The resurrection of Jesus is not just an event to be remembered; it is a living reality that dwells within believers. This truth transforms our perspective, empowering us to live victoriously over fear and unbelief. Like the early disciples who initially struggled with understanding the resurrection, we too may face moments of doubt. However, when we embrace the reality of the risen Christ within us, our lives are transformed. We are called to live in the power of the resurrection, allowing it to shape our daily experiences and interactions. [14:43]
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." (1 Peter 1:3, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle with unbelief? How can you invite the living reality of the resurrection to transform these areas today?
Day 2: Depth of Belief and Revelation
The depth of our belief in God's Word directly influences the extent of His revelation in our lives. As we immerse ourselves in Scripture, we are set free from the lies and limitations imposed by the world. This freedom allows us to experience God's truth more fully, leading to a deeper understanding of His character and promises. By nurturing our faith through the Word, we open ourselves to greater spiritual insights and divine encounters. [17:49]
"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12, ESV)
Reflection: What specific steps can you take this week to deepen your engagement with God's Word and allow it to shape your beliefs and actions?
Day 3: Victory Over Powers and Authorities
Jesus' resurrection signifies His victory over all powers and authorities. By faith, we can access the promises of God and live in the reality of His power and presence. This victory is not just a historical fact but a present reality that empowers us to overcome challenges and live in the fullness of God's promises. As believers, we are called to walk in this victory, trusting in the authority of the risen Christ. [22:32]
"He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him." (Colossians 2:15, ESV)
Reflection: What challenges are you currently facing that require you to trust in the victory of the risen Christ? How can you actively live out this victory in your daily life?
Day 4: Transformation Through Christ
The story of Ron Davis illustrates the transformative power of the resurrected Christ. No matter our past, Jesus can bring healing and transformation, making His presence evident in our lives. This transformation is a testament to the living power of Christ within us, calling us to let His love and grace shine through our actions and interactions. We are invited to embrace this transformation and allow it to impact every aspect of our lives. [31:24]
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a past experience where you witnessed or experienced transformation through Christ. How can you share this testimony with others to encourage them in their faith journey?
Day 5: Letting Jesus Drive
We are called to let Jesus drive our lives, allowing His power and love to shine through us. The resurrected Lord lives within us, empowering us to overcome every challenge and live in the fullness of God's promises. By surrendering control to Jesus, we open ourselves to His guidance and direction, trusting in His perfect plan for our lives. This surrender is an ongoing journey of faith, inviting us to rely on His strength and wisdom. [33:40]
"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find it difficult to let Jesus take control? What practical steps can you take to surrender this area to Him today?
Sermon Summary
In today's reflection, we explored the profound truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and its implications for our lives as believers. The resurrection is not merely an event to be anticipated; it is a living reality embodied in the person of Jesus, who dwells within us. Many of us, like the early disciples, struggle with unbelief, which keeps us from fully experiencing the power and presence of the risen Christ. The disciples, despite their faith in Jesus, initially failed to comprehend the resurrection, leading them to hide in fear. However, once they received the revelation of the risen Christ, their lives were transformed.
This transformation is available to us today. We are called to live on the side of the resurrection, not just the crucifixion. Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, having overcome all powers and authorities. Our faith in this truth allows God to reveal Himself to us in deeper ways. The depth of our belief determines the extent of God's revelation in our lives. We are encouraged to absorb the truth of God's Word, allowing it to set us free from the lies and limitations of the world.
The story of Ron Davis, a man transformed by the power of the resurrected Christ, serves as a powerful testimony. Despite his past as a "thumper" for the mafia, Ron encountered Jesus and was healed both physically and spiritually. This transformation is a reminder that Jesus is alive in us, and His presence should be evident in our lives. We are called to let Jesus drive our lives, allowing His power and love to shine through us.
As believers, we must recognize that the resurrected Lord lives within us, empowering us to overcome every challenge. We are not to be consumed by the struggles of the flesh but to embrace the reality of Christ's victory. The resurrection is not just a historical event; it is a present reality that transforms our lives and empowers us to live in the fullness of God's promises.
