The Resurrection Frames Everything
So many people today feel powerless. Part of the problem is that with social media we see the glamour of other people’s lives, or what they want to show us, and we feel like there’s no way we can measure up. We get overwhelmed with news, with tragedies all over the world, and feel powerless to do anything. The resurrection of Jesus tells you that you are not powerless to live a changed life and to have a profound impact on your world!
The resurrection frames everything. It’s the linchpin for our faith, and for Christianity in general. And it doesn’t just frame our personal faith. It’s the framework for our lives, for the way we live. The resurrection is not just about God’s power revealed when the stone was rolled away from the tomb and Christ was raised from the dead. The resurrection is about God’s power being revealed in your life today.
Incomparably Great Power
18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. Ephesians 1:18–19a (NIV)
This is what we want to focus on today, the prayer point that Paul then expands on. Let’s look at the description of power that follows in this passage:
19b-20a: That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead
It is Resurrection power!
20b: and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,
It is the power that exalted Christ!
21a:21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked,
It is power over all other powers!
21b: not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
It is power for all times!
Remember, it is power for us who believe!
Look what the next verses say about us:
22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Ephesians 1:22-23 (NIV)
If we have the power that raised Christ from the dead, that seated Christ in the heavenly realms, that exalted him above all other powers, that is for all times, and that is FOR US, what does that mean in our everyday lives?
1. We are resurrected, made alive with Christ!
5 [God] made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:5 (NIV)
2. We are raised up and seated with Christ!
6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, Ephesians 2:6 (NIV)
A man was asked, “How are you doing?” His response was, “I’m doing OK under the circumstances.” The first guy then asked, “What are you doing under there?” Remember, you are raised up above the earthly circumstances you face! God has made you into something new and beautiful.
3. We are God’s Handiwork!
10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
You are powerful!
You are made alive (no longer in death)!
You are victorious!
You are able to obey God!
You have an eternal destiny!
You are God’s handiwork!
You are a person of significant impact, in partnership with God, created in Christ Jesus to do good works in this life!
You are part of his Church!
The Church: The Fullness of Him Who Fills Everything in Every Way
You can only fully know this by God’s Spirit revealing it to you. I can’t just tell you. The Spirit must tell you. He can use my words, but it has to be him. God wants to show you the power you already have as a believer saved by grace through faith. You don’t have to do anything else for it. It is for us who believe.
One year, we joined with another church to do an outreach at Kensington and Allegheny in Philadelphia. We distributed food and other necessities, prayed for people, just talked with people about the Lord. It was an awesome day. Toward the end, Donna, a single mom, came up to me and said with enthusiasm: “I can do this! Pastor, I can do this!” Over the next few weeks, Donna would get up early on Saturdays and prayer walk through Norristown. She started noticing people in need who were out on the streets, and started ministering to them.
One day she came to me and said, “Pastor, there are lots of churches and agencies serving Thanksgiving dinner, but no one is doing anything for the homeless or people in need on Christmas day.” This led to Christmas day dinners that would involved hundreds of Victory Church volunteers serving amazing meals to people in need. Other outreaches developed over the years, and I see this as ultimately leading to our 3-times-per-year Big Days of Service and a culture of service to the community for which our church has become known. Donna went on to become community relations liaison for the Norristown state representative, and she ended up moving to Florida, where she completed degrees and has had a career of community service.
It all started with one person saying, “I can do this!”
How did Donna know that she could do this, that she was empowered? It wasn’t just based on a one-time experience. She had spiritual revelation of the incomparably great power for us who believe. The power of the resurrection frames everything: all time, all of creation, all powers and authorities–and all of our lives. As Paul says here, this is available through faith: that Jesus died, he was raised from the dead, and he is Lord of all the universe.
Find this special Easter message and others at edcrenshaw.com/podcast.
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