Holy Week – Abba's Prayer Warrior Princess

He Lives!

Posted on April 21, 2019April 20, 2019 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

He is risen! He is risen indeed! Hallelujah! Today is Easter, Resurrection Sunday. Lent has been finished. Have you prepared your body, mind, and spirit for worshipping our risen Savior? We have talked about why He came, what He did, what He expects of us, and learned many things these past forty days, but the most important thing about Lent is have we prepared ourselves for Easter and worship? Are you ready? Me, too!

Churches have all types of Easter services some started on Friday night and go through tonight. One of the most popular is the Sunrise Service. Did you go today? It is a special time to worship and usually done outdoors. If not today have you ever worshipped at dawn on Easter watching the sun come up and imaging Jesus Christ rising from the dead? It doesn’t matter when or where we worship, just that we do.

On Easter morning the women went about their normal routine of checking the tomb for Jesus. What they found today was quite different. An angel sat on the huge stone that had been rolled away.

The Bible says Mary, mother of James, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Salome gathered at the tomb and saw that the large stone had been rolled away from the entrance. An angel was there and said “Don’t be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as He said would happen.” (Mt. 28:5-6, NLT).

When they looked inside the tomb it was indeed empty. The angel asked them “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you that He would be turned over to sinful men, be crucified, and rise again on the third day!” – Luke 24:6-7

The shroud covering Christ’s body was neatly folded and placed where His body had been. That is significant because during those times a folded napkin at a table meant the person would return. He was not finished. He was returning. Jesus took the time to send that message to His followers. “I am returning.” He was not finished yet.

Jesus had accomplished what was foretold by the prophets. God’s Son was beaten, accused, crucified, placed in a tomb, and He arose on the third day. He had done what He said He would. He conquered sin and death. Our sin debts had been stamped “paid in full” because of our Savior. He gave everything for our salvation, but what have we given in return? Do I give Him my love and devotion? My obedience? Have I submitted my will to His?

Take time this Easter to really worship and think about the great sacrifice Jesus made for you. He didn’t just die on the cross for the disciples and Bible people. We are included in the covenant, too. He died for Cheri, Janice, Joyce, Tom, Donna, Den, Vanessa, Jason, and even me. Yes, He died for us, but He arose. He paid the price so that we may reign in Heaven as heirs of the true King. He died so that we might live. Life after death is real. It is our gift for the taking. Rejoice! He is alive. Worship Him. He will return as promised. Let’s rejoice, worship, and stay ready.

Holy Saturday or Easter Eve

Posted on April 20, 2019April 18, 2019 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Holy Saturday, Easter Eve or Black Saturday is the name given to the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Some Christians recognize Holy Saturday as the day on which Jesus “rested” from His work of providing salvation. It is the seventh day of Holy Week. When Jesus died, He called out, “It is finished!” He had completed His job. Sin had been atoned for and salvation was now available. Jesus had built a bridge between the Father and us. We can now go straight to Him and not via priests and holy men.

This day is traditionally a time of reflection and waiting like Lent. Jesus’ followers spent this day waiting after his crucifixion on Good Friday. He had said He would rise from the dead so they would be watching for Him. Most likely they would be recalling every word He said to them.

It is also the day when Roman governor Pontius Pilate instructed guards to be posted at the tomb to prevent Jesus’ followers from removing the body to claim that He had risen from the dead. Pilate sealed the tomb, secured it, and posted guards. No one was getting in.

How have you felt reading the activities and what happened during the days of Holy Week? I learned some things when researching for this week’s blog that I did not know before now. I felt like I was there trailing around after Jesus, too. At the end of each day my emotions were raw. How could the people be so callus and blind not to see that Jesus was The Son of God? How could they beat and torture anyone to that degree, let alone Him? I was outraged and heartbroken. I cried heartfelt tears of anguish.

I know the ending. I also know this was God’s plan, but it still hurts. For those of us baptized, when we were baptized we died with Christ (going down under water) and arose with Him (rising up again).

Scripture tells us this in Romans 6:3-11 King James Version (KJV):

^”Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

So, while we await Resurrection Sunday, take a moment to reflect. Just as we were baptized and died with Jesus, we died to sin. We should sever the bond sin has over us and sin no more. After He died for us, it is the least we can do for Him.

Holy Wednesday or Spy Wednesday

Posted on April 17, 2019April 17, 2019 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Spy Wednesday is an odd name for a day during Holy Week or at least it seems to be for me. There is no secretive or symbolic meaning. It is just what it says it is about – a spy or traitor among Jesus and a His followers.

