When You Follow Christ, His Power isn’t “Optional”

Victor greets the audience and continues exploring the application of Christ’s resurrection in everyday life. He emphasizes that experiencing resurrection power requires uniting oneself with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, stating that true discipleship necessitates self-denial and bearing one’s cross.

Victor outlines three crosses that believers must bear: 1. The struggle with sin, where one must die to their old self to embrace new life in Christ. 2. The sufferings for Christ, recognizing the potential scorn and maligning faced in the world while exalting His name. 3. The self-denial of one’s talents and abilities, suggesting that God may want believers to utilize their gifts in measured ways rather than allowing them to dominate their lives.

Victor warns against the dangers of leading a mediocre Christian life, where regular dependence on God’s resurrection power is perceived as unnecessary. He explains that a mediocre Christian life might exist when one feels they can manage their issues without relying on God’s power. This is common among believers as they navigate their sanctification.

He discusses the misconception that once certain sins are overcome, further dependence on Christ’s resurrection power diminishes. Victor stresses that the ultimate goal for Christians should not be merely to avoid sin, but to serve God and love both God and neighbor. He explains that to achieve this, believers must regularly depend on resurrection power to genuinely follow Christ.

Victor shares his own experiences of encountering the tendency to live in autopilot, where dependence on God becomes sporadic. He concludes by emphasizing that every day should be approached as one in which believers rely on God’s power, regardless of whether they are in a crisis or not, and that this consistent dependence is essential for fulfilling the Christian calling.