Power Crisis

[0:00] Resurrection power. We're going to enter the dimension of the paranormal this morning.! There's a lot of talk about that in the world, isn't there? The paranormal.

[0:14] ! Something out of the ordinary. You see TV shows that dwell on such things. The supernatural, beyond the natural. The paranormal, beyond the normal.

[0:26] And 2,000 years ago, a dramatic event took place. And it still rocks the world today. The awesome power of God.

[0:38] Matthew 28. From verse 1, we read the account. From verse 1 through 10 of Matthew 28. In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

[0:58] And behold, there was a great earthquake. For the angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat upon it.

[1:11] His countenance was like lightning and his raiment white as snow. And for fear of him, the keepers did shake and became as dead men.

[1:24] And the angel answered and said unto them, the women, Fear not ye! For I know that ye seek Jesus which was crucified.

[1:36] He is not here! For he is risen! As he said, Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen!

[1:51] From the dead! And behold, he goeth before you into Galilee. There shall ye see him! Lo, I have told you! And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy and did run to bring his disciples word.

[2:12] And as they went to tell his disciples, Behold, Jesus met them saying, All hail! And they came and held him by the feet and worshipped him.

[2:28] Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid. Go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee and there shall they see me. Something out of the ordinary.

[2:40] Our Lord had been crucified and buried three days before. Now on the first day of the week, the Lord's day, Sunday, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the tomb.

[2:57] The angel of the Lord rolled the stone away from the tomb. His face was like lightning. His clothing a dazzling white. The awesome power of God was on display.

[3:11] The soldiers who kept vigil trembled. They just shook and became like dead men. They were horrified. Just amazed.

[3:24] And the angel spoke and said, He is not here for he is risen. And so these women then they ran to bring the disciples word. And Jesus met them.

[3:35] He stopped them in their tracks. And they worshipped him. What a momentous day. God's power displayed. Resurrection power. Power over death.

[3:46] The power of God. Let us consider this power. This power. And what it means for us. Let us pray. Our Lord, we thank you that you are our Saviour and Lord.

[4:01] You've conquered death and hell at the cross. The tomb lies empty now. Our risen Lord, we come to you. Your word. Speak your word to our hearts, Lord.

[4:15] Encourage it, soul. Let it be, Lord, a word we need to hear. And act upon. In Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. We have a power crisis in South Australia.

[4:31] We've just known for it, aren't we? South Australia. The blackout state. We are renowned for it. It's one of our outstanding claims to fame.

[4:45] South Australia. There's a power crisis here. And our Premier has been on the media lately saying we need South Australian power for South Australians.

[5:00] We have a problem with the power supply. There's energy problems here. And I put to you that the Church of God needs the power of God.

[5:14] Amen. The Church of God the Church on earth needs heaven sent power. The South Australian Church needs South Australian heavenly sent power.

[5:29] Amen. That's what we need. Of course we know earthly power is one thing but heavenly power that's what we absolutely need don't we? Resurrection power. The power of God for His Church on earth.

[5:43] Heaven sent. Resurrection power. That's what we need. And Paul tells us that the same power the same Spirit is at work within God's own people.

[5:58] As we read in Romans 8 verse 11 Romans 8 verse 11 Paul writes But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken make alive quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you shall quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.

[6:37] The resurrection of Jesus Christ was the most momentous event in all history as He rose from the dead. But what does it mean for us today for us for you for me now here today what does it mean we are promised that even now today we who believe can know this power at work by His Spirit that dwells within us it is power we can experience Paul tells us we can know this power the power of His resurrection Philippians 3 verse 10 Paul says again that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings being made conformable unto His death now we are not going to talk about the fellowship of His sufferings in this sermon maybe for another time that is something we don't want to gloss over the fellowship of His sufferings but we are majoring on the power of His resurrection today

