The Power of the Resurrection and Ascension:
I’m so grateful that God’s work didn’t stop at the Cross. Yes, for those of us who choose to follow Christ, our past, present and future sin is nailed to that cross, destroying it’s hold over us, and we can be very thankful for that. But if Christ did not rise it would mean that Satan still has power over life and death. It would mean that God’s power as “Life-giver” would not be displayed and therefore put Satan in a powerful position.
But the truth that we celebrate is that Christ rose again! Hallelujah! Satan could not hold Him down. Our Lord had flesh and blood and walked and ate with the disciples over 40 days after He rose. Then before their eyes He ascended to Heaven to sit at the right- hand side of our heavenly Father. Satan has no hold over this Heavenly Kingdom, or it’s power. Praise God!
But I’m so grateful that God’s work didn’t stop at the Resurrection. Before Christ ascended He commanded His disciples, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.” That gift of course was the power of the Holy Spirit. When we accepted Christ as our Lord and Saviour, His Spirit came to live in us. The same Spirit that rose Christ from the dead lives in you and I. Hallelujah!
In Acts 2:17, Peter recalls the words of the prophet Joel. “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.”
And more than this even. The Spirit moved the disciples to devote themselves to the apostle’s teaching, to fellowship, communion, and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and they experienced miracles. The result was that the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved, Acts 2:42-47.
Our power in the Spirit is initiated by God, sustained by God, replenished by God, and used by God, through the Church, to bring healing to the nations. Now that’s Good News 😊
About Pastor Julie
I’m passionate about the church – building believers up in their faith, to be all God intended them to be; and I’m passionate about sharing the love and hope of Jesus with people who don’t know Him yet.