RESURRECTION 2022

Okay, let's get going then. The time between crucifixion and the

resurrection of Jesus Christ, we don't really think about or talk about that

time much because on Good Fridays we talk about Good Friday, the death and

crucifixion of Jesus and then on Sunday we talk about Easter Sunday and

the time between the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

That was a dark, dreadful, fear-filled, sorrowful time for the disciples and

those who knew Jesus. So we almost quickly jump from Good Friday to

resurrection Sunday but the time between that is a time of great hardship where

some of them left everything that they knew. Jesus came by, Jesus said follow me

and they followed Jesus only to realize that this Jesus that they thought would

save them is now dead. A few of them saw Jesus just a few days ago in his glory

Jesus in his glory they saw him and then a couple days later they look at Jesus

and his body is motionless, it's not moving. They knew Jesus how he looked, how

he was, certain things that were very unique about Jesus and now on Friday

when they looked at Jesus his face was unrecognizable and so when they go into

Saturday and leading up to Sunday it is a difficult time for the disciples

because they don't know what to do. Now it's not just that Jesus died it is also

that everything that they know all of the systems all of the power hierarchies

they're all after them and so they hide themselves in a room probably locking it

up probably huddled together. Isn't it good to see Wayne? Yes it is. Good to have you here Wayne.

So that's what's happening with the disciples a time of darkness

and Maurice too. Both of them. So it's happening and they know that

they're in a time of difficulty and then on the other side you have the power

structures you have the Sanhedrin you have the Pharisees all taking a step

back and now thinking he's done because Jesus is dead and the devil Satan and

the powers of darkness thought that's it. So that's the reality of Friday, Saturday

leading up to Sunday and we cannot forget that. We cannot forget the fact

that for two days three days there was a time when they when the disciples were

afraid fearful of what was happening and then you see these women who are going

to the tomb. Why? Because they wanted to apply ointments they wanted to go there

and see Jesus. It says they they were seeking after Jesus. They get there.

Only to realize now that this one stone that they were talking about on their way to the tomb

how will we get this stone rolled away so that we can go into the tomb? That this

very stone that they were talking about it's been rolled away and all of a

sudden at that point they realize something has happened. They don't know

what has happened but something has happened and then the disciples come to

know about it. Two of them run to the tomb only to discover that it is true

the only thing that's left here are the linen clothes and the handkerchief

neatly folded kept aside and Jesus is not there. And then we know everything

that happened after that but I wanted to stay there for a minute to

recognize that before the resurrection of Jesus Christ the disciples went

through a time like that and then all of a sudden in an instant God proved

himself true and Jesus resurrected from the dead. He was truly dead. All of the

powers of darkness all of Satan's schemes all of the Sanhedrin schemes

every political power that tried to put him down obliterated in a second. Why?

Because God said my son will now rise up and Jesus Christ rose up from the dead.

What we're going to talk about today look at today is how does this apply to

us and this is not a new thing because some of us who've been Christians for

years we have heard this many times but practically how do we live a lifestyle

that aligns with the resurrection of Jesus. That's why I've titled this

resurrection lifestyle because resurrection of Jesus Christ is not an

event it's not just an event it is a lifestyle for us to partake in. It's a

lifestyle for us to live in every day. It's not just an event it's a lifestyle.

So we'll read a few verses now and then we'll go from there. Let's first read

Acts chapter 224. Acts chapter 224. It says God raised him from the dead freeing

him from the agony of death because it was impossible to keep its hold on him.

Acts 224. But God raised Jesus from the dead freeing Jesus from the agony of

death because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Jesus. So the

fact that Jesus died for our sins is one thing but the fact that he resurrected

is another because if Jesus said that I'm going to die for the sins of the

world and he died okay he died for the sins of the world but it had to be

a perfect man without any sins who was going to die and the resurrection was

the proof of the fact that Jesus was sinless and that death could not hold

him down. The death of Jesus Christ by itself is not proof. The resurrection of

Jesus now is proof of the fact that death tried to keep him down. Powers tried

to keep him down but nothing could and he rose up from the dead. So that's one.

Number two. Let's read Romans chapter 8 11. Romans chapter 8 11. If the spirit of

Romans 8 · chapter mention Romans 8 · chapter mention

him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you he who raised Christ Jesus

from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his

spirit who dwells in you and if the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the

dead is living in you he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life

to your mortal bodies because of his spirit who lives in you. So it's the

spirit of God that raised Jesus from the dead. The spirit of God raised Jesus

from the dead. So on one hand we said death could not hold him anymore and he

was sinless and now the spirit of God raised Jesus to life. Third verse we're

going to look at is 1st Corinthians 15 14. You don't need to go there I'll just

read it out loud. It says and if Christ has not been raised this is Paul

speaking and if Christ has not been raised then our preaching is in vain and

your faith is in vain. The enormity of the resurrection. Jesus died yes but he

rose again and when he rose again he was risen by the power of God and it proved

that Jesus was sinless and death couldn't hold him and now we can say

everything that we preach everything we stand up for everything that we know as

convictions in our mind all of that is rooted in this one thing that Jesus

Christ rose from the dead. All of it everything that we do all of our

existence is based on this one truth that Jesus Christ is not dead anymore.

That Jesus rose from the dead. Everything that we put our lives to

everything that we believe in our hope for the future what we know will happen

the moment we die on earth all of it goes back to this one fundamental truth

that Jesus Christ is alive that he is he has risen that he is not dead he is a

living God and so that being the truth that being the reality how do we live

with what we're gonna call today resurrection lifestyle. Resurrection

lifestyle how do we live like that so we look at a few different things and as I

go through this list I want us to apply this practically in our lives think

about where we are at in life whatever we are doing how can we apply the

resurrection principles of God in our lives. The thing about resurrection is

it's not new to God it doesn't just happen in Matthew chapter 28 and Luke

Matthew 28 · chapter mention Luke 24 · chapter mention

chapter 24 and John chapter 20 this is God's nature so the first thing is our

John 20 · chapter mention

God is a resurrection God it is in his nature and it is something he has done

always our God is a resurrection God he gives life to that which is dead and so

it's not a new thing that happened when God said my son will rise up from the

dead in three days no this is the nature of God this is a very character of God I

