8 But you will receive power when the
Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in
Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
When the day of Pentecost
arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And
suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind,
and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And
divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested[a] on each one of them. 4 And
they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other
tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
MCA’s favorite Lukan theologian, Dr. Robert Menzies
writes:
The message is clear: Just as Jesus
was anointed by the Spirit to fulfill His prophetic vocation, so also Jesus’
disciples have been anointed as end-time prophets to proclaim the Word of God. Menzies,
Robert. Pentecost: This Story is Our Story . Gospel Publishing House. Kindle
Edition.
The prophetic message Jesus’ Spirit anointed disciples
are to proclaim is:
22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of
Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and
wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you
yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up
according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you
crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God
raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for
him to be held by it. Acts 2:22-24
32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that
we all are witnesses. 33 Being
therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received
from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured
out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. Acts 2:32-33
36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for
certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this
Jesus whom you crucified.”
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to
the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what
shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to
them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of
Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the
promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off,
everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” Acts
2:36-39
As end time people of the Spirit, we have the message
given by God through the Apostle Peter.
Immediately following the declaration of our
empowered witness through proclamation, we see the revelation of our empowered
witness through social structures.
People of the Spirit are empowered with a
message and ministry and empowered within a brand-new community of the Spirit.
It is the Spirit’s ministry on the day of
Pentecost from which the Apostle Peter writes, “Once you were not a people, but now you
are God’s people.” 1 Peter 2:10
Because of the
Spirit’s ministry on the Day of Pentecost, we are now the newly reconstituted
people of God, a Spirit empowered community.
Joining God’
end time community of the Spirit includes repentance, water baptism and results
in the promise of receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit.
“Repent
and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for
the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit. Acts
2:38
The Spirit empowered message, without the Spirit empowered
community is only philosophy.
The Spirit empowered community without the Spirit empowered
message is only relationship.
The Spirit empowered message and the Spirit empowered community is
the newly reconstituted people of God.
The Community of the Spirit is God’s better provision for the
health and wellness of His people.
The Community of the Spirit shines spectacularly bright in today’s
dim and dark world.
1. The gigantic unrest
related to the corona virus situation. (After all these years of study and
research, there is no effective vaccine (I have been told) for ANY of the many
strains of corona virus).
2. The financial unrest is at tsunami level.
3. The racial unrest is expansive.
4. The political unrest is pervasive.
5. The emotional (suicide) unrest is the highest in measured
history.
6. The domestic violence unrest is hard to measure, but
reports are high.
Acts 2 42-46 reveals the life-giving values and behaviors of this
new Community of the Spirit.
There is no mention of perspectives and positions on:
The Community of the Spirit is for everyone who repents and is
baptized.
This Community of the Spirit is mentioned in Revelation 5:9
9 And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and
nation.
This map indicates the huge variety and diversity in the Community
of the Spirit even at the beginning.
Let’s end our teaching time together with thinking about The
Community of the Spirit and the social isolation of our world today.
Social distancing, YES!
Relational distancing, NO!
The Community of the Spirit is perfectly postured as a safe haven
in these socially turbulent times.
Would you like to join this God inspired “Community of the
Spirit?” Acts 2:38
“Repent
and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for
the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit.
MCA specific responses:
Frequent local businesses owned and operated by people from various
ethnic backgrounds.
Please spend a growing percentage of your budget in Mt. View.
Make a new best friend with someone very different from you. Maybe from a different economic situation or
a different ethnicity or a different religion or from a different political perspective
or from a different generation.
How long has it been since you spent meaningful time with someone
very different from you?
Listen – My
Story
What experience comes to mind when you remember receiving
God’s love through someone very different from you?
What experience comes to mind when you remember
giving God’s love to someone very different from you?
Learn – Digging
Deeper
Read Romans
12:9-21
What might Paul
mean in verse 9, by saying “Love must be genuine?” Does the next sentence, “Hate what is evil
and cling to what is good,” shed light on this question?
As you read the
passage, make a list of “Things Love Does,” and a list of “Things Love Does Not
Do.”
What must happen in
your heart to get to obedience of “If you enemy is hungry, feed him” Romans
12:20
What other Bible
passages come to mind regarding The Community of the Spirit?
Life – Taking
it Home
What
is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this lesson?
How
can your Bible Fellowship help you excel in the Community of the Spirit?
Lift – Prayer
May we pray with you to become a member of the
Community of the Spirit?
Which component of love as seen in Romans
12:9-21 may we pray for growth within you?
May we receive your prayer requests?
Posted on
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The global response to the Novel Corona Virus of 2020 significantly and dramatically altered the lives of virtually every person on the planet.
From my perspective, our planet is in psychological shock. The following is from a March 2018 Psychology Today article by Alice Boyes, PhD.
Psychological shock is when you experience a surge of strong emotions and a corresponding physical reaction, in response to a (typically unexpected) stressful event.
The types of events that can trigger psychological shock reactions include:
A car accident or near miss.
Being broken up with.
Your child having an accident or near miss.
Situations that provoke fear, such as being in an airplane with severe turbulence.
Witnessing something scary.
Hearing a story that makes you feel traumatized, such as learning a friend’s child has drowned.
