Apr 25, 2021
Start Right Here
Series: 2021
 
"If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people,
 
and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
 
If God’s people have turned away and things are bad because of that, vs 14

So many people want to blame the problems in this world on everyone but self. We say we want to see peace and unity but do nothing to see it happen. In verse 14, the Lord told Solomon exactly what had to happen. I want to say today that, if we want to see our land healed, it has to start right here. It has to start in the hearts of the people who are called by His name. So how do we do that?

If My People…

Who are called by My Name…

Will humble themselves…

And Pray…

And seek My face…

And turn from their wicked ways…

Then…

I will hear from heaven…

And forgive their sin…

And heal their land…

It starts right here in the hearts of His people. He will never leave us, even when we have failed Him. It is past time for us to realize that, in order for the world to change, the church has to return to God! It starts right here in the heart of His people. It starts right here in His church. Are you ready to begin?

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  • Apr 25, 2021Start Right Here
    Apr 25, 2021
    Start Right Here
    Series: 2021
     
    "If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people,
     
    and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
     
    If God’s people have turned away and things are bad because of that, vs 14

    So many people want to blame the problems in this world on everyone but self. We say we want to see peace and unity but do nothing to see it happen. In verse 14, the Lord told Solomon exactly what had to happen. I want to say today that, if we want to see our land healed, it has to start right here. It has to start in the hearts of the people who are called by His name. So how do we do that?

    If My People…

    Who are called by My Name…

    Will humble themselves…

    And Pray…

    And seek My face…

    And turn from their wicked ways…

    Then…

    I will hear from heaven…

    And forgive their sin…

    And heal their land…

    It starts right here in the hearts of His people. He will never leave us, even when we have failed Him. It is past time for us to realize that, in order for the world to change, the church has to return to God! It starts right here in the heart of His people. It starts right here in His church. Are you ready to begin?

  • Apr 18, 2021The Best, Kind
    Apr 18, 2021
    The Best, Kind
    Series: 2021

    We live in a world where everyone wants to tell you how to live

    Many people are frozen by the volume of decisions

    The latest social media challenge seems great, even though people are dying from it

    What is a person to do?

    The wisest person that every lived has something to tell us

     
    Solomon was the wisest man to live, and he said listen to counsel and accept discipline

    He goes on to say, the counsel of the Lord will stand

     
    That counsel of the Lord says Kindness is desirable in a person

    Think about how many of our social problems today could be solved with kindness

    Kindness shows love not hate

    I saw on Bro. Kevin Wade’s truck the following statement:

    Be Kind to every Kind

    Kindness diffuses so many situations where people are primed to respond with hate

    The world has primed us all to stand our ground and back down from no one

    People have grabbed onto this so hard that they will fight over anything

    People look for some ulterior motive in everything, even when it doesn’t exist

    The remedy for that is kindness. It is so easy to be kind.

    I’ve seen people, as I approach them, with this scowl on their face

    I smile real big and say Hi! How are you today?

    Even with a mask on, people see the smile and hear the kindness, and they smile

    Kindness comes easily out of joy in your heart

    Joy in your heart comes from a fear of the Lord or a relationship with Him

     
    See how wonderful God is, and this relationship fills us with joy!

    The best thing is kindness!

    But kindness, true kindness, comes out of a relationship with our Savior

    Do you have that relationship that fills you with joy and allows kindness to overflow?

    Do you want to?

  • Apr 11, 2021What Now?
    Apr 11, 2021
    What Now?
    Series: 2021
     
    Can you imagine the emotional roller coaster the Apostles were on?

    They had been with Jesus when He made His triumphant entry into Jerusalem

    They celebrated the Passover with Him and He told them He was going to die

    They saw the arrest and they saw Him crucified

    Then something incredible, He arose from the grave!

    Now, in today’s passage, He was about to leave them again

    As I thought about this journey, it reminded me of something

    LIFE!

    We are all on a journey that has unpredictable twists and turns

    Jesus is always steady

    Jesus told His disciples all of this would happen before it occurred

    So what about after the resurrection?

    What did He share with the disciples and is it relevant to us today?

    I want us to see three things Jesus talked to His disciples about and it is for us too:

    First, Jesus talked with His disciples about the end times.
    Vs 6-7
     
    “It is not for you to know” Jesus said. So we need to be prepared for whenever

    The Father knows the time but our job is to live every day as if it is our last

    If you were told your time was ending tomorrow, what regrets would you have?

    Did you use your time to further the Kingdom of God?

    Secondly, Jesus told the disciples about the Holy Spirit
    Vs 4-5
     
    So how do you live every day as if it were your last?

    Through the
    Holy Spirit

    If we trust the Holy Spirit to guide us and follow, we can live every day for God

    People tend to shut out the prompting of the Spirit instead of listening

    In fact, if we simply listen to the Holy Spirit, we receive that Power that we talked about

    We need that power to follow through with the last thing Jesus told the disciples

    Lastly, Jesus gave the disciples and us our instructions until His return
    Vs 8
     
    We are to go out into the world and build the Kingdom by reaching people

    We’ve been given the power through the Holy Spirit

    So when the end time comes, have you done all you could?

    When Jesus ascended into heaven, He charged His believers with the mission

    Let’s be an Acts 1:8 church, taking the gospel everywhere

    Today you need one thing to be able to do that.

    A relationship with Jesus. Do you know Him today?

  • Apr 4, 2021Power
    Apr 4, 2021
    Power
    Series: 2021

    He is not here, He is Risen!

    We have been focusing on the Resurrection for a while now

    Why focus on the Resurrection?

    The Resurrection is the reason we have hope! Because, without it, Jesus is still dead

    The Power of the resurrection is the greatest power

    As people, we know that, sometimes, we are powerless

    BUT…

     
    The power over the grave is also for those who believe and accept Jesus

    If we are believers in Christ, we become children of God and we, too, have the power!

    Everyone can know God through His power

     
    His power is clearly seen in all creation. Do you see it?
     
     
    The very power of God is the cross, and it is the power to save all who will come.

    This world has no power like the power of God

    God so loved the world that He gave Jesus to save us!!

    Jesus died on that cross to pay the debt for our sins

    Through the power of God, Jesus walked out of that grave 3 days later

    He now sits at the right hand of the Father interceding on our behalf

    He stands with arms open wide offering you the same power to overcome the grave

    Are you ready to stop being powerless and receive His power?

     
    You can receive the power of the Holy Spirit today!
     
     
    Today is the day to receive the power of God
     
     
    Let’s all LIVE OUT the Power of almighty GOD!

    Do YOU have the power? You can receive it today!

  • Mar 28, 2021What Waits Ahead
    Mar 28, 2021
    What Waits Ahead
    Series: 2021
    Welcome to Palm Sunday!
     
    This year we are looking at this story through Resurrection Eyes
     
    Jesus had set His mind on going to Jerusalem
     
    This was important for Him to go to Jerusalem to the Temple
     
    Why did He need the donkey to complete the journey
     
    Was He just tired
     

    Everything Jesus did on that day was purposeful

    Look closely at who was shouting and praising Him
     
    It was the crowds of followers and those who had gone to hear His teaching
     
    While his followers and the crowds with Him shouted praises
     
    All the city said “who is this?
     
    See, while the crowds were following Jesus He was focused
     
    He was focused on what waited ahead of Him
     
    Jesus was laser focused on the cross and the Salvation that He was about to bring
     
    He would do it for all those praising Him
     
    He would do it for all those who said Who is this?
     
    He would even do it for all those who would later shout “Crucify Him!”
     
    His focus wasn’t that one moment in time as Jesus arrived in Jerusalem
     
    That wasn’t His focus
     
    The things that waited ahead, the cross, the grave, and the resurrection
     
    This is what Jesus was focused on during this amazing time
     
    You see, if any of those items were not completed we would be lost forever
     
    Jesus wasn’t soaking in the moment of praise by a crowd
     
    He was thinking about how He loved you and why He had to do what He had to do
     
    Today the question is have you thought about Him?
     
    Have you given your life to Him?
  • Mar 21, 2021Denied
    Mar 21, 2021
    Denied
    Series: 2021

    People are funny

    Sometimes, if we are associated with something, we may deny it

    New Orleans Saints fans, at one point, wore bags over their heads during games

    People sometimes try to change their appearance to keep from being recognized

    Sometimes, people just flat deny something, even when they are found out

     
    Peter was very loudly telling Jesus He would fight for Him in Mark chapter 8

    Peter even followed right into the courtyard of the high priest

    Peter was a faithful follower and He was going to stay that way

    Many believers today are loudly singing His praises on Sunday

    But on Monday, they don’t even recognize that they are a beliver

    Some just don’t talk about it, but others flat out deny being a believer

    I want to be clear, I’m not talking about pretend believers

    People that try to talk the talk, but they have never given their life to Jesus

    I’m talking about bonafide believers that have a real relationship with Christ

    Just like Peter, those believers, when pressed, often deny

    How is it that we can sing “Just as I am” on Sunday and then be someone else?

    The pressure of the world is great!

