Hello Everyone,
Another attribute that those who have gone before us is They Withstood the Trials of Faith.
Examples:
Nameless others – Hebrews 11:35-38 35Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground
They speak to us saying, “When life goes bad don’t give up. There is a better life coming.” They didn’t receive the promise but saw it from afar, Hebrews 11:39, 13. This is the definition of faith, verse 1.
Illus. Stephen in Acts 7:55-5655But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56"Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
Also those who have gone before “Became Our Witnesses of Faith”
Hebrews (12:1).
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
There’s a gallery of witnesses watching us, pulling for us. They along with the Trinity and the angelic hosts cheer us on.
We should draw strength from these witnesses. We have great reason to hold fast in faith.
There is a great “cloud of witnesses” cheering us on. They still speak.
It may be fathers, grandfathers, husbands and children who have given their lives to protect our freedom.
And it may be those who endured till the end, those who fought the good fight of faith.
May our lives speak to the next generation as being faithful and doing great things for God.
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Say It Loud
Hello Everyone,
Another attribute of those men and women of faith is They Pursued the Walk of Faith.
Steven Curtis Chapman has a song called, “The Great Adventure”. The first line goes, “Saddle up your horses, we’ve got a trail to blaze; through the wild blue yonder of God’s amazing grace.”
Examples:Abraham – Hebrews 11:8. By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.
Abraham went out not knowing where he was going.Abraham speaks to us today saying, “When God calls, GO.”
He also says, “When tests come, trust” (Hebrews 11:17 offering Isaac).By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son,
Moses – Hebrews 11:29. By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
Moses led the children of Israel through the Red Sea.Moses speaks to us today saying, “Against overwhelming odds move forward.”
Joshua – Hebrews 11:30. By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
Joshua marched the army of Israel around Jericho 7 days 13 times.Joshua speaks to us today saying, “When it doesn’t make sense, keep going.”Another attribute that we see in these that in the Hall of Faith is They Accomplished Works of Faith.
Examples: Noah – Hebrews 11:7. By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
He built an ark. Noah says to us today, “Though it is hard work and may take a lifetime keep working.” (Ark symbolic of the church)
Rahab – Hebrews 11:31. By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
She hid and protected the spies. Rahab speaks to us today and says, “Even though it involves great risk, side with God.” (Joshua 2)
Others – Hebrews 11:32-34. 3And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.
These speak to us today saying, “Every victory in life, every accomplishment is given to us by grace through faith.”
I guess the question that we need to ask ourselves this week is what does our lives speak today and what will they say when we are gone.
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Another attribute of those men and women of faith is They Pursued the Walk of Faith.
Steven Curtis Chapman has a song called, “The Great Adventure”. The first line goes, “Saddle up your horses, we’ve got a trail to blaze; through the wild blue yonder of God’s amazing grace.”
Examples:Abraham – Hebrews 11:8. By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.
Abraham went out not knowing where he was going.Abraham speaks to us today saying, “When God calls, GO.”
He also says, “When tests come, trust” (Hebrews 11:17 offering Isaac).By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son,
Moses – Hebrews 11:29. By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
Moses led the children of Israel through the Red Sea.Moses speaks to us today saying, “Against overwhelming odds move forward.”
Joshua – Hebrews 11:30. By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
Joshua marched the army of Israel around Jericho 7 days 13 times.Joshua speaks to us today saying, “When it doesn’t make sense, keep going.”Another attribute that we see in these that in the Hall of Faith is They Accomplished Works of Faith.
Examples: Noah – Hebrews 11:7. By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
He built an ark. Noah says to us today, “Though it is hard work and may take a lifetime keep working.” (Ark symbolic of the church)
Rahab – Hebrews 11:31. By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
She hid and protected the spies. Rahab speaks to us today and says, “Even though it involves great risk, side with God.” (Joshua 2)
Others – Hebrews 11:32-34. 3And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.
These speak to us today saying, “Every victory in life, every accomplishment is given to us by grace through faith.”
I guess the question that we need to ask ourselves this week is what does our lives speak today and what will they say when we are gone.
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
They Still Speak
Hello Everyone,
The first person in the Bible to die was Abel. Hebrews 11:4 says that though he is dead he still speaks.
