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?

These sermon notes are from the opening minutes of this weekend’s message. If you would like to hear the entire message, click on the link above.

Recent Sermon Notes

Finding Your Voice in Prayer | Ken Olson

Pastor Ken Olson shared with us a message on “Finding Your Voice in Prayer.” Noting that our nation’s Declaration of Independence declares that we, as citizens, have the right to pursue life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. He further added, “There’s nothing more empowering, more enabling to pursue life, liberty, and happiness and so many other things that God has planned for our lives than a pursuit of a lifelong relationship through prayer with our Heavenly Father.” Heaven isn’t just a place. Heaven is a divine flow!

Dr. James Tan | Power and Fire, Part 3

Dr. James Tan was our special guest speaker. He spoke about the supernatural power people receive when they experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Entitled, “Power and Fire,” Dr. James taught all three weekend services on the basic fundamental truths concerning a believer’s encounter with Holy Ghost power! He stressed how important it is for all believers to have their own personal encounters with God the Holy Ghost for themselves. “You can’t live off someone else’s testimony,” he said. “You have to get your own experiences about encountering the power of the Holy Spirit for yourself.”

GRACE UNVEILED, #37: Tongues: The Fire Is Still Burning | Jim Hammond

Have you ever been in a place in your life where you don’t know how to pray or what to pray… where you don’t have the words to express to God what you need from Him? It’s a place in which all born again believers have found themselves. This is the subject matter Pastor Jim taught us in his 37th installment of his ongoing series on the book of Romans—“Grace Unveiled.” It is the Holy Spirit that makes intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered in articulate language. About tongues, Pastor Jim said, “I do this for myself. You should pray in tongues for yourself. It’s a mistake not to!”

When Grace Sprinted | Jim Hammond

When Jesus walked the earth, one of His missions was to reveal the Father God’s love for us. And one of the ways He did that was through the telling of the Parable of the Prodigal Son. When teaching on this parable, most preachers focus all their attention on the Prodigal Son, and how he repented. However, the whole point of this parable is to reveal the Father’s love. Pastor Jim said, “This may be one of the most-preached messages in history. And I know you think you know what this parable is all about… Well, we shall see.”

GRACE UNVEILED | Creation on the Edge of Its Seat (Leaning Forward) | Jim Hammond

Pastor Jim taught the 36th installment of his ongoing series on the book of Romans, entitled “Grace Unveiled.” Due to the rich treasures that are contained in Romans chapter 8, Pastor Jim is determined to reveal every one of its gems, leaving no truth uncovered! Did you know, there are three “groans” in this chapter? In this message, we looked at the groan that all creation gives right before the end of the dispensation of grace. Folks, that’s right now!