Merry Christmas, Life Church, La Vida Church, and Life Church Villages...

...Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV) “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” I was so lost, but something happened, and I had an encounter with Jesus Christ, and I found His name to be Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. As I attempt to magnify Christ today I want to take these words from Isaiah and share what an incredibly awesome God we serve.  

1. Jesus is to be called Wonderful! How many of you with a shout will say that you believe Jesus is wonderful? The main reason I believe that Jesus is wonderful is this: Psalm 40:1‑ (NKJV) “I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock…” He is wonderful because He listened to my cry. He is wonderful because He brought me out of a horrible pit...shout to Him! 

2. Jesus is to be called Counselor! Isaiah 41:28 (NKJV) “For I looked, and there was no man; I looked among them, but there was no counselor, Who, when I asked of them, could answer a word.” Isaiah tells us

help is on the way!’ I will send Jerusalem a messenger with good news. Help is on the way. Unto us a Child is born...Immanuel...God with us! The Counselor is here! The Spirit of God is the Spirit of Jesus Christ and He is our Counselor.

3. Jesus is to be called Mighty God! Unto us a child is born...unto us a Son is born...and the government shall be upon His shoulder. Who else can handle the government being on His shoulder other than the mighty God...Jesus Christ! He is our Mighty God...shout and give Him praise!

4. Jesus is to be called Everlasting Father! Maybe some of you did not have a good example of a father or maybe you did not have a father at all. This God child has been born so that gap in your life can be filled.

This Everlasting Father is the great gap filler...He can pick up where man failed.

5. Jesus is to be called Prince of Peace! I have anything but peace today. I tell you run to the Prince of Peace!

Psalm 29:11 (NKJV) “The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.” Your peace has been made available at a great price...This God child came to give Himself for us so we can have peace. Isaiah 53:5‑6 (NKJV) “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” 

As I sought the Lord about what to share I was very aware...

  ...that it is Christmas time but I was also keenly aware that we will be challenging you to fast with us Jan.1 for 21 days. I felt that God wanted me to tie Christmas and fasting together. If we can give our first fruits to the Lord…dedication to God’s house. To worship, and to fasting and prayer, blessings will come. Let’s look at Anna: Luke 2:36-37 (NIV) “There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” Fasting and prayer are the push that will swing open the door that we are praying for. The dreams we are believing God for! New Campus! La Vida!

1. To be ready for Jesus to come Anna had a dedication to God’s House. Luke 2:37 (NIV) 37…She never left the temple…” Church was not optional for her but she had a passion for God’s house. Let me encourage you in this coming new year to make God and His House a dedicated and faithful priority. Make a decision that nothing will keep you out of God’s house. With everything being shaken that can be shaken...get to God’s house...His refuge for us! If you are going thru a tough time, if you have a prodigal, if you need a break through...get to church.

2. To be ready for Jesus to come Anna made a choice to worship God night and day. Luke 2:37 (NIV) 37…She never left the temple but worshiped night and day…” Just an observation: those who make the choice to worship God night and day, thru the bad and good, thru blessed times and rough times...those individuals have peace with God and experience His presence! Anna cried out and the Lord heard her…she saw the deliverance that she had prayed for all those years. She prayed for Messiah to come!

3. To be ready for Jesus to come Anna spent time in God’s house, she worshiped, and she fasted and prayed. Luke 2:37 (NIV) 37…She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 

Your pastor and church leadership are admonishing you to join with us in fasting and praying beginning January 1. Could it be that 2023 will be your year! Our year! We are asking you to do a true biblical fast...fast food...Crucify your flesh! We are asking for 100% participation...we are asking for you to especially join with us starting Monday January 1 for the 21 days of fasting and January 8 for our Annual week of Prayer. It is imperative that we are faithful to God’s house, that we worship Him, and that we fast and pray! With 2023 upon us, let’s seek God!

Today is our Christmas Program, “Savior for All...”

 ...As I prayed about the production this year, a word jumped out to me from the title. The word “all” kept being magnified to me. Why a “Savior for All?”

Romans 3:22-24 (NCV) “God makes people right with himself through their faith in Jesus Christ. This is true for all who believe in Christ, because all people are the same: All have sinned and are not good enough for God’s glory, and all need to be made right with God by his grace, which is a free gift. They need to be made free from sin through Jesus Christ.”

1. All are the Same. Romans 3:22 (NCV) “God makes people right with himself through their faith in Jesus Christ. This is true for all who believe in Christ, because all people are the same:” It does not matter if you are rich or poor, black, brown, or white. We are all the same. You are never entitled to any special privileges because of your nationality or color. When it comes to the Savior, there is no white, black, or brown privilege. We are all the same according to God. God makes people right with himself through their faith in Jesus Christ. You get no extra blessings because you think you are all that. You need Jesus.

2. All Have Sinned. Romans 3:23 (NCV) ^“ All have sinned and are not good enough for God’s glory,” Romans 3:23 (NKJV) ^“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” It does not matter if you were raised in church or raised in a home where God was only mentioned in a way of cursing. All of our sin nailed Jesus to the tree. Isaiah 53:6 (NKJV) “All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” All means all. Many believe sin is only learned. It can be learned but this may be a shock for some of you. Psalm 51:5 (NLT2) ^“For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.” All are the same and all have sinned. 

3. All Need to be Made Right with God by His Grace. Romans 3:24 (NCV) ^“ and all need to be made right with God by his grace, which is a free gift. They need to be made free from sin through Jesus Christ.” All are the same, all have sinned, and all need to be made right with God by His grace. God so loved the world (you and me) that He gave His son for us all to be saved. That’s grace. He is the Savior for All! All of us! Romans 8:32 (NKJV) “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Amen!

Today we continue the series “Courage”...

  ...We will look and see how God wants us to have the courage to trust Him with everything in our lives. Even small things.

