Locust and Honey (part 1)

Matthew 3:1-6 1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” 3This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ “4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. (NIV) 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (NIV) You and I will not find God’s Grace (Favor) until we come into HIS place of REST. Matthew 11:28 (ESV) Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Hebrews 4:9-10 (ESV) 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. We cannot experience God’s Grace (influence, action, enabling work, favor, support) in our lives until we put our own works and efforts in PAUSE! The Name “John” (Hebrew) = Yahweh (The Lord) has been Gracious. Wilderness in Old Testament Jeshimmon (The Devastation) De = “Completely, thoroughly” + Vastare = “lay waste” Vastare: Cut Troops (Gideon = Judges 6:1-7). Desolate (Latin = completely alone) See Psalm 22:1-5. Empty (Old English = to not have) See Ruth...
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Escape

Escape from Pentecostal Tabernacle on Vimeo. Bishop Brian Greene preaches from Ezra 9:7-9 KJV about how GOD’s grace (favor) delivers us. He helps us to escape to GOD’s Holy place that He has prepared for us. It is in that place that we can receive GOD’s blessings and fulfill the plan that HE has for us. Ezra 9:7-9 KJV 7 Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day. 8And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. 9For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem. Mercy is when we do not get what we deserve. Grace is when we get what we do not deserve Space (Hebrew) = Suddenly or Moment (Latin) = Momentum = “Moving Power” (Acts 2:2) Grace = Favor Promote (Psalm 75:6 – 7 KJV) Appreciate (2 Samuel 7:8-9 = Message; Luke 15:17-24 = NIV Support (Deuteronomy 33:27 = NLT) Side with (Psalm 118:6 KJV) ESCAPE (Hebrew) = Deliverance. (Latin etymology) Ex = Out of; Cappa = mantle: cloak, cape, covering Examples: Joseph (Genesis 41:14) Elisha (2 Kings 2:12-14) Lazarus (Luke 11:44) Isaiah 61:1-4 Place a spot, specific location (Genesis 26:22) a condition of mind (Isaiah 55:8-9)...
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Just A Reminder

This sermon illustrates the importance of the “Nehemiah Principle” (consistently reminding ourselves of GOD’s plans and purposes). Bishop Brian reminds the congregation of Pentecostal Tabernacle’s mission and our personal need to live the SPICE life. Nehemiah 4 (NLT) 6 At last the wall was completed to half its height around the entire city, for the people had worked with enthusiasm. 7 But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the work was going ahead and that the gaps in the wall of Jerusalem were being repaired, they were furious. 8 They all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into confusion. 9 But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves. 10 Then the people of Judah began to complain, “The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.” 11 Meanwhile, our enemies were saying, “Before they know what’s happening, we will swoop down on them and kill them and end their work.” 12 The Jews who lived near the enemy came and told us again and again, “They will come from all directions and attack us!” 13 So I placed armed guards behind the lowest parts of the wall in the exposed areas. I stationed the people to stand guard by families, armed with swords, spears, and bows. 14 Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!” 15 When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall. Nehemiah 6 (NLT) 15 So on October the wall was finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun. 16 When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God. The ‘Nehemiah Principle’ Vision and purpose (mission) must be restated every twenty-six days (once per month) to keep an organization moving in the right direction. (John Maxwell) Our Mission: Restoring Broken Lives What is a Broken Life?...
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