Consuming a news stories that provokes a trauma reaction, such as hearing a story about people being separated from their children.
Getting sued or some other financial related stressor.
Being stopped by the police.
Being at the dentist.
What are the symptoms of psychological shock?
The hallmark symptom of shock is feeling a surge of adrenalin.
You may feel jittery or physically sick, like you’re going to vomit or have diarrhea.
Your mind will likely feel very foggy, or like you can’t think straight.
Your chest may feel tight.
You may feel a disconnection from what’s happening, like you’re watching a movie of events unfolding rather than actually being there.
You may feel intense anger and want to scream or yell—for example, if your child is injured while someone else is supposed to be watching them.
This talk is designed as a conversation about the possibility of the intense anger a person may experience as part of possible psychological shock.
Psychological shock is when you experience a surge of strong emotions and a corresponding physical reaction, in response to a (typically unexpected) stressful event.
Elyssa Barbash, PhD, stated, “As a trauma specialist, it is exceedingly clear to me just how traumatic this situation is for nearly every single person in the world.”
In many ways, Israel’s book of hymns and poems addresses every season of one’s life. We are pursuing the Psalms for every season and time addressed in Ecclesiastes 3:1-7.
3 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
This is a season of unprecedented global change. The near sudden speed of almost total life interruption is accompanied by a variety of deep emotions.
ïGrief – the proper response to loss
ïAnger – the proper response to injustice
ïSorrow – the proper response to disappointment
The holy and inspired Word of God addresses unwanted life change, disappointing loss, traumatic experiences, injustice, sorrow and shock.
Psalm 137 may be helpful to us in this season and time.
137 By the waters of Babylon,
there we sat down and wept,
when we remembered Zion.
ïBabylon isn’t their home. They are captives living in exile. The river Jordan is their river, not the waters of Babylon.
ïSitting is the posture of official mourning.
ïWeeping is the soul’s deep response to loss.
ïRemembering reveals the distance between what is and what should be.
2 On the willows there
we hung up our lyres. 3 For there our captors
required of us songs,
and our tormentors, mirth, saying,
“Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”
4 How shall we sing the Lord’s song
in a foreign land?
ïThey literally “hung up” their song. They silenced their song.
ïThe “hung up” song is a response to captors and tormentors mockingly requiring “songs of Zion.”
ïWe will not pretend. Everything isn’t ok.
ïWe won’t sing temple songs following your destruction of the temple.
ïWe won’t sing God’s glorious song amid your ungodly idols.
5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
let my right hand forget its skill! 6 Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you,
if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy!
7 Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem,
how they said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare,
down to its foundations!”
ïThey express the GIGANTIC danger of losing the memory of the way it should be.
ïMay my voice be silenced if I do not remember you, God and your holy city, Jerusalem.
ïMay I not forget…..AND Lord, do not forget the wickedness with which we have been treated. As they destroyed Jerusalem with their “song,” “Lay it are, lay it bare, down to its foundations.”
8 O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed,
blessed shall he be who repays you
with what you have done to us! 9 Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones
and dashes them against the rock!
ïRaging anger is expressed…
ïDoomed to be destroyed
ïBlessed is the person who repays you WITH what you have done to us!
ïBlessed is he who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!
The 137th Psalm reveals the great value in truthfully, understanding, experiencing and expressing our deepest emotions WITH God.
Understanding my emotions is necessary and good. Jeremiah 17:9-10
The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick;
who can understand it? 10 “I the Lord search the heart
and test the mind,
to give every man according to his ways,
according to the fruit of his deeds.”
Experiencing my emotions is necessary and good. Ecclesiastes 3:4
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
Expressing my emotions TO God is necessary and good. Philippians 4:4-7
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Posted on
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Today we remember with mourning and glorious gladness
In the United States of America, the last Sunday in the month
of May is Memorial Day. Specifically,
Memorial Day is for honoring and mourning the military personnel who have died
while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
The honoring and mourning is represented by the decoration of
our loved one’s graves. Actually, from the
early beginnings in 1868 until 1967, May 30th of each year was
titled, “Decoration Day.”
Canadian doctor and surgeon, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae,
wrote the poem, “In Flanders Fields” in 1915.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing,
fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders
fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders
fields.
In 1918 the National American Legion adopted the poppy as
their official symbol of remembrance.
Just over a year ago Bill Welch, David Kuiper and I visited
Normandy. Spending most of the day at
Omaha beach, we experienced some of the sights and sounds of the bloodiest
D-day beach.
I shall remember all my life the 172.5-acre cemetery. 9,388 pure white gravestones are forever
carved into my memory.
Members of MCA church have friends, relatives, associates and
neighbors who have died in service of our country.
Years ago, one of our members, Jerry, was recounting his day
of service as an anti-aircraft gunner on the back of a ship at Pearl Harbor. When his recollection arrived at the point
where his weapon overheated, and he was now helpless to fight for the lives of
his countrymen, he broke into tears and wept.
His tears moved me deeply.
Deuteronomy, the fifth book in the Old Testament, could be
called the Book of Remembrance.
Toward the end of the book, we are told to remember, consider
and ask about the days of old.
