Embracing Resurrection Power: Insights from Keturah Wilk

I’m just going to say I’m really excited about, because people are making a choice today and our walk with the Lord is all about choices, right? I’m going to pray because I need the Lord. Father, I just come to you right now. I thank you and praise you and honor you. We bless your name, Lord. We thank you for this time. Ask Lord that every word that comes out of my mouth would be from your spirit and no other place. Lord, I ask God that, your word would just hit. It would hit people where it needs to and nothing else. So we just thank you and honor you today. Amen. All right.

So I basically have been given the assignment to fill time as everyone gets stressed. So you can take it for what it is of whatever I say. but the Lord did give me three things to talk to you about today. And some of them look at all these baptism candidates and just, like, get right up and go. It’s like they know exactly what they’re supposed to do. I was seeking the Lord this week, and he gave me three things to talk to you about, and they didn’t really seem like they went together. And so I was like, okay, Lord, I don’t know. I don’t know about this. I don’t know what you want me to do.

Hi, Carol. How are you? Hi, mom. Okay. Sally’s wonderful people are here today. It’s great. God is good all the time. And this walk is right. It’s true. And it’s the best. And I can’t say anything else for that. I’m going to give you what he said.

Also, I’m not going to talk about baptism in the usual form that we do it where I stand up here and tell you exactly what’s going to happen in the waters of baptism, because sham, my handsome husband killed in Alaska, did a wonderful job. he gave a great word on baptism. So if you have questions about it, please watch that or listen to that and get answers. And then also the Spirit School of Ministry has a great podcast out right now about baptism also. and that one was raw. Like they were really raw there, and they shared with you their life and shared with you what God did through baptism. And so, listen to that as well. If you have questions.

The Lord is just kind of just telling me throughout the week, this is, super simple but very deep. He said, recognize the resurrection. I was like, okay, God, I recognize the resurrection. Where do you want me to go with that? Because as Christians, you know, we just celebrated Easter. We talked about how Jesus died on the cross. And we we are thankful every day for the price that he paid for us, that he gave his life so that we don’t have to pay the price for how we are. Sterling, get up here, man. We talk about the death and we talk about the resurrection, right? That’s what we talk about on Easter Sunday.

And I’m just going to say it. And when I say Christians, I am fully talking to myself. And I will tell you right now, you’re lucky you don’t have to live in my own head. Okay. why do we just blow over the resurrection with, like, the power of God was shown on earth through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And it’s like, oh, Jesus rose from the dead. We’re going to celebrate that on Easter. And we might remember it sometimes as we go about our day, maybe, maybe on Wednesdays or Tuesday morning prayer or, youth group on Wednesday, or, intercessory prayer on Friday at the Shepherd’s. Would you guys stand up again, please? Just. I’m going to get rid of my gum really quick. Sorry. I was totally unprepared. all right, I’m just going to read this to you. This is John . I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But don’t worry. Take heart. Be of good cheer. Fear not and have a lot of courage. I have overcome the world. And then John says in first John five four, for this is the love of God, that we, that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. For whoever is born of God overcomes the world. Wait a second, Jesus, you just told me that we’re going to have a lot of trouble in this world. But then you gave me some courage and you gave me some uplifting. And you said, don’t worry about it. I’ve overcome the world. That is one scripture that is so deep but very simple. I want to know how you, as a Christian, are walking in that. Okay. And I’m not talking about the Christians that I hear about that are saying, yeah, I can’t wait to get out of this world. Take me home, Jesus. You see, the church, as a whole, we have forgotten what it looks like to have resurrection power. And it’s in the name of Jesus. It’s in his power. And so, as Christians, are you guys ready? As Christians, we have to walk out the resurrection of Jesus Christ every single day. And if you don’t know how to walk it out, then you need to get on your knees, and you need to seek the Lord, and you need to cry out to him and say, God, what does that mean? What does that mean for me? I can’t just live on Easter Sunday or on Tuesday mornings. I have to live this out every day. Okay. And so the Lord said, recognize the resurrection. I want you to recognize what I did for you. I want you to recognize the power that I gave you to walk out every single day. And the next thing that he said was remember your identity in Christ. Okay, I got that too, Lord. I remember my identity in Christ. I am a child of God. I am an heir of God and a joint heir with Jesus Christ. I have resurrection power living on the inside of me. But what does that look like? It’s so simple. What does it look like? You are more than a conqueror. You are a world overcomer. But yet we live our lives. And we say, oh, this is just how life is. I guess I’ll just live my life to the best that I can. I’ll do the best I can. I’ll love on people. I’ll pray for people. I’ll serve the Lord. I’ll read my Bible. But then when trouble comes our way. I just don’t know what to do. I guess I’ll just cry out to God and hope he does something. But Jesus said that we have the power within us to overcome every single obstacle that comes our way. You know what, I’m going to call out one person. I’m going to call out one person. And I’m just going to say. It’s not in here, so I can’t. I can’t do it. I’m sorry. But you know who you are. I can’t do it. All right. So remember your identity in Christ. You are more than a conqueror.

You are a world overcomer. And if you don’t believe that, then you need to seek the Lord and say, Lord, show me what that looks like. I want to live it out. Because when you live as a conqueror, when you live as an overcomer, then nothing that this world throws at you will shake you. Nothing. Do you hear me? Do you hear me? Nothing will shake you because you are rooted and you are grounded in the love of God. And the love of God cast out all fear. The love of God will cast out all fear. And the last thing he told me was to rest in him. Rest in me. And you will find peace and you will find joy. You see, when we try to do things in our own strength, that’s when we get weary. That’s when we get tired. That’s when we just don’t know what to do next. But when we rest in him and we allow him to work in and through us, then we will find peace. And we will find joy like we’ve never had before. And so today, as we prepare for baptism, I want you to remember these three things. I want you to recognize the resurrection and what that means for you on a daily basis. I want you to remember your identity in Christ and who you are and whose you are. And I want you to rest in him, knowing that he has you. He has your future. He has everything in the palm of his hand. And there is nothing that can separate you from the love of God. Nothing. Do you hear me? Nothing. And so today, as you prepare to go into the waters of baptism, I want you to remember these three things. And I want you to know that you are not alone. That we are here as a family, as a body of Christ, to help you, to encourage you, to lift you up, to pray for you. And so today, as you make this decision to publicly declare your faith in Jesus Christ, we are here. And we are cheering you on. And we are celebrating with you because this is a big deal. This is a big deal. And so we just thank you, Lord, for what you’re doing in each and every heart, in each and every life that is represented here today. We thank you for your goodness. We thank you for your grace. We thank you for your mercy. And we just give you all the honor and all the glory and all the praise in Jesus’ name. Amen.