By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
I think that is true of any person of faith. Their death is not the end of them. They still speak through their influence.
There are several attributes of faith I want us to see in Hebrews 11 this week. First they “Understood the Words of Faith”.
Let’s look at a Definition of Faith (11:1)
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
St. Augustine said, “Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe.”
One writer said, “Faith is voluntary anticipation.”
When a child is just starting to walk they may do fine on the driveway. But when they come to the edge where the grass starts, I’ve seen them reach up their hand for there mother or father to take it and then they would step off into the grass. They were walking onto new uncharted territory and they had full confidence when they held their dad’s hand.
We should explore new territory for God but don’t forget to put your hand into His hand.
We can move forward with confident faith holding to His hand.
A Declaration of Faith (11:6)
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
They knew that God rewarded faith. They knew that God is only pleased when we demonstrate faith in action.
The Destination of Faith (11:13-16)
13All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
Here is the end result of faith. When we understand this we can attempt great things for God.
I heard of a man who was witnessing in an inner-city housing project. One man who was on drugs pulled a knife and said he was going to kill him. In a flash of inspiration, he said, “You can’t threaten me with heaven.” The man with the knife moved on and the man continued witnessing.
Heaven is the reward, our final destination. It should make us BOLD!
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
The first person in the Bible to die was Abel. Hebrews 11:4 says that though he is dead he still speaks.
By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
I think that is true of any person of faith. Their death is not the end of them. They still speak through their influence.
There are several attributes of faith I want us to see in Hebrews 11 this week. First they “Understood the Words of Faith”.
Let’s look at a Definition of Faith (11:1)
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
St. Augustine said, “Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe.”
One writer said, “Faith is voluntary anticipation.”
When a child is just starting to walk they may do fine on the driveway. But when they come to the edge where the grass starts, I’ve seen them reach up their hand for there mother or father to take it and then they would step off into the grass. They were walking onto new uncharted territory and they had full confidence when they held their dad’s hand.
We should explore new territory for God but don’t forget to put your hand into His hand.
We can move forward with confident faith holding to His hand.
A Declaration of Faith (11:6)
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
They knew that God rewarded faith. They knew that God is only pleased when we demonstrate faith in action.
The Destination of Faith (11:13-16)
13All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
Here is the end result of faith. When we understand this we can attempt great things for God.
I heard of a man who was witnessing in an inner-city housing project. One man who was on drugs pulled a knife and said he was going to kill him. In a flash of inspiration, he said, “You can’t threaten me with heaven.” The man with the knife moved on and the man continued witnessing.
Heaven is the reward, our final destination. It should make us BOLD!
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Our Destiny
Hello Everyone,
Last observation that we can see from David’s personal relationship with the Lord is DAVID’S DESTINY - vs. 9-11
9 They who seek my life will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth.
10 They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals.
11 But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God's name will praise him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced.
First we see the Punishment of the Rebellious -- vs. 9-10
The Path of the Righteous leads Upward.The Path of the Rebellious leads Downward.David looks confidently to the defeat and destruction of his enemies
And then there is the Prosperity of the Righteous -- vs. 11
There’s a Better day coming for the children of GodThe child of God can be satisfied knowing that this is not all there is to it.I Corinthians 15:19 “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”
It is in the quiet times of our devotional life that we find hope in this life and promises for the future.
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Last observation that we can see from David’s personal relationship with the Lord is DAVID’S DESTINY - vs. 9-11
9 They who seek my life will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth.
10 They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals.
11 But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God's name will praise him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced.
First we see the Punishment of the Rebellious -- vs. 9-10
The Path of the Righteous leads Upward.The Path of the Rebellious leads Downward.David looks confidently to the defeat and destruction of his enemies
And then there is the Prosperity of the Righteous -- vs. 11
There’s a Better day coming for the children of GodThe child of God can be satisfied knowing that this is not all there is to it.I Corinthians 15:19 “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”
It is in the quiet times of our devotional life that we find hope in this life and promises for the future.
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Our Defense
Hello Everyone,
We see DAVID’S DEFENSE: Psalm 63
7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.
Protection is guaranteed by both God’s promises and by man’s experiences.
