Episodes
Sunday Jun 21, 2020
Show Us The Father - Sunday June 21, 2020
Sunday Jun 21, 2020
Sunday Jun 21, 2020
“Show Us the Father”
JESUS Series Week 3
John 14:6-11 (KJV)
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
Today we are going to look at a discussion that Jesus has with Phillip when they were wanting to know how Jesus was going to solve everything that was wrong in their world.
Jesus often spoke of “the Father” because the people with whom He was speaking could not understand how a human being could come from God. So when Jesus in human flesh is referring to the Father – He is talking about the Almighty, Eternal, OmniPresent Spirit that we know is God! That Spirit was what overshadowed Mary, that Spirit is what filled and directed Jesus through life on Earth and that Spirit is the same spirit that we receive when we are filled with the Holy Ghost – and it is that Spirit that will raise us up whether dead or alive to be with Him for eternity!
Jesus explains to Phillip – that if you have seen the person of Jesus Christ…You have seen the Eternal Spirit of God because they are one and the same!
Like Colossians 2:9 says,
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Jesus had already explained to some Jews in John 10:
30 I and my Father are one.
31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
Phillip says – Show us the Father…
Jesus says – I already have.
The Jews couldn’t understand how a MAN could be GOD
Jesus said -if I don’t do the WORKS of GOD, and you have no evidence or proof that what I am doing is a GOD THING – then don’t believe me – BUT… If I do the WORKS OF GOD and you have evidence and proof that what I am doing is A GOD THING – then believe me!
Our world wants to see a better way…
They want to see GOD…the HOPE beyond this life!…
1 Corinthians 4:14-16 (KJV)
14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
15 For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
Keep in mind that what Jesus told Phillip was accurate – when we see Jesus – we are seeing the only image of the invisible God.
Colossians 1:15-18 (ESV)
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by[a] him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
We know that GOD IS LOVE – Jesus showed us that…in everything He did and every word He said… He was the visible display of LOVE for all to see!
He showed us that God hears and answers prayers – in the many times He healed, delivered, raised from the dead…and even in the delays or seeming denials…He heard and answered!
In one of the parables Jesus spoke He SHOWED us the FATHER and the LOVE OF THE FATHER…it is usually called the Parable of the Prodigal Son (also known as the parable of the Two Brothers, Lost Son, Loving Father, or of the Forgiving Father). I think of it as the parable of the Prodigal (Extravagant) Father!
We spend lots of time and energy discussing the relevance of the brothers..and their actions and reactions – but the focus the whole time is THE FATHER! Jesus was showing the LOVE of the GOD through this illustration of the EXTRAVAGANT (Prodigal) FATHER! I believe Jesus was showing us that GOD loves all of us…and wants all of us to be with HIM in the house…but even though His Love for us is EXTRAVAGANT – ultimately…we CHOOSE whether or not we will be “in the house”!
The parable of the two sons (another parable Jesus tells that directly mentions a father) – has much the same message. One son eventually does the will of his father, the other just claims to…but never does!
GOD GIVES ALL OF US THE OPPORTUNITY – IT ALL COMES DOWN TO OUR CHOICE!
Our World is in desperate need right now. They need to SEE GOD in us! They don’t even understand their need for us to SHOW THEM THE FATHER!
We need someone to step up and give clear direction for children and families in this time that we live in. It’s kind of like our society is saying, SHOW US THE FATHER – and we will be ok!
Church, that is exactly what our world needs. Not someone to be a champion for social justice, not an insurgent or protest rally leader, not a political figure…
This world needs us to SHOW THEM THE FATHER!
They need to see God!
We cannot fix them or what is broken. We can only show them GOD! The choice they make about Him is up to them..but we have to be Jesus to this world. GOD is LOVE, and that is what our world needs like never before!
Not just Love, but GOD’S LOVE!
When we show God’s Love – we are showing them the Father!
How can we show God’s Love this week?
- By praying for them to return to the Father
- By going out of our way to show love and kindness
- Being careful about what we say and post…
- In being there when they are ready to talk/pray.
- Treating everyone the same way…without prejudice
- Welcoming them with joy and excitement when they return
Have you made your choice today? Do you want a Barabbas Life or a Jesus Life?
Today if you will turn from sin, and turn to God – you will receive the peace that only Jesus can give you!
