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!