Resurrection Power
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Read 2 Corinthians 4:13–18 “Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
Fear
suffering
death.
That is what a man
named Samuel Clemens
also known as
Mark Twain
knew.
He was the most famous author
in America.
He made the whole world laugh.
He had wealth.
He had fame.
He had a brilliant mind
and an incredible life.
But Mark Twain was not a Christian.
He mocked the idea of God.
He did not believe
in the resurrection.
And his entire life
was built
only on the things
that are seen.
And then the crushing weight
of suffering
hit him.
His beloved oldest daughter,
Susy
died suddenly of meningitis at age 24.
A few years later
his wife Olivia
who he loved dearly
passed away
after a long,
agonizing
illness.
And then his youngest daughter
Jean
died suddenly
from a seizure.
And because he did not know God
he had no hope.
He was completely
utterly crushed.
In the final years of his life
the man
who used to make the world laugh
fell into a vicious
downward spiral.
He saw human life as a cruel,
sick joke.
He sat in his empty house
and wrote: "A myriad of men are born; they labor and sweat and struggle... age creeps upon them; infirmities follow... they vanish from a world where they were of no consequence... it is all a dream, an idiot's dream."
When he looked at death
he saw nothing
but darkness.
No life.
No purpose.
Only total despair.
But for Christians
there is something different.
Something on the inside
that is different.
While on the outside
the suffering
the tears
look similar
when we suffer
and we lose loved ones
on the inside
is a whole new world.
So today
we’re going to look
at what that is
what is different
on the inside of Christians
compared
to non-Christians.
So the message
of our title this morning is:
Resurrection Power.
And our main point:
The power of God displayed in Christ’s resurrection from the dead gives us comfort in suffering, fear, and death.
The power of God displayed in Christ’s resurrection from the dead gives us comfort in suffering, fear, and death.
1. Resurrection power in suffering (v.7-12)
1. Resurrection power in suffering (v.7-12)
Let’s take a look at v.7,
‘But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not us.’
Now before we can understand this verse
we need to understand the context.
Paul wrote this letter of 2 Corinthians
to the church in Corinth.
He along with two other men
whose name might be a little familiar to you
especially to our church:
Titus and Timothy.
Paul Titus and Timothy
Titus and Timothy
who were mentored by Paul
and the three pastors
together
worked and pastored together
with great labor.
Now Paul was the one
who originally planted
this church.
However when he left
false teachers came in
and deceived the people
with false doctrine.
So Paul
sent a letter
of a harsh rebuke
to correct them
which he mentions
in chapter 7 verse 8,
2 Corinthians 7:8 “For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while.”
But thankfully
Titus
a pastor
who Paul mentored
reported to him
good news:
that the Corinthian church
repented.
Overjoyed
Paul writes this letter
to encourage the church
and comfort them in their suffering
while also correcting
the false teacher’s slander
about him.
And one of the main topics of slander
the false teachers had about Paul
was that he is too weak
and that his life had too much suffering in it.
And they argued
that a life full of weakness
and suffering
is not the lifestyle
of a high and mighty apostle.
That an apostle
should be strong
and comfortable
and prosperous.
How wrong they are.
In fact
in chapter 3
Paul teaches
that he is a minister
of the new covenant.
He even says
that his ministry is greater than Moses
who was in the Old Covenant
because Moses’ face was veiled
when He met with God
but he has a minister
of the New Covenant
has his face
completely unveiled
when he meets with God
and his life
is completely transformed
by it
which he writes in chapter 4 v.1-3.
This is all because
according to chapter 4 v.4-6
God shines
the light of the gospel
in the hearts of Christians
And now we arrive in verse 7
in our verse this morning,
‘But we have this treasure in jars of clay.’
This treasure
refers to the gospel
in v.6.
Paul is saying
we are ministers of the New Covenant
a glorious ministry
of the treasure
of the gospel
so precious
and infinitely valuable…
but we have it
in jars of clay.
Jars of clay
were common
every day objects
in the Ancient Greek and Roman home.