If you will be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ – all the sins and mistakes of your past will be washed away never to be held against you again.
God will fill you with His Spirit and you will have peace that passes any human understanding.
The choice is yours today. Will you get caught up in all the chaos, tension and trouble – or will you choose peace in your life – by choosing GOD!
Sunday Jun 14, 2020
JESUS IS ENOUGH - Jesus Series - June 14, 2020 (Rev. Nate Grace)
Sunday Jun 14, 2020
Sunday Jun 14, 2020
Jesus is Enough!
Text Matthew: 17:1-8
17 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
Mount Hermon- Tallest mountain in all of Palestine, over 9000ft tall
Peter, James, and John- the inner circle of the apostles
Luke 9: Traveled, fell asleep, woke up in a start so this story happened at night- One thing to see a bright light, but to see Jesus clothed in garments shining
- English word Behold
Greek word- idou– means Pay attention to this- interpreted- Behold
- Matt 17:3-Mosses and Elijah were there- Both had mountain top experiences
- Moses received ten commandments up on Mount Sinai in Ex 19
- Elijah was up on Mount Carmel, called down fire from heaven and it consumed the sacrifice, and the water
- Why did God choose Moses and Elijah:
- Moses- I think it is because Moses represents the Law- wrote first five books of the Bible, often called the Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy
- He was considered the giver of the Law
- Elijah- He was considered the foremost of the prophets
- Moses- I think it is because Moses represents the Law- wrote first five books of the Bible, often called the Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy
- So in Moses and Elijah you have both the Law and the prophets
- Did you know that Jesus was the fulfillment of both the Law and the Prophets
- Matt 5:17: Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Then Peter sees Jesus talking with Moses and Elijah and thinks that Jesus is their equal
This is where we see God respond with a voice from heaven
What caused God to speak from heaven?
When Peter suggested that Jesus should share His glory with someone else
Isaiah 42:8 I am the Lord that is my name and my glory will I not give to another neither my praise to graven images.
- Matt 17:5 God Presence appears in form a cloud- second important thing to notice
Matt 17: 5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them:
God uses a cloud several times in the Bible to indicate his presence:
- The Exodus from Egypt- cloud by day, fire by night
- The inauguration of the tabernacle- Shekinah glory of God
- The inauguration of the temple
- Ezekiel’s vision 1:5
- John’s vision in Revelation chapter
- Matt 17: 5b The Voice of God spoke –
Matt 17: 5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
This passage tells us three things:
- Voiced Divine approval on Jesus- “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased- Approval was not focused on Moses, not on Elijah, But the focus was upon Jesus
- Directed authority to Jesus- Hear Ye Him! Not Moses, Not Elijah, but listen to Jesus alone
- Called for Obedience to Jesus alone, Not Moses, Not Elijah
You see, the disciples distracted by the presence of Moses and Elijah, they were taught about Moses and Elijah, and they missed the point that was right in front of them! JESUS IS ENOUGH
Telegraph Illustration: Back when the telegraph was the fastest method of long distance communication, a young man applied for a job as a Morse code operator.
Answering an ad in the newspaper, he went to the office address that was listed. When he arrived, he entered a large, busy office filled with noise and clatter, including the sound of the telegraph in the background. A sign on the receptionist’s counter instructed job applicants to fill out a form and wait until they were summoned to enter the inner office. The young man filled out his form and sat down with the seven other applicants in the waiting area. After a few minutes, the young man stood up, crossed the room to the door of the inner office, and walked right in.
Naturally the other applicants perked up, wondering what was going on. They muttered among themselves that they hadn’t heard any summons yet. They assumed that the young man who went into the office made a mistake and would be disqualified.
Within a few minutes, however, the employer escorted the young man out of the office and said to the other applicants, “Gentlemen, thank you very much for coming, but the job has just been filled.”
The other applicants began grumbling to each other, and one spoke up saying, “Wait a minute, I don’t understand. He was the last to come in, and we never even got a chance to be interviewed. Yet he got the job. That’s not fair!”
The employer said, “I’m sorry, but all the time you’ve been sitting here, the telegraph has been ticking out the following message in Morse code: ‘If you understand this message, then come right in. The job is yours.’
None of you heard it or understood it. This young man did. The job is his.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Are our ears tuned to His voice??
While others were pre-occupied with other conversations, although worthwhile they may have been, they missed the main message!
