I Believe in The Resurrection

The opening worship song was The Creed by Hillsong. It was 8:00 AM service and as I followed the lyrics on the screen, I asked the Lord to minister to my soul. He knows me better than I know myself and so I asked him to comfort or confront anything in me that required his attention. I prayed also for those worshiping by me and as I sang the lyrics, “I believe in the resurrection; that we will rise again”, I stopped singing. I repeated the words to myself, “I believe in the resurrection. I believe we will rise again.” I continued to worship and each time we sang those lyrics, my soul said, “Yes, it’s true. We will rise again… and we are rising today.” My thoughts quickly went to Romans 6 and I experienced the sensation of fulfilled hope. The feeling you get when something you’ve longed for has come to pass. We finished worshiping and as I sat down I thanked the Lord for strengthening my soul.

Yes, I believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and in his complete victory over the destructive and corrupting consequences of sin in this world and in our lives. Yes, I believe not only has Jesus, himself, overcome the power and authority of sin, but that he has granted that same victory to those who truly believe in him. I believe that “just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in the newness of life” (Romans 6:4). I believe that our sinful tendencies and habits were “crucified with Jesus in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing”! In other words, that sin’s authority and power over our daily thoughts, actions, desires and feelings were overthrown and that we were freed from being enslaved to sinful ways of being and doing (Romans 6:6). And I believe that this resurrection begins today. Jesus can put to death our old dark ways and raise his divine character within us. He can resurrect his love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and self-control in us today. No matter how dead our hearts may be: No matter how cynical, judgmental, angry, impatient, hateful, bitter, anxious, lazy or lustful they may be; Jesus can take our hard, dead hearts and raise them to new life.

So today, be encouraged and encourage another brother or sister in Christ! Battle to believe what is true. Don’t dwell on past sins or perseverance over confessed wrongdoing. And don’t cause a brother or sister in Christ to dwell on their sin by bringing it up in an argument or in some outburst of anger. Dwell on the power of Jesus’ resurrection in you or in a fellow believer. Fully trust in Jesus resurrection of you today.