Living Daily in Resurrection Power

This month’s Pastor’s Perspective is delivered by Pastor Kyle Searcy, Fresh Anointing House of Worship

Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:3-4

The resurrection is the single most powerful event in the world. In that one moment, Jesus broke the power of the King of Terrors (Death) and established a path for all who live and die in Christ to be resurrected in the future.

Beloved, now we are children of God;
and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. I John 3:2

I can’t wait to receive my resurrected body. Paul the Apostle describes it as a body sown in corruption but raised incorruptibly. The body goes into the ground in dishonor but will be raised in glory. It will be planted in weakness, but it will sprout in power. The natural body that goes into the ground emerges as a spiritual body (1 Cor. 15:42–44). This is glorious. I celebrate the time when we will have a body that will never get sick. It will be incapable of death. It will never grow old, and the best part is I don’t think it will gain weight. Yeehaw! Think about it, no lost or missing teeth, perfect gut microbiome (If that will still be a thing in our resurrected bodies). OK, we can go on and on imagining what it will be like, but let’s zero in on something we can embrace now.

Like many kingdom principles, there is a future fulfillment and a current implementation. Scripture teaches that there is a degree of resurrected power we can walk in here and now. Paul the Apostle declared that because of what Jesus did on the cross, we should also walk in “newness of life.”

The word “newness” is a noun that is in the dative tense. Dative refers to a benefit or recipient of an action. Because of what Christ did, we have a benefit. We are the recipients of a new level of grace we can walk in.
I recently encountered evidence of the perils of aging. After trying some new cardio exercises for three days straight, I woke up the fourth morning in agonizing pain on my right foot. I had no idea the stair master, the elliptical, and the peloton were such a dangerous combination. I could not walk. The pain in the bottom of my foot was insane. After visiting a few doctors, I found out I had plantar fasciitis and posterior tibial tendentious. Ouch! I learned that as we age, sometimes the arches in our feet lose their form, causing problems. I began searching for a solution. Someone told me about a miracle insert for your shoes called “10 seconds”, to comfort arch stability. I ordered a pair on Amazon, put them in my shoes, and “wallah”, problem solved. I am literally walking in newness concerning pain in my foot. It’s gone!

So here’s what happened: I had a problem, and something existed to settle my problem, but I had to do something about it. I had to recognize it, acquire it, apply it, then walk in it. The same is true with resurrection power. We have a problem. It’s called sin and flesh. We were born with it and can’t overcome it on our own; however, there is something we can apply. It’s called the resurrection power of Jesus. It is available to us on a regular basis. Jesus said it this way, “Christ in you is the hope of glory.” The power of Christ in us is available whenever we need it. It is a supernatural grace we can apply.

Here’s a sample of what’s possible: A few years ago, I had to fly across the country. It was a long, intense journey. I finally got to my hotel room at about 10 pm. I had been so occupied that I did not pray all day. Now I was exhausted, wanting only to sleep, but I really felt that I needed to pray. I went outside and started walking, attempting to pray. It wasn’t working. I was so lethargic it was hard to walk around.

Additionally, I could not concentrate. My mind was wandering everywhere except where I wanted it. I thought, “This is not going to work.” I wanted to pray for at least one hour but didn’t think I would make even 15 minutes. Then I remembered the scripture that says that we have access to resurrection power that can cause us to walk in the newness of life. I began to access it, pray for it, and lean into it. I began to apply it. I set my mind on the fact that there was a power available greater than my personal power. I asked for it and began to set my mind on the strength in me by the power of the Holy Spirit. As I did, something remarkable happened. Tremendous strength rose in me. I started praying with great grace and power. It’s like I was a new man. I didn’t pray for one hour, I prayed for about two hours and could have continued. I stopped, not because I had to but because I chose to.

In a moment, I was transformed from a tired, weak individual to one laced with grace. It was resurrection power that was applied. Beloved, this power is available to us moment by moment and day by day. It can help us flee during times of temptation. It’s available to soothe us during times of rising rage in our hearts. It can aid us in loving those around us who are difficult. It can help us serve God when we are weary.

This resurrection season, as we celebrate the empty tomb, let’s access this resurrection power that is available to us whenever needed.

Kyle Searcy serves as senior pastor of Fresh Anointing House of Worship in Montgomery. As well as being a skilled writer and well sought-after speaker, he is husband to the beautiful and anointed, Kemi Searcy. They are the blessed parents of four children and six grandchildren.