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 but all too many times “me” gets in the way. One of the reasons people are going from one church to another on such a consistent basis is because they truly believe church should be all about them. We have come to believe that church should be like a Super Walmart, one stop shopping. Have you ever thought, I cannot stay at this particular church because it does not have a certain ministry you want for yourself or your family? Just a thought, maybe God brought you there to raise up a children’s ministry or whatever ministry you want. Something to pray about.

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. We are taught and are even conditioned to believe that we have the right or entitlement to have what we want when we want it.

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, and follow Him. 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.” Enough said!

Happy Resurrection Sunday! Please recognize the value or benefit of the local church…

...of Life Church! Many of you are new today and you are our very special guests. Thank you for coming to this wonderful community of God and this Easter Production. God has something wonderful in mind for you. We have talked about how Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have experienced beautiful community for all eternity and how there came a time that we were invited into that glorious community. Jesus, by His coming, His death, His burial, and His resurrection has made it possible for us to be brought into this community…into this family of God. Not a perfect family…just look around. Jesus said in Matthew 16:18 (NKJV) “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

Jesus’ purpose was to build His church (this community) and that is what has been happening since Jesus rose from the dead. Our purpose has to be His purpose…we want to co-operate with Jesus in building His church. We want to exist as a community of God so that we can invite others into this wonderful family. Thus My Easter Story! Life Church has a community within this community which is called the Life Church Music Department. This group of believers have a beautiful goal in mind for all the work they have been doing. They want you to have a personal invitation to be in community with Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and the Body of Christ…the local church. Any other purpose is misguided. Back to my original text…Jesus to the Pharisees. John 5:40 (NKJV) “But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.”

The Pharisees thought there was another way to get into this community or to get eternal life and that was through the scriptures. The scriptures are good, church is good, an Easter program is good but…Jesus said it best…But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. You can come to Life Church, you can come shake my hand, you can read your Bible but until you come to Jesus…you are not in. Listen to Jesus. 

John 10:9-11 (NKJV) “I am the door.” Your Easter Story can start today not because you entered this building, heard a great program, or even heard a short sermon…your story will begin because you come to Jesus. He is the only way. Acts 4:11-12 (NLT2) ^“There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” He is the Door to this community of God and He welcomes you today. We welcome you to come to Him today. Be willing to come to Jesus so you can find life and find wonderful community. Let today be the day you can say this is My Easter Story!

One week before Resurrection Sunday. I encourage you to seek for a deeper intimacy...

 ...with Jesus like the Apostle Paul had. Philippians 3:10-11 (NKJV) ^“that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Listen to the Amplified Version: Philippians 3:10 AMP- “For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him—that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding [the wonders of His person] more strongly and more clearly. And that I may in the same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [the power it exerts over believers]; and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed in spirit into His likeness even] to His death.” Today I want to use an acronym for the word TIME. Hopefully Holy Spirit will teach us the truths we need to know about how to get more intimate with Jesus. 

1. T – Time. If we will have this intimate relationship with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, it will definitely take time. Paul said it in the amp version. That I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him. I am sorry to be the one to break the news to you but if you will get close to God and have this wonderful intimate relationship, it will take time. You have to be intentional. 

2. I – Intimacy. This is an invitation for closeness. Time alone with God is a crying out to God. The discipline of solitude is a welcoming of God to be close. When I get as close to God as I possibly can and I am in the light of His glory, I see what a wretched sinful person that I am. 

3. M – Meditation. This is to focus one's thoughts on: reflect on or ponder over. The act or process of spending time in quiet thought. Meditation, in its self is not wrong, it all depends on what we are thinking about. To be intimate with God is a process whereby we find ourselves thinking about Him all day long. Meditating on God is not a denial about the enemies you have. It is awareness that God is for you. Meditating on Him is being still and knowing He is God. It is drawing so near that you know you can trust Him. 

4. E – Evolution. This is a gradual process in which something changes into a different and usually more complex or better form. Intimacy with God can become the process where we evolve into something better. Our intimacy causes cleansing from sin and the effects of this nasty world. If you are intimate with God on a regular basis you will have the same attitude Isaiah had. Lord, send me! This Easter determine to get close to Jesus!

Again I want to commend all of you for what you are doing...