They were cheap
and they broke easily.
And they were frequently thrown away
and replaced
when they broke.
These clay jars
were the last thing you would put
your riches and valuables in.
And yet
the glorious treasure
of the gospel
lives inside
these fragile
clay jars.
At home
I have a bunch of cheap plastic grocery bags.
And I regularly throw them away
and get new ones
when I go to the grocery store.
The only thing I put in them
are things of little value:
sometimes food
but usually
as free trash bags for the
trash bins around the house.
And thankfully I still have them
because now there’s only paper bags
at the grocery now.
And they are even worse.
They break and tear apart
even easier
than plastic bags!
God’s Word is saying
that the glorious
infinite riches
the treasure
of the gospel
is inside
fragile
disposable
containers.
It’s like instead of carrying a million dollars
in a hard sturdy briefcase
you carry it
in cheap disposable
paper grocery bags.
Now you will see
that when Paul is referring
to the jars of clay
he’s using it
as a picture
to talk about us.
Human beings.
We are the jars of clay.
Our bodies
are easily broken.
Prone to
torn ligaments
failing organs
and sickness.
And yet it says
God has decided
to put the treasure of the gospel
and it’s infinite power
in fragile
weak
human bodies.
Why would God do such a thing?
The rest of v.7,
‘to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.’
Which means
that if God
put his incredible power
not in jars of clay
but in steel vaults
how would you know
if what was powerful
was the steel vault
protecting the treasure
or the treasure itself?
But God puts the unstoppable force
of His power in us
to show the power belongs to Him alone.
Because on our own
we can’t do it.
We fall.
We fail.
We break.
But if God puts His power
that no one can stop
in us
there will be no question
that it is truly God
not you.
Because by putting his invincible power
in the weakest container possible
there is no question
that power belongs to God alone.
And not only
will there be no question
that it’s God
his power will also
be made magnified.
Look at v.8,
‘we are afflicted in every way,’
the Christian life
is a life of affliction
a life of suffering
of every way.
Suffering
in physical health.
Suffering
in mental health.
Suffering in finances and job security.
Suffering in relationships:
in marriage
in familial
and friendships.
Paul Titus and Timothy
suffered it all.
They were no different than us
in their suffering
and almost certainly
suffered
even more
than we do.
And yet
Paul writes,
‘but not crushed; perplexed; but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed’.
Even though
they suffered all of the sufferings
that you can suffer
they are not crushed.
They are not
completely stamped out
and defeated.
They are perplexed.
They are completely at a loss.
Completely confused
and bewildered.
There are times in life
where you suffer so much
you have no idea what’s going on.
Everything is falling apart.
And you start to say,
‘what’s going on?
what’s happening??”
Because nothing makes
sense.
Perplexed.
But
not
driven
to despair.
You don’t lose hope.
You still hold on.
‘Persecuted, but not forsaken.’
The apostles
were beaten
whipped
and all of them
except John
died a brutal death
because of their love
of Christ.
Ridiculed
belittled
for their faith
in a crucified man.
And yet
not forsaken.
They haven’t
been abandoned by God
even in death.
Psalm 16:10 says
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.
If you are in Christ
God will never abandon you
no matter how much persecution you face
and even in death
He will always be with you.
And last Paul writes,
‘struck down, but not destroyed.’
The cruelty of life:
cruel authorities
cruel systems
cruel people
strike you down
put you down
and belittle you
and shame you.
And yet
not destroyed.
Not defeated.
Not dead.
Still alive.
Why?
How is it possible
to suffer like this
and to not lose hope
and to not be completely destroyed?
Because the very power of God
is in you.
Keeping you
from complete despair
and destruction
that no matter how much
you suffer
you will keep going
trusting
believing
serving
sacrificing
loving
because the power of God
that surpasses all opposition
is in
you.
Now how does that work?
v.10, ‘always carrying in the body the death of Jesus’
The word carry
is the same word
when Simon carried
the cross
for Jesus
to his death.
