First, you need the power that is victorious over death. The angels told the women at the tomb: "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen." (Luke 24:5,6) Death could not hold him in its grasp. He is living, not dead. The power of God is the power of life. "God is not the God of the dead but of the living." (Matt.22:32) It is "the power of an indestructible life." (Hebrews 7:16) "In Christ all will be made alive." (1 Cor.15:22) Therefore we should not be intimidated by death, or "grieve like the rest of men who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him." (1 Thess.4:13,14)

We can take the long view about life. We should not think only of how long we may live in this world - but how this world is but a prelude and a preparation for the world to come. We should not talk about the after-life, but we should view this life as the before-life. God's resurrection power gives us a view of eternity in God's kingdom. Death is not the end. There is no end. Our goal is heaven. No power on earth or hell can prevent us from being raised from the dead. When our bodies die we shall live again. "The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body." (1 Cor. 15:42-44) We have resurrection power.

Second, this power moves stones. "There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it."(Matt.28:2) The tomb had been made secure by the authorities to prevent the disciples stealing the body of Jesus. They put a seal on the stone and posted the guard. "The women, on their way to the tomb asked each other, 'Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?' But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away." (Mark 16:3,4)

You may be raised from the dead but still be entombed, still buried alive. There are stones that prevent us from experiencing resurrection life. They are large, very large. They have blocked you from experiencing God's resurrection life. You need God's resurrection power to move the stone.

What are the stones in your life that prevent you from experiencing resurrection life? Is it the stone of fear and anxiety about the future? You need the power to trust in God for your future. Is it the stone of doubt and despair that robs you of your faith? You need the power of hope and assurance to give you confidence. Is it the stone of loneliness that shuts you off from other relationships? You need the power of love to reach out to others. Is it the stone of depression that shuts out the warmth of the light. You need the power of courage to overcome

self-pity. Is it the stone of regret, resentment and remorse that drags you down? You need the power of forgiveness and the healing power of God's free grace to cleanse you of the past.

Third, you need the power that overcomes earthly forces and circumstances that prevents you from breaking out of the tomb. "The angel of the Lord's appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men." (Matt.28:3,4)

You may be raised from the dead, and the stone may be moved to let you exit the tomb but you still have to face the guards that imprison you. We need God's resurrection power to overcome the guards that intimidate us. Who are these guards? They may be significant relationships that prevent you from experiencing the risen life of Christ, or they may be inner attitudes that tempt you to sin.

Are they antagonistic people who abuse you, or discourage you, or ignore you, or who drain you? Are they family members who put you down, who don't appreciate you for who you are? Are they people who take advantage of you? Are they whiners, always complaining? Are they unhappy people who are jealous of your joy in Christ, and envy your faith, but are not willing to give up control of their lives to Christ? They want to feel superior to you. Are they negative people, or inner attitudes, that see the problems rather than the solutions - the bottle half-empty?

Do you have attitudes of perfectionism, unrealistic expectations, false guilt, that devalue and defeat you? Do you have a critical spirit? You have been given resurrection power. You stand at the door of the tomb facing a new life, an eternal life, an indestructible life, a life of faith, hope and love. That resurrection power of the Spirit should empower you, energize you, strengthen you, to overcome the guards and make them like dead men.

Do not be intimidated by other people or the tapes in your own head that seek to control you. Confront them in the resurrection power of Christ. Jesus "disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them, by the cross." (Col.2:15) "He stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets." (The Message)

Bullies when confronted are stripped of their power by the resurrection power of Christ. There are many spiritual bullies in the outer and the inner world. We are to take our stand against them, not just their flesh and blood personifications, but against their influence in the inner world of our consciousness.

The power of the Spirit can overcome the soldiers that seek to control, to manipulate, to demoralize, and to defeat us. We cannot ignore them, or wish they weren't there. We have to overcome them in the power of the resurrection so that they shake and become like dead men.

Where do we get this power? This power is available to us by the Holy Spirit. Be filled with the Holy Spirit. "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you."

As you become aware of an area of your life that is dead, or blocked or prevents you from living the risen life, simply surrender the control of your life to Christ, and be open to receive the fullness of the power of the Holy Spirit. Seek to be filled with that resurrection power of the Spirit. Believe in the Holy Spirit. Walk in the Spirit. Allow your mind to be controlled by the Spirit. The Spirit will help you in your weakness.

The Spirit intercedes for you. Pray that you will produce the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Be courageous, and the stones will be rolled away by the angels, and the guards will become as dead men.

"This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." (1 John 5:4,5)