We are probably more involved in spiritual warfare against demons than we are aware. Demons aren't figments of fiction or our imaginations. They aren't just the products of Hollywood horror flicks. According to the Bible, they are extremely real. And, according to verses like Matthew 12:43-45 the bible makes it clear that they are formless, spiritual entities which inhabit the empty spaces in people. This means that the more empty a person is the more susceptible to demonic oppression or possession they are. You can fill yourself with more of Jesus or be emptied of true theological and spiritual food and be available for the filling of demons. Something will fill your heart and mind... if not Christ, it will be the world, and it will be demonic. Why? Because demons are parasites who feed on our emotions. They don't want to be without a body, even going so far as to ask to go into pigs if no human is available. They are spiritual forces for evil and servants of Satan who prowl the world over looking for people to devour. When they find a target 2 Cor. 4:4 tells us that they blind the minds of unbelievers to the light of the Gospel and they can possess them and can cause physical harm to them. Also, according to 1 Timothy 4:1 they deceive and promote false doctrines. The bottom line is this... the overwhelming purpose of demons is to destroy God's plan by destroying God's people. He will attack the lost to lead them astray and he will attack the saved to destroy their testimony. This is their goal, but we can defeat them... Though they may seem powerful, all demons are subject to us in Christ's name. Be filled with the Holy Spirit and there will be no room for demonic attacks.
- Mar 20, 2023Expect A Miracle Part 3: Jesus Can Cast Out Any Demon (Luke 8:26-39, Mark 9:14-29)
Expect A Miracle Part 3: Jesus Can Cast Out Any Demon (Luke 8:26-39, Mark 9:14-29)
We are probably more involved in spiritual warfare against demons than we are aware. Demons aren't figments of fiction or our imaginations. They aren't just the products of Hollywood horror flicks. According to the Bible, they are extremely real. And, according to verses like Matthew 12:43-45 the bible makes it clear that they are formless, spiritual entities which inhabit the empty spaces in people. This means that the more empty a person is the more susceptible to demonic oppression or possession they are. You can fill yourself with more of Jesus or be emptied of true theological and spiritual food and be available for the filling of demons. Something will fill your heart and mind... if not Christ, it will be the world, and it will be demonic. Why? Because demons are parasites who feed on our emotions. They don't want to be without a body, even going so far as to ask to go into pigs if no human is available. They are spiritual forces for evil and servants of Satan who prowl the world over looking for people to devour. When they find a target 2 Cor. 4:4 tells us that they blind the minds of unbelievers to the light of the Gospel and they can possess them and can cause physical harm to them. Also, according to 1 Timothy 4:1 they deceive and promote false doctrines. The bottom line is this... the overwhelming purpose of demons is to destroy God's plan by destroying God's people. He will attack the lost to lead them astray and he will attack the saved to destroy their testimony. This is their goal, but we can defeat them... Though they may seem powerful, all demons are subject to us in Christ's name. Be filled with the Holy Spirit and there will be no room for demonic attacks.
- Mar 12, 2023Expect A Miracle Part 2: Jesus Can Cure Any Disability (Matthew 15:29-31)
Expect A Miracle Part 2: Jesus Can Cure Any Disability (Matthew 15:29-31)
We know that scripture teaches us that Jesus undoubtably healed people from all manner of diseases from leprosy to common colds. His healing power gives us a clear picture to recognize that we have a God we can place our absolute trust in. Though doctors may heal and medicines may recover, our first response is to trust in Jesus to do what only he can do! My hope is in the healing power of Christ. So my hope in the midst of heart disease is Jesus! My hope in the midst of kidney failure is Jesus. My hope in the midst of Cancer is Jesus!
And of course, Jesus not only can heal any disease, but Jesus can also cure any disability! Though disease and disability are similar, and though they can be directly connected at times, they are indeed different types of physical ailments. Where disease often comes from an infection we've been exposed to, disability often comes from an accident we've been involved with or gene defects we've inherited. And where diseases can often be healed or cured through surgery or medication, disabilities are, for the most part, seen as permanent.
Matthew 15:29-31 tells us; “Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. And he went up on the mountain and sat down there. And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them, so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.”
What an incredible savior we have. Even though it's most definitely a miracle when Jesus cures someone of stage 4 cancer, it is an absolutely undeniable miracle when Jesus heals a paralytic man who's never walked, or a blind man who's never seen! It's almost as if Jesus keeps upping the anti. Much like when Pharaoh's magicians copied Moses's staff turning into a serpent, the water turning to blood, and the frogs, today's doctor's can heal many of our diseases. But, just like the magicians couldn't match Moses turning the sand to gnats, it is beyond our modern day science to heal many of these disabilities! But, Jesus can! Today, turn your attention to the undeniable power of Christ to cure any disability. But I also want you to examine why he allows those disabilities in the first place. If Jesus is powerful enough to cure the lame he is most certainly powerful enough to prevent it all together. Surely he has a plan for your disability. Not only does He have the ability to cure all disabilities, but I believe Jesus allows disabilities to remind us that we are broken in our sin, and only He can make us whole again. The greatest disability is the brokenness that sin has wrought in our souls and the only one who can make us whole again is Jesus.
