MARTY GABLER—As the people of God assemble today may they rejoice in the resurrection of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Martha spoke of resurrection in terms of an end-time doctrine. JESUS spoke of resurrection in terms of that which is a present fact applicable to present circumstances. JESUS was challenging Martha to see it and experience it BEFORE the Last Day.If JESUS cannot raise us from the death of failure (“death”: termination or extinction of something; cessation of all vital functions), from the death “of ceasing of function”, from the death of “not functioning because of fault or breakdown”, how can He raise us from the dust at the Last Day? Here at Bethany, where JESUS is speaking to Martha, He is only two miles from Jerusalem where He healed one who had been diseased for 38 years; He healed one who had been blind since birth; now He raised one who had been dead for four days. Surely He can raise you up today. I like this definition of resurrection: “to stand up again.” Rejoice, it’s Resurrection Day! You can stand up again because Resurrection is a Person! (v.25) Jn.11:23—“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.”
MARTY GABLER—“Truly I say to you that UNLESS a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies…”(Jesus speaking in Jn12:24) This particular Grain of Wheat had a choice as to whether or not He would die and go into the earth. Knowing what was coming, He said to the Father, “yet not my will, but yours be done.”(Lk22:42) He was willing! Because this Grain would not “remain alone”: v.24 “if it dies, it bears much fruit.” Those redeemed by the shed blood of Jesus are His fruit. We are His message, His living letters (2Co3:3) that He has sent into the future. He rose, He lives and His fruit (His message to this generation) will show Him and His resurrection to the world by the power of His Spirit. He was willing to die to bear much fruit and His resurrection enables us to live to bear much fruit.
Marty Gabler–As the people of God assemble today may they hear the powerful Word of God by which comes faith and may they hear it say that lying demons have come too late to tell you, “God doesn’t care”. Scoffing spirits have come too late to use religious people to convince you that God will not fulfill His purpose in you. People cannot keep you from fulfilling God’s purpose, no matter how adverse their personalities. Circumstances (no matter how dark and oppressive) cannot keep God from bringing you to purpose. Joseph, David and Daniel prove both points. People put Joseph and David and Daniel in impossible positions to work with. Circumstances degraded them, threatening not only purpose but their very lives. You know the Word of God and “they” have come too late to convince you that opposition and the delay of time mean God hasn’t put purpose in you that will be fulfilled.
MELISSA—The day resurrection power was unleashed on earth was the day our life’s intention was set in place. We were born to seek out the reality of heaven and live it here – “…seek and keep on seeking and you will find“ Matt. 7:7, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Matt. 6:10. Earth and the humans God placed in it were not a gamble that He hoped would work out in His favor. His fingers are not crossed. His ultimate plan has dominion in its DNA and that’s a ticking time bomb the enemy is trying to disarm. That ultimate plan is us, made in His image. The clock is ticking down to the enemy’s demise and that is why things are full on insane and only heating up.
As the people of God assemble today may they fix their eyes on Jesus who endured the cross, despised the shame and is now set down at the right hand of the throne of God. May they know that Jesus rose from the dead because there was more to come. “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”(Heb.12:1-2, NAU)
MARTIN P—“Truly I say to you that UNLESS a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies…”(Jesus speaking in Jn12:24) This particular Grain of Wheat had a choice as to whether or not He would die and go into the earth. Knowing what was coming, He said to the Father, “yet not my will, but yours be done.”(Lk22:42) He was willing! Because this Grain would not “remain alone”: v.24 “if it dies, it bears much fruit.” Those redeemed by the shed blood of Jesus are His fruit. We are His message, His living letters (2Co3:3) that He has sent into the future. He rose, He lives and His fruit (His message to this generation) will show Him and His resurrection to the world by the power of His Spirit. He was willing to die to bear much fruit and HIs resurrection enables us to live to bear much fruit.
MELISSA—“He is not here, but is risen: remember how He spake unto you when He was yet in Galilee, saying that the Son of man must be delivered up into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.” Luke 24:6-7 Thinking of the glory and wonder of Easter brings some things to light regarding the resurrection life. That day resurrection power was unleashed in this earth. The man that walked out of that tomb did it as an example for all of us as how life should be from then on and there is so much more to resurrection life than walking out of the grave. That sounds crazy because that’s the biggest thing we can think of on earth but it’s bigger than we can comprehend with our finite minds.