Key Takeaways
1. The resurrection of Jesus is not just an event but a living reality within us. When we truly believe in the resurrection, it transforms our perspective and empowers us to live in victory over fear and unbelief. [14:43]
2. The depth of our belief in God's Word determines the extent of His revelation in our lives. As we absorb the truth of Scripture, we are set free from the lies and limitations of the world. [17:49]
3. Jesus' resurrection signifies His victory over all powers and authorities. By faith, we can access the promises of God and live in the reality of His power and presence. [22:32]
4. The story of Ron Davis illustrates the transformative power of the resurrected Christ. No matter our past, Jesus can bring healing and transformation, making His presence evident in our lives. [31:24]
5. We are called to let Jesus drive our lives, allowing His power and love to shine through us. The resurrected Lord lives within us, empowering us to overcome every challenge and live in the fullness of God's promises. [33:40] ** [33:40]
In John 20, what was the initial reaction of the disciples when they found the empty tomb, and how did their understanding evolve? [13:22]
How does the sermon describe the transformation in the disciples' lives once they received the revelation of the risen Christ? [12:55]
What role does the story of Ron Davis play in illustrating the power of the resurrected Christ in the sermon? [31:24]
According to the sermon, what is the significance of living on the side of the resurrection rather than the crucifixion? [16:45]
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Interpretation Questions:
How does the resurrection of Jesus as described in John 20:1-18 challenge the disciples' previous understanding of Jesus' teachings? [14:43]
In Romans 8:11, Paul speaks about the Spirit of God living in believers. How does this relate to the sermon’s message about the living reality of the resurrection within us? [23:22]
Ephesians 1:19-20 talks about the power of God that raised Christ from the dead. How does the sermon suggest believers can access this power in their daily lives? [22:32]
The sermon mentions the spirit of unbelief. How does this concept affect a believer's ability to experience the fullness of God's promises? [19:01]
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Application Questions:
Reflect on a time when you struggled with unbelief. How did it affect your relationship with God, and what steps can you take to strengthen your faith in the resurrection? [12:55]
The sermon encourages believers to live on the side of the resurrection. What practical changes can you make in your daily life to embrace this perspective? [16:45]
Consider the story of Ron Davis. Is there an area in your life where you need transformation? How can you invite the power of the resurrected Christ into that area? [31:24]
How can you actively let Jesus "drive" your life, as suggested in the sermon? Identify one specific area where you need to relinquish control to Him. [33:40]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of absorbing the truth of God's Word. What specific steps can you take this week to immerse yourself more deeply in Scripture? [19:40]
Reflect on the concept of the spirit of unbelief. Are there specific lies or limitations from the world that you need to address in your life? How can you replace them with the truth of God's Word? [19:01]
How can you make the presence of the resurrected Christ more evident in your interactions with others this week? Identify one relationship where you can demonstrate His love and power. [32:31]
Sermon Clips
"Here we are as Believers and we're waiting for the resurrection no no it's a person and he's in the hearts of all of those who believe but they didn't believe and because they didn't believe instead of being there at that morning when Christ was raised from the dead and they could have been there when when the Angels Came and and the Roman soldiers they were guarding the temp of the the the tomb of of Christ and and and and all of a sudden Here Comes these Majestic awesome angels and they must look like streaks of lightning and they were so filled with fear they fell as dead men Peter and James and John above all of you and and Mary the mother of Christ and Mary Maybelline and all of the disciples could have been there and he could have welcomed Jesus up from the grave of the shout he arose but instead they were in hiding because they didn't believe because they didn't believe now they were believers they they had faith in Christ they had confidence in Christ but they didn't comprehend the resurrection." [00:11:36]
"When you truly begin to believe what the scripture says, there will be a major paradigm shift in your heart. When I believed in Christ all my life I knew about Christ as a Catholic, I mean everything we did was about Christ, but it wasn't in my heart and I didn't know any of the Catholics it was in their heart it could have been I just didn't know it but I mean we had all these rituals and we are so reverential and we would come to our Cathedral our Temple our church and we would go in through the doors and it was a holy hush and we'd go in there and how you know what I'm talking about and we had a bowl of water it was simple of water but the priest had prayed over it you know and turned it holy and we would stick our finger in there and we'd make the sign of the cross." [00:14:43]
