Resurrection Power

We have just finished celebrating Easter, the most important celebration in Christianity, the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. No other religion in the world can celebrate the resurrection of its founder. Paul says in I Corinthians 15:17, “if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!” But Christ has risen from the dead, and we know that if we are in Him, we will be raised with Him. Not only does His resurrection guarantee the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life with Him, but it also promises us power for our lives today.

Paul prays in Ephesians 1:17-21,“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.”

Paul prays that we would know “the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe.” This resurrection power is what broke the power of sin, sickness, and death. This resurrection power resides in us by the Spirit enabling us to walk in authority over “all principality, power, might, and dominion, and every name that is named.” Christ gained victory over the enemy in order that by faith we can walk in His victory.

We cannot know this power through study, observation or experience. Oftentimes our knowledge and experience work against the operation of this power because our thinking and experience are finite. Paul says this understanding is given to us by “the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” Resurrection power comes in the revelation knowledge of Christ! The more we really know Him, the more we walk in His power that can change our life and the lives of those around us.

This resurrection power not only comes from knowing Him, but also from our position in Him. His power does not operate from worldly means or ways of doing things because we live and work in a world that is under the power of the evil one. That is why Paul says Christ is seated in heavenly places, and Ephesians 2:6 says we are seated “together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” God’s ways are far above our ways. To overcome, we must take on the mind of Christ and operate in His sphere of influence. May you come to know and experience “the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe.”

Andy

Be Strong in the Lord

Joshua 1:9“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Joshua is preparing to face the greatest challenge of his life and ministry, taking a nation of nomadic people who have lived in the desert for forty years under God’s protection and provision into a land of walled cities, giants and great armies with armor, chariots and horses. The challenge is daunting and in human terms downright impossible. Even the first step of getting across the Jordan River will take a miracle from God.

Maybe you are facing what seems to be a formidable challenge or task. Maybe it is sickness, a family or financial problem, or something in your work or ministry. It might be a promise of God or something God has asked you to do that is beyond your capability. Don’t think that this is something unusual or that no one else is facing or has overcome what you are facing. The Bible and church history is filled with normal everyday people who by God’s help and power have overcome insurmountable problems and done the impossible.

Let us look at some keys to overcoming. In the Scripture we have just read, God gave Joshua a command. This is not just some advice or a word of encouragement. This is something that God Almighty is ordering Joshua to do in the midst of this seeming insurmountable challenge. No matter what you are facing today, your Heavenly Father, “the Commander of the Lord's army,” (Joshua 5:15) says, “be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, or be dismayed.” As born again believers, the Holy Spirit (God himself) resides within our spirit. When the challenge comes, we need to allow the Holy Spirit to arise in us and command out soul nature (mind, will and emotions) to come under the authority of our spirit man and God’s Word.

Paul echoes this in Ephesians 6:10-12, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” One of the weapons we are exhorted to put on is “the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” Paul calls these “fiery darts” because they not only pierce us, but if left alone they will consume us. These fiery darts may be fear, discouragement, doubt, depression, resentment, unforgiveness or anger.

When Joshua took on the challenge God had given him to take the land of promise, he faced fiery darts. You may be facing some fiery darts. When we walk with God and in His will and purposes, fiery darts will come. The key is to not allow them to continue to burn and consume us. We have to rise up in faith, meditate on and declare God’s Word and promises, “for all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” I Corinthians 1:20

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." May you be encouraged today to stand and believe God.

Andy Clark

P.S. I have received requests for these devotionals in French and Portuguese. If you feel led, would you be willing to translate these into one of these languages for me? If you do not have time to do it weekly, could your do one a month? Please contact me and let me know at avclark@juno.com. Thank you, and may God bless.

All Authority

In Matthew 8:6-13 a Roman centurion came to Jesus to heal his servant who was paralyzed. When Jesus said he would come, the centurion gave an astounding response.

"Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

You notice the centurion did not say that I am a man of authority but “a man under authority.” The centurion touches on the first key to authority. That authority is derived from submission to a greater authority. Jesus marvels at the centurion’s response and turns to the crowd and declares; “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” Why does Jesus associate this concept of authority to “great faith”? It comes from the second key to authority, and that is God’s authority is absolute. The centurion said, when I tell, “my servant ‘Do this,’ he does it.” There is no discussion, negotiations, delay, maybe or an excuse of any kind. When he gave a command, it was as good as done.

In our world today, we have lost our sense of authority, both in submission to authority and operating in authority. When God spoke, the worlds came into existence at the authority of His word. Great people of faith are people who respond to and operate in the authority of God. When God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, the Bible says he got up the next morning and set off to do it. When God told Moses to stretch forth his rod over the Red Sea, he acted immediately.

In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus said: "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Our authority to carry out the ministry God has called us to is derived out of our relationship with Jesus who has “ALL AUTHORITY” and the degree of authority we give Him in our lives. The people in Jesus day said that “He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Matthew 7:29

The world is looking today for a people who walk under and in God’s authority. By His Spirit He has given you authority to carry out all that He has called you to do.

Andy Clark