We bless God for Easter Convention 2021. Last year we couldn’t have a convention like this; we only met virtually for about 30 minutes but we thank God that we can meet this year. We also thank God for the various ministrations. As we bring the convention to a close, I would like to speak to you on the theme, “The power of the resurrection.”
Read Ephesians 1:19-20.
We are aware that Jesus came to die a disgraceful death on earth—the death on the cross. We are also aware that he was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. But the good news is that he didn’t remain in the tomb forever. So, Jesus was crucified and buried but he resurrected.
An unknown author has said that, “The resurrection is not only key but also central to Christianity: Christianity is not a religion based on abstract principles. Christianity is a relationship with a living savior we can know, a savior who infuses our life and empowers us, who transforms us into his likeness. Indeed, Jesus died yet he rose from the dead.”
Read Matthew 28:1-6.
When you visit the tombs of all other religious leaders, their bodies are still there but Jesus resurrected from the dead. In the resurrection of Jesus Christ, God showcased his great power. The resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ was in itself a great demonstration of power. In fact, if you read through the epistles of apostle Paul, he gives an indication that the resurrection was the greatest display of God’s power ever to be shown.
The word “power” in this context is what is known in the Greek language as “kratos.” So, the power of the resurrection is also known as “kratos.” It is a demonstrated power. What it means is that the resurrection power is not that which we know intellectually but rather it is demonstrative, eruptive, and tangible. God exerted this kratos power in the resurrection to bring Jesus back to life. On that fateful Sunday, God exerted this power to bring back Jesus to life.
What happened at the resurrection of Jesus?
There was a great earthquake and an angel descended from heaven to roll back the stone from the tomb. The appearance of the angel was like lightning and his clothing white as snow and, for the fear of him, the soldiers trembled and become like dead men. To understand the kratos power, let us go back to Matthew 27:62-66. From that scripture we see three things that were aimed at preventing the resurrection:
1. a stone was laid at the tomb; Mark describes it as a big one
2. on the instruction of Pilate, the tomb was secured, probably with the governor’s seal
3. guards took their position at the tomb
The stone that was laid at the entrance of the tomb; the seal that was used to secure it, as well as the army guard could not stand the power that God exerted to raise Jesus from the dead. If neither the stone nor the seal nor the guards could stop the resurrection, then nothing can prevent you from coming out. That power was so much that even the guards fell down as though dead.
How does the Bible describe the resurrection power?
Ephesians 1:19-20 from the Amplified Bible says it is immeasurable, unlimited, and has surpassing greatness. The New Living Translation calls it incredibly great power. So, when the devil was planning to keep Jesus in the grave forever, little did he know that there was this power which is unlimited and incomparably great. On that day God exerted this power and brought Jesus from the grave. He was dead but now is alive and holds the keys of death and the grave and when he opens no one can shut and when he shuts no one can open.
It is by this power that God defeated Satan and death. The Bible says in Hebrews 2:14-15 that through death he has destroyed the one who had the power over death. So death no longer has power over us. Just as Jesus was resurrected by the kratos power, on the last day when the trumpet is sounded we shall see him face to face. The devil planned for Jesus to never come back to life but it was impossible for death to keep Jesus in the grave. God raised Jesus from the dead and freed him from the agony of death because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
Three things to note about this power
1. This resurrection power—kratos—is available to every child of God
It is not the preserve of a few. It is available to all who believe. Jesus said in his name those who believe in him will cast out demons, speak with new tongues, will not be hurt even if they drank any deadly thing, and would lay their hands on the sick and have them recover.
2. The kratos power is still working
It is working today as it worked the first day. The Bible says if the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he that raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies through his spirit that lives in you. May life come into your mortal body in Jesus’ name. I speak to anything that is dying to receive life by the kratos power. Let there be a quickening of mortal bodies.
I see a quickening of businesses and a quickening of dreams and visions. Let the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead—the kratos power—bring you life. Even if you carry a debt let that power pay for it. I speak in the name of Jesus as a servant of God: Let there be a quickening for that power is unlimited, immeasurable, incomparably great, and there is no power to be compared to it. Let weak legs receive strength and weak hands receive strength. Let burdens be rolled away in the name of Jesus for the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in you.
What is the doctor saying? There is a higher dimension of power and that is the kratos power. In the name of Jesus; on the authority of the word of God we reverse whatever has been written against you in the name of Jesus.
3. This kratos power is all that we need to possess the nations
The crowds with one accord paid attention to what Philip said when they saw the signs he did (Acts 8:6).
Let me repeat what I said previously: The kratos power is visible and tangible. It is not just an intellectual idea. God exerted power to raise Christ from the dead and that power is kratos.
Main references
Ephesians 1:19-20, Matthew 28:1-6, Matthew 27:62-66, Acts 8:6