 ...for Missions 2023. Psalm 133:1 (NKJV) “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” 

1. Unity. I see something here that is definitely relevant to Life Church, to our vision, our passion, and our mission. All of you hear me speak of Holy Spirit and missions all the time. Unity magnifies this. Acts 2:1 (NKJV) ^“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.” They were in unity in their obedience to God. Jesus had told them to go to Jerusalem and to wait there until they were endued with power from on high. They were in unity with their gathering together where Jesus told them to go and wait. None of the 120 said we can pray just as well at home. They were in unity in their obedience, in their gathering where Jesus told them (church), and they were also in unity in what they were doing. Worship. I hope you see it before I say it…where there is good and pleasant unity God pours out His Spirit in abundance. There the Lord commands blessings!

2. Faithfulness. To be faithful is to be reliable, steadfast and unwavering. Loyal consistent practice no matter what is going on in our lives. Just a warning from a pastor who loves you very much. If you give in to the temptation backing away with attendance, giving, or loyalty is a slippery slope leading always to the bottom…the pit. Matthew 25:21 (NLT2) “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ We see celebration! What a blessing! We see commitment! Faithfulness leads to praise from Jesus! Faithfulness leads to commendation by Jesus. Again, when we are faithful with our obedience, calling, tithe, and with our missions (FP) God is very pleased! Jesus says, I will give you many more responsibilities.

3. Generosity. I had a pastor ask me…why do I believe Life Church is so blessed and so generous. Lots of wealthy people? Nope, just generous people. Number 4 in our Distinctives as a church is creating an atmosphere of generous giving. Why? We have learned God will bless us individually and corporately when we are generous. Here’s the best reason: 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (NKJV) ^“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Isaiah 32:8 (NLT2) ⁸ But generous people plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity.” As we are in good and pleasant unity, as we are a church filled with faithful loving people, filled with Holy Spirit. God will command His blessings over us! It works! A Kingdom Builder!

Again today we are celebrating with La Vida Church, “One Church, One Family...”

...We welcome Pastor Neftali and Shelia to this day of worship and baptism. What a wonderful day to see all that God is doing! It is truly important to see how Holy Spirit is being poured out on all of our campuses. Holy Spirit! Holy Spirit! Holy Spirit! Why, Pastor Rick, are we hearing so much from you in these last days about Holy Spirit? Great question! The first reason is obvious from Scriptures and I believe what we do and what we believe should be based on the Word of God. Peter, on the Day of Pentecost, after Holy Spirit had been poured out was quoting Joel when he said: Acts 2:17‑18 (NKJV)  “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.”  The first reason we are talking about Holy Spirit is because we are living in the last days when He is being poured out! Amen!

The second reason we are talking about Holy Spirit so much is about as obvious as the first reason.  Jesus said in John 16:7‑8 &13-14 (NLT)  “But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.  And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me.” How cool is that? Jesus said it will be better for you when I leave because Holy Spirit will come to reveal to people their sin, His righteousness, His judgment, His truth, the future, and He will glorify Me! Wow! Why wouldn’t we want Holy Spirit to come?

The third reason is also very important. We want to grow to one thousand plus so that souls will be won into God’s Kingdom...Holy Spirit will enable us to do that! Acts 1:8 (NLT) “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  I hope you can see why we speak of Holy Spirit so much and why we constantly are inviting Him...He is the life of the Church in these last days! We desperately need Him! Amen!

We are, first of all, thankful to God, and then, thankful to our guest speakers,...

 ...and also, thankful to all of you who have responded to the challenge of the Great Commission. We still want 100% participation because there is such power in unity! Matthew 16:18 (NLT2) “Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.” We have been sharing with you for the last month about missions, Faith Promises, and about all of us being involved. This is definitely not an exact figure of what we have done here at Life Church but here is a conservative estimate. 6 ½ Million Dollars. Not bad for a small Assembly of God Church in Fruitland Park, Florida. Top 10 in the state and top 50 in the nation out of over 13,000 churches for several years. I truly commend you.

