Paul Email -11July2013- Matthew 28

How you doin? The last chapter in Matthew snuck up on me. Stacey and I both really tired, so if you would be willing to join with us and pray against the unwanted spirit of fatigue and tiredness, we would appreciate it. Matthew 28 is great.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. (Matt.28:2-4) Again, the earth/nature respond to heavens invasion. The angel had some serious glory and splendor on him. The guards fear made them like, "dead men". AWESOME!!!!!!!!!! I don't want to be like a dead man when exposed to heaven. COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. (Matt. 28:5-6) The angel tells the Mary's , "Do not be afraid". He did not say anything to the guards. "He has risen, just as he said", AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” (Matt. 28:8-10) I see a theme. Fear has no place. "Afraid yet filled with joy", seems to be the exception. The Mary's, "clasped his feet and worshiped him", I get the feeling I should be doing this more often.
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt. 28:16-20) "The great commission". I'm always amazed at the disciples response, "but some doubted". After all they had been through with Jesus. "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me", what victory. Jesus came and got the keys back from Satan. COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tears of joy! Verse 20 rocks, "and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" So AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!! Jesus doesn't say how to teach them, just to teach them and He'll be with us. COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I heard a sermon yesterday morning on IBethel that challenged me to think about transformation vs conversion. Conversion, suggest that people become like us. Transformation, suggest that people become who God intended them to be. I pray regularly for God to transform me. Mainly my mind. Don't forget today, "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!