“New Life Now – Your Resurrection Moment”
Preface:
Hello everybody. I’m really excited today, and if you knew me you would say – “We’ll that’s not unusual for you Albert” and that would be true. However, I want to say that outside of the Holy Spirit’s anointing, I am by nature quite shy and introverted. But since I got saved the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and praise God is an anointing that abides according to “1: John 2:27” has transformed me, and it’s expressed amongst other things in my excitability.
Let me read to you what we find in Ezekiel 37:5-6. The Message. “God, the Master, told the dry bones, “Watch this: I’m bringing the breath of life to you and you’ll come to life. I’ll attach sinews to you, put meat on your bones, cover you with skin, and breathe life into you. You’ll come alive and you’ll realise that I am God!”
These might seem strange words for an Easter Sunday message from Gods Word but do stay with me and it will make sense as we move on together today.
The reason I’m so stirred and excited today is simple, when God speaks, so many things change, and spiritual shifts occur.
· Motivations realign, New dreams are awakened within us, and Fresh aspirations take shape.
And in the midst of all that, we hear again those powerful words spoken by God at the very beginning of time: “Let there be…” you see these words didn’t just create the world, these words still carry power today. They continue to speak life, purpose, and possibility into our present circumstances and call us forward in God’s eternal plan and purposes.
I want to tell you today this – that same voice that brought light into darkness is still speaking today:
· Speaking into Confusion – Saying – “Let there be…Clarity.”
· Speaking into Uncertainty – Saying – “Let there be…Certainty.”
· Speaking into Weariness – Saying – “Let there be…Renewal.”
What I’m sharing with you this morning isn’t just a passing thought; it’s something that has been forming in my spirit over many months. And I say with humility and holy boldness – I believe this is a prophetic word – for us here today, and for the wider Church of Jesus Christ.
Introduction – The Power of Resurrection:
Let me for a moment take you back to – John 12:21 to a familiar story to many here where we find the Greeks of old saying to the disciples “Sirs, We Would See Jesus.” and I have to tell you today in all humility that echoes the aspiration of my heart – That we would all today see Jesus afresh.
Let me tell you about these Greeks who came seeking Jesus. They weren’t simply curious tourists or casual passers-by. These were a group of cultured individuals, and products of a civilisation that prized knowledge, beauty, philosophy, and deep thinking. They came from a world full of wealth, access, and influence, and yet deep down, there was something missing. Spiritually, they were weary of empty gods and lifeless idols – Idols that had “eyes but could not see, ears but could not hear and mouths that cannot speak” – Psalm 115: 5. And among these Greeks were “God-fearers” – non-Jews drawn to the moral clarity of the Jewish faith.
They were seekers who were:
· Hungry for something Real.
· Hungry for something Lasting.
· Hungry for something True.
That’s why they showed up at the Jewish festival. That’s why they said, “Sirs, we would see Jesus.” They carried more than casual curiosity. It was a soul-deep longing. And that same cry is still echoing in the world in which we live today.
Believers, Non-believers, Seekers, and those who’ve grown tired of church noise, in the midst of their pain, their confusion and in the silence of their suffering are crying out to see Jesus.
We live in a world bursting with culture, flooded with information, and obsessed with success, but people are still searching. Still aching for meaning. Still hungry for hope. Just like those Greeks, people today aren’t satisfied with shallow answers or dead religion. They want to see Jesus. And the good news on this Resurrection Sunday is that Jesus is still showing up for those who seek Him. Still revealing Himself to the broken, the curious, the desperate, and the hungry.
He’s alive, and He’s still the answer – Hallelujah.
This weekend, in many parts of the world, there is a pause to celebrate the greatest victory in history, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. He conquered the last enemy DEATH.
But Easter is not just a moment in time when we reflect and look back. It’s not just a religious tradition. Easter is the power of God breaking into the realm of the impossible!
It was, and still today is an event when:
· What was Dead came to Life.
· What was Lost was Restored.
· What seemed Hopeless was Resurrected!
Because of Jesus’ and his resurrection, we’re not just remembering what He did – we’re stepping into what He still does. Right here, right now, we are standing in the overflow of resurrection power.
Just yesterday Pastor Chris pointed out a “gulley” which takes away excess water and in the past even cars have been washed away. And I want to tell you today that there is an overflow that all may experience where those things that – baffle us, bring us into bondage and burden us down – can all be washed away in the overflow of resurrection power.
Whether we realise it or not, today, each one of us is being drawn, quietly and deeply, into the possibility of Life, Restoration, and Resurrection. It’s a divine whisper calling us back to what God had originally planned for us, a life of liberty and freedom, a life where we recognise our destiny and walk triumphantly in it.
