Knowing God’s Power
By Greg Johnson
April 8, 2007
God’s love for us was demonstrated at the cross of Christ. God’s power was demonstrated for us at the resurrection of Christ. It’s at the cross of Christ that we see and begin to understand how much God loves us. He loves us so much that He sent Jesus to receive our punishment and to die for our sins (John 3:16). It’s at the empty tomb that we see and begin to understand God’s power that is at work in the followers of Jesus. It is remarkable power. May God enlighten our hearts to this power. This was the Apostle Paul’s prayer for the church. (Ephesians 1:18-22 NIV) "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, {19} and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, {20} which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, {21} far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. {22} And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,"
God raised Christ from the dead and placed Him at His right hand. This is the same power that is at work in followers of Christ. It is resurrection power!
POWER TO RAISE THE DEAD.
Christ died for our sins on a Friday evening. We call it “Good Friday.” It is good to us because on that Friday, Christ took every sin that we ever committed upon Him. He took our punishment for sin. Three days latter on a Sunday morning, God raised Christ from the dead. This is why most Christian churches gather on Sunday mornings. It is to celebrate the risen Christ. Today and every Sunday we celebrate the risen Christ.
What took place on that Friday evening showed the world God’s love. What took place that Sunday morning showed the world God’s power. This power of God is alive and active in every follower of Christ. The follower of Christ dies to sin at the cross of Christ. They are baptized into Christ by the Holy Spirit and God places resurrection power within them through the Holy Spirit. They become walking testimonies of the power of God that has changed them and is continually shaping them into the likeness of Christ.
If you are not yet a follower of Christ, I implore you today to fall at the foot of the cross. Repent of your sins. Receive resurrection power today. It will radically change your life and make you into a new person. You will be supernaturally born again. Be a part of the beloved; those that have experienced the love of God given at the cross of Christ.
In speaking to the beloved, please know what has been given you. Allow your hearts to be enlightened. It’s resurrection power that resides within you! The Holy Spirit that was given to you at the cross and that has radically changed you is powerful. You have been given resurrection power! The power of God is within you and will continue to transform you into the image of Christ. This God given power that is within you will break addictions and raise you above worldly and hellish situations as you follow Christ.
POWER TO ASCEND.
After the resurrection, Jesus spent forty days with His followers. The same person that they saw brutally beaten and crucified spent time with them after the power of God raised Him from the dead. God’s Word says (Acts 1:1-11 NIV) "In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach {2} until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. {3} After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. {4} On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. {5} For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." {6} So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" {7} He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. {8} But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." {9} After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. {10} They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. {11} "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.""
The power of God ascended Christ into the heavenlies and placed Him at the right hand of God. We will see Christ return the same way that He left and God’s power will ascend us into the heavenlies. Praise be to our coming King!
God’s Word says (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NIV) "Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. {14} We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. {15} According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. {16} For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. {17} After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. {18} Therefore encourage each other with these words."
Beloved, be encouraged today! God’s power is at work in you. It is resurrection power! God’s power gives you new life and ascends you to heaven. God’s power will energize us. God’s power will give us hope in hopeless situations. God’s power will heal us. God’s power will bring us miracles. God’s power will deliver and set us free. God’s power will raise us above this worldly and hellish environment that we live in and allow us to walk on a different level. God’s power brings us salvation. Tomorrow, by God’s power, we may be ascend to heaven and be found around the throne with Jesus. Thank God for His power!
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