Awakening to Resurrection Life and Spiritual Depth
Summary
This week has been a journey of awakening—a call to become fully alive to who we are, to who God is, and to the moment in which we live. In a world that often encourages passivity, we are reminded that we are not meant to simply survive, but to thrive, especially considering the abundance and spiritual riches available to us. Reflecting on the rhythms and wisdom of the early church, there is a deep invitation to move beyond mere spontaneity or empty ceremony and to intentionally prepare our hearts for the fullness of resurrection life.
The early church fathers understood the importance of spiritual formation, creating annual rhythms like Lent, Easter, Pentecost, and Advent to help believers internalize the mysteries of Christ. These were not just rituals, but intentional practices designed to awaken the heart to the reality of salvation, resurrection, and the indwelling Spirit. The process of entering the church was rigorous and meaningful, often taking years of discipleship, deliverance, and preparation before baptism. This was not to create barriers, but to ensure that new believers truly grasped the magnitude of the new life they were entering.
The baptismal process itself was rich with symbolism: being declared a child of the “eighth day of creation,” immersed three times to signify union with the Trinity, anointed with oil as a sign of the Spirit’s presence, given a candle to represent being the light of the world, handed a glass of milk to symbolize entering the land of God’s blessing, and finally, publicly declaring that Jehovah has become their Abba Father. Each step was designed to root believers in the reality of resurrection life, not just as a theological concept, but as a lived experience.
The danger of empty ceremony is real—when our faith becomes routine, it loses its power and meaning. But when we engage with the Spirit, allowing these truths to awaken us, we become living temples, carriers of revival. True revival is not an event, but a heart awakened to God, a life animated by resurrection power, and a community that stirs one another to greater faith. As we go into our daily lives, the invitation is to be more awake, more alive, and more responsive to the Spirit than ever before, carrying the light and life of Christ into every sphere.
Key Takeaways
- Awakening is an intentional process, not a passive experience. The early church fathers recognized that spiritual depth requires preparation, reflection, and engagement with the mysteries of Christ. We are called to cultivate rhythms that position our hearts to receive and retain the work of the Spirit, rather than relying on fleeting moments of breakthrough. [01:10:14]
- The symbolism of baptism in the early church was a profound declaration of new identity. Being immersed three times, anointed with oil, and receiving tangible symbols like the candle and milk were not empty rituals, but embodied reminders that we are participants in resurrection life, filled with the Spirit, and called to be light and blessing in the world. [01:27:42]
- Empty ceremony is a danger for every generation. When our worship, prayer, or church life becomes routine or disconnected from the reality of Christ’s resurrection, it loses its power to transform. True spiritual life is not found in going through the motions, but in a heart that is continually awakened to the presence and power of God. [01:40:39]
- Revival begins in the heart, not in an event. The history of the church shows that when individuals and communities become truly alive to God—when they are “revived temples”—the atmosphere of homes, cities, and even nations can shift. Revival is sustained not by hype, but by a community that continually animates and awakens one another to the Spirit’s leading. [01:43:26]
- Our identity as sons and daughters of God is central to living in resurrection life. The declaration “Jehovah has become my Abba” is not just a statement, but a reality that shapes how we live, love, and serve. We are not orphans, but members of God’s royal family, empowered to walk in blessing and to extend that blessing to others. [01:47:51]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10:14] - Awakening and the Call to Spiritual Depth
[01:13:00] - Exploring Church History and Early Church Practices
[01:17:00] - The Rhythms of Lent, Easter, and Pentecost
[01:22:00] - The Catechumenate: Preparing for New Life
[01:27:42] - The Six Stages of Early Church Baptism
[01:30:57] - Resurrection Life and Freedom from Death
[01:32:57] - The Anointing of the Holy Spirit
[01:33:50] - Becoming the Light of the World
[01:35:07] - Entering the Land of Milk and Honey
[01:36:12] - Declaring Jehovah as Abba
[01:38:39] - The Danger of Empty Ceremony
[01:40:39] - Moving Beyond Ritual to Resurrection Life
[01:43:26] - Revival: Awakening Hearts and Communities
[01:45:16] - A Prayer for Heart Baptism and Awakening
[01:47:51] - Embracing Our Identity as God’s Royal Family
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Awakening to Resurrection Life
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### Bible Reading
1. John 20:1
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.
