I PRAYED Dear God, may we become intimately aware of the resurrection power of God that dwells in us.
It’s a word we hear repeatedly at this time of year. Most people relate that word — resurrection — only with Jesus rising from the dead. And while that is certainly the most commonly understood use of the word, you might be surprised to learn that resurrection neither began nor ended with the Lord Jesus as we see Him in the Gospels.
Have you taken your place on the wall? Resurrection means to rise. Furthermore, it means a resurgence or revival, the act of bringing back into existence something that had disappeared or ended. As we can see, there is much more to resurrection than the dead being raised to life. Even the supernatural raising of the dead is something that was occurring long before Jesus was born, died, and rose again. We see this truth in the account of the son of the widow in Zarephath.
Now it happened after these things that the son of the woman who owned the house became sick. And his sickness was so serious that there was no breath left in him. So she said to Elijah, “What have I to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to kill my son?” And he said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him out of her arms and carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. Then he cried out to the Lord and said, “O Lord my God, have You also brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge, by killing her son?” And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the Lord and said, “O Lord my God, I pray, let this child’s soul come back to him.” Then the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived (1 Kings 17:17–22, NKJV).
We also see resurrection in the life of the Shunammite woman’s son, whom Elisha raised from the dead in 2 Kings 4. And there is also the bizarre account of the dead man whose body was tossed into Elisha’s tomb. This man, too, was restored to life supernaturally (see 2 Kings 13:20–21).
Resurrection as a rising from the dead continued into the accounts of the New Testament, as seen with the son of the widow from Nain; the daughter of Jairus; and, of course, Lazarus (see Luke 7, Luke 8, and John 11). Finally, there is the supreme resurrection: that of the Lord Jesus Himself, Who rose from death on the third day, just as He had promised. One might conclude that after Jesus left this earth, the realities of resurrection or supernatural raising of the dead would cease. It did not. Peter raised Tabitha (Dorcas) from the dead, and Paul raised Eutychus (see Acts 9 and Acts 20). Even today, although the incidents are few and far between, we do hear of people being raised from the dead. And indeed, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). God will never change. But while these instances of people being raised from the dead are exciting, we must also remember the additional aspects of this powerful word, resurrection.
Resurrection is a resurgence or revival. A friend recently said to me: “A thing only needs to be revived if that thing has died.” So true, and so profound. We have heard of the revivals on the campuses of Asbury and Lee, among other universities, as well as in several churches across our country. These revivals that are spreading happen only where a revival or resurrection is needed. This resurgence of the power and the presence of God invading colleges, churches, and cities is evidence that the power of resurrection remains, in various and glorious forms.
Resurrection is the act of bringing back into existence something that has disappeared or ended. This aspect of resurrection — the bringing back of something that has disappeared — is what I believe we’re seeing now in the prayers of God’s people: I have never seen or heard of so many people fasting, praying, and meeting weekly to pray and cry out to God for the healing of our nation. This, my friend, is a resurrection of prayer: the resurrection of a passion to see God move in this land. It’s so exciting to be a part of it! Yes, resurrection has many facets, but the most humbling part for me is that the power of resurrection remains alive and well within us, the people of God, within those of us who believe in that power. Amen.
In the words of Paul the apostle: … that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all (Ephesians 1:17–23 NKJV).
The very same power that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us. We have the power to release resurrection power into our own situations and challenges, and even into our nation. We have power to bring life back into those areas that appear dead and lifeless. The question is: Do we realize that we’ve got that life-giving power within? Again, quoting Paul: … that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection … (Philippians 3:10 NKJV). This must be our cry as well. May we know the fullness of the power of His resurrection that dwells within us. The word know in this passage means to become intimately aware of.
During this most holy season, may we all press in to become intimately aware of the resurrection power of God that is in us. May we gain insight into that resurrection power, and into all that this entails. And, finally, may we all walk daily in that resurrection power.
How has God used the power of resurrection in your life? Share below and encourage others!
Kim Potter is a writer and the founder of A New Thing Ministries, which sends a daily teaching to thousands of people all around the world. Her articles have appeared on The Elijah List, in Charisma Magazine, and on Spirit Fuel and iBelieve.com. Kim’s message is one of hope. She speaks to the hearts of those who have grown discouraged or disappointed by the circumstances of life, to impart hope. Her daily inspirational writings are available at www.anewthingministries.com. Photo Credit: Canva.