[7:52] Paul wanted this more than anything else he wanted to know the power of His resurrection and our identity in Christ is because of the resurrection because of the power of the resurrection consider the resurrection power today and what it means for you for me here now for our lives consider the resurrection power it is converting power converting power now now's the time for the well they I've heard it heard it said there's people there's a there's a group of people called the Christus the Christus Christmas and Easter Christus there's the there's the C and E's and they come at Easter time or Christmas time and they they just show their faces briefly and then they scurry away again till the next occasion and the

[8:55] Christus but we don't want to be such that we just pay lip service or some token service we want to be converted and yet but then there might be those who are morning and night and midweek people and still lost still unsaved it's not about sitting on a seat and singing some songs or whatever you do it's about that converting power that's what matters isn't it we can be the most faithful church attender and go straight to hell we need the converting power the converting power and when we come to know him to know him and the power of his resurrection he changes us from the inside out he changes lives it's converting power this resurrection power 2 corinthians 5 17 it says therefore if any man be in christ he is a new creature all things are passed away behold all things are become new this is life transforming converting power and bible the bible speaks of this power this power it says it works in me it works in you it's life changing power there's a conversion we're not the same anymore something happens we get changed from the inside out and peter could testify that god's divine power has given us everything for life and godliness through our knowledge of him he's given us everything through his divine power everything that we need for life for the where the rubber hits the road for life and for godliness that our lives will be transformed who have caught us by his own glory and goodness that's 2 peter 1 verse 3 peter could testify of that power and there is power today in his great name god has highly!

[10:57] exalted him we read and his name has the greatest power and authority you know there's big names on planet earth people know the name Bill Gates or it could be Donald Trump or it could be you name it secular sports stars film stars big names but this name is absolutely above above and beyond any name that is named and it says in the word of God in Philippians 2 verse 5 that God has highly exalted him highly exalted him and his name has the greatest power and authority Philippians 2 verse 5 let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men and being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the cross wherefore

[12:14] God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father a name above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow at that name that is above every every every other name our Lord has the greatest name the resurrection power and it avails today here now in you in me in this time in this place his power avails it is converting power converting power amen know him and the power of his resurrection not just know about him but truly know know him to know that

[13:16] I know that I know he is my savior he is my Lord my master to know him and the power of his resurrection it's converting power we see also that this resurrection power is conquering power it is conquering power his name is above every other name every knee shall bow every knee shall bow the knees of the Christ deniers shall bow the knees of the skeptics shall bow the knees of the atheists shall bow the knees of every other religion on planet earth they shall bow ultimately they shall bow to this name the name above every other name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow it's converting power we must be converted we see it is conquering power in that this power has the power to overcome we have the power of God to know his victory it says that he that is in you is greater than he that is in the world the one who is in us who dwells within us in him we have that greater power that greater victory over he that is in the world that includes the enemy of our soul so it's conquering power there's power here to know his victory and

[14:42] Paul prayed for the Ephesians such that they might know this power this power within at work within them in Ephesians 1 verse 19 one of the prayers of Paul Ephesians 1 19 he prays for them that they might know what is the exceeding greatness the exceeding greatness of his power to us would who believe his power towards us that believe the exceeding greatness of it he says according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and sent him at his own right hand in the heavenly places far above all principality and might and dominion and every name every name that is named not only in this world but also in that which is to come and have put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the church which is his body the fullness of him that filleth all in all that you might know the exceeding greatness of his power the working of his mighty power which he wrought in

[15:53] Christ when he raised from the dead! that God's power is God's mighty power and it's at work in believers today think of this power this book tells us of this power read it from cover to cover we see his working his power his might his wonder back at Genesis in creation we see God's mighty power that affected creation in all of its abundance and complexity the macro nature of it in terms of the universe the expanse of the stars and planets the milky way the constellations the solar system down to the very micro level down to the very infinite detail of the cells and make up of our very being down to the very intimate intricate detail of who we are the building blocks of life the

