resurrection focus

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Resurrection Focus

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Page 1: Resurrection focus

Resurrection Focus

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Amazed by his life

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Amazed by His Death

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Amazed by His Resurrection

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Amazed by His Return

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On Which should we Focus?

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Resurrection Focused

Christians

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Ephesians 1:17-21 (NET)I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you spiritual wisdom and revelation in your growing knowledge of him, – since the eyes of your heart have been enlightened – so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the incomparable greatness of his power toward us who believe, as displayed in the exercise of his immense strength. This power he exercised in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms far above every rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

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Philippians 3:10-11 (NET)My aim is to know him, to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and to be like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

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In My Experience I’ve noticed three types of Christians

•Crucifixion Focused Christians

•Return of Christ Focused Christians

•Resurrection Focused Christians

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Crucifixion Focused

Christians

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The Crucifixion focused Christian

Luke 24:13-26 (NET)13 Now that very day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking to each other about all the things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and debating these things, Jesus himself approached and began to accompany them 16 (but their eyes were kept from recognizing him). 17

Then he said to them, “What are these matters you are discussing so intently as you walk along?” And they stood still, looking sad.

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The Crucifixion focused Christian

Luke 24:13-26 (NET)18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 He said to them, “What things?” “The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied, “a man who, with his powerful deeds and words, proved to be a prophet before God and all the people; 20 and how our chief priests and rulers handed him over to be condemned to death, and crucified him.

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The Crucifixion focused Christian

. 22 Furthermore, some women of our group amazed us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back and said they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.” 25 So he said to them, “You foolish people – how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Wasn’t it necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and enter into his glory?”

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The Crucifixion focused Christian

Salvation is at the CrossThe Crucifixion speaks of the immensity

of the sin that separates man and God.

The Crucifixion speaks of the extreme measures God takes to restore his relationship with mankind.

There is no Salvation outside the Cross.

Through the cross we die to our old self.

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The Crucifixion focused Christian

We must regularly return to the cross (Lord’s supper).The cross constantly reminds of the

divine sacrifice.It keeps us humble by reminding us

that we are sinners in need of the savior.

It keeps us aware of our sins and need for God’s continual grace.

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The Crucifixion focused Christian

• So, is there a problem with the Crucifixion focused Christian?– Many Christians never move beyond

the grave (like the men going to Emmaus).

• The power of the God is in the past. – At the cross.– Power at work in salvation – but not in the

Christian Life (When baptized, I’m afraid some of us should be held under water. Because, although we die in Christ we never seem to be resurrected in Christ).

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The Crucifixion focused Christian

• So, is there a problem with the Crucifixion focused Christian?– Many Christians never move beyond

the grave (like the men going to Emmaus).

• There is seldom power in the present.– Present circumstances in life is viewed as a

result of barriers resulting from Adam.– Life is a burden – we live in death.– Self-centered – life is swallowed up in defeat.– When mourning, it’s hard to serve others.

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The Crucifixion focused Christian

But Christ is no longer on the cross. Jesus is no longer in the

grave. So why live as if He were?

Christ conquered Death. Jesus is Alive.

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The Return of Christ Focused Christians.

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John 11:23-25 23 Jesus replied, “Your brother will come back to life again.” 24 Martha said, “I know that he will come back to life again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even if he dies,

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• We must look to the future.– Biblical Prophecy and end time events where

ignored through most of Church history.– One third of the Bible is prophecy.– The future is where our hope is.– The last days maybe at hand.

The Return of Christ Focused Christians (also called “Future Hope Christians” or “Last Day Christians”)

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• So, is there a problem for the Return of Christ focused Christian?– A person with his/eye and ears in the future

often is blind to God’s work in the present.– Everything in the present world is seen as so

bad, that only the coming of Christ can make good of it.

• Tendency to deny social responsibility• Tendency toward a do nothing fatalism• Extremism can lead to heresy.

The Return of Christ Focused Christians

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• So, is there a problem for the Return of Christ focused Christian?– God put us in the present to have an impact

on the present. We have work to do in the here and now.