- Mar 5, 2023Expect A Miracle Part 1: Jesus Can Cure Any Disease (Luke 16:17-19)
Expect A Miracle Part 1: Jesus Can Cure Any Disease (Luke 16:17-19)
We are starting a new series on the miracles of Jesus Christ. And, this is our very last series in our year and a half journey through the Gospels. During the Easter season for the next seven weeks we will be looking at the miracles of Jesus and what they mean specifically for us. Since the Bible tells of so many distinct miracles we will be categorizing these miracles into groups. We will start by looking at all the miracles where Jesus cured someone of a specific sickness or disease. We see that in Luke 6:17-19, Matthew 14:34-36, and Mark 6:53-56 that Jesus healed everyone who came to him. Jesus healed leprosy, Jesus healed fever, and everything in between. Jesus healed to such an extent that people from all over the region, from miles and miles away, came to him to be healed of their diseases... and they were cured by his power! At some point we will all experience the struggle of disease. And when we do experience disease, we are thankful for doctors and medicine... but let me ask you this question; “who do you trust with your disease?” I believe that “Prayer is our first response, not a last resort.” Why? Because it means that we depend on Christ to take care of us. Instead of trying every other means of healing first and then coming to Christ when there is no other hope... we come to Christ first and expect him to do what only He can do! So who do you trust with your disease? Today our prayer is that this would become your heart when faced with disease; Before the doctor's diagnosis, medical procedures and prescriptions, my hope in the midst of disease is the healing power of Christ!
- Feb 26, 2023He Said What? Part 9: The World Hates You (John 15:18-25)
He Said What? Part 9: The World Hates You (John 15:18-25)
Our final shocking statement in this series, is “the world hates you.” Wow. The world hates me? That's a lot to handle. I've had people tell me that they hate me before, and it hurt at the time, but I got over it. But now you are telling me that the whole world hates me? I don't understand, I thought people were generally good and that everyone was all about loving each other. Listen, yes, there are things in this world that are beautiful and fun; yes, I'm sure you have friends and family that love you and care for you; yes, your church family loves you and cares for you, but make no mistake, regardless of how it may seem, outside of the family of God; outside of the church, the world hates you because it hates our Lord. John 15:18-25 makes this abundantly clear. Why does the world hate us? Because this world is not our home. We are refugees in a foreign land. We long for another home. Why does the world hate us? Because we have rejected their gods for the one true God; a god which they also hate. Why does the world hate us? Because we have rejected their ways for the words and will of our God. And lastly, why does the world hate us? Because it has no other choice. And, I know that no one wants to be hated; and I know that the fact that the world hates us might make you sad, depressed, or even angry, but I assure you it is eternally more important to be loved by God and hated by the world rather than adored by the world and judged by God.
- Feb 19, 2023He Said What? Part 8: You Must Be A Slave (Mark 10:35-45)
He Said What? Part 8: You Must Be A Slave (Mark 10:35-45)
If slavery is evil why would Christ call us to it? The answer is simple. The slavery of Africans in early America was not consensual. It was fully against their will, but Jesus calls us to willingly subjugate ourselves to his will. Jesus isn't going to make us his slaves; rather he is asking us to trust him and follow him autonomously. Jesus wants us to follow him so closely and trust him so greatly that our relationship shows that he is our master and we are his to do with us what he wills. Spiritual slaves. And unlike the cruel plantation masters of years past who beat their slaves into submission, Jesus gently and lovingly entices us into his service. He shows us a life worth living and lovingly woos us into a life which the Bible refers to as abundant. Where as human slavery was the worst kind of life, spiritual slavery to Christ is the most joyous freeing life we can have here on earth.
