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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In Luke 10:38-42 Jesus is visiting the home of two sisters, Mary and Martha. While He was there Mary sat at His feet resting and listening to all Jesus had to say. “Martha was distracted serving and working to prepare stuff for Him–but He was already there. Martha gets frustrated that Mary is not helping her and lets Jesus know about it. Jesus answers Martha, “You’re worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needful and Mary has chosen that good part which shall not be taken from her.
These two women remind me of the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. Martha the Old Covenant, Mary the New Covenant.
The Old Covenant is about works. The New Covenant is about resting and receiving by faith what Jesus accomplished with the shedding of his on the cross.
Jesus, brought freedom with the New Covenant. His grace could not be held within the legalistic rules of the Old Covenant. The written law brings death, but the Spirit gives life.
Hebrews 7:22 ”Jesus made a guarantee of a better covenant”.
Why should we spend time on what others think about us. Those that are born again should not base their identity and sense of self-worth on the opinions of others. The Bible contains the only reliable answers about who we are in Christ and what God thinks of us who have been born again. The following are just a few of my favorites.
God says I am His beloved child: “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”. John 1:12-13
God says I am chosen: “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ”. Ephesians 4:1-6
God says I am redeemed: ”He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins”. Ephesians 1:7 God says I am exceedingly loved: “God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners”. Romans 5:8 God says I am valuable: “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 God says I am a member of Jesus Christ’s body: “And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus” Ephesians 3:6
Acts 2:1 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come they were all together in one place”.
The Church began on the Day of Pentecost. The word translated “church” comes from two Greek words that together mean “called out from the world for God.” The word is used throughout the Bible to refer to all those who have been born again. The word church, when used to reference all believers everywhere, is associated with the Body of Christ.
Ephesians 1:1:22 “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church”.
On the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit filled the Church with power and added 3,000 new believers. On the day Pentecost the Holy Spirit of God came to indwell and empower those who had gathered. Pentecost is a present empowerment and an ongoing movement. The power of man or hell will never stop this mighty moving force.
-The Blood Bought Church-
And we are in the that army of the Lord
We’ve been washed in the blood and we are going forth
There is nothing that can stop this mighty moving force
With a shout of praise, a two-edged sword
Seeing all that is going on in the world today can leave one feeling hopeless. And it can be for those who don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus. Those are the ones who know their hope and help are not from the resources of this world. The Bible tells us, “My hope is in the Lord, who made heaven and earth”.
Hope Is a confident belief and expectation in the truths and promises of God.
These are perilous times we are seeing in the world. But God……
As covenant people we know that God takes care of those whose trust is in him. “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise”.
Hebrews 10:23
God has given us His great and precious promises to give us hope, joy, peace, wisdom and strength for whatever we are facing in our day. For all the promises of God in Him are “Yes,” and in Him “Amen,” to the glory of God through us. 2 Corinthians 1:20
The Theology of songs-Singing is a part of human nature. It lifts our spirit, calms us, excites us, and stirs our emotions. This is true of all types of songs but we are looking at the effect of Christian music sung by the church for over two thousand years. Music styles vary with the seasons and not all styles suit one’s musical preference. The words of a song are a different matter. In Christian songs the words should reflect what we believe. It will sway our Theology without us realizing it or we may never pay attention to what we are singing.
Standing on the promises is one of those songs.
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Standing on the promises of Christ my King, Through eternal ages let His praises ring, Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing, Standing on the promises of God.
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Standing on the promises that cannot fail, When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, By the living Word of God I shall prevail, Standing on the promises of God.
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Standing on the promises I now can see Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me; Standing in the liberty where Christ makes, Standing on the promises of God.
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Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord, Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord, overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword, standing on the promises of God.
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Standing on the promises I shall not fall, List’ning every moment to the Spirit’s call. Resting in my Savior as my all in all, Standing on the promises of God.