1. A Ridiculous Prayer. As we read through Scriptures we see an infinite God Who can do anything but who is also concerned about everything in our lives. I have heard people say ridiculous things about situations in their lives. The sons of the prophets are going on a tree cutting expedition. 2 Kings 6:5-7 (NKJV) “But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, "Alas, master! For it was borrowed." So the man of God said, "Where did it fall?" And he showed him the place. So he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float. Therefore he said, "Pick it up for yourself." So he reached out his hand and took it. I am sure Elisha’s wheels are turning in his mind so he says to the apprentice, “Where did ax head fall?” What difference does it make? It’s gone but it fell at this spot. Though it is not recorded I am sure Elisha prayed a crazy prayer, received wisdom from God, cut a stick, and then throws it in the water. Something happens…iron floats. A miracle. Batterson – God is great not just because nothing is too big for Him. God is great because nothing is too small for Him either.

2. We Tend to Rank Prayers and Miracles. Similar to the way a judge at a gymnastic competition ranks a routine based on the degree of difficulty, we rank our prayer requests the same way. We have big requests and little requests. We have easy requests and difficult requests. But our thinking is all messed up. Why? To the infinite God all finites are equal. With God there is no big or small, easy or difficult, possible or impossible. When it comes to God, there are no degrees of difficulty. It really does not matter like with Benaiah how many Moabites you are facing, how tall your Egyptian giant is, and the size of your lion is not your issue. The issue is this: How big is your God.

3. God, our Father. You may be thinking, even if God is great enough to do absolutely anything, why would He answer my prayer? Why would He do a miraculous thing through me? He is our Father. Pastor Mark, “Our good good Father! Please do not dismiss this simple truth…God is a proud parent and you are the “Apple of His eye!” I believe He celebrates our accomplishments. I really believe our Heavenly Father celebrates when we are willing to allow Him to defy the odds in our lives. No matter the giant or giants, the lions, or what enemy attacks us. Lion chasers defy the odds and make their Father proud.

With Thanksgiving this week, I thought this article would be appropriate...

 ...There are many “catch phrases” that circulate through Christendom...sometimes they have great meaning and other times not so much.  One such phrase is, “It is not about me” but reality tells us that most of what we do is about us and it is for us.  Max Lucado in his book with the same title as the phrase It Is Not About Me is attempting to help us see that whatever we do should be done for the glory of God.  Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NKJV) “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Whatever we do we should be doing for God’s glory and because we are thankful but all too many times “me” gets in the way.

Lucado says, “Our society is not wired for this kind of thinking. It’s a “me-centric” world out there, which destroys much of what should be good. Marriages are ruined because one or both partners are focused on their own happiness. Successful men and women are ruined by their own success, believing they don’t need anyone else’s input. And for some, life’s troubles are magnified because they believe life is all about them.”  The Gospel of Jesus Christ seems to be completely backward to our self-centered lifestyle here in the United States of America. Mark 8:34-36 (NKJV) "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? We are taught to believe that we have the right or entitlement to have what we want when we want it. We simply are not thankful for what we have.

I have said for years that God is not so much interested in our happiness as He is our holiness. He wants us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, follow Him and, of course, be thankful. This seems so difficult when we are so comfortable taking care of number one. Lucado says, “Our comfort is not God’s priority. If it is, something has gone awry. If we are the marquee event, how do we explain flat-earth challenges like death, disease, slumping economies, or rumbling earthquakes? If God exists to please us, then shouldn’t we always be pleased?” The truth is that God does not exist to make a big deal out of us but we should exist to make a big deal out of Him.  It is not about you and for a certainty it is not about me, it is all about Him.  Psalm 34:3 (NKJV) “Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.” Let us give thanks to the Lord!

Today we welcome La Vida Church to celebrate with us One Church, One Family...

  ...This is always such an exciting time of unity. Mark 6:35-37 (NKJV) “When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, "This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat." But He answered and said to them, "You give them something to eat." I want share with you three sure ways to fail, and all you have to do is emulate the disciples in this situation. This story is repeated in all four of the Gospels and must have been so important to Holy Spirit as He moved on these disciples to record it. How can we, like the disciples, fail?

1. To fail we need to see the impossibility of the situation. We must admit that feeding 5000 men plus women and children with five loaves and two fish is an impossible task. Most scholars believe there were between 15,000 to 20,000 people. We can simply choose to fail because nothing can be done to fix it...it is beyond us. Humanly impossible. You keep concentrating on how big your problem is and you are assured of failure! Keep magnifying what cannot be done and you will surely fail. Just send them away.

2. To fail we need to look at our limited resources and know it is impossible. Who can argue with the disciples about the fact (5 loaves and 2 fish) are so little among so much need...A Year’s wage could not feed so many people...No Wal-Mart! No Hungry Howie! Who could possibly fault you not being able to succeed with such meager resources...why try when you do not have sufficient supply? Focus on your own little resources and I assure you that you will fail.

3. To fail we need to ignore the fact that Jesus is with us to work miracles. Had the disciples already forgotten the miracles Jesus had already done in their presence? Couldn’t the One Who healed the man at the pool, delivered a demon possessed man, had power over the wind and waves of the sea, couldn’t He handle this problem. Are we going to ignore the fact that with God all things are possible? Mark 9:23 (NKJV) “Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." If you want to fail...Ignore the fact that Jesus is with you, He is for you, and He is in you! Key - The disciples wanted to start with much and end with little but Jesus wanted them to start with little and end with much. God wants us to end better than we started...He wants us to witness Him multiplying His life, His resources, and His love each time we face what appears to be an insurmountable situation.

We continue the series “Courage” today...

 ... 2 Samuel 23:20-21 (NLT2) “There was also Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant warrior from Kabzeel. He did many heroic deeds, which included killing two champions of Moab. Another time, on a snowy day, he chased a lion down into a pit and killed it. Once, armed only with a club, he killed a great Egyptian warrior who was armed with a spear. Benaiah wrenched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with it.” With God we can defy the odds. 

