Resurrection Power 
Knowing Jesus
Terry R. Baughman
“And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all” (Acts 4:33 NKJ).
Paul’s quest was to know Christ in the power of His resurrection, as written in the epistle to the Philippians. This letter was written while he was imprisoned in Rome. During this time of incarceration he wrote several letters to churches where he had traveled and ministered. At this point in his life he began to reflect what it meant to be “in Christ” and to really “know” Him.  
Paul had already written to the Corinthian church concerning the resurrection from the dead. He established the validity of Christ’s resurrection attested by more than five hundred witnesses. He revealed that he himself had been a late witness of the resurrection through visions when he was caught up into the third heaven! He wrote with authority about the power of the resurrection, “The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power” (1 Corinthians 15:42–43 NKJ).
The resurrection is powerful. It is the cornerstone of the Christian faith and the evidence of our testimony of the Gospel. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of all our experience. Paul said, “But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty” (1 Corinthians 15:13–14 NKJ). He viewed the validity of the resurrection as an essential doctrine of the New Testament Church. 
From the beginning of the Book of Acts the power of their message was seen as they declared the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This was the very thing the religious leaders feared would happen. Not that Jesus would actually rise, but that his disciples would steal the body and then claim He had risen. They knew enough of the teachings of Jesus that this was the expected outcome. Guards were placed at the tomb to prevent anyone from taking the body of Jesus. Of course, the guards were powerless against the actual resurrection. Nothing could prevent the grave from yielding to the voice of the Spirit as Jesus returned to life and vacated the borrowed tomb. 
So what was Paul’s intention as he wrote about knowing Christ in the, “power of His resurrection?” He had written much and experienced the power of God throughout his ministry. Yet, in these final years his desire was to discard his own attempts to attain righteousness. He called these efforts rubbish. Now, as he neared the end, his only desire was, “that I may gain Christ and be found in Him” (Philippians 3:8–9 NKJ). By this time he is passed ego, no longer seeking to be known of men, and has no other ambition than just to be found in Him.
Time has a way of refining our focus and sharpening our goals. Things that once were sought to bring personal satisfaction through our acclaim or attainment of success are no longer the object of our desire. All that matters is to simply know Him!
As death looms ever nearer we become more aware of the absolute importance of the message of the resurrection and the hope that lies within us. Paul said that we, “wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us” (Romans 8:23 NLT). The resurrection power gives us authority now and a bright hope for the future. 
Theme passage:
“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:10–11 NIV).

Connecting with God 
Knowing Jesus
Terry R. Baughman

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28–29 NIV).

God is present with us. He is not a far away, distant God, who has no care for humanity. He is very much immanent, with us in our humanity. That was the blessing of the incarnation. The Almighty God became flesh, taking on the limitations of humanity while still remaining the Omnipresent God. As the prophet Isaiah said, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14 NKJ). Translated from Hebrew, that name is “God with us!”

God has always desired to be with us. Since the beginning of Creation God made a way to connect with humanity and for us to be able to connect with Him. Even though sin entered the Garden of Eden through humanity’s disobedience, God already had a plan of redemption and initiated the remedy for sin so that we might again enjoy fellowship with God. 

Jesus came with a singular plan, “to seek and save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10 NKJ). God was in Christ to bring reconciliation between lost sinners and a Holy God. It is not God’s desire “that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9 NKJ).

The invitation is open; the opportunity is extended, “Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life” (Revelation 22:17 NLT). It all comes back to the individual response. If God is willing and extending His hand in welcome, it remains the choice of each individual to complete the connection. 

He is seen in Revelation as the One standing on the outside awaiting an answer to His knock. Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20 NKJ). Christ is the perfect gentleman. He will never force His way into your life. He will not take away your choice and your free will. It is up to you to respond to His invitation. 

