So, did Easter have an impact on you? Did engaging with the story of the risen Christ touch your heart? Because, let me tell you, it's meant to. Because in Jesus, you have a whole new life.

American, Lew Wallace, was a lawyer, Civil War general and the governor of New Mexico. He was also a sceptic when it came to Christianity, setting out to write a book to disprove the divinity of Jesus.

But during his extensive research, Wallace encountered the compelling truth of Christ. The evidence so overwhelmed him that instead of writing an attack on Christianity, he penned the novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. It became one of the most influential Christian books in history.

He later wrote, "It is not possible for anyone to study the life of Jesus of Nazareth seriously, without feeling His influence." Wallace didn't just discover the facts — he encountered the risen Christ, and it changed everything.

Colossians 3:1-2 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. NRSV

Friend, knowing Jesus changes you - it's a reset and a refocus. Yes, we have all our day-to-day things to deal with, but when we seek the things of Jesus, when we set our minds on the things that are above, when we long to be with Him, to see His will done on this earth rather than our own… man, that changes you. It changes everything!

That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.

It's not about what we deserve, but what God created us to experience in relationship with Him.

The Bible tells us (Ephesians Chapter 1) That God has already made His incredible great power, His resurrection power, available to each and every person who believes in Jesus. So today, were going to take a look at what happens, when we lay hold of that power.

As you can imagine, I speak with a lot of people. People who respond to this radio program, people I meet in my travels, people who've hear me speak and want to know how to apply it to their lives. And most people, come to me with a problem. This is working in my life … and I just don't know why. That isn't working in my life … and I don't know what to do about it. I want to follow Jesus … but Satan keeps on winning as he tempts me with this sin or that sin.

Over and over again, I hear the same thing, the same question, the same problem, the same frustration in people's voices.

Why isn't my life all that Jesus promised it would be?!

It's a question that plagues many a Christ follower. It causes many to fall by the wayside. It causes many people to live a life that falls so far short of all that it could be in Christ. To my way of thinking, this is one of the greatest tragedies playing itself out in the Kingdom of God today. And just like many of the lifestyle and diet related illnesses that are killing people across the globe, this is a sickness that is completely avoidable.

Here is what I see happening in God's Kingdom, amongst God's people. The societies in which we live are moving further and further away from God. Look at the United States. A country of religious freedom, founded by the pilgrims, who came to the land to have the freedom to worship God. A nation who, on its dollar bill, has the words "In God we trust". And now, a country, where it's illegal to pray at school, illegal for an officer in the military to share his faith or a Bible with a soldier, a country where four in ten unborn children are 'terminated' – that's a genocide of around 1.2 million children each year.

I'm not just picking on the US of A … it's happening right around the globe. Societies founded on Christian love, as they become more secular, are shifting further and further away from God. And they're behaving as though this is progress. It's progress to allow one man to marry another man, or a woman to marry another woman. It's progress to allow a woman to choose whether or not to kill her unborn child. It's progress for women not to respect their husbands and men not to cherish their wives. And anybody who stands in the way of this so-called 'progress' is a narrow-minded, conservative bigot.

And these sweeping changes are sweeping many a Christian along them. Christians en masse are forsaking a life based on God's Word, for a life based on the world's ways. And not just individual Christians, but preachers, Bible teachers, churches and denominations. And then we wonder why things aren't going so well for us in our lives.

Really?!

Back to the Bible International based in Lincoln Nebraska, is a ministry that I have been closely involved with now for a good many years. They in fact founded the ministry of Christianityworks that I now lead here in Australia, way back in 1957. Part of Back to the Bible is the Centre for Bible Engagement, which has conducted extensive research around the world on the impact in the lives of men and woman, who are engaged with God's Word on a regular basis.

Remember, the Bible itself says that there is incredible power to defeat Satan, in God's Word:

… our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and

Life can be a grind. Whether it's the repetition of putting one foot in front of the other or stresses and strains beyond your control, some days we all feel devoid of hope. Then what?

I have the most blessed "job" in the world, if I can call it that, sharing the good news of Jesus with you and countless others 365 days a year. It's what I was made to do.

But some days, I feel down too. Perhaps I'm a bit off colour, or my granddaughter's cancer battle weighs heavily on my heart, or the writing and production deadlines loom large. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love what I do. But life's life - for me and for you.

We've been talking these last few days about the wonder, the joy, of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And with Easter Sunday just two days ago, why not? But how do you connect that to the realities of your life, all the stuff you're dealing with today?

1 Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God has great mercy, and because of his mercy he gave us a new life. This new life brings us a living hope through Jesus Christ's resurrection from death.

When you put your faith in Him, Christ's resurrection gives you a gift beyond measure; a reprieve, a new life to live from now … for the rest of eternity. And that, my friend, is the point of connection because this new life brings you a living hope through Jesus Christ's resurrection from death.

In the middle of all you have going on, that hope hits back. It lives in your heart every minute of every day. It never dies because, in Christ, it's a living hope.

And that's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.

God wants relationship with you, and He gave you living words to help you live everyday with Him.

Too many Christians, in fact, way too many Christians, are living lives that fall so far short of the life that Jesus promised. When Jesus promised power, they instead end up living a powerless life. I wonder if you know anyone like that.

I wonder if this scenario sounds at all familiar to you. At some stage, way back when, you decided to believe in Jesus. Perhaps you, like me, can remember the day that you took that step. Or maybe like many people I know, you can't remember a time when you didn't believe in Jesus.