CHORUS: Standing, standing, Standing on the promises of God my Savior; Standing, standing, I’m standing on the promises of God.
Do you realize the amount of Theology taught in this Hymn?
Ephesians 2:8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God
By grace God gives you His supernatural faith, as a gift. Having faith to be born again, to believe in something you can’t see, to believe that a Man that you never knew died on a Cross for you and took every sin and sickness into His own body, and then He was raised to life again after being dead for three whole days. That takes the God-kind of faith, and this verse tells us that kind of faith is His gift to us.
Romans 12:3 Tells us that every born-again believer has been given “the measure of faith” Not just any measure, but the measure. We all get the same faith when we believe.
Faith is not a balloon we pop to use in emergency situations. Faith is a way of living every day life as sons and daughters of God. Everything God does for us is accessed through faith. Faith is what brings the things God has provided for us from the spiritual realm into the physical realm
Heb. 11: “Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]”.
I want to share these few words written by an unknown author and is so true:
“If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If he had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring. He sends you a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He listens. He can live anywhere in the universe, but He chose your heart. Face it friend — He is crazy about you!
“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with him. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.” No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord”. Romans 8:31-39
The Egyptian army behind them and the Red Sea before them. What could the Isralites do? If they went forward they would drown if they went back it meant slavery again. We all face those times in life where the past is coming up behind us and it seems as if we have no place to go. Moses gave the Istalites some good advice that would help us during those times in life.
Moses said unto the people, “Do not, be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace”. Exodus 14:13-14
Do not be afraid. Over and over in the Bible we are told, “do not be afraid, fear not”. God knew the many opportunities we would have to fear or be afraid. Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God.I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand”.
Stand still. The words “stand still” mean “to position yourself, to place yourself, and be ready to move forward. Psalms 46:10 “Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God”.
The Lord will fight for you. God will go before us and untangle the snares the enemy has planned for us and they will scatter. Deuteronomy 28:7 “The LORD shall cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you; they will come out against you one way and will flee before you seven ways”.
Hold your peace. Don’t worry, no more trying to figure everything out. This is a time of trusting God to make a way for you. “Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding”.
One day as Jesus was standing by the sea of Galilee the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He noticed two boats tied up left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Push out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. Luke 5:1-11
It takes faith, obedience and trust to push out to the deep. The first thing Jesus asked Simon was to go out a little from the shore. He had the need of the boat to teach the people from. Then Jesus asks Simon, “Push out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch”. A carpenter turned teacher was asking him to go into the deep water. Simon had just fished all night and it was not a successful fishing trip. Simon said, “I will because you have said so”.
The Scripture tells us when they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.
Let us get out of the shallow water and push out to the deep. Shallow water does not take much faith after all it is ankle knee and still water. It is a place of comfort. We see what is beneath our feet and what is ahead of us.
Psalms 107:23-24 Some went out on the sea in ships; Who do business on great waters, They see the works of the Lord, And His wonders in the deep.
You want to see the wonders of God – go to the deep waters. Faith-Trust-Obedience opens the door to the wonderful promise of God!
Blessed [gratefully praised and adored] be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant and boundless mercy has caused us to be born again [that is, to be reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] to an ever-living hope and confident assurance through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3
If Jesus had not risen from the dead-if Jesus is not alive today, then everything He did was worthless. If Jesus Christ is not alive, then we have no salvation, there is no hope for the world and we have no promise of eternal life.
But the good news HE LIVES because he lives we have a living hope. The hope we have is not just for an eternal home but a hope to live life in abundance on this earth.
-How sweet to hold a newborn baby And feel the pride and the joy that he gives Oh but greater still, the calm assurance We can face uncertain days because He lives And because He lives, I can face tomorrow Because He lives, all fear is gone Because I know He holds the future And life is worth a living just because He lives-
“Let go and let God” is a catchy phrase. I have used this phrase in sermons just to get a point across. I have never read this actual phrase in the Bible though.