Remember the days of old; consider the years
of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and
they will tell you. Deuteronomy 32:7
We are to remember, consider and ask about life as a slave
before the Lord brought us out with His mighty hand and outstretched arm.
You shall remember that you were a
slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your
God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.
Therefore the Lord your
God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day. Deuteronomy 5:15
Our
memory of God’s strong action prevents us from living in fear.
you shall not be afraid of them but you
shall remember what the Lord your
God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt.
Deuteronomy 7:18
We
are to remember, consider and ask about the whole way that the Lord God has led
us in the past.
And
you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these
forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know
what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.
Deuteronomy 8:2
Looking back
through memory, we are reminded of God’s confirmation of His covenant promises
made to our fathers.
You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who
gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore
to your fathers, as it is this day. Deuteronomy 8:18
We
are to remember, consider and ask with the bread of affliction, unleavened
bread.
You shall eat no leavened bread with it. Seven
days you shall eat it with unleavened bread, the bread of affliction—for you
came out of the land of Egypt in haste—that all the days of your life you
may remember the day when you came out of the land of Egypt.
Deuteronomy 16:3
How could we
remember the days of old without a roadside stop with Jesus on memory lane?
14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and
the apostles with him. 15 And he said to
them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I
suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat
it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And
he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and
divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that
from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of
God comes.” 19 And he took bread, and when he
had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my
body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
I remember you, Jesus. Your
excruciating night of praying with tears, sweat and blood.
Your tears move me deeply.
I remember you, Jesus.
The day your feet, by which you walked into our world with the
mercy and grace of God, were rendered motionless by nails and hammer into a
wooden beam.
The moment your loving, healing, gracious hands were stymied and
spiked to the Roman plank.
I remember the Divine back upon which you carry the sins of the
world being shredded and torn.
I remember your head crowned with torture. There held the greatest mind – the most
understanding and insightful eyes – the treasured mouth which spoke the words
of God – the ears which give hearing to the very voice of creation.
I remember your perfect, sacred, loving heart motionless without a
beat.
On this great day of memory, we sense again, with freshness, our
mourning and sorrow over your mistreatment, abuse and death.
Our memory, however, doesn’t end there.
We recall and recollect your glorious resurrection from the dead
and proclaim with the Psalmist David:
You have turned for me my mourning
into dancing;
you have loosed my
sackcloth
and clothed me with
gladness, 12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be
silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to
you forever!
We remember your post-resurrection appearances filled with life
and joy and hope.
We remember your ascension and your promise to be with us always
in the Person of the Holy Spirit and to return in victory.
Our mourning is turned into gladness.
Normandy’s battles have become a world free of Hitler’s anti-God
passion and I’m glad.
Jesus’ wounds have released us from our transgressions.
His bruises have removed our iniquities and I’m glad.
The chastisement of His body produced our peace.
The stripes he bore secured our healing and I’m glad.
We remember with mourning and glorious gladness.
Posted on
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The outcomes of trusting God are numerous and spectacular in Psalm 91.
He delivers from the snare of the fowler
He delivers from the deadly pestilence
We will not fear the terror of the night
We will not fear the arrow that flies by day
We will not fear the pestilence that stalks in darkness
We will not fear the destruction that wastes at noonday
This all-encompassing trust flows from the deepest part of the person who dwells in the shelter of the Most High.
Where is that shelter located? How do we find that shelter?
Consider another scriptural location.
Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down on the collar of his robes! 3 It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the Lord has commanded the blessing,
life forevermore.
Where is “there?” Where does the Lord command the blessing?
Is the shelter of the Most High a spiritual location? Yes.
Jesus seems to have Psalm 91:1 in His mind as he speaks in John 15.
15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
Abiding, similar to the dwell of Psalm 91, is featured by our Lord nine times in this brief passage.
Another similarity is the emphasis upon love.
Psalm 91:14
14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
John 15:9
9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.
John 15:12, 13
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:14-17
14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
The shelter of the Most High where we are to dwell, is a place of love.
To love God includes:
ïAffection
ïCommunication
ïEmbrace
ïEmotion
Feel the love of the Psalmist (73):
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strengthof my heart and my portion forever.
In this abiding and abundant love for God:
There is an urgent seeking.
I will seek him whom my soul loves. SS 3:1
One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. Psalm 27:4
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7,8
ïThere is an intense holding.
Scarcely had I passed them when I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go. SS 3:4
5 He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him. 6 For he held fast to the Lord. He did not depart from following him, but kept the commandments that the Lord commanded Moses. 7 And the Lord was with him; wherever he went out, he prospered. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and would not serve him. 2 Kings 18:5-7
This love captivates the heart.
You have captivated my heart. SS 4:9
For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.”
Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee. Augustine
Notice the Old Testament’s most significant verse, Deuteronomy 6:4, 5:
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
In some ways it is easier to give God your soul and your might than it is to give Him your heart.
It is in our hearts that we hold bitterness and unforgiveness
It is in our hearts that we cling to our brokenness, woundedness and pain
It is in our hearts that previous and lesser loves have left us cut off and alone.
It is in our hearts that we find our deepest fears and failures.
It is precisely with this heart that God longs for me to love Him.
Posted on
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This is a season never before experienced in all of history.
Previously we conversed about excelling in love during a season of super strong personal opinions and beliefs.