The Word of the Lord is Trusted
The Promises of the Lord are Tested
Deliverance from the Lord is Treasured
“In the shadow of your wings” here is a beautiful picture. Rain and snow can’t penetrate it. The wings make a complete covering. There is resistance in the feathers on the outside and softness in the feathers on the inside. To that baby chick, the mother hen’s wings means Security, Solace, Serenity, Strength.
The Shelter was:
Reasonable -- It Met the Need
Reliable -- It Had been Proven Before
Real -- Not Mere Imagination of the Mind
Restful -- David Felt Secure
In verse 8 we find that the seeker is sought.The expression “My soul clings to you;” literally means “is Glued to you”
David is saying “My soul completely depends on you” We see a mutual relationship. David depends on and cleaves to God and God holds him up with His powerful right hand.
It is our business to depend on Him and it’s His business to be faithful.
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
We see DAVID’S DEFENSE: Psalm 63
7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.
Protection is guaranteed by both God’s promises and by man’s experiences.
The Word of the Lord is Trusted
The Promises of the Lord are Tested
Deliverance from the Lord is Treasured
“In the shadow of your wings” here is a beautiful picture. Rain and snow can’t penetrate it. The wings make a complete covering. There is resistance in the feathers on the outside and softness in the feathers on the inside. To that baby chick, the mother hen’s wings means Security, Solace, Serenity, Strength.
The Shelter was:
Reasonable -- It Met the Need
Reliable -- It Had been Proven Before
Real -- Not Mere Imagination of the Mind
Restful -- David Felt Secure
In verse 8 we find that the seeker is sought.The expression “My soul clings to you;” literally means “is Glued to you”
David is saying “My soul completely depends on you” We see a mutual relationship. David depends on and cleaves to God and God holds him up with His powerful right hand.
It is our business to depend on Him and it’s His business to be faithful.
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Hello Everyone,
As we look at David’s personal relationship with the Lord and how he kept the Main Thing the Main thing lets look at DAVID’S DELIGHT in Psalm 63:3-6
3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.
5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.
God’s Love was David’s Delight
As we look at David’s personal relationship with the Lord and how he kept the Main Thing the Main thing lets look at DAVID’S DELIGHT in Psalm 63:3-6
3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.
5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.
God’s Love was David’s Delight
In David’s opinion the loving-kindness of God is better than a life of prosperity and pleasure. David would rather have God’s Love in the wilderness than to have prosperity and pleasure in Jerusalem. He understood the truth in Acts 17:28 “For in him we live and move and have our being.”David is saying like the songwriter, “I’d rather have Jesus”
His life was a life of Thanksgiving vs. 4-6
We need to bless the Lord with our lives as well as our lips. The lifting up of the hands was the attitude of worship and symbolized the lifting up of the heart.
Hebrews 12:12 “Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down”
Thank God we do not have dead gatherings in our Church. There will never be as long as we have a heart of thankfulness.
In vs. 5 David passes from thirst to satisfaction.
vs. 1 “my soul thirsts for you,”
vs. 5 “my soul will be satisfied”
Jesus alone can give satisfaction. The KJV USES the words “marrow” and “fatness” in vs. 5 and they express the idea of bountiful provision
Ephesians 3:20 “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think....”
Verse 6 reveals that David not only had a feast in the night, but also a song in the heart.
Quiet hours have a way of waking up the memory. Remembering reminds us of who God is and what He can do. David found a good activity for those nights he couldn’t sleep. Meditation- it is not just daydreaming, but continuous thought.
We need to be continually thinking about God’s blessings. It would cause more rejoicing. It would cause less grumbling.
Don’t you Just Love Jesus!
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Monday, May 18, 2009
MY God
Hello Everyone,
We all know that in-spite of all the modern conveniences and modern technology, all of us still struggle with a feeling of being hurried, frazzled, stressed-out, over-busy, over-committed, and overwhelmed.
Cultivating an intimate relationship with God should be the number one priority the main thing for every believer and requires taking time to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to His Word.
What would happen to us as individuals, as families, as a church if we kept “the main thing the main thing”?
What I am taking about is an all-out effort to pursue God until we really found Him. What kinds of change would such a pursuit make in our lives?
I can’t help but believe it would literally turn our lives, our homes our church, our city upside down.
In Psalm 63 David gives us insight into his personal relationship with the Lord.
First we see DAVID’S DESIRE in vs. 1-2.
