Resurrected Living
Philippians 3:10
We have just experienced Easter time; it is the oldest and most important festival in the Christian calendar. It finishes in the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
If we understand the real meaning of Easter, it will empower us to live a successful and overcoming life. The key to knowing this truth is that in almost every sermon of the apostles they mentioned the resurrection.
When they spoke of His death they spoke of His resurrection.
Every sermon they preached was related to resurrection. It should not be a once-a-year Easter Message; our message/our life/our thinking should all be focused on His resurrection; then and only then will you have abundant life.
Resurrection power should come upon our spirit, soul and body and cause us to persevere. No sickness, no disease can remain upon you.
But the question is how can I tap into the resurrection power? How can I get hold of that power? I’m praying we know this resurrection power should not be received just once; it should be a continuous process.
Paul after being in the ministry for many years says, ”That I may know him and the power of his resurrection.” That means he was seeking daily to get to know the lord and seeking for the power of resurrection.
That was the secret of his success in life, and ministry. I would like to look at three areas regarding the resurrection of Jesus. and how it affects us.
People say I want resurrection power, I want God’s power upon me but how do I get it. In studying this I believe there is only one way we can tap that resurrection power upon our life. We need to tap into the dying power of Jesus.
Paul became so powerful because he was dying daily. He said I die daily. He said, “Reckon yourself to be dead in Christ.”
Once you die to self, once you take up the cross and follow Jesus, there is a release of the resurrection power of Jesus automatically upon your life.
God cannot mix the power of the resurrection in our life when self, when the flesh is ruling.
Flesh and spirit cannot mix. The flesh must die in order for the resurrection power to come upon our lives. There is no such thing as the resurrection power without the cross, they come together in a package.
You cannot pray for the resurrection power to come upon your lives. Power comes when we pay the price. I’ve learned that most often we learn from God only after we have suffered a while.
The problem with today’s generation is that they want a crown without the cross, they want beauty without ashes, they want the garment of praise without the spirit of heaviness. But Jesus said ”if you suffer with me, you shall also reign with me.” (2 Timothy 2:12)
Jesus said. “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” (John.15:7)
People say, “I’m abiding in you Lord, Let the power come. Then Jesus says.” for without me you can do nothing.” (v.5)
That means we must be nothing for the power of resurrection to work in our lives. We must die to self. Jesus said in John 12 “ Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it dies, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” (John.12:24,25)
Unless there is death taking place in our lives every day, there won’t come resurrection power on us every day. We need the resurrection power on our lives every day, but for that we need to die daily; die to our flesh/die to our desires/our appetites/die to our pride/die to everything related to the flesh and when the seed dies, it bears much fruit.
“He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” (v.25). “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor.” (v.26).
There is no resurrection without death taking place, the only life that can come out from our lives, must be the life of Jesus.
Paul says. “For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you.” (2 Corinthians 4:11,12)
Which life is he speaking of? The resurrection life. He says the resurrecting life is displayed best in our dying.
He is speaking about voluntarily dying to the needs of the flesh which is contrary to the needs of the spirit. When we keep on experiencing and saying I will not please my flesh I will please God we are dying to self. We are taking the cross and following Jesus; it’s then the power falls upon us.
Just keep your flesh dying and the resurrection power will be upon you.
There needs to be continuous dying, before we can have a continuous resurrected life flowing in us. Somebody must die for others to live.
Positionally we are dead in Christ, but there is a continuous present tense that speaks of death. That is the key to stepping into the resurrection power of Jesus.
David lived for others. He says, “For thy sake we are killed all the day long, we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.” (Psalms 44:22)
He is saying for their sake we are killed all the day long. How can you be dying the whole day? He is speaking of dying to self/flesh on account of God. That is how he had such power upon his life.
Paul takes that scripture verse and says “for thy sake we are killed all the day long.” (Romans 8:36).
Paul says. “Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.” (2 Corinthians 12:12)
People read the first part but then they don’t read that word “Patience /perseverance. Who would associate signs and wonders with perseverance? We thought it was a gift of God.
