross, because if all that weren’t enough, He also rose again on the third day! He conquered death, hell and the grave for you! If that doesn’t make your chest swell with pride, well then you should probably read this again.

Day 18: Mar 23, 2019

Jesus died to spoil principalities and powers—to triumph!

Colossians 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

To the victor goes the spoils! The spoils of war belong to those who are able to defeat and forcibly take from another. It describes perfectly what Jesus accomplished through the cross. He won all that Satan had under his domain. Powers and principalities and the rulers of darkness are all defeated by Jesus. Satan had become the prince of the world (John 12:31), BUT JESUS outflanked, outmaneuvered, and outright won this epic battle of good vs. evil. Not only did He win this war, he did so in such a stunning and spectacular way to make obvious to all that Jesus was the Victor! So, what are the spoils that belongs to Jesus? All that was once the devil’s…life vs. death, healing vs. sickness, victory vs. defeat, prosperity vs. poverty, paradise vs. hell. It’s up to you to pick your team. Doesn’t seem like a tough choice to me, but it’s up to you…choose life or choose death.

Day 17: March 17, 2019

Colossians 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.

Jesus died to blot the record of your past that Satan uses against you. Since no person can keep the law (ordinances) perfectly, Satan uses your sins and transgressions against you. First, he will literally hold the record of your sins against you, keeping an account that must be reconciled by judgement. The wages of sin is death and Satan is the prosecutor of that death sentence. Second, Satan will continuously remind you of the places where you have fallen short, the areas where you have sinned (broken the law) in order to keep you trapped in shame, guilt and condemnation. If he can keep you there, he has made an effective prison for you. Good news! If you repent for you sins, acknowledge Jesus as your Savior, the writing that was against you is blotted out! Whatever record of sin and transgression currently exists is nailed to the cross, dying with Jesus. No more judgement headed our way and no more guilt, shame, or condemnation can exist if we understand the power of what Jesus did for us. We are born again, a new creation, old things are passed away and ALL things become new.

Day 16: March 16, 2019

Jesus died to unleash the power of God!

Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Since the fall of man, Satan had been under the delusion that he had actually won the battle against God, or at least a battle against God. I imagine how smug he must have moved around, really believing he had messed up God’s entire creation including the pinnacle of His creation—mankind. Oh sure, God had bumped back and found a way to partially restore through sacrifices and such, but the ultimate victory belonged to himself (Satan). In my mind, he probably did a victory dance that would put NFL touchdowns to shame…But Jesus! The Gospel is the good news that salvation has come to anyone who will partake! What a shock Satan must have had as the grave began to shake and Jesus came forward in total victory! Now this is the power of God manifested, Satan never had any victory at all, only a delayed defeat. Just when he thought he won it all, he found he had a complete loss. THE POWER OF GOD in full demonstration as God made salvation available to Jewish and non-Jewish alike!