Resurrection Power
…”that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
Philippians 3:10-11
Several years ago I had the privilege of visiting the Holy Land. We saw so many wonderful places and people. We had devotions at the very locations where the men and women of the Bible lived and walked. It was incredible.
During our tour we visited a place called the garden tomb. It is a place north of Jerusalem near where it is believed Jesus was buried and rose from the dead. I can remember having a time of prayer overlooking a tomb that was there, imagining what it was like that Sunday morning when the Son of God rose from the dead and came out victorious from the grave. It still takes my breath away.
This Easter season, we will be exploring together the incredible topic of the power of Christ’s resurrection. From March 15 to April 5, we will be going through a sermon series called: The Power of His Resurrection. We will look at how the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to us today and every day. What an incredible gift from God!
Leonard Ravenhill, the British preacher and revivalist, called the resurrection of Jesus Christ, “the crowning miracle of God.” It is the miracle of all miracles. Others may have come back from the grave, BUT ONLY JESUS ROSE FROM THE GRAVE TO OFFER LIFE ETERNAL TO ALL OF MANKIND! Amazing!
I have seen in scripture a resurrection pattern. God seems to work over and over again in a similar fashion. The Israelites are bound in slavery and oppression. They cry out to God in their oppression. God sends Moses, a deliverer. Through mighty acts of power, God brings His people out of bondage into freedom and blessing, so they might glorify Him.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refuse to worship the king’s idol. They are bound and thrown into a fiery furnace. In the midst of the fire appears a fourth Person, one who looks like the Son of God! Hallelujah! The Lord brings them out unharmed and unbound from the fire. God is glorified.
God delivers His people from death. He saves to the uttermost, those who trust in Him. He can do the same thing for us today.
Life oppresses us. Sin bends us and can break us. We feel alone, without hope and left for dead. When it looks the bleakest, and the grave seems to have won, we cry out to the Lord. God then pours out His life-giving power and we are set free, forgiven, healed and delivered.
The resurrection power of Christ is still setting men and women free today. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved and set free. His power is still available. He is still working miracles. He is still the hope of our salvation. Trust in His power today.
Take a moment today to thank God for the power of His resurrection. Turn over any situation or person in your life that seems helpless and hopeless. In Jesus, nothing and no one is hopeless or helpless. He can save the wounded soul, and heal the broken heart. Trust Him today. He is no longer dead. HE HAS RISEN!!!
Do you know anyone who needs to know the Power of Jesus’ resurrection? Invite them to coffee this week and share with them the incredible good news of the resurrection. Pray for those who are oppressed or without hope. Jesus still saves. He still delivers. He still sets captives free. Thank you Father!