1. Odd Things About Odds. I am just guessing Benaiah was a two to one underdog when he fought two Moabite champions (warriors). The odds makers would never have given Benaiah a chance against the Egyptian warrior (giant). To start with, the giant had a spear and Benaiah only had a club. For me, a spear wins every time. Let’s not forget about the lion in a pit on a snowy day. I personally would not want to be in a pit with a lion on any kind of day with or without a weapon. A recipe for disaster.

2. Defying the Odds. Benaiah did what lion chasers do. He defied the odds. He didn’t avoid the situation just because the odds were against him. Lion chasers know God is bigger and more powerful than any problem they face in the world. Batterson – “Lion chasers thrive in the toughest circumstances because they know that impossible odds set the stage for amazing miracles. That is how God reveals His glory—and how He blesses you in ways you never could have imagined.” There is a pattern that is repeated throughout Scripture: Sometimes God won’t intervene until something is humanly impossible. And He usually does it just in the nick of time.Mark 10:27 (NKJV) ^“But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible."

3. Little is Much When God is in it. What do you mean? Think about God’s military strategy in Judge’s 7. Gideon has an army of 32,000 and is terribly outnumbered by the Midianites. God begins to shrink Gideon’s army to 10,000, and then 300. So how big is this army that Gideon and the 300 are going against? Judges 7:12 (NKJV) “as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude.” Impossible odds but little is much when God is in it. The odds had to be at least a million to one but that does not matter when God gets involved. You know the rest of the story. Gideon wins. No, God wins! Romans 8:31-32 (NKJV) “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”

Again today we continue the series “Courage”...

...2 Samuel 23:20-23 (NLT2) “There was also Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant warrior from Kabzeel. He did many heroic deeds, which included killing two champions of Moab. Another time, on a snowy day, he chased a lion down into a pit and killed it. Once, armed only with a club, he killed a great Egyptian warrior who was armed with a spear. Benaiah wrenched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with it.” There are two types of regret. Regrets of action and regrets of inaction. You can do nothing wrong and still do nothing right. Those who simply run away from sin are only half Christians. We are not just called to run away from evil but our calling is to chase lions. 

1. No Guts, No Glory. When we don’t have the guts to step out in faith and chase lions, God is robbed of the glory that rightfully belongs to Him. Matthew 10:16 (NKJV) "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.” What we fail to see is that these lion chasers are ordinary people like us. What sets lion chasers apart isn’t the outcome. It’s the courage to chase God sized dreams. Lion chasers don’t let their fears or doubts keep them from doing what God has called them to do.

2. Successful Lion Chasers. Mark Batterson has a simple definition of success. He says do the best you can with what you have where you are. Batterson – “Spiritual maturity is seeing and seizing God ordained opportunities. Think of every opportunity as God’s gift to you. What you do with those opportunities is your gift to God. I’m absolutely convinced that our greatest regrets in life will be missed opportunities.” Benaniah went on to have a brilliant military career. It started by what many would consider him being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Benaniah was faced with a choice that would determine his destiny. Fight or flight?

3. Our Snowy Pit. I don’t pretend to know what is going on in every life represented here today but I am very convinced that all of us have had to face a few lions in our lives. Maybe you are facing one now. I don’t know the depth of you pit or how cold your heart is right now. What I do know is that there is a God Who was with Benaniah in the pit and He will be with you in your pit if you will only acknowledge Him. However deep your pit is, however fierce your lion is, you serve a God Who is all powerful who can deliver you from the paw of the lion. Psalm 40:1-2 (NCV) “I waited patiently for the LORD. He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of destruction.” God is not finished with you yet. Wait patiently for Him. 

Today we start a series I am very excited about called “Courage...”

  ...2 Samuel 23:20-21 (NLT2) 

^“There was also Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant warrior from Kabzeel. He did many heroic deeds, which included killing two champions of Moab. Another time, on a snowy day, he chased a lion down into a pit and killed it. Once, armed only with a club, he killed a great Egyptian warrior who was armed with a spear. Benaiah wrenched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with it.” 1 Peter 5:8 (NLT2) “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” Why a series about courage? I think it is pretty evident that the last two years Covid has exposed a lot about the world but even more about the church. I have been shocked by the fear in the body of Christ, especially among those who claim to be Spirit-filled. I believe it is time that we have courage and the Lord with all our hearts. If things are about to escalate in our world, shouldn’t we be prepared?

1. Courage to Face the Lion. Most of us would not have the same reaction Benaiah had when he encountered the lion on that snowy day. Our natural instinct to facing a 450-pound lion is to run. But lion chasers are wired differently. 

2. Courage to Trust God. God is in the business of strategically placing us in the right place at the right time. God is good at getting us where He wants us to go. The catch: Many times the right place seems like the wrong place, and the right time may seem like the wrong time. Encountering a lion in the wild is typically a bad thing.  Benaiah kills the lion. Romans tells us that God works all things together for our good if we love Him. Benaiah’s resume…Killed two champions, an Egyptian warrior, and a lion in a pit on a snowy day! Because God had set him up and because He was courageous, God exalted him for the service of the King.

3. Courage Brings a Blessing. Batterson, “God is always using past experiences to prepare for future opportunities. But those God given opportunities often come disguised as man eating lions. And how we react when we encounter those lions will determine our destiny. We can run in fear from the lion or Covid or our greatest challenges or we can chase our God ordained destinies by seizing the opportunity before us.” During the Black Plague of the 1300s when it came to the question, “Do we minister to people or isolate ourselves because of fear of death.” Their response and motto: “We die at our post.” Joshua 1:9 (NLT2) “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” 

Today we end the series “Wonderfully Complex” and...