As believers should we just confess “let go and let God”. Then do nothing, say nothing, feel nothing and allow circumstances to just take over however they may. Absolutely not!
As humans control is the hardest thing to give up because without it we feel helpless. Only when we choose to “let it go and let God” do we truly find freedom. Maybe it would be better to say, “Letting go and let God.” This is something we will be learning as long as we are alive on this earth. We want things in our time, our way.
The word tells us in Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all.
Pastor Jerry: Reconciled to God
“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” (Rom. 5:5,11)
About the year 1515 a young priest in Germany, Martin Luther, was having a Bible study in the book of Romans and saw the true meaning of the Romans message given by Paul. It was this message, “the just shall live by his faith.” This was a rebirth of the original teachings of Scripture. Believers were free from all the man-made doctrines that had taken hold of the church during 15 centuries of time.The revelation was, it is not what we do for God that saves us, but rather what God did for us by sending Jesus to die for our sins that we might be reconciled to God. It is what we commonly call being “saved by Grace”.
Grace is not just having our sins forgiven, but it gives us power over the power of sin in our lives. Grace makes us as though we never sinned. It wipes out all the charges against us and gives us a new heart in the image of God to reflect God in our lives. We will never perform in a perfect way while living on this earth but Jesus presents us to the Father faultless by His own blood which was shed for our sins. When Jesus said “it is finished” as He hung on the cross it wasn’t that His life was over but that everything needed for man’s salvation was complete. Paul summed it up to the Phillipian jailer by saying, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved”. My friend, that hasn’t changed.
For, behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing [of birds] has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth and ripens her green figs, and the vines are in blossom and give forth their fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.
Song of Solomon 2:11-13
You are coming into your springtime. The last couple of years have been challenging but now is the time to arise and come away. Come away from the fear that has held you captive. Come away from the time of distress. Your winter season has come and gone and new beginnings are happening for you. Past seed sown will come up in this season. Abundance springs forth for the seed has not been sowed in vain.
The Lord your God is in your midst—a warrior bringing victory. He will create calm with his love; he will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17
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 down payment 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 1:1-14
I was raised in a typical southern Baptist church. We sang the hymns from hardback song books. I sang them not really knowing what truth they held. The more my relationship grows with Abba Father – as the Holy Spirit continues to teach me concerning the Scripture, those old songs become more and more precious to me. One of them is a song written in 1880 by Louisa M.R. Stead. Louisa lost her husband while he was trying to save a young boy who was drowning. From this personal tragedy she later wrote the song- “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus”
‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His word; Just to rest upon his promise, Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord.” Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him! How I’ve proved him o’er and o’er! Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust him more! O how sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to trust his cleansing blood; And in simple faith to plunge me Neath the healing, cleansing flood!
Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus, Just from sin and self to cease; Just from Jesus simply taking Life and rest, and joy and peace. I’m so glad I learned to trust thee Precious Jesus, Savior, friend; And I know that thou art with me, Wilt be with me to the end.
“ Behold, God, my salvation! I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and song; yes, He has become my salvation”. Isaiah 12:2
The one who takes refuge in the shelter of the Most High will be safe in the shadow of the Almighty. This one will say to their God “My shelter, my mighty fortress, my God, I place all my trust in You.” Psalms 91:1-2
Sheltered In The Arms Of God Dottie Rambo
I feel the touch of hands so kind and tender
They’re leading me in paths that I must trod
I’ll have no fear ’cause Jesus walks beside me
For I’m sheltered in the arms of God
So let the storms cloud rage high
The dark clouds rise They won’t worry me
For I’m sheltered safe within the arms of God
He walks with me
And naught of earth shall harm me
For I’m sheltered in the arms of God
Soon I shall hear the call from Heaven’s portals
“Come home, My child, it’s the last mile you have trod.”
