Apprentice 2 Jesus

Resurrection Sunday

One of the events I enjoy the most over the Passion season is Good Friday. For our community it’s a time of reflecting on the seven last words of Christ from the cross. A different church will take 20 minutes to reflect on a word. It’s a three hour service that is really one of my personal highlights for the year.

This year was even more special because I was able to see my colleagues in ministry for the first time in months, since I now work another job and can’t meet with them on a monthly basis.

That being said, I truly enjoy Good Friday and reflecting on the cross. Too many times I think we rush to the resurrection. Paul knew the power of the cross and the resurrection. BOTH had to work in him.

As I’ve reflected on this day for my message, I think there are three things that work together to FULLY bring the power of Christ into our lives.

1. The Cross. We must come to the cross. The old self must die. We simply cannot keep obeying that old self! It wrecks us! It wrecks me! I can be cruising along and think I’m pretty successful, but somewhere along the way that old self rises up and does something to screw up my perfect plans. I just keep falling in the same ditch. That old self needs to die! The cross brings victory.

2. The empty tomb. When we are buried with Christ we are RAISED with him. We are brought to new life and it is possible to look at what is RIGHT…and now do it! My mind can be set on what is life now!

3. The power of the Spirit. Rom. 8:11. That same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in me! DWELLS IN ME! That power comes to us. Jesus told his disciples to wait until they received that power.

Here is my issue: That work must be done in me. I cannot simply read it and hope it applies by osmosis. I must allow the WORK to be done. Just like the disciples waited in the upper room. Just like Paul went to the desert. Just like other great people of the Spirit have done…I must ALLOW THIS WORK to be effected in me.

There must be a place of the altar in my life. I must allow the cross, the resurrection, and the Spirit place to fulfill that complete work of Christ in me.