EASTER 2019 // THE RESURRECTED LIFE

GOOD MORNING

WELCOME

I AM SO HAPPY TO SEE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HERE TODAY

BUT EVEN MORE EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE GOD’S WORD WITH YOU.

SHALL WE BEGIN?

As was read this morning, one thing that stands out is how unique the Story of Jesus is.

Not only do you have a God who created this world

But a God who created this world through the lens of Love

Not only do you have a God who is in love with His creation

He knows that there is something intrinsically different between His Nature and His Creation.

See, the God that created us, was not like us

He was Holy, and we were not

He was Pure, and we were born into sin

He has always been Righteous, we have always been guilty.

Until one day, SOMEBODY SAY “ONE DAY”

That one day, where He decided to do something about our sinfulness

That one day, He sent His Son to live like no one else, so He could save like no one else.

This Son, displayed His love for us, not only through the Cross, but through daily obedience.

THINK ABOUT IT FOR A SECOND:

SLIDE: TELLS US THAT JESUS WAS SENT BECAUSE GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD

TO SHOW US HOW MUCH THE FATHER LOVED US

TO PUT ON DISPLAY HIS LOVE FOR HUMANITY

SO HOW DID JESUS DO THIS?

JESUS’ DAILY OBEDIENCE WAS THE ACTION THROUGH WHICH THAT LOVE WAS SHOWN

EVERY SINGLE DAY

THROUGH EVERY TEMPTATION

IN ALL THINGS

HE REMAINED FAITHFUL TO THE DESIRED RESULT

HE REMAINED FAITHFUL TO THE MISSION

HE KNEW THAT FAILING IN ONE POINT OF THE LAW, WOULD MAKE HIM NO DIFFERENT THAN THE PEOPLE HE WAS SENT TO SAVE

HE KNEW THAT TEMPORAL PLEASURE WOULD NULLIFY THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION

HE KNEW THERE WAS A GREATER JOY IN OBEDIENCE TO THE FATHER, THAN OBEYING THE TEMPTATION OF THE FLESH.

YOU MAY BE THINKING MAN, WHAT A SAVIOR, WHAT A GOD WE WORSHIP . . .

BUT WHAT IF THAT GOD TODAY IS CALLING YOU TO GREATER THINGS?

WHAT IF THAT SAME GOD, THAT DID WHAT YOU COULD NOT DO, IS CALLING YOU OUT OF THE AREAS IN YOUR LIFE WHERE YOU SEEM POWERLESS?

WHAT IF GOD WANTED TO SHOW YOU THAT NOT ONLY DID THE SPIRIT RESURRECT HIM FROM THE DEAD

THAT SAME SPIRIT WANTS TO RESIDE WITHIN YOU, THAT RESURRECTION WOULDN’T SEEM IMPOSSIBLE, BUT IT WOULD BE THE NORM.

CHURCH, CAN WE BE HONEST FOR A SEC . . .:

Very Different than us

When the going got tough

When He was challenged on all levels

He remained Faithful

Very Different than us

The Bible tells us, that the God of the Bible remains Faithful even when we, His own creation are faithless.

I LOVE HOW PAUL PUTS THIS IN PERSPECTIVE IN

HE IS ENCOURAGING THOSE WHO ARE ACTIVELY FOLLOWING CHRIST TO DO SOMETHING

HE SAY’S

Philippians 2:5–11 NKJV

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

ASK: CHURCH, HOW MANY OF US WANT TO BE MORE LIKE JESUS?

That they would experience their own personal cross experience

It is 6am on a Sunday Morning

ASK: HOW MANY OF US WANT TO HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST?

ASK: WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO INVEST?

In order to experience their own resurrection experience.

CHURCH, NOW THAT WE ALL KNOW WHY WE ARE HERE

ASK: WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO GRAB HOLD OF?

ASK: WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO LET GO OF?