Perhaps today you can hear that “still small voice in your spirit?”
In John 11:25 we read, “You don’t have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life.” The Message.
JESUS HASN’T JUST RISEN — HE IS THE RESURRECTION, AND RIGHT NOW, HE’S CALLING YOU TO RISE WITH HIM.
On Friday, we stood, at least in our hearts, at the foot of the cross. We remembered the brutal cost of sin.
WE WITNESSED LOVE POURED OUT, BLEEDING FOR THE SALVATION OF HUMANITY.
But here we are today, on Resurrection Sunday, and a question confronts us:
- What about the BROKENNESS WE STILL CARRY?
- What about the DREAMS THAT FEEL BURIED TOO DEEP TO EVER RISE AGAIN?
- What about the DRYNESS IN OUR SPIRIT, THE EMPTY PLACES WE DON’T TALK ABOUT?
- What about the QUIET ACHE, THE SENSE THAT SOMETHING’S STILL MISSING?
The disciples knew that feeling. After the cross, their world collapsed. Their hopes were dashed. Their futures were uncertain, and they felt that their purpose was gone.
And maybe, just maybe – Maybe that’s where you find yourself today.
· Maybe life hasn’t UNFOLDED THE WAY YOU IMAGINED.
· Maybe you’ve followed Jesus for years, BUT NOW YOU’RE RUNNING ON EMPTY.
· Maybe you’ve HIDDEN YOUR CALLING UNDER THE RUBBLE OF DISAPPOINTMENT.
Well! If that’s the case I’m here to inspire you to hear the voice of the Lord echoing from the valley of your soul: “Son of man, can these bones live?” – Ezekiel 37:3. That wasn’t just a question, it was a challenge to believe again.
WE DO NOT SERVE A DEAD MESSIAH – WE ARE NOT CLINGING TO A CRUCIFIED DREAM.
THE TOMB IS EMPTY. THE BONES CAN LIVE. THE RESURRECTION CHANGES EVERYTHING.
And the Spirit of God is speaking right now to all of us here – Young and Old, Christian and Non-Christian, New Believer and those who have been walking the journey of faith for years: It’s time to rise again!
Every month, I have the privilege of ministering to around two thousand of our extended church family, and one theme keeps rising to the surface. Whether I’m speaking with leaders, pastors, or faithful members on the ground, there’s a growing sense, almost a holy tension, that God is doing something new in His Church.
But here’s the exciting part – what we’re seeing isn’t just something new, it’s something that is beautifully ancient. What I’m hearing from worshipping communities across the nations is a stirring, a resurgence, a “new-old” move of God. A Church that is alive, growing, and once again reflecting the passion, unity, and Spirit-empowered life we see in the pages of the New Testament.
So let me ask you today:
- Can you feel it?
- Can you sense the winds of change blowing through the body of Christ?
- Can you feel the Spirit stirring something fresh inside you?
If you can, it’s not random. It’s not emotional hype. It’s not wishful thinking. It’s the Holy Spirit calling the Church, not just to survive – but to thrive and to rise.
While the world may look like it’s falling apart, heaven is building something. The Church is not dying, it’s transforming. We’re not shrinking back, we’re being reborn. The old shell is cracking, and what’s emerging is a radiant, revived Bride, that is bold, beautiful, and burning with purpose.
And here’s the best part – nobody has to be left behind. There’s room for all of us in what God is doing.
Excuse me for a moment while I get a bit reflective.
As I look back on my life, I have to acknowledge a painful truth. Like many of you, I’ve known failure, disappointment, and disillusionment. And in those moments, without even realising it, I found myself retreating, not physically, but spiritually, into a kind of tomb. A place of hiddenness. A place where I felt protected from the battles outside. Safe, but stuck.
It’s what I’ve come to call my “trench warfare.” Head down. Hopes buried. Staying low. Out of sight. Out of reach. And the truth is, it’s frighteningly easy to get comfortable in that place. We settle into the status quo. We adjust to life in the shadows. We tell ourselves we’re surviving, when in reality, we’re slowly dying inside. That spiritual rut becomes an open-ended grave, and we barely notice how far we’ve drifted.
But here’s the good news – the grace of God won’t leave us there.
· The Holy Spirit keeps knocking.
· The Holy Spirit keeps calling.
· The Holy Spirit keeps waking us up from the sleep of apathy and fear.
“MAYBE THAT’S WHY GOD GAVE US THIS WORD TODAY – TO WAKE US UP.”
Not just for me. Not just for you. But for His Church – to call us out of our self-made tombs and into resurrection life.
Listen, my friends, I’m being honest with you today, I’m not just preaching to you. I’m preaching to myself. And prophetically to the wider Church.
