Jesus goes back into the tomb

"They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!" (Luke 24:2-6)

"having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead" (Colossians 2:12, NIV)

"I want to know Jesus, and the power of His resurrection" (Phillipians 3:10, NIV)

"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." (Matthew 10: 8, NIV)

"He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it." (Mark 16:16-20)

Jesus instructed His disciples what to do. They went out and did it, "and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it" (verse 20)

Where and why did the Gospel get so diluted? Why now does the power of the Gospel largely consist of telling others "I'm praying for you", "I'll pray for you", "Got you on my prayer list"?

Why has witnessing for the Lord been reduced to telling strangers "God bless you"?

Where is the power of Jesus' resurrection in Followers' lives? "The Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it". (Mark 16:20, NIV)

"My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power." (1 Corinthians 2:4-5, NIV)

At what point did our child-like faith in believing God's power convert to the point we have put Jesus back in His tomb, and the power of His resurrection commonly becomes squelched?

Let's roll the stone away from Jesus' tomb. Let Jesus come out again--that the power of His resurrection accompany our message, and mankind be drawn to Him (John 12:32). We are not ambassadors of a powerless gospel.

Let's forsake intellectual Christianity.

Let us stop being bound by our own ideas and philosophy of what God is and how He wishes to move on earth.

Let us squelch timidity coming from the fear of man and the society/culture in which we live.

Let's quit thinking God only wants to move in power and signs amidst a body of Believers during a once or twice per week meeting.

"that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power" (1 Cor 2:5)

Father, forgive us for putting you in a box. Jesus, forgive us for putting You back in the tomb you came out of. You came out of the tomb to show the power of Your resurrection, to show victory over sin. Your ministry was filled with signs, miracles and wonders. You said we will do greater things than You did because You are with the Father now (John 14:12)! You are the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). You charged your Followers what to do (Mark 16:15-18), and more importantly, when they went out and did what you instructed you worked with them and confirmed Your word by the signs which accompanied them (Mark 16:20). Forgive our doubt, forgive the shame and timidity we have exhibited with mankind with regard to Your word and Your assurance that You are with us to show Yourself when we proclaim You. Remove this cowardice from us, Lord. Shatter our own minds of the Gospel, and replace it with the Gospel according to the mind of Jesus (1 Cor 2:16). Deliver us from any deception or lies we have believed about what walking with You is and can be. Any notions which have been from our own flesh, show them to us, so we may bring them to the cross to be crucified, Jesus. Give us boldness to walk in You. Holy Spirit, guide and show us when and where we are to move, act and speak in love with the boldness of Jesus and accompanying signs. In the mighty and powerful name of Jesus, Amen.