[17:21] DNA he has shown his mighty power in the power of God that affected creation and we see that exceeding greatness of his power God's mighty power is at work in believers today we see through the record of scripture God's moving and shaking and doing through his people in his people through the work of God as he delivered his nation Israel from Egypt through the Red Sea as we see the many dramatic encounters of men and women with this power of God as we see it demonstrated through the record of scripture and then we see at the cross and at the tomb God's power as he raised Christ Jesus from the dead death defying power and this same spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in you in me wow death hath no more dominion over us ultimately we cannot die we cannot die of course physically it'll happen possibly it will unless he comes before that moment and he takes us before the undertaker does but we'll have the upper taker takers instead of the undertaker but death hath no more dominion over us no more dominion we're not under that dominion because we know his power his life giving eternal life power beyond this physical death death cannot hold us death cannot keep us because we will rise again consider the power of god the power of prayer there's people in this church who pray people who fast and pray people who take prayer seriously the power of prayer let's not neglect that people of god the power of the gospel it's the power of god unto salvation to everyone that believes power power wonder working power in the blood of the lamb there is power we appropriate this power by faith we are empowered by the holy spirit as they waited they were endued with power from on high that's the power source amen the power source from on high plug in to the power source the resurrection power gives us a heavenly up look and a heavenly outlook it says in colossians 3 verse 1 through 2 paul again he says if ye then be risen with christ seek those things which are above where christ sitteth on the right hand of god set your affection on things above not on things on the earth if ye then be risen with christ he says seek those things which are above we should have that up look that outlook that is heavenly that knows this is this is just temporary this is forever our looking above our affection on things above so consider the power of god the power of the blood the blood precious blood shared for you for me guilty ones that we can know his grace and love and forgiveness the power to overcome sin the power to overcome temptation the power to know god's forgiveness it's all here in black and white and red in your bibles it's here brother sister the power the power believe the power of god and one

[21:21] especially encouraging things for me is that god's power is made perfect in what god's power is made perfect in what weakness weakness oh preacher i'm a weak christian i'm a weak weak christian i've got so many faults and failings and you know people tell me that and sometimes i hear some stories i'm not it's not like i've got a confessional that they come into but i do hear things people say things they unburden themselves to me and i think i know where you're at i'm weak too i'm faulty too i'm frail and failing too i am weak but he is he is he is strong yes god's power is made perfect in weakness weakness so brother sister when you're feeling weak he is strong call on him it's good to know that we're weak and not to highly rate ourselves you know some people you think that they've they've got a humility badge that they polish every day you know you know people like that christians have got it all together i don't know how they do it but they they just walk on a higher plane you know the super spiritual ones there's like there's nothing ever goes wrong for them and they're just walking on clouds every day and uh or they've got this high lofty view of themselves that they they've arrived and the rest of us haven't but brother and sister we're all weak we're all weak we're all needful of his grace we're all lacking of something of his power of his grace we need more more of god and he needs more of us let's not ever get to that high and mighty attitude that we think we've got it all together paul says i've not alive yet i'm pressing towards the mark i've not apprehended yet i'm still on the road i'm still getting there i'm still on that journey and likewise for us his power is made perfect in weakness that's 2 corinthians 12 verse 9 so if you're feeling weak you're in good company paul had the same sense 2 corinthians 4 through 6 through 7 again we see another encouraging scripture i love this one 2 corinthians 4 6 through 7 for god who commanded the light to shine hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of god in the face of jesus christ but we have this treasure in urban vessels that the excellency of the power might be of god and not of us not of us now the minute we try to big note ourselves and try to say on on uh you know the latest and greatest christian and i'm just so good uh that it's vanity isn't it it's vanity and it's being you know knowledge puffeth up sometimes we can know too much and we think oh i've got a higher knowledge than other christians because of this or that or whatever and we can think i'm a first class christian and these other ones have not arrived yet but no the excellency of the power is not of us not of us it's of god it's of god you must learn to depend upon him and not in ourselves and he has this treasure this treasure dwells in earth and vessels just containers of clay of earth he dwells within and i think we need to be humbled sometimes you know and and not not not rate people i think some churches rate people you know they rate them that they some kind of lesser than others

