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Meditating on the Power of Resurrection

Posted by ru4jc @ Sat 14 Apr, 07, 12:21PM under Doing ACTS
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Doing ACTS
Accept the Word
Friday : 13th April 2007
Read : John 11:21-27
21 Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

Contemplation
1. What do you say to Jesus’ question: “Do you believe this?” (v 26)
Because we live in the modern world, and because we have read the facts that remain (from the Bible), we can surely or will surely say that we believe what He says. However, it might be different if we were actually living in those days, where the actual event was actually taking place.

2. What difference has your faith in the resurrected Christ made in your life?
God has given much hope, joy and meaning of living because of the resurrection promise. By knowing that Christ lives again (after the death), it gives us the hope to believe that someday, after our physical death, we will continue on in eternity with the Father, because of faith in Jesus Christ.

3. How do you “behold” Him in your life? What evidences have you found helpful in showing friends that Christ is alive today.
We have to live like Christ, be like Him, for the world to see Him and know Him. “Beholding” in this context means to hold in high esteem, or honour. If we regard someone highly, we will surely not do anything shameful or embarrassing to the one we honour. Likewise, if we are children of God, we carry His name in the places we go, the people we meet. We may notice some people who carry labels of Christianity (i.e. t-shirts with Christian quotes and phrases, wear a big tag “I love Jesus”, etc), but live completely otherwise. Or we could choose to be silent in our words, but speak strongly with our character, even sometimes when placed in situations we could be compromised. Our stand in Him need never be shaken, we stand for truth, and truth will prevail.

4. How does the resurrected power of Christ give you hope and courage to overcome your fears and doubt? (Share one example if you can in your cell group).
Most of us have fears; fear of heights, fear of the night (darkness), fear of insects, fear of blood, fearof spiders, etc. One of the most common fears is the fear of death. The fear of death grips many people. But by knowing and trusting the power of the resurrection (which is the power of God), we know that someday, we shall rise again in Him, those who sleep in Christ will rise. Death no longer is an enemy, it may be the first death (and the only death we could know), but after that, we face eternity with joy and gladness. This is our blessed assurance.

5. Read Ephesians 3:20. In who is the power working? How does this truth help you to
live out your Christian life?
Ephesians 3:20 – “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we could ever ask or think, according to the power which is at work within us”
The power is working within us. Now if we know of the grace that is given us, that if God can do exceedingly more, think exceedingly more, perform exceedingly more, that what our minds could possibly imagine, we would probably be living as victors (because God is on our side). And God promises that He who began a good work within us, will be faithful to complete until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6). If this is so, why should we fear? God will be our portion and lot, to always give us victory. After all, He made us more than conquerors through Christ that strengthens us (Romans 8:37).

6. How does the story of Lazarus’ resurrection give you hope? (You may share individually how the story helped you personally).
God has a purpose for everything, and according to His perfect timing. We understand from John 11 that Jesus has deliberately waited an extra 2 days (vv6), with the aim of, revealing God’s glory. And God always does it in style. Jesus puts it in vv15 of chapter 11, that He was glad He wasn’t there, because the glory of God was to be shown so that they may believe. And it was, for their sakes (vv15). And when they had come to the tomb, Lazarus had been dead for 4 days. No one could possibly picture in their mind or even fathom what they were about to see. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, and he lived again! We believe in the power of God, that He is able to bring about life in the “deadest” situations in life, because He is the resurrection and the life. And God is always with us.

Take Action
Thank God for the hope of resurrection - be specific about what it means to you!
2. Pray for all your non-Christian friends who came for your Easter Hunt Cell
Outreach. Pray that they will believe! (Be sure to pray for them by name).
3. Pray for your cell Dream Project. Pray for unity and impact in the community.
- If you have completed it, pray the impact will continue on.
- If your team is facing challenges, commit to God that challenge and trust Him to
bless your project! (Don’t give up!)

Share
Share testimonies today in your CG how the Easter has been to you and what God did
to you and your CG effort.

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