He Lives!
This prayer from the Apostle Paul is rich with doctrine and addresses how the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ has affected every believer. My prayer is that the Lord will help us understand these great Bible truths. And that we will find great encouragement in them. Resurrection Day is not simply remembering the resurrection of Christ but knowing it. I mean letting it transform your mind. Allowing the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour to forever change the way we think and live in our present mortal condition. He lives!
Consider this promise filled prayer from the Apostle Paul and allow it to make your “Resurrection Sunday” the most special day of your life as a Christian.
“Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him
:” (Ephesians 1:16–17).
True wisdom will come from our Father above. This is not referring to practical or daily wisdom to help us make those right choices in life. It goes much deeper than that. This wisdom is “spiritual” and reveals Christ. It is wisdom from above. This is wisdom centered in knowing Jesus Christ closely, intimately, and personally. The human mind cannot obtain it. Books will not plant it in your heart. Intellectual achievement does not guarantee obtaining it. It is the spirit of wisdom and the true revealed knowledge of the person of Christ that comes from the Father above. I pray it’s yours.
“The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints
,” (Ephesians 1:18).
This refers to eyes that see with spiritual understanding. Paul is praying for the knowledge of the hope of His calling. He is praying they would know the unlimited riches of His inheritance given to the believers. And he is praying that the believers at Ephesus will know Christ and what He has accomplished on their behalf. Can this enlightenment be ours too? Can we personify these truths? Yes indeed!
“And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own 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 world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,” (Ephesians 1:19–22).
Do you know the exceeding greatness of His power given to us-ward who believe? Think about this. The power that God wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead is in you believer! In Christ you too are raised and seated in victory above all principality, power, might, and dominion. Death is gone. Defeat is dissolved. Christ has made it so.
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-7).
Because we are in Him we have new identity, new life, and new hope. This is a sure reality of both abundant life and everlasting life. Walk in this truth. Make it yours. Step into these glorious truths by faith, believer. Live in them. Christ is raised! He lives! And Christ is in you.
“Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:23).
We stand today as His body. And His fulness that filleth all in all is ours. Should you hear the resurrection story in church this weekend, remember how Christ has personalized it. It’s not only a piece of accurate history but it’s our story. We are in Christ! Christ, our redeemer, has made it ours.
April 2nd, 2010 at 11:44 am
Those verses in Ephesians (as are so many other verses) are precious indeed to the believer. Thanks be to God for all His goodness.
April 3rd, 2010 at 8:24 am
Forrest,
As Fanny Crosby wrote, “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine. Oh what a fore taste of Glory divine”. Yes, He has risen . He has risen indeed.
Thank you for this encouraging post. May the Lord bless you and the family this Easter.
In Christ and in our prayers.
Don
Gal 6:10