Paul suffered; He bore all the marks on his body. People taunted him/they mocked him/they took advantage of him. He went through a lot of tribulation for the kingdom.
He says “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:” (Romans 5:3,4)
Paul is saying the signs of an apostle work with perseverance, that came through tribulation. Perseverance comes as we confront tribulation. Tribulations are those things that interfere with your ministry, your witness.
Perseverance is going through tribulation and going on and on, with perseverance/endurance and coming out the other side, that’s where your character is made. Then at the other side is the resurrection power.
It is not easy to deny self, to enter into tribulation is one thing, but to hold fast is quite another and to persevere and come through is quite another; that is when signs and wonders start operating in your life.
The second area, we have to see Him to have resurrection power. Jesus said in John 14 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” (John.14:16,17)
Now there are two things Jesus said about the Comforter/the Holy Spirit. He is first speaking in regard to the world. He says, the world cannot see Him, nor can it know Him. The world doesn’t have this resurrection power because of two conditions. It doesn’t see Him nor know Him.
So, the world has no power of God.
Then He turns to His disciples and says, but you know Him for He dwells with you and shall be in you, that is the first part. You know Him. How, because He dwells with you, and will be in you (on the day one is born again)
But what about the second part of seeing Him? Seeing whom? Jesus says “Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.” (John.14:19)
When it comes to seeing the Holy Spirit, He speaks of self, but when He speaks of knowing Him, He speaks of the Holy Spirit. He could have said, but you know Him and you have seen Him. But he says, you know the Holy Spirit for He is with you and shall be in you, and you have seen Him not, but ME. You have to see Jesus but know the Holy Spirit.
He is not talking of seeing Him in the sweet by and by… but now. One day we will see Him as He is but right now, we can see Him. He is not speaking of “hereafter” but “here and now.”
He reveals this subject more clearly, when He says.” He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” (v.21)
How do we know Him? Because of the Holy Spirit that dwells in us. They never thought that they could see Him. How can they see Him.
They had no problem with the first part of knowing Him but since He said He was going away, how could they see Him.
Jesus said, “Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.” (v.19)
The world that was seeing the physical Jesus will see Him no more, but the disciples would see Him, even if He is not with them physically.
That was a big question for the disciples. How will they see Him. How can we see Jesus once you are gone to heaven. That was difficult.
“Judas, not Iscariot, asked Him, Lord, how is it that You will reveal Yourself [make Yourself real] to us and not to the world?” (v.22) aren’t you glad Judas asked on our behalf. “Jesus answered and said unto him, if a man loves me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” (v.23)
This is the mightiness of Easter. If you understand this, you have celebrated your Easter well. He said I will manifest myself to them. Not when they want, but when I want to reveal myself to them.
He said, I will manifest myself to them. I will disclose/appear/before them. That is the meaning. Jesus doesn’t want to hide from us. Many are satisfied with point one, but we need to go to Point two.
I am not saying we will see Jesus in the natural, but you know Jesus has His own special ways of revealing Himself to us?
Jesus has a million ways to manifest Himself to us. He has manifested to you in a special way in your spirit that draws you to Jesus. If you didn’t have a fresh manifestation every day, you wouldn’t be seen in the church so regularly. Jesus wants to sit next to you, talk to you, face to face. He is the resurrected Christ.
The manifestation of the resurrected Christ was mightier than the physical Christ. Why were there more miracles signs and wonders after Pentecost than in the days of physical Jesus?
What does it teach us? That the manifestation of Jesus was more powerful after Pentecost than before Pentecost.
We are living in the days of Pentecost, the resurrected power of Jesus is here. Manifest means
“appear” like on the day of resurrection.
We see instances in the Bible, for some He appeared in their dreams. For some He appeared in a vision. Some in a light. Others will feel/sense the presence of Him. He could also appear as a flash to some in the meeting as you worship Him.
He is the light/He is the bright and morning star/He is the lamb/the good shepherd/He can manifest Himself to you in so many ways. He is the rose of Sharon. Suddenly some experience His sweet fragrance, it touches them inside out.
