Resurrection Power
Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Until you have been made conformable unto His death, you haven't lived. We need resurrection power.
Upgrade seems to be a major catch-word today. We're upgrading everything constantly. We're always needing bigger and better - faster, more efficient.
There are any number of words we could use to refer to the process - we renovate buildings, recondition appliances, refurbish furniture, rejuvenate the aging, recover lost things, overhaul engines, remake movies, recycle garbage, resuscitate patients, reconstruct disaster sites, regenerate failing projects, etc. In Christian circles, we have our own words - restoration, renewal, redemption, revival, rebirth - but the real key is resurrection.
We just need to be raised from the dead! - dead works, dead churches, dead lives…
Resurrection is our only hope in this world.
When Jesus died on the cross he paid for sin - he bought our forgiveness. When He raised from the dead he overcome the power of sin.
The cross brought death - the resurrection brought new life.
The cross brought shame - the resurrection brought cleansing.
The cross brought an ending - the resurrection brought a new start.
The cross spelled despair - the resurrection brought hope.
The cross ended the battle between sin and righteousness - the resurrection purchased a place for us in God's plan.
Hope for the future.
Our ultimate hope is that when we leave this world, we will go to a better existence with God.
We are eternal beings. Once a soul is created by God (at conception) it is eternal - it lives forever. Life is created for eternity. Our decision is where to spend it - either in heaven or in hell.
Joh 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
The resurrection gives us hope of eternal life with God.
Hope for this life.
Through the resurrection, we have been given power over sin, death, evil, etc.
Without the resurrection of Jesus Christ we are powerless. IF Satan had kept Jesus dead, he would have retained the power over mankind. But Jesus' resurrection broke Satan's hold on man.
We have the hope of righteousness. There is no way we can attain the righteousness of God - even at our best. Our righteousness comes from God through Christ.
Ro 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Ro 3:22 Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Hope and assurance of God's help.
If God went to all the trouble to send Jesus, to live and die for our salvation, to raise him from the dead, He is obviously on our side.
If He cared enough to send his very best, how much more will He stay on our side and pull us through.
Ro 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (AV)
Hope of resurrections.
No matter how bad things may get, or how final things may seem, there can always be a resurrection.
God is not restricted. He can pull something out of nowhere.
Ro 4:17 … God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. (AV)
He can always arrange a resurrection. God gives second chances. There can be a resurrection of your marriage, family, vision, hop, etc. You name it.
When Jesus died, the disciples lost hope. It seemed that it was over. Jesus had succumbed to death and the dream was over. But then, they had forgotten the resurrection. They went back to fishing.
Illust. Burning wood - fire went out - I tried everything I could to get it started again to no avail. Finally, I sent out for more matches and gasoline - while out, fire blazed back and burned all the wood. The embers sparked and flamed into fire once again.
A breath of wind blew in and rekindled the flame and burned all the wood.
The Holy Spirit can do the same with us. He can flame the carcass of your life and breathe new live into it.
Some of you are there today and have different needs and expectations. Some of you have given up. Your fire has gone out. You need hope. You need resurrection
Joh 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: