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.
|
SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY—The War is Over! The devil has already been defeated! By Andrew Wommack
Many Christians today picture demons as towering beasts with terrifying claws waiting for any opportunity to come after us. Thus, they spend hours binding and rebuking them during their prayer time, instead of talking to the Lord. But did you know that giving the devil that much attention gives him in-roads into your life?
“Spiritual warfare” is one of the hottest topics in the church today. People are expending great amounts of energy constantly battling the devil in ways contrary to Scripture, but in reality, Satan has already been defeated…we don’t need to defeat him again. We need to believe that Satan has already been completely destroyed (Heb. 2:14) and simply enforce his defeat. The only power he has is the power to deceive.
Our battle should be against the trickery of the devil (Eph. 6:11), not the devil himself. Any other approach is giving the devil authority and power which he doesn’t have, and he uses that to intimidate us. Don’t allow the devil to deceive you a second longer. The only weapon Satan has is the power we give him when we believe his lies!
John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have perfect peace and confidence. 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)”
A DOOR OF HOPE by Joseph Prince
“I will return her vineyards to her and transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope.” Hosea 2:15 NLT
Are you among the people who think that when you fail, God leaves you and only returns when you get your act together.? Some people think they must clean up their lives and overcome all their struggles on their own before they can come before the presence of God.
Well I have a simple question for you. ”Do you clean yourself before you take a bath?” O course not!
In the same way, god wants you to come to Him just as you are, with all your weaknesses, idiosyncrasies, wrong beliefs, hand-ups, and all your bondages, fears, and addictions. He is the bath! You don’t have to try to clean yourself up before you come to Him.
What if the mess I’m in is entirely of my own doing? Can’t I still just come to God as I am and expect Him to help me?
Yes, even if you find yourself in the Valley of Trouble, know that you will not remain there for long. You will walk through it and not remain or camp there (Ps. 23:4) God is opening a door of hope in your life today for you to step out of your darkness and into His marvelous light. (I Pet. 2:9) Things are going to get better.The breakthroughs that you have been waiting for are coming your way. Step through the door of hope and out of your Valley of Trouble today. Jesus is your door of hope! Believe in His love for you and allow Him to lead you to freedom. In His loving presence, you will find forgiveness, healing, and restoration. He will mend your life and transform you from the inside out.
BELIEVE IN THE GOD OF GRACE BY Joseph Prince
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find gr4ace to help in time of need.” Heb. 4:16
Are you like many today who believe in a “religious” God? Do you believe that God is against you when you fall short, that He is angry with you when you fail, and that fellowship with Him is cut off when you make mistakes?
It’s no wonder then that instead of running to the one true solution, many sincere folks run in the opposite direction when they are hurting. So there is a great deception, a powerful, wrong belief about God that has trapped many in the vicious cycle of condemnation, guilt, fear, defeat, and addiction.
God is the God of infinite grace. He is repugnant to the “religious,” but gracious and irresistible to those who are hurting.
No matter what you are going through today, whatever addictions may be binding you, right believing can and will set you free. Start with believing this powerful truth:
“God is a God of grace and forgiveness. He loves you very much, and He doesn’t hold your mistakes against you.”
Don’t let the mistakes you have made in the past hold you back from reaching out to God and receiving His forgiveness for all your failures. Begin to believe right about the Lord, believe right about His heart and love for you, and your entire life will be transformed. Right believing always leads to right living!
THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF GOD’S GRACE
Bryan Chapell
They said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.: Gen. 11:4
Other than Christianity, all religions teach that we must do something to reach God., advocating some effort of body or mind. But the scriptures tell us that no amount of mental or physical gymnastics can make that possible. There is not stairway to heaven!
And that’s why the story of the Tower of Babel occurs early in the Bible. Creating our own “stairway to heaven” is not the way to get to God. And the uniqueness of the Christian message is that God came to us in order to make us His own.
Rest assured in this biblical truth, knowing that because we could never do anything on our own to reach Him, our gracious heavenly Father took the stairway down to us!
I John 2:15-17 Message Bible
“Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world–wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important–has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from Him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out–but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.”
WHEN THE STORMS OF LIFE RAGE by Joseph Prince
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. “ Psalm 46:1
Storms of life. You know them well. They overwhelm you. Wave after wave of relentless battering that knocks you off your feet till you don’t know which side is up. Till every ounce of energy is used up and you feel weak, abandoned, and lonely. Perhaps you’re caught in one of life’s storms now.
When the disciples of Jesus were out at sea, caught in a turbulent and tossed by the waves, who came to them in their darkest hour? It was Jesus Himself (Matt. 14:22-33). Jesus came in style, walking on the raging waters. The loving Savior came to them at their exact point of need to rescue them.
