Where Nothing but the Power of His Resurrection WorksDelivered from the Peril of Death2Co 1:3-10 8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; 9 indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; 10 who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, Our Father is allowing us as His children to be brought to places of death such that nothing but the resurrection power of Jesus Christ will deliver us. He does this so we experience the resurrection power of Jesus Christ in our lives. The sentence of death within ourselves will be different for different believers. I know a man whose peril of death is usually mental and emotional suffering. He is a preacher. Our evangelist friends often face physical danger and hardship. Others among us face financial ruin, or serious illness or handicap, or persecution. A serious accident – or a mangled relationship. Our battle of spiritual warfare takes on many different forms for different members of the body of Christ. To some extent, the nature of your “peril of death” will relate to how you function in the body of Christ. What they all have in common, these places of death, is that they can only be overcome by the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. Thank our God and Father that this power has been released for our well-being and His glory.
How do we come to know the power of Christ’s resurrection?Phil 3:7-14 12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. How do we come to know the power of His resurrection? By being placed in these perils of death and then being delivered by this power!! There was a release of incredible power at the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are told in Romans 1 that this is how we know for sure that Jesus is the Son of God: Rom 1:1-6 2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, 4 who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name's sake, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; We first experienced this power when we heard and believed the gospel, the good news that Jesus Christ died for our sins and was raised from the dead three days later for our justification. Rom 1:16-17 And the same power that raised Jesus from the dead will one day raise us as well: 1Co 6:14 Php 3:20-21
The Spirit of LIFE in Christ JesusHere' something else wonderful: this same power is operating on our behalf now, since we are in Christ. It’s the governing power of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus: Rom 8:1-4 This power HAS set you free from the governing power of sin itself -and even the governing power of death. It is the power of Jesus’ indestructible life!
Our Father is reconciling all things to Himself through ChristAll flesh will give way to this power. All demons and satan himself shudder and quake and flee at the presence of this power. Our experiences of being delivered from the peril of death by the resurrection power of our Lord Jesus Christ are part of how our Father is reconciling all things to Himself through Christ. Col 1:13-20 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19 For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
Power for Everything in LifeWe do not yet see all things in subjection to Christ, but they in fact already are. That’s Hebrews 2:5-8. And part of the revelation of this fact occurs when He delivers us from temptation through His resurrection power. Jesus comes to your aid whenever you are beset by temptation: Heb 2:14-18 As God's child, you are protected by this power no matter what you face in life: 1Pe 1:3-9 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. By this power we have been given everything we need for this life and for holiness: 2Pe 1:1-3 1 Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, And so in the midst of whatever tribulations and trials that you may face, this prayer is for you: Eph 3:14-21 20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Until the next time, we’re all …. In His grip, Pastor John If you found this helpful, please pass it on! Post it on Facebook, or tweet about it!
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