If God Can Do That, Live Like It

Devotional

Day 1: The Resurrection Confronts Our Expectations

The women went to the tomb prepared to anoint a body, their expectations shaped by what they had seen and experienced. They had witnessed the crucifixion and the sealing of the stone, and their grief had overshadowed the promises Jesus had made. Often, we do the same, allowing our past experiences and present circumstances to dictate our expectations of God. We come with spices to manage what is, rather than with faith to receive what God is about to do. The empty tomb shatters our limited understanding and calls us to remember His word. [54:12]

“He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.” (Isaiah 25:8, NIV)

Reflection: Where in your life have you slowly learned to manage your expectations of God, preparing for disappointment rather than watching for what He might do? What would it look like this week to actively remember His promises in that specific area?

Day 2: The Resurrection Declares Christ’s Ultimate Authority

The empty tomb is not merely a historical event to be acknowledged; it is a declaration of Christ’s supreme authority. It proves that Jesus is Lord and reigns over all things, including sin and death. This reality means there is no higher power, no competing claim, and no area of life that exists outside of His rule. To believe in the resurrection is to come under His authority, surrendering every part of our lives to His loving and powerful reign. [01:03:01]

“That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” (Ephesians 1:19-21, NIV)

Reflection: Is there an area of your life—a relationship, a decision, a fear—where you are still living as if you are in charge, rather than submitting to the authority of the risen Christ? What is one practical step of surrender you can take today?

Day 3: The Resurrection Empowers Our Transformation

The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead now lives within every believer. This is not a minor improvement but a source of complete transformation. Our past does not define us, our patterns do not control us, and our failures do not have the final word. Because God can do this, we are called to stop identifying ourselves by who we used to be and start living as the new creation we are in Christ. [01:02:11]

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV)

Reflection: What old identity or pattern from your past are you most tempted to believe still defines you? How might you live differently today by actively trusting in the transformative power of the indwelling Holy Spirit?

Day 4: The Resurrection Redeems What Feels Wasted

The cross appeared to be the ultimate failure, a story of loss and defeat. Yet, God used it to become the very center of salvation for all humanity. This pattern of redemption means that no part of our lives is beyond His ability to restore and use for good. The parts we regret, the time we feel we’ve lost, and the decisions we wish we could undo are not final in God’s economy. He is a God who brings life out of death. [59:59]

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28, NIV)

Reflection: What part of your story feels wasted or beyond redemption? How might the truth of the resurrection invite you to trust God with that part of your history and look for His redemptive work?

Day 5: The Resurrection Compels Our Mission

The resurrection is the foundation of our mission to go and make disciples. It is the power that fuels our witness and the hope we offer to a world living in the shadow of death. This mission is not carried out in isolation but within the community of faith, where we support, nurture, and strengthen one another. Our calling is to share the good news that the tomb is empty and Jesus is Lord. [17:59]

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20, NIV)

Reflection: Who has God placed in your life to nurture in faith, and how can you actively encourage them this week? In what way is God inviting you to participate in His mission, whether through prayer, giving, or sharing your story?

Sermon Summary

The resurrection overturns the finality of death and reorients life around a living, reigning Lord. The empty tomb appears as a decisive act, not a metaphor, and the physical reversal of death validates hope, breaks curses, and demands a new posture. Women who expected to anoint a corpse instead find an emptied grave and are confronted with a promise that had been spoken long before: the third day will bring revival. Scripture anchors the event as historical and decisive; the resurrection undoes the authority of death and destroys the rule that made fear, addiction, and shame feel permanent.

The empty tomb insists on action. Belief that Jesus rose does not only comfort; it provokes obedience. Resurrection authority calls for surrender, not mere admiration, so everyday choices must reflect Christ’s reign. Labels and identities born of past failures no longer carry the final word; restoration can rewrite endings that seemed fixed. The same power that raised Jesus promises to reclaim wasted years, resurrect relationships, and call the unreachable back into life.

Resurrection theology changes ministry and mission. Baptism and communal rites like communion celebrate both death and victory: death’s penalty has been paid and life now reigns. Generosity and local ministry flow from a church that expects God to act beyond human calculation. The Spirit who raised Jesus dwells in believers and supplies endurance, forgiveness, and real transformation. That indwelling power sustains people who feel exhausted, rescues those trapped by guilt, and enables sanctification that reshapes desires and patterns.