He is above the storms. He walks above–He is greater than–every adversity and opposition that you may be facing right now, and He comes to you to rescue you!
“Don’t be afraid! Take Courage. I am here!” (Matt. 14:27). What comfort those words must have brought to the the disciples who were exhausted and shaking with fear for their lives.
When the storms of life rage, don’t go by what you see and hear all around you. Don’t go by your negative feelings and emotions. Live by the truth of God’s Word, which encourages you to “be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic…For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you” (Deut. 31:6). Our God is a personal and loving God who is with you in your boat right in the midst of the howling storm. He knows how to lead you to victory every time. He cannot fail you!
HIS PERFECT WILL FOR YOU Joseph Prince
“Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” 3 John 2 (NASB)
You need look no further than 3 John 2 for a prayer that reflects what God’s heart for you clearly is. This verse is the reason you can know without a doubt that He wants you healed, healthy, and fully provided for just as much aAs He wants your soul to prosper.
Don’t go by human experiences to know if God wants His people healed today. If you say, “Well, I know of Christians who are sick.” I can point you to others whom God has healed. We’re not called to base our believing on human experiences. We’re called to believe God’s Word.
Beloved, never put your eyes on people and their experiences, even good ones. The basis of your faith must always be God’s Word. If you are sick today, don’t focus on your symptoms or compare yourself with someone else. Meditate on His healing promises and believe that God still heals and blesses today because His Word says so.
THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF GOD’’S GRACE
BY Bryan Chapell
“God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong: God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” I Cor. 1:27-2
We’ve all marveled at world-class musicians, actors and athletes. These superstar achievers usually receive constant media attention and high-paying salaries that are above and beyond those of lesser talent and ability.
Sadly, this performance-based mentality can deeply affect our identity, causing us to think that we are loved well, if we do well. This is simply not the message of the gospel.
Yes, God honors and treasures our obedience, but it’s not the reason He cares for us. God cares for us because of what Jesus did for us, and Jesus’ claim upon us.
So, serve God with peace of mind and strength of heart, knowing that Jesus’ performance, not yours, has already determined your relationship with God!
I DON’T UNDERSTAND WORSHIP By Jeff Deyo
… Corporate worship songs are nice, but…sometimes they seem to function more as a to-do item in a church service order or perhaps something we do to cultivate “community” instead of something designed to help us nurture our real-time, personal connection with God.
… Sometimes church seems to be more about entertainment–listening in on talented speakers and gifted musicians. Or about a social club–where we eat good food, sing nice songs, and hang out in our own little religious bubble. Other times it seems to be mostly about finding ways to reach the marginalized, the lost, and the poor. Which certainly isn’t bad at all. Yet, you were hoping it was possibly, maybe, hopefully, going to involve you growing a little bit–or even a lot a bit–in your life with God? Could be Not sure. Maybe that’s not the point at all. But, could there be more to church? To God? To singing? To worship? Could I actually come to know God? As a close friend? To be with Him every day? In a way isn’t that about crossing off the “religious duty” item on my checklist?
…I know if He can do this work in me, He will do it in you. He can rekindle your lost hope once again–the hope and the means–along with every individual on the planet–to entertain an authentic, personal connection with God. A growing connection. A passionate connection. A daily connection.
…. Awakened worship isn’t about songs or goose bumps. It’s not about church growth or Sundays. It’s not about trendy choruses or time-tested hymns. It’s about love. It’s about friendship. With God.
“WORSHIP IS ABOUT GOD, IT IS TO GOD, BUT IT’S FOR US. IT IS HIM WE’RE AFTER.
THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF GOD’S GRACE Bryan Chapell
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Romans 6:1
The question is often asked, “ If as Christians, we’re no long slaves to sin, why do we keep sinning?”
The answer, while not pretty, is pretty simple: We sin not because we don’t love Christ, but because we also love our sin. Sin gains power over us not by its indomitable force, but by our divided heart.
So, if our love of a sin is what grants the sin power over us, how do we get rid of that love? The scriptural answer is plain: with a greater love. When our love for Christ is preeminent, it drives out love for sin and spurs our devotion to HIm–just as the light drives out the darkness.
When Christ is our first love, walking with Him is our first priority!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to love you more than my sin. May my passion for You become preeminent, so that walking with You becomes my first priority.
Right Living is A Result of right Believing Joseph Prince
Preaching about right living will not result in long-lasting or permanent changes in people’s behavior. It’s time for us to go after the root, and the root is not in preaching right living, but in preaching right believing.. Believe right and you will live right. The opposite is also true: Believe wrong and you will live wrong.