So you've believed … and believed … and believed … and somehow life doesn't seem to get any better. You seem to have the same challenges, successes, failures … whatever, as all the other people you know who don't believe in Jesus. In fact, often times, they seem to be living a better life than you are and on top of that, they're not wracked by guilt the way you are, because by not believing in Jesus, they don't have to worry about the idea of temptation, or falling short of God's ideals, or any of that stuff.

Does that sounded all familiar? Sadly, it's de rigour for many a Christian. Most Christians in fact. The Christian life doesn't seem all it's cracked up to be.

Wasn't it Jesus who said:

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)

So where is that abundant life (the original Greek word used there actually means super-abundant!) Where is this super-abundant life that Jesus promised us? Why is everything so difficult? Why is it that I'm not filled with the joy and the excitement that I first felt when I gave my life to Jesus?

Can I tell you, I speak to a lot of people, all around the world, who come to me with basically that scenario; basically that same story. Here it is in a nutshell:

I know that my life isn't what it's meant to be in Christ. I know that. But I don't know why. I don't know what to do about it.

And that's why today we're kicking off a brand new series of messages called 'Power Unlimited'. Because the thing that's lacking in the lives of these people – perhaps in your life too – is the power to live the life that Jesus promised us. The devil comes along and whispers in our ear You're not good enough for God. And actually He's right.

That's exactly what the Apostle Paul says of himself (and remember God called him to write almost half of the books of the New Testament).

For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am of the flesh, sold into slavery under sin. I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. (Romans 7:14-21)

So Paul, as it turns out, has exactly the same problem that you and I have. But happily, he doesn't give up, because the old Paul, God bless him, also has the answer. The only answer that has the power to make a difference:

Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 7:24)

You see I have some very good news for you today. Listen carefully so you don't miss it: God has already placed within you all the power that you need, to live the super-abundant life that Jesus died and rose again to give you.

God has already made the resurrecti

This day - the Monday after Resurrection Sunday - is, in my view, the most undercelebrated day of the year. You can just imagine the joy of the disciples yesterday when they saw Jesus raised from the dead. Absolutely! But what comes next?

Imagine that during the French Revolution you'd been sentenced to death by guillotine. You're marched up onto the platform. The revolutionary crowd's shouting in anticipation of seeing your head roll. You kneel down, the blade's about to fall, but at the very last minute … a reprieve. You're pardoned and set free.

How, pray tell, would that change the way you live the rest of your life? Profoundly, you'd hope. That second chance is everything; it's life itself.

Romans 6:4 So when we were baptised, we were buried with Christ and took part in his death. And just as Christ was raised from death by the wonderful power of the Father, so we can now live a new life.

When you decide to follow Jesus the old you dies, just like Jesus on the Cross. And just as He was raised from the dead, so are you raised by the power of God so that you can now live … your new life.

How, pray tell, does that change the way you live the rest of your life? Because this second chance is everything; it's life itself.

When you put your faith in Jesus, you walk in complete newness of life. It begins here, now, today. Because Jesus was raised from the dead, you too are raised into your new life. That's worth celebrating, don't you think?

Because that's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.

Christ is risen - He is risen indeed! That's the joyous message of Resurrection Sunday. Death couldn't hold Him down. No, He rose from the dead. But what does that triumphant truth have to do with you and me, here and now?

Good question … because for many, Easter's become so routine that it can be a struggle to get excited (yet again!) about the resurrection of Jesus Christ - if He is indeed risen.

1 Corinthians 15:20-22 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. (NRSV)

So what's this talk about "first fruits", pray tell? Think of a wheat harvest. The first golden heads that ripen early in the season are called the first fruits. Farmers rejoice because they signal that the full harvest's coming. They're a guarantee—a foretaste of what's to follow.

Just as the first sheaf of wheat isn't the end but the beginning, Jesus' resurrection isn't an isolated event—it's the guarantee that many will follow. Just as the earth yields its crop in season, God will raise all who belong to Christ in His time.

This isn't just a metaphor; it's a promise rooted in the rhythms of creation and fulfilled in the redemptive plan of God.

The resurrection of Jesus is your sign that death has been defeated, that your harvest of resurrection life is on its way. So not only did Jesus die for you, He rose again for you, so that by faith in Him, you too will receive the gift of eternal life. Death has been defeated … for you!

And that's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.

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Easter Saturday is traditionally a pretty quiet day – Good Friday's been, Resurrection Sunday's coming – so with Jesus' cold body lying on a slab in a sealed tomb, there's nothing much to do. Or is there?

You can imagine, right? After yesterday's brutality, the disciples were locked away dealing with the trauma of seeing Jesus brutally nailed to a cross, now in fear for their own lives. He was dead and buried, and it was, after all, the sabbath.

Luke 23:55-56 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment. (NRSV)

There was nothing to do but mourn, rest and prepare to embalm Jesus' body. Thing is, you and I know what's coming … so with that knowledge, put yourself in that silent tomb; Jesus' body lying next to you.

You know that the criminal, Barabbas, at the crowd's urging has gone free. This Jesus who came for you, who died for you … who died instead of you lies lifeless beside you.  And you know this timeless truth:

John 3:15-16 Whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life." (NRSV)

Grace cost Jesus everything — so it could cost us nothing. You, me, and Barabbas — all sons or daughters of the Father. All guilty. All loved beyond measure. All invited to believe.

So don't disqualify yourself through guilt. Grace isn't about being good enough. It's about a God who loved you enough to take your place.

That's the scandal… and the beauty… of the Gospel.

And that's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.