Sunday, April 5, 2015

Same Power

Same Power
April 6, 2015
Roman 8:11  "And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you."

The power of the Resurrection was so amazing that many were in disbelief.  It took a while for the reality of the situation to set in for most of the disciples.  They were warned of the impending Resurrection yet still completely shocked when it happened.  They witnessed their close friend and teacher die, then buried in the grave.  They weren't expecting the Resurrection, at least to an immediate degree.  Sure, they were aware of prophecy regarding the Savior but didn't quite understand how it would play out.  They were truly amazed at the miracle of the Resurrection, amazed and in awe of what really happened in just a few days.  They were first hand witnesses to this power, the great power of the Resurrection, a power never before seen.

Fast forward fifty days from the Resurrection and you have the day of Pentecost, when the power of the Holy Spirit descended upon the people, upon the disciples.  Jesus had promised to send the Holy Spirit and after Jesus ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit came down in a manifest way.  The power, the same power that raised Christ from the dead, descended upon the Christ followers, filling them with His power.  This was the SAME power that raised Christ from the dead.  As we celebrate the power of the Resurrection, we should never stop at the picture of the empty cross or the picture of the empty tomb.  There must be a picture in our lives of that power now living in us.  If that power is not living in you, one could question the power of the Resurrection in your life.

When you become a Christian, you are an heir of Christ to a future Resurrection, as well as a recipient of His manifest power.  It is up to you, though, how much of that manifest power you want displayed in your life.  The power of the Holy Spirit will not force Himself upon you.  The Resurrection power available to you is dependent upon you.  Empty yourself of you and let Him fill you with His power.  When you see the empty cross and the empty tomb, don't stop there, envision yourself emptied THEN filled with the same power that raised Christ from the dead.

If we took a poll, I guarantee the results would declare each and everyone of us could use the power of the Resurrection in our lives, not just to save us from sins, but for complete powerful living.  I'm tired of living life without power and there is no one to blame but myself.  There is power available to each and every one of us, if only we would tap into it, allowing it to be manifest in our lives.  Imagine what would have happened if Jesus didn't allow the manifest power of the Holy Spirit to raise Him from the dead, if Jesus didn't receive that power.  There would be no Resurrection.  This is also true in your life.  If you dis-allow the same power of the Holy Spirit in your life, you will live in like manner, without power.  Invite the same power to live in you, the same power that raised Christ from the dead.

After the symbol of the empty cross, and the empty tomb, what is the symbol of the same Resurrection power in your own life?

Don't take my word for it; look it up:  Mark 16:19, Eph 1:3, Eph 1:15-23, Eph 2:6, Phil 3:10, Acts 2:24

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