Reacting to the Resurrection

Pastor Luke Martin shared with us for Resurrection Sunday, 24 April 2011.

In John 20:1-10, we read how the disciples discovered Jesus was no longer in a tomb. Why did He come back? Was there something more He was trying to tell us?

First up, let's look at the reaction of people to what happened. Specifically, we'll look at four reactions.

• 1 MEETING WHERE YOU ARE: In Mary's reaction, we see how Jesus met her where she was. He is interested in where you are, interested in your heart. Out of that, you will experience His love. He called her by name, being the first person He met after resurrection, as He calls you by name too. And He does that because you are important to Him. Jesus had freed Mary before and given her freedom. Notice, also, how she called Him teacher, implying something was being taught to her. In conclusion, we can see how this first reaction showed Mary, and us, that death is not the end. (See Revelation 1:17-18, where Jesus has eternal life.)

• 2 LEAVING AN IMPRESSION: In Luke 24:13-16, 28-35, we read how the disciples felt something, and didn't keep it to themselves. You, too, have news to share. Matthew 28:16-20 shows how He commissioned them. And it was out of love they would share the truth, not compulsion.

• 3 REVELATION OF GOD: In John 20:24-28, Thomas heard about Jesus secondhand. He doubted, but Jesus appeared to Him. And he was then the first to refer to Jesus as his Lord and his God. What a major 180 degree turnaround! In this one moment, Thomas ascribed Jesus' name as God, giving us the person to worship. (See also Acts 4:12.)

• 4 YOUR REACTION: This reaction isn't found in Scripture. It is your reaction, your choice to His resurrection...

So how will you react?


- Posted using an Apple iPad on behalf of Empower Christian Church, Australia

The King arrives - Palm Sunday

Pastor Simone Womersley talked to us on Sunday 17 April 2011 about Palm Sunday.

In Matthew 21, we read about the pilgrimage that people were making towards Jerusalem. Jericho was the origin for Jesus' trip, walking with many others up the dry and dusty road. They passed through Bethany and Bethphage.

Bethany was a place where Jesus found great comfort. He would spend the night in Bethany after visiting Jerusalem during this period of time. So it was a place of refreshing and rest.

Jesus knew why He was headed to Jerusalem. He had a lot of opposition too. Many others saw the unridden colt for what it clearly was - a sign of royalty.

The cloaks laid out for Jesus demonstrated His royalty. We only throw cloaks down for a monarch. It is an uncommon act that is clearly special for a king.

The branches spoke of kingship as well. And they received Him into Jerusalem like a King, much like Maccabeus had been received.

The songs of 'Hosanna' they cried out meant 'Save, we pray'! They had been oppressed and the crowd was seeing Him as the son of David. 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!'

By this point, the old guard leaders were furious. They feared a ripple effect and actually wanted Jesus to quieten the crowd. He simply replied that the stones would cry out if the people did not.

Even today, we get told it's not cool to follow Jesus, or cry out in praise of Him.

Will we be strong enough to follow Him even when it's not popular?

The crowd wanted a messiah, but this Messiah would hang from a cross.

The crowd wanted to be rescued from evil oppression, but Jesus would rescue them from evil itself.

Jesus came to meet the people's deepest desires.

He came for the commoners, the rich and the poor.

He came to save the lost, and we are to declare to everyone about Him, even when it is not popular.

From Revelation 7:9, we read about a great multitude that no-one could count, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were carrying palms in their hands, declaring His saving grace.

In eternity, we will praise God and declare His glory.

Just like that first Palm Sunday. Just so, forever.



- Posted using an Apple iPad on behalf of Empower Christian Church, Australia

Judge not

Pastor Nicholas Tsakis shared with us at Empower Christian Church on Sunday 3 April 2011.

In Matthew 6 and 7, we readable about keys to living well, or healthily, in God. What we also see is talk about judging.

Judging is like carrying weights. It might be unforgiveness, or offence, disappointment. God wants us to live lightly, restored and faithful.

One of the weights is that of wrong judgement, or judging others wrongly.

See Matthew 7:1-6 instructs us to not judge. Wrong judgement will put a weight on us that is restrictive to our freedom.

We can try to illuminate others' sins to make us feel better. Gossip is an example, in which we judge wrongly.

Judgement, as Pastor Paul de Jong explains, is negatively looking down upon others. It gives licence to the enemy to load our lives with weights. It means looking for faults, and leading to a 'holier-than-thou' approach. Even jumping to conclusions is an example of judging wrongly.

Verse 3 talks about a plank in someone's eye. Remember that Jesus was a carpenter, knowing timber well. And picture how a person would look, having a piece of timber in your eye while criticizing others. A bit like us when we watch footy as well from a couch!

Jesus was looking at the religious leaders and pointing out how they were being hypocritical. Galatians 6:1 reminds us to restore another from sin, gently. Clean up our act, He was saying, before tampering in the lives of others.

• Focus judgment on yourself first.

• Don't judge, lest you be judged. (See 1 Corinthians 11:31 and Romans 14:1-5, 10.)

• Don't judge beyond your sphere of responsibility.

• When you judge rightly, judge in the shadow of Calvary (Luke 6:37, Matthew 6:14).

So from today on, spend more time building your life rather than putting energy into judging things external to you - as Pastor de Jong encourages.

See Jesus as your greatest mentor, who forced the mob to consider their sin when faced with a woman to be stoned. He didn't look down on her, neither did He justify her behaviour.

Be released, too, by not judging wrongly.


- Posted using an Apple iPad on behalf of Empower Christian Church, Australia

Location:Molan St,Ringwood,Australia