Every Christian
because they are united to Jesus
is carrying
like Simon
in his or her human flesh
the pain
the suffering
the death of Jesus.
That is why
we suffer.
This is why Jesus said in John 15:20
Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.
We love being united Jesus.
Hallelujah!
But remember
that means
that you
will live the same life He did
of pain
suffering
and death
because you carry
in your body
His death.
A servant is not greater than his master.
If Jesus was persecuted so will you.
If Jesus suffered
so will you.
This is why a gospel
that teaches a life
of only wealth
health
or comfort
is complete nonsense
because it completely ignores
the obvious fact
that Jesus
is the suffering servant.
And Christians carry
Jesus’ dead body around
being completely tied to Him
every where they go
in our body.
The Mezentius torture
is a torture method
in which a condemned criminal
is tied
to a recently dead rotting corpse
hand to hand
foot to foot
and face to face.
And the prisoner
would then breathe in
the death of the corpse
and over a period of days
the dead bacteria and decay
would kill the living prisoner:
an inescapable death.
And likewise Christians
have a life
of certain suffering and death
because they are tied directly
to the death of Jesus.
But thankfully
the death of Jesus
is not the only thing
that we are tied to.
As the rest of v.10 says,
‘always carrying in the body
the death of Jesus,
so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our bodies.’
Because Christians are tied
united
to Jesus
they are tied
to His death
but also
His life.
Because Jesus
did not stay dead
He rose again
so that
the tomb was empty.
So what it means
for you
to be tied to Jesus’ life
is to be tied
to His death
which means guaranteed suffering
but also
His resurrection
which means guaranteed victory
and guaranteed fruit:
of: joy
peace
patience
gentleness
hope
love.
What Paul is saying here
is that Christian
your suffering
is not meaningless.
It has purpose.
It’s purpose
is to manifest
show
reveal
Christ’s resurrected life.
His glory.
The purpose of suffering
is not to make you less hopeful
but to make you
more hopeful.
To not make you less joyful
but more joyful.
To not make you less faithful
but more faithful.
And ultimately
so that
yes while as the God-man
Jesus is no longer with us physically
because He ascended into heaven
nevertheless
in us
through our suffering
Jesus continues to walk the earth
in every
single
believer.
Let’s now look at v.11,
‘For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh.
This verse is similar to v.10
but also uniquely different.
Now instead of carrying the death of Jesus
Paul writes,
we are given over to death for Jesus’ sake.
The word given
is the same word used
when Jesus
was given over
by Judas.
The apostles
were constantly given over
to near-death experiences
and suffering.
Severe lashings
shipwrecks
and imprisonment.
And then Paul writes
instead of Jesus’ life being manifested
in our bodies
He’s manifested
in our mortal flesh
to show
express
we don’t just have bodies
but bodies
that will die.
But the main thing that sticks out here
is,
‘for we who live’.
What does it mean
for Paul
to live?
He tells us
in Romans 14:7-8
For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.
Paul is saying
that those who live
are those who belong to the Lord.
What Paul is saying
is that if you suffer
you
belong
to the Lord.
Meaning that suffering
is the sign
not that God has abandoned you
but suffering is sign
that you truly
belong to Jesus.
The complete opposite
of the false teachers
who say no
if you prosper
you belong to the Lord.
But the Biblical reality
is that those who seem alive
are dead
but those who seem dead
are alive.
While non-Christians
are the living dead.
Christians
are the dying
living.
And the result
is v.12,
‘So death is at work in us, but life in you.’
What Paul is saying
“is that I
and Titus
and Timothy
all suffered
the death of Jesus in us
so that you would have life
through the gospel message.’
In other words
suffering
is ultimately
not all about you.
But for others.
When I was at a pastor’s conference
one of the pastor’s there
pastor Jason Helopolous
has cancer.
And he said
he began to question to his fellow elders
if he should stop talking about his cancer so much
because he wanted the church
to stop looking at him
as the sad sick pastor.
And his elders told him,
‘Jason, they already see you
as the sad
sick pastor.’
