I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection. Have you ever thought about what that means?
The power that is able to raise a man from the dead. How potent must that power be, how great and authoritative! Jesus’ resurrection is a miracle, and a powerful one at that!
The gospel of Matthew talks about an earthquake occurring during the resurrection. So powerful was the moment life came back in to the body of Jesus, the earth itself was shaken to its very foundations. A cold dead lifeless mass of tissue was lying in a tomb, wrapped in burial clothes. The heart was not beating, the brain was not functioning, the limbs were not moving. The eyes were closed. He was dead.
But can you picture it – heaven itself waiting breathlessly, impatiently for that one phrase from God – It’s Time. Arise My Son! And the stronghold of death is shattered in two, the devil is forever the loser as Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God was raised from the dead. This is the power Paul wants to know. The life-giving, earth-shaking, history-making power that raised Jesus from the dead and He’s still alive today.
How amazing is that miracle! But equally as amazing – this power now resides in us who have a relationship with the Living God through His Holy Spirit. For A Purpose!
In and of myself I cannot do what God has called me to do, be what God has called me to be. But the power that raised Jesus from the dead now lives in me – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
I can walk in holiness as God commands – bc the power that raised Christ from the dead resides in me.
I can live by faith and not by sight bc the power that raised Christ from the dead resides in me.
I can endure all things and persevere to the end bc the power that raised Christ from the dead resides in me.
I can forgive the person who hurt me terrible, have patience with my children when I am just done, love and serve my husband when I feel like it’s his turn bc the power that raised Christ from the dead is in me.
I can have peace regardless of the struggles, hope in the midst of pain, rejoice in the trials and temptations, say no to self and sin and yes to God,
I can know the Lord God Himself bc the power that raised Christ from the dead resides in me through the power of the Holy Spirit.
I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings… may this become our battle cry.