THE RADICAL DISCIPLE’S POWER & AUTHORITY
Easter Sunday
Jesus is Alive!
He has risen from the death
The Mighty Power of God
Had raised Jesus from the dead
Ephesians 1.18-2.5
Jesus is Alive!
He has risen from the death
The Mighty Power of God
Had raised Jesus from the dead
Ephesians 1.18-2.5
The Greatness of God’s Power
• Resurrection power is like no other power on earth
– It is unique, and has no possible rival
• It is the kind of power that operates in the midst of death & evil
– Therefore, if you learn to live by resurrection power you can be alive and vital when everything and everyone around you is dead and lifeless
• Resurrection power is irresistible
– Keep on keeping on
The Greatness of God’s Power
Paul’s prayer:
You & I (Christians) might keep on experiencing this incredible power of God in our lives
Resurrection power is at work in a disciple who believe
His past,
His present,
& His future!
The Consequences of God’s resurrection power at work in us
• The Believer’s PAST: We were spiritually DEAD (2.1)
We were captive to sin (Eph 2.1b, Romans 6.23)
We were under Satan’s control (Eph 2.3b)
Under the control of both sin and Satan—they are powerful allies
We were Dead!
• We were dead but we are made ALIVE!
“. . . but because of his great love for us, God . . . made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions”(Ephesians2.4-5)
We are set free from the prison of death
—so exercise our freedom! Walk free!
Satan is a disarmed and defeated foe (Col 2.15)
• FUTURE
Our confident hope of resurrection from death
“Death has been swallowed up in victory
Where, O death is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law
But thank be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 15. 54b-57)
No longer afraid of death or evil
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentarily troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory far outweighs them all” (2Cor 4.16-17)
Recall Paul’s prayer in Eph 1.18:
You & I (Christians) might keep on experiencing this incredible power of God in our lives
Resurrection power is at work in us who believe presently
not only our past,
& in the future,
but also our present life,
The present consequences of God’s power at work in us
Resurrection life as our present experience
“. . . he (God) raised him (Jesus) from the dead & seated him at His right hand . . . far above all rule and authority . . .
and God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms”! (Eph 1.21b-22, 2.5b)
The Present Consequences of God’s power at work in us
Alive, we has started to reign with Christ now—we are given authority and power from on high to be God’s kingdom ambassador
• He (Jesus) gave them power & authority (Luke 9.1-2, 10.19, 20)
• Learn to take authority. We are the head not the tail! This is the position we are in—it has nothing to do with our maturity
• It means we carry with us Jesus’ badge of authority
• Jesus has us covered
• The power that keep us keeping on
‘ . . . This all-surpassing power is from God . . . We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed”(2 Cor 4.7-11)
• The power to overcome the Enemy: “Finally be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power . . . For our struggles are not against flesh and blood but against the powers of this dark world” (Eph 6.10-12)
God has given us power for “victory over the darkness”
The battle is ON & on going!
– Our mind the battle field
Acts 5.3 Satan had filled the heart of Ananias (a believer) to lie to the Holy Spirit. Satan can put thoughts into our mind
– “During supper, the devil have already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot . . ,to betray Jesus” (John 13.3)
• Our mind the battle field
• Some having difficulty concentrating and reading the Bible
• Some struggle with accusing and condemning thoughts
• Some are hearing “voices”
• Some have repeated nightmares or demonic dreams
Are we mentally unsound or are there a spiritual battle going on in our mind?
Power to Overcome our Enemy
• Remember your position in Christ (Eph 2.5b)
• God has given us power for “victory over the darkness” (2 Cor 10.4, Luke 9.1-2)
Jesus has you covered
• Satan is a disarmed and defeated foe (Col 2.15)
“And having disarmed the powers and authorities (Satan & his demons), he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross”
but he will continue to lie to us that he has more power and authority over us. The truth—He has no authority and power over us unless WE give him the right
JESUS IS ALIVE & THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION IS AVAILABLE NOW
-You need a little bit of help to gain the victory. You need not fight the battle alone. We are here to help you with the problem because there is a battle going on for your mind which God has given us the power n authority to win.
(By Elder Christopher Leong, Bandar Utama Chapel)
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