GROANING AND RESURRECTION LIFE
(week 41/16)
OLUBI JOHNSON

The scriptures reveal to us the reality of manifesting the resurrection life of the Lord Jesus in our physical bodies NOW BEFORE the resurrection and glorification of our bodies at the resurrection.

2Corinthians 4:10-11 KJV: always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. (11)  For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

Philippians  3:10-11 AMP:  [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] (11)  That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].

This is also called the redemption of our bodies in this lifetime BEFORE the glorification of our bodies AT THE RESURRECTION.

Romans 8:23 KJV:  Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

1Thessalonians 5:23 KJV:  And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are in the season for the church to experience this redemption of our physical bodies BEFORE the resurrection as indicated by the passing blood moon tetrad of April 2014-September 2015:

Luke 21:25-28 NKJV:  “And THERE WILL BE SIGNS IN THE SUN, IN THE MOON, AND IN THE STARS; and on earth DISTRESS OF NATIONS, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;  (26) men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for THE POWERS OF THE HEAVENS WILL BE SHAKEN.  (27) Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  (28) Now WHEN THESE THINGS BEGIN TO HAPPEN, LOOK UP AND LIFT YOUR HEADS, BECAUSE YOUR REDEMPTION DRAWS NEAR.“

These signs and the distress of the nations: Nigeria with the kidnapping of the Chibok girls coinciding EXACTLY with the start of the blood moon tetrad; the Brexit vote in the UK, the present on-going presidential campaign in the US; in addition to the wars in Syria and Iraq, Russian aggression and show of force in Ukraine and the Baltic states and Syria: all point to the fact that this redemption of our physical bodies is very close.

In fact the recovery of 21 of the Chibok girls EXACTLY 2 years and six months (Esther 2:12) after their abduction is spiritually significant as it is indicative of the fact that the spiritual war in the heavens over Nigeria that INTENSIFIED with their abduction at the onset of the blood tetrad EXACTLY on April 14, 2014 is NOW BEING WON by the Zion church in Nigeria to become a glorious church purified by the washing of the water of the Word (Ephesians 5:26) to be presented before the Lord in the redemption of our physical bodies as Esther was prepared and purified to be presented before King Ahasuerus as typified in

Revelation 12:7-8 KJV:  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, (8)  And prevailed not;…..

Revelation 12:10 KJV:  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, NOW is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God and the power of His Christ….

Esther 2:12 NKJV:  Each young woman’s turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after she had completed twelve months’ preparation, according to the regulations for the women, for thus were the days of their preparation apportioned: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfumes and preparations for beautifying women.

Ephesians 5:25-27 KJV:  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, (26)  that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, (27)  that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

How then will this resurrection life be made manifest in our mortal bodies so the church can show forth the glorious beauty of Christ to the whole world?

By groaning in the Spirit.

Romans 8:23-29 KJV:  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (24)  For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? (25)  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. (26)  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (27)  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (28)  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (29)  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren

2Corinthians 5:4 KJV:  For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

The Lord Jesus Himself groaned in the spirit to release resurrection life BEFORE THE RESURRECTION to raise Lazarus from the dead:

John 11:23-25 KJV:  Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. (24)  Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. (25)  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

John 11:33 KJV:  When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,

John 11:38-44 KJV:  Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. (39)  Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. (40)  Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? (41)  Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. (42)  And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. (43)  And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. (44)  And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

So, as we now actively (not passively) wait for the redemption (not glorification) of our physical bodies, let us be praying in the spirit with groanings by the power of Holy Spirit, using an abundance of the life of God as a daily habit (Hebrews 5:7, Ephesians 6:18, Romans 8:26), like the Lord Jesus did!