PHILIPIANS 2:5-11

CHURCH:

WE AREN’T HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE IT ALTOGETHER

WE AREN’T HERE BECAUSE THIS GIVES US STATUS IN THE KINGDOM

WE AREN’T HERE BECAUSE WE ARE BETTER THAN ALL OF THE OTHER CHRISTIANS WHO ARE STILL SLEEPING.

WE ARE HERE TO SEE GOD WORK.

TURN TO SOMEONE AND SAY, “GOD IS WORKING IN YOU”

SLIDE: TURN TO SOMEONE AND SAY, “GOD IS WORKING IN YOU”

SOME OF YOU STRUGGLED A BIT IN SAYING THAT

Y’ALL KNOW TOO MUCH, AMEN?

AS I WAS PREPARING FOR TODAY, I KNEW GOD WANTED TO DO SOMETHING SPECIAL

I WAS PRETTY EXCITED

SO EXCITED,

SO LIKE A KID ON HIS BIRTHDAY, I GOT AWAY AND ASKED GOD, “SO WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR EASTER?”

SO, LIKE EVERY SUNDAY, I GOT AWAY AND ASKED GOD, “SO WHAT ARE WE DOING?”

THIS IS WHAT HE SHOWED ME.

SHOW THEM

OK

SHOW THEM THE RESURRECTED LIFE

ALRIGHT, LET’S GO

CHURCH, WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST, CORRECT?

CHURCHES AROUND THE WORLD, TEACH OTHERS HOW TO BE LIKE JESUS, CORRECT?

SO HOW COME, SOME OF US HAVE AREAS IN OUR LIVES THAT STILL HAVE A STONE ROLLED IN FRONT OF THEM?

HOW COME, WE ARE CRIPPLED WITH THE FEAR OF WHAT MEN MAY THINK OF US?

HOW COME, WE STRUGGLE WITH SURRENDER?

HOW COME, WE ARE STILL RIDDLED WITH THE SYMPTOMS OF PAST SINS?

HOW COME, WE LACK FAITH?

HOW COME, WE STILL (YOU FILL IN THE BLANK)!

ON THIS RESURRECTION DAY, I BELIEVE THAT A LOT IS GOING TO CHANGE

SEE, A LOT OF US CELEBRATE THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS, WHILE JESUS IS DESIRING FOR US TO TASTE AND SEE WHAT RESURRECTION IS REALLY ABOUT.

JESUS WANTS TO RESURRECT 2 THINGS TODAY

RESURRECT YOUR APATHY

RESURRECT YOUR YOUTH

RESURRECT YOUR CALLING

READY?

REMEMBER THE THE STORY OF LAZARUS IN ?

LAZARUS WAS DEATHLY ILL.

John 11 NKJV

1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” 4 When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. 7 Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11 These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.” 12 Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” 13 However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.” 16 Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” 17 So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. 19 And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. 20 Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. 21 Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” 28 And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, “The Teacher has come and is calling for you.” 29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met Him. 31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.” 32 Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. 34 And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!” 37 And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?” 38 Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” 45 Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. 46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. 48 If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.” 49 And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad. 53 Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. 54 Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples. 55 And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. 56 Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, “What do you think—that He will not come to the feast?” 57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him.

PEOPLE KNEW JESUS’ LOVE FOR LAZARUS

THEY KNEW HIS LOVE FOR LAZARUS’ FAMILY

BUT HE ALSO KNEW, THAT THIS SITUATION HAD A GREATER STORY,

A TWIST IN THE SCRIPT THAT WOULD MOST GLORIFY THE LORD.

John 11:3 NKJV

3 Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”

WHAT WERE THE FACTS?