Christianity is ;not about behavior modification. It is about inward heart transformation. So start addressing the root instead. Get hold of good teachings that are full of God’s grace and that reveal His righteousness that comes by faith in Jesus.
When you are anchored on these unshakable foundations, your outward behavior will come in line with His Word and you will begin to be transformed into His image from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18).
So today, meditate on God’s grace toward you and how you are made right by Jesus’ finished work on the cross. You will produce the fruits of righteousness and reign in life!
Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…
MORE GLORIOUS THAN MOSES!
By Dennis Goldsworthy-Davis
In the incredible encounter of Moses with the Lord on Mount Sinai, the Lord speaks of placing limits around the mountain:
“Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death.’ ( Exodus 19:12
These limits were to stop the people crossing to where the Lord’s glory was manifesting. Only Moses was given permission to go all the way into this glory. In other words, the glory was off limits to the general populace. Throughout the Old Testament it stayed that way. But not so today! The limits are off! We are told in Hebrews 12, we are not coming to the mountain of the Old Testament–the one with limits, but to the new mountain–Mount Zion. We are coming to the Heavenly Jerusalem.
That which was untouchable is untouchable no more. Jesus brought access and sonship. He released the precious Holy Spirit among us. That which Moses had was glorious, but what comes with the ministry of the Holy Spirit is even more glorious! Paul then speaks of this ministry in depth and starts Chapter 4 with this incredible statement. “Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart” (2 Cor. 4:1). This more glorious ministry, this limitless ministry, is available to all. But will all avail themselves of it.
The Transforming Power of God’s Grace
By Bryan Chapell
God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ– by grace you have been saved–and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Eph. 2:4-6)
There is a chemistry of the heart that is activated when we grasp the magnitude of God’s love for us. It’s that love that makes us desire Him, and it’s that desire that leads us to want to walk with Him.
What sparks the “want to?” It’s not faith in what we do, but what Christ has done on our behalf.
The great Puritan writer John Bunyan was accused of talking too much about the assurances of God’s love. But he famously replied, “If we keep assuring God’s people of God’s love, they’ll do what He wants.”
So, take heart in the grace of God’s love. And love for Him will change the “want to” of your life!
“O the overwhelming , never-ending reckless Love of God.
O it chased me down, fights ‘til I’m found
Leaves the ninety-nine.
I couldn’t earn it; I don’t deserve it;
Still You gave Yourself away.
O the overwhelming, never-ending reckless Love of God.”
Caleb Culver/Cory asbury/Ran Jackson
FEAR, HE IS A LIAR by Zach williams
When he told you you’re not good enough
When he told you you’re not right
When he told you you’re not strong enough
To put up a good fight
When he told you you’re not worthy
When he told you you’re not loved
When he told you you’re not beautiful
That you’ll never be enough…
When he told you you were trouble
You’ll forever be alone
When he told you you should run away
You’ll never find a home
When he told you you were dirty
And you should be ashamed
When he told you you could be the one
That grace could never change……
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.
Let Your fire fall and cast out all my fear
Let your fire fall Your love is all I feel.
“A CALL TO CORPORATE PRAYER”
1 John 5:14-15 “And this is the confidence – the assurance, the [privilege of] boldness – which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan) He listens to and hears us, And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him.
Praying for your church is like filling a balloon with helium, the more it is filled, the more it will soar! For us to grow not just numerically, but in what is much more important, spiritually and in fellowship to one another, requires our passion to pursue Christ more and ourselves less. As we grow in Christ in a intimate growing relationship with Him as LORD over all and LORD over us we will see growth in our lives and in the Church.
Jim Childs-Prophet
This is the Word of the Lord for this House. – Learn to ride the Waves! You are embarking on great change, but be assured you are safe because a good foundation has been laid. Many will be tempted to cry out for what was, seeking the comfort of the familiar, the comfort of the ship, but when you get back in the boat-the wind stops blowing. I hear the Lord saying, Know that I have gone before you and prepared the way so that you might not only be sustained, but that you might increase. Your life flow is in following the directions that I lay out before you. Yes, there will be those who do not understand at first, for they have drunk of the old wine and will not immediately embrace the new. There are those even in this area and even in this house who say-“Will they go forth or will it continue in what was?” You must demonstrate your answer and follow hard after me knowing that I have provide all that is necessary to accomplish My purpose. You must purpose not to settle as you experience a new wave of my glory, learn to ride the waves of my Spirit that is blowing afresh upon this house, releasing vision and revelation.