Judas, we all know, was the one that betrayed Jesus to the Sanhedrin. Luke 22:3-6 tells us:

“Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him unto them. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray Him unto them in the absence of the multitude.”

Did you realize that Satan entered Judas? Of course, Satan always has his hand in bad things. He uses people. Twists words and situations around until evil doesn’t sound bad. He is the master deceiver.

Did you ever wonder why the Sanhedrin decided on paying Judas thirty pieces of silver? In the Old Testament, Exodus states that the price for a slave that accidentally dies by an ox is thirty pieces of silver. The Sanhedrin were paying the price of a dead slave to Judas for his deception. It was an insult to Jesus that they thought Him worth only what a dead slave was. Obviously Judas thought that, also. Our Redeemer and precious Savior, whose value is beyond measure, was sold out for the price of a dead slave.

There is something else that happened on Holy Wednesday. It is the anointment of Jesus at Bethany. Scriptures tell us that while Jesus was at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came in with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume. It was made of pure Spikenard. She anointed Jesus with this expensive oil and dried his feet with her hair.

Matthew 26:6-13:

“While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

Judas did not approve of this at all. He thought the oil should have been sold and the money put in the treasury for helping the poor. Satan used Judas’ love of money to gain a foothold in Judas’ life. Don’t let that happen to you.

I hope today’s blog has blessed you and given you a little more insight into Wednesday of Holy Week.

Holy Tuesday, Jesus Teaches in Parables

Posted on April 16, 2019April 14, 2019 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

Tuesday the disciples walked back by the fig tree from yesterday that Jesus cursed. It was now withered and dead. Jesus used that to teach them about faith, true faith. A person or nation that does not produce fruit for God (do His work) will wither and die all the way down to its roots. The tree had leaves so by first sight it looked like it was producing. A closer look revealed no fruit. Then Jesus cursed it so it withered and died.

Are you producing fruit? Are you leading people to God? Helping them find salvation? Does the light of Jesus shine through you? Are you loving, kind, selfless, good, joyful, and have the fruits of the spirit? Don’t wither away. Grow tall and produce fruit. Increase in your faith. Flourish in your love for Jesus. You will be amazed at the things that will happen when you believe and have faith!

“Seeing a fig tree by the road, He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then He said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.” Mt. 21:19

“Jesus replied, ‘Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Mt. 21:21-22

They returned to the Temple and the religious leaders were upset at Jesus for establishing himself as a spiritual authority. He had a large following now. Jesus evaded the traps the leaders set for Him with their questions. He scolded them in Matt. 23 and compared them to tombs – beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people.

Jesus took His disciples to the Mount of Olives and told them parables about end times and His return. Those who wait for the Master’s coming—the wise and faithful servant (Matthew 24:45-51), the five wise virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), and the good servant who uses his resources wisely (Matthew 25:14-30) are a few of the ones.

Do you remember any of these parables from Sunday School or Vacation Bible School? The point is to have faith and be ready for Jesus. He is coming back just like He promised. When? Well, that is not for us to know. We are just supposed to be ready at a moment’s notice.

Holy Monday, Jesus Cleanses the Temple

Posted on April 15, 2019April 13, 2019 by abbasprayerwarriorprincess

After Jesus arrived in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday did you ever wonder how he spent His final week in ministry? What did He do until His crucifixion? On Monday He taught His disciples a parable about faith when He cursed a fig tree that did not produce fruit. Do you remember that one?

They had been out walking and were hungry when they saw a fig tree with many leaves. After they looked for the fruit, none could be found. It was barren. Many believe the tree being cursed represents God’s judgment on those that are spiritually dead.

This story of what Jesus also did might be more familiar. Jesus also went into the temple and cleared it out of the dishonest money changers. They were cheating people and making a mockery of the temple. He went through overturning tables and saying: “Scripture says ‘My Temple will be a house of prayer’, but you have turned it into a den of thieves.” He drove the money changers and their animals out restoring order and respect.

What has stayed with me about this story for many years is that Jesus stopped and braided a whip so that He could think about what He was going to do before just charging into the temple. He didn’t fly off the handle but took time to think about the situation. Maybe He prayed. I would imagine He did.

“So He made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.” John 2:15

Could you do this? I can’t tell you how many times I have flown off the handle in anger. Acted quickly without thinking things through. Not so with Jesus. His righteous indignation toward what was happening in the temple was just. It needed to be done. He waited to think clearly and make certain it was done correctly. How many times have I wished that I had done things like that? Many!

Jesus had one week left with his disciples before his crucifixion and resurrection. Everything was done in the right way without rushing. Even in a time of righteous anger He still slowed down and gave Himself time to cool off and think with a clear mind. What a beautiful example for all of us.