Why We Should Be Kingdom Builders? From A to Z: In Africa we are Kingdom Builders with Impact Africa, in Zambia, Youth programs, and on the Ivory Coast we are ministering to Children. In Belgium we have Kingdom Builders as campus pastors and we have Breaking Chains Network setting people free. In Cambodia we have Kingdom Builders reaching the children and in Columbia they are reaching the Columbian National Police. In the Dominican Republic we have Kingdom Builders who are church planters and in Eurasia we have Live Dead missionaries. In France we have Kingdom Builders using the arts to reach the lost and in Guatemala we have church planters raising up new churches. In Hungary and Indonesia, we have Kingdom Builders doing children’s ministries. In Japan we have Kingdom Builders going to unreached people groups and in Koror, Palau children’s ministers are changing a culture. In Lakeland we have Kingdom Builders using Oral Learners to reach the world and in Mexico we have church planters raising up new works. In Nicaragua we have Kingdom Builders doing Kings Castle and in the Ozarks Teen Challenge is going strong. In Panama we have Kingdom Builders planting Churches and in Quito, Ecuador they are there touching the lives of children. In Romania we have Kingdom Builders using a Dream Center to transform lives and in Spain and Switzerland church planters. In Thailand we have Kingdom Builders ministering to students and in the U.S. we have Kingdom Builders in High Schools, Universities, Inner Cities, Teen Challenges. In Vanuatu we have Kingdom Builders planting new churches and in Washington, DC we have urban ministries. In Fort Worth, TeXas we have Kingdom Builders making sure our missionaries are well cared for and in Yunnan evangelistic outreaches are happening. In Zambia Kingdom Builders have a youth outreach program to save the kids! So why should we be Kingdom Builders? Because we are building God’s Kingdom all over the world. I just gave 26 examples. We have almost 200 more. PTL!

Tonight we begin the drama “Heaven’s Gates and Hell’s Flames”...

 ...and you can tell by the transformation of our sanctuary that a lot of work has gone into this production. What you cannot see is all the hours that volunteers have put in to making this happen. Thank God for the directors from HGHF who have guided us through every step of the way. And, of course, without them this would not be possible so we all say a great big thank you to Carl and Kathy Bath. The construction crew did a great job building the set, the drama team is working so hard to get their lines and their parts down, and everyone else on the team are working feverishly to make this happen. So, Pastor Rick, why all this work and effort? “Souls!” Jesus said in Luke 14:21&23 (NKJV) “Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.' Then the master said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” So what do we need from you?

1. Pray! We need everyone praying for a great harvest of souls to be saved during this time. HGHF is one of the greatest tools for seeing people get saved but we need prayer cover. We are hearing much wonderful news about revival and that’s wonderful. How great would it be to see our revival begin with hundreds coming to Christ over the next few days? Please pray to the Lord of the harvest!

2. Pass Out Tickets! We need you to take HGHF tickets and pass them out to everyone you can. Many of you tell me that you are shy and timid about witnessing, well, here is your chance. Just hand a person a ticket and invite them to the services. One of our faithful Board Members was saved during HGHF and who knows who you will reach during this time of harvest.

3. Be Here Every Night! Pastor, I have already seen the drama years ago. Well, congratulations but we still need you here every night! Why? To be a prayer covering for “Souls” and to welcome people to our church. Just a minute conversation from a kind Christian can make all the difference in the world. Please be here!

4. Be Sensitive to Holy Spirit! Remember why Holy Spirit was sent to us. John 16:7-8 (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. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” While you are here, be sensitive to Holy Spirit and let God use you to touch someone!

Today we continue our 2023 Missions Convention...

...and we are appealing to you on behalf of Jesus to become Kingdom Builders with us. Just seconds after we enter into Heaven, we will be so thankful for every dime we have invested into the Kingdom of God and into Missions. Today we are honored to have a great Missions Pastor, Virgil Amundson, sharing with us the Word of God and about his passion for Missions. 

Helen Keller - “What’s worse than being blind? Having eye sight but no vision.” In the context of our Missions Convention I hope this quote will not apply to anyone who calls Life Church their church. We are a missions 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 about it.  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.” By what you do.

The opportunity is being placed before you to be able 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 (Ten Percent) to bless the missions ministry of Life Church. Your faithfulness to tithe and to give to missions enables us to continue to support 220 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 2023.  Please do not see the need but fail to catch the vision! Amen!

Today we continue our Mission’s Convention – 2023 and...

 ...we continue challenging you to do more for missions than you have ever done. The 220 missionaries who we are currently supporting are depending on our continued support to stay on the field reaching the lost where God has called them. It is easy to look at the economy and say we can’t do as much this year but I always prefer to look at God’s Word. Romans 10:13-15 (NLT2) “For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?” Powerful questions from God’s Word. Our text asks us some pretty piercing questions that I believe are worth investigating. Four questions:

1. How can they call on him? Let me ask it another way; how can anyone be saved if they don’t know Who Jesus is? Correct me if I am wrong but doesn’t the Word say there is no other Name under heaven where man can be saved? We want them to call on Jesus and we want them to believe in Jesus so as we show them the transformation in us and we love them they will call on Him. I have always believed, like the Apostle Paul, that I am a debtor to all people to share Jesus with them. 

