1. Living the resurrected life

April 3rd

I am the resurrection and the life; he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever lives and believes in Me, shall never die (John 11:25-26) ‘I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!’ (Gal. 2:20-21

introduction Personal testimony Last week was Easter the most profound event in the history of mankind . God became human and stepped into this world and he went to the cross to die for you and I . He shook the very foundations of the heavens , took on all the darkness and sin of this world and the unseen strongholds of the enemy and his minions and won .. for you . He made a way open to have a new and living relationship with a loving graceful and forgiving God , took you from the precipice of hell and damnation and gave you eternal life . What was not possible in your old life and become possible in your new life . He has given you a guide and an inspiration in the holy spirit . The question is “do you feel different because of the resurrected life and victory of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary .” 31 years ago I became a Christian at Easter . My life was a meandering mess. Going nowhere .

2. No direction , No purpose and then this God man broke in performed miracles to show me he was for real , put his spirit inside of me and gave me a hope for living . A purpose and ambition for life. And his message to share . Everything suddenly made sense . Everything that was previously impossible was now possible because of Jesus Christ . The question again is “do you feel different because of the resurrected life and victory of our lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary .” 31 years later there is still fire inside my heart to see people grow in this church . To take on ministries. To see their loved ones saved . To see the surrounding communities drawn to Christ. To see revival . To see God perform miracles.

What is God saying to us ? Recently we changed Sunday evenings around and we had a specific time of prayer and spiritual discernment to discern the future for our church. It was a wonderful time together of listening to the Holy Spirit speak through the mouths of his children. In all three meetings I sensed and heard clearly that we are to become a missional church.

3 A body of his people who are to witness to the community around us and into the lives of people we come into contact with. Within all this God is asking us all to be spirit filled disciples who are firmly rooted in biblical truths and supporting each other as we go along . The more Christ like we are , the more the unchurched , the unsaved are attracted to Jesus Christ because they see him in us . The early church became a model for this in Acts 2 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. 42

They had everything in common, demonstrated various gifts and ministries. Church life was bristling with life . Worship , fellowship , discipleship , evangelism and ministry . Spirit filled living resulted in lost souls being saved on a daily basis. The God of acts 2 , is the God of today . He is still able to perform revival through partnership with his people. The reality of Easter and the resurrected life means that this is still possible today .

4 The acts 2 church before Pentecost were like us , a work in progress . So what happened between Easter and the resurrection and Pentecost. How did the people of the acts 2 church become the church that God wanted them to be . They had a responsibility to become Christ like and we do too because of what Christ has done on Calvary. “Knowing Jesus doesn’t get us where we want to go. It gets us to where Jesus goes, where we meet him in Resurrection surprise: " Eugene H. Peterson, So why don’t we live the resurrected life in all its fullness Why don’t we live on the right side of the cross . We waste a lot of time and energy asking God to give us what He has already done for and given us through the Cross. Now, it is a question of us knowing what God has provided and learning to walk in it. The Bible teaches that we were crucified with Christ (Gal 2:20), died with Christ (Rom 6:8), we are buried with Christ (Rom 6:4), were made alive with Christ (Eph 2:5), were raised up with Christ . (Eph 2:6).

Jesus went to the Cross -- death, burial, and resurrection -to pay for our sins, to make it possible for God to legally remove our sins, so that God could give us His life, His resurrection life.

5

Jesus took our death on the Cross or became our substitute. Once He took our place He identified with us , on the Cross He became what we were. His death became our death. We were united with Jesus in death so that we could be united with Him in life, so that when life was given back to Jesus at the resurrection, it could be given to us as well because Jesus was there for us as us. As Christians, we are now supposed to live a resurrected life. To live a resurrected life you must understand the twosided benefit of the Cross for us. We were crucified with Christ yet we are alive with the life of God. Gal 2:20

According to the calendar, Resurrection Day (Easter Sunday) happens just once a year. But it’s something we would do well in observing every day of our lives. So why then, during the other 364 days, don’t we live like we know and believe this with our whole hearts?

I’m going to talk about several R’s

6.

Revelation We need fresh revelation from God regarding the need to live as a spiritually alive church . We need a fresh relegation of what Jesus Christ has done for us on the cross of Calvary .

You’re a new creation , the old life has gone . We need to learn to live in victory despite our circumstances . God wants Christ reflected in you so that others are drawn to his saving Gospel . Christ has won your heart . phil talked about this last week illus but the enemy is attacking your mind , distracting you . So renew your mind . Capture every thought and make it obedient to Christ . We are to live as Children of light and to be distinctively different in this world . So to live in the power of the resurrected life takes a daily close walk .

