Today’s New Covenant nugget is from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (TPT)
Beloved brothers and sisters, we want you to be quite certain about the truth concerning those who have passed away, so that you won’t be overwhelmed with grief like many others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who died while believing in Him. This is the Word of the Lord: we who are alive in Him and remain until the Lord appears will by no means have an advantage over those who have already died, for both will rise together. For the Lord Himself will appear with the declaration of victory, the shout of an archangel, and the trumpet blast of God. He will descend from the heavenly realm and command those who are dead in Christ to rise first. Then we who are alive will join them, transported together in clouds to have an encounter with the Lord in the air, and we will be forever joined with the Lord. So encourage one another with these truths.
The Amplified Bible says, “Now we do not want you to be uninformed, believers, about those who are asleep [in death], so that you will not grieve [for them] as the others do who have no hope [beyond this present life]. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again [as in fact He did], even so God [in this same way—by raising them from the dead] will bring with Him those [believers] who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For we say this to you by the Lord’s [own] word, that we who are still alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede [into His presence] those [believers] who have fallen asleep [in death]. For the Lord Himself will come down from Heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel and with the [blast of the] trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain [on the earth] will simultaneously be caught up (raptured) together with them [the resurrected ones] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord! Therefore comfort and encourage one another with these words [concerning our reunion with believers who have died].”
Two pastor friends of mine have recently ‘fallen asleep’ in Jesus. They were both attacked by the evil spirits of covid-19 and passed away pre-maturely. When a loved one, a friend or a family member ‘falls asleep’ in Jesus, there will be a season of grief… it can be a season of ‘good grief’ (a positive, healing time of reflection, celebration, and renewed vision), or it can turn into destructive, soul-destroying grief, where life has no meaning and loss overtakes you.
When a loved one, or a family member passes you experience several emotions… sadness, anger, vulnerability, and grief… knowing that they are with Jesus also gives peace and joy, but it is always a challenge when someone you love is no longer there to fellowship with, or just to be together with.
As I have been processing my loss and their gain, I am stirred up in my calling to equip believers to do the works of Jesus and to bring good news to a lost and dying world. Many pre-mature deaths can be avoided if only believers would allow Jesus to teach and train them how to operate in the power and authority of His might! The enemy is attempting to snatch away believers who are called to be key players for the Lord in these last days! We need you all on board… this is our season!
Many have lost friends, loved ones and family members… we cannot bring them back, and even if we could, they would not come… they are with Jesus, and we will have to wait to see them until we are reunited in the clouds with Jesus! They are with Jesus, but JESUS is with us, and there is work to do! The greatest compliment that we can give those who have gone before us, is to rise up strong and to take the anointing to this hurting, broken world while it is still day!
If you are grieving, don’t grieve like those who have no hope… let the Holy Spirit wash away your wounds, and then get ready to run… time is short!
In His amazing love, Nick
