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.
|
The single greatest thing a person can learn after they have received Jesus Christ as Savior is finding out who they are. We need to know who we are in Christ so that we can live our life as God intended and fulfill our destiny. I have experienced in my life that the more I agree with the Word about my identity in Christ the more my behavior begins to reflect my God given identity. “How can two walk together unless they agree.” Amos 3:3 We live out our lives to what we are agreeing with. I am becoming who I already am in Christ.
Your identity doesn’t depend on something you do or have done. Your true identity is who God says you are. Now that you are born again you identify as a child of God. Agree with what He has said about you. After all God’s opinion about you is the only one that counts.
1Peter 2:9 tells us, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation God’s special possession that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.
Now there was a prominent religious leader among the Jews named Nicodemus, “He came to Jesus at night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God. John 3:3
When Jesus was answering Nicodemus’ question I believe that he was referring to access to eternal salvation but also experiencing Kingdom living now. Nicodemus said, “We know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus answered, “If you want to experience these things you are seeing you must be born again.
When a person becomes saved spiritual vision is birthed within them. As born again children of God we have been given spiritual sight through the means of Holy Spirit. The spirit has eyes if you would just see. Should our prayer be in the song we sing, “Open the eyes of my heart, Lord Open the eyes of my heart I want to see You I want to see You To see You high and lifted up Shinin’ in the light of Your glory Pour out Your power and love As we sing holy, holy, holy”.
Paul prayed for the Church at Ephesus that the eyes of their heart would be enlightened – Ephesians 1:18-19 “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe”.
May our eyes be of single vision to see who we are and what we have been given because of Jesus our Savior!
How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son. Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth. It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone. It’s in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what’s coming, a reminder that we’ll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life. Ephesians 1:3-14 Message Bible
But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently” Romans 8:25.
NOT YET! Two three letter words that carry a powerful punch. Not yet describing that something is expected to happen but has not at this moment. Would using the words, “not yet” in a sentence make much of a difference. I think so. What if someone were to ask me if a particular person is saved? Would by answer be “He is not saved.” Or “He is not saved yet.” My answer would definitely be “He is not saved yet.” What would my answer be based on? 1 Timothy 1:4 God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. Faith works through hope. To say “He is not saved” is a statement of current fact. To say “He is not saved yet” brings God into the picture. You are speaking of things you have not yet seen but know to be the truth.
I heard someone say, “Hope is that settled confidence that looks to the future, knowing that God will someday keep all his promises. Patience is the ability to endure present hardship because you have hope in the future”.
What is it that you are waiting for from the Lord? What are you hoping for that you do not yet have? While you are waiting, don’t let go of those two little words “not yet.”
Here we are already into the fifth day of 2020.
We are going to continue to see the goodness of God in a big way as we “Keep Moving Forward.”
The righteous keep moving forward and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger. Job 17:9
Don’t allow the past to stangant you in the present which will keep you from moving forward to receiving all the Word says is yours. The blessings of God comes to those who “Keep Moving Forward” in faith.
For the past few weeks I have been hearing Holy Spirit says, “This will be a year of great opportunity.”
Opportunity – an appropriate or favorable time or occasion. Psalms 5:12 Lord, how wonderfully you bless the righteous. Your favor wraps around each one and covers them under your canopy of kindness and joy.
It is the Father’s great pleasure to bless His Sons and daughters. Look for unusual opportunities this year as favor wraps around your life.
Continue to “Keep Moving Forward” and seize the opportunity when it comes into your life.
MOVING FORWARD in 2020
The righteous keep moving forward and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger. Job 17:9
As we are in the final days of 2019 we begin to look forward to this New Year 2020. As we approach this time what is God saying to us as individuals and as Church. One thing Holy Spirit has been speaking to me about is moving forward.
As we know we cannot drive life’s road without sometimes hitting bumps. Bumps come in many different ways:regret, disappointments, loss. When those things come along in life it is easy to sit down and get stuck.
God wants us to continue to move forward in the midst of whatever bump we have encounter in 2019. Don’t allow what has been to keep you from what God is wanting to do in this new season of your life.
The front windshield of a vehicle is bigger than the rearview mirror. That is because you can’t drive forward safely looking back. That is not where you are going. Your destination is ahead and you get there by going forward. The front mirror of your life is bigger than the rearview mirror. Going forward is looking ahead with great expectations of what God is desiring to.
I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. Phillians. 3:13-14 Message Bible
“And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devote, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.” Luke 2:25 (NKJV)
This is the only place in Scripture that talks about Simeon. Evidently he was not part of the religious members that ruled in the Temple. Two things are outstanding about him. He was a devout spiritual man and he had the Holy Spirit. Predominately, all or most of the religious people of the day knew nothing of the Holy Spirit. If so they would have recognized the Messiah just like Simeon did.
You can know the Word in Greek, English, or any other language but it takes the Holy Spirit to rightly understand and believe. Jesus’ parents brought Him to the temple as was the custom but they got more than they expected. Simeon was there as the very voice of God to speak to them and prophecy over them.
An appointed position is not as important as a devout heart when it comes to the things of God in this life. The best way to receive direction from God is to learn to listen with your heart. Degrees of education are not as important a heart led by the Spirit of God.
I know from my own experience that you can know a lot about the Bible by just studying hard and long but something is still missing. The Holy Spirit upon us is the source of Biblical understanding. When I received the Holy Spirit, my spiritual eyes and ears were opened and I saw the Word of God like I had never before. No wonder Simeon could see things from God that other religious leaders could not. If we live by the Spirit, let us walk by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit knows more than you ever will in this life.
Walk it out-you are not alone!
As we read through the Scriptures we find a list of unforgettable walks. All the way back to the beginning were God walked in communion with Adam and Eve in the Garden. Abraham took a hard walk with his son Isaac to Moriah. Moses and the Israelites took liberating walk out of Egypt to the Red Sea and then walked right through it! What about Joshua’s triumphant walk around the city of Jericho. Then there was the walk on the way to Emmaus. Paul had an interrupted walk to Damascus that changed his life.
In order to walk one must first get up. I have found out as I get older getting up is not as easy as it was when I was much younger. It takes a little more effort. At times I would rather just stay seated. There are times when I have to put a little more effort in getting up.
The same can be said of a relationship (our walk) with God. There are times when you feel great joy, passion, and excitement about being a Christian. And there are times when you don’t feel it and it is easier to stay seated. At those times you cannot say, “Well, that’s it. I’m not going to follow Christ anymore.” It is more comfortable just to stay seated. It is more comfortable in my safe zone. I get relaxed and not challenge to move forward when God says get up.
We are called to live a life of faith. Faith has always been something that was meant to be a daily experience with God. Walking out our faith means living by faith every single day. It means living by faith in every circumstance. It means trusting the Lord in everything, for everything and with everything. So, walk it out—live by faith in the Lord who has already worked it out and walked it out!
2 Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not
Old church hymn with a great message:
Living by faith in Jesus , trusting, confiding in His great love; from all harm safe in His sheltering arm, I’m living by faith and feel no alarm. I care not what the morrow may bring, if shadow or sunshine or rain, the Lord I know ruelth o’er everything, and all my worry is vain. Living by faith in Jesus above, trusting, confiding in His great love; From all harm safe in His sheltering arm, I’m living by faith and feel no alarm I know that He safely will carry me through, No matter what evils betide; Why should I then care though the tempest may blow, When Jesus walks close to my side.
Paul said in Galatians 2:20 that the life he lived in his mortal body was by faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 1:17 “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
In Hebrews 11, we see the greatest testimony of the Bible of faith, in the life of Abraham. Abraham knew what it meant to live a life directed by faith, and what it means to be “living by faith.” And we see that throughout the stages of his life, Abraham believed God.
As sons and daughters of God we are called to live a life of faith just as Abraham. With the dawning of each new day we walk by faith trusting and confiding in His great love for each and everyone of us.
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name.” Psalm 100:2(NKJV)
We have just finished the Thanksgiving Holiday season so we are going to think a little about thanksgiving. It is awesome how much the Word of God has to say about the subject. There are hundreds of Scriptures that admonish us to be thankful. The thing I want to examine is the extent of thanksgiving.
Sadly enough, the Word doesn’t tell us to be thankful only when things are going to suit us. There is no time given for us to be unthankful even when things are going bad. The problem is our limited view of what we are to be thankful for.
I have heard people say, “What do I have to be thankful for?” With this attitude a person perceives everything around them as negative. When this happens we have a choice to do something about. We all have the ability to change if we decide to do so. Children are limited to change because they are at the mercy of their parents but with outside influences like church or school they can be presented with positive choices.
The key to being thankful is to expand your view of things that we should be thankful for. The greatest of these lay in our view of the goodness of God and His everlasting love for all of us. To realize this makes it possible to be thankful.
Psalm 137 give us the story of the people of Jerusalem captured and taken to Babylon. Psalm 137:1-4 “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. Upon the willows in the midst of it, we hung up our harps. How can we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?” For the people of Jerusalem it was going to be a season of captivity.
