DRAWING FROM THE POWER OF RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST

Text Matt 27:50-53, Rom 1:4, Phil 3:10.

Power is the ability to do things or to act. It is having authority. Resurrection is the act of rising from dead. The rising of Jesus Christ after his death and burial is beyond human comprehension.
It is the miracle of all miracles. God the Father raised Him up from dead after he has been buried.
He was raised up the third day and given eternal life. Acts2:24. His resurrection has a lot of power and implications. Death had no more dominion or conquest over him. Rom 6:9. Hence
death could not hold him captive and the grave could not contain him. Jesus Christ has been declared the son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead." Rom1:4.

Without his resurrection, there could not have been the gospel. It is this power at work that makes us to be Christians and our sanctification lies in this power. His rising has enormous power. Jesus said, "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. Believeth thou this." John 11:25-26. Because He is the resurrection and life, this power was manifested (Matt 27:50-53), "Jesus, when he had cried out again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened, and many bodies of the saints which slept arose. And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city and appeared unto many. "The power was so enormous that the veil of the temple gave way, the earth did quake, rock rent, graves opened and those that slept in The Lord arose out of the graves. Apostle Paul knew there is power in his resurrection hence he said in Phil 3:10, "That I may know him and the power of his resurrection." This power is able to destroy the veil that covers our hearts so that our spiritual understanding can blossom. His power at work in us gives us faith to call upon his name with authority and makes us to have dominion over Satan. It gives us the grace to be what we are and it has a quickening power to quicken our spirit. Rom 8:11.

Brethren, if there is anything to desire, it is to desire to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made comfortable unto his death. This power can restore and can bring back life. Jesus utilised this power to raise up the dead.

Let us consider some examples.
Widow's son of Nain.  Luke 7:11-16. 
Jesus used the power of resurrection to raise up the widow's son at the city of Nain. The dead man, only son of the widow, was being carried out at the city's gate when Jesus saw the widow weeping with some sympathisers. He had compassion on her and he said unto her, "Weep not." Jesus touched the bier and said, "Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up and began to speak. And Jesus delivered him to his mother."

Jairus’ daughter. Luke 8:49-56.
Jairus daughter was reported to be dead but Jesus went in, "He put them all out, and took her by the hand and called saying, Maid, arise. And her spirit came again and she arose straightway and he commanded to give her meat. "The parents of the girl were astonished.

Lazarus. John11:17-43.
Jesus used this power to call out Lazarus, who had lain in the grave four days already, out of the grave. "And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth."

This power (1 Cor 15:51-52) makes believers who are in Him to complete at His second coming. Then the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. In Him, we shall have victory over death and in Him lies our justification (Rom 4:25) and His resurrection entitles us to walk in the newness of life. Rom 6:4.

Prayer.
Father in Heaven, I want to know Jesus and experience the power of His resurrection. Grant me the grace to do so and endow me with all it takes. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

THE MANIFESTATION OF GOD’S POWER IN HUMAN WEAKNESS

Text: I Samuel 17: 4-51, Judges 6: 1-40, Exodus 4: 1-31.

The key words in this topic are; Manifestation, Power and Weakness. Manifestation means appearance, demonstration, display or expression. Power means ability or competence; and weakness mean powerlessness, imperfection or shortcoming.

The topic could also mean the display or demonstration of God’s ability or competence in situations of human powerlessness, helplessness or shortcoming. God’s power is unparalleled and incomparable with any other. In fact, it is at the ultimate of human power that God power begins. God’s power takes over our weaknesses.

When we are confronted with challenges that seem so overwhelming, we often despair, and surrender, initially psychologically, later in spirit and finally physically. We often bemoan our inadequacies or lack of strength, power, capability in various forms – knowledge, wisdom, finance etc. How often do we wait and ponder the awesomeness and the unparalleled power of God?

We would consider some examples in the scriptures, where God manifested His power over human weaknesses. We would consider David, Gideon and Moses.

1 Samuel 17:4-51. Despite the fact that Goliath the Philistine was a champion, a man of war, had a height of six cubits and a span with a bronze helmet on his head armed with a coat of mail, had armour of bronze upon his legs, a javelin of bronze upon his shoulders, a spear of iron head and a shield bearer before him; he lost the battle against David the youngest son of Jesse, a young ruddy shepherd boy. David confronted Goliath with five smooth stones and a sling. Even though Goliath boasted saying in (1 Samuel 17: 44) “Come to me and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field” and David replied in verses 45 -46 “You come to me with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel whom you have defiled, “this day the Lord will deliver you into my hand and I will strike you and take your head from you”, God showed himself mighty and He did manifest Himself. Apparently David’s inadequacies were evident however God proved himself and David used a sling and just one stone out of the five to fall Goliath. David further used Goliath's own personal sword to cut off his head.

May the Lord manifest himself in all our weaknesses. Amen. God also manifested Himself when He delivered David out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear.

Judges 6:1-40. Gideon, son of Joash the Abiezrite, the least in his father’s house with a poor family background and weakest clan in Manasseh would never have dreamt or thought of:

i. throwing down the altar of Baal which his father had;
ii. cutting down the Idol pole that was by it;
iii. fighting against the Midianites and won with only three hundred men; and
iv. building an altar for God; if not for the manifestation of God’s power in his life and in all his weaknesses.

Gideon was neither a leader nor a warrior but God declared him a 'mighty man of valour'. Even though he feared his father’s household and the men of the city, he was able to cast down the altar of Baal which his father had, and cut down the Idol pole that was by it. He built an altar he called “The Lord is peace” and overcome the Midianites. He gathered 32,000 men to fight the Midianites, God made him realise that the multitude were irrelevant because “the sword of the Lord was already in place”. Consequently, Gideon reduced the men to three hundred as God instructed him. These men had trumpets only in their hands. The Midianites ran, cried and set sword against each other till they destroyed themselves. God delivered the Midianites unto Gideon’s hands because God kept manifesting Himself in Gideon’s weaknesses; the children of Israel said in Judges 8: 22 “rule over us, both you and your children and your grandson also for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian”.

God wanted to make Moses the Leader of the Israelites Exodus 4: 1-31; 5: 1- 23.

Moses was the son of Amran and Jochebed also the brother of Mirian and Aaron (Exo: 4:10). Moses said to the Lord “Oh my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue”. The Lord said to him “who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing or the blind? Have not I, the Lord?” 4 vs 12 “Now, go and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say” and the Lord also told Moses in Vs 17 “and you shall take this rod in your hand which you shall do the signs”. Despite Moses weaknesses, God emboldened him, gave him utterance, made Aaron his brother his Spokesman, gave him courage to face and speak to the hard hearted Pharaoh to release the Israelites. The Lord also did so many wonders with the rod in Moses hand so that people may belief. God told Moses “see I have made you as God to Pharaoh. And Aaron your brother shall be your prophet; you shall speak all that I command you and Aaron your brother shall tell Pharaoh to send the children of Israel out of his land”. Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded. Pharaoh eventually released the children of Israel. And so, God manifested his power through Moses and Aaron.

We can see that when God manifests Himself through us, our weaknesses become power.

PRAYER

In all my weaknesses, father manifest your power in Jesus name and let your grace be more than sufficient for me now and forever more. Amen