Death where is thy sting?

A few weeks back I lost someone in my life who has been very precious to me and my family. He was like my Dad, not my Dad but more than my dad. He was there when I lost my father when I was 9 and he raised us up and sacrificed a lot for us.

Our relationship was not the very best but we knew we loved each other.

Almost 2 years ago he came to the church with me and made the most important decision in his life; he called on the name of Jesus Christ and called him in his heart. I can never forget that day as I was there with him right by his side praying with him.

I was not there when he died, infact I was told about him almost a week after he passed away. A few days prior to that I was thinking about my Uncle Phil, he never did have the very best in life but I had the assurance that he will in the life to come because of his decision. I never knew that it had already come to pass.

Now I know for sure what Paul meant when he said;

"Death is swallowed up in victory. 
O’ death where is thy sting?
O’ grave where is thy victory?"1 Corinthians 15:54-55

the words of Jesus Christ sums up what I believe;

”I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live”

John 11:25

When from the dead God raised His Son
And called Him to sky
He gave our souls a living hope
That they should never die! – Watts

This one is for you Phil Uncle.

For all you have done.

Rueben Morgan

My Saviour, redeemer, Lifted me from the miry clay.
Almighty forever, I will never be the same again;
’Cause you came near from the everlasting.
To the world we live, the Father’s only Son.
You lived and You died You rose again on high.
You opened the way for the world to live again.
Hallelujah!! For all you have done.

Jesus Christ…

And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
Romans 1:4 KJV

For I passed on to you first of all what I also had received, that Christ
(the Messiah, the Anointed One)died for our sins in accordance with(what)the scriptures[foretold],
That He was buried, that He arose on the third day as the scriptures foretold,

1 Corinthians:3-4 Amplified Bible


For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3:16-17

Joy of the Lord!!

Habakkuk 3:17-18.
With deep feeling, he said, "Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls—yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation."

So what are we basing our joy upon today; the circumstances that surrounds us the things that we have for ourselves, our possessions.
Why are we being grieved today; is it because of the state that we are in and with all that is happening around us in this world.

Nehemiah 8:10
……Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

My sheep I know, they are My own,
I leave them not in trials alone;
I will be with them to the end—
Their hope, their joy, their dearest Friend. —Anon.

Pleasures of earth, so seemingly sweet,
Fail at the last my longings to meet:
Only in Thee my bliss is complete;
Only, blest Lord, in Thee. —Anon.

Happiness depends on happenings; joy depends on Jesus!

Do be not Afraid only believe!!!

21 Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea. 22 And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet 23 and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.” 24 So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.
25 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, 26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. 28 For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”
29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”
31 But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’”
32 And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. 33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
35 While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”
36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” 37 And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 38 Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. 39 When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.”
40 And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. 41 Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. 43 But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat


Mark 5: 21- 43 NKJV

Imagine Jairus’ situation, daughter dying and the only person whohe believes can heal her gets delayed because a woman who has been sick and been suffering for 12 years finds her healing by just touching the clothes of Jesus Christ.
Why does she have to do this now ? Lets go, lets go my daughter is dying!!!! We don’t have time for this. May have been some of the thoughts of Jairus as he was hurrying to reach home to his sick daughter.
Do not be afraid; only believe that is what Jesus Christ said even when it was too late and Jairus’ daughter was already dead, but she lived again!!
Believe is what the sick woman did, that if she touched Jesus’ clothes she would be healed.and she was!!
Is any among you sick, do not be cast down or be afraid but only believe.

But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5-6 NKJV

..who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed
1 Peter 2:24 NKJV


Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again not only for our sins but also by His wounds we are healed, “are” healed.
So are you willing to believe on the One who did this?
Are you willing today ,now to put your trust in Him who has given it all for us.
For it is not a matter of we cannot rather than a matter of we will not.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

Do not be afraid; only believe!!!