WesleyGospel Ministries

Consumed with memories that preceded today
Given a chance to bereave life that’s slipping away
Suffered through tragedy of my slow decay
Deceptive tendencies dragged my soul away

All that I know, there was no God for me
Force that shatters all, absence of mortality

Revive all my fears
Revive wasted tears
Revive void within
Revive once again

Forsaken by destiny, forsaken by my own mind
I must remove my skin to see belief in your eyes
All that I know, there was no God for me
Force that shatters all, absence of humanity

Revive all my fears
Revive wasted tears
Revive void within
Revive once again

Reach for the sky
Touch the sky
Revive a hope
For mankind
–Fear Factory, “Resurrection”–

—

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
–1 Peter 1:3 (ESV)–

¹ On the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. ² And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³ but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴ While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. ⁵ And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”
–Luke 24:1-5 (ESV)–

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
–Romans 8:11 (ESV)–

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
–Romans 10:9 (ESV)–

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
–Romans 6:4 (ESV)–

He has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.
–Acts 17:31 (ESV)–

Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.
–James 4:8 (ESV)–

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
–John 10:27 (ESV)–

—

John Foxe, Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, ed. Marie King (Spire Books, 1978).

Jack Deere, Why I Am Still Surprised by the Voice of God (Zondervan, 2022).

Joan Carroll Cruz, Mysteries Marvels Miracles (TAN Books, 1997).

Herbert Thurston, The Physical Phenomena of Mysticism (Henry Regnery Co, 1952).

Augustin Poulain, The Graces of Interior Prayer (Kegan Paul, 1910).

The gates and doors were barred
And all the windows fastened down
I spent the night in sleeplessness
And rose at every sound
Half in hopeless sorrow
And half in fear the day
Would find the soldiers breakin’ through
To drag us all away

And just before the sunrise
I heard something at the wall
The gate began to rattle
And a voice began to call
I hurried to the window
Looked down into the street
Expecting swords and torches
And the sound of soldiers’ feet

But there was no one there but Mary
So, I went down to let her in
And John stood there beside me
As she told us where she’d been
She said they’ve moved Him in the night
And none of us knows where
The stone’s been rolled away
And now His body isn’t there

We both ran toward the garden
Then John ran on ahead
We found the stone and empty tomb
Just the way that Mary said
But the winding sheet they wrapped Him in
Was just an empty shell
And how or where they’d taken Him
Was more than I could tell

Well, something strange had happened there
Just what I did not know
John believed a miracle
But I just turned to go
Circumstance and speculation
Couldn’t lift me very high
‘Cause I’d seen them crucify Him
Then I saw Him die

Back inside the house again
The guilt and anguish came
Everything I’d promised Him
Just added to my shame
When at last it came to choices
I denied I knew His name
And even if He was alive
It wouldn’t be the same

But suddenly the air was filled
With strange and sweet perfume
Light that came from everywhere
Drove the shadows from the room
And Jesus stood before me
With His arms held open wide
And I fell down on my knees
And just clung to Him and cried

He raised me to my feet
And as I looked into His eyes
Love was shining out from Him
Like sunlight from the skies
Guilt in my confusion
Disappeared in sweet release
And every fear I’d ever had
Just melted into peace

He’s alive, He’s alive
He’s alive and I’m forgiven
Heaven’s gates are open wide
He’s alive, He’s alive
He’s alive and I’m forgiven
Heaven’s gates are open wide
He’s alive, He’s alive
He’s alive and I’m forgiven
Heaven’s gates are open wide
He’s alive, He’s alive, He’s alive

–Don Francisco, “He’s Alive”–

This film has been used by missionaries
all over the world to preach the Gospel.
–J.B.–

If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him;
and if he repent, forgive him.
–Jesus in Luke 17:3 (KJV)–

The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and REPENTANCE FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS WILL BE PREACHED in His name to all nations.
–Jesus in Luke 24:46-47 (NIV)–

Pilate took Jesus and flogged him.
–John 19:1 (ESV)–

All my bones are on display;
people stare and gloat over me.
–Psalm 22:17 (NIV)–

By His stripes we are healed.
–Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV)–

CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS 
in accordance with the Scriptures.
–1 Corinthians 15:3 (ESV)–

Whom God put forward
as a propitiation by HIS BLOOD,
to be RECEIVED BY FAITH.
–Romans 3:25 (ESV)–

⁵ HE WAS PIERCED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. ⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and THE LORD HAS LAID ON HIM THE INIQUITY OF US ALL.
–Isaiah 53:5-6 (ESV)–

This is my blood of the covenant,
which is poured out for many
for THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.
–Matthew 26:28 (ESV)–

⁸ God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, CHRIST DIED FOR US. ⁹ Since, therefore, we have now been JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
–Romans 5:8-9 (ESV)–

Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus.
–Acts 17:18 (ESV)–

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil,
unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.
–Hebrews 3:12 (ESV)–

Thou believest that there is one God;
thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
–James 2:19 (KJV)–

Do not believe every spirit,
but test the spirits to see whether they are from God,
for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
–1 John 4:1 (ESV)–

Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
–2 Corinthians 11:14 (ESV)–

¹⁹ Quench not the Spirit.
²⁰ Despise not prophesyings.
²¹ Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
–1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 (KJV)–

The prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
–Deuteronomy 18:20 (KJV)–

Hope does not disappoint, 
because the love of God has been poured out
in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
–Romans 5:5 (NKJV)–

—

Dr. Archibald Alexander, Thoughts on Religious Experience (Banner of Truth, 1998).

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, The Baptism and Gifts of the Spirit (Baker, 1996).

Dr. Jack Deere, Why I Am Still Surprised by the Voice of God (Zondervan, 2022).

Dr. Robert Tuttle, Mysticism in the Wesleyan Tradition (Francis Asbury Press, 1989).

Adam Clarke, Clarke’s Christian Theology (Schmul Publishing, 1990).

P. C. Nelson, Bible Doctrines (Gospel Publishing House, 2009).

Douglas Groothuis, Confronting the New Age (InterVarsity Press, 1989).