ARISE 2018 April

April Series

ARISE

Main Text:
John 11:43
When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, Lazarus come out!


Week One
April 01, 2018
Kick Off
ARISE: The Glory of the Resurrection

Sub text:
John 11:25
I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though He dies, yet shall He live

Life is a series of ups and downs.
It is during tough times that endurance is developed, faith is strengthened and hope becomes strong once it is taken positively. Seeing difficult circumstance through the eyes of faith will enable us to understand it is a prerequisite in experiencing the miracle of God.
Just like Mary and Martha whose heart were greatly troubled because of the death of Lazarus, their brother. And ‘twas during this saddest moment in their lives that Jesus Christ revealed Himself as the Resurrection and the Life. In the midst of their troubled heart, they experienced God’s miracle by bringing Lazarus back to life.
Jesus Christ being the Resurrection and the Life and His triumph over death is significant in our day to day living. There is glory in His resurrection. There is power in His resurrection.
Jesus’ declaration of being the resurrection and the life echoes to every troubled heart who tend to believe that there is no hope at all. It gives hope to every dreamer who tend to believe that there’s no more possibility for it to become a reality. The declaration of Jesus being the Resurrection and the Life gives courage to every believer who is fighting against death and are about to face death.
His triumph over death gives us the power to overcome guilt, shame and not be controlled anymore by the horror of our past mistakes. He came to give us life and to have it abundantly (John 10:10.) And the glory of His resurrection will enable us to have an abundant life; a life that is not controlled by the surrounding hindrances, a life that is not being motivated by fear and disbelief and a life that is not afraid to face death.
*BIRTHDAY SUNDAY
*SCOP SUNDAY 1st ANNOUNCEMENT
*RECRUITMENT for JOSEPH PLAY (july august september)




Week Two
April 08, 2018
Arise from Hindrances

John 11:39a
Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”

In as much as we want to experience abundant living, there will always be circumstances that will hinder us to experience such. Hindrance is defined as a thing that provides resistance, delay or obstruction to something or to someone. At some points in our life we let those hindrances govern us and take control of us. Only to discover that we have already missed what the Lord has in store for us.
And the truth of the matter is there'll always be hindrances. It could be those people who always criticize and questioned us and or it could be our selves. It could be doubt, hesitation, fear or even disbelief.
And just like when they arrived at Lazarus tomb there were two issues to deal with 1) the tomb was a cave sealed with a large stone and 2) the body was stinking by this point.  The stone represented the access Jesus required to get to the issue at hand and the smell represented the natural resistance to dealing with a stinking situation. And when He commanded them to take away the stone, He was telling Mary and Martha for them to experience breakthrough;  an exhibit of faith is needed.
And so, in our desire to experience abundant living we need to roll away our own stone and giving God the access. Only when we choose to arise from hindrances that we can experience and enjoy what the Lord has prepared for us.
*COMMUNION SUNDAY SUNDAY
*SCOP FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT
*MISSIONS ANNOUNCEMENT




Week Three
April 15, 2018
Arise from Disbelief
John 11:40
Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you will see the glory of God?”

The promises of God is one thing that motivate us to continue living. It gives the hope we need for us to continue dreaming. It strengthens us when we tend to be weary. But human as we are, our strength is nothing but limited. We want for that hope to flame bright but it can’t anymore. We want to keep the faith only to know that we already doubt a room in our heart.
The same is true with the response of Martha, the sister of the dead Lazarus. Reading through the John 11, we will discover that when Jesus heard the news concerning Lazarus; terminally ill; He stayed two days longer in the place where He was. The purpose of the delay is found in John 11:4. God’s purpose, however, had now positioned Lazarus in a place where his family had lost hope, and they did not even want to do anything about it.  He was, in tier minds, beyond repair.  He was dead and stinking.  Jesus’ reply did not deal with the condition of Lazarus, but rather the condition of Mary and Martha.  This is where we pick up our text.  Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
We can sometimes get into some really tough situations.  We sometimes even place ourselves there and then seek God to get us out.  No matter how hard, tough, bad, or hopeless your situation may   —  it is not over until God says its over!  There is nothing too hard for God.  So our breakthrough is not contingent upon whether God can do it.  Our breakthrough is not tied to the status of our situation, our breakthrough is tied to the status of our Faith!  Jesus’ reply was tied to Martha’s faith, not Lazarus’ body.  This word “believed” in our text is the same word for faith.
When we choose to arise from disbelief that God will show up and show out!
*LIFE GROUP SUNDAY
*MISSIONS ANNOUNCEMENTS
*SENDING OFF PASTORS RAYMOND AND ELLEN to MINDANAO



Week Four
April 22, 2018
Arise from Fear of Death
John 11:40
When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, Lazarus come out!

Death is one of the many things that humanity is afraid of. It is also one of the reasons why humanity’s heart is troubled with sorrow and pain. Our fear of death will not erase the certainly that sooner or later it will come to us.  And not only humanity is afraid of physical deaths, we are also afraid for our dreams to eventually die; afraid for a certain relationship to die; afraid for that love, peace and harmony in your family. But since this world is fallen, we cannot avoid facing the possibility of facing death in any forms.
The story of Lazarus coming back to life is God’s way of reminding us of His compassion. Jesus wept upon knowing the death of his friend. The account of Lazarus is God’s way of telling us that His delay is not and will never be a denial. Lazarus’ story is a good proof that we should face death with courage believing that Jesus Christ is the Resurrection and the Life. And His declaration of being the Resurrection and the Life was manifested as Lazarus came back to life. This is a reminder for us that resurrection and life are not just for the future. They are with us right now today. Resurrection is not a doctrine for the future. Resurrection is the Person present with us in the present here and now.
The power that raised Lazarus from the dead is the same power that will  give life to your shattered dreams. The voice that called out Lazarus from the tomb is the same voice that will give hope to your heart that has grown cold.
Remember that no matter who you are and no matter how dead your situation may seem, when God shows up, He can make the world’s impossibilities a reality in your life.
*FACILITY SUNDAY
*BASKETBALL SPORTS ENGANGEMENTS
*MISSIONS ANNOUCEMENTS




April 29, 2018 
is Missions Sunday
*ASIA GLOBAL LUZ VIS MIN take over!!