1.We seek to excel in love because our eternal inheritance requires us to do so.
2.We seek to excel in love by limiting our freedoms for the benefit of the other.
3.We seek to excel in love because Christian unity is our greatest testimony that God is love and has sent His Son to rescue us and live with us.
Although many pandemics have plagued the earth, none have happened in a world as interconnected as we are today.
On non-eternal matters explicitly addressed in the Bible we are commanded to hold to our personal conscience before God.
ïVery dear and wise personal Christian friends strongly hold to the belief that Paul’s sentence, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet,” as eternal guidance for all churches in all places at all times. 1 Timothy 2:12
ïI hold strong belief that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the day of Pentecost upon daughters and sons, female and male, in fact, upon all flesh, indicates that Paul was clearly speaking of particular churches at a particular time.
Never in my lifetime have matters of conscience been this front and center in the Christian family of faith.
Therefore, in times like these, we have huge need for two exceedingly crucial skills; insight and wisdom.
The ability, in these turbulent times, to see into matters is a crucial need.
ïWhat is below the surface of what initially meets the eye?
ïWhat is connected to what I currently perceive?
ïWhat can I see in my blind spot?
ïWhat has the Spirit said in the Bible about this matter?
Consider the following passages from the Book of Proverbs.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
A need of the hour for the Christian is insight.
To insight we add wisdom.
Wisdom understands how to handle the insights as we daily live out our faith.
Isaiah presents the outcomes of the Spirit of the Lord being upon Jesus and through extrapolation, upon you and me today. Isaiah 11:1-2
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. 2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
Wisdom is critical because the cohesiveness of our faith falls apart if we are unwise.
According to this passage, what good is it to have understanding, counsel, might, knowledge and the fear of the Lord if we are not wise? Wisdom is key to all gifts and fruit of the Spirit.
Most crucial questions of this significant time in history cannot be answered definitively.
For example, many are asking, “Are these the last days?”
We cannot give a definitive, all-encompassing answer. It doesn’t seem wise to say “Yes,” and it surely isn’t wise to say, “No.”
My answer is, “These are more the last days than any other day in history.”
The uncertainty of the hour demands insight and wisdom.
Revelation 13
Comments
11 Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. 13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, 14 and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. 16 Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, 17 so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. 18 This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.
ïThere will be an exercise of overwhelming authority.
ïThere will be worship required.
ïThere will be much deception
ïThere will be the killing of those who would not worship.
ïThere will be required identification on the right hand or the forehead
ïThere will be buying or selling unless one identifies with the beast
ïTHIS CALLS FOR WISDOM
Allowing Revelation 13:11-18 to be our guide, let us pursue insight and wisdom in the following:
Be very thoughtful, careful and cautious about matters of authority.
Be very thoughtful, careful and cautions about matters of worship.
Look closely for indications that you are becoming deceived.
Should Christians be on earth during this season, prepare for life-ending violence.
Be very thoughtful, careful and cautions about matters of identification.
Seek insight and wisdom for the day when you may not be able to buy or sell.
John is correct, THIS CALLS FOR WISDOM.
Posted on
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Christianity has historically been seen for its
GREATNESS in times similar to the 2020 Novel Corona Virus pandemic.
Although the world enemy was different than a
microscopic virus and the war against that enemy required, Sir. Winston
Churchill beautifully reframed the war. In
four weeks, we will celebrate the 80th anniversary of his prolific words
(June 18, 1940).
We are on history’s stage at the precise time
when a very real and dangerous disease has become both a physical AND spiritual
war.
Even more than we need the world’s greatest
minds to find a vaccine and cure, our planet needs every Christian to war
against the spirit, processes and powers of anti-Christ perspectives.
The spirit of anti-Christ is seeking to
reframe his diabolical agenda in positive terms of human sustainability, health
and wellness.
On the surface the issues are framed, “This is
for personal and global good.” Anti-Christ
spirit however is working behind the scenes not for personal or global good,
but for the overthrow of the kingdom of God on the earth.
The spirit of anti-Christ is actively pursuing
the end-time agenda of darkness by manipulating mental models, fear and issues
of power and control throughout the whole world.
The spirit of anti-Christ is well served
should Christians be turned against each other over non-eternal issues such as mask
or no mask, gather or don’t gather, isolate or quarantine, constitutional
rights or moral responsibility?
The Spirit of Christ, on the other hand, is identifying
fully committed disciples from the partially committed and is birthing a
gigantic global move of people to God.
Issues have been framed as, “Democrats put
lives before the economy and Republicans put the economy before lives.”
Neither of these adequately addresses the
Spirit’s priority of saving the human soul for eternal life with God.
Whether we live or die (priority upon lives)
is far less important than if we are eternally saved or lost.
Whether we have a booming economy or a busted
economy is far less important than being eternally saved or lost.
28 And do
not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear
him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28
It is my guess that more money has been spent
or lost or not created in the war against this virus than all the money ever
spent on missions endeavors throughout Christian history.
While we make a great fight for our economy,
which is urgently needed, and while we unflinchingly fight for the saving of the
physical lives of the world, we keep our primary focus on the saving of souls
unto eternal life in Christ.