Some will sense His assurance/His presence/His peace/His joy/His boldness/His strength these are all manifestations from the heavenly realm.
Some will experience peace, because He is the prince of Peace. Some will have a picture of Him before their eyes. His desire is to manifest to people in every possible way He can.
Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. Pure means clean. How can one be clean? by daily washing himself with the blood, and through the word. (John15:3).
God always loves to manifest Himself to His people. Right from the time He made Adam He had communion with him, even after Adam sinned, God called out “Adam where are you.” Sin separated man from God.
God has wanted to meet man for thousands of years. Jesus didn’t just die for our sins, if that was the case He would have told His disciples, I am dying for you, and that is enough, I will go away.
No, He said I will come back to you. He’s coming to your house and you’re going to His house. That is a very close relationship. Jesus said, Zacheus I want to go to your house, and I want to eat with you.
In Revelation 3:20 He said. Behold, I stand at your door and knock; if anyone opens the door I will come and eat with him. Eating is drawing closer. Jesus said I will make my home with them.
People talk of Easter cake/Easter bunnies/Easter eggs/Easter clothes/Easter fun. But I talk to you of Easter power/Easter meaning. Jesus said you shall see Me.
Before Easter, He told them you know Me. They walked with Him. They also cast out demons in His name. How much power will they have after Pentecost?
They had power in their “pre-Easter, how much power we should have after Easter. Let’s not just talk about Easter but live Easter. The Easter message is simple and clear pay the price and receive His manifestation.
The third area I want to speak concerning resurrection living is obey His word.
At the sheepgate some Jews had gathered around Him and He told them, “But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” (John.10:26,27)
The first point we learnt was, no resurrection power without dying; second, the true blessing is His manifestation in our lives, seeing Him and not just knowing about Him. Third is we need to hear His resurrected voice. We need to listen to the resurrected Christ.
Before the resurrection Jesus said. I will go and come back. I will die and rise, they didn’t give much thought to it, but when He died and rose again on Easter, they sat up to listen to every word of His.
When He came into the room through the walls, they were alert to listen to Him. They started searching Him out.
Before that Jesus would go out and meet them, now they wanted to meet Him. There are professing Christians that for 10 -15 years haven’t heard His voice.
How sad a husband would be when his wife says I don’t know your voice, and she’s lived with him for 10 years.
Just imagine if a sheep that doesn’t know his master’s voice, he is in danger. Every sheep recognizes his master’s voice. He hears more than he sees.
Jesus said “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.“ (John.1:14)
The first part isn’t a problem,” I am the good shepherd and know my sheep.” There is nothing to boast about that. He knows us. Praise God.
What about the second part,” and am known of mine.” Is it true with all of us. Do we all agree that we are the sheep of His pasture. Can the sheep live without the shepherd? No.
Jesus said the shepherd knows His sheep and He leads them and they follow Him because they know (are familiar) with His voice.” (John.10:4)
That is the beauty of the relationship between sheep and shepherd. I know them, and my own know me. To know Him doesn’t mean know about His word/it is not knowing theology/Christian ethics/or traditions/rituals/customs/or some principles. To know Him is to hear and obey Him.
Christianity is not just attending church, but he that has a spirit let him hear what the Spirit of God says. If today you say Yes, I know Him and hear His voice, you have touched Easter. Easter has been a blessing to you.
Jesus then said, ”As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John.10:15)
How does He know the Father? He hears the Father’s voice. Every day He would talk with Him. He is not speaking as the divine one, but as the Son of Man.
He was doing His bidding. He was not doing what pleased Him, but what pleased the Father. How did He know the will of the Father? He was speaking to Him every day. That is how He fulfilled everything that the Father wanted.
Obeying His voice is very important for our welfare, for our future, for our blessings. We have somebody who speaks to us, walks with us, talks with us. He is not a god that we have to carry. He carries us.
He talks and we hear. He says, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” (v.16)
Jesus is knocking at His own church door. He is knocking at His own church member’s home.
Folks we serve not an organization but a person whose name is Jesus.
I pray that God may empower us this morning with His resurrection power. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!