    People do not like confrontation, and Jesus is confrontational

    We often keep our mouths shut to simply avoid the confrontation

    Sometimes, people go even further and deny a fact to avoid it

    What about Peter? He denied Jesus

    In John 21, Jesus appears to Peter, and three times Peter professes his love for Christ

    In Mark 14, Peter wept after denying Christ, and in John 21, he professed his love

    We know, that from that day on, Peter preached Christ until his death

    My question for you today is simple:
    Have you denied Christ?

    When we look at the Resurrection, we know Jesus claims believers before the Father

    He also said He would deny those who deny Him

    Don’t avoid confrontation by denying Christ

    Instead, confess Him before men, that they too might give their life to Christ

    Don’t be denied, instead be welcomed, good and faithful servant

    Do you really know Christ today or are you a pretender?

  • Mar 14, 2021A Sign Of Hope
    Mar 14, 2021
    A Sign Of Hope
    Series: 2021
    Any time we are told something that is hard to believe, we want to know how We want something that proves it is true; perhaps some kind of sign Jesus, in the days leading up to his death, was teaching the people
     
    The scribes and Pharisees, in trying to discredit Jesus, asked for a sign
    Notice here that Jesus called them an evil and adulterous generation Jesus knew their real motive for asking for a sign was simply a ploy to trap Him He called them an adulterous generation The only sign He said would be given Three days and three nights There are all kinds of arguments and interpretations of 3 days and 3 nights We don’t have the time to unpack all these differing views The point is, the sign Jesus was really talking about Was not about the actual times as much as the death and resurrection The real sign is that Jesus was going to be resurrected and overcome the grave You see, today, people everywhere are just looking for some kind of hope Something that will get them through this time of despair and emptiness They want some sign that shows everything is going to be alright The sign they need is a sign of hope Jesus, through His death, burial, and resurrection, is that sign of HOPE! He has come that we may have life, and have it abundantly The sign you need to see today is that, because of the resurrection, You too can have eternal life through Christ Jesus! The sign of Hope is that Jesus paid the price for your sins and made a way to the Father
     
    That is the Hope that we have, that Jesus made the way for us
    Today, the sign that the world needs has been given in the Resurrection of Christ Today, do you trust in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection? Have you seen the sign of Hope?
  • Mar 7, 2021God’s Purposes
    Mar 7, 2021
    God’s Purposes
    Series: 2021
    Why do seemingly good people go through bad things? Have you ever found yourself asking that question? We want to keep people from going through hard times The apostles were no different from us
     
     
    Jesus was telling His apostles about the hard times he was about to go through
    Now He tried to prepare them by helping them see who He was Regardless, they did not want Him to go through this hard time For some reason, we believe that our lives should be smooth sailing John 16:33 says “you will have trouble in this world” Every thing we call trouble in this world is preparing us for the next day Trouble also prepares us to help others going through the same thing You see, God has His purposes for all that we encounter in this world We must change how we approach life with our own ideas in mind God created us for His purpose and He knows exactly what that purpose is People often wonder, "Why am I here?" Then shrug that thought off and try to make life for them anyway In the passage we read today, the apostles try to stop Jesus from doing God’s will It was because they didn’t know God’s will Jesus told Peter, you are not setting your mind on God’s interest but man’s Notice, that was right after He said get behind me satan Satan wants to convince you that everything is about you Jesus, in what He said, reminded Peter and the other apostles it is not about them It is God’s purpose that we need to live for every day We have to get close to God to know what His purpose is for us. God’s purposes may cause us to go through trouble In fact, we have been told that sometimes it will cause us trouble Think about what God’s purpose cost Jesus He went through torture and pain and death on a cross for God’s purpose What if Peter convinced Him not to go through with that? The second half of John 16:33 says “take heart I have overcome the world” God’s purposes may be painful sometimes, but Jesus has overcome the world This means that, as His followers, we have overcome with Him Do you have Resurrection eyes or are you staring at the world? When we trust God’s purposes, we see the salvation in the cross and the resurrection Do you trust Jesus today?
  • Feb 28, 2021In His Steps
    Feb 28, 2021
    In His Steps
    Series: 2021

    Ever wonder how do I live life as a Christian

    I know that my life is supposed to be different but how?

    If you ask 50 people what a Christian life looks like you would get 50 different answers

    One reason people struggle so much is we listen to the world instead of Jesus

    Leaving you an example to follow in His steps

    So how do we live our life as Believers?

    We follow His example!

    This is good news but also very hard
     
    So part of the example is do not sin

    That means I have to be perfect and I am not able to do that!

    How is it possible to follow in His steps when His steps were perfect?

    There is probably no one who has ever 100% lived up to their parents expectations

    But Godly parents will say they are very proud of their children

    Shoot for the stars and maybe you can at least hit the moon right.

