Introduction

Good morning, my brothers and sisters in Christ! Today, we are going to talk about how to live in the power of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, put on the armor of God, and stand firm in our identity in Christ.

A.W. Tozer said it well: "A scared world needs a fearless church." (A.W. Tozer, "The Urgent Need for Spiritual Awakening"). Now, more than ever, we need to be strong in our faith and bold in sharing the hope we have in Jesus.

Let's read the full Scripture passage together:

Read Ephesians 6:10-20

Living in the Power of the Resurrection

The resurrection of Jesus is the foundation upon which our faith is built. His resurrection is the source of our hope and strength in the face of life's challenges. His coming up from the grave is a reality we are called to experience and live out each day.

When we put our faith in Jesus, we are united with Him in His death and Resurrection. This means that our old self, with its sinful nature and its bondage to the world, has been crucified with Christ, and we have been raised to new life in Him. As the Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" Living in the power of the Resurrection means recognizing and embracing this new identity, and allowing it to shape our thoughts, attitudes, and actions.

When we live in the power of the resurrection, it means we have the transforming power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead now lives in us, and He is at work within us to make us more like Christ. As we yield to the Holy Spirit's leading and allow Him to work in our hearts, we will experience the fruit of the Spirit, which includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). These qualities are the result of the Spirit's work in our lives as we live in the power of the Resurrection.

We walk in victory over sin and the enemy. Because of Jesus' victory on the cross and His Resurrection, we have been set free from the power of sin and death, and we have been given authority over the enemy. As Paul writes in Romans 6:14, "For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace." This means that we no longer have to be slaves to sin, but we can choose to walk in the freedom and victory that Christ has won for us. Furthermore, we have been given spiritual weapons to stand against the enemy's schemes, as described in Ephesians 6:10-20. As we put on the full armor of God and stand firm in our faith, we can experience victory over the enemy's attacks and live in the power of the Resurrection.

We can cultivate a vibrant relationship with Jesus through prayer and the Word of God. As we spend time with Jesus in prayer, we grow in our intimacy with Him and learn to hear His voice. As we meditate on His Word, we are transformed by the renewing of our minds, and we gain wisdom and understanding for our daily lives. Living in the power of the Resurrection means continually drawing near to Jesus and allowing Him to speak into our lives, guide our steps, and empower us for His purposes.

But don’t miss this: resurrection living involves sharing our hope with others. As believers, we have been entrusted with the message of the gospel, which is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). We are called to be witnesses of Jesus' Resurrection and to share the hope and freedom that we have found in Him with others. This means being bold in our faith, even in the face of opposition or persecution, and trusting in the Holy Spirit to empower us for this mission. As we share the hope of the Resurrection with others, we will see lives transformed and the kingdom of God advanced in our world.

Putting on the Armor of God

The Apostle Paul uses the metaphor of a soldier's armor to illustrate the spiritual resources God has provided for believers to stand firm against the attacks of the enemy ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO