Healing of our Spirit, Advent Week 2

“Jesus came, and stood in the plain, and the company of His disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, came to hear Him, and be Healed of their diseases;  And they that were vexed with Unclean Spirits: and they were Healed. The whole multitude sought to touch Him: for there went virtue out of Him,

O how precious the Advent season is as we celebrate the Birth of our Saviour. His Birth has changed our lives and brought Healing to us. The Healing of our soul with Salvation, how awesome!  Today’s Message is somewhat different from any Advent Message that I have ministered in the past. Our theme is “The Healer Has Come!” Not only is He the Healer of our Soul, but He is also the Healer of our Spirit. We explore this in two ways: One, He heals us from infirmities, and part of the explanation of infirmity is impure morality. The Secord way He Heals or Spirit concerns the wounds that have taken place in our Spirit. O what a Saviour!  There are so many areas to be studied and explored as we speak of a Healing Saviour. The Spirit of humanity has been wounded when things were spoken in anger – when our childhood was off center – when we felt less than others, perhaps when others were chosen on our job over us, or when we feel someone we loved failed us, when something in our life as hurt us, and there are times when the devil messes with our Spirit and harasses us with his evil ways. O thank you Jesus, there is Healing for our Spirit. Jesus Promised He would send the Comforter and we have experienced Him. The Holy Ghost has come and if we let Him, He will saturate our life with His Power to overcome and walk in His Peace.  Matthew 8:16 speaking of Jesus; tells us that “He cast out spirits by His Word and Healed all that were sick.” We have His Word and as we apply it to our personal difficulty, He will heal our Spirit, Soul, and Body.  A favorite Psalm of mine that I have stood on many times is:  Ps. 107:20  “He sent His Word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.”  Often wounded spirits bring destruct-tion to our life C but God’s Word encourages & heals our Spirit! 
Loving you, Pastor

The Healer Has Come, Advent Week 1

“He [Jesus] was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our Peace was upon Him; and with His Stripes we are Healed. ~ Isa 53:5

As we enter into the Advent Season, once again it is time to reflect on the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. We think of His Coming as a Babe laid in the manager, while the cattle were lowing. But today He is more than a Babe, He is our risen Saviour! As we walk through this Advent Season with the knowledge that He is our Saviour, our Baptizer, our Healer and our Soon Coming King.  We celebrate His Birth, but we Glory in Christ the Man. You will note a lot of green that covers the Sanctuary, we believe green is the color for healing and this Advent is about Healing.  An Evangelist once preached on: “What Color is God.” Everyone showed up thinking they were going to hear a great controversial Message. He began the Message in the Book of Revelation, Ch. 4:2-3 There John writes:  “Immediately I was in the Spirit: and, behold, a Throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the Throne. And He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.” He that sat upon the Throne, in sight was like unto an Emerald. Think about this! Creation is full of green, emeralds of all shades. And in Revelation 22:2 we read: “In the midst of the street, and on either side of the river, was there the Tree of Life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the Healing of the nations.
Yes, our God is colorful, think of all the delicate sewing and color in the Tabernacle. Today we display God’s color in our Advent Season. He has sent the Healer unto us and empowered He has given His precious Holy Spirit to dwell with us, directing us, touching us, and comforting us!  May you enter into this Holy Advent Season with Healing in your heart!  Healing of soul, spirit, and body! Loving you & praying for you as you celebrate Jesus Birth: Pastor

Voice of Thanksgiving

“That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.”  ~ Psalms 26:7-8

As we come to the celebration of Thanksgiving, and it is a celebration, let us be Thankful.  Often we say we are Thankful, but perhaps we don’t know the power of being Thankful.  As we look at the Scriptures we note there are various ‘happenings’ when we have a Thankful Song of Praise in our heart. Phil.4:6-7 tells us when ‘everything’ is done with Prayer and Supplication [serious Prayer] and Thanksgiving we can make our requests known to God.  When we come with requests to our heavenly Father it must be with Thanksgiving.  Sometimes it is difficult to give Thanks when we are in a desperate circumstance.  Consider Jonah, lost at sea, in the belly of a huge fish: and when he offered up to God a ‘sacrifice’ – which was with a Voice of Thanksgiving, the fish vomited him out! [Jonah 2:9-10] Not a pretty sight nor a nice thought, but the Voice of Thanksgiving, which was a Sacrifice caused his circumstance to change!  One might ask how shall I come into the presence of God. A question long asked!  Ps. 95: 1-3 has the answer.  Come singing, some with a joyful noise to the Rock of our Salvation and come before His presence with Thanksgiving! O the Voice of Thanksgiving, it can bring great change to our life! When we give Thanks, we ultimately Worship and Praise our God and in doing so we begin to: think on things of good report, things that are just, pure, lovely, things of good report – all these things are attached to a Thankful Spirit and a Voice of Thanksgiving. David sang, O let me publish with a Voice of Thanksgiving, and tell of all Thy wondrous works!  We need to be reminded that sweet and sour can not come out of the same cistern.  So let the Church have a Voice of Thanksgiving, let us enter into His gates with Thanksgiving and into His courts with Praise.  The Book of Revelation tells us: All the Angels, thousands upon thousands, the Elders, fell upon their faces and worshipped God saying, Blessing, and Glory, and Wisdom, and Thanksgiving, Honor, Power and Might be unto our God for ever and ever Amen! Loving you, Pastor