O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.
David desired communion with God
David’s communion with God was so sweet that he wasn’t going to let the desert destroy it.God can be just as real in the desert as He is in the Palace.
On Many Occasions God Appeared to his children while they were in the wilderness
· Hagar saw God in the wilderness - Gen. 16:13
· Moses saw God in the wilderness - Ex 3:1-4
· Elijah saw God in the wilderness - I Kings 19:4-18
Here David finds out that He’s just as real in the wilderness as He was in Jerusalem.
David could enjoy communion with God in the wilderness because of his personal relationship to God
David said, “O God, you are my God,” Jehovah was the God of David Not only by Creation, but by Covenant Not only by his CLAIMS, but also by David’s CHOICE. Not only by Conversion, but by ConsecrationThe reason some people can’t make it through the wilderness experience is because they do not have a personal relationship with God
“Earnestly I seek you;” (NIV) “Early will I Seek Thee” (KJV)
Seek God early in Life I have never heard anyone say I wished I waited.Seek God early each Day in the Morning, while the day is fresh is the best time to meet with God. Before your mind gets cluttered with stuff you need to spend some time with Him. Seek God early in every Problem we always try to work it out by ourselves and end up making the problem worse. We use God, the Church, and the Word as a last resort. Someone said, “The Wise Man Does first what the Fool Does Last.”
Peter said, “Cast your cares on him for he careth for you.” Don’t try to carry what only He can handle. Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there
David said “my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land”
The soul and body represent the whole man his whole being went out after God.Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
David was in a “Dry and Thirsty Land” where there was no water. This is true literally because the wilderness of Judah was desert country. But David was also dry spiritually.
David was in exile from his throne and the place of worship, but God was still able to give him spiritual water away from the worship place.
He can do the same for you today.
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
We all know that in-spite of all the modern conveniences and modern technology, all of us still struggle with a feeling of being hurried, frazzled, stressed-out, over-busy, over-committed, and overwhelmed.
Cultivating an intimate relationship with God should be the number one priority the main thing for every believer and requires taking time to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to His Word.
What would happen to us as individuals, as families, as a church if we kept “the main thing the main thing”?
What I am taking about is an all-out effort to pursue God until we really found Him. What kinds of change would such a pursuit make in our lives?
I can’t help but believe it would literally turn our lives, our homes our church, our city upside down.
In Psalm 63 David gives us insight into his personal relationship with the Lord.
First we see DAVID’S DESIRE in vs. 1-2.
O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.
David desired communion with God
David’s communion with God was so sweet that he wasn’t going to let the desert destroy it.God can be just as real in the desert as He is in the Palace.
On Many Occasions God Appeared to his children while they were in the wilderness
· Hagar saw God in the wilderness - Gen. 16:13
· Moses saw God in the wilderness - Ex 3:1-4
· Elijah saw God in the wilderness - I Kings 19:4-18
Here David finds out that He’s just as real in the wilderness as He was in Jerusalem.
David could enjoy communion with God in the wilderness because of his personal relationship to God
David said, “O God, you are my God,” Jehovah was the God of David Not only by Creation, but by Covenant Not only by his CLAIMS, but also by David’s CHOICE. Not only by Conversion, but by ConsecrationThe reason some people can’t make it through the wilderness experience is because they do not have a personal relationship with God
“Earnestly I seek you;” (NIV) “Early will I Seek Thee” (KJV)
Seek God early in Life I have never heard anyone say I wished I waited.Seek God early each Day in the Morning, while the day is fresh is the best time to meet with God. Before your mind gets cluttered with stuff you need to spend some time with Him. Seek God early in every Problem we always try to work it out by ourselves and end up making the problem worse. We use God, the Church, and the Word as a last resort. Someone said, “The Wise Man Does first what the Fool Does Last.”
Peter said, “Cast your cares on him for he careth for you.” Don’t try to carry what only He can handle. Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there
David said “my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land”
The soul and body represent the whole man his whole being went out after God.Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
David was in a “Dry and Thirsty Land” where there was no water. This is true literally because the wilderness of Judah was desert country. But David was also dry spiritually.
David was in exile from his throne and the place of worship, but God was still able to give him spiritual water away from the worship place.
He can do the same for you today.