GOD IS SPEAKING ONCE MORE — RIGHT INTO THE DARK, HIDDEN PLACES WHERE WE’VE BURIED OURSELVES.
- And As Jesus said to Lazarus: “Come out.” – “John 11:43.”
- And As God said through Ezekiel to the dry bones: “Live again!” – Ezekiel 37:4–6.
- And As the Spirit says to us now: “Walk in the freshness of life!” – Romans 6:4.
So let me ask you:
- Does that resonate with you today?
- Do you feel a stirring in your heart?
- Is there a flicker of hope that maybe – just maybe – this is your wake-up call?
Because individually, He’s calling us to a deeper intimacy. Collectively, He’s calling us to courageous faith. And together, He’s inviting us to break free from fear, to walk in resurrection power, and step boldly into the abundant life Jesus has promised.
I believe that our next chapter both collectively and individually is going to be greater than any chapter previously enjoyed!
A Call to Decision – Come Out and Live Again.
Let’s be honest, and let’s get real – many of us, though we’ve heard about freedom, still find ourselves buried in things that hold us back. Failure. Regret. Disappointment. Fear. We’ve retreated into tombs of comfort and called it safety. We’ve lived trench-bound lives, ducking behind the parapet instead of standing in resurrection power.
However, I hope we’ve heard the voice of the Spirit today, echoing through time, across the dry valleys of our souls, across the tombs of resignation and fear, calling us once again:
· “To Live Again.”
· “To Let it Be.”
· “To Come Out.”
And we must understand, only when we respond to this divine invitation, can we truly walk in the freedom Christ has secured for us. “So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Is what John 8:36 tells us.
This is the freedom Jesus died and rose again to give us.
Not shallow. Not symbolic. Not just “religious.” But real, resurrection-empowered, soul-awakening, life-redefining freedom.
Easter Sunday, you see, isn’t simply about Jesus rising, it’s about Him raising you.
· From death to life.
· From regret to redemption.
· From captivity to calling.
Let’s look at what this resurrection freedom really looks like.
There’s:
The Freedom of Opportunity.
The Freedom of Ability.
The Freedom of Desire.
The Freedom from Regrets.
1. The Freedom of Opportunity – The Door Is Open.
On Easter Sunday, the stone didn’t just roll away from Jesus’ tomb, it rolled away from yours.
Through His death on the cross, Jesus removed the barrier of sin that stood between you and God. And through His resurrection, He opened the door to a whole new life.
You now have divine access.
· Access to Hope.
· Access to Healing.
· Access to Heaven itself.
You no longer have to wonder if God wants you, He proved it at the cross. And the empty tomb confirms it forever.
Freedom in Christ begins with an open door, and today, Resurrection Sunday, He’s holding it wide open for you.
2. The Freedom of Ability – Resurrection Power Lives in You.
JESUS DIDN’T JUST GET UP SO YOU COULD BE FORGIVEN, HE GOT UP SO YOU COULD RISE IN POWER.
The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead has now been poured into you. That means the impossible is no longer off-limits. You’re not left to fight life’s battles in your own strength. The tomb is empty, and the throne is occupied, by the one who empowers you daily.
On Easter Sunday, we celebrate the fact that power was transferred.
His resurrection was:
· Grave-defying power.
· Shame-breaking power.
· Chain-shattering power.
Transferred to those who will grasp it.
YOUR PAST NO LONGER DEFINES YOUR FUTURE.
And as result you can truthfully declare – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13.
So, let today be the day you stop living in weakness and start walking in resurrection strength.
3. The Freedom of Desire – A New Heart, A New Hunger.
JESUS DIDN’T JUST COME TO IMPROVE YOUR LIFE; HE CAME TO TRANSFORM YOUR HEART.
Easter is proof that we’re not only saved from something, but we’re also saved for something. The resurrection brings new desire. When Jesus walked out of that tomb, He opened the way for you to walk into a life of new passions, new convictions, and new love. The heart of stone is gone – The heart of flesh beats again. And your desires are no longer chained to selfishness or fear – they’ve been rewritten by grace.
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you.” Is what the Bible declares – Ezekiel 36:26–27.
Today, because of the resurrection, you can love what He loves. You can desire righteousness, truth, and the things that bring true peace. This is the new heart that is offered and your new DNA.
4. The Freedom from Regrets – A Life Worth Looking Back On.
JESUS DIDN’T JUST FREE YOU FROM SIN, HE FREED YOU FROM SHAME. AND HE DIDN’T JUST CLEANSE YOUR PAST, HE REDEEMED YOUR FUTURE.