A Word for All —Take up the Treasures of Heaven. Have you not seen, do you not perceive that I, your Breaker have broken through on your behalf, and that I your Breaker have laid at your feet those things that you have need of? In days of old when nations were conquered the spoil was taken and laid at the feet of the king, but I have made you more than conquerors in that I, your Breaker have won the victory and have laid at your feet the treasures of Heaven, but you must take them up and receive them to yourself. Once again, I your Breaker, do breakthrough your mindsets and traditions that have box Me out and boxed you in to the degree that it has become hard for you to receive or even believe that I would move on your behalf. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad for I set you free from those things that have restricted so that you might enjoy the pleasures of the Kingdom.
BASIC BIBLE TRUTHS ABOUT MARRIAGE
Continued from last week by Jim Henry
- Marriage is meant to be permanent. This is strongly taught in many Bible passages. Divorce only comes because of the hardness of human hearts. It is important you remember the seriousness with which the Heavenly Father looks at the permanency of marriage.
- Marriage was thought of highly by our Lord Jesus. He spoke of it occasionally. He performed His first miracle at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. What He thinks of highly, so should we. John 2:1-2 says, “And on the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; and Jesus also was invited, and His disciples, to the wedding”.
- Marriage is the cornerstone of an orderly society. It is an honorable estate instituted by God and signifying to us the union which exists between Christ and His church. For this reason, marriage is not to be entered into lightly, but reverently and with confidence of God’s approval.
“Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is head of the church, He himself being the Savior of the body.
But as the church is subject ot Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
That He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle of any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless.
So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself
For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh.”
Ephesians 5:21-31
June–The wedding month
BASIC BIBLE TRUTHS ABOUT MARRIAGE
- Marriage is of divine origin. Marriage is God’s idea not man’s. God Himself performed the first marriage ceremony in the Garden of Eden. God saw Adam and said, “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Gen. 2:18). So He created woman and gave her to him to be his companion, his wife. Someone said, “Woman was made out of the side of Adam. Not out of his feet to be trampled upon, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, near his heart to be loved.”
- Marriage is more of a personal commitment than a civil contract. Civil contracts have escape clauses, but a spiritual commitment never has any excuse to merit dissolution. As you both gave your individual lives to Jesus Christ in faith, so now you come in faith to commit your lives to one another in marriage.
- Marriage is better understood as a process than a single act. Genesis 2:21 to 24: “So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh at that place. And the Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man; And the Man said, “This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.” Marriage is the blending of two unique personalities in all facets of life and in circumstances of life to form a new and wonderful relationship. Marriage is not a ninety-day wonder but a lifelong process. It is one that should ever be becoming and never arriving. It takes a lifetime to build a Christian home. (to be continued…)
REACHING OUT “SOME PEOPLE ANNOY US.” Zig Ziglar
They interrupt us when we’re trying to concentrate, ignore us when we need their help, or give us unwanted advice. Sometimes, the best we can do is to tolerate them.
Tolerating people, however, isn’t loving them, and God has set a high standard for us in relationships. God has imparted genuine, unconditional love to us, and He gives us an example of what love looks like. He is the prime mover, the One who initiated love toward us when we were completely unlovable.
The love we show others indicates our level of love for God. If we fail to love horizontally, we can assume there’s a problem in our vertical relationship with God. We won’t reach out in love until God has first reached into our hearts to enable us to love Him.
We love those around us by pursuing what’s best for them. When we’re listening, we’re fully present in the moment. When we’re caring, we give everything we’ve got because we’re aware that God gave His all to us. The more we experience the transforming love of God, the more His love spills out of us toward those around us.
I John 4:7-8 “Beloved, let us love one another for love is of God and everyone that loves is born of God and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God for God is love.
I John 4:19-21 “We love Him because He first loved us. If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.”
From Pastor Shirley I had a dream the other night I want to share with you.
There was a group of people looking a calendar (the month was May) and some in the group was getting because an appointment date had been changed and they could not understand why. As I stood in the background viewing the people I began to to see they were trusting in the calendar. Dates on a calendar are subject to change. I began tell them to them it was only a calendar day but that was not like God. His Word does not change. It remains the same. We should have our trust in the Lord and His never changing Word. He is not like dates on a calendar that can be changed for whatever reason. As I went on to explain to them that what we see in the natural is subject to change. That which we taste, touch, feel see are all subject to change. But not God. Not His settled Word.
I want to encourage you today to put your trust in the Lord. As you look at the calendar of your life dates may have changed. Prayers may have not manifested at the time you had hoped for. People may have let you down. Promises broken by those closest to you.
The word tells us Hebrews 13 5 ”He has said, “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!”
Don’t live your life by dates on a calendar but faith in the One who holds you in the palm of His hand.
|
|