Below the surface of pandemic jargon and
vernacular the Spirit of God is at work for the saving of souls and the advancement
of God’s kingdom on earth.
The chief weapon in our battle for souls is God
given love.
35 By this
all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one
another.” John 13:35
The glue that
holds Christ’s team together in this war is love.
8 Above
all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of
sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without
grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it
to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever
speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who
serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in
everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong
glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:8-11
To avoid cooperation with the spirit of
anti-Christ, we trust the Spirit of Christ to empower us to excel in Christian
love.
We excel in Christian love because Jesus
reveals that loving God and neighbor is required to inherit eternal life.
25 And
behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher,
what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He
said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And
he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and
with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind,
and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said
to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
Luke 10:25-28
The question is very clear, “What must I do to inherit
eternal life?”
The answer is equally clear, “Love God and neighbor.”
Our eternal inheritance requires us to excel in love. Thanks be to God; He gives us the ability to
excel in love through His Spirit.
Walking in freedom, we excel in Christian love
by limiting our rights for the sake of love.
In Romans 14 the Apostle Paul highlights two
matters of conscience that were hindering the Roman church from excelling in
love.
First, they were not excelling in love because
of heated debate between eating meat or vegetables.
Second, they were not excelling in love
because of disagreement about “holy” days.
Maybe Paul would say to us today, “Excel in
loving even in the deeply held beliefs of mask or no mask? Gather or don’t gather?”
Paul reveals that excelling in love on matters
of conscience requires:
Do
not despise the person who differs from you.
Vs. 3
Do
not pass judgement. Vs. 3
Be
fully convinced in your own mind. Vs. 5
And
be faithful to that of which you are convinced.
Because
we won’t stand in front of each other for judgement, but before God. Vs. 10
“So
then each of us will give an account of himself before God.” Vs. 12
We excel in Christian love when walking in
freedom, we limit our rights for the sake of love.
We excel in Christian love because it is our
most powerful testimony to the very souls we are commissioned to reach.
The need of the hour is for the world to be
convinced that Jesus is God’s Son and eternal life is found only in Him.
We love one another deeply through the power
of the Holy Spirit “so that the world may know” the truth about Jesus and come
to know Him personally.
23 I in them
and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world
may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
John 17:23
When we excel in Christian love we proclaim that
the Christian’s primary ministry during the global pandemic isn’t masks or no
masks, distancing or no distancing, gathering or not gathering, but loving one
another deeply from the heart.
Knowing Christian love is required….
Let us therefore brace ourselves to our
duties,
And so bear ourselves,
That if the history of our church lasts for a
thousand years,
People will say,
“This was their finest hour.”
Online Bible Fellowship Homework
Listen – My Story
Do you have a story of receiving God’s love?
Do you have a favorite experience of giving God’s
love?
Learn – Digging
Deeper
Read
1 Corinthians 13
The word “If” is highlighted in verses 1-3. Why? What
is Paul’s point?
The word “is” is highlighted in verses 4-7. What is love?
Verses 8-13 highlight the eternality of
love. What ends and what lasts? Why?
Life – Taking
it Home
What
is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this lesson?
How
can your Online Bible Fellowship help you excel in Christian love?
Lift – Prayer
Is there an area of life in which you hope to
love more like Christ?
Pray for those who placed their trust in Jesus
for salvation this past week.
Receive prayer requests and pray one for the
other.
Please pray for the MCA congregations both at
home and around the world, especially for their finances.
Posted on
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The distinctive of MCA Church’s belief system is our
understanding of how to understand the Bible.
Most evangelical Christians believe the Bible to be:
The infallible
Inerrant
Authoritative
Word of God
Only rule of faith and practice.
This is common terminology for most evangelical
Christians. What then is our distinctive
in this regard?
We understand New Testament narrative to be revelation of
what God can do and does in our world of today.
We do not see any Bible passage stating any of the New
Testament ministries have ceased or were limited to a time zone (dispensation).
We understand “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and
forever,” to include the ministries he did, the message He proclaimed and the
promises He made.
The hermeneutic of the typical
Pentecostal believer is straightforward and simple: the stories in Acts are my
stories—stories that were written to serve as models for shaping my life and
experience. Menzies,
Robert. Pentecost: This Story is Our Story . Gospel Publishing House. Kindle
Edition.
The poetry of Psalm 91 introduces us to God’s angels accomplishing
His purposes in the earth.
For he will command his angels concerning
you
to guard you in all
your ways. 12 On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike
your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion
and the serpent you will trample underfoot.
From our perspective, the poetry of Psalm 91 is valid revelation
for our lives today.
“Thus, the Psalm invites readers from
diverse contexts to help shape the meaning of the Psalm by contributing their
own answers….” The
Oxford Handbook of the Psalms, Brennan Breed, page 298
Consider praying for God to give guidance to the angels on your
behalf.
Angels are messengers of God. “Lord, I pray to receive every message you
intend for me, whether by the gifts of the Spirit, the Bible, wise counsel from
others or by angelic delivery.”
Angels are involved in the worship of
God. “Lord, I pray to worship you at a
much higher level than I do now. May I
learn from the angels a greater capacity for worship.”
Angels are God’s warriors. “Lord, I pray that you will commission your
angels in the unseen war related to my life.