1Corinthians 15:1-4,Amp—“Now brothers and sisters, let me remind you [once again] of the good news [of salvation] which I preached to you, which you welcomed and accepted and on which you stand [by faith]. 2 By this faith you are saved [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose], if you hold firmly to the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain [just superficially and without complete commitment]. 3 For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to [that which] the Scriptures [foretold], 4 and that He was buried, and that He was [bodily] raised on the third day according to [that which] the Scriptures [foretold],”
MELISSA — We have had our questions, our doubts and shed our tears, but we’ve heard what comes in the morning (Ps. 30:5). I’m telling you, the sun is rising on us and great joy will be ours because it is our time. It’s time to operate in the mandate God has given us.”
As the people of God assemble today may they fix their eyes on Jesus who endured the cross, despised the shame and is now set down at the right hand of the throne of God. May they know that Jesus rose from the dead because there was more to come. “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him ENDURED THE CROSS, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”(Heb.12:1-2, NAU)
Kathy was my Dad’s church pianist from age 13.(As a baby, Melissa was put under the piano seat in her baby seat) We sang this one in a lively manner. But when we got to “You ask me how I know He lives,” we held “lives” for a long time and ended with a quick and hearty “He lives within my heart!” after which was an exuberant round (or two) of “Amen!” and “Glory!”.
He Lives (by A.H.Ackley; Melodies of Praise Hymnal p.86))
As the people of God assemble on Resurrection Sunday may the power of that very Resurrection fill the room and fill each person. May He, Who IS the Resurrection revive all the dreams and all the visions that have died or ceased to function in each one. May we come through Resurrection Sunday standing up again and going out in the name of the Lord preaching His ever-expanding Kingdom that those who are captive might be set free in King Jesus’ resurrection power for the purposes of our Lord. Rom.6:4,TPT—“Sharing in his death by our baptism means that we were co-buried with him, so that when the Father’s glory raised Christ from the dead, we were also raised with him. We have been co-resurrected with him so that we could be empowered to walk in the freshness of new life.”
Martha spoke of resurrection in terms of an end-time doctrine. JESUS spoke of resurrection in terms of that which is a present fact applicable to present circumstances. JESUS was challenging Martha to see it and experience it BEFORE the Last Day.If JESUS cannot raise us from the death of failure (“death”: termination or extinction of something; cessation of all vital functions), from the death “of ceasing of function”, from the death of “not functioning because of fault or breakdown”, how can He raise us from the dust at the Last Day? Here at Bethany, where JESUS is speaking to Martha, He is only two miles from Jerusalem where He healed one who had been diseased for 38 years; He healed one who had been blind since birth; now He raised one who had been dead for four days. Surely He can raise you up today. I like this definition of resurrection: “to stand up again.” Rejoice, it’s Resurrection Day! You can stand up again because Resurrection is a Person! (v.25) Jn.11:23—“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.”
A BLESSED RESURRECTION DAY AND RESURRECTION-POWER EXPERIENCE TO YOU AND YOURS!
Hymn: “Christ Arose” by Robert Lowry, 1874
(At the church my father pastored, along with “The Old Rugged Cross” and “He Lives” we sang this one every Easter. On the chorus when we sang the second “He arose!”, we held out the “arose” for a LONG time, along with shouts of “Amen”, “Glory” and “Hallelujah”.)
Low in the grave He lay,
Jesus, my Savior, Waiting the coming day, Jesus, my Lord!
Refrain: Up from the grave He arose, With a mighty triumph o’er His foes, He arose a Victor from the dark domain, And He lives forever, with His saints to reign. He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!
Vainly they watch His bed, Jesus, my Savior; Vainly they seal the dead, Jesus, my Lord!
Death cannot keep his Prey, Jesus, my Savior; He tore the bars away, Jesus, my Lord!
Found this quote in my notes:“Jesus did not conquer in spite of the dark mystery of evil, He conquered through it.”