- Feb 12, 2023He Said What? Part 7: Sell Everything You Have (Mark 10:17-31)
He Said What? Part 7: Sell Everything You Have (Mark 10:17-31)
Again, we will see another shocking statement from Christ when he blatantly and boldly asks a rich man to; “sell everything you have and give it to the poor.” I'm not kidding. Jesus tells this guy that if he wants to be a disciple of Christ that instead of just coming to church a couple of times a month or praying before his meals, or just quit cussing; instead of that, Jesus tells him go sell all of your worldly possessions and give all of your money to the poor and then you can come and be my disciple! In our world, our consumerism driven, merit based, capitalistic society, that makes no sense. Jesus, I earned this money. Jesus, I worked hard for this money. Jesus, I thought you wanted to bless me? Surely Jesus isn't being literal. So what am I missing? Le't us stop hearing what we want to hear and start hearing what Jesus is saying because I promise you at the least he is saying this; if we have more than we need, which we do, and the world needs Jesus, which it does, then we can most certainly give a little more for the cause
- Feb 5, 2023He Said What? Part 6: It Would Be Better To Drown (Matthew 18:1-6)
He Said What? Part 6: It Would Be Better To Drown (Matthew 18:1-6)
Again we see here some seemingly shocking statements from Christ - not the least of which is this where in Matthew 18:1-6 he says; “it would be better to drown than to tempt a child to sin.” Jesus is straight up saying, that it would be better for you to die than to cause a child to sin against God. That's pretty serious. Why does Jesus care so much about the purity of his children to the point that if someone causes them to sin they should die? There are many reasons but here we see three main ones. First, children belong to the kingdom of God because they are innocent. Secondly, children exhibit a genuine faith. And Third, the humility of children is one of the greatest virtues. Protecting our children's souls from the pagan ideals of this world is the responsibility of every believer; for both their sake and ours.
- Jan 29, 2023He Said What? Part 5: Take Up Your Cross Daily (Luke 9:23-27)
He Said What? Part 5: Take Up Your Cross Daily (Luke 9:23-27)When Jesus said, "take up your cross daily," he was telling his followers to take up their electric chairs; to take up their lethal injections. He's calling them to a spiritual death. A death to this world and to the sinful mindset of the old man. Unless we die to this world and to our own sinful desires we cannot follow Christ. So how are you dying daily? How are you denying yourself the things of this world for the sake of Christ? How are you carrying the cross?
- Jan 22, 2023He Said What? Part 4: Who Are My Mother And My Brothers (Mark 3:31-35)
He Said What? Part 4: Who Are My Mother And My Brothers (Mark 3:31-35)
One time Jesus was doing his thing and his Mom came to visit him and.. with his momma standing right there and everyone telling him, “Hey Jesus, your momma is here.” He said..... “who?” “Who is my mother and my brothers?” For real, check it out in Mark 3:31-35. Now, if I didn't know better I would think Jesus was acting the fool! You don't disrespect your momma by saying, “who is my momma, when she's right there.” But again, Jesus didn't mess up. He meant every word he was saying because again he was trying to teach us something by shocking our ears. Sometimes you got to shock them ears so people can hear. So what exactly in the world did Jesus mean when he said, “who is my mother and my brothers?” Well, let's start by what he didn't mean. He didn't mean that his mother, Mary, was not his earthly mother. He didn't mean that he didn't love her and that he didn't respect her and treat her like any good son should. Jesus loved his momma. It didn't mean he had some beef with his brothers or that there was a domestic issue that needed to be addressed. Jesus loved his brothers; most of which followed Him in his ministry. So what did he mean? He meant that while it was clear that he had an earthly family that he loved and cared for, the family that matters the most is spiritual family! Jesus isn't minimizing the importance of family relationships; rather, He is emphasizing that having a right relationship with God is more important. While you can't control which family you are born into, each of us must make a choice to be born again into the family of God. That's his point Blood may be thicker than water, but spirit outlasts blood! Many of us have family who are not our spiritual family. The cold hard fact is that unless they accept Christ, unless they submit to the will of God, your relationship with them will not extend beyond this world. But, for all who have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, your relationship with them will last forever. So what really matters? One, those who are your spiritual family and two, doing everything you can to bring those who aren't into the family! The focus this morning is simple; We should celebrate our spiritual family by increasing our spiritual family!
- Jan 15, 2023He Said What? Part 3: I Came Not To Bring Peace But A Sword (Matthew 10:34-39)
He Said What? Part 3: I Came Not To Bring Peace But A Sword (Matthew 10:34-39)
In Matthew 10:34-39 Jesus makes one of his most shocking statements; "I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” What does a sword represent? Most of the time the sword represents war. It represents battle, and blood shed. It is the tool of choice when diplomacy has failed and the only way to find a resolution to our grievances is combat. It usually doesn't represent a good thing. But, sometimes the sword is a metaphor for the Bible; the Sword of the Spirit. And of course we know that the Bible holds the answers for all of life's dilemmas. So which sword is Jesus talking about? Well, it's neither, and it's both. The sword represents division from the world or division from Christ. It represents a choice, and that choice can't be made apart from the Word. And that decision, regardless of which one you choose, will bring chaotic wreckage in your life; a battle you will not be free from until eternity. Either directly or indirectly Jesus brings division and his words divide mankind. It divides us into two distinct camps; those who take up their cross and follow him and those who ignore the cross and reject him; those who love the world and find their life in it and those who love Jesus more than the world and lose their life for his sake. And make no mistake about it; no one can ride the line with a foot in both worlds. You must make a decision or the decision will be made for you! And unfortunately, regardless of which side of this decision you finally fall on, it will bring division to your world, to your family, and to your dreams. But, in the end it will be worth it. The bottom line is this; Following Christ will inevitably wreck your life; and thats a good thing.
