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

Between the Calling and the Separation | Pastor Marie Helene Moulin

Our very special guest minister came all the way from Nice, France to deliver a special word from the Lord to us. When Pastor Marie-Hélène Moulin was praying about the message the Lord wanted her to share with our congregation, His words were simply to tell us, “The Lord is recruiting!” In preparation for the work of end time harvest, the Lord has begun to call believers into full-time ministry. She explained that not every believer is called to full-time ministry. However, every believer is called to the ministry of reconciliation—sharing Jesus with the lost.

Help of the Holy Spirit | Dennis Burke

we had the pleasure of being ministered to by guest speaker, Dennis Burke. He began his message, “Help of the Holy Spirit” by declaring, “I believe over the next few minutes, the Holy Spirit’s going to deposit something into your life.” Really, that’s why we come to church. We come to church to make ourselves available to the Holy Spirit in order for Him to deposit in us things that are life changing! One word from God “can truly revolutionize something in your life.”

The Impossible Dream, #2: Fasting and Prayer | Mac Hammond

Pastor Mac gave the second installment of his series entitled, “The Impossible Dream.” He said, “Even though I say about every new series I teach that it is the most important message I’ve ever preached, when it comes to this message—for this day, at this time, and where we are right now—I truly believe that about this message. God has a dream for your life. And it’s not possible for you to achieve that dream without His partnership in your life.” That being said, what is God’s “Impossible Dream” for your life?

The Impossible Dream | Mac Hammond

Pastor Mac taught the first message in his new series entitled, “The Impossible Dream.” He said “the impossible dream” is a good message for the outset of a new year. However, it’s a good message for all to hear at any time during the year. He began the message by asking a rhetorical question: “Do your dreams fall only within the realm of logical possibility. Or do your dreams require the element of the miraculous in order to be realized?” He went on to explain how God-given dreams will always necessitate the supernatural power of God in order for them to be fulfilled.

GRACE UNVEILED, “Dominion of Grace” #25 | Jim Hammond

This past Sunday, Pastor Jim gave the 25th installment to his teaching series entitled, “Grace Unveiled.” In the past messages, we’ve been studying Romans 3, 4, 5, and 6. Before teaching on chapter 7, Pastor Jim wanted to break down these chapters again in a way we have not heard them before. He said, “You’re going to hear these chapters taught in a different way.” So far, we focused on the gift of righteousness. And we focused on justification. But there is a third subject that Pastor Jim wanted to focus on before we moved on to the next chapter.