SERIES: UNDERSTANDING POWER PRINCIPLES
THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION - POWER PRINCIPLE SEVEN
OBJECTIVES:
There is no study more hated by Satan than the resurrection of Jesus, for
a. It shows his inability to defeat Christ more than any other event recorded in the Bible.
b. It reveals that he is not omniscient as he claims
Col 2;13-15 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 1 Cor 2;7-8 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
1. Jesus never attended funerals. . . He attended resurrections. . .
a. The son of the woman of Nain: Luke 7:11-17
b. Jarius' daughter: Mark 5:35-43
c. Lazarus: John 11:1-46
d. His own! Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20
2. The preaching of the resurrection is an important part of the Gospel message. See
Acts 4:2; 17:18,32; I Corinthians 15:1-8,14,19-22.
3. Abraham lived many years before the resurrection of Jesus Christ, yet he experienced resurrection power. Read about this in Romans 4:16-24.
4. Elisha had such power that a dead man who was thrown into his grave years after his death was resurrected! He had more power in his bones than many of us do in our lives (II Kings 13:20-21).
There is no study more hated by Satan than the resurrection of Jesus, for it shows his inability to defeat Christ more than any other event recorded in the Bible.
Upon completion of this chapter you will be able to:
• Define resurrection.
• Explain the importance of the resurrection of Jesus.
• Summarize present functions of resurrection power in the life of the believer.
• Identify the source of resurrection power.
KEY VERSE:
That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death. (Philippians 3:10)
INTRODUCTION
Paul spoke of spiritual power being experienced in two ways through Jesus:
a. That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection,
b. and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death. (Phil 3:10)
This teaching focuses on the resurrection power of Jesus Christ which indwells believers.
DEFINITION OF RESURRECTION
The meaning of the word "resurrection" is a raising or rising up from the dead back to life.
THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST
After His death for the sins of all mankind, Jesus was raised from the dead by God:
• . . . And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. (Acts 3:15)
• Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead. (Colossians 2:12)
• Who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. (I Peter 1:21)
You can read the story of the resurrection of Jesus in Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS
The resurrection of Jesus is a powerful truth because it is basic to our faith:
But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain and your faith is also vain. (I Corinthians 15:13-14)
Believing in the resurrection of Jesus is necessary to salvation:
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9)
The resurrection of Jesus confirms that believers are justified:
Who (Jesus) was delivered for our offenses and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)
The resurrection means death is defeated:
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the Devil. . . (Hebrews 2:14)
The resurrection of Jesus confirmed He is supreme over all created beings:
And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe,according to the working of His mighty power,Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places.Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and everyname that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church. (Ephesians 1:19-22)
The resurrection confirms Jesus was the Son of God:
And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. (Romans 1:4)
THE FUTURE RESURRECTION
The Bible speaks of a time in the future when this world as we know it will come to an end. At that time there will be a resurrection of all the dead. Those who have died as believers will be resurrected to eternal life. Those who have died as unbelievers will be resurrected, judged, and condemned to eternal punishment. You can read about the future resurrection in I Corinthians 6:14; 15:1-58; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; John 5:28-29; II Corinthians 4:14; and Revelation 20:4-6.
HOWEVER, WE CAN EXPIRIANCE THE POWER OF HIS RESURECTION EVEN NOW
ROMANS 8;11 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.
a. Just as natural life is in the blood, spiritual life is through the blood of Jesus.
b. Just as natural blood flows through your veins, resurrection life flows through your spirit.
c. How can we tap and walk in the power of His resurrection now
THE PRESENT POWER OF THE RESURRECTION
It is true that we will someday experience resurrection from the dead, but the power of the resurrection is not reserved only for the future. Its power can be experienced now by believers. The resurrection is the basis for spiritual power now because it gives you:
A NEW HOPE:
It is through resurrection power that you have hope. Your life will not end with the grave.You have eternal life:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (I Peter 1:3)
a. Hope is a powerful force.
b. Without hope, people grow discouraged and weary.
c. The power of the resurrection keeps hope alive.
A NEW LIFE:
When you accept Jesus as Savior, you are resurrected from the spiritual death of sin to spiritual life:
And you, being dead in your sins. . . Hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses. (Colossians 2:13)
Spiritual resurrection results in death to sin. Through resurrection power you can live a new life. You do not live like you used to live. You are dead to the evil things of the world and alive in Jesus.You cannot live this new life by self-improvement. You cannot live it in your own power.You live it through the power of the resurrection:
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the
lusts thereof.Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you. . . (Romans 6:11-14)
The struggles you face are between spiritual death and life working within you.
Resurrection power defeats the law of sin and death and frees you from spiritual bondage. Jesus said:
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)
Not only eternal life in the future, but abundant life in the present is yours because of the power of the resurrection.
A NEW MASTER:
Spiritual resurrection makes Jesus the master of your life. Instead of living for yourself, you live to serve Him:
And that He died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them and rose again.(II Corinthians 5:15)
Power comes from understanding your position because of the resurrection. You are a servant of the living God. No longer are you a slave of Satan.
A NEW LIFE PURPOSE:
A new life purpose results from spiritual resurrection. Instead of concern about temporal things of the world, such as material gain, ambition, etc., your attention is focused on eternal things:
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above,not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:1-3)
The material things of the world no longer control a believer who has experienced resurrection power. The circumstances of the world no longer defeat him. Experiencing the power of the resurrection gives him a new perspective and purpose.
A NEW QUICKENING:
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. (Romans 8:11)
The word "quicken" means to make alive and to endue with life. God has already quickened you from sin:
And you hath He quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins. (Ephesians 2:1)
But He also wants to quicken your mortal body. God wants to endue your mortal body with resurrection power:
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. (II Corinthians 4:7)
If you have accepted Jesus as Savior and been filled with the Holy Spirit, then that same power that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you. That life flow can quicken you now with the power of the resurrection.
THE SOURCE OF RESURRECTION POWER
The source of this resurrection power in the life of the believer is Jesus. He said:
. . . I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. (John 11:25)
Just as natural life is in the blood, spiritual life is through the blood of Jesus.
Just as natural blood flows through your veins, resurrection life flows through your spirit.
Are you walking in the power of His resurrection now. In your daily Christian life? In your
ministry? Tap into that life flow today!
Dr. Tg Badia