The resurrection also sets an expectation for the way forward. Faith without resurrection becomes hollow; conversely, the reality of an empty tomb compels renewed prayer, bold hope, and practical obedience. Life shaped by resurrection refuses to negotiate with sin, accepts the cost of discipleship, and lives as if the final chapter has already been rewritten. Communion and communal witness become acts of remembering and commitment, aligning daily living with the reign of the risen Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. Death's power has been destroyed The empty tomb demonstrates that death no longer has final authority. This reality redefines limits, meaning that patterns of fear, addiction, and shame do not have ultimate control. Such a claim demands a reevaluation of what feels permanent and invites courageous dependence on God’s breaking power. [56:45]
2. Resurrection establishes Christ's authority The risen Christ does more than live; he reigns, making his rule the decisive reality for life. That reign challenges every competing claim and asks for genuine submission, not casual assent. Living under his lordship means structuring decisions, relationships, and priorities around his rule. [63:48]
3. Past mistakes are redeemable The cross and resurrection turn apparent endings into openings for redemption and purpose. Regrets and wasted seasons carry no veto against God’s ability to restore and repurpose. This conviction invites honest prayer and expectant effort toward renewal, not resignation to failure. [59:41]
4. The Spirit raises and sustains The same Spirit that raised Jesus dwells in believers and supplies life, endurance, and transformation. That presence enables growth beyond mere self-effort and brings hope where human resources fall short. Expect supernatural help in prayer, repentance, and the work of becoming new. [61:22]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[17:43] - Easter Greeting and Mission
[19:01] - Public Profession: Baptism
[29:04] - Stewardship and Community Mission
[49:59] - The Easter Story Begins
[50:39] - Friday Seemed Final
[51:12] - The Empty Tomb Declared
[54:27] - Promise of the Third Day
[56:45] - Death's Power Destroyed
[57:41] - Live Like the Resurrection
[59:41] - Redemption for the Wasted
[61:22] - Spirit's Presence and Power
[63:48] - Resurrection Demands Response
[67:19] - Communion and Invitation
[74:38] - Closing and Next Steps

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading: Luke 24:1-6 (ESV)
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And the women were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.”

Observation questions

What were the women expecting to find when they went to the tomb and what did they actually find?
What was the question the two men asked the women and why was it such a shocking question? [51:12]
According to the sermon, what does the resurrection prove is not the final word? [56:45]

Interpretation questions

The women came with spices to anoint a body, not with an expectation of resurrection. What are some ways our own experiences can overpower the promises God has given us? [53:01]
The sermon states that the resurrection is not a metaphor or an inspirational idea, but a historical fact. Why is the physical, bodily resurrection of Jesus so essential to the Christian faith?
If the resurrection "destroys the power of death," what does that mean for the authority of things like fear, addiction, and shame in a believer's life? [56:45]

Application questions

The sermon says we can agree the tomb is empty but still live like Friday has the final word. [01:03:25] What is one area of your life where you are currently "living like Friday" instead of living in the reality of the resurrection?
What is a "label" or "identity" born from a past failure that you have accepted as final? How does the truth that "past mistakes are redeemable" challenge you to stop identifying yourself by who you used to be? [58:19] [01:02:46]
The resurrection means God can "reach what you cannot reach." [59:08] Who is someone in your life who feels unreachable, and how can you begin to pray for them with renewed expectation this week?
The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead now lives in believers. [01:01:22] When you feel exhausted or like you're operating on your own strength, what is one practical way to remind yourself of and depend on His indwelling power?
The sermon claims the resurrection "demands response" and "confronts" us. [01:04:03] What is one specific, everyday choice you can make this week to better reflect that Christ reigns as the authority in your life?

Sermon Clips

58s

#WhenSundayCame

“On Friday, they sealed the tomb. They rolled a stone across the entrance. They posted a guard. They pressed a seal in the rock. The authorities wanted to make sure that the story stayed finished. And by every measure available to human eyes, it was. A dead man, a sealed grave, a scattered movement, disciples hiding, and women preparing burial spices. Because that's what you do when something is over. Friday had the final word. And then Sunday came. The stone was rolled away, the tomb was empty, and two men in dazzling cloaks asked a question that shattered everything. Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.”

44s

#ResurrectionDemandsChange

“And if God can do that, then stop living like you're in charge. Easter is not just something to celebrate. It's something to reckon with because you can stand in an empty tomb and still walk away unchanged. You can agree that he is risen and still live like he is not ruling. You can sing about resurrection and still structure your life like Friday has the final word. The question is not whether or not the tomb is empty. The question is whether our life reflects that reality.”

42s

#JesusReignsNow

“Most importantly, if God can do that, then Jesus is Lord. The resurrection is not just proof that he is alive. It is the declaration that he reigns, Ephesians one. That means there is no higher authority, no competing claim, no area of your life outside his rule. And if God can do that, then stop living like you're in charge. Easter is not just something to celebrate. It's something to reckon with because you can stand in an empty tomb and still walk away unchanged.”

43s

#Over500Witnesses

“If this is just a metaphor, then sin still stands. If this is just an inspiration, then death still wins. If this is just a story, then we are still lost. And Paul goes on to say, and to be more pitied than all men. But if this is true, if the tomb is actually empty, then everything changes. Over 500 people saw him. The disciples who ran on Friday gave their lives for this truth on Sunday. You don't give your life for something you know is false.”

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If God Can Do That, Live Like It

Devotional

Day 1: The Resurrection Confronts Our Expectations

Day 2: The Resurrection Declares Christ’s Ultimate Authority

Day 3: The Resurrection Empowers Our Transformation

Day 4: The Resurrection Redeems What Feels Wasted

Day 5: The Resurrection Compels Our Mission

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

If God Can Do That, Live Like It

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