want us to look at it this way when God looks at a desert he doesn't see a

desert when God looks at a desert he sees life that can grow there when God

looks at anything that is dry he doesn't see dryness he sees the life that can

spring out of the dryness and so everything that we're going to talk

about today is not just about resurrection Sunday and what happened

then but everything we are going to talk about today is the reality that is very

much ours is the reality that we live by every day that I serve a God who is now

risen he is not dead anymore and in his very nature he gives life and in his

very nature life flows and that's who he is and because that he that is he who

what did I say that but because that is who he is now now everything changes for

me because I now know that my god let's read Isaiah chapter 35 I was looking at

Isaiah 35 · chapter mention

this verse yesterday and think about it think of it pictures this in your mind I

say at chapter 35 1 & 2 this is the God we serve he brings life into barrenness

so Isaiah 35 1 & 2 wilderness and desert will sing joyously the badlands will

celebrate and flower wilderness and desert when God looks at it he sees a

joyous singing because life will come the badlands when God looks at looks at

he sees celebration and flowering this is the very nature of our God the one

who who we call master he is the one who gives life wherever he goes where he is

present life overflows and all through the scripture we see this let's read

Colossians chapter 3 1 to 3

Colossians 3 · chapter mention

if then you have been raised with Christ seek the things that are above where

Christ is seated at the right hand of God set your minds on things that are

above not in things that are on the earth for you have died and your life

is hidden with Christ in God and so when we look at situations that are dry

when we look at situations where it seems like it's wilderness or desert is

type of situation and then we see the reality of God who looks at the same

situation and says that very place from that very place life will spring out

from that very place there is life that will flow out from that very place I

hear a sound of joyous singing from that very place flowers will come up

plants will come up trees will come up this is the very nature of the God we

serve and we cannot run away from it all through the scripture as we when we see

the Genesis creation story life we see times when in the Old Testament where a

dead boy was resurrected back to life we then see Paul and Jesus going to the

tomb Lazarus life we see later on Dorcas Paul or Peter looking at Dorcas

life this is not a one-time event this is the very nature of God this is who

he is when he comes life comes when he is there life flows this is the God we

serve and regardless of how my life situation is where my king is where

your king is he is reminding us today that his life flows into those situations

that his life gives birth where whatever is barren he gives life to whatever is

dry will not remain dry anymore and this is not something that he has to

bring to existent existence this is who he is and I want us to think that way

when we are going through life situations or when we are dealing with

someone else's problems this is who our God is from him flows life when we speak

his name when Peter and John are walking and then they see this man who is lame

what do they say in the name of Jesus Christ rise up and walk because in his

name there is life in his presence there is life and I don't want to go through

this super fast I want us to stay there a second and I want even as I'm talking

right now I'm looking at areas where I need his life and I know for a fact I

know this for real that because he is present here he will bring life because

he's not working for it it is who he is it is when he is there it is there life

number two the resurrection power of God breaks into situations and is

accelerated in response to our faith the resurrection power God breaks into

situations and is accelerated in response to our faith the resurrection

power God breaks into situations and is accelerated in response to our faith

let's read Acts chapter 940 another story Acts chapter 940 so a lady named

Tabitha died and in Acts chapter 40 it's Peter but Peter put them all outside and

knelt down and prayed and turning to the body he said Tabitha arise and she

opened her eyes and when she saw Peter she sat up so the resurrection power

of God that is flowing from him every second every day that is available for

us that resurrection power breaks into our situations that resurrection power

is accelerated in response to my faith in response to your faith so when Peter

was there and he's looking at Dorcas she is dead but in response to the faith

that Peter has knowing fully well that this Jesus who appeared to me a few days

ago when I thought that I messed up big time he came and he said feed my sheep

and then he filled me with his spirit and then he said go to the ends of the

world and proclaim I know this Jesus he lives in me and in the name of Jesus

Christ rise up and therefore in response to the faith that Peter had power broke

through and so again we're going to go slow there's no need to rush throughout

this teaching this is not a teaching for the sake of teaching this is a teaching

for the sake of this restructuring power to change and move in our lives

and so even as we sit here this is the truth my Jesus he is able to revive when

I was thinking about all of this yesterday or a couple days ago I was

thinking all of this ties in so beautifully well with revival because

this is who he is it is impossible for my God to not give life that's his

nature and so we trust in his nature and we see in the physical who he actually

is Ezekiel chapter 37 Ezekiel chapter 37 maybe we won't read it because I

Ezekiel 37 · chapter mention Ezekiel 37 · chapter mention

remember a few days ago or a couple weeks ago we read that together but each

time resurrection power is activated is in work the agent of transformation for

each instance is the Spirit of God so the agent of transformation in each

instance is the Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead he is the agent of

transformation in each instance so in Ezekiel 37 we don't need to read it

verses 4 to 7 what does God say Ezekiel prophesied to the bones and then

which is 9 10 God says now prophesied to the breath spirit to give life to the

bones around which now there is flesh because he prophesied already to the

bones Ezekiel 37 and so from that story here is what we're going to see okay so

from that story where God says here is what you need to speak and he speaks

here is the principle we are deriving from that the principle is the Spirit of

God has directions for us and when we command the operations of the spirit

based on his directions then life cannot be stopped so the Spirit of God who is

doing this work he has his directions on how it is to be done and when we align

with his spirit and we hear him say prophesy now to the bones prophesy now

to the to the breath and when we are in alignment with the directions of the

spirit with the laws of the spirit then it is impossible to stop life so we

align ourselves with the directions the directives that we get from the spirit

I'll give you an example a few days ago when we were talking with a person Mark

and I were there we're talking with this person and Mark was talking with

someone else and then I was talking and then all of a sudden felt God say his

heart is so open you now need to tell him about me and I started telling him

about Jesus and as I'm telling about talking to him about Jesus and sharing

what Jesus has done sharing what how his life can be he looked like this his eyes

