Resurrection Power!

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Luke 24:1-9  (1)"Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing spices which they had prepared. (2)But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. (3)Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. (4)And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold two men stood by them in shining garments. (5)Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, 'Why do you seek the living among the dead? (6)He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, (7)saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.' (8)And they remembered His words. (9)Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest."

This Sunday, Christians world wide will be celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Many who say they are Christians will  be in church. They will even sing the songs and participate in the worship and communion services. But how many of them will leave the same as they came? How many will take what they receive there and begin a new and living way with Jesus Christ? Just coming to church on Easter or Christmas doesn't make one a Christian. Even coming every Sunday does not make a Christian. It takes the living and powerful Spirit of the Lord living and working inside of us. That Spirit WILL bring about change. If you know someone who says they are a Christian and there has never been a change for the better in that person- they have never met the Resurrected Savior. Christ brings change into people's lives if they allow it. Resurrection life and power take over and that person becomes a new creation- 2 Corinthians 5:17 says "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." The word "new" means new in form or quality. The Resurrection Power of Jesus Christ makes one a new person- one whose desire it is to follow the Lord, to serve the Lord, to be obedient to the Lord.

Many will be in Church this Sunday to appease their conscience. They believe that it will wipe their slate clean and give them a new start. But unless they have the Resurrection Power of Jesus Christ working within them, they will leave the same "old" person- dead to the things of the Spirit and unable to be a partaker of all that Christ has in mind for them.

Those of us who have that Resurrection Power at work inside of us need to keep these people in prayer- that even though it may have been some time since they entered a church- that they will have an open heart to the Spirit. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ was necessary to fulfill God's plan. There had to be a perfect sacrifice and He had to overcome death, hell and the grave. This  did Jesus Christ ! And now, since the day of Pentecost, this Resurrection Power has been made available to all those who will believe.

Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth"

Acts 2:16-21 "(1) But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel; (17) 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions. Your old men shall dream dreams. (18)And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy. (19)I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath; blood and fire and vapor of smoke. (20)The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. (21)And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."



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