Harps represent type of ministry, destiny, purpose and the future they had. The signs of living in captivity are the loss of your joy, the loss of your hope, the loss of your dreams. It may seem as if everything has died around you and your going through the motions of life but not truly living.
Seasons come and go in our life. Some are short and then there are those that seem like they will never end. Whatever season you find yourselves in don’t hang your harp on the willow tree. This too shall pass.
God is the God of “suddenly”. We all have heard the stories of the suddenlies of God-how in a moment a miracle takes place. But God had been working all along to make the perfect moment for the suddenly to happen.
Psalms 126 tells, “When the Lord brought back the captive ones of Zion”- the people were saying, “Look at what the Lord has done for His people.” All those years in captivity and suddenly they were on their way back to Jerusalem.
What you have been going through in this season has only prepared you for the suddenly. When the fullness of preparation meets the fullness of time the atmosphere is made ready for the suddenly to manifest.
FROM PASTOR JERRY:
IN THE WORLD YOU WILL HAVE TRIBULATION BUT BE OF GOOD CHEER I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.-John- 16:33
How are you handling the tribulation you are having in this world? And don’t tell me you are not having any. Even if we get too mixed up with this world, it will still see to it that we have tribulation. It’s only logical that it comes. The thief comes for no other reason than to steal, kill, and destroy. And he is the “god” of this world; therefore, all things in this world are under his influence. To choose worldly things above the things of God is like sleeping with your enemy. No matter what and how the world system gives you, it ultimately is not for your benefit.
If you are aware of how the world is deteriorating around us, then you know what I mean. Just watch the news, and you can conclude that no one is safe from the insanity of people in this world. The only safe place is under the shelter of the Almighty. This is not doubt but even there we can be at risk. The god of this world has no reason not to keep coming after you to wear you down and tempt you to quit trusting God. But, remember he that endures until the end shall be saved. The end is when we die or when Jesus comes again. When the world falls we will rise. Remember, Jesus said, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world.”
Romans 5:1-5 Therefore, since we are justified acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold [and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God’s favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God.
Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance.
And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation.
Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.
I am the LORD, your Holy One, The Creator of Israel, your King.” Thus says the LORD, Who makes a way through the sea and a path through the mighty waters… (Isaiah 43:15-16)
We read in the Bible, God led the Israelites by way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. God than guided the people around in a large circle. As the people camped at the edge of the Red Sea, there were mountains on one side, and the sea was on the other side. When the Israelites saw Pharaoh’s soldiers in the distance charging toward them, it appeared as though they were trapped with no apparent way out. The people cried out to Moses in despair. But, Moses trusted God during this impossible time. “Do not be afraid. Stand firm. And you will see the deliverance of the Lord. The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.” (Exodus 14:13-14)
God then told Moses to tell the people of Israel to “go forward.” Moses lifted up his staff and stretched out his hand over the sea and divided it. God intervened, for sometimes He prefers to work in situations that some deem impossible. He dramatically caused a strong wind to blow. The waters parted. And the people walked on dry ground, safely to the other side.
That is what I am hearing now-you are getting ready to walk across on dry ground. At the time you stepped and it was not time to cross over- for when you stepped out the ground was soft under your footing. Yes there was fear and yes some confusion. But now step forward on dry ground that is taking you to the other side. Go forward and I will drown the enemy that has been harassing you.
In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] John 16:33
Jesus tells us that in this world we will have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration. Then Jesus goes on to tells us “be of good cheer”. How can we be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]. Because Jesus has overcome the world and deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you. We are the voice of the overcomers because he has gone before us to make it possible.
You see, every child of God overcomes the world, for our faith is the victorious power that triumphs over the world. So who are the world conquerors, defeating its power? Those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:4
Christ gives the power to overcome to anyone in whom he dwells. This means that any Christian has the power to overcome. John confirms this in I John 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the son of God. We know that Jesus Christ has overcome the world and has given that same ability to everyone who belongs to him. He has overcome, and we have the power to overcome because of Him.
Press on with hope.
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105
When one is born, he begins on a path through this life. The end of that Life ends at a purpose. Everyone is here for a purpose, and we must keep ourselves on the path that leads to our reason for being here. The path to our purpose is laid out in the Word of God. But, you can’t sit down on any given day and expect to find out your end purpose immediately.