- THE ONES WHO WILL HEAR THE STILL, SMALL VOICE OF JESUS IN THIS GENERATION ARE THE ONES WHO ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS!
WE HAVE ALL HAD PEOPLE SAY SOMETHING TO US AND WE WERE DAYDREAMING, OR OTHERWISE PRE-OCCUPIED.
“The only way I can really understand what someone says is if I am looking directly at them when they speak!”
- IN ORDER TO HEAR WHAT GOD IS SAYING, WE MUST REMOVE ALL DISTRACTIONS AND KEEP OUR EYES ON HIM!
6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. 7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” 8 When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
To put this scripture in context, just a week earlier, Jesus had asked his disciples a question in
Matthew 16:13- Whom do men say that I am?
They had responded in verse 14:
And they said, Some say that thou are John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.
He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Matt 16:16– And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
It is interesting that in the space of just a week that he forgets that Jesus is the Son of the Living God.
I submit to you that the entire point of the Mount Transfiguration experience is to show the inner circle, Peter, James and John that He is God manifested in the flesh
The Law was necessary for its time but Jesus came to fulfill the law, Jesus is Enough all by himself.
The prophets had a very important function in their day, but the prophets cant save you but Jesus can, Jesus is enough!
I am saying to this church today, God has a job for someone to do!
There is a work to be done, and the position is open, who will fill it?
Who will go and do the work of God in this generation?
- THE JOB POSITION IS OPEN, AND THE ADVERTISEMENT HAS GONE FORTH!
Mark 16:15-16 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Matthew 9:37-38 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
What is The job you may ask?
Reach the lost at any cost!
The Pay?
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
The benefits?
17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
And a life insurance policy that is out of this world!
And, the applicants have come from near and far, and are sitting in the interview room, waiting for their turn!
But, I would say to you today, that it is not the most qualified, not the most well-dressed, not the first on the scene, or not the ones with the most ability that will get the job, but the ones that will get the nod from the Lord of the Harvest are those who will hear his still, small, voice and understand what the purpose of the church is in this day!
Those whose attention is not diverted by the other sounds that clamor all around, those who don’t think that they have already arrived and deserve the job because of their superior qualifications, but those who are listening and understanding the voice of God!
We can argue all day long amongst ourselves, and use scripture to back up why we are right, and everyone else is wrong, but while we are crossing theological swords, people are dying and going to hell!
- THE ONES WHOM GOD WILL WORK THROUGH IN THIS GENERATION ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE ELIMINATED THE DISTRACTIONS IN THEIR LIVES.
Not the most educated,
Not the best dressed,
Not the ones with the most impressive pedigree or heritage,
But, those who have eliminated distractions!
If you have Jesus, you have enough!
I truly believe that what God is looking for in this generation is not talent, ability, pedigree, heritage, etc.
I BELIEVE THAT GOD IS SIMPLY LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WHO WILL ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS!
PEOPLE WHO WILL KEEP THEIR PURPOSE CLEAR, THEIR LIVES UNCLUTTERED, AND FREE FROM THE THINGS OF THE WORLD THAT WILL DIVERT OUR ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE STILL, SMALL VOICE OF GOD!
People that will not only hear, but understand what God is saying.
How do I hear and understand the voice of God?
It’s not enough to hear the voice of God; I must understand what God is saying.
Peter heard the voice of God but wanted to build three temples.
It’s one thing to hear the voice, but another to know from where it is coming and what it is saying.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
The way that I can hear the voice of God is only through prayer, fasting, spending time in the Word and eliminating distractions.
Jesus is Enough!
- When you are fearful, – “His perfect Love Casteth out all fear” Jesus is enough for you
- Lonely– Matthew 28:20 Jesus said, “Lo I am with you always even to the ends of the earth” Jesus is enough for you!
- Weary– Matt 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest- Jesus is enough for you!
- Friendless– He is the friend that sticketh closer than a brother- Jesus is enough for you
- Healing– Jesus is the healer- he bore stripes upon his back for your healing, he has already paid the price- Jesus is enough for you
- Salvation: Jesus died on the cross for your sins- Jesus is enough for you!
If you have never repented of your sins, let me tell you that Jesus is enough for you- He died to pay the penalty of your sins
You don’t need to carry it any longer, bring it to Jesus
Bring your hurts to him,
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
If you have never been baptized in Jesus Name, Jesus is enough for you!