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Power in Hard times.
Hello Everyone,
There is something that we need to understand and that is Pentecostals Are At Their Best When Times Are At There Worst.
The current Pentecostal movement began in humble locations like Azusa St.
We are at our best when we are forced to depend radically on the Holy Spirit.
We know that great things can be accomplished when we understand “apart from me you can do nothing” John 15:5.
We can never forget the fact that everything is possible only when “nothing is possible without God!”
We need to ask questions like are we doing anything dangerous enough that the Holy Spirit just has to show up.
Our challenge is to be willing to sacrifice respectability, status, and control.
But this is what it takes to find out that our God is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, NIV
Pentecostals Understand The Supernatural As Present In The Natural.
Power ministry has been proven essential among populations sensitive to the spiritual world.
When the fire consumed the sacrifice on Elijah’s altar on Mount Carmel, the people fell prostrate and proclaimed, “the Lord-He is God!” (1 Kings 18:39 NIV)
America needs to come to this same confession, and they will when they realize that Christianity is more than self-help formulas, and rituals.
The POWER of God must come to heal and deliver!
Desperation turns to Dependence, and Dependence turns to POWER!
No one becomes famous, but the hurting are being healed, and the captive are being freed!
Gods ready are we?
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
There is something that we need to understand and that is Pentecostals Are At Their Best When Times Are At There Worst.
The current Pentecostal movement began in humble locations like Azusa St.
We are at our best when we are forced to depend radically on the Holy Spirit.
We know that great things can be accomplished when we understand “apart from me you can do nothing” John 15:5.
We can never forget the fact that everything is possible only when “nothing is possible without God!”
We need to ask questions like are we doing anything dangerous enough that the Holy Spirit just has to show up.
Our challenge is to be willing to sacrifice respectability, status, and control.
But this is what it takes to find out that our God is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, NIV
Pentecostals Understand The Supernatural As Present In The Natural.
Power ministry has been proven essential among populations sensitive to the spiritual world.
When the fire consumed the sacrifice on Elijah’s altar on Mount Carmel, the people fell prostrate and proclaimed, “the Lord-He is God!” (1 Kings 18:39 NIV)
America needs to come to this same confession, and they will when they realize that Christianity is more than self-help formulas, and rituals.
The POWER of God must come to heal and deliver!
Desperation turns to Dependence, and Dependence turns to POWER!
No one becomes famous, but the hurting are being healed, and the captive are being freed!
Gods ready are we?
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Pentecost is in the DNA of Revival
Hello Everyone,
How should we as Pentecostals respond to a world or age that is anti God anti Christian? The text that we read yesterday says it best.
1 Kings 18:39
The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!"
Pentecostals need to ask how we are going to affect a Nation that is becoming Non-Christian.
We are to make sure that we know that it is not survival but potential.
We will rise to the challenge of becoming all that we need to be. HOW?
All through His-story we have seen that A Revival Movement Fits In A Time When Revival Is The Need.
The number of people in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost was about the size of the average Church.
But in just a few minutes, the Holy Spirit transformed a small praying band into a Global Church.
A massive outpouring of the Holy Spirit is what the American Church needs today!
The longing for revival is the DNA of Pentecost.
And to tell you the truth everything else has been tried.
An hour of entertainment on a Sunday morning just will not cut it. It may attract thousands of religious people but it does not transform lives and make BELIEVERS!
Saying a prayer and still living the way you did is not personal revival it is not transformation.
Being baptized and going to a bar or night club is not evidence of dieing to oneself the old man is still in charge.
The potential of Pentecost in these days is the captive set free the broken heart mended and lives being transformed.
We need a Pentecost!
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
How should we as Pentecostals respond to a world or age that is anti God anti Christian? The text that we read yesterday says it best.
1 Kings 18:39
The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!"
Pentecostals need to ask how we are going to affect a Nation that is becoming Non-Christian.
We are to make sure that we know that it is not survival but potential.
We will rise to the challenge of becoming all that we need to be. HOW?
All through His-story we have seen that A Revival Movement Fits In A Time When Revival Is The Need.
The number of people in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost was about the size of the average Church.
But in just a few minutes, the Holy Spirit transformed a small praying band into a Global Church.
A massive outpouring of the Holy Spirit is what the American Church needs today!
