The Matchless House of the Lord - 6/23/13

Matchless - outstanding, great, as to have no rival

If you don't expect his house to be a place of mighty power that will become your message.  Believe the gates of hell will not come against the church.  Beware of deception, ex. church is for old people, it is only a place for socializing.  If you you believe it is not a place of mighty power, it's been diminished.

The church has the responsibility of earth - not the government, not business.  We the people, are the church and are delegated to represent Jesus.

Believe church is a mighty spiritual power.  It is the canopy of the Lord - you are protected.  Let's zero in on the truth - Let's see what God thinks about the church in the world.  .  Don't buy the notion of not being disciples of God - that is wrong.  Read scripture for the correct view.  We need to open our minds that we might be wrong about our thoughts/images of the Lord's House.  If those thoughts are misaligned, we may have brought some of those lies with us.  If I have not seen the power of the Lord's miracle, I have not seen the power, therefore I don't think there is the power.  Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean its not true.  We believe our misaligned thinking instead of the word of God.

Resist temptation to listen to the crowd.  ex. 70% think the church is on its way out.  This talks about the crowd's thoughts, not reality.  Don't be lazy with this thought process.  Get back to the word of God.  The church should take center stage.  Would you want want our corrupt government and business to take center stage?  Who will bless your family?  Will they?

Be the House of the Lord and truly represent it according to scripture.  Have a real experience with a miraculous God.  This is the place you go if you want your family blessed.  The devil wants church on the sidelines and pushed back in to dark society.  Challenge that as warriors to serve the Lord.

Isaiah 2:2  House of the Lord will be chief.  Nations will stream to the freedom God brings.

Don't let the devil diminish you, your words.  Words are powerful.  The Holy Spirit will poke you until you give up and call on Jesus.  Be a light in a dark place.  House of the Lord is morally, spiritually higher than anything - Hollywood, government.  No where else do you hear the words of eternal life.

Gen 28:16-17 "How awesome is this place" (The House of God).  This is the gate of heaven.  The matchless House of the Lord.

1 Chr 22:5  Have we believed the lie, the noise, the ground  clutter that the world is saying?  Or do we challenge ourselves to believe the House of the Lord is a rescue operation of salvation?  The message of Christ is being trumpeted, it should be a bee hive of activity - it is the rescue city of earth.  The HOuse of God can not be little for the sake of the earth.  It has to be powerful - a place of magnificence.  It is the city of the living God - unmatched, unchallenged.  The House of the Lord - NOTHING else compares!

Give God Something to Work With - 6/2/13

Set principles to live by.  They are spiritual and need to connect with faith.  You need to believe that God is near.  You need to believe these prinicples will work.  It is orchestrated so that life works with God.  The reason I worry is because I am not sure he is there.  We know God is there.  The Bible is a the Book of principles to live by if yuo believe in Christ.

Luke 6:38  Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.

If you sow, you will reap.  God gives more than we give to him.  Jesus takes and then gives back.  Give him something to work with.  He took the fish adn feed 5000 people.  He takes and multiplies it and gives it back.  It is not about

money, it is about faith.

1Kings 17 is about how giving and receiving works.  How will you move forward in faith.  "Give me something to work with."  The supernatural is normal for God.  A miraculous situation should be the norm.  We want to be a supernatural people.

1 Kings 17:7  Bring me the scarce of whatever you are limited in.  Jesus asked for water during a drought.  The widow didn't want to give up the little food she had - she wanted to keep it for herself, but faith must come in.  She did what Elijah told her to do through faith.  He promised, use the scarce and she will always have food.  She gives her food.  God rescues the widow.  God loves the weak.  Trust a provision is coming.

"Give me first so I can work with it.  Giving begins the process of receiving.  Give me what you don't have."  If your time is precious, give the Lord time.  He will anoint it and give you more time.

Why is giving so connected to God working?

1. It is the right for us to do, to exchange something is right.  Pay for service.  We tend to want to receive before we give. "Lord, IF only you do this for me , I promise I will do that."  Reverse it.

