Our Mission To love all people at all times and lead them into a new life in Christ.
Our Vision To be a church that will be multicultural and generational, having a lasting impact on the people to whom we minister.
To see the gospel extend beyond the walls of our church through various outreaches.
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For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
Fear is not new; it has been here since the fall of man in the garden. According to the Scripture God has not given us the spirit of fear; it is from the devil. Fear comes from the devil to sabotage our faith. Sabotage is to take advantage of. We will have many opportunities in life as believers to walk in fear or faith. The devil will use situations in our life to cause us to fear which leads to being afraid. It is not that we will never experience fear, it is what we do when it comes to us. We just keep doing life even if we are afraid. That is faith.
“Fear, he is a liar He will take your breath Stop you in your steps Fear he is a liar He will rob your rest Steal your happiness Cast your fear in the fire ‘Cause fear he is a liar.” ( Zach Williams)
In the Bible we read where God told his people over and over do not fear, don’t be afraid. The reason we also do not have to fear or be afraid is found in Isaiah 41:10 For [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice”.
God by His spirit brought Ezekiel and set him down the midst of the valley of dry bones. The word tells us that Ezekiel saw there were many and they were very dry. God asked Ezekiel if these bones could live and he said, “Lord God, you know if they can”. God then tells Ezekiel to prophesy (speak) to the bones to hear the Word of the Lord”. Ezekiel 37
I believe that God strategically put Ezekiel in the valley of dry bones. God must have had great faith in Ezekiel when asked to do the right thing. And Ezekiel did. Verse 7 “So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied there was a noise, a shaking and the bones came together”.
Maybe you are in a place thinking what am I doing here. You are looking around at the brokenness, the mess, the situation. God has faith in you to do the right thing at this moment of time. Speak Life! The situations are waiting for your life-giving words.
Arise to the call Church! Situations that are dead or dying are waiting for our life-giving words. Speak life to the nations, governments, your family, your life.
I can hear the Lord saying ‘Surely I will put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD’’
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
Shalom is translated peace. Some meanings of this word peace are success, prosperity, wholeness, completeness, well-being, and welfare.
This peace was a gift to all believers. New Living Translation of John 14:27 ”I am leaving you with a gift- peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
Peace is not the absence of trouble. In the midst of trouble we can have peace of mind and heart and peace shows up big when we trust God. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
When we are walking through troubled times in life, we calm our mind with the truths of the Word.
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind stays on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. Trust in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.
Let us go to the other side-moving forward.
When there is a transition that begins to happen in our life it requires action on our part. We have to be willing to move. The move happens in our mind. Once we recognize the promptings of Holy Spirit speaking to us about moving forward, the mind has to get in agreement with Holy Spirit. Now your mind will tell you every reason to stay in your comfort zone. After all, things are going well. Why upset the apple cart right? In order to grow, we have to go, and that go is the transition. The greatest move you can have is in your mind.
Corrie Ten Boom said, “We must “never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” People of faith are called to do radical things in order to achieve the purpose of God in their lives. God said to Abram, “Leave the land you have always known. Go from your homeland to a new land that I will show you. I will make you and your people a great nation. I will bless you.” This was a place familiar to Abram. All he had ever known. What are you holding on to for support-comfort, that familiar place. Could it be the very thing that Holy Spirit is saying, “let go”? My blessing for you-my breakthrough for you is in the transition. Let us go to the other side-moving forward to that place called there.
God says to us today, “I am going to command by blessing from that place called there. Let go of the fear that has caused you to stay in a place of stagnation. For you coming out and unto your place of purpose that I have planned long ago for you”!
“And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you if heed the voice of the Lord your God.”
Deuteronomy 28:2 AMP
Today, despite whatever you are facing in life, take time to hear Jesus. If you are concerned about symptoms in your body, keep hearing and hearing about how our Lord Jesus loved to heal and still heals today. Hear how He bore the cruel Roman lashes for you, so that by His stripes, you are healed (Isaiah 53:5). Hear how he went about doing good and healing ALL who were oppressed (bodily, emotionally, and mentally) by the devil (Acts 10:38, Matt. 9:35. Hear how when He saw the crowds waiting for His healing touch, He was moved with compassion—He didn’t see them as people with impossible demands, but as sheep without a shepherd (Matt. 9:36). And hear how He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). Faith will infuse your spirit, and His divine healing and health will flood every cell, organ, and system of your body. (to be continued).
