I AM CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST:SUNDAY OUTLINE   (BRO. EMMA OKORIE)   31ST MARCH 2024

TOPIC:  I AM CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST

It has become a ceremony for everyone,  both Christian and unbeliever to celebrate Easter as a fun fare.

The real meaning of the death and resurrection of Christ is lost.

As I was regurgitating on this, what dropped in my heart is “I am crucified with Christ.

Whatever happens to Christ happens to me.

You must be alive in Him not to the world.

There is an exchange.  It is no longer I but Christ who lives in me.

Gal 2:20(NIV)20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

The real sense of our being crucified with Christ is that we have lost the old life.

If you don’t determine how to live for Christ, Christ death and resurrection will be meaningless.

If Christ lives in you, it radiates in whatever you do.  When you live a holy and righteous life, anyone that sees you sees Christ. Those anger, wrath, enemity, wickedness will not be found in you .

Phil 1:21(KJV)21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

This is the parameter by which you  judge yourself before you do anything.

You must be crucified and die with Christ in order to live a genuine Christian life.

If Christ death and resurrection  doesn’t have impact in us we have wasted our life

We  have conquered death so that we can live a life of Christ.  You are a representative of Jesus; so you have a new nature, vision, direction , character etc

This is the nature and source of our joy.

He has given us fresh and a brand new life.

John 14:19(KJV)19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

Acts 2:24-33(TLB)24 Then God released him from the horrors of death and brought him back to life again, for death could not keep this man within its grip. 25 “King David quoted Jesus as saying:’I know the Lord is always with me. He is helping me. God’s mighty power supports me. 26 ‘No wonder my heart is filled with joy and my tongue shouts his praises! For I know all will be well with me in death- 27 ‘You will not leave my soul in hell or let the body of your Holy Son decay. 28 ‘You will give me back my life and give me wonderful joy in your presence.’ 29 “Dear brothers, think! David wasn’t referring to himself when he spoke these words I have quoted, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us. 30 But he was a prophet, and knew God had promised with an unbreakable oath that one of David’s own descendants would [be the Messiah and] sit on David’s throne. 31 David was looking far into the future and predicting the Messiah’s resurrection, and saying that the Messiah’s soul would not be left in hell and his body would not decay. 32 He was speaking of Jesus, and we all are witnesses that Jesus rose from the dead. 33 “And now he sits on the throne of highest honor in heaven, next to God. And just as promised, the Father gave him the authority to send the Holy Spirit-with the results you are seeing and hearing today.

Nothing in this world should remove us from the love of God. Rom 8:36-39(TLB)36 No, for the Scriptures tell us that for his sake we must be ready to face death at every moment of the day-we are like sheep awaiting slaughter; 37 but despite all this, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us enough to die for us. 38 For I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels won’t, and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God’s love away. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, 39 or where we are-high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean-nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when he died for us.

 

Let the eyes of your understanding be enlightened.

The indication is, if Jesus live forever  those of us who have died and raised with Him will never die again.

Rev 1:18(KJV) I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

You must be fully persuaded that what He promise He will do.

There is no other life to live than this.

1 Cor 15:17 – (KJV)17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. (Go On)

Don’t allow all these temporal things deter you from the permanent site.

A day is coming when your tears will be wiped away.

Isa 25:8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it.

Hos 13:14(TLB)14 Shall I ransom him from hell? Shall I redeem him from Death? O Death, bring forth your terrors for his tasting! O Grave, demonstrate your plagues! For I will not relent!