The Power of Christ's Resurrection
The Power of Christ's Resurrection • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 34 viewsNotes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Grace Notes
Grace Notes
The Power of Christ's Resurrection
The Power of Christ's Resurrection
Our family used to live a short drive north of Niagara Falls.
This awesome sight is one of the major tourist attractions of North America.
The Niagara River flows over the American Falls and, on the Canadian side, the Horseshoe Falls.
They rate as the third greatest in the world in the power and volume of water that flows over them.
Would you believe they average about 212,000 cubic feet (6,003 cubic meters) of water per second?!
This flow is regulated by an elaborate control system built about 50 years ago. The vast movement of water has been harnessed for hydroelectric power.
A system of canals and tunnels feed two huge power plants several miles downstream from the falls that send electricity over vast networks of power lines.[1]
This reminds me of the importance of power--and the major problems that are caused by a power outage.
Most of us can relate to times when the electricity has gone out for one reason or another. Hopefully not before backing up/saving that document you've been typing on your computer!
You may not be bothered by a lack of electrical power, but perhaps you're really desperate for an increase in personal power for living. This leads us to a text that summarized the apostle Paul's aim in life:
"that I may know Him [Christ] and the POWER of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death" ().
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Let's take a look at the topic of the resurrection of Christ and its implications for empowering us to live abundantly today. Consider four qualities of the power of the Resurrection.
Life-giving power
Life-giving power
First, the power of Christ's resurrection is a life-giving power. Recall the profound words of the Lord Jesus to Martha (that He uttered before He miraculously called Lazarus from the tomb): "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.
Do you believe this?" (,). We are born into this world as descendants of Adam with a fatal problem--spiritual deadness (;). No amount of will power, electrical power, or atomic energy can make a spiritually dead person spiritually alive.
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Thankfully, what is impossible with people is possible with God (). When we repent and believe the gospel, we experience the Holy Spirit's life-giving power:
But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior" (,; see ).
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
Salvation is not the only aspect of God's life-giving power that the believer experiences. Paul counsels us, "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you" ().
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Although this at first appears to be a reference to our future bodily resurrection (asin ), the context relates this promise to the Spirit's ministry of giving us a life that is victorious over sin (see ).
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Spiritual power
Spiritual power
Second, the power of Christ's resurrection is a spiritual power. One of the implications of this is that the need for physical exercise and rest is not cancelled by the spiritual life. For example, when Elijah was chronically depressed after his mountain top victory over the prophets of Baal, God's prescription was sleep and nourishment ().
So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah. And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say to your master, Thus saith the Lord, Be not afraid of the words which thou hast heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and shall return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.
So Rab-shakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.
Another implication is that Christ empowers us to live as spiritual people. "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God ... he who is spiritual judges all things (,).
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
This also means that we are not expected to have the resources to live a life pleasing to God apart from His enablement! Emotional energy, mental effort, and will power are not adequate for abundant life.
Paul testified that he and his co-workers were, "always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh" (,).
Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
Supernatural power
Supernatural power
Third, the power of Christ's resurrection is a supernatural power. This has already been implied, but deserves special emphasis. Notice the aim of the apostle's intercession for the believers in Ephesus:
"Therefore I ... do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened;
that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His POWER toward us who believe,
according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come" ().
Oh that we would prayerfully receive this illumination to grasp the supernatural power that we have received in the risen and ascended Christ!
Sovereign power
Sovereign power
Finally, the power of Christ's resurrection is a sovereign power. The New Age movement offers supernatural power from an occult source for humanistic ends.[2] Christ's resurrection power, however, is for those who know Christ as Lord and is intended for God's purposes (see ; ).
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
Christ's sovereignty is announced in : "I [Jesus] am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death." God's sovereign power is only available for His royal purposes.
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
After His resurrection, when Christ commissioned His disciples to be His witnesses throughout the world, He instructed them: "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high" (). The book of Acts records this miraculous fulfillment (See ).
And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take. Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
Fellow believer, in what ways do you especially need Christ's resurrection power in your life?
Do you need strength to resolve anger? Power to forgive someone who has hurt you?
Enablement to be patient in irritating circumstances? Ability to keep your promises?
Strength to fulfill your responsibilities?
Power to break free from a stubborn habit? Resources to have an effective ministry?
All of the above?
Then turn to Christ--your Savior, Lord, and Life--and appropriate His limitless strength!
How can you do this practically?
1. Confess your spiritual weakness.
1. Confess your spiritual weakness.
"He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew [exchange] their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint" ().
He giveth power to the faint;
And to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall:
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings as eagles;
They shall run, and not be weary;
And they shall walk, and not faint.
2. Repent of any unconfessed sin.
2. Repent of any unconfessed sin.
"If [since] we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" ().
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
3. Fully surrender to Christ's lordship.
3. Fully surrender to Christ's lordship.
Self-will grieves and quenches our source of power--the Holy Spirit (; ). Christ calls us to radical discipleship: "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" ().
But ye have not so learned Christ;
Quench not the Spirit.
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
4. Depend on Christ's resurrection power continually.
4. Depend on Christ's resurrection power continually.
Embrace the assurance of : "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
As we abide in Christ, His resurrection power will be displayed through our lives. So, let's share the apostle Paul's goal to more fully know Christ and the power of His resurrection. Since there is no more amazing source of power in heaven or on earth, give thanks for this endowment and live accordingly!