- Today is your day, we have warm water in the baptistry tank
- We have robes here,
- There is a private place to get changed
- you can be baptized and go home in your dry clothes
- But most importantly, you can go home with your sins washed away!
Sunday May 17, 2020
A Certain WORD in an Uncertain WORLD - Sunday Worship
Sunday May 17, 2020
Sunday May 17, 2020
A Certain WORD in an Uncertain WORLD!
SHIFT Series Week 3
For the last few weeks we have been talking about the SHIFT that is taking place in the body of Christ! Because of everything that has happened in our world recently – as a church we need to be ready to make the shift and be ready for the greatest revival the world has ever seen.
So much has changed in the space of 3 months…it almost doesn’t even seem possible.
So much uncertainty.
John 1:14 (KJV)
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The Word of God is much more than mere communication through language. The Word is personal, interactive, and alive. We not only have the “BIBLE” or Word of God, but we have the WORD made flesh, that now lives in us by the Holy Ghost. We are not just like everyone else.
In reference to the end times Daniel says.. in Daniel 11:32 KJV
“And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.”
In our day, right now…we have so much uncertainty…so much information…but not all information is TRUTH… we see this in – Daniel 12:4 KJV “….shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.”
Media is messing with you?
…We need to KNOW our God like never before…We HAVE a CERTAIN WORD!
We know He lives within us if we have received His Spirit because Ephesians 1:13 KJV says…
“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”
The Psalmist said… Psalms 56:4 KJV
“In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.”
If you read Jeremiah Chapter 7… you will discover God talking to Israel about listening to bad advice and uncertain and deceptive words…this also applies to the church which is spiritual “Israel”
He challenges them…
Jeremiah 7:8 NASB
““Behold, you are trusting in deceptive words to no avail.”
Do you know what is worse than not having information? Having misinformation but believing it to be true and rearranging your life because of it, spiritually, emotionally, and so on.
Ecclesiastes 8:6-7 NASB
“For there is a proper time and procedure for every delight, though a man’s trouble is heavy upon him. If no one knows what will happen, who can tell him when it will happen?”
That is why this is so important for us today…there is way to much UNCERTAINTY outside of God right now – we need to lock on to a CERTAIN WORD!!
Isaiah 40:28-31 NASB
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.”
This is the shift that is taking place today…
The People that Know their God will be strong and do exploits…
Those who take hold of the CERTAIN WORD!!
This is that day, now is that time…
Everyone else is uncertain and letting uncertainty cause them to panic and fear…to do things that uncertain people do…
But we have a CERTAIN WORD…
There are some things we KNOW…not just because the Bible tells us so…but also because we have experienced the truth of them in our own lives!
We KNOW that God LOVES US…
We KNOW that GOD is real, and He is in Control of everything!!
We KNOW that GOD is coming back very soon…Just like He said…
We KNOW that if we are ready…Filled with His Spirit, Baptized in His Name…and living a holy life – we will meet Him when He returns…
We KNOW while we are here…God is still our Jehovah Rapha (The Lord that Heals)
We KNOW that Jesus is our Jehovah Jireh…
Isaiah 55:10-11 (NASB)
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth
And making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
His Word is forever settled….
He Is the Same Yesterday, today…and forever…
His Word is the Lamp for my Feet, the light for my path
His Word is from Everlasting to Everlasting…
The Word of God formed worlds.
The flood of Noah’s day was by the Word of God.
The world as we know it is being held by the Word of God.
When the end of the world is come God will destroy this world by His Word.
Psalms 107:17-22 NASB
“Fools, because of their rebellious way, And because of their iniquities, were afflicted. Their soul abhorred all kinds of food, And they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble; He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions. Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men! Let them also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, And tell of His works with joyful singing.”
Matthew 8:5-10 (KJV)
5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
FEAR IS FAITH IN THE ENEMY
GET A HOLD of the CERTAIN WORD
Take God at His Word –
The principles of the Word of God can come alive in your life!!
What Stronghold needs to come down in your life today?What sickness needs to be healed?
What MIRACLE do you need right now?
What COMMITMENT do you need to make?
- Repent of your sins and turn to God
- Be Baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ to have your sins washed away
- Be filled with the Gift of the Holy Ghost today!