May your angels go to war on my behalf.”
Angels guard the throne of God and His
glory. “Lord, as you increase my
personal experience with your glory, may you send your angels to guard both me
and your glory.”
Angels “lift you up” so that your walk is
steady. “Lord, I ask you to commission
your angels to lift me up so that I walk steady and holy before you.”
Because of the Bible’s strong teaching that its narratives are instructive
for today (ALL scripture is God breathed and is PROFITABLE), we consider the
angelic ministry in the New Testament to be normative for God’s work in our
world today.
“The stories in Acts are our stories.”
Luke’s Book of Acts significantly features angelic ministry in the
life of the newly launched church. We
too should expect and anticipate God guiding, providing, protecting and
communicating through angels.
10 And while they were gazing into
heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white
robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do
you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into
heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Acts 1:10-11
Heavenly messengersIn white robesSuddenly stood by themTwo in numberApparently vanished as quickly as they arrivedMessage of Jesus’ return to earth someday
17 But the high priest rose up, and all who
were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy
18 they arrested the apostles and put
them in the public prison. 19 But during the night an angel of
the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to
the people all the words of this Life.”
Opened locked and secured doorsNavigated the apostles through the prison
security systemGave detailed instructions
15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his
face was like the face of an angel. Acts 6:15
30 “Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared
to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a
bush. Acts 7:30
35 “This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made
you a ruler and a judge?’—this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of
the angel who appeared to him in the bush. Acts 7:35
38 This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who
spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received
living oracles to give
to us. Acts 7:38
53 you who received the law as delivered by
angels and did not keep it.”
Acts 7:53
There is a look on the human face considered
to be like an angel.
An angel standing in a flame of fire
The angelic messenger is a validation of the
seriousness of God’s message
Moses’ “living oracles” were given to him by
an angel at Mount Sinai
The law of God was considered to be delivered
to Israel by angels
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to
Philip, “Rise and go toward the south[d] to the
road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went. Acts 8:26
Life and ministry direction given by an angel
At
Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known
as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with
all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually
to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a
vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.”
4 And he stared at him in terror and said,
“What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have
ascended as a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one
Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging with one Simon, a
tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
A very real visitation in a visionKnowledge of the impact prayer and alms
giving rising as a memorial before GodLife direction givenKnowledge of where Simon Peter was lodging
Peter also had a vision but his experience isn’t attributed to
angels but to the Lord and the Spirit.
22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion,
an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole
Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to
his house and to hear what you have to say.” 23 So he invited them in to be his guests.
The angelic visitation authenticates the guests
to Peter and he invites them into his house
27 And as he talked with him, he went in
and found many persons gathered. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves
know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone
of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any
person common or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without
objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”
Peter is TOTALLY confident in the message of
the vision and the voice of the Lord and the Spirit
30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago,
about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and
behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer
has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for
Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by
the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to
come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that
you have been commanded by the Lord.”
Cornelius still validates his actions, four
days later, because of the angel’s ministry.An angelic hint is the quick appearance, “Stood
before me.”An angelic hint is the “bright clothing.”An angelic hint is knowing what has been
remembered before God.
Posted on
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The MCA Church Corona Virus
Mitigation Plan reflects the following Bible instructions:
3 Do
nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count
others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each
of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of
others. Philippians 2:3, 4
Let every
person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no
authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by
God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities
resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. Romans
13:1
Stay
Home if You are Not Feeling Well or Have Someone Sick in Your Home
A fever of 100.4 or higher or a sense of having a fever
A cough
Shortness of breath
A sore throat
New muscle aches
Other symptoms of COVID-19
include difficulty breathing, chills, decreased appetite, diminished sense of
taste or smell, diarrhea, fatigue, headache, muscle/joint aches, nausea, rash,
rigors, runny nose, sore throat, or sputum production
Been in close contact, longer than fifteen minutes and under six
feet, with anyone who has been confirmed positive for COVID-19 or are displaying
these symptoms
If any of the above are true for you or your household, we
strongly recommend seeing your health care provider and following all of their
guidelines
We Recommend that You Stay Home if You are In the High-Risk
Category
Age 65 and older
Have underlying health issues
Hypertension
Heart disease
Lung disease
Diabetes
Obesity (BMI>40)
Immuno-compromised states
Six
Feet of Separation from All Non-household Members at All Times
Hand
Sanitization Required for Entry
MCA Central Campus has One Hand
Washing Station for those Allergic or Sensitive to Sanitizer
Cloth
Face Masks Strongly Recommended at All Times
All
of Our Facilities will Host Touchless Services
Doors will be open when you arrive
Christian Fellowship will NOT include
handshakes, hugs or other forms of touching
Observe
One Way Traffic in the MCA Facilities at All Times.
Walking paths are clearly marked
Seating options are clearly marked
All
Common Surfaces are Sanitized Hourly (Between Services)
No
Food or Beverages Will Be Served (Bring Your Own Beverages)
Children
Will Worship WITH Their Parent or Guardian
Due to Children’s difficulty for
properly distancing from one another
Due to the high likelihood of children
sharing toys and other surfaces
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We are delighted to commence meeting together the weekend of May 16 and 17, 2020.