God’s Word is a lamp unto our feet. A lamp only lights a few feet in front of us on the path. When I was a boy, my grandpa and I would go fishing at night for catfish in the creek on his farm. To see our way there,and while we were fishing, and on our way home we used a lantern. It did not light up the entire trip at one time from beginning to end but only a few feet around us at a time. After the few feet it was total darkness. We knew the darkness was there, but we focused on the light we had. Knowing it would be there when we needed it. We trusted the light we had because we knew if we kept it close and walked in it, we could see where we were and know what direction and steps we should take. It gave us a sense of safety even against any threat that might be in the darkness around.
Our journey to our purpose, which by the way is a home in heaven with Jesus, is much like my fishing trips with my grandpa. The light served its purpose which was to give us light. But my real security on the “journey”was my grandpa. I knew he would not let anything happen to me because I trusted him. I knew he was always there with me. Why? It was because I could always see Him in the light. Jesus, our Brother and Savior, is always with us on the journey to our purpose. God’s word is the light that shows us He is always here. He said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” You just need to keep the lamp light so His light lets you know He is still with you. Trusting His word is your part in the trip.
Expectation means. “Anticipating with confidence of fulfillment. Expectation follows revelation. Without revelation how can you have expectation. Revelation is what brings the attitude of expectation. Expectation without revelation is already a defeated attitude. There must be something to have faith in something to believe in.
When we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior we gained more than just a ticket to Heaven. In the New Testament the word salvation in the Greek “Soteria” means:deliverance, preservation, soundness, prosperity, happiness, rescue, general, well begin. The word salvation has often been reduced to less than what the Bible really teaches. Salvation is God’s power at work in every area of a person’s life. Wow! What great expectation.
Faith comes first. Expectations is built on faith. When we read the Word we first decide to believe that it is God’s truth. What is our expectation at that point? Do we really expect what we read in the Bible to happen in our own life? Do we really expect doors to be opened for us that no man can close and doors closed in our life that no man can open? Do we truly expect to have life and have it more abundantly? Brothers and Sisters “YES” God wants us to release our faith and expect Him to supply the supernatural miracle we need and desire. He wants us to expand our capacity to receive by believing Him for BIG things! As we read from His Word, take that word and receive it in your heart, we should with great expectation expect it to come to pass. There should be no question in our minds that what God said is exactly what He will do! He is faithful!
These are the days of Elijah, Declaring the word of the Lord:
And these are the days of Your servant Moses, Righteousness being restored
And though these are days of great trial Of famine and darkness and sword
Still, we are the voice in the desert crying ‘Prepare ye the way of the Lord!’
Behold He comes riding on the clouds Shining like the sun at the trumpet call;
Lift your voice, it’s the year of jubilee And out of Zion’s hill salvation comes
And these are the days of Ezekiel, The dry bones becoming as flesh
And these are the days of Your servant David, Rebuilding a temple of praise
And these are the days of the harvest, Oh, the fields are as white in Your world
And we are the labourers in Your vineyard Declaring the word of the Lord!
Behold He comes riding on the clouds Shining like the sun at the trumpet call;
Lift your voice, it’s the year of jubilee And out of Zion’s hill salvation comes
There is no God like Jehovah!
Luke 1:37 For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment.
Matthew 19:26 But Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but all things are possible with God.
There is a man in the Bible that made a difference in his lifetime by showing that the impossible could be possible to those who trust and obey God. Noah the ark builder. The Word tells us in Genesis 6:9 that Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. Verse 11-14 tells us that the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. So make yourself an ark. Noah did everything just as God commanded him.
Day after day for at least 75 years Noah worked on the Ark that may have seemed impossible to others but Noah had a Word from God who could do the possible.
Noah’s life shows us one of persistence, patience, and unwavering faithfulness to God in the face of a faithless society.
The word God has given you may seem impossible. God specializes in “all things are possible to those who believe”.
Many places in Scripture tells us of the faithfulness
of God. Lamentations 3:22-23 “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
The Hebrew word translated “faithfulness” means “steadfastness, firmness, fidelity.” The opposite of being faithful is to be ever-changing. David relates the Word to God’s faithfulness in Psalms 119-89-90 “Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations.
If God spoke something a thousand years ago, it still stands. For I the Lord do not change. Malachi 3:6 As we read the Word we see His faithfulness coming through time after time. And as we began to grow in relationship with God we learn to trust His faithfulness.
It is the enemy who comes to throw fiery darts at our mind to get us to doubt His faithfulness. As God told the Israelites over and over, “remember what I have done.”
I want to put us all in remembrance of the faithfulness of God in the message today. Let faith arise we are ignited with hope of the faithfulness of our God!!
|
|
