Rise and Witness – The Resurrection Mission

So for the past two weeks we have been zoning in on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We have come to recognize and accept that this is not a once a year observation but gift that must be lived out in our lives every day of every week of every month of every year.

Jesus died so that our sins will be forgiven.

He rose again so that we might have eternal life.

This is not only the cornerstone of our faith—it is the launchpad of our mission. When Jesus rose from the dead, He didn’t just conquer the grave; He commissioned His followers to rise as well: rise in faith, rise in boldness, and rise in purpose. 

Today, we are going to talk about what it means to rise and witness, and how the resurrection gives us the power to live and serve with confidence in this world.

Let’s begin in Matthew 28:6–7 (NIV): "He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead…’”

The angel’s message was simple: Come and see. Then go and tell. This is the resurrection mission. It’s an invitation and a call to action. 

Thank God we are saved. But get this, we  are not saved to sit around and do nothing. We are saved to serve. We are not delivered to remain silent—we are delivered to declare.

In real life, this looks like being unashamed of your faith at work, in school, in your business, in your family. Here at ZJoy VI it means being an active prayer partner, studying the Word of God and contributing to the discussions during these empowerment sessions, learning from what is imparted and sharing it with others.

It means not just wearing a cross but carrying it daily. 

In Luke 9:23 (NKJV), Jesus said: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

Taking up your cross isn’t about suffering in silence—it’s about living on purpose. 

The cross is a symbol of sacrifice and mission. Every day we wake up, we're called to rise with intention and witness to the power that raised Jesus from the grave.

The good news? We don’t have to do this alone. 

Acts 1:8 (ESV) says: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses… to the end of the earth.”

The resurrection mission Family, is powered by the Holy Spirit. This means we don’t have to rely on our own strength, wisdom, or charisma. We have help from heaven. We've got divine empowerment to speak truth, to walk in love, and to stand in boldness.

Let's  look briefly at Peter again...following on from yesterday. Before the resurrection, Peter denied Jesus three times out of fear. But after he was filled with the Spirit, he preached to thousands, and 3,000 people were saved in one day (Acts 2:41). 

That’s the difference the resurrection makes. That’s the difference the Holy Spirit makes.

Maybe there are some of you here today who feel like Peter — afraid, ashamed, uncertain. What is God saying to us today? Rise. Witness. Speak. Share. Live. Love. Lead.

Let’s go to Romans 8:11 (NLT): “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.”

That means the same power that raised Jesus is not only around us—it’s in us. That’s resurrection power. That’s spiritual empowerment. We are not weak. We are not alone. We are not too broken or too behind. Hallelujah.

Family, we have the power. We are empowered to witness.

And this mission is not mission impossible. For those who are shy, you never have to pick up a mic if you don't feel moved to do so. Because this mission is about preaching with your life. 

This resurrection mission Family, is about preaching with  kindness. With integrity. With faithfulness when no one is watching. It’s about showing up to the hard places with hope. It’s about choosing peace when there is chaos all around.

2 Corinthians 5:20 (NIV) reminds us: “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.”

That’s our identity: ambassadors. We represent the risen King. And in a world that’s desperate for truth, desperate for love, desperate for peace, our witness matters more than ever.

Of course the reason why many of you don't participate during our live call in sessions is because you're thinking what if I make a mistake? What if I don't say what I really should say? What will people think? I'll be too ashamed to call back again.

Are there answers for these questions in the Bible?

Let’s settle that with 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV): “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

We have heard that scripture so many times. How about applying it to this and every such situation?

Family, any imperfections we have do not disqualify us; they become the backdrop for God’s glory. Hallelujah. 

Our witness isn’t about our perfection—it’s about His resurrection.

Do you know that your mission field could be right at home. Maybe it is that you should be praying for some family member or coworker who doesn't know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Maybe your witness looks like staying consistent in prayer, in love, in speaking life over these people even when you don’t see change right away.

Galatians 6:9 (NIV) encourages us: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Family, the  resurrection mission is a long one. It’s not always flashy, but it’s always fruitful. So no matter what, keep sowing. Keep speaking. Keep believing. Keep witnessing.

Remember as the scripture says in 1 Corinthians 3:6, it was the Apostle Paul speaking: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.” (NKJV).

Jesus also reminded us in John 20:21 (ESV): “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

That means your life, my life is on assignment. We are not just going through the motions. We are sent—sent into our job, your families, our communities, and even into digital spaces to be light, to be love, to be a living testimony.

So, we can stop wondering why we were born into this particular family or why we have to work at this particular job or why we can't live in America as opposed to Montserrat. We must bloom where we are planted. Amen. 

So family, what do you do with this message today?

We rise.
We rise from delay.

We rise from complacency.
We rise from shyness. 

We rise from shame.
We rise from the shadows. 

We rise from doubt.

We rise from fear.

Because the resurrection is not just history—it is our personal reality. It’s the reason we can stand when life tries to knock us down. It’s the reason we can believe again after disappointment. It’s the reason we can forgive when it’s hard. It’s the reason we can keep going when everything says give up, stop, it's not worth it.

Philippians 3:10 (NLT) says: “I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.”

That’s the heart of the resurrection mission—not just knowing about Jesus, but living in the reality of His power every day.

So wherever you are, whatever you’re going through, remember this: You were born for this moment. You were raised for this mission. You were empowered to witness.

Rise and walk in it. And remember, we are not walking alone. Christ is walking with us. Amen. 

aub - 25Apr25 

www.zjoyvi.com 

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