- Jan 8, 2023He Said What Part 2: I Came Not To Call The Righteous But Sinners (Mark 2:15-17)
He Said What Part 2: I Came Not To Call The Righteous But Sinners (Mark 2:15-17)It's a shocking statement that Jesus would rather build his church with wicked and depraved sinners than the observably righteous. But Jesus can spot a fake can't he? We can stand before God pretending that we are righteous, hoping that somehow he will be appeased by our religious efforts, but in the end we will find that he hates our half-hearted attempts at playing christianity. What he desires is for us to come before him as we truly are, wretched, depraved, and broken over our sinful state. What is the point of standing before the altar as a pharisee when we are nothing more than tax collectors unworthy of lifting up our heads to heaven? Jesus isn't looking for the righteous for the righteous who see no need for him will never have any use for him. Jesus is looking for those who know they can't make it without him. Jesus is looking for those who know that if he doesn't come through then they are through, and the only way Jesus is going to come through is if you seek him in your contrition.
- Dec 18, 2022Sermon On The Mount Part 12: Firm Foundation (Matthew 7:24-29)
Sermon On The Mount Part 12: Firm Foundation (Matthew 7:24-29)If you take the sermon on the mount, if you take the teachings of Jesus seriously and apply them to your life then when the storms of this life come against you, you will remain standing strong. And when your life comes to an end, if you've built your life on the foundation of Jesus and his teachings, the wrath of God will not come against you; your eternal soul will stand strong through all of eternity. That my friends is what I call a firm foundation. But, if you don't listen to the teachings of Jesus and if you don't apply them to your lives then when the storms of life come against you, you will crumble beneath the waves. And when this life is over, the wrath of God will come against you and destroy you for all eternity. The only thing that will keep us standing strong in this life and through all eternity is a firm foundation built on Jesus Christ.
- Dec 11, 2022Sermon On The Mount Part 11: The Narrow Path (Matthew 7:13-23)
Sermon On The Mount Part 11: The Narrow Path (Matthew 7:13-23)In the end it all boils down to which path you are on. The problem is that a lot of us will think we are one path only to find out at the last minute that we've been on another. By that time it will be too late. So how do we know? How can we know if we truly are on the narrow path that leads to eternal life or the broad path that leads to destruction? We will know and be known by our fruit and by our walk. So first we must determine which path we are on and then when we are assuredly on the right path we must help others who have wandered from the path to make their way back as well. This is called accountability. When we see those who call themselves Christians falling off the narrow way, we must lovingly and graciously show them the error of their way and gently lead them back to the path. Otherwise we are hanging them out to dry. The Christian motto should be that of the Rangers; no man left behind. Christians don't let their friends wander into eternity without Christ.
- Dec 4, 2022Sermon On The Mount Part 10: Judging Others (Matthew 7:1-6,12)
Sermon On The Mount Part 10: Judging Others (Matthew 7:1-6,12)When we judge others based upon conceived motives, because of grudges, or to shame them and burden them with guilt we clearly are not interested in their spiritual growth. Righteous judgment is in love and for the concern of accountability and discipleship, unrighteous ungodly judgment is self-righteous and sinful, and we will be held accountable for how we judge others in this manner. When we unrighteously judge others we misjudge God's authority, we misjudge others as beneath us, and we misjudge ourselves as righteous.
- Nov 27, 2022Sermon On The Mount Part 9: Overcoming Anxiety (Matthew 6:25-34)
Sermon On The Mount Part 9: Overcoming Anxiety (Matthew 6:25-34)If you are struggling with anxiety and worry and fear can you allow Jesus to overcome that with his care for you? Can you hand your anxiety over to Christ? 1 Peter 5:7 tells us to cast all of our cares on Jesus because he cares for us. One, do you truly believe that God cares for you? Look at the way he cares for nature. Look at the way he cares for seemingly unimportant things like birds and flowers. Do feel that he cares for you even more? Look at how he has sent his son to die for you on the cross. Guys, God loves us more than we could ever know. He cares for you and your needs. Two, are you seeking him first? If you are trying to do it in your own strength then there is cause to worry. We will mess it up. But if you are seeking him first he assures us that he will meet all of our needs. Don't put your faith in you and your abilities, put your faith in the one who had sustained the universe and holds the world in his hands. Third, Worry is dumb. It doesn't help, it only hurts. It empties today of its strength. You can't do anything helpful by worry. You can do a lot though with faith. Worry almost always assumes the lies that God either doesn't care about us or that he is unable to help us.