O Give Thanks

“O give Thanks unto the Lord; call upon His name: make known His deeds among the people. Sing unto Him, Sing Psalms unto Him: talk ye of all His Wondrous Works. Glory ye in His Holy name:” Ps.105:1-8

   

Yes, Yes! O Give Thanks unto the Lord!  We have looked at Worshiping in the Beauty of Holiness, and how blessed we are to have the freedom to Worship our God!  In this Thanksgiving Season let us raise our voice in Joyous Worship, even as the Psalmist hath declared “Make known His deeds among the people! Let us Sing His Praises and talk of all His wondrous Love to us!  Yes, even as Paul was moved by the Holy Spirit in Eph. 5:18-20 “…Be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord!”Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; O Church, let us rise up in Praise, and Adoration and Worship the Lord Most High! The enemy seeks to devour the Joy that God has placed in our heart, but our Joy is not defined by the circumstances, it is defined by the Love of our God and the Salvation of our Saviour! And we are more than conquerors in Him!  Over and over the Psalmist cries out O Give Thanks!  Remember David in the horrific circumstances of his life, yet out of his inner most being came the voice of Praise and Thanksgiving!  Let us prepare our hearts as come together with our families for the Thanksgiving dinner, prepare to share the Joy of Jesus the greatness of His Powerful Word that sustains us in the time of trouble … David, caught by the Philistines, his enemy;  in Ps. 56:2-3, he writes:  “Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O Thou Most High. What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee!  O Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His Holiness!  This question is posed in Ps. 106:1-2 “Praise ye the Lord. O give Thanks unto the Lord; for He is Good: for His Mercy endureth for ever. Who can utter the Mighty Acts of the Lord? Who can shew forth all His Praise!” and Ps 107:2 answer: Let the Redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He hath Redeemed from the hand of the enemy. I am Thankful for Jesus and for You, Loving you, Pastor

Be Renewed

“Be Renewed in the spirit of your mind; Put on the new man, which after God is created in Righteousness & True Holiness.”  ─ Eph. 4:23-24 We continue to pursue ‘Holiness’ in the Scripture. Isaiah 35 talks about a wilderness and solitary place, perhaps you have experienced such a place in your life. But the Spirit of God goes on to say, “the desert shall rejoice;” that is the dry place in our life will rejoice and blossom as the Rose.  If Christ is in our life, then the Rose of Sharon abides in us and if we allow Him to, He will come forth from within and cause as to blossom in Him.  This is our thrust in these Messages that as we grow in Christ, that we pursue His Holiness, that we might be in ‘right standing’ in Christ.  The Holy Ghost is the One who convicts us, the One who continues to alert us to the areas that need change in our life. That being said, we must engage in Prayer more than we ever have … and seek the Power of the Holy Ghost to “Renew” our mind, our thoughts and our emotions, our desires. Holy Ghost is the most powerful weapon that God has sent through His Only Begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. One more time we need the Breath of God to Breath upon us, until the Holy Ghost has saturated our life afresh and we are “Renewed!”  John 14:26 The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My/Jesus name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. The Holy Ghost has been commissioned by God to move though Jesus who lives in us to bring to remembrance His Word! When this happens, the Breath of God will fall upon the Body of Christ and we will come out of the wilderness, the dry spell, the weary cares of this life; we will rejoice, blossom in Spiritual matters and He will Renew our mind and our Spirit bringing our soul/our flesh under His control! And we will yield our members unto Righteousness and Holiness! Let us pursue His Holiness and be Renewed in Him together!  Loving you, Pastor

The Highway to Holiness

We continue to pursue ‘Holiness’ in Scripture today. Isaiah 35 talks about a wilderness and solitary place, perhaps you have experienced such a place in your life. But the Spirit of God goes on to say, “the desert shall rejoice;” that is the dry place in our life will rejoice and blossom as the Rose.  If Christ is in our life, then the Rose of Sharon abides in us and if we allow Him to, He will come forth from within and cause as to blossom in Him.  This is our thrust in these Messages that as we grow in Christ, we will pursue His Holiness, we will pursue ‘right standing’ in Him.  The Holy Ghost is our convictor, the One who continues to alert us to the areas that need change in our lives. There is a Highway of Holiness, it is narrow according to Matt 7:13-14. The Lord admonishes us:  “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, [And note this final thought in this Passage of Scripture] and few there be that find it.”  The Prophets of old continue to reach out to us as we read in Isaiah 40. It speaks of John the Baptist as a voice crying in the wilderness, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make a straight in the desert a Highway for our God.” Again in Isaiah 62 “go through the gates, prepare ye the way of the people… gather out the stones, Lift up a standard for the people…” The desire in the heart of God as Isaiah prophecies is: “That the Glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken!”  His Glory shall be revealed C as we prepare in our life the Highway of Holiness and note our life effects others, for the Lord desires all His people to recognize His Glory.  Thus our lives are the teaching element that He has placed in this world. Let us go through the Gates of Holiness, let us cast out the stones, let us lift up a standard for God in this moment and time! For we are His witnesses, we are the Body of Christ. Hear the Word of the Proverb 16:17  “The Highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul. Isaiah reminds us: “A Highway shall be there, a way, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness.” ~ Isaiah 35:8    Let us pursue the narrow way together …     Loving you, Pastor

