THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION

THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION

Don’t just be astonished at God raising Jesus from the dead, be empowered! Acts 26:17-18 says; I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. God came to give us His power through faith in Christ to repent from the power and deception that Satan has on this world.

When I was coming to faith in Christ in Hollywood California, I needed to have the power that comes from faith in Jesus to make some major changes in my life. I was under the power of my sin and Satan. I smoked about a pack of cigarettes a day, did illegal drugs and drank alcohol too much. The physical addiction that had a hold of me alone was overwhelming. I think of an incredible passage of scripture that says in Mark 5:28-30 says; because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed�?. Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. AT ONCE JESUS REALIZED THAT POWER HAD GONE OUT FROM HIM. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?

God expected me to repent from sins so I could live as a disciple of Jesus. He and I knew that there was no way I could overcome the sins that had a hold on my life. I needed His power to give me strength to go cold turkey on cigarettes, drugs and booze. He answered me every time I called to Him in prayer to help me resist the temptations. I overcame smoking, drugs and drunkenness through prayer and faith in God! I will never forget that time in 1993 when I became a disciple of Jesus Christ. It really increased my faith in what God could do. What are you struggling with? You can overcome your sin if you sincerely bring it before God in prayer. I need to tell you that it wasn’t painless when I overcame my sin. I had to endure and persevere with physical and emotional pain through faith and prayer. But God was there and didn’t allow me to go through more than I could endure. I learned discipline and character as I repented of my sins. Today I still call on my Father in Heaven for the power to overcome sin in my life as I strive to become more like Christ.

1 Peter 1:3-4 says; His divine power has given us everything we need

for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. The only way to escape the corruption in the world is to participate in His divine nature. There is no such thing as a spectator Christian. We must engage with our God in a divine relationship with Him. The word participate is so key. Our faith must call us to action. As you read the bible, do what it says. Live out your faith and experience God’s power in your life. When you experience victories in your life, stay humble so God can continue to work.

Life is short, then we get to go to Heaven.

Love, your brother in Christ,

Chris Chloupek