And ultimately they counseled Pastor Jason
to not stop
putting updates on social media about his cancer
or updating the church
from th epulpit
in order
to not take away
an example
of suffering
from the people.
When people see you suffering
for Christ
they learn by your example
how to suffer.
God uses your suffering
to encourage others.
Because the power of the resurrection
is so powerful
it turns your suffering
into blessing for others.
Church
remember
The Christian life
is
a life of suffering.
Not a life of ease.
But take heart
because the power of the resurrection
is in you
when you suffer.
Picture
a fragile jar
but inside this jar
is beaming
pure light.
The more you break the jar open
the more
and more
light comes out
and shines brighter.
Likewise
Pressure
and suffering
reveals who someone truly is.
And the more suffering
the more you break open a Christian
the more Jesus comes out.
And if you kill a Christian?
A whole empire is converted.
The death of Christians
in the colosseum
so powerfully manifested Jesus
to arrogant mocking Romans watching
that they
saw the beauty
of the love
that Christians had
praying for their persecutors
asking God to forgive them
that many
repented
and bent the knee
to the Lord Jesus
for being cold
and cruel
wretches.
This is the power of the resurrection in suffering church
it gives you purpose
in gives you joy
and it gives you assurance
that yes
you truly
belong
to the Lord.
2. Resurrection power in proclamation (v.13-15)
2. Resurrection power in proclamation (v.13-15)
Take a look at v.13,
‘Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke, we also believe, and so we also speak’.
This is a reference
to Psalm 116.
This is a Psalm
commonly sung
when God saves someone
from near death.
In fact
it’s commonly sung
by women
who just gave birth.
Now the Psalm
is not only referring to God
saving people from death
but saving people in general.
Look at v.1-2
I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. Then I called on the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!”
The Psalmist
begins by writing
that he loves the Lord
because He hears
and listens
to his cry for help and mercy.
And in great suffering
He calls out to the Lord
to help him
and then in v.5-6
Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me.
So in essence
Psalm 116
is about God
who listens to
and saves
the weak and suffering.
And then in v,10
which Paul quotes in 2 Corinthians
it says,
I believed, and so I spoke
So Paul is saying
back in v.13
in 2 Corinthians
“that just like the Psalmist
who believed that the Lord hears our cry
and saves us
and so he spoke
we have the same exact faith that he did
so we believe
and so we also speak.”
Which means this
that if you believe in the Lord
then you will speak about Him.
Because how could you not talk
about how great of a savior He is
how he completely changed your life
unless you haven’t truly believed
and thus have been saved by Him
in the first place.
Jesus’ salvation
is so incredible
that when lepers were healed by Him
and Jesus told the lepers to not tell anyone
they go ahead
and tell people anyway
because they can’t help it!
Can you not help it too Christian?
Can you not help
and tell the world
the wonderful works
the Lord has done for you?
And do you wanna know why
we can’t help it?
Why we can’t help
but speak
when God has saved us?
Why we can’t help
but shout it
and proclaim it
on the rooftops
and on the mountains?
Because our proclamation
is empowered
by the resurrection.
Because Christ is risen!
Look at v.14
‘knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.’
What Paul is saying here
is that He knows God saves
and proclaims His name to everyone
because
of the power
of the resurrection.
That Jesus did not stay dead
but He rose again
as He prophesied
that He would die
and rise again 3 days later
because
the power
of almighty God
is with Him.
Ephesians 1:19-20 says
(that you may know) what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
God’s Word says
that you know
the greatness of God’s power
that is so big and great
that you can’t even measure it
by looking
at the resurrection
where God
rose Jesus from the grave
according to his great might.
God raised Jesus from the dead
because
He is able
strong
and mighty.
But God will not only raise Jesus
but as Paul writes,
‘knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus.’
Meaning this church
if you are in Christ
you are not staying in the grave either.
Your tomb is also empty
because when the Lord Jesus returns
He will
as Paul writes at the end of v.14,
‘bring us with you into his presence.’
