The Daily Word of Righteousness

Ephesians 2:8,9, continued

And who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 1:4—NIV)

There is power available for us who believe. To emphasize—there is an "incomparably great power for us who believe." Power for what purpose, may we ask? Power to live the Christian life.

The resurrection power of Christ is not available to unsaved people. The power is available to us who believe. But power to do what? Are we speaking of energy? Are we to have more energy than unsaved people? Probably not.

As we seek to serve God we find that many pressures are brought to bear on us, pressures that we can avoid if we are willing to sin, to rebel against God, to forsake our integrity.

Sometimes the pressure comes from family members who are not serving the Lord. They depend on the Christian to carry them through.

There are pressures common to all people, saved and unsaved alike, such as severe illness or economic problems. God's power does not always heal the saints but it always enables the saint to act in a manner that glorifies God, that is, if the saint continues to trust and obey.

The wicked dodge, lie, steal, betray those who trust them, take the credit that belongs to another, step on other people to gain advantage. They are smooth talkers. We have multitudes of such in America at this time. They think everyone is like themselves. God's power is not available to the wicked.

If you are trying to serve God, don't quit. His power is available to keep you from sinning, to enable you to overcome every temptation.

It is the same power that raised Christ from the dead and it dwells in you.

Which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, (Ephesians 1:20—NIV)

When Satan and his allies managed to crucify Christ they played their last card. If Satan ever could have prevented anything from happening it would have been the resurrection of Christ. Satan could not prevent that. Therefore he cannot possibly overcome you because that same power is at work in you. It is the power of salvation. It is the power of the Kingdom of God.

Christ today is at the right hand of God.

Far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. (Ephesians 1:21—NIV)

How high has Jesus Christ been raised? He has been raised far above all rule, all authority, all power, all dominion, every title that can be given—now and throughout all ages to come.

Sometimes the powers of darkness seem ready to overcome us.

The cords of death encompassed me, and the torrents of ungodliness terrified me. The cords of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of death confronted me. (Psalms 18:4,5—NASB)

It is then that we need to have a deep realization of the mighty resurrection power of Christ that is saving us.

To be continued.