2. God always requires your involvement.  God will ask you to put something in and then I will bless.  He takes the offering but will give what provision you need.Psalm 126: 5-6  It must be a sacrifice.  Wait between sow and reap to test faith.  Get in to the habit of giving first.

3. God sometimes requires everything.  We are prone to talking and not giving back.

John 12:24  Give God your best.  Give him your rare, your scarce(time, comfort, heart, effort) and he will multiple it.

Rest 5/19/13

Rest emotionally, spiritually, physically.  We need release from toil and struggle. We need to rest in the hand of God if you live in salvation.  There is awesome salvation in Jesus Christ.  Picture your life hemmed in to the “Lord’s program”.  God says, “I’ve got this.  I am going to take the wheel.  I will do the driving.”  Rest – physically letting go in God and releasing in the powerful

hand of God.  We come to Christ and we don’t rest, we run off to what others want us to do.  After bad news is received, the Lord can provide peace. “I got this.  Don’t worry.”

Matt 11:28-29

²⁸ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Doing it on your own, you can get burnt out and can make a mess.  The Lord says to come rest with me.  I will give you rest, confidence, release to rest your soul.

Ex 16:26-27

²⁶ Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none.
²⁷ And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none.

Rest on the 7^th day – the toil, the worry is over on the 7^th day.  God is telling you to work for 6 days and rest on the 7^th.  Rest is obedience.  God commands us to rest; to not rest in God is to not trust or believe in God.  Believe it when he says’ “I got you.” We don’t rest because we are afraid for what will happen if we do rest.  We work harder, try harder, and make more money. Get back in the car and let God drive. Perfect love drives out fear.  If He is for you he knows exactly where to get you to where you need to be.

Luke 8:23

²³ But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.

We read in the Bible that Jesus falls asleep as a storm brews up – his disciple’s fear grew as they thought they were in great danger.  Their fear did not let them trust in the Lord.  The Lord lets the boat rock.  The disciples woke Jesus and said we are going to drown (difficulties).  If the Lord is in the boat be careful of what you say (disbelief).  They did not have the faith and could not see the power of Jesus Christ. When it seems like everything is falling apart, believe God’s words are greater than all of it.  Jesus rebuked the storm and all is calm.  “Where is your faith?” asks Jesus.  Do you truly have faith that He has it under control?

Rest in life allows you to be productive.  The Lord is with me, that gives me rest.  If there is a problem with the boat, see the captain(the Lord).  I am a worker, the Lord is the captain/boss.  Let’s say you didn’t get the job you wanted, don’t you think the Lord knows you didn’t get it?  The Lord has other plans in mind.  "Obey me and I will take you where you are supposed to be."  Doing our own thing causes toil and anxiety.  He wants you enthusiast but pointed in his direction.  Trust Him for your future.  Trust Him with family and finances.

Conclusion:

Luke 8:22

²² Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.

Allow Jesus in your boat.  He is not distant. He is right there.  If Jesus is in your boat, you are ok.

“Get in the boat, we are going to the other side.”  He said we WILL get to the other side.  Don’t fret, don’t worry.  You are moving on his path. There is strength and confidence in speech. Say, “Amen.”  Speak forth not fear, the Lord will reign over us.  His hand of strength is over us.  We can enjoy the walk with the Lord.  It is a great salvation.

The Extraordinary Mother - Mother's Day 2013

Everyone is born of a mother.  God connects with women.  Women are God's favorite.  Women are drawn to God and listen to his word.  A mom's wisdom is supernatural.  They are teachers, comforters, doctors, nurses, administrators.  Women are fighters - they never give up - they are strong.


You are the child of my vows to God- vows to God for children to be trained, lead for the God's reason/purpose. I dedicate this child to you God, it is an expression of God's purpose to come.  The trainor(the mother ) is chosen by God.  It would be easier if the child came with a message of purpose answering the question, "What is this child suppose to accomplish? What is the plan?" There is a plan, his divine plan.  Satan wants to diminish the role of the mother.  Mothers are a crucial part of his plan -  God has chosen mothers and this is why " Family" has been diminished by Satan. God has given mothers an awesome responsibility to train, discipline, care, and protect children for the purposes of God.