 ...I hope we have all seen how wonderful God has planned out each of our lives. We are very valuable to God and His Kingdom. Psalm 139:13-14 (NLT) “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.” Today I want us to see how God truly wants us to find our soul print and to be more than conquerors.  

1. In discovering you are more than a conqueror; you will have to recognize your compensatory skills. We all know that David’s defeat of Goliath was supernatural, but also his compensatory skill. Batterson “If David isn’t an expert marksman with a slingshot, there is no way he defeats Goliath; he most definitely does not become king; and he therefore never produces a royal lineage that includes the Messiah.” A skill given by God and developed by David is used to help him be more than a conqueror! 

2. In discovering you are more than a conqueror; you will have to deal with your control issues. One of Oswald Chambers (My Utmost for His Highest) powerful statements was: Chambers - “Let God Engineer.” What he was saying was that we must let God be in control. Batterson: Most of our emotional problems are symptoms of one deep-rooted spiritual problem: lack of trust in the sovereign God. It’s our lack of trust in Him that results in high levels of past-tense guilt, present-tense stress, and future-tense anxiety.” We want to be in control. We want to control others. We want to control God Himself. You do not belong to yourself; you were bought by the blood of Jesus so give up your desire to control what you do.

3. In discovering you are more than a conqueror; you will have to recognize your unconquerable-ness. 

Oswald Chambers not only said “Let God Engineer” he also coined the word “Unconquerable-ness”. Chambers – “No power on earth or in hell can conquer the Spirit of God in a human spirit, it is an inner unconquerable-ness.” David had this unconquerable-ness. Batterson – “In a sense, our faith is really a by-product of God’s faithfulness. God proves Himself to be faithful, and it builds our faith as we connect the dots.”Each wild animal that David conquered...each new psalm of worship that he wrote to the Lord, each time he practiced using his sling was moving him closer to his day of destiny. Philippians 1:6 (NKJV) “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” God is ordering your steps just like he did with David...there will be delays, there will be seasons, and there will be disappointments...that’s just life. Let God engineer and let Him build in you your inner unconquerable-ness! You are wonderfully Complex!

Today we continue the series “Wonderfully Complex...”

  ...Psalm 139:13-16 (NLT) “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” Today we are going to deal with seasons and delays.

1. In discovering your soul print you will discover that God allows us to go through certain seasons on our journey. As you get older and mature you realize the battle is won long before you are on the battlefield. You win or lose based on your faithfulness to whatever season you are in. Batterson – “Every divine appointment is preceded by a season of preparation. And if we submit to the preparation, God will fulfill His promise. If we don’t, He won’t. Why? Because God never sets us up to fail. Another key to fulfilling your destiny is to recognize the season you are in and not let frustration and disappointment take over.”

2. In discovering your soul print you will discover that often there will be divine delays. Batterson – “Your dream seems like a mirage that remains the same distance away no matter how fast or how far you pursue it. You know you have a destiny to fulfill, but the elapsed time causes you to second-guess yourself.  This is what you must understand...if you arrive too early at what you think to be your destination (your destiny) you will miss the growth you would have experienced.” Dutch Sheets – “Are you struggling to get to the next stage? Don’t give up. Your struggles won’t be wasted; they may even be necessary. The key is not to quit.”  

3. In discovering your soul print you will discover that without a crucifixion there is no resurrection. The days between death and resurrection are long and dark but that is often when a miracle is about to happen.

Batterson – “You never know how or when or where a dream will be resurrected, but if it’s God ordained, then God Himself will bring it back to life somehow, somewhere, sometime.” Don’t short circuit God’s plans for you by taking short cuts and by doing what so many have done by compromising...there is a price to pay for forcing your desires and wishes. God is setting you up just like He was setting David up...His day of destination was coming and what he had to do in the meantime was to be faithful where he was. One of the fastest ways to mess up what God has for you is to not trust Jesus and to try to help Him fix your situation.

Life Church and Board of Deacons, thank you so much for honoring our wonderful pastors…

  ...you’re the best! Romans 13:7 (NLT2) ^“Give respect and honor to those who are in authority.” 

Elders of Heart --Years ago I was at the altar begging God for His help and His blessings. I told Him how I needed help here at Life Church (Then Leesburg First A/G). He spoke to me and told me that He had already sent the help I needed and I just needed to acknowledge them and allow them to minister along side of me. Lord, can you be a little more specific? He said, I have sent all these retired ministers to help you and to hold your arms up, you just need to ask them and they will gladly help you. Really? They are retired! Yes, they are, but they want to still be used for Me. These Elders of Heart (retired ministers) are worthy of your honoring of them because of how they have followed righteousness and mercy. They have truly been a blessing to me for many years. Let’s celebrate them!

Pastoral Staff -- I am sure you are aware that it is absolutely necessary for the success of a church to have a pastoral team that has the same heart and the same spirit. We must be one as we serve together. Psalm 133:1-3 (NKJV) “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments.
It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing-- Life forevermore.” My philosophy of ministry is servant leadership and my pastors must be here to serve God and serve people. Being a pastor simply means you are responsible to serve more people. We honor:                   

 Mark and Christie Ann – Pastor Mark has become more than a children’s pastor, he has become my associate pastor, a confidant, a sounding board, a brother who listens to my frustrations and still honors me. He has become a very dear friend. Aaron and Tatyana  – These guys have taken our worship to the next level. Our music department was struggling when they came…they turned it around. A team of about 35 is now a team of around 140. Dwaine and Elaine  – These guys were extremely successful and loved in the ministry before they came to us. They help us with pastoral care, communion, and have gifts of encouragement. Marty and Faye – Senior adult ministers, altar ministry, Village campus, and many other things that bless Life Church. Pastor Neftali and Sheila – Our great Spanish pastors with La Vida Church. Pastor Jose and Gramir and changing lives in youth. Joseph and Jan Diaz – Oversees our CG and Village Campus worship leaders. God bless you all so much!

