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!