December 17, 2020 CAC Living Water Devotional : Topic – LOCK DOWN THE TOMB
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LIVING WATER CAC DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Thursday, December 17, 2020
LOCK DOWN THE TOMB
Read: Matthew 27:62-65; 28:5-8
Matthew 27:62-65 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
Matthew 28:5-8 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
MEMORISE:
Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first.” (Matthew 27:64)
EXPOSITION
Sometimes, we tend to ask why God allows trying situations in our lives, even as children of His. Why would He allow disasters, such as accidents, pandemic, suicide, genocide, etc. among humans? Some people tend to ask why He allows His people to die, even the righteous ones whose righteousness He confirmed by Himself. God never makes mistakes. Let us take a cue from the situation with Jesus’ tomb in the Bible.
Jesus had been crucified, yet those envious religionists wouldn’t allow His soul to rest in peace. So, assisted by the devil, they moved for the sealing and securing of His tomb – a supposed dead man; why are people so wicked? They went to ask for the needless lockdown of Jesus’ tomb. The devil can never be happy with us till we get to heaven, eternally departed from him. He can engineer his people to make life unbearable for God’s people, here on earth – deprivation, undue punishment, unjustifiable imprisonment, needless lockdown of churches, etc.
There were 3 types of security apparatuses employed to forestall Jesus’ resurrection – the large stone at the tomb’s mouth, the seal on the stone, and the well-armed guards. May every instrument of lockdown against our individual lives and churches be rendered ineffective, in Jesus’ name.
God won’t allow Satan’s scheming to truncate His plan, purpose and programme for your life. Just don’t quit your relationship with Him. He proved to those envious religious leaders that they could lock down the tomb (27:62-65), but they couldn’t lock the Lord down (28:5-8). Who can battle with the Lord? Churches can be locked down but the Gospel and real heart worship cannot be lockdown. As long as you remain glued to Jesus, nobody can truncate His plan for your life. Isn’t this refreshing and encouraging enough? Stop worrying!
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord, I trust You that You can never be caged. Prove Your supremacy over my life, home and ministry, in all respect.
2. Lord, thwart every effort to cage Your Gospel and Church in the world, in Jesus’ name.
3. Pray for those who have been imprisoned for crimes they didn’t commit that the Lord should effect their release, speedily, and rehabilitate them.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Amos 2 – 5