Wednesday Apr 29, 2020
“Loving Well” - Stand Firm, Love Well Series - April 29, 2020
Wednesday Apr 29, 2020
Wednesday Apr 29, 2020
Loving Well
The “STAND FIRM, LOVE WELL” Series – week 4
You don’t have to choose STANDING FIRM OR LOVING WELL – Jesus encourages us to do BOTH!
(Galatians 5:6) The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
We cannot ANTAGONIZE and INFLUENCE at the same time!
(John 13:34-35) “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
1 Corinthians 13
Without love… All I say is ineffective.
(1 Corinthians 13:1) If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
Ephesians 4:15 (NLT) 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
Ephesians 4:29 (NIV) 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
All I know is insignificant.
(1 Corinthians 13:2) If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge…
All I believe is insufficient.
James 2:19 (KJV) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
(1 Corinthians 13:2) …if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
All I give is incomplete.
(1 Corinthians 13:3) If I give all I possess to the poor…
All I accomplish is inadequate.
LIFE minus LOVE = 0
(1 Corinthians 13:3) (If I) give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
Loving Well
(Daniel 6:1-5) It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel…”
1. Serve them.
(1 Corinthians 9:19) Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
Jesus did this! He could have condemned everyone, but He condemned no one!
Jesus connected before He corrected!
2. Set an example for them.
(Matthew 5:13-16) “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
The greatest influence we can have on our world is how we live our lives.
3. Share Christ with them.
If you LOVE WELL, you will have opportunities to SHARE JESUS!!
(1 Peter 3:15-16) But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
“Preach the Gospel, and if necessary, use words.” – St. Francis of Assisi
How I act is more important than what I say.
Sunday Apr 26, 2020
Love is Why - We Go, Give, Serve and Stay - April 26, 2020
Sunday Apr 26, 2020
Sunday Apr 26, 2020
On the final Sunday of April 2020, we are excited to be able to “Gather” online. You will not want to miss the opening countdown to see some familiar faces. We sing two songs “Greater Things” and “Miracles” - thanks to all who make our Sunday Worship possible (CCLI Streaming License #: CSPL043706). Pastor A.J. Dummitt preaches the final message of the “Love is WHY” series - Love is Why WE Go, Give, Serve and Stay. We are so thrilled that you are joining us today.
LOVE is WHY – We Give, Go, Serve & Stay
“LOVE IS WHY” SERIES
2 Corinthians 5:13-15 (NIV)
13 If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
LOVE IS WHY WE GO
We are COMMANDED to GO by HIS WORD, and We are COMPELLED to GO by HIS LOVE!
THAT IS WHY WE GO – BECAUSE OF THE GREAT LOVE OF JESUS for this WHOLE WORLD!!
Mark 16:15 (KJV)
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
God’s ultimate goal is to assemble a vast and diverse family that represents “every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9-10). Who wouldn’t love a front row seat to God’s heart in action?
Exposure breeds a burden.
LOVE IS WHY WE GIVE
LOVE, is the why – because we LOVE God and we LOVE people.
1 John 3:17-18 (NIV)
17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
The decision to give is not primarily financial in nature. It’s rooted in 1) the nature of God and 2) our relationship with Him.
John 3:16 tells us that “God so loved the world that He gave …”
The message of John 3:16 is that love gives.
Ephesians 5:1-2 (ESV)
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
We don’t just give of our FINANCES or our TREASURE…but we also give of our TIME and our TALENT to God. Don’t be stingy in any area…imitate God and give willingly your very best out of love!
LOVE IS WHY WE SERVE
In John 13:15, Jesus sets an example for us to follow. “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you,” Jesus says.
Jesus, God manifest in the flesh, never placed Himself in a position above others. He led by serving, and He loved by serving.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. – Philippians 2:3-5
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. – Galatians 5:13
The ONLY thing that will keep you grounded during times of offense, hurt, or
uncertainty is the LOVE of God for YOU, and your love for GOD!
LOVE IS WHY WE STAY
Nothing can separate us from His love…but we sometimes allow things to drive a wedge in our relationship with Him and with others.
The Bible says that JESUS endured the CROSS (despising the SHAME) – for the JOY that was set before Him. He STAYED when it would have been much easier to GO! Jesus proved His LOVE by staying.