Meaning
not just you by yourself
will God raise you
from death into His presence
but He will raise you
and all of your fellow fathers and mothers
and brothers and sisters
in the Lord
with you too
together.
That as Christians
no matter when we depart
or move away from each other
and never see each other again in this life
we will see each other again
in eternity
in the blessed presence
of our beloved savior
forever.
Oh church
no wonder we can’t proclaim
the Lord’s salvation.
No wonder we can’t help proclaim it
even when we could lose
our own jobs
or very life for it.
Because of v.15,
‘For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.’
It is all
for your sake?
What is “all”?
All the beatings
the whiplashes
the slander
the sweat
the blood
the tears
the sleepless nights
threats of death.
All of these
Paul, Titus, and Timothy
suffered
in order to proclaim the Lord’s salvation
because of the power of the resurrection
not
for no reason
but for a purpose
for the good
of the Corinthian church
for the good of others
that they
would also know
the Lord’s Salvation
and His resurrection
too.
And all of this
the suffering
and the preaching of the gospel
works together
by God’s sovereign providence
for good
so that the grace
the undeserved favor of God
from the free gift of the gospel
goes to more
and more people
that it may increase thanksgiving.
Because there is no greater giving
of thanks to God
than to thank Him
from rescuing you
from eternal suffering
in hell
where the worm never dies
and the fire is never quenched
to not just be safe from hell
but even more
to enjoy His presence
His good mercy
forever.
This is so that finally,
in suffering for the gospel
in giving God thanks for salvation
in resurrection
in all of these things
the ultimate reason God does it
so that He would receive
all the glory.
NNow some may think
isn’t that a little selfish
for God to do things for His glory
for His name sake?
No because man’s highest God
is to know and see
God’s glory.
God is so great
that even His glory
is the greatest good
for human beings.
Because we were made
to know and worship God
by seeing
His glory.
So his glory
is the only thing
that will satisfy us
and is the greatest good
that we could ever experience.
And that
is why
we proclaim the Lord’s salvation
because
He is the glorious
risen Lord.
And what that means then
that Jesus
is no mere man
or prophet.
No prophet ever rose from the dead
in all of the world’s religions.
But Jesus did
because He is God.
He is the risen Lord.
Which means every single word
that He has ever spoken
is true.
And has absolute bearing
on your whole life.
And if you’re not a Christian listening today
you have absolutely zero excuse
for not believing in Jesus.
As it says in 1 John 2:23
No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.
If you deny the Son
you do not have the Father.
But if you confess Him
if you believe that the Lord Jesus saves
and so you speak
and call on Him
He will save you
and He will save you today.
That’s the good news.
Not by your good works
but by the perfect life of Jesus
whom God rose from the dead
by his mighty power.
And if you turn away from your sin
and you believe in Jesus
not relying on yourself and your good deeds
but fully trusting on Jesus
you will be saved today
and be raised with Him.
Now if you are a Christian
know that the power of the resurrection
is not only for the future
for when
after you die
or when the Lord returns.
But the power of the resurrection
is for right now.
“But how can the resurrection of the Lord
give me power for today
when I won’t be resurrected
until the future? “
And the answer
is that the resurrection of Jesus
proves
the power of God.
Which means this:
Jesus’ resurrection
makes you see
where
the power
truly comes from.
And that
can only
come
from God.
And the more you understand
that the resurrection
shows that power
comes from God alone
the more
you will look to God
and come to Him
for comfort
and strength.
Because power belogs to God
not us.
Psalm 73:26 says
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
And that
will comfort you
in suffering.
It will comfort you in fear
when you are too afraid
to proclaim the Lord’s salvation
to others.
And it will comfort you
in death.
Which brings us
to our final point:
3. Resurrection power in the end (v.16-18)
3. Resurrection power in the end (v.16-18)
With everything
God’s Word has shown so far
it says in v.16,
‘So we do not lose heart.’
We do not lose heart
because the stone is rolled away.
We do not lose heart
because He is not here
He is risen.
We do not lose heart
because Paul says in the rest of v.16,
‘Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.’