The longing for revival is the DNA of Pentecost.
And to tell you the truth everything else has been tried.
An hour of entertainment on a Sunday morning just will not cut it. It may attract thousands of religious people but it does not transform lives and make BELIEVERS!
Saying a prayer and still living the way you did is not personal revival it is not transformation.
Being baptized and going to a bar or night club is not evidence of dieing to oneself the old man is still in charge.
The potential of Pentecost in these days is the captive set free the broken heart mended and lives being transformed.
We need a Pentecost!
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Hello Everyone,
Today’s text is a little lengthy I hope you can take the time to read it. For the next couple of days I want us to look at Pentecostal Potential in Non-Christian Times.
1 Kings 18
20 So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." But the people said nothing.
22 Then Elijah said to them, "I am the only one of the LORD's prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. 23 Get two bulls for us. Let them choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire—he is God." Then all the people said, "What you say is good."
25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire." 26 So they took the bull given them and prepared it. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. "O Baal, answer us!" they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.
27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. "Shout louder!" he said. "Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened." 28 So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. 29 Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come here to me." They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the LORD, which was in ruins. 31 Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, "Your name shall be Israel." 32 With the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed. 33 He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, "Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood."
34 "Do it again," he said, and they did it again. "Do it a third time," he ordered, and they did it the third time. 35 The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.
36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again."
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.
39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, "The LORD -he is God! The LORD -he is God!"
Things have changed. In the world of my childhood (the 1050’s), 95% of Americans practiced the religion of their parents, 75% of them attended services weekly.
This year, one adult in six will change religious and/or congregational affiliation, with about 40% claiming to attend worship regularly.
A nation that was mostly Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish in the middle of the last century, now has 2000+ religions and counting in this century.
Slowly the United States is becoming a post-Christian nation. One writer said this: “We are in revival; it’s just not a Christian revival.”
A certain actress gives us insight to the condition we are in when she said: “I believe in everything. I was raised Catholic, but now I’m Buddhist. But I don’t practice anything specifically.”
Devotion to personal spiritualities is gradually replacing the Church in our culture.
Understand Christianity is hardly gone, but it is considered just one option on a menu of spiritual choices.
How should we as Pentecostals respond?
1 Kings 18:39
The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!"
We need a Pentecost!
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor
Today’s text is a little lengthy I hope you can take the time to read it. For the next couple of days I want us to look at Pentecostal Potential in Non-Christian Times.
1 Kings 18
20 So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." But the people said nothing.
22 Then Elijah said to them, "I am the only one of the LORD's prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. 23 Get two bulls for us. Let them choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire—he is God." Then all the people said, "What you say is good."
25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire." 26 So they took the bull given them and prepared it. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. "O Baal, answer us!" they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.
27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. "Shout louder!" he said. "Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened." 28 So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. 29 Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come here to me." They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the LORD, which was in ruins. 31 Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, "Your name shall be Israel." 32 With the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed. 33 He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, "Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood."
34 "Do it again," he said, and they did it again. "Do it a third time," he ordered, and they did it the third time. 35 The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.
36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again."
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.
39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, "The LORD -he is God! The LORD -he is God!"
Things have changed. In the world of my childhood (the 1050’s), 95% of Americans practiced the religion of their parents, 75% of them attended services weekly.
This year, one adult in six will change religious and/or congregational affiliation, with about 40% claiming to attend worship regularly.
A nation that was mostly Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish in the middle of the last century, now has 2000+ religions and counting in this century.
Slowly the United States is becoming a post-Christian nation. One writer said this: “We are in revival; it’s just not a Christian revival.”
A certain actress gives us insight to the condition we are in when she said: “I believe in everything. I was raised Catholic, but now I’m Buddhist. But I don’t practice anything specifically.”
Devotion to personal spiritualities is gradually replacing the Church in our culture.
Understand Christianity is hardly gone, but it is considered just one option on a menu of spiritual choices.
How should we as Pentecostals respond?
1 Kings 18:39
The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!"
We need a Pentecost!
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Extraordinary Ministry
Hello Everyone,
The Power of The Holy Spirit is Needed for Extraordinary Ministry.
There is something powerful, dynamic, wonderful, and glorious when people come into the presence of Jesus Christ and the Power of the Holy Spirit..