were like this and he said no way he can forgive sins I said yes he can he said

no way he can forgive sins I said yes he can forgive sins every time we talk

with someone we don't do it but that day with that particular person God said

his heart is so open you have to speak it right now and we didn't do anything

we just spoke we just said what Jesus said very quickly he said I receive him

very quickly he said I receive him because it's the direction from God

because if I go and now do that to everyone else because it happened here

no it is specific directives from the spirit because he knows exactly what

needs to be done you are not to prophesy to the wind first first you

prophesy to the bone then you prophesy to the wind and when you do that then an

army is rising up so the directives and the law laws of the the spirit we align

with that and then we command from there then we declare from there and then it

is impossible to stop what God wants to do the resurrection power of God

orchestrated progressed by the power of God but by the power of his spirit so

when I speak when we speak the authoritative word of heaven then the

spirit of God enters the void and quickens dry bones when we speak the

authoritative word of God as God speaks as we speak it his resurrection power

goes into dry situations decaying situations and it brings life so it can

be what's written in the word it can be a word that he is giving you for that

time for that specific situation a Rhema word we hear we speak and it happens so

over the last few weeks this is the way that God has been leading us God has

been asking us to to to say he has been asking us go out this is the time this

is the time for this to happen not just in your life this is the time for this

to happen for everyone you meet because there is a revival happening the

resurrection power of God is the reviving power of God and this revival

that we have been talking about it's here it's happening it's real and again

it's so natural for God to revive so natural for him to revive next one I can

now draw my thoughts my interests my attitudes from Jesus because his private

life has become mine I can now draw my thoughts my interests my attitudes from

Jesus because his life has become mine

one of the things that we can fight for is Abba my inheritance is that I'm like

you you said I'm growing up to be your stature and so doesn't matter how I am

right now my interests my thoughts my personality my attitudes the reality is

that I am in you you're in me and therefore I am fully yours and therefore

my interests are changing and therefore my personality I don't give to who it's

for and therefore my attitudes I will put away because I ascribe to your

personality I ascribe to your interests I ascribe to your thoughts one of the

things that sometimes I sometimes you hear right it's my personality that's how

I am it's a very common thing it's my personality it's who I am I'm who I am

no there are so many things about my personality that's just so wrong and I

am to continually say no Abba I don't want that I don't want to be I am who I

am I want to be who you are and that's what I want to be so we become a people

together a people who who are together and we say we don't need things that are

from our past to dictate and control how we live we want the revival from Jesus

we want the resurrected power of Jesus to change the way we are we will not

settle that's the word we will not settle because sometimes we can settle

with a single word we can settle sometimes we can settle how with a

with a mindset we can settle for little we don't want to do that because the

standard that we follow is the standard of Christ the one we are walking after

is Jesus Christ so how come how dare I say my personality is slightly different

so I can stand here and do that no if I am fully following Christ he said die to

yourself and then follow me and when you follow me now you are my disciple so my

personality doesn't really matter I will have my personality change so that it

matches with my creator my Lord who I follow don't take it to the other extent

I'm not saying that our personalities are not unique I'm not saying that there

are special things about our personalities that's not what I am saying

I'm saying that we follow the one who went before us and he continually

transforms us and this resurrection power is a power that we only that we

are not just celebrating this resurrection power is a power that

continuously 24-7 transforms me and transforms you that is the reality of

this power that in my sleep he changes me that when I am awake and walking he

changes me when I say I need less of me and more of you he changes me when I say

I am done with this I need more of you he changes me this revive this reviving

power this resurrecting power is not just for one day this is for every

second of every day and as soon as I say I need more of you there is enough

of him he gives me and that's his reality and we need this we need this

for where God is taking us we need this acts 29 because he is saying you know he

is saying there is more waiting for you and we cannot go ahead and walk into all

of that if we are all about our personalities and our interests and how

we are I didn't have any of this in my notes but I know for a fact that he's

inviting us to say come be together in what I am calling you to do because I am

opening things and you need you need you need to align with how I am asking you

to be and when you do when you do you watch you watch this is who he is and so

this revive this revival we are talking about this resurrection power I know I

am going back to that but I will go back to that because it is possible it is

absolutely here it is it is so God and he will do it and I align about I want to

change I don't want to be how I am I want more of you Jacob said this when we

started talking about the revival he said there are two things that will be

characteristic of this revival one purity to devotion we go back to that

this resurrection life this like lifestyle is a life pulsing with

benefits of the age to come this resurrection lifestyle is a life that

pulsating with benefits of the age to come this resurrection lifestyle is a

life pulsating with benefits of the age to come let's read second Timothy chapter