Joseph Prince
Be still and that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations.i will be exalted in the earth. Psalms 46:10
The English definition of “still” means to be silent, uttering no sound, quiet, motionless. The Hebrew definition is different for this word “still”. It means to let go, stop striving, slacken, and let drop. This sounds like surrender. When we surrender, we loosen the hold on the circumstance, the situation we are in at the moment. How many times have we wanted to hold on, to fix it, push through it. Holy Spirit softly whispers surrender. Surrender means to relinquish possession, to submit the power authority and control to another. Let go and let God. This is releasing control of the outcome, the timing and yes the ways He chooses to bring about His purpose in the situation.
While waiting for the situation to change we pray. Prayer always brings us closer to God. We worship. God inhabits the praise of his people.
We remember. God has brought us through before his faithfulness will do it again”
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6
There are lots of T.V. programs that are referred to as “reality shows.” Supposedly, they present real life situations for people to relate to. But, many of the programs are staged to show things not exactly as they are in reality. What many call reality is not the real truth but the way they would like it to be.
Sadly many living their “reality” are not aware of the truth they are missing. As a Christian one must submit themselves to God, the Creator, and follow His Word to enjoy life as it is presented in His book, The Bible. It is quite obvious that many people are not prone to this kind of thinking. At the risk of sounding dogmatic, let me say this. We believe God’s way is the only way to a truly fulfilling life. That includes now and eternally ever after. If we are truly a Christian, we must understand there is no way but God’s way, and we don’t decide the way ourselves. We believe His Word and set our lives on what it says and means, not on what we want to make it say to better suit us.
Jesus said He is the way and truth, and when we believe that, we will live a life based on real truth and not on some misunderstood reality. God is God and we are not. We must believe that and then strive to learn and obey the Word of God. The Word was made Man so we could know how to relate to Him. “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” He redeemed man with His own blood because He lived a sinless life. Sin caused death to enter into the world. A sinless man is never supposed to die but Jesus died. If He was sinless, whose sin did He die for? It was our sin that Jesus took to the cross, paid for, and rose again to justify us and reconcile us to God the Father. What part do we play in the plan? We just believe Jesus paid it all. AMEN!!!
Blessed RESURRECTION SON-day!
He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again. Luke” 24:6-7
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die, and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this? John 11:25-26
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3
Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21
Today we celebrate Palm Sunday.
The people cut palm branches, waved them in the air, and laid them out on the ground before Jesus as He rode into the city. The palm branch represented goodness and victory. This was symbolic of the final victory He would soon fulfill over death. “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:55
The people were shouting “Hosanna!” That word actually means “save now,” some of the people were waiting for an earthly king. But God had a different way of bringing salvation to all who would trust in Him. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans. 10:9
The Bible reads that Jesus wept for Jerusalem. Jesus must have known it would be some of these people who would turn their backs on Him. They would betray him and crucify him. His heart broke in knowing how much they needed a Savior. “And as He (Jesus” approached, He saw the city, and He wept [audibly] over it, Exclaiming, Would that you had known personally, even at least in this your day, the things that make for peace (for freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as the result of sin and upon which your peace—your security, safety, prosperity, and happiness—depends)! But now they are hidden from your eyes”. Luke 19:41-42
May this day, Palm Sunday remind us that God sent his only begotten Son in human flesh to be the ultimate sacrifice. Yes Friday is coming but so is Sunday. “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,'” John 11:25
But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] Will gain new strength and renew their power; They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun]; They will run and not become weary, They will walk and not grow tired. Isaiah 40:31
In this Scripture the word “wait” in the Hebrew is “qavah” which is a twisting or binding. It is the word used for making rope. The ancient method of making rope is still used today. There are hundreds of thin stands of fabric, each one alone could easily be broken, but when tightly bound together they form a rope that cannot be broken. In Isaiah 40:31 this waiting is just not sitting back, doing nothing, but it is a process of binding yourself to God and the more you bind yourself to God, the stronger you become.
The following is an interpretation of the gift tongues given last Sunday. Before I spoke in my Word says the Lord that you are to wait on me but I say while you are to wait on me do not forget I am waiting on you and if we move together says the Lord God you will see tremendous things that I have spoken of and your heart will rejoice your bodies will revive as you listen to me as you walk with me says the the Lord God for there are things that are going to happen that you cannot fathom you will receive things in the Spirit that you thought never be possible and you will do things that you thought you you would never be able to do for God will be with you and be your strength and Shield waiting upon the Lord does not mean taking your time lightly or vacation waiting on the Lord is waiting for the instructions to move forward into the things of the kingdom of God and possess what the devil has tried to hold from you possess what this world cannot give you for it only comes from me says the Lord God and I will hold your hand I will walk with you yes I will even live in you says the Lord God and use your shine like a light to the world.