Today we continue the series “Wonderfully Complex...”

  ...taken from Psalm 139:13-16 (NLT) “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book.” Again, I want to challenge you to be who God created you to be.

1. Because you are God’s child your heredity and destiny are from Him. Your identity is part heredity. When you have been in the same church as long as I have you see how much children look and act like their parents...scary! Here is some wonderful news for you today spiritually...the image of God is both your heredity and your destiny. So what is my point...there is just no way to calculate how unique you are...that’s exciting…you are one of a kind. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!

2. Why is it that we all start out as “one of a kind original” but too many of us end up as carbon copies of someone else. Instead of celebrating our uniqueness, and the uniqueness of others, we are too often threatened by it. Instead, we should  do 1 Peter 4:8-9 (NKJV)  “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins." Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.” Batterson: We forfeit our uniqueness because we want to fit in. Instead of daring to be different, we sacrifice our soul print on the altar of conformity.

3. If we will have God’s uniqueness for us, and if we will be who we are, we must be willing to take Saul’s armor off. What? There comes a point in every person’s life when they realize that imitating someone else is detrimental ...we must take ourselves for who we are for better or for worse. David did when he prepared to fight Goliath. David could have gone into battle like a king (Saul)...tempting! Thankfully David said I cannot go into battle with this armor...I have not tested them and they definitely do not fit...Saul was head and shoulders taller. David was a shepherd...for better or for worse...That was who he was and what God had destined him to be up to that point in his life. David was at a cross road in his life...like so many of us...He had to make a choice...This choice would determine his destiny. Be myself or try to be someone else. It is the rarest form of courage...it is the courage to be yourself. That is what I will give account to God for...being who God called me to be. Soren Kierkegaard: The deepest form of despair is to be another than oneself.

Today we continue the series “Wonderfully Complex...”

 ...Psalm 139:13-14 (NLT) “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.” Two destinies:

1. As you consider God’s destiny, you sometimes feel like a captive. Maybe you do not seem to be able to break free from the habits that hold you back or hold you down. Maybe a dream God conceived in your spirit years ago has not taken shape. You know who you want to be, what you want to do, and where you want to go, but you can’t seem to get there. I have no idea where you are stuck or how long you have been there but I do know that God wants to finish the work that He started in you. We should look at this as God releasing us to our dual destiny. He died to resurrect the person we were destined to be before sin distorted the image of God in us. We are wonderfully complex. Say Amen!

2. As you consider God’s destiny...you recognize He not only wanted to save you, but give you a new life.

Jesus does not just free us spiritually...He also sets us free emotionally, relationally, and intellectually. We are held captive by so many things and in so many ways. Batterson - Jesus doesn’t just set us free from who we were. He sets us free to become who we were meant to be.  Salvation is not the end goal. Salvation is a new beginning. 

3. As we consider God’s destiny we focus on what and where. God focuses on what we are becoming.

What and where are secondary issues as far as God is concerned...His primary concern is who you are becoming...being is better than doing. What happens in you is more important that what happens to you. Our destination or goal should be, we look, act, feel, talk, dream, and love like Jesus. Philippians 2:3-5 (NLT2)
^“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Batterson: The end goal is not a revelation of who you are. The end goal is a revelation of Who God is. You see...you have two destinies...Our first destiny is just like everyone else’s (it is universal) and that is to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. My other destiny is unique to anyone else’s destiny...to be unlike anyone else. Those two destinies may seem to be at odds with each other, but they are anything but. To become like Christ is to become unlike anyone else. He sets us free from whom we’re not, so we can become who He destined us to be.

Today we again are having our One Church, One Family Celebration...

  ...with Pastor Neftali and La Vida Church and we welcome all of them in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. With this article I want to focus on three areas. We have never been where we are today as a nation. While division abounds in almost every segment of America, it is time to cry out to God in prayer for America. No longer can the people of God be silent before the Lord. We need to call out to God passionately and urgently until the glory of God is experienced in every corner of our nation.

1. PRAY FOR THE LEADERS OF AMERICA “First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” 1 Timothy 2:1-2 Father, we appeal to You for our President and Vice President, members of the Cabinet, along with the members of both the House and the Senate, to make decisions that will lead toward a more righteous, peaceful, and orderly America. Lord, we also ask that these leaders lead us to ways that represent You and Your ways; including decisions that will lead toward the dignity and sanctity of all human life from conception until death. Lord God, may these leaders provide ways for our nation to be secure from terrorism inside and outside of the borders of America.

2. PRAY FOR UNITY IN THE CHURCH OF AMERICA. “Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction.” 1 Corinthians 1:10 Confess and repent of the sin of division in the Church of America. God is calling His Church in America to unify upon the authority of the Bible and the centrality of Jesus Christ. Ask God for thousands of local churches to unify as one body of Christ, agreeing together that God is our greatest need in America.

3. PRAY FOR A MIGHTY MOVE OF GOD. “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 We must pray God will call His people to prayer in every town, city, and county in America. Appeal to God for the people of God in every town, city, and county to come together to seek the will of God above all turning from all sinful and evil ways. Ask God to answer these prayers, speak to our nation, forgive our sins, and to bring healing to our lives and all of America.

Today, as we continue “Wonderfully Complex” we want to stay...

  ...on this journey of recognizing God’s unique print upon us and our willingness to find our distinctiveness in God. We want to look for defining moments. Psalm 139:14 (NLT) “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.”

1. We must recognize those defining moments which reveal our destinies. Batterson – “Time may be measured in minutes, but life is measured in moments. And some moments are bigger than life. And it’s those defining moments that dictate the way we see life.” Some of these moments may be as predictable as a wedding day or the birth of a child. Others may be as unpredictable as an accident. These are the moments that define who we are. And managing those memories is a form of stewardship. Every past experience is preparation for some future opportunity.  

