About

Big Apple Chapel is a New Testament based church in New York City, modeled after the pattern of the early church, with a strong emphasis on following Christ as a community of His disciples.

Services
  • Sunday - 10:30 am
  • 520 8th Ave, 16th floor
    New York, NY
  • phone: +1 (973) 837-1041
 

Sermons

BAC Sermons

Erring about Easter: Missing the Point & the Power

2008-03-23

Audio

To download the audio-file, right-click here and select "Save target as" or "Save Link As".


Download MS Word File

I. Christ was Resurrected to Glory as a result of His Faithful Obedience to the Father

Mk 12:24 Jesus answered: "Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God?

Rom 1:4  And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

 

Daniel 12:2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3  Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever. 13  But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days

Job 19: 25  I know that my Redeemer lives, He shall stand at last on the earth 26 And after my skin is destroyed...in my flesh I shall see God

 

Eph 1:19  (know)…the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power

2Tim 3:5  having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

 

II. We will be Resurrected to Glory as a result of our Faithful Obedience to the Father

1Pt 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4  to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5  who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

 

1Cor 15:32  If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!" 33  Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits." 34  Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. 35 But someone will say, "How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?"

 

Lk 14:14  And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.

Heb 11:35…received their dead raised to life again:    and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

 

Sanctify Rm 8:11 if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.  12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors--not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.                        

2Pt 1:3  as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to glory and virtue

 

Hope Rm 15:13 may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the HS

Prayer Eph 3:20  Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

Heb 5:7…He had offered up prayers and supplications… to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear

Stand against demonic attack Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might…(withstand…stand)

Witness 2Tim 1:8 do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord…but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God

 

 

Joyful victory Col 1:10  that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy (12 thankful)

 

III. Faithful Obedience requires powerful Daily Deadly Determination to do the will of God despite suffering

Phil 3:8…I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, Þthat I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;Þ10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

 

13  Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14  I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you

 

Phil 4:13  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

2Tim 4:7  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

 

1Cor 15:58 Therefore…be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

 

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. Do you think that most Christians experience the resurrection power available to them on an daily basis? Why or why not?

2. How should God’s power be exhibited in believers’ lives? What prevents them from being like the Energizer bunny?

3. What’s the difference between knowing about God and knowing God? How can you develop your intimacy with Him?

4. Where does one’s focus need to be in order to prevent a power failure? What helps you fixate on the prize rather than the pain?

5. In what ways can you draw on resurrection power this week? How will that deepen your relationship with God?