When asked about what it would be like before His return, Jesus made this stunning statement to His
disciples:
“And many will turn away from Me and betray and hate each other….Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:1–12 NLT)
Paul said…2 Timothy 4:10 (KJV)
10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world,…
Sometimes we are offended, sometimes we love the things of the world, more than the things of God.
Start right here today!
If God has convicted you of things during this message today that you know displease Him – you need to take time to acknowledge those things to Him, right now!
Ask God to forgive you for those things, and make up your mind that you will move away from them going forward. (Repentance is a change of Heart and Mind).
You then need to be BAPTIZED in the Name of Jesus Christ to wash away all your sins and the stains of your past. Through repentance and baptism you are able to move towards your new life in Jesus Christ. Jesus
promises to fill you with His Spirit – the gift of the Holy Ghost and that is how the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts (the scripture tells us that it is by the Holy Ghost).
If you are having trouble with any of these things today…GOING, GIVING, SERVING, or STAYING…you need to come back to the LOVE OF JESUS!
Sunday Apr 19, 2020
Love is Why - The Church is Essential - April 19, 2020
Sunday Apr 19, 2020
Sunday Apr 19, 2020
With all the debate over what is and what is not ESSENTIAL - we are going to explore Love is Why the Church of Jesus Christ is Essential. We sing two songs “Open Up The Heavens” and “Waymaker”. (CCLI Streaming License #: CSPL043706). Thank you so much for joining us online for our Sunday Live experience with theCrossroads - we are so glad to have you.
LOVE is WHY – Church Is Essential
“LOVE IS WHY” SERIES
Matthew 16:16-18
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
LOVE IS WHY the CHURCH IS ESSENTIAL!
A building is NOT what Jesus died for – it is not what He redeemed by His blood, and He will not be taking a CHURCH BUILDING to be with Him for eternity.
The Church Jesus established is ESSENTIAL. It was founded by Him, and should remain in His control. It started in Jerusalem – but it was not His will for it to remain in Jerusalem.
After his resurrection Christ appeared to his apostles and said, “Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in my name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:46,47).
Then in Acts 1:8, just before he ascended back to heaven, Jesus said to the apostles, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Observe in this statement that Jesus said the apostles would receive power (power to preach the gospel in all its fullness, resulting in the coming of the kingdom or church) when the Holy Ghost came upon them. In Acts 2:1-4 we find the Holy Ghost filling the apostles and those in the upper room and them being empowered to speak in tongues on the day of Pentecost.
As a result of the Peter’s preaching that day, people were pricked in their heart and asked what to do to be forgiven of their sins (Acts 2:37). They were instructed, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).
“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41). So the church Jesus established started in the city of Jerusalem in the year 33 A.D. by Christ upon the bedrock foundation truth that Jesus is God manifest in the flesh.
On every occasion after that when people heard of Christ, believed in Him, repented of their sins, were baptized for the remission of their sins and received His Spirit, the Lord added them to his church. “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47).
WHY?
First of all – You are a MEMBER OF THE BODY of CHRIST
God desires for his body—his church—to be a public movement who lives for His glory and the good of others (John 17:21-23)
Secondly – Christians are commanded to submit to the leaders of their local church
The pastor of a local church never possess absolute authority. Whatever authority they have is delegated by Gof
Hebrews 13:17
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (KJV)
12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
2 Timothy 4:1-4 (KJV)
1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
LOVE IS WHY – Jesus Established this ESSENTIAL CHURCH!
Worship – Fellowship – Discipleship – Ministry – Mission
Hebrews 10:24: And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
1 Peter 4:10: Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.
LOVE IS WHY – Jesus Established this ESSENTIAL CHURCH!
He loved the world enough to establish the church so that people could be saved, delivered, healed, discipled and sent on mission to reach others.
How do you decide on a church family:
The true church is founded upon the REVELATION of who Jesus Christ is…that is where your decision needs to begin.
You need to make sure that your church family you connect to teaches, preaches and believes that Jesus is God manifest in the flesh. That you can have eternal life through obedience to the Word of God which starts with Repentance or turning away from all your sin and turning to God. Followed by Baptism in the Name of Jesus Christ (complete immersion in the water) to wash away sin, and then the infilling of the Spirit of God or the Gift of the Holy Ghost evidenced by speaking in a heavenly language as God’s Spirit gives you the ability to do so.