– The power of God is not just in the past or in the future, but also in the present.

The Return of Christ Focused Christians

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• Acts 1:6-8 6 So when they had gathered together, they began to ask him, “Lord, is this the time when you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He told them, “You are not permitted to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.”

The Return of Christ Focused Christians

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The apostles never lost their hope for Christ’s return, but such a hope did not

create in them a fatalistic outlook, rather it gave them a sense of urgency to change

the world – NOW!

Perspective:

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Crucifixion FocusedReturn of Christ focused

But above all, Resurrection Focused

We should be:

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We don’t live in the past, nor in the future. I want to know the power of Christ in my life now!So did Paul!

Above all, be Resurrection Focused Christians

Philippians 3:10 10 My aim is to know him, to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and to be like him in his death,

Ephesians 1:18-20 18 – since the eyes of your heart have been enlightened – so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the incomparable greatness of his power toward us who believe, as displayed in the exercise of his immense strength. 20 This power he exercised in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms

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What is this resurrection power in the present.It’s not the Apostolic gifts.It’s not sign and wonders.

Above all, be Resurrection Focused Christians

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What is this resurrection power in the present.It’s power over death to live now. Ephesians 2:5 (NET)

5 even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you are saved! –

Above all, be Resurrection Focused Christians

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What is this resurrection power in the present.It’s power to do good works – NOW! Ephesians 2:10 (NET)

10 For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.

Above all, be Resurrection Focused Christians

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What is this resurrection power in the present.It’s power to know the internal workings of Christ and to grasp

God’s love and power to love – NOW!Ephesians 3:16-19 (NET)

16 I pray that according to the wealth of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, so that, because you have been rooted and grounded in love, 18 you may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and thus to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

Above all, be Resurrection Focused Christians

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What is this resurrection power in the present.It’s power to overcome bitterness – NOW!Ephesians 4:31-32 (NET)

31 You must put away every kind of bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and evil, slanderous talk. 32 Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.

Above all, be Resurrection Focused Christians

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What is this resurrection power in the present.It’s power over fear and power of self-

discipline – NOW!2 Timothy 1:7 (NET)

7 For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Above all, be Resurrection Focused Christians

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What is this resurrection power in the present.It’s courage – NOW!Philippians 1:20 (NET)

20 My confident hope is that I will in no way be ashamed but that with complete boldness, even now as always, Christ will be exalted in my body, whether I live or die.

Above all, be Resurrection Focused Christians

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What is this resurrection power in the present.It’s the power to fulfill God’s purpose in me.Philippians 3:12 (NET)

12 Not that I have already attained this – that is, I have not already been perfected – but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me.

Above all, be Resurrection Focused Christians

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What is this resurrection power in the present.It’s the power of financial contentment.Philippians 4:12-13 (NET)

12 I have experienced times of need and times of abundance. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of contentment, whether I go satisfied or hungry, have plenty or nothing. 13 I am able to do all things through the one who strengthens me.

Above all, be Resurrection Focused Christians

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What is this resurrection power in the present.It’s the power to witness.Acts 1:7-8 (NET)

7 He told them, “You are not permitted to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.”

Above all, be Resurrection Focused Christians

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What are the Characteristics of a Resurrection focused Christian?– A life of excitement and adventure. Not a

life of gloom and doom.• He envisions the future but does not live in it. He

makes the future happen.• He exercises faith. He takes risks for Christ’s sake.

He is not timid. He believes in the power of God to do great things in the present.

Above all, be Resurrection Focused Christians

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What are the Characteristics of a Resurrection focused Christian?– He is not afraid to look deep within himself

and deal with the ugliness.

Above all, be Resurrection Focused Christians

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What can I do to become a resurrection focused Christian?– Go to the Cross– Confess your Need for the Savior– Believe in the future Hope of Christ’s return– Focus on Christ’s resurrection power to be at

work now.

Above all, be Resurrection Focused Christians

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The Tomb is empty

The Cross is bare

Christ is AliveThe power that raised

Him can resurrect your life – NOW!

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