Dream Again
Ezekiel 37:1-14 NLT DREAM: a voluntary and/or involuntary vision; an aspiration, an aim or goal Principles on how to dream again: 1. Place – Ezekiel 37: 1 Illustration – Naomi (Ruth 1) 2. People – Ezekiel 37: 3 Illustration – Joseph (Genesis 45) 3. Presence – Ezekiel 37: 1 Illustration – Moses (Exodus 33:14-15) 4. Prophetic – Ezekiel 37: 4-12 Illustration – David (1 Samuel 17:45-5)
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Prison Break – The Closer
This worship service and sermon occurred on Back to School Sunday. Educators and students were invited to receive an inspirational message and prayer for a successful school year. Philippians 1:1-6 King James Version 1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, 5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; 6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Confident (Greek) = Persuaded, as in to induce (set in motion, encourage, activate) a person with words in order to get him or her to believe. Perform (Greek) = To bring to a close; to finish (John 19:30 uses same word); to fulfill so that the thing done corresponds to what has been said or ordered. It involves the notion of time, performing the last act which completes a process. Being set in motion, encouraged, activated to believe this very thing! What is the thing that God wants you to...
read morePrison Break: Focusing
Philippians 3:7-15 (Message Bible) 7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! 12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. 15 Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. Notice what Paul says: Verse 7: I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of…Christ. Verse 8: Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the…value of knowing Christ. Verse 8b: For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ. Verse 9: …I no longer count on my own righteousness…rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. Verse 10: I want to know Christ… Verse 13: … I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to…receive the heavenly prize…through Christ Jesus… Steve Jobs (the founder of Apple) said the following in his biography by Walter Isaacson: We talked a lot about focus…The main thing I stressed was focus. Figure out what Google wants to be when it grows up. It’s now all over the map. What are the five products you want to focus on? Get rid of the rest, because they’re dragging you down. Focus: (Latin) hearth, fire place, altar, the center of activity or energy. (English) bull’s eye, target, signi-ficant thing What is the one thing on which we should focus? John 3:16; John 17:3 What is Eternal Life? To know Christ. Everlasting Life and Eternal Life are the same Greek word: ai-o-ni-os. It means: Without beginning and end. Paul mentions the word Christ 36 Times in Philippians. (17 times in Chapter 1). 1 John 3:1-3 (Message Bible) Homework: Continue Reading Philippians 3. Start reading one of the Gospels (Matthew –...
read moreWho Is PT? Works
Matthew 16:13-18 NLT 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” 15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock (who I really am) I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. Four Things Pentecostal Tabernacle Is Known for: Worship Word Welcome Works Matthew 25:20-26 NKJV 20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ 26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant… The word serve or servant is mentioned in Bible (KJV): 1,153 times. Servant: A person who performs domestic (Matthew 21:13 => household) duties. A person who is employed by a government (Matthew 6:10 => Kingdom). Literally = a waiter (deacon; flight...
read moreWant to Find Grace? Put It On Pause!
Genesis 6:5-8 5 The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. 6 So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart. 7 And the Lord said, “I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing—all the people, the large animals, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and even the birds of the sky. I am sorry I ever made them.” (NLT) 8But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. (KJV) Hebrews 4:9-11 KJV 9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. Get out of our boats of the “ordinary” into God’s extra-ordinary so that God can bring us into: New Places (Experiences). New Faces (People). New Graces (A greater measure and depth of God’s Favor) Grace is: Divine (God’s) Influence upon my heart (attitude) and His reflection upon my life. (Strong’s Concordance) The Action of God in my life. (Richard Foster in his book “Life with God”) “Grace is marked always by God’s Enabling Work within us to Overcome our Helplessness.” (Zondervan’s Encyclopedia of Bible Words) “Grace is God’s Favor! Favor is God’s desire to P.A.S.S. me! Promote, Appreciate, Side with, and Support me but God must get ALL of the credit! (Bishop Brian) What does “Find” mean? Hebrew it means to “acquire”. See: 1 Samuel 3:8 = Perceived (KJV) Greek means: to Get (I get it); to Perceive; to See (GPS) => WE cannot find GRACE without God’s GPS! God’s GPS is the HOLY SPIRIT. Matthew 13:13-15 (Amplified); Galatians 2:9 (KJV); Ephesians 1:17-18 (Amplified) How do we find (Get, Perceive, See) God’s Grace? The Key is found in NOAH’s name. His name means “REST” = Repose (to go back to PAUSE) => to stop or cease You and I will not find (GPS) God’s Grace (Favor) until we come into HIS place of REST. (Matthew 11:28; Hebrews 4:9-10 = Cease (KJV). We must put our own works and efforts in...
read moreWho Is PT? Neighborhood Watch
Scripture: Isaiah 62:6-7 God’s Word Translation I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem. They will never be silent day or night. Whoever calls on the LORD, do not give yourselves any rest, 7and do not give him any rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it an object of praise throughout the earth. Luke 22:31-32 New Living Translation “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32 But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” Neighborhood (etymology): Neigh (nigh; near) Bor (dweller) Hood (the position of) Watch (definition): to be alertly on the lookout, look attentively, or observe, as to see what is coming, what is being done, or what is happening. to look or wait attentively and expectantly, as in watching for a signal; watching for an opportunity. Our Promise to Area 4 and The City of Cambridge: To pray and pronounce God’s blessings upon our neighborhood and city. (Jeremiah 29:7) To have God’s House opened for prayer @ 6:00am . (Isaiah 56:7; Matthew 21:13) To regularly lift up the needs of people to the Lord. (Revelations 5:8; and...
read moreThe Jab Step
Luke 8:9, 11-15 9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s Word. 12 The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. 13 The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. Luke 8:9, 11-15 14 The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. 15 And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest. (NLT) Precepts. Prayer. Promptings. Pastor. Partners. Present Situations & Circumstances Patience (“…bring forth fruit with patience.” KJV) Romans 5:1-4 1…Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation (Greek = Pressure) worketh patience; 4And patience, experience…(KJV). Hebrews 6:12 12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. James 1:3-4 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. Patience: Greek = Cheerful Endurance. Hupo = Under ; Meno → to stay, remain, bear (trials), have fortitude (mental and emotional strength in facing difficulty, adversity, danger, or temptation). An ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay (deferment, interruption, detention, downtime, hungup, hindered, held-up, on hold, holding pattern, impeded, jammed, lagging behind, traffic jam, obstructed, postponed, put off, set back, a showstopper, stalled, stoppage, suspension, tied-up, waiting). Biblical examples: Abraham (Hebrews 6:13) waited 25 years. Joseph waited 13 years. Moses waited 80 years. David waited 13 years. (1 Samuel 22:2 = in debt, distress, discontent) Jesus waited 30 years. (Luke 2:40 = Grew in wisdom = Prov. 4:7) We will bring forth fruit (results) if we show an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay. If we stay under (Greek). Under what? The Hand of God (1 Chronicles 4:10; 1 Peter...
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