Luke 2:33-35
33 And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed— 35 and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
I love this scripture because it gives us such insight into some foundational principles for life in the kingdom of God. The word “rise” in verse 34 could be translated “resurrection.” It actually is in some translations. If that is true then the contrast to resurrection is death. Therefore a proper translation could be, and I think should be, “the death and resurrection of many…”
The Lord told me once that the only way to avoid an up and down Christian life was to live a down and up life. Jesus was appointed to reveal to us that to experience New Life, Resurrection Power life, we had to first experience the Cross. You have to go down, to go up. Everybody wants to live experientially in the power of His resurrection, but nobody wants to be conformed to His death to get there. That’s why it is a “sign to be opposed.”
People who demonstrate signs and wonders yet avoid the cross manifest thin power, and not lifestyle power that changes the landscape of lives and environments permanently. Thin power, though showy, doesn’t come out of holiness and Christlikeness. The down and up life first releases resurrection power in that person who is surrendering to the cross, and from the growing personal transformation that the released power of God is accomplishing in that persons life, resurrection power emanates from them in transcendent signs and wonders.
If you long to be Christlike, if you long for personal holiness, if you long to be a Fire Brand in the hands of God and not a Flash in the Pan, then ask God to show you how to live the Up and Down Life. We will talk more about this tomorrow and discover the way.
Have a great day.
I am coming to the cross;
I am poor and weak and blind;
I am counting all but dross;
I shall full salvation find.
Refrain
I am trusting, Lord, in Thee.
Blessed Lamb of Calvary;
Humbly at Thy cross I bow.
Save me, Jesus, save me now.
Long my heart has sighed for Thee;
Long has evil reigned within;
Jesus sweetly speaks to me:
“I will cleanse you from all sin.”
Refrain
Here I give my all to Thee:
Friends and time and earthly store;
Soul and body Thine to be,
Wholly Thine forevermore.
Refrain
In the promises I trust;
Now I feel the blood applied;
I am prostrate in the dust;
I with Christ am crucified.
Refrain
Jesus comes! He fills my soul!
Set free in Him I am;
I am every whit made whole:
Glory, glory to the Lamb!