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Partners In The Mission:
Resurrection Power
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| Release Date: 03/18/2008 |
| a message from Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director |
In Philippians 3:10, the Apostle Paul reveals the primary objective of his life: “That I may know Him, and the power of his resurrection…”
It was Paul’s desire to know Jesus Christ personally. He wanted to know the power of the resurrection. For Paul, that power operated in the life of the believer. The resurrection of Christ bodily underscores the importance of the body and how we live our lives.
The resurrection of Christ is the guarantee of immortality (Romans 8:11, I Corinthians 15:14 ff). His victory is our victory. The resurrection of Christ is the guarantee that the risen Lord is always with us (Matthew 28:20). This same power has enabled us to move from death to life in Jesus Christ.
In Ephesians 3:7-11, Paul refers to the mystery of God’s plan that is being revealed by the Church according to His eternal purposes. Paul was grateful that God had given him the privilege to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. He prays that Christ will dwell in their hearts by faith and that they will know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge and be filled with all the fullness of God.
Paul has described an incredible experience that is possible because of God’s eternal plan through Jesus Christ. It cannot be explained in human terms, but it can be experienced by faith in Jesus Christ.
Paul knew that experience and shared it before rulers, on Mars Hill, in prisons, in synagogues, in market places, while shipwrecked, etc. He never missed an opportunity to share how God had transformed his life and how others could experience transformation by God.
I have discovered that when my heart is filled with God’s love, and my mind with the truth of the Gospel, the Holy Spirit opens doors for me to witness.
When he was a pastor, Steve Rice, the Kentucky Baptist Convention’s director of discipleship and assimilation, led the members of First Baptist Church, Williamstown, to share their faith in Sunday school classes the first Sunday of each month. I cannot think of a better way for Sunday school members to get to know each other and to be reminded at least 12 times each year of the resurrection power of Jesus Christ that has transformed our lives.
Every believer has a story to tell. Sharing testimonies is a great way to help the congregation to understand that the mission of the church is life transformation.
It is my prayer that every church will teach members how to share their life changing testimony. Modeling the process in church helps sharing our faith become a natural extension of our lives outside of church!
Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535. |
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