It is of UTMOST IMPORTANCE that we all follow the MCA Church Corona Virus Mitigation Plan. If you don’t feel well, stay home and consult your medical professionals to determine your health plan.
Please contact our receptionist and reserve your worship seat for your preferred gathering. Text or call 907 337-nine four nine five today.
Weekend Worship Schedule
West Campus
Saturday
5:30 PM – 6:15 PM Greatest Hits
Sunday
9:00 AM – 9:45 AM Island Revival 1
10:15 AM – 11:00 AM Island Revival 2
11:30 AM – 12:15 PM Multi-language
Central Campus
9:00 AM – 9:45 AM LIVE
10:15 AM – 11:00 AM LIVE
11:30 AM – 12:15 PM LIVE
1:30 PM – 2:15 PM Strong Tower
2:30 PM – 3:15 PM Strong Tower
4:00 PM – 4:45 PM LIVE
6:00 PM – 6:45 PM Sunday
Night Live
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17 The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17
Worship Selection One
[Verse 1]
Now the darkness fades
Into new beginnings
As we lift our eyes to a hope beyond
All creation waits
With an expectation
To declare the reign of the Lord our God
[Chorus]
We will not be moved
When the earth gives way
For the risen One has overcome
And for every fear
There’s an empty grave
For the risen One has overcome
[Verse 2]
Now the silence breaks
In the name of Jesus
As the heavens cry let the earth respond
All creation shouts
With a voice of triumph
To declare the reign of the Lord our God
[Chorus]
We will not be moved
When the earth gives way
For the risen One has overcome
And for every fear
There’s an empty grave
For the risen One has overcome
[Bridge]
He shall reign forever
Strongholds now surrender
For the Lord our God has overcome
Who can be against us?
Jesus our Defender
He is Lord and He has overcome
He shall reign forever
Strongholds now surrender
For the Lord our God has overcome
Who can be against us?
Jesus our Defender
He is Lord and He has overcome!..
[Chorus]
We will not be moved
When the earth gives way
For the risen One has overcome
And for every fear
There’s an empty grave
For the risen One has overcome
We will not be moved
When the earth gives way
For the risen One has overcome
And for every fear
There’s an empty grave
For the risen One has overcome…
Worship Selection Two
Verse 1
You were the Word at the beginning
One with God the Lord Most High
Your hidden glory in creation
Now revealed in You our Christ
Chorus 1
What a beautiful Name it is
What a beautiful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King
What a beautiful Name it is
Nothing compares to this
What a beautiful Name it is
The Name of Jesus
Verse 2
You didn’t want heaven without us
So Jesus You brought heaven down
My sin was great Your love was greater
What could separate us now
Chorus 2
What a wonderful Name it is
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King
What a wonderful Name it is
Nothing compares to this
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus
Bridge
Death could not hold You
The veil tore before You
You silence the boast of sin and grave
The heavens are roaring
The praise of Your glory
For You are raised to life again
You have no rival
You have no equal
Now and forever God You reign
Yours is the kingdom
Yours is the glory
Yours is the Name above all names
Chorus 3
What a powerful Name it is
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King
What a powerful Name it is
Nothing can stand against
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus
A Mother’s Prayer Lyrics
I pray you’ll be my eyes
And watch her where she goes
And help her to be wise
Help me to let go
Every mother’s prayer
Every child knows
Lead her to a place
Guide her with your grace
To a place where she’ll be safe
I pray she finds your
light
And holds it in her heart
As darkness falls each night
Remind her where you are
Every mother’s prayer
Every child knows
Need to find a place
Guide her with your grace
Give her faith so she’ll be safe
Lead her to a place
Guide her with your grace
To a place where she’ll be safe
Message Notes
The Spirit is teaching us about HOPE from 1
Peter 1:1-9.
H – Heaven
O – Outcomes of our faith
P – Power of God
E – InExpressible Joy
It seems to me that Peter writes this letter
one time and it is read by God’s chosen people in a region and then transported
to the next region.
Pontus
Galatia
Cappadocia
Asia
(a Roman province)
Bithynia
The New Testament Paul is known as the Apostle
of Faith, John is known as the Apostle of Love and Peter is understood as the
Apostle of Hope.
Peter tells us the reason for writing this
letter, “he has caused us to be born again to a living
hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” Vs. 3
The need for this
reminder of the Christian’s living hope is they are dispersed (vs. 1) and are
being tested by fire (vs. 7).
In this letter,
living hope is for Christians who are scattered and tested.
The experience of
being scattered (dispersed) may carry feelings of:
Displacement – unsettled, never at
home, not where I belong.
Dis-ordered – this isn’t how life is
supposed to be.
The experience of
being tested by fire may carry feelings of:
This isn’t fair.
I am not safe and secure.
Being both
scattered and tested by fire can birth questions we want to ask God.
Where are You?
It doesn’t appear to me that you are
fulfilling your promises.
Into this painful
reality, Peter speaks living hope.
The Christian’s
HOPE is secure because our inheritance is kept in heaven for you (Vs. 4).
Imperishable
Undefiled
Unfading
We thank God for
the security and safety of our inheritance kept in heaven.
HOWEVER, our HOPE
isn’t a living hope only because our inheritance is safe and secure, but because
WE are too!