2. Romans 6:4
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
3. Romans 8:15
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
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### Observation Questions
1. According to the sermon, what did the early church mean by calling new believers “children of the eighth day of creation”? [[01:27:42]]
2. What were the six symbolic actions or items involved in the early church’s baptism process, and what did each represent? [[01:27:42]]
3. In Romans 6:4, what does Paul say happens to us when we are baptized?
4. What is the significance of the declaration “Jehovah has become my Abba” in the context of the early church’s baptism? [[01:35:07]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why did the early church make the process of joining the church and being baptized so intentional and lengthy? What were they hoping to accomplish in the hearts of new believers? [[01:17:00]]
2. The sermon warns about the danger of “empty ceremony.” What does it look like for a church or a believer to fall into empty ceremony, and why is it so spiritually dangerous? [[01:40:39]]
3. How does the symbolism of being given a candle and a glass of milk at baptism help believers understand their new identity and calling? [[01:33:50]]
4. According to Romans 8:15 and the sermon, how does understanding God as “Abba Father” change the way we live and relate to God? [[01:35:07]]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon describes awakening as an intentional process, not something that just happens. What is one practical rhythm or habit you could start this week to intentionally prepare your heart for God’s work? [[01:10:14]]
2. Think about your own experience with church traditions or rituals (like communion, baptism, or worship). Are there any that have become routine or empty for you? What could you do to re-engage your heart and make them meaningful again? [[01:40:39]]
3. The early church used physical symbols (oil, candle, milk) to help believers remember spiritual truths. Is there a symbol or practice that helps you remember who you are in Christ? If not, what could you create or adopt to remind yourself of your new identity? [[01:33:50]]
4. The sermon says revival is not an event, but a heart awakened to God. What would it look like for you to be “more awake” to God’s presence in your daily life this week? [[01:43:26]]
5. The declaration “Jehovah has become my Abba” means we are not orphans but part of God’s royal family. Are there areas in your life where you still live with an “orphan mindset” (fear, insecurity, striving)? How can you invite God to father you in those areas? [[01:47:51]]
6. The early church took discipleship and preparation seriously before baptism. Who is someone in your life you could walk alongside in their spiritual journey, helping them prepare for deeper faith? [[01:17:00]]
7. The sermon challenges us to carry the light and blessing of Christ into every sphere. What is one specific place (work, home, school, neighborhood) where you feel called to bring Christ’s light this week? What step can you take? [[01:33:50]]
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Devotional
Day 1: Entering the Eighth Day of Creation—Awakening to Resurrection Life
To be a follower of Jesus is to step into the "eighth day of creation," a reality where the resurrection of Christ ushers in a new era for humanity. This is not just a symbolic idea but a spiritual truth: in Christ, you are no longer bound by the limitations of the old creation. The resurrection marks a new beginning, a fresh start, and an invitation to live in the fullness of God's new creation. As you awaken to this truth, you are called to see yourself as a son or daughter of resurrection, living with eternity in your heart and the power of Christ's victory over death shaping your daily life. [01:27:42]
John 20:1 (ESV)
"Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb."
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to embrace the reality of resurrection—leaving behind old limitations and stepping into the new creation God has for you today?
Day 2: Buried and Raised with Christ—Living in Newness of Life
Baptism is more than a ritual; it is a supernatural participation in the death and resurrection of Jesus. As you are immersed in the water, your old life—its patterns, fears, and failures—is buried with Christ. Rising from the water, you are joined to His resurrection, empowered to walk in newness of life. This is not about adding a little bit of God to your old ways, but about a total transformation: the old is gone, and you are now alive to God, free from the fear of death and the bondage of the past. [01:30:57]
Romans 6:4 (ESV)
"We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."
Reflection: What is one old habit or mindset you need to leave behind, trusting that in Christ you have been raised to a new way of living?
Day 3: Anointed by the Spirit—Living in the Power and Presence of God
The anointing of oil in baptism symbolizes the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit. You are not left to live the Christian life in your own strength; the Spirit of God is with you, empowering you, guiding you, and marking you as God's own. This anointing is a daily reality—an invitation to rely on the Spirit, to seek His guidance, and to expect His supernatural work in and through your life. [01:32:57]
1 John 2:20 (ESV)
"But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge."
Reflection: How can you intentionally invite the Holy Spirit to guide and empower you in a specific area of your life today?
Day 4: Becoming the Light of the World—Shining Christ’s Light in Darkness
As a follower of Jesus, you are called the light of the world—a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. This is not just a personal blessing but a responsibility: to carry the light of Christ into your workplace, your school, your home, and your community. Your life, transformed by resurrection power, is meant to shine so that others may see the hope and love of God through you. [01:33:50]
Matthew 5:14 (ESV)
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden."
Reflection: Where is God inviting you to shine His light today—perhaps in a conversation, an act of kindness, or a place where hope is needed?
