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If we wanted a subtitle to the whole of the New Testament, it might be this: Because He Lives. As one fairly recent chorus expresses it- “If there were no resurrection, we ourselves could not be raised”, and we might add a number of other truths to this… If there were no resurrection, we would still be bearing the guilt of our sins If there were no resurrection, we would be powerless against the wiles of the Devil. If there were no resurrection, we could have no intimacy with the Father. If there were no resurrection, we would live in fear of judgement. If there were no resurrection, we would be lost and without hope. If there were no resurrection ….. well, I’m sure there are a number of other statements of truth you could add if you think about it. I am immensely grateful that Jesus died on the Cross for me, bearing my sin and shame, but thank God it didn’t end there. He rose again, and because He lives, we can live also. Hallelujah! As I counsel many who are bound in some way to the strong allurement of food, I hear so often stories of guilt, of personal weakness, of longing for intimacy, of fear, of hopelessness – these are the roots to their inappropriate eating yet the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead tells us that these needs can be met in Him. He is our Hope, our Strength, our Peace; He is the One who ever lives to make intercession for us; He is the One who says I will never leave you nor forsake you; He is the One who has destroyed the works of the evil one; He is the One who can pick up the threads of your broken life and weave them together again. If you are feeling disappointed with yourself because you’ve already eaten far more chocolate Easter eggs than you should, don’t throw in the towel. Turn now to Him who is the Resurrection and the Life and, faced once again with your own inadequacy, lean hard on Him who, because He has overcome, has the power to help you overcome also. Don’t lie there on the floor feeling an utter failure. Look up into the eyes of Jesus, cry out to Him, take hold of His hand and He will raise you up.
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Past Thought for the week messages 