I’ll just fall asleep and wake up in God’s new heaven
Forever sheltered in the arms of God
So let the storms rage high
The dark clouds rise They won’t worry me
For I’m sheltered safe within the arms of God
He walks with me
And naught of earth shall harm me
For I’m sheltered in the arms of God
So let the cold winds blow It’s so good to know
That I’m sheltered in the arms of God
This is what the High Jehovah says to His church today:
You will move forward and overcome
Though at times it may seem as the enemy is winning know it is just a delusion
Count yourself in for I have already made you a winner
Stand up and go forward in the power of Holy Spirit For you have been doused with fire that will burn off discouragement
At times there may seem to be no growing forward But you have been watered by the Word and suddenly you will see the manifestation of your labor of prayers
Every utterance of “JESUS” has been a cry to me
I have seen yes I have known your heart
From the heart flows the issues of life and I am taking those issues and turning them into stepping stones to victory on your behalf
For it is in purity that you have desired to know me as I have known you
It is that relationship that promises are birthed
Holy Spirit moves quickly in the atmosphere of love
With the cords of my love I have sought you
Know with great assurance you have been found my me
You are in “My grip” and I will never let you go
“The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the HOPE of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.” Eph. 1:18
How well do you believe you understand what the word of God is telling us? God opens the eyes of our understanding that we may see what He is telling us in His word. In Mark 12:30 it gives the meaning of understanding as insight, meditation, reflection, and the faculty of thought. When this faculty is renewed by the Holy Spirit, the whole mind-set changes from the fearful negativism of the carnal mind to the vibrant, positive thinking of the quickened spiritual mind.
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened literally means that your heart may receive the brightness of HOPE resulting when the wealth of God’s investment in you is understood. The world does not have the hope talked about here. Worldly hope always reflects an uncertainty about the future as a hit or miss possibility but our HOPE is assured by the Word of God made alive by the Holy Spirit within us. In His Word, God swears on Himself that what He has given us is true and never will change. If He said it, we can trust it with a certain HOPE.
Hope is said to be the anchor of our soul, the solid rock, certain about the final outcome of our lives, and our eternal reward. If we can’t have the confidence to trust God with our daily life, how can we trust Him for eternal life to come. We say we believe God gives us eternal life but we don’t trust Him in the everyday events of our lives today and tomorrow.
Let us renew our understanding by believing all that God tells us in His Word through His Spirit that indwells within us if we let Him. My opinion or yours doesn’t amount to much unless it is inspired by the Spirit and not by a carnal mind. God can be trusted. Believe it. That is our only HOPE. NEVER LOSE IT!!!!
The greatest love story ever told was the love story between God and man. A love story that has no end. It is the love story that begins in Genesis chapter one. God said “Let there be” and this beautiful world in which we live is filled with the handiwork of our Creator. In verse 26 the wording of how God spoke changes from “Let there be” to “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. He created them; male and female.” God who is goodness, love, grace, mercy wanted to share all who he is with man. Even when the man he created broke the fellowship with him by partaking of that which he had asked them not to. God who is love did not want people to live in brokenness, darkness and separation. He sat about making it right so that people could be forgiven, healed, restored and made whole. He sent his Son who came into this world to become fully human. Because of the life he lived, his death, his resurrection people can live in restored relationship with God. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Love-Hebrew Hashaq – Tethered to or attached. God loves us with a love that means He binds, or tethers, Himself to us.
We can never cause God to love us more or less. He loves us unconditionally, whether sinner or saint.
“Keep company with God and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.” Eph. 5:2 (Mes)
Isaiah 43:18-19 Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
God did a new thing in Abraham’s life when He asked Abraham to leave his land, his family, and everything he has ever known to go to a new place. Abraham chose to trust God and leave his old life.
It was through his obedience, the nation of Israel came to be, and the lineage of Jesus.
To experience the new we must go to that place.
That place is where we will receive the blessings of God.
It is not in understanding everything but trust and obey.
God will never lead you to a new place he has not already prepared.
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