The Beauty of Holiness

October 27, 2013: As we pursue ‘Holiness’ in Scripture we find various thoughts regarding this Powerful Word that seems to dictate righteousness.  Righteousness, that being in right standing with our Lord and Savour.  Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit we are admonished to “Give unto the Lord the Glory due God’s Name and to Worship Him in the “Beauty of Holiness!”  This is our cue that God is requiring something special from His people! In the Book of Ex.15 “Who is like unto Thee, O Lord, Glorious in Holiness.” Chapter 28 “Aaron shall Minister, and make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.”  2 Chron. 20  “He appointed singers unto the Lord, that they should Praise the Beauty of Holiness, as they went before the army, and to say Prasie the Lord; for His mercy endureth forever!” Chapter 32 “Their little ones, their wives, sons, and daughters, through all the congregation: they sanctified themselves in Holiness!”  Ps.30 “Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of His, and give Thanks at the remembrance of His Holiness.” Ps.47  “God sitteth upon the Throne of Holiness.”  Ps. 48 “Great is the Lord and greatly to be Praised in the City of our God, in the Mountian of His Holiness.” Ps.89 “Once have I sworn by my Holiness that I will not lie…” Ps.96  “Honour and Majesty are before Him: strength and beauty are in His Sanctuary… O Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness: fear before Him, all the earth.” In the Book of Isa. 6 “The Lord is high & lifted up and the Seraphims cried Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of Hosts!” Chapter 35  “An highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The Way of Holiness;” In Rom. 1 “Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, made of the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of Holiness, by Resurrection from the dead!” Chapter 6 let us“yield our members servants to righteousness and unto Holiness.” Eph. 4 we are to “put on the new man, created in God by righteousness and true Holiness.” And all through the Rev. of Jesus Christ we hear: Chapter 4 C “The four beasts do not rest day or night, saying Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come!”  1 Thess. 3 “The Lord make you to increase and abound in Love one toward another. To the end He may establish your hearts unblameable in Holiness before God, even our Father, at the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all the saints.” Chapter 4 “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto Holiness.” Loving you, Pastor

Due Season

“He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap Life everlasting. Let us not be weary in well doing: for in Due Season we shall reap, if we faint not. ~ Galatians 6:8-9

Today we read in Scripture that there is a “Due Season.”  The simple explanation of “Due Season” is:  What is owed or what is promised, when it is time, in Due Season, it shall come to pass. In case of what is owed, there will be ramifications if the “Due Season” is not meant. That is also probable if a Promise is not kept.  Today we adventure into Scripture regarding the “Due Season.  Our steps are ordered of the Lord and if we fail to keep on the narrow path, there will be a season when we are due to be examination by our Heavenly Father.  It is important that we do not sow to the flesh, that we do not become weary serving in the Kingdom of the Lord. Because there is a “Due Season” that is there is a time of reaping!  As we pursue “Due Season” in Scripture we find it is mentioned quite a few times.  In the Old Testament, God talks about things in Due Season; Psalms 145:14-18“The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. The eyes of all wait upon Thee; and Thou givest them their Meat in Due Season. Thou openest Thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and Holy in all His works. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in Truth.”  To all there is a “Due Season” wherein God has given His Children “Meat” C a physical meat when they were in the wilderness and a Spiritual Meat in our season today.  Jesus cautioned that we follow after Him, not for the meat that perisheth, but for the Meat that endureth unto Everlasting Life.  This Message is encourage the saints to think about Spiritual Matters in their everydayness of life.  God’s Word in “Meat” to our soul and we must be filled with this nourishment for our Spirit being.  May Christianity come to maturity – ‘full age’ partaking of the ‘strong Meat’ that “their senses may be exercised to discern both good and evil: And let us not be weary in our Spiritual journey! Loving you, Pastor

“I Love The Lord, Because … !”

