UNDERSTANDING THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION!

Today is Easter Sunday, when Christians all over the world celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

So, I want to speak on “UNDERSTANDING THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION.”

The most vicious fraud in history or the most wonderful thing that ever happened is the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

The resurrection of Jesus is foundational to the Christian faith. That Christianity rises or falls today depends on whether Jesus Christ literally, physically, and visibly rose from the dead or not.

If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then the Bible is a fake. But the Good News is that He actually, literally, physically and visibly rose from the dead by the glory (power) of the Father.

“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Cor. 15:20).

The resurrection of Christ is so important that Paul wrote, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins” (1 Cor. 15:17).

And later he said, “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied” (1 Cor. 15:19).

The power of resurrection is the demonstration of the exceeding great power of God that no force of darkness can resist. This is why the resurrection of Christ generates infallible proofs.

The Bible records: “To whom also He shewed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3).

After the resurrection, the risen Christ was seen by different people.  He appeared to many within 40 days, opening the mysteries of the Kingdom as it relates to them. This is why, in the next 40 days, beginning from today being Easter Sunday, you will experience undeniable encounters with the resurrected Lord that will culminate in your undeniable change of level!

1) The risen Christ was seen alive by some women (Matt. 28:1, 8-10); 2) He was seen alive by two men on their way to Emmaus (Lk. 24:13-36); 3) He was seen by His disciples even for 40 days; 3) He was seen by His disciples even for 40 days (Acts 1:3, see also Lk. 24:34-43; Jn. 20-21); 4) He was seen by above five hundred brethren at once; After that, He was seen by James; then by all the apostles and last by Apostle Paul (1 Cor. 15:5-8).

Look at this testimony: Some years ago, after a missionary in India had finished preaching in a market-place, a Moslem stepped up and said to him, “You Christians must admit that we Moslems have one thing that you don’t have, and it’s better than anything you have.” “And what is it you have,” asked the missionary? The Muslim said, “When we go to Mecca, we can at least find the coffin of Mohamed, but when you Christians go to Jerusalem, you find nothing but an empty grave.” “That’s just the difference,” replied the missionary. Mohamed is dead, and his remains are still in the coffin, but Jesus Christ suffered, died a shameful death on the cross and on the third day He rose from the grave.

Beloved, Mohamed's body is still in the grave. Jesus of Ogbunike is still in the grave. Olumba Olumba Ogbu is still in the grave. D. Lawrence is still in the grave. Abraham, Moses, Virgin Mary etc., are all still in the grave. But Jesus is the only One who died and rose again never to taste death anymore.” Herod could not stop Him. The nails could not hold Him back. The grave could not keep Him. The whole demons of hell could not keep Him in the grave (Col. 2:14-15). Jesus arose from the dead!

Look at the testimony of the angel: “He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay” (Matt. 28:6).

As Jesus rose from the dead, He declared in Matthew 28:18-20 saying, “All power is given unto Me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and teach (make disciples) of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” ²⁰Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age (world). Amen.”

Apostle Paul wondered about the type of power that raised Jesus from the dead. In Philippians 3:10 -11 he said, “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection (the mighty power that raised Him from the dead), and the fellowship of His sufferings (I can learn what it means to suffer with Him, sharing in His death), being made conformable unto His death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead (so that, somehow, I can experience the resurrection from the dead!)”

We are faced with the fact of an empty tomb. The grave was empty. What were seen were only the linen grave clothes and the handkerchief that had been around His head.

Death could not hold Jesus captive in the grave. The entire demons of hell could not keep Him back in the grave. Satan himself could not keep Him captive. Why? Because Jesus Christ is all powerful.

There is a power that raised Jesus from the grave! Jesus was supernaturally raised from the dead by the power of the Father (Eph. 1:19-21; Rom. 8:11).