Those who make the choice to follow Christ will find rest for their souls. Our burdens of oppression, our weariness of life can all be lifted and lightened when we take on the yoke of connection with God. While some see the yoke as further oppression and a load of responsibility, it is quite the opposite. Jesus said, “My yoke is easy and the burden is light.” When we share the yoke with the Savior we find that He bears the load and lifts our spirits. 

A connection with God does not bring more oppression, but rest and relief. We find that the more we share our pain with Him, the better we feel and the lighter our load. The things we have carried for years can be lifted in a moment. The burdens of our sin can be removed and a spring can return to our steps. Why wouldn’t we want to experience His grace and walk in His favor?

Through this series we will come to know Christ in a better way. He has great plans for us and His love is unfailing. A great relationship with God begins with the answer of His knock and the opening of our heart’s door to receive everything He has for us! Jesus says, “Come, follow me.”
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Theme passage:
“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:10–11 NIV).

Christ Makes Free 
Passion for Liberty
Terry R. Baughman

“The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2 NKJ).

Laws of nature are not created by humans or set in order by our discovery. Rather, the laws of nature are consistent results or relationship of elements observable in nature. When an apple fell from the tree, Sir Isaac Newton deduced that there was a law of gravity at work in nature. Whenever we drop something we know that it will fall downward because gravity is present. Many other facts of science or principles of physics have been discovered and determined to be dependable outcomes of natural occurrences. 

This is the understanding we can get from Paul’s writing in Romans concerning the law of the Spirit of life, and the law of sin and death. Paul observed that there is the law of sin and death working in each person. Left alone people will go on in sin and will degenerate in into depravity. It is, “the law of sin and death working in our members.”

Paul said, “For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death” (Romans 7:5 NKJ). He spoke of the struggle we all face as we seek to subdue the flesh and experience the freedom that comes in the Spirit. He discerned that sin was at work in our bodies and the end result would lead to death. James concurred when he wrote, “When desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:15 NKJ). A sinful nature produces more sin. Regardless of our good intentions and new resolutions we find that we still are failing and returning to sin that we promised we would abandon. It seems that we are powerless to resist sin and overcome its fetters. 

Jesus came to set captives free! One of the greatest outcomes of His redemptive  plan was to liberate us from the bondage of sin and death. He came to fulfill the law and remove the curse of sin. He made an end of death and grants liberty in the Spirit. The law of sin is still there, but the power of redemption is greater. John said, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4 NKJ). 

 One of the greatest analogies of these principles is found in the law of gravity versus the law of flight. It is still amazing how those great jumbo jets seem to defy gravity and sail up into the skies like a bird. If the power of the engines can give the plane enough thrust, and if the wings can adjust to provide upward lift, flight takes over and gravity gives up its claim. Gravity is still there. If the engines failed or the wings were damaged gravity would become greater than the law of flight and the proud bird would plummet to the earth. 

In a similar fashion the law of sin is like gravity constantly pulling us down and seeking to destroy our lives. While the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus working within us provides victory and overcoming power, if we cease walking in the Spirit and rising above sin, we will feel the power of sin and death begin to draw us downward and lead to destruction. 

Arise in flight of victory over sin and death! Claim the promises of God to every believer. Let us be filled with the Spirit and purpose to walk in the Spirit the rest of our days! Remember Christ makes us free!
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Theme passage:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed” (Luke 4:18 NKJ).

Victory over Oppression
Passion for Liberty
Terry R. Baughman

“He is the Maker of heaven and earth,
    the sea, and everything in them--
    he remains faithful forever.
He upholds the cause of the oppressed
    and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,
    the Lord gives sight to the blind,
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
    the Lord loves the righteous” (Psalm 146:6–8 NIV).

The Psalmist builds a case on the fact that our God is the Creator of heaven and earth, and yet He is concerned about our every need. On the basis of His incredible strength and power, He is completely able to bring about the deliverance for our restoration. We have a relationship with the one who has all authority over creation and everything in it! 