Even though
our bodies
are getting weaker
and wearing out
on the inside
our inner self
is doing the opposite.
It’s renewing.
Imagine if everyday
your body instead of getting weaker
it got stronger.
If everyday
instead of getting slower
it got faster.
If everyday
instead of getting older
it got younger.
Well you don’t have to imagine it anymore
because the word of God is saying
that your spiritual body
is getting stronger
faster
younger.
It’s getting better
it’s improving
it’s becoming more like Jesus
every day.
And so
you have hope.
You have hope
because you know
that even though your physical body
is getting worse
your spiritual body
which is eternal
is getting better
is becoming more
and more
like Jesus.
But not only
do you have hope
in the end
you have purpose
in the end.
Look at v.17,
‘For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.’
Paul is saying
all the suffering
that we experience
in this life
is ultimately light.
Only for but a moment.
And it’s preparing you
for an eternal weight of glory.
The sufferings of this world
are light
because the weight of eternal glory
is like a scale
with a feather on one side
and a massive 2 ton weight on the other
and the feather effortlessly jumps up
and slowly floats in the air
because the massive weight
on the other side.
The glorious pleasures of God
which are eternal
never ending
makes the suffering we feel today light.
And furthermore
suffering
prepares us
for the eternal weight of glory.
Paul explains this also
in Romans 5:3
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
the word produce
is the same word in 2 Corinthians
to prepare.
God uses suffering
to give you more endurance
to make you longsuffering
which is a spiritual muscle.
So God uses suffering
in this life
to make you spiritually strong now
so that you can
lift the weight
of eternal glory
and enjoy it forever.
That’s how suffering prepares you
for eternity
and how resurrection power
gives your purpose
in your current suffering.
And finally
our last verse
v.18,
‘as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.’
While we know
that this present suffering
is preparing us for the eternal weight of glory
at the same time
we are looking
not to the seen
but the unseen.
Paul compares two things here
the seen
and the unseen.
He says we don’t look
or don’t set our hope
on things that are seen.
Because the things are transient
meaning
they come and go
they are temporary.
Now what are things things that are seen?
Since the context is suffering,
Paul is referring
especially
to all the suffering
that you experience today.
God’s Word is telling you
don’t focus
or get tunnel visioned
on the problems
and sufferings of today.
Because they are temporary.
It won’t last.
Psalm 57:1 says
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.
We take refuge
in the Lord
until the storms of destruction
last forever
are eternal?
No.
Until they pass by.
Meaning that the trials and suffering for today
will
pass.
Just take refuge in the Lord
until it passes.
But Paul says
look to the things
that are unseen
which are eternal.
He’s not saying
look to the life to come in the future.
But look to the things
that are eternal
right now.
Now the world often sees
things that you can’t see
as worthless.
But in God’s kingdom
what is unseen
is priceless.
It is eternal.
God’s Word is saying
don’t focus
on the temporary suffering of this life
but focus on things today
that have eternal value.
Or in other words
as Colossians 3:1-2 says
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Church the power of the resurrection
reorients
your focus
not to things
that don’t really matter
but things
that matter for eternity.
That things that are on above.
Focus on these things.
If you’ve truly been raised with Christ
then you will be heavenly minded.
You will care prioritize
spiritual matters:
God’s Word
serving in the church
over
the love of money
and the things of this world.
If you’ve been raise with Christ
be heavenly minded.
Some people say
“he’s so heavenly minded
he’s no earthly good”.
Church
don’t be so earthly minded
that you’re no heavenly good.
Ironically
those who are heavenly minded
do the most good
because they live
for the kingdom
not of this world
but for an eternal kingdom.
That is the power
of the resurrection.
You’ve been raised with Christ church.
So think for Him
set your mind on the things abouve
the things that are unseen
not the things that are seen
on Earth
and live
for Him.
In conclusion
Resurrection power in suffering
Resurrection power in proclamation
Resurrection power in the end
Main point: The power of God displayed in Christ’s resurrection from the dead gives us comfort in suffering, fear, and death.
Let’s pray.