Oct. 13, 2013 “I Love the LORD, because He hath heard my voice and my supplications.”  ~ Psalm 116:1
The Message today is unique or maybe the term is different.  It asks the question, “Why do you Love the Lord?” This is somewhat strange because I am speaking to the Church and to the saints, people who have come to worship the Lord on this, His Holy day!  But as I was meditating in my devotions, Thanking the Lord and of course asking for His help in many things, I heard the Words of King David mightily and clearly in my spirit!  “I love the Lord...” hurriedly I open the Psalms to 116, a Psalm I had read many times.  And here David is telling God why He Loves Him. Immediately I knew this was thought for a sermon.  With this question in mind I turned to Scriptures that would reflect “why we Love the Lord!”  I know we Love Him because He has saved us from sin, He has redeemed us: old things are passed away and we are a new creature in Him.  These are the teachings of Scripture, however here in the Psalm David is exposing His heart to the Lord. I Love you Lord because you hear my voice; I love you Lord because you hear my supplications ─ my humble cry/request, Prayer or Petition! He hears me! Because when I am in trouble or have sorrow I can call upon His Name; “O Lord I beseech Thee, deliver my soul!”  I Love the Lord because He is Gracious and Righteous and Merciful, He preserves me, and when I am low, He helps me! There are many reasons why David was a ‘man after God’s own heart’ perhaps this is one of them, David exposed himself to God. David admitted that when he felt cut off from God, nevertheless God heard his voice, showed him marvelous kindness and once again heard his voice and supplication. [Ps. 31:22].  Do you ever just long for someone to truly listen, to sincerely consider your thoughts, to hear your heart?  David’s heart cry is:  “O Love the Lord, all ye His saints: for the Lord perserveth the faithful … Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that Hope in the Lord!” ~Ps.31:23-24.  What personal thought will we give?  I Love the Lord because He understands my heart!  Why do you Love the Lord?      Loving you, Pastor

“Open thou mine eyes!”

Oct. 6, 2013 “Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” ~ Psalm 119:17-18

There are things of the spirit that would be revealed if we, God’s people would enlarge our vision to ask, to seek, and to press for a greater Revelation of God, of His Son, and The Holy Ghost.  The world tells us we don’t use all the power of our brain … This might be true as we refer to the Christian and their knowledge of who God is, who Christ is and who the Holy Ghost is in our life.  It would seem that there is a spiritual blindness in Christianity … Our country is failing God because it has been lolled into false security, complacency and spiritual blindness. Under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, the Psalmist makes this powerful statement: “…Open Thou Mine Eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy Law.” 2 Kings talks about a situation that Elisha and his servant faced. Elisha was trusting in God, while the servant moved in fear as he witnessed the enemy surrounding them. What is needed most when Fear strikes our heart is to ask God to “open our eyes” that we might behold His Word! Prayer is our most powerful tool against the enemy, against fear, anxiety, stress, worry!
In the midst of the fearful moment the servant of Elisha was experiencing,
Elisha Prayed.  “… He said, Lord, I Pray Thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man and he saw: and, behold,” God had sent help for them.  Sometimes we see the circumstance and it looms more powerful then our Faith, but if we will Pray for God to open our Spiritual eyes, that we might behold the wondrous things in His Word… He will sustain us in our hour of trial or temptation: “For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.”          Loving you, Pastor

Ye Shall Have A Song

“Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the Mountain of the Lord, to the Mighty One of Israel. And the Lord shall cause His glorious voice to be heard …”  – Isaiah 30:29-30

As we take time to meet with our Lord and Saviour in daily devotions, we ‘could’ hear His voice coming through His Holy Word! ─ If we have ears to hear!  He is calling His Church to come close, to come under the shadow of His wings, close to His heart.  He is challenging us to “Grow in His Grace and to be nurtured in Spiritual matters.”  He will grace us with a “Song in the night season,” and He will give us “gladness of heart” if only we will draw nigh to Him. The Spirit of God is calling His people to the mountain of God, where the Mighty One of Israel’s voice can be heard! Come away from the noise of the day, and the voices of the world and listen for the “Still small voice of God!”  His voice can be heard as we read His Word and meditate upon His commandments.  His voice can be heard as we go about our daily chores, if we have a ear to hear!  He is calling His people to “Righteousness” and He promises to hold our hand as we embrace His Presence.  His cry to our heart is: “That we be a light in this darkened world.”  He commands us to Sing a New Song, and to give Him praise from the ends of the earth!  A True Song in our heart, effects everything about us.  It springs forth in our continence and our actions as we go about our daily activities.  David sang these Words recorded in Psalms 108:1-3 “O God, my heart is fixed; I will Sing and Give Praise … I will awake early.  I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: and I will Sing Praises unto Thee...”  What would happen if the saints “fixed” their heart to Sing and Praise?!  To be ‘fixed’ is to be “firmly set in the mind!—Not subject to change!”  What glorious victory we could have if we continued to Sing & Praise in the difficult changes of our life.  Our Lord never changes, He is the same today, yesterday and forever!  We serve a ‘fixed’ Saviour!  May our Song of praise rise to Him in every situation of our life for He is our solid Rock! O saints His Word reminds us; “We shall have a song and give Praise to the Mighty One of Israel!”       Loving you, Pastor

I Wait

“Shew me Thy ways, O Lord; teach me Thy paths. Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my Salvation; on thee do I Wait all the day. Remember, O Lord, Thy tender mercies and Thy loving kindness; for they have been ever of old.”  ~ Psalm 25:4-6

Wait!  Probably I am safe in saying, “no one likes to wait!”  The season is upon us who is in Christ to practice “waiting! It is for the Coming of the Lord Jesus that we Wait.  In this process of waiting we learn many things.  First of course is patience, and that again is probably another term that brings frustration. But in our patient waiting for the Coming of our Lord and Saviour, we find Blessings.  The lame man waited at the gate of the temple. He was forced to be patient for he was lame.  He waited expecting alms, some coins that might drop before him that would help him financially in his lame condition. In his waiting God had big plans for him.  He did not receive monies, but rather, healing! How awesome is that?  Sometimes we are waiting for a specific thing when God has a greater thing in store for us.  In Jerusalem by the sheep market at the pool of Bethesda sat a man infirmed, unable to walk, waiting in desperation for the angel of the Lord to stir the waters of healing. Even though he was unable to walk and it was difficult for him to get into the waters, he waited in expectation. He had been this way for 38 years. Yet hope spurred him on, that somehow he might get into the healing waters. God’s plan unfolded as Jesus walked by and said: “Rise, take up they bed, and walk.”  Immediately the man was made whole!  You may be in a “waiting” period, but God sees you, and He has plans for you!  We as Christian believers in Jesus Christ our Saviour, are in a waiting period! The Passage of Scripture in Luke 21:28 comes into my spirit as we see the signs of our time unfold. “When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your Redemption draweth nigh.” The question before us is: “are we waiting in expectation for the Coming of the Lord or do we have well laid plans for our future without regards to the Coming of our Messiah?  May there be an expectation of Hope for today and for the Day of the Lord!      Loving you, Pastor

Conditions of Blessings

September 8, 2013  “If thou wilt walk in my ways …”  Zechariah 3:7   

O the wonderful things that God has prepared for them that Love Him and who will walk in His Ways.  Christianity at large has begun to take advantage of the Christian Life and seems to be walking closer to the world in our day.  But God is calling those who Love Him to walk apart from the world, to recognize that there are conditions of God’s Blessings.  We find these brief conditions in the Holy Scripture as we read the Book of Zechariah.  It would be well for the saints to read these Prophets as they near the end of the Old Testament for there is great wealth that relates to the day in which we live.  For instance the Prophet Zechariah was one of the three Prophets after the exile along with Haggai and Malachi.  Babylonian captivity was one of the most severe times in the History of the Israelites.  The Book not only talks about the final stages of the captivity, but also begins to offer an immediate future of restoration of Israel and under the Messiah.  The Messiah, this Jesus is seen in various ways as we read throughout the Book.  He is The Branch, He is the Stone, The Shepherd, and The Coming King.  The Prophets keen awareness of God prophesies concerning the ‘thirty pieces’ of silver [that which Judas sold the Lord Jesus for in the New Testament] and mentions Prophetically about those who will look up Him whose side they have ‘Pierced.’  And as you read closely you will see the King who is coming the second time.  There are Visions, Prophecies, and sermons all meant to encourage the restoration of Judah as a nation.  Chapter twelve deals with the siege of Jerusalem by the anti-christ.  This is a timely Prophetic Word for our day as we keep a watchful eye on God’s Holy Land. But note VS one of Chapter 13 – “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the House of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness,” This Fountain has opened for the believer in Christ. It happened at Calvary as Jesus side was opened and out flowed Water and Blood and our Salvation become available.  To day this is a strategic time for Israel … let us watch & pray for Her.  
 Loving you, Pastor

The Spirit of God Dwelleth In You!

September 1, 2013  

“Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard…, in Faith and Love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.”   ~ 2 Timothy 1:13-14

I think of the Passage of Scripture in Isaiah 64:4 “For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside Thee, what He hath prepared for him that waiteth for Him.”  This is the Prophetic Words of The Old Testament; imagine there was a time in the days of humanity that there was no vision of the preparation of God for His people. We are a favored people for now it has been revealed unto us, note 1 Cor. 2:9-10  “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.

But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” How awesome is this to us?  The Revelation of God’s preparation for His people is revealed to us!  How? By the Spirit of God, the powerful and wonderful Holy Ghost! These Messages of this member of the God Head are astounding! And … this Spirit of God dwells in us.  Christianity has so short changed this ‘indwelling’ Spirit of God that has come to be housed in us.  I know this is a repetition…but let us think again on 1 Cor. 3:16  “Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”  O the workings of the Holy Spirit in the human temple!  He will ‘mortify the deeds of the body’ – ‘He bears witness that we are the Children of God’ – He has given us the ‘Spirit of Adoption, where we cry Abba Father’ – He confirms He abides in us’ – He confirms, that we know we dwell in Him and He in us … And as He raised up Christ from the dead, He will quicken our moral bodies to Resurrection and Eternal Life!  What a mighty God we serve!  A God that has sent His Holy Spirit through His Son Jesus to dwell in us, empowering us, equipping us, leading and guiding us into all Truth!  Let us ‘Hold Fast’ to His Eternal Plan, remembering His Holy Ghost dwells in us!”  Awesome! Praying for you and loving you, Pastor

Diversities of Holy Ghost Gifts!

