Point of Grace Worship 5.2.21 Sermon Notes – Living the NEW Life – Part 4- Easter 2021

The Resurrection means Jesus has a New Life and invites us to join Him – to Live the NEW Life!

Romans 6 “… just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”

Living the NEW Life frees us

from the life strangling grip of death and fear

because of our new birth into a Living HOPE!

1 Peter 1 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. The Resurrection has made possible for us “new birth” into a Living Hope insuring a future inheritance.

The resurrection of Jesus sealed the victory of the Kingdom of God on earth over sin, death and the devil. Jesus is the first-born from the dead. The resurrection signaled the dawning of the new age even though the old age still exists.

Living Hope in the Resurrected Jesus is the lifeline through which we access “not yet” kingdom benefits for “now” living.

Hope is a lifeline which fuels my “now” living with substantial doses of “not yet” life benefits!

- I get to hear my “future” judgment day verdict “now” and live accordingly, Romans 8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

 - I get to see this “now” life scarred by brokenness and wrongness with “not yet” kingdom eyes,  

- 1 Peter 1 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.  

- I can have “not yet kingdom” peace (and appropriate expectations) about what this life can deliver,  

- I can face death with a Life from Jesus that death can’t take away.  

- I can be far more gracious to myself and others because we are not in a mistake-less world,  

- I get to have the identity and purpose of the “not yet” kingdom while living in the “now” world. I take my cues from the risen Lord not the broken world.  

Romans 15 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

NEW Life Living

• Soak Up Hope from the Resurrected Jesus Everyday Join the I BELONG CHALLENGE at www.pog.church

• Overflow with Hope – Seeing yourself and others with “not yet” kingdom eyes.

 Prayer of the Week

Holy and Victorious Trinity - Father, Son, Holy Spirit- I come to you now to be restored in You to be renewed in You to receive your love and Your Life and all the grace and mercy I so desperately need this day. I love You, I worship You, I trust You and I give myself over to You in my heart’s search for Life. I renounce all other gods and idols and give myself totally and completely to You. You are my HOPE for Life today and for Life everlasting.

Father, I ask for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that I might know You better. I want to know You, Father, deeply and wholly. I pray also that the eyes my heart may be enlightened so that I might know, really know, the HOPE to which You have called me and that I might know the riches of the inheritance You have in store for me and all my brothers and sisters in Christ. I want to live as a person of HOPE.

Jesus, I desire HOPE in You to be the difference maker in how I live this day. HOPE in You lifts my eyes from the downward draw of this worlds priorities to the upward gaze of life in Your presence. I want to live in this world Jesus

but not of this world. Jesus, I believe You have given me a new birth into a Living HOPE through Your resurrection from the dead. I now receive afresh today this new birth, new life and resurrection HOPE - purchased by You and given to me.

Holy Spirit, I open the eyes of my heart to You asking you to pour Your love into my heart and pour resurrection Life into every crack and crevice of my living. I pray that You, the God of HOPE, fill me with all joy and peace as I trust in You that I might overflow with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit.

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 – 1 Peter 1:3-9 Tue – Isaiah 40:28-31 Wed – Romans 5:1-5 Thu – Ephesians 1:18-23 Fri – Romans 15:13 Sat - Psalm 42:1-8

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.

“Hope in Times of Fear” Timothy Keller

“Get Your Life Back” by John Eldredge “Sermon Resources” for this week from pog.church

“Union with Christ” by Rankin Wilbourne

The “One Minute Pause” App from your app store

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