Pray and seek God through fasting – and don’t wait on “the PERFECT CHURCH” – if you find a church that preaches the TRUTH in LOVE and LOVES YOU and your family – you have probably found the right church. They may not sing the songs you like, or have the ministry for Kids that you think they should, or a multitude of other things…but maybe that is why God is placing you at that church. When you come – it changes the flavor a little more and maybe God will lead you to help with the ministry area that they are currently lacking in.
The Lonely Ember
A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire.
Guessing the reason for his pastor’s visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a big chair near the fireplace and waited. The pastor made himself comfortable but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the play of the flames around the burning logs.
After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet fascination.
As the one lone ember’s flame diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and “dead as a doornail.”
Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. Just before the pastor was ready to leave, he picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.
As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said, “Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday.”
Rather than asking, “what do I get” out of being connected to my local church ask, what do I give? When we are connected, as the Lord commanded, we give so much to each other. You not only receive, but you are a blessing as you give. Who does it hurt the most when you are not connected? It hurts your church and your pastor – but it hurts you and your family more!
LOVE IS WHY – Jesus Established this ESSENTIAL CHURCH!
He loves you and your family enough to place you with others who are ESSENTIAL in your life and spiritual well being. You are not alone – He has given you a pastor who wants more than anything to see you and your whole family make it to heaven. This is why you need to connect to HIS ESSENTIAL CHURCH!
When you realize how much He loves you and the blessing it is to be a part of His body – it should encourage you to connect more.
Friday Apr 17, 2020
Friday After Easter Revival - Pastor Raymond Woodward - April 17, 2020
Friday Apr 17, 2020
Friday Apr 17, 2020
Friday After Easter Revival - Pastor Raymond Woodward - April 17, 2020
Tonight we welcome Pastor Raymond Woodward from Capital Community Church in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Pastor Woodward is a well known teacher and preacher who makes an impact in his generation mentoring and leading others to be their best. He speaks to thousands of people every week and is such a necessary voice in the day and times we live in. We know that God is going to speak to us and we will respond. Thank you for joining us.
Friday Apr 17, 2020
Friday Apr 17, 2020
Friday After Easter Revival - Missionaries Luke & Samantha Campbell - April 17, 2020
We are thrilled to have Luke and Samantha Campbell - Missionaries to Costa Rica with us to speak to us tonight. In addition to them speaking, we are sharing one of the worship experiences we had while in Costa Rica in June of 2019 at the Sunday afternoon service in Desemparados. They have a beautiful miracle baby boy named Asher. God is doing incredible things through the Campbells and their ministry. We are so thankful for all their efforts for the Kingdom of God!
Wednesday Apr 15, 2020
Wednesday After Easter Revival - Evangelist Mark Winters - April 15, 2020
Wednesday Apr 15, 2020
Wednesday Apr 15, 2020
Wednesday - After Easter Cyber Revival 7pm - Evangelist Mark Winters
We are excited to host Evangelist Mark Winters from Denham Springs, LA to minister to us tonight. He travels all over the country to minister and has seen hundreds of people filled with the Holy Ghost. What a blessing to have him minister to us here on this livestream. If you would like to contact him, you can find him on Twitter - @EvgMarkWinters - please reach out to him and let him know you appreciate his ministry.
Tuesday Apr 14, 2020
Tuesday After Easter Revival - Evangelist Tim Greene - April 14, 2020
Tuesday Apr 14, 2020
Tuesday Apr 14, 2020
Tuesday After Easter Revival - Evangelist Tim Greene - April 14, 2020
Tonight, we host Tim Greene, an ordained minister of the UPCI has traveled full time as a minister since 1998. Before that, he served as Youth Pastor, Sunday School Teacher, Bible Study Teacher, Pastor's Assistant, Prison Minister, Homeless Minister, Drama Director, as well as other outreach efforts available to him and his family. As a full time international minister, he has traveled across the United States as well as Canada, the Philippines, South Africa, Madagascar, Uganda, Namibia, Singapore, Malaysia, Greece, and more. He travels with his wife, Lois. In the life of evangelism, they are involved in many different areas of ministry including Holy Ghost and Healing Crusades, services for local communities, Bible Studies, Altar Workers Seminars, Youth Rallies, Singles Rallies, and Men's and Women’s Conferences and more. Through the power of a mighty God, they have seen countless miracles. Contact Tim & Lois Greene: http://greeneministries.com/
CCLI License #: CSPL043706
Monday Apr 13, 2020
Monday After Easter Revival - Evangelist Felix Crowder - April 13, 2020
Monday Apr 13, 2020
Monday Apr 13, 2020
Monday After Easter Revival - Evangelist Felix Crowder - April 13, 2020
theCrossroads After Easter Cyber Revival Monday - Rev. Felix Crowder from Indianapolis, IN preaching from home. We are excited to hear what God has to say to us and respond to His voice tonight. Thank you so much for joining us.