The Spirit makes the room alive and fills it with the POWER and anticipation of what God is doing.
Three things we need to know:
1. The believer that is filled with the Holy Spirit has all the POWER, TOOLS, and KNOWLEDGE they need to accomplish any challenge.
2. The Spirit-filled Church has every GIFT necessary to do the work of God.
3. The Holy Spirit Empowered Church will be KNOWN in their city.
We need to realize that God has called us to our city.
This is our city to reach and ours alone we can’t depend on no one else to do it we must do it.
The entire responsibility rests on our shoulders. Every house, apartment, condo, and mobile home is ours to get this message of Jesus Christ into.
Jesus, by the POWER of the Holy Spirit’s direction returned to Galilee from the wilderness.
We need the Power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish the will of God TODAY!
We need “The Spirit of the Master”!
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
The Power of The Holy Spirit is Needed for Extraordinary Ministry.
There is something powerful, dynamic, wonderful, and glorious when people come into the presence of Jesus Christ and the Power of the Holy Spirit..
The Spirit makes the room alive and fills it with the POWER and anticipation of what God is doing.
Three things we need to know:
1. The believer that is filled with the Holy Spirit has all the POWER, TOOLS, and KNOWLEDGE they need to accomplish any challenge.
2. The Spirit-filled Church has every GIFT necessary to do the work of God.
3. The Holy Spirit Empowered Church will be KNOWN in their city.
We need to realize that God has called us to our city.
This is our city to reach and ours alone we can’t depend on no one else to do it we must do it.
The entire responsibility rests on our shoulders. Every house, apartment, condo, and mobile home is ours to get this message of Jesus Christ into.
Jesus, by the POWER of the Holy Spirit’s direction returned to Galilee from the wilderness.
We need the Power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish the will of God TODAY!
We need “The Spirit of the Master”!
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Which way do I go?
Hello Everyone,
We need the Power of the Holy Spirit to know the MIND of Christ.
The Holy Spirit directs us in the will of God.
“The very same Holy Spirit who led (the writer’s of the Bible along) longs to lead us today.”
Quote: “Without the Holy Spirit, the Bible is like an ocean which cannot be sounded, heavens which cannot be surveyed, mines which cannot be explored, and mysteries beyond unraveling.’
We must – we must yield to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit in our lives must be a HIGH PRIORITY.
Paul said in 2 Corinthians 3:5-6:
5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant-not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
NIV
It is the Holy Spirit that seals, sanctifies, strengthens, convicts, convinces, confirms, reveals, restores, and revives.
We need the Holy Spirit to guide us into a place of service.
· Ministry to Hurting People.
· Ministry to Needs.
· Ministry to Those Who are Hungry For God.
The only way that we can do this is if we have “The Spirit of the Master” and go into our cities as Jesus went into Galilee “in the power of the Spirit”.
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
We need the Power of the Holy Spirit to know the MIND of Christ.
The Holy Spirit directs us in the will of God.
“The very same Holy Spirit who led (the writer’s of the Bible along) longs to lead us today.”
Quote: “Without the Holy Spirit, the Bible is like an ocean which cannot be sounded, heavens which cannot be surveyed, mines which cannot be explored, and mysteries beyond unraveling.’
We must – we must yield to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit in our lives must be a HIGH PRIORITY.
Paul said in 2 Corinthians 3:5-6:
5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant-not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
NIV
It is the Holy Spirit that seals, sanctifies, strengthens, convicts, convinces, confirms, reveals, restores, and revives.
We need the Holy Spirit to guide us into a place of service.
· Ministry to Hurting People.
· Ministry to Needs.
· Ministry to Those Who are Hungry For God.
The only way that we can do this is if we have “The Spirit of the Master” and go into our cities as Jesus went into Galilee “in the power of the Spirit”.
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
The Holy Spirit has put you right where you need to be.
Hello Everyone,
Read with me:
Luke 4:14,15
14Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. NIV
The Holy Spirit directed Jesus into the wilderness and back to Galilee. (14)
The Power of the Holy Spirit placed Jesus in Galilee. (14)
Galilee was a populated place.
Our cities or growing and are more populated than ever.
Galilee was a needy place.