    Strive to try to follow in His steps every day and even if you fall short try again

    He kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges rightly

    In other words while we are striving to live rightly trust God to help us

    Yes, Jesus was perfect and lived a perfect life and yes we are to follow His example

    Vs 21
    Since Christ also suffered for YOU

    We are weak
    but He is strong!

    Jesus loves you and suffered for you and left an example for you

    He also made a way for you!

    Romans 6:23
     
    We are to work hard to follow in His steps even knowing we will fall short

    Work hard every day and know that He has covered our shortcomings

    He paid the price for our sins already so keep striving

    The first step in living like a Believer is to actually become one

    Are you a Believer today?

  • Feb 21, 2021A Working Relationship
    Feb 21, 2021
    A Working Relationship
    Series: 2021

    Relationship: The way in which two or more objects or people are connected

    As people we have many types of relationships

    We are connected in many ways

    All of our relationships take work, and none of them work without work

    There is one relationship that is more important than the rest

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
  • Feb 14, 2021Put On Love
    Feb 14, 2021
    Put On Love
    Series: 2021
    So, today, being Valentine’s Day, means the world is talking about love

    As Believers, we should be thinking about love every day

    Colossians 3:1-17 NASB

    The first verse of this chapter reminds us of a reality of where our thoughts should be

    Seek things above if you have been raised with Christ

    Our minds should be focused on things above to make a difference here

     
    Vs 5 lists many things we should be dead to because they all lead to idolatry

    Idolatry means we are consumed with something besides God

    This keeps us from our true love

     
    Revelation talks about the wrath of God being poured out

    Remember believer, you once were a son of disobedience

     
    As believers, there are more things that we must put aside

    While we are doing this, we are being renewed

    We also call this sanctification and it is a process that continues until Glory

    This renewal is for every believer, no matter any worldly differences

     
    In this fallen world, all these things are hard to put aside, but we can through Christ
     
     
    This is how we put those things aside

    DO you recognize any of the things in these verses?

    Yes, they are the fruit of the Spirit, which all believers have been given

    It is through this fruit that we can overcome the evil of this world

    There is one thing that is greater than any other; that is LOVE

     
    Put on Love, this means we have to do it every day

    We put on love just like putting on clothes; we clothe ourselves in it

    When we clothe ourselves with love, it covers all those other things

    It is a perfect bond of unity!

    Being United in Love is exactly where believers need to be today

    This unified love is exactly what the world needs to see

    When we put on God’s love, we are able to do what vs 15-16 tell us
     
    Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts

    Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you

     
    The greatest of these is Love, God’s Love!

    Do you know God’s love today?

  • Feb 7, 2021Overturned Tables
    Feb 7, 2021
    Overturned Tables
    Series: 2021
    "12 And Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all those who were selling and buying on the temple grounds, and He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. 13 And He *said to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a den of robbers.”"

    Sometimes we like this passage because it shows a human reaction from Jesus

    We realize he did get angry too

    But have you ever stopped to think about what made him angry?

    Why were there money changers in the temple in the first place?

    Don’t forget about those selling doves as well, why were they there?

    Way back in Exodus 30:11-16 God required a half shekel from His people

    The temple tax was derived from this requirement for the upkeep of the temple

    People outside of Jerusalem came to worship and had different money

    It needed to be changed into the correct currency

    So why is that a problem for Jesus?

    The money changers were extorting money as they made the exchange.

    Also, the dove sellers were a problem because of how they cheated the people

    They inspected peoples sacrifice and often told them it was imperfect

    Then the only option the people had was to buy another sacrifice

    So again why is Jesus so angry?

    "13 And He *said to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a den of robbers.”

    In the name of doing something right, the people were robbing the temple goers

    Why am I sharing this message today?

    The modern church is no different.

    There are all sorts of false religious entities that use the name of Jesus to rob people

    There are churches today that promote a feel good attitude instead of truth

    This robs the people of the true messages God has for them

    God’s house is supposed to be a house of prayer not an entertainment venue

    Too many believers have been robbed of the real worship they need

    That’s why even Christians are seeking ungodly things to fill their heart

    When they attend worship, it is everything but worship

    When we, as God’s children, are not willing to share the hard truth

    Because it may be offensive to someone, we are robbing them of what they need

    We advertise one thing, but then cheat people when we don’t share truth

    Stop robbing people and start spending real worship with God.

    This false religion has also made it hard for people to realize their need for salvation

    The blunt question today is, are you a sinner?

    Have you ever asked God to forgive your sin and gave your life to Him?

    This is the only real reconciliation you can have. If you haven’t done that,

    Every religious thing you do is not real, no matter what you have been told.

    Are you ready to give up the fake and accept the real Truth today?

    Completely giving yourself to Jesus is the only real way for Salvation

^