SLIDE: JESUS SAID: “LAZARUS IS DEAD”

THOUGH EVERYONE KNEW IT, THEY WERE SURPRISED JESUS HADN’T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

THEY WERE SURPRISED THAT THEIR WASN’T AN URGENCY

THEY WERE HEARTBROKEN, FOR THEY KNEW JESUS COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING ABOUT IT

SLIDE: MARTHA PULLS JESUS ASIDE AND SAYS: “LORD IF YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE, MY BROTHER WOULD NOT HAVE DIED”

THIS SEEMS VERY CONFRONTATIONAL

SLIDE:THEN SHE ADDS: “BUT I KNOW THAT WHATEVER YOU ASK OF GOD, GOD WILL GIVE YOU”

SLIDE: JESUS RESPONDS SUBTLY: “YOUR BROTHER WILL RISE AGAIN”

NOW MARTHA THOUGHT THIS WAS A THEOLOGICAL ANSWER

SHE THOUGHT JESUS WAS TALKING ABOUT THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD AT HIS SECOND COMING

This Girl knew her Bible

Her Theology was on point

Her Eschatology was right on

All while misunderstanding Jesus

Are there any people here who can relate?

We think we can graduate from church

We think we know it all

We think the church has nothing to offer us anymore

We end up like Colin Kaepernick, without a team, banned from where he was most effective, but with all the time in the world.

JESUS, IN HIS GRACE,

TAKES WHAT SHE KNOWS AND CLUES HER INTO WHO HE IS AND WHAT HE IS ABOUT

HE IS PROBABLY THINKING TO HIMSELF “MARTHA, YOU ARE RIGHT, BUT I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING GREATER”

BUT HE SAYS:

John 11:25–26 NKJV

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

UPON HEARING THIS POWERFUL STATEMENT

SHE AGREED, SHE BELIEVED, BUT WALKED AWAY A LITTLE DEFEATED.

CHURCH, SOMETIMES WE ARE GOOD HEARERS OF THE WORD, BUT WE AREN’T REALLY LISTENING.

Husbands you know what I’m talking about?

You hear your wife

But you aren’t really listening

You are actually plotting a way to get out of the situation you got yourself in?

This is Martha

She heard

But didn’t understand

So she did what anyone else would have done.

She didn’t get the response she needed, so she went and complained to Mary about it.

Mary then booked it to where Jesus was and comes to Him with the same story

SLIDE: “Lord, If you had been here, my brother would not have died”

THIS IS AS EMOTIONAL AS IT GETS

MARTHA IS HEARTBROKEN

MARY IS HEARTBROKEN

JESUS IS HEARTBROKEN

SLIDE: SO HE ASKS: WHERE THEY LAID HIM

I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER, THAT THE WHOLE REASONING FOR LAZARUS’ SICKNESS, AND THIS PREDICAMENT JESUS FINDS HIMSELF IN

IS FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

AS JESUS WEPT, THE AUDIENCE HAD TWO THOUGHTS

THEY KNEW HE LOVED HIM

THEY WERE PERPLEXED THAT HE HADN’T DONE ANYTHING YET

THIS GOES TO SHOW US, THE NAKED EYE IS BOUND BY TIME, WHILE THE ETERNAL KING DEFY’S TIME, SPACE, & MATTER

AS THEY CAME TO THE CAVE, A CAVE JUST LIKE THE ONE JESUS WOULD BE LAID IN SOME TIME AFTER

SLIDE: JESUS SAID TO THEM: “TAKE AWAY THE STONE”

MARTHA,

THE ONE WHO HAD HEARD FIRST HAND WHAT JESUS WAS ALL ABOUT

THE ONE WHOSE THEOLOGY WAS ON POINT

COULD NOT GRASP WHAT JESUS WANTED TO DO

SLIDE: JESUS SAYS: “DIDN’T I TELL YOU THAT IF YOU BELIEVED, YOU WOULD SEE THE GLORY OF GOD?

AFTER

AFTER THANKING GOD, HE DOES THE UNTHINKABLE . . .

SLIDE: HE CALLS LAZARUS FORTH WITH A LOUD VOICE.