"The depth of your believing determines to what extent God can reveal himself to you. Did you ever consider that to the degree that you believe what Christ said and what the book says and what the prophet said is to the degree that God can reveal himself to you and and we see this in John because here Jesus has been raised from the dead and they go back and they're still in hiding they're so fearful and Mary she goes back down there to the empty tomb and she's so broke and she's weeping and she's wailing and she's crying and I'm not making fun of her but she had heard the same words the disciples heard she's the one who broke open the alabaster box she's the one who poured it out and and fell on her knees and and wiped the feet of Jesus she's the one that Jesus said that what she's done for me will be spoken of throughout eternity." [00:17:49]
"We're like sponges we take it in oh but we would be like sponges that could absorb the reality of the truth of this word for you will know the truth and the truth will make you free when Jesus said that to the to to those Jews and those who followed him in John chapter 8 they spoke up and they were they were indignant they were hurt they were they were angry they said we're not a slave to anybody what do you mean we'll know the truth and the truth to make you free he Jesus lived in another world he lived in that world but he was another world he was in the world but not of the world and Jesus prayed father I prayed not that thou taking some out of the world but I will keep him in the world and so we're in this world but we're not of this world." [00:19:59]
"Jesus wants us to live where he lives, the Bible says biblically scripturally we're seated together in Heavenly places, that all blessings are ours that every promise in Christ is yea and amen, but how many you know those promises are only apprehended by faith, every promise in the book is mine, and the disciples that believe in so you know Mary you know she goes down there she's crying and there's Angels still there but she her she's so crying and so weeping her eyes are just like you know covered over with tears and sadness her heart is breaking and she cries out what did you do with my Lord and she turns around and there's Jesus standing right there right there he's right there he's right there and she can't see him he's right there and he's with you and you can't see him." [00:22:17]
"At the mention of that name every name of power it must bow at the name of Jesus cancer has got to Bow its knees, anxiety fear every sin every work of the Flesh and the devil if you are walking by faith in who Christ is got a bow of his knees but you know you know unless you are moving in the gift of faith or the gift of Miracles or the gift of of healing and how many know there are gifts like that in the body I mean at times when those gifts operated in me and I laid my hands on people who had no faith and they even would even maybe spit in the face of God I told you about Ron Davis for years who lived in my house up on the hill and Ron was the big guy he he said he was a thumper who worked for the mafia and I would try to talk to Ron he was the most obnoxious ignorant nasty man I had ever met I'm not exaggerating." [00:26:25]
"Ron Davis, a man transformed by the power of the resurrected Christ, serves as a powerful testimony. Despite his past as a 'thumper' for the mafia, Ron encountered Jesus and was healed both physically and spiritually. This transformation is a reminder that Jesus is alive in us, and His presence should be evident in our lives. We are called to let Jesus drive our lives, allowing His power and love to shine through us. As believers, we must recognize that the resurrected Lord lives within us, empowering us to overcome every challenge. We are not to be consumed by the struggles of the flesh but to embrace the reality of Christ's victory. The resurrection is not just a historical event; it is a present reality that transforms our lives and empowers us to live in the fullness of God's promises." [00:31:24]
"He's alive in us isn't he, people ought to see Jesus alive in us in all of our dealings and all of our conflicts and all of our situations he ought to be alive in us now, you take Jesus out of Jesus out of Mike Yeager I'll be what I used to be a stinker just a filthy rotten no good lying stealing thieving cussing alcoholic drug abuser you take Jesus so I can't brag about wow haven't I done something for God no it's Christ alive in me so all that I have and all that I've accomplished that is of god when I stand before the Lord I'm just simply going to get back to him and say Lord look what you did you fed the hungry you clothed the naked you visited those in hospitals and you helped those in prisons you did it Jesus and all I did was invite you into my physical clay flesh." [00:33:40]
