In the past, I’ve made the mistake of separating out and focusing on v. 19, “what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe.” I considered the mention of the resurrection as being the greatest illustration of that power. I wanted power — in my prayers, power to change, and power to do great things.

Now I realize the passage is saying a good deal more than that. Paul is praying for the greatest of gifts God can give the Ephesians (or us) — a real knowledge of Christ and an understanding, deep in their hearts, that the work done in the resurrection carries on in them — ensuring their eternal future and empowering them to put Christ in his proper place as Lord. They will then actually be the church, demonstrating his fullness.

Truly knowing Christ requires wisdom — perception — in who he really is, what he has really done and what he is still doing. The result is experiencing him in a relationship that truly changes us. We relate to him as ever present friend, companion and as an advocate who is always on our side. But we also relate to him as Lord — he brings life, peace, newness, glory, and joy as we follow his way. He is the good shepherd, choosing our path and guiding our way as we are going through this life and the next. He knows us well, as his sheep and we know his voice and follow it. (John 10:14-16)

As you celebrate Easter and remember the resurrection, I pray you will think of the change it makes in your life. Choose something today that you have been holding back from his lordship, keeping it for yourself. Allow the power of the resurrection to work there. Ask Jesus to come in this area. And allow him to guide you through it to better things.

I would love to hear your thoughts and experience in this, Kent.

Jesus makes it clear to Martha in John 11 that he more than has power to raise Lazarus — he is resurrection, he is life. Then he raises Lazarus from the dead. Jesus is wanting to pass on this part of his nature to all who believe in him. There is more taking place here than a great miracle done for the sake of Lazarus and his sisters, though that certainly is part of what is happening. There is a demonstration of his being the resurrection, of his being life and an encouragement for his followers to tap into this — eternally.

The more I study about how to overcome sin, the more I see we need the power of resurrection to do so. This is what enables us to be a new creation, to change our very nature. We have no hope of radical change without it.

How can you see the power of resurrection changing you?

When I was young, I attended churches who never had an Easter service (or Christmas, for that matter). This we were told is something denominations did, not churches true to the first century model. The resurrection of Christ was celebrated every week.

Only a small percentage of Protestant churches will have a good Friday service but the Easter services will be the best attended of the year. In spite of this I believe the death of Christ and the power of his blood are preached a good more during the year than the resurrection in the majority of churches.

The death of Christ, indeed should be spoken of regularly — even weekly. It is the blood of Christ that covers our sins and brings us forgiveness.

But the study I’ve done in the last couple of years leads me to believe the resurrection deserves equal attention.

The first part of my plan to know God more is to meditate on the attributes of God. Christian meditation is almost a lost art. Here is my plan to learn more of this art on the most important subject in the world. Pick an attribute of God (note: this is a short list, more to be added later). Read the passages for it and choose one. Read it every day for at least a week. Pray daily, acknowledging how awesome this is about God.  Ask for more understanding of this attribute. Spend time every day reflecting on this concept. Try to engage your imagination to visualize God in this.  Find hymns or spiritual songs that address this concept and worship him daily with them. Find an image to illustrate the passage, put as wallpaper on your desktop or smartphone and post on social media. Sometime this week use a search engine to find Biblical examples where God has demonstrated this. The following week(s) expand to other passages and reflect on them, continuing in this pattern. Use a Bible search engine to find more passages. If any need help with this, please let me know.

God Is Light

1 John 1:5 ESV
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. Psalms 18:28, 118:27

The Glory of God

Isaiah 6:1-4
In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 

Exodus 24:17, Revelation 21:23-25

God Is Omnipotent (all powerful)

Mark 10:27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”   2 Chronicles 20:6, Psalms 62:11

God Is Omniscient (has all knowledge)
Romans 11:33
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!   1 Samuel 2:3 Psalms 139

At this time of year, most of us at least, consider resolving to make this year better by focusing on or adding goals for the year. Exercising, losing weight or improving our diets are probably the most common goals.

Some of us choose to focus on professional goals. I started working on mine.

1. Publish my first book, “Remade! A preacher finally finds victory over pornography and complaint”, in both print and e-book.

2. Produce a promotional video for each of my seminars.

3. Produce worship videos, mixed with testimony.

4. Give at least 20 seminars this year.

5. Find a corporate sponsor(s) to support the ministry to the military.

As I reflected on these goals I thought “I’m really going to have to stay focused to accomplish all of this”. These are all worthy goals, in fact I consider them work God has purposed me to do. And I’ve been working very hard on the first one all month.

But it suddenly dawned on me that I was forgetting the most important goal for this year or any year – Know God better. I was allowing the urgent to push out the most important. I’ve come to see in recent years that nothing is more important, nothing will affect our lives more towards greatness than knowing God better.

Next time, I’ll lay out the first of my plan to really focus on knowing more about God.

The scripture we read this morning at early morning prayers (did I mention this begins at 5 a.m.?) was the last half of Jeremiah 9. In the midst of a chapter about gloom and doom we have verses 23-24. The Lord himself tells us “If you want something to boast about, let it be that you know and understands me!” It is amazing that this is even possible. The Creator of the universe desires me to know him – and that this is the epitome of accomplishment!

It is not any fruit of wisdom, the greatest book we could possibly write or document that would be admired and followed by all that impresses God. It is not anything we might accomplish through physical strength or political power that impresses him. Becoming one of the richest people in the world and buying glamorous homes around the world or a  gem collection that surpasses all that British royalty possess would only elicit a ho-hum from Him.

What really gets the Almighty’s attention is how much we know Him. Not just a a lot of facts about Him, but really know His nature, what He cares about, what He delights in, what His favorite things are. When we’ve regularly meditated on His overwhelming loving kindness, that is demonstrated so well in the Bible and so evident all around us. When we feel His deep concern and pain over the injustices done to the lowest of the world. When we know the Holy One’s ability to always do and be right. When we feel His urging us on to take up the righteousness of His Son. Then, the Lord says we have something worth boasting of.

Knowing God, really knowing him is the hope we have through the darkest circumstances. When we’ve fallen hard and suffer the consequences of our sin, the focus on God, who He is will change everything.