Sunday Apr 12, 2020
Love is Why - He Came, Died, Rose and Reigns - April 12, 2020
Sunday Apr 12, 2020
Sunday Apr 12, 2020
LOVE is WHY
He CAME, DIED, ROSE and REIGNS
“LOVE IS WHY” SERIES
Luke 19:10
10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
LOVE IS WHY JESUS CAME
Through SIN – Satan gained power over mankind
Simply put – We couldn’t save ourselves…and we were slaves to SIN – with a death sentence hanging over us. The only way for us to have life was for there to be a sinless human sacrifice that would pay for our sins. God loved us enough that He took upon the form of a servant – and put on flesh to save by His Love!
LOVE IS WHY JESUS DIED
Very often when the Bible trying to find the most obvious expressions of God’s love, the fastest way is to beeline for the cross of Jesus Christ. Calvary is God’s statement of just how much He loves you. When you think of the immensity of God’s love, the first thing the Bible often asks us to do is to consider the price that was paid.
Romans 5:8 (NASB)
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
It was love that motivated Jesus to come to earth and die on the cross and take the punishment as our substitute. The death of Christ was also a visible demonstration of the love of God for sinful humanity.
We could not die for ourselves – our blood wasn’t pure enough to save us…We needed Jesus to take our place. He LOVED us enough to DIE for us!
LOVE IS WHY JESUS ROSE
On the cross, Jesus displayed that He can conquer corruption and forgive His people from their sin. Colossians 2:15 (NKJV)
15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
Acts 2:24 (NASB)
But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.
Jesus loved us enough to not just die – but to rise from the dead. That is what we Christianity celebrates today – the fact of the resurrection! Thank God He loved me enough to GET UP!
LOVE IS WHY JESUS REIGNS
Why would you want Jesus to REIGN in your life? Because He truly knows what is best for you. He ALONE is wise!
1 Timothy 1:16-17 (NKJV)
16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Jesus Loves me enough to reign over all the world, but also He loves me enough to reign in my life as well. Love is why He reigns in my life – that’s good because…
He sees the Unseen & He knows the Future
If I’m in charge of my life…I am going to mess it up for sure…I need God to reign in my life. It’s not because He wants to be a dictator over me…it’s because He loves me and His wisdom is so much greater than mine…His ways are so far above my own. How arrogant I must seem to Him when I try to reign in my life…I need to let Him reign my life in His love!
How do I respond?
Ask God to forgive you, and remove any sin from your life – All of us have past mistakes and sins, many times it is those things that cloud our perception to the fact that Jesus loves us no matter what. The devil will use those things to make you feel unloved and unworthy of love. So ask God to cleanse you of all those things today! There is no one here that is worthy, but there is a proper way to deal with your guilt and shame – that is to turn it over to God at this altar and LEAVE IT THERE! That is when Love can come in.
Be Baptized today in Jesus’ Name – to wash you completely. His love made a way for you to be clean – why not take that step today to be identified with Him in baptism and have every stain from your past washed away?
Be filled with God’s love through receiving His Spirit – God’s Spirit will enable you to love the unloveable and will bring joy and peace into your life everyday. When you receive it, you will speak in a language you didn’t learn in school. This is the initial evidence that you are receiving the same experience that they did in the church described in the book of Acts.
Why don’t you make a place to pray right now in your home, in your living room or family room or wherever you are watching from and ask God to lead you closer to Him today. If you are not sure what your next step is after you have prayed – why not us right after service and get some spiritual advice on how to move forward.
Sunday Mar 15, 2020
Sunday Mar 15, 2020
Guest Speaker Ron Elliot preaching about how the Trash man comes on Wednesday.
Sunday Sep 15, 2019
Sunday Mar 31, 2019