August 25, 2013  

“There are Diversities of Gifts, but the same Spirit. But the Manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”  ~ 1 Cor. 12:4-7

These past few weeks we have taken in much information regarding the “workings” of the Holy Ghost which was given by Father God in the Name of His Son Jesus Christ, our Saviour. The Greatest Gift of God, which is Eternal life, Encouraging Gifts, Illuminating Gifts, Convicting Gift, Love and Kindness, etc.  Consider this:  Gifts for the Body, The Soul, and The Spirit, all given to enhance the Body of Christ. In our Message today we explore the “Diversities of Gifts through the Holy Ghost.  Among these unique Diversities are: Administrations, Operations, and the Manifestation of the Spirit. Scripture teaches us these Gifts are given to us to profit by the following ways:  Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith, Healing, Miracles, Prophecy, Discerning of Spirits, Divers Kinds of Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues. The Holy Ghost Baptism brings us all together in One Spirit, whether we be Jew or Gentile, bond or free, we have been all made to drink into One Spirit.  We are encouraged by Scripture to be Zealous of these Spiritual Gifts and their Diversities, zealous for them for one reason, to edify the Church that is the Body of Christ.  1 Cor. 12:28 C God has also set in the Church Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, Miracles, Gifts of Healing, Helps, Governments, and Diversities of Tongues. Diversities simply means that God gave variety for balance to the Church. He divided His Gifts into various operations that there might be an increase in His Church. For while we are One Body in Him, we have many characteristics and differences, thus His Gifts bring balance to His Church. While Prophetic Gifts may not be what you do, you have a great variety of Gifts available. Together we make up the Body of Christ moving in the Gifts, Operations, and Administrations. None are greater than the other and the Greatest of all is that we have Charity, that we have a God-like love for one another!  While there are many differences in the Body of Christ it is important that we recognize our gifting and be faithful to operate in them as the Holy Ghost prompts us. O Holy Ghost move upon your Church and help us be faithful to your bidding.  

Loving you, Pastor

The Comforter Has Come

August 18, 2013  

“The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.  ~ John 14:26

My heart was stirred as I shared the Message: “Ye Are The Body of Christ!”  In 1Cor. 6:19-20:  we are reminded of this Scripture: “…Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” As we meditate upon this let us see the depth of what God desires of His people! There is frailty in the Body of Christ; this is why our Heavenly Father has sent His Gifts and Promises. These Gifts and Promises come through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  The Baptism of the Holy Ghost is given to the Body of Christ for various reasons which we will see in the Message today.   The Comforter is the Holy Ghost; most often when we think of the Holy Ghost we first think of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues. This truly is the power behind the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. But today we want to give a personal look at the Holy Ghost, for He is a great part of the “Gifts of God!” Jesus declares “The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, will be sent from My Father and in My Name. We quickly learn that the “Comforter is the Spirit of Truth, He will testify of Jesus, He will reprove the world of sin, He will guide us into Truth, and He will show us things to come. He will dwell with us and shall be in us, He will teach us and bring all things to our remembrance,” Things of Eternal Life, the Strength of His Word, the offer of Salvation, etc. O how we need the Comforter of our Lord! In the Old Testament in Eccl. 4:1 again we hear the humanness of mankind; “I …considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.” Then came Jesus with “I will not leave you Comfortless: I will come to you!”  Giving Thanks for His awesome Love!   And loving you, Pastor

Gifts of God

August 11, 2013  

“Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the Gift of God, and Who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee Living Water.”                       ~ John 4:10

Today we explore the ‘Gifts that God’ has given to the saints and unto His Church. It is amazing to find so much information on His Glorious Gifts. For instance in Ecclesiastes we find a most unique passage: 3:13 “…Every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the Gift of God.” The thought of Ecclesiastes is that Solomon was writing later in life; it is his human reasoning. Even in this state of feeling that everything was vanity and vexation; still he recognized the Gift of God.  Again in Chapter 5 vs. 19 he recognizes that riches come from God and are a Gift of God. It would be to our good to remember that all the blessings, whether of humanness or Spiritual are Gifts from God. However, in this message we want to examine the Spiritual Graces that God has imparted to t he Church, which are known as Gifts of God. “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable Gift.” His first and so awesome Gift is Jesus, our Saviour. There is a song that runs through my mind as we talk about the Gift of God; “ and “The Gift goes on and on and On”. How true, gifts today often age, rust, or just get used up, but the Gift of God is Eternal!  Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the Gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The Gift of the Holy Ghost was promised by God the Father. Jesus then reminded the disciples of this Promise as he prepared to return to the Father after His Resurrection.  In Acts Chapter 2 the Holy Ghost came and baptized all who were waiting for Him. This baptism was evidenced by the “speaking in tongues.”  Some think this Gift was just for the disciples in Jesus day, but as we search for truth; this is what we find: The Gift of the Holy Ghost continues to this day! Scripture reveals this in Acts 2:28-29. After repentance, forgiveness, water baptism, we may receive the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and I quote vs. 39: “For the Promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off …” It is one of the most precious Gifts that God has given to the Body of Christ! Romans 5 tells us it is a Free Gift! There is so much to be seen as we pursue the Gifts of God in our Life! 

