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Resurrect in Me

Philippians 3:11 (AMP) so that I may attain the resurrection (that will raise me) from the dead.

It’s hot here in Alabama. Sticky hot! The kind of hot that makes you not want to walk down to the mail box. I know some guys that have to work outside every day. My husband works ten, sometimes twelve, hours a day. He works in a plant over seeing the production of cars, but there are times he has to go out and check the cars, and sort them, before they can leave the plant to the dealerships. What happens when you are just exhausted?

Why is Paul having to attain something that was promised to us? Jesus said to her, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in (adheres to, trusts in, relies on) Me [as Savior] will live even if he dies; and everyone who lives and believes in Me [as Savior] will never die. Do you believe this?” ( John 11:25-26 AMP). Paul is not referring to the same resurrection that Jesus is here.

Paul was bi-vocational. He ministered where ever he went and then to feed himself he was a tent maker. Some places took care of him and he was grateful and allowed them to. He was not going to starve and be mad at God about it though. Do you think he may have gotten physically, emotionally and sometimes spiritually exhausted? I think he did too.

Philippians 3:10 (AMP) And this, so that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely] and [in that same way experience] the power of His resurrection [which overflows and is active in believers], and [that I may share] the fellowship of His sufferings, by being continually conformed [inwardly into His likeness even] to His death [dying as He did].

Paul knew how to fight exhaustion. The resurrection he needed was not because of literal death. It was a death to not be able to continue on with his mission. I believe that Paul was authentic with his struggles.

I was reading 1 Samuel chapters 13 and 14 and saw something very interesting. Saul had become king at the age of thirty. He ruled for forty two years. We find out right away that he had sons. One became King David’s best friend, Jonathan. Jonathan was skilled in fighting and had many victories. There was one incident that Jonathan took just his armor bearer with him and they fought off twenty men to win a victory. Reading further into this story we see that Saul’s army is exhausted. They have started deserting the cause. Reading a little further, we see that Saul had called for a fast for his army (Jonathan did not hear that part). Jonathan had found some honey and dipped his weapon in it and tasted it. It described his eyes and brightening.

What does our body do when our eyes become dull? We become exhausted. We start to not do well mentally. We no longer have the drive to keep going. This is what Jonathan told his father when he admitted to eating the honey. Saul had vowed to kill anyone who disobeyed, but the people talked him out of it.

I do believe I m fasting. Fasting without seeking after the heart of God is just dead works. That is what Saul was doing. Saul fasted thinking God would bless his efforts. When that did not work, he went and sat. Our motivation in a fast is to seek the heart of our Father, not to manipulate Him to do what we want.

What does this have to do with Philippians 3:11, “so that I may attain the resurrection (that will raise me) from the dead” ? Matthew 4:4 (AMP) But Jesus replied, “It is written and forever remains written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’”

Have your eyes become dull? Have you cried out in restless despair? Do you need a resurrection?It is right here. Do not forget about the intimate relationship you have with the Father. Get in His Word. Do not forsake it. It is life giving. It is time to attain that resurrection again!!

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Untie the colt

Acts 4:13 (AMP) Now when the men of the Sanhedrin (Jewish High Court) saw the confidence and boldness of Peter and John, and grasped the fact that they were uneducated and untrained [ordinary] men, they were astounded, and began to recognize that they had been with Jesus.

Yesterday we began what we call “Holy Week.” Starting with Palm Sunday, we celebrate and reflect on the week leading up to the Resurrection of Jesus on the following Sunday. Palm Sunday was the day that Jesus made His triumphant entrance into the city riding on the back of colt, the foal of a donkey,(Luke 19:28-38) as prophesied in Zechariah 9:9.

Jesus was 30 years old when He was baptized and He started His ministry. We read in Luke 2:41 that His parents took Him every year to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. We even see at the age of 12 that He was able to talk about and have an intellectual conversation about the scriptures. He was 33 years old when He went to the cross. Nearly 33 years walking into that city for the Passover Feast. Why was this one so special? Jesus knew that the time would come. There was never a time that He did not celebrate the Passover. What made Him decide this time was different?

Reading the story of John and Peter healing a man in front of the temple, and then getting arrested, made me think of what Jesus’s disciples thought when their king was hung on the cross. How many times do we say, “it was not in God’s time” because we do not see an abundance of blessing poured out on someone when they step out? Looking at these two situations. That is what it looked like in the natural. How big was their faith to say “even if?”

Jesus hung on the cross for hours in agony. He died a horrible death. Our Jesus willing did that. God did not have the colt waiting for Him to ride at the bottom of the Mt. of Olives. He had to tell His disciples to go and get it. He chose to do it!

Matthew 22:14 (AMP), Jesus said, “For many are called (invited, summoned), but few are chosen.” Do you think that meant that we are called forth and chosen? Remember in elementary school how we would be divided on team for dodge ball? We would have two “captains” and they would take turns calling out the names of the kids they wanted on their team. It was always humiliating to be the kid picked last. That is not how it works in the Kingdom. Chosen here means you have a choice. Chosen are the ones that say ‘yes’ even if.

What has got you from grabbing onto your colt and starting? We were not told the year or age that Jesus would die on the cross before hand? John and Peter did not say, “God said,” before they laid hands on the sick. It was the Holy Spirit inside of them that led them.

Many of us do not want to step out of God’s timing. May I encourage you to not be led in fear of punishment, but know that He loves a heart that is willing.

Romans 8:28 (AMP)  And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.

Let me encourage you this Holy Week to step out into your calling. Make a contact this week. Peter and John were not qualified by man’s standards. Jesus was ridiculed even up to the moment of His death.

Matthew 27:54 (NIV) When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

Even if it looks like a mess, He can turn it into good. They will be astounded at the goodness of God. Untie the colt and start!!