”… I died, but see, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of [absolute control and victory over] death and of Hades (the realm of the dead).(Rev.1:18, Amp)
As the people of God assemble today may they fix their eyes on Jesus who endured the cross, despised the shame and is now set down at the right hand of the throne of God as the Victorious Lamb. May they know that Jesus rose from the dead because there was more to come.“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,2 FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”(Heb.12:1-2, NAU)
As the people of God assemble today may they fix their eyes on Jesus who endured the cross, despised the shame and is now set down at the right hand of the throne of God as the Victorious Lamb. May they know that Jesus rose from the dead because there was more to come. “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb.12:1-2, NAU)
Kathy was my Dad’s church pianist from age 13.(As a baby, Melissa was put under the piano seat in her baby seat) We sang this one in a lively manner. But when we got to “You ask me how I know He lives,” we held “lives” for a long time and ended with a quick and hearty “He lives within my heart!” after which was an exuberant round (or two) of “Amen!” and “Glory!”.
He Lives (by A.H.Ackley; Melodies of Praise Hymnal p.86) V.1—I serve a risen Saviour, He’s in the world today; I know that He is living, Whatever men may say; I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer, And just the time I need Him He’s always near.
Chorus: He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus livestoday! He walks with me and He talks with me Along life’s narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives: He lives within my heart.
V.2—In all the world around me I see His loving care, And tho my heart grows weary I never will despair; I know that He is leading Thro’ all the stormy blast, The day of His appearing Will come at last.
V.3—Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, Lift up your voice and sing Eternal hallelujahs To Jesus Christ the King! The hope of all who seek Him, The help of all who find, None other is so loving, So good and kind.
Martha spoke of resurrection in terms of an end-time doctrine. JESUS spoke of resurrection in terms of that which is a present fact applicable to present circumstances. JESUS was challenging Martha to see it and experience it BEFORE the Last Day.If JESUS cannot raise us from the death of failure (“death”: termination or extinction of something; cessation of all vital functions), from the death “of ceasing of function”, from the death of “not functioning because of fault or breakdown”, how can He raise us from the dust at the Last Day?
Here at Bethany, where JESUS is speaking to Martha, He is only two miles from Jerusalem where He healed one who had been diseased for 38 years; He healed one who had been blind since birth; now He raised one who had been dead for four days. Surely He can raise you up today. I like this definition of resurrection: “to stand up again.” Rejoice, it’s Resurrection Day! You can stand up again because Resurrection is a Person! (v.25)
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.” (Jn.11:23-25, NKJV)
As the people of God assemble today may they fix their eyes on Jesus who endured the cross, despised the shame and is now set down at the right hand of the throne of God. May they know that Jesus rose from the dead because there was more to come. “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb.12:1-2, NAU)
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“JESUS did not conquer in spite of the dark mystery of evil, He conquered through it.” (Quote found in my notes) ”… I died, but see, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of [absolute control and victory over] death and of Hades (the realm of the dead).(Rev.1:18, Amp)
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or ceased to function in each one. May we come through Resurrection Sunday standing up again and going out in the name of the Lord preaching His ever-expanding Kingdom that those who are captive might be set free in King Jesus’ resurrection power for the purposes of our Lord.
Here at Bethany, where JESUS is speaking to Martha, He is only two miles from Jerusalem where He healed one who had been diseased for 38 years; He healed one who had been blind since birth; now He raised one who had been dead for four days. Surely He can raise you up today. I like this definition of resurrection: “to stand up again.” Rejoice, it’s Resurrection Day! You can stand up again because Resurrection is a Person! (v.25) Jn.11:23—“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.”
Low in the grave He lay,
Found this quote in my notes: “Jesus did not conquer in spite of the dark mystery of evil, He conquered through it.” 
the Victorious Lamb. May they know that Jesus rose from the dead because there was more to come. “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb.12:1-2, NAU)
Kathy was my Dad’s church pianist from age 13. (As a baby, Melissa was put under the piano seat in her baby seat) We sang this one in a lively manner. But when we got to “You ask me how I know He lives,” we held “lives” for a long time and ended with a quick and hearty “He lives within my heart!” after which was an exuberant round (or two) of “Amen!” and “Glory!”.
As the people of God assemble today may they fix their eyes on Jesus who endured the cross, despised the shame and is now set down at the right hand of the throne of God. May they know that Jesus rose from the dead because there was more to come. “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb.12:1-2, NAU)
“JESUS did not conquer in spite of the dark mystery of evil, He conquered through it.” (Quote found in my notes) 
martygabler 