Last month, people all over the world celebrated Easter (Resurrection Sunday) in many different ways. To some people, Easter is a holiday full of bunnies, eggs, candy and time with family. For those of us who have the privilege of knowing Christ, it is a time of celebration and hope. It is a time of remembering the miraculous and choosing to walk in that power today. Without the cross and the resurrection, there is no Christianity. It is at the very core of everything we believe and receive as sons and daughters of the King.
At Wings of Refuge, we have the amazing opportunity to welcome women into relationship with others and Jesus. Some women who come to our home have a relationship with Jesus, and others have never been taught about Him. I love and cherish every opportunity I have to share the good news of Jesus Christ with them.
This year, we did a short video series leading up to Resurrection Sunday that gave a detailed snapshot of Jesus’ journey to the cross all the way through His ascension. One of our participants is new to Christianity and was really soaking up the information. We had just finished watching some difficult scenes about the crucifixion and death of Jesus and were processing like we normally do. This participant empathized with what Jesus experienced and then loudly proclaimed, “I want to see the resurrection!” In that moment, my heart overflowed with joy. I shot my fist up in the air and exclaimed, “Yes!” That is where our hope lies! For someone so new to Christianity, the resurrection can be difficult to understand, but she recognized there was something powerful about it. She did not know all the details, and she knew that Jesus did not stay buried in the tomb. He rose from the dead and made new life possible for every single one of us.
Not only did Jesus conquer death, but He gave us His Spirit. Romans 8:11 states, “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” Did you catch that? The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead is living in us today! We have the resurrection power inside us! There is nothing too difficult that He cannot overcome. Every sickness, disease, anxiety, addiction, etc. has to bow at the foot of the cross. Jesus died so we could live!
I want to challenge you to look at your life and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the areas where you may not be fully accessing the resurrection power. I have seen first-hand through the women in our home what can happen when people take ahold of the hope that lies in Jesus. What was stolen can be given back. What was dead can be brought back to life. Relationships that were damaged can be restored. Addictions that have overtaken lives can be overcome in an instant. What are you contending for today? What seems so far gone that it cannot be restored? Where does your faith need to be activated in a fresh way? Jesus did not die so we could remain stuck in life, He gave His life so we could be empowered by His Spirit to activate the resurrection power and walk in wholeness and freedom.
Imagine what it would look like if the Church, the Bride of Christ, would truly access the resurrection power in our daily lives. I believe our world would be filled with miracles, signs and wonders as in the days of Jesus’ ministry. I encourage you to join me in this journey of new life. Allow your faith to be activated to believe you have the resurrection power living inside you.
Speak out the name of Jesus over every situation and stand on His promises. Grab ahold of those truths and walk forward in victory! The enemy has already been defeated, and we are sons and daughters of the resurrected King!
Blessings, Brandi Schleisman Direct Care Coach - Spiritual Development