Worship Devotional CXX

Apr 30

Originally posted to the Facebook group on 4/30/2022.

He Is Risen — Victory Secured

Worship Devotional for 5/1/22

1 Corinthians 15:50-58:

"Brothers, I tell you this: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and corruption cannot inherit incorruption. Listen! I am telling you a mystery:
We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this corruptible must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal must be clothed with immortality. When this corruptible is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory. Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?' Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord's work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

Ephesians 6:10-18:

"Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God's word. Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints."

We are fighting a battle here in this world as the war rages on between the kingdom of God and the forces of evil. But Jesus Christ has already won the victory through the finished work of the cross! By His death, the claim sin had on our souls has been vanquished, and by His resurrection, death has been destroyed forever! This is why we rejoice greatly even when our circumstances are bleak or painful, or when our lives appear to be falling apart or the world around us comes crashing down. This is why we still have hope in the midst of struggle and brokenness, and peace in the midst of chaos. When the battle is fierce and we feel like we are losing, and when the evil around us seems too great to stand against, we still rejoice in hope and stand in faith, because we know the end of the story. We know that Jesus Christ has already claimed the victory, and there is nothing in this world or beyond that can separate us from the love of God or take away the redemption which the shed blood of Christ has purchased for us. We still are here for a time, and so the battle must be fought to the end, which means there will be trying times and testing of our faith. But whatever your circumstances are, you have hope because of what Jesus Christ has already accomplished. He is risen from the dead, and we are raised with Him to eternal life. The victory belongs to our God, who loves us and gives us victory over the enemy! So church, let's charge into the fight with this great and unshakeable hope, for the Lord's victory is ours! It's time to take back what the enemy tried to steal, and to take hold of the life we are called to by God's glorious grace through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior and King.

Romans 8:31-39:

"What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He did not even spare His own Son but offered Him up for us all; how will He not also with Him grant us everything? Who can bring an accusation against God's elect? God is the One who justifies. Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the One who died, but even more, has been raised; He also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or anguish or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'Because of You we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!"

Revelation 21:1-4:

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea no longer existed. I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: 'Look! God's dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away.'"

Songs: