2023.12.31 - The End Of One Thing . . .

 

 

Hebrews 12:1-2

12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. KJV

• Lay aside - to put away, cast off, 
• Weight - mass bulging by its load, burden, hindrance, 

 

 

Joy that was set before Him . . .

• You are tired and perhaps ready to give up, but you must "look beyond what you can see" by faith and see what is in your future
• You need to see the end!
• The nails hurt, the betrayal hurt, the pain hurt, but He endured because He looked beyond it . . . He saw Himself with us in Heaven w/ The Father, He saw His assignment completed, He heard "well done" 

 

The end of one thing is most generally the beginning of something else, the decision of whether we are walking into a good thing or bad thing is ours, God has already made up His mind, we must make up ours

• Atrophy - non use, lack of change allows what we have become to waste away
• When we stop fighting we start losing 
• If we stop fighting we become stagnant and refuse to find reasons to stay - or stay for the wrong reasons
• Remember what Jesus said about our hearts . . .
• Must learn to see past the pain, past the present to the Promise

 

The reason we start something is not always the reason we end or complete it

• Reason we got married VS reasons we stay married
• Reasons we got saved VS reasons we stay saved
• Salvation doesn’t deliver us from life - but rather death.
• I may have come to Him out of desperation but I stayed because of love!
• Sometimes we need to be "delivered from" life
• Everyday trials, tribulations and suckiness
• We must learn to look past it all
• Pain may force you to go to the doctor but doesn’t always remind us to take our meds! We have to see beyond the pain 
• Salvation can turn from a get out of hell free card to a get into Heaven free card
• Perspective

 

How you see your now will determine how you see your then

• You cannot rewrite your past but you can redefine it . . .
• What the enemy meant for evil God meant for good!
• I redefine the trials as a boot camp that only made me stronger
• In my faith 
• In my marriage
• In my walk w/ God 
• Against sin, self will and flesh 

 

How you came into 2023 is not how  you have to go out . . .

• Are you a refugee or a conqueror you may have come into this year a refugee by you can leave it a conqueror

 

 

Weight cords cut at altar call

 

 

2023.12.24 - Christmas Eve - The King Is Coming!

Scripture - Luke 2:1-7

Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. KJV

 

Song - Oh Holy Night 

 

Scripture - Luke 2:8-14

Luke 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. KJV

 

Song - Silent Night, Hark The Herald Angels Sing

 

Scripture - Luke 2:15-21

Luke 2:15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. KJV

 

Prophetic Scripture - Isaiah 9:6

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. KJV

 

Song - O Come All Ye Faithful

 

Sermon  - The King Is Coming

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever.  KJV

 

John came to "herald" Jesus

Luke 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.  KJV

 

You and I are "heralds"

Luke 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. KJV

 

2023.12.17 - Labels

Being a slave to bonds is bad - being a slave to words and thoughts could be even worse.

 

 

 

John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed KJV

• Shall make free . . .NT:1659 eleutheroo (el-yoo-ther-o'-o); from NT:1658; to liberate, i.e. (figuratively) to exempt (from moral, ceremonial or mortal liability): 

KJV - deliver, make free.

• Free . . .NT:1658 eleutheros (el-yoo'-ther-os); probably from the alternate of NT:2064; unrestrained (to go at pleasure), i.e. (as a citizen) not a slave (whether freeborn or manumitted), or (genitive case) exempt (from obligation or liability): KJV - free (man, woman), at liberty.
• What they say about you can only hold you captive if you let it.  The moment you decide you are more than what they say is the moment you come into agreement with  The Word of God

 

 

 

 

Your worth is not decided according to the price tag the world puts on you but what someone is willing to pay for you. - Christ gave His life for you - He puts that much worth on you!

 

Stuff for sale on Facebook for extreme amounts 

 

 

1 Corinthians 7:23 God purchased you at a high price. Don't be enslaved by the world.   NLT

 

1 Corinthians 7:23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. NKJV

• Your worth is not decided according to the price tag the world puts on you but what someone is willing to pay for you.
• I see a tag on something for sale - I may or may not decide to purchase it for that price - in that sense it is me, not the tag, that chooses the worth of the item

 

 

If you don’t decide who you are there are those around you that will gladly tell you . . .and it should not be so.

 

The reason they put you down is because they have the power, if you let them, to keep you down.  God wants to raise you up.

 

From "Tougher Than Nails" a few weeks back

Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. KJV

 

BEFORE

• Before you screwed up
• Before you were an addict
• Before you went down that road
• Before you backslid
• Before you were saved
• Before you followed Him 
• Isaiah 52:12 for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rearward. KJV
• Exodus 13:21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: KJV
• Isaiah 45:2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: KJV

2023.12.10 - Faith Light

Proverbs 4:18

18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. KJV

 

1 Thessalonians 5:1-5

5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. KJV

 

2 Corinthians 5:7

7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

KJV

 

 

 

Where you look is where you will go - Christine Caine

 

 

By faith . . . 

 

Hebrews 11:4-10

4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith .

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. KJV

 

My faith goes before me, opening doors in the Spirit that I will need to walk through in my future that right now I don’t even know exists

 

Flashlight sermon illustration 

 

Joshua 3:1-4

3:1 And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.

2 And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host;

3 And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.

4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.

KJV

 

God may move us into a place where we have not been before and have no idea how to navigate the new surroundings.

• He often places others in our lives to assist us in this process, others to watch, to ask questions of and to learn from 
• When Bobby was born we didn’t know how to burp him, the simplest of things, but you don’t know what you don’t know.  A very close friend of ours came to the rescue, grabbed him up and started pounding on his back.  We were quite certain she was going to kill him, or at least break him . . .but low and behold he let out a man sized burp that we still remember to this day

 

 

 

 

Don’t just let them know you are a Christian but let them know what kind of Christian you are!!

 

When we judge others we turn out the light and they may never find their way home in the dark 

2023.12.06 - Safe And Secure

Safe And Secure

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

4:26 PM

Luke 9:23-24

23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. KJV

 

Galatians 2:20

20 I am crucified with Christ : nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. KJV

• If I have died and my all is in Christ I have nothing to lose. I cannot lose
• You can’t kill me - my sin already did that and Christ gave me life that you cannot take away. 

 

Car Alarms - 

• What I have that is of value has been placed in the security of Christ, and He is able
• 2 Timothy 1:12

12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. KJV

• insecurity comes from knowing that I have something  I can lose - something that can be taken from me that is beyond my control to hold on to or keep safe

 

 

Pour Me Out Lord 

• Live like you have nothing to to prove but rather have only someone to be
• Spiritual authority

• 2 Timothy 4:1-8

4:1 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 longsuffering 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.

5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. KJV

 

 

 

If I am facing it then I can handle it - DD

2023.12.03 - CRISIS - Tough As Nails

Psalms 1:1-3

1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

 

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

 

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

KJV

 

 

 

 

When what is see doesn’t make sense I remind myself of what He said . . . And that is hard!

 

Church isn't easy - it was never supposed to be

 

Calling things that were not as though they were

 

 

You are tougher than you think you are

• The closest a woman will come to actual death without dying is giving birth
• The closest a man will come is having a cold, a hang nail, a sore throat or . . . You fill in the blanks, LOL 

 

He may not resurrect the thing, but He wants to resurrect the part of you that died with the thing

• Resurrected things HAVE life and GIVE life 
• God wants to birth something new in and through a reborn you.
• Part of a rebirth of a Christian is a mental shift to do  and be and believe what they could not before - now through Christ.
•  rebirth and resurrection allows is to Believe in a capacity that we were simply not able to before
• The resilience God has placed inside of you is nothing less that superhuman, beyond the limits of human capability - it is from Divine

 

Psalms 121

121:1 A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

KJV

 

 

Ephesians 3:20-4:1

 

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

 

21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

KJV

• Ephesians 3:20

 

 

Prove it - YOU ARE SAVED AND YOU ALREADY KNOW IT, YOU HAVE FELT A QUICKENING IN YOUR SPIRIT AND KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT THE SAME!

 

Romans 8:26-9:1

26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. KJV

 

You are tough as nails - and God may well have driven you into the fabric of your broken family to hold it together