the Twelve. He was forced to boast `foolishly' in his sufferings and labours for the Lord Jesus Christ. And as we

read verses 22-28, do we not feel a sense of shame and realise afresh how very little our Christian profession has

cost us? Humanly speaking the long list of terrible experiences he endured for Christ's sake was beyond the

strength of the human body to withstand. Yet he triumphed through them all to the glory of God. He knew in his

experience the truth of the promise of Romans 8:11, `He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your

mortal bodies by His spirit that dwelleth in you'. Again we see resurrection power in operation overcoming the

failures and weaknesses of the human body, so that the believer is able to accomplish the Lord's will.  This

wondrous theme is further elaborated in the epistle to the Philippians. In chapter 4, verse 11, Paul states `I have

learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content'. Our English version is not strictly accurate. The apostle

did not say that he was content with every experience he passed through. The Greek word autarkes means

independent and whatever extremes of circumstance that came his way, whether being abased or abounding,

whether being full or hungry, whether having everything necessary or suffering need, he was independent of them

all. How could this be? The next verse (12) shows the way. He tells us that he had been `instructed'. Here the

word is mueomai which is linked with musterion, giving the word mystery or secret. It has the thought behind it of

being initiated into a secret. We are dealing now not with the secret concerning the church, but the secret of being

able to triumph over all circumstances, trials, difficulties, and come through to the glory of God. This secret is fully

made known in verse 13, `I can do all things through Christ Who strengtheneth me'.

Note not some things, not just the things that we think we are capable of, but all things that the Lord in His

wisdom and love may ask us to do for His sake. Have we not sometimes shrunk back from some aspect of service,

because we felt utterly unable to accomplish it, or perhaps through some fear of the consequences such a work

would bring? Here is the glorious answer. The ascended Lord Jesus is waiting and ready to strengthen us with

resurrection might so that we can carry out all things to His glory. No wonder that in the first prayer of Ephesians

recorded in chapter one we have the following:

`That ye may know . . . what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the

working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at

His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all ... ` (18-21).

We live in an age of power. Man is wresting secrets from nature and getting to know more and more of the

huge reserves of power inherent in matter and this to his own undoing. But however great atomic energy may be,

there is one thing it cannot do, it cannot give life to a corpse or conquer death. Nothing less than resurrection power

is sufficient for this tremendous task and we may be sure that the power that conquers the last enemy, death, is more

than a match for any difficulties, dangers or tests that we may undergo in this life. Why then do we fail so often?

The apostle stresses that it is to `us-ward who believe'. Is it not lack of trust, absence of appropriating faith in this

almighty storehouse of energy, that is at the bottom of all our troubles? It is only when we rely moment by moment

with childlike faith on resurrection power that we can say `I can do all things'. We can understand now why Paul

wrote in Philippians 3:10 `that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection'. This should be our aim too if

our service is going to count at all in the practical working out of the truth of the Mystery.

As we look back on our findings in previous articles, we trust the reader has realised how the great and

fundamental truth of resurrection enters into the warp and woof of the purpose of the ages. That which orthodoxy to

all intents and purposes casts aside becomes the very basis of God's almighty plan to bring all things to perfection.

Summing up we have found that:

(1) Resurrection is the basis of the gospel of God's grace.

`If thou shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved' (Rom. 10:6-9;

1 Cor. 15:2-4,14).

(2) Resurrection is behind the promises of God.

`Abraham . . . a father of many nations, before Him Whom he believed, even God, Who quickeneth the dead'

(Rom. 4:16-21; Heb. 11:18,19).

(3) Resurrection will accomplish the restoration of Israel and world blessing.