There are more needy people than ever all around us.
Galilee was a fertile place.
People are hungry for answers to spiritual questions. The fields are ripe unto harvest.
The Holy Spirit inspired Jesus’ teaching, making Him well known. (14)
When we have the “Spirit of the Master” God will draw the right people to us at the right time.
When we have the “Spirit of the Master” God will give us the right words at the right time.
It is the Spirit of the Master that we need!
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Read with me:
Luke 4:14,15
14Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. NIV
The Holy Spirit directed Jesus into the wilderness and back to Galilee. (14)
The Power of the Holy Spirit placed Jesus in Galilee. (14)
Galilee was a populated place.
Our cities or growing and are more populated than ever.
Galilee was a needy place.
There are more needy people than ever all around us.
Galilee was a fertile place.
People are hungry for answers to spiritual questions. The fields are ripe unto harvest.
The Holy Spirit inspired Jesus’ teaching, making Him well known. (14)
When we have the “Spirit of the Master” God will draw the right people to us at the right time.
When we have the “Spirit of the Master” God will give us the right words at the right time.
It is the Spirit of the Master that we need!
Oh How He Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Monday, May 4, 2009
The Spirit of the Master
Hello Everyone,
Read with me Luke 4:14,15:
14Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. NIV
"A young man was apprenticed to a master artist who produced the most beautiful stained glass windows anywhere. The apprentice could not approach the master’s genius so he borrowed his master’s tools, thinking that was the answer. After several weeks, the young man said to his teacher, ’I’m not doing any better with your tools than I did with mine.’The teacher replied,’ So, it’s not the tools of the master you need; it’s the spirit of the master you need.
Jesus was unique to everyone in His day:
· His teaching was different.
· His miracles were extraordinary.
· His logic blew the scholars minds.
· His compassion became legendary.
What was the Empowerment that Jesus had, to do what He did?
Luke 4:14
14Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, NIV
In the EXTRAORDINARY times that we are living in we need EXTRAORDINARY people!
We need people who:
· Stand out
· Who work in the miraculous
· Who are great in the faith
· Who have great compassion
· Who have the POWER to put devils to flight
We need the POWER of God for us to be used by God!
The EMPOWERMENT of the Holy Spirit that we see in Jesus’ life is what we need in our ministries right NOW!
The POWER of the Holy Spirit is what distinguished Jesus’ life.
· He was conceived when the Holy Spirit came upon His mother.
· The Holy Spirit descended like a dove on Him at His baptism.
· The Holy Spirit led Him into the wilderness to be tempted.
Jesus was led by, filled with, and empowered by the Holy Spirit of God.
And this same Spirit can empower us to be the extraordinary people of God we need to be!
We need the Spirit of The Master!
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Read with me Luke 4:14,15:
14Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. NIV
"A young man was apprenticed to a master artist who produced the most beautiful stained glass windows anywhere. The apprentice could not approach the master’s genius so he borrowed his master’s tools, thinking that was the answer. After several weeks, the young man said to his teacher, ’I’m not doing any better with your tools than I did with mine.’The teacher replied,’ So, it’s not the tools of the master you need; it’s the spirit of the master you need.
Jesus was unique to everyone in His day:
· His teaching was different.
· His miracles were extraordinary.
· His logic blew the scholars minds.
· His compassion became legendary.
What was the Empowerment that Jesus had, to do what He did?
Luke 4:14
14Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, NIV
In the EXTRAORDINARY times that we are living in we need EXTRAORDINARY people!
We need people who:
· Stand out
· Who work in the miraculous
· Who are great in the faith
· Who have great compassion
· Who have the POWER to put devils to flight
We need the POWER of God for us to be used by God!
The EMPOWERMENT of the Holy Spirit that we see in Jesus’ life is what we need in our ministries right NOW!
The POWER of the Holy Spirit is what distinguished Jesus’ life.
· He was conceived when the Holy Spirit came upon His mother.
· The Holy Spirit descended like a dove on Him at His baptism.
· The Holy Spirit led Him into the wilderness to be tempted.
Jesus was led by, filled with, and empowered by the Holy Spirit of God.
And this same Spirit can empower us to be the extraordinary people of God we need to be!
We need the Spirit of The Master!
Oh How HE Loves Us!
Pastor Phil
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)