Point of Grace Worship 4.11.21 Sermon Notes – Living the NEW Life – Part 2- Easter 2021

The Resurrection of Jesus changes things! He got a New Life and invites to share in it – to Live the NEW Life! How?

The Resurrection frees humanity from the life strangling grip of death and fear! What are you afraid of?

John 20 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” 24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

It is so important to Jesus for His disciples to “get it”- to believe and act like – He’s alive! He relentlessly pursues them … and us!

His vision is that we benefit personally from all He accomplished and become passionate allies in the world!

Fear and Doubt – The Toll It Takes

Doubt gets between me and Jesus! It distances me from the one who has the answer to my fears.

There is a temptation to “settle” on life with crippling doubt instead of healing and growing through it! Satan wants me to doubt my beliefs and believe my doubts.

What does Jesus bring to us so we can lead doubt-less lives!

21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Where should my effort go in dealing with doubt and fear? Am I embracing the Peace Giver or am I embracing the fear generator?

NEW Life Living

 Soak up the Resurrected Jesus – Join the I BELONG CHALLENGE at www.pog.church

 Do a life giving thing! Refrain from “death dealing” things! Jesus, is this life giving?  

 Give some life away! Tell somebody how the Risen Jesus has shown up this week?  

This Week’s Prayer Father in Heaven, thank you for your deep and abiding love for me and for all people. Thank you for Your gracious provision in all areas of my life. You are a good, good Father. I renounce the enemy’s lies that seek to create doubt in Your goodness to me. I receive You now as my Father in heaven who loves me very much.

Jesus I sincerely receive all the work and triumph of Your cross, death, blood and sacrifice for me through which I am atoned for and ransomed by your blood. I now receive your complete and total forgiveness of all my sins and I take my place in your kingdom as a child of God who is completely reconciled to my Father in heaven.

Jesus, I also receive all the work and triumph of Your resurrection. I receive Your Resurrection Life as my new life to live every day. I renounce all lies of the enemy tempting me to doubt whether the full benefits of Your life, death and resurrection apply to me. I now receive all the blessings and benefits you paid so dearly for me to have.

I confess, God, at times I am all too ready to agree with the lies about Your goodness, love and truth. I have coddled doubt in my mind and heart about You and Your intentions toward me as well as doubt about me, who You say I am and what my true worth and value is according to Your truth. I repent of believing untruth and receive Your complete and total forgiveness.

Holy Spirit, I receive You as the very presence of living God in me, my counselor, comforter, strength and guide. I honor You as my sovereign and yield every dimension, category or part of my life totally and completely to You. Fill me afresh Holy Spirit, anoint me for my life today, my walk today and my calling. Lead me deeper and deeper into union with the Father and the Son --- closing the gap created by fear and doubt.

I love being loved and rescued by You Jesus and I will enjoy this day as a child of the Living God. Amen.

Resources for this Week

Here are some suggested readings for each day of this week. The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.

Mon – John 20:19-25 Tue – John 14:23-27 Wed – John 20:26-31 Thu – Matthew 14:25-33 Fri – 1 Samuel 17:41-47 Sat - Psalm 27:7-14

Meditation Hints:

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”

Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God, resting and listening and being loved.

Helps: Join the “I BELONG” Challenge Go to pog.church and click the “I BELONG CHALLENGE” menu tab. After you sign up you will get a daily email with the daily reading. “Sermon Resources” for this week from pog.church

“Union with Christ” by Rankin Wilbourne

The “One Minute Pause” App from your app store

“Waking The Dead” by John Eldredge

“Restoration Year – A 365 Day Devotional” by John Eldredge