Focus for Effect #4: The Resurrection of Christ  | Pastor Mac Hammond 
 
Recap
 
What a wonderful Easter weekend we had as we celebrated Jesus! His resurrection is the focal point for our faith, for it bridges the gap between the seen realm and the unseen realm. As you go through your day today, remember that the resurrection power of Jesus has the ability to raise your circumstances high above anything you can imagine. The touch of death does not need to destroy your life! God’s resurrection power is at work in you and through you to touch this world for Him.
 
Dive Deeper
 

The affliction that you face today does not need to ruin you. It does not need to overwhelm you or worry you. The affliction you face today can be light and momentary as you move your focus from what is wrong to what is right.

Now, that may sound difficult, for you may be facing a situation that doesn’t appear to have anything right in it, but as Pastor Mac pointed out this past weekend, every day we have the opportunity to focus our minds on what is always right: the resurrection of Jesus.

You may see that death has touched your life in some way. You may see a crumbling relationship or a negative bank balance. You may be uncertain of what your future will hold. Today, though, you can turn your attention away from what is wrong and turn it toward the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus showed us that what looked like defeat was deliverance in disguise. He showed us that Friday and Saturday were agonizing, but Sunday eventually came! The resurrection power of Jesus is at work, and it can impact your life!

A good question to ask yourself is this: What attention are you giving to spiritual truth throughout your day? Are you spending time outside of your prayer and Bible time where you are focusing on what God can do in your life? The more you magnify God in your thought patterns, the more the relief of God’s peace and His presence can come into your life.

Focus on the resurrection of Jesus, for His resurrection power is what we celebrate every Easter.

 
Read About It
 

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 KJV

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:18 TPT

…because we don’t focus our attention on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but the unseen realm is eternal.

Ephesians 1:19-20 KJV

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.

1 Peter 1:13 KJV

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

 
Discussion Questions
 

When you look at life through the lens of God’s resurrection power, how does that change your perspective?

How can you focus more on Jesus throughout each day? (If you don’t have a good answer, ask the Lord to show you ways to make this happen, and He will!)

What is the central focus of your daily life?

Recent Sermon Notes

GRACE UNVEILED, #34 “Why Suffering Isn’t Wasted” | Jim Hammond

Pastor Jim continued with his teaching series on the book of Romans called “Grace Unveiled.” In this 34th installment entitled, “Why Suffering Isn’t Wasted,” Pastor Jim said he wanted to revisit Romans 8:17: “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together” (KJV). He explained, “I realized that this scripture is much deeper than how I explained it. So I feel it’s very important to go through it again.” We found out what it means to “suffer with Him.”

Bread for the Soul | Jim Hammond

Pastor Jim wished all the mothers in the congregation and online a very happy Mother’s Day. It was a day dedicated to the celebration of motherhood, acknowledging the great devotion mothers have toward their families. He pointed out there was one specific thing at which mothers are very good—how to feed their children the Bread of Life like no one else can.

The Accuser of Brethren | Mac Hammond

Pastor Mac taught a message entitled, “The Accuser of Brethren.” “This message is important,” he said, “because it encapsulates our challenge in this life and summarizes things in a significant way.” His subject? How to avoid deception! The basic truth of this message is this: If the enemy can’t deceive you, he can’t defeat you!

GRACE UNVEILED, #33, “The Holy Spirit Leads You Out of the Dominion of Sin” | Jim Hammond

Pastor Jim preached a message subtitled, “The Holy Spirit Leads You Out of the Dominion of Sin.” This is his 33rd message in his teaching series on the book of Romans called “Unveiled Grace.” The message was based on Romans 8:13, “For if you live according to [the dictates of] the flesh, you will surely die. But if through the power of the [Holy] Spirit you are [habitually] putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the [evil] deeds prompted by the body, you shall [really and genuinely] live forever.” (Amp.) This verse tells us that through the Holy Spirit, we have the power to put to death the evil deeds of the body.

Portal of Power | Mac Hammond

Pastor Mac taught a message on the celebration of Easter. He said, “The kingdom of God is based upon the Word of God. In fact, the kingdom of God is a manifestation of the Word of God and His purposes on the earth.” The celebration of Easter is a centerpiece of all that He’s done to enable humanity to rise to the level only possible in Him—and to escape the realm of death!