RESURRECTION POWER FOR

TODAY!

Acts 2:22-24 “Men of Israel, hear these words: “Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by

miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves

also know-

- Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you

have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and

put to death…

…whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was

not possible that He should be held by it.”

It is quite astonishing that the same man (Peter) that denied Christ three time some seven

weeks previously is now speaking with such boldness!

What was it that made the difference?

• It is true that God delights to use the weak, foolish, things of the world to confound the wise.

1 Corinthians 1:26-27 – “For you see your calling, brethren,

that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not

many noble, are called...

…But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has

chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things

that are mighty.”

One man said “The musician receives the applause not the instrument, the potter gets the acclaim not the

lump of clay.”

This is true but what changed Peter (and the other followers) from being deserting deniers to

now bold, enthusiastic witnesses?

May I suggest 2 things made the difference:

THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST

and THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY

SPIRIT

These twelve men (Matthias replaced Judas Iscariot)

are probably one of the most substantial proofs of

the Resurrection.

3 Things about these disciples that point to the resurrection being authentic:

• 1. Their unrelenting passion in the midst of adversity

• 2. The recorded signs and wonders following their ministry.

• 3. The ongoing experience with Jesus throughout their lives.

1. Their unrelenting passion in the midst of adversity

• All of them suffered persecution and 11 were executed (except for John who survived but still died alone in exile).

2. The recorded signs and wonders following their ministry.

We see them walking in the power of God. History testifies of the sick being healed, the dead being raised. It was so common that sick people were laid on the street so that Peter’s shadow might pass over them and heal them.

3. The ongoing experience with Jesus throughout their lives.

They did not speak of Jesus as someone that they once knew but someone who walked and showed his presence in their everyday lives. They were in daily communication with Him just like countless millions have experienced throughout the world. Jesus is alive, he is not dead.

The same power that raised Jesus and gave life to the disciples is

available for us today!

Power to raise the spiritually dead.• Ephesians 2:1 Speaks about those

without Christ as being dead in trespasses and sins. Without Christ you are spiritually dead, not sick, not troubled, but spiritually cut off from God.

• CS Lewis said “ Jesus did not come to make bad people good, but to make dead people live”

If you are not a Christian, Christ wants to give you a brand new life (born again) and make you a new person (2 Corinthians says 5:17

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have

passed away; behold all things have become new.”)

Power to raise the physical dead • Jesus resurrection is the promise of our own

resurrection. Jesus conquered death for you and me.

• Jesus said “I am the resurrection and the life, he that believes on me though he may die yet shall he live”

• 1 Corinthians 15: 20 Jesus is called the firstfruits of those who have died (He is the firstborn from among the dead)

Power to raise the devotionally dead • If you are a Christian has your love for God

grown cold?

• Rev 3:1 (Church at Sardis) “You have a name that you are alive but you are dead”.

• They probably were active for God and attended church but they were dead. Is your life ablaze for God or have you grown cold?

Hosea 6:1-2 says “Come, and let us return to the Lord; For we are torn, but He will heal us; we are stricken, but he will bind us up.

After two days He will revive us: On the third day He will raise us up that

we may live in His sight.”