THE MAN WHO WAS DEAD, CAME FORTH, BOUND HAND AND FOOT, WRAPPED IN GRAVECLOTHES

SLIDE: JESUS SAID, “LOOSE HIM, AND LET HIM GO”

NOW, I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE THINKING, “THAT’S SO 2000 YEARS AGO”

WHAT IF I TOLD YOU THAT THIS STORY LIVES ON TODAY?

WHAT IF I TOLD YOU THAT WE ARE IN THIS STORY?

WE MAY BE MARTHA:

Who blames Jesus for not being present in her times of trouble

Who is busy doing, but isn’t listening

All while Jesus is giving her Gold in the form of a verse

WE MAY BE MARY:

Who went balling her eyes out to the tomb.

Who is an emotional mess because Jesus didn’t do something about her situation

All while Jesus is about to defy her view of death

WE MAY BE THE CROWD:

That knows Jesus can do the miraculous, but don’t really know if He could do the impossible.

Who is bound by time, not knowing that Jesus defies time.

But whom Jesus still loves.

All while Jesus has waited to put on display His love for them.

WE MAY BE LAZARUS:

Who may be physically sick and in need of a Miracle

Or maybe Spiritually Asleep and in need of a Great Awakening

All while Jesus desires to resurrect Him, and the people who read this story

WE MAY BE THE JEWS THAT TOOK EVERYTHING IN:

Yet did nothing with it

Heard the rumors of this So-Called Messiah

Saw the Evidence

Did nothing with it

All while on Good Friday, Jesus asks for His Father to forgive them.

CHURCH, THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF US, IN EVERY ONE OF THESE CHARACTERS

ONE THING THAT WE CANNOT DENY, IS THAT JESUS, IS STILL MADLY IN LOVE WITH THEM & US, AND STILL WANTS YOU TO UNDERSTAND ONE THING

THAT HE IS THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE

THAT HE WHO BELIEVES IN ME, THOUGH HE MAY DIE, HE SHALL LIVE

AND ONCE YOU BELIEVE

AND THOUGH YOU MAY DIE

YOU SHALL LIVE FOREVER

AND NEVER DIE AGAIN.

WHAT ABOUT OUR FRIEND PONDERING THOMAS?

THOMAS, AKA “DOUBTING THOMAS”

Y’ALL REMEMBER HIS STORY?

WELL, THIS STORY TOOK PLACE AFTER THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST IN

AFTER SHOWING HIS HANDS AND HIS SIDE TO THE DISCIPLES

AFTER SENDING THEM OUT IN POWER

AFTER IMPARTING TO THEM THE HOLY SPIRIT

THESE GUYS WERE ON A PERMA-SPIRITUAL HIGH

BUT MR. THOMAS WAS ABSENT

HE WASN’T AT CHURCH THAT DAY

SOMETHING MUST HAVE BEEN OF GREATER IMPORTANCE . . .

AND WHEN THOMAS MET UP WITH THE FELLAS

THEY WERE STOKED TO TELL HIM “WE HAVE SEEN THE LORD”

IMAGINE

AFTER WALKING WITH JESUS

SEEING HIM DO MIRACLE AFTER MIRACLE

MOURNING HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS

WAKING UP DEFEATED THAT SATURDAY MORNING

NOT REALLY ENJOYING THE SABBATH MEAL

YOU WOULD THINK THAT THE NEWS OF SEEING JESUS WOULD HAVE EXCITED YOU.

BUT INSTEAD

THOMAS RESPONDS WITH

John 20:25 NKJV

25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

THOMAS NEEDED EVIDENCE

DON’T JUDGE HIM

HE HAD TASTED AND SEEN THAT GOD IS GOOD

BUT NOW, HE WANTED TO

DON’T ACT LIKE YOU DON’T NEED EVIDENCE

THOMAS NEEDED TO FEEL FOR HIMSELF

JOHN 20:26

HE NEEDED TO TOUCH JESUS IN ORDER TO BELIEVE

SO HOW WOULD JESUS DO THIS?