[25:22] and some are higher than others it's like in the book of james where you know they talked about some they get the kind of comfy seats and the others you just know you don't worry about them we're all equally equally in need of his grace aren't we and every soul you know that the most mean and menial the most poor and lowly and the most high and known every soul is precious in his sight and let's know that the excellency the power is not of us not of us and let's not look on some or others and rate them as if the sum that have got higher quality than others no we're all needful of his grace and we're all needful of his power it's not of us but his power can live in the most lowly in the most humble in the most ordinary and that's the good news this is the answer for our state's power crisis amen this is the answer for

[26:28] South Australia's crisis this power crisis this critical power crisis that we're in in the power crisis that really matters which is in the church the church of God we see the church of God worldwide there's a waning of power there's a neglect of power there's a neglect of the book there's a neglect of God there's a neglect of prayer there's a neglect of spiritual fervor and fervency and truth there's a power crisis and it's critical an energy crisis that's in the church of God today we need God we need to know the power of his resurrection we need to know that The church of God today is suffering a power fault.

[27:12] It's a power fault. Have you ever tried that at home? You've got a switch or a power point and you think, oh, something's not quite right. It's sort of intermittent. Intermittent.

[27:26] Or we try something, it's like my computer and whatnot, something's slowing it all down. It's just slow. And we've slowed down, we've powered down, and it's like the church is kind of coasting.

[27:46] Isn't that so? As a church, we can just coast. Just coasting along. We're in the glory train. Just the seats are nice and comfy.

[28:00] We know where we're going. It's the glory train. Glory, hallelujah. Just sit back and enjoy the ride. Just take it easy. Kick back.

[28:11] And just live the casual, comfy Christian life. Let's get nice and snug, comfortable. Enjoy the ride. That's how church is in many ways.

[28:23] And we can get like that. Saints of God. We can. Amen. The problem is, there's a power fault. And the problem is that there is a transmission failure.

[28:34] A transmission failure. The failure is not with the power source. We don't have to worry about the power station, as it were, going kaput and not working.

[28:46] Or someone turning it off. God's not turned off the power. Amen. It's not a problem with the power source. Because the problem with this power is not an availability of the power.

[28:59] Amen. The problem is not with the availability of the power. The power source, the source, the power of God, this power source is unfailing.

[29:12] Amen. He never fails. His power is never failing. The problem is not with the availability of the power. The problem is with the connection.

[29:26] Amen. The problem is with the connection. What does it say? Draw near to God. And he will, what? Draw near to you.

[29:37] Draw near to God. And he will draw near to you. There's a promise there. And the problem is not the power source, but the problem is in the receiving of the power.

[29:51] So, I'm using picturesque language here just to try to paint a picture. You know, we see in the media the power crisis, the energy crisis.

[30:03] But let's be reminded about the energy crisis in the church of God. So, we see, we're at a place in history where the church is coasting in the west, particularly.

[30:16] In some countries we know God is working in mighty harvest times. But in our nation, I think it's a kind of she'll be right, mate.

[30:32] Isn't it? The Aussie way. She'll be right, mate. And we don't realise that there's a blockage. A blockage that's hindering and slowing us down.

[30:45] It's slowing God's power working within us. If we can just release this power, unleash this power, to see God's work activated. Now, how can I draw this together and make sense of it, what I'm trying to put over here?

[31:01] I'm talking about the resurrection power. He is not here. He is risen. And it says, ye are risen with Christ. Seek those things above. He's raised us up. He's made us such that we have victory.

[31:15] We have converting power. We have conquering power. His name is above every name. And he is the one who dwells within us by his spirit. And he has given us this power. Yet, the connection's got a bit faulty.