"Get out from behind the driver's seat and Let Jesus how come you know Jesus can drive that vehicle of yours way better you know Jesus can even take a piece of junk and win every NASCAR race Jesus can do it man that's why sometimes I think the ones who win the race the greatest are the junkers he said not many mighty not many noble not many powerful but those who are weak and and considerate foolish and the rejects of this world he said those are the ones who let me into their lives and they get out from behind the steering wheel and they say Jesus won't you please drive for me man preached myself happy this morning so Mary she says what have you done can't see Jesus she sees a gardener what have you done and then just one word that penetrated deep one word one word he said Mary and her eyes were open and she said Ramona which means master and she fell on her face began to weep and she went to grab his feet and he said don't touch me Mary." [00:35:13]
"Here was the Divine transference the whole human race when Adam's sinned were under the Dominion of the God of this world the devil was the God of this world those who are not born again Satan is their father that's what Jesus said to the Jews in John 8 44 your father is the devil and the works of your father he'll do he was a murderer from the beginning what'd he do he murdered the truth he was a liar and he's the father of it but now all of a sudden Christ has paid the price I know all of those in the old Covenant by faith they saw God as their father understand that but until Christ overcame the World the Flesh and the devil man couldn't be born again and Jesus proclaims that must have just echoed throughout the heavens the Angels were an absolute they were besides himself because they seen the wickedness and the perversion and the rebellion and the Disobedience of man that he they were doing exactly like their their their father the devil was doing and now Jesus rises from the dead and Everything Changes." [00:37:11]
"I don't understand what God did in my heart when I got born again and I read in the scriptures that he took my stripes upon his back for my healing I saw it when I saw it I saw I was healed I saw it I just I saw it it's like the light turned on I I saw not only Jesus as alive sitting at the Santa father I saw Jesus took my sickness he took my disease he took he took it he took it and and so anytime and it's not because I had walked and helped my whole life I had walked in sickness my whole life and being pre but being me a premium ending up an oxygen tent so my mom all of us family of the Yeagers we all had some kind of physical infirmities uh my my brother Dennis and sister Debbie and myself we were born with our feet turned outward and they had to put our feet in braces I remember being oxygen tents and having such my ears were mobile my bones and I had such excruciating headaches I would beat as a little boy I'd beat my head on our dining room floor I could take you there where I'd beat my head to try to get the pain I'd rather experience the pain of my head hitting the hardwood floor than what was going how many have ever had any a real bad earache it's a beer I had that my whole life first time I flew a high other two jet my left ear drum broke because I didn't have bones that would let the fluid out just impact it in my head so bad even as a little I remember as a little boy my mama smoked and we all smoked and she would take cigarette smoke and she would blow in my ears and get that heat into my ears to relieve the pain I remember many nights in the hospital by myself in an oxygen tent barely be able to breathe so when I got born again and I read by his stripes you were healed it's just like when Jesus said to Mary Mary she said Lord master we're born iron when Jesus said to my heart by my stripes you were healed turned on inside of me and so from that time to this time any time the devil has attacked me physically Faith just Rises up in my heart and I said no devil you can't do it no the price has been paid no I'm not put up with this pain with this disease with this infirmity you have got to go in the name of Jesus." [00:37:11]
"He's alive in us today people he's alive will you believe that we believe there's no weapon formed against you that can prosper will you believe that God is for you who can be against you will you believe you can do all things I'm talking about whatever God has called you to do you can do now you know tomorrow we start back our three services every day ten years we shut it down 10 o'clock two o'clock six o'clock and I heard the Lord say to me this time he said son is going to be a little bit different last time it was all outside preachers coming in first he said this time he said I've sent you people that I have called and ordained I'm going to say anointed to preach the truth he said I want you to give them an opportunity first to declare the word whether it be once a month or once every week some of you could do once every day if you wanted to and I said okay Lord so I've got a bunch of preachers lined up but that's what we're doing right now we're filling in the spaces he said well Pastor what good is it going to do how many people are going to watch it well first of all we're getting tremendous I told you that for two weeks we live streamed our Sanctuary with nobody here and I had over 34 000 unique visitors 34 000 not including our Network where we had over 17 000." [00:46:07]