ALWAYS keep 1
Peter 1:5 at the fore front of your remembrance.
YOU, who by God’s
power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in
the last time.
Blessed be the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great
mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an
inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in
heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being
guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the
last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5
Sisters, brothers, moms and dads, in this scattered and fire
tested world, it is by GOD’S power that we are guarded through faith.
My inheritance is kept in heaven for me AND I am guarded on
earth by God’s power so I will receive my inheritance. Glory to God!
It is by the power of God that I put on the whole armor of
God. Ephesians 6
10 Finally, be
strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put
on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the
schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle
against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the cosmic powers over this present darkness,
against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take
up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil
day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand
therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on
the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as
shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of
peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the
shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts
of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet
of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at
all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that
end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all
the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may
be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of
the gospel, 20 for which I am an
ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
It is by the power of God that we let not our heart be
troubled and neither let it be afraid.
It is by the power of God that we face trials and
tribulations with good cheer for Jesus has overcome the world.
It is by the power of God that we know whom we have believed
in and are persuaded that He is able to keep that which we have committed unto
Him against that day.
It is by the power of God that we experience Jesus who is
the:
Bread of
Life
The Vine
Water of
life
Light of
the world
Gate into
salvation
Good
Shepherd
Way the
truth and the life
It is by the power of God that we know Jesus’ proclamation,
“Because I live, you too shall live.” Is TRUE.
It is by the power of God, we are certain that the “Lord
Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout and the voice of the Archangel
and the trumpet call of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first and we who
are live and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds.”
Moms and sisters, are you feeling:
Displaced and
dis-ordered? The power of God is
guarding you.
Life isn’t fair
and safety and security are far away?
The power of God is guarding you.
Are you asking,
“God, where are you?” and it seems God isn’t fulfilling His promises? The power of God is guarding you.
The power of God
is our:
Refuge
and fortress
Stronghold
and High tower
Strong
habitation
Rock
Hiding
place
Shield
and buckler
Keeper
and deliverer
And
our soon coming King.
Our living hope is guarded by the POWER of
God.
Receive His HOPE today. Place your trust in Him for Salvation.
Worship Selection Three
[Verse 1]
I am weary from the waves
Crashing over every day
God of mercy, please come rescue me
I am longing for Your voice
Gentle whisper in the noise
Father, tell me everything’s all right, yeah
[Chorus]
Your power and Your presence
Breaks strongholds, King of Heaven
When You speak, mountains move
I believe there will be breakthrough, yeah
[Verse 2]
You alone can take my scars
And piece by piece restore my heart
Take what’s broken, make it whole again, oh-oh
[Chorus]
‘Cause Your power and Your presence
Breaks strongholds, King of Heaven
When You speak, mountains move
I believe there will be breakthrough, oh-oh
There will be breakthrough, oh
[Bridge]
Shake the mountains, break the walls apart
Open the Heavens, Almighty God, You are
Overcomer, Defender of my heart It’s who You are, God
By Your power, the oceans open wide
Your fire falls down, Heaven and Earth collide
King Jesus, forever by my side Shake the mountains, yes
Shake the mountains, break the walls apart
Open the Heavens, Almighty God, You are
Overcomer, Defender of my heart, oh-oh, yeah
And by Your power, the oceans open wide
Your fire falls down, Heaven and Earth collide
King Jesus, forever by my side, yeah
[Chorus]
‘Cause Your power and Your presence
Breaks strongholds, King of Heaven
When You speak, mountains move
I believe there will be breakthrough
And Your power and Your presence
Breaks strongholds, King of Heaven
When You speak, mountains move
I believe there will be breakthrough
There will be breakthrough
There will be breakthrough I know, I know, I know
There will be breakthrough
[Spontaneous]
I know You are moving now, God
I know You are healing now, God
You are moving, You are healing, You are
speaking
There will be, there will be victory
I know, I know, I know
[Interlude]
There will be, there will be victory here
There will be, there will be victory here
There will be, there will be victory, oh-oh
There will be, there will be victory here
There will be, there will be victory here
There will be, there will be victory here I know, I know, yeah
There will be, come on, there will
be victory here
There will be, there will be victory here
There will be, there will be victory here,
oh-oh, yeah
There will be, there will be victory here
There will be, there will be victory here
There will be, there will be victory here We believe, shake the mountains
[Bridge]
Shake the mountains, you sing, break the walls apart
Open the Heavens, Almighty God, You are
Overcomer, Defender of my heart
And by Your power, the oceans open wide
Your fire falls down, Heaven and Earth collide
King Jesus, forever by my side Shake the mountains, shake the mountains
Shake the mountains, break the walls apart
Open the Heavens, Almighty God, You are
Overcomer, Defender of my heart By Your power, by Your power
And by Your power, the oceans open wide
Your fire falls down, Heaven and Earth collide
King Jesus, forever by my side
[Chorus]
‘Cause Your power and Your presence
Breaks strongholds, King of Heaven
When You speak, mountains move
I believe there will be breakthrough, yeah
There will be breakthrough We know, we know, we know
That there will be breakthrough
There will be breakthrough
Posted on
9th May 2020 in
Uncategorized •
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