Loving you as we pursue Him, Pastor

Ye Are The Body The Christ

August 4, 2013

“Ye are the Body of Christ, and members in particular. God hath set some in the Church, first Apostles, secondarily Prophets, thirdly Teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, Helps, Governments, Diversities of Tongues.” ~ 1 Cor.12:27-28

What an awesome thought, we are the Body of Christ.  When is the last time we gave some depth to our thoughts regarding our position in Christ?  If this were a daily recognition it would probably change our activities and our responses in our life.  We are the Body of Christ! We are His representative in all that we think or do.  There is a responsibility in our daily life to show that we are Christ’s. This involves our example as a believer, our conversation, our character and our involvement with the unbeliever.   Jesus has given us a way of being a part of Himself.  It is through the Communion Table, the emblems that He shared with His disciples that remind us of Him.  1^st Cor.10:16 talks about this and tells us the Cup and the Bread are the Communion of the Body of Christ.  Eph. 3 tells us that in other ages this was not known, but it has been revealed by the Apostles, Prophets, and the Spirit, that we are fellow heirs of the same Body, and partakers of his Promise.  The Promise in Christ!  So again I draw your attention to 1^st. Cor.12:27 “Ye are the Body of Christ!”  God has given to us through Jesus, a Promise.  That Promise entails the Holy Ghost.  He, the Holy Ghost came fifty days after Jesus leaving the earth.  He came to illuminate the Father, and the Son to us, to empower us with Gifts, and to be a Comfort to the Body of Christ. I am sure there are a multitude of more thoughts and reasons for His Coming, but if we begin here in His Promise, empowered by the Holy Ghost, and Comforted in our daily journey, we will accomplish some powerful things for the Kingdom of God.  O that there would be an advancement in the Kingdom work in these last days, and may we come to the reality that we are the Body of Christ and Father God is counting on us!  Loving you, Pastor

"Let The People Rejoice!!"

Special Speakers for Today:
Dr. Danny & Julie Casto
Rev. Jodi Taylor
Chaplain Connie Gregory
Rev Kevin Dershem

Luke 13:17 "... all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Jesus!"

From The Pastor's Heart: 
Today the people of the Commerce family are given time to "sound off!"  They are ministers or in training for ministry.  They have been asked to share their testimony, give a favorite scripture, and add a personal comment.  It is with great joy that the congregation takes this opportunity to share with them the goodness of the Lord.  All through the scripture we find god's people rejoicing, gaining victory over the enemy and shouting unto Him in triumph!  It is no different today; we witness the presence of our God, the salvation of our Saviour and we have great reason to testify... to shout, to sing, and to praise our Lord.  The Israelites shouted when the walls of Jericho came down and God gave them the enemy's territory.  In Ezra the people rejoiced, gave willingly, giving thanks unto the Lord for He is good and His mercy endureth for ever!  Consider the people of Ezra's day in chapter 3: As they came out of captivity and into Jerusalem, and they began the work on the House of God and verse 10 confirms their adoration for God!  "When the builders laid the foundation of the Temple of the Lord, they set the Priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites with cymbals, to Praise the Lord, and verse 11 They sang together by course in Praising and giving Thanks unto the Lord,; because He is good, for His mercy endureth for ever...!  And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the House of the Lord was laid."  This was the foundation of the physical temple of the Israelites--How much more shall we rejoice, testify and shout for joy because 1 Peter 1:19-20 tells us of "With the Precious blood of Christ, as a Lamb without blemish and without spot; He was foreordained before the foundation of the world, and is manifest in these last times to us!"  And now no other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."  Let the hearts of all who read this rejoice for Christ is our Foundation and with great purpose He has chosen us to be His witness in the earth!

Let us rejoice together... worship & embrace the Power of His Holy Ghost!
Loving you, Pastor 

"The Anointing"

Thoughts From the Word of God: 

Scripture tells us that priests and kings were anointed--set apart to be used by God.  In 1 Samuel 16:12 we read about David: "Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: that day forward..."  David's victories came because he was set apart for the service of God. In Exodus 28:41 Aaron was anointed and consecrated to minister in the priests office and in Exodus 40:15 his sons were anointed "for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations"  

Not only were men/women anointed, but the Old Testament the tabernacle, te furniture and all the utensils used for worship were anointed with holy oil before they could be used.  Exodus 30:22-30 describes a special oil containing fragrances of myrrh, sweet cinnamon, calamus cassia and olive oil.  Oh!  That our worship would be holy and anointed!

