The weeks following Easter can come with a surprising feeling. It’s the one you get after you prepare for a big celebration; you get your hair done, plan your outfit, gather your plus ones. But as quickly as the day arrives, it’s over.. And with the celebration in the past and your future up ahead, you realize, you spent so much time preparing for the big day, you didn’t consider the life to be lived after.
You’re left with a question. Now what?
As I pondered this question these past weeks, I considered the words that Jesus left his disciples and the result of jesus’ resurrection. With the scriptures fresh in my mind and a new understanding, I discovered the answer.
What’s next after you celebrate Easter?
First, you recognize what Jesus did.
The purpose of this post was not to shame believers for celebrating Easter. Easter should be celebrated! The fact that Jesus Christ died and was Risen from the dead is the great uniqueness that separates the Christian faith from all other religions. Jesus’ resurrection speakes to the power of God’s ability to bring the dead back to life. “Dead” doesn’t just apply to our spirit man being brought back to life but any other areas of our lives that we have pronounced dead – our relationships, dreams, employment status, etc.
Because of what Jesus did for us we now rejoice in the scriptures that tell us: Death was defeated ! The bible declares “if we believe in Jesus we shall never die(John 11:25-26)” and those who now do the will of Father shall live throughout the ages. (1 John 2:16-17) Nkjv
We now see that what law couldn’t do,Jesus did (Romans 8:3-5). We have been redeemed and set free from the bondage of sin . All of our past, present, and future sins are covered under the blood of Jesus (Ephesians 1:7),and we thank Jesus for that.
Second, we embrace and accept the call that Jesus left for all His disciples.
After he was risen, Jesus left his disciples with a command:
18 … “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Jesus’ modeled the mission God wants all of us to go after once we give our lives to Him. Paul says in Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Jesus’ death on the cross was a substitution for us. When we embrace that, that means we’re now choosing to give up the old ways we used to live and now choosing to imitate the life of Christ. Once we accept Jesus’ resurrection now we understand there’s a work for us to do. That means after we accept the resurrection, we must embrace His call.
Third, we become filled (or refilled by the Holy Spirit)
After Jesus left his disciples with the call, He gave them next steps:
Luke 4: 49 “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
Before he was crucified, Jesus hinted about the Holy Spirit, the helper, who ” when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. (John 16:13)
Not only was the Helper to be one who would help lead his disciples into all truth, he would also be the the one who allow us to become effective witnesses for Christ (Acts 1:8)
Whether you’ve been saved for years or gave your life to Christ this past Easter you must be empowered by the holy spirit.
When you’re first saved the holy spirit comes to live inside you, but this step I’m referring to is the baptism of the holy spirit. It is a separate experience that you must have in which you are receiving a deeper empowerment of the holy spirit. The best analogy I can give is if you imagine yourself to be a coke bottle (I know I know it may sound like a weird analogy but stick with me here lol).
Acts: 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be [a]witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
When you’ve first given your life to Christ, the soda (which represents the Holy Spirit) is inside of you but there’s no fizz (there’s no power). When you have been baptized in the Holy Spirit, it allows the Holy Spirit to be shaken up inside of you (just like if you were to shake up a soda bottle and fizz would come running out)!
If you’ve given your life to Christ, have you become shaken up?
On the other hand, you may have already experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit before but you may have noticed that your fire, passion, and boldness have gone out. If that’s the case, you can ask the holy spirit to be refilled!
Once becoming threatened by deeper levels of persecution, the early church asked for that very thing
Acts 4:27-31
27 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.“
If the early church was not ashamed to ask for more of the Holy Spirit and His power, how much more should we not be ashamed to!
Fourth, we carry out the mission.
Once you recognize what Jesus Christ did, you’ve embraced the call, you received the filling (or refilling of the Holy Spirit), all that’s left for you to do is walk it out.
Practically, what does that look like?
- First, you must be anxious to do His will and not your own! I have emphasized it multiple times already but now that you have traded your life for His, you must become consumed with carrying out the mission of Christ and not your own! You have been given a new purpose in life! If your mindset is not focused on that, your body will not follow. Ask yourself, whose purpose have I been consumed with ? God’s or my own? Your actions will reveal that answer. (Matthew 28:19-20, 1 Peter 1:3-4)
- Second, pray and ask God to show you the harvest (Matthew 9:37-38). Who is the harvest? Those in your life who are searching and seeking for a relationship with God. The issue isn’t that there are people who don’t want Him. The issue is there are not enough laborers willing to go after them. However, we can’t identify them on our own. We must be led by the spirit (see why being empowered was so important) to show us who they are. As he leads you, be open to sharing your testimony and being a witness to the things he has done in your life. (Romans 2:16)
- Third, after we identify, we war for them. We can’t just expect the devil to just allow us to take people from his kingdom (Matthew 12:29). Leading people to Christ goes beyond just a simple invitation to church. It is a war. We can’t do this without prayer (James 5:16)
- Four, Stand Strong in the Holy Spirit – As you begin to really engage in the mission of God, you will experience warfare. But don’t be alarmed, this is a part of being a kingdom citizen and living a kingdom focused life. God has not given us a spirit of fear but one of power, love and a sound mind. God has not left alone in standing in the power of God when Satan comes to attack. He’s left with both armor (Eph 6:10-16) and authority in the spirit (Luke 10:19-20) This will allow us to remain standing.
- Lasty, remain faithful to the process. While I know I just provided you with a 5 step plan to get started, but the reality is this is a PROCESS. (I know – dreaded word). As we begin to walk it out, we must not become discouraged if we don’t see any change in other people’s lives. God works in the unseen things not the seen thing. This is not something we control but something we must always continue to put into God’s hands. We walk by faith not by sight (2 Cor 5:7) Whether you play the role in someone’s salvation process by prayer, sharing your testimony, making that first invitation, never forget: IT ALL ADDS UP. Be encouraged by the word as it says “some plant some water but God gets the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6-9).
There you have it! Although Easter has come and gone, our faith hasn’t. Now as we recognize and accept the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we carry out the mission he started! We embrace the call of evangelism and discipleship,receive the power of the holy spirit, and lastly, we step out in boldness – proclaiming, explaining, and demonstrating the gospel of the kingdom, so we can help set the captives free.
Easter may have ended, but our faith continues to rise!
Your fellow sister in Christ,
Trinity
