Take off the grave clothes

"And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes... Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. (John 11:44)"

There are some of us who have been given new life, we have been raised by the resurrection power of Jesus Christ, but we are still walking around in our grave clothes! The NIV says it this way, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” We say, “woe is me, I have this and that problem, this and that complaint... circumstance A is overwhelming me... I can't do this, I can't do that... such and such is too hard or I have never done that...you don't know what so and so said or did to me etc...” Take off the grave clothes! Yes you may have been in the tomb, BUT NOT ANYMORE! Wake up, you have been raised from the dead! Sin is no longer your captor and we have been given new life in Christ! (2 Corinthians 5:17). There may be difficult times, there may be deep valleys, but that is not where we stay. We don't live there anymore, and that is not where we remain! Jesus said, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you...” (John 15:4 NIV). Death could not hold Him in the grave!

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV)

Oh Righteous Father, oh Righteous Lord, revive our spirit and quicken our hearts, let us awaken to your life in us, and let us not grieve you and supress the flame of life you have put in us. Not by might, not by power, but by your Spirit oh LORD!