HE RESURRECTED IN NEWNESS OF LIFE – SO HAVE YOU:
BY SEBASTIEN F. KEMA, PhD
President & Founder: Kingdom Empowerment Ministries International
K.E.M.I
“Empowered to reign”
Tel: 0032486520957; 0032493932162
Email: empowered_to_reign@hotmail.co.uk
WEB: www.pastorkemajr.multiply.com
MAIN SCRIPTURES:
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 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.5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. (Romans 6:1-6 NKJV)
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (Romans 8:11 NKJV)
INTRODUCTION:
Easter is a period when Christians celebrate all over the world. This period is commemorated by Christians because it is considered the foundation of their faith. If Jesus did not die, the sin of the world would not have been dealt with. If He was not hung on the cross and lifted up, He would not be able to draw men to Him. If Jesus did not resurrect from death, death could have prevailed and eternal life would have not been our portion.
I was contacted by one of the pastors in a church in Brussels Belgium to teach on Easter Sunday. When I asked if there were any specifics for me to teach, his response was that it is Easter and that I should teach whatever the Spirit of God laid in my spirit.
Immediately, I began praying asking the Holy Spirit on what to tell the people. What you find here is what was taught to God’s people on Easter Sunday and I believe it will bless you.
A. READ ROMANS 6:1-6. Take note of verses 5-6:
Verse 5 tells us we were united together in the likeness of His death. The question is how? The answer of this question is found in verse 3:
3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
- When Christ died, we died with Him.
- When He was buried we were buried with Him
- When you were baptized into Christ, you were baptized into His death.
NOTE: In verse 1, the Bible says that if we have been united in the likeness of His death, CERTAINLY we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.
B. LIKENESS OF HIS RESURRECTION:
QUESTION: How was Christ after His resurrection? We can find the answer to this if we study the resurrection account in John 20:1-18
VERSES OF CONCENTRATION: verses 11-16 especially verses 14-16
11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 14 NOW WHEN SHE HAD SAID THIS, SHE TURNED AROUND AND SAW JESUS STANDING THERE, AND DID NOT KNOW THAT IT WAS JESUS. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). (John 20: 11-16 NKJV)
QUESTION: Verse 14 says Mary did not know that it was Jesus. How can this be? Mary was a very close person to Jesus. How come now that she could not recognize Jesus?
- Jesus resurrected in glory.
- Jesus resurrected in newness of life.
When Jesus resurrected, He laid aside the sin of the world that took Him to the cross and to the grave.
- He laid aside the lining clothing – John 20:5
- He laid aside the handkerchief that was around His head.
Remember Lazarus? When he was raised from death by Jesus, though he had life, he was bound with grave clothes. Jesus commanded that they should untie him. (John 11:44)
C. SIN SHORT-CIRCUITS THE GLORY OF GOD:
At the cross, the sin of the whole world was upon Jesus. He PUT OFF sin and rose up from the grave with no sin. BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SIN IN HIM, THE GLORY OF GOD WAS UPON HIM. In the book of Romans, the Bible clearly tells us that when we sin, we fall short of the glory of God. This implies that SIN SHORT-CIRCUITS THE GLORY OF GOD. Sin stops the glory of God to be seen in your life.
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23, NKJV)
When Jesus rose from death, He rose in glory. "There was no more sin upon Him." He was full of the glory of the Father. No wonder, Mary could not recognize Him. In the same light if we lay aside every weight or sin that so easily besets us, the glory of God will be manifested in our lives and people will not recognize us. WHY? The Glory of God will be mainifested in your life.
It’s worth noting here that Jesus before the cross could not just walk through a closed door. But after His resurrection, He could just appear anywhere. WHY? He was operating in another dimension because of the glory of God in His life.
D. YOU WANT TO EXPERIENCE THE RESURRECTED LIFE OF CHRIST?
WHAT TO DO:
I. PUT OFF:
In the book of Colossians chapter three, the Bible clearly tells us the things we should put off since we are now children of God who have resurrected with Christ.
1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 5MORTIFY THEREFORE YOUR MEMBERS WHICH ARE UPON THE EARTH; FORNICATION, UNCLEANNESS, INORDINATE AFFECTION, EVIL CONCUPISCENCE, AND COVETOUSNESS, WHICH IS IDOLATRY: 6For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8BUT NOW YE ALSO PUT OFF ALL THESE; ANGER, WRATH, MALICE, BLASPHEMY, FILTHY COMMUNICATION OUT OF YOUR MOUTH. 9LIE NOT ONE TO ANOTHER, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; (Colossians 3:1-9 KJV)
The Amplified Bible renders verses 5 and 8 as follows:
5So kill (deaden, [a]deprive of power) the evil desire lurking in your members [those animal impulses and all that is earthly in you that is employed in sin]: sexual vice, impurity, sensual appetites, unholy desires, and all greed and covetousness, for that is idolatry (the deifying of self and other created things instead of God)… 8But now put away and rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, bad feeling toward others, curses and slander, and foulmouthed abuse and shameful utterances from your lips!