[31:28] It's like the plugs falling out of the socket kind of thing. We've got to draw near to God. And he will draw near to us. And the thing about the power of God is the power of God is not given to us for signs and wonders and performance and razzmatazz and crowd pulling kind of come and watch this spectacle on the stage and be blown away by this great man of God or this great ministry of whatever it be.

[32:00] That's not what the power of God is for. The purpose of the power is that we be his church. That we be his ambassadors to our world.

[32:12] That we be his witnesses. You know, they were endued with power from on high so they could be his witnesses. He's given us power. And the purpose of the power is that it be applied.

[32:24] That we apply the power. Because the power is given us for action. For a purpose. When we think about the power of God, it's power to walk. Power to walk the Christian life. He saves us.

[32:37] He sanctifies us. He makes us his own. His own people. It's power for our walk. It's power for our witness. So he sent us to be his ambassadors, commissioned, sent to declare this message, his gospel to our world, to our planet, to our generation.

[32:54] It's power to witness. And it's power to win. Power to win. We have victory over the enemy. Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. We have his name which is above every name.

[33:07] And we are seated with him. Risen. Seated in heavenly places. We've got power to win. He's put all things under his feet. And the church is seated with him.

[33:20] And such. So we've got power to walk, power to witness, power to win. It's power given us for action. And we can walk in the power of the resurrection today. But people of God, let us be mindful that there's an untapped power.

[33:37] There's untapped power. Power potential. Because we fail to receive it. And let's not kick back on the glory train.

[33:51] And just coast along with our Christianity. Let's seek hard after God. Let's go hard after God. Let us resort unto God. Let us resort unto prayer.

[34:02] Let us seek after him. Seek his face. Draw near to him. And he will draw near to you. Let us not settle for a comfy ride.

[34:13] But let's be empowered. For the walk. For the witness. And for the winning. Day by day. Victory after victory. That he'll help you to live.

[34:23] And live right. Live victoriously. The Christian life. So friends today. Let's just prayerfully close now.

[34:34] As we just meditate. Just in closing on these truths today. I've been preaching to Christians really. That we can know.

[34:46] A power. Beyond our own. And for all who will believe. The most weakly. The most powerless. Can be made powerful. And each one who can know.

[35:00] The Lord Jesus Christ. And his death. Burial and resurrection. As saviour. As lord. As master. Dying in our place. Bearing our sin. Our shame. Our guilt.

[35:10] Paying the penalty in full. Of the death sentence against us. That we might know. His everlasting life. He is the risen lord this morning. And lord. We look to you. We pray that each one might know that.

[35:23] Saving converting power. That happens because of the cross. And the resurrection. That we have converting power. Help us lord to know the conquering power. That we can walk in victory.

[35:36] And even through the. The very real temptations. The very real temptations. Of this daily world. That we walk in. Which is. Godless.

[35:47] And Christ rejecting. And by and large. We're in the minority. We're. Really outnumbered. Yet.

[35:58] Even in. The den of lions. We can know victory. We can know your conquering power. And lord. We know. It all starts. And really.

[36:10] Continues. With the connection. We must. Check the connection. Lord. As it were. We don't want to get disconnected. Lord. From you. And your power.

[36:21] We don't want to get casual. And comfy. Lord. And coast along. But lord. To. Seek hard after you. Lord. Help us to be such. That we'll want. To know the resurrection power.

[36:33] In. Our daily lives. In our families. In our homes. Help us lord. To. Draw near to you. And to tap in.

[36:44] To that. Life transforming power. Pray for every believer. That will be encouraged this morning. That as we think of the power crisis.

[36:55] As it were. That it's a power crisis. In the church. And that means. Each individual believer. Every individual believer. Who makes up the church. Lord.

[37:06] Let us be challenged. To. Seek after you. Empower us lord. That we wait. As it were. To be endued with power. From on high. To be your witnesses.

[37:17] In this world. That you've called us to. In Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.