John 20:26–29 NKJV

26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

PUT YOURSELF IN THOMAS’ SANDALS

A WHOLE 8 DAYS HAD PASSED

IMAGINE GOING 8 DAYS, EVERYONE AROUND YOU IS THRILLED ABOUT THE NEWS OF THE RESURRECTED CHRIST

BUT YOU, YOU ARE STILL PONDERING WHAT TO DO WITH THIS TEA . . .

YOU, ARE STILL NOT SURE WHAT THIS ALL MEANS

YOU GO INTO A MEETING WITH ALL OF THE DISCIPLES

THE DOORS SHUT

BUT JESUS ENTERS THE ROOM, AND STANDS IN YOUR MIDST

This confirms TO YOU the Truth that God is Spirit

Only Spirits can walk through Walls, and enter rooms that have doors that are shut.

HE SAYS “PEACE TO YOU”

BUT THEN JESUS,

WITHOUT EVER HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH THOMAS

TURNS TO HIM AND SAYS:

“REACH HITHER”

“LOOK AT MY HANDS”

“REACH YOUR HAND IN HERE”

“PUT IT INTO MY SIDE”

“THOMAS, DON’T BE UNBELIEVING, BUT BELIEVING”

I KNOW I JUST BLEW YOUR MIND,

YOU THOUGHT I WAS A SPIRIT WHEN I WALKED THROUGH THAT WALL

BUT NOW YOU ARE IN A PREDICAMENT, BECAUSE YOU CAN ACTUALLY FEEL THAT I AM JESUS IN THE FLESH

CHURCH, WE ARE JUST LIKE THOMAS

WE MISS ONE CHURCH SERVICE AND IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT WOULD HAVE CLEARED UP A LOT FOR US PERSONALLY

WE DON’T READ OUR BIBLES, NOT KNOWING THAT THE PROMISE FOUND IN NAHUM WOULD HAVE BEEN SO REFRESHING

BUT DON’T TRIP, JESUS STILL LOVES YOU

EVEN AFTER A WHOLE 8 DAYS

HE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED

HE PICKS UP RIGHT WHERE YOU LEFT OFF

WELL HERE IT IS

PROVES TO YOU HE IS STILL REAL

MEETS YOUR EVERY NEED

TO PROVE TO YOU, THAT HE IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER GOD

TO SHOW YOU, THAT HE CAN RESURRECT YOUR APATHY

TO SHOW YOU, THAT HE WILL WAIT FOR YOU

TO SHOW YOU, THAT HE CAN RESURRECT YOUR CALLING

DON’T BE UNBELIEVING, BUT BELIEVING.

MAYBE TODAY, YOU’VE ALWAYS CELEBRATED THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST

WITHOUT EVER KNOWING THAT HE WANTS TO RESURRECT YOU

HE WANTS TO TAKE YOU

FROM LACK TO ABUNDANCE

FROM DEFEAT TO VICTORY

FROM MISERY TO MERCY

FROM BITTER TO JOYFUL

FROM DEATH TO LIFE

ISN’T IT CRAZY THAT HE HAD TO GO TO THE CROSS?

NOT JUST TO PAY OUR DEBT, BUT TO ACTIVATE THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?

THAT THE SAME SPIRIT THAT RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD

WOULD LIVE IN US

WOULD BE POWERFUL IN US

WOULD RESURRECT EVERY AREA OF OUR LIVES

THAT WE WOULD NOT ONLY HEAR THE VOICE OF THE SHEPHERD

BUT THAT WE WOULD LISTEN

THAT WE WOULD NOT ONLY BE HEARERS OF THE WORD

BUT DOERS

THAT WE WOULD NOT ONLY TELL OF HIS RESURRECTION

BUT PRESENT THE AREAS OF OUR LIVES THAT HAVE ALSO BEEN RESURRECTED TO NEW LIFE!