To experience the resurrected life of Christ, we must:
Mortify (Kill – deaden or deprive of power) (Castoff and throw away all the rotten garments – Life Application Bible) the deeds of the flesh which are:
- Fornication
- Uncleanness
- Inordinate affection (sensual appetites)
- Evil concupiscence (Unholy desires)
- Covetousness (which is idolatry)
Put off (Put away and rid yourselves completely) all these:
- Anger
- Malice (Desire to harm others or see them suffer; extreme ill-will or spite)
- Wrath (Violent anger; vehement exasperation)
- Blasphemy (curses and slander)
- Filthy communication
- Lies
II. PUT ON:
When a prisoner is set free, he puts off the prison uniform and puts on new clothes before stepping out of the gates of the prison into a new life. When Jesus resurrected, He did put off the old self that carried the sin of the world and put on the glory of God. THAT’S WHY MARY DID NOT RECOGNISE HIM. We are thus called upon to:
10…PUT ON THE NEW MAN, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 12PUT ON THEREFORE, AS THE ELECT OF GOD, HOLY AND BELOVED, BOWELS OF MERCIES, KINDNESS, HUMBLENESS OF MIND, MEEKNESS, LONGSUFFERING; 13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14And above all these things PUT ON CHARITY, WHICH IS THE BOND OF PERFECTNESS. (Colossians 3:10, 12-14 KJV)
Note that just as we are the ones to ‘put off’, in the same light, we are the ones to ‘put on.’ This is our responsibility. It is not God’s responsibility. We need to take the giant step of “putting on” then God will empower us to accomplish it. That’s why the Bible says that “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you (James 4:8).” You take the first step and God takes steps towards you.
What are the things we have to put on as people with a new life?
- Bowels of Mercies
- Kindness
- Humility
- Meekness
- Longsuffering
- Charity or love
These look to me like the list found in Galatians 5:22-23, which is a list of the fruit of the Spirit:
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Gal 5:22-23 NKJV)
III. WALK IN LOVE:
1THEREFORE BE imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]. 2And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance. (Ephesians 5:1-2 AMP)
God is love (1 John 4:8). He has poured out His love on us by the Holy Ghost (Romans 5:5). God’s love for us is expressed by His sacrificial giving because love gives. For God so loved the world that He gave… (John 3:16). We are called to imitate God – that is to follow His example. How? God loved us while we were still His enemies. The Bible says that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. We too must demonstrate this type of sacrificial love. HOW?
16By this we come to know (progressively to recognize, to perceive, to understand) the [essential] love: that He laid down His [own] life for us; and we ought to lay [our] lives down for [those who are our] brothers [in Him]. 17But if anyone has this world's goods (resources for sustaining life) and sees his brother and fellow believer in need, yet closes his heart of compassion against him, how can the love of God live and remain in him? 18Little children, let us not love [merely] in theory or in speech but in deed and in truth (in practice and in sincerity). 19By this we shall come to know (perceive, recognize, and understand) that we are of the Truth, and can reassure (quiet, conciliate, and pacify) our hearts in His presence, 1 John 3:16-19 (Amplified Bible)
IV. WALK IN THE LIGHT
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” (Ephesians 5:8-14)
When you walk in love, you must walk in the light. WHY? Because the Bible says that God is light and in Him is no darkness (1 John 1:5). The Bible continues to say that if we say we have fellowship with God and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth (1 John 1:6).
Ephesian 5:8-14 clearly show us how to walk in the light:
- Let the fruit of light or Spirit manifest in your life – verse 9
- Find out what is acceptable to the Lord and let your life be a constant proof of what is most acceptable of Him – verse 10 (SEE AMPLIFIED BIBLE).
- Have no fellowship (take no part - AMP) with the unfruitful works of darkness.
- Expose the things of darkness.
V. WALK IN WISDOM
15Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), 16Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is.18And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but ever be filled and stimulated with the [Holy] Spirit.19Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices [and instruments] and making melody with all your heart to the Lord, 20At all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. 21Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). Ephesians 5:15-21 (Amplified Bible)
To experience the new resurrected life as Christ, we must walk in wisdom. Those who walk in wisdom:
- Live purposefully and worthily and accurately – are sensible intelligent people.
- Redeem the time – make the very most of the time, buying up each opportunity.
- Seek to understand and firmly grasp what the will of the Lord is.
- Do not get drunk with wine but be filled with the Holy Spirit.
E. CONCLUSION:
When we lay aside every weight or sin that slows us down and put off the works of the flesh and embrace the fruit of the Spirit in our lives; and when we choose to walk in the love of God that has been poured in our hearts by the Holy Ghost and walk as children of light and finally walk in wisdom, THE GLORY OF GOD WILL BE MANIFESTED IN OUR LIVES.
When the glory is there, we will:
Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. (Isaiah 60:1 NKJV)
When the glory of God is seen upon you, people will not be able to identify you with whom you were before. You will be walking in newness of Life. This is a higher life. Go for it my brother! Go for it my sister!!
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