7 Repentance The bible teaches us that we have all fallen short – romans 3 ,23 If we are all honest , we know we do . We also know that God forgives us if we confess . We mess up . We need to keep short accounts. God has won our hearts but there inches above is the mind and the enemy Knows how to attack it , he knows our weaknesses The crucifixion was a means to an end -- so God could execute us for our sin and then start over by giving us new life, His eternal life. Recognize your sin for what it is. When you closely examine your own sinfulness, that’s when you realize what’s really going on in your heart when the Holy Spirit goes to work in our lives, he exposes and convicts us so that we will change. The bible talks about the sin that so easily entangles Hebrews 12, 1 God wants to fill us with the holy spirit but he first wants to get rid of stuff that is blocking the blessing of a spirit filled life. Repentance, which literally means to turn, is the activity of reviewing one's actions and feeling regret for past wrongs. It generally involves a commitment to personal change and the resolve to live a more responsible and humane life. The bible teaches us to produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

See Matthew 3 v8

8. Bearing fruit worthy of repentance is living in such a way, as to outwardly express the reality of what repentance has wrought in our lives. It means that our lives reflect a lifestyle, action, and choice pattern which are consistent with having repented of sin. We need to run from the things that the enemy throws at us. James 4; 7 Says Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you Repentance though is not a onetime act of confession or a onetime recital of a certain prayer or creedal statement. The great Congregational Pastor of old, D. L. Moody wrote that “Man is born with his face turned away from God. When he truly repents, he is turned right round toward God; he leaves his old life.” While an increasingly secular society has asserted everybody’s right to be right and thus killed the idea of sin, the Church has done something far more dishonest; we have redefined sin to a neutral status. We need to live in such a manner befitting of having repented. Repentance is a part of the Christian life. Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, Hebrews 6 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 peter 3 .9

9. Renewal Galatians 6:7-9.says "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. The apostle Paul is writing this letter to the churches in Galatia, which means he is writing to all age groups men, women, singles, young people, children, leaders, followers, teachers, students, and even pastors. He is writing to believers in Jesus Christ who have made a commitment to membership in one of the Lord's churches. They had all dedicated themselves to doing good, to going the extra mile, to keeping themselves "unspotted" from the world. We are called to live a transformed life, a life that is different from nonChristians, which is not easy. You might call this, "above and beyond" living! It involves saying "No" when everyone else says, "Yes." It involves being kind to people who treat us badly; loving those who do not like us or love us back; forgiving those who offend us. As Christians, we can't always do what we want to do, and at times we have to do things we don't want to do. We can't lie, steal, lust, cheat, take revenge, hate, and covet. We have to always tell the truth, work for everything, abstain from immorality, make amends, forgive the undeserving, love our enemies, and be happy for others who succeed, often in light of our own failures. Beyond this, we involve in the cause of Christ, investing our extra hours in serving, teaching, witnessing, and worshiping. All of this and more can cause us to grow weary! Christian renewal comes when we: Refuse to believe the lies of Satan. We grow weary and discouraged in our Christian lives, when we listen to the wrong voices, whether they come from inside of us or outside of us. Lies like, "Living the Christian life is not worth it. I am missing out on something. What about my life, my needs, my desires? It doesn't pay to live for Christ. Why do I have to be so different? Why can't I have fun like everyone else?"

10. As believers living in this world, we are constantly barraged by negative ideas and voices that would pull us down and away from our commitment to Jesus Christ and His church. When are we most likely to hear and fall prey to these voices? We are tempted to "grow weary" in our Christian lives, when we have been criticized.. When people are critical of us, we feel that we are not appreciated. We are tempted to "grow weary" in our Christian lives, when we have been rejected. ! When we live for Christ in this dark world, it shines a light exposing sin, which many times sets us up for rejection. We are tempted to "grow weary" in our Christian lives, when we are alone, or at least feel that we are all alone. People with morals, values, and convictions for truth are becoming a rare breed. We are tempted to "grow weary" in our Christian lives, when we have served with little visible results. It's often hard to measure ministry and Christian influence. We are tempted to "grow weary" in our Christian lives, when we have experienced temporary setbacks or failures. We are tempted to "grow weary" in our Christian lives, when we get caught up in comparing ourselves with others around us. God has given each of us a place in this world, an assigned task, and has equipped us to perform it. We are tempted to "grow weary" in our Christian lives, when we are experiencing poor health. Illness that holds on keeping us from being our best or keeping us away from our place of service, can make us feel worthless. Christian renewal comes when we: Remember and review the laws of sowing and reaping. ....for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." When the Bible speaks of everlasting or eternal life, it is not merely referring to the duration of life, but quality of life. Eternal life is to share the very life of God, which is a thriving, abundant, joyous life!

