Transforming Daily Life Through Jesus' Resurrection Power

Devotional

Day 1: Daily Remembrance of Jesus' Resurrection

The story of Jesus' resurrection is not just for Easter; it's a daily reminder of God's power and love. We need to remember and return to this story every day to keep our faith alive and strong. This daily remembrance helps us to stay humble and recognize the transformative power of encountering Jesus. The women who went to Jesus' tomb were puzzled when they found it empty, but their encounter with the angel reminded them of Jesus' promise to rise again. This story teaches us the importance of humility and the transformative power of encountering Jesus. [56:40]

Luke 24:5-6 (ESV): "And as they 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. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee.'"

Reflection: How can you incorporate the remembrance of Jesus' resurrection into your daily routine to keep your faith alive and strong?

Day 2: Changing Our Spiritual Algorithms

Just as online algorithms shape our experiences, our spiritual "algorithms" determine what we seek and find in life. Many people search for fulfillment in material things, relationships, or social media, but true joy and life are found only in Jesus Christ. We must change our spiritual algorithms to seek Jesus first, letting go of the "nets" that hold us back. This involves a conscious effort to prioritize spiritual growth and seek Jesus in all aspects of our lives. [01:08:18]

Matthew 6:33 (ESV): "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Reflection: What are the "nets" in your life that you need to let go of to seek Jesus first? How can you start changing your spiritual algorithms today?

Day 3: The Power of Sacrifice

Sacrifice is essential in our journey to become more like Jesus. When we sacrifice our old habits, toxic relationships, and distractions, we make room for God's blessings and transformation in our lives. Sacrifice leads to blessing and the celebration of God's goodness. This process of letting go is not easy, but it is necessary for spiritual growth and alignment with God's will. [01:26:40]

Romans 12:1 (ESV): "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."

Reflection: What specific sacrifices do you need to make in your life to become more like Jesus? How can you start making these sacrifices today?

Day 4: Closing the Windows of Distraction

To fully experience God's power, we need to close the "windows" of distractions in our lives. This involves letting go of old habits, toxic relationships, and anything that diverts our attention from God. By focusing solely on Jesus, we align ourselves with God's will and experience His resurrection power in our lives. This requires intentional effort to identify and eliminate distractions that hinder our spiritual growth. [01:37:22]

Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV): "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith."

Reflection: What are the distractions in your life that divert your attention from God? How can you start closing these "windows" today to focus solely on Jesus?

Day 5: God is Searching for Us

God is always searching for us, desiring a close relationship. Whether you're a long-time believer or someone new to faith, God is knocking on the door of your heart, inviting you to experience His love and power. When we draw close to Him, He draws close to us, transforming our lives in the process. This is a reminder that no matter where we are in our spiritual journey, God is always seeking a deeper relationship with us. [01:44:23]

James 4:8 (ESV): "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."

Reflection: How can you respond to God's invitation to draw closer to Him today? What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with God?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Welcome back, Shiloh family! Today, we continue our sermon series "Thrive Function," focusing on the importance of practicing our faith daily. We explored the story of Jesus' death and resurrection from Luke 24, emphasizing that this is not just an Easter message but a daily reminder of God's power and love. The women who went to Jesus' tomb were puzzled when they found it empty, but their encounter with the angel reminded them of Jesus' promise to rise again. This story teaches us the importance of humility and the transformative power of encountering Jesus.

We also discussed the concept of algorithms and how they influence our daily lives. Just as Google algorithms shape our online experiences, the "algorithms" of our spiritual lives determine what we seek and find. Many people search for fulfillment in material things, relationships, or social media, but true joy and life are found only in Jesus Christ. We must change our spiritual algorithms to seek Jesus first, letting go of the "nets" that hold us back.

The sermon also touched on the importance of sacrifice in our journey to become more like Jesus. Sacrifice leads to blessing and transformation. We need to close the "windows" of distractions and focus solely on Jesus. This involves letting go of old habits, toxic relationships, and anything that diverts our attention from God. By doing so, we align ourselves with God's will and experience His resurrection power in our lives.

Finally, we were reminded that God is always searching for us, desiring a close relationship. Whether you're a long-time believer or someone new to faith, God is knocking on the door of your heart, inviting you to experience His love and power.

###

Key Takeaways

1. time believer or someone new to faith, God is knocking on the door of your heart, inviting you to experience His love and power. When we draw close to Him, He draws close to us, transforming our lives in the process. [01:44:23]
### [104:23]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[55:03] - Introduction to Thrive Function Series
[56:40] - Remembering Jesus' Resurrection
[58:14] - The Importance of Humility
[59:18] - Searching for the Living Among the Dead
[61:19] - The Most Googled Questions
[64:32] - The Story of Jesus' Death and Resurrection
[66:26] - Searching for Fulfillment in the Wrong Places
[68:18] - True Joy in Jesus Christ
[70:03] - The Power of Sacrifice
[73:46] - Living Like Jesus
[75:18] - The Resurrection Power in Us
[77:17] - Looking In and Getting Lower
[79:12] - Recognizing the Holy Spirit in Us
[81:05] - Changing Our Spiritual Algorithms
[86:40] - Sacrifice Leads to Blessing
[89:23] - God is Searching for Us
[92:38] - Cleansing Our Conscience
[94:16] - Testimony of Transformation
[97:22] - Closing the Windows of Distraction
[101:03] - Eternal Life Through Jesus
[104:23] - Drawing Close to God
[107:03] - Prayer and Invitation to Follow Jesus