Honor mother hood today.  Thank the women who have have loved, mentored, and mothered you.  Honor the daughter because she will grow up to be a mother and carry out God's purpose.  Daughters - God will bless you with a man of God beside you and you will have a powerful house.

The Hangover

Jordan Boyce 5-5-13 summarized

What happens after an incredible touch by God, a Godly event, or a miracle - something like Smithfield's Awakening Conference(one of the biggest Youth events in New England)?  For our answer, let's go to the Bible and look at the story of Elijah and Ahab/Jezebel on Mt Carmel.  Elijah was sent to go against the evils of Ahab.  God answers Elijah with a mighty miracle defeating the evil Ahab.  In the midst of a victory, that is when the enemy strikes.  It is after a great victory that we need to consider our spiritual welfare.  the enemy gets angry and tries to disrupt after a mighty God's healing/awakening.

First Cor:1-9, 1Kings 19:1-9

Elijah kicked Ahab's butt at Mt Carmel. Fire of God, bow low, don't be silent anymore.  Put idols to death.  Kill sin or sin will kill you.  The Holy Spirit is the holy presence of God.  Ahab's wife, Jezebel

is enraged and sends a messenger (that is key... sends a messenger - doesn't visit Elijah herself).  Satan will send a message after you have been sent God's message.  After God does a mighty work beware of Satan, "it's a little message from a sick Jezebel." "I am not good enough", "I can't do this""that wasn't as good as you thought it was "- you know the messages that come in to your head.  Satan sends a message to counter the true message of God.  God is far more powerful than Satan.  Satan will send a messenger so you don't think it is Satan.  Remember only God can touch you, Satan can not, he can only speak to you.  Know the voice of the Holy Spirit, learn to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit.  Say to your self..."Would the HolySpirit say that over my life?  Would God tell you that you are nobody?"  If you are not sure, try discerning the voices by asking would my mother/father/friend talk to me like that?" Know Satan's message is a false spirit  and do not allow yourself to come in agreement.

So what happens to Elijah when he believes the voices of Satan.  He leaves his servants (the people that depend on him), he leaves Israel, he leaves his calling, and goes off into the wilderness.  He could not discern God's voice vs the demons.  With the demons voices we should learn from Jesus and respond to the demon with bible verses.  Elijah leaving his servants is important.  This is the time , after a victory, NOT to leave your servants - your servants are hearing the same voices of Satan and need the leadership.  We see it in life....  After an exhausting event, people take a break and then don't return. Elijah removes himself from servants, #1 time when he is needed most, and removes himself from the presence of God.  He backslides and starts listening to the wrong voices and thinks it is his own doing.  Elijah says"I am no better" and agrees with the words of Jezebel.  This is literally hours after victory.  Depression sweeps over him and he removes himself from God. (If it can happen to Elijah, it can happen to you).  When down don't retreat from God, go to God - press in!

Your words are very powerful.  Speak words God would agree with.

Elijah lay down to sleep and an angel touched him.  God can changes things in an instant, what couldn't be done by many men.  Remember, Jesus can touch you, the enemy can only speak to you.  Cleanse, heal, restore.  The only authority the enemy has is what you give it.  When the angel appears, he exclaims "GET UP!".  Engage your faith.  Awake and arise.  Kick out the pansy devil!!

John 15:16

John 15:16 "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and anointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

Simple message.  You did not choose God, he chose you.  Not only did he choose you, he anointed you.  Remember God is perfect and he doesn't make mistakes.  When he chose you, he knew exactly what he was doing.  He choose you to bear fruit, in other words, go out and do great service for him.  With God beside you, you can do mighty works, accomplishments that you can not do by yourself, but with only with his mighty power.  He chose you to be a beacon in the dark.

Katie - Sunday's sermon, "The Hangover" coming soon.

Principles of Our Father - Adam McCain's sermon summarized

Do you take this women.... "I do."  When we say I do we agree to this statement and solidify our vow to that person.

Today I bring to you the vows we want to make to our Father.  To these scriptures let us take our Christian vows and say "I do" to each.  Marry yourself to the scripture.