At the cross we see His love, but in the resurrection we see His power. The Bible has an eight-fold description of this divine and irresistible power that raised Jesus from the dead:

1. This power is GREAT! Acts 4:33 reads, “And with GREAT power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.”

When you say that something is great you mean that that thing is (1) very large and impressive; (2) powerful and influential. The early apostles were conscious of the greatness of this power and they exercised it for the advancement of the Kingdom of God and for the good of mankind.

2. This power is MIGHTY! Ephesians 1:19 says, “And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us ward who believe according to the working of His MIGHTY power.”

When you say that something is mighty you mean that that thing is strong and powerful.

3. This power is EXCEEDING GREAT! Ephesians 1:19 says, “And what is the EXCEEDING GREATNESS of the power to us ward who believe according to the working of His mighty power.”

This power is not only great, but it excels over and above any other power in heaven, on earth, and even beneath the earth. It is a power that bows to no other. It is the ultimate power.

4. This power is EXCELLENT! 2 Corinthians 4:7 says, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the EXCELLENCY of the power may be of God and not of us.”

When you say that something is excellent you mean that that thing is extremely good, of a very high quality or standard. This power brings a touch of excellence to everything you do in life.

5. This power is ETERNAL! Romans 1:20 says, “For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even, His ETERNAL power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.”

This is not a power that fades with time. It is permanent. It never loses its strength (potency, quality). It is the same today, yesterday, and forever (Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8). The miracles it did in the past, it will do today, and even in the timeless future. There will be a repeat of such miracles in your life today!

6. This power is GLORIOUS! Colossians 1:11 says, “Strengthened with all might according to His GLORIOUS power unto all patience and longsuffering and joyfulness.”

This power brings glory to your life. Use it to glorify the Father by enforcing your authority as a soldier and an ambassador of Christ.

Colossians 1:27 says, “Christ in you the hope of glory.”

7. This power is DIVINE! 2 Peter 1:3 says, “According as His DIVINE power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that called us unto glory and virtue.”

This power has its origin in God. It is not natural but supernatural.

8. This power is UNLIMITED (Matt. 19:26). This unlimited power can do exceeding abundantly above all that you can ever ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20):

• This is the very power that raised Lazarus from the dead (Jn. 11:39-44).

• This is the power that released Peter from jail (Acts 12:1-11).

• This is the power that released Paul and Silas from the prison (Acts 16:16-34).

• This is the power that delivered the three Hebrew children from the fiery furnace (Dan. 3; Isa. 43:2; Ps. 23:4).

• This is the power that shut the mouth of the very hungry lions in the den of lions and delivered Daniel from the jaws of death (Dan. 6:13-22).

• This is the power that parted the Red sea for the children of Israel to pass through on dry ground (Ex. 14:13-22).

• This is the very power that pulled down the wall of Jericho (Josh. 6:1-20).

• This is the power that unlocked and lifted the gates of hell and set the government of hell in confusion when Jesus got there (1 Pet. 3:18-20; Ps. 24:7).

• This is the power that created the whole universe.

• Finally, this same power is the power that is at work in you as a New Creation.

Ephesians 3:20-21 says, “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

Therefore, as a child of God, you have every right to use this power to enforce your authority over the kingdom of darkness.

This power positions you to be spiritually violent against every assault and opposition of the devil. Hallelujah!

In Mark 16:17-18 Jesus said, “And these signs shall follow them that BELIEVE; IN MY NAME shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

Peter and John realized the presence of this power within them as New Creations and they quickly used it to enforce their authority over the spirit of infirmity in a man that was cripple from birth (Acts 3).

A proper knowledge of the mighty power that raised Jesus from the dead will help you to do exploits for God (Dan. 11:32), and put you permanently on the side of victory. Allow this resurrection power to touch your life and begin to manifest through you as from today!

Watch out for the next edition of Good News from the Pulpit!

• Your friend: I. I. MADUBUNYI (Senior Pastor, HOG)                     1^st April, 2018