The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
“Witnesses of His Resurrection”
In choosing who would take Judas’ place after his betrayal of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Apostle Peter describes a calling that applies to all born again believers:
“Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that He was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of His resurrection” (Acts 1:22).
We all share in the privileged responsibility of bearing witness and testimony that the Lord Jesus is risen from the dead. We do so by our words, and also do so by the life we live, availing ourselves of the power that raised our Savior from the dead, that raised us from spiritual death when we believed, and that raises us up to a life infinitely beyond our natural abilities.
“And you hath He quickened (enlivened) who were dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1).
“If Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you” (Romans 8:11).
The Christian life involves a life of resurrection no less than our Lord’s own rising from the dead. We bear no natural ability for even the smallest act of obedience to God. We rather bear supernatural abilities that empower our faithfulness as we trust God to enliven our human capacities by Divine presence and enabling. “Without Me, ye can do nothing… “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (John 15:5; Philippians 4:13). Be it the most seemingly insignificant act of obedience unto martyrdom itself, believers require the risen Christ to lead, motivate, and enable all faithfulness to God. This He does as we trust and submit to Him in the expectation that our lives can serve as the vibrant scene of His risen life.
The spirits of born again believers in the Lord Jesus teem with His Life beyond life. Thereby the Holy Spirit enlivens our minds, faculties, and bodies to live far beyond our human agencies that bear no ability for even the first step of a life that meets God’s standards. “Without Me… nothing… “All things though Christ.” Our Lord lives in us, that we may live through Him. We serve as “witnesses of His resurrection” as we walk with God by the Life that came forth from the tomb long ago, and that comes forth from us as we trust God to enable the faculties of our humanity by the presence of His divinity. No other means exists whereby believers walk with God. None other is required.
“We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”
(II Corinthians 4:7)
“Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding, abundantly above all we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
(Ephesians 3:20-21)
Weekly Memory Verse
We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
(II Corinthians 4:7)
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