We tend to think of resurrection power as an Easter phenomenon. Yet, Jesus and His death and resurrection are always at the center of the Christian faith, the foundation upon which the Church was established.
God Wants Us to Know His Power — Resurrection Power
We’re assured that God wants His people to know resurrection power when we look at the Apostle Paul’s prayer for the church at Ephesus (Eph. 1:18-21). He prayed that they would know:
- the hope to which He called them
- the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people
- His incomparably great power for us who believe
Of interest, note that only the third statement receives additional commentary. The power is “incomparably great” because …
That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead … (Eph. 1:19-20)
Also of significance to note is that the statement about His power is the only one known upon the condition of belief. We find this elsewhere, like in the following verses:
You, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. (1 Pet. 1:5-6)
If we’re going to know and appropriate resurrection power to our lives today we need to believe, to have faith. Perhaps instead of asking ‘Where’s the power in the Church today?’, we should be asking ‘Where’s the faith in the Church today?’.
- Do we really believe God is who He says He is? Or, do we pick and choose what feels comfortable or is politically correct?
- Do we really believe God can do what He says He has done? Or, do we view certain biblical accounts as mere stories, or fables, with lessons behind them?
If we perceive the object of our faith as weak, can we really expect to know His incomparably great power? And, we’ll likely find it hard to endure the hardship that often precedes the display of His power. Remember, Jesus first suffered and died before being resurrected. To say we want resurrection power in our lives and in our churches, we must complete the statement — “I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His suffering …” (Phil. 3:10-11)
Not sure you have that kind of faith? Start with the words of a father hoping Jesus might help his son (Mk. 9:22-24).
The boy’s father said to Jesus, “But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
“If you can”? said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
it seems to me the fundamental and charismatic branches of the church have the same problem, but address it differently. The one says all the “sign” gifts, the power gifts if you will, are not more to explain the powerless church. The other “manufactures” the counterfeit power to address the powerlessness in the church. But, the bottom line is the same… impotence in the church which I have struggled with mightily over the years.
To be sure, Larry Jenkins, we do find extremes in the Church, both of which can do harm. What we need to understand is that spiritual gifts are just one way God empowers His people. Look at 2 Peter 1:3. — “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” — We really are without excuse for a lack of power. But, we aren’t going to experience it if He isn’t the focal point. It isn’t about our theology. It isn’t about our gifting, or anything else we might suggest. It’s about HIM. It’s about a God with incomparably great power, as referenced in this post. Until we care more about knowing Him than being right, we’re going to remain anemic as a Church. Praise God what you wrote of is not descriptive of the whole Church. There are believers out there, though they haven’t yet arrived, who are pressing on to know Him, truly know Him and the power of His resurrection (Phil. 3:7-14).