Read Matthew 27:62-66. Don’t Give Up!
After Jesus was buried on Friday night, the religious leaders went to Pilate on Saturday. They wanted permission to secure the tomb where Jesus laid because they said, “Jesus, The deceiver, said he would rise again after 3 days!” So they wanted to make sure the disciples didn’t come and steal Jesus from the tomb and then say, “He has risen.” So Pilate told them to go and make the tomb as secure as they know how. So they went and made the grave secure, had their guards around it, and they set a seal on the stone.
Can you imagine how impossible things must have looked to see several guards guarding the stone. How impossible it must have looked to see the stone secured so that it could not be rolled away. It was so secure, no one was getting in to steal Jesus, nor was Jesus coming out. That’s how our minds think! “There’s no way God’s plan can be carried out!”
God had a plan for Jesus to die and rise from the dead for the forgiveness of sins. The religious leaders were adamant to secure the grave for 3 days.
Have you ever felt called by God to do something and then all of a sudden it seems as though you were under attack. Once we feel attacked, we immediately become discouraged. We feel defeated and want to give up. If you truly feel God is leading you in a specific direction, then let me guarantee you something, Satan is going to do everything possible to stop it, to discourage you, and get you to declare defeat and quit. The predicament you’re in will look impossible. But persevere. Don’t give up. Pray through the obstacles. Have others pray through this with you. God will roll the stone away. He will part the Red Sea for you to crossover into victory. The Goliath that stands before you can be defeated with a little Stone empowered by the Holy Spirit. Don’t give up!