11. Christian renewal comes when you: Refocus upon Christ within you. Learn to rely upon the life of Christ within you. Doing the wrong thing, becoming weary and discouraged, comes natural to us.! The full work of Christian renewal will reach your heart and mind when you learn to say, "It's not me! It's Jesus Christ in and through me! I can do all things, as long as I rely upon the life and power of Jesus Christ within me! It's when I am weak in my own sight, that I am made strong!" Nothing speaks louder than a positive, glowing Christian! A Christian who is on fire for Christ in the midst of a dark and discouraging world

Revival "What is Christian revival?" Revival refers to a spiritual reawakening from a state of dormancy or stagnation in the life of a believer. It encompasses the resurfacing of a love for God, an appreciation of God's holiness, a passion for His Word and His church, a convicting awareness of personal and corporate sin, a spirit of humility, and a desire for repentance and growth in righteousness. Revival invigorates and sometimes deepens a believer's faith, opening our eyes to the truth in a fresh, new way. It is a fresh start with a clean slate, marking a new beginning of a life lived in obedience to God. Revival breaks the charm and power of the world, which blinds the eyes of men, and generates both the will and power to live in the world but not of the world. Revival, in many respects, replicates the our experience when we are saved. It is initiated by a prompting of Holy Spirit, creating an awareness of something missing or wrong in our life that can only be righted by God. In turn, we must respond from the heart, acknowledging our need.

12.

Then, in a powerful way, the Holy Spirit draws back the veil the world has cast over the truth, allowing to see ourselves in comparison to God's majesty and holiness. God, through His Holy Spirit, calls us to revival in a number of situations. Revival helps us to rightly discern what values we should hold. Revival helps to resuscitate spiritual life. The evidence of revival, a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon us as believers, is changed lives. Great movements toward righteousness, evangelism, and social justice occur. Believers are once again spending time in prayer and reading and obeying God’s Word. Believers, you and I begin to powerfully use their spiritual gifts. It is then that the lost see Christ in us and they want to know more.

This is what the Acts 2 church experienced when they saw number added to them daily.

13.

Conclusion: To live a resurrected life, consider these things :



Keep a proper perspective of your state



He is God. And we are not. In your day-to-day decisions, how often do you consult your heavenly Father?

 

Give thanks where it is due … to God! Do you begin each day with thanksgiving? When you wake up, do you immediately count your blessings?

 

Worship the One who saved you. What are your current debts? A mortgage? School loans? If someone paid off your costliest obligation, how would you feel? What about the One who has paid the biggest amount of all—your spiritual debt? You could never pay for it yourself. So give your worship, adoration and praise to the risen Lord who has. He died in your place, and his blood has covered your sins. 

Keep your focus and don’t waiver. What gets you off course in your life? Certain friendships? Emotional issues? Bad habits? What obstacles are getting in your way and preventing you from living a life that responds to the Resurrection? Remember that in Christ, you are a new creation. You are no longer dead in your transgressions. Leave the past behind, throw off whatever hinders you and live for Christ!



Put God first and give him your all. God put us first. He gave us his first fruits, his son Jesus Christ, who died for our sins. What are your first fruits to God? What are you giving him as a sign that your life belongs to him? Do your priorities, reflect your desire to put him first in your life? Do they show that he is Lord of your life?

14. 

Be heavenly minded while on earth. “You’re so heavenly minded, and you’re no earthly good.” Yes, it takes effort to not get lost in the clouds



and to put hands and feet to our faith. What we do here on earth does matter, so do pursue the eternal while doing some earthly Good.



What is your part in reaching others with the Good News? Are you following Christ’s example of devotion to you (on the cross) as you serve others?

Jesus is calling us to “Come Forth” to rise and walk in the power of His resurrection. Within you lies the resurrection power of Christ, not only to raise the dead, but the power to bring life to those that are spiritually dry to live in the newness of life that is found in Christ. This should be our highest priority together as a church. So in conclusion let’s make every effort to live the resurrected life Close in prayer Lord Jesus thank you for saving us and for giving us your holy spirit to help us live out this resurrected life We want to devote ourselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. We want to be filled with awe at the many wonders and signs that you can still do today. We want to learn what it means to have everything in common. We will give priority to the poor and will give to anyone who has need. We will continue to meet together to discern your purpose for this your church. As we break bread in communion together we will have glad and sincere hearts praising God for what Jesus has done for us . May we find favour with the people we relate to in our community. We long to add to our number those who are being saved. For Christ’s glory amen