He remains faithful forever! The history of His faithfulness is seen from Creation to the present. There is no alteration of His commitment. He remains faithful … but, the focus shifts to the future with the final word, …forever! His steadfast dependability endures into the future without ceasing. We can count on God's mercy, His truth, and His righteousness to endure forever, as this fact is often repeated in the text. (41 times in the Psalms.) Jeremiah wrote, “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22–23 NKJ). 

God is the defender of the defenseless. He sees the plight of those who are oppressed and is compassionate toward their injustice. He takes pity on those who are suffering and plans answers to their prayers and a defense for their cause. He is concerned about those who are hungry and makes provision for them. God is on our side!

From the prophets to the Gospels the attributes of the Lord are proclaimed. He sets free the prisoners, restoring sight to the blind, and liberating those who have been oppressed and pushed down. When John the Baptist sent his followers to Jesus to inquire whether or not He was the Messiah, Jesus responded with a testimony of His actions, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them” (Luke 7:22 NKJ). John knew the passage from Isaiah, “In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness. The humble also shall increase their joy in the Lord, And the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 29:18–19 NKJ). 
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Christ came to lift the burdens of the oppressed and liberate the captives. Sometimes our greatest oppression is the bondage of our own negative opinion of our value in God’s sight. Jesus proved that you have intrinsic value, worthy of His sacrifice on Calvary. He came to free us and restore us to righteousness. Rejoice in that truth and in His liberty!


Theme passage:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed” (Luke 4:18 NKJ).

Longing for Freedom 
Passion for Liberty
Terry R. Baughman

“If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36 NKJ).

Something in our DNA gives us a longing for freedom. Once we have experienced freedom after having endured bondage there is an insatiable desire to cast off the chains of oppression and walk in liberty. Ruthless regimes of tyranny and authoritarian leadership often live in fear of the masses turning against them to thwart their plans and overthrow their control. If enough people unite in their rejection of subjugation rebellion ensues and there is a strong cry for independence. This has been the story of humanity throughout millennia. 

The lessons of the Exodus and the victorious deliverance from the taskmasters of Egypt have provided inspiration to many people suffering subjugation and the oppression of slavery. “Let my people go,” became the rallying cry of those who resisted enslavement and sought for justice against repression. 

In the formation of our own country of the United States of America we are inspired by the courage of those who resisted domination of British forces. The cry of Patrick Henry resonates in our own hearts as he stated his bold declaration, “Give me liberty or give me death.” This was not mere rhetoric or a political speech. It was the cry of urgency in the Virginia Convention as he sought to mobilize the colonists to revolt against the tyranny of the British. He asked them, “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?” He then answered his own question, “Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”

The speech by Patrick Henry must have resonated with the colonists because a little over a year later the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia.  Courageous signers of the document confirmed their own commitment to the cause, and for some it became a death sentence. According to news commentator Paul Harvey, “Of the 56 signers of the Declaration, few were long to survive. 5 were captured by the British and tortured before they died, 12 had their homes … sacked and looted, occupied by the enemy or burned. Two of them lost their sons in the Army; one had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 died in the War from its hardships or from its more merciful bullets.” He said, “They had learned that liberty is so much more important than security, that they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.”

In a more recent example of such courage in defense of freedom is the country of Ukraine. When the Russian armies converged on multiple fronts and attempted a rapid overthrow of the smaller nation, most of the world believed the Ukrainians would evacuate and surrender to the opposing forces. The US offered assistance to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky for safe passage out of the country and into exile. His response revealed unexpected courage and inspired the nation of Ukraine to resist the onslaught of Russian missiles and artillery launched from approaching ground forces. Zelensky said, “I don’t need a ride I need ammunition!” The bravery exhibited by thousands of Ukrainians have illustrated the passion with which they value their independence and are willing to fight for liberty from an authoritarian state. 

Let us exhibit the same courage as we proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the message that promises the greatest liberty of all, freedom from sin and release from the bondage of spiritual oppression! Jesus promises freedom like no other … and, “If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36 NKJ).
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Theme passage:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed” (Luke 4:18 NKJ).