2. We must understand what our soul print is. Think about this...your finger print distinctly identifies and differentiates you from everyone else who has ever lived, but your finger print is only skin deep. Batterson -  “You possess a uniqueness that is soul deep. I call it your soul print. It’s not just who you are, present tense. It’s who you are destined to become, future tense. It’s not just who others see when they look at you from the outside in. It’s who God has destined you to become from the inside out.”  Psalm 139:16 (NIV) “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” As with the Psalmist all your days are ordained by God. It is our holy responsibility to discover that God ordained destiny. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

3. We must believe that we were conceived by God before we were conceived by our parents. You took shape in the heart and imagination of God before you took shape in the womb of your mother. Vincent van Gogh: Christ is more of an artist than the artists...He works in the living spirit and the living flesh; He makes men instead of statues. God is painting a picture of grace on the canvas of your life. God is crafting your character through the circumstances of your life. Batterson – “To see yourself as anything other than God’s masterpiece is to devalue and distort your true identity. And it’s in discovering your true identity that your true destiny is revealed.” A sense of destiny is your sacred birthright as a child of God. He strategically places us in the right place at the right time. God is setting you up and that ought to fill you with an unshakable sense of destiny. God will do the same thing for us if we seek Him with all of hearts. 

Today we start a new series “Wonderfully Complex...”

  ...Psalm 139:13‑15 (NLT) “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.” This portion of Scripture has always brought me a measure of comfort and of great consternation. God knows everything about me!

1. There has never been and never will be anyone else like you! This is not a testament to you.  It is a testament to the God Who created you. You are unlike anyone who has ever lived...you have your own finger prints...your eye scan would be different than anyone else...God is so incredible...snowflakes! Mark Batterson – “You owe it to yourself to be yourself. But more important, you owe it to the One Who designed you and destined you. Here is the good news:  There is nothing God cannot do in you and through you if you simply yield your life to Him. All of it. All of you.” 

2. No one can worship God like you or for you! This sermon is all about you, but it’s not about you at all. The fact that there has never been and never will be anyone like you simply means no one can worship God like you. Batterson - You were created to worship God in a way that no one else can. How?  By living a life no one else can – your life.  God has created you to fulfill a unique destiny and no one else can take your place. Fulfilling your true destiny starts with you discovering who you really are and this is probably our greatest challenge.

3. To find out who you are supposed to be you will have to dig deep. Batterson - Self-discovery is like an archaeological dig. It takes a long time to uncover the hidden treasures that lie buried beneath the surface. You can never be certain of what you will find or where you will find it. And it is a painstaking process. If we fail to dig deep in discovering who we are in Christ. It will result in a superficial life. Psalm 139:14 (NLT) Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.  We not only cheat ourselves and others when we fail to discover our God given identities and God ordained destinies, but we also cheat God Himself. Genesis 1:27 (NKJV) “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Keep digging and you will find your true identity and God’s true destiny for your life. As you do you will never see yourself the same way again because you will see yourself thru the eyes of your Creator!

Today we conclude the series “Under a Tree...”

  ...1 Chronicles 11:15-17 (NKJV) “Now three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the army of the Philistines encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. And David said with longing, "Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!" We see at this time in David’s life that it recalls, as usual, he found himself in hostile conditions…forced to flee into the desert or wilderness just to survive. Certain men had drifted into the hills to join David, a guerrilla army of friends and mighty men willing to show their bravery, loyalty, and devotion to him. At this time, David was just tired. David spoke out from his heart…"Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!" Not a command…a wish. A wish from the king’s lips was powerful. These guys stayed close to their king.

1. Staying close to the King makes it possible to hear His wishes. The fact is that David’s wish was most likely uttered quietly, informally. You had to be close and in his presence to hear his wish. To be in the presence of the Commander (Jesus) is to be in a safe place; and to be able to hear His wishes demand a still time when listening is the most important thing. Psalm 46:10-11 (NKJV) “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” 

2. The choice to act is often taken at great risk. Nowhere do we hear that there was debate about going to get the king water. “Are you crazy” “Do you know where the well is?” “Get water for one person…nope!” I can’t stay here! David’s men heard the wish from the lips of their commander. The man or woman who takes the time to hear God speak is apt to have the same reaction: instant motion. 

3. God’s divine power creates our ultimate passion. From Genesis to Revelations there has always been this wonderful, powerful, mysterious power planted into the hearts of men and women to enable them to accomplish God’s wishes. We know that divine power and energy to be Holy Spirit. Everything we have spoken about in this series…weariness, dryness, and lack of intimacy with God was exactly what the disciples were going through after Christ was crucified. But what a difference when they tarried (they waited) in God’s presence for the Promise of the Father…the promised Holy Spirit. Weak, tired, and fearful men became giants when Holy Spirit came. I can’t stay here…I can’t stay under this tree…I must be filled with Holy Spirit and stay close to the King!

Today we continue the series “Under a Tree”...

 ...2 Samuel 11:1 (NKJV) “It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.” Today I want us to look at what happens to us if we allow our spirits to go un-nurtured for a long time.

1. Running on empty. Last week we talked about the person who is drained and today we are speaking of someone who has been drained for some time. This person’s intake spiritually has almost disappeared. Dry. The unfilled tank spiritually is an invitation to disaster. We must understand that when we run out of gas, it not only affects us, but those around us. Like the cars on the bridge. Romans 14:7 (NKJV) ^“For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.”