The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 3:16 "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"  Should we not be symbolically anointed just as the furniture and utensils of the Tabernacle?  The perfumes used in the special oil were myrrh, cinnamon, calamus and cassia. They were then mixed with olive oil.  myrrh was used for burial and speaks of death.  If we want to be anointed by God, we must "die to self"... our goals, our dreams, our talents must be given to God, we must "die to self"... our goals, our dreams, our talents must be given to God for His use.  The second ingredient, cinnamon, is used when we bake.  Its taste and fragrance are pleasant.  It is a sweet tasting spice.  There needs to be a sweetness in our life--the fruit of the spirit should be evident.  The third ingredient used was calamus which grows in miry soil.  To get the smell it had to be beaten--the more it was beaten, the better the fragrance.  We go through difficult times; but hose are the times that God uses to mold us into the image of Jesus.  God uses those circumstances to shape us for the anointing.  The last perfume used is Cassia.  Cassia grows high in the mountains.  If we desire the anointing, we must get on the mountain top with God.  There's no shortcut to the anointing!  Finally, the mixture was mixed with olive oil.  In scripture oil represents the Person of the Holy lSpirit--we see it in types and shadows throughout the Bible.

We need the anointing of God on our life; but it takes "abiding in Him".  1 John 2:27-28 tells us:  But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.  And now, little children  abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
Loving you, Pastor

Thoughts of Purpose

From The Pastor's Study: 

Job 17:11 made a statement that perhaps one might feel the same way on occasion.  He said: "My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart."  Of course we realize that Job was going through a devastating time in his life.  It seemed that nothing was going right, his life, his wealth, his health and you might say marital problems.  Just in case anyone ever feels that way, I decided to bring this message concerning the "purposes of God in the earth!"  For God has great purposes of God in the earth!"  For God has great purpose for the earth and for His people.  We may pass through devastating moments, but God always has an important purpose for our life.  A wise man, Solomon, known to the greatest except for Jesus wrote: Eccl. 3:1 "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."  It is my thought that humanity often questions their life, their existence, their purpose, etc.  In this message today, we give ourselves to 'some thoughts of purpose' found in the scripture.  I loved it when I read:  "Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust,--Many, O Lord my God, are Thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and Thy thoughts which are to us-ward:... if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered."  Psalm 40:4-5 God's purpose for our life is seen in the power of His Holy Spirit who "helpeth our infirmities:"  He searches our heart and He makes intercession for us when the "Job" feelings seek to overwhelm us.  But this we know: "All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose".  Eph. 1:9-13 tells us "according to His good pleasure, He has purposed in Himself: to gather all things as one in Christ; His purpose is: "that we should be to the praise of His glory, as we trust in Christ.  When we hear the Word of truth, receive the Gospel of our Salvation and believe... we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise!"  What a thought!  What a purpose!  Here is an awesome thought with great purpose... God's purple for us is eternal!  In a brief statement of Isa. [14:24], the Spirit of God moves upon him and he speaks forth this powerful word:  The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand: Because of sin we learn: 1 John 3:8 "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil."  Please read 2 Timothy 1:9-10, it will dispel the works of darkness and bring you forth in the hope of Eternal Life!
Loving you Pastor

The Songs of Deliverance - Part 4, The Songs of David - May 26, 2013
2 Sam. 22:1-2 “David spake unto the Lord the words of this Song in the day that the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: The Lord is my Rock, and my Fortress, and my Deliverer;”
I have preached on David often for his life has been a great Blessing to me. As you study the Life of King David, you will note that he had a Love for God that “endured.”  We watch in Scripture as he is anointed to be King and then the sore trials begin.  But nothing detours David from the path that God has set before him.  He endures his circumstances with trust in the Lord and when his heart fails him for fear, he draws deep within himself and his soul comes forth in Song unto God. David is the sweet Psalmist of Israel.  Even in battle and unjust situations, he continues to sing.  The saints of the Old Testament had something in common; it was the “Rock.”  The Apostle Paul writes about this in 1 Cor. 10:4 Paul is speaking of the Israelites who passed through the sea … “ They did all drink the same Spiritual Drink: for they drank of that Spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” Would that all the saints of our day would comprehend that the Rock is still with us!  David so often Sang of the Rock. Interesting, He had not met Jesus face to face, yet David trusted in the Rock of his Salvation.  It is good to muse upon David’s relationship with God and his foreknowledge of the Rock, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Because of David’s close relationship with his heavenly Father, he was comforted by the Rock in his many sufferings:  “Unto Thee will I cry, O Lord my Rock; …Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward Thy Holy Oracle.” Ps. 28:1-2.  David knew the Lord was his strength, his covering, and his heart rejoiced in God. He praised God with a Song!  David suffered rejection, persecution, endured hardships and ran for his life, yet he always had a Song of Praise upon his heart.  Even when he was overwhelmed with adverse conditions … a Song of Praise came from heart. The Book of Psalms from Holy Scripture is filled with the Songs of deliverance, Songs of triumph, Songs of heartfelt Praise, Songs of comfort C and cries for help as the Psalmist Sings the Songs of deliverance.  O Church, saints of the Living God, Sing your Song, for the heart of God is open to your voice of Praise.  Loving you, Pastor