17 let's read second Timothy chapter 17 second Timothy chapter 17 can someone

read it so the spirit of God gives us power great power great love great

self-control three things great love great power great self-control so father

I need to I need to love people I give you great love father I don't know how

to break through this thing I give you great power father this has been

bothering me for years and I'm still here and I'm still here and I can't get

out I give you great self-control all of which are realities that is so easily

accessible to us by his spirit and I want to touch on the fear part because I

know two days ago when we met that's something that eventually the Holy

Spirit led us to that and I want us even right now as we sit here to look at

areas in our lives where we know we are afraid I want us to look at areas in our

lives right now where we know we are we have fear sometimes we can ignore it

think about it please sometimes we hide it because there are other things that

are going so well and God is saying today that my power my resurrection

resurrection power will free you from fear will completely free you from fear

it is your inheritance all of myself belongs to you I do not give you half of

myself I did not give you a little I'll give you all of myself and so as you

now open your heart as you now say I need you in this area I've desperately

you I'm here fear has no room the peace of Jesus Christ has room now the

security that comes from Jesus has room now the healing that comes from Jesus

has room now

it's time

I know I talked about all of this but here's the other reality the other

reality is that because we live in human bodies and because of the environment

around us it is easily possible to be dulled to the immeasurable capacity of

this resurrection life that even now as we hear we hear but because of the world

around us because of the noise it is easily possible and because we live in

human bodies that are limited by sin it is easily possible to be dulled to the

immeasurable capacity of this resurrection life it is possible I'll

read a verse and then we'll go there let's read I love this verse man

Philippians chapter 314 you don't need to read it I'll read it listen to me

though Philippians chapter 3 verse 14 I press on toward the goal for the price

Philippians 3:14

of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus I press on toward the goal for

the price of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus there is an upward call of

God on my life there is an upward call of God on your lives you cannot deny it

even though the the physical body we are in that is limited by sin even though

the environment against around us even even though there is noise around us

that try to dull us to the immeasurable capacity of this resurrection power

even though all of that is true there is an upward call of God on each and every

one of our lives there is an upward call of God I have these balloons here

to illustrate this as best as I possibly can there is an upward call of God on

our lives that yes everything that I said so far is true and we are walking

around on earth as we walk around on earth we're limited by our human bodies

we're limited by sometimes that which is around us and while all of what I said

is true the image immeasurable capacity of God's

resurrection power doesn't really show it's like look at this they don't even

look like balloons but we're walking right but there is an upward call of God

on our lives you can't deny it you can't deny it regardless there is an upward

call of God on our lives and what God is saying today is this it doesn't matter

how it's looking when you press into what I have this power that we are

talking about is not a power that is limited by that which is around you this

power is not a power that is limited by our inabilities this power is a power

that will go up because there is a resurrection power available because

Jesus rose from the dead and can't keep him down he's resurrected and this power

cannot be kept down it's impossible to keep this down I want this to go into

our thinking I want to see the the first balloons that I talked to you about or

showed you around but this is the truth of his world and the good news for us

is about this is where I need your help there you go okay good good it's working

so far last move the second balloon is me this is who I am and guess what when

I am with him I need your help here too father this is where don't say don't waste this

there you go almost there and because I am with Jesus joking aside because I'm

in him because he is in me because his power is true because it will never fail

because I want to go back to that verse Philippians 3 14 there is an upward call

of God on my life there is an upward call of God on your lives and regardless of what our

situations look like regardless of how the noise around us make or try to control our life the

truth is that this upward call cannot be stopped and so that's it this upward power of God is real

it cannot be stopped it cannot be stopped don't look at it now look at me please we'll get it

done don't worry we'll leave it there for Jacob but please understand this there is an upward call

of God on our lives and it cannot be stopped it cannot be stopped this power will break through

every situation every block every other power that comes against us and it cannot be stopped

think about this upward call go back to the first words that we read and it ties in with the

resurrection story too I don't have any more goodies that's it it ties in with the resurrection

story too which is what did the the women do they went to the tomb looking for Jesus and then in

that verse that we read from Colossians it says set your mind on things that are above and when

