“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” (Phil. 3: 10).
The power of resurrection is the power of the Holy Ghost that raised Jesus from the dead. That power in us means that we no longer live for dead works of sin. It means that our bodies are counted dead and our spirits are alive unto God. It means that our spirits have gained mastery and dominion over the flesh through the working of the Holy Spirit in us. According to Romans 8: 11, “...If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who lives in you.” The power of resurrection is meant to be entrenched in our inner being. “I pray that out of his glorious riches, he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being.” (Eph. 3: 16).
The fellowship we share in the suffering of the Lord is our identity with Him in a sinful world, where all things contradict His divine will and purpose. Obeying the rule of Christ against the dictates of the world is our suffering with him. Great men like Joseph, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego together with the other heroes and apostles of the faith exhibited beyond conviction, the fellowship of sharing in His suffering. They stood ready even to die for the name of Christ.
Becoming like Christ in His death is to crucify the flesh and its lustful desires. Jesus in His death had His body destroyed to the extent that He could not even be recognized physically. (1 Cor. 9: 27). We must subject our bodies to the Holy Spirit. The Spirit must take pre-eminence over the body. (Gal. 5:16, 24; Rom. 8:6).
At the end of our lives, we must fully pour out every virtue in us to the benefit of others. Jesus completely poured out everything in Him at His death.We as His followers must not do less.
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