2. How can they believe in Him? Again, it comes down to personal responsibility. I have found in my restaurant ministry, if I am honest, loving, and transparent I have a much greater possibility of getting them to believe in Christ. Just a news alert from someone who loves you…sinners can see a fake or a hypocrite from a mile away. We want them to see Jesus in us. 

3. How can they hear about Him? I truly believe one of the many reasons God will have to wipe away our tears when we get to heaven is because we have had this treasure in earthen vessels and we kept it to ourselves. And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them? You know what is funny? No one told me I had to go tell people about Jesus when He totally changed my life. I couldn’t wait. I personally believe the greatest motivation to be a great witness for Christ is love that is propelled by Holy Spirit power! 

4. How will anyone go? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? I want to challenge you in 2023 to join with God and with us in helping missionaries to be sent to the countries of their calling. Make out a new Faith Promise card or increase yours from last year. Isaiah’s vision…Lord, send me!

Missions 2023! Mission’s Faith Promises! Missionaries speaking in so many services!...

...Challenges to give to Missions…challenges to give more every year! Challenges to pray for our missionaries and to support the General Missions of Life Church! Pastor Rick, all we hear is Missions Missions Missions! Why? Why is this such an emphasis at our church and why does there seem to be an obsession with Missions at Life Church? What a great question and I could give you all the reasons I believe Missions should be a priority but let me defer to the One Who has greater authority and wisdom about reaching the world with the Gospel…Jesus!

Jesus said in John 3:16-17 (NKJV) “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” The reason Jesus wants to reach the world and we should want to reach the them is because God so loved the world that He gave Jesus! Jesus went on to say that the purpose of His coming was to be obedient to His Father. If we will be Christ-like, if we will be Christians, shouldn’t we have the same heart that Jesus had? Jesus loved people and cared about their eternal destiny. Shouldn’t we do the same? Mark 16:15 (NKJV) “And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Sounds like to me, Jesus was serious! 

Jesus said in Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV) “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 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.” How much more do we need to be motivated to emphasize Missions than what Jesus has said here? He said “Go!” We can’t all go. True. In Romans 10:14-15 (NKJV) “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!" We can’t all go but we can send missionaries all over the world!

Finally, Jesus said in Luke 19:10 (NKJV) “…for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." If that was what Jesus was doing, shouldn’t that be what we are doing? Enough said! Amen!

Our 2023 Mission’s Convention, can you believe it?...

 ...I would have thought Jesus would have returned by now but it appears He is giving us more time to reach the lost here and around the world. Isaiah 54:1-2(NKJV)
"Sing, O barren, You who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, You who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate Than the children of the married woman," says the LORD.
"Enlarge the place of your tent, And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, And strengthen your stakes.” I preached these verses for La Vida Church’s 10 Year Anniversary, and as I was preparing this, God spoke to me about preaching this for our convention. I have been the Lead Pastor here for a little over 32 years and I have challenged you every year to support the Mission of the Church which is the Great Commission. Mark 16:15 (NCV) “Jesus said to his followers, “Go everywhere in the world, and tell the Good News to everyone.”  Go where? Everywhere! Tell who? Everyone! It does not get any simpler than that. It is not a suggestion but it is a command.                                                                                                                                    

1. Enlarge the Place of Your Tent. God is saying to you from His Word. Get ready for growth. For souls to be saved here and around the world. Just from one of 220 missionaries that we support…in 17 years – led 110,000 people to Christ. Jesus said He will build His Church. Who will build His Church? He will build His Church. He just wants us to work with Him and watch what He does. Life Church, La Vida Church, and Village Campus, enlarge the place of your tent and lengthen your cords. 

2. Do Not Spare. Isaiah 54:2 (NKJV) "Enlarge the place of your tent, And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare;” Isaiah 54:2 (NLT2) ^“spare no expense!” What do you believe this is saying to us? Do not spare…spare no expense? One of our Distinctives as a church is “Generosity.” Be givers! Be faithful in your tithing! Support the Mission’s Program of the church! Be givers every time an opportunity is presented. Do not spare. Spare no expense.

3. Strengthen Your Stakes. Isaiah 54:2 (NKJV) “And strengthen your stakes.” When you set up a tent, what holds the tent in place? The stakes. It is time to go deeper. Some want to shout louder and jump higher and that’s okay as long as you are going deeper. There are way too many shallow Christians in the church. The first wind, or storm, or test, they are blown away. Go deeper my brothers and sisters…strengthen your stakes. Get connected to Jesus like never before and be filled with Holy Spirit so you can be witnesses around the world. 