2. King David facing another giant. As we study the life of King David I believe we can see a man who is dried out spiritually and because of that he is faced with the temptation of adultery and murder. A man in the wrong place at the wrong time doing the wrong thing getting himself into trouble. Aren’t we kings in our own little domains in the privacy of our castles or offices, we make a command and just one click of the mouse…we are in trouble. He was supposed to be with his army doing what God had purposed him to do. He would have called on God, like before but he was not there. Absentee warrior. Dried out, David made a number of bad choices and in the process, he destroyed a number of lives. Sadly, it took David a year to discover the magnitude of what he had done. How could David after years of close wonderful fellowship with God get himself into such a mess? We are all vulnerable…all of us. When you are weak and dry you can make horrible choices.

3. Repentance and humility will restore us. Psalm 51:5-12 (NKJV) ^“Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.” Repentance…turning back to God will help you get out from under the tree. Live a life of repentance. 

Today we continue the series “Under a Tree...”

  ...1 Kings 19:3-4 (NLT2) “Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life…” Let’s look at the effects of this spiritual weariness. 

1. Spiritual hangovers. Hopefully most of you can say that you have never had a hangover from being drunk the night before. Let me just use my profession as an example. So many pastors, after a Sunday or weekend of speaking and giving of themselves and all their inner resources can have this feeling of a hangover. People who like to over-spiritualize everything choose to not understand that the supply of energy and passion (even in a Spirit-filled Christian) is not inexhaustible…it can be depleted. MacDonald – Young men and women surmise that the brute strength of their physical energy level can carry them on indefinitely. It can work for a while. But not forever! One day, having ignored this possibility, they awake to the extreme inner stress of exhaustion of spirit. It is a terribly confusing experience.” We see this in Elijah.  

2. Elijah is totally drained. Just a few days after this amazing victory, Elijah is now in the hangover of his life. It is difficult to describe what the encounter on the mountain top had taken out of Elijah. All we have in scriptures is the foul mood Elijah was in when he ran for his life from Jezebel. Death threats. He needed bread (Word) and water (Holy Spirit).

3. That still small voice. Elijah was still not whole when he left the broom tree. He still felt all alone (I am the only prophet left). He did not need another Mount Carmel experience. He needed something better. 1 Kings 19:11-12 (NKJV) “Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.” Hear me…He was alone but not by himself. He needed a gentle wonderful amazing encounter with God. Not wind, not fire, not an earthquake, not another Mount Carmel, He needed an encounter with God. I can’t stay under this tree…I must get to that quiet place where I can hear the beautiful voice of God.

Today I am returning from vacation but want to continue the series “Under a Tree...”

 ...1 Kings 19:3-4 (NLT2) “Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life…” Maybe it is just my imagination but it seems like more and more of my conversations with friends and church people are spent on weariness, over commitment, and just being border line ready to quit. So what is the result of this pushing and pushing and going and going? Doing more and enjoying it less?

1. We deal with inner weariness. Not just an older person problem…I see young parents running to and fro on the earth taking kids to multiple sports events and art events. They try to keep it all together but feel rattled. It is not necessarily our bodies (though it affects our bodies) but it is a weariness within. It shows up in exhaustion, weariness, and an increasing loss of passion. But if we wait. Isaiah 40:29-31 (NKJV) “But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength;”

2. There is always one more thing to do. MacDonald – Anyone who has given themselves to the leading, caring, or developing of people knows that there is always one more thing that could be done or done better and more completely. Listen to David: Psalm 27:4 (NKJV) “One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple.” 

3. A gentle fountain or a fire hydrant. Let me give this illustration of the un-relentless flow of good things to do as a person trying to drink from a fire hydrant that is turned on full blast. A little bit of water from a gentle MacDonald – “As our eyes are drawn more and more to the events and data of the public world even if it is Christian, the private world, the heart, becomes increasingly starved for attention and inner maintenance. More time for activity means less time for devotion. Doing more for God may mean less time with God.” We have substituted praying with talking, seeking God with seeking counseling. Though these things are good, they may not be the best. We have much output but no input in our lives. As we continue to hear more of us speak of being tired and burned out, shouldn’t we evaluate. Maybe we should take a step back and look at Jesus…he was not a jet setter like many are today. He took time to rest and pray. I can’t stay under this tree…I must slow encounter God. 

Today I want us to look at Lazarus being raised from the dead...

  ...and how God gave him a second chance...a second life.  John 11:39-45 (NKJV) Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me." Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go." Let’s look again at the ancient burial traditions of the Jews.  

When Lazarus died: His feet would have been bound at the ankles. His arms would have been tied to his body with linen strips. Then his body would have been wrapped in about 100lbs of grave clothes. The grave clothes would have been to protect and preserve the body. Some scholars believe the head would have been wrapped so much that it would have been a foot wide. The symbolism here is amazing to me of how Christians can remain in bondage even after Jesus has set them free. The ankles being tied is an indication to me that the devil wants to restrict where you go. There is a big problem if you want to go to church or on a missions trip but no problem if you want to go to a bar. The arms being tied would be a restriction of being able to minister for the Lord...it would be okay to embrace sin and substance but not the things of God. One hundred pounds of grave clothes...how many of us see Christians weighed down with the cares of this life and cannot get free?

The binding of the grave clothes would be the enemy keeping you isolated from the Spirit or the Word penetrating your heart. The clothes around the head indicates what a thick head we can have when it comes to getting right with God. Jesus is saying to you what He said to Lazarus: John 11:43 44 (NIV)  “When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!"  The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go." Today could be your day...be free!

Today I want to challenge our staff, our board of deacons, and our department heads...

 ...to make a commitment to Jesus to be “All in!” This is borrowed from Mark Batterson’s book of the same name.  I believe in light of what is happening in our world and with the soon coming of Christ, that it is time for all of us to give our all to Jesus. Obviously the devil is not playing games and neither should the church be. Matthew 16:24‑26 (NLT)  “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.” The disciples found out how serious Jesus was about laying their lives for Him. You have heard me say many times the word in Acts 1:8 that says, “you shall be My witnesses” is actually translated into the word “martyrs.”  All of the disciples died a martyr’s death except John and obviously, they tried to kill him by placing him in boiling oil. Being “All in” must come with a heartfelt commitment.