Day 5: Embracing God as Abba—Living as Sons and Daughters in the Family of God
The culmination of the early church’s baptismal journey was the declaration, “Jehovah has become my Abba.” This is the heart of the gospel: you are no longer an orphan, but a beloved child of God, adopted into His royal family with all its privileges. Living in this truth means approaching God with confidence, security, and intimacy, knowing you are fully accepted and loved. [01:36:12]
Romans 8:15 (ESV)
"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'"
Reflection: How can you live today with the confidence and security of someone who knows they are a beloved child of God?
Quotes
I'm just, I'm just trying to put a bow in it from my perspective, from my moment, this thought about, could you imagine as we go out into tomorrow, into your workplace, into your business, into the schools, into you know, whatever it is that life is tomorrow for you. And you just, somehow, you're just more awake tomorrow than you were Friday, than you were last week. You're alive, you're awake in God, awake to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. That is revival. [01:42:43] (37 seconds)
It's something that happens, the genesis of it, in the hearts of the believers. Revival, grace, revival. And when enough people become revived, it begins to shift atmospheres of not just hearts, but homes and regions, and by the grace of God, nations. [01:43:26] (23 seconds)
Christianity that just goes through the motions without true understanding of or engagement with resurrection life is just empty ceremony. It's going to leave you dry and dead. It's going to leave you disinterested in church. It's going to leave you disengaged in the marketplace. It's just dry ceremony. It's you know worship becomes Christian karaoke. Right? A message just becomes a pep talk. [01:40:57] (26 seconds)
But the early church fathers wanted to make sure that they were positioning by the grace of God the heart of the believer so that they could understand we have awoken not to dead ceremony, not to temple religion, but to resurrection life. And everything about the baptism and the lead into was to undergird in their hearts, to posture them, to go there's a life in the Spirit. There's a life in God. You don't have to you know you don't have to settle for anything else. And here let me give you some handles so that this can remind you each time. You know as you think about baptism, as you think about that whole sequence, oh my goodness, it's like resurrection life in us, towards us. Not empty religion, not empty ceremony, not just some token. Come in, tip God with our worship, tip God with our you know offering, tip God with our attention and then go back Monday and just, I don't know, back to life as usual. None of that, none of that. Life in the Spirit, resurrection life. We've been, this whole weekend we've been talking about awakening. [01:41:26] (77 seconds)
As you come out of the water, you don't come to just more of the old life with a bit of help from God. You literally came into a revelation that that old life, that old image, those old concepts, those old convictions, those old constraints, they're gone. You're now in this thing called new life, resurrection life. I mean, look, death no longer has a hold on you. [01:30:55] (28 seconds)
Like in the ancient world, death wasn't just about a finality. Death was a monster that everybody was scared of. And they did everything. They sacrificed their children to try and avoid death. They would prostitute themselves to try and gain favor with the gods so the gods would somehow do something about death. It was a torment to them. But in Christ, the new believer understands that death no longer has its sting. It no longer is the end. It doesn't champion and it doesn't dominate our thoughts. We don't live in fear. We're now sons and daughters of the resurrection. And as the new believer comes up out of the water, that's what they're being brought up out of. [01:31:33] (46 seconds)
They'd give them a candle. And they would declare this scripture upon them from Matthew 5, 14. You are now the light of the world, like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. So listen, dripping with water, dripping with oil, in their right hand a candle and the declaration now that the light of God is in you and you are a light to the world. [01:33:50] (31 seconds)
God created the earth in seven days. But the work of Christ, the early church, called the eighth day of creation. Resurrection life, number eight is the number of resurrection life in the Bible. They said that God rested on the seventh day until he picked up the work in Christ and Christ created the eighth day of creation. And every person that comes into living faith in Christ is a son of the eighth day of creation. Phenomenal, right? [01:28:20] (36 seconds)
We also have new lives. That's the application. You understood that as you went into the waters of baptism, your old life, your old ways, the old restrictions were going to be buried in that water. You were literally, as you go into the water, you were supernaturally taken and placed in the tomb with Christ. [01:30:31] (26 seconds)
But let it, like it needs to be a spiritual revelation. Because otherwise it's just dead ceremony, right? It's just dead ceremony. Dead ceremony is the attempt of religion, right? We don't, we're not that. You know, it's interesting because sometimes as Pentecostals, we don't like the ceremony thing because we say it's all fake, you know. [01:37:37] (25 seconds)
It's interesting, when Jesus takes his disciples before he goes to the cross, when he takes them up the mountain and he becomes transfigured, that's eight days before he goes to the cross, right? So the first thing this new convert would hear is, you have entered into the eighth day of creation, right? That's the first thing. Then what would happen is, of course, the person would go into the water, right? And be fully immersed three times. [01:29:19] (35 seconds)
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