Enlarge the Place of Your Tent. Do Not Spare. Strengthen Your Stakes.

Today we continue the series on “Courage”...

 ...Last time we talked about unlearning our fears and today we will talk about re-thinking our prayers. 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.” 

1. An Honest Assessment of Our Prayers. We would probably be amazed to discover how many of our prayers are aimed at simply reducing our problems. We pray God will keep us out of a pit with a lion on a snowy day. We pray that God will help steer clear of Egyptian warriors with spears. Also, if we have to fight against the Moabites, please let the numbers be on our side. What if these problems are just opportunities in disguise? Our prayers are misdirected. At the end of our lives I believe we will thank God for the lions, bears, and giants in our lives. We will even thank God, like Benaiah, for the pits we end up in. Someday we will thank God for the bad things that have happened to us.

2. The law of Unintended Consequences. C.S. Lewis – If God had granted all the silly prayers I’ve made in my life, where would I be now? Lewis went on to say that there will come a day that we will be more grateful for the prayers God did not answer than the ones He did. Why? Many of our prayers are misguided. We pray for comfort instead of character. We pray for an easy way out instead of strength to make it through. We pray for no pain, when the result would be no gain. Batterson – “Maybe prayer is less about changing our circumstances than it is changing our perspective. Most of our problems are not the by-product of our circumstances but of our perspective on our circumstances. Maybe we need to quit praying safe prayers.” 

3. Worship is Our Way of Escape. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NCV) “But when you are tempted, he will also give you a way to escape so that you will be able to stand it.” Think about Paul and Silas (Acts 16) being in stocks in a Philippian dungeon. Circumstances truly can’t get much worse and Paul and Silas’ reaction is remarkable. If it had been you or me the text would have read, “Around midnight Rick was complaining.” Not these guys. Acts 16:25 (NLT2) ^“Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.” Quote – “Don’t let what’s wrong with you keep you from worshiping what’s right with God.” It restores the joy of your salvation. 

During our week of prayer,...

 ...the night Pastor Dwaine was speaking, God took me to this passage of scripture. I said, Lord, if you want me to share this tonight have Pastor Dwaine ask me. He didn’t. The next morning Pastor Aaron came to my office and asked if I thought it would be good to have a time of worship today, January 22, 2023. He said you could share a quick devotion and we could worship. Immediately God spoke to me that this was the time to share this word. A man brought his demon possessed son to the disciples and they could not help him. Jesus said bring him to me and he cured him. His disciples asked why they couldn’t help him. Matthew 17:14-21 (NKJV) “Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."

1. Say to This Mountain. What is your mountain? Kids away from God, a sickness (you or someone you love), a job situation, or whatever your mountain is. Someone needs to talk to your mountain today. Jesus said, if you have just a little faith (as of a mustard seed) , you can speak to your mountain and your mountain will listen. Has anyone gotten angry enough to say something to the mountain you are facing? Be angry and do not sin!

2. Move from Here to There. It sounds like to me that Jesus was telling the disciples and He is telling us that it is time to pray with authority and to speak to our mountain, our prodigal, our sickness, our need. Pray or say what? Move from here to there! Move from here to there! Your prodigal may be here (away from God) but it is time for them to move there (right with God). Your body or your loved one may be here (overwhelmed with sickness) but it is time for them to move there (well and whole). Your finances may be here (struggling) but it is time for them to be there (blessed). It is time to say to our mountain, move from here to there, and Jesus said, it will move. 

3. This Move (Miracle) happens by Prayer and Fasting. What have we been doing for the last 21 days? Praying and fasting. Jesus said we can speak to this mountain. Jesus said we can tell it where to go (from here to there). Why? We have been praying and fasting. Do you have a little faith? Come and worship and speak to your mountain and it will move. Worship God and the mountain will move! Amen!

As we continue our 21 Days of fasting, and as we have...

...just finished our annual week of prayer, and as we again have our One Church/One Family Service, I want to exhort you to keep praying. Again, we welcome Pastor Neftali, Shelia, and La Vida Church with us today. Please put on your seatbelt and let’s see what God will do. Jim Cymbala says, “Prayer links us to the promises and power of the Almighty. Calling out to God threatens Satan’s kingdom because it brings the blessings of heaven to earth and grants salvation to the ungodly.”  We have shared with you about going through that great and effective door and I truly believe that we are. 1 Corinthians 16:9 (NKJV) “For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.” The truth is that if we will go through that great door and even the double doors it will be accomplished by praying! Isaiah 45:1-3 (NKJV) "Thus says the LORD to His anointed, To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held-- To subdue nations before him And loose the armor of kings, To open before him the double doors, So that the gates will not be shut: 'I will go before you And make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze And cut the bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden riches of secret places, That you may know that I, the LORD, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel.” 