Though the gospel may not cost us anything...it demands everything! Being born again is not just our escape from hell but it is our call to lay down our lives every day. Paul said I die daily. We are saved by grace but we are called to follow Jesus giving all that we are and hope to be to Him. God has pretty good promises for those who follow Him with all their hearts...here is one.  Psalm 84:11 (NKJV)   “For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.” Sounds like selling out to God is a good deal for us...it is the best deal by far. Sometimes we think we are sacrificing so much but is it really a sacrifice if we get more than we give. I think not!

I am challenging all of us to be “All In” for the One (Jesus) Who has given His all.

1. I am asking you to pray and seek God like never before!

2. I am asking you to love like never before those to whom you minister!

3. I am asking you to prepare...to study the Word with all diligence like never before!

4. I am asking you to give like never before...your tithe and missions!

5. I am asking you to be faithful to God’s House and to be an example to others!

6. I am asking you to love God with all your heart and soul and others as yourself!

7. I am asking you to be “All in” for the One Who gave it all for you!

If you have attended Life Church for any amount of time...

 ...you know that we always welcome Holy Spirit to all of our services, you may not know why. I will give you just a few reasons we make the third Person of the Trinity a priority here at our church.

1. We should welcome Holy Spirit into our lives because when He comes we will realize it is not by our own power that we will accomplish anything. Zechariah 4:6‑7 (NKJV)  “So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the LORD of hosts. 'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of "Grace, grace to it!" When we are desperate for Him to come, amazing things happen in our church and in people’s lives. 

2. We should welcome Holy Spirit into our lives because when He comes He will be our helper and be with us forever. John 14:15‑17 (NKJV) "If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever‑‑the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” The word “Helper” in the original language denotes another one just like Jesus. Who wouldn’t want that? 

3. We should welcome Holy Spirit into our lives because when He comes He will teach us all things and bring back to our memory His Word. John 14:26 (NKJV) “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” To be an effective witness for Christ you have to memorize the Scriptures. Holy Spirit helps us and who doesn’t need that?

4. We should welcome Holy Spirit into our lives because when He comes He will testify (tell us about) Jesus. John 15:26 (NKJV) "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.” Some translations say that “He will glorify Me.” Isn’t that what all of us want, Jesus to be lifted up more than any other person? Of course!

5. We should welcome Holy Spirit into our lives because when He comes He will fill the void left when Jesus ascended to the Father. John 16:7 (NKJV) “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.” I truly believe that is enough said!  

Today we welcome Pastor Neftali, Shelia, and La Vida Church...

  ...How exciting to have a thriving Spanish ministry and a great pastor leading it. I truly love these guys. The message and this service today is based on my title…May the Lord Bless You! How many of you want God’s blessings? If you want Jesus to smile on you and for your family and church to be blessed…get ready…get ready! Numbers 6:22-27 (NLT2) “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing: ‘May the LORD bless you and protect you. May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.’ 

Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my Name, I myself will bless them.” 

God laid on my heart Abraham’s blessing over the children of Israel after he offered his son. Genesis 22:17-18 (NKJV) blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."

1. The Lord said I will bless you. The Lord said to Abraham because you have been obedient and because you have been sacrificial by being willing to give your son…blessings I will bless you.

2. The Lord said I will multiply you. As we read through the Book of Acts we see the church birthed at Pentecost and God began to add to their numbers daily. The 120 became 3120, then 5000. How amazing!

Something changed as Jesus was building His church. In Acts 6 what had been adding became multiplication. 

We decided to become generous. He multiplied us. 

3. The Lord said your descendants (children) will storm the gates of their enemies. Yes, I want to do great things for God and yes I want to do my part to see the Kingdom of God grow…I want to help Jesus build His church. What I really want is my kids storming the gates of their enemies. I want to be Elijah but I want my kids to be Elisha with a double portion of the Spirit of God!

4. The Lord said in your seed nations will be blessed. Come on La Vida Church, Life Church Villages, Life Church main campus, if you want to grow spiritually, numerically, and financially make missions a priority. 

Genesis 22:17-18 (NKJV) blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."

Today we welcome to Life Church missionaries...

  ...Adam and Melissa Tvedt. Please let them know how much you appreciate their faithfulness to God and to the Great Commission. These are some of God’s choice servants and even though they have been through some tough days, they remain forever faithful to the Lord. Please listen to their hearts as they challenge us to do more for Missions. 

Helen Keller - “What’s worse than being blind?  Having eye sight but no vision.” In the context of our continued challenge to support missions I hope this quote will not apply to anyone who calls Life Church their church.  We are a mission’s church and there are very few services, if any, that we do not share our heart and vision for the lost here at home and around the world.  It is obviously Biblical...Jesus said in Matthew 28:19‑20 (NKJV) “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. He ends these verses with ‘Amen’ which means ‘let it be so.’

There appears to me to be a group of people in the body of Christ who are more troubling than those who absolutely do not see the need or the mandate to support missions and our missionaries. It would be the group who sees the reality of the lost, who hears what the Word of God has to say about it, and yet have no spiritual vision or willingness to do something to remedy the sad situation. I see this principle in 1 John 3:16‑18 (NKJV)  “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?  My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”

The opportunity is going to be placed before you again and again to do something about the lostness of the lost. As you have been blessed by God with material possessions and you see the world around you lost and Christ-less, you will be able, above your tithe (10%) to bless the mission’s ministry of Life Church. Your faithfulness to tithe and to give to missions enables us to continue to support the almost 215 missionaries we have now and will help us to add even more. Cheerful obedience is what I truly believe God is looking for...100% of our members and regular attenders making a generous faith promise for 2022.  Please do not see the need but fail to catch the vision! Obedience to the Great Commission.