In prayer this week as what to write for the handout I heard Holy Spirit say, “It is time to gather the spoils.” This reminded me of the scripture in 2 Chronicles 20:20-25 “ When Jehoshaphat had consulted with the people he appointed singers to sing to the Lord and give thanks to him for his loving kindness endures forever. When they began to sing, the Lord set ambushments. When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take the spoil it was more than they could carry away, so much so they were three days in gathering the spoil.
I have a word of encouragement to those who may be battle weary. In spite of opposition or how circumstances may look like in the natural world right now your breakout is here. We read in the Bible that when the thief is caught he must repay sevenfold. The enemy has been found out and you are rising in victory.
I encourage you to lift up your voice in praise today and shout out in victory. It is time to collect the spoils. Strengthen yourself in the Lord as David did, But do not give up, for you shall surely overtake and without fail recover all!
Psalm 23 – The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Jehovah-Eternal, Permanent, and Self-existent, the processor of Eternal Life!
Jehovah-Rohi-My Shepherd! You guide me with love and correct me with kindness! You are my Companion and my friend. You cherish me! You lead me! You instruct me and call me by my name! v.1a
Jehovah-Jireh-My Provider! You foresee all my needs and have provided redemption for me. v.1b
Jehovah-Shalom-My Peace! You still my heart and soul, give me divine rest. v.2a
Jehovah-Rapha-My Healer! One who heals my spirit, soul and body You restore me! v.3b
Jehovah-Tsidquenu-My righteousness! You are the ONe Who always makes it right. I am cleansed by the Blood of Jesus! v.3b
Jehovah-Shammah-You are always there! v.4-v.6b
Jehovah-Nissi-My Banner! You give me victory! v.5
Jehovah-M’’kaddesh-My Sanctifier! You purify me and separate me. I am redeemed through His shed blood! v.6
-Given to me by Rita Reynolds-
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.” Romans 10:1-2(NKJV)
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” Romans 10:4(NKJV)
I have heard about people that don’t agree with God’s version of the Bible but once I heard a man say that Paul’s writings should not have been put in the Bible. Now why would one say that. He must have been smarter than God and the Church fore-fathers. The reason he said it was because it didn’t agree with his knowledge of Scripture. What was it that bothered him? It was Paul’s message about salvation by grace through faith. He was like the Jews. He couldn’t turn loose of the law. Though they wouldn’t say remove Paul’s work, they still hold on to the religious law that can never do away with sin. Don’t be caught in that trap. Jesus set us free. “Whom the SON sets free, is free indeed. Live free!
We all have a story to tell of our life. God is still writing my story and He is still writing yours as well. We have opportunities to share our life story so others may be encouraged by what God has done. Holy Spirit showed me a few months ago that I have been in survival mode most of my life. As Holy Spirit continues to reveal, there is healing.
Many of us over a course of time have become very good at being in survival mode. We have learned to go through the motions in life and do what we need to do to get through. When we are “surviving” too long, we can feel the effects it has on us. Regardless of what has caused us to live in survival mode there is hope and there is healing.
Jesus our great Shepherd has given an invitation to those who find themselves living life in survival mode. Matthew 11:28-29 “Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” The Message reads it as “Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace”.
Live life to the fullest, not just surviving but thriving!
What is happening at Asbury in Wilmore Kentucky and other college campuses? Is it the great Awakening that everyone has prayed for? Is it the last day Revival before the Lord’s return? I don’t know. I do know it has caught the attention of the world. Everyone is talking about it on all the social media outlets. I even heard Tucker Carlson on Fox News interview a young lady about what is happening at Asbury.
It is just awesome to see the worship and the crying out to God of the young people and those who are coming from miles to part of this. So many have given up on the younger generation. But God never has and His plan is fulfilling right before our eyes.
Let us not be quick to put titles on what is happening and just be thankful for the lives that are changed and the Good News of the Gospel is going forth however long it continues.
Come, let’s sing out loud to the Lord! Let’s raise a joyful shout to the rock of our salvation! Let’s come before him with thanks! Let’s shout songs of joy to him! The Lord is a great God, the great king over all other gods. Psalms 95:1-4
To know the Love of God is freedom A Love that shouts, “The Son has set you free, you are free through and through” This Love from God brought the gift of salvation to all who would believe No more condemnation of who I use to be A new creation I have been made The Love of the One who He has created me to be who says I am Building my life on a firm foundation of this Love freely given A Love that will never disappoint A Love that carries me through even the darkest of nights A Love that will take me Home to be with my Lord and loved ones gone before To know the Love of God is freedom to live life without fear A life of hope, joy and peace all because of the Love freely given to those who would receive
Paul’s prayer for the Church to know the love of God.
