Growing Gracefully: Infilling
Awake Us Now
Everyone who is a true disciple of the Lord Jesus has the Holy Spirit. But does the Holy Spirit have us? It is one thing to know the Living God and to know Jesus as Savior, but it is another thing to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit on a regular, daily basis!
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Growing Gracefully: Awake
Awake Us Now
God charges His disciples to "be awake" in all times and all situations. We are especially charged to be awake to God's Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), the reality of spiritual warfare, and the signs of the times.
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Growing Gracefully: Prepared
Awake Us Now
Almost two thousand years ago, John the Baptist called people to repent and prepare for the coming Lord. Today, we are still called to have repentant hearts that receive and extend the forgiveness of the Living God, and to prepare fruit for Him in our lives!
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Dig Deeper - Acts Chapter 12: Herod's Demise
Awake Us Now
Herod Agrippa I Ruled 41-44 A.D. Grandson of King Herod the Great Imprisoned Peter during Passover in 42 or 43 A.D. He died before Passover of 44 A.D. Herod went from Judea to Caesarea following Peter’s angelic escape from prison. Herod was quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They joined together asking for an appointment with Herod requesting for peace as they depended on Herod for their food supply. From writings from Flavius Josephus “Antiquities of the Jews, Book 19” (Translator: Paul L. Maier) Josephus tells us that Herod met with the representatives...
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Growing Gracefully: Holiness
Awake Us Now
Holiness is a gift, offered to us in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. But once God has made us holy, we are then called to pursue holiness in our lives!
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Growing Gracefully: Obedience
Awake Us Now
Growing gracefully in obedience is a response to the salvation God has worked in our lives through Christ Jesus. We are called to walk in obedience as a response to our faith in Jesus. Obedience is not necessary for salvation, but obedience is necessary! Join us as we explore Growing Gracefully in our relationship with Jesus Christ through obedience to Him and His Word. Obedience does not save, but neither is it optional. God desires not simply outward actions, but inner obedience to His Word. Pastor focuses on two important Biblical truths: 1. Obedience does not save - Jesus saves --Grace of...
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GOD ACTS! (Chapter 12) - He Proceeded to Seize Peter
Awake Us Now
God’s word brings light into our lives, gives us direction and points us to Jesus showing us where our hope and strength are found. Today’s story demonstrates this truth. Join us! Chapter 12 is about some of the persecution Peter experienced and we will look at Peter’s writings in 1 Peter in conjunction with this story in Acts chapter 12 for additional insights. THEN + NOW Persecution - Acts 12:1-4; 1 Peter 4:12-13 Herod Agrippa the First, encouraged by approval after arresting believers and putting the Apostle James to death, decides to arrest and imprison Peter. He has...
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Armor of God #10 - Keep on Praying!
Awake Us Now
"Prayer in the Spirit" is about taking time in the presence of the living God and allowing Him to nurture, nourish, transform, and renew our souls. It is not about "give me, give me, give me," but about "mold me, shape me, use me."
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Growing Gracefully: Training
Awake Us Now
Despite the most rigorous physical exercise and training regimen, our bodies will age and, eventually, die. But there is a training - training in godliness - that lasts into eternity. The spiritual diet we eat, the spiritual exercise we do and the spiritual training we choose affects our ability to grow graceful as Jesus’ disciples. Training ourselves for godliness has benefits for today, tomorrow and for eternity. Spiritual training is timeless. Train to be godly - Christianity is not a spectator sport. We can’t be a couch potato. We must be in training to be godly. This is training with...
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Growing Gracefully: Contentment
Awake Us Now
Even in the most difficult of times, believers such as the apostle Paul have known contentment, an inner peace, a certainty that God is in control. Because of what Jesus has done for us, we know that, through faith in Him, we will live forever. That certainty brings true contentment!
info_outlineIt is God's desire that this nation be brought back to Him. He desires that the arm of judgment be withheld from the land. The only way that will take place is for the children of God to cry out to Him and come before Him in prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, interceding for our country. Because only a move of the Holy Spirit, can restore and redeem what is broken.
From Pastor Chris Dodge: "I pray for my country and I pray God that He will enable me to intercede as never before. I pray that you too will be down on your knees for this land."
1 Timothy 2:1-6
God is pleased when we take Him at His Word and cry out for our nation to know and follow Christ.
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Today God is saying to His people pray for those in need, understand that God’s Holy Spirit is calling His people to be a people of prayer. One of the things that we have seen over these last months is God telling us to be in prayer. The Holy Spirit has been pleading with us to pray for this land, pray for its leaders, pray for it’s people, that God may bring people back to Him. I am not sharing anything that none of you haven’t already figured out. We are living in very, very difficult and dangerous times and it is absolutely essential that God’s people pray. He is calling us to come before the throne in heaven with prayers for our people, for our leaders, for our country, and for the nations of the world.
When God’s people listen to His voice and come before Him in prayer He hears, He answers, and He responds. I believe He is telling us in this very critical juncture not only in our nations history but in the history of this planet that it is absolutely essential for God’s people, the faithful remnant, to be a people of prayer asking that God would do a mighty work in our day calling people back to Him. Paul says, “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” Now what does it mean to live a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and holiness? Does that mean that we are supposed to have a nice middle-class lifestyle and be able to sit back and just enjoy our days? No! It means we are praying and coming before the throne of God that opportunities may be given to bring the message of Jesus to the nation and to the world. We are praying that there would be times of peace and refreshing so that people’s hearts would be open to hear the voice of the living God and to respond to what He has done. Just so we know that’s what God has in mind and what the apostle was all about listen to the next two verses. 1 Timothy 2:3-4, Paul says, “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” God’s desire is that every man, woman, and child on the face of this planet come to know His love and mercy in Jesus Christ. The Scriptures cry that out. You and I are living in an amazing time. These are such exciting days in every sense of the word. Yes, they are frightening in some ways, but for the person who knows the living God we know He’s got this. We know that in the end God wins and so do we, and therefore, we are not fearful
We are closer than ever before to the fulfillment of the ages, If ever there were a time when God’s people needed to be praying this is it because He desires all people to be saved, and that ought to be not only on our hearts but at the heart of our prayers. This is where our lives are to be focused. Listen to what the apostle says, 1 Timothy 2:5-6, Paul writes and he says, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.” If it was the proper time 2000 years ago what time is it now as are watching all of the promises of God unfold before our very eyes? Jesus is not only the Messiah of Israel and the Hope of the nations, He is the only one who can rescue. He is the only one who can save. He is the only one who can renew a life, restore a family, rebuild a broken heart, heal permanently a ruptured soul. He is God. He is good. He is the Redeemer and He listens to the prayers of his children.