Do you believe?
Matt Chap 7: 7-8
Deut 10: 30-31
Deut 28: 11-13
Psalm 126:5-6
Isaiah 54:17
Mark
16: 17-18
Cor 5:17
Psalm 112:1-9
Romans 8:31-39

Adam McCain went to a Christian school in 8th grade and the school did not have the money to hire a coach and have a sports team.  One day an ex Christian college and NBA basketball player who had played high level and made it to a championship volunteered to coach.  The kids were all excited. The first day they ran suicides for an hour.  The second day they ran suicides for an hour and then did pushups for an hour. And this went on for over a week.  Finally, they got to dribble a ball, but that was only while running around the court in a circle.  When the kids got back to the locker room there
was grumbling from the kids.  The coach walked in and one kid who was unlucky enough to have his back to the coach kept up the complaining, and didn't see Adam  giving him the sshhing sign as a warning signal.  The coach heard the grumblings.  He gathered the team and said "Who of you has played basketball for a college team or NBA team?" Hey coach they replied," we are only in the 8th grade."  Who of you has been to a championship?  All heads shaking  "no."  Exactly!  All the while this coach knew what hard work needed to be done to prepare for the season ahead and reap the benefits.

That year (their first year) they had a record of 33 and 3.  While the other kids were huffing and puffing in the 4th quarter, these kids were running circles around them.  The coach knew it was better to get them in shape than to run plays.

The lesson in scripture -
Luke 1:5-10  "We didn't understand where he was taking us."  In my words, if he is the the leader you have put your faith in, he  knows what he is doing, just shut up and listen.

This brings us to the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth, 2 people who were ministers, dedicated to the Lord, served the Lord, and observed all of his commandments.  They had always wanted children and prayed to the Lord to bring them children.  Now old and knowing there would be no children, were startled by the angel, Gabriel.  Gabriel came to deliver the good news that your prayers to have a son are answered and your son will be called John and he will bring revival..  Zechariah answered, "We are old, are you sure you have the right message for us?"  Gabriel who was happy to bring such news to Zachariah, then turned angry that he was questioned. "I stand beside the throne of God, how can your words not have faith.  For that, I am going to shut you up until the baby is born, less you destroy the promises of God."

We lose faith when our prayers don't happen when you want or think they will.  We lose faith that the Lord is guiding us and lose trust in God that things will come through in their proper time.  As we know from the Bible, Zechariah and Elizabeth's son is John the Baptist.  He was the "fullback" who cleared the path, the way for Jesus.  If he came 40 years earlier when Zechariah and Elizabeth were praying for children, he would have missed his purpose.  The Lord brings everything at the proper time. We must remember, everything we do is not for ourselves, it is to give glory to God.  If this glorified man, Zechariah had a weak moment of non belief, we must know it is ok for us to also have a weak moment.  Gabriel is hard on Zechariah because he knows the harm of what words of unbelief does. Words of disbelief reflect a bad attitude, attitude reflects the heart and we act on our hearts.

ACTIONS PROVE YOUR FAITH.  THE LORD PROVIDES THINGS AT THEIR PROPER TIME.

Dealing with the "proper" time:

1.  If you are going to do it in proper time, don't try to make it happen.  Let go of making it happen. This doesn't mean to sit and a chair and wait.  We must always work hard and prepare for what the Lord has planned for us.

2. Let go of trying to figure out how it is going to happen.  Pray for guidance and listen to the Lord's words and plan.

3. Remain faithful to what develops Godly character. Develop character first.  Anointing gets you there - character keeps you there.

4. Sshhhh- keep your mouth out of it.  Speak only positives and faithful words about the Lord and all of his children

To this, I close by saying, we don't sit back and wait to hear the Lord's word, we work hard and prepare for the time, the PROPER time for things to happen.  God will move us towards the service he wants us to provide to his "children" and he will time it perfectly.  While waiting for his proper time, we should work hard, stay faithful, and keep pressing in so when he calls us, we do his work in top shape, well prepared and to the best of our ability.