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What did the women find when they arrived at Jesus' tomb early on Sunday morning? (Luke 24:1-3)
How did the women react when they saw the two men in dazzling robes? (Luke 24:4-5)
What question did the men ask the women, and what was its significance? (Luke 24:5-6)
What did the women do after they remembered Jesus' words about His resurrection? (Luke 24:8-9)

Interpretation Questions

Why is it important to remember and reflect on the story of Jesus' resurrection daily, not just on Easter? ([56:40])
How do the "algorithms" of our spiritual lives influence what we seek and find? What does it mean to change our spiritual algorithms to seek Jesus first? ([01:08:18])
What role does sacrifice play in our journey to become more like Jesus, and how does it lead to blessing and transformation? ([01:26:40])
What are some examples of "windows of distraction" in our lives, and why is it crucial to close them to fully experience God's power? ([01:37:22])

Application Questions

Reflect on your daily routine. How can you incorporate a daily remembrance of Jesus' resurrection to keep your faith alive and strong? ([56:40])
Identify one "net" or habit that is holding you back from seeking Jesus first. What steps can you take this week to let go of it? ([01:08:18])
Think about a recent sacrifice you made. How did it lead to a blessing or transformation in your life? If you haven't experienced this, what is one area where you can make a sacrifice to align more closely with God's will? ([01:26:40])
What are some specific distractions in your life that divert your attention from God? How can you close these "windows" to focus more on Jesus? ([01:37:22])
Reflect on a time when you felt distant from God. How did you respond, and what can you do differently to draw closer to Him, knowing that He is always searching for you? ([01:44:23])
How can you change your "spiritual algorithm" this week to prioritize seeking Jesus over other sources of fulfillment? ([01:08:18])
Consider a relationship or habit that is toxic or distracting. What practical steps can you take to remove it from your life and focus more on your relationship with God? ([01:37:22])

Sermon Clips

1. "Our desire for you is that whatever room you're in that you would see Jesus. If you're at home in living room we've gotten reports of people at work watching the service people in other countries sitting with their family friends our desire for you to be here is that at this moment you would encounter Jesus." [55:03] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Following Jesus is more than a Sunday thing and we believe that you thrive through function as you practice as you make him first you we thrive as we practice to be with Jesus we practice to become like him we practice to implement his kingdom vision by seeing our lives through the world then we begin to see our lives change we begin to see growth we begin to see expansion we look back at our lives and we say how was I that person look what God has done in my life." [55:03] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "When we encounter God, we can't help but humble ourselves. I believe this time of prayer and fasting, these next 10 days, I encourage you to participate. Go all in. Feast today. Eat some tamales. But tomorrow, it's time for fasting and praying." [58:14] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "There's something about telling your flesh no and saying yes to Jesus. And here these women had encountered this angel and they had encountered the reality of what Jesus had done and they fell to the ground. And I love this part. Read this with me. Then the men asked, why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive?" [59:18] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "All of us are searching for something. We're searching for significance. We're searching for answers. We're searching for affirmation, for attention. Many people are trying to understand the void that they have within them that only God can fill. They're trying to understand the direction that their lives are going. They're trying to understand who God is." [01:02:56] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Nothing satisfies like Jesus. Why are you seeking for the living among the dead? Now, I'm not saying that caring for your kids is wrong or purchasing clothes is wrong or having relationships are bad, but we have to know that we're not going to find life in any of those things. We find life in Jesus Christ. True joy comes by seeking Jesus and becoming like Jesus." [01:08:18] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "If we want life we have to declare I will not look for life among the dead you to find life and life more abundantly it's not on social media it's found in Jesus Christ if we want what Jesus Christ have then we have to live the life that Jesus did." [01:13:46] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "If you have the Holy Spirit inside of you you will never lose your power the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead is empowering you today. Remain plugged in tell your neighbor stay plugged in if God's in you there's nothing that can hold you down divorce can't hold you down trauma can't hold you down pain from yesterday can't hold you down depression won't hold you down anxiety won't hold you down but we have to live believe in believing that the resurrection power of Jesus Christ resides in this in each of us it will lift you up." [01:15:18] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "The place to find life and immortality is not in our genes the place to find it is in Jesus Christ and we do it by being like Jesus why are you looking for the living among the dead we keep searching for it in every place but it's not in your bank account it's not in another relationship it's not in the mall." [01:13:46] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "If we want the power to be like Jesus, you've got to close some windows. You need to close those other options. Quit thinking about going to another church. Quit thinking about moving. Quit thinking about another marriage. God operates on something else, on total dependency on Him. We can't be searching for so many things outside of Jesus." [01:38:07] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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