“My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.” Ephesians 3:14-21
Living Overcoming Victoriously Everyday
Have you ever had someone tell you something and it kinda slaps you in the face. Something that leaves you saying, “are you kidding me.” I had this happen to me recently. I was left wondering why this person would make the decision to do what they did. I knew their heart and they would never do anything to disrespect me in any way.
A couple of days later I completely gave it to the Lord. In my prayer to the Father, “I didn’t understand the decision this person made or the why but I do know you have it covered and it will be ok. At the time I did not realize what had happened when I prayed that prayer. I just knew I had peace and it was going to be ok. Later on Holy Spirit explained to me I had a Psalms 46:10 experience. “Be still and know that I am God”.
“Be still” This phrase is derived from the Hebrew word rapha which means “to be weak, to let go, to release.” Or to surrender. “And know” This phrase, in its original Hebrew, taken together with “Be Still,” actually contains the meaning “in order to know.” Surrender in order that you may know. Know what-that I AM GOD.… I AM your present help, your refuge; your strength, your comforter.
Could we read Psalms 46:10 as “Surrender in order to know that I am God”. Surrender means to submit, to give way, to yield. I released the situation to God. I could no longer feel the way I was feeling even though I did not understand the why of the decision that this person made. Surrender is not agreeing with what may have been said or done. Surrendering your feelings to God concerning what was done is freeing yourself. God knew and in his time he told me from the very mouth of the person the reason for the decision they made.
Has there been something that has been said or done to you that has left you not understanding the why. Maybe the other person has no idea what they said or done to cause you to feel the way you do. I encourage you to release it to God. It is in surrender freedom comes.
What a great feeling to let go (surrender) and let God!
Jesus said, ”This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you” Luke 22:20 NKJV
Last Sunday both LaVerne, while leading praise and worship, and Pastor Shirley, when preaching, mentioned the “cup” while sharing about its place of importance in our Christian society. Jesus told us to drink of it in remembrance of Him until He comes back again.
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Laverne and I frequently visit McDonalds in Columbia. During our time there we made several new friends. One of them is Brother David Chundy. He is an Evangelist that loves God and His Word. He is usually there reading his Bible and making notes in his notebook while drinking his coffee. Over the time of our acquaintance I have talked with him about personal and spiritual things.
Originally from the Island of Mauritius and Rodrigue, he grew up in France where he learned to be a pastry chef. After several other places he ended up in Columbia. One of the things he shared with me from his notebook was the main points from a sermon he did called, “What’s in the cup?”
He has visited our church a few times over the years and recently I asked him to share his sermon on the cup.This Sunday is my time to preach since it’s the fifth Sunday of the month. I did not have any idea that the last point shared last Sunday would be about the importance of “The Cup”. Today we will hear the rest of the story.
We will also be having communion at the end of the service today. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ please share with us. Not a believer? You are welcome to come and accept Jesus, today. His blood was shed for you, too.
Victory in Jesus my Savior forever, He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood; He loved me ere I knew Him. And all my love is due Him. He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood.
The word “redeemed” comes from the Greek word “agoradzo” and it means to buy out of the marketplace. If you have been born again you have been redeemed. The price that was paid for you was the precious blood of Christ.
“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect”. 1 Peter 1:18-19
I Am Redeemed – Jessie Dixon I am redeemed, brought with a price has changed my whole life. If anybody asks you, just who I am, tell them I am redeemed. I’ll tell of His favor, I’ll tell of His love, I’ll tell of His goodness to me. He purchased my redemption with His own precious blood, and from sin I’ve been set free.There’s no shackles on me, I’m as free as I can be; because Jesus changed my life. He died up on the cross, that’s why I can tell the world that I am redeemed”.
John 3:16 sums up the New Testament’s redemption message. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. God loved the world so much that He sent Jesus to redeem each one who puts their faith in Him.
Thomas said to Him, Lord, we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way? Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me. If you had known Me [had learned to recognize Me], you would also have known My Father. From now on, you know Him and have seen Him.
There are not several ways to God, there is one way. And Jesus made the statement I Am The Way!
In Exodus 3:13-14, God had just told Moses to go and tell His people that their deliverance was near. Moses wondered how the people would believe that God sent him. “Then Moses said to God, ”When I come to the children of Israel and say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you,” and they say to me, “What is His name?” what shall I say to them?” And God said to Moses, ‘I AM who I AM.” And God said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, I AM has sent me to you”.
We see Jesus as a type of Moses because He came to deliver people from their spiritual captivity. John was saying in 14:16 that the “I AM” in Exodus was now physically standing in front of people, ready to be their Door to the Father, their Way, their Truth, Their Life.
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