Awake to Christ
by the Power of His Resurrection!
David Bryant
What if Jesus had not risen from the dead? What if his body had simply decomposed in a borrowed tomb? What then? What would be different about the course of history or the shape of Christianity? Or would it have any shape at all?
What about you personally: How would no resurrected savior change what you believe, how you live?
And would there be any hope of answers for any of us who are earnestly praying these days for an American Christ Awakening to be unleashed among God’s people in our land?
Thankfully, we do have such a hope because we do have a risen Redeemer! As Charles Wesley put it:
Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids Him rise, Alleluia!
Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Thankfully, it is the destiny of all Jesus followers to join with our King in his resurrection victory.
As it says in Romans 6: “Just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.” And in Revelation 1, Jesus shares with all believers the joys of his triumph, saying, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One. I was dead. But look! I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys to Death and Hell.”
our Lord Jesus is willing, able, and ready
to bring us alive to see him, seek him, share him,
and serve him in whole ways for ALL he is.
That is precisely what happens in every genuine Christ Awakening, whether for an individual or the whole Church. It is a kind of resurrection!
Jesus said to the church in Sardis in Revelation 3: “You have a reputation of being alive but behold, you are dead. Wake up!” To how many of our churches today would he need to say the same thing?
However, in a Christ Awakening, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, our experience of the riches of Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension can be intensified, deepened, and expanded—with transforming results on every level.
Romans 8:11 says: “If the Spirit of God that raised Jesus from the dead dwells within you, then he who raised Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal body.” Clearly, that promise is valid not just for your physical body but for the whole Body of Christ.
Paul appealed for a greater work of God in the church in Ephesus—praying that God would give them spiritual revelation and that the eyes of their hearts would be enlightened so they might fully experience how the power that raised Jesus from the dead was at work in them.
Thus, in Ephesians 5, those same believers are exhorted with these words: “Awake, you who are asleep and rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Bottom line: For the multitudes of God’s people who are praying today for an American CHRIST Awakening, what we’re really looking for is this:
by how he causes us to become fully alive to Christ for ALL he is.
In a very real sense, all our prayers for an American CHRIST Awakening can be summed up in the heart-cry of Philippians 3, which says:
Similarly, may our prayer be: “Oh, that all of your people in this land might have a fresh encounter with the Son of God so that the power of his resurrection might revitalize our worship, our fellowship, our ministry, and our mission.”
reigning King, Jesus Christ!
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View our dynamic, new five-minute video on the same topic HERE.
About the Author
Over the past 45 years, David Bryant has been defined by many as a “messenger of hope” and a “Christ proclaimer” to the Church throughout the world. Formerly a minister-at-large with the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, president of Concerts of Prayer International (COPI), and chairman of America’s National Prayer Committee, David now provides leadership to ChristNow.com and Proclaim Hope!, which have the mission of fostering and serving Christ awakening movements. Order his widely read books at DavidBryantBooks.com. Enjoy his regular CHRIST TODAY podcast.