The early church devoted itself to prayer. Acts 2:42 (NKJV) “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”  It prayed the Apostle Peter out of prison the night before his scheduled execution (Acts 12), and they responded to persecution for the first time by prayer (Acts 4:42).  God responded by granting them a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit and a boldness to witness for Christ.  When Ananias was so fearful to go in obedience to Saul who became Paul God gave him this sign to let him know he had changed:  Acts 9:11 (NKJV)  “...behold, he is praying.”

We all in one accord say that we want to go through that great and effective door and we all acknowledge that there are many adversaries. Listen to the exhortation of our Lord:  Luke 18:1 (NIV) “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” If you have not arrived at your destination yet...do not give up and do not stop praying. The Scriptures we read about putting on God’s armor also tells us: Ephesians 6:18 (NKJV) “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” Brothers and Sisters, keep praying and you will get through God’s door! 

Today I am going back to the series 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.” Your defining moments will also double as your scariest decisions. But you have to face those fears (lions) and begin the process of unlearning them. God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear.

1. Unlearning is Hard. Just like a hard drive with a computer virus, our minds have infected files. Irrational fears keep us from operating the way God designed us to. Those fears must be uninstalled. As you study Jesus’ teaching you realize that learning was not His primary goal. His primary goal was unlearning. He was trying to reverse engineer religious minds which can be the toughest. Two phrases that you heard Jesus say in His Sermon on the Mount…You have heard that it was said…But I tell you. What was Jesus trying to accomplish? Uninstalling OT concepts and upgrading NT truths.

2. The Importance of Unlearning. The cripple man at the sheep gate is such a great example of unlearning. He had been crippled for thirty-eight years when Jesus asked him if he wanted to get well. This man believed there was only one way to be healed. His assumption of how he could be healed may have cost him 38 years of his life. I wonder about the assumptions we have when it comes to Jesus and healing and what that costs us. You need to see this…Jesus didn’t just set this man free physically, he set him free in his mind. Faith is unlearning senseless worries and beliefs that hold us captive. 

3. Unlearning by Downloading the Mind of Christ. We think we can win this battle by simply modifying our behavior. Few ever win this way. We win by downloading the Word of God and getting the mind of Christ. Romans 12:2 (NIV) “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.” How do we unlearn false beliefs and how do we renew our minds? How do we get ourselves out of the pit with a lion that we got ourselves into? The way to upgrade our minds is to download scriptures. Philippians 2:5-9 (NKJV) “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” Today let’s learn the Word of God and let’s unlearn all the junk we have received all of our lives. Praise the Lord!

Happy New Year’s Day!...

...In Zechariah 4:6‑10 (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!" Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying: "The hands of Zerubbabel Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know That the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. For who has despised the day of small things?” 2023...Can you believe it is here...are you ready for what God wants to do?

1. It is Time to Wake Up! Zechariah 4:1 (NKJV) “Now the angel who talked with me came back and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep.” You would think that churches would be full with the condition our world is in. Political Leadership tearing down traditional marriage, killing babies, hurting families, making us vulnerable to our enemies. Church, it is time to wake up from our sleep and hear the Word from the Lord.

2. It is Time to Stand Up! Zechariah 4:6 (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.” God wanted to use Zerubbabel to rebuild His temple and God wants to use us to rebuild His church. Zerubbabel you are going to build my temple, not thru your own effort but thru the power of Holy Spirit.

3. It is Time to Break Up! Zechariah 4:7 (NKJV) “Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!” What is in your way...a mountain? What is a mountain before the Lord God Almighty? 

It is time for your mountains to be broken before the Lord and for you to lay the capstone. No other foundation that has been laid other than Jesus Christ with shouts! 

4. It is Time to Rise Up! Zechariah 4:9 (NKJV) "The hands of Zerubbabel Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it.” God was encouraging Zerubbabel to finish what He had started...God is speaking to you today saying this year is your year to complete what you started...time to rise up! 

5. It is Time to Think Up! Zechariah 4:10 (NKJV) “For who has despised the day of small things?” It is time to stop thinking small...it is time to think up. A small beginning is a beginning! Philippians 1:6 (MSG) “There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.” Amen!