Because He rose again, you no longer have to live under the weight of regret. Your history doesn’t have to define your destiny. You are now free to walk paths that lead to new purpose. You don’t have to keep circling the same mountain of mistakes, you can move forward, knowing the Lord is directing your steps. You might feel that there are Jericho walls surrounding you, but I’m telling you today that because of the resurrection they are going to fall.
Easter Sunday means your past has been buried, and your purpose has been resurrected. We need to “Trust in the Lord with all our heart… and He will make our paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6.
Imagine looking back a thousand years from now with no regrets, because you said “yes” to the life Jesus rose to give you. That kind of freedom starts today.
This is the freedom Jesus longs for all of us to live in, not one-dimensional or surface-deep, but full-bodied, soul-awakening freedom at every level.
And here’s the beauty of it all “this freedom is not just available – it’s calling you.”
But we must be honest. As believers, it’s easy to talk about freedom in Christ, freedom from sin, shame, addiction, hopelessness. Yet too often we treat these truths like comforting slogans rather than life-altering realities.
So, I ask again:
- Have we truly internalised this freedom?
- Have we allowed the Spirit to transform us?
- Have we seen the chains we once wore truly fallen, or have we become content to live near the tomb’s entrance, saved, shaking our chains, but not set free?
Because this message, this Resurrection proclamation, is not meant to simply inspire. It’s meant to revive. To awaken. To stir dead places back to life.
Remember Ezekiel? Ezekiel 37:1–14 He stood in a valley full of dry bones, representing a people who had lost hope. God told him to prophesy, and as he did, bone came to bone, breath entered bodies, and an army stood where death once reigned.
Remember Lazarus? John 11:1–44 He was four days in the tomb. Decaying. Wrapped in grave clothes. But Jesus stood outside his tomb and called, “Lazarus, come out!” And he came. Still bound. Still wrapped. But alive. And what did Jesus say? “Unwrap him and let him go.”
THE RESURRECTION WASN’T JUST ABOUT COMING OUT – IT WAS ABOUT WALKING FREE.
My friend, this is more than just a familiar Easter story. This is your story. This is your moment. Because the same voice that called Lazarus is calling you now.
A Personal Appeal.
Let me speak to your heart for a moment.
· Maybe life has buried you under the rubble of regret.
· Maybe disappointment has locked you behind stone walls.
· Maybe fear has bound your hands, and doubt has muted your voice.
But I tell you Jesus still speaks and says: “Come out.”
· He’s calling you by name.
· He’s telling the grave clothes to come off.
· He’s inviting you to walk in the freshness of life – Romans 6:4.
To those who’ve followed Christ for years, this is your moment to shake off spiritual apathy, to leave the trenches of self-preservation, and to rise in the power of His resurrection.
To those who are seeking, doubting, or watching online, this is your invitation to begin again. To say, “Yes, Jesus. I need You. I choose You.”
You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to take the first step. Because faith begins when we stop leaning on our own understanding and start leaning into grace.
An Invitation to Respond.
So here it is. A moment of holy decision. A line in the sand.
· No more living near the tomb.
· No more visiting dry bones.
· No more postponing what Jesus has already won.
It’s time to respond.
Unbelievers:
To the seeker, the searching, the unsure:
Jesus is calling you today, not to religion, but to life. He died for you, rose for you, and is offering you freedom today. Will you say yes to Him?
If today you’re willing to say yes, “I want to come out. I want to live again. I want to walk in that freedom,” then wherever you are, physically, emotionally, spiritually, say this simple prayer in your heart, or aloud if you’re ready:
“Jesus, I believe you died and rose again. I believe you are calling me out of darkness and into life. Forgive me. Free me. Fill me. Today, I choose to follow You. I receive Your gift of salvation and step into the new life You have for me. Amen.”
Christian Believer:
And for those who’ve walked with Him for years but feel weary, stuck, or spiritually dry.
You might say:
· “But I’m too old.”
· “Too broken.”
· “Too far gone.”
My friend, hear me, Lazarus was four days dead. Jesus still called him out. And He’s calling you too.
Say with me:
“Holy Spirit, breathe fresh life into me. Shake off the dust. Break off the fear. Call me out again. I want to live in Your freedom – fully, deeply, boldly. Amen.”
Beloved, the same power that raised Christ from the dead is alive in you. This is not the end of a sermon. It’s the beginning of a resurrection story, your resurrection story.
Let’s go forward not as those still bound by fear, but as those set free to dance, to declare, to live fully for Christ.
THIS IS EASTER. THIS IS FREEDOM. THIS IS YOUR MOMENT. LET’S RISE TOGETHER – AND NEVER GO BACK TO THE TOMB.