The Power of His Resurrection

"...that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed to his death;  if somehow I may come into the resurrection out of death." Philippians 3:10-11 (my own translation of these verses). 

  Paul places the first thing first - "...that I may know Him,... and the second thing second, ...and the power of His resurrection." He understood that in order to live in the knowledge of Christ meant that he would be dwelling in the life purchased by the resurrection. Therefore, it would automatically need the power of that action to effectively work and live in the knowledge of Christ.

 In Paul's prayer in Ephesians 1:15-23 for the believers there (and subsequently for all believers who would read), he prays things for them that are not automatic in a relationship with Christ. (Verses 3-14 describe the "spiritual blessings" that are automatic).

"For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and your love for all his people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion and every name that can be invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything, for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." Ephesians 1:15-23 TNIV

In the underlined section, Paul uses all four of the common Greek words used throughout the New Testament for "power." He, more or less, throws all the "power" language at the reader that was available in his language, so we would not miss the point of the great power available for us who believe. That resurrection power is what Paul was talking about here in Philippians. It moves, changes, re-arranges and ignites everything with the power of God Himself through a life once dead and now alive.

Every time a sinner encounters Christ and receives Him -- there is a resurrection! There is one who was eternally dead in their spirit, now alive in His life. This is wonderful. Now Paul urges us on through his sharing that he seeks that same power for his life. To live in the power of the resurrection is to live a life not hindered by any fear of  death or sickness; no fear of any event in the world political system or climate; no fear of what may happen around us in any way. It is a way of life that knows it will live forever in the peace and goodness of the Lord. Read the section in Ephesians underlined above and enjoy what is available to us.