you set your mind on things that are above then you will seek it you can't seek the things that

are above when I am setting my mind on things that are below but when I set my mind on this upward

call of God on my mind on my life on this upward call of God on your life then I start seeking this

and then because this power is never mine or developed by mine to begin with and because this

power is fully his and because this power is fully his fully his you're not contributing to

this power thank God I am not contributing to this power thank God all of this is all of him and

because of that it cannot be stopped and I want us to so walk around this week and starting now

in the reality of this truth there is no going back because God is preparing us for that which

is he has in front of us and this is the direction we go this is the direction we are walking say

couple more things we'll finish right on time or much before that because it's only 1230 five

minutes and we'll wrap up let's read Ezekiel chapter 47 verse 9 Ezekiel chapter 47 verse 9

Ezekiel 47:9 Ezekiel 47:9

swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows there will be large numbers of

fish because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh so where the river flows

everything will live I'll read it again swarms of living creatures will live wherever this

river flows wherever this resurrection power is whenever this resurrection power is active

wherever this resurrection power flows into swarms of living creatures will live when it

touches a dead situation there is life when it touches a dry situation there is greenery when

it touches desert there is joyous singing when it touches thirsty lands there is springs of water

when it touches my weakness there is strength where it touches when it touches that which

I have longed for and is my inheritance it is available and the reason I read this verse

is because it also takes us back to what we've been talking about that this body the way God

is commissioning us now is not just for ourselves this truth is for the world outside this truth

is for our colleagues at work this truth is for our friends this truth is for us this truth is

for the ones we meet on the streets this truth is for the rich it's for the poor this truth is

for the single and it is for the married and forever because he was laughing this truth is

for all of us and all that God wants today is for us to say we are not celebrating just an event

we are not here to celebrate an event we are here to celebrate an event and walk in this

resurrection power because this is so much ours the way God has set us up set this up is so good

because it is not based on our abilities or inabilities can you imagine what life would

be like if we were asked by God to do things based on our abilities Wayne is laughing that's

right response man we are so privileged because our Savior did it all he died he rose again

and he said I'm giving all of myself to you and this power is available to you it's for you to

partake in it's not just for you it's for everyone you meet and so I closed with this one thing

because soon after Jesus resurrected when he met the disciples he addressed two things one he

addressed hardness of heart then he addressed lack of belief or unbelief and it's important

to note that because even with everything we are saying everything we are running after we don't

want to be people with the hardness of heart we want to be people whose heart can flow any which

way God wants it to flow we want to be a people who a people not few we want to be a people who

will run when God says this way all together we want to be a people in whom he cannot find

unbelief because we trust him well because we have arrived as a body to a place where we know

you have led us well we look back only to press on forward with this upward call of God on our

lives we are not meant for this earth there is an upward call that cannot be stopped the balloons

are still there I can't bring it down unless someone else does something that's the truth it is there

and I pray that during this week we will remind ourselves of this that this resurrection power

is available for me and I'm going to walk in it and it's not based on my abilities but I'm going

to align myself with myself with the directives of the spirit with the laws of his spirit and

then I'm going to run after him and everything else he does that's it Tony can you come up and

sing break the chains and as we sing the song sing it in response to what you've heard sing

it in response to about dry areas I need life there in areas I need life about I need you to

come in and break chains because this resurrection power is active I want us to respond to God and

his truth by singing the song and what I believe is that when we sing it things will shift things

will move only because he is true to his word and his power is available Jesus I just want to thank

you for everything that you've done that allows us to be here to celebrate today your resurrection

is way beyond anything we can comprehend and the sacrifice that you made is also way beyond anything

we can comprehend so father I just and Holy Spirit I ask that you would really especially this week

especially this week because you want to solidify this in our in our lives and in our thinking and

in our spirits so I ask that you would really remind us constantly of your resurrection your

resurrection power and the things that you're calling us to be because you have indwelled us

and there's nobody here who's here by accident father so I ask on behalf of all of us

that you would make us really aware of you this week and make us responsive may we not put up

barriers and things that will hesitate and put up all the things that we're habitually doing to

separate us from what